Table of Content

Table of Content
Intro
Prologue
Chapter 1. Part 1
Chapter 1. Part 2
Chapter 1. Part 3
Chapter 1. Part 4
Chapter 1. Part 5
Chapter 1. Part 6
Chapter 1. Part 7
Chapter 1. Part 8
Chapter 1. Part 9
Chapter 1. Part 10
Chapter 1. Part 11
Chapter 1. Part 12 [PG-18]
Chapter 1. Part 13
Chapter 1. Part 14
Chapter 1. Part 15
Chapter 1. Part 16. PG-[18]
Chapter 1. Part 17
Chapter 1. Part 18
Chapter 1. Part 19
Chapter 1. Part 20
Chapter 1. Part 21
Chapter 1. Part 22
Chapter 1. Part 23 [PG-18]
Chapter 2. Part 1
Chapter 2. Part 2
Chapter 2. Part 3
Chapter 2. Part 4
Chapter 2. Part 5
Chapter 2. Part 6
Chapter 2. Part 7
Chapter 2. Part 8
Chapter 2. Part 9
Chapter 2. Part 10
Chapter 2. Part 11
Chapter 2. Part 12
Chapter 2. Part 13
Chapter 3. Part 1 [PG-18]
Chapter 3. Part 2
Chapter 3. Part 3
Chapter 3. Part 4
Chapter 3. Part 5
Chapter 3. Part 6
Chapter 3. Part 7
Chapter 4. Part 1
Chapter 4. Part 2
Chapter 4. Part 3
Chapter 4. Part 4
Chapter 4. Part 5
Chapter 4. Part 6 [PG-18]
Chapter 4. Part 7
Chapter 4. Part 8
Chapter 4. Part 9
Chapter 4. Part 10
Chapter 4. Part 11
Chapter 4. Part 12
Chapter 4. Part 13
Chapter 5. Part 1
Chapter 5. Part 2
Chapter 5. Part 3
Chapter 5. Part 4
Chapter 5. Part 5 [PG-18]
Chapter 5. Part 6
Chapter 5. Part 7
Chapter 6. Part 1
Chapter 6. Part 2
Chapter 6. Part 3
Chapter 6. Part 4
Chapter 6. Part 5
Chapter 6. Part 6
Chapter 6. Part 7
Chapter 6. Part 8
Chapter 6. Part 9
Chapter 7. Part 1
Chapter 7. Part 2
Chapter 7. Part 3
Chapter 7. Part 4
Chapter 7. Part 5 [PG-18]
Chapter 7. Part 6
Chapter 7. Part 7
Chapter 7. Part 8
Chapter 7. Part 9
Chapter 7. Part 10 [PG-18]
Chapter 7. Part 11
Chapter 7. Part 12
Chapter 7. Part 13
Chapter 7. Part 14
Chapter 7. Part 15
Chapter 7. Part 16
Chapter 7. Part 17
Epilogue. Part 1
Epilogue. Part 2
Epilogue. Part 3 [PG-18]
Epilogue. Part 4
Epilogue. Part 5
Epilogue. Part 6
Epilogue. Part 7
Epilogue. Part 8 [PG-18]
Epilogue. Part 9
 Intro
Lee Yeon, a B-grade Guide, just wanted to live unnoticed.
He concealed his looks and his abilities. Square glasses that no
one would choose to wear, a giant mask, a fringe that covered
half his eyes… He simply wanted a quiet life. But it seems like
he’s caught the attention of a madman.
“Guide Lee Yeon is quite eye-catching. Makes me want to
break him.”
Tae Ha-Jin, an S-grade esper, used every trick in the book to
strip away Yeon’s façade. But then, the bastard started to
change.

“What have you done to me, Yeon?”

No. Our relationship had changed.

“Lee Yeon, is your fishing ground that vast?” The man

continued with a smooth curl of his lips. “To the point where
you can leave a big catch like me unfed and locked up?”

*Door: A potential catastrophe that could occur anywhere at

any time. When that door opens, all sorts of monsters pour out.
 Prologue
“Hello, are you here for a reawakening test?” The woman’s
voice dripped with boredom.
It was tiresome. Several people came in daily for reawakening
tests. It wasn’t like just anyone could reawaken, but if there
were any strange symptoms, they showed up, holding onto a
sliver of hope.
The clerk glanced indifferently at the paper the man handed
over. It contained his personal information:

Name: Lee Yeon

Age: 25
Gender: Male
Current Status: B-Grade Guide

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a guide.”

She looked up and studied the man with the delicate name
“Lee Yeon.” His face was mostly covered by a large mask and
square glasses that seemed barely usable. His bangs nearly
covered his eyes.
‘Is he a criminal?’ It was a reasonable suspicion. Why else
would he need to hide his face? His exposed skin was so pale
it looked like he might die at any moment. Was the mask
covering up an illness? His expression was unreadable, hidden
behind it. Only his hazel eyes caught her attention briefly.
“I have an appointment. How much longer do I have to wait?”
His voice was pleasant. The woman pulled out a file and
flipped through it quickly.
“You’re scheduled for 3 PM.”
“What? 3 PM?”
“Yes.”
The man was silent for a moment, then sighed and rubbed his
forehead with his pale hand, his hair falling over his eyes.
“I was told 9 AM.”
The employee frowned. How could people be so careless
about time when the assessment center was so busy? There
was already a line behind the man. She wanted to get rid of
this annoying customer quickly.
“The center opens at 9 AM. It’s not logical to have a
reawakening appointment at that time,” she said coldly. The
man sighed quietly and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry,” he said, leaving the desk and walking out the
door. Hidden by the desk, his tall figure and neat clothes
became apparent. His well-shaped shoulders made him look
good.
The employee turned to the next customer.
“Welcome.”
After eight years at the desk, she had a feeling.
This Lee Yeon guy, he’s going to fail the reawakening.

“That fucking bastard…” Yeon cursed under his breath as he

exited the building. He couldn’t believe he was undergoing a
reassessment, but that jerk had given him the wrong time on
purpose.

Lately, he had been working non-stop until 5 AM. Waking up

at 8 and dragging himself here, only to find out his
appointment was at 3 PM, was infuriating.
“Why is this happening to me?” He grumbled, ruffling his hair
as he crossed the parking lot.
Yeon just wanted to live quietly. His goal was to live a long,
uneventful life. He hid his unusual appearance and abilities to
ensure a peaceful future. But he had ended up getting involved
with a madman.
He shut his car door with a bang, reclined the seat, and closed
his eyes, trying to rest. He needed to make the most of the
unexpected free time.
Knock, knock.
Just as he was dozing off, someone knocked on his window. A
security guard stood there.
“Lower the window, please!”
The guard was already annoyed, but Yeon understood.
Monday mornings made everyone cranky.
He lowered the window, and the guard looked at him
suspiciously, as if he were a criminal. Wearing a black hat to
sleep more comfortably probably didn’t help.
“What’s the problem?”
“Move your car, now!”
The guard waved his hand impatiently.
“…I’m a patient at this hospital. This is the hospital’s parking
lot. Should I show you my registration slip?”
“That’s not the issue. Can’t you see? The parking lot is full,
and a VIP can’t get in.”
Full, huh?
Yeon blinked slowly. The lot had been sparse when he arrived.
Looking around, he saw it was now packed with black cars.
Regardless of the reason, he didn’t see why he had to move his
car.

“Why should I be the one to move?” he asked calmly.

The guard scoffed. “Because you’re the only one here who can
move their car right now. You seem like an abnormal type too.
Don’t provoke the VIP, just move your car.”
VIP.
Another word for S-Grade abnormal type.
Yeon smiled bitterly, biting his tongue. The world was unfair.
It wasn’t just that people were categorised by rank; the
problem was that these ranks were based on inherent
“blessings,” not effort. If a highly ranked S-Grade was
arriving, others had to move their cars to make way.
Not wanting more trouble, Yeon shifted his car.
‘Where am I supposed to park now?’ he thought, driving out
of the lot. As he turned, a limousine stopped next to his car.
The tinted window rolled down slowly.
When the man’s face was revealed, people’s attention was
immediately drawn.
“Hey, look! Isn’t that esper Tae Ha-Jin ?”
“Where? Wow, he’s really handsome.”
“He dealt with the Yellow Door incident yesterday.”
“I saw it on the news. He killed dozens of monsters in one
strike.” Listening to the girls gossip, Yeon chuckled.
‘What’s the use of a pretty face?’ To Yeon, Tae Ha-Jin was
nothing but a demon.
And he was the demon’s cursed victim.
Their eyes met. Those red eyes had a talent for stirring up
anger.
“You’re early,” Tae Ha-Jin said in a lazy tone, slightly
smirking. It was a look he often gave Yeon, a mix of mockery,
disdain, and curiosity.
Yeon’s anger flared up again.
‘I’m early because of you.’
His jaw tightened reflexively. If there were no laws, he would
have pointed a gun at Tae Ha-Jin right then. Tae Ha-Jin,
enjoying Yeon’s expression, chuckled.
“See you at 3.”

With that, the window rolled up, and the limousine moved
forward. Yeon stood there, speechless, suddenly realizing
something.
The suddenly full parking lot.
The sudden appearance of black cars.
The bodyguards pouring out of them.
This unnatural scene…
“Hahaha.”
Yeon laughed, burying his head in the steering wheel.
It’s really funny. Does an S-Grade Esper, who could single-
handedly destroy a nation, really need bodyguards? Enough to
fill a parking lot and chase away innocent people?
This was another one of Ha-Jin’s schemes to torment him.
“That fucking bastard…”
Yeon wasn’t usually one to curse. But after meeting Ha-Jin,
his temper had gotten worse.
Ha-Jin was dedicated. He wasted high-level manpower and
even visited the hospital himself to mess with Yeon.
He deserves a round of applause.
“Looks like my luck is terrible this year.”
Yeon ended up parking far from the hospital. Everything was
going according to Ha-Jin’s plan. He spent the remaining time
wandering and arrived back at the hospital around 1:30 PM.
He had a reason for coming early.
The reawakening test room was on the third basement floor.
He aimed for the empty lunch hour.
As Yeon entered the hallway, he reached out and absorbed the
CCTV camera in the ceiling corner with his left hand. It
seemed to disintegrate into thin air.
Without hesitation, he walked to the large door.

Reawakening Test Room

To enter, he needed an authorized access card or to input a
code. Watching the security device with a frown, Yeon sighed.
“It’s been a while.”
Using his father’s power.
His expression hardened as he took out his wallet. A black
card he hadn’t touched in years came into view. This card was
both a credit card with no limit and an ID card. There was
nowhere Yeon couldn’t enter with his father’s identity in
government buildings.
Beep!
Welcome, Director Lee Hong-Joon.
The security device automatically opened the door upon
scanning the card.
The spacious room was dim. As he stepped inside, Yeon
frowned. The large test room’s walls were filled with complex
machinery.
Reawakening test machines. His father had developed these
too.
Click, clack, clack.
Yeon operated the machine with familiarity. Having handled
many machines in his father’s lab, this was easy.
Green light emitted from the machine as it powered up.
Whirr!
“No security Esper stationed, huh.”
Yeon clicked his tongue as he looked around the room. It was
complacent. The machine was difficult to operate for non-
experts and too large to steal.
The government wouldn’t expect a mere B-Grade guide to be
able to handle such a complex machine.
Whirr!
S+ Grade Guide
Yeon flipped the switch and placed his hands on the circular
controller. The reawakening test began. Within seconds, his
guide grade appeared on the screen.
A+ Grade Esper
“I knew it.”
He almost revealed his hidden grade.
Yeon had dual bloodlines. Normally, humans could only
possess one trait. Someone with two traits like Yeon was a
once-in-a-century rarity. And with both grades being
extremely high, it was unprecedented. In addition to a top
grade as a guide, he also possessed the power of absorption as
an esper.
Yeon hid it to live a quiet life. He wasn’t interested in the
political and public attention it would bring.
Whirrrr! “How do you control this damn thing…” The
machine seemed unable to accept the test results, alternately
displaying two different outcomes. Then it registered an error,
and [ERROR] filled the screen.
A powerful abnormal type can mess with machines. Lee Yeon
recalled a time long ago when his presence disrupted a tester at
his father’s lab. He rolled his eyes and placed his hands back
on the device.
Whirrrr!
This time, the machine took minutes instead of seconds to
analyse his type. Finally, it displayed a new result.
[B0-Grade Guide]
The letters he’d been hoping for finally appeared. He had
practised this many times to deceive everyone. Satisfied with
the confused machine, Lee Yeon erased all records and
smoothly exited the testing room.

It was now 3 PM. Several high-ranking officials from the

capital centre and one S-grade Esper were gathered around the
testing room. In the solemn atmosphere, the officials
whispered among themselves, glancing at the arms-crossed
Esper.
“Why did Tae Ha-Jin Esper order a test for a B-Grade guide?”
“He said there’s something suspicious.”
“Really? But according to the records, Lee Yeon’s
performance is typical for a B0-Grade. No signs of re-
awakening.”
“Well, what can we do? Tae Ha-Jin Esper is in charge. Let’s
see what happens.”
Ha-Jin was quietly observing Lee Yeon. As Lee Yeon placed
his hands on the device again, he could feel the intense gaze
on him. The practice run made the test go quickly.
[B0-Grade Guide]
Silence filled the room. Lee Yeon hid his pleased smile behind
his mask. The officials, uncertain, looked at Ha-Jin for his
reaction. His face remained expressionless.
His piercing red eyes only seemed to scour Lee Yeon’s
exterior. That penetrating gaze made everyone hold their
breath.
“Tae Ha-Jin Esper-nim, I told you, I’m a B0-Grade guide.”
“…”
“You’ve made the officials waste their time. I apologise on
behalf of Tae Ha-Jin Esper. Why did he put you through
this…”
The implication was clear: it was entirely Tae Ha-Jin’s fault
for making things difficult. Lee Yeon gladly apologised,
hiding a mocking smile behind his square glasses and mask.
He felt a profound sense of relief.
Do you think I’ll dance to your tune?
There’s a limit to tormenting someone. This bastard tried to
expose his secrets in front of everyone. Lee Yeon thought he
could finally sleep soundly tonight.
The officials looked at each other awkwardly.
Then it happened.
“Lee Yeon-ssi.”
Tae Ha-Jin smiled beautifully.
At the same time, Lee Yeon’s expression hardened. When he
smiled like that, Lee Yeon always ended up at a disadvantage.
“Let’s do it again. Together, this time.”
…What?
Lee Yeon couldn’t believe his ears.
“To me, it seems like the machine is going haywire.”
Then, Tae Ha-Jin strode towards the machine. Seeing his long
strides, Lee Yeon’s eyes wavered.
This can’t happen.
“You mad bastard…!”
“What are you doing? Get over here.”
He was an S+ Grade Esper, renowned as the strongest. If they
tested together, the machine might miss his disruption. That
would expose his hidden dual type to the officials.
Lee Yeon stood frozen, and Tae Ha-Jin motioned with his
chin. He was already placing his hands on the device.
“Ah… Fuck.”
The hospital staff were preparing to start the machine for a
simultaneous test. They seemed tense, as simultaneous tests
were rare and involved both officials and an S-Grade Esper.
Lee Yeon approached the device, feeling like a beast being led
to slaughter. Standing beside Tae Ha-Jin, he smelled a familiar,
heavy scent. He had encountered it a few times before.
“Do we really need to do this, Esper-nim?”
Lee Yeon asked as he placed his hands on the device. They
both stared down at their respective machines. Tae Ha-Jin
replied calmly.
“I’ve given you plenty of chances. Lee Yeon-ssi just ignored
them.”
Lee Yeon looked up at Tae Ha-Jin incredulously and scoffed.
“Chances? All I remember are threats.”
“Those were all opportunities.”
“…”
Their eyes met.
Tae Ha-Jin’s expression was sincere. Lee Yeon was at a loss
for words.
“Giving two opportunities is deadly.”
Attempting to talk had been his mistake. Lee Yeon turned back
to the machine. The simultaneous test was nearly ready. The
staff moved busily.
As he pondered how to overcome this, Lee Yeon felt his mind
go blank. Tae Ha-Jin spoke to him again.
“Do you think covering your face will hide you?”
Lee Yeon kept silent. Tae Ha-Jin had seen his bare face before.
Lee Yeon thought of his disguise. Only half his eyes were
visible to others. It should be enough. He had lived without
issues for years like this.
“Do you think anyone wants to live like this?”
Some people judged others without knowing a damn thing
about their circumstances. Lee Yeon didn’t bother to explain
himself. It wasn’t worth it.
“The more you hide, the more people like me want to
uncover.”
Tae Ha-Jin spoke softly, as if reciting a principle. Lee Yeon
sneered.
“Only perverts like Tae Ha-Jin-ssi would think that.”
“There are quite a few perverts like me.”
“I’ve never met any.”
Tae Ha-Jin chuckled.
“You must have been walking around with your eyes closed.”
…Why am I even talking to this bastard? Lee Yeon sighed
deeply and closed his eyes.
“Ready! Starting the test now.”
The officials who had been chatting turned their attention to
the test. They were secretly excited. Tae Ha-Jin rarely went to
such lengths. His intuition was notoriously sharp. When he
acted, clear results usually followed.
Whirrrr!
Lee Yeon closed his eyes calmly. He felt his energy being
drawn into the machine. He focused his energy in his hands.
The energy circulating the machine clashed with a foreign
energy nearby. Tae Ha-Jin’s.
A powerful and aggressive energy bore down on him. Tae Ha-
Jin was trying to extract every bit of Lee Yeon’s true energy.
Lee Yeon skilfully diverted his energy, narrowly avoiding
capture.
To display his grade, his energy had to pass through a
detection channel. But Tae Ha-Jin’s energy blocked the
channel like a gatekeeper.
He was determined to drag out the truth by the scruff of its
neck.
‘This won’t do.’
Yeon couldn’t keep avoiding Tae Ha-Jin’s energy forever. But
he couldn’t pass through the passage where Tae Ha-Jin stood
either.
‘What should I do?’
Standing far from Tae Ha-Jin’s energy, he sent a portion
towards the channel. As Tae Ha-Jin’s energy expanded, Lee
Yeon’s energy grabbed it and pulled hard. They wrestled for
control over the waves.
“Oof…”
The pain almost made him cry out.
One half of his energy held onto Tae Ha-Jin’s, allowing itself
to be consumed. The other half, containing only the amount
for a B0-Grade, slipped through the channel.
Whirrrr!
The machine read the remaining energy as B0-Grade. It
automatically absorbed all energy beyond the channel,
including Tae Ha-Jin’s.
The large machine flickered with a fierce green light, as if it
would explode.
Beep!
[S+ Grade Esper]
[B0-Grade Guide]
Both results appeared simultaneously.
“Hah…”
Yeon, panting and in pain, looked at the screen. Tae Ha-Jin
looked down at him with a strange expression.
He seemed to frown.
“You…”
“Wow, it’s my first time seeing an S+ Grade result in person!”
The officials watching clapped and cheered. No one paid
attention to Yeon’s B0 grade result anymore. The appearance
of an S+ grade on the screen was a rare sight. Some officials
discreetly took pictures of Tae Ha-Jin’s grade with their
phones.
“Tae Ha-Jin, it’s okay! Everyone makes mistakes sometimes!”
“Exactly. I’m just glad to witness something so special today.”
Ha-Jin said nothing. He stared intently at the sweating Lee
Yeon, who wiped his brow and looked up at him.
“B0-Grade, that’s me.”
“Lee Yeon-ssi.”
“I hope we won’t have to cross paths again.”
Lee Yeon’s face was stern as he turned away, clearly hoping
never to deal with Tae Ha-Jin again.
Ha-Jin stood still, clenching his fist. The veins on his hand
bulged.
Lee Yeon probably thought he had erased all suspicion.
But Ha-Jin’s doubts had just turned into certainty.
‘Split his energy?’
Energy was like blood flowing through the body, complex and
delicate. Only high-ranking individuals could control it at will.
He had never heard of anyone splitting their energy.
It must have been extremely painful, like tearing his own
flesh.
Most Espers wouldn’t even realise Lee Yeon had done it. Only
a few type abnormal Espers could perceive energy on that
level.
How are you B-Grade?
Who do you think you’re fooling?
Ha-Jin recalled the earlier situation. Even when faced with a
re-awakening test, Lee Yeon had appeared calm. As if he knew
it would show B0-Grade.
But Ha-Jin could bet his life Lee Yeon wasn’t a B0-Grade.
Why was he so confident?
Tae Ha-Jin looked up at the ceiling of the assessment room.
There were no CCTVs here to maintain confidentiality. He
brushed off the officials and headed to the hallway.
“…”
Something was missing.
With a grim expression, he went straight to the security room.
Monitors showing various parts of the building filled the wall.
He pointed at a single black screen among them.
“Is that the third basement level?”
“Yes, but… how did you know?”
“Show me the footage from 1 to 2 PM.” The security staff
blinked in confusion.
Was this the rumored S-Grade…?
Even in this hospital, S-Grade abnormal types were rare. The
staff member, meeting Tae Ha-Jin’s red eyes, quickly moved
to comply.
As the staff typed and clicked the mouse, they frowned.
“Odd?”
They clicked again.
“There’s no record after 1:30 PM. Why?”
A colleague casually responded.
“Oh, the third basement CCTV? I went to fix it earlier. The
screen was blank.”
“Fixed it? It’s still blank!”
“What are you talking about? When I got there, the entire
CCTV was gone. I forgot to install a new one.”
Tae Ha-Jin shoved the staff member’s chair aside with his
muscular arm and reached for the mouse. The staff member
swallowed hard, pushed aside.
He watched intently.
Yeon arrived at 1 PM, holding his registration slip.
From 1:10 PM, he was the only one in the waiting room. His
face looked normal, no sign of anxiety or fear.
At 1:15 PM, he went to the bathroom.
The footage then cut off for 15 minutes. When it resumed,
Yeon returned to his seat, looking tired but calm.
The footage was clear and uncut.
What was Yeon hiding?
Nothing in the footage suggested he was anything other than
an ordinary guide. Yet Tae Ha-Jin’s gut told him something
was off.
Tae Ha-Jin scanned the elevator CCTV footage. Around 1:30
PM, Lee Yeon was seen exiting on the third basement floor.
Then, around 1:47 PM, Lee Yeon was seen re-entering the
elevator, looking up at the CCTV and smirking.
He shook his head as if to mock someone.
Crack.
The security staff gasped, eyes wide. The mouse, which they
had been using, was crushed like tissue paper in the S-Grade
esper’s hand.
Tae Ha-Jin stared at the monitor for a long time before
muttering.
“What the…”
Bang!
He left, the door slamming loudly.
 ***

In truth, it was Lee Yeon’s first time splitting his energy. He

had been unsure if it was possible and was relieved it had
worked. The pain had been surprising.
“It hurts like hell.”
Walking towards a distant alley where he had parked, Lee
Yeon paused. He clicked his tongue and smacked his forehead.
“Oh, right…”
He raised his left hand to the sky. From his clean palm, the
CCTV from the testing room corridor appeared. He had
accidentally absorbed it instead of leaving it behind. He
shrugged.
‘Can’t be helped.’
Tae Ha-Jin, with his keen eye, would likely notice this
mistake.
‘Well, I left the elevator CCTV.’
Stopping by a convenience store, he bought a carton of milk
and stood by a bin. Clasping his hands together, he crushed the
camera between them.
Without hesitation, he dusted off his hands.
By now, Tae Ha-Jin would be fuming.
The re-awakening machine had shown B0-Grade twice. No
one would doubt his grade now.
The best part was that he wouldn’t have to see Tae Ha-Jin
again. The bastard had no more reasons to bother him.
Thinking of that, the milk tasted like honey. Walking to his
car, Lee Yeon reflected on the past.
‘How did I get involved with that bastard?’
 Chapter 1. Part 1
A month before the “Failed Re-Awakening Exam Incident,”
Lee Yeon and Tae Ha-Jin were still strangers.
“Haa…”
A sigh welled up from the depths of Lee Yeon’s chest as he
surveyed the new guide dormitory he’d be staying in. The
building was sleek and modern, and the guides coming in and
out looked content, but to Lee Yeon, it was hell.
“How many times must I warn you? Overdone makeup is
unacceptable! Do you know how many people have been
startled by your bizarre appearance?”
That was the last thing the head of the previous centre had said
to him, glaring at Lee Yeon’s impassive face before storming
off. The next day, Lee Yeon was transferred to the “Capital”.
Other employees, seeing the transfer notice on the board,
couldn’t hide their envy.
“How did you manage to get assigned to the Capital? I’m so
jealous. I want to experience life there too.”
“Exactly, it’s not easy to get into the Capital.”
Lee Yeon had looked at them through his square glasses.
‘What’s so great about the noisy Capital?’
The head must have realised that he hated being in the
spotlight, being busy, annoyed, or crowded. He’d pulled
strings to send Lee Yeon to the bustling Capital out of spite.
Their relationship had never been good, but using his power
for revenge was a new low.
‘I had no choice.’
Lee Yeon preferred blending into the world rather than
standing out.
He snapped out of his reverie and spoke to the desk clerk in
the dormitory.
“I’ve just been assigned here. I’m Lee Yeon.”
Thankfully, the Capital Centre didn’t have a strict dress code.
Handing over his ID, the clerk searched the system.
“Ah, you’re from the Libramji Centre? Welcome.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve received your guide watch, right?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Great. Here’s your key card. You’ll be in room 903, Guide
Lee Yeon.”
The clerk was polite, smiling despite Lee Yeon’s suspicious
appearance—hat pulled low, long fringe covering half his
eyes, square glasses, and a huge mask. Lee Yeon appreciated
the professionalism as he took the card.
“Your roommate is A-grade guide, Jung Woo-Cheol. Hope
you get along.”
Lee Yeon paused on his way to the elevator.
“Roommate?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t there a single room available? I’ll pay any extra costs.”
“Sorry, but B-grade guides are assigned double rooms at
minimum. Single rooms are reserved for A-grades and above.”
“Then why does my A-grade roommate have a double room?”
“Well, only some A-grades get single rooms.”
So it’s based on abilities. The clerk seemed apologetic, as if it
was his fault. Lee Yeon couldn’t blame him.
But he was already weary. He had a perfectly good house in
the Capital, yet the Centre insisted on mandatory dormitory
living.
‘What a load of crap.’
The Capital Centre was the busiest, with frequent overtime
and constant door occurrences. It made sense they’d want
everyone on standby.
‘But a double room, really?’
Lee Yeon regretted his decision. He’d manipulated his test
results to B-grade for an easier life, but the discrimination
made him wonder if he should’ve aimed for A-grade instead.
Being unfairly treated for his outstanding abilities was
irritating, even if it was by his own choice.
“Thank you.”
He trudged to the ninth floor. The double room, thankfully,
wasn’t too cramped. Not spacious either, but it had individual
rooms, which was a relief. The shared kitchen and living room
were comically tiny.
Entering, he encountered a man in trunk shorts scratching his
belly. His eyes were lifeless like dead fish. Startled, he
scowled.
“Ah, you’re the B-grade guide?”
“Yes.”
First meeting, and he’s already rude. Lee Yeon decided to
reciprocate the discourtesy. He gave a curt nod and walked
past him. The bedroom had a bed, wardrobe, and desk. As he
unpacked his suitcase, his roommate barged in.
This didn’t sit well with him.
Invading privacy already?
“Hey, aren’t you going to introduce yourself?”
In the previous centre, he would’ve ignored it. Cutting off
human relations made life easier, but it often led to bigger
hassles.
‘Let’s just go with the flow this time.’
“I bowed earlier.”
But that was only Lee Yeon’s perspective.
“Bloody hell, I’ve got a rude bastard for a roommate.”
Jung Woo-Cheol ruffled his hair in frustration.
“Fine, make some food. I’m starving.”
Lee Yeon snorted and continued unpacking. Ignoring him only
made Jung Woo-Cheol angrier. He kicked Lee Yeon’s suitcase.
“Are you deaf?”
Such a cliché. He’d lost count of how many times he’d dealt
with people like this while living as a recluse. Pathetic.
Lee Yeon laughed incredulously under his mask. Not wanting
more trouble, he stood and faced Jung Woo-Cheol. His height
startled Woo-Cheol, who realised Lee Yeon was a good half-
head taller, around 183 cm. The hat, glasses, and mask hid his
face, making him look sinister.
Pushing Woo-Cheol out of the room with unexpected strength,
Lee Yeon shut the door. Woo-Cheol, red-faced, pounded on
the door.
“You crazy bastard! Open this door right now! How dare you,
a B-grade!”
As Lee Yeon finished unpacking and was about to rest, his
guide watch lit up with a call signal. The yellow light blinked
incessantly.
‘It’s 8 PM, for crying out loud.’
A call at this hour?
The Libramji Centre rarely called after 6 PM, with night shift
guides covering those hours.
‘But here, it’s all hands on deck.’
Why people were desperate to come to the Capital Centre was
beyond him. Unless they were sadists who enjoyed constant
work, how could anyone be happy with perpetual standby?
He put his hat back on and headed for the door. Jung Woo-
Cheol, waiting in the living room, shouted after him.
“You’re insane! Do you even know how things work here?
Rank is everything. If you keep this up, you’re done for. Got
it?”
“Yes.”
Ranks ruled everywhere in the Diaylen nation. Woo-Cheol’s
words weren’t anything new. Lee Yeon casually scratched his
ear and left.
“Hey!”
The call was for Emergency Room 5. Unfamiliar with the
layout, he used his watch’s map. Emergency Room 5 was
bustling. Several people were being wheeled in on stretchers.
It seemed a door had opened earlier in the afternoon.
As Lee Yeon stood at the entrance, a woman directing the
commotion approached him.
“Are you the guide?”
“Yes.”
She tapped his watch to check his details.
“You’re B-grade, and newly assigned today, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Great. We need to check your match rate first. Go to room
104. The B-grade espers are there.”
She urged him to move quickly, and Lee Yeon jogged to
appear cooperative.
Room 104 had over eight patients. Two guides were struggling
to keep up, sweat pouring down their faces. Their complexions
were anything but good. No one had the energy to
acknowledge his presence.
He looked for the most distressed person and found a man at
the far end.
As Lee Yeon approached, the man gasped for breath, tears
streaming down his face.
“Please, save me…”
He must be in agony. The visible contamination alone
suggested over 50%. Lee Yeon tapped the man’s watch. It read
51%.
He brought his watch to the man’s to check the match rate.
Beep.
[Match Rate: 35%]
“How long has it been?”
“Four hours… maybe more. I don’t know.”
Impressive endurance.
The man’s eyes were losing focus. Lee Yeon placed his fingers
on the man’s wrist, as if checking his pulse, but it was his
guiding stance.
Honestly, reducing this B-grade esper’s contamination to 10%
would be easy. Even with a 35% match rate, he could manage
it. As an S-grade guide, it was simple.
But that would raise suspicions and be troublesome.
Silently apologising, he purified the man slowly, drawing out
his energy. The man’s complexion quickly improved, his
breathing stabilised, and goosebumps rose on his skin.
“How do you feel?”
“Much better. It’s amazing.”
Lee Yeon smiled faintly and released his wrist.
“That’s enough. I need to see to others.”
“Please, just a bit more. Just a bit…”
The man grabbed Lee Yeon’s wrist.
His expression hardened as he shook off the hand.
“Down to 29%. Ask your dedicated guide for the rest.”
Turning coldly, he walked away. The man blinked in disbelief.
Already down to 29%?
Even his dedicated guide, with a 75% match rate, couldn’t
purify him this quickly.
‘Is his match rate higher than I thought?’
Checking his watch, the man’s face stiffened. His match rate
with Lee Yeon was indeed 35%, a notably low figure. Yet, he
felt a refreshing sensation from the guiding, unlike anything
before.
Who is he?
Room 104, filled with B-grade espers, was under control after
Lee Yeon’s arrival. The guides, finally able to breathe, greeted
him warmly.
After wrapping up, he checked the time: 9 PM.
‘I wonder if they pay for overtime.’
He stepped into the corridor, only to be half-dragged by
someone.
“Didn’t you hear the call signal? Hurry!”
The urgency left him no time to resist.
“What is this? I just finished guiding…”
“That’s Tae Ha-Jin esper. The one who’s supposed to be
guided now.”
The woman looked like a cleaner. Someone who managed
emergencies and placed people where they needed to be. But
dragging a guide who had just finished without any
explanation?
Yeon knew who Tae Ha-Jin was. The strongest S-grade esper
in the world.
He was everywhere, on all sorts of TV ads, and his fame was
hard to ignore. Yeon also knew he worked at the central
centre.
But as a B-grade guide, there should have been no chance for
them to meet.
“Let go.”
“You must be one of the newly assigned ones. Didn’t you see
the call signal?”
“I was just following the call signal, finished the guiding, and
was on my way out.”
The cleaner frowned and tapped on Yeon’s watch.
“Ha, can you see these small letters here? Guide-nim, you’ve
been called to room 702, not 104. That’s where you’re
supposed to go. The watch here works differently from the one
at the centre you’re used to.”
The voice was a mix of irritation and patience.
Yeon kept his mouth shut. It seemed he had gone to the wrong
place to guide. The watch looked almost identical to his usual
one, but its operation was different.
“Guess they skipped the watch training.”
There were so many people with abnormalities in the capital
that occasionally someone was missed out.
“Even so, I shouldn’t have been sent to guide an S-grade
esper.”
The Vessel.
Espers and guides each had their own “Vessel.”
Each person’s Vessel varied in size and strength, and the purity
of the “water” within it differed from person to person. The
larger the Vessel and the purer the “water,” the higher the
grade. Hence, lower-grade guides couldn’t handle higher-
grade espers. The Vessel could shatter, and the efficiency
would be extremely poor.
Therefore, guiding with similar grades was an unspoken rule.
“Do they make exceptions in the capital?”
Yeon silently followed. It wasn’t until they reached the
seventh floor that he realised.
Ah…
A fierce, almost savage energy was tearing through the air.
The elevator doors had just opened, but it felt like it could
burst his brain. The cleaner who had escorted Yeon hurriedly
covered their nose and rushed downstairs.
They pressed the close button so quickly.
Invisible energy gnashed its teeth.
“This is intense.”
In the hallway, six guides were already lined up, waiting. Their
expressions were grim, almost suffocating from the energy.
They didn’t have to wait long. The guides who went in
emerged half-dead within minutes.
A new line of five guides had already formed behind Yeon.
“Next, please.”
It was a strange sight.
Guides lining up to guide a single esper. It was something
you’d never see outside the capital.
Yeon had never guided an S-grade esper before. The Libramji
Centre didn’t have any S-grades, and even if they did, they
wouldn’t use a B-grade guide as disposable.
Yeah. The guides here were “disposables.”
They were using them up to tame the S-grade’s rampage. Yeon
always wondered why guides were treated so poorly.
“You’ll be going in soon.”
The cleaner in front of him seemed to be of a high rank. They
stood firm in this intense energy.
Cleaners were clearly ordinary people but sensitive to energy.
Those with keen senses were typically employed as cleaners.
Five minutes had passed since the previous guide entered.
Without much thought, Yeon followed the instructions and
went inside.
Indeed, the room for the VIP was spacious and luxurious. The
bed in the middle was king-sized, and there were chairs for
waiting inside. As he turned his head, he naturally saw the
scene on the bed.
‘What the hell…’
Yeon froze in his seat.
His heart, once calm, started to pump wildly. The thumping
sound in his ears was unsettling. It felt like watching
something forbidden.
Like porn from his younger days.
“Kuh, kuh…”
The B-grade guide in front of him was performing oral sex.
Tae Ha-Jin, the S-grade esper, was loosely leaning against the
headboard. His sculpted, muscular body was on full display,
and between his long, sturdy thighs, the guide’s head bobbed
back and forth, gasping.
Tae Ha-Jin grasped the guide’s hair with a hand large enough
to cover their entire head. The bluish veins on his hand stood
out fiercely. Each time he pulled back the guide’s head, Ha-
Jin’s menacing member appeared and disappeared, causing the
guide’s throat to bulge with each intrusion.
‘Bloody hell…’
Yeon had never seen anything like this. Guiding often
involved physical contact, and stories of oral sex or
intercourse weren’t uncommon. It was probably the most
efficient method.
But to display it so blatantly in front of others? It was a first.
At least cover it with a blanket or curtain. The view was
unobstructed.
‘Do they have no shame?’
No longer able to purify, Tae Ha-Jin pulled the guide’s hair
away.
“Ugh, ha, ha…”
“You did well.”
His tone was flat. Despite being freed, the man could hardly
move. He shivered, pale, gasping for breath. Clearly, his
energy had been drained.
Tae Ha-Jin, watching the guide indifferently, asked softly.
“Want to go again?”
“No, no! Absolutely not.”
The guide hurriedly left, not even wiping the drool from their
chin. They stumbled once in their haste.
Finally, Yeon understood.
Why the guides came out looking like death.
That was the extent of his thoughts.
Tae Ha-Jin made a slight gesture with his hand, indicating for
Yeon to come closer. He didn’t even look in his direction.
 Chapter 1. Part 2
The man leaned back against the bed’s headboard, looking
somewhat weary.
‘Why are all the people in the capital like this?’
Maybe because they were busy, they seemed to have no
leisure.
Despite having been through several guides, the man’s fierce
energy remained. It was a strange energy, making it hard to
gauge the contamination level.
“Hoo.”
With a small sigh, Yeon rose from his chair and approached.
He picked up the blanket from the floor and covered the man’s
lower body, concealing the distracting member.
Tae Ha-Jin’s eyebrow twitched slightly. His gaze, previously
fixed on the window, finally landed on Yeon.
Without a word, Yeon tapped Tae Ha-Jin’s watch.
Contamination level: 57%
‘What was it initially?’
Yeon couldn’t help but be amazed. He had seen more than
seven guides come and go, most likely engaging in oral sex,
yet the contamination was still at 57%.
‘Are all S-grades like this?’
It wasn’t entirely unreasonable. Tae Ha-Jin was often
mentioned first when discussing the strongest espers, and
contamination levels were just “numbers.”
“B-grade esper’s 57%” and “S-grade esper’s 57%” were
qualitatively and quantitatively different.
“How’s the pain?”
“My head aches a bit.”
It couldn’t be just “a bit.”
Yeon quickly considered how to guide this man.
Of course, he planned to do it as usual and leave. But
considering the previous guides engaged in oral sex, if he did a
half-hearted job, he’d likely end up licking the man’s groin
too.
But Yeon never guided that way.
Especially not for an arrogant man like this. Kneeling and
begging wasn’t his style.
So, he decided to check the matching rate first.
‘Please, please let it be over 70%…!’
He brought his watch to Tae Ha-Jin’s. The tension was broken
by a beep, showing a matching rate of 81%. Tae Ha-Jin,
noticing the number, slightly furrowed his brow.
‘Wow, really lucky. Over 80%, and with this bastard, no less.’
He placed his index and middle fingers on the man’s wrist.
The touch was so light it could easily be broken.
“Starting now.”
“You’re doing it like this.”
Tae Ha-Jin stared at the fingers on his wrist.
Yeon was officially a B0-grade guide. He probably thought
such light contact wouldn’t be effective.
It sounded like a question, but the flat tone was chilling. Yeon
glanced at him without stopping the guidance. Their gazes
locked. Yeon didn’t avoid his eyes.
He wasn’t scared, and the method of guiding was entirely up
to the guide. While the previous ones might have been
frightened by the S-grade, Yeon had no such fear.
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you B-grade?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Don’t waste each other’s time.”
His tone was casual. He pulled the blanket Yeon had placed
over him back off. The blanket fell to the floor.
The man’s member was still proudly erect, almost like a
forearm, taking up half the view.
Yeon frowned, covering one side of his vision with his left
hand, obscuring the monstrous sight.
“Yes, let’s not waste time.”
Agreeing with his words, Yeon grabbed Tae Ha-Jin’s thick
wrist with his free hand. He could feel the pulse. Normally, at
57%, one would be in an excited state with a rapid heartbeat,
but this man’s pulse was steady.
Yeon began guiding.
He forced open an unconnected passage. Not interested in
finding each one, Yeon always created a new path.
‘Should I appear to be about B+ grade?’
As soon as the passage was opened, the man’s energy violently
surged through. The waves coming through his hand were
much stronger than expected. Surprised, Yeon smiled
inwardly. The joy of someone who had been suppressing
himself. The energy was thrilling to handle.
Whenever he tried to grasp it, it slipped away; when he tried to
control it, it rebelled. It was energy that mirrored its owner’s
temperament.
Yeon subdued the unruly energy, forcing it into his Vessel. He
knew his Vessel was vast and strong.
Though invisible, he felt its presence.
A Vessel, by nature, could be inspected by higher-grade
beings. But no one could peep into Yeon’s Vessel. Some had
tried, but none succeeded.
This man must have realised the same just now.
Tae Ha-Jin had just been repelled trying to peek into Yeon’s
Vessel.
“You…”
He saw the expansion of Tae Ha-Jin’s crimson pupils. But he
wasn’t worried. It was incredibly rude and improper to peek
into someone else’s Vessel.
‘So, he wouldn’t dare mention it.’
Even if he did, no one would believe him.
An S-grade esper, unable to read the Vessel of a mere B-grade
guide.
‘Who would believe that?’
Then curiosity hit him.
The strongest esper, Tae Ha-Jin.
What kind of Vessel did he possess? How big and sturdy was
it? What colour was his water, and how deep was it?
Yeon’s curiosity swelled, but he quashed it. The moment he
attempted to peek, he’d be caught. It wasn’t worth the risk.
The guiding went smoothly. Tae Ha-Jin’s aura was so
overwhelming that if Yeon lost focus, he would be devoured.
However, he managed. The energy Tae Ha-Jin exuded was
quickly purified in Yeon’s Vessel and returned to the esper’s
body, akin to receiving platelets during a transfusion.
“Luckily, the matching rate is high.”
Yeon laid down the groundwork, implying that things were
going well due to the high match rate. He glanced and saw the
contamination level had dropped from 57% to 51%. That
should be enough to avoid suspicion without needing to go
further.
Satisfied, Yeon withdrew his hand from Tae Ha-Jin’s wrist.
“Ah, I feel dizzy.”
He pretended to touch his forehead with the back of his hand.
Though he was perfectly fine, a slight stagger would make it
more convincing, just as other guides had done.
Yeon twisted his legs slightly, his body leaning awkwardly like
a drunkard. Believing he had done enough, he turned away
nonchalantly.
At that moment, Tae Ha-Jin’s voice stopped him.
“Take off your mask.”
Yeon doubted his ears at the casual request. He turned his head
and met the man’s crimson eyes.
“Isn’t the guiding incomplete?”
Tae Ha-Jin tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. Though he was
standing, it felt as if he was looking down on Yeon, who was
sitting, like an innate superior.
“Ask the next guide to do it. My guiding is done.”
“Take off the mask and come here.”
He extended his long arm toward Yeon.
As if beckoning him into his embrace.
Yeon, still locking eyes with the red-eyed man, spoke coldly.
“It seems you didn’t understand me. I’m too dizzy to continue.
Goodbye.”
When Yeon turned to leave, the high-ranking cleaner by the
door shut it with a creak.
“…?”
Am I… being confined?
Not one to be easily flustered, Yeon was taken aback. He
blinked and let out a mirthless laugh.
It didn’t seem like the cleaner had shut the door on his own
accord; more likely, Tae Ha-Jin had given him a signal. Yeon
turned his body back around, crossing his legs defiantly. The
mask, square glasses, and black hat made him look odd.
“Are you forcing me to guide?”
“I’m asking you to fulfil your duty. As a guide.”
“I believe I’ve done my part.”
“I decide that.”
“A guide has the right to choose whom they guide. Don’t
infringe on that.”
“Guide Law, Article 2, Paragraph 3: A guide must complete
any started guiding. Guide Law, Article 1, Paragraph 4: A
guide has autonomy in guiding. However, exceptions are
recognised in the following cases: First, in a national disaster
involving a 5th-grade esper…”
Tae Ha-Jin, lazily sprawled out, recited these rules effortlessly.
Yeon wasn’t unfamiliar with the content. But he never thought
he’d face a situation involving a 5th-grade esper.
So now, Tae Ha-Jin was reminding him he hadn’t done his
utmost.
Yeon was stunned by the absurdity and parted his lips to
speak.
“Must I be carried out on a stretcher to have done my best?”
“At least, don’t pretend to be dizzy. Isn’t that right?”
Was it that obvious?
Having never pretended to be dizzy before, he must have done
a poor job. Yeon hadn’t even put much effort into the act. He
ran his tongue along his molars.
‘Should I attack?’
If he refused now and tried to escape, Tae Ha-Jin’s tenacious
personality would likely cause more trouble. That was his
instinct. Reporting it was one thing, but dealing with persistent
harassment would be another headache.
Like the head of his previous centre.
Continuing the guiding meant showing too much competence
for a B-grade guide, but he absolutely didn’t want to resort to
fellatio.
So, he’d try moderate physical contact, enough to seem
efficient, and then leave when Tae Ha-Jin was satisfied.
Yeon, frowning, removed his mask. That he’d end up
removing it at the centre, and by his own hand, felt surreal.
He often ate alone to avoid removing it. Yet, his resolve had
crumbled so easily.
“At what percentage will you let me go?”
The man stared at his face for a long time.
“As much as you can manage?”
“Impossible. What do you expect from a B-grade guide?”
Yeon asked for a realistic figure suitable for an 8th-grade
esper. The man thought briefly before answering.
“40%.”
Upon hearing that, Yeon burst out laughing. Lowering a 5th-
grade esper’s contamination level from 51% to 40%? By a B-
grade guide?
The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop
himself.
“You’re fucking insane.”
Oops. A slip of the tongue.
He quickly corrected himself with a wry smile.
But Yeon was truly annoyed by now. He realised arguing
wouldn’t get him anywhere, so he took off his hat and ruffled
his brown hair. Then, without hesitation, he approached Tae
Ha-Jin and kissed him.
Their lips met awkwardly.
Surprised, Tae Ha-Jin stiffened. His brow furrowed as Yeon bit
his lower lip, not holding back, and tasted the metallic tang of
blood. The guiding process accelerated.
Yeon inserted his tongue into Tae Ha-Jin’s mouth, mixing
bitterness and sweetness with the lingering taste of cigarettes.
As their breaths mingled, Yeon absorbed his energy more
effectively. Kissing was, after all, one of the most efficient
methods, possibly more so than oral sex.
The wet, sticky sounds filled room 702. Tae Ha-Jin, perhaps
feeling the purification, dropped his passive stance and
grabbed Yeon’s nape.
Yeon frowned.
Rough and intense.
This bastard was trying to devour him.
“Mm…!”
Slap, slap!
Yeon tapped Tae Ha-Jin’s chest, signalling him to calm down,
but Tae Ha-Jin deepened the kiss, pushing Yeon back onto the
bed.
Tae Ha-Jin tilted his head for a deeper kiss, wrapping his large
hand around Yeon’s cheek and ear, trying to remove his
glasses.
Panicking, Yeon pushed him away with all his might.
Tae Ha-Jin retreated without much resistance.
“Haa, haa…”
Yeon wiped his wet mouth with his sleeve, adjusted his
glasses, and met Tae Ha-Jin’s gaze.
“What the hell are you doing? Why are you trying to take off
my glasses? They have no lenses, you know.”
“Do I care?”
Yeon, catching his breath, looked away and tapped Tae Ha-
Jin’s watch.
44%.
Damn it, still 4% short of the target.
Tae Ha-Jin’s aggressive approach had interrupted the guiding.
Yeon had lost the will to continue kissing. He had tried his
best, the most he had in nearly four years. Replacing his mask
and hat, Yeon saw Tae Ha-Jin watching him intently.
“Report me or ask for my resignation, do as you wish.
Preferably the latter; the former is too bothersome.”
I should have said this earlier.
Yeon, with a cracked voice, turned the doorknob. The queue of
waiting guides had grown, their eyes scrutinising him as he
walked out. They seemed amazed he’d walked out unscathed.
‘Do they really lock people in like that?’
Yeon shot a glare at the male cleaner by the door and left.
Watching him go, the cleaner knocked and entered room 702.
Tae Ha-Jin, leaning against the bedhead, wiped his lips with
the back of his hand, chuckling.
A rare sight for the cleaner.
A B-grade guide had stayed in his room for over 30 minutes.
Usually, they were kicked out in 1 to 5 minutes, making this a
rarity.
“The match rate must have been high.”
It was the only plausible explanation.
Tae Ha-Jin pondered the comment. Despite his myriad
thoughts, the most vivid image was the face of that “B-grade”
guide.
Initially, he wondered why someone would be so covered up
with a mask, hat, and glasses. But there was a reason for it.
Tae Ha-Jin didn’t care much about appearances. Typically, the
higher-grade abnormals had impressive looks or physiques,
making most high-ranking individuals he met quite attractive.
But that guide…
When the guide took off his mask, Tae Ha-Jin found his
attention oddly captivated. Once the hat was removed, his pale
face lit up, revealing sharp, distinct features. It was foolish to
think glasses could hide that face. Although, it seemed the
guide had tried his best by wearing the mask and hat.
During the kiss, as the glasses were half-removed, Tae Ha-Jin
couldn’t help but clench his fist. It was the first time he had
ever felt aroused just by looking at someone’s face.
“Ha…”
Recalling the recent events, Tae Ha-Jin let out a frustrated
breath. The face was one thing, but that guy was strange in
many ways. Not being able to read someone else’s Vessel?
Such a humiliating experience was a first.
Even among other S-grades, reading the Vessel was an easy
task. He had never encountered someone of a higher grade.
Moreover, when he tried to read, the guide’s gaze subtly
changed, as if mocking him.
Sensing when someone is reading you is a very difficult area.
It involves detecting hidden gazes. So, the idea that a B-grade
guide could sense his intrusion was inexplicable.
“What do you think?”
“About what?”
“That guide.”
“…He seems unassuming but has quite a temper.”
“81 percent.”
The cleaner’s eyes widened. Was such a matching rate even
possible between a B-grade guide and an S-grade esper? No
matter how well their direction and tolerance aligned, a large
difference in the Vessel usually caused a significant drop in
matching rate. Yet, it was much higher than expected.
“You mean the matching rate?”
“Shall I send in another guide?”
“No need.”
“But, your level is still…”
“44 percent.”
The cleaner closed his mouth for a moment, then asked again
as if he misheard.
“Sorry?”
“That’s enough.”
Saying that, Tae Ha-Jin moved his body, but his expression
remained unpleasant, like a white blood cell encountering an
annoying foreign substance.
‘What are you hiding?’ Tae Ha-Jin thought. Whatever it was,
he was determined to uncover it.
 Chapter 1. Part 3
Ignoring his roommate, Jung Woo-Cheol, for several days
meant he finally stopped trying to talk to him. As expected of
an A-grade guide, he was perceptive enough to take a hint.
After finishing his morning guiding, Lee Yeon walked lightly
to a large franchise cafe opposite the Centre. He ordered an
iced Americano and a strawberry latte, finding a secluded spot
where he wouldn’t be noticed.
“Yeon-ah!” A woman who spotted him from the entrance ran
over joyfully. Clad in a black turtleneck, she immediately
enveloped his neck in a tight hug.
“How long has it been? Are you really staying in the capital
now?”
“Uibin-ah, you’re choking me.”
“Oh, sorry! I was just so happy…” She sat down and naturally
took her share of the strawberry latte.
“That manager is really smart. How did he know you hated the
capital?” Uibin laughed cheerfully at the thought. Yeon turned
his head to look out the window, crunching on the ice.
“No idea. Must have some keen insight.”
“Sorry to say this, but I’m thrilled. We used to barely see each
other once a month, and that was only because you came to the
capital.”
“That was convenient. My ex was from the capital too.”
“Oh, right. A regular person?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s been half a year since you broke up, hasn’t it?”
“Has it? Can’t remember.”
He removed the straw and took a sip directly from the glass,
studying Uibin’s face closely.
“Are you still seeing that trash of a guy?” He asked
nonchalantly, resting his chin on his hand. Uibin smiled
awkwardly.
“Hey, calling him trash is too much. He’s actually a really
good person.”
“Sure he is.”
“I’m serious! Last time he lost contact was a mistake. He
forgot to charge his phone.”
“And the time he drank with another woman behind your
back?”
“Oh, that? She was his cousin. I just got suspicious for no
reason.” She laughed awkwardly, defending her boyfriend
vigorously.
Yeon shook his head. Uibin was his only friend and the most
cherished person in his life. Unfortunately, she had terrible
taste in men. Having someone like him as a close friend and
dating scumbags seemed like a bad joke.
“Date whoever you want, but don’t get too attached. Don’t
come crying to me later.”
“Come on… Not crying after a breakup would be weird. You,
Lee Yeon, shouldn’t act like that. How many people have you
broken? Just from what I’ve seen, where do I start…” Uibin
counted on her fingers but soon gave up, shrugging. Yeon
chuckled.
“Why is it so hard to see you when we work at the same
Centre?”
It was true. The disaster protection centre in the capital was
the largest in the world. The employee welfare was excellent,
but the place was so vast that running into someone you knew
was tough. He’d wandered around for days to see Uibin and
explore the Centre but had to return home without much
success.
“You’re in Dormitory 6, right? I’m in Dormitory 2. It’s like
opposite ends of the world.”
“Yeah. By the way, you mentioned you got close to a guide.
What are they like?”
“Hmm…” Uibin twirled her straw in the strawberry latte, deep
in thought. “His name is Joo Mi-Hoon. He likes to dress up.
Very handsome, kind of sexy-looking. Personality-wise… Oh
right, he’s an A-grade guide. Seems really skilled.”
“He sounds nice, as a friend.”
“Yeah. He treats me well. I have a lot to learn from him.”
Uibin laughed behind her hand. These moments with Uibin
were an oasis for Yeon. In a suffocating routine surrounded by
people he didn’t care for, Uibin was a beacon of light. Bright,
kind, and cherished him dearly. Everything she did showed
that she valued him.
That’s why he couldn’t help but cherish her too. When he was
young, Yeon had received immense help from Uibin’s family,
something he could never repay in a lifetime.
As he was lost in thought, Uibin lowered her voice and asked
cautiously, “By the way… Do you think your father arranged
for you to come to the capital?”
Yeon took a sip of her strawberry latte. “You think my father
was behind it?”
“Maybe… It’s a possibility. Even if you fell out with the
former manager at the Centre, Libramji isn’t a powerful
region. Could its manager have had the resources to send a B-
grade guide to the capital?”
She had a point. The manager at Libramji wasn’t influential
enough to shake things up in the capital. Maybe, as she
suggested, his father had discreetly pulled some strings.
Yeon shrugged. “Well, as long as my father doesn’t show up in
front of me, I don’t care. I don’t want to see him.”
Given her kind nature, Uibin would normally side with his
father. But she knew his circumstances well and chose silence
instead. He found that endearing.
“And… isn’t it hard to hide your grade? Suppressing your
energy must be exhausting, Yeon-ah.”
She was the only one who knew his secret. It wasn’t
something she discovered on her own; he had confided in her.
Uibin was astounded and sceptical until he showed her several
things to convince her. It was indeed rare for someone like him
to exist in the world.
A dual-blood. Possessing both guide and esper types was
exceedingly rare. Even if such a person appeared, their grades
would be low, unable to handle both types.
For example, a C-grade guide and a D-grade esper. They’d
flash in history briefly, but they never lived long. Yeon knew
there had never been anyone in history with both types at high
grades like him.
This made him very dangerous.
“At least revealing your guide grade would make things easier
for you. You wouldn’t have to endure being treated as a B-
grade.”
“Uibin-ah.”
“Yeah?”
“Wanna go shooting?”
“Again? I’m scared of the range…”
Shooting was a hobby and a shield Yeon had picked up in
childhood. He grew up in an environment where he had no
choice but to learn. Even now, he frequently visited the range
to keep up the habit. Whenever he came to the capital to see
Uibin, he’d always hit the range, teaching her for self-defence.
“You need to learn properly. You never know when a door
might open. Guides are as good as dead, you know?”
“Still, esper-nim will protect us.”
“Believe what you want. Let’s go.”
Yeon cleaned up their cups and drove her to the shooting
range. He took her to a government-owned range, teaching her
until she begged to stop.
“Thanks for the ride, Yeon-ah. I’ll see you!”
Yeon dropped her off not at Dormitory 2 but at the esper-
exclusive Dormitory 3. She was going to meet her boyfriend.
He found it pathetic that she was meeting that worthless trash.
Men could always see through other men.
“She’ll be dumped soon… I’ll have to scrutinize the next
boyfriend,” he thought as he drove towards Dormitory 6, his
watch suddenly emitting a warning sound.
[YELLOW DOOR DETECTED LOCATION: HART
MOUNTAIN SOUTHWEST. 4TH GRADE MONSTROUS
TYPE, 3RD GRADE DEMONIC TYPE, AND MULTIPLE
5TH GRADE OR BELOW MONSTROUS BEINGS.]
Hart Mountain was the closest mountain to the capital. Yeon
lowered the window, looking at the southwest sky. A tiny
yellow door was visible in the distance, indicating its actual
size was that of a building.
“A yellow door, huh?”
It was quite a dangerous door.
Doors were classified from weakest to strongest: White, Pink,
Yellow, and Red.
A yellow door meant a large-scale event where most espers
from the capital Centre would be dispatched.
“Wasn’t Uibin’s boyfriend an A-grade esper?”
He had a bad feeling. He didn’t care if that trash died, but he
had just dropped Uibin off at Dormitory 3. The alert had just
popped up, meaning she might have followed her boyfriend to
the scene for guiding.
“Ha…”
Yeon massaged his temples, unable to shake off the ominous
feeling. He turned the car around. He needed to check if Uibin
was there. If she was, he’d bring her back; if not, he’d leave.
He couldn’t let her be in danger while he was around.
“I should have warned her to stay out of dangerous situations.”
Yeon drove with increasing anxiety. Espers usually used
teleportation to reach the site, so she’d already be there if she
went. He couldn’t just ask for a teleport without knowing
anyone with that ability.
It would take an hour to drive there, even if he sped up.
He arrived at the site quickly, parking near the barricade. As
he ran towards it, a security esper stopped him.
“Civilians aren’t allowed beyond this point.”
Yeon tapped his watch, showing his ID with his grade, name,
and Centre affiliation. The security esper stepped aside.
“Get out of the way! It’s a 3rd grade monstrous type!”
“Aaargh! My leg, my leg…!”
“An A-grade esper has gone berserk! A-grade guide support
needed!”
It was chaos.
The once tiny yellow door now loomed like a portal to the
underworld. The sky seemed consumed by the door, its
interior a chaotic mix of dark purple, constantly spewing
monsters.
“Kim Uibin!”
Lee Yeon got out of the car and surveyed the surroundings.
Guides were running for their lives, espers were slashing,
tearing, and attacking monstrous beings, and colossal monsters
were destroying the houses around the mountain…
“Uibin-ah! Kim Uibin!”
He had no interest in anyone else. First, he had to handle the
most urgent matter.
If he could just be certain she wasn’t here.
Unfortunately, Uibin was there, kneeling and crying her heart
out next to a man she had laid down under a tree. Hearing her
cry made his chest feel heavy, like a stone was pressing on it.
Yeon rushed to her side.
“…Kim Uibin. What the hell are you doing here?”
Uibin looked up. Her arm, scratched by a monster, had a
substantial wound bleeding profusely. Her face was a tear-
streaked mess, and she was on the verge of hyperventilating.
With a heavy heart, Yeon touched Uibin’s head, realising she
had exhausted her Vessel guiding that idiot, which is why her
self-recovery was slow, and the bleeding hadn’t stopped.
“Yeon-ah, Yeon-ah… What do I do? Dae-Young-ssi has gone
berserk… I can’t handle it… All the other guides are busy…”
Where a door opened was always a war zone.
Doors could open anytime, anywhere, pushing humans to their
limits. Safety protocols and manuals set up for such events
often lost their effectiveness in real disasters.
Just like now.
Her following him here was pure arrogance. Uibin was a B-
grade guide, and on the lower end of B-grade at that. She
could never handle an A0-grade man’s guiding, and even if
she tried, it would barely make a difference.
Yeon turned his gaze to the man named Dae-Young. He was
having a seizure induced by going berserk, his eyes rolling
back and body shaking uncontrollably. If left alone, his
contamination levels would skyrocket exponentially. Once it
passed 93%, his brain would start to break down.
At over 95%, the watch would identify him as a monster and
trigger the self-destruct mechanism.
Uibin clung to Yeon’s trousers, crying uncontrollably. She
couldn’t even bring herself to ask him for help. As a publicly
known B-grade guide, Yeon guiding an A-grade esper like
Dae-Young would undoubtedly draw a lot of attention.
So Uibin just shook her head and cried.
Yeon found her foolishness pitiful.
“Uibin-ah.”
“Mm…”
“Let’s talk later, yeah?”
Yeon forced a smile, clenching his teeth. Before she could
respond, he stretched out his left hand and absorbed her
consciousness. Yeon’s A-grade esper ability was “absorption.”
The duration he could hold onto something varied depending
on what he absorbed.
For something dignified and substantial like a human
consciousness, he had to release it within a day. If he didn’t,
the absorbed consciousness would merge with his Vessel.
He could permanently store smaller objects and expel them
whenever he wanted. However, the more he stored, the deeper
the sleep he fell into during digestion. Therefore, Yeon
typically expelled absorbed items whenever possible.
“Sleep…”
Knocking her out could risk her physical health and
unpredictably delay her waking up. Yeon chose absorption
instead. A simple hand on her head wouldn’t arouse suspicion.
He then turned his gaze to Dae-Young, whose seizures from
the berserk state were intensifying.
“Useless bastard.”
How long had he been deployed before losing control like
this? Judging how to distribute one’s abilities was part of
being an esper.
After moving Uibin to a crowded relief tent, Yeon irritably
grabbed Dae-Young by the nape and dragged him up the
mountain. Ensuring they were alone, he checked the watch
showing an 87% contamination level. Matching rates didn’t
matter; he just needed to guide enough to prevent death.
Yeon reached out a white hand to the thick neck of the man,
applying pressure to the pulse point beneath the jaw. To an
observer, it might look like he was choking him to death. He
chose the neck purely out of personal satisfaction.
“Ugh, ugh, agh!”
Dae-Young groaned through his seizures.
“You fucking idiot.”
“Gasp, gasp…”
“Get caught cheating again, and I’ll stomp you to bits.”
He loosened his grip whenever Dae-Young seemed on the
verge of passing out, ensuring no marks were left on his neck
to avoid alarming Uibin. Guiding with anger and precision, he
reduced the man’s contamination to 45%. Despite his large
Vessel, Dae-Young fainted.
Yeon sighed and dragged him back down the mountain.
As he was descending leisurely, a twig snapped.
From about 100 metres away.
‘I didn’t sense anyone.’
Caught up in venting his anger on Dae-Young, he missed
something. What to do? It wasn’t a big deal if people found
out. He could always say a couple of skilled B-grade guides
managed it.
However, if the person approaching was S-grade esper Tae
Ha-Jin, things were different.
“It’s been a while.”
He had only heard that voice once before. It was unfamiliar
and low, and although it was aesthetically pleasing, Yeon
found it rather unpleasant. The man, holding a blood-dripping
long sword, stood leaning against a sturdy tree, smirking as if
he had witnessed something rare.
“I wanted to pay my respects, but I’ve been far too busy.
Regrettably.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be busy now as well?”
“Perhaps so.”
“Yes, well then, good luck.”
Yeon nodded slightly and resumed dragging Dae-Young.
Suddenly, whoosh! A long sword sliced through the air,
blocking his path. The pungent smell of blood from the sword
was overwhelming.
“You’re not B-grade, are you?”
Yeon slowly blinked.
The man smiled savagely, like a hunter finding an interesting
prey.
Hesitating here would be akin to admitting, “Yes, I’m actually
deceiving the nation and I’m not a B-grade guide.” Yeon
turned towards a gap without the sword. After a few steps, the
man who should have been behind him was suddenly in front.
“Are you a teleporter?”
“No.”
“Then how…”
“Answer my question first.”
He cut Yeon off. Yeon frowned and answered.
“I am a B-grade guide.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
In an instant, the foul smell intensified. The bloodied sword
was already lightly cutting Yeon’s neck, a trickle of blood
seeping into the blade.
“You smell nice.”
With genuine intent, the man pressed the blade deeper into
Yeon’s neck, turning the trickling blood into a thin stream.
Upper-tier espers were said to distinguish between different
human blood scents…
This was Yeon’s first time encountering such an esper. He
spoke impassively.
“If you’ve already decided on an answer, I’m afraid I have no
desire to associate with you.”
Yeon’s mask moved as he spoke. Tae Ha-Jin alternated his
gaze between Yeon and the unconscious, leaf-covered Dae-
Young. He scoffed.
“Doesn’t it look strange? How can a B0-grade guide save a
berserk A0-grade esper without breaking a sweat?”
The man’s gaze scrutinised the area around Yeon’s neck.
“Another guide had already started the guiding. I merely
finished the job.”
“Are you talking about guide Kim Uibin?”
Yeon’s expression visibly hardened.
‘Does he know Uibin?’
Now that he looked closely, this esper seemed aware of Dae-
Young’s berserk state and the overall situation. An S-grade
esper would normally be too busy fighting monsters to know
all this, right?
More than anything, it was unsettling for Kim Uibin’s
whereabouts to be exposed to such a bothersome man.
Especially, it was no good if he knew Yeon and Kim Uibin
were close.
To Yeon, she was his only vulnerability.
“Tae Ha-Jin esper-nim.”
“Yes.”
“This is a disaster situation. Shouldn’t we both be busy?”
“Guide Lee Yeon.”
Tae Ha-Jin, calling his name in a low tone, raised his eyes to
look directly at Yeon. His pupils, though similar to rubies,
seemed darker. The striking contrast of his features and his
flawless physique were both magnificent and unsettling.
“Right now… I find a guide disguised as a B-grade more
fucking annoying than a first-grade monster from the door. Do
you understand?”
Yeon silently stared at him. It was a relief. As long as they
found each other fucking annoying, they would never be on
the same side. Yeon found himself oddly amused.
“I have no intention of shedding that disguise. So please, don’t
bother.”
Tae Ha-Jin responded with a smile.
“Well, I think you will.”
‘This bastard.’
Yeon pushed the sword away with just his fingertips. His neck
still bled thinly.
“If you plan to expel me from the capital, it’s a wise decision.
If possible, transfer me to some unwanted rural area.”
Though most of his face was covered, his eyes revealed a
slight, cheerful curve. Yeon dragged Dae-Young past Tae Ha-
Jin. By mentioning his ‘disguise,’ he had moderately satisfied
Tae Ha-Jin’s suspicion, practically admitting he wasn’t a B-
grade guide.
But such a persistent nutcase needed an itch scratched to be
satisfied. It wasn’t a waste to give up some flesh to protect the
bones.
‘So what?’
To a busy S-grade esper, he was just an ‘annoying human.’
After descending the mountain, Ha-Jin took out his loudly
ringing phone.
—This is Doberman, esper-nim.
“What is it?”
—I got a call from the Central Control Room. The A0-grade
esper who went berserk earlier has dropped to 45 percent. I
called because you didn’t read the text.
“I know.”
—Oh, you know? They reported you were fighting a grade-2
monster?
“I was fighting something else.”
Ha-Jin’s gaze was fixed on where the self-proclaimed B-grade
guide had disappeared.
—Something else…? Has a new type of monster appeared?!
“Something like that.”
—Huh. It looks like I need to get to your side quickly. The
trip’s taking longer than expected. You must be bored without
me, right? I know you…
Click.
Ha-Jin hung up and shoved the phone into his pocket, then
soared into the air. Numerous espers were already engaged in
battle with flying monsters.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin! We’ve driven the grade-2 monster towards
you!”
Espers couldn’t handle high-grade monsters alone. They acted
as bait, leading the monster to the S-grade esper.
As Ha-Jin raised his sword, the bait espers quickly retreated.
Among the foul-smelling blood of the monsters, there was a
distinct, fresh scent. With a swift, horizontal slash, he inflicted
a long wound on the monster’s solar plexus.
Ha-Jin stared at his sword for a moment. The distinct freshness
from a moment ago had already faded away.
 Chapter 1. Part 4
As Yeon dragged Dae-Young to the tent, the guides from the
rear support team gathered around. The rear support team’s
tent was guarded by several espers in case of emergencies,
serving as one of the few refuges amidst the disaster.
“Esper Joo Dae-Young! Are you alright?”
“He seemed to have gone berserk earlier… what happened?
He’s calm now?”
“Guide Kim Uibin and several others guided him. His levels
are stable now, so he should be fine.”
While they spoke, Yeon glanced at Uibin, who was slumped
over a table, asleep. After answering the guides, he
approached her and tapped her head with his left hand,
reviving her consciousness.
As Uibin’s eyelids lifted, distinct wrinkles formed, perhaps
from crying too much, making her double eyelids more
pronounced. The moment she opened her eyes, she checked
Yeon’s condition, then, seeing the state of his neck, she
gasped, worriedly asking about Dae-Young’s safety. Her
concern made Yeon burst into laughter.
“Just break up, Uibin.”
He smiled as he watched Uibin run to Dae-Young, mumbling
thanks from behind. It seemed that the fool wasn’t Kim Uibin
but himself.
The scene remained chaotic. The biggest spectacle was a
black-haired man soaring through the air, slaughtering
monsters.
Mad bastard…
To an observer, he might seem like someone genuinely
dedicated to monster extermination. Why kill them so brutally
when a simple death would suffice?
It felt like Tae Ha-Jin was venting his anger at him. Yeon let
out a hollow laugh. He planned to return to the centre. As a B-
grade guide, he had no reason to be on the field unless there
was an emergency call.
It seemed the Yellow Door had slightly entered the decline
phase. That evening, he received a long text from Uibin.
[I’m really sorry, Yeon. I know you exerted yourself because
of me… I feel awful for causing such a nuisance. I saw your
neck bleeding earlier; did you go to the hospital? Dae-Young
didn’t do that, did he? I’m really sorry… Thank you and sorry
always. 9:02 PM]
If it was about the wound on his neck, it had already healed.
Even though it bled, Yeon also possessed the characteristics of
an esper. Fast self-recovery was natural. He replied, telling her
to rest well and not to worry.

