The area around the sudden gate that opened in the city center was unexpectedly quiet.
Immediately after the gate’s creation, there had been a commotion from panicked citizens, but once the dedicated barricades were set up, entry by civilians became completely impossible. The space that would normally be bustling with the morning commute crowd was now emptily desolate.
Baek Uihyeon, who had finished his mission within the scheduled time, quite liked this moment of emerging from the gate.
The inside of gates, where even the air itself was different from Earth, always dampened his mood no matter when he entered. It was either hot or cold, and sometimes the air was thin. Today it had been filled with poison fog, making it impossible for A-rank and below without poison resistance abilities to enter, which was why S-rank Baek Uihyeon had rushed there since dawn.
When Baek Uihyeon, now completely outside the gate, set down a large sack on the ground, the attention of the espers on guard duty focused on him.
“Gasp, Baek Uihyeon-nim has come out.”
“Idiot, check the clear time first!”
The expressions of the espers who had been standing guard without a single lapse crumbled, and there were even some who couldn’t hide their fan-like admiration.
“Esper Baek Uihyeon, B District A-T2, clear confirmed.”
“Let’s correct that to T12.”
“Pardon? Did you also discover beast-type monsters?”
Instead of answering, Baek Uihyeon handed over the large fang he had brought out.
“When you must be so busy, even bringing out a sample… You really are different.”
“I merely did what needed to be done. You do your job as well.”
“Yes, thank you! We will definitely hold them accountable!”
Poison environments were mostly insect-type magic beasts or poison slimes. With the wrong information, other espers could have been seriously injured.
The staff member hurriedly contacted the gate investigation department. Whether they made excuses about the investigation being inadequate since it was a sudden gate, their voice gradually grew louder.
While the heated exchange continued, Baek Uihyeon followed the waiting staff member and got into a sedan. Though he’d arrived by helicopter, the vehicle had suddenly become modest, and the surrounding gazes held bewilderment, but this was a familiar occurrence to Baek Uihyeon. He had experienced changes according to work and circumstances several times a day.
“Baek Uihyeon makes even a shit-mobile look like a Benz.”
“It was just an ordinary sedan, that’s an exaggeration.”
“I should’ve asked for a photo at least.”
“Hey, recover the barricades. People are gathering over there.”
The quiet in the city center was covered by familiar commotion only after the esper who had been urgently deployed left.
For Baek Uihyeon, who had closed his eyes against the noise, the staff member played gentle classical music.
“Baek Uihyeon-nim, we’ll move to the next location. You can change into the outfit after we arrive.”
“I burned off and dispersed all the poison inside the gate, so it should be clean.”
“Since it’s a congratulatory event for the establishment commemoration, they’ve requested formal uniform wear.”
“Mm… So the Ability Memorial Hall has already been completed.”
They had even mobilized espers for construction and apparently succeeded in moving up the deadline. Baek Uihyeon, who had been filling in the gaps left behind, didn’t even have the energy to argue. Instead of bothering the staff member, he took the tablet and checked his schedule.
Ability Memorial Hall Establishment Congratulatory Speech
F District C-D2 Support Request
Mandatory Medical Unit Morale Visit
D District B-F1 Closure Request
Regular Public Interview
3rd Quarter Bereaved Families Memorial Service
Overseas Ability Group Exchange Banquet
The various events and visit appointments arranged between gate conquests were full of intentions to thoroughly utilize the S-rank esper.
To citizens he was a hero, and among ability users he was an idol, but in the Association’s treatment he was merely top-grade manpower good for working to the bone.
“A banquet after the memorial service…”
How nice, the food will surely go down smoothly.
Swallowing his true feelings, Baek Uihyeon checked the memorial hall’s location and showed puzzlement.
“How long will it take to the next location?”
“Travel time is estimated to be around one hour.”
“Then why?”
Though the rest was omitted, it was a question asking why they were wasting travel time. The situation where not even a guide—let alone even a simple guiding machine—was prepared was absurd enough to be ridiculous.
“You have a matching test scheduled with an A-rank guide in the afternoon. Until then, the Association President conveyed that you should refrain from guiding as much as possible.”
“Haha, the Association President should awaken as well.”
Then they’d know how utterly nonsensical and violent a demand that statement was.
Most of all, the important matter of finding an esper’s lifeline wasn’t even included in the schedule. If he didn’t make time in between, he’d miss even the opportunity.
“Could you hurry within the regulation speed? I really want to participate in the matching test.”
“I’ll do my best.”
At the staff member’s calm attitude, Baek Uihyeon swallowed the pain gnawing inside his body and gave his habitual smile. The composure of these people who couldn’t endure even 10% of the pain he experienced, though he’d grown used to it, sometimes scratched at his insides. About to pull at his combat uniform in frustration, he merely rubbed around his neck area and steadied his breathing. For him, patience was a virtue he had to carry for life.
