# Chapter 45
Junseo was still smiling. His pitch-black eyes blinked slowly.
“You’d leave the stability of headquarters because you can’t control a moment of anger? People with lots of greed like Esper Seo Jaesik couldn’t do such a thing. They’d avoid someone like me as much as possible, since there’s no benefit to bothering me, only headaches.”
“What do you mean I have a lot of greed?”
Junseo didn’t answer Jaesik’s question. Even swallowing saliva didn’t ease the burning in his throat. The questions continued.
“And what’s your reason for hovering around Choi Dohyuk? Didn’t you dislike all Espers? You’re his partner Guide?”
In truth, Jaesik thought Junseo would have an inferiority complex. His pride must have been deeply wounded by merely awakening as a Guide. Being unable to reign as an Esper, he must feel ashamed of himself and instead be antagonistic toward Espers. Despite recent talk about Guide Protection Laws and research on weapon development for Guides, the perception of most Espers still remained similar to the past.
Guides who, except for guiding, couldn’t be distinguished from ordinary people.
They were inferior to Espers as ability users. It was ridiculous that they would talk about their rights after every situation ended, when they were hiding in the safest places during combat. How much better the world had become compared to the Second Upheaval. Yet they were still unsatisfied, complaining about welfare and equality, which was disgraceful. After all, it was the Espers who risked dangers at the frontlines. Guides should not be greedy and just take what they were given.
Below Espers, only what Espers permitted.
And Yu Junseo, who acted so high and mighty, was just a Guide too.
What did it matter if he was S-class and from a good family? He was still just a Guide. He wasn’t even a Guide with high matching rates with other Espers, having to partner with someone like criminal Choi Dohyuk, let alone prestigious S-class Espers. Frankly, he was useless. If his prestigious family hadn’t backed him up, Yu Junseo probably wouldn’t have received good treatment at headquarters either. In fact, judging by the atmosphere now, wasn’t he treated like pretty garbage who couldn’t even properly receive missions?
“Are there Guides who dislike Espers with high matching rates?”
“Why don’t you reconsider? Let me ask again. Are you covering for Esper Choi Dohyuk even while knowing the rumors?”
“Those rumors you mentioned earlier?”
“Yes. Isn’t it usually the case that those who pretend to be docile are the most dangerous? Have you seen the extent of corpse mutilation? It was wretched, to the point where even the teeth had corroded.”
“Is that so?”
When Junseo responded with a furrowed brow, Jaesik’s voice became even more forceful.
“Of course. I’m saying this because I’m worried that Guide Yu Junseo seems to lack a sense of reality. Especially Espers become more violent when they need guiding. I’m saying this as an Esper myself, but sometimes there are moments when I want to tear things up as they appear. The point is, the more unstable an Esper’s mind is, the most dangerous it is for the Guide. Why don’t you come to your senses and distance yourself from such a murderer? Since the partner relationship can also be terminated unilaterally…”
Junseo finally burst out laughing. Only Jaesik was dumbfounded at that laughter. Junseo whispered softly toward Jaesik, who was staring at him.
“Ah, sorry. It’s just a bit funny because it’s too obvious. Why are you trying so hard to separate me from Esper Choi Dohyuk?”
“What are you saying! I’m just telling you this out of pity!”
“There’s no other reason? I’m suspicious because someone who has no reason to sympathize with me is worried about me. Frankly speaking, wouldn’t you be happy if something happened to me from Esper Choi Dohyuk?”
Jaesik’s expression crumpled miserably.
“You judge others without manners. I try to tell you something, and you do as you please! Is life so easy for Guide Yu Junseo? Is that why you always act so arrogant?”
“Is life difficult for Esper Seo Jaesik?”
“If life weren’t difficult, would I be here like this with Guide Yu Junseo?”
Jaesik retorted as if in disbelief.
Junseo’s innocent questioning continued.
“I wonder. Why are you here like this?”
“I’m here like this because I want to be like—”
“Why are you here like this, trying to make Esper Choi Dohyuk go berserk when there’s nothing to gain for you?”
“Excuse me?”
When Jaesik asked back, Junseo raised his eyebrow as if wondering why he was asking again. A poetry book placed on the wooden chair fluttered slightly whenever the wind blew. It was an anxious sight, as if the cover might turn over, but no one was focused on it.
Junseo smiled with his eyes. His expression, which had been full of a languid air that made him seem almost helpless, changed brightly in an instant as if watercolors had been splashed. Even knowing that Junseo had a nasty personality, Jaesik couldn’t help but choke on his breath for a short moment at that brilliant transformation, belatedly frowning.