***
He thought he wouldn’t see Tae Ha-Jin again. But the bastard
was more tenacious than he imagined. Using his authority as
an S-grade esper, he convened a meeting with the Disaster
Defence Centre executives, forcibly subjecting Yeon to a re-
awakening test. The re-awakening test was supposed to be
voluntary, but he wielded his power to force it.
Despite abnormal types making up only 5% of the global
population and contributing significantly to the world, creating
human rights issues, the test was delayed for weeks and only
barely took place.
Though the bastard falsely reported the 3 PM test as 9 AM,
causing him to lose sleep and waste time, he was satisfied
since he eventually screwed him over. The re-awakening test,
said to be 99% accurate, confirmed him as a B-grade guide,
leaving Tae Ha-Jin with no official pretext to bother him for a
while.
“Hello.”
“Ah, nice to meet you, guide-nim! Is this our first meeting?”
Today was his first guiding session.
The man had an exotic appearance and was a B+-grade with a
Vessel that could be considered decent, potentially elevating
him to A-grade with some luck. Of course, grades were innate
and couldn’t be changed through effort alone. Still, a slight
abnormal type alteration might allow for an A-grade re-
awakening.
With that thought, Yeon guided his 36% contamination levels
as slowly as possible.
The man, fascinated by Yeon’s covered face, stared intently.
“Why do you cover your face? Your eyes are so beautiful.”
That had been on his mind. Yeon, unable to give a
straightforward answer, offered a makeshift explanation.
“I have scars.”
“Ah, I see… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s alright.”
From the paper chart, his name seemed to be Owen Majayka.
‘Perhaps his ancestors were nobles.’
The current Diaylen nation resulted from the unification of
several small kingdoms long ago. Small kingdoms had fewer
abnormal types, making it hard to prepare for doors (door).
When doors exploded, half the kingdom was destroyed. Thus,
the royals, feeling threatened, agreed to form a large nation
centred around the more stable Diaylen kingdom.
This resulted in today’s Diaylen.
Despite the advancements in civilisation and awareness,
Diaylen still had a clear presence of the “royal family” due to
the symbolic importance in a united nation.
‘Though the royal family has lost its meaning now.’
Unlike other countries, Diaylen had no president. The elected
“Elders” and the “Elder Chief” led the government. In the
early days of nation-building, the royal family’s authority was
high. But that was a thing of the past. The royal family now
only engaged in politics within set boundaries without
infringing on citizens’ rights.
Moreover, Diaylen, being a union of several kingdoms, had
citizens with diverse appearances and names. The royal family
respected various cultures and origins, allowing people to
accept differences without feeling alien.
However, language conflicts were significant. The former
leaders eventually abandoned their native languages, creating
the “Diaylen common language” for everyone to use.
‘A rational choice.’
Yeon’s father had made substantial contributions to the current
civilisation, the person he most despised.
“Which centre were you assigned to?” Owen asked, brimming
with curiosity.
“Libramji.”
“Ah, Libramji is nice. My aunt lives near there.”
Yeon nodded absently.
After this guiding session, perhaps he’d visit a library. He’d
never been to the capital’s library, and it likely had more books
than Libramji.
“Oh, by the way?!” The man’s eyes sparkled.
Uncomfortable with the attention, Yeon averted his gaze.
“I heard a rumour. Is it true that you were chased out of a
province because of your disguise?”
Yeon’s guiding halted abruptly. Owen, sensing the discomfort,
rubbed his wrist.
‘The rumour reached the capital too?’
It was an unbelievable story. Yeon thought stoically. At the
previous centre, he hadn’t formed bonds with anyone, so there
was no one to hurt him. Let them gossip.
“Why do you hide your face to this extent?”
“I told you, because of scars.”
“Ah… right. I must have the memory of a goldfish; I forgot.”
Yeon smiled faintly at Owen’s fuss, though it was hidden
behind his mask.
“See you next time.”
After finishing the peculiar guiding session, Yeon headed to
the library.
People were buzzing around a large bulletin board on the wall.
A bad feeling swept over him. This scene had played out when
he was assigned to the capital.

“What’s going on?”

“They’ve revised the centre’s regulations? Wow, it’s been ten
years.”
“What’s different from the old ones? They seem the same.”
The bulletin board displayed the old and new regulations side
by side. Staff huddled together, looking for differences, and
soon found them.
“Look at this… Wearing prohibited clothing…?”
One man read the revised text aloud.

[To spread a sense of proper culture within the centre, wearing

masks that cover the face is prohibited. In unavoidable cases
where wearing a mask is necessary, submit supporting
documents (medical certificate, detailed statement, opinions of
two or more doctors, progress report, statement of reasons,
etc.). To extend the period, resubmit the above documents
weekly.]
What?
Yeon couldn’t believe his eyes.
The only change after ten years was about masks?
“Masks? Is that the only revision?”
“Yes… that’s all.”
“No way, they posted this on the bulletin board?” “Seriously,
who’s wearing masks enough to change the regulations?” Lee
Yeon, feeling paranoid, quickly turned his body so no one
could see him and removed his mask.
“Shit… Is this for real?”
It was frustrating.
Yeon’s odd rectangular glasses, mask, and long bangs covering
his eyes were his way of hiding his appearance. He’d known
since childhood that his looks stood out. Despite everything,
he knew his face was utterly useless for the life he aimed for.
He didn’t want to ruin what his beloved mother had given him,
so covering up was the best option.
“Sigh.”
Damn Centre…
He had made up his mind. Before receiving his official grade,
he had secretly operated his father’s testing machine at the lab
and discovered his dual abnormal type. He instinctively knew
this was something to take to the grave. He decided to hide his
face as well, fearing someone from the lab might recognize
him as the lab director’s son. That would mean bidding
farewell to a peaceful life. His everyday life would be laid
bare. Besides, he didn’t want to have significant interactions
with anyone. It was better to be seen as a weirdo covering his
whole face.
Fortunately, his judgment was right. Yeon managed to live
without major issues for four years at the Centre. Still,
sometimes, an inexplicable emptiness and frustration would
haunt him. Even though he wanted to make his presence
known, he would occasionally remove his disguise when
visiting Uibin and walk around the streets.
But now…
“Damn it, really?”
He felt a crisis tightening around his throat. His father didn’t
interfere with his odd attire. When Yeon was graded as a B-
grade guide after manipulating the machine, his father lost
interest in him. It was expected, given the disappointing
results, and Yeon was quite pleased with his father’s
indifference. Though he still provided financial support, which
was good.
But now…
Yeon stuffed his mask into his pocket and headed straight for
the dormitory. As he entered, Jung Woo-Cheol frowned deeply
and slammed the door.
Yeon collapsed onto his bed, groaning.
“Regulations… That’s what they call regulations? Treating
masks as part of the attire?”
As expected, Uibin had also heard the news and texted him.

[Yeon, are you okay? What will you do without a mask to

cover your face? ㅠㅠ
1:07 PM]

[1:08 PM
I can’t even lie and say I’m okay.]

[Then should I cover your face with my hand? What do you

think?
1:08 PM]
[1:09 PM
Not funny.]

[ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
1:09 PM]

Yeon felt bad, but he couldn’t laugh at all. Having to go

without what he’d used to cover his face for over four years at
work was like walking around naked. ‘Maybe it’s okay.
Beauty standards change often.’
Besides, it’s just removing one mask. Fortunately, Yeon still
had his bizarre rectangular glasses and bangs covering half his
eyes. Thinking about it made him feel better.

A week later.
Yeon habitually covered his mouth when facing people.
Fortunately, since removing the mask, the stares had
decreased. Maybe because he seemed less weird.
It was fine, for now.
But then…
“Are you serious, they’re changing it again?” “Seems like the
higher-ups have lost their minds. At this rate, they’ll revise it
every week.”
Yeon’s eyes shook violently as he unconsciously covered his
jaw. He pushed through the crowd to read the new regulations.
[To set an exemplary standard, the Centre protecting Diaylen
will enforce tidy haircuts (eyebrows must be visible). In
unavoidable cases requiring long hair, submit convincing
documentation (doctor’s note, detailed report, opinions of two
or more doctors, progress report, statement, direct blood
relative’s will, etc.). Extensions require updated
documentation weekly.]
“Haha.”
A hollow laugh escaped, sounding almost deranged. People
glanced at Yeon and whispered.
“Poor guy, he’ll have to cut his hair.”

It was truly amusing. It felt like God was personally screwing

with him. Yeon drove aimlessly towards a salon, barely
remembering if he had parked correctly or not. Inside, the
hairdresser showed him various celebrity photos.
“This is actor Pakiyan, do you know him? This hairstyle is
trendy now. With your handsome jawline, it’ll suit you well.”
“No, just… make sure my eyebrows are visible.”
“How about this model Jin Sebyla’s style? It made him
incredibly popular.”
“No, just enough to show my eyebrows, please.”
The hairdresser seemed disappointed with his stubborn
request.
Snip, snip.
“Oh, your hair is so silky, like silk.”
Cut.
“Would you like something to drink? Our iced tea is
delicious.”
Yeon kept his eyes closed the entire time, not wanting to see
the mirror. He paid with half-closed eyes and locked himself in
his dorm. His phone flashed with a message from Uibin, but
he couldn’t bring himself to read it.
‘It’s okay. I’ll find even stranger glasses.’
Three days later.
Yeon realized his life was falling apart in real-time. He felt the
burden of stares more intensely.
“Sigh.”
And then the bulletin board was updated. Trying to suppress
his rising blood pressure, he approached the board.
No way, damn it…
Please, give me a break.
With a desperate heart, he read the notice.
[To maintain the Centre’s upright image, utmost effort must be
made to maintain a neat appearance (e.g., not wearing non-
prescription glasses). If wearing non-prescription glasses is
unavoidable, submit convincing documentation (doctor’s note,
detailed report, opinions of two or more doctors, progress
report, statement, direct blood relative’s will, etc.).]
He understood now.
Yeon decided to acknowledge a possibility he had been
avoiding.
This wasn’t divine intervention. It was just some brat abusing
their power to mess with him. That was the only explanation.
It couldn’t be this relentless targeting.
‘Is this even possible? Even school rules aren’t this strict…!’
He immediately removed his rectangular glasses and folded
them, crushing them like paper. Now, nothing hid his face. If
he painted his skin green, the regulations would change to ban
green makeup.
“I’ll kill you.”
Yeon gritted his teeth.
 Chapter 1. Part 5
Today was a day for practical training. Attendance was
optional for guides, but guides usually didn’t attend dangerous
practical training, making it practically an esper-only training.
Step by step.
On the vast grass-covered field, over 300 espers stood in
perfect formation. On the platform, the instructor tapped the
whiteboard with a stick, continuing his explanation.
“We’re preparing for such-and-such situations. This practical
training is strictly an individual competition, with bonus points
and rewards based on results. The guns provided are loaded
with special ammunition. When shot, the sensor vests will
identify the hit area and determine the injury’s severity or
death. If marked as dead, you can’t move for 10 minutes,
meaning after 10 minutes, you can revive and attack again.
Points are deducted for injuries or death. The key is to injure
or kill as many opponents as possible while minimizing your
own casualties. The sensor vests, developed at Diaylen’s
central research lab…”
The explanation concluded, and the espers were given rifles
loaded with special ammunition. To ensure fairness, everyone
received the same sniper rifles.
The C-grade esper distributing the guns widened his eyes. Had
there ever been such an esper during training?
Too beautiful to call just pretty, and too handsome to simply
praise. Besides, he was tall with a well-proportioned body. It
felt like a waste to throw someone like this into such a harsh
place.
The C-grade esper, who had unknowingly scoured the man’s
body, suddenly came to his senses.
“Oh… um, I’ll be cheering for you. Do your best.”
“Thank you.”
The people moved in unison to the empty assigned building.
The six-story structure lacked an elevator, designed solely for
practical training, with sparse, angular pillars positioned to
facilitate concealment.
“We will begin the first training. Note that you cannot use your
abilities during this exercise. You have two hours. Start!”
Everyone stood at their designated floor positions. Yeon was
by the wall next to the third-floor restroom. As soon as it
started, he entered the restroom. Someone was bound to be
hiding there.
As he held his breath and pressed himself against the wall, he
heard a faint noise inside. It was the sound of shoes scraping
the floor. Yeon deliberately slammed the wall he was leaning
against. In response, two gunshots rang out from inside. The
interval between the shots was too short for a single sniper;
there were at least two people inside.
He slammed the wall again. No more gunshots, but at least for
now, they wouldn’t dare come out due to his boldness. Yeon
crouched down and spotted a man’s shoes through the thin gap
under the restroom stall. Without hesitation, he shot at the feet.
Bang!
Simultaneously, a voice announced from the man’s vest, “Your
right foot is now disabled.”
“What the… already?”
Hearing the panicked voice, Yeon shot at the left foot this
time. Damn it! The man cursed under his breath. No one dared
come out in the face of Yeon’s unwavering attack. Yeon pulled
a soap from the sink and tossed it into the stall like a grenade.
“Argh!”
As expected, there was someone in the third stall as well. Yeon
banged on the second stall to keep them alert. Then he entered
the fourth stall and climbed onto the toilet seat. The man in the
third stall was aiming at the second stall, where Yeon had
deliberately made noise. From the ceiling, Yeon aimed at the
man’s head without hesitation.
Bang!
(Skull fractured, half of the brain lost. You are dead and
cannot move for 10 minutes.)
The man looked up at Yeon in disbelief. Yeon aimed at the
man’s eyes and said, “Esper Tae Ha-Jin. Where is he?”
“I-I don’t know…”
Bang! Already dead.
Yeon approached the first stall where the man who had lost
both feet was. He raised his gun and aimed.
“Wait! Is this allowed? Who does this right from the start?”
“Do you know where esper Tae Ha-Jin is?”
“You’re supposed to find that out yourse… Ah, you bastard!”
Bang! (Left shoulder disabled.)
“Tell me, and I won’t kill you.”
“Who are you, you bastard? I’m a B+ grade esper. Do you
really want to die, ah, damn it!”
Bang! (Left ear disabled.)
“The sixth floor or the rooftop! Now get lost, you bastard!”
“Thank you.”
Bang!
(You are dead and cannot move for 10 minutes.)
He had planned to spare those who gave information.
However, despite being in formal training, the man kept
swearing at Yeon, so he killed him.
“You crazy bastard! I told you! Who are you? Hey! Where are
you going, damn it!”
After that, Yeon didn’t go out of his way to find and kill
people. He only responded to special bullets shot at him or to
snipers. If he couldn’t kill, he would at least cripple a limb.
He was effectively using his shooting skills honed for survival.
Occasionally, his arm got hit or his shin was pierced, but he
never heard the voice announcing his movement was
restricted.
“Who is that? Why is he such a good shot?”
“I just got shot in the inner thigh… If it had missed by a little,
it could’ve been bad.”
Guns weren’t very effective in real monster battles. Ammo
was limited, and monsters didn’t die easily from a few bullets.
Espers typically used their abilities or swords in real combat.
So, few were as skilled in gun use as Yeon.
Bang! (You are dead and cannot move for 10 minutes.)
“Guide-nim?! Why are you here… And your face… there’s no
scar? Huh?”
Yeon had just shot a man he encountered around a corner, and
it was Owen Majayka, the esper he had guided the day before.
Feeling a bit sorry, Yeon patted Owen’s shoulder as he passed.
Owen, still dazed, couldn’t take his eyes off him.
Unfortunately, damn Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t on the sixth floor.
“Hah… Calm down.”
Opening this door would lead to the rooftop. Yeon caught his
breath. Despite it being virtual, how many people had he killed
to get here? All to fertilise Tae Ha-Jin’s grave.
Yeon turned the handle and kicked the rooftop door hard.
Bang! Despite the noise, no one on the rooftop fired a warning
shot. So Yeon shot into the air.
But the rooftop remained silent.
He carefully advanced, taking each step cautiously, fully alert.
He was determined to make Tae Ha-Jin pay for making him
reveal his face.
He turned, swung his arm to scan, and…
There was Tae Ha-Jin. He was lounging on the rooftop floor,
basking in the sun, with his arms behind his head, showing off
his massive biceps.
It was an utterly disarming display of nonchalance.
Bang!
But Yeon’s resolve was too strong to be disarmed so easily. He
shot Tae Ha-Jin in the head as he lay there. The vest
announced, “You are dead and cannot move for 10 minutes.”
Tae Ha-Jin remained still, eyes closed.
“Are you kidding me?”
Who did he think he was fooling?
Having climbed up in high tension, Yeon found only 8 minutes
left until the end of the training. So this would be his last
strike, and he should feel relieved having killed Tae Ha-Jin,
but…
“Why am I so angry?”
It was frustrating.
He didn’t feel any satisfaction. Despite having run all this way
to kill him, Tae Ha-Jin hadn’t even acknowledged him. Biting
his lip hard, Yeon fired repeatedly at the sleeping man.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Soon, he started to wonder if he was insane. He approached
Tae Ha-Jin, putting the sniper rifle’s muzzle to his forehead.
Tae Ha-Jin slowly opened his eyes at the cold sensation.
His red eyes always seemed too luxurious for him.
“It’s your doing.”
The anger from losing his mask, his hat, and his glasses boiled
over. He wanted to kill this bastard. What had he done to
deserve having his daily life shattered like this? He’d spent
four years barely maintaining a semblance of normalcy.
Unaware of Yeon’s feelings, Tae Ha-Jin spoke calmly.
“A face I had hoped to see.”
Bang! Already dead.
Bang! Already dead.
Bang! Already dead…
Yeon kept shooting at Tae Ha-Jin’s forehead. The repeated
notification filled the silent rooftop. Swallowing his rising
emotions, Yeon spoke.
“Why are you doing this? You said you hate me. I feel the
same, so we don’t need to cross paths.”
“I merely stripped you of that joyous mask.”
Yeon recalled his words at Hart Mountain’s recent event.
-I’m not planning to take off that mask. So don’t bother
showing interest.
At the time, he meant he wouldn’t surpass a B-grade guide.
But Tae Ha-Jin had forcibly stripped away his facial mask to
set an example.
It was absurd.
“How could he think like that?”
Tae Ha-Jin, lying down and watching Yeon’s changing
expressions, softly smiled. It was the smile he often gave
Yeon.
“Guide Yeon, you really catch my eye. Makes me want to
break you.”
“I generally dislike catching people’s eyes.”
Tae Ha-Jin chuckled.
“Such words usually have the opposite effect.”
Yeon sighed deeply.
He should never have associated with someone like this. It
seemed Tae Ha-Jin had a perverse pleasure in tormenting those
who disliked him. If Yeon had known sooner, he would’ve
handled it differently.
He withdrew the gun from Tae Ha-Jin’s head and looked up at
the sky. He took a deep, slow breath.
Otherwise, he might smash Tae Ha-Jin’s head with the training
rifle. Though he knew he couldn’t overpower a Grade 5 esper
in a fight.
“Ha…”
The sky was clear without a single cloud.
Without the mask that blocked half his breath and the glasses
that partially obstructed his view, his vision was unobstructed.
The bangs that often poked his eyes and caused inflammation
were gone.
Despite the discomfort and annoyance, looking up at the sky
allowed him to rationalise it away.
It was a mask he had to take off eventually.
Ironically, Yeon felt a sense of liberation.
He spoke, almost like a sigh.
“The weather is really nice.”
Perhaps the unnecessary sentiment came from a memory
buried deep within him, owed to a certain boy from his
childhood.
That boy was dead.
The day had been as clear as today. He couldn’t even
remember his face anymore, the boy whose features had faded
but whom he still mourned…
The guilt of having consumed that boy’s life, the fear of his
father, the hostility towards the world.
Yeon was terrified and hurt to reveal himself.
“Jump off over there.”
Seated against the wall, a man kindly guided him with a
gesture towards the edge of the roof. Yeon gave a hollow
laugh.
‘I wasn’t planning to jump.’
Tae Ha-Jin rested his elbows on his knees, holding a cigarette
in his other hand. The grey smoke formed a cloud before being
carried away by the wind.
“Give me one.”
Tae Ha-Jin looked up at Yeon in surprise but handed over a
cigarette from his pack. Yeon bit down on the filter and leaned
in to light it from Tae Ha-Jin’s. Their faces came close, and
Tae Ha-Jin frowned.
Cough, cough.
It had been a while since Yeon smoked, and it tasted awful.
Leaning against the fence, he gazed across the sprawling
grounds of the Centre, then beyond to the glittering city of the
capital.
“Send me to the provinces. If you can bend the rules, it
shouldn’t be hard.”
The smoke that circled her lungs suddenly felt sweet. Just
moments ago, it had tasted bitter.
“Why should I?”
“You dislike me.”
“Yes.”
The reply was swift. Yeon chuckled and continued.
“That’s why I’m asking you to send me away.”
“Would you grant a favour to someone you dislike, Guide?”
“…”
Yeon had always lacked social skills and had never tried to
form close relationships. He thought avoiding people he
disliked was enough, but it seemed that was his own
misconception.
Tae Ha-Jin said he wouldn’t send him away because he
disliked her.
‘Isn’t that usually the opposite?’
It was a paradox Yeon couldn’t wrap his head around.
He shook his head.
“Let’s stop this.”
He spoke as if giving up. The silent tug-of-war had gone on
for over a month. He had underestimated Tae Ha-Jin, thinking
the latter would be easy to deal with. But he was persistent,
and Yeon realised that even in death, he wouldn’t stop. So he
decided to throw in the towel.
It seemed what Tae Ha-Jin wanted was him surrender.
“I give up.”
The sound of a Zippo lighter striking filled the air as Tae Ha-
Jin lit another cigarette.
“Is she your girlfriend?”
“…?”
“Guide Kim Uibin.”
The unexpected question made Yeon whip around, scowling.
He stubbed out his cigarette against the wall.
“Tae Ha-Jin esper.”
“Yes.”
“It’s been less than 20 seconds since I said I give up. The esper
I saved before is her boyfriend. Leave her alone. Didn’t I
throw a white towel that I lost so hard?”
Explaining wasn’t necessary, but it felt like the only way to
ensure Tae Ha-Jin wouldn’t bother Uibin. The accumulated
grievances had made Yeon overly sensitive.
“What should I do with this? I don’t accept your surrender.”
“…..”
A thin smile played on Tae Ha-Jin’s lips, a cigarette dangling
precariously.
‘You weren’t after my surrender?’
Yeon’s head throbbed.
‘How do I end this damned fight, then?’
It seemed this was a death game.
One of them had to die for it to end.
“Isn’t changing the rules cheating? Can you use your power so
arbitrarily?”
“Using what you have is a skill.”
“I don’t get it. I’ve never seen such petty use of power before.”
“Power is always like that. If you don’t like it, why don’t you
shed your B-grade Guide status?”
Tae Ha-Jin stood up, brushing off the dust from his clothes
with a firm hand. Even that small action didn’t seem light.
Whether lying on the rooftop, naked in the emergency ward’s
Room 702, or wielding a blood-stained sword on the
mountain.
Everything he did carried weight. Everything seemed like a
threat.
If that was a skill, it was one he had mastered.
“Training is over. Everyone, gather at the field.”
It was a training session Yeon attended, postponing his
afternoon guiding duties, fueled by a fierce determination to
spite Tae Ha-Jin. But it left Yeon feeling uneasy. He clicked
his tongue in disappointment and brushed past him.
The esper followed silently.
“You did well.”
Yeon stopped halfway down the stairs. The voice from behind
made him freeze. Tae Ha-Jin tilted his head slightly.
“An amusing sight. A B-grade Guide from the provinces has a
knack for sniping.”
It was rare for someone to take up shooting as a hobby. With
no answer to give, Yeon asked his own question.
“Why didn’t you participate, Esper?”
He laughed lightly.
“Disappointed?”
“Yes. If you had, there wouldn’t be this lingering unease.”
“Guide Lee Yeon.”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, Tae Ha-Jin was close, exuding a heavy scent,
possibly cologne. He pulled the rifle slung over Yeon’s
shoulder. The cold muzzle pressed against his solar plexus.
‘What’s he doing?’ Yeon frowned.
“Training is dull. If you’re going to shoot, do it in the field,
when I’m distracted, when everyone’s in chaos. That’s when
you shoot.”
Then, with a forceful slap, he placed his large hand on Yeon’s
head. It brought back the unpleasant memory of him holding a
guide’s head a month ago during a blowjob. Yeon felt a surge
of disgust.
Tae Ha-Jin leaned in close.
“A door breach turns the area into a lawless zone until the
incident is resolved. What happens there, the government will
ignore.”
“Esper, I…”
“That’s when you show your skills. I don’t like being
disturbed when I’m sleeping.”
Tae Ha-Jin’s smile was always the same. His eyes stayed cold
while his lips twisted up mockingly. Then, as if he hadn’t
smiled at all, his expression went blank.
Crunch.
He crumpled the rifle’s muzzle aimed at his solar plexus with
one hand, like a piece of paper.
‘Is he pissed off because I woke him up?’
‘Teaching me to shoot in the field?’
Yeon was speechless, his mouth agape. Tae Ha-Jin’s gaze
flicked to the lips before he started down the stairs.
Several things Yeon had been avoiding became clear.
First, this fight wouldn’t end until Tae Ha-Jin decided it was
over.
Second, Tae Ha-Jin didn’t see him as an equal.
Third, they still disliked each other.
“Results will be announced.”

The instructor on the podium hesitated to speak. He checked

the results multiple times, unsure if it was his eyes or the
scorecard that was wrong. Then, clearing his throat, he spoke.
“The top scorer of this training session is B-grade Guide Lee
Yeon. He sustained four injuries, inflicted injuries on nine
others, and killed fifteen. Therefore, he will receive a total of
93 bonus points.”
 Chapter 1. Part 6
”A Guide participated?”
“93 points? Is that even possible?”
“Who the hell got killed by a B-grade Guide? Own up and kill
yourself, hahaha!”
“It was me, damn it…”
“Me too, damn it…”
Chaos erupted. Espers clamoured about the absurdity, and
those shot by Yeon testified fervently.
“Insane! That B-grade Guide? Are you sure? I got played in
the restroom by that bastard!”
“I got castrated for getting shot in the shin. This is fucking
ridiculous…”
Unfortunately, Yeon had already left. The instructor ignored
the Espers’ chatter, knowing it was impossible to quiet them.
He mechanically recited the rest of the results. His final words
were:
“…Additionally, five bonus points will be awarded to Guide
Lee Yeon for killing S-grade Esper Tae Ha-Jin.”
“…?”
A chilling silence fell. The Espers, busy chattering, fell silent.
Realising Tae Ha-Jin’s absence, they began speaking again.
“That Guide is nuts, living without fear.”
“I told you! That bastard toyed with me in the restroom,
asking about Tae Ha-Jin’s whereabouts!”
“But doesn’t Tae Ha-Jin always sleep on the rooftop during
training? It’s dangerous to wake him.”
“You’re dead if you do. I saw it. Half a year ago, a newbie lost
an arm for disturbing Tae Ha-Jin during a training drill.”
“Someone should have told the Guide. The rooftop is off-
limits.”
Mu-Pei, who had been badmouthing Yeon, froze. His heart
raced, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He swallowed dryly
and nudged Owen.
“Hey, hey, Owen…”
“Yes?”
“I’m the one who told the guide that Tae Ha-Jin was on the
rooftop. …Does that mean I’m in trouble too?”
Listening intently, Owen’s eyes widened, and he nodded
vigorously.

So, Mi-Hoon did his best.

In guiding, and in his efforts to make a good impression on
him.
Fortunately, Tae Ha-Jin seemed to recognise these efforts,
showing a measure of leniency. At least he didn’t push him
away even if he made unauthorised contact. Though Ha-Jin
never allowed kisses during physical contact, it wasn’t just
him; he treated all guides the same.
So, Mi-Hoon didn’t mind.
But this situation was…
Mi-Hoon grew uneasy.
“Esper Tae, have I done something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why… you need to receive guiding.”
“Guide Ju Mi-Hoon.”
“Yes?”
“Can you guide me by just touching my wrist?”
Was that a command or a mere question?
Mi-Hoon shook his head.
“You’re a top-tier S-grade esper. I’m an A-grade guide. Just
holding your wrist might lower it by 1 percent in 10 minutes at
best. It’s highly inefficient.”
After pulling him off the bed, Tae Ha-Jin fixed his gaze on the
documents, never sparing Mi-Hoon a glance.
Mi-Hoon knew it was intentional.
Ha-Jin was a meticulous man. Every action, every word he
uttered carried meaning.
Even after appointing Mi-Hoon as his exclusive guide, Ha-Jin
still confined him to a double dormitory.
Mi-Hoon took it as a sign not to overstep his bounds.
“…No guide other than an S-grade like Princess Diaelyn could
manage it. I must have intruded too abruptly today. I’m sorry,
esper Tae.”
He waited for several seconds, but no reply came.
Suddenly, he felt suffocated with humiliation. As he left the
office, he felt tears welling up. He knew full well that Tae Ha-
Jin saw him only as a guide. The lines Ha-Jin drew were
unmistakably clear. Despite having long crossed those lines in
his heart, he couldn’t express these feelings to him.
He couldn’t find a way to be more than a guide to Ha-Jin.
‘…You know it too.’
Tae Ha-Jin was perceptive. He must have noticed it too. That
Mi-Hoon’s feelings had crossed the line of professionalism.
But Ha-Jin strictly adhered to his predefined roles.
Mi-Hoon knew he was intentionally cold to him. The
unrequited love with no end in sight made his yearning more
desperate.
‘I wanted to be someone meaningful to you.’
As soon as Mi-Hoon left, Ha-Jin opened the window beside
the bed.
The thick scent of perfume began to dissipate.
The artificial, strong smell was something his sensitive senses
couldn’t tolerate.
Picking up the phone from the side table, he made a call.
-Yes, Esper Tae. It’s Doberman.
“Terminate Guide Ju Mi-Hoon’s exclusive contract.”
—But, what about the vacancy? We’re already struggling with
guiding issues.
“Leave it empty for now. I have candidates.”
—Oh, esper Tae, you didn’t cause another problem while I
was on a business trip, did you? Please, stop causing trouble.
Ha-Jin smirked.
‘There is someone problematic.’
Lee Yeon was an annoyance.
Even as a B-grade guide, not even he, with his top-tier status,
could access Yeon’s personal information. When the “national
confidential information” notice appeared, it sent shivers down
his spine.
No, that wasn’t right.
The first time he felt chills from Yeon was earlier. On the day
Yeon guided him, Ha-Jin had told him to remove his mask
while reaching out. Like other guides, it implied he should
suck him off.
But Yeon had taken off his mask and hat and kissed him
instead. He hadn’t expected the man who seemed ready to flee
to do that, nor had he encountered anyone so reckless.
Then Yeon had bit his lip.
Back then, Ha-Jin had barely restrained himself from snapping
Yeon’s neck. The guiding that drained his energy was
astonishingly exhilarating. He got aroused. Subconsciously, he
responded to Yeon’s kiss—an error on his part. Recalling that
moment, Ha-Jin rubbed his forehead in irritation.
“Anyway… what about the lab?”
—Ah, the infiltration was successful. We managed to secure
some internal documents and made copies, but we failed to
retrieve the data from their servers.
“What happened? I thought I provided sufficient support.”
—Yes, your support was indeed ample. But it seems the lab
director integrated the data into his own body. According to
experts, without the director’s genetic information and will,
it’s impossible to access the system.
“Genetic information, huh… Have you investigated the
director’s bloodline?”
—Yes. He has a son from his late first wife and another son
from his second wife.
Ha-Jin pondered.
He recalled the rumours circulating among the upper echelons
about the director’s first wife. It was said that the director,
obsessed with his experiments, used his wife as a test subject,
driving her to madness and eventually to suicide. She was
reputedly a woman of blinding beauty, a tragic figure.
The late first wife was someone Ha-Jin knew.
No, someone he knew very well. His eyes darkened.
“Sigh.”
Thinking about her often caused his mind to seize up.
Ha-Jin exhaled deeply. The director’s second wife was a
famous actress. At twenty-one, she married the director,
twenty years her senior, in a highly publicised union that drew
national attention due to the immense power wielded by the
director and the fame of the actress. Ha-Jin leafed through the
documents detailing the director’s information.
They’d been married for twelve years.
“How old is the second son?”
—Eleven years old. And as for the other matter you asked
about… the director doesn’t have a daughter over twenty-
seven. Just the two sons, aged twenty-five and eleven.
“…”
—Of course, it’s possible there was one, but according to my
findings, there isn’t. If there were an unknown older daughter,
she might have died long ago…
“Shut up.”
—….
“Let’s talk later.”
Click.

The call ended. The intensity of his fury seemed palpable even
over the phone.
Doberman swallowed nervously. Tae Ha-Jin was particularly
sensitive about matters related to the director. Though
Doberman knew the general reason, he couldn’t fathom why
Ha-Jin occasionally inquired about the director’s supposed
eldest daughter.
“Did I do something wrong?”
This was serious. With his return to the centre imminent,
Doberman dreaded going back. He pulled an envelope from
his jacket pocket. “Resignation Letter”
It was an envelope he had carried around for seven years. He
imagined Ha-Jin would merely smile before drawing his
sword if he handed it to him.
Doberman sighed. The problem was that he had grown too
attached to that esper. If he was going to be such a bastard, he
shouldn’t have cared for his family.
Or given so much money.
Doberman chuckled bitterly and shook his head.

***

“Yes, see you next time.”

Finally meeting with the B-grade guide team leader, Lee Yeon
headed straight to the fifth floor of the main building.
Due to the sheer number of abnormalities in the capital, there
were occasional gaps in administrative procedures.
It was only now that he received his office assignment and
reporting protocols.
Yeon entered the office labeled “B-grade Guide Office” and
looked for an empty spot. The atmosphere in the office felt
oddly tense.
‘Is it because of my reputation?’
He didn’t care. As he moved past the desks, he too froze.
His nameplate, “Guide Lee Yeon,” was prominently displayed
on a desk, but Tae Ha-Jin was sitting in front of it. Ha-Jin’s
long legs stretched out, exuding presence. His face was
expressionless. His red eyes pierced through Yeon’s face.
“The team leader’s office seems quite far.”
“…It was.”
“It’s just next door.”
“…Esper Tae, what brings you here?”
“To make a proposal.”
The guides remained at their desks. Though they seemed
focused on their monitors, their ears were undoubtedly tuned
to the conversation. Yeon pressed his lips into a thin line and
glared at Ha-Jin.
“Let’s talk outside.”
“Why? It’s quiet and nice here.”
“Isn’t there any other quiet place?”
“Where?”
“Anywhere. Get up.”
When Yeon gestured towards the door, Ha-Jin shrugged.

As soon as they left the office, Yeon spoke.