* * *
“Guide Han Seoha, your matching rate has gone up.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Your average compatibility is higher than other guides too. Most of all, your guiding efficiency is high.”
Since Han Seoha had almost no guiding experience aside from Ryu Jaegeon, his guiding information was limited. At best, his guiding efficiency was just barely enough to be taken as a partner by Ryu Jaegeon, making him think even C-rank was too generous.
“Was I helpful?”
“You call that a question? If another guide asked that, I’d be annoyed at the false modesty.”
“I’m sorry…”
To Han Seoha, who immediately shrank back, the Matching Department Team Leader tapped the monitor and explained.
“Ten B-rank espers showed significant changes in their numbers with just the first guiding session. And that was with guiding of less than 10 minutes.”
To Han Seoha, who was gauging how to react, the team leader gave a thumbs up.
“Don’t decide hastily today, let’s test a bit more. If it goes well, your rank might even change.”
“R-really?”
How happy he must have been—Han Seoha’s smile was bright enough to burst like a flower bud. The team leader’s mood improved along with it and he was about to smile when his expression crumpled at the following words.
“Then since the rank difference would be just one, maybe Jaegeon could also again…”
Han Seoha, who had been excited, turned deathly pale the moment he realized what he had said. He covered his own mouth and lowered his head.
After a brief silence, a young staff member draped a blanket over Han Seoha’s trembling shoulders.
“Guide Han Seoha. If you become B-rank, you could catch plenty of other A-ranks, but only Esper Ryu Jaegeon comes to mind?”
“No. Jaegeon has Guide Yu Haneul. It’s just, it came out from habit. It was nonsense.”
Though he called it nonsense, his eyes were full of moisture. Because Han Seoha forced a smile, tears welled up and flowed down. Startled, Han Seoha lowered his head, and from here and there tissues were pulled out. Han Seoha, receiving an armful in both hands, bowed his head in thanks to each staff member one by one.
To ventilate the situation that had changed from a festive atmosphere to a funeral home, the team leader pulled out a card.
“Lunchtime passed ages ago. Everyone stop acting like workaholics and go eat.”
“Gasp, it’s already past 1 o’clock.”
“I got too absorbed because the guiding data was coming out so well.”
“Guide Han Seoha, do you like raw fish? There’s an amazing yukhoe place.”
“Jaegeon doesn’t like yukhoe… Ah, no. I eat anything without being picky.”
The atmosphere that had barely been lifted became laden with awkward air again. By this point, everyone couldn’t help but notice.
That for the past year, Han Seoha’s life had been as if subordinate to Ryu Jaegeon. Even after breaking up, he thought of Ryu Jaegeon first when seeing something good, and naturally thought of him even during meals eaten alone.
Han Seoha had adjusted everything to Ryu Jaegeon. And was abandoned. A foolishly good person who couldn’t even express his disappointment. They wanted to help him match with even a slightly better esper.
Having thought this far, one staff member put down the outerwear they were about to wear and sat down at their desk.
“Everyone go eat. I’ll look at the data some more.”
“I also feel like I missed something earlier, so I need to check. Team Leader, when you come back, please get me a sandwich and strong coffee.”
“Should I also pull up a list of A-rank espers without pairs?”
As they sat back down one by one, the team leader handed the card to the youngest as if he couldn’t help it.
“Making the team leader run errands so you can have fun among yourselves. Move over, it’s faster if I plug in my card key and share the matching data in real-time.”
The ordinary office workers who normally hated additional work beyond their assigned duties became proactive after witnessing one person’s misfortune in real-time.
Naturally, Han Seoha ended up sitting in the dedicated chair for the matching test, but unlike before, he had nothing to do due to the enthusiasm of the staff members carefully searching for a new esper.
‘Normally I wouldn’t have been able to stay here until this time. If it goes well, I might naturally run into the S-rank.’
The original plan was to linger in the hallway after the matching test ended, guiding the remaining espers who couldn’t be sent away, buying time. Buying time until the S-rank esper arrived so he could discover the mild guide being exploited.
It would be even better if they ran into each other during the matching test rather than an uncertain plan.
‘This is fortunate. The risk of being caught while faking a coincidence has disappeared.’
His heart felt much lighter now that the risk of the public opinion toward Han Seoha, which had just started to improve, being smashed into the ground had disappeared.
Han Seoha deliberately kept his mouth slightly open and his gaze averted to avoid showing his busily working thoughts.
‘But something feels heavy.’
Something like a weighty energy seemed to be felt beyond the door, and then a gust of wind blew in.
Unlike with Ryu Jaegeon, it wasn’t a wave flying in from exerting power. The unstably rampaging esper wave was the magnitude of power that entity inherently possessed and revealed how lacking in guiding they were.
Unlike Han Seoha, who was flustered by the suffocating anxiety, the staff members hadn’t noticed yet.
That an S-rank esper had stormed in as a predator.
