Since even the contours of his muscles were thoroughly concealed beneath the fabric of his clothes, Yoon Minoh could only smack his lips in disappointment. However, Yeo Dowoon remained unmoved.
After all, I set foot in the base to serve as a Guide, not as an Esper in the first place.
“Don’t get distracted and follow me. The route’s complicated.”
According to the briefing, today’s training location was a simulation research facility constructed in the shape of a circular dome.
They should have waited for the designated vehicle and departed according to proper procedures, but Yeo Dowoon took a detour on foot.
Even with the disadvantage of wasting about 20 minutes, it was tolerable enough. Because it had the powerful advantage of not having to encounter those little shits like Baek Seonwoo, Ko Ijae, and Cha Uihyeon.
Yoon Minoh was also tempted by the fact that he could be alone with Yeo Dowoon, so he didn’t particularly complain. He just chatted away with an energetic face like a puppy out for a walk.
“Want to grab some beer after work?”
“No.”
“What about a movie? Let’s go to the theater and eat popcorn.”
“I hate popcorn.”
“Hyung, you have such a fucking vast and extensive range of foods you hate. Is there anything you don’t hate?”
As they arrived at the research facility, Yeo Dowoon abruptly stopped and muttered.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been here too.”
Sulking at his lack of response, Yoon Minoh, who had been absorbed in observing the surrounding scenery, exclaimed noisily.
“Crazy. It looks like a scene from a sci-fi movie. Since when did our country’s technology get this good?”
No matter how much modern science had advanced dramatically in the 21st century, witnessing the evolution of civilization with one’s own eyes was bound to evoke a unique sense of wonder.
Since it was a time when VR technology and AR technology were beginning to be commercialized, it was natural to be amazed.
“In any country, the speed of military technology development is tremendous. This is just a tiny fraction of it.”
Yeo Dowoon answered while standing at the entrance of the research facility and placing his wrist against it. Each Esper had an individual identification code input into their wrist.
Unlike other training facilities that were accessed through officially authorized permits, this place was a biometric-focused building with a unique entry method.
Yoon Minoh grabbed Yeo Dowoon’s arm tightly with an even more excited look. He immediately whispered.
“This is crazy, hyung. This makes me feel like I’ve really become a movie protagonist and I’m getting excited.”
“Let go. It’s hot.”
“Hnnng… The building seems a bit small though. But the way it looks is totally cool and flashy.”
He muttered strange exclamations as he glanced around the building.
The construction area of the simulation research facility was approximately 510㎡, which was neither excessive nor inadequate for a training facility. However, once you went down to the first basement floor and faced the training grounds that were hollowed out like tunnels, you couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.
“…Why the hell did they make us train in shitty places until now?”
“Stop it. You’ll only realize which is shittier after experiencing it firsthand.”
According to the nickname circulating among Espers, it was known as the ‘ant hole.’ A place with a stark difference from typical facilities that trained by pitting abilities against each other within a set range.
Here, the simulation system measured both the maximum and limit of an Esper’s abilities all at once. And Yeo Dowoon didn’t particularly like that method.
Yeo Dowoon, who coldly shook off the warm palm, added.
“If you think of it like a field trip, you’ll get burned badly.”
He continued matter-of-factly.
“Unless it’s a particularly tricky operation, they don’t conduct simulation training. This is proof that this operation’s difficulty level is considerable.”
As Yoon Minoh tilted his head, Yeo Dowoon adjusted the top two buttons of his training uniform that were undone and recited.
“Every time we do a training session, we all wake up in the medical ward the next day.”
“……”
“If it were just aching all over, it wouldn’t even be a problem.”
Espers had to enter their assigned chambers, log into the virtual reality system, and use their abilities until the possibility of going berserk reached a high-risk level.
But they weren’t literally training by using their abilities.
Before entering their respective ‘holes,’ they wore silver control bracelets. These were devices that measured the wavelengths and performed input and output even without actually emitting abilities.
Even though there were no abilities bursting forth externally, the simulation system operated the program as if real abilities were being manifested.
Swoosh. Beyond the door that opened smoothly without any unpleasant noise, researchers holding charts were gathered in small groups. They, who had been exchanging words with quite serious expressions, turned their gaze.
“Oh? Dowoon-ssi, you’re here?”
A man wearing rimless glasses raised his voice as if encountering someone unexpected. After quickly flipping through the chart to check the names on the list, he spoke in a puzzled voice.
“But Dowoon-ssi’s name isn’t listed here… Just a moment.”
It was the moment he was turning to go check again.
“You don’t need to do that. I just stopped by briefly to drop this guy off.”