“Two White Doors just opened simultaneously. Can you afford
to lounge around?”
“I just dealt with them.”
“It’s been less than an hour since the alert. How did you…”
White Doors were the lowest grade. They housed weak
monsters, and the doors were small, making them less of a
burden. The issue was their frequency. When Yeon worked at
the Disaster Defence Centre, even White Doors took
considerable time to clear.
But having someone with the capacity of a national asset made
things significantly easier. Yeon fixed his gaze on Ha-Jin,
contemplating.
‘Why would the gods give power to such a morally bankrupt
person?’
Ha-Jin pressed the button for the 20th floor with his long
fingers after stepping into the elevator. They say beautiful
hands belong to those with kind hearts, but why did this guy,
with his terrible personality, have such pretty hands?
“What’s your proposal?”
The fifth floor housed several offices, but the 20th floor felt
like an entirely different building with its superior facilities.
Following him, Yeon found himself in a spacious area that
could easily be either an office or a bedroom.
Ha-Jin perched on the bed by the large window overlooking
the capital. The city gleamed in a myriad of colours as dusk
settled.
“Contamination level: 76%.”
Today, he didn’t bother stripping out of his uniform, merely
extending his thick wrist. Yeon ignored the gesture.
“Is this the proposal you came to my office for?”
“I have a severe headache and I think I have a fever.”
Unprompted, he was moving through the guiding stages:
revealing the contamination level, stating symptoms.
Despite claiming to be ill, his expression remained calm. It
was remarkable. Most people would be in extreme discomfort
with a contamination level over 50%. At 70%, they’d barely
be able to move. Did S-grade espers become numb to pain?
“This isn’t formal business. I’m sorry, but you’ll need to call
your exclusive guide.”
Yeon only responded to calls that appeared on his watch.
Personal guiding requests were meant for an exclusive guide.
Usually, only high-grade espers had exclusive guides. Espers,
who risked their lives fighting monster species on the front
lines, were the envy of many. Indeed, they were treated better
than guides, who mostly worked from the safety of the rear
and were primarily protected.
‘It varies by grade, and person to person.’
Yeon shrugged. Just as he was about to turn, a blue light
flashed on his watch.
An emergency call signal. He tapped repeatedly.
(Emergency Call: S-Grade Esper Tae Ha-Jin. Main Building,
20th Floor. Contamination Level: 76%)
The call came through before he finished speaking, causing
Yeon’s face to harden. For the call to come through his watch,
it had to be routed through the central control room.
He looked at Ha-Jin, who subtly showed his own watch.
“Mine’s special. I oversee the central control room.”
Why would the imperial court trust Ha-Jin with supervision of
the central control room?
For a moment, he impulsively wanted to smash his watch. It
was an expensive piece of equipment. The cost wasn’t an issue
for Yeon, but using his father’s card would mean his life
would come under scrutiny.
Ha-Jin probably guessed Yeon wasn’t just a B-grade guide.
They’d had conversations hinting at it multiple times, and as
an S-grade, Ha-Jin might have sensed something deeper within
him.
One thing was certain.
‘Ha-Jin doesn’t know. He doesn’t know that I’m Grade 5 or
that I’m of dual bloodline.’
Ha-Jin likely suspected Yeon wasn’t B-grade, but didn’t have
concrete knowledge of what he truly was. Hence, he was
acting tentatively, unable to make a definitive judgment.
He might even think Yeon was an A+ grade guide.
“I want to know.”
Lost in thought, Ha-Jin’s voice pulled Yeon back. His tone was
meaningful, and Yeon involuntarily glanced at him. Ha-Jin
was smiling. This time, not just his mouth, but his eyes curved
beautifully too.
Yeon felt uneasy. That beautiful smile made him
uncomfortable.
“Watch closely.”
Ha-Jin’s long, white fingers tapped his watch. The screen
displayed the contamination level of 76% again. Why show it
again? Yeon squinted.
Ha-Jin gripped his right forearm tightly with his left hand. As
he applied pressure, blue veins bulged alarmingly. Blood flow
was cut off, and his forearm to his fingertips began to darken.
Yeon’s eyes widened.
“What are you doing!”
Ha-Jin’s smile deepened at Yeon’s startled voice. He increased
the pressure on his arm. The blood pooled rapidly, and Ha-Jin
concentrated energy into his dying right arm. The energy,
circulating within his body, coagulated with the blood in his
right arm.
As he flexed his fingers, a grotesque black mass formed in his
right hand. It grew larger, swirling and consuming itself in a
violent vortex.
A compressed storm appeared in his hand.
Yeon recognised it instantly. That was Ha-Jin’s energy.
He was manifesting the “water” contained within his Vessel.
To manifest water meant using psychic power. Ha-Jin was
using his psychic power while simultaneously erasing it,
making energy consume energy.
‘Why is he doing something so insane!’
No matter how vast his energy was, wasting it like this was
sheer madness. It was like a billionaire throwing a giant safe
into the sea. The biggest problem, however, was…
“Stop it! Are you out of your mind?!”
Yeon tried to pull Ha-Jin’s left arm away, but the body charged
with power didn’t budge. Ha-Jin’s expression grew more
languid, his eyes glazing over.
His watch now displayed a contamination level of 89%.
He was inducing a self-rampage.
 Chapter 1. Part 7
Red warning lights and alarms blared on his watch.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin! I said stop!”
Yeon screamed desperately. If an S-grade esper’s rampage
exceeded 90%, the nation would enter a state of emergency.
For ordinary espers, exceeding 90% meant the brain couldn’t
handle the waves and would go mad. At 95%, the watch would
self-destruct, trying to kill the esper, but with S-grade espers,
the watch’s explosion was meaningless.
An esper who lost reason in a rampage became excessively
violent, destroying everything around them. Historically, this
tendency had never deviated.
Inhuman physical strength and power, psychic abilities.
S-grades were practically non-human, and Ha-Jin’s watch had
just hit 90%. At the same time, alarms blared throughout the
building, announcing the emergency transition.
(Emergency! Entering emergency mode! S-grade esper
rampage initiated! All guides below B-grade are to evacuate
the capital immediately!)
Yeon’s watch also flashed red, urging evacuation.
Guides below B-grade were of no use in an S-grade esper
rampage. They would only be a burden or innocent victims.
Receiving the evacuation message heightened the gravity of
the situation for Yeon.
While he was frowning in confusion, Ha-Jin watched his
changing expression carefully.
‘What will you do, Yeon?’
For his goals, power and strength were necessary. Most
importantly, he needed capable aides.
Like the irregular guide standing before him.
So, before making an offer, Ha-Jin had to test him. To see how
valuable this guide truly was.
Ha-Jin wasn’t worried. Even if Yeon refused to guide him and
fled, Ha-Jin wouldn’t truly rampage. The princess of Diaylen
was the nation’s only S-grade guide.
The princess only guided espers of A+ grade or higher, and if
Ha-Jin caused a rampage-level threat, she was duty-bound to
stop it. That was the responsibility of an S-grade guide.
She would soon appear in front of this building.
Even if not the princess, other S-grades would be dispatched.
And if it came to the brink of rampage, Ha-Jin could stop his
Vessel himself.
Thus, no one would be harmed by his induced rampage.
Not knowing the specifics of capital protocol, Yeon was
screaming himself hoarse, believing the city was on the brink
of destruction.
Yeon sensed two powerful presences outside the main
building. It seemed other S-grades had arrived to stop the
rampage. Ha-Jin’s level just passed 91%.
At 93%, high-level espers would start tearing down the main
building.
‘Why are you doing this!’
With his heart pounding, Yeon realised Ha-Jin’s motive.
This bastard, this damned bastard.
He wanted Yeon to perform a guiding that a B-grade couldn’t.
He wanted to strip away the facade. He was betting everything
on this risky gamble.
As each second ticked by, the fleeting deliberation shook
Yeon’s soul.
To fall into the madman’s gamble or not.
‘Why am I even considering this…!’
There was a way to leave the bastard behind. Yeon knew he
could escape from this building without being noticed if he
was on his own. But that might endanger the capital.
He locked eyes with Tae Ha-Jin, whose ragged breathing filled
the air. His empty red eyes gleamed, staring directly at him.
‘Thank you.’
Suddenly, the spirit of a dead child whispered in his ear. It was
a boy who had once occupied a significant part of Yeon’s past.
‘You were my salvation.’
The boy was crying.
‘Leave. Quickly.’
Though the boy’s eyes begged him to stay, young Yeon had
left him. He had to survive. Yeon believed abandoning the boy
was the best choice.
‘……Good.’
Yet, the boy had muttered “Good” as if to himself. Tears
welled up in Yeon’s eyes.
‘Bloody hell…..’
He had barely remembered the boy until now. Why was he
thinking of him at this moment?
Throughout his life, Yeon had always prioritised himself.
Nothing was more valuable than survival, so he was always
ready to abandon anyone if necessary.
But now, he thought he shouldn’t do that.
Perhaps it was the guilt over the boy gnawing at him.
At the point when the contamination level exceeded 92%,
Yeon kissed Tae Ha-Jin. He poured all the power he hadn’t
shown in years into subduing his rampage. The Vessel
vibrated, overflowing with water. The spilling water surged
into Tae Ha-Jin, initiating forced “Subording.”
Subording involved a guide suppressing an esper’s energy and
forcing a guide, regardless of the esper’s will. Sometimes, the
esper’s thoughts or emotions could be read by the guide. Yeon
was experiencing that rarity now.
Pain, sorrow, emptiness, facing death.
And acceptance.
‘Was this rampage for real?’
It was absurd. This madman had truly considered the
possibility of death. Not because Yeon meant that much to
him, but because Tae Ha-Jin regarded his own life as utterly
insignificant.
Reading his thoughts, kissing him, digging into his wounds…
Yeon found himself thinking of the word “pity.” What kind of
life must he have led to end up like this?
Maybe he should let Tae Ha-Jin die.
‘For a life like this, death might be better.’
That was the thought he had just read from Tae Ha-Jin.
He couldn’t understand. To you, all this was a game, wasn’t it?
Just a means to torment an unpleasant opponent?
‘Why—why are you in such pain?’
Yeon shoved the large man onto the bed. Tae Ha-Jin lay down
willingly. Yeon climbed on top of him. He let the inexplicable
tears flow. Kissing Tae Ha-Jin, he placed his right hand over
his heart. Its abnormal rhythm was palpable.
Yeon extended his left hand to cover Tae Ha-Jin’s right hand,
trying to absorb the rampaging energy. The resistance was
immense, and his whole body ached terribly. Yeon was an A-
grade esper. Tae Ha-Jin’s energy, being an S-grade esper, was
overwhelmingly heavy.
If he hadn’t been a dual-bloodline, his Vessel might have
shattered into pieces.
‘Don’t absorb this.’
Instinct warned him.
Yeon absorbed Tae Ha-Jin’s energy little by little without
digesting it and threw it against the wall.
Bang!
The energy burst through the office wall. It was a formidable
force.
Repeating this process about ten times, half of the 20th floor
was blown away. The forced rampage subsided. Things
became slightly easier afterward. Yeon consumed Tae Ha-Jin’s
ferocious energy, purified it, and returned it.
While still kissing, he tapped on the man’s watch.
Contamination level: 48%.
‘Damn it….. I guided at full power for two hours, and it’s still
48%.’
Yeon felt helpless for the first time since his awakening. He
felt nauseous. The Vessel still buzzed with excitement. The
sensation was so unfamiliar that he even thought he might die
like this.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, shut up. It’s a good moment.”
“Does it look good to you? It’s a complete mess.”
A man and a woman entered through the gaping hole in the
wall. Yeon was too engrossed in guiding to turn around. He
thought, ah, I’m screwed.
He had planned to sneak away after the guiding was over, but
now there were witnesses.
Yeon finally pulled away from the kiss. His lips bled, probably
because of how desperately he had tried to save him. Yet, he
didn’t remove his hand from Tae Ha-Jin’s heart. Still at 44%.
“Wow… really?”
The man and woman approached. The woman covered her
mouth in awe with her delicate hand. The man stared at Yeon’s
face with fascinated eyes.
“Wow, noona, this hyung is really handsome.”
“Dion. I think he’s an S-grade guide… Oh my.”
“What? Really? Is there another S-grade guide in this country
besides noona?”
“Suppressing a 92% rampage like this. Even I’d find it tough.”
The man and woman spoke without listening to each other.
They only said what they wanted to. Yeon ignored them. He
couldn’t decide what to do yet, so it was better not to say
anything rashly.
“Aren’t you tired? Can I take over now?”
It was a welcome offer, but he had to refuse. Subording was
advantageous for the guide but had its downsides. The guiding
couldn’t stop until the esper’s contamination level reached
stability.
Stopping halfway could cause the esper to die of a heart
attack. Therefore, guides with weak Vessels didn’t perform
Subording. There was a risk of losing all their energy.
‘Weak Vessels wouldn’t even dare to attempt Subording.’
Yeon had taken all these side effects into account before
performing Subording. He was confident he could finish it
quickly. The only thing he hadn’t anticipated was the presence
of a man and woman who seemed to be S-grade abnormals.
“Oh…?”
As Yeon continued guiding silently, the woman’s eyes
widened as if she sensed something strange.
“No way, right?”
“What? What is it?”
“Is he really… to Tae Ha-Jin?”
“Ah, what’s wrong! Are you discriminating against espers?”
Yeon had never seen another S-grade guide.
Even scouring the entire world, there were less than five S-
grade guides. Compared to the roughly ten S-grade espers, it
was a very small number.
The woman brought her face close to Yeon’s. Her green eyes
captured his attention.
“Sorry for being rude. Should we introduce ourselves? I’m
Elena Le Diaylen. And you are?”
‘Le Diaylen.’
It was the noble surname of the Diaylen royal family.
Yeon’s eyes widened briefly. Upon reflection, it wasn’t
surprising. The royal family maintained their power through
marriages among those with valuable blood. Hence, the
chance of an S-grade guide being born was possible, albeit
low.
“Greetings, Your Highness. I’m Lee Yeon.”
This time, Elena’s eyes widened. Normally, one should state
their type and grade when introducing themselves. Given the
proper introduction, it meant Yeon had intentionally omitted
his grade.
‘So, what is this kid then?’
Elena smiled smoothly. Dion, who had been poking Tae Ha-
Jin’s cheek, tilted his head and spoke.
“Noona.”
“Yes?”
“This hyung doesn’t seem to be asleep.”
“Hoo. If you say that, how does that make Ha-Jin feel?”
What?
Thinking he had misheard, Yeon frowned deeply. Tae Ha-Jin,
who was beneath him, slowly opened his eyes. He gazed
coldly at Dion, who flinched and scratched his head, moving
away from the bed.
“Oh, was it like that?”
“Ha-Jin, it’s been a while. How have you been?”
Elena laughed joyfully behind Yeon, while Ha-Jin replied
wearily.
“Are you having fun?”
“Am I having fun? No, you are. Oh, I wish I had manifested as
an esper. Then Yeon would have guided me. Right?”
Ha-Jin’s watch showed 30%. Now that it was within a safe
range, the persistent Subording came to an end. Yeon pressed
his throbbing forehead and climbed off Ha-Jin. When he tried
to stand up, he lost his balance. Someone caught his shoulder.
It was a scent he didn’t want to find familiar. Rolling his eyes,
he saw it was Tae Ha-Jin. Yeon roughly shrugged off his
touch. The headache spread through his body.
Elena gently patted Yeon’s back with a concerned look.
“It’s amazing you didn’t faint. Are you alright? Do you want
to rest?”
He wasn’t alright.
Drowsiness pressed down on his eyelids. Yeon rubbed his eyes
with his hand.
“Haa…”
Turning around, he glared at Tae Ha-Jin. At least he had
enough conscience to keep his mouth shut. It was a wise
decision.
Yeon, showing clear irritation, waved his hand. Tae Ha-Jin
stepped aside from the bed. He pushed away Elena’s hand and
collapsed onto the bed.
Huff, huff. Had it been five seconds since he lay down? He fell
asleep as if he had fainted. In truth, it was no different from
fainting. The office was filled with a dizzying silence.
Watching Ha-Jin cautiously, Dion burst into laughter.
“Hyung, when did you become so docile?”
“Explain the situation. Do you know how shocked we were?
No warning signs, and suddenly Tae Ha-Jin’s rampage. Today,
it went up to 92%. We almost had to kill you.”
Well, they would have guided him first.
Despite Elena’s reprimanding tone, Ha-Jin didn’t respond. He
quietly watched Yeon’s face. Then he checked his watch.
Contamination level: 30%.
It was a number he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“S-grade, is he?”
Elena crossed her arms and scoffed.
“Really, you caused this mess just to show off?”
“It’s complicated.”
“But it was too much. You almost lost your memory the last
time you went berserk, right? What confidence do you have to
try again…?”
Ha-Jin’s silent, sharp gaze made Elena shut her mouth.
“Was I not supposed to say that? …Anyway, Lee Yeon is
definitely S-grade. At this level, he might be S+ grade. Ha-
Jin’s rampage level was at 92%, and now it’s 30%. Even if it
took some time, this is hard for one person to achieve.”
“Dion, what do you think?”
Dion, who had been watching Yeon from the head of the bed,
answered nonchalantly.
“Well, if that’s the case, then it is.”
As he answered indifferently, he felt a sharp gaze. When Dion
looked at the source, Tae Ha-Jin was giving him an intense
look. Dion shrugged.
“Hyung knew it all and did this, right? You noticed he was S-
grade, you planned to show us, and you wanted to see his
skills… Am I wrong?”
“But did you consent to Subording?”
“What? Hyung, really? Did you get Subording done on you?”
It couldn’t be unknown. Subording involved suppressing an
esper’s energy. But Ha-Jin’s energy was so strong that no
guide had ever succeeded in Subording him before.
Of course, many had tried. Ha-Jin never let a guide who
attempted Subording on him go unpunished. The sensation
was unbearably disgusting, and it was pathetic for someone
who couldn’t even defeat him to attempt it. He always made
sure they paid the price.
Elena, the princess, was an exception. Despite her attempt at
Subording, Ha-Jin let it slide because she was a princess and
had done it playfully. Criticising her seriously was awkward.
‘S+ grade guide…’
It felt like being licked by honey.
He couldn’t refuse Lee Yeon’s Subording. Nearing the brink of
a rampage, he saw nothing, and Lee Yeon’s guiding was so
blissful it seemed to steal his soul. The warmth and fragrance
pulled him from the depths of a rotten abyss to the sunlit
surface.
Just that much exhilaration.
An esper once said, during Subording, it felt like they could do
anything for their guide.
‘I never thought I’d agree with that.’
“This won’t happen again,” Ha-Jin said. If he got Subording
done again, he might end up swearing loyalty to Lee Yeon like
a dog. The thought was absurd. Being so swayed by a guide.
“What do you plan to do? An S+ grade guide… Shouldn’t
there be an official announcement? It’s a huge asset for the
Diaylen nation.”
“There will be no announcement.”
“That’s for Yeon-ssi to decide.”
“Lee Yeon-guide wouldn’t want it.”
He never intended to reveal Lee Yeon’s secret to the world.
Today’s rampage incident could be kept quiet within the
Centre, and only Dion and Elena knew about Lee Yeon
guiding him.
Regardless of the princess’s stance, Ha-Jin didn’t think it was
necessary to expose Lee Yeon. Just stop calling him a B-grade
guide in front of him.
He always retreated, avoided, or hid. That was what Ha-Jin
found unpleasant.
“I don’t understand. From my perspective, he’s a treasure with
no reason to be hidden.”
“Princess Elena.”
Elena, deep in thought, closed her mouth. It had been a while
since Tae Ha-Jin had addressed her without an honorific. His
expression was rather grim. He was often rational, but at times
he acted without thinking things through. Today’s rampage
was a case of the latter.
Until recently, Ha-Jin had been in a position where he needed
to make a good impression on her. She was the only S-grade
guide in Diaylen capable of properly handling him. Of course,
perfectly managing his temperament wasn’t easy.
But now, with a more capable guide appearing, her value to
Ha-Jin had undoubtedly diminished. Elena smiled.
‘If I force Yeon to stay, Ha-Jin might leave.’
Whatever the reason, Ha-Jin was someone who did what he set
his mind to. He would be welcomed anywhere he went, with
some nations even offering him their thrones.
Gaining one S+ grade only to lose another—just imagining it
made her feel the nation’s power waning. Ha-Jin was too
valuable to lose. Even the common folk knew how much he
impacted the nation.
‘And, perhaps…’
If handled well, she might be able to keep both S+ grades in
Diaylen. With this thought, her worries eased. Elena grabbed
Dion, who was still observing Yeon, by the ear and dragged
him along.
“Fine, if you insist. Talk to Yeon when he wakes up and let me
know.”
“Of course.”
Ha-Jin, glancing around the ruined office, replied
absentmindedly while sending a message somewhere.
[8:18 PM We need repairs. The 20th floor of the main centre is
half destroyed.]
[8:19 PM Understood.]
Elena, staring briefly at his indifferent expression, exited the
room with Dion.
“By the way, your brother asked why you’ve been ignoring his
messages. He said to visit before he barges in.”
Ha-Jin frowned slightly but nodded. Once they were gone, the
room fell silent. Yeon was still sleeping peacefully. Ha-Jin
checked his forehead just in case. No fever. It struck him again
that this man was indeed an S+ grade guide.
Such guiding, and even Subording, without a fever. If Elena
had tried the same, she would have given up halfway and been
bedridden for a week. She valued her own well-being far too
much.
Ha-Jin, watching Yeon for a moment, hardened his expression
as he turned back to his half-destroyed office.
From the moment his contamination level exceeded 90
percent, he had nearly lost his sanity. He wanted to kill
everyone, including Yeon. Controlling that urge took every
ounce of his remaining rationality. Hence, there were gaps in
his memory.
He didn’t even recall how the office was destroyed.
‘What could have happened?’
Elena and Dion seemed to think it was his own rampage that
caused the destruction, hence their silence. Ha-Jin approached
the broken wall, touching the crumbling surface. It
disintegrated under his fingertips, clearly destroyed by his own
energy.
‘But my energy should have been bound to my right hand.’
That’s how he had designated it. So how did Yeon manage to
draw out his energy and hurl it against the wall? And why?
A guide, not an esper, doing such a thing was unfathomable.
Ha-Jin’s frown deepened. Yeon was like an enigma wrapped in
layers, seemingly endless. Ha-Jin watched Yeon with a
displeased expression.
‘Why am I so fixated on you?’
Ha-Jin roughly ran a hand through his hair, his red eyes
flickering with exhaustion. Yeon was difficult, very difficult.
 Chapter 1. Part 8
“Please, my love—don’t do this. It hurts so much. I feel like
I’m going to die—!”
In the basement of the Capital’s Form Research Lab, on the
fifth floor underground, advanced machinery and pristine lab
equipment filled the vast room. It was as if new tools were
brought in daily.
In one corner stood a row of massive capsules, each containing
a naked human curled up in a form-accommodating solution,
oxygen tubes attached to their noses. On the opposite wall
were ostrich-egg-sized pods, partially broken and contained
within capsules.
A woman, her limbs bound to a bed, screamed in agony,
pleading for mercy. A middle-aged man, noting observations
with a fountain pen, cleared his throat.
“You said you wanted to become an abnormal type. Didn’t
you?”
The woman shook her head violently, denying it, saying she
was just speaking out of turn. The man rubbed his face
wearily.
“Then should I use Cha-Hyun as the test subject?”
The woman’s eyes filled with horror as she thrashed against
her restraints, causing her wrists and ankles to bleed. The bed
groaned under her desperate struggles.
“Don’t touch Cha-Hyun! He’s your son! How could you—!
Please stop!”
“Quiet. People will think I’m torturing you.”
The man prepared a syringe with a sedative and firmly held
her arm, injecting it. Her tear-streaked face gradually
slackened, and she closed her eyes.
“KWL-47… asleep in six seconds.”
The paper filled with notes. In the lab’s corner, a young boy,
the woman’s son and the lab director’s second child, held his
mouth shut with trembling hands, tears streaming down his
face.
Recently, his father had been in a foul mood. During his visit
to the capital, numerous abnormal types had raided the lab,
leaving it in shambles. Many of his prized reports and
documents had gone missing. Since then, his father had
pushed experiments harder, with common folk being brought
in daily.
Since then, his father had thrown himself into experiments
with a vengeance. Ordinary people were dragged into the lab
every day without fail.
Cha-Hyun was terrified. His father had never laid a hand on
his mother or him, but now it seemed he’d abandoned even
that rule for the sake of his experiments. The sound of his
mother’s screams had stopped. He could hear his father
writing something down.
The eerie silence was terrifying.
Cha-Hyun held his breath and slipped out of the 5th floor. He
ran up to the bedroom on the 3rd floor.
‘I have to escape…’
‘I’ll die.’
‘Hyung, you said I have a brother, right? Is he still alive?’
He buried himself under the blankets, hugging his knees.
Hyung wouldn’t help. He hated him and mother. That’s what
mother had said. The brother who left home was a heartless
man who had no love for his family.
It was hopeless.

***
The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was a strange
face. A man in his mid-30s handed him a glass of water. As he
sat up, severe muscle pain spread from his neck throughout his
body.
“Ugh…”
“You’ll be in pain all over for about three days. Drink some
water first.”
Looking around, he realised it was Tae Ha-Jin’s office. He’d
completely wrecked the place by stealing Tae Ha-Jin’s energy,
yet it was pristine, as if nothing had happened. How could this
be? Had a restoration esper been here?
Restoration ability was a rare superpower even among espers.
It was in high demand and used everywhere. He knew there
were only a few in the vast Diaylen nation.
Lee Yeon didn’t drink the water the man offered. Who knew
what was in it?
“I am Doberman, Tae Ha-Jin esper’s secretary. I’m also an A-
grade esper.”
“How long have I been asleep?”
“You slept for two days straight. It’s 4 p.m. now.”
“And esper Tae Ha-Jin?”
“Esper went to handle a yellow door case this morning. He’ll
be back soon.”
Lee Yeon shook his head.
“No, I’m asking about that bastard, no, that esper’s condition.”
Doberman widened his eyes at the unexpected question. The
first thing the newly awakened guide asked about was the
wellbeing of the man he’d overpowered. The guide, looking
indifferent, made Doberman narrow his eyes.
‘Is this person really an S-grade guide?’
After a moment of silence, he spoke.
“He’s fine. Don’t worry.”
Worry, my arse.
“And my watch?”
“Guide Lee Yeon is currently on leave. Your watch has been
temporarily returned.”
Leave? It had been a long time since he’d heard that word.
Hearing it brought back something he had forgotten.
‘I should visit the hospital today.’
He swallowed that thought. In conclusion, he could rest well
today. Before he fell asleep, he’d met the princess and a man
named Dion. With so many things to worry about, Lee Yeon
deliberately shut down his thoughts to avoid stress.
He lay back down and stared blankly at the ceiling.
“I heard you saved our esper. As a token of our gratitude, I’d
like to offer you honest answers to three questions. How does
that sound?”
It was quite an intriguing proposal.
Normally, he wouldn’t have been that curious about Tae Ha-
Jin. But after Subording to stop his rampage, he had briefly
read Tae Ha-Jin’s emotions and thoughts. A few questions had
arisen.
Lee Yeon turned his head to look at him. Doberman was
smiling kindly. From the moment he opened his eyes until
now, he had been smiling continuously. That smile didn’t seem
entirely fake. It was rather surprising that Tae Ha-Jin’s
secretary could be such a gentle person.
‘To have survived by that bastard’s side!’
Maybe he was an extraordinary person.
“Anything at all?”
“As long as I know the answer.”
It seemed this capable secretary knew how to handle people.
Even though he didn’t want to have a conversation, he felt
inclined to respond to his playful remark.
Lee Yeon asked nonchalantly, “Did they announce me as a
Grade 5 guide?”
“No. It appears Tae Ha-Jin esper blocked it.”
That bastard blocked it?
Lee Yeon’s eyebrows knitted. It was a statement that lost all
credibility. It wouldn’t have been surprising if he’d announced
it to the whole world.
Yet, Doberman’s face remained sincerely benevolent.
Lee Yeon asked the next question straight away, “Esper Tae
Ha-Jin, doesn’t he have any family?”
Doberman took longer to answer the second question. He
blinked and organised his thoughts before taking a deep
breath.
“I’m not certain. He’s not one to share personal stories… All I
know is that he was abandoned by his parents.”
There was no particular reason for Lee Yeon to ask that
question. It was just that the thoughts he’d read through
Subording were so painful. He’d speculated that the absence
of family might be the reason for such deep wounds. It seemed
the absence of his parents had a significant impact.
He glanced out of the window. Today was cloudy.
Lee Yeon asked, as casually as the drifting clouds, “Do you
pity esper Tae Ha-Jin too?”
“…”
Doberman’s silence was a sufficient answer.
“I see.”
Staring blankly at the sky, Lee Yeon thought about how fickle
human emotions and thoughts could be.
The lover who would give their organs for you yesterday
could turn around and poison each other today.
The enemy who seemed like the worst foe yesterday might
sometimes appear like a soaked dog.
That was what he’d realised after looking into Tae Ha-Jin’s
mind through Subording.
What kind of process must one go through to become
indifferent to death? Lee Yeon had gone through quite a rough
past. Yet, he didn’t want to die. On the contrary, he was
someone who had endured and ignored many things just to
survive.
“Tae Ha-Jin did say he wanted to die.”
He didn’t know.
He had discovered a small crack in the man who always
seemed so strong. He no longer wanted to know what had
caused that crack.
Doberman’s lips moved slightly.
“I…”
He didn’t know what to say.
Doberman felt as though he’d been stabbed in the heart. It was
something he had never considered. For over seven years, he
had resisted many temptations and stayed by Tae Ha-Jin’s
side. Tae Ha-Jin was never a kind person, and that was no
different with Doberman.
Tae Ha-Jin was a detached man, yet on important days, he
would send precious gifts to his home.

Four years ago.

When his wife was in danger due to a premature birth, the
doctor had said he had to choose between saving his wife or
his daughter. At that hopeless crossroads, Doberman
experienced despair.
There was no one else to contact.
He thought no one could solve this problem. If he mentioned it
to Tae Ha-Jin, he would probably get a response like “So
what?”
Yet, on the day of the surgery.
Without being told, Tae Ha-Jin came to the hospital with an
imperial restoration esper and a healing esper. He was holding
something in both hands.
—How did you know, esper-nim?
He was already crying, tears streaming down his face. For the
first time, Doberman had complained to Tae Ha-Jin. That day,
he didn’t want to be an efficient secretary.
—They told me to choose. My wife or my daughter… esper-
nim. Is this really a choice? What right do I have, what
qualifications do I have…?
As he watched himself sobbing pathetically, Tae Ha-Jin
frowned. When he gestured, the espers who had come with
him entered the operating room. It seemed he had already
given the doctors a heads-up.
Tae Ha-Jin placed the paper bag he was holding next to his
chair. He was too distracted to open it and see what was inside.
—If you’re going to cry, pray.
The surgery was a success. The doctor said that if it weren’t
for the espers’ assistance, things would have gone terribly
wrong. Tae Ha-Jin had helped him avoid making a choice.
After everything settled down, once Doberman regained his
composure, he opened the large paper bag Tae Ha-Jin had
given him.
Inside was a box of herbal medicine for his wife and a pair of
shoes for his daughter.
“……”
There were no words of congratulations written anywhere on
the box. Yet, Doberman felt overwhelmed. His hands were
trembling.
It was as if Tae Ha-Jin had foreseen that both mother and
daughter would survive from the beginning.
—Was that the turning point?

At some point, following him felt entirely natural. He had

buried the reasons long ago. To others, Tae Ha-Jin might be
trash, but not to Doberman.
He was just a bit awkward.
But Lee Yeon had used the word “pity”. It had been a long
time since he’d entertained such a soft word in his mind.
Failing to continue speaking, Doberman suddenly realised.
‘Ah, did I pity him…?’
In the silence that wasn’t uncomfortable, Tae Ha-Jin soon
entered through the large door.
Tae Ha-Jin was covered in blood. He glanced at Doberman
and Lee Yeon before heading straight to the bathroom. The
sound of running water continued as Lee Yeon didn’t move. In
fact, Doberman, who had been sitting there to make sure Lee
Yeon didn’t run away, felt awkward.
“You can drink the water. There’s no poison or drugs in it. If
you want, I can take a sip myself.”
“I suppose we’ll be seeing each other often, Secretary.”
“…Yes. It seems so.”
Lee Yeon’s tone had already gone through resignation.
Somehow, feeling guilty, Doberman awkwardly left the office.
Soon after, Tae Ha-Jin emerged from the bathroom, having
finished his shower.
“Are you alright?”
Tae Ha-Jin asked as he roughly dried his hair with a towel. His
red eyes peeked out through the towel. He was wearing a dark
grey bathrobe, tied so loosely at the waist that his lower half
was almost exposed.
Lee Yeon turned his head away instinctively.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have nothing to say to me?”
Lee Yeon turned his head to look at him. Tae Ha-Jin brought a
chair to the bedside and sat down heavily on it. He crossed his
long legs and met Lee Yeon’s eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
It was a blunt apology. Lee Yeon’s eyes widened slightly. He
hadn’t expected such words to come easily from him.
“I did it on purpose. If I were to go back, I’d probably do the
same thing.”
He ran his hand through his wet hair in frustration.
“I know my reckless actions put you in a difficult position and
pushed you to the brink, so I apologise.”
To gauge if his words were sincere, Lee Yeon half-closed his
eyes. He had thought Tae Ha-Jin was a man who wouldn’t
bow to anyone, but now he saw that he would if necessary.
Of course, even this felt half-hearted and left him unsatisfied.
‘What would I expect from you?’
Did he expect him to kneel and beg for forgiveness?
Lee Yeon smirked and said, “Don’t go on another rampage.
How is that different from a suicide attempt?”
Lee Yeon thought that perhaps he wasn’t normal either. A
typical person would have experienced all those things and
wouldn’t have been able to contain their anger. They would
have been furious at being put in a difficult position,
wondering why he did it, and calling him a sadistic bastard.
It was true that he wasn’t in a good mood. But in a situation
where everything had already been settled, getting angry again
would only harm himself.
‘It’s time for some rationalisation.’
Tae Ha-Jin was the most uncommunicative person he had ever
met. There was no point in being emotional with such a
person.
Anyway, he had always known he wasn’t a B-grade guide.
Though three more people knew, he was relieved it hadn’t
been made official.
If it was true that Tae Ha-Jin had blocked the officialisation, as
Doberman said, then the information would remain strictly
confidential.
The rationalisation for peace was complete.
“I accept your apology.”
He picked up the glass of water on the nightstand. Now, even
if there was something in it, he felt like he would just drink it.
He was still tired despite sleeping for two days. Today, he
wanted to rest his brain.
Tae Ha-Jin was silent for a moment, seemingly not expecting
his reaction. He looked as if he wondered if that was all.
Lee Yeon smirked. Did he expect him to get angry?
“What’s the proposal you mentioned the other day?”
Tae Ha-Jin, who had opened the nightstand drawer and taken
out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, shook the cigarette pack
and looked at him. It seemed like he was asking if it was okay
to smoke here. Lee Yeon opened the window by the bed to let
the air in. Tae Ha-Jin lit his cigarette.
Leaning lazily on the chair, he inhaled deeply on the filter and
slowly exhaled the smoke. It was as if he were savouring an
expensive steak.
“It will be difficult to hide that you’re an S-grade guide in the
capital. This is the place with the most doors and the most
eyes.”
“Yes.”
‘Well, that’s assuming you’re a typical guide.’
He smirked as he exhaled the smoke.
A typical guide wouldn’t have hidden their S-grade status.
They would have boasted about it to the whole world. Tae Ha-
Jin still didn’t understand why Lee Yeon wanted to hide his
high grade.
Tae Ha-Jin took a sip of the water Lee Yeon had left.
“How about becoming my exclusive guide? It’s the perfect
place to hide an S-grade, right under everyone’s noses.”
…What?
Lee Yeon’s eyes wavered.
Tae Ha-Jin was leisurely smiling.
“I’ll keep you hidden, under the lamp.”
 Chapter 1. Part 9
It wasn’t entirely unexpected, but hearing and seeing it directly
felt strange. We despised each other, yet here we were, sitting
face to face and having this conversation. It felt like such a
novel situation.
Lee Yeon had a prepared answer in mind anyway. With things
having reached this point, he intended to use Tae Ha-Jin in
reverse.
The capital wasn’t an easy place. There were more capable
people than he had thought, doors frequently burst open, and
there were a plethora of problems that Lee Yeon found
difficult to solve on his own. Consequently, he needed a sort of
insurance and a shield.
And sitting in front of him was the sturdiest shield he could
imagine.
Life would be much easier if he used the person who
tormented him the most as a scapegoat.
“I’m officially a Grade B. If I were to become your exclusive
guide, the Centre would love it. The public would think I’ve
mesmerised you to secure a spot.”
He pointed out the problematic part first. Then, Tae Ha-Jin
tilted his head slightly, raising a subtle smile.
“Lee Yeon-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“You tampered with the reawakening test device, didn’t you?”
He was talking about the reawakening test failure incident.
That day, Lee Yeon had been judged as a Grade B guide.
Strictly speaking, he hadn’t tampered with the device. It had
only been disrupted by the strong energy of his dual bloodline.
Lee Yeon kept his lips tightly shut.
“If you’re going to lie, keep your mouth shut.”
Tae Ha-Jin warned before even getting a response. Clearly, he
had checked the CCTV from that day. Lee Yeon had
deliberately smirked at the camera to provoke him…
‘How should I explain this?’
He could never reveal the fact about his dual bloodline.
Lee Yeon decided to reveal a partial truth.
“It wasn’t tampering, but I can induce desired results. The
method is a trade secret, so I can’t share it.”
“How did you pass the initial test after your awakening? You
wouldn’t have known you were Grade S at first. Only after
finding out would you have thought of deceiving it.”
He was asking how Lee Yeon had realised he was Grade S and
how he knew he could manipulate the device. Lee Yeon
slowly stroked his cheek with his palm. It wasn’t a pleasant
memory. He wasn’t obliged to report such intimate details to
him.
“I’ll keep quiet since it seems like I’ll lie.”
Tae Ha-Jin chuckled and stubbed out his cigarette in the
ashtray.
“Let’s do another reawakening test. An AO result would be
good.”
Can you manage that? He asked subtly. It seemed Tae Ha-Jin
intended to have Lee Yeon reawakened as Grade AO to keep
him close. Having a Grade B guide as an exclusive guide
would be difficult.
To avoid his father’s notice, Grade BO would be most
appropriate. However, revealing himself as Grade AO might
be safer than being caught as Grade S. It was also a fitting
grade for guiding Tae Ha-Jin.
Among abnormal types, reawakening was rare, and more than
two reawakenings were unheard of. Hence, if he announced
the reawakening result as AO, people would always see him as
AO. Re-reawakening was theoretically impossible.
This way, he could permanently evade his father’s attention.
“Assuming it’s possible… what do I get if I become your
exclusive guide?”
Tae Ha-Jin, who had been flipping through the alarm on his
watch with his long fingers, looked up.
“What do you want? Just say it.”
House, land, money, car, anything was possible.
Unfortunately, Lee Yeon didn’t need such material things. It
would be better to drain his father’s bank account if he wanted
to leech off anyone.
Of course, Lee Yeon didn’t rely on that either. Every time he
used his father’s card, news of his whereabouts would reach
him. Therefore, Lee Yeon hadn’t spent his father’s money
since buying a car and a few clothes four years ago. That was
the last time.
‘I don’t really need anything.’
It’s customary to ask before making a contract. Lee Yeon had
asked without much expectation. However, Tae Ha-Jin
answered as if he would grant anything.
“Hmm.”
Was there anything he desperately wanted?
Lee Yeon rested his chin on his thigh and pondered. He
hesitated a bit as something came to mind. He rolled his eyes
and wavered.
“Actually, there is something only you can do…”
“There’s probably a lot.”
Tae Ha-Jin said while entering something into his watch. Lee
Yeon laughed at the arrogant response.
Of course, you would say that. Feeling somewhat relieved,
Lee Yeon said.
“Protect me.”
Right.
What he needed was “survival.”
Lee Yeon was always anxious. He had fled, fearing his mad
father might eventually treat him the same way. But no matter
where he went or what he did, he always felt the disgusting
sense that his father was watching him.
There were very few people across the continent who could
protect him from such a powerful man.
The man probably thought he was asking to be protected from
monsters or something.
The real monster was someone else.
That’s why Tae Ha-Jin seemed surprised by such a weak
request.
“From threats and everything else. Can you manage that?”
Lee Yeon’s request was something Tae Ha-Jin hadn’t
anticipated at all.
Having one’s personal information designated as “state secret
level” meant the shadow behind Lee Yeon was at least of that
scale. Hence, driving an imported car and wearing only high-
quality clothes.
So, he hadn’t expected Lee Yeon’s request to be monetary
compensation.
He thought Lee Yeon would demand not to be tormented
anymore or to guide only when he felt like it.
Yet, it was an even more surprising request than he had
thought.
Lee Yeon didn’t seem like the kind of person who would rely
on someone else.
Especially not on someone like him.
Tae Ha-Jin smiled subtly. Wasn’t he the one who had been the
greatest threat to Lee Yeon in this Centre?
“Why not entrust a cat with a fish?”
Before the smile even faded, Lee Yeon suddenly grabbed his
right hand. Tae Ha-Jin’s expression hardened. He glared at Lee
Yeon with a look that asked what he was doing.
Soon, the energy gathered in their clasped hands started to
dissipate. It was guiding.
“What’s your contamination level?”
Lee Yeon asked.
Come to think of it, he had just dealt with a yellow door since
the morning. Though small in scale, a yellow door itself was a
tough opponent, and it took until past 4 PM to sweep it away.
Tae Ha-Jin glanced at his watch.
“68 percent.”
“Research shows that the point of contact heals faster than
other parts when guiding.”
Tae Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow. He looked down at their clasped
right hands.
Two days ago, in an attempt to self-destruct, he had repeatedly
burst energy in his hand, resulting in burns on his skin. Espers’
bodies healed quickly anyway, so this would heal in a few
days.
He wondered why today he was holding his hand instead of
his wrist.
“And… uh, I’m sorry.”
Lee Yeon didn’t take his eyes off his hand.
Tae Ha-Jin tilted his head at the apology from Lee Yeon.
What for?
“Two days ago, after finishing the dilemma, my contamination
level was 92 percent. Your right hand kept triggering the
rampage. So I urgently did ‘Subording,’ but I think it’s an area
where the other’s consent is important. Since I forced it, I
should apologise. I’m sorry.”
Tae Ha-Jin pondered.
His way of thinking was truly incomprehensible.
Was Subording such an official and courteous form of
guiding? To say the other’s consent was important. He had
never heard anyone say such a thing before.
Guides valued their “privileges.” Since espers would die
quickly without them, they occasionally wielded it as a right.
Subording was a representative outcome of that. It was a
method to suppress rebellious espers and make them obey,
even if only for that moment.
Tae Ha-Jin always thought that.
If he wasn’t an S+ grade esper, many guides would have tried
to suppress him by now.
It was a disgusting thought.
The guide in front of him even had the Vessel to overpower
him. It wasn’t a matter of bad luck that he was subjected to
Subording that day during his rampage.
Lee Yeon’s Vessel had subdued his energy at that moment,
which is why it happened.
In other words, this was the result of Lee Yeon winning a
power struggle.
‘And he’s apologising?’
It was hard to understand the apology, so Tae Ha-Jin kept his
mouth shut.
Some time passed. Lee Yeon lifted his head and let go of his
hand.
“It’s done.”
That was quick. Tae Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow and checked his
watch. 37 percent. It was indeed impressive guiding, but it felt
somewhat unsatisfying.
“I’m still having a headache.”
Lee Yeon blinked slowly. This was someone who wouldn’t
even bat an eyelid at contamination levels exceeding 80
percent, yet he was mentioning a headache. Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t
one to make things up or joke around.
Lee Yeon became slightly serious. He reached out and touched
Tae Ha-Jin’s forehead. There was no fever. Lee Yeon closed
his eyes and read his energy with his palm.
Due to the aftereffects of the rampage, there might be an issue
with his brain, or worse, with the Vessel. Upon closer
inspection, there was a tangle of energy around the frontal
lobe, like a knotted thread. Lee Yeon closed his eyes tightly
and focused on that area.
During this time, their proximity became quite close, yet
neither seemed to mind. Tae Ha-Jin assessed Lee Yeon’s
unfamiliar scent.
A refreshing summer fruit fragrance.
“Do you still have a headache?”
The foreign sensation that had been pricking his head was
gone.
“I’m fine.”
He would notice immediately if he wasn’t.
Lee Yeon felt a bit disappointed. If he had said it still hurt, he
might have had the opportunity to examine Tae Ha-Jin’s
Vessel. He was very curious about what it looked like. But
peeking secretly would be detected by such a sensitive man.
Just a bit of guiding, and his contamination level was at 32
percent.
The high matching rate of 81 percent must have played a
significant role. Tae Ha-Jin silently observed Lee Yeon as he
tidied his clothes.
His usually slow movements seemed unusually hurried today.
“Where are you going?”
“The abnormality hospital.”
“If it’s for the reawakening test, there’s no need to rush.”
Lee Yeon shook his head.
It was a personal matter.
He had to go before 6 o’clock. He had forgotten, but the time
was approaching. Yeon dashed out without even saying a
proper goodbye.
Left alone in the office, Ha-Jin stood up from his chair. He
walked towards the desk to handle some paperwork, then
glanced out the window. He saw Lee Yeon’s white car driving
out of the parking lot.
Ha-Jin recalled the condition Yeon had mentioned earlier.
— Protect me.
A trivial request considering he was an S-grade esper asking
for an exclusive guide. Even without Yeon saying it, an esper
would naturally protect their exclusive guide. That’s what
being each other’s exclusive meant.
A mutually complementary special relationship.
Since the first time he met Yeon, Ha-Jin was inexplicably
drawn to him. The efficient guiding from just touching his
wrist, the way this so-called B-grade didn’t seem like one at
all, it was all amusing.
After receiving such a clean guiding, no other guiding felt
satisfactory to Ha-Jin. The more it bothered him, the more
determined he became to uncover Yeon’s true identity.
He had vaguely guessed Yeon might be around A+ grade. If
that level of guiding came with such cleanliness, it would be
worth binding him as an exclusive guide.
Yeon disliked him, so at least he wouldn’t be overly forward
or annoyingly clingy like other guides.
Ha-Jin was very satisfied.
He slowly stripped away Yeon’s disguise to make him his
exclusive guide. They were almost there.
But then a variable appeared.
When the disguise was lifted, Yeon turned out to be an S-grade
guide. His estimate of A+ grade was way off. Yeon was hiding
a bigger secret than he thought.
The treatment of S-grade was on another level compared to
other grades. No matter where he went, in any country, he
would be welcomed. If Yeon became an S-grade, there’d be no
reason to be his exclusive guide.
Ha-Jin was troubled.
How could he bind this brat as his exclusive guide?
Yeon, with his aura and appearance, was clearly from a
wealthy family. Appealing with money wouldn’t work. So,
Ha-Jin was willing to grant any wish he had.
If he could avoid other guides’ bothersome contacts, Ha-Jin
was ready to be generous with Yeon.
But all Yeon wanted was protection. It was disheartening.
‘Does he not know his own worth?’
An S-grade guide didn’t need to be anyone’s exclusive. Yet,
Yeon accepted the offer without hesitation. Was he stupid, or
just that naive?
Ha-Jin slowly closed and reopened his eyes, staring at the
empty parking lot. He took out his phone and called
Doberman.
— Yes, esper-nim?
“Yeon will be my exclusive guide.”
— What? But isn’t he an S-grade guide? Why would he
become your exclusive guide?
This reaction was normal. Even Doberman didn’t expect Yeon
to agree. Ha-Jin frowned at the noisy voice.
“Cancel all other exclusives except for him.”
Doberman gasped at the shocking statement.
— But the more exclusives, the better. What if Guide Yeon
quits being exclusive… How about leaving it for now?
“I don’t need them anymore.”
Click.
Ha-Jin ended the call after saying his piece. He glanced over
the papers on his desk and sat down.
It was a good thing.
If they could use each other well, nothing could be better.
 Chapter 1. Part 10
Yeon hurriedly arrived at the abnormality hospital. Luckily, he
made it before the registration closed.
“Hello, are you here for the reawakening test?”
Yeon immediately recognised the counter staff from his
previous visit. She was still sluggishly working with boredom.
“No, I’m here to see a specialist in abnormal types.”
The woman lifted her head at the unexpected response.
Lee Yeon. 25 years old. B-grade guide…
She vaguely remembered the name but couldn’t recall from
where.
“What seems to be the issue?”
“Uh, I get a fever after guiding.”
A lie. Yeon was here for another reason, but couldn’t disclose
it to the counter staff. She led him to Examination Room 5
with slightly more diligence than before.
After a brief wait, he entered the consultation room.
“Abnormal Type Specialist, Choi Sa-Rang”

Yeon was taken aback by how young the doctor was. She
looked so elegant even while seated, making him even more
hesitant.
Can I really consult a female doctor about this…? Yeon had a
rather embarrassing issue to discuss with someone of the
opposite gender.
“Hello.”
“Hello. You mentioned getting a fever after guiding?”
She neither stared at him uncomfortably nor said anything
awkward, making him feel a bit at ease. Yeon nodded as he sat
down.
“It’s a rare case, I’ve heard, but every two or three months, I
get some abnormal symptoms. My whole body heats up, I lose
my appetite, can’t sleep, sweat profusely, and…”
Not that he was experiencing it now. It was to prepare for a
phenomenon that could happen anytime. He needed the
medication beforehand, but the problem was, he had run out of
the ones he got before.
It had been over a month and a half since he moved to the
capital, and he had been too busy adjusting and dealing with
Tae Ha-Jin to handle it.
Yeon explained the symptoms as vaguely as possible.
It felt improper to state it directly, especially to a doctor of the
opposite gender. Misunderstandings could arise…
“Oh, you’re referring to the saturation period?”
“…”
The doctor casually mentioned the term without any
hesitation. Yeon tightened his lips. It was always an unpleasant
term to hear.
‘Saturation period’ referred to the time when the energy
contained within the Vessel became stagnant and overflowed,
affecting the body.
In such cases, one might experience heightened sensitivity or
heat, leading to problematic outcomes. Often, it was related to
a heightened response to specific desires, such as sexual urges.
Not everyone experienced heightened sexual urges during the
saturation period. Some had increased appetite or other
symptoms, but sexual urges were the most common.
Though a recognised term, it was embarrassing.
Yeon rubbed the back of his neck and nodded. Choi Sa-Rang
smiled softly.
“It’s not unusual. About 10% of abnormal types, around 350
million people globally, experience this.”
…She was sugarcoating the rarity of it. 350 million out of 7
billion. Choi Sa-Rang smiled.
“Usually, the saturation period occurs when the Vessel is small
or the energy is vast compared to the Vessel. The excess
energy causes abnormal reactions in the body.”
Indeed.
Yeon had a rather large Vessel. But the energy within was
equally vast, hence his S-grade. Abnormal types could see
others’ Vessels but not their own.
They could only gauge the size and amount of energy roughly.
To know their own Vessel, they would have to ask another
abnormal type to check. But Yeon couldn’t do that. No one
was high-ranked enough to peek into his Vessel, and he didn’t
want to reveal it either.
It might look odd because of his mixed bloodlines.
If his dual bloodline was discovered, it would be a problem.
So, he was glad others couldn’t read it.
The issue was he couldn’t release the energy within his Vessel.
Research showed most abnormal types experiencing the
saturation period suffered for two to three days. But Yeon,
who had been suppressing his energy for years, once suffered
for up to two weeks.
It was when the suppressed energy couldn’t be contained.
It was severe enough to take an extended leave.
“Yes. So, I’d like to get the medication in advance.”
“You mean the sedatives?”
“…Is there no inhibitor?”
“Inhibitors have severe side effects and can upset your
stomach. Nowadays, sedatives are recommended over
inhibitors.”
What came to mind was the small abnormality hospital next to
the Libramji Centre. Naturally, it was much smaller than this
hospital.
They gave inhibitors right away…
Yeon now understood why he had been suffering.
“But sedatives seem too weak. I need something stronger.”
The doctor massaged her hand, contemplating.
“Well, how about this? Take the sedative on the first day of the
saturation period. If it’s not effective, then take the inhibitor.
But don’t take both at the same time; it can strain your liver.”
It was a good compromise. She prescribed both medications
and handed him her business card.
“Here’s my card. Contact me if there are severe side effects or
any issues with the medication.”
“Oh, that’s not really necessary…”
“I’m concerned. This is the first time I’m prescribing both
medications together.”
Hesitant, Yeon took the card, seeing her worried expression.
“Abnormal Type Specialist, Choi Sa-Rang
010.xXXX.XXXX”
She smiled warmly. “Take care of your health.”
Yeon returned the greeting and left.
After rubbing the back of his head, Yeon left the office, and
Choi Sa-Rang collapsed onto the table.
“Haa…”
A sigh of admiration escaped her. She wasn’t the type to be
swayed by someone’s looks. She valued inner qualities and
principles more. But Lee Yeon’s appearance was so dazzling,
it overturned even her ideals.
As a doctor, she had to work hard to keep a neutral expression
to avoid making the patient uncomfortable.
Her heart pounded, and she said everything she could think of
to keep the conversation going.
“I must be crazy…”
As she rubbed her cheek against the cold table, she realised
how flushed her face was.
She had dated enough, yet falling at first sight…
It was too embarrassing to tell anyone.

***

A few days later.

“What the hell is this? Yeon, will you be alright?”
Once again, Uibin, who wore a black turtleneck, looked at him
with concern. They were having a meal in the centre’s
cafeteria, and everyone was staring at the two. If even Uibin,
who was usually quite insensitive, could feel it, it must have
been agonising for Yeon.
But Yeon didn’t react much. He just chewed his food and
swallowed it.
“What do you mean? That I’ve been reawakened and become
AO-grade? Or that I’ve become the exclusive guide for esper
Tae Ha-Jin?”
All of it.
Uibin couldn’t bring herself to answer. Rumours spread
quickly before Yeon could even inform her. She had heard it
from an esper she was guiding. Yeon often ranted about Tae
Ha-Jin over the phone, so it was quite surprising when he
suddenly became his exclusive guide.
Moreover, Yeon had always vowed to live as a B-grade esper.
Although he hadn’t revealed his dual bloodline or his status as
an S-grade guide, switching to AO-grade just to become an
exclusive guide?
Uibin was worried.
She heard that while saving her boyfriend Dae-Young, Yeon
had a conflict with Tae Ha-Jin.
“If it wasn’t the capital, he wouldn’t have done this.
Considering the peculiarities of the region, hiding under the
lamp might be the best option, just like he said.”
“Hiding under the lamp?”
“Yeah, I’ll use Tae Ha-Jin as the lamp.”
As the exclusive guide, Yeon was assigned a small office
opposite Tae Ha-Jin’s office. Doberman was also supposed to
use it with him, but he was often busy running errands, leaving
Yeon alone most of the time.
“But someone like Tae Ha-Jin would have multiple exclusive
guides, wouldn’t he?”
“Hmm?”
Yeon blinked slowly at the unexpected question.
‘I never thought about that.’
He hadn’t heard anything about other exclusive guides from
Tae Ha-Jin or Doberman.
‘Does it matter?’
The assigned office only had desks for Doberman and himself.
Even if there were other exclusive guides, Yeon wouldn’t care
unless they used the same office.
‘Princess Elena Le Diaylen. Is she also Tae Ha-Jin’s exclusive
guide?’
Being of royal blood, she probably wouldn’t be used as an
exclusive guide. The title “exclusive” sounded grand, but it
just meant that he would prioritise Tae Ha-Jin’s calls. Apart
from that, Yeon would continue guiding other espers as usual.
‘Now that I’m AO-grade, the range of espers I guide will
broaden.’
He used to guide mainly B-grade espers. The centre’s system
was efficient, and guiding those of similar grades was most
effective and comfortable for him.
But now, he’d have to handle A-grade espers too.
“Yeon, actually…”
Uibin leaned in closer, whispering as if sharing a secret.
“Remember my friend, Ju Mi-Hoon, the A-grade guide who
loves dressing up?”
He did remember. She often spoke highly of him, saying he
was a good guy and treated her well.
“What about him?”
“Well, Mi-Hoon was also an exclusive guide for an S-grade
esper. I never asked who it was, but for over a week, he hasn’t
come out of his room. When he answers calls, he just cries.”
Uibin gulped down her drink, clearly frustrated.
“It looked like he wasn’t even eating. I was worried, so I
called him out and comforted him. Then he said he was
discarded. When I asked by whom, he mentioned Tae Ha-Jin.”
“So what?”
“What do you mean, so what? My roommate was Tae Ha-Jin’s
exclusive guide. Now he’s crying every day, saying he was
discarded. What if the same thing happens to you? You’re his
exclusive guide too!”
Yeon chuckled, reaching out to pat Uibin’s head.
“Uibin.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s think logically.”
“About what?”
“Do you think ‘discarded’ is an appropriate term in the
relationship between an exclusive guide and an esper? Their
relationship is official and can be terminated at any time.
‘Exclusive’ just means a temporary alliance for efficiency. If
your friend is crying about being discarded, it means he had
personal feelings or expectations from Tae Ha-Jin.”
“Really?”
“Crying for over a week is strange too. It’s not like he was
permanently fired, just lost one assignment. Doesn’t it sound
more like he’s heartbroken?”
Considering Tae Ha-Jin’s appearance, it was no wonder people
cried over him despite his terrible personality. Yeon kept
reassuring Uibin not to worry about him.
Fortunately, Yeon had no expectations of Tae Ha-Jin. She just
worried too much.
“And Tae Ha-Jin would regret losing me.”
“I know, but I’m still worried. The world is a harsh place,”
Uibin said with a bitter smile. Yeon shifted the topic to
something lighter.
“How’s your relationship going? Is Dae-Young treating you
well?”
“Uh, yeah, he is.”
“Come on, you don’t sound convinced. Did that bastard cheat
again?”
Uibin’s expression hardened noticeably, but she shook her
head firmly, insisting he hadn’t cheated. No matter how much
Yeon probed, she claimed they were fine. Eventually, she
turned the tables on him.
“Why don’t you date normal people anymore?”
Sometimes, Uibin reminded him of things he’d forgotten.
Yeon wiped his mouth with a napkin. He used to date civilians
in the capital to visit Uibin.
It wasn’t loneliness but a need to feel alive.
He prided himself on always doing his best in those
relationships, but “love” as others described it was still a
mystery to him. If someone was a decent human and wanted a
relationship, he’d casually date them.
Then, he was forcibly transferred to the capital, became busy,
and got entangled with Tae Ha-Jin… leaving no time for
dating.
“Hmm, the capital is busier than I thought.”
“Oh, come on. Everyone else makes time for dating.”
“Well, meeting someone is one thing, but breaking up is a
hassle. It feels too trashy to wait until they dump me, and I feel
guilty initiating a breakup. I think living alone is better for
everyone.”
“Do you have to break up? If it’s good, just keep dating.”
“It was good, but never to the point of giving up something
important.”
It was just an offhand remark, but Uibin propped her chin up,
thinking deeply. She suddenly smiled brightly, as if she had a
great idea.
“Why don’t you try dating a fellow esper this time?”
“What?”
“You’ve only dated civilians. Why not try someone from our
world?”
Yeon frowned, shaking his head. She was suggesting
workplace romance, which he disliked. Even someone from
another centre wasn’t appealing.
Civilians were mostly ignorant about “abnormalities” and “the
Vessel.” They just thought high grades were impressive, and
espers had superpowers.
So they didn’t pry into Yeon’s work, letting him lie less. Yeon
disliked deceiving people and did it only when necessary.
Dating an esper could create complications based on mutual
interests, leading to job issues.
If he dated an esper, they might insist on guiding each other,
risking his secrets being exposed. Hence, he only dated
civilians.
“No thanks. I’m not in a hurry to date anyway.”
“Yeah, you know what’s best for you.”
Uibin nodded, smiling. Everything seemed fine at that
moment.
That night.
Uibin’s friend Ju Mi-Hoon hanged himself in Dormitory 5.
Yeon rushed to the police station after a frantic call from
Uibin, where they gave witness statements. A suicide note was
found in Mi-Hoon’s room.
The handwriting analysis confirmed it was his, though it was
quite messy.
The note was partially soaked.
Despite facing death, his note was concise.
It almost read like a letter.