“Why are you pretending not to know? Why did you follow all the way here and try to isolate Esper Choi Dohyuk?”
While speaking lightly, Junseo watched Jaesik’s expression. His gentle eye shape easily hid his sharp eyes.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just wanted to share information about a dangerous person for safety…”
“The quality of guiding varies depending on the level of communication between the Esper and Guide. Even with the same matching rate, there can be a clear difference of about 10-20%. I just wonder if you were trying to isolate someone in the dungeon by spreading malicious rumors, and affect the guiding through plummeted trust.”
“…That’s sophistry. What I said wasn’t a malicious rumor but the truth. And an Esper doesn’t immediately go berserk just because guiding is insufficient.”
“So isn’t that why Esper Seo Jaesik came all the way here? To make sure. It wouldn’t be too difficult to deal with an A-class who couldn’t receive proper guiding, right?”
When Jaesik fell silent, Junseo’s eyes narrowed. Still staring at Jaesik as if observing something intently, he tilted his head. Jaesik, who had been captivated by those eyes, belatedly answered.
“I have no obligation to answer. It’s all Guide Yu Junseo’s conjecture!”
“Conjecture? But right now you’re…”
It was just as Junseo reached out his hand and took one more step towards Jaesik.
[Something approaching from the north of the base! Currently conducting additional scans. Over.]
Hansol’s voice, who had been continuously scanning the surroundings, was heard through the in-ear.
Not long after, the radio was briefly added again.
[Based on scan results, presumed to be Esper Choi Dohyuk. Over.]
Afterward, Hansol requested Dohyuk’s response a couple of times. It was definitely a radio transmission that would have been conveyed to Dohyuk as well, but there was no response whatsoever.
“Guides and support-type Espers standby at the base. I and Esper Seo Jaesik will confirm. Over.”
Junseo instructed while quickly moving to the northern boundary.
“Esper Seo Jaesik, follow me immediately. We’ll continue the remaining conversation later.”
Even during this time, Hansol’s voice continued steadily.
[24 seconds later. Expected arrival at the designated point. Over.]
[Still only one person presumed to be Esper Choi Dohyuk. Over.]
Junseo ran to the point that Hansol had guided. A shadow was walking in from beyond, with the forest behind its back. As it approached, the clearly visible figure was indeed Dohyuk. However, compared to his usual impression, there were many strange points.
Dohyuk’s eyes were extremely hazy. It felt like he was struggling to hold onto a floating consciousness, trying to focus.
“Esper Choi Dohyuk, where is Esper Ji Sangjun?”
Arriving late and seeing Dohyuk in a worse state than expected, Jaesik spoke with a sharp tone. His tone was suspicious of Dohyuk first for Sangjun’s empty place. But Dohyuk didn’t grant even a single glance to Jaesik, only staring at Junseo.
“Esper Choi Dohyuk found. Will confirm now. Over.”
Junseo left a radio message to Hansol and slowly walked towards him.
As he got closer, Dohyuk’s staggering appearance was clearly visible. Dohyuk seemed to recognize Junseo at the approaching presence, as he raised his tired gaze. His brown eyes, different from usual, were of a sticky color and swirled while fully containing Junseo. The wind blew. The shadow drawn by a tall tree and Dohyuk’s shadow intertwined and rippled together.
Dohyuk opened his mouth.
“…Junseo.”
Strangely, it felt like a blindly devoted tone.
At that voice, Junseo hurried a bit more.
What had happened during the search? Dohyuk’s choker was glowing yellow.
“Hyung, are you back?”
Finally, Junseo, who had come very close to Dohyuk, greeted him as if meeting his owner who he had been waiting for all day. His lively eyes shone brightly under the sunlight. His long eyelashes smile deeply enough to touch his aegyo-sal.
As Junseo approached him, the smile on Dohyuk’s face deepened. It was a drowsy smile, intertwined with his ambiguously focused gaze.
“Yu Junseo.”
A large hand touched his cheek. It was a rough hand with firmly imprinted marks, clearly having lived a life doing plenty of hard work. Junseo, who was about to rub his face against that hand as if being coquettish, quietly looked into Dohyuk’s eyes. The strangely cool fingertips clung to his skin.
Junseo examined the face that was quietly approaching him. The cold face, thoroughly soaked in a gentle smile, was soft like bread dipped in milk. It was obvious that it would melt the moment it touched his lips. It was incredibly sweet just to taste with his eyes.