Yeo Dowoon, who gently pushed Yoon Minoh’s back forward, gestured at the researchers with his chin.
“Go over there.”
“…What about you, hyung?”
“I’m not participating in this operation.”
It was the same warning he had given Kwon Jeonghoo before.
Yeo Dowoon had neither the will nor the desire to complete a collaboration with Guides. Today he was merely acting as Yoon Minoh’s guide. And it seemed like a good idea to convey his intentions as well while he was at it.
“Please deliver this to Director Kwon Hyeokun word for word, without omitting a single syllable.”
Since Kwon Jeonghoo wouldn’t accept it no matter how many hundred times he said it, he planned to use the researchers as a communication channel. He didn’t care what penalty he’d receive for failing to comply with orders.
“What kind of shamelessness approved the plan to shove Guides into Gate suppression?”
“Huh? Dowoon-ssi, what do you mean by that…”
“I read the operation proposal and also checked both the alpha and beta versions of the simulation files.”
These were materials that reinforced his conviction that it couldn’t all be Kwon Jeonghoo’s conception. Who was it that taught him about his mission and spirit of sacrifice as an Esper?
It was Kwon Jeonghoo, that bastard.
“This operation… it would be better to urgently suspend it. If you don’t want to follow the same path as the Gyeonggi Province branch’s annihilation, which feels like just yesterday.”
The hall began to stir at the shocking statement.
“Hyung. Why are you suddenly like this?”
Only Yoon Minoh, who had never actually met Kwon Hyeokun, was puzzled as he couldn’t follow the atmosphere that was rapidly escalating. He didn’t understand why the Director was being brought up here.
It was when Yeo Dowoon, having finished what he had to say, took a breath in and let it out.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you at the research facility, Dowoon.”
The sound of sturdy walking boots echoed. Smack, the sound of leather straps striking the floor also wafted along with it.
“You’re still as arrogant as ever.”
Yeo Dowoon let out a groan-like sigh and looked at the left corridor.
There, a tall woman with lush curly hair and bronze skin, her hair swept to one side, was walking toward them.
Dark eyes embedded beneath thick eyebrows looked at Yoon Minoh, who was clinging to Yeo Dowoon’s side.
‘What the hell, this woman.’
Yoon Minoh also glanced at her with suspicious eyes.
From her, with her entire body covered by a coat the same color as her hair, an atmosphere that seemed to overwhelm others emanated just by standing still.
“…Your face looks very familiar. Don’t tell me you’re the rookie who got his belly pierced?”
She asked, lowering the corners of her eyes lengthily. Her gloved hands clapped together.
“I heard you’re the youngest team member in 7 years, but you got stuck with a troublemaker? Congratulations in many ways, Dowoon.”
At that, the atmosphere that had been like thin ice seemed to loosen for a moment. But it was too early to let one’s guard down.
“Hyung. Who is that woman? Her way of speaking is really suspicious.”
Yoon Minoh asked in whispers while glaring at her.
Yeo Dowoon felt a sense of kinship, thinking this bastard’s memory was also at goldfish level. Come to think of it, that day he had been unconscious with his belly pierced, so maybe it was a predetermined outcome.
“Gu Seohyun.”
Yeo Dowoon informed him in a low voice. Gu Seohyun responded cheerfully.
“Where did you sell off calling me noona?”
“…Right, Seohyun noona. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you at the training ground.”
Only then did Gu Seohyun snap her jaw. As Yeo Dowoon lowered his tail without fighting back, Yoon Minoh questioned him.
“What is this. Why are you acting like this? Who is that person…”
“I have a message to deliver.”
But he had no opening to wedge into their conversation.
As Gu Seohyun approached slowly, Yoon Minoh had his attention completely stolen by the electric currents that bounced up each time her walking boot heels touched the floor.
“As of today, Suppression Team Gu Seohyun will be joining the <Atlantis> Project.”
She was a person who seemed to have materialized glittering electric currents. Even using third-person reference to herself, she didn’t give off a naive feeling at all, only heightening the tension.
Whoosh! A whip flew and landed at Yeo Dowoon’s feet. While Yeo Dowoon himself was unfazed, Yoon Minoh was startled and jumped around.
“Fuck, what is this!”
“If Delta Yeo Dowoon refuses to carry out the operation, he will be immediately suppressed.”
Having simply explained the mission assigned to her, she spoke as if it were regrettable.
“I heard Jeonghoo has a headache because of you…”
“……”
“I’m thinking this. Not having your head screwed on straight is probably a disease you can’t fix even when you’re older.”
She was Kwon Jeonghoo’s colleague from when he joined and had served as Yeo Dowoon’s second training instructor.