[I regret it. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with him. I loved

him. I begged just to stay by his side. I was discarded. I don’t
want to do anything. Every moment I think of him, I can’t
breathe. I hope my death makes you remember me forever.]

Yeon saw Ju Mi-Hoon’s parents rush into the police station.

They collapsed on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Uibin,
soft-hearted as ever, hugged them and wept alongside them.
Later, Ju Mi-Hoon’s diary was found. The police suspected no
foul play but advised the family to review it just in case. His
parents, however, couldn’t bear the pain and refused to read its
contents.
At their request, Uibin and Yeon skimmed through the diary. It
contained deep, emotional confessions. It revealed how much
he loved Tae Ha-Jin, how happy he was during their meetings.
The latter part of the diary was filled with despair about his
situation. One line read, “Every moment, from the time I open
my eyes in the morning until I close them at night, is agony.”
He’d sent countless messages to Tae Ha-Jin, expressing how
he felt himself unraveling. Yeon spoke up, replacing a tearful
Uibin. “From what we can see, there are no signs of foul play
in the diary.”
“Mi-Hoon… Mi-Hoon…” The room was filled with
lamentation and tears.
The funeral proceeded immediately. Most of the mourners
were staff from the centre. After paying their respects, Yeon
and Uibin sat stiffly, eating amidst the sobbing. Suddenly, they
felt the collective gaze of the room shift. They looked up to
see an unexpected guest, someone they hadn’t anticipated
would ever show up at this funeral.
Tae Ha-Jin, impeccably dressed in a black suit, arrived with
Doberman.
Ju Mi-Hoon truly seemed to have loved Tae Ha-Jin deeply.
Despite his resentment evident in the suicide note, he never
mentioned Tae Ha-Jin by name. Every reference was simply
“him.”
“I heard… you cared for our Mi-Hoon… sniff… Thank you…
so much… sniff…” Mi-Hoon’s mother managed between
sobs.
Tae Ha-Jin remained silent, placing a single, pale
chrysanthemum on the altar. Yeon turned her head back to the
table, catching sight of Uibin opposite her. Uibin bit her lower
lip, on the verge of tears, occasionally glaring at Tae Ha-Jin.
Uibin was an emotional person, something Yeon was well
aware of. After all, she had read through Ju Mi-Hoon’s tear-
stained suicide note herself.
But still…
“Uibin-ah.”
“Yeah?”
“I know your heart aches. He was your friend, someone who
treated you well, and you were close. Witnessing such a scene
must make it even harder.”
Uibin bowed her head as if she knew what he was going to say
next. Tears fell, unable to resist gravity.
“It might sound harsh, but even though Ju Mi-Hoon had an
unrequited love, his death wasn’t Tae Ha-Jin’s fault. Let’s flip
it around. If someone who loved me couldn’t handle my
rejection and committed suicide, is that my fault? Would you
get angry and call me the bad guy?”
A sob escaped Uibin. “We only need to mourn. Don’t carry the
blame for the deceased.”
Uibin likely understood his words. Her mind probably agreed,
but she remained stubborn. She buried her face in her small
hands, suppressing her sobs, and spoke.
“Yeon-ah, I don’t know. If it were you who died for such a
reason, if you wrote such a note, I could never forgive that
person. Never.”
Yeon fell silent, realising she had imagined herself in that
situation. If Uibin had committed suicide over someone she
loved, Yeon would have torn that person apart.
He reached out, wiping away Uibin’s tears, causing her to sob
even harder.
“Alright, hate him as much as you want. It’s fine.”
Yeon moved to sit next to Uibin, resting one hand on the table
and patting her back with the other.
As they left, Yeon handed Uibin the car keys, telling her to
wait in the car. Then, he walked towards the smoking area in
front of the funeral hall, having seen Tae Ha-Jin head that way.
As he approached, he realised Tae Ha-Jin was talking with
Doberman. He couldn’t see them but their voices were clear.
“I didn’t expect him to commit suicide. He didn’t seem that
weak.”
Doberman’s voice was casual.
“You said he called you every day for a week? What did his
messages say?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s response was inaudible, but Doberman’s reaction
indicated he had shown his phone.
“Bloody hell, what’s this? He called you about 50 times on
average since the contract was terminated. The texts are
practically threats, begging for another chance, saying he
missed you, wanted to hear your voice, that he truly loved you,
threatening to die if you didn’t meet him. How did you tolerate
it, Esper Tae Ha-Jin? Anyone would think you were lovers.”
“Pay compensation to Ju Mi-Hoon’s family.”
“Understood. But are you alright, Esper? Don’t blame
yourself.”
A familiar hollow laugh was heard. Tae Ha-Jin muttered,
almost to himself.
“Blame myself… Is that what I’m supposed to do?”
“Well, most people would feel that way.”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s a pity. Ju Mi-Hoon was a good guide.”
Yeon had thought to offer some comfort, perhaps share a
cigarette, but it seemed futile. Tae Ha-Jin showed no particular
emotion over Ju Mi-Hoon’s death. His voice was dry, devoid
of feeling.
Tae Ha-Jin, who risked his life daily on the front lines, had
seen countless deaths and injuries. He was probably the person
who had witnessed the most deaths. Such a person wouldn’t be
affected by one more. Yeon knew Tae Ha-Jin to be a cold,
rational individual.
“Cover the funeral costs too. Make sure he’s buried in the
national cemetery.”
“Yes, sir.”
Yeon looked down at the darkened road. Tae Ha-Jin,
emotionally deficient, seemed to only think of monetary
compensation.
‘How did you end up so broken?’
Yeon couldn’t say anything for certain about Tae Ha-Jin. He
didn’t know his life.
Suddenly, Ju Mi-Hoon’s suicide note flashed in his mind. ‘I
hope you’ll remember me forever.’
‘…Well.’
Yeon thought it would have been better if Ju Mi-Hoon had
endured his sorrow and lived well to show Tae Ha-Jin what he
had lost.
Whether his wish would come true was uncertain. But Ju Mi-
Hoon had a soft-hearted person like Uibin. At least Uibin
would remember him forever.
Yeon turned to leave. He needed to take Uibin home.
 Chapter 1. Part 11
“Did Dion really refuse the position of the Royal Knights’
Commander?”
“Yes. He said he wouldn’t take it even if offered.”
“Ha… that bastard doesn’t know how lucky he is. Elena, try to
persuade him. Tae Ha-Jin won’t take it even if he dies.
Convince Dion somehow.”
“Aren’t you the Crown Prince? Shouldn’t you persuade him
yourself? What power does a mere princess have?”
“But you’re close with Dion.”
Elena let out a hollow laugh.
“Close? He’s just an acquaintance. Besides, Dion is only
interested in men.”
“Hey, who said anything about romance with Dion? Just
persuade him more.”
“Dion’s father is still in office, isn’t he? Do you think the
current Commander knows the Crown Prince wants to replace
him?”
“…He should step down anyway. Why doesn’t Dion see the
honour in it? It’s a job his father has done all his life.”
“He still doesn’t want it.”
Elena swirled her wine and took a small sip. They were in the
dining room of the Crown Prince’s palace in the Diaylen royal
city. The marble table stretched over six metres in length.
Sitting at either end, the siblings were having a rare, intimate
conversation.
“…So, an S+ grade guide, is it?”
“Yes, brother. But keep it to yourself for now. It’s still a
secret.”
As she elegantly sliced her steak, blood seeped out. The
Crown Prince wiped his mouth once the food melted away.
“Such a resource would be wasted as Tae Ha-Jin’s exclusive
guide, wouldn’t it?”
Elena covered her mouth with her hand as she laughed.
“Is it really a waste? Ha-Jin is also S+ grade. It takes someone
of that calibre to handle him.”
“Why doesn’t that esteemed esper visit anymore? Did you
convey my message?”
“I did. I told him if he doesn’t come, you’d storm in.”
“He might be too busy to come, but why doesn’t he respond?
It’s infuriating. Right?”
The Crown Prince gripped his knife in frustration. Elena
looked at him with disdain. If not for their father’s
godforsaken preference for males, she would have been next
in line. Her brother, Ricardo, was an S- grade esper. Though
technically S grade, he was closer to A+. Such a precious
lineage culminating in an S- was disappointing. At least he had
a somewhat handsome face. They were full-blood siblings,
sharing the same green eyes and blonde hair, symbolic traits of
their lineage. If Ricardo had been a bit more foolish and
incompetent, Elena would have taken his place. Always
maintaining top condition, Elena stayed in her brother’s good
graces without crossing any lines.
Their primary difference was character. Elena was calculating,
keeping few people close. Her brother, however, was affable,
with many around him.
“Enjoying the thrill of guarding treasure, I see.”
“Ha, is there a treasure more valuable than this Crown
Prince?”
Ricardo laughed dryly. Next to the Emperor, he was the most
valuable in the nation. What treasure could be so captivating
as to ignore his messages? But Elena remained silent.
“Should I just storm in…”
The thought of Tae Ha-Jin’s reaction was tantalising. But there
were too many urgent matters, damn it.
“Are you heading back to the Centre?”
“No. I’ve met my quota for this quarter.”
“Will you stay at the royal city? Join me for the next
diplomatic delegation…”
“No. What’s the point of me being among those old men?
You’re good at entertaining them.”
Elena smiled brightly, her pronunciation crisp. Ricardo
mirrored her smile.
“You speak so beautifully, Elena.”
“I’ll be leaving now. Keep that guide business under wraps if
you don’t want to see this nation crumble.”
With her maid, Elena left. Ricardo tilted his head, chewing
asparagus. Mentioning that guide could lead to the nation’s
downfall? Sometimes, Elena spoke of things only she knew. It
made him all the more curious.

***

“This is Lee Yeon, a reawakened A0-grade guide. You’ll be

seeing a lot of each other, so get along.”
Rose, the A-grade guide team leader, was a competent and
kind woman. Though Lee Yeon’s office was in front of Tae
Ha-Jin’s, today he visited the ninth floor of the main building
to meet the new team leader. Guides greeted Lee Yeon as he
arrived. Some whispered in groups.
“Reawakened to A0-grade, huh?”
“Lucky guy. Reawakening from B-grade is nearly impossible.”
“Visiting the Centre will be worth it now. His face is a
blessing…”
Amid the giggles and chatter, one person couldn’t hide his
displeasure. Lee Yeon recognised the familiar, twisted face.
Jung Woo-Cheol. His roommate.
Jung’s vile and bothersome nature made him unbearable to
live with, so Lee Yeon had ignored him as much as possible.
They behaved as if the other didn’t exist, with Jung retaliating
by slamming doors and roughing up the dishes.
Since Lee Yeon reawakened to A-grade, Jung hadn’t returned
to the dorm for days.
“Team leader, you don’t need to bother with that prick. He’s
insufferable and outright disrespectful.”
Sure enough, Jung insulted Lee Yeon in front of the guides.
The team leader tried to reprimand him, but Lee Yeon smiled
and raised a hand to stop her.
“Thank you for the introduction. I look forward to working
with you all.”
Lee Yeon bowed politely, thanked the team leader again, and
left the ninth floor. Jung Woo-Cheol’s face turned beet-red.
He was ignored.
Blatantly.
Now the guides whispered and glanced at Jung, who clenched
his fists.
“That bastard…!”
Jung had disliked Lee Yeon from the start. Hiding such a face
with masks and hats was clearly a ploy for dramatic effect.
It was suspicious how he became Tae Ha-Jin’s exclusive guide
right after his reawakening. Perhaps he seduced him with his
looks or used some underhanded method. Being the exclusive
guide to an S-grade esper was a big deal. Even an A0-grade
would find it challenging, but a former B0-grade…
Jung Woo-Cheol hated Lee Yeon. Intensely, disgustingly.
 ***

Exiting the lift on the twentieth floor, Lee Yeon paused. The
scene in the corridor leading to Tae Ha-Jin’s office was
familiar. A cleaner was organising the guides, sending them
one by one into the office.
The guides looked gloomy. Of course, guiding Tae Ha-Jin with
a small Vessel would leave them drained.
Glancing around, Lee Yeon saw a C-grade guide among them.
They were clearly there for expendable use. Shaking his head,
he approached the office door. An all-too-familiar male
cleaner raised an eyebrow.
Personally, Lee Yeon disliked this cleaner. He had once closed
the door on him, telling him not to come back.
“You’re the exclusive guide, right?” The cleaner
acknowledged him.
Only recently used as an expendable, Lee Yeon was now an
exclusive guide meeting this cleaner again. Life was full of
surprises.
“Did you have a door incident this morning?”
“Yes. It was a large White Door. Didn’t you get the alarm?”
“Oh, I was guiding all morning, so I had it off.”
The cleaner, despite his bulky build, smiled gently.
“As the exclusive guide, you should keep it on except during
holidays. Your primary duty is to guide Tae Ha-Jin. If you had
been here, these guides wouldn’t be standing in the cold
hallway.”
Lee Yeon met his gaze.
A valid point.
He wasn’t yet used to being the exclusive guide, and honestly,
didn’t feel the difference. Habitually, he had turned off his
watch while guiding. He realised his mistake too late, meeting
the new team leader and forgetting about it.
Had he been here, these guides wouldn’t be waiting to be used.
Lee Yeon bowed lightly.
“Thanks for the advice. I’ll be more careful. Please send the
others back.”
Trying to provoke him with his tone, but the guide quickly
agreed. The cleaner, slightly flustered, scratched his forehead.
“Can’t argue with that. Go ahead, he’s waiting.”
“Alright.”
Entering the office, he saw a spacious bed.
The scene was almost identical to the last time. Tae Ha-Jin
was lying back against the headboard, looking the same as
before. Except for one thing…
Tae Ha-Jin’s expression was worse.
Moreover, instead of oral sex, the guide was awkwardly
holding Tae Ha-Jin’s wrist, struggling with the guiding.
‘Not focusing on efficiency today, huh?’
Lee Yeon watched for a moment before knocking on the wall.
Tae Ha-Jin’s eyes rolled to face him, his brows furrowing
deeper.
“Phones are just decoration, aren’t they?”
He spat out the words. Seeing the serious look on Tae Ha-Jin’s
face, the guide hastily left, almost in tears.
“Haa.”
Lee Yeon let out a small sigh as he stepped into the bathroom
to wash his hands. He didn’t bother turning on the light since
he was only washing his hands, but before he knew it, a large
man was blocking the doorway. Yeon, his hands lathered with
soap, tilted his head slightly and stared at him.
With the sunlight casting a shadow, only Tae Ha-Jin’s
muscular frame was visible; his expression remained hidden.
“Nice smell of soap. Whose choice?”
At Yeon’s casual question, Ha-Jin let out a dry laugh. Grinding
his teeth, he spoke.
“What are you going to do?”
“…About what?”
He seemed a bit angry. For some reason, Yeon didn’t find him
particularly frightening, but there was a menacing aura about
him. Taking a deep breath, Ha-Jin stepped away from the door
and approached Yeon. He shoved Yeon’s chest, slamming him
against the wall.
Yeon’s back ached.
“Fucking hell… After your guiding, no other guiding satisfies
me. What are you going to do about it?”
So, he’s decided to drop the formalities.
More than that, Yeon couldn’t understand what he was saying.
Isn’t guiding all the same? The only difference is in supply. At
least, that’s what Yeon believed.
The Vessel is large, firm, full of water, and clear.
If these four factors are well-aligned, the grade is high. This
allows for guiding to be faster, more efficient, and in larger
quantities.
So, Yeon thought that having multiple guides working together
was just inefficient rather than producing different results.
Whether he reduced it by 5 percent, or other guides did, the
result of 5 percent would be the same, just with a time
difference.
So, what is he dissatisfied with?
Time? Efficiency?
“Ah, so the speed is frustrating for you.”
Ha-Jin, his grip tightening on Yeon’s jaw, raised his hand. His
hand was so large that it engulfed Yeon’s ears.
“That’s the problem, huh?”
“Then… time?”
‘How do I explain this?’
Ha-Jin was truly pissed off. Apart from the fact that Yeon had
ignored his calls and turned off his watch, he had gathered
guides as usual when his exclusive was unavailable. He tried
to get urgent guiding, but fucking hell… it just didn’t feel
right.
Whether it was just a feeling or something else, it seemed that
the levels dropped slower than before, and the frustration was
driving him insane. The thought of more annoying contact was
giving him a headache.
With no choice, he had received a rare, exhausting guiding,
and these thoughts kept coming up.
Yeon did it well without needing to be told.
Yeon’s guiding felt warm.
The energy he got back from Yeon was refreshingly cool…
Every thought began and ended with Yeon. It was infuriating.
The idea that having just him could put an end to this irritating
displeasure filled his mind completely.
After putting him through this, he now shows up saying, “Nice
smell of soap”?
“What have you done to me, Lee Yeon.”
 Chapter 1. Part 12 [PG-18]
The man growled lowly, as if demanding an answer. Known
for his arrogance, his informal tone wasn’t even surprising
anymore. Yeon glanced at the sink, speaking calmly.
“Shall we talk after I wash my hands? Soap, uh!”
Suddenly, Ha-Jin bit Yeon’s lip. A sharp pain and the taste of
blood spread. Ha-Jin’s lips quickly pulled away.
“Mention soap again. I’ll lock you in the bathroom and not let
you out.”
Why is he like this?
Yeon raised his fine eyebrows.
If his contamination level wasn’t fully cleared, it made sense
to wash his hands quickly and receive guiding. What was the
problem… not to mention the hand gripping his jaw and Ha-
Jin’s body pinning him to the wall made it hard to move.
Above all, what was most annoying.
‘Why is he still hard?’
Trying his best to ignore it, Ha-Jin’s imposing erection stood
stiff. Ha-Jin’s cock, in a supposed act of consideration, didn’t
touch Yeon’s body.
Shouldn’t he at least put on a robe if he’s going to be angry…
‘It must hurt to stay erect like that.’
If he had been hard the entire time he received guiding from
other guides, it would have been at least tens of minutes. Yeon
imagined. If he grabbed Ha-Jin’s hand or wrist with his soapy
hands and tried guiding, knowing his personality, he would
probably bite Yeon’s lip again.
So, what if he touched his lower part with the soap?
Oh… that was a cheeky thought.
Yeon hated this kind of guiding, but now, considering he was
in the wrong first, and Ha-Jin was painfully hard, and guiding
needed to be done anyway, and it would be convenient for Ha-
Jin to wash off the soap afterward.
There were at least four immediate reasons to proceed. Yeon
was a man of action. Once he made up his mind, he didn’t
hesitate.
Looking Ha-Jin in the eye, he lowered his hand. He grabbed
the hefty erection.
“Urgh…”
Even Ha-Jin didn’t seem to expect this reaction. He bent over,
pressing his forehead against Yeon’s shoulder, and let out a
low groan. Yeon began stroking Ha-Jin’s cock, as if
masturbating him. The soap, with its pleasant scent, had a
texture that glided over Ha-Jin’s cock as if it were lube.
Yeon’s soft hand ran along the shaft, then back up to the head.
Ha-Jin’s hot breath spread over Yeon’s ear. Yeon’s hand
focused on the ridge of the head before sliding back down the
shaft. The size was more intimidating than it looked.
Even with his fairly large hands, he couldn’t completely wrap
around it. Dissatisfied, he used both hands to stroke Ha-Jin’s
cock. With an extra hand, he could squeeze it more efficiently.
“You, now…”
Ha-Jin’s words came out mixed with a ragged moan. Yeon
recalled the right pressure for pleasure without pain.
Simultaneously, he didn’t forget to guide.
At 183 cm, Yeon stood slightly shorter than Ha-Jin, who
looked over 190 cm. Stroking Ha-Jin’s cock while standing
seemed inefficient, especially while guiding.
Realising the inefficiency, he decided to change position.
Yeon gently pushed Ha-Jin’s head away from his neck.
Amusingly, Ha-Jin easily moved back. Their eyes met, and
Ha-Jin’s gaze was terrifying, like a monster ready to devour
him.
Startled, Yeon looked away and knelt on the bathroom floor.
Ha-Jin, frowning, watched Yeon intently. Yeon knelt and
stroked his cock with both hands. His soft touch traced an
obscene rhythm from the base to the head.
“Ha, fuck… Lee Yeon.”
The wet sounds echoed in the bathroom.
All senses felt surreal. The man, usually so detached and stoic,
was falling apart, moaning, gripping the wall, and staring
down at Yeon intensely.
Even without looking, Yeon could feel his gaze.
…What face is he making right now?
It was a curiosity akin to a young boy sneaking a look at porn.
As Yeon continued stroking faster, he looked up. His gaze met
Ha-Jin’s. As if waiting for this moment, Ha-Jin’s eyes were
raw and red.
Then, something pulsed and spurted from his hands. Yeon
blinked.
Hmm.
‘Did he just cum on my face…’
The pungent smell of cum filled the air. Used to the smell of
his own, it wasn’t too off-putting but still felt odd. Ha-Jin’s
cum stung slightly as it hit his eye.
Breathing heavily, Ha-Jin lowered his hand and wiped Yeon’s
eye. His touch was surprisingly gentle, making Yeon’s
eyebrow twitch.
“You’ve crossed a line.”
His rough voice echoed on the bathroom floor.
Yeon let out a small laugh.
“Do espers draw lines? That’s quite unexpected.”
A man who received guiding from random guides, saying this?
Pushing Ha-Jin’s hand away, Yeon stood. He rinsed his cum-
covered face at the sink. Feeling a bit grimy, he washed again
with soap. His pale face now had a reddish tint from the
thorough scrubbing.
Grabbing a neatly stacked towel, he wiped his face. His fringe,
now wet, was brushed back.
Yeon approached the still stunned Ha-Jin. He tapped his
watch, seeing a much lower contamination level. Satisfied, he
nodded.
As he started to leave the bathroom, he paused. Looking back,
Ha-Jin was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, glaring. His
erection still prominently visible.
Hell of a stamina, seriously…
Hiding his admiration, Yeon chuckled and threw out a
comment.
“Protesting? Want me to do it again?”
That was 100 percent a pure joke.
One should never make jokes that don’t suit the occasion.
Tae Ha-Jin stepped away from the wall. He strode over,
grabbed Yeon by the nape with his large hand, and kissed him.
With his other hand, he slammed the bathroom door shut.
The bathroom plunged into darkness.
Though Yeon couldn’t see a thing, Tae Ha-Jin’s tongue swam
in his mouth like a fish in water. Yeon, pushed along by Ha-
Jin’s advances, stumbled against the wall again.
A few more hits, and he might get a concussion.
Startled Yeon tapped Ha-Jin’s arm and made a muffled sound.
He wanted to say it was just a joke, to back off, but Ha-Jin’s
grip on his cheek and ear was too strong.
Smooch, smooch.
The sound, completely unfitting for both him and Ha-Jin,
echoed in the bathroom. Yeon, who had been passively
rejecting the kiss, let his body go limp.
‘Fuck… This isn’t even my first kiss with Tae Ha-Jin.’
It seemed pointless to resist now. The problem was, what was
the purpose of this kiss?
Yeon suddenly remembered his forgotten purpose. It was time
for guiding. Earlier, he had guided while soothing Ha-Jin’s
cock.
‘Was that not enough?’
After thinking for a moment, Yeon shut his eyes tightly and
began to move actively. When his tongue brushed against Ha-
Jin’s palate, Ha-Jin grew even more excited, tilting his head to
deepen the kiss. The movement felt almost like a cock
thrusting in, causing Yeon’s body to tense slightly.
The guiding was smooth.
Swallowing the shared saliva, the kiss, unlike any they had
before, continued. Occasionally, Ha-Jin’s erect shaft brushed
against him. Yeon realised he was half-hard himself.
‘Well, it’s understandable.’
After sharing such a deep kiss and recalling Ha-Jin’s gaze
from earlier, it was undeniable that his excitement had risen.
Another realisation hit him: Tae Ha-Jin was an excellent
kisser.
Yeon had kissed and had sex with many ex-lovers.
But Tae Ha-Jin was something else.
Rough yet gentle, he had mastered the control of intensity.
Licking and sucking only the ticklish parts, one might think he
lived off kissing alone.
‘But… what’s his deal?’
The guiding was enough to purify his energy. Yet the kiss
grew rougher, and Ha-Jin seemed more aroused.
Startled, Yeon tapped his arm. Irritated, Ha-Jin pinned both of
Yeon’s arms above his head against the wall with one hand.
With his arms restrained, Yeon squirmed, making muffled
sounds. Ha-Jin, holding Yeon’s chin with his free hand,
continued the kiss. The bitten lip occasionally stung. He lost
track of time, drowning in the rough kiss. Yeon’s breathing
became laboured, his body twisting in distress. Finally, Ha-Jin
pulled away.
“Puh, haah, haah…!”
Gasping for breath, Yeon glared at Ha-Jin. Though his eyes
adjusted to the dark, his senses were not as sharp as other
espers. He had always suppressed his esper abilities.
He thought he saw Ha-Jin’s red eyes glint.
‘Ha-Jin can probably see me clearly.’
Sure enough, Ha-Jin furrowed his brows and asked ominously,
“Why provoke me if you can’t handle it?”
Yeon flinched again. Ha-Jin lowered his head to kiss him
again. Another kiss could spell real trouble.
With a burst of strength, Yeon freed his hands from Ha-Jin’s
grip and wrapped his arms around Ha-Jin’s neck, diverting his
head to prevent another kiss.
“Calm down, esper Tae Ha-Jin.”
“Ha…”
“Whatever it was, I must have crossed a line. There were four
reasons for what I did earlier. I’ll explain if you want. First—”
“Shut up.”
“…….”
“Lee Yeon, your words only make things worse.”
Yeon swallowed hard. The ominous warning to shut up was
genuine. Embracing Ha-Jin, he could distinctly hear his
heartbeat.
Thump, thump, thump, as if he had just finished running. Ha-
Jin had positioned himself to avoid touching Yeon with his
lower body.
Yeon remained still, holding Ha-Jin’s neck, fearing another
kiss if he let go. Fortunately, Ha-Jin didn’t seem to mind the
embrace, as he held Yeon’s head with his large hand.
As time passed and his heartbeat calmed.
They both pulled away simultaneously as if on cue. Yeon, still
silent, exited the bathroom.
Contrary to his expectation, Ha-Jin didn’t follow but slammed
the door shut again.
‘Is he going to wash up?’
Sometimes Ha-Jin seemed quite fastidious. He always dressed
neatly in monochrome, kept his office-slash-bedroom
immaculate, and despite his frequent arguments with doors
and smoking, he always smelled good.
‘When’s he coming out?’
Waiting for Ha-Jin, Yeon lay on the bed and soon fell asleep.

Having extinguished the urgent fire several times, Ha-Jin

finished his shower and came out.
Yeon, comfortably sprawled on the bed, was fast asleep.
“Just toying with people.”
He clicked his tongue in annoyance and moved away from the
bed. Surprisingly, his contamination level was down to 5
percent. It had been a long time since it was in single digits.
His body felt lighter. The guide’s sacrifice to the Vessel was
clearly for this result.
Realising this, the sight of the sleeping Yeon didn’t irritate him
anymore. Watching him for a while, Ha-Jin donned a robe and
sat at his desk in the office.
There were many overdue documents to process whenever he
found time.
If not, Doberman would send whining texts.
 Chapter 1. Part 13
(Pink Door Detected Location: Northeast coast of Libramji.
2nd grade mutation type, 3rd grade monstrosity type, and
numerous 5th grade or lower aberration types identified.)
Early in the morning, while brushing his teeth, Lee Yeon
frowned at the loud ringing of his watch.
“Pink door?”
The moment he saw those words, he froze. In nearly four and
a half years, he’d never seen such an alert. He’d occasionally
heard of pink doors opening in distant places, but this was the
first time in his region.
White doors were the weakest, appearing frequently and easily
managed disasters. Yellow doors, however, mixed in high-
grade monstrosities, making it impossible to let one’s guard
down. A single mistake could obliterate half a city.
Red doors initiated a national emergency protocol, causing
widespread damage to cities and surrounding areas.
Fortunately, red doors were rare, perhaps appearing once a
year, if at all.
‘And pink doors…’
From the moment they opened, harmful substances spread
through the air. Humanoid monsters emerged, often inducing
hallucinations. Poisonous aberrations were also a common
sight.
‘How did they handle it again?’
Yeon sighed, recalling the response protocols he’d learned. His
mouth still full of unspat toothpaste. Spitting hastily, he moved
quickly. Within five seconds, he washed his face and burst out
of the bathroom.
“Ah, you scared me! Why are you bursting out like a maniac?”
His roommate, Jung Woo-Cheol, grumbled as Yeon startled
him. Seeing Woo-Cheol’s early morning face startled Yeon
just as much. With a shrug, Yeon brushed past him. Normally,
he could afford to be as relaxed as Woo-Cheol.
But now, he was Tae Ha-Jin’s “exclusive guide.”
Remembering the cleaner’s advice deeply, Yeon decided to
join all disaster responses, except for white doors, moving
forward.
Truthfully, it wasn’t a significant decision on his part. S-grade
espers’ exclusives were expected to follow them around…
This was something Rose, the A-grade guide team leader, had
informed him.
Yesterday, she sent him this message:

[Rose here. I’ve reviewed your guiding report. It seems you

didn’t go out to the field. I heard esper Tae Ha-Jin has
terminated contracts with all his exclusives except for you.
You understand this complicates emergency preparedness,
right? Typically, S-grade esper exclusives coordinate their
schedules for deployments. Unfortunately, until Tae Ha-Jin
finds new exclusives, you’ll need to join him in the field.
Please reply.
7:25 PM]

Yeon had to read certain parts of the message repeatedly: Tae

Ha-Jin had terminated contracts with all other exclusives
except him. Though he’d never thought to ask Tae Ha-Jin
about other exclusives, learning this way was unexpected.
‘Why did he terminate them?’
He still didn’t understand, but he accepted it. He didn’t want to
delve deeply into Ha-Jin’s decisions. Thus, Yeon embarked on
his first field deployment as an exclusive guide.
“Late again!”
Running out of the dorm toward the parking lot, he saw a
black figure leaning against his white car. The tall, solid form
looked like a drawing on a white canvas. Pausing
momentarily, Yeon approached him.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin?”
“I’m here too, guide.”
Doberman, Ha-Jin’s assistant, waved, smiling kindly, easing
Yeon’s tension a bit. After bowing, Yeon alternated his gaze
between the two.
“I was just about to head out. Why are you here?”
Ha-Jin, hands in pockets, looked down arrogantly. His
eyebrow raised in apparent displeasure. Even after their
intimate guiding session the day before, Ha-Jin’s demeanour
remained surprisingly consistent.
Yeon didn’t plan to mention the previous day. For other espers
and guides, such interactions were common based on
preference, so there was no need to make a fuss.
“Are you always this slow for deployments?”
“…I washed my face in five seconds, changed in twenty, and
ran out.”
“Try harder.”
With a flick of his hand, Doberman linked arms with Ha-Jin
and Yeon. Startled, Yeon almost pulled away but stopped.
Such sudden physical contact was unnerving for Yeon, who
was not socially adept.
Doberman laughed warmly.
“Ah, I forgot to mention. As you know, I’m an A-grade esper.
I handle transportation.”
Yeon’s eyes widened.
“You’re a transporter?”
“Haha, yes. Without such utility, would our esper even bother
with me?”
Doberman’s self-awareness amazed Yeon. Transporters,
regardless of their grade, were highly valued by the nation.
Their abilities were crucial for moving large groups to disaster
sites quickly, as conventional vehicles were often rendered
useless by the unpredictable nature of doors.
Though floating shoes had been developed by the lab director,
their use of energy and difficulty in operation, coupled with
their high cost, made them impractical for many. Thus, guides
unable to fly relied heavily on transporters.
‘Doberman is a transporter…’
Yeon had moved with transporters a few times in Libramji.
Though he mainly guided at the centre, yellow door incidents
occasionally required field presence. However, Doberman held
onto Yeon’s arm longer than expected. They should be heading
to a door in the capital.
‘An A-grade transporter shouldn’t take long for this
distance…?’
Yeon tilted his head.
“Aren’t we heading to the capital?”
Ha-Jin looked at him with disdain.
“You should have read the watch properly.”
Huh?
Yeon pressed his watch multiple times, reopening the alert.
Earlier, only the words ‘pink door’ caught his eye, and he
hadn’t had time to check thoroughly. The location was
“Libramji coast.”
‘That’s where I worked.’
Far from the capital, no need for deployment?
Reading Yeon’s confusion, Doberman chuckled.
“Pink doors are too much for local areas to handle. For pink
doors, the capital’s teams deploy as a rule.”
“Ah…”
That made sense. Hallucinations, poison, harmful substances.
Local centres would struggle with such threats, regardless of
scale. Yeon’s lack of experience with pink doors left him
unaware of these details.
Soon, light surrounded the three, and with a flash, their forms
vanished. Bodies deconstructed and reassembled, a strange
sensation, making Yeon cover his mouth, fighting nausea.
“Ugh…”
Kneeling on the sand, clutching his chest, Yeon scanned for
now absent Ha-Jin. Doberman had disappeared too. Expanding
his view, he saw it.
“…!”
In the middle of the sea, a massive pink door. From this
distance, its size suggested it was enormous, possibly as large
as a building. It lay on the waves, with countless monsters
crawling out of its open frame. The door absorbed the crashing
waves without flooding.
‘Activate gas-proof mode.’
Expensive for a reason, his watch had multiple functions
beyond superior information. At 95% contamination, it self-
destructed. For toxic air, it had a gas-proof mode, waterproof
up to 1000 meters, and could withstand an A-grade esper’s
strength…
Upon selecting “gas-proof mode,” his watch emitted a hum,
enveloping his body in an invisible barrier. It was neither felt
nor seen, unobtrusive.
The barrier would attempt purification upon contact with toxic
air, expelling it if unsuccessful. The downside was the mode’s
time limit.
“Better than Libramji’s watch.”
Libramji’s watch offered two hours of gas protection. The
capital’s, three. Sufficient, hopefully.
The area already resembled a warzone. Espers speared and
slashed at monsters swimming toward the shore. Dozens of
winged, dark-skinned beastmen flew above, while defensive
espers used floating platforms to erect barriers.
“Damn it, the barrier’s too small! Fall back!”
While some skilled espers could fly using telekinesis, it
required substantial energy, so they likely used platforms. A
transparent, bluish barrier formed a cube centered on the pink
door.
‘Impressive speed.’
Preventing the spread of harmful substances beyond the coast.
Without it, toxins would spread beyond Libramji, throughout
Diaylen.
“Damn, it’s an aberration… Physical esper!”
“No! There are too many monsters! If they reach the shore,
we’re at a disadvantage…!”
“Retreat, now! Want to go mad?”
Following the team leader’s gaze, Yeon saw the pink door,
where 3-meter tall humanoid aberrations kept emerging.
Unlike other monsters, they walked on water as if it were land.
Their smooth, green bodies dripped with a sticky liquid,
eyeless faces dominated by large, black pupils.
At the forefront, clad in black, Tae Ha-Jin slashed a
greatsword diagonally, felling aberrations. Ignoring lesser
monsters, he targeted the most dangerous aberrations
relentlessly.
Winged, bull-like red monstrosities began converging on Ha-
Jin from above. Too distant to see clearly, one thing was
certain: Ha-Jin was extremely busy.
‘Not too worried.’ That bastard looked like he’d survive even
if someone tried to kill him. Sure enough, from the direction
Tae Ha-Jin had been in, there was a deafening crash!
Bang!
“I’ll guide.”
Yeon ran to the esper who had been swept onto the shore,
coughing up blood. He had already lost an arm to the monster.
The wound was ragged and blood was gushing out. Guiding in
that area would speed up his recovery and stop the bleeding.
Unable to touch the severed arm, Yeon placed his hand on the
esper’s shoulder.
“Aaaargh! Ugh!”
Even a gentle touch seemed unbearably painful. He pulled in
the esper’s energy, which poured into him, polluted and
desperate for help.
“The contamination level is 77%. The injury is severe, and
given the state of his arm, the aftereffects will be significant.
Sir, you need to stop fighting and return to the centre.”
“Haa, haa…”
Now an official A0-grade guide, Yeon no longer needed to get
by at a B-grade level. Though it was sometimes awkward and
unpleasant, in situations like this, it was quite welcome.
It was fortunate.
Seeing the esper barely conscious, Yeon rapidly increased the
guiding speed. The man’s breathing began to stabilise.
As he moved to hand the esper over to the transporter standing
by, a fourth-grade monster charged at Yeon from the shore. It
was a lump of mud and rocks.
“Oh, oh…! Watch out!”
“Kyaaaah!”
Hearing the screams from the support team behind him, Yeon
drew the sword from the esper’s waist. Gripping it with both
hands, he slashed upwards with all his strength.
Swish!
The sword pierced through the monster’s head, and it
crumbled to dust.
Yeon possessed the strength of an A-grade esper,
incomparable to a guide’s. Piercing through the monster’s
body was no big deal.
As he bent down again to move the esper, he noticed Tae Ha-
Jin glaring at him from a distance of a hundred metres.
‘Wasn’t he at the door?’
He shouldn’t have been at the shore. Yeon, slightly flustered,
met Tae Ha-Jin’s displeased gaze.
“Just what am I supposed to protect you from?”
“…Pardon?”
He let out a dry laugh and kicked off the ground, flying over
the sea. Yeon realised too late that Tae Ha-Jin had been
watching him and had come flying to save him.
‘This is troublesome…’
Having Tae Ha-Jin rush in to save him in a life-or-death
situation was troublesome. He wanted protection from his mad
father, not from fourth-grade monsters. They weren’t a
problem at all.
‘I’ll need to adjust things after this mission.’
She thought she should make it clear that up to third-grade
monsters were fine.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
The support team rushed over, taking the esper and checking
on Yeon.
“I’m fine,” he replied, breaking one monster after another
while guiding the espers who caught his eye. Those who could
fight again received more guidance, while the combat-inept
were given minimal guidance and transported to the rear.
“That person must be from the capital, right?”
“Looks like it. An A-grade guide swinging a sword like that,
it’s a first.”
Watching from the tent, the transportation espers and guides
kept their eyes on Yeon’s every move. The staff from the
Libramji Centre didn’t recognise him. They didn’t know that
the A-grade guide before them was the eccentric B-grade
guide from their centre.
Yeon had always disguised himself, never appearing at the
scene, so they couldn’t match him to the same person.
“Do you know his name?”
‘Oh, startled… . !’
“Who are you?”
The spectators jumped in surprise as a suspicious man
suddenly appeared, draping an arm over their shoulders and
leaning in. He wore a scarf covering his nose and mouth
despite the mild weather and sunglasses that covered two-
thirds of his face, making him look like a giant dragonfly.
“Do you know his name?”
“We don’t. He’s supposedly from the capital for support. But
who are you? We don’t see your outfit on the rear team list.”
The woman turned her eyes to the barricade around the shore.
Security espers were properly controlling onlookers and taking
photos of civilians.
That meant he had either entered officially or came in with a
transportation esper, which was against the centre’s rules.
‘So, is he from the capital here to help?’
The woman narrowed her eyes.
“Are you here to work?”
“No, I’m just curious about the precious treasure that’s more
valuable than me. Seeing it in person, it’s quite impressive.”
The man muttered something incomprehensible and chuckled.
As he leisurely walked away with his hands behind his back,
the support team called security.
“There’s a suspicious person here. Please check if there’s a
breach.”
Thanks to the guides’ relentless efforts, the shore was
somewhat stabilised. But the pink door was still wide open.
The door would only start to close once all the prepared
monsters were killed, taking between four to twelve hours to
close completely.
And the nation, once the door started to close, would send in
the mining team. The empty door would be filled with magic
stones and precious gems, valuable energy resources for the
nation.
But the door hadn’t shown any signs of closing yet, meaning
more monsters were left to come out.
“It was a massive one… . Additional support might be
needed.”
It had been an hour and forty minutes. Guides were starting to
collapse from exhaustion, and the number of injured espers
was increasing. Though Yeon had no particular sense of
justice, seeing the tide turn on the field, he couldn’t just stand
by and watch.
Clicking his tongue, he approached the support team.
“Sorry, but do you have any 280-millimetre floating shoes?”
Yeon, hiding the esper abilities, couldn’t use telekinesis to fly.
So he decided to borrow the shoes.
Though he knew how to fly, there were no guides in the world
who used telekinesis.
Floating shoes were developed by his father to allow those
with abnormal types who couldn’t use telekinesis to fly. He
had been forced to master them while holed up in his lab,
though he hated the sight of them.
“Ah, what should we do? We only have two pairs left, both in
women’s sizes.”
The staff member scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Oh, I see… . Then, do you have any floating pedals?”
“All the barrier espers are using those right now.”
This was frustrating.
Tae Ha-Jin was at the front lines, and the shore was stabilised.
The battle was now happening over the sea.
Waiting around here was a waste of time.
As he took a deep breath in frustration, someone tapped his
shoulder from behind. Turning around, he saw a man, large
and completely covered like himself in the past.
“Would 290 millimetres be okay?”
The man lifted one leg, showing his shoes. Yeon’s eyes
widened. Even a layman could see that the man’s floating
shoes were top-tier, intricately crafted from the best floating
stones.
The man spoke cheerfully.
“Of course, it’s not for free.”
“I’ll buy them. How much?”
“Buy them? Haha, they’re really expensive.”
“How much?”
The man, laughing, suddenly found Yeon’s expression
hardening. Support teams, working from the safest positions,
were often slower to react. They felt more like they were
‘observing’ and ‘assisting’ rather than participating in the
disaster.
Yeon himself wasn’t a person with lofty ideals. He had
avoided fieldwork, preferring desk jobs for the same reason.
Seeing the field in person might stir up a misplaced sense of
justice, leading him to act foolishly and risk revealing his
secrets.
He considered himself a coward.
‘But this isn’t right.’
Regardless, this was the field, where many were injured and
dying, with front-line fighters risking their lives every
moment. The attitude of haggling with a guide trying to help
was distasteful, especially the smirking man.
Yeon pressed the man’s shoulder down, making him sit on a
nearby chair. The man widened his eyes at the unexpected
strength.
For a fleeting moment, a strange energy passed through the
man’s body, making him tense.
Yeon began taking off his shoes.
“I’m Lee Yeon, an A0-grade guide from the capital. Deduct
the depreciation and charge it to my name. The administration
office will handle it.”
As he changed into the shoes, he leaned close to the man’s ear
and whispered coldly.
“But, S-grade esper. Should you really be playing around
here?”
With a frosty look, Yeon, now wearing slightly larger shoes,
stepped out of the tent.
The man sat, blinking in surprise, before finally smiling.
‘He read that so quickly?’
His attendant, Doman, approached and whispered uneasily.
“Your Highness, it’s time to leave. The guests from Epenhar
are waiting. We can’t delay any longer.”
“Ah.”
That’s right.
Crown Prince Ricardo lightly slapped his cheek and shook his
head.
“Bring me my shoes. I can’t meet the guests barefoot.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Doman signaled the royal staff, who quickly brought a new
pair of shoes. As Ricardo put them on, he murmured as if
entranced.
“Doman.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’ve finally found a jewel I want.”
 Chapter 1. Part 14
“A jewel, Your Highness?”
“Yes.”
“If you describe it, I will have it crafted for you.”
“No. I think it’ll be very expensive.”
For Ricardo to mention an expensive price… Doman, feeling a
bit helpless, asked hesitantly.
“Wouldn’t your personal budget be enough?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Is that so?..”
Following Doman’s lead, Ricardo rubbed his chin, deep in
thought.
“Get in touch with Dion, tell him to help out here.”
“But Esper Dion is on an overseas assignment…”
“Call him. Is the transportation esper just for show?”
“…Understood.”
Butler Doman nodded, looking distraught. He knew esper
Dion wouldn’t be pleased to hear from him.

Lee Yeon, walking towards the sea to take flight, turned at the
call from behind. A woman from the support team wore a
concerned expression.
“Do you know how to use the floating shoes? They’re more
dangerous than they look. Even experienced users struggle to
keep their balance. You might end up falling into the sea.”
“It’s fine.”
“But you should practice a bit…”
Yeon kicked the shoes in the sand a few times before
channelling his energy into the levitation stones embedded
within. The shoes whirred to life, lifting him swiftly off the
ground. Perhaps too swiftly, as he shot up higher than
intended.
The woman watched with anxious eyes.
After a few wobbly moments, Yeon regained his balance.
“Injured people will keep coming in. Request assistance from
the civilian hospitals in Libramji.”
Leaving the stunned staff behind, he flew rapidly towards the
pink door. The rare flight nearly caused him to crash several
times.
Feeling nauseous and with a slight headache, he pressed on.
The shoes were a size too big, and a fall would mean plunging
into the sea.
Steadying his racing heart, he flew calmly. The scene near the
door was chaotic, unlike the tranquil coastline. The sea teemed
with monsters, and espers were attacking from the sky.
“Two for you, Roper-ssi! I’ll handle the rear!” Espers
displayed their varied powers in a dazzling show, their faces
weary.
Yeon noticed a patch of sea near the door, oddly clear of any
monsters, as if vacuumed clean. Hovering over it was Tae Ha-
Jin, breathlessly plunging his sword into the ground.
“Are you alright?”
The man turned sharply at the voice, scanning Yeon flying
above. His face darkened.
“Do you know where you are?”
The pollution levels must be high; his temper was even
sharper than usual. Not that he wasn’t already a strict
character…
Shaking his head, Yeon flew closer, tapping his watch. The
contamination read 82%, fluctuating wildly.
“Have you been using your powers a lot?”
A beast lunged at them, and Ha-Jin sliced its wings with his
sword.
“You’re a distraction.”
Monsters kept attacking. Ha-Jin, frowning, reached behind
Yeon and disintegrated the bull-like beasts. They vanished
without a trace, as if they never existed.
Yeon’s eyes widened, seeing Ha-Jin’s power for the first time.
“What… What is that ability?”
Doberman, appearing suddenly, grinned.
“Oh, you didn’t know? It’s a famous ability. ‘Erasure.’ I call
him the Eraser. Haha.” Ha-Jin shot him a glare. Doberman,
sweating, stammered that it was just a joke.
Leaning in, Doberman whispered to Yeon, “It’s a powerful
ability, but it raises contamination levels quickly. That’s why
he avoids using it.”
“He mostly uses his sword.”
With that, Doberman smiled and dropped into the sea,
rescuing an esper nearly eaten by a monster, using his
transport abilities to relocate them to safety.
Yeon looked at Ha-Jin’s broad back. Despite the monster
blood splattered over him, he wasn’t scratched. Yeon placed a
hand on Ha-Jin’s shoulder blade.
“I’ll start guiding now.”
Even while using his powers, Ha-Jin’s violent energy
threatened to shake the ground. Yeon closed his eyes, focusing
on guiding. Energy rushed into him, and he expanded his
Vessel, cleansing Ha-Jin’s energy.
Suddenly, the pink door began spewing monsters rapidly, like
a volcano erupting.
“Bloody hell.”
Ha-Jin, slashing a beast with his right hand, extended his left,
erasing hundreds of monsters. The overwhelming numbers
forced him to stop, groaning.
Yeon sensed Ha-Jin’s impending collapse. Concerned, he
warned, “Stop using your powers. It’s dangerous.”
“Ha… Ha… Damn it…”
Despite hundreds of monsters being erased, more came out, all
human-like phantoms causing hallucinations. Ha-Jin must
have erased them earlier, preventing hallucinations until now.
As Ha-Jin paused, the phantoms spread, causing espers in mid-
battle to suffer hallucinations.
“Mother… Don’t leave…”
“Get off! Don’t touch me!”
“I’m sorry, it wasn’t me…”
“The reawakening machine is faulty! I should be A-grade!”
Some fell into the sea, and Doberman struggled to save them,
fighting off his own hallucinations.
The situation grew dire. Ha-Jin, grinding his teeth, erased
more phantoms with his left hand.
“Gah…”
His hand bled, bruising darkly. Yeon placed both hands on his
back, guiding at maximum speed. Ha-Jin’s watch read 89%
contamination.
“Stop using your powers! You really can’t anymore!”
Yeon shouted urgently. Ha-Jin had been using his powers for
nearly two hours. Even an S-grade esper would tire. Yeon felt
his shallow breaths.
“Does he always suffer like this in the field?”
Ha-Jin was like an army. The number of monsters he killed
and erased was countless. The most feared front line, where
monsters roamed free.
Ha-Jin had rushed there without hesitation.
“Why can’t we use grenades or bombs?”
They would be the simplest solution, but impossible to use.
Yeon felt disillusioned with human weapons.
Bombs, created for wars, couldn’t specify targets, causing
indiscriminate destruction. They were ineffective against grade
3 or higher monsters.
Years ago, a nation used bombs to deal with a yellow door.
Countless humans died in the blast, but grade 3 or higher
monsters survived. Humanity learned at great cost that bombs
didn’t work on monsters.
Guns were similar.
Without precise shots to the head or weak points, monsters
only paused momentarily. Some had skin too tough for bullets.
Disheartened by humanity’s impotence, Yeon continued
guiding.
Then it happened.
“…!”
The pink door spat out another twenty phantoms before
twitching.
“The door…”
It was closing. No more monsters would emerge. The door
was no longer functional.
But it wasn’t time to relax. The door had already released a
massive number of monsters.
Thanks to Ha-Jin’s erasure, espers were recovering and
rescuing others. Phantoms advancing through the sea leaked
green liquid, causing more hallucinations.
Yeon hesitated.
What should he do?
Ha-Jin clutched his chest, gasping. He was overexerted.
Guiding was slow due to his raging energy. Yeon grimaced.
The door had been open for almost two hours.
“Two hours?”
A chill ran through him. The worst-case scenario flashed in his
mind. He turned to the hallucinating espers. Some were
clutching their necks, choking.
“Damn it!”
The watch’s gas mask mode had ended!
Those espers were from Libramji. Their watches had a
maximum gas mask time of two hours, now exposed to toxins.
“Ha… Ha…”
“I told you not to!”
Unable to handle the situation, Ha-Jin reached out, trying to
use his powers. Despite guiding, his energy was too excited,
progressing slowly.
Purifying only to be contaminated again. Immediate signs of
rampage.
Barely lowering it to 86%.
If he used his erasure ability again, the pink door’s disaster
would end.
But his contamination would exceed 95%, and he might
rampage, destroying the surroundings. Yeon urgently scanned
the area.
Doberman, barely floating, and most espers were losing their
minds. Apparently, those below S-grade couldn’t withstand the
hallucinations. Only Ha-Jin and Yeon were unaffected.
But Ha-Jin was pale, sweating profusely.
‘No choice.’
Steeling himself, Yeon spoke to Ha-Jin.
“Sorry.”
Yeon struck the back of Ha-Jin’s neck hard enough to knock
him out but not break his spine. Despite his strength, the 86%
contamination made him faint.
Catching Ha-Jin’s falling body, Yeon supported him.
Lee Yeon stretched out his left hand, closed his eyes, and
focused.
The targets were the espers of Libramji Centre, whose faces
had turned a ghastly blue from the toxic substances they had
been exposed to. Absorbing only the toxins was a challenge
due to the broad range of the target area. As he exerted
extreme concentration, sweat dripped from Yeon’s forehead,
and his entire body became drenched in an instant.
Fortunately, the amount wasn’t overwhelming since they
hadn’t been exposed for long. Yeon found himself at a
crossroads: should he absorb all the humans here or just the
surviving ones?
“Damn it.”
Absorbing living beings posed a significant risk to him as
well. If he didn’t expel them within an hour, they’d be
absorbed into Yeon’s Vessel and die. But he had never
absorbed a monster before and couldn’t predict the side
effects.
Meanwhile, the espers of Libramji Centre continued to
succumb to the toxins. It was a no-win situation. As he was
forced to make a decision, a voice came from beside him.
“If I’d known it would come to this, I’d have come sooner.”
Yeon whipped his head around. The face was vaguely familiar.
Wasn’t his name Dion?
The man, who had a sly smile, now beamed at Yeon before
moving his arms like a conductor. Flames began to dance in
the air, incinerating only the monsters. Thanks to Tae Ha-Jin’s
prior efforts, not many creatures remained. Dion’s flames soon
consumed the toxic substances in the air and the
hallucinogenic liquids floating in the sea.
Only the unconscious espers remained, floating on the hazy
sea, looking like corpses, which made Yeon frown.
“Are you alright? Oh, is that Tae Ha-Jin?”
“Yes.”
“Ha-Jin passed out?”
Exhausted, Yeon wiped his face. He handed the unconscious
Tae Ha-Jin over to Dion, who accepted him reluctantly.
Yeon then headed towards the unsteady Doberman floating
above the sea.
“Doberman! Doberman!”
“Ugh…”
Doberman, already knee-deep in the muck, was losing
consciousness. Yeon shielded his actions from Dion’s view,
placing his left hand over Doberman’s head. He absorbed the
hallucinations controlling Doberman’s mind, sapping Yeon’s
strength significantly.
Doberman’s focus returned. He blinked and looked at Yeon.
“Guide…?”
“Snap out of it. The situation is resolved, but we need to
rescue the espers in the sea. They’ve been in there for a while;
they might die of hypothermia. Dion’s flames cleared the area,
but they might still suffocate from the smoke.”
“Dion is here?”
“Yes, he sorted things out before it got too dangerous.”
“I thought he was on a mission…”
Dion watched this exchange with keen interest. His lips curled
into a thin smile. Although the Crown Prince had summoned
him personally, which had annoyed him, today’s events were
proving quite entertaining.
Dion had clearly seen it: the toxic energy being sucked into
Guide Yeon’s left hand, like a vacuum cleaner pulling in dust.
Could even an S+ grade guide have such a power?
Dion just laughed. Everyone else was unconscious, and the
espers maintaining the barrier were far away, so he seemed to
be the only witness.
“Dion.”
Lost in his thoughts about Yeon, Dion was startled when Yeon
called him. He answered absently.
“Yes?”
“Can you carry two people?”
“Of course I can, but why…”
Dion’s eyes widened. Yeon, hovering on his floating shoes,
lost his balance and began to fall into the sea. Dion leapt
down, catching Yeon just before he hit the water.
“Bloody hell…”
Yeon’s face was flushed, and his body was burning hot. He
seemed unconscious, yet his brows were furrowed.
In the end, Dion carried both Yeon and Tae Ha-Jin to the
shore. As he laid them on the sand, Doberman, having guided
the other espers, arrived, looking exhausted.
“Are you telling me both of them passed out?”
“Yes, as you can see.”
“Did Tae Ha-Jin ever faint? Unbelievable,” muttered
Doberman, looking down at the unconscious men in disbelief.
Transportation espers and mining teams appeared near the
closing pink door, entering to mine magic stones and gems.
Watching this, Dion muttered.
“This country really knows how to drain every drop.”
“What?” asked Doberman, not understanding, but Dion just
shrugged and smiled.
“Nothing. Let’s move these two first.”
“Yes, we should.”
Ha-Jin and Yeon lay there, eyes closed. The two most dazzling
men in the Centre were now lying on the beach. Doberman
stood there, admiring the scene as if it were a painting.
Neither man woke until everything was settled.
 Chapter 1. Part 15
Princess Elena Le Diaylen sighed, having received an urgent
summons from the Centre. She’d heard about the pink door
opening, but now Tae Ha-Jin had been brought in unconscious,
and even his personal guide was in the same state.
“How did Ha-Jin faint? He wouldn’t even pass out at 95
percent. Did someone force him to faint?”
“I don’t know. When I arrived, he was already out.”
Dion, sprawled on Ha-Jin’s office sofa, chuckled as he cradled
his head in his arms, swinging his legs lazily.
Elena urgently placed her hand on Ha-Jin’s heart and began
guiding. The energy surged at her with a ferocity that made her
soul feel gnawed at. Grimacing, she finally saw the watch drop
by just 1 percent and sighed.
“No amount of money could make me Ha-Jin’s personal
guide.”
“But don’t you already have a fortune?”
“I’ve never counted. Besides, is it even my money? It’s the
royal family’s.”
Concentrating on guiding, Elena’s green eyes scanned Yeon’s
entire body. He lay with his hands neatly folded on his
stomach, sleeping with such a serene posture he looked almost
sacred. Worried about how pale he was, Elena touched his
forehead.
“What the hell?”
She quickly withdrew her hand. Yeon’s forehead was burning.
“Dion! Did you know he had a fever?”
“Still hot?”
Dion asked nonchalantly, and Elena shouted.
“He’s burning up!”
“I gave him a fever shot.”
“A what?”
“And some meds.”
Elena was surprised for two reasons. First, that Yeon’s fever
was still raging despite the fever shot. Second, that Dion,
despite his playful nature and general indifference, had cared
enough to administer the shot.
She ordered a maid to bring an ice pack, figuring she’d done
all she could with the medication, shot, and ice. Turning her
focus back to Ha-Jin’s guiding, she felt herself tiring as his
levels finally dropped to 72 percent.
Staring at the watch with irritation, Elena muttered.
“Why is it taking so bloody long today?”
“Noona.”
Dion, who had been silent for a while, called softly. Elena,
visibly annoyed, responded.
“What?”
“Can a guide be an esper?”
An absurd and out-of-the-blue question. Elena replied irritably.
“What nonsense are you spouting? How can a guide be an
esper?”
The idea of a guide transforming into an esper was ludicrous.
Traits are based on cellular composition. For a guide to
become an esper, their entire cellular structure would need to
change, which was impossible.
Dion, however, asked again, but this time with more
seriousness.
“Then, can someone be both a guide and an esper?”
“…”
This unexpected and sincere question made Elena pause. It
had been a long time since she’d heard such an outlandish
query, if ever.
As a member of the royal family, Elena had received extensive
education on traits. She knew exactly what Dion was asking
about. It was just that there was no point in answering.
When she didn’t respond, Dion pressed again.
“Answer me. I’m genuinely curious.”
“If you’re curious, look it up on your phone. It’s a pointless
question. I have no obligation to answer.”
“Come on, quickly.”
Dion insisted. He could be quite persistent. If she didn’t
answer, he’d keep pestering her throughout the guiding
process.
Elena sighed softly.
“Fine… if you want the term, it’s called ‘dual bloodline.’ It
means someone has two bloodlines and thus two traits. So,
yes, it’s theoretically possible to be both a guide and an esper.”
“Oh, really? That’s fascinating.”
Dion’s voice carried a note of curiosity, as if he found the
situation amusing. Elena scoffed at him.
“You should just assume they don’t exist. Such a constitution
might appear once in a century. And even if someone like that
did exist, they wouldn’t survive. The Vessel would be a mess,
and they’d die unable to endure it. Every dual bloodline in
history lived short lives.”
“How quickly did they die?”
“Usually around twenty. They lived in constant pain. Ah,
come to think of it, the last known dual bloodline lived until
thirty.”
“Oh, really?”
Elena was puzzled by Dion’s sudden interest. Dion never
cared about scholarship, history, or abnormals. He had
inherited his father’s talent and prowess as a knight
commander but lacked the inclination for intellectual pursuits.
A lazy genius—that was Dion’s reputation.
“So, noona, is it possible for a dual bloodline to be an S-grade
guide and a B-grade or A-grade esper?”
The question was filled with fantasy. Elena burst into laughter,
finding it absurd.
“Possible? How could you even call that human? It’s a
monster. Dual bloodlines in history were always of low grades
as guides or espers, usually no better than C-grade. Higher
grades were never mixed. Trait scientists concluded that it’s
impossible for a human body to handle it. The Vessel would
shatter.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Dion nodded, his expression playful.
“If, hypothetically, such a person existed, an S-grade guide
and an A-grade esper, what would you do?”
Elena, who had been guiding Tae Ha-Jin, turned sharply to
scrutinise Dion.
“Have you met someone like that, Dion?”
Her tone softened, eyes like a hawk spotting prey. Dion gave a
dismissive laugh, “No way.”
Elena narrowed her eyes.
“If such a genius existed, I’d bring them into my fold,
dethrone my brother, and become the successor. If I had
someone like that, the Emperor would have no choice but to
make me the heir. Wouldn’t you agree? It would be like having
the world’s most powerful weapon.”
Dion had intended to share this interesting story with Elena.
But now, he thought it might be more fun to keep this secret.
He chuckled.
He hadn’t imagined such an extraordinary existence at first.
Initially, it was just a vague desire to possess a beautiful statue,
then curiosity about a strange ability.
Dion hummed to himself.
Could Prince Ricardo know this secret too? Is that why he sent
me to Libramji Beach?
‘Probably not.’
If Ricardo knew Lee Yeon’s true nature, he would have taken
him long ago, by any means necessary. Though Ricardo
seemed foolish and soft, Dion knew it was just a mask. The
Prince might be more calculating than Elena.
Look at the results. The heir wasn’t the clever Elena but the
seemingly foolish Ricardo. Elena thought Ricardo inherited
the throne simply because he was male. But Dion, having
heard stories from his knight commander father, had his
doubts.
Even Tae Ha-Jin’s choice was telling. Ha-Jin had met both
Elena and Ricardo, but only kept Ricardo as a close friend,
always maintaining a proper distance with Elena.
Dion saw Ricardo as a “shrewd, cunning serpent.”
‘I wonder if Ha-Jin hyung knows.’
Does he know his new exclusive guide is actually an
incredible dual bloodline?

***

“Bloody hell, I’m exhausted.”

The next day, Elena visited Tae Ha-Jin’s office for another
guiding session. Lee Yeon and Tae Ha-Jin were still
unconscious, and after a morning wasted, Elena finally gave
up.
“I can’t go on.”
Barely managing to lower Ha-Jin’s contamination level to 43
percent, Elena dragged her weary body out. Ha-Jin eventually
stirred, swearing and rolling his eyes.
“Hyung, you’re awake?”
Ignoring the question, Ha-Jin glared at Lee Yeon, who was
moaning in his sleep with a melted ice pack on his forehead.
“This is ridiculous.”
Even in his confused state, Ha-Jin clearly remembered the
situation, including Yeon forcibly knocking him out. Without
Yeon’s intervention, Ha-Jin might have used his ability again,
risking a 95 percent contamination surge. It was a wise
decision in hindsight.
But what confidence did Yeon have to knock him out? If an S-
grade esper lost consciousness, the situation could have
worsened. It was sheer luck they were all alive.
Ha-Jin turned his gaze to Dion.
“Explain the situation.”
“Well… there’s not much to say. When I arrived, you were out
cold, and the guide was helping other espers. So, I wiped out
the remaining monsters.”
Dion gestured, mimicking a sweeping motion with a playful
grin. But he was lying.
Yeon had been using his ability to absorb the poison, not
guiding.
‘No need to tell Ha-Jin that.’
Dion smirked.
Ha-Jin narrowed his eyes.
“You appeared at a critical moment?”
“Yes. I was on a mission, but His Highness called for me.”
Ha-Jin frowned, thinking he misheard.
“Ricardo?”
“Yes.”
“Are you saying he was there?”
“I wouldn’t know. It was the chamberlain who called me.”
Still feeling the headache, Ha-Jin massaged his temples and
checked his contamination level—43 percent. It didn’t feel
like Yeon had done the guiding. There was no usual sense of
clarity; it felt different.
“The princess was here.”
“Oh, how did you know? She left not long ago.”
“And what’s with him?”
Ha-Jin gestured towards the groaning Yeon. Dion followed his
gaze, observing Yeon’s once pale skin now flushed red.
“He collapsed after the situation was handled. So, I brought
him here along with you. The princess did your guiding.”
Half-listening, Ha-Jin pulled out his phone, switching to
speaker mode due to his headache. The call connected quickly,
Ricardo’s voice filling the room.
—Hey, isn’t this our esper Tae Ha-Jin?
“Were you at Libramji?”
—…Haha, who spilled the beans? Haha.
Dion, feeling guilty, laughed awkwardly. Ha-Jin gave him an
irritated look and murmured.
“If you were there, you should have helped. Are you still the
Prince?”
—Haha. I’ve already been scolded. Do you have to join in,
Ha-Jin?
The Prince tried to justify his efforts, mentioning how he lent
Lee Yeon his top-grade hover boots and summoned Dion for
assistance.
—I was busy with a banquet for important guests. My duties
involve diplomacy too, you know. I just popped by to check on
you. Remember, I said if you didn’t come, I’d go in. Right?
Ha-Jin spoke calmly.
“Congratulations. You’ve just lost a friend of seven years.”
—…What? Hello? Ha-Jin?
Click.
Ha-Jin tossed his phone aside, irritated. If Ricardo had called
Dion sooner, the chaos would have been much more
manageable. He wouldn’t have had to push himself so hard,
and he wouldn’t have been knocked out by Yeon.
Yeon wouldn’t have collapsed either.
Ricardo must have just watched until the situation became
dire. How dare he, while others fought desperately?
“You, get out.”
Dion, seemingly ready to leave anyway, stood up slowly,
stretching his arms. He moved towards Yeon, intending to lift
him. Ha-Jin extended an arm to stop him.
“What are you doing?”
“The doctor said to monitor him and bring him back. I’ll take
him.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“How will you? Do you even know which hospital?”
Dion sneered, his tone mocking. Their gazes clashed in the air,
Ha-Jin’s face turning icily blank.
“Clearly, you need more discipline.”
Dion’s perpetual smile faded for once.
His eyes flicked to Yeon momentarily, then back. He seemed
to ponder something before smiling again.
“I left the antipyretics on the bedside table. Take good care of
our Yeon.”
With that, Dion turned and left without a backward glance.
‘Our Yeon?’
Ha-Jin scoffed. Dion must have come up with that himself.
The Lee Yeon he knew would never accept such a
cringeworthy title.
In the rare quiet that followed, Ha-Jin exhaled deeply. He rose
from the bed and discarded the melted ice pack from Yeon’s
forehead, replacing it with a fresh one from the fridge.
As he headed to the bathroom to wash away the grime, the
office door burst open and Doberman entered, about to speak.
“Get out.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Shut up.”
‘I still haven’t said a word…’
Tae Ha-Jin nodded towards Yeon, who was groaning on the
bed. Noise wouldn’t be good for the patient.
“Oh.”
Finally, Doberman clamped his mouth shut. Ha-Jin waved him
away dismissively and headed to the bathroom. Doberman,
awkwardly standing there, glanced at the sleeping Yeon and
then left the office.

***

The sound of rushing water echoed in his ears. Yeon barely

managed to lift his heavy eyelids. Judging by the high ceiling,
it seemed to be Tae Ha-Jin’s office. He felt dizzy and
nauseous. His heart pounded as if it would burst.
“Ha.”
Yeon frowned at the familiar sensation. Why now? Why here?
‘No.’
His veins felt like they were boiling with molten lava. His
vision blurred, and the world spun around him. He felt as if he
could die at any moment. The saturation period had begun.
‘I need… I need my meds.’
There was no way there would be suppressants in Tae Ha-Jin’s
office. Yeon, with blurred vision, reached out for the
nightstand. He saw a white packet with a cross on it. It seemed
to say “antipyretic.” He popped all three pills into his mouth
and chewed them. They tasted bitter, yet strangely sweet.
He must have gone mad.
‘I need to go home.’
His rational thought disappeared, leaving only a desperate
need to get out of there. As he tried to get up from the bed, his
legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
“Ha, shit…”
His body wouldn’t obey him. Despite the heat, he shivered
uncontrollably. He needed to get out. Crawling on the floor, he
moved slowly until he fell flat. The room spun around him.
“Whew, whew…”
Despite taking three antipyretics, his body only seemed to
grow hotter. Yeon roughly wiped his face. His body was too
hot, to the point he feared his organs might be damaged.
Why was this happening? He had been using the Vessel a lot
lately. Why was the saturation period starting? His vision
spun. Yeon could usually drink four bottles of soju before
getting drunk, yet now he felt beyond intoxicated.
‘Is Tae Ha-Jin gone…?’
Yeon cursed silently, struggling to open his eyes. Nothing was
going his way. He really wasn’t cut out for the capital. The
sweet scent of body wash wafted through the open bathroom
door, making him curl up in irritation.
What kind of soap and body wash do you even use?
“What are you doing?”
Tae Ha-Jin, uncharacteristically flustered, knelt and touched
Yeon’s forehead. Yeon reflexively swatted his hand away.
Even the touch felt unbearable.
“Don’t, touch…me…”
His face flushed red as he pleaded. Not knowing Yeon’s
circumstances, Ha-Jin frowned and asked, “Antipyretics?”
“Took… Ha.”
He looked really unwell. Was it the aftermath of fainting? Or
had he overexerted himself on the day the pink door incident
occurred? Ha-Jin hesitated but then decided to lift Yeon back
onto the bed.
Yeon weakly resisted, trying to push him away.
“I need… Ha, I need to go home.”
“You can’t go anywhere like this. Rest here.”
No matter what he said, it felt wrong to leave a patient lying
on the floor. Ignoring Yeon’s words and weak struggles, Ha-
Jin lifted him onto the bed. Yeon groaned in pain as his body
touched the mattress.
“Aaagh! Ha…”
Ha-Jin tilted his head and watched his actions closely. He had
let go of Yeon on the bed, yet Yeon clung desperately to his
clothes, his knuckles white from the grip. He even rubbed his
flushed face against Ha-Jin’s thigh. His ears were as red as
apples.
“Yeon, what’s wrong?”
Ha-Jin asked with slightly worried eyes. As he tried to pull
away, Yeon shook his head, rubbing his face against his thigh
again.
‘What am I supposed to make of this?’
Ha-Jin frowned.
“Ha, sorry. This is. I mean…”
Ha-Jin looked over Yeon’s body suspiciously. His gaze fixed
on Yeon’s left thigh, where it was unmistakably bulging
despite being covered by his trousers. Ha-Jin raised an
eyebrow and chuckled.
 Chapter 1. Part 16. PG-[18]
What’s going on?
His usually stoic guide had an erection without any
provocation. If he had done something, he might understand,
but…
After a moment of observation, Ha-Jin lifted his knee and
pressed Yeon’s erect cock.
“Ugh! Ah!”
Despite not pressing hard, Yeon trembled all over and rubbed
his face harder against Ha-Jin’s thigh. This was the first time
Ha-Jin had seen Yeon so disheveled. The moans escaping him
were quite erotic.
Ha-Jin moved his knee slowly, caressing his cock.
“Ha! No, stop!”
“Stop?”
Ha-Jin tilted his head as if he didn’t believe it and pulled his
knee away. Yeon whimpered, hugging his thigh tighter, as if
begging him to continue.
“Well, look at that.”
Ha-Jin smirked in amusement. Despite everything, his guiding
instincts kicked in, and he felt the energy purification
happening. It was unbelievable. Seeing Yeon, with his flushed
face and ragged breathing, looking so sexy, made Ha-Jin
wonder if he had gone mad.
He laughed incredulously and leaned down to gently brush
Yeon’s hair.
“Is today’s guiding method seduction?”
“Ha, ha, I need to go home…”
“Where are you trying to go? I’m still at 43%. Aren’t you
going to guide me?”
Yeon gasped. Was he doing this on purpose? Tae Ha-Jin
whispered right into his ear. Goosebumps rose all over his
body. His ear itched so much he wanted to rip it off.
“Will you?”
The ambiguous phrasing could mean many things. The subtle
low tone sounded insistent. Yeon felt like he was going crazy.
Every touch made him want to rub and grind against him. He
would sell his soul to the devil to end this saturation period.
Ha, shit…
Of all people, why did it have to be Tae Ha-Jin?
He was technically his boss. The person he saw most often, an
esper, and Tae Ha-Jin. In the centre, Yeon always kept a safe
distance from everyone. He never thought he’d find himself in
such a predicament. Before, he never had to go out in the field
and could take his medication regularly during the saturation
period. He never ended up in such a dead-end situation.
It was hard to believe he was succumbing to this unfamiliar
lust, losing his mind.
“Yeon.”
The deep voice echoed in his ear. When he met Tae Ha-Jin’s
red eyes, he saw a dark, intense desire there. Tae Ha-Jin had
no calm left. His robe was bulging prominently.
Who’s seducing whom here?
Yeon squeezed his eyes shut. Whatever.
The thin thread of sanity he had been holding onto snapped.
He pulled Tae Ha-Jin’s neck down and kissed him. It was like
a signal, and Tae Ha-Jin openly caressed his body. His hand,
sliding along Yeon’s side, skipped several steps and went
straight to his cock, rubbing it through his trousers.
Click, zzzzip.
In an instant, Tae Ha-Jin’s fingers undid the zipper and circled
the head of Yeon’s cock through his underwear. The wetness
of his drawers starkly displayed his arousal.
“Huh, mmph!”
Tae Ha-Jin’s tongue intertwined deeply, probing under his
tongue and pressing against the roof of his mouth. The kiss
was like sex, with wet, slurping sounds filling the room, while
Tae Ha-Jin’s hand stroked up and down over his underwear.
“Ha, wait, ugh!”
Trying to regain his sanity, Yeon opened his mouth, but Tae
Ha-Jin’s lips immediately covered it, biting softly. Maintaining
the kiss, he pulled down Yeon’s trousers and underwear in one
swift motion.
Yeon’s pupils dilated. The cold air hit his hot body, making
him shiver.
But Tae Ha-Jin didn’t touch his lower body anymore. Instead,
he moved his lips to Yeon’s neck, licking and then biting it
gently.
“Ah…!”
Pain mixed with pleasure created an overwhelming sensation.
His large hand slipped under Yeon’s shirt, scratching lightly
from his abs to his chest. As Yeon shivered, Tae Ha-Jin slowly
climbed on top of him.
His weight was barely noticeable, supported by his strong
arms. Still, being covered by his shadow, Yeon couldn’t deny
the feeling of being pinned down. Tae Ha-Jin’s sweet scent
overwhelmed his senses.
His hand roamed under the shirt, squeezing Yeon’s chest and
pinching his nipple with his thumb.
“Ha!”
Lee Yeon screwed his eyes shut at the strange sensation. Tae
Ha-Jin’s thumb now tapped his nipple, the quick flicks making
his breathing ragged. Then he added his index finger, pinching
and rubbing. He pulled hard enough to hurt, then soothed the
skin gently.
At the same time, Tae Ha-Jin ground his hips, rubbing his cock
against Lee Yeon’s thigh. It felt like a solid, burning rock, the
friction only increasing the heat. It seemed to grow larger and
harder with every movement.
Tae Ha-Jin straightened and grabbed Lee Yeon’s shirt, tearing
it open with a swift motion. Buttons popped off, revealing the
pale skin beneath. Ha-Jin leaned down and took one of Lee
Yeon’s nipples into his mouth, sucking hard and flicking his
tongue over it. The intensity of the sensation made Lee Yeon’s
eyes fly open.
“Ah! Stop-!”
Lee Yeon panted, clutching the bedsheet like a lifeline. Tae
Ha-Jin pried his hands off the sheet and guided them to grasp
his own hair.
Ha-Jin sucked on one nipple while teasing the other with his
hand. His hips moved in a seductive rhythm, occasionally
brushing their cocks together. Each time, Lee Yeon’s cock
leaked pre-cum.
Ha-Jin moved up to kiss Lee Yeon’s neck, then his lips,
deepening the kiss until his tongue almost reached Lee Yeon’s
throat. When Lee Yeon dropped his arms, Ha-Jin moved them
back around his neck.
“Don’t let go.”
Lee Yeon felt like he might lose his mind. The tension was
unbearable, his fingertips tingling. He never knew when or
where Ha-Jin would touch next.
“Hold on tight.” Now, Ha-Jin only brushed their lips together,
licking and nipping softly. It was maddening. When their lips
parted, it left a tingling, almost itchy sensation. Unable to
stand it, Lee Yeon pulled Ha-Jin closer for a deeper kiss.
Ha-Jin’s lips curled into a smile. He untied his robe and let it
fall, tossing it aside. Even through his blurry vision, Lee Yeon
could see Ha-Jin’s perfectly sculpted body. There was no
softness, only hard, defined muscles. His erect cock was even
more intimidating.
Though Lee Yeon had seen Ha-Jin naked many times, being
under him now made it feel intensely erotic. The human brain
was selective like that, and Ha-Jin knew how to arouse just by
being present.
Ha-Jin glanced at his watch.
“32 percent.”
His tone was a reminder they were still in the middle of
guiding. It made Lee Yeon feel a bit relieved.
Yes, it was better to frame this as a necessary guiding session
rather than a slip-up during his saturation. It made him feel
less guilty.
Smirking, Ha-Jin finished stripping Lee Yeon. His shirt was
already torn open, so he was as good as naked. Ha-Jin’s red
eyes roved over his body, pausing on the marks he’d left.
Lowering himself, Ha-Jin aligned their cocks. He guided Lee
Yeon’s hand to stroke them together. When Lee Yeon
hesitated, Ha-Jin’s larger hand covered his, forcing the
movements.
“Ha, aaah!”
“Ha, ah!”
It felt weird.
The smoothness of their two cocks touching, engaging in
mutual masturbation rather than sex, all while being intensely
stared at by Tae Ha-Jin.
His gaze felt like it was setting Yeon on fire.
“Yeon.”
“Haah…!”
“You need to do it right.”
Tae Ha-Jin was the conductor of this act. He controlled the
pressure, the speed, everything, yet he still had the nerve to tell
Yeon to do it properly. Past their intertwined hands, Ha-Jin’s
forearm bulged with prominent blue veins, straining as if
suppressing his strength.
He guided Yeon’s other hand down as well, making him grip
their members firmly with both hands.
“Don’t loosen your grip. Maintain it like this.”
It wasn’t a request but an order. Ha-Jin released his hold,
leaving Yeon clutching their members tightly. If he loosened
his grip, those red eyes would devour him.
With his hands planted on either side of Yeon’s face, Ha-Jin
thrust his hips violently.
“Ah! Hngh…!”
The intense stimulation hit Yeon’s member like a blow. The
force was so strong he nearly let go. Ha-Jin thrust again,
warning him.
“If you let go, next time it’s your thighs.”
Ha-Jin’s center moved rapidly in and out, his rough thrusts
relentless. The raw sensation against his palms and cock was
overwhelming. Yeon’s face burned with heat. To be doing this
with his boss…
The perverse thrill and the searing pleasure gripped his veins.
Slap, slap!
‘Too fast…!’
Pre-cum dripped from their members, adding slickness to the
encounter. Each time their glans rubbed together, a sharp
sound resonated through the bed.
Despite trying his best to maintain the grip Ha-Jin had set,
there was no mercy in his thrusts, no kindness in his member.
Eventually, Yeon’s strength gave out, and his hands fell away.
Ha-Jin stopped abruptly.
Panting breaths mingled in the air.
“This won’t do.”
Ha-Jin smiled, an incongruously beautiful expression.
“Turn around.”
Reality hit Yeon like a slap to the face. His body was still
burning, his mind foggy, seeing nothing but haze.
Turn around?
Ha-Jin had said next would be his thighs. He must intend to
simulate sex by pressing their thighs together… and Yeon
would be on the bottom.
Yeon couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
Why am I naturally the bottom?
Then his gaze fell on Ha-Jin’s menacing cock. Somehow, Yeon
felt as if his pride was hurt. He had never felt small in that
department. In fact, he’d always been on the larger side,
pleasing every partner he’d had.
Damn, but this…
This was unwinnable.
Without measuring, Ha-Jin’s was clearly thicker and longer.
Yeon felt an unjust sense of unfairness at having to be
compared to something almost inhuman.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Ha-Jin tilted his head, smirking with interest. Yeon, caught
out, flushed.
“No, it’s just… Ha-Jin.”
“Do I look delicious? You’re licking your lips.”
The words sounded like a hallucination, dizzying Yeon’s mind.
He wasn’t licking his lips; he was speechless.
As Yeon covered his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to
calm his breathing, Ha-Jin flipped him over with no warning.
“What the…”
Thick arms slipped under his belly and pulled him up. Another
hand pushed Yeon’s head into the pillow. Suddenly, Yeon was
in a cat position, shame burning through him.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin!”
Ha-Jin coolly pressed Yeon’s knees together, his thighs sealing
completely. Ha-Jin’s body pressed against Yeon’s back, his
member rubbing between Yeon’s thighs. His voice vibrated
just behind Yeon’s ear.
“Hold tight. If your position collapses, I won’t hold back next
time.”
Yeon swallowed hard. Ha-Jin spoke as if he’d been holding
back all this time.
‘…Holding back? Really?’
Reaching towards the nightstand, Ha-Jin opened a drawer and
retrieved something.
Gels and condoms were standard recommendations for
efficient guiding through skinship, provided in most buildings,
including this room.
Ha-Jin straightened up, pouring gel onto his hand and
spreading it over his member, his eyes lazily locked onto
Yeon’s face, as if performing for him. Yeon, startled, turned
his head away, but Ha-Jin’s hand followed, forcing Yeon to
watch.
Yeon unwillingly became a spectator to Ha-Jin’s act.
Instead of just applying gel, Ha-Jin started masturbating in
earnest, all while keeping Yeon pinned in a cat position.
Their eyes locked as if kissing. Ha-Jin licked his lower lip
with a red tongue while shaking his member quickly.
Slap, slap, slap, the sticky sound was rhythmic and dizzying.
Each time he exhaled a ragged breath, his abs sharply
contoured. Yeon bit his tongue. Already painfully erect,
watching Ha-Jin pleasure himself drove him insane with
arousal.
Damn it.
‘Getting aroused while watching Ha-Jin masturbate…’
Yeon felt like his life had hit rock bottom.
Ha-Jin watched Yeon’s reactions with a delighted smile. Even
on his knees, he didn’t seem abject, and despite the vulgarity
of his actions, he didn’t appear dirty.
Slap, slap, slap, his right arm moved vigorously until he
suddenly reached out with his left, grabbing Yeon’s buttocks
hard.
“Ah…!”
The gasp escaped, filled with pleasure not pain. Caressing his
cock, Ha-Jin’s hand slipping lower, exploring the cleft. His
relatively cool touch glided over Yeon’s sensitive spot.
“Wait a…”
“This is pretty too.”
Low moans spilled out.
He didn’t do anything more than brush his fingers lightly,
spreading the cheeks to stare intently. Meanwhile, his right
hand sped up, the erotic sounds growing louder. His breath
hitched, and he released his load, spurting over Yeon’s
buttocks and thighs.
Without pause, Ha-Jin pressed his body against Yeon’s back.
Yeon’s mind reeled. Just moments ago, Ha-Jin had climaxed,
yet his member hadn’t diminished at all.
‘Is that even human?’
No time to doubt as Ha-Jin slid his slick member between
Yeon’s thighs. Ha-Jin moved slowly, his member pushing
between the soft flesh. He kissed, bit, and licked Yeon’s ear,
driving him wild.
Yeon could hardly bear the sensation.
Ha-Jin’s thrusts continued as he reached around, grabbing
Yeon’s member with his gel-coated hand, synchronizing his
movements.
“Ahh!”
Just a touch and Yeon was gasping. Ha-Jin expertly
manipulated him, alternating pressure and speed, rubbing the
sensitive areas.
“Hngh, ah!”
“Haah…”
Wet sounds, slapping sounds, rubbing sounds, the noises of
kissing his ear, the groans… all overwhelmed Yeon’s senses.
With each thrust, Ha-Jin’s member rubbed against Yeon’s
scrotum, the hot, soft friction making Yeon squeeze his eyes
shut.
Ha-Jin’s large hand increased its pace, pushing Yeon’s arousal
to the limit. Unable to hold back, Yeon climaxed, his semen
spilling in several bursts.
As Yeon’s body quivered in release, his thighs tightened,
driving Ha-Jin to thrust harder. The force of his hips revealed
his raw desire, and he came a second time just as Yeon’s body
was about to collapse.
Even after his second climax, Ha-Jin continued to move, slow
and deliberate, pressing his lips and tongue to Yeon’s ear.
The sound of his lips was so ticklish that Yeon shuddered.
Finally, Ha-Jin released him, combing his fingers through
Yeon’s hair. Realising it was over, Yeon let go, collapsing onto
the bed.
He didn’t know how he had managed to hold himself up. It
seemed he had just feared truly collapsing under Ha-Jin.
Ha-Jin laughed softly, looking at the fallen Yeon.
“If you want more, just say.”
‘As if my whole body isn’t sore.’
Ha-Jin, casually tidying up the mess, spoke languidly. His
desire sated and his contamination level lowered, Ha-Jin
seemed noticeably more relaxed. His complexion even seemed
healthier, or maybe it was just Yeon’s imagination.
Yeon silently cursed his own carelessness. He should have
carried suppressants. It was a huge oversight.
His body was still hot and his head ached, but with one
release, his mind had cleared a bit.
And he resolved, never again to mix with a colleague.
Especially not with an S-grade esper.
Ha-Jin, now wearing a robe, still stood erect. Yeon felt
drained.
“…Be honest. Esper, is your power actually superhuman
stamina?”
Ha-Jin brought a hot, wet towel, cleaning Yeon’s body. His
touch wasn’t gentle or considerate. It was rough in places.
Still, it was surprising he was tending to Yeon at all.
Each touch made Yeon flinch reflexively, which was deeply
embarrassing.
Ignoring Yeon’s prone state, Ha-Jin stripped the bed and
blanket, replacing them with a thick blanket from the sofa,
tossing it over Yeon.
“There’s something called the saturation period. Is that what
this is?”
The unexpected question made Yeon blink.
Neither Dr. Sa-Rang nor Ha-Jin seemed to consider the other’s
embarrassment.
Or maybe Yeon was just conservative.
 Chapter 1. Part 17
Lee Yeon sighed softly and replied, “Yes.”
“You know I’ve lived as a Grade B for too long. The
suppressed power erupts like that.”
“The cycle?”
“It’s flexible. Usually once every two or three months.”
After a moment’s thought, Tae Ha-Jin narrowed his eyes
slightly.
“So, you turn into that mess every time it happens?”
‘What mess are you talking about?’
Yeon wanted to retort but knew he couldn’t say anything even
if he had ten mouths. Today was bound to be remembered as
an embarrassing day, even far in the future. He covered his
eyes with his hand.
“Ah… Normally, I’d take suppressants. But I didn’t bring any
this time because of the field deployment.”
Yeon, who had been lying down lamenting his fate, suddenly
sat up and asked the most important question.
“The guiding? Did it work? What’s the contamination level?”
He hoped for at least good results.
He was startled when Tae Ha-Jin mentioned the result.
At some point, Ha-Jin had mentioned it was 32%. It was the
first time Yeon had experienced such a… strange guiding with
a colleague. He had been so out of it that he wasn’t sure if he
had properly guided at all. So, hearing 32% was quite
surprising, considering it was mostly automatic due to the
intense physical contact.
Looking at his watch briefly, Ha-Jin poured water into a cup
and said, “7%.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. I don’t even remember guiding.” Tae
Ha-Jin gave him a peculiar look.
“Is this your first time with this kind of guiding?” Ha-Jin’s
voice carried an unexpected tone.
Yeon thought to himself, ‘This kind of guiding.’
Sex between guides and espers wasn’t uncommon. Even
without affection, it was a natural choice when aiming for
extreme efficiency or when physically drawn to each other.
Couples within the Disaster Defence Centre were often
understanding about their partners’ physical interactions for
work. They tried to separate work from personal life.
However, Yeon was excellent at guiding without needing
intense physical contact. He always chose how much guiding
to give to whom. Because of that, he rarely had any significant
interactions with the espers within the Centre.
He didn’t want it, and usually, the espers didn’t either.
Yeon often disguised himself with a mask, long bangs, and
square glasses, so the espers tended to avoid him, seeing him
as a suspicious weirdo.
Thanks to that, he managed to guide with minimal contact. It
wasn’t like he had any particular aversion to contact.
Thinking of the Libramji Centre, Yeon responded
nonchalantly, “Yes.”
“Really?”
Ha-Jin looked at Yeon.
From his perspective, what just happened didn’t even qualify
as sex. Considering Yeon, who was assumed to be in
saturation, probably didn’t want real sex, they stopped at
quasi-sexual acts.
When physical contact deepened, saliva mixed, and the
matching rate was high, guiding happened smoothly.
Especially for those like Ha-Jin or himself, who were Grade S,
such transitions were even more powerful. So, guiding was
possible even amidst intense physical contact.
But after it ended, Yeon seemed somewhat bewildered. He
was surprised by the reduced contamination level, which
wasn’t the reaction of someone experienced in this.
‘Is it really that unexpected?’
Thinking back, Yeon had always tried to guide with minimal
contact, like just touching a wrist when they first met.
Ha-Jin didn’t mind that straightforward aspect. Aside from
Yeon’s ability, it was part of why he proposed to be his
exclusive guide. At least Yeon wouldn’t commit suicide like
Ju Mi-Hoon.
“Commendable.”
“Sorry?”
Ha-Jin murmured to himself. Not hearing properly, Yeon
slowly got up and began to gather his clothes that Ha-Jin had
folded neatly.
As he was dressing, he still felt Ha-Jin’s gaze. Yeon squinted
his eyes.
“I’m going to dress now.”
“So?”
“Turn your head.”
“Ha.”
Ha-Jin laughed as if he couldn’t believe it.
It’s not like he was undressing, just getting dressed from being
naked, yet Yeon insisted on it.
Still, Ha-Jin obediently moved to the desk. As Yeon dressed, a
thought he’d forgotten flashed through his mind.
“Oh, right. The time you fixed your office, was it a restoration
esper?”
Ha-Jin, who was reading a document from the towering stack,
replied, “Yes.”
“But as far as I know, restoration espers only follow orders
from the Royal Family, don’t they?”
“I am part of the Royal Family.”
“…Is that so?”
It was news to Yeon. Most abnormal types were affiliated with
the Centre they worked for. Yeon was currently affiliated with
the Capital Centre. But if someone’s ability was outstanding or
the Royal Family needed them, a few could get the Royal
Family affiliation title.
In such cases, they received various benefits and rewards from
the Royal Family. Even though the monarchy had lost much of
its authority due to the modernisation of Epenhar, being
affiliated with the Royal Family still held prestige.
Yeon, never having met a restoration esper before, marvelled
at the office’s restoration.
After dressing, Yeon pressed his throbbing head and stood up.
His body was still hot, so he decided he needed to crash
somewhere.
‘…The dorm won’t do.’
Jung Woo-Cheol might take advantage of his weakened state.
He’d been suspiciously quiet lately, but his eyes had been full
of malice. Yeon decided to take his suppressants and sleep
somewhere else.
“Apologies for today. This won’t happen again. I
unintentionally induced that… guiding, but I hope you weren’t
too displeased.” Ha-Jin’s red eyes, fixed on his documents,
turned to Yeon. Those eyes always looked like they could burn
someone. What were they like during that quasi-sexual act
earlier? Just as he was pondering, Ha-Jin spoke.
“It was good.”
“…What?”
“Go.”
Yeon, thinking he might have misheard, furrowed his brow.
But Ha-Jin had already dismissed him. Yeon bowed and left
the 20th floor with an uneasy feeling.
Did he hear correctly?
It was good?
From Ha-Jin’s perspective, he’d relieved his sexual frustration
and lowered his contamination level, so it was a win-win.
Despite the awkwardness, Yeon could admit the results
weren’t bad.

Back at the dorm, Jung Woo-Cheol was absent. As soon as he

arrived, Yeon took two suppressants. Dr. Choi Sa-Rang had
advised taking a sedative first, but he couldn’t move in his
heated state.
“Where did I put my clothes?”
Yeon grabbed his suppressants and spare clothes, then got into
his car. It was late afternoon, and the sun was setting.
Thinking back, being sent to the capital had a few rare
benefits. He could meet Kim Uibin more conveniently, the
roads were well-maintained despite the bustling city, and being
busy daily left less time for idle thoughts.
Stopping by the bank, Yeon filled two envelopes generously.
One was stuffed with bronze notes, the other with silver.
Driving to the outskirts of the capital, he parked in a familiar
place and walked through a quaint garden. It had been two
years since he’d last visited, but the scenery remained
unchanged.
Entering the password, he was greeted by the sound of the TV.
“Oh my, is that Uibin?”
“Unni! Give me back my clothes!”
The mother and daughter came to the entrance, their eyes
widening at the sight of Yeon.
“Yeon? Goodness, it’s been so long!”
“Oh? Yeon oppa?”
Uibin’s mother, Jeong-suk, lunged from the entrance and
hugged Yeon tightly. Uibin’s younger sister, Euiju, was
twisting her body shyly. Yeon burst into laughter at the sight
and returned Jeong-suk’s hug.
“It’s been a while. Sorry for the sudden visit.”
“What are you sorry for? This is your home. Actually, it’s you
who should apologise for being away so long, hm? And no
calls lately either!”
Jeong-suk playfully smacked Yeon’s back.
“I’ve been really busy, sorry.”
Yeon, still holding her, staggered into the living room. Euiju
trailed behind, peering up at Yeon’s face.
“Oppa, you don’t disguise yourself anymore?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“So, you just go around like this? Don’t you get casting offers
on the street? Business cards and stuff.”
Euiju’s question was genuinely curious. She often wondered
about such things. Still holding Jeong-suk, Yeon rolled his
eyes up and thought for a moment.
“Well… I mostly stay at the Centre these days. But I think I
got a few offers when I came to the capital to see Uibin.”
“If I were a caster, I’d give you my card too.”
“You know trait anomalies can’t become celebrities.”
Espers affiliated with the Centre were officially government
employees, and so dual employment was strictly limited. Only
ads and promotional shoots were occasionally allowed.
Fortunately, the salary was sufficient, combining base pay and
performance bonuses, so complaints were rare.
Espers affiliated with the royal family, like Tae Ha-Jin,
reportedly earned immense sums, making discussions of salary
almost meaningless. They could also earn money by solving
requests from other countries, with approval from their
superiors for diplomatic reasons.
Even without royal affiliation, A-grade or higher at the
capital’s Centre earned a decent living. Yeon himself was
surprised by his paycheck this month.
“Yeon-ah, how’s the Centre in the capital? I heard the
territorial behaviour is severe… Our Uibin has been there from
the start, but I worry about you.”
Jeong-suk asked with a concerned face after letting go. Yeon,
who had just put down his bag, patted Euiju’s head.
“It’s fine. I did meet a rather odd superior… And my
roommate’s not great either… Haha, but it’s fine.”
The content sounded anything but fine. Jeong-suk sighed,
rubbing her cheek with her hand.
“I know you’ll handle everything well, but still, take care of
yourself. Uibin said you reawakened to AO-grade? Then
you’ll be even busier.”
“What? Oppa reawakened? Amazing! I’ve never seen an AO-
grade guide before!”
Word had spread already. Yeon had planned to explain in
person today. He let out a hollow laugh.
“Yes, that’s how it turned out.”
Yeon took his hand off Euiju’s head and pulled two envelopes
from his jacket pocket, handing one to Jeong-suk and one to
Euiju.
“I got promoted. This is a bribe for you, mum, and pocket
money for you, Euiju.”
“Gosh, look at you… What’s this for, between us? I’m hurt.”
“Oppa, I love it! I’ll use it well!”
Euiju’s eyes widened as she counted the bills. She was already
excited about buying everything she wanted. Jeong-suk
couldn’t bring herself to open the envelope and placed it on
the table instead.
The amount Yeon gave Jeong-suk wasn’t small. He felt he
owed a lot and thought this was the least he could do. It’s still
not enough. Not enough to repay all the kindness.
“More importantly, have you eaten? Should I cook for you?”
“I’ll manage myself. You should rest, mum.”
He didn’t want to trouble Jeong-suk late at night. Yeon opened
the fridge and prepared a meal with familiar ease.
Euiju, excited, had already gone to her room, and Jeong-suk
watched Yeon eat quietly at the table.
“Uibin isn’t home? I thought she’d be here since it’s Friday.”
“Exactly… Has anything been going on with Uibin lately?”
Her question was ominous, her worried brow furrowed. Yeon
swallowed his food and put down his spoon.
“Why? Did something happen?” “No, she didn’t say that…”
Jeong-suk hesitated before speaking, lowering her gaze.
“When we talked last week, her voice sounded a bit hoarse.
Usually, Uibin’s voice is bright, you know? But she wouldn’t
say what was wrong.”
Yeon remembered Ju Mi-Hoon’s funeral. Sensitive Uibin
surely cried alone. He was about to reassure Jeong-suk when
she continued.
“She hardly answers her phone. When she does come home,
she seems to have lost weight… Today’s a home day too, but
she’s not here. Is the Centre that busy? So much so that she
can’t even eat?”
Yeon, now equally serious, hadn’t seen Uibin since the
funeral. Though she had been responsive to texts, Jeong-suk’s
words raised concerns. Even when they last met at the
restaurant, Uibin seemed hesitant at times… As Yeon’s
expression hardened, Jeong-suk waved her hand, smiling.
“Oh, I’m just being silly. Uibin’s smart and capable. She’ll be
fine. Now, finish your meal.”
Was she being ostracised at the Centre? Is the new roommate
causing trouble? Is she ill? Is someone harassing her? All sorts
of worst-case scenarios crossed his mind. Lost in thought,
Yeon was startled by the ding of a text notification. He
checked his phone.

[Home already? Euiju’s bragging about her allowance ^^ Is

mum around? I can’t come home tonight due to overtime. Tell
her I’ll come next week. Thanks.
8:10 PM]

[8:11 PM
What overtime? You should call mum yourself. She’s
worried.]

[Actually, I’ve got a bit of a cold, so my voice isn’t good.

Don’t want mum to worry. Please, Yeon. Thanks always.
8:17 PM]

[8:17 PM
If you’re unwell, you shouldn’t work overtime. Should I talk
to them? Want me to pick you up?]

[No, just a sore throat. I’m fine ^^ Got guiding duties. See you
soon!
8:30 PM]

Yeon’s expression hardened.

Overtime?
Guiding duties?
There were no door alerts since the afternoon. It had been a
peaceful day. There’s no way a B-grade guide like Kim Uibin
would be on overtime.
Kim Uibin was lying.
‘But why?’
Why would she need to lie?
A vein pulsed at Yeon’s temple. Her replies were unusually
slow, and the vague “See you soon!” felt off. Uibin would
typically say “See you tomorrow” or “I’ll call tomorrow,” not
something so indefinite.
It felt like she was postponing their meeting.
A sense of foreboding, unlike anything he’d felt before,
coursed through him.
“You’re done already? Have a bit more. You need to put on
some weight.”
Yeon, who had cleaned his plate, stood up, leaving his
belongings behind. Jeong-suk followed, looking concerned.
“Something came up. I might be back late. Go to bed without
me.”
“Are you heading to the Centre? Shall I drive you?”
“No, I brought my car.”
Yeon hurriedly left, almost running through the yard.

As he drove past the Centre’s main gate, he was consumed by

all sorts of alarming thoughts about Uibin. He drove straight to
her dormitory in building 2.
“Do you have any entry records for room 1204?”
A card was required to enter the dormitory. If Uibin were
there, her entry would be recorded.
Although he wanted to rush in, the dormitory was for female
guides only.
The desk clerk looked uncomfortable when he asked.
“Entry records are personal information, so I’m afraid I can’t
tell you.”
As expected.
Clenching his fists, Yeon pulled out his ID from his wallet. It
read,
“Guide of esper Tae Ha-Jin,” with his photo. “Esper’s Tae Ha-
Jin orders. It’s a critical matter related to door response. Has
guide Kim Uibin entered today?”
Without missing a beat, he lied. Tae Ha-Jin’s name carried
significant weight at the Centre. Just his name and ID
prompted the clerk to hurriedly check and reveal the
information.
“She checked out at 4 PM and hasn’t returned since. Anything
else you need?”
“No, that’s all.”
So she really was on duty?
‘Did I suspect her for nothing?’
But something still felt off. Yeon’s instincts, usually sharp,
were now ominously alert. Yeon headed to the B-grade team
office on the fifth floor of the main building. As he entered,
two guides looked up, eyes widening.
“A-grade guide? What brings you here…?”
Yeon’s gaze scanned the tables, landing on “B-grade guide
Kim Uibin’s.” The cluttered desk was unmistakably hers, and
she was absent.
“Is guide Kim Uibin on duty?”
A colleague responded.
“What? Uibin said she left early to meet her boyfriend. Right,
Eun-Kyung?”
“Yes, I think so. But she didn’t look too happy about it.”
“Well, I couldn’t see his expression.”
Before the conversation ended, he stormed out of the main
building. Off to meet Joo Dae-Young, was he? Yet here he
was, stuck on overtime. Why would Kim Uibin lie to him
about that?
Gripping the steering wheel tightly, he pondered. Where could
he be? No way he was at Dae-Young’s dorm; opposite genders
weren’t allowed there.
So where then?
A bad feeling washed over Yeon. Despite the rudeness, he
needed to resolve this ominous feeling. Uibin was a dear
friend. Even if his suspicions seemed excessive, he couldn’t
risk anything happening to her.
After contemplating for a while, Yeon pulled out his phone
and made a call.
—It’s Tae Ha-Jin.
“This is Lee Yeon. Are you busy?”
—How did you get my number?
“Do you think an exclusive guide wouldn’t know? The team
leader gave it to me.”
—What do you want?
Cutting through the small talk, his voice was low and curt.
Yeon hesitated but gathered his courage. This was about
Uibin.
“Can you track B-grade guide Kim Uibin’s location? I know
her watch has GPS.”
There was a pause. Ha-Jin sounded annoyed.
—Weren’t you the one telling me not to misuse power?
“Power is for times like this, isn’t it?”
—When did you start listening to me so well?
“Please, I need your help.”
“…”
“It’s urgent. You’re the only one who can help right now.”
—Haa…
“I’ll owe you. I promise.”
The call ended abruptly. Less than a minute later, a text arrived
from Ha-Jin’s assistant, Doberman.

[Hello, Yeon. This is Doberman.^^ If you need anything,

contact me here. Kim Uibin’s current location is room 3501, K
Hotel, in the capital. Have a good night.
9:27 PM]

Ignoring the pleasantries, Yeon turned the wheel sharply. The

tires screeched as they met the pavement. Following the
navigation, Yeon sped to the hotel. He took the elevator in the
luxurious downtown hotel, questioning his sanity.
As he ascended to the 35th floor, the words of an office worker
echoed in his mind.
“Yes, I think so. But she didn’t look too happy about it.”
Uibin’s unusual lies and strange texts came to mind. He
needed to confirm this. He’d apologize to Uibin if he was
wrong.
 Chapter 1. Part 18
Room 3501.
Bang bang!
Bang bang bang!
Sounds came from inside, but no one opened the door.
Growing anxious, Yeon pounded harder.
“Fuck!” A voice cursed as the door opened. Standing there in
a robe, hair tousled, was Joo Dae-Young, Uibin’s boyfriend.
“Who the hell are you?”
Recognizing Yeon, he looked shocked. Yeon shoved him
against the wall and barged in, not bothering to remove his
shoes. He moved past the foyer, down the corridor, and into
the living room.
“Kim Uibin.”
She sat on the sofa, trembling, with bruises and cuts visible on
her face and hands. Uibin was crying.
Something snapped in Yeon’s mind. His insides churned, and
his head felt like it was splitting. His heart raced. Slowly
turning to face the bewildered Dae-Young, Yeon spoke.
“What are you misunderstanding? Haven’t you heard of SM
play? You can’t just barge in here!” Dae-Young protested,
trying to explain.
Yeon silenced him with a punch, slamming him into the wall.
The sickening crack was followed by Dae-Young’s groans.
Uibin whimpered from behind.
Taking a deep breath, Yeon approached her.
“Yeon, I… I’m…”
“I know.”
“What?”
“That bastard is a piece of shit.”
Yeon pulled her hands to cover her ears and placed his palms
over her tear-filled eyes, signaling her to block out the world.
He turned back to Dae-Young, who was writhing on the floor,
and kicked him in the stomach with all his might.
Thud! Crack!
With each kick, bones shattered. Dae-Young screamed in
agony.
“SM play? Are you out of your fucking mind?”
Thud! Crack!
“Don’t spout bullshit. She’s never been hit by anyone in her
life, and you think she enjoys this?”
Thud! Crack! Bang!
“Do you want to die, you bastard?”
Yeon poured his esper strength into each blow, crushing Dae-
Young. The sound of breaking bones filled the room.
He had always avoided violence, not because he was too kind,
but because he feared he might kill someone.
But this scum deserved to die.
He lost control, repeatedly stomping on Dae-Young, who tried
to resist. Yeon grabbed his jaw and punched his face,
straddling his chest and pinning his arms with his legs.
“Back then, I should’ve let you self-destruct.”
With each punch, Yeon growled.
“This bastard, repaying kindness like this.”
Blood smeared his fists. Dae-Young lay motionless, seemingly
dead. Yeon raised his arm for another strike when someone
hugged him from behind.
It was Uibin, trembling.
“Stop, stop, Yeon. Please…”
“Let go.”
“You’ll become a murderer. Don’t do this, Yeon. Please…”
She rubbed her forehead against his shoulder, sobbing.
Uibin, who said she couldn’t come home due to overtime, who
claimed she had a sore throat and couldn’t talk, who reassured
him she’d be fine.
His chest felt like it was being ripped apart.
Uibin, who had become so adept at lying. Despite his rage,
Yeon unclenched his fists, feeling her frail, shivering body.
He comforted her, the small figure clinging to him, sobbing
quietly like a bird finding its nest.
“Yeon, I was… so scared and hurt.”
“It’s okay now.”
He consoled her for a long time. Once she had cried herself to
exhaustion, Yeon fished out a business card from his pocket,
one he had kept for emergencies. It was from Dr. Choi Sa-
Rang, who had treated him before. He dialed her number.
—Hello?
Her voice was soft and calm, with a hint of sleepiness, making
Yeon feel a pang of guilt.
“Hello, I’m sorry to call so late. This is Lee Yeon, the patient
you treated before.”
After a brief pause, she responded cheerfully, clearing her
throat.
—Ah, Yeon! How have you been? Are the meds working?
“I haven’t taken the sedatives yet. I had to take the
suppressants due to an emergency.”
—I see. No problem. Are you experiencing side effects?
“No, it’s… I just saw my friend get assaulted on a date, and I
beat the perpetrator unconscious. I don’t want him treated too
well at the ER. Could you treat him just enough to keep him
alive? I’ll cover all the costs. Sorry for the odd request.”
Choi Sa-Rang chuckled lightly.
—That’s a first. If you can bring him here, I have the
necessary tools. I’m on duty tonight, so I’m at the hospital.
“Thank you so much. I’ll be right there.”
—No problem. See you soon!
Yeon sighed, burdened by causing so much trouble. He bent
over Dae-Young.
“I have to guide this bastard too.”
The blood loss might kill him en route. Guiding him would
accelerate his self-recovery. Yeon administered just enough
guiding for clotting and circulation, then carried both Uibin
and Dae-Young to his car and drove to the central hospital.

Dr. Choi Sa-Rang was waiting in the parking lot. Her eyes
widened in shock as Yeon approached with the massive,
bloodied Dae-Young in tow.
“Isn’t he heavy?”
“Yes. Should I head to the examination room?”
“No, let’s go to the second-floor surgery room. All the tools
are there.”
She glanced at the pitiful state of Joo Dae-Young before
guiding him to the operating room. As she examined every
corner of his body under the lights, Choi Sa-Rang’s face grew
increasingly pale.
“There’s not a single intact spot… Though you said he only
needed first aid, these injuries seem to require proper
treatment. He might die otherwise.”
“That’s unfortunate. Should we send him down to the
emergency room, then?”
“No. I can handle it. Besides, he’s unconscious, so we
probably don’t need anesthesia.”
Choi Sa-Rang earnestly made her case for performing the
surgery herself. She explained that to become a specialist at a
trait hospital, one had to be proficient in both surgery and
internal medicine, and pass the Trait Medicine Qualification
Test. She had also worked as a surgeon before joining this
hospital.
Yeon nodded in understanding.
“Then I’ll leave it to you. Also, my friend needs an X-ray. Her
entire body is bruised, and her bones might be damaged.”
Joo Dae-Young was left to Choi Sa-Rang, and Kim Uibin was
sent down to the emergency room. The emergency room
doctor glared at Yeon suspiciously, thinking he was the
perpetrator. Yeon explained that someone else was
responsible, and the doctor diagnosed:
“She has bruises all over her body and some internal bleeding.
Fortunately, there are no organ damages or fractures. However,
she is slightly malnourished and her iron levels are low. It will
take about six weeks for her to recover fully.”
Six weeks meant a severe injury. Yeon seriously considered
going back upstairs to kill Joo Dae-Young.
“Should I help you report this to the police?”
“…That will be up to Uibin once she wakes up.”
“Very well. You can handle the admission process at the
reception.”
“Thank you.”

She was admitted to the VIP ward, where the food would be
better, and she would receive more attentive care. As Yeon
headed to the second-floor operating room, he called Uibin’s
mother, Jeong-suk, wondering if she was still awake despite it
being nearly midnight.
—Yes, Yeon? When are you coming?
“Were you waiting? I told you to go to bed.”
—Oh, I wasn’t waiting. I was just watching TV.
She laughed as she said this, making Yeon’s heart ache. Yeon
decided not to mention Uibin’s condition. She knew Jeong-suk
would not want to know, and it might cause chaos if she did
find out.
It was better for her not to know.
Soon, she reached the operating room.
“I won’t be able to come home due to a sudden increase in
work. Please keep my clothes safe. Uibin and I are going on a
business trip starting next week. We might be gone for a few
weeks.”
—Oh, really? Why can’t Uibin call me herself and makes you
do it instead? Goodness…
“Don’t worry about Uibin. I’ll take good care of her.”
—Alright, make sure to call often.
“Yes, ma’am. Please tell Euiju as well.”
—Got it. Bye now!
Yeon hung up and turned around in the dark corridor to find
Dr. Choi Sa-Rang standing there awkwardly.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop… I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. It was nothing important. Is Joo Dae-Young dead?”
His tone suggested he hoped so. Choi Sa-Rang covered her
mouth with her hand and laughed.
“I’m obligated to save lives. He’ll probably need about twelve
weeks to recover. Is that okay with you?”
She was asking if Yeon was alright with the esper possibly
suing him.
Yeon collected his thoughts. Though he never bragged about
it, his father was the director of a central government research
institute. He was affiliated with the royal family and wielded
immense power in various fields. This allowed him to
continue his experiments without consequence, using the state
as his shield.
If he were to be sued, his father would likely intervene first.
He would not tolerate any blemish on his name. He had tried
to teach him all sorts of things, including shooting, when he
was young. If he knew about Yeon’s high trait levels, he might
have used him as a test subject.
Yeon had fled from his oppressive influence, but the father
still cast his shadow over him in various ways, including
financially. It had been four years since he last used father’s
credit card. He clicked her tongue.
“Yeah, it’s fine. Thank you so much for today. I feel bad for
using such a skilled professional on a bastard like him.”
Choi Sa-Rang, looking up at him, waved her hand
dismissively.
“Don’t worry about it. I think you mentioned something about
paying me earlier, but I have plenty of money. It’s really
unnecessary.”
“But I must repay you somehow…”
Yeon awkwardly touched his neck, prompting Choi Sa-Rang
to step closer with a gentle smile.
“If you insist, would you go on a date with me? We could have
a meal together.”
“…What?”
“Oh, I don’t mean right away. Once Kim Uibin’s condition
improves. How about it?”
Blushing, Choi Sa-Rang fidgeted with her hands. Yeon, silent
and staring, made her nervous, prompting her to add quickly,
“Please, don’t feel pressured. It’s okay if you’re busy.”
Yeon thought, refusing would be impolite in this situation. He
smiled after a brief consideration. Having a meal wasn’t
difficult, and Choi Sa-Rang had helped him a lot.
“No, it’s not a burden. I’ll contact you once Uibin improves.
Let’s arrange a day that suits you.”
“Alright, I’ll be waiting.”
Choi Sa-Rang bowed slightly and hurried away. Nurses soon
arrived to transfer Joo Dae-Young to the ICU. The hospital
policy didn’t allow them to neglect a patient with injuries
requiring twelve weeks of recovery.

***

“Yeon is being sued?”

Tae Ha-Jin asked incredulously. Doberman seemed equally
surprised and nodded.
Rustling through the report, he read:
Twelve weeks of severe injuries due to assault… Room 3501
at K Hotel.
The plaintiff, Joo Dae-Young, included photos of his entire
body as evidence. He was in a seriously battered state.
“Yeon?”
It was unexpected. Yeon didn’t seem like the type to beat
someone up. He read Yeon’s statement:
[Plaintiff Joo Dae-Young was assaulting Kim Uibin on a date,
and as a witness, I couldn’t just stand by. Even if I could turn
back time, I would do the same or more. Considering Kim
Uibin’s situation, I did not initially report it, but since it has
come to this, I plan to counter-sue and take it to court. I am not
sorry and do not seek leniency.]
“Ha.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. What on earth gave him this
confidence? Tae Ha-Jin recalled Yeon’s data marked as
“national confidential.”
“What should we do? Should we settle this?”
Doberman asked, seemingly hopeful. Tae Ha-Jin, an S-grade
esper affiliated with the royal family, had influence over the
central command and even the judiciary. With just a word, Joo
Dae-Young’s lawsuit could be dismissed, and Yeon’s revenge
would be complete.
But why should I bother?
“No. Leave it.”
“Yes…”
Yeon had inconvenienced him late at night asking for favours,
only to get sued for assaulting someone for a girl. Yeon
seemed particularly sensitive about Kim Uibin, reacting
sharply when asked if she was his girlfriend during rooftop
training.
‘A knight in shining armour, are we?’
Tae Ha-Jin shredded the report and turned his attention to
another document. Doberman found himself in a predicament.
He couldn’t leave the esteemed S-grade guide to face this
alone.
“But previously, when guides faced legal issues, you always
intervened. Shouldn’t we do the same for Guide Yeon…”
“Do you want to take his place?”
“…No.”
“Get out.”
Seeing that Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t in the best mood, Doberman
decided to bring it up again later when he was in a better
mood. Lawsuits took time to proceed, after all.

The next day.

“What?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s voice was incredulous. Doberman shook his
head, just as confused. The day before, Joo Dae-Young had
been adamant about suing, but he suddenly withdrew the
lawsuit.
Furthermore, the judiciary received orders from higher-ups to
dismiss any lawsuits related to Guide Yeon.
No one expected Yeon’s backers to react so swiftly. Higher-
ups meant the royal family.
But both Dion and Elena had acted as if they didn’t know
Yeon when they first met him, and even Tae Ha-Jin, who had
long served the royal family, was new to Yeon.
Tapping rhythmically on the table, Tae Ha-Jin took out his
phone and made a call, putting it on speaker.
—Well, well, if it isn’t our esteemed Esper Tae Ha-Jin. To
what do I owe the pleasure of this call?
Doberman recognised the voice but couldn’t guess Tae Ha-
Jin’s intentions. Why call the prosecutor general now that the
issue was resolved?
Ha-Jin, as always, was expressionless.
“It’s been a while.”
—Hahaha, indeed it has. I should have contacted you first, but
our esper here is so busy that it’s understandable.
When Ha-Jin leaned back in his chair, it squeaked. He closed
his eyes lazily and called out.
“President, do you think it’s acceptable for the Door to breach
and the legal system to crumble?”
…What?
A suffocating silence filled the line. Doberman was sure the
invisible president was sweating. Ha-Jin spoke again, spitting
the words out.
“I think people who commit crimes should be punished
accordingly.”
The prosecutor general couldn’t hide his dismay and lowered
his voice cautiously.
—Sir, esper, have I done something wrong? If so, please let
me know. I assure you, everything you requested has been
handled without issue…
“President.”
—…Yes?
“I heard esper Joo Dae-Young filed a lawsuit against a guide,
but it was dismissed despite him getting beaten up.”
—Ah, that matter has already been resolved. It wasn’t
something for you to worry about, and it’s all been taken care
of…
“Exactly. I’m asking who handled it.”
Ha-Jin’s voice grew quieter, seemingly ready to bore into the
earth. The prosecutor remained silent.
“People who commit crimes must be punished. Do you
agree?”
The prosecutor’s mind raced.
‘Why is he doing this? Wouldn’t it be beneficial for Tae Ha-Jin
if the case against his guide was dismissed?’
Ha-Jin’s attitude seemed to suggest he wanted his exclusive
guide punished.
‘Or is he testing me?’
If he agreed, he would have to revive the dismissed case,
which was legally impossible as it had already been formally
concluded. Additionally, the plaintiff, Joo Dae-Young, had
expressed his intent to withdraw the case. There was nothing
he could do now.
Conversely, if he disagreed, he would appear to be betraying
his moral duty as the prosecutor general. Thus, the wise
prosecutor chose silence.
“No answer, huh? I didn’t realize you were so tight-lipped.”
Ha-Jin opened his eyes and leaned forward, resting his arms
on the table, slowly brushing his fringe aside.
“The president doesn’t have the right to remain silent. You
can’t even hire a lawyer. So stop being a pain in the arse and
answer me. Who was it?”
In this country, apart from the royal family, no one else could
speak to the prosecutor general like Tae Ha-Jin did. Doberman
shook his head subtly, trying not to show his astonishment.
The prosecutor genuinely seemed scared.
—Please, calm down, sir. I’m also a law-abiding person; do
you think this was easy for me? It was a direct order from the
royal family. Such directives are rare since the royals cannot
interfere with the judiciary, but this time…
“Do you think I don’t know that?”
—Esper, please show some leniency. If I say something
wrong, not just I but my entire family could be in danger.
There are many ears around.
“I’ll ask questions, and you answer. Can you do that?”
—Even that is…
“Princess Elena?”
—No, she has no interest in judicial matters.
“Duke of the DeKaine Royal Knights?”
—He is a symbol of integrity…
“Crown Prince Ricardo?”
—I understand he doesn’t like me much…
“So, it’s His Majesty, the Emperor.”
—…
Ha.
Ha-Jin covered his jaw with his large hand and laughed softly.
Through his fingers, a cold smile appeared. Now, even the
Emperor was involved.
“That bastard is like an onion. No matter how much you peel,
there’s always more.”
He was referring to Lee Yeon, but the prosecutor seemed to
think it was about the Emperor, panicking and pleading to end
the call.
From the prosecutor’s perspective, it was a heavy burden.
While he held power among ordinary people, in the center
teeming with abnormal types, he was just a spoon before a
backhoe.
Power loses its shine before overwhelming force.
Ha-Jin graciously ended the call and stared directly at
Doberman.
“Lee Yeon went to see Kim Uibin, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he took a half-day leave.”
“Start surveillance on him from today. Use someone with
concealment abilities. And search his dorm thoroughly. See if
anything comes up.”
“But he has a roommate…”
“Can’t handle it yourself? Do I have to handle every little
detail?”
He fell silent, deeming further words unnecessary. Doberman
bowed and hurriedly left. He couldn’t understand why Ha-Jin
was so sensitive about Lee Yeon’s guide.

On his way to the elevator on the 20th floor, Doberman

noticed a stranger walking down the office corridor.
‘That face looks familiar.’
Black hair and eyes, tall, with a clean-cut face. His features
weren’t distinct, so if this weren’t the 20th floor, Doberman
might have passed by without a thought.
“Are you here to see esper Dion?”
Dion, being an S-rank, could freely use the 20th floor, but he
disliked settling down, leaving the space mostly to Tae Ha-Jin.
The man stopped at Doberman’s question and looked at him.
Up close, he had a rather handsome face.
“He went on a business trip yesterday, so it would be a waste
to go in.”
Doberman said with a friendly smile, and the man nodded
slowly.
“Is that so.”
“But, may I ask your name? You seem familiar.”
Walking with Doberman to the elevator, the man casually
introduced himself.
“I’m Dekal, a restoration esper. You might recognize me from
passing by the Sun Palace.”
“Ah! Restoration esper! You were the one who restored this
office, right? You did an excellent job.”
“Not really.”
Dekal touched his ear awkwardly. Despite his stern
appearance, he seemed embarrassed by the praise. Doberman,
feeling unusually cheerful, continued talking.
“But if you’re looking for esper Dion, it’s more likely you’ll
find him at the royal palace than here. Don’t you also work at
the palace?”
Dekal suddenly fell silent. He looked at the floor for a
moment, touching his ear again.
“I’ll be working here from now on. The Emperor approved my
transfer. My skills are much needed here.”
After a Door incident, buildings and terrains were often
destroyed. Restoration espers were invaluable, but most stayed
at the royal palace, which Doberman always thought was a
waste of resources.
There were very few restoration espers at the center.
For once, the Emperor made a decision for the nation’s
benefit.
“That’s good to hear. Feel free to contact me if you need
anything. I’m quite capable.”
He handed over a business card, and Dekal nodded silently. By
then, the elevator had reached the first floor. After bidding
farewell, Doberman paused in his steps, tilting his head.
“The Sun Palace? I’ve never set foot there.”
The Sun Palace was the Emperor’s residence, a sacred place
where only those permitted could enter. Even a rare restoration
esper shouldn’t have access.
If he had seen Dekal, it would have been somewhere else in
the capital.
Doberman’s eyes narrowed.
 Chapter 1. Part 19
The only sound in the quiet hospital room was that of an apple
being peeled. Uibin sat on the hospital bed, propped up to sit.
The spacious room, resembling a hotel suite, was filled with
high-end furnishings and even a gold humidifier that seemed
too precious to touch.
All this felt heavy to Uibin. Her family wasn’t wealthy; they
only owned a small house on the outskirts of the capital. Yeon
spared no expense for her and her family. This was part of it.
In truth, the fact that Yeon had seen her in such a state brought
more guilt than embarrassment. She wished he didn’t know.
That’s why she avoided meeting him on days when her
injuries were severe, and wore turtlenecks to cover the marks.
Since Yeon was assigned to the capital center, Uibin rarely
saw him on the grounds, not just because the center was vast
but also because she diligently avoided him.
She didn’t want him to worry.
Her boyfriend, Joo Dae-Young, was always rough. It started
with spanking during sex. Online searches suggested it was
common for men to do that when aroused.
It’ll be fine.
He loves me.
She thought naively. Outside of sex, he rarely hit her. Except
that one time he slapped her.
“Why would you doubt me! I told you, that girl I drank with is
my cousin. What’s wrong with you? You’re pathetic. Get it?”
I see. It was my misunderstanding. My fault.
She didn’t realize she was being gaslit. Foolishly, she did.
Uibin understood her foolishness too late. But emotionally
submissive, she felt enduring was the best way to maintain the
relationship.
“Have you heard of SM play?”
She had heard of it but didn’t know what it was. But Dae-
Young always turned kind when he mentioned it, and Uibin
wanted to oblige. As long as it wasn’t too extreme, it should
be okay, right?
“Not a peep. Seems like you have a masochist streak. Doesn’t
just hurt, does it? Kind of arousing, huh?”
It got worse by the day. Feeling her body break, her heart
shattered too. She lost her appetite, felt guilty visiting her
mom. Uibin hadn’t grown up being hit. Her mother treated her
body preciously, and now she was using it like this.
Meeting Yeon without showing any distress became difficult.
One day, Ju Mi-Hoon, a friend, committed suicide.
He was a man of high self-esteem, knew how to care for and
love himself. He was loved by everyone. Yet, he couldn’t
overcome a sudden surge of depression and ended his life.
Could death really come so easily? Uibin couldn’t
comprehend it.
It left a significant wound on Uibin.
‘Why did you die?’
His suicide note came to mind.
[I regret it. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with him. I loved
him. I begged just to stay by his side. I was discarded. I don’t
want to do anything. Every moment I think of him, I can’t
breathe. I hope my death makes you remember me forever.]
Surprisingly, Ju Mi-Hoon killed himself because he loved
someone.
Boom. It felt like his heart dropped to his feet.
A man who had such high self-esteem…
This reality made Uibin feel that he too might end up the same
way. In those nightly phone calls where Ju Mi-Hoon cried like
he was wailing, Uibin was silently crying too.
At the funeral, Uibin spotted esper Tae Ha-Jin.
He was the man Ju Mi-Hoon always praised. Capable,
handsome, though limited to intimate times, kind and sexy…
Uibin was convinced that this man was the one Ju Mi-Hoon
had loved.
Shouldn’t he be crying?
Someone who loved you is dead.
But he didn’t cry. The white chrysanthemum he silently
offered looked so black that it was unbelievable.
Should I tell Yeon now? That I’m scared of Ju Dae-Young. It’s
getting worse day by day. I’m afraid I might end up like Ju
Mi-Hoon…
The tears at the funeral weren’t just for the loss of a kind
friend. Uibin empathised. It hurt as if he himself had become
Ju Mi-Hoon. Yeon, who couldn’t have known this, said:
“It might sound harsh, but even though Ju Mi-Hoon had an
unrequited love, his death wasn’t Tae Ha-Jin’s fault. Let’s flip
it around. If someone who loved me couldn’t handle my
rejection and committed suicide, is that my fault? Would you
get angry and call me the bad guy?”
Yeon was a person with an objective view, and usually, his
words were right. The ex-boyfriends he called trash actually
were trash. Though he seemed indifferent, Yeon had a soft
spot for the weak. He was so scared of helping them that he
wouldn’t even look their way.
Seeing Yeon speak as if he were defending Tae Ha-Jin, Uibin
decided not to talk about Ju Dae-Young.
Yeon was kind and would undoubtedly take her side
unconditionally, but what if…
What if, by the slightest chance, Yeon understood Ju Dae-
Young’s position first?
Pretending everything was fine, like a beast being led to the
slaughter, she entered the hotel.
After lying to Yeon about working overtime and catching a
cold.
In the moment when he fleetingly thought of ending it all after
the day’s torment.
Yeon came.
He would never forget that moment. His own state didn’t even
stir embarrassment. Watching Yeon beat Ju Dae-Young in
anger brought a strange sense of joy.
‘Yeon, you are on my side. You always stand up for me.’
‘…I won’t die.’
He might not be a masochist, but a sadist.
“What are you thinking about, Kim Uibin?”
At the end of her spiraling thoughts, there was Yeon. Under
his hand were four perfectly peeled apples. He had peeled
them so Uibin could sort out her thoughts alone.
Tears welled up and spilled over.
‘Yeon, you are…Too much of a friend for me.’
“Don’t cry. Do you want to see me really kill Ju Dae-Young?”
“Sob, sorry… for lying, for deceiving you, sob, I’m really
sorry…”
Yeon, clearing the apple plate from the side table, sat on the
bed and hugged Uibin’s back gently, avoiding the bruised
areas.
“You did nothing wrong.”
Saying the words Uibin wanted to hear the most,
“If you want, just say the word. I’ll kill Ju Dae-Young
anytime.”
As if he would grant anything,
“I heard that the front lines of the Door are lawless. You can
shoot someone dead there and not be punished. I won’t go to
prison. I can kill Ju Dae-Young. You know how good my
shooting is, right? Just say it.”
He washed away the dirty wounds for all to see.
“Don’t worry about your family. I didn’t tell your mother. I
said we were on a long business trip together, so you don’t
have to go home for a while. Just focus on recovery. I’ll
handle everything else.”
He wasn’t a man of many words, but Yeon made an effort to
say these comforting words. Uibin felt an indescribable
emotion.
“Okay… thank you.”
“Yeah. Cry more.”
Only then did Uibin start to talk about the stories that had been
weighing her down. She spoke of the pain and suffering as if it
were someone else’s story.
Listening to her monologue, Yeon decided he would kill Ju
Dae-Young. For real, in the lawless zone.
Uibin fell asleep at the end of her long confession. Yeon, who
had been frowning, moved aside to let her rest comfortably.

[You’re behaving out of character. Assaulting is your freedom,

but avoid the judiciary. If you must hit someone, kill them
secretly. Or bring them to my lab. I’m always short on test
subjects.
3:55 PM]
It was a message from his father.
Despite it being their first contact in years, it made him
nauseous. Seeing this response, it was clear his father had
already dealt with Ju Dae-Young’s lawsuit.
‘That was fast.’
With a cold look, Yeon glanced at his phone before trying to
put it in his pocket. Then, suddenly, it rang. It was an unknown
number. He stepped out of the hospital room and closed the
door before putting the phone to his ear.
“Yes, this is Lee Yeon.”
—Hello, Guide. This is the administrative office on the first
floor of the main building of the Disaster Defence Centre’s
capital branch.
“….Whom?”
—The administrative office of the main building of the capital
centre.
“…Ah, I see.”
—A few days ago, an anonymous person left a post-charge in
your name for ‘buying floating shoes.’ Are you aware of this?
He had forgotten about it. He didn’t expect them to actually
charge it to the administrative office. He had absorbed it with
the intention of returning it when they met since it was useless
to him now. Yeon frowned as he remembered the person in
that ridiculous bedclothes.
“Yes, I’m aware. How much did they charge?”
—Um, it says 50 gold.
“Excuse me? How much?”
—I first read it as 50 silver, but it says 50 gold. Are you okay
with this?
Yeon, who was pacing the hallway, stopped and gaped.
Of course not. That crazy bedclothes guy charged two-thirds
of his annual salary. One gold coin could feed a family of four
for a month. Even for the best floating shoes, it was absurd.
And they were second-hand.
He had clearly told them to depreciate it properly when post-
charging!
At this rate, he might have to ask his father for his card. He
had already paid for a month’s worth of VIP hospital rooms.
Yeon ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“Can I get that person’s contact information? I need to talk to
them. That amount is practically fraud. I think I need to hire an
appraiser to reassess it.”
—Sorry, but they left no contact information. They said they
don’t have any usable communication means.
“No communication means?”
—Yes.
In this high-tech age, they have expensive floating shoes but
no common smartphone? Is this a joke?
When Yeon asked in disbelief, the employee added hastily,
—But there’s a note. It says, “If you’re unhappy with the
amount, come find me. Ask the newly assigned A+ grade
esper Dekal at the capital centre. He will lead you to me.
Haha.”
The employee sounded awkward reading the note.
Clenching his teeth, Yeon controlled his breath and finally
replied,
“A+ grade esper, Dekal? Understood. Please hold off on
further requests for now. Yes, thank you for your hard work.”
Yeon pushed his hair back irritably.
“That damned insect… as if I wasn’t already busy enough.”
Today, like every other day, he had to keep an eye on Rose, the
A-grade team leader, and repeatedly ask Doberman for
permission to take half a day off. Without this, it would be
impossible to spare any time for Uibin. And leaving Uibin
alone in her current fragile state was out of the question.
It seemed like meeting this swindler right away was going to
be difficult.
“What? 50 gold? Ha.”
Aside from his father and Tae Ha-Jin, it had been a long time
since someone made him this furious. Roommate Jung Woo-
Cheol was there, but his presence was so insignificant to Yeon
that it didn’t matter.
Yeon wasn’t one to sit back and take it. So, he started thinking
about how to get back at this conman.

“Yeon!”
Doctor Choi Sa-Rang rounded the corner, waving
energetically. Her bright smile was always a welcome sight.
“I’m about to grab lunch. Care to join me?”
Yeon glanced at the hospital room door, thinking. Uibin had
just fallen asleep, and there were four apples peeled and ready,
so there was no rush to eat with her. Plus, he had skipped
breakfast this morning.
Yeon nodded, and Choi Sa-Rang’s smile widened even more.
She suddenly linked her arm with his. “Come on. There’s a
great place nearby. It’s called ‘Cheongsodam’. It’s a pasta
place, and their desserts are to die for. My treat!”
The casual physical contact was natural, and Yeon let himself
be led away without protest. As they passed the main entrance,
several doctors returning from lunch greeted Choi Sa-Rang.
“Sa-Rang, off to eat now?”
“Yes, my appointment was moved up. Did you have a good
meal?”
“Yeah, just had noodles with Manager Kim up the street.”
The middle-aged man, shivering slightly, adjusted his white
coat and gave Yeon a once-over. He smiled slyly.
“Wow… I was wondering why Choi Sa-Rang wasn’t dating
anyone. Now I see she has high standards, huh?”
“Haha, I didn’t realize it myself, but I guess I do.”
Sa-Rang easily brushed off the comment. She quickly ended
the conversation and led Yeon to her car, giving him an
apologetic look.
“That was the head of the esper characteristics department.
He’s a bit mischievous. I think he misunderstood because I
linked arms with you. Sorry about that.”
“No problem.”
“Good to hear.”
She smiled and got into the driver’s seat. Just as Yeon was
about to get into the passenger side, he felt a strange gaze from
behind and quickly turned around. Nothing.
‘What was that?’
It felt like someone was watching, but all he saw were a few
parked cars and hospital staff passing by. He scanned the area
once more before Sa-Rang rolled down her window and asked
if something was wrong.
“No, it’s nothing. I must have imagined it.”
He got into the car. After they had driven out of the parking lot
and gone some distance, a figure shimmered into existence in
a corner of the lot. The man fanned his face with his hand.
“Damn… does that bastard have eyes in the back of his head?”
It was Mu Fei, a B+ grade esper, who had been repeatedly
humiliated and mock-killed by Yeon during previous training
sessions. He couldn’t forget that day. Being eliminated within
five minutes of the start was nothing short of an insult. Other
espers had laughed at him mercilessly.
If only it hadn’t been a training exercise prohibiting the use of
abilities, he would have used his stealth powers to put holes in
all their heads.
And then there was the betrayal. Because of him leaking to
this guide that Tae Ha-Jin was on the roof, Mu Fei had been
dragged to remote assignments, enduring the longest
deployment of his career. Just this morning, he was dealing
with a white door in the Rolang region.
After killing a level 5 beast, he turned around to see a middle-
aged man with round glasses smiling benevolently. It was
Doberman, Tae Ha-Jin’s famous assistant esper.
It wasn’t unusual for a transportation esper like him to appear
suddenly, but it still nearly gave Mu Fei a heart attack.
—Oh, you scared me! What are you doing here?
—Tired of long deployments, Mu Fei?
—Ha… don’t even get me started. When is Tae Ha-Jin going
to end this exile? I feel like I’m going to get cancer from not
breathing the polluted air of the capital.
—Haha, is that so? You have an unusual constitution.
Doberman’s casual demeanour was genuine. He exuded the
ease of someone who had withstood the presence of a king of
beasts for a long time. Hope began to rise in Mu Fei. Perhaps
his exile was nearing its end. Doberman clapped Mu Fei on
the shoulder.
—You have a new task, Mu Fei. You have the ability to turn
invisible, correct?
—Yes, well, sort of…
—As of today, you will be Tae Ha-Jin esper’s ‘exclusive’
escort. Consider this a promotion.
—Ex-exclusive? Me?
Was all the suffering for this moment? Mu Fei’s face lit up.
Tae Ha-Jin’s reputation extended beyond Diaylen, across the
entire continent. Among the few S-grade espers in the world,
he was exceptional. Being his ‘exclusive’ escort implied
significant prestige and responsibility. For a mere B+ grade
esper like Mu Fei, it was an offer too good to refuse.
With the word ‘exclusive’ attached, the term ‘escort’ felt
insignificant. Mu Fei agreed enthusiastically without hearing
more.
And now here he was…
“Damn it, where is that bastard heading now? This is so
annoying.”
Mu Fei quickly got into his car, following the red foreign car.
His invisibility allowed him to make himself, his scent, and his
presence undetectable. He could also make his car invisible,
but on an eight-lane road, it would likely cause accidents. So,
he had to follow Yeon visibly.
Mu Fei cursed his fate.
Shadowing Tae Ha-Jin’s ‘exclusive guide’ as an ‘exclusive
escort’. Damn it, it felt like Doberman had tricked him.
 Chapter 1. Part 20
“Is it good?”
“Yes.”
The cream pasta was excellent, and the cookies for dessert
were delightfully light. Yeon nodded slightly, causing Choi Sa-
Rang, who had been watching him with her chin propped on
her hand, to smile warmly.
“Watching you eat is satisfying. You look like a cute squirrel.”
“First time I’ve heard that.”
“Haha, it’s true.”
Choi Sa-Rang suggested they play a question-and-answer
game to get to know each other better. Yeon, remembering that
she had feelings for him, agreed.
‘She’s been so helpful, I should be polite.’
However, Yeon felt skeptical about dating Choi Sa-Rang. His
past relationships had ended badly. His partners would cry and
get hurt, and it would always end. Yeon was a kind boyfriend
but never truly loved them. He continued the relationships out
of affection, but they wanted more than that.
One-sided love leads to dissatisfaction.
When they became clingy or obsessive, he would suggest
breaking up. Otherwise, he never initiated the end. He
believed the decision to end a relationship should lie with the
other person, even if it wasn’t a gentlemanly breakup.
—So you’re saying you never loved me. You acted like you
cared so much but didn’t love me. Why did you accept me?
Was it just for sex? Yeon!
Those words were misleading. Yeon never pushed them
towards hotels or insisted on spending nights together. It was
always their decision, and he merely respected and enjoyed the
time.
‘Tiring.’
Reflecting on his past made the Q&A session with Choi Sa-
Rang feel more burdensome. But he answered her questions
diligently.
“My hobby is shooting. I haven’t had much time lately, but
that’s the only thing that comes to mind.”
“Oh, I’d love to see you shoot sometime. Could you take me
along next time?”
Taking someone to the shooting range was something he only
did with Uibin, but he responded diplomatically.
“Sure. I’ll let you know.”
“Great! Um… it’s your turn to ask a question now.”
Her Q&A was tricky. He had to answer a question and then
ask one. Not having much he wanted to know about her, he
struggled to think of a question. Finally, he settled on a generic
one.
“How old are you?”
Unexpectedly, Choi Sa-Rang laughed, covering her mouth. “If
I were older, that would be a rude question. I’m twenty-eight.
Do I look it?”
It was a surprising answer. With her youthful face, he thought
she was around his age. She was actually three years older.
Well, considering she was a specialist at the Characteristics
Centre, it made sense.
“You look young for your age.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“I knew your age from your chart as my patient. You seemed
so mature, but you’re younger than I thought.”
Yeon chuckled at that. “Are you saying I look old?”
“No! Haha, you know what I mean.”
Choi Sa-Rang waved her hand dismissively in denial. This
time, it was her turn to ask questions. She scooped up some
slightly melted ice cream with her spoon, and while
hesitatingly looking at it, she finally spoke.
“What’s your relationship with Kim Uibin? You two seem
really close, and I’ve always been curious.”
Even though they had referred to Kim Uibin as a “friend”
several times during their conversation, Choi Sa-Rang seemed
to want some sort of confirmation. She wasn’t the only one
curious about the nature of the relationship between them and
Kim Uibin.
Ex-partners had often asked the same question. Some had even
secretly contacted Kim Uibin, urging her to sever ties with
him. Others, consumed by jealousy, had suggested breaking up
with him if things continued like that.
Contrary to their concerns, there were no romantic feelings
involved with Uibin. He had never seen Uibin as anything
more than a friend—a precious person he never wanted to lose
again. He understood the jealousy of past partners, considering
how Yeon had treated Uibin with special care.
But breaking up with those who couldn’t accept this special
friendship was never a problem. While Yeon had always tried
to be the best friend to Uibin, it was distinctly different from
how he treated a partner.
Yet, asking him to cut ties with his only friend was crossing
the line. He answered smoothly, as he always did.
“She’s a friend. I owe her a lot.”
“Owe?”
“Yes.”
He debated whether to share more details but decided to speak
upon seeing Choi Sa-Rang’s curious gaze. It wasn’t exactly a
secret.
“I ran away from home when I was sixteen. It was a desperate
attempt to survive. It was midwinter, and I wandered around
aimlessly, feeling cold. I sat on a swing in a playground,
thinking I might freeze to death there. Then, a girl approached
and spoke to me.”
It turned out she was the class president from the next class.
He had never paid much attention to others, including her, but
he remembered seeing Uibin helping a bullied friend in the
cafeteria. That’s when Yeon learned who Uibin was.
But Uibin approached him on that swing, a girl with an
overwhelming sense of kindness.
—Aren’t you cold?
He were cold. Snow was falling heavily, and he thought it was
a ridiculous question. Young Uibin took off her gloves and put
them on his freezing hands. The warmth was so overwhelming
that Yeon were left speechless. Maybe his mouth was too
frozen to speak.
—Is she a school friend, Uibin?
Uibin’s mother had a calm demeanour, speaking slowly and
soothingly. She reminded them of his deceased mother.
—Yes, isn’t he handsome? He’s quite famous at school.
—Indeed. You could be a child actor. But why are you out
here in this weather?
What should Yeon say? That his father was insane and might
use him as a test subject? That his stepmother was making him
feel unwelcome? That he couldn’t stand his innocent two-year-
old brother? That his mother, who had committed suicide, kept
appearing in his dreams? That a child he abandoned out of
selfishness had died?
Yeon couldn’t say any of it.
So he just kept silent and continued swinging. The rusty chains
creaked as if they might break any moment. Uibin’s mother,
seemingly pitying Yeon’s dead eyes, spoke again.
—Come to our house for now. It’s nearby. Don’t worry; I’m
not a bad person.
She couldn’t just leave a child out in the cold like this, she
said.
—Or do you want to go to the police station? If you’re lost, I
can help you find your way home.
Knowing the value of his life, Yeon judged it better to go to
the class president’s house than the police station. The class
president was kind enough to help a bullied kid, and her
mother had warm eyes.
Even if they were organ traffickers, Yeon would have
followed, enchanted by a few kind words in their vulnerable
state.
He stayed at Uibin’s house for a few days. The father, who
Yeon thought would find and drag them back immediately,
never showed up.
The three women welcomed his presence, never even
suggesting they leave. Looking back, it was an abnormal
family dynamic, but it was fortunate for someone with
nowhere else to go.
He learned that Uibin’s father, a firefighter, had died long ago
while extinguishing a fire. Despite this, the three women lived
together cheerfully and diligently.
Yeon didn’t go to school. When Uibin went to school, they just
slept in the room. After a few days, he received a message on
the phone he were considering throwing away. It was from
their father.

[I’ll respect your decision. If that small house is your

sanctuary, stay there. I’ll financially support your upbringing
with that household. But you must at least attend school. If
you can’t even do that, I can’t guarantee the safety of your
sanctuary. I’ll respect your choice.]

That message was the last contact Yeon had with his father. He
left two envelopes in the small house’s mailbox. One
contained enough gold checks to cover the upbringing costs,
and the other was a black card for his use.
Even though he was a failed “B-grade guide” who had
manifested falsely at fifteen, the research director at least did
his duty. It was both gratifying and infuriating.
Eventually, Yeon started attending school and, after graduating
high school, volunteered at a remote Libramji Centre.
Although he missed being close to Uibin, he was relieved to
be away from his father’s research center.
That’s how it was back then.
“…That’s the story. If it weren’t for that mother and daughter,
my life might have been a mess. But regardless, Uibin is a
friend I cherish and hold dear. Does that answer your
question?”
He conveyed the facts briefly, omitting most of the story. Choi
Sa-Rang listened intently as if hearing a fascinating, cruel
fairy tale.
“So that’s your story… Maybe that’s why you seem mature for
your age to me, I’ve grown up without any major incidents.
Well, shall we get going? I think we should head to the
hospital room.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
When he went to pay at the counter, the lady told them it had
already been paid for by the woman. Feeling a bit
embarrassed, he formally thanked her and promised to pay
next time.
After spending some time with Uibin and returning to the
dorm late, he found their roommate, Jung Woo-Cheol, was not
there. Not thinking much of it, he stepped into the room and
suddenly stopped.
“…?”
What was this feeling?
The room looked exactly the same as when they left in the
morning, but it felt like stepping into someone else’s room. A
strange, unsettling feeling made them furrow their brow.
‘Did Jung Woo-Cheol sneak in?’
Considering how careless he was, it seemed unlikely the room
would be left in such perfect order.
Absolutely perfect.
Disturbingly perfect.
He placed his hand on the wall, extending their aura subtly
throughout the room. Yeon sensed a faint, unfamiliar presence
scattered in the corners.
Only someone with a dual bloodline like his could detect it.
“…For what reason?”
He had many suspects in mind. Their father might have sent
someone to search, or Jung Woo-Cheol or Ju Mi-Hoon could
have done it.
For a moment, Tae Ha-Jin’s face flashed in his mind, but as an
ally for now, it seemed unlikely he would go to such lengths.
He opened the window wide, trying to clear the unsettling and
foul aura from the room. There was nothing in the room worth
stealing or defiling.
Everything valuable or private was absorbed into his left hand.
Whoever it was had wasted their effort.
“Foolish.”
He couldn’t help but laugh.

***

“Hey, did I come at the wrong time, brothers?”

Dion came bouncing down the subway steps, holding three
cups of coffee. Of all places, the yellow door had to open in
this cramped, crowded space. Over thirty bodies were being
carried out, and by the time Dion arrived, the situation had
ended.
Guides were bustling around, healing injured and
contaminated espers.
Two men, particularly noticeable, were guiding in the seats
next to the smashed subway door.
“Why would I be your brother, esper Dion?”
While guiding Tae Ha-Jin’s thick wrist, Yeon glanced
nonchalantly at Dion, who grinned and waved his iced
Americano.
“You’re twenty-five, right? I’m twenty-four.”
“Just call me a guide.”
“Come on, why so formal? Didn’t we trust our lives to each
other on the Libramji coast?”
At his words, Yeon recalled the moment he had fainted in
Dion’s arms. Yeon knew Dion had taken him to the central
centre.
But did he have to call him “brother” just because he owed
him once?
They weren’t that close.
As he openly lost himself in thought, Tae Ha-Jin frowned.
“Focus.”
“I can multitask. It means I can guide and think about other
things at the same time.”
“You’re not self-aware. Your guiding slows down slightly
every time you get distracted.”
“If it weren’t for Esper Tae Ha-Jin, no one else would notice
how slight it is, right?”
“Do it properly.”
The voice was unmistakably displeased. Yeon chuckled to
himself.
This guy was acting strange again. He had been cooperative
for a while, but today he had been in a foul mood since
morning. Was he holding a grudge because he had taken a few
days off? Or had Yeon unknowingly made some mistake?
He couldn’t understand the reason for the change in attitude.
Surely, there had to be a reason.
Tae Ha-Jin only used honorifics when it suited him. Of course,
he was a superior, and in the Disaster Defence Centre, it was
common for someone of Tae Ha-Jin’s calibre to speak
informally to subordinates. It almost seemed like Tae Ha-Jin
was giving him some half-hearted respect.
But Tae Ha-Jin’s use of honorifics felt worse than informal
speech, making Yeon feel far from respected.
“Why do you keep picking fights today? If you have a
problem, just say it. Don’t make everyone uncomfortable by
giving dirty looks.”
“Is it that hard to shut up and guide?”
Tae Ha-Jin stared directly at Yeon, his expression stern. His
red eyes looked distinctly cold. Yeon laughed incredulously.
“Ah, so the esper wants a fight, and I just didn’t catch on?”
“Who do you think you are to act like this?”
“What’s wrong with my attitude?”
“You’ve been guiding harshly since earlier. Do you think I
wouldn’t notice?” Tae Ha-Jin said in a low voice.
Yeon had intentionally guided harshly, and it seemed it was
finally being felt. He had been inwardly fuming, thinking it
wasn’t noticeable because there had been no reaction.
In that moment, Yeon made a decision.
Today, he was going to settle things with this bastard once and
for all.
___
TN: here goes the end of volume 1, the next chapter is the start
of volume 2.
 Chapter 1. Part 21
“If you’re going to do it like this, hurry up and finish it. It’s
not even S-grade guiding yet.”
Yeon let out a bitter laugh. This was a public place. With
espers and guides everywhere, and they expected an S-grade
guiding demonstration here? Officially, Yeon was an A0-grade
guide. It made sense to take things slow in such a place.
‘Pissing me off as soon as I return.’
Yeon whispered quietly into Tae Ha-Jin’s ear, just loud enough
for him to hear.
“I don’t usually resort to threats, but your contamination level
is at 55%. If you push me, I might just quit and go back
alone.”
Ha-Jin’s eyebrows shot up. Yeon, driven by anger, spoke his
mind without filtering his words.
“I mean it. Don’t think you can push me around just because
I’m your exclusive guide. If an esper behaves as he pleases,
what guide would want to help out? We’re not fools.
Responsibility is mutual. And it’s not like we signed a
contract.”
Ha-Jin let out a derisive laugh, the sound tickling Yeon’s ear
along with his breath.
‘Has he gone mad?’
It seemed Ha-Jin had lost all sense of respect. Yeon had
recently demanded an unreasonable amount of time off to visit
someone in the hospital, but all he did was go on a date with
some doctor. Meanwhile, Ha-Jin had forced other guides to
cover for Yeon, leading to inefficient guiding sessions.
Yeon was hiding a powerful backer who ensured that any
charges against him would be dropped. It was both interesting
and annoying how many layers he had. His attitude was just a
reed that Ha-Jin wanted to break.
‘Threatening me with guiding?’
It was laughable. The primary reason Ha-Jin chose Yeon as his
exclusive guide was for his straightforward guiding. At least
Yeon didn’t try to gain the upper hand with his guiding.
‘You’re no different from other guides.’
Even though Ha-Jin had no expectations, he still felt a twinge
of disappointment. He laughed bitterly.
The responsible façade Yeon had put on was nowhere to be
seen, replaced by these pathetic threats. Ha-Jin’s eyes
hardened as he stared at Yeon with blood-red pupils.
“Go on, then.”
If you can.
He smiled, a sinister look that Yeon had seen before. A face so
beautiful it was ominous, so delicate it seemed it could break
at any moment.
Yeon couldn’t help but recall the day Ha-Jin had gone berserk
and driven people to the brink of death.
“What the…”
Before Yeon could protest, Ha-Jin intertwined his fingers with
Yeon’s. Frozen, Yeon felt a surge of overwhelming energy
force its way in, like a violent storm, intent on breaking his
Vessel.
“Ugh!”
The intense pain paralysed Yeon’s arm. Regaining his
composure, he clenched his teeth and tightened his jaw.
‘This crazy bastard!’
Forcing S-grade energy into him! Even an A-grade guide’s
Vessel would crack under this. The usually calm waters within
Yeon’s Vessel roiled into a massive whirlpool.
“I said, go.”
The clear tone of mockery infuriated Yeon, and he swung his
free fist at Ha-Jin. But Ha-Jin easily caught it, his large hand
blocking the punch as if it were nothing.
Yeon knew he could push Ha-Jin away if he used an esper’s
energy. But revealing that ability recklessly was not an option.
Ha-Jin’s energy poured in more violently.
“Kraaagh! Ugh…”
Despite the internal turmoil, Yeon was acutely aware of the
surrounding eyes. He needed to keep his S-grade guiding
ability hidden. His maximum visible grade was AO.
As he struggled to suppress the energy, Ha-Jin sensed it and
intensified his assault.
“Aaaagh!”
Yeon’s arm shook violently, and he could barely breathe.
“There’s a limit to how much you can underestimate me.”
Ha-Jin’s voice was cold, but his grip was scorching. Inside
Yeon, his Vessel screamed to be released, to show Ha-Jin what
he was capable of.
If he didn’t elevate to S-grade, he would be swallowed by the
tsunami Ha-Jin had created. Yeon teetered between reason and
instinct, nausea rising.
Then, flames encircled them, creating a barrier that blocked all
sight. The surrounding eyes vanished. It was Dion’s doing,
watching with glee from outside the fire.
He laughed loudly.
“Wow, I’ve never seen such an intense guiding session before.
Go, Yeon hyung! I’m rooting for you!”
Ha-Jin laughed at Dion’s playful antics.
‘You think this is funny, you bastard?’
Fury bursting the dam he’d held back, Yeon matched Ha-Jin’s
energy head-on. A tremendous clash ensued within his Vessel,
a battle of tsunamis. Water overflowed and dissipated.
Ha-Jin’s momentary surprise at Yeon’s strength showed.
Seizing the opportunity, Yeon yanked his fist free and swung
again at Ha-Jin’s face.
Thud!
Ha-Jin’s head snapped to the side. Stunned, he let out a
disbelieving laugh.
“Well done, Yeon hyung!”
Dion’s cheer rang out from a distance. Yeon felt a refreshing
sense of relief as he focused more intently on his energy.
With newfound freedom, Yeon’s energy chewed through Ha-
Jin’s like it was savouring it. He saw Ha-Jin’s energy for what
it was: a blood-red, hellish tsunami.
‘Not bad.’
Ha-Jin, his eyebrow raised as if complimenting a child, began
to seriously contend with Yeon’s now ferocious guiding.
Clashing, tearing, and ripping apart, Yeon thought they were at
a stalemate.
But he soon realised that was a delusion. Ha-Jin’s red energy,
tormenting Yeon’s Vessel, suddenly withdrew, leaving his
body.
“Ugh…! Cough!”
Blood spurted from his mouth, dripping to the ground. Ha-Jin
had initiated reverse guiding.
Normal guiding involved the esper’s energy flowing into the
guide, undergoing purification, and then returning. Reverse
guiding was the opposite: the guide’s energy was forcibly
drawn into the esper’s Vessel, suppressed until it evaporated.
Yeon was losing control, his energy being siphoned off like a
conscripted labourer.
“Crazy bastard…”
When a guide overpowers an esper to submission, it’s called
subording. When an esper crushes a guide, it’s reverse
guiding. They had traded blows, but Ha-Jin’s methods were
overwhelmingly ruthless.
Ha-Jin was the first to completely overpower Yeon in an
energy battle. Despite the indescribable pain, Yeon’s mental
strength held out against the S-grade energy. If that was
revealed, his life would be as good as over.
‘No matter what, even if I die, I have to endure this…!’
Using his trump card in a lost fight was not an option. He
gritted his teeth. Even as his mind wavered, his energy was
nearing its limit.
“…..!”
Suddenly, Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel began to reveal itself. It wasn’t
something Yeon had intended to look at; it just unfolded
naturally. It was a bizarre sensation. The fog that had been
obscuring his vision dissipated, revealing the crimson Vessel
that had piqued his curiosity. As something started to form
before his eyes, Yeon’s eyes widened.
Ssssaaah.
For a moment, his breath stopped.
‘What the hell is this… Is this supposed to be a Vessel?’
What Yeon witnessed was a planet. An enormous,
overwhelming expanse, like a blazing sun covered in a red sea.
But it wasn’t fire; it was undeniably water, merely tinged with
a red hue. The sea, unmoving, lay still like stagnant water
trapped in a hollow.
If there had been waves, it might have felt real, but here it was
truly a “Sea of Stillness.”
Whiiiiish.
Despite the scorching wind, Tae Ha-Jin’s sea remained calm.
What’s in this water?
Yeon’s insatiable curiosity, the same that kept him tied to the
research director’s bloodline, made him look down. Beneath
the red sea, it was clear as if displaying its insides.
‘What the…?’
What is this?!
Below the sea, pieces of second-grade monsters and third-
grade Phantoms were scattered. Fragments of massive
buildings and half-split White Doors were mixed in, frozen
and suspended.
The entire sea was filled.
The grotesque sight made Yeon shiver. All these were
remnants Tae Ha-Jin had erased using his ability. The
Phantoms he had obliterated recently at the Pink Door were
the most visible near the surface.
‘That’s…!’
And at the deepest part of the red sea, a giant maw with
hundreds of teeth was grotesquely chewing on the frozen
debris.
Crunch, crunch.
It’s said that when faced with overwhelming fear, a person’s
heart can stop. Yeon now understood that sensation. A chill
ran through his body, and an indescribable terror pierced his
core.
Yeon finally realised.
‘It wasn’t Erasure.’
Tae Ha-Jin’s ability wasn’t Erasure.
His power was… ‘Devouring.’
He understood why Tae Ha-Jin quickly reached a berserk state
after using his ability extensively. Moving that gigantic maw
beneath the sea rapidly contaminated his energy.
It was hard to believe that the energy he had been purifying for
Tae Ha-Jin felt so vile and sinister.
Considering that this red water swept through him, it was
almost inevitable that he would lose in an energy fight. Could
he even defeat Tae Ha-Jin if he harnessed the full power of his
dual bloodline?
He didn’t know.
He couldn’t be sure because Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel was just too
unreal.
As Yeon watched the giant maw devour, the maw slowly
formed words. Hundreds of sharp teeth interlocked and
separated, creating bubbles.
Unconsciously, Yeon mimicked the movements of the maw
with his own lips.
(You… look delicious.)
The maw grinned fiercely, its corners tearing upward.
(Are you… their successor?)
Their successor?
Yeon swallowed hard.
In the eerie silence of the red sea, the sound of his gulp echoed
loudly.
The giant maw continued to speak, but Yeon shut his eyes. He
felt he shouldn’t see any more. To protect his sanity, he needed
to close his eyes.
Sssssaaah!
Sssssaaah!
Rumble!
The previously silent sea suddenly surged massively. The
planet vibrated as if an earthquake struck, and a mountainous
wave rose and approached from the other side.
‘I need to run.’
That’s a monster.
This sea is alive…!
But his body was frozen, unable to move. He was paralysed,
just like the monsters beneath the sea.
Yeon realised.
That maw had chosen him as its next meal.
It was then that he sensed death approaching.
“Open your eyes, Lee Yeon!”
His shoulder was shaken violently. For the first time, Tae Ha-
Jin’s deep voice was a relief. At the same time, the hold on his
body released.
Yeon squeezed his eyes shut and suppressed his energy. He felt
a pull at the back of his neck, and suddenly, his mind snapped
back to reality.
“Huff, huff…”
He panted heavily, like someone who had just been
resuscitated.
Yeon found himself lying on the subway floor. Tae Ha-Jin was
half on top of him, ready to perform CPR. Yeon weakly shook
his head. If this guy tried CPR, his ribs would probably shatter.
“Haa, haa…”
Yeon blinked slowly and looked at Tae Ha-Jin. As soon as
their eyes met, the earlier terror resurfaced, making it hard to
breathe.
What on earth are you harbouring in your Vessel?
Tae Ha-Jin seemed to sense Yeon’s reaction and moved off his
torso with an annoyed look.
“Hyung! Are you alright?”
Dion leaned in, holding up fingers in front of Yeon’s eyes,
asking how many he saw. Glancing around, Yeon noticed the
others were gone. Dion’s fiery stage was exhausted, leaving
only scorched marks on the floor.
“…Three.”
“Oh, you’re back to your senses?”
Dion laughed cheerfully while Yeon turned his gaze to Tae
Ha-Jin, who was making a phone call. Despite harbouring
such a monster, he was moving around as if nothing was
wrong. Did he even know there was a beast in his Vessel?
Yeon could still vividly recall the scene.
If there was a hell, it would be that place.
‘Can you even call that a Vessel?’
In Yeon’s eyes, Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel contained an entire world.
A being with that much potential and propensity for berserk
states was indeed enviable on a global scale. If not for his own
dual bloodline, Yeon wouldn’t have even managed to glimpse
Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel. Attempting to would likely have left him
unconscious, bleeding from his nose.
It was a talent the world would covet.
Come to think of it, he pitied Tae Ha-Jin.
Without a guide of Yeon’s calibre, he would find salvation
nowhere.
“I’m a bit late. I came as fast as I could, though.”
A voice echoed from the air. Before the transporter’s body
arrived, his voice did. A flash of light followed, and Doberman
and a man with black hair appeared. Doberman looked at Yeon
with wide, astonished eyes.
“Wow. What’s with your state, Guide-nim?”
Blood stained parts of his body, and his complexion was pale.
Doberman’s gaze swept over Yeon’s figure and briefly glared
at Ha-Jin before looking away.
“Secretary.”
A voice, harsh and cracking, called for Doberman. He tilted
his head curiously as Yeon struggled to speak.
“Kill Tae Ha-Jin for me, please.”
“…Me?”
Doberman forced a smile, his thoughts racing.
‘If that were possible, wouldn’t I have submitted my
resignation ages ago?’
The resignation letter in his pocket flickered before his eyes.
Doberman chuckled hollowly.
“Excuse me.”
The man with black hair who appeared beside him knelt on
one knee and placed a hand on Yeon’s heart. Yeon furrowed
his brows in confusion. What on earth was he doing? Trying to
guide the guide, perhaps?
Soon, the pain in his body began to fade away astonishingly. It
wasn’t guiding. It was a different, unfamiliar sensation that
made Yeon flinch. The black-haired man silently focused on
his task. Doberman, observing the scene, provided an
explanation.
“Restoration esper, Dekal. He’s with the Royal Family but
works at the Centre now. He can even restore human bodies.”
Ah, Yeon had heard of him. It was said that the half-destroyed
office on the 20th floor had also been restored by a restoration
esper. Earlier, someone had called somewhere, and it seemed
Tae Ha-Jin had summoned these two. Yeon’s eyelids grew
heavy, and he closed his eyes, surrendering fully to the
restorative sensation.
Suddenly, the black-haired man raised an eyebrow. Dekal
glanced at Tae Ha-Jin, then back at Yeon. After a moment of
contemplation, Dekal asked gently.
“Have you had a head injury before?”
Yeon blinked, wondering if Dekal was subtly calling him mad.
It didn’t seem that way.
“No, I haven’t.”
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Lee Yeon.”
“…”
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Is there something wrong with my head? Am I going crazy?”
Yeon asked anxiously, and Dekal slowly shook his head.
“I misread the wave’s instability.”
“This kind of mistake can scare someone very much…”
Yeon’s voice trembled, almost breaking into tears at the
thought of dying unexpectedly. He glared at Tae Ha-Jin, who
had been staring down at him relentlessly. His tall and
imposing figure reminded Yeon of the jaws he had seen
earlier.
“Looks like you failed to return. As well as the leaving.”
The tone was regretful.
After treating him so badly, how could this esper sound so
smug? It seemed like a hint for Yeon to realise how much
leeway he had been given. Unfortunately, the only lesson Yeon
learned from this was not to mess with Tae Ha-Jin.
Yeon, still wanting to play his role as a full-time guide despite
the harsh treatment, sighed and asked. ”What’s your
contamination level?”
“Thirteen percent.”
The intense reverse guiding had dropped Tae Ha-Jin’s
contamination level to rock bottom. All of Yeon’s energy had
been drained into his vessel, a predictable outcome.
Exhausted, Yeon muttered sarcastically.
“Are you satisfied? How do you feel after draining your full-
time guide dry?”
“Not great.”
“…”
Not great? Shouldn’t he be happy after crushing Yeon as he
pleased? Yeon stared at him with a puzzled expression. Tae
Ha-Jin looked genuinely disturbed, as if he truly wasn’t
pleased. He tapped his arm a couple of times before turning
away.
Yeon, observing him for a moment, asked Dekal, who was still
restoring his body.
“I know it’s rude to ask, but how much do you charge to
restore someone, esper?”
“…”
“I mean no harm. I have a friend who’s seriously injured and
hospitalised. I was wondering if you could help.”
Having finished the treatment, Dekal stood up and cracked his
neck from side to side.
“Today isn’t possible. How about next week?”
Yeon was overjoyed to hear this and stood up, marvelling at
his refreshed body with a bright smile.
“That would be great. Can we meet at the front gate of
Hyungjil Hospital next week?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll contact you through Doberman. Thank you.”
“Alright then, let’s all head back. This subway looks like it
might collapse any moment.”
Doberman ushered everyone out of the subway, linking arms
with Dion and Dekal. Dion scanned Yeon from head to toe,
checking his condition. Dekal, however, showed no intention
of restoring the subway, merely bowing to Tae Ha-Jin.
“I’ll take these two back to the Royal Family first. Please, you
two, don’t fight while we’re gone.”
The three disappeared. Not inclined to wait for his secretary,
Tae Ha-Jin began climbing the partially collapsed stairs. Yeon
followed suit.
Because Doberman had been unavailable since the morning,
Yeon had no choice but to ride with Tae Ha-Jin. Bringing two
cars to the busy subway vicinity was inefficient. In the urgent
situation, he had reluctantly taken the passenger seat.
Moreover, Doberman’s trips to the Royal Family usually took
a long time. Many there needed his assistance, and he often
got held up. Tae Ha-Jin, not willing to wait, had opted to use
his own car.
As they emerged from the subway, reporters waiting outside
snapped photos and bombarded them with questions.
“A yellow door incident occurred in the capital’s subway
today! The death toll has exceeded thirty! Esper Tae Ha-Jin,
do you have a statement on behalf of the Centre?”
“Statistics show an increasing frequency of door incidents in
the Diaylen nation! What are your thoughts? Conversely,
neighbouring countries report a decrease in door occurrences!”
“Princess Elena of Diaylen mentioned that Tae Ha-Jin is
hiding a valuable asset. Can you tell us who that is?”
Click, click.
Tae Ha-Jin, accustomed to ignoring the press, led the way
while Yeon awkwardly followed, trying to hide in his shadow.
Yeon, not small himself, couldn’t avoid being captured on
camera. The reporters noticed the unfamiliar face behind Tae
Ha-Jin.
With his white, delicate face and striking features, he stood
out, even next to the renowned esper. The cameras eagerly
captured this new, intriguing figure.
Click, click.
‘Why do I feel like they’re taking photos of me?’
Yeon frowned at the peculiar situation and noticed a taxi stand
ahead. Following Tae Ha-Jin to his car would only prolong the
unpleasant experience, and he had no intention of facing the
reporters either.
Just as he turned towards the taxi, a large hand grabbed his
collar.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“…To the Hospital.”
Tae Ha-Jin stared at his innocent face and dragged him
towards his car. The doors opened like wings, soaring
upwards, making the supercar’s low ride all the more
uncomfortable. Why spend hundreds of gold on a car with
such poor ride quality?
Yeon hurriedly got into the passenger seat to avoid the
pursuing reporters.
“Hey! I’m not fully inside yet!”
The car started moving before he could close the door. Yeon
quickly shut it as the car sped away. He snapped his head
towards Tae Ha-Jin.
“Seriously, I thought your outburst was over earlier?”
 Chapter 1. Part 22
“Earlier.”
He trailed off mid-sentence.
Tae Ha-Jin was driving, and this was the second time Yeon
had seen him that morning. Earlier, his aura had been so
intense that Yeon had spent the entire subway ride staring out
the window. So, it was almost as if this was the first time
seeing him driving.
One hand rested on the door, the other on the wheel. A mix of
sweet scent, cigarettes, and monster blood wafted from him.
“About earlier, I’m sorry.”
“…..”
Yeon stared at Tae Ha-Jin in disbelief.
He hadn’t expected an apology.
But it wasn’t the kind of thing that would be easily forgiven
with a simple sorry.
The car was uncomfortably spotless, giving Yeon nowhere to
rest his eyes. Shaking his head, he leaned against the window.
Tae Ha-Jin continued, his gaze fixed ahead.
“I did it on purpose.”
“…..Why? It wasn’t pleasant at all.”
His voice was troubled, as if recalling the incident. It wasn’t
surprising. Earlier, when asked how he felt, he had replied,
“Not great.” The unexpected part was why he was bringing it
up now.
Yeon turned to look at Tae Ha-Jin again.
His face was expressionless, like the red sea within him,
sleeping in silence.
The Vessel reflects its owner. Tae Ha-Jin seemed like a living
dead, just like that terrifying sea. Even when he had tried to
self-destruct, he had easily put his life on the line.
“Lee Yeon, you’re exactly the type I despise. Crossing lines as
if it’s nothing, showing nothing, and hiding so much. Honestly,
you piss me off a lot.”
He casually admitted that Yeon irritated him.
This was, in some sense, a confession of a kind Yeon had
never received before.
“I won’t do reverse guiding again.”
He sounded as if he had made a significant decision. What was
a simple logic to others seemed quite complicated to him.
Serious enough to warrant such an expression.
Yeon silently observed him. Understanding this man was
difficult. Tae Ha-Jin was complex, not someone who could be
judged one-dimensionally.
The next words surprised Yeon quite a bit.
“…Yeah, I went too far.”
He muttered, almost to himself.
Finally, his monologue reached its climax. Yeon felt he had a
glimpse of the extensive thought process Tae Ha-Jin had gone
through to say this.
Ha-Jin furrowed his brow slightly and asked,
“Did it hurt a lot?”
Ah.
Hearing such words in that tone and voice.
Yeon bit the inside of his cheek hard. Turning away so Tae Ha-
Jin couldn’t see, he covered his mouth with his hand.
He couldn’t.
Laughter kept threatening to spill out. It was honestly too
funny. Was this really so hard for this bastard?
In essence, wasn’t he just bothered by having overdone it?
As Yeon’s shoulders shook with silent laughter, Tae Ha-Jin
scowled. He looked at Yeon with a doubtful expression.
“Does it hurt that much?”
“Ahaha, this is hilarious.”
“……”
Yeon’s laughter broke the silence. He wiped a tear from the
corner of his eye. He couldn’t remember the last time he
laughed like this. He had wanted to break Tae Ha-Jin on the
subway earlier.
Though he had lost the upper hand, Yeon didn’t feel defeated.
He had been holding back half his power while facing off
against him.
Reflecting on the inside of Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel, Yeon thought,
What kind of life leads to such a broken Vessel?
What past did he have that made tormenting others his hobby?
That such a twisted guy would offer an apology, albeit a non-
apology, was amusing.
Yeon had never had expectations for Tae Ha-Jin, so he wasn’t
disappointed or vengeful. From the day he attempted self-
destruction, no, from the moment Yeon became his exclusive
guide, he had decided not to expect humanity from him.
But seeing him act humanely was just funny.
Most importantly, they had to work together - an asper and his
exclusive guide. Yeon didn’t want to drag out a conflict and
ruin their work.
To hate someone takes a lot of effort.
As Yeon continued laughing,
“You’re still irritating, Lee Yeon.”
Tae Ha-Jin said in a low voice, casting an annoyed glance at
Yeon. Yeon chuckled.
“Be consistent, esper. If you’re going to apologise, just stick to
that.”
Tae Ha-Jin clamped his mouth shut. More apologies seemed
too much for him.
The car smoothly came to a stop. They had arrived at the front
of the Libramji Centre.
Thanks to his reverse guiding, today’s work had finished
quickly. Yeon intended to visit Kim Uibin immediately. Tae
Ha-Jin pressed a button, and the passenger door automatically
opened. Yeon got out and nodded to Tae Ha-Jin.
“Thanks for the ride.”
Smiling, he didn’t close the door, causing Tae Ha-Jin to give
him a puzzled look.
“Get lost.”
“Hey? Weren’t we making up?”
Yeon joked. Tae Ha-Jin frowned and waved his hand
dismissively. As Yeon fully stepped away, a voice called out
from afar,
“Yeon!”
Turning, he saw Doctor Choi Sa-Rang approaching quickly.
“You’re early today? If you haven’t had dinner, would you like
to join me?”
Somehow, she seemed more cheerful than usual. Her
characteristic calm and bright smile suited her well. Yeon
looked her over and said,
“You look lovely today.”
It was a simple observation, but Choi Sa-Rang blushed and
tucked her long hair behind her ear.
“Really?” She touched her neck shyly. “I don’t know when
we’ll get to date, Yeon..”
Recently, Kim Uibin had been stabilising, thanks to Choi Sa-
Rang’s dedicated care. Maybe it was just his imagination, but
after she had found out they were just friends, she seemed
even more attentive.
She must have thought they’d be going on a date soon. He had
promised, so he would eventually, but he hadn’t expected her
to be preparing already.
Feeling slightly pressured, Yeon averted his eyes awkwardly.
“Do I have to keep listening to this conversation?”
A forgotten voice struck the back of his head. He realised he
was blocking the door from closing. Tae Ha-Jin was clearly
irritated.
‘Can’t argue again after we just made up.’
Yeon apologised and moved to close the door, but Choi Sa-
Rang, who had been watching, leaned into the car. She smiled
brightly.
“Oh, hello. I wasn’t sure, but you’re Tae Ha-Jin, the esper,
right?”
“Move.”
“…What?”
“So I can close the door. Get your head out of the way.”
His voice grew colder.
Surprised by the unexpected rudeness, Choi Sa-Rang blinked.
Yeon pulled her back and closed the car door. The car sped off
with a loud roar. Watching it leave, Yeon sighed.
“Don’t mind him. That’s just how he is.”
“No, it’s fine… Tae Ha-Jin’s temperament is well-known at
our centre.”
As they entered the hospital, they continued their
conversation.
“Apparently, he forced a B-grade guide to undergo a
reawakening test last time. The Human Rights Commission
said it couldn’t be done without the individual’s consent, but
he found a way to force it anyway.”
“And on top of that, according to the security office staff, they
came to check the CCTV, smashed the mouse, and broke the
door.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah.”
“What else? He told the car park guard to remove a certain car
from the parking lot.”
…So that’s what happened?
The guard had insisted he was the only one allowed to park
there and had to move his car. No wonder the guard was
babbling; he must have been following orders from Tae Ha-
Jin.
Yeon cancelled his brief moment of pity for the guard.

***

“Ha.”
Tae Ha-Jin, driving home, scoffed.
He recalled Lee Yeon, who had been gawking at some woman
in a doctor’s coat, blurting out, “You look lovely.” For
someone who seemed so reserved, he was a right little flirt.
He’d been head over heels for Kim Uibin and now it was the
doctor’s turn.
Just a few days ago, Mu Fei, who had been assigned as an
attendant, reported that Lee Yeon spent the entire morning in
Kim Uibin’s hospital room and then had lunch with the doctor.
In the evening, he was back to tending to Kim Uibin.
“Unbelievable.”
He thought that beautiful face of his would eventually pay off,
but he didn’t expect Yeon to be so damn busy. Unlike the
guides who threw themselves at him, Yeon had always kept
himself well-covered.
Come to think of it, Yeon had once said that, despite their
previous encounters, this was his first time with such tactile
guiding.
Ha-Jin suddenly doubted the truth of that statement.
He shook his head.
The car pulled into the city’s most luxurious villa complex.
After switching gears and parking, he swiped his card at the
elevator’s recognition panel. The elevator automatically
ascended to the penthouse.
It had been ages since he last spent time at his residence in the
centre. The most activity it saw was a cleaner who came twice
a week.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
Just as he was about to take off his shoes, Ha-Jin froze. There
was a pair of silver high heels neatly placed in the shoe
cabinet. His eyebrows knitted slightly.
“Ha-Jin-ssi, you’re back?”
A woman with short brown hair came trotting out to greet him,
her small head adorned with flashy earrings and a necklace.
The artificial scent filled the entrance.
Ha-Jin tilted his head slowly, annoyance clear.
“Have you lost your mind?”
Despite the blunt reproach, she just smiled and linked her arm
with his.
“You didn’t change the code. Didn’t you leave it that way for
me?”
Watching her smile, Ha-Jin felt a wave of revulsion. This
wasn’t the first time she’d invaded his space.
“Let go.”
Ha-Jin shook off her arm and walked past the entrance into the
hallway. He loosened his bloodstained tie and headed for the
bathroom, but she followed and hugged his taut waist.
At the end of her slender arms were unblemished hands—
hands that had known only comfort.
“Do you want to be charged with trespassing?”
Ha-Jin asked, opening and closing his eyes slowly. She simply
nuzzled her cheek against his broad back.
“It’s been so long.”
“So?”
“I might get married soon. But no matter how much time
passes, I can’t forget you. We broke off our engagement
because you changed your mind…”
Her rambling speech was missing the point. Irritated, Ha-Jin
pried her hands off.
“Changed my mind?”
He wrapped his bloodstained tie around her neck and pulled
her closer, her face turning red like he had her by the collar.
“You need a mind to change it.”
“Ha-Jin-ssi…”
“You knew it was a meaningless relationship.”
“Don’t do this… please?”
She looked up at him with tearful eyes, a sight that would’ve
swayed anyone else. But not Ha-Jin.

Her name was Ronile.

She was the granddaughter of one of the world’s top five
conglomerates and a citizen of Epenhar. She was never
supposed to cross paths with him.
But one day, she showed up.
Despite never having permission, she was sitting in his office
at the centre. He wondered which idiot had allowed her in but
was curious about her intentions, sitting there in revealing
clothes.
“Hello. I’m Ronile.”
She claimed to be a long-time fan, admiring him for his
handling of doors. Yet, her trespassing into his office was
more than rude; it was outright offensive.
“I’ve always looked up to you, Ha-Jin-ssi. Seeing you in
person is even more impressive… I’m so nervous I can barely
speak…”
“Leave.”
He opened the door and gestured. Her next words were
ludicrous.
“Ha-Jin-ssi, you drive a Blonid car, right? The limited edition
red model. I’m the granddaughter of Blonid’s chairman. When
I heard you drove that car, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep.”
He realised then how she’d gotten into his office. She must
have bribed someone at the centre. As the chairman’s
granddaughter, she had the means, and she’d always gotten
what she wanted by any means necessary.
He hoped she wasn’t that kind of person, but sadly, she was.
“I hope we can have a good relationship. I think I really like
you.”
He couldn’t understand what she could possibly know about
him to say she liked him. Ignoring her words, he kicked her
out. He had no reason to listen.
The problem came afterward.
“Consider it, will you? The chairman’s granddaughter is
causing a scene, refusing to eat or drink. The chairman dotes
on her… He’s even threatening to cut off all trade with our
nation.”
During an unexpected meal with the Emperor, Ha-Jin heard
those words.
He couldn’t trust the Emperor’s words completely. A private
company wouldn’t halt trade over a personal matter. It was
likely the Emperor had embellished the chairman’s words.
Still, Ha-Jin rejected the Emperor’s suggestion.
But then.
“…I don’t want to ask you this, but could you consider it? The
Emperor keeps hinting… Maybe you could get engaged and
then break it off later. If you show that much sincerity, the
chairman and the Emperor might stop bothering you.”
It was Knight Commander Dicaine’s request. It was the first
time he’d asked anything of Ha-Jin. Ha-Jin owed him a great
deal, and he couldn’t refuse his benefactor’s first request.
“This will be the first and last favour I grant you.”
Thus, the short engagement began.
Ronile was relentless.
Even knowing it was a temporary engagement, and despite
never treating her well, she acted like she owned him.
She constantly asked what he was doing and even broke into
his house, claiming they were soon to be married.
All with a smile.
Whenever they were alone, she tried to seduce him. He didn’t
refuse her advances a few times, but that only made her more
obsessed.
Ronile’s actions barely stayed within what he could tolerate.
And then he found out.
Ronile had directly petitioned the Emperor to pressure his
close associate, the knight captain.
Unable to bear the coercion, the captain had asked Ha-Jin for
help. Ha-Jin had discovered this by investigating the
Emperor’s close aides.
“So what should I have done? I love you. I couldn’t have you
any other way… It’s all in the past. Can’t you forgive me?”
The phrase “couldn’t have you” made Ha-Jin let out a dry
laugh, and just like that, the engagement was over. He warned
her never to come back.
As soon as the engagement was off, Ha-Jin got rid of the
limited edition car from Blonid Company he owned. He
bought a new purple car from another company instead.

‘But why the hell do I still have to face Ronile?’

The situation was exhausting even for him.
“I can’t forget you. It’s driving me insane. I search your name
several times a day, and just looking at your pictures makes
me happy… Can’t you do something about this?”
Her slender arm wrapped around his neck. Ha-Jin shut his eyes
tight. He was fed up. Why couldn’t she take a hint? He’d made
it clear several times.
This woman had once again intruded on his space. Anger
flickered. He looked down at her with a suppressive glare and
asked what she wanted.
“Say it straight. Did you come here for sex?”
Ronile’s long eyelashes trembled. She turned her head and bit
her lip, swallowing her words. Ha-Jin gripped her chin harshly
and made her look at him.
“Does your grandfather know? That his only granddaughter is
acting like this?”
“No, Ha-Jin… I…”
“I’m not your fucking dildo. Take the hint and fuck off.”
He deliberately spat out the insulting words in frustration.
Ronile was too damn persistent. She wouldn’t understand
unless he put it this way.
Her head shook.
“It’s not like that. You know how much I love you… Can’t we
just get engaged again? I’ll do better… I won’t bother you
anymore. Please?”
Ha.
Letting out a short sigh, he tilted his head back, revealing his
prominent Adam’s apple. Ha-Jin rolled his eyes up towards the
ceiling. His bloodshot eyes looked on the verge of tears.
He didn’t know how much more he had to put up with this.
He had no significant memory of mixing bodies with Ronile a
few years ago. It was so long ago he didn’t even remember.
Ha-Jin, lowering his head again, grabbed her by the necktie
and shoved her against the wall. Ronile let out a painful moan
but didn’t push him away.
“Leave gracefully, and don’t come back.”
This was Ha-Jin’s last chance for her. He didn’t want to deal
with her anymore. As he tried to pull away, she grabbed his
arm and kissed him. His nape ached.
Ha-Jin roughly pushed her away.
Looking down at her face, he smirked.
“You’re out of your mind.”
“Ha-Jin…”
“If I had given you any leeway, you’d have taken advantage of
it. You know better than anyone else, don’t you?”
He held back his anger with superhuman patience. If this
continued, he might really do something. Without realising it,
he might erase Ronile from the world.
With his fists clenched tightly, Ha-Jin spat out his words.
“If you invade my space again, I’ll rip that pretty face of yours
apart, Ronile. Understand?”
Ronile, who was about to approach him again, flinched. This
was the first time someone had been so stubbornly persistent
and annoying. Most people would have run away out of fear.
Ha-Jin spoke in a low, calm voice.
“Answer me.”
“…Are we really over? Is it really the end?”
 Chapter 1. Part 23 [PG-18]
Her branch-like hand grabbed his arm. Even that touch was
unpleasant. Ha-Jin’s face twisted. He couldn’t understand how
imposing her emotions on him could be considered love.
Ha-Jin, laughing in disbelief, shook her hand off and sighed.
“End? Did we ever really start?”
She kept trying to get closer. Tae Ha-Jin, with his expression
turning cold, leaned back. He had no intention of kissing
Ronile. He grabbed her by the sleeve and dragged her to the
front door.
“Get out.”
“Ha-Jin…”
“It’ll be best if you don’t test me.”
He meant it. Ha-Jin felt like his patience and humanity were
being tested. Things he’d discarded a long time ago.
And he asked her, almost pleadingly.
Please, let’s not see each other again.
Bang!
He opened the door and kicked her out. Ha-Jin immediately
called Doberman.
—Yes, esper. It’s Doberman.
“Sell the villa.”
—Which villa are you talking about? There are quite a few.
“The one I’m staying in.”
—Ah. But you kept that penthouse as an investment, didn’t
you? It would be better to hold onto it.
“Ronile barged in.”
—Oh dear. She did it again.
Doberman clicked his tongue. Ha-Jin said it didn’t matter and
told him to sell the villa. Entering the villa’s living room, Ha-
Jin shut his eyes in disgust.

He didn’t want to set foot in it. But the urge to wash away any
trace of Ronile’s touch was stronger.
As he stepped into the bathroom and washed, the stifling
feeling began to lift.
Standing blankly under the cold water, he couldn’t help but
think of Lee Yeon.
Why now, of all times?
There were moments like this often. Moments when thoughts
of her would suddenly come up, making him feel odd.
Just a moment ago, the conversation between a man and a
woman echoed in his ears.
—You look pretty today.
—I don’t know when we’ll get to date, Yeon.
What a load of crap.
Ha-Jin roughly swept back his wet hair. Water dripped down
his muscles.
Lee Yeon’s face seemed to draw itself in the air.
It was starting again. The flow of thoughts heading in a
strange direction.
He thought absentmindedly, mixing irritation with exhaustion.
How did Lee Yeon look when aroused?
He had lean, well-defined muscles with no excess fat. His
appearance was innocent, as if he didn’t know what desire
was, but there was something about his pure beauty that made
you want to defile it. He remembered the moment he
masturbated in front of him.
The way he didn’t know what to do and avoided looking,
swallowing nervously when forced to watch, the subtle
excitement within.
His buttocks were white and smooth, making you want to suck
on them. How he resisted the urge to stick his cock in that hole
was still a mystery.
He was curious.
What would Lee Yeon’s insides feel like?
Imagining him groaning and panting, Ha-Jin’s body heated up.
He could almost hear the restrained moans of a man.
“Ha.”
Ha-Jin grabbed his big cock with his large hand. It was already
rock hard, demanding relief. He stroked it like a man
possessed by lust. Veins bulged on his arms and hands.
The sound of wet slaps echoed in the bathroom.
There was no guilt. Lee Yeon could be screwing that damn
doctor somewhere, for all he knew.
Feeling his hand move faster, he closed his eyes. In his mind,
he was penetrating Lee Yeon. He couldn’t believe how
aroused he was. The excitement numbed his whole body.
In his imagination, he tried all sorts of positions and spouted
all sorts of obscene words. He could see Lee Yeon convulsing
and bending his waist.
“Fuck…”
The urge to come surged. Ha-Jin bent slightly forward,
stroking his cock faster. Soon, thick, opaque semen spurted out
from his massive dick.
In the midst of everything, he imagined ejaculating on Lee
Yeon’s face. Kneeling in the bathroom, helping him jerk off,
Yeon had been unbelievably provocative at that moment.
He’d never expected such a proper man to give him that kind
of help.
Ssshhh.
The cold water pouring down felt like it was waking him up,
but it wasn’t enough. Ha-Jin looked down incredulously at his
own arousal. He was simply driven by desire and instinct.
Squelch, squelch!
He thought of Yeon again.
This time, he wondered what humiliating position Yeon would
be in his imagination. The acts he exchanged with that guide
were supposed to be dull in Ha-Jin’s sex life. They hadn’t even
had penetrative sex, and Ha-Jin had been as gentle as possible
while receiving the guiding.
It should’ve just been a lukewarm glass of water.
So why did such a minor thing stir his core this much?
‘Fucking Yeon.’
These fantasies weren’t just because of his alluring face.
Today, again, Yeon had crossed the line first, declaring he’d
quit. So Ha-Jin had pinned him down. Yeon had writhed in
pain.
For a split second, it felt like Yeon had glimpsed into his
Vessel. But he had no time to question it, plagued by
bewilderment.
The necessity to keep him alive had gripped Ha-Jin’s mind.
The revenge, which he thought would be satisfying, only
birthed discomfort, leading Ha-Jin into a complex state of
mind.
He furrowed his brows in distress. An inexplicable self-
loathing surged within him. Yet, Ha-Jin still stroked himself.
He didn’t want to know why Yeon kept popping into his mind.

***

It was a special day.

Esper Tae Ha-Jin had submitted a leave request. The guy who
worked every day now wanted time off, and everyone was
curious. But the joy was too overwhelming, and curiosity
quickly faded.
Doberman had also taken leave today. For once, there were no
doors opening and everything was quiet.
So Yeon could finally handle his delayed tasks.
“Who was I supposed to call again…?”
He had to repay a debt. Just a day after borrowing, he had to
settle the bill for the floating shoes absorbed in his left hand.
The scammer had asked for 50 gold, but Yeon had no intention
of paying that.
The scammer had mentioned someone to go to, but Yeon
couldn’t remember.
He called the admin office again.
“Yes, we were holding that request as you mentioned. Let’s
see, it says here, ‘Ask the newly assigned A+ grade esper
Dekal at the capital centre. He will lead you to me. Haha.’”
The staff kindly repeated the instruction. Yeon tilted his head.
An A+ grade esper, Dekal, wasn’t he a restoration esper?
Yeon’s eyes widened.
Dekal was supposed to treat Uibin next week. And now he
was supposed to meet him for this? Yeon called the number
Doberman had given him.
After several rings, a man’s voice answered.
“Yes.”
“Hello, this is A-grade guide Lee Yeon. How have you been?”
They had only met two days ago, but Yeon greeted him
formally. After a brief pause, Dekal spoke.
“Yes. What’s the matter?”
“Well… I’m a bit unsure myself. I got scammed into buying
some second-hand items. The scammer said to come to you for
guidance.”
“Yes. I will guide you.”
“You knew about this? Are you acquainted with the
scammer?”
“Yes. I was informed in advance. Can you meet now?”
“Right now?”
It was prompt. Yeon dressed neatly in chinos and a white shirt,
put a few gold coins and the floating shoes into his left hand,
and reluctantly took his father’s black card, just in case. He
had wanted to cut that card up many times, damn it.
They were to meet in the main building’s parking lot. The
appointed time was near, but Dekal was nowhere in sight. Had
he forgotten?
Then, with a whoosh, space twisted, and a transportation esper
and Dekal appeared from thin air.
Yeon bowed slightly in greeting.
“Oh, hello. You’re right on time.”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
“Where to? Is this person taking us?”
“Yes.”
Even to meet the scammer, Dekal used a transportation esper.
It seemed odd, but Yeon grabbed the esper’s arm, feeling his
body disintegrate and reassemble with a wave of nausea.
Yeon patted his chest and widened his eyes at the destination.
“Isn’t this… the Imperial Palace?”
Though the palace was in the capital, it was far from the
centre. It would take two hours by car. Yeon had never been
here before. The grandeur of medieval design fused with
modern architecture.
Expansive gardens, statues scattered around, paintings by
famous artists, and bustling palace staff.
“Follow me.”
Dekal walked through the palace as if it were his own home.
Yeon was awed by the scale of the buildings they passed.
Even the huge research building he had lived in as a child was
nothing compared to this. He gawked around like a tourist.
“He’s inside here.”
Following Dekal, they entered a grey building with a spiked
tower. They took a golden elevator to the third floor, but Dekal
offered no further explanation. Yeon didn’t ask either, as Dekal
was a third party.
Inside, a long, white marble dining table stretched out. Eating
here would feel burdensome.
“Oh, finally, you’re here!”
Clap, clap, clap. Applause filled with joy echoed.
Yeon turned towards the sound. There was no scammer, just a
dignified man with shining blonde hair and green eyes, sitting
with his legs crossed.
And beside him, Princess Elena Le Diaylen waved her fingers
in greeting.
Yeon’s gaze moved past them to another person. A muscular
back, shoulders, and arms. He knew instantly that it was Tae
Ha-Jin.
“Greetings to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of
Diaylen, and Her Royal Highness, the Princess.”
Hiding his surprise, Yeon bowed to the noble blood. He wasn’t
oblivious enough to miss that the scammer was the Crown
Prince.
‘Why on earth was the Crown Prince at a provincial site?’
Yeon clicked his tongue inwardly.
“Come and sit. I’ve been waiting for you for a very long
time.”
Yeon blinked at the Crown Prince. They were remarkably
similar in build and shape to the scammer. Having no interest
in the royal family, Yeon was just amazed they were both S-
grade. He finally understood the phrase ‘expensive blood.’
He also recalled mocking the Crown Prince about coming for
a sleepover.
‘I mean, who’d guess the Crown Prince would be disguised?’
It felt unfair.
No wonder he’d handed over high-end shoes so easily. But 50
gold was still a scam.
As Yeon started to walk over, he turned to Dekal.
“Thank you for bringing me. And for treating Uibin next
week. I owe you. Let me treat you to a meal sometime.”
“No need. I’ll be off now.”
Dekal bowed to Yeon and the royals before leaving. Entering
the dining room, Yeon pondered where to sit and chose a seat
next to Tae Ha-Jin. His solid scent wafted over.
Ha-Jin glanced at him with a peculiar look. It was a ‘why are
you here?’ kind of look.
“So, Guide Lee Yeon, you must be here because you’re
unhappy with the price I proposed?”
He had written, ‘If you’re unhappy with the amount.’ Yeon,
who had many grievances with the Crown Prince, nodded
firmly.
“Yes, those floating shoes are second-hand. It’s only right to
pay a fair price through depreciation. I doubt they cost even 10
gold originally, so 50 gold for a used pair is ridiculous, isn’t it?
Please adjust the price. If not, I’ll return the shoes and only
pay for a day’s rental.”
Prince Ricardo, who had been nodding vigorously at every
sentence, smiled brightly.
“You’re completely right, guide Yeon-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve accurately depreciated them and billed 50 gold. The
royal appraiser even evaluated them separately. If you wish, I
can show you the appraisal report.”
“…”
“I am the Crown Prince of Diaylen. Even if the original price
of those floating shoes was 10 gold, their value soars if
they’ve been worn by a crown prince. Isn’t that so?”
Yeon closed his mouth. If the shoes had indeed been worn by
the crown prince, they could easily fetch 50 gold at auction.
Royal possessions were highly prized.
But Yeon wasn’t fazed, just a bit taken aback.
“You’re right. If His Highness the Crown Prince wore them,
they certainly hold value. However, Your Highness, when you
lent me the shoes, I didn’t know they belonged to you. You
were disguised at the time. If I had known, I wouldn’t have
been so impudent as to borrow them. Also, I was in a position
where I had dedicated myself to the peace and stability of our
nation. I didn’t take the shoes out of personal greed or
purpose. Therefore, Your Highness, you should consider my
situation fairly.”
“Uh, hmm…”
“And value is relative. To some, shoes worn by Your Highness
might be worth a million gold. But to me, they’re just second-
hand items. So, unless you wish to debate the relativity of
value, it’s right to depreciate them based solely on their current
state. In conclusion, 50 gold is unfair. At best, 3 gold.”
Yeon held up three fingers.
A cold silence spread through the dining room. It wasn’t just
the four of them present. There were also Doman, the crown
prince’s chamberlain, the royal guards, and the dining room
maids.
Ricardo, sitting right in front of Yeon, was being bluntly told,
“You’re wrong, rethink it unless you want a debate,” which
was astonishing. Even though the authority of the royal family
wasn’t as absolute as in history.
Tae Ha-Jin, who had been quietly listening, chuckled. He had
just confirmed that his guide was fearless with everyone, not
just with him. Elena quietly laughed, anticipating Ricardo’s
reaction.
Ricardo, who had been slowly blinking and mulling over
Yeon’s words, burst into laughter. He kept slapping the marble
table.
“No, guide Yeon-ssi. Would I sell my conscience for a few
coins? Frankly, the price doesn’t matter. As you said, you were
serving the country at the time, so let’s consider the shoes a
gift. You don’t need to pay.”
“Then why call me here…”
“Ha-Jin, my esper, my brother, even Dion keeps talking about
you! I was curious. I just wanted you to be a bit surprised at
seeing me.”
Ricardo looked at Yeon with satisfaction. Ha-Jin frowned as
he drank his wine.
“Rubbish. When did I ever talk about Yeon-ssi so much?”
He spoke to the crown prince without formality. It wasn’t
surprising; Ha-Jin was someone who would. The crown prince
also seemed to have a tolerant nature.
‘Are they friends?’
Yeon, who had been silent, was speechless that this was the
issue. Ricardo shrugged.
“Ah, I received reports that you harassed guide Yeon-ssi a lot.
I must have misunderstood.”
“Mind your own business.”
“I know guide Yeon’s abilities well. How can I not be
interested? He’s the light and salt of this nation.”
Yeon looked suspiciously at Princess Elena. The look asked if
the crown prince also knew he was an S-grade guide. Elena
just smiled. It was a silent confirmation.
‘These royals, they have their ways…’
Surely, they had floating stones tied to their tongues. Yeon
suddenly turned to look at Ha-Jin’s neat profile.
“Esper-nim, what brings you here?”
Yeon wondered if it was some important business since he
took a day off. But Ha-Jin unexpectedly came to the royal
palace. He refilled his wine glass and answered.
“There’s a regular meeting.”
“Ah.”
He took a day off for a regular meeting. Yeon inwardly sighed,
picturing his vessel and the red sea. A poor life indeed.
Coming to work even on a day off.
Ricardo picked up an empty glass from the center and filled it
halfway with wine. He handed it to Yeon.
“I have something to say to you.”
“Please go ahead.”
“How about becoming a royal guide? Of course, you’ll
continue being Ha-Jin, esper’s exclusive guide. I assure you,
the benefits will be the best in the industry. How about it?”
It was straight to the point.
Yeon, who had been spinning the glass without drinking,
lowered his eyes and thought for a moment. Then he looked
directly at Ricardo. His clear voice filled the dining room.
“Thank you for the offer, but I must decline.”
The surprise wasn’t just Ricardo’s.
Elena and Ha-Jin also looked a bit taken aback.
It was understandable. Being a royal meant unmatched status,
incomparable salary, benefits, and public perception.
For any esper, the royal affiliation was the dream job.
But to Yeon, being royal was an unpleasant title. His father
had committed numerous atrocities under the royal banner. He
didn’t know the details, but his experiments always had
“sacrifices,” and the royals condoned these ruthless
experiments.
Becoming royal meant…
He couldn’t bear the guilt for the dead children. He didn’t
want to follow his father’s path.
Ricardo, now looking slightly perplexed, asked.
“Uh, may I ask why?”
“Sorry, but I can’t be entirely honest. I’m satisfied being with
the centre. Even without royal affiliation, I’ll still work for
Diaylen.”
In truth, he worked more for his life than for the country, but it
didn’t matter. Having said so, Ricardo, unable to insist further,
swallowed his words and drank his wine.
Ha-Jin watched Yeon, lost in thought.
‘Why?’
Yeon had royal backing. The Chief Justice described his
backer as the Emperor, but the Emperor didn’t interfere in
personal affairs. He handled bigger issues.
So Yeon must have another royal supporter.
Thus, Yeon should have gladly accepted becoming royal. His
supporter was royal.
Yet, he openly rejected it with distaste.
This contradiction puzzled Ha-Jin.
He couldn’t tell if Yeon was a friend or foe of the royal family.
“…So Dion was sent to the provinces. He grew up too
comfortably. The problem is he enjoys wandering around…
Hence, he arrogantly refused the position of knight
commander.”
An unexpected tea time continued. Ricardo chatted about
various topics, Elena responded casually, and Ha-Jin was
uninterested.
In the end, Yeon was Ricardo’s sole listener. Seeing Yeon
listen, Ricardo chattered away like a fish in water. A bit more
listening and he might spill state secrets.
Doman, the chamberlain who had been watching from afar,
approached Ricardo, flustered.
“Your Highness, it’s time to end the tea time.”
“What do you mean? I finally have a guide who listens to me.”
“But, at this moment, in the Crown Prince’s palace…”
The words were cut off. The speaker had arrived.
“Gathered here, are we?”
At the commanding voice, everyone turned to look. In a grand
yet neat uniform, standing tall, was the Emperor of Diaylen.
“Greeting the Sun of Diaylen.”
Everyone rose and greeted him. It was Yeon’s first time seeing
the Emperor, but the aura alone told him this was the nation’s
symbol. An A+-grade esper, he presumed, given the energy
radiating from him.
The Emperor, showing his palm, instructed them to sit and
moved to the head seat. Yeon wondered if he should stay
seated and was about to leave.
Then he locked eyes with the Emperor.
In the realm of royal etiquette, one shouldn’t hold eye contact
with the Imperial Family for too long. But Lee Yeon found it
impossible to look away as the Emperor himself bore into him
with an unyielding stare, just like he had with the Princess and
the Crown Prince.
“Hmm.”
The Emperor’s eyes gleamed as if he had discovered a rare
beast. Stroking his beard, his deep green eyes were filled with
Lee Yeon.
“Are you guide Lee Yeon?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I’ve heard much about you. You are exactly as described.”
What stories had been told about him, and to whom? All he
had said to the Emperor was that single answer. There was no
way he could judge him from that alone. The comment seemed
to refer to his appearance.
‘Does he know me?’
Lee Yeon pondered deeply. As he lowered his gaze, a familiar,
foul stench hit his nose, making his eyes widen. His heart
pounded violently, and his hands tingled. He heard footsteps
echoing from the dining room.
Every sharpened sense screamed at him to run.
Please let it be a mistake.
“Sorry I’m late. I had to visit the bathroom.”
A middle-aged man entered with a polite bow. The Emperor
raised a hand in acknowledgment.
“It’s fine, take a seat. We’ll hold today’s regular meeting
here.”
At the Emperor’s gesture, his chief attendant, Miller,
approached from afar.
“I’ll summon the elders.”
Miller expertly manipulated his watch, suggesting this
impromptu change of venue was not uncommon. Moments
later, over ten transportation espers materialised in the dining
room of the Crown Prince’s Palace, all dressed in robes
indicating their service to the royal family.
After receiving Miller’s instructions, they disappeared again,
likely to fetch the elders. Amidst the rapid turn of events, Lee
Yeon struggled to focus. He felt a familiar, dreaded presence
close by.
‘Fuck… meeting him here?’
Lee Yeon swallowed dryly. His clenched fists drove his nails
into his palms. His heart threatened to leap out of his chest. He
wanted to bolt. The presence of that man was more suffocating
than the Emperor’s.
It can’t be. Surely not.
Hoping to dispel his fears, he looked up. Their eyes met
instantly.
…Lee Hong-Jun.
His father.
“…….”
Lee Hong-Jun’s eyes swept over the table before his brows
lifted briefly. He seemed equally surprised to see Lee Yeon
there.
Despite three members of the royal family and an S-grade
esper sitting nearby, Lee Hong-Jun walked straight to Lee
Yeon. His steps were measured and faultless, his well-tailored
suit replacing his usual white lab coat, showcasing his
meticulous nature. He stopped in front of Lee Yeon, who stood
up, pushing his chair back.
At sixteen, Lee Yeon had been shorter when he ran away. Now
at twenty-five, he towered over his father. Nine years had
added wrinkles and grey hair to Lee Hong-Jun, but his straight
posture and proud gaze remained unchanged.
“It’s been a while.”
Lee Yeon hadn’t expected such a blatant acknowledgment. He
had deliberately kept his father’s identity hidden, certain that
Hong-Jun’s thorough nature wouldn’t publicly claim a mere
B-grade guide as his son.
He never revealed anything that could tarnish his reputation.
Lee Yeon, equally embarrassed by his father, had imagined
they would pass each other like strangers if they ever met. But
now, Hong-Jun was revealing himself.
He wouldn’t actually call him his son, would he?
He wasn’t that straightforward.
And yet.
“Your Majesty. Allow me to introduce him. This is my son.”
…What?
Lee Yeon stared at Hong-Jun in disbelief.
This shouldn’t be happening.
 Chapter 2. Part 1
Lee Yeon didn’t want to keep his mouth shut.
Was he really going to treat him like a son now that he was an
A0-grade guide and Tae Ha-Jin’s exclusive? It was ridiculous.
Not for a single moment had he ever wanted to be his son.
Since leaving his adolescence, he had been financially
independent, standing on his own to become the person he was
today.
So how dare that piece of shit introduce him as his son?
“I thought so. He looks just like his mother.”
The Emperor watched the scene with a hearty grin, clearly
enjoying the spectacle. At the sudden mention of his deceased
mother, Yeon clamped his mouth shut.
What the hell was he thinking? He had neglected him all these
years, so he should continue doing so.
That monstrous man could decide to use him as the next
experiment subject any day. That was why he had been
running for years.
Elena and Ricardo also looked bewildered, glancing between
Yeon and Lee Hong-Jun. As Yeon turned his gaze, he met Tae
Ha-Jin’s eyes.
He had a look Yeon had never seen before. Confusion, or
perhaps a deep understanding of something, as if he were
piecing together a puzzle.
‘So he didn’t know I was Lee Hong-Jun’s son.’
Yeon had assumed Tae Ha-Jin would have known. But it
seemed he didn’t. Tae Ha-Jin’s tense expression kept drawing
his attention.
What was he thinking?
Was he disappointed?
‘Because I’m Lee Hong-Jun’s blood?’
Yeon felt a pang of unease.
Looking at Tae Ha-Jin, he spoke to the Emperor.
“But we have been estranged for a long time. There is no bond
that would warrant calling us father and son. So, I would like
to refrain from being associated with Director Lee Hong-Jun
in any situation, Your Majesty.”
It was as much a statement to Tae Ha-Jin as it was to the
Emperor. He hoped Tae Ha-Jin would believe him. He had
never sought Tae Ha-Jin’s trust, but he didn’t want to see that
unreadable expression anymore.
For a brief moment, Tae Ha-Jin’s red eyes wavered.
Only then did Yeon look away from him and back at Lee
Hong-Jun. Even being publicly disowned by his son didn’t
seem to faze him. His eyes, as cold and indifferent as ever,
scanned Yeon as if he were an experiment subject.
“Oh dear, my son seems to still be angry. He ran away from
home, you see. Please overlook his rudeness, for he is a
sensitive child.”
With that, Lee Hong-Jun brushed past Yeon and took a seat.
The Emperor, watching the father and son, had no intention of
intervening. On the contrary, he seemed quite pleased. Though
Lee Hong-Jun was an A-grade esper, his intellect surpassed
even the S-grade. There wasn’t a corner of Diaylen that hadn’t
felt his touch.
Even as the royal family’s authority waned, Lee Hong-Jun’s
mere presence helped bolster their standing.
The Emperor found the father-son pair to be beneficial.
The father was the world’s greatest researcher.
The son was Tae Ha-Jin’s exclusive A0-grade guide.
What a splendid sight.
The Emperor chuckled lightly, drawing the situation to a close.
“Since this is a family matter, I won’t interfere. But today, we
have gathered some remarkable talents here. This is why I
enjoy our regular meetings. They are a feast for the eyes and
ears.”
Among those present were three officially recognised S-
grades, Yeon, who was effectively an S-grade, the world’s
greatest mind as the research director, and the Emperor
himself. Anyone would be eager to have even a single hair
present in this room.
It was practically the centre of the nation.
Lee Hong-Jun, sitting quietly, stared intently at Tae Ha-Jin,
who met his gaze calmly. A cold tension hung between them.
‘What the hell?’
It was far from a pleasant atmosphere. They seemed to face off
like this at every meeting. So Tae Ha-Jin must be well aware
of Lee Hong-Jun’s despicable nature.
Yeon felt uneasy.
People often judged others based on their parents. The thought
of Tae Ha-Jin seeing him and thinking of Lee Hong-Jun raised
his blood pressure.
Suddenly, a bright light filled one side of the spacious dining
room. The transportation espers had brought the elders all at
once. Their ages varied. Some looked quite young, others very
old. On average, they were middle-aged.
The Elder Council Leader, busy as the head of government,
didn’t attend the meetings. He received reports from the elders
about the proceedings.
Thus, the Emperor was effectively the leader of the meetings.
Those in white uniforms stood straight and bowed to the
Emperor.
“We greet the sun of Diaylen.”
They then greeted the Crown Prince and Princess before
finding seats. Yeon felt a bit overwhelmed. The sudden change
of meeting venue seemed so natural. Anyone would think the
dining room was always meant for meetings.
‘Damn it… This isn’t where I belong.’
He had no idea how to get out of here. Tae Ha-Jin continued to
stare silently at Lee Hong-Jun, and the others waited in rigid
postures for the Emperor to speak.
In this state, saying, “I’m leaving now,” would be…
“Ah, I heard there’s an extraordinary talent hidden here,
Elena.”
All eyes turned to the princess. She looked uncomfortable, her
green eyes darting around like summer leaves, briefly settling
on Yeon.
Yeon bit his lip.
He recalled a journalist’s question when he was leaving the
subway recently.
— Princess Elena of Diaylen mentioned that Tae Ha-Jin is
hiding a valuable asset. Can you tell us who that is?
At the time, he had brushed it off as a common rumour, even
though it made him uneasy. He had thought it would die down
if the subject remained silent, and he hadn’t expected the
princess to be so reckless.
But had it reached the Emperor’s ears?
The issue was whether the princess had directly reported it to
the Emperor, or if the Emperor had heard it in passing.
If it were the former, Yeon wouldn’t forgive the princess. He
had believed she would keep her mouth shut, so he had
reluctantly accepted the situation. But if she had leaked it to
the media and the royal family, Yeon would be furious.
No matter how much of a princess she was, she shouldn’t so
easily betray a shallow trust.
The silent Elena couldn’t avoid the Emperor’s gaze as she
replied.
“I never said they were here, Your Majesty.”
So she had spoken directly to him.
Yeon had no high expectations for the princess, but this really
killed any remaining affection. He looked at her with a frosty
expression. Elena couldn’t meet his eyes. Judging by her
reaction, she hadn’t expected the Emperor to bring it up so
openly.
At least she had the decency not to mention Yeon’s S-grade
ability. She probably just said, “There’s a new genius.”
But this wasn’t right.
“That’s strange. It doesn’t match what I heard, Elena.”
The Emperor’s tone was sly. He squinted at the people around
him, especially Yeon. Lee Hong-Jun’s eyes were also fixed on
Yeon.
If it was revealed here that he was an S-grade guide, his father
would take an interest in him again. Realising the value of a
son he thought useless, he might drag him back to the lab for
various experiments.
Even if he managed to hide his dual bloodline, if he got caught
by his father, that too would be discovered. His lab had all
sorts of machines.
‘Hah… No way.’
He had hidden it for ten years since it manifested at fifteen. He
had concealed it to avoid being experimented on like his
mother or abandoned like that child.
Would it all end in a moment?
All his efforts?
“Someone answer me. In what way is this genius
extraordinary?”
There was no way to change the subject. The Emperor wanted
a precise answer. No one here was foolish enough to override
the Emperor’s topic.
Nor could they falsely praise someone else as the genius. The
people here were already counted among the few geniuses and
well-bred individuals. The Emperor wanted to know about the
hidden genius, ‘Lee Yeon,’ the son of the research director.
In the silence of the dining room, it was none other than Tae
Ha-Jin who spoke.
The man, who hadn’t touched his tea all this time, finally
opened his mouth.
“It seems that a genius refers to one’s personal guide.”
Even in the presence of the Emperor, he stood tall. His back
rested against the chair, but it was evident to anyone that he
wasn’t intimidated. With his characteristic lazy gaze, he met
the Emperor’s eyes, causing the Emperor to light up.
“Hoho, this is quite a surprise. The esper Tae Ha-Jin himself is
speaking up.”
It seemed even the Emperor found Tae Ha-Jin to be a difficult
man, which explained his respectful tone.
“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”
“So, what exactly about the guide Yeon makes him a genius?”
Yeon looked at Tae Ha-Jin with a gaze that seemed to say,
‘Surely you’re not going to reveal they’re an S-grade guide,
are you?’ Especially not in front of Lee Hong-Jun.
That bastard had often attacked Yeon, harassed him, and even
confessed his annoyance just days ago. To make Yeon’s life
more difficult, all he needed to do was reveal the S-grade
bombshell here. Yeon’s heart sank.
Then, Tae Ha-Jin replied,
“The guide Yeon possesses a special ability beyond guiding.”
“A special ability?”
Yeon, half resigned, swallowed his frustration and took a sip
of his now cold tea.
“Yes, he can read the Vessel of others.”
…Read what?
Everyone’s eyes turned to Tae Ha-Jin, including the Emperor,
who cocked his head with mild curiosity.
“And what’s so special about that? Abnormal types can
inherently see the Vessel of others.”
It was true. If one knew the method and possessed strong
enough power, anyone could glimpse into another’s Vessel.
Despite the Emperor’s unimpressed reaction, Tae Ha-Jin
smiled charismatically.
“He read my Vessel. The guide Yeon.”
“…What did you say?”
The previously indifferent Emperor raised an eyebrow. Tae
Ha-Jin’s Vessel?
“For someone only graded A0 to read my Vessel, as you know,
is a very special case. No one has ever read it.”
Tae Ha-Jin glanced at the Emperor with a smile, as if asking,
‘Isn’t that so?’
Long ago, the Emperor had ordered S-grade abnormal types
Elena and Dion to uncover the nature of Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel.
Knowing a person’s Vessel meant understanding their potential
and where to strike to break it, which was invaluable for
finding weaknesses.
But years ago, even before Tae Ha-Jin made his name, neither
Dion nor Elena could peer into his Vessel. All they achieved
was incurring Tae Ha-Jin’s wrath.
Eventually, the Emperor had given up. Provoking a national-
level individual was a risk not worth taking.
Yet now, someone had seen it?
It was an enticing story.
Tae Ha-Jin loosened his tie a bit and continued.
“The guide Yeon can read the Vessel of higher-grade abnormal
types than themselves.”
Anyone’s Vessel.
The elder members, who had been silently observing, began to
murmur, questioning whether such a thing was possible and
the truth of Tae Ha-Jin’s claim.
Yeon’s hazel eyes flickered with confusion.
‘What…?’
Tae Ha-Jin had just protected him. By lying that his A0-grade
self could read higher-grade Vessels, he’d averted the
revelation of Yeon’s S-grade status. He’d given up an
appetizer to protect the main course.
Elena, who had been sitting with the posture of a princess,
blinked slowly and stared at Tae Ha-Jin.
‘Why would you…?’
Tae Ha-Jin was known for watching others’ lives fall apart
without interference. Direct involvement or protection, like
this, was unprecedented. If someone under his protection faced
trouble, Tae Ha-Jin would simply remove them before they
could be compromised.
This was very unlike him.
For Elena, informing the Emperor was just part of the game.
Though a princess, she was also a potential usurper of the
throne. Sharing valuable information to attract the Emperor’s
attention was sometimes necessary.
She had not mentioned that Yeon’s guide was an S+ grade, a
card that could cause significant upheaval when revealed. No
fool would overlook the rarity of an S-grade guide.
She’d only mentioned that a new talent had appeared and was
Tae Ha-Jin’s exclusive guide.
Unfortunately, once the Emperor learned that Yeon was the
son of Lee Hong-Jun, the head of the research institute, he
seemed eager to expose why this individual was a talent, to
elevate his own authority.
Elena found herself in an awkward position, suddenly
appearing unfaithful for spilling secrets.
Living with utmost regard for her safety and survival, she’d
learned to prioritise her own wellbeing. She felt sorry for
Yeon, but she had to act before her brother could inform their
father.
Given how things had unfolded, she thought Yeon’s S+ grade
status would inevitably be revealed.
Yet Tae Ha-Jin had blocked that revelation.
It was very unlike him.
Elena also wondered if Yeon had genuinely read Tae Ha-Jin’s
Vessel.
‘Does one have to be S+ grade to read Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel?’
Both she and Dion were S0 grades.
‘I wonder what Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel looks like.’
The Emperor’s voice, trying to conceal his excitement, echoed
in the dining room.
“Is that true?”
The Emperor’s interest shifted to Yeon. Clenching and
unclenching his nervous hands, Yeon thought calmly. The only
condition he’d set for becoming Tae Ha-Jin’s exclusive guide
was simple.
To protect him.
From threats, and everything else.
Tae Ha-Jin was merely fulfilling his promise.
Overcomplicating things would be pointless.
Yeon, shaking off his sudden feelings, looked directly at the
Emperor and replied without flinching.
“It’s true.”
“Hoho, really?”
“I only discovered it recently myself. It happened accidentally
while guiding Tae Ha-Jin the esper.”
“Aha… a remarkable thing indeed. I’m very curious to know
if it’s true.”
The Emperor, keen to learn the nature of Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel,
was almost itching to grab him by the collar and shake the
truth out. But with Tae Ha-Jin sitting right there, even the
Emperor found it difficult. Tae Ha-Jin sometimes acted as if
there were no tomorrow.
Yet, he couldn’t simply accept without proof that the son of
Lee Hong-Jun possessed such a talent. Stroking his chin in
contemplation, the Emperor listened as Tae Ha-Jin spoke
leisurely.
“There are two S-grade individuals here besides myself.
Considering the hierarchy, wouldn’t it be appropriate for Her
Highness the Princess to have her Vessel read?”
What?
Elena frowned deeply. Whatever amused Ricardo, he was
suppressing laughter with pursed lips.
“Hmm. That does seem like a good idea. If you are able to
read the Vessel of S0-grade princess, you’ll prove your talent.”
“Father!”
Elena, rising abruptly, protested to the Emperor. She had
always addressed him formally, but now she called him father,
signalling her genuine displeasure.
The Crown Prince Ricardo, arms crossed, watched with a
faint, inscrutable smile. Elena was annoyed with her brother,
her father, and Tae Ha-Jin.
“You know how crucial a Vessel is to an abnormal type. Why
must I expose my Vessel to prove Yeon’s abilities?”
Moreover, she was a princess. There was no need, reason, or
value in revealing her Vessel in front of many. This was an
affront to her position.
Then, a cold scoff came from across the table.
“Weren’t you the one who brought it up first?”
It was Tae Ha-Jin.
Sipping from his now cold cup, Tae Ha-Jin looked up at Elena
with red eyes that seemed to say, ‘Stop making a fuss.’
Elena bit her lower lip hard, aware of the eyes on her. Some
elders who supported her were watching with uneasy
expressions.
Lee Yeon, genius Lee Yeon. She was the one who mentioned
the genius, and it was Tae Ha-Jin who stopped the situation
from revealing Yeon’s secret. In this situation, there was no
more reason to refuse.
As she sat silently with her mouth shut, the emperor gestured.
It was a signal to stand up and prove herself.
“But, Yeoni.”
Yeon, who was pushing back his chair to stand, froze at the
chilling voice calling him. Lee Hong-Jun, who had been silent,
suddenly spoke up.
‘Yeoni? Really?’
His father had never called him Yeoni before. He couldn’t
even remember if he had ever used his name. Yeon’s
expression turned icy.
Lee Hong-Jun scanned his son’s body with his uniquely
observant eyes. Then he tilted his head slightly.
“I heard you reawakened to A0-grade. Esper Tae Ha-Jin
mentioned that you possess a special talent that allowed you to
read his Vessel, but theoretically, that’s impossible, isn’t it?”
Even in front of the royal family, he spoke out like this. That
was the kind of stature Lee Hong-Jun held in the country.
Magic stones, abnormal types, detectors, advanced machinery,
recognition devices… there wasn’t a single thing that hadn’t
passed through Lee Hong-Jun’s hands. At the very least, he
inspected everything. He was a man considered a benchmark
of civilization’s evolution.
He propped his chin on the table and faced Yeon with empty
eyes. His voice, devoid of emotion, continued as if reporting
research results.
“Reading someone’s Vessel means, in other words, that you
temporarily overcame their aura. Battles between auras are
determined solely by the confrontation and superiority of
grades. It’s not something that can be resolved with an
uncertain term like ‘talent.’ Do you truly believe that talent
can overcome an inherently superior grade? Do you?”
Lee Hong-Jun was pointing out the inconsistency. If you’re an
A0-grade, you could never see the Vessel of an S+-grade like
Tae Ha-Jin. Give a convincing reason instead of a vague
explanation about talent.
Are you really an A0-grade? Or are you hiding something?
Yeon understood the underlying message. He bit the inside of
his mouth so hard he tasted bitter blood.
“What kind of answer do you want, Director?”
 Chapter 2. Part 2
“I’m not interested in your opinion.”
Yeon knew. He knew that his dual bloodline didn’t just fall
from the sky. That his research-obsessed father hadn’t married
any random woman just to have him. His late mother was a
distant descendant of the last dual bloodline holder, who died
400 years ago at the age of 30. The lineage had thinned with
new genetic combinations, leaving only traces in his mother’s
generation.
His father, who was deeply interested in dual bloodlines, had
found this descendant and fallen in love with her during his
process of turning her into a test subject. It was the only
mistake in Lee Hong-Jun’s life. He couldn’t abandon his
research even if he loved her. Dual bloodline descendants,
even if born as ordinary people, rarely lived out an average
lifespan. Hence, under the pretext of extending his wife’s life,
he conducted numerous experiments on her while she was
pregnant. His wife cooperated as long as it didn’t harm the
unborn child.
In fact, Lee Hong-Jun’s experiments were more about
maximizing the genetic potential than extending his wife’s life.
He aimed for the dual bloodline genes to take strong root in
the unborn child.
But the experiment was too long-term. Only after the child
was born and awakened could he determine if the experiment
to maximize the genetics had succeeded.
The son born after numerous sacrifices and repeated
experiments was the spitting image of his mother. There
wasn’t a trace of Lee Hong-Jun’s face in him. In this, Lee
Hong-Jun felt joy. It was clear that his wife’s genes were
strongly inherited.
Moreover, Lee Hong-Jun successfully prolonged his wife’s
life, though it was fraught with many bloody sacrifices.
Everything seemed smooth.
Yet, his wife committed suicide when their son was twelve.
She could have lived to 100 if she stayed still, but she chose to
die. Thus, Lee Hong-Jun lost the prime test subject of his life-
extension experiment. He couldn’t verify if the experiment
was successful. Still, his wife’s maximized genetics remained
beside him.
Lee Yeon. A child so beautiful it was hard to believe he was
his son. He placed high expectations on the boy. He had done
his best to ensure that the child, while still in the womb, would
exhibit at least S-grade abnormalities. He had collected as
much “expensive abnormal blood” lying around the royal
family as possible, extracted the genes, and infused them into
the fetus. He reviewed it thousands of times to avoid any
mutational side effects.
So, even if you aren’t a dual bloodline holder, you should have
at least a 5th-grade abnormality. Only then could the
experiment be considered successful.
But when his fifteen-year-old son awakened as a B0-grade
guide, Lee Hong-Jun realized his research was a colossal
failure.
It was his first failure to yield results proportional to his
investment. The wife he had uniquely loved in his life was
sacrificed for this research. Yet the outcome was a B0-grade
guide.
A successful researcher ignores his failures. To Lee Hong-Jun,
his son was a failed experiment, someone to be ignored. Even
though he neglected him, he didn’t withhold education or
financial support, solely due to his wife’s will.
Her will was short. Every sentence urged not to harm their son
and to treat him with minimum decency. Not a single part of
the will mentioned Lee Hong-Jun.
When he learned his son had run away, Lee Hong-Jun hoped
he would freeze to death in the cold winter. If that happened,
he could dispose of his failure without feeling guilty towards
his wife.
But his son survived on his own and appeared here in the
capital after nine years. And Lee Hong-Jun had explained this
gruesome story countless times to Yeon during his childhood.
Why he neglected him. Why his mother committed suicide.
How remarkable his genes were. What experiments he would
be put through if he awakened as a dual bloodline holder…
Yeon was terrified of his father’s emotionless eyes. So on the
day of his manifestation, in the early dawn when his father
was sleeping, the day he confirmed his dual bloodline, Yeon
decided to deceive his father and the world. He chose to leave
home rather than live as his father’s test subject.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
In the frozen dining room, Lee Hong-Jun asked. His attitude
showed he didn’t care about others’ gazes. People were highly
interested in the conversation between father and son. Some
elders looked at Yeon, who was said to be Lee Hong-Jun’s
son, with amazement.
A youth with an angelic face, looking nothing like Lee Hong-
Jun.
Yeon walked around the table and leaned down to whisper in
his father’s ear.
“Don’t doubt my A0-grade abnormality. Otherwise, it means
your abnormality detector is rubbish. But it seems my aura is
special. Maybe it’s the power of my genes, but even though
I’m only A0-grade, I could read Esper Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel.
You always said my genes were extraordinary and precious,
right? So this kind of variable should be possible, shouldn’t
it?”
Lee Hong-Jun’s expression hardened. Such uncertain
situations and variables were what he despised. Yet, the
researcher’s heart betrayed his disdain, beating wildly.
If his son, with his A0-grade abnormality, indeed read the S+-
grade Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel, and then even read the Vessel of the
princess…
Wouldn’t that mean his genetic maximization experiment was
a success?
“Let’s do it.”
Yeon approached the princess, who had a displeased face. He
placed his hand on her shoulder. He closed his eyes and sent
his aura flowing through. Soon, the mist cleared, revealing the
princess’s Vessel.
It was a vast lake, with serene blue waves gently rippling. The
Vessel was large and sturdy. It wouldn’t break easily with any
impact. The water volume was also substantial. Truly an S-
grade Vessel.
The only pity was that the water wasn’t completely clean.
“……”
“How is it? Can you see it?”
Yeon took his time, waiting until the emperor pressed him to
explain the princess’s Vessel.
“It’s a massive caldera-like lake from the high Hart
Mountains. The strength is excellent, and the lake is three-
quarters full of water. However, the water isn’t completely
clear, so in terms of water quality, it’s second grade.”
He removed his hand from her shoulder. Elena gripped her
dress tightly, her hand trembling slightly. The emperor
clapped, praising Yeon’s ability. Already aware of the nature
of the princess’s Vessel, the emperor was confident Yeon had
accurately read it.
“Indeed… it’s astonishing. There’s no genius like you, just as
the princess said. As expected, the son of Research Director
Lee Hong-Jun is something else! Ha ha ha!”
Lee Hong-Jun, whose expression had also softened, felt
somewhat satisfied. He concluded that his experiment was at
least half successful.
Thud.
“I’ll excuse myself first, Your Majesty. I’m sorry, but could I
pass my voting rights to Elder Jo Il-Ran? Would that be
okay?”
She was expressing her intention to leave the meeting. The
emperor, though a bit reluctant, looked at his daughter. He
reluctantly waved his hand, signaling her to go.
Elena, bowing gracefully, passed by Yeon with her eyes
lowered. The sound of her high heels echoed as she left the
dining room.
“Today’s rambling has been long enough. Now that the
verification is done, let’s proceed with the meeting.”
The emperor announced the start of the main session. With the
appearance of the research centre director’s son, the previously
aimless meeting now flowed smoothly. Yeon still couldn’t
understand why he was still here, forcing himself to listen to
the proceedings. It was an utter waste of time.
‘Why is no one telling me to leave?’
It was maddening.
The topics discussed were all national-scale issues: the
abnormal frequency of door occurrences, improvements to the
capital centre, the economic conditions of neighbouring
countries, the progress of the trade port construction,
additional uses for the magic stones… But the most troubling
part was Tae Ha-Jin’s gaze. He sat opposite him, staring
intently with a gaze that was both unsettling and persistent.
Yeon couldn’t figure out why, but it made him uneasy.
‘Is he that upset because I’m the research centre director’s
son?’
Yet, hadn’t he helped him?
Yeon awkwardly averted his gaze.
The chaotic regular meeting finally drew to a close.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t the emperor but the crown prince who
led the meeting. Ricardo was unexpectedly a capable leader.
He’d always seemed like a good-for-nothing royal layabout.
Tae Ha-Jin, who rose faster than anyone else, adjusted his suit
and said, “I’ll head to the centre now.”
“Yes, you should. Continue to serve the nation well today,” the
emperor nodded without rebuking him for the discourtesy of
standing first. Even the elders accepted this sight as natural.
‘He must always leave first.’
No need to see to know. When a door burst open, he often had
to dash out of the meeting. Even if it wasn’t that, no one would
stop Tae Ha-Jin, who bore such heavy responsibilities.
“Are you not coming?” Tae Ha-Jin, half-turned, was looking at
him.
Yeon, who was standing dazedly, savouring the bitter reality,
snapped back to his senses. Now was the time to escape! After
bowing to the emperor and the crown prince, he hurriedly
followed Tae Ha-Jin. The crown prince watched Yeon’s back
intently until he and Tae Ha-Jin were completely gone from
the room.
Ricardo turned to the research centre director. “It seems you’re
greatly disliked.”
Smiling, Ricardo’s remark was met with a calm response from
Lee Hong-Jun. “It’s a common opportunity cost.”
“Indeed…” Ricardo sighed at the unsurprising answer. The
emperor, who was half-heartedly receiving the elders’
farewells, turned to look at Lee Hong-Jun with a curious gaze.
“Sometimes, I don’t understand,” the emperor said abruptly.
Normally, such a statement would cause great confusion, but
Lee Hong-Jun remained composed.
“What do you mean?”
“How can you and esper Tae Ha-Jin face each other so
calmly?”
Ricardo’s expression hardened at the emperor’s words. The
emperor was bringing up a fact everyone had kept silent about,
like an unwritten rule. Ricardo, about to intervene, stopped as
Lee Hong-Jun began to answer.
“I don’t understand what you mean by ‘calmly’.”
“Is there something you don’t know?”
“I dislike ambiguity.”
“Must I really spell it out?” The emperor, though dissatisfied,
couldn’t suppress his curiosity and continued. “I heard he was
your test subject. How can you two meet in the meetings like
it’s nothing?”
“That’s your question,” Lee Hong-Jun nodded silently, gazing
at the emperor with indifferent eyes. Somehow, he felt he
could hear the unspoken words behind the emperor’s question:
‘After undergoing your inhumane experiments, how can esper
Tae Ha-Jin act as if nothing happened?’
A faint smile played on Lee Hong-Jun’s lips. “It seems I no
longer scare him. He’s gained the ultimate power, after all.”
In truth, Lee Hong-Jun enjoyed the regular meetings. Though
coming to the imperial palace was a hassle, stealing time from
his research was a bother. However, the moment of the regular
meetings allowed him to see Tae Ha-Jin. The excellent test
subject who had once fled. Though it was a shame to let him
go, he had no choice but to release him. The undoubtedly
successful test subject.
Every time they met, Tae Ha-Jin showed fascinating
expressions and reactions: disgust, murderous intent, anger,
observation, mockery, contempt. Today’s reaction from Tae
Ha-Jin was equally intriguing. It seemed he didn’t know his
personal guide was Lee Hong-Jun’s son. The son’s identity
had been classified as a national secret, and the boy had left
home at sixteen, making him difficult to trace.
‘A fascinating existence.’
Whenever he returned to the research centre after a meeting,
he recorded the test subject’s reactions. Only two test subjects
had ever escaped from him, making their reactions precious
data.
Lost in these thoughts, the research centre director spoke
again. “Aren’t you curious, Your Majesty?”
“About what?”
“How I will die.”
Both the emperor and Ricardo frowned. The research centre
director was a genius but far from sane. He often brought up
such disturbing topics lightly.
“You two will outlive me, so if you ever witness my death,
please record it. Who killed me and how.”
The research centre director was laughing joyfully, certain he
would be murdered one day. “That will be my final
experiment.”
A shiver ran down Ricardo’s spine. The genius of Diaylen,
Lee Hong-Jun, was indeed a problematic man.

***

For some reason, Tae Ha-Jin did not use a transportation esper.
Following him, Yeon got into his sleek purple supercar,
stealing glances at Tae Ha-Jin’s grim expression.
The car safely exited the imperial palace. Only then did Yeon
feel his blood circulating and his breath returning. A quiet sigh
escaped him. They had been driving towards the centre for
over an hour, yet Tae Ha-Jin hadn’t spoken a word. He simply
stared straight ahead, gripping the wheel with one hand, an
arm draped over the car window, echoing his earlier stance.
‘It was unexpected.’
He had thought Tae Ha-Jin only knew how to order him
around but not how to protect him. Yet, Tae Ha-Jin had kept
his promise and even managed to upset the princess on his
behalf. It was only a transaction, but Yeon was honestly a bit
grateful. Escaping his father’s lifeless eyes was entirely thanks
to him.
Lee Yeon, who had been carefully watching, spoke softly.
“Thank you for today.”
Tae Ha-Jin, who had been staring straight ahead, only turned
his head slightly to glance at Yeon’s face before looking back
ahead, just before they almost got into a car accident. Silence
followed. Tae Ha-Jin, naturally a man of few words, didn’t
find the silence uncomfortable. It was perfect for gathering his
thoughts.
Breaking the stillness, Tae Ha-Jin’s deep voice cut through the
air.
“Do you have an older sister?”
An unexpected question. Two months of working together and
now he was asking? Yeon replied nonchalantly.
“I have a half-brother.”
He hadn’t seen the kid in nine years. Being a step-sibling and
the son of a horrible stepmother, he never liked him. His name
was Lee Cha-Hyun. He had a certain innocence, possibly
inherited from one of their parents. Well, he was only two
years old back then, so that was to be expected. Strongly
resembling his mother, the stepmother, Cha-Hyun was a
normal person without any abnormalities. He found this out
from an article about his stepmother, who was an actress.
“And where did you live when you were a child?”
Following his personal inquiries with housing questions. Tae
Ha-Jin must have learned recently that he was the research
director’s son. If so, it wouldn’t be hard to guess where he
grew up.
But since he was grateful to Tae Ha-Jin today, he decided to
answer kindly.
“Until I was twelve, I lived at the research facility in the Basen
region. Then my mother passed away, and I moved to the
central research facility in the capital to attend school.”
“…”
“When I was sixteen, I ran away from home. Not sure if you
noticed earlier, but my father is out of his mind. Honestly, he’s
a madman. I had planned to never see him again, but here we
are, meeting like this. It’s unfortunate.”
He hoped Tae Ha-Jin wouldn’t misunderstand. Anyone with
eyes could see Yeon wasn’t close to the research director. Still,
he didn’t want Tae Ha-Jin to involve the director in how he
ended up working in the capital or connected with Tae Ha-Jin.
If he suspected Yeon of being the director’s puppet, things
would get complicated. Because he was not. Yeon’d rather
handle his father directly, but decency kept him from doing so.
Leaning against the window, he watched the swiftly passing
scenery. The darkening view outside was invisible, replaced
by Tae Ha-Jin’s reflection as he drove. He found himself
staring blankly at him. It was like looking at a pleasant picture
repeatedly.
Tae Ha-Jin sighed deeply. His face twisted, as if something
was troubling him. Removing his arm from the window, he
rubbed his face repeatedly. His large hand grasped his jaw, and
Yeon could see his lips through his graceful fingers.
“How could something like this, bloody hell…”
He spat out the curse, looking incredibly troubled.
‘Is it really that shocking that I’m Lee Hong-Jun’s son?’
It was understandable, but Tae Ha-Jin was usually calm in
most situations. Yeon was puzzled but didn’t press the issue,
staying silent.
Then it happened. Tae Ha-Jin’s watch emitted a yellow
warning, flashing [Caution: Contamination Level Rising
Rapidly]. Yeon widened his eyes.
“What the… Are you alright?”
Sometimes, when an esper’s mind was severely shaken, their
Vessel could experience severe confusion and contamination.
Yeon looked at him, bewildered. What could have caused such
a mental shock? He grabbed Tae Ha-Jin’s hand tightly. The
watch quieted, displaying 63%. Yeon was dumbfounded. His
monstrous Vessel made the contamination progress at a
terrifying rate.
“Is this because I’m that man’s son? I didn’t want to be born
this way either.”
Yeon, slightly agitated, spoke with a hint of injustice. It felt
like Tae Ha-Jin was holding his hand tightly. Yeon couldn’t let
go, fearing he might go berserk.
Driving one-handed, Tae Ha-Jin looked thoughtful.
“I need guiding. Do you have time?”
We’re already guiding, you bastard.
Yeon anxiously checked his watch. Thankfully, the
contamination level wasn’t skyrocketing.
“My headache is severe, but I’m heading to the office. And
you, Yeon?”
“…”
Seriously, a headache?
Did he even have a choice?
“My headache is severe. But I need to go to the office. You
must guide me there.”
What was the point of asking her opinion if it didn’t matter?
Yeon almost laughed at the absurdity.
‘Hold on, hold on.’
He had decided to be lenient with Tae Ha-Jin today.
“Alright, let’s go together. To the office.”
“The hospital?”
“No, let’s go to the office.” Yeon scoffed.
He could have just let go and held his wrist for guiding, but
Tae Ha-Jin was gripping too tightly. Was his headache really
that severe?
Despite Yeon’s efforts, the guiding was significantly slower
than usual. It felt like something was blocking Tae Ha-Jin’s
channel. Yeon’s face scrunched slightly.
This usually happened when an esper was uncooperative. But
Tae Ha-Jin had no reason to be uncooperative while
complaining of a headache.
So, what was the problem?
Tilting his head, Yeon focused on guiding.
An hour later, in the elevator heading to the office on the 20th
floor of the main building.
“Huff, what’s this… Huff…”
Yeon wiped sweat from his forehead with a sleeve, breathing
heavily. He glared at the man, who looked ten centimetres
taller than himself.
“What’s going on? I’ve been guiding for over an hour, and it’s
still at 45%. How is this possible?”
Despite desperately guiding all the way here, it felt like
pouring water into a bottomless pit. Their hands, momentarily
separated when exiting the car, were still tightly held. His
hands were sweaty. Tae Ha-Jin didn’t seem bothered and
didn’t let go.
“This is ridiculous, but has our matching rate dropped?”
Their matching rate was 81%. Matching rates were like natural
compatibility, immutable. Even knowing that, this was the first
time something like this had happened, leaving Yeon
perplexed.
Guiding wasn’t working.
Panting, he focused on guiding again, Tae Ha-Jin looking
down at him.
Guiding wouldn’t work. He blocked every channel he opened.
Ha-Jin needed more time with him. He had questions and
wanted to think more in his presence. Desperately, this was the
only way he could keep Yeon here.
Pulling the guide along, Ha-Jin entered the office. In the dark
room, he turned on a dim light. He couldn’t face him in a
brightly lit room.
“Why isn’t it working? Really?”
Yeon, with a serious face, stared at their joined hands,
frowning as if that would solve the problem.
He pulled Yeon to sit on the bed. Distracted, he followed. Ha-
Jin sat in the chair next to the bed.
“Is it not working?”
“No, why is this happening? It must be a side effect from
meeting Lee Hong-Jun. You must be in severe mental shock.”
Behind Yeon, the night-lit city sparkled through the window.
Despite the backlight, his face was vividly clear.
Ha-Jin laughed bitterly.
‘Was his face always like this?’
Back when he was eighteen, living in a crazed state, Tae Ha-
Jin experienced severe side effects from his first outburst. He
was in a coma for over three weeks, and when he woke up, a
fragment of his memory was gone.
The doctor had said,
“An S-grade esper’s first outburst can have severe side
effects.”
Rarely, cases like Tae Ha-Jin’s occur, where only some
memories are lost, and it’s usually the ones that meant the
most to the person. Tae Ha-Jin was devastated. He
remembered everything else, except for that girl’s face. He
was sure she was beautiful, the only glimmer of hope amidst
the agony of death. But no matter how hard he tried, he
couldn’t remember what she looked like.
All he could recall was that her hair was long, that she was a
girl, and that she seemed older than him… but that was it.
After his recovery, he searched for her, over and over again.
But the only response he got was, “Lee Hong-Jun doesn’t have
a daughter of that age. If he did, she’s long dead.”
The Basen Research Lab, where they’d shared memories, had
vanished without a trace. The lab that had moved to the capital
only housed the younger son now. The first wife of the lab
director had reportedly committed suicide. Tae Ha-Jin felt like
he was suffocating.
‘I left you to survive.’
‘I left you, swearing I’d come back to save you, but now…
you’re probably dead.’
‘I can’t even remember your face…’
‘And I didn’t even know your name.’
‘You used to tell me a different name every day.’
‘And then, it turned out that you’re Yeon? Everything fell into
place. Lee Hong-Jun’s child, the child of that beautiful
woman, Basen Research Lab, the lab that moved to the capital,
and the Yeon who ran away around the time I was
searching…’
“Was your hair always short?” Ha-Jin asked.
 Chapter 2. Part 3
Yeon glared at him. “I grew it out until it covered my eyes, but
it was cut because of esper Tae Ha-Jin. You even changed the
regulations to make it happen. Honestly, even now, I’m still
baffled by it.”
“And when you were younger, you used to cover your eyes
with your fringe too?”
“You seem very interested in my past today.”
Yeon chuckled, his gaze shifting sideways as he thought for a
moment. “It’s a bit funny, but my late mother always wanted a
daughter. My name sounds a bit like a girl’s name, doesn’t it?
My mother gave it to me. So, when I was young, I grew my
hair down to my waist, carried a teddy bear around even
though I didn’t really like it. Just to make her happy.”
“…”
“I hated hearing her cry every night. I thought that if I did
what she wanted, she wouldn’t cry anymore. But in the end,
she committed suicide.” He laughed bitterly.
Ha-Jin remained silent. Yeon wouldn’t remember him. When
Ha-Jin escaped the Basen Research Lab, leaving Yeon behind,
he was only thirteen and had just awakened his powers. He
barely managed to escape with his underdeveloped abilities.
Before he left, he went to see Yeon one last time.
The girl whose face he couldn’t remember had been crying, he
thought.
Don’t go. Take me with you.
—Sorry. I’m not strong enough right now.
I’m scared. Can’t you take me with you?
—I’ll come back for you. I promise.
If you leave, I might die from sadness…
There was no time. There was another test subject he had to
save besides himself. They needed to escape now. Ha-Jin
placed his hand on Yeon’s head. He used his undeveloped
power to ‘Devour’ her memories. He wanted her to forget him.
To wait without pain until he could come back to save her.
That was his wish as he erased their memories together.
So, for Yeon, there were no memories of Ha-Jin in his
childhood. That’s why Ha-Jin couldn’t acknowledge him. He
had lived with the burden of that debt his whole life, and now
he could only find solace in the fact that Yeon was alive.
‘You survived?’
He couldn’t believe it. At the same time, all the cruel things he
had done to Yeon flashed through his mind like a panorama.
Ha-Jin buried his face in his hands.
‘What the hell have I done to you?’
His red eyes moved restlessly. Since he couldn’t talk about
their shared past, the man who had been silent for a while
chuckled ruefully.
“…I bet long hair suited you.”
“Ha, are you going to change the regulations back so I can
grow it out again?”
Yeon, who had been laughing, suddenly grew serious and
focused on the guiding. Ha-Jin opened a part of the blocked
passage so as not to appear too suspicious.
“Oh? Suddenly, it’s working well.”
His face was serious. A refreshing energy flowed into his
body, filling him with life. He felt alive again. Tae Ha-Jin
realised that he was still living.
He didn’t think of that child as a romantic interest. Yesterday,
when Ha-Jin thought he might die, love was a luxury he
couldn’t afford. He was just grateful that she came to see him,
sometimes desperately yearning for her as if she were a
saviour, feeling guilty for leaving her behind, and occasionally
drowning in remorse.
He must have cared so much that he lost his memories of her
in the aftermath.
“People usually lose memories that were important to them.”
The doctor’s words echoed in his mind.
Yeon must have been more significant to him than he realised.
Sometimes, she appeared in his dreams as a faceless ghost
with long hair, which he usually classified as nightmares.
“Esper. I think something’s wrong with my body… Guiding
isn’t working again.”
‘Of course, because I blocked it again.’
Tae Ha-Jin leaned in and silently pulled Yeon into an embrace.
Yeon’s body stiffened in his arms. A startled voice followed.
“…What are you doing?”
Ha-Jin chuckled. “Guiding through physical contact.”
Then he reopened the blocked passage. As the guiding
improved while they were hugging, Yeon frowned.
“I guess I’ll need a check-up tomorrow. No, wait… isn’t it
esper Tae Ha-Jin who’s got the problem?”
“Let’s go with that.”
Yeon’s face rested on Ha-Jin’s shoulder. Ha-Jin raised his arm
and gently held the back of Yeon’s head with his large hand.
Soft hair wrapped around his fingers. He could hear the faint
sound of breathing near his ear.
‘Yeon is that child?’
It didn’t feel real. Ha-Jin felt a surge of emotion. It was as if he
had finally found a missing piece of himself. He had no idea
how he should treat Yeon from now on, or how to atone for the
wrongs he had done to him. He felt such intense regret that he
wanted to go back and beat up his past self.
‘Haaa.’
He furrowed his brow. For now, all he wanted to do was be
grateful that he had met the boy again.
And so, Ha-Jin said, “How have you been? All this time.”
Immersed in his own thoughts, he asked the question.
Yeon, who had been guiding through the embrace, twitched
his eyebrows.
“Why? We see each other almost every day, so why ask that?”
Ha-Jin carefully stroked the back of his head.
Yeon, now deeply uncomfortable, quietly shut his mouth.
‘What’s wrong with this guy?’
Yeon took a deep breath, pushing away the bewilderment.
Today was the day he’d decided to be lenient with Tae Ha-Jin.
He could even tolerate the awkwardness. The guiding was
going well, which was a relief.
“Now that I look at it, you’re actually quite small, Yeoni,” Ha-
Jin murmured as he held Yeon in his arms.
Yeon let out a scoff but didn’t pull away. It was the first time
anyone had ever called him small.
‘Maybe it’s just that you’re fucking massive.’
“I didn’t realise you were two years younger than me,” Ha-Jin
muttered, causing Yeon to look at him in confusion. He
should’ve known that basic information already, so the
comment felt odd.
Ha-Jin thought back, ‘You were taller than me back then.’
At the time, Ha-Jin was smaller than he should’ve been due to
surviving on nothing but the nutrients from the capsule. He
had just assumed Yeon was older.
The younger Ha-Jin could never touch Yeon. Yeon, dressed in
expensive, fine clothes, always looked different from the other
test subjects. His porcelain-like skin only reinforced that
perception.
Ha-Jin, trapped in that giant capsule, could only look at Yeon
through the glass. The smart Yeon, who would empty the
liquid in the capsule by manipulating the machine whenever
he visited the lab, was the only one he could talk to. To Ha-Jin,
the clever Yeon seemed like an omnipotent god. Every time he
came, it felt like a divine visit, like being saved by a god.
‘I wish this glass wasn’t here. I wish I could be closer to you. I
wish you wouldn’t leave.’
But Yeon would always leave soon, with an apologetic look.
The suffocating liquid would refill the capsule, and young Ha-
Jin hated that moment when Yeon would walk away.
Yeon was Ha-Jin’s salvation, but he was also untouchable.
‘If only I could’ve reached you back then…I might not have
abandoned you.’
Ha-Jin let out a bitter smile. He already knew the answer to
that.
Lost in these thoughts, Ha-Jin pulled Yeon closer into his
arms.
“…Honestly, even if I could go back, I’d make the same
choice. I’m a bastard like that.”
Back then, Ha-Jin had been just as selfish as he was now. His
own escape and survival had been more important than the
child who was nothing short of adorable. His younger self had
been foolish and immature. He’d have done anything to escape
that hell.
So when the memory of the child he thought dead occasionally
surfaced, he only felt a pang of guilt, not regret.
Even if he went back, he would’ve abandoned that child.
The child might have been his salvation, but Ha-Jin had valued
himself more.
He had rationalised that since the child was the son of the lab
director, he wouldn’t suffer as much as he had. The child
would have held on until he grew stronger and returned.
That’s why Tae Ha-Jin loathed himself. He had thrown the
only breath of fresh air in that hell into the fire, without a
second thought.
He was selfish.
He’d always been that way.
He had no intention of denying the truth.
“Yes, esper, you are a bastard. I truly mean it.”
Yeon didn’t fully understand what Ha-Jin meant, but he
agreed. The head resting on his shoulder nodded slightly, and
Ha-Jin chuckled softly. It was the kind of thing he’d
desperately wanted to hear from Yeon.
“What’s my name?”
“Tae Ha-Jin.”
“And what’s your name?”
“…What the hell is with you today? Did someone slip
something into the tea earlier?”
Yeon pulled back slightly, his expression wary. But Ha-Jin
tightened his grip, pulling Yeon back in.
“What’s your name?”
“…Yeon.”
Yeon answered, giving Ha-Jin’s back a gentle pat.
“Esper. Your contamination level is below 10%. The guiding
is done.”
Yeon stayed still, waiting to be released. Ha-Jin stroked the
back of Yeon’s head one last time before letting go. Yeon left
the office without hesitation, pausing only to add a few words
before leaving.
“Back at the Yellow Fortress… I couldn’t say it then, but it
was a life-and-death situation for me. You saved my life,
esper. I’ll work hard from now on. I’ll be off, then.”
Ha-Jin collapsed onto the bed, covering his face with his
hands. A bitter laugh escaped him.
‘All your crises, I might have caused them all. I was the one
who dragged you out of your hiding place. I was the one who
tormented you all along.’
‘And yet, you thank me for a few words of help.’
‘Your gratitude only fuels my guilt. You’ve always been too
soft.’
Ha-Jin furrowed his brows, tormented.
‘No matter how sweet your imagination, I’m definitely a
bigger bastard than that.’
“Haah…”
All the things he’d done to Yeon flooded his mind, making
him dizzy.
Fucking hell…
It had been a long time since Ha-Jin felt any regret.
With a sigh, Ha-Jin wiped his face with his hands, then glared
down at the erection tenting his trousers. Even after learning
that Yeon was that child, he still got turned on by a simple
hug. The strange sense of perversion sent chills down his
spine, as if he’d committed some secret sin.
It wasn’t the first time. Yeon had always had a way of riling
him up. That pretty face and body often crossed Ha-Jin’s mind
when he jerked off.
“Fuck, really…”
‘Why do you keep messing with my head like this?’
Unable to suppress his irritation, Ha-Jin undid his belt and
yanked down his zip. As he ran his hand over the bed, it felt
like Yeon’s warmth still lingered. With his other hand, he
gripped his stiff cock and stroked it roughly.
‘You’re nothing but a beast.’
He grabbed his shaft, jerking it up and down with a harsh
rhythm. He thought of Yeon’s silky hair that he wanted to rub
his cock against. He wanted to climb on top of the startled
Yeon and bury himself inside him.
“Haah…”
Overwhelmed by his own lust, Ha-Jin’s grip tightened. The
veins in his hands bulged, the obscene sound of skin against
skin filling the office. Pre-cum seeped down his shaft,
lubricating the slide.
“Fucking hell, Yeon…”
As he imagined Yeon crying beneath him, the urge to cum
built up inside him.
Cry more, cry harder.
In that moment, he wanted to make Yeon cry, even if it meant
doing something wicked.
After repeating those rough movements, Ha-Jin finally slid his
hand from the base to the tip in one swift motion, his body
arching as he climaxed.
A thick load shot out, a dirty testament to his twisted fantasies.
Ha-Jin spread his hand and stared at the mess, clicking his
tongue in disgust.
It hit him again.
He was irredeemable scum.

***

Restoration esper Dekal was at a loss.

Yeon-i, the guide, had asked him to come to the VIP ward of
the physiotherapy hospital. Yeon and the patient were already
there. But then Yeon received an urgent call and dashed out of
the hospital, saying, “I’ve got to go! Please take care of
things!”
“….”
“….”
The patient fidgeted with her hands, looking awkward. Dekal
sighed softly and approached her.
“Where does it hurt?”
At first glance, she looked fine. She was hooked up to an IV,
but there were no external injuries like a cast or bandages. The
patient hesitated before slowly rolling up the sleeve of her
hospital gown. Dekal’s eyes widened slightly.
“…”
“They said it’s a full-body bruise. Can you fix it?”
The part of the body that had been hidden by clothes was
completely black and blue with bruises. From what he heard,
she’d been hospitalised for a while now, yet it was still like
this?
Moreover, this wasn’t from an accident or bumping into
something. Anyone could see these were the result of a
beating. Dekal, slightly taken aback, finally opened his mouth.
“Give me your hand.”
The patient blinked and hesitated for a moment, eyes shifting
sideways as if considering it. Then, as if making up her mind,
she slowly extended her hand. The pale, thin arm looked like a
birch twig.
Dekal’s large hand enveloped hers, pushing energy into her.
The woman flinched.
“Are these kinds of injuries all over your body?”
“Ah… yes.”
Dekal didn’t ask how she ended up in this state. He wasn’t
particularly curious, but it felt like it would be rude to inquire.
The patient looked at him with eyes full of wonder, as if she’d
never seen a restoration esper before.
The gaze lingered long enough that Dekal looked up as well.
At first glance, she reminded him of a wounded deer.
Her eyes, deep and double-lidded, were striking, and her long
lashes framed a neat but unassuming face. Dekal lowered his
head again. Her hands were graceful and long, but so thin that
they looked skeletal.
Dekal’s brows furrowed as he focused on pushing the energy
in. Something was wrong. Normally, it would’ve been enough
to restore her to an uninjured state, but now his energy
wouldn’t go any further into her body.
Dekal looked back at the patient, eyes narrowing.
“Is there an S-grade guide nearby?”
He asked, tilting his head in genuine confusion. The woman’s
expression instantly hardened, her lips parting slightly.
“No. Why do you ask?”
Her sharp response was an unspoken confirmation. She was
lying.
There was only one situation where energy wouldn’t go in like
this.
It happens when someone with an overwhelmingly powerful
Vessel stays close by so often that they subconsciously fill the
Vessel of the person next to them. This results in the Vessel
being so full that it can’t take in any more energy.
It looked like the patient was a guide. If the person who had
been near her was an S-grade esper, their abnormal type would
be different from the guide’s, so it would’ve just passed
through her and dispersed. She wouldn’t be so full of energy
right now.
In conclusion, there was an S-grade guide with the same
abnormal type who had been frequently close to this patient.
An S-grade guide.
But as far as Dekal knew, the only S-grade guide in the
Diaylen nation was Princess Elena.
He’d heard Lee Yeon was an A0-grade guide.
So who was it, then?
Who was the one who had filled this patient’s Vessel to the
brim?
“Your Vessel is full of another guide’s energy. There’s no room
for mine to enter.”
“…What?”
“It seems a powerful guide has been near you. They must have
unconsciously filled you with their energy.”
“Ah…”
Leaving the speechless woman behind, Dekal withdrew his
hand. He stood up and offered some advice.
“Try not to have that guide around for a while. We’ll need to
monitor your condition. I’ll check on you again in a week.”
“No… Please, you don’t have to go to such trouble because of
me…”
“Those injuries look like they were caused by an esper. When
an esper strikes with their energy, the wounds don’t heal
easily. It’ll hurt more, especially if the victim is a guide.”
The woman lowered her head, her expression gloomy.
“…I see.”
“I’ve been tasked with this, so I’ll take full responsibility for
your treatment.”
“…Yes, thank you. Take care.”
Dekal gave a slight bow before leaving the room. As he
walked out of the front door, he pulled out his phone from his
trouser pocket and pressed speed dial 0.
—What?
“It’s me.”
—I know.
“Is Lee Yeon a S-grade guide?”
There was a pause on the other end of the line, followed by an
irritated voice.
—I’m in the middle of something. Why do you ask?
“I was treating Kim Uibin, as you instructed. Her Vessel is
filled with energy…”
—I’m busy. Get to the point.
“…Never mind. I’ll hang up if you’re busy.”
—Yes, he’s S-grade. Don’t go running your mouth about it.
“I’ve got no reason to.”
—Anything else to report?
“I’ve fed the Emperor false information. There shouldn’t be
any contact for a while.”
—Keep an eye on Kim Uibin. Make sure Lee Yeon wont
nothing anything.
Dekal blinked slowly before answering, “Understood.”
On the other end of the line, he heard someone shout, “Esper
Tae Ha-Jin! What’s the contamination level?” It sounded like
Lee Yeon, who had rushed over, had run into Tae Ha-Jin at the
scene.
Click.
The call ended abruptly, and Dekal muttered to himself in a
detached tone.
“So, he’s figured it out.”
It seemed Tae Ha-Jin had finally realised that Lee Yeon was
the same boy from the lab. Unlike Tae Ha-Jin, who was just
now piecing it together, Dekal had recognised him from the
moment he’d helped him recover in the subway. It was the kid
from the Basen Research Lab.
The only difference from back then was the shorter hair and a
more mature face, but anyone could tell they were the same
person. Dekal, who had retained his full memory, had no
trouble recognising him, unlike Tae Ha-Jin.
But Dekal hadn’t bothered to inform Tae Ha-Jin of this fact.
‘There was no need.’
He wasn’t keen on complicating matters unnecessarily. Dekal
wasn’t one to meddle in others’ personal lives. Tae Ha-Jin had
occasionally mentioned the person from their shared past,
ordering Dekal to look for them, but Dekal had thought this
person was long dead.
But then, he turned up out of nowhere.
After that, Dekal had done some digging.
Apparently, Lee Yeon had gone to great lengths to stay hidden,
even at the Libramji Centre, always covering up with a mask
and hat. No wonder he’d been so hard to find.
‘Well, he’s the research director’s son, after all.’
During their time as test subjects at the lab, Dekal had lived
like an emotionless corpse. Whenever the well-fed, healthy
child came to visit Tae Ha-Jin, Dekal felt nothing. Just thought
he was there to gawk at the monkeys in the zoo.
Even knowing that it was the research director’s own kid
didn’t stir any resentment in Dekal. It wasn’t Lee Yeon who
had done those heinous things; it was the director.
Tae Ha-Jin knew that too, which is why he probably lived with
some irrational sense of guilt towards the child.
‘Even if he knows now, will it change anything?’
Would it mean anything significant to Tae Ha-Jin?
That was something Dekal was curious about too. After all,
Tae Ha-Jin had abandoned the person once. He didn’t seem to
yearn for him or feel any particular pain over it.
—Still haven’t found the kid?
That was all he would occasionally ask.
‘He’ll handle it, I’m sure.’
Dekal considered Tae Ha-Jin his saviour. That was why he was
willing to act as his right hand, deceiving both the Emperor
and the Elder Chairman, serving as a double agent.
It took nerves of steel to navigate the perilous path between
Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun and the Emperor.
No one else knew the true nature of Dekal and Tae Ha-Jin’s
relationship. They probably thought they were just strangers.
Even Doberman, the secretary, didn’t know about it.
‘He saved me.’
Tae Ha-Jin could have escaped alone, but he’d taken Dekal
with him. Dekal was grateful, even though there was nothing
in it for Tae Ha-Jin. He’d even left behind the boy he
cherished, but he took Dekal along.
Dekal recalled a memory from long ago.
One time, when the researchers were away, the boy asked,
—You’ve awakened too, right?
It was the first time the boy, whom Dekal had seen daily in the
neighbouring capsule, had spoken to him. The boy had
undergone harsher experiments than any of the other test
subjects. Yet, he never cried or lashed out, always calmly
enduring the trials.
 Chapter 2. Part 4
The boy had something unique about him, starting with those
crimson eyes. Just like me, he had survived the longest in the
Basen Research Lab.
“There’s an odd energy about you,” Tae Ha-Jin had said.
“Feels similar to mine, so I reckon you’re an esper… What
ability did you awaken with?”
At the time, Dekal had never spoken, so he just shook his
head. Tae Ha-Jin continued.
“You’ve got quite the useful aura. I’m planning to break out of
this lab soon. If you help me, I’ll take you with me.”
Dekal said nothing.
“The choice is yours. Whether you die here or not is none of
my business. I don’t care either way.”
Back then, Dekal had only thought vaguely—Could we really
escape this hell? Is that even possible?
But there was something about the certainty in the boy’s voice.
A boy who had endured the brutal experiments, a boy who had
even befriended the son of the lab’s director.
Maybe it could work?
Desperate, Dekal had nodded. He’d never had any particular
interests, never even hoped to survive. But one thing was for
certain—he was sick of the pain. So, he decided to take Tae
Ha-Jin’s hand. He reckoned Tae Ha-Jin was smart enough to
know that escaping alone would make survival difficult.
Taking the director’s son along was too risky as well.
The reasons didn’t matter.
All that mattered was getting out, even if it meant offering his
organs as a trade.
Amazingly, Tae Ha-Jin kept his word. His ability was
remarkable, and Dekal escaped the hellhole.
And the pain stopped.
“……”
So, dedicating the rest of his life to Tae Ha-Jin didn’t seem
like a bad deal. It wasn’t like his life was worth anything
anyway; he had at least begun to learn how to live like a
human being again. He’d do anything for Tae Ha-Jin if asked.
Although, Tae Ha-Jin could certainly manage fine on his own.
Ah.

“I wonder if he knows.”
While treating Lee Yeon on the subway, Dekal had asked him
if he’d ever suffered a head injury. Lee Yeon had said no.
But Dekal had noticed something that day, a sign that some of
Lee Yeon’s memories had been forcibly erased.
Tae Ha-Jin’s work, no doubt, he had thought at the time. He
didn’t dwell on it.
But did Tae Ha-Jin know? That only part of Lee Yeon’s
memories had been wiped?
When Dekal had checked Lee Yeon’s memory fragments,
they’d only been partially torn, like the edge had been ripped
off. He guessed that back when Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t yet fully
skilled with his ability, he’d tried to erase all of their shared
memories but had failed. Either that, or Lee Yeon’s abnormal
was too strong for Tae Ha-Jin’s power to fully take hold, and it
had partially rebounded.
“Should I even tell him…?”
Who knows.
Dekal considered Tae Ha-Jin a benefactor, but he didn’t care
about his personal affairs or emotions. In truth, Dekal’s
restoration ability could probably fix the ripped memories in
Lee Yeon’s head.
But he hadn’t bothered.
He didn’t see the point.
Dekal had grown up devoid of emotion, a person living like he
was already dead.
“Fate brings us together again…” he thought impassively as he
got into the car.
Those of us who survived hell.
At the end of this road, what expression will we wear?

***

Kim Uibin had said she wouldn’t be coming to the hospital for
a while. She seemed really sorry about it, but also quite
flustered.
Well, if Dekal says it’s a no-go, then there’s no helping it.

Apparently, in his worry for Uibin, Lee Yeon had unknowingly

shared some of his energy. Who knew restoration espers could
even pick up on that?
With some extra time on his hands, Lee Yeon found himself
guiding yet another flood of espers.
“Been tough to catch a glimpse of you, guide,” Owen Majayka
said, flashing a bright grin. The same Owen who used to mess
around during guiding sessions, the one Lee Yeon had shot at
during a training drill.
Without replying, Lee Yeon silently purified Owen’s energy
through his wrist. Now that Lee Yeon was an A0-grade guide,
he didn’t really need to be guiding a B+ esper like Owen, but
his levels had been high enough to get assigned.
The concept of “exclusive” was just the top priority. If his
exclusive esper didn’t call for him, Lee Yeon had to fill his
schedule guiding others.
‘Can’t exactly slack off when I’m getting paid.’
“Have you seen the internet lately, guide?” Owen asked.
“No.”
“You know that Yellow Door incident on the subway recently?
Reporters were swarming Tae Ha-Jin afterward.”
Lee Yeon nodded—he’d been standing right beside Tae Ha-Jin
during the chaos, so of course, he knew. Owen’s eyes lit up as
he showed Lee Yeon his phone.
“Look at this. I’ve got screenshots.”
The phone was shoved under Lee Yeon’s nose. Frowning, he
leaned back slightly to read the article on the screen.

[Yellow Door Appears in Capital! Are Doors Becoming

More Frequent?
According to the Disaster Defence Centre of Diaylen, the
number of doors appearing across the nation over the past
three years has broken records for the past century. In
comparison with neighbouring countries, Diaylen is facing a
significantly higher frequency of these occurrences. The recent
Yellow Door incident in the subway highlights just how
deeply disasters are infiltrating citizens’ everyday lives.
Reporters sought comments from esper Tae Ha-Jin, who was
dispatched to the scene, but received no response.]

Below that was a photo that might as well have been a

photoshoot for Tae Ha-Jin. Lee Yeon, used to seeing Tae Ha-
Jin’s sharp features, felt nothing. What did catch his eye,
though, was his own figure trailing closely behind in the
background.
“Was I walking that close?”
He practically looked like Tae Ha-Jin’s shadow.
“This was the first article,” Owen said cheerily, swiping to the
next one. “And this is what followed.”
[S-grade Esper Tae Ha-Jin Chooses Guides Based on
Looks?
Recently, Tae Ha-Jin’s exclusive guide has become the talk of
the town. During the subway disaster, photos taken by
reporters featured not only Tae Ha-Jin but also his A0-grade
exclusive guide. Readers focused more on the appearance of
the two men in the picture than the content of the article itself.
This has sparked some controversy. Some are questioning
whether Tae Ha-Jin selects his guides based on their
appearance. If you look at the photos, it’s easy to see why; his
exclusive guide boasts a level of beauty that could rival that of
a celebrity. Some have even speculated that the guide is
actually an aspiring actor. A few readers have filed complaints
with the Disaster Defence Centre, questioning whether there
was bias in Tae Ha-Jin’s guide selection process.
In response, the Centre released the following statement:
‘The guide in question has been officially classified as A0-
grade based on genetic testing. He was selected purely on
merit, and there were no irregularities in the selection process.
Any malicious comments or false accusations will be dealt
with strictly under the law…’]

Lee Yeon’s mouth hung open slightly.

What the hell is this?
Were people seriously spreading this kind of nonsense?
Owen gleefully scrolled through more articles, showing Lee
Yeon just how much attention his face was getting. He burst
out laughing.
“The comments are wild. There are even posts in the forums
about it. Check this out.”
Though Lee Yeon wanted to avoid it, he felt uneasy knowing
that Tae Ha-Jin was catching flak because of him. Reluctantly,
he read the screen Owen had pushed toward him again.
[Is Tae Ha-Jin’s Exclusive Guide’s Beauty Real?
No, seriously, did you see that? LOL. I was reading a serious
article and for a second thought it was an entertainment piece
LOL. That two-shot of Tae Ha-Jin and his guide looked like a
bloody photo shoot. Are they putting out a duo photobook or
what? LMFAO.]

Comment Section:
》 If I were Tae Ha-Jin, I’d make that guide my exclusive.
ㄴ Agreed, lol. That face guiding me though.
ㄴ Honestly, how’s it possible that face was hidden until now?
ㄴ Hahaha! My uncle works at the Disaster Defence Centre,
and apparently, that guide used to cover up with a mask and
hat whenever they went out, lol.
ㄴ For real? Why would you hide a face like that? Feels like
attention-seeking if anything.
》 Rumour has it they’re dating, lol.
ㄴ Eh? Lol, isn’t Tae Ha-Jin straight?
ㄴ In this day and age, who cares? Lol.
ㄴ Nah, didn’t Tae Ha-Jin used to be engaged to that third-
generation Epenhar tycoon?
ㄴ Lol, that engagement was called off ages ago, smh.
ㄴ But if it’s true, then Tae Ha-Jin’s a fucking genius. Get his
CC lover set as his exclusive guide while dating on the side,
lol.
ㄴ Word on the street is Tae Ha-Jin was the one chasing them
around.
ㄴ Fr?
ㄴ I heard that too! Apparently, he’s head over heels.
》 I approve of this combo.
ㄴ Hahaha, me too.
ㄴ No wonder Ha-Jin hyung can’t find anyone to date with
standards that high, lol.
》 Found my ideal type here.
ㄴ Hahahaha! Unreal to find this kind of ideal type in real life.
ㄴ Lol, agreed.
ㄴ But a guide I know told me Tae Ha-Jin gets freaky during
guiding sessions, lol.
ㄴ Yeah, heard that too. Apparently, oral is just the start.

Yeon never really gave a shit about the internet. Communities

and comment sections? Not his thing. But after reading a few
posts, he realised how much interest people had in abnormal
types.
‘They think Tae Ha-Jin and I are dating?’
That part nearly made him burst out laughing. If they knew
how much Tae Ha-Jin had tormented him, they wouldn’t say
such bullshit.
To be fair, Yeon believed he’d been quite forgiving. If anyone
else had suffered what he had, Tae Ha-Jin would’ve been
murdered by now.
‘Oh, this bit’s true, though.’
The rumours about Tae Ha-Jin’s wild guiding habits. It wasn’t
far off—after all, the first time Yeon met him, Tae Ha-Jin was
getting a blowjob. Funny how ever since Yeon became his
exclusive guide, he hadn’t seen anything remotely like that.
Yeon sighed as he scrolled through the rest of the comments.
His days of living in hiding felt pointless now that everything
had been laid bare. Tae Ha-Jin had succeeded in tearing off the
mask.
He pushed Owen’s phone away, shaking his head. “Guiding’s
done.”
The contamination level had dropped to 18%, well within the
safety zone. Even while reading the comments, Yeon had been
guiding with his hand. He stood up from his seat, and Owen
followed him, still chatting away.
“So, are the comments true? You and esper Tae Ha-Jin?”
“…….”
What the fuck is he asking?
‘Is he asking if we’re dating?’
Yeon didn’t owe him an answer, so he kept his mouth shut.
“To be honest, I was the one who posted that comment.
‘Found my ideal type here.’ That one.”
Owen’s voice was playful. Yeon stopped mid-step in the
hallway, where they were heading to the next guiding session,
and stared at him.
“You think I’m your ideal type?”
“Yeah. Even when you were all covered up, I told you your
eyes were beautiful, remember?”
“Esper, do you fancy men?”
He knew it was rude to ask but did it on purpose anyway. It
was his way of building a wall. But Owen just laughed loudly,
unfazed.
“Guide, what does sexual orientation even mean to an
abnormal type? Same-sex relationships and marriages are legal
now. Especially for guides and espers, physical contact is
essential. You wouldn’t believe how many end up falling for
each other. Hahaha. That’s such a weird question.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Most people didn’t bat an eyelid at same-sex relationships
among abnormal types. It was seen as a natural occurrence.
But Yeon was straight. He’d never felt any romantic interest in
men.
‘Not that I’ve really felt it for women either.’
Romantic love was a foreign concept to Yeon. He’d only ever
dated if he thought someone was decent and they showed
interest. Even then, he always gave his best in the relationship.
Yet, thinking back, he realised he wasn’t exactly opposed to
same-sex attraction.
‘Didn’t mind when Tae Ha-Jin touched me, did I?’
Hell, he’d even gotten hard.
Remembering that made Yeon feel embarrassed, and he
sharpened his tone with Owen for no good reason. “Delete any
screenshots you took.”
“Sorry, what?”
“I’m not interested in you, Owen. Don’t post comments like
that again.”
“…I haven’t even confessed yet, Guide. It was just a joke.”
Owen scratched the back of his head, looking awkward as he
laughed. Yeon’s stern expression softened just a little.
“Yeah, well, don’t even think about it. See you at the next
session.”
With measured steps, Yeon walked away, leaving Owen
standing there with his mouth slightly open. Rejected before
he even got the chance to try. He had genuinely meant it when
he said Yeon was his ideal type…
Though, to be fair, if things worked out, he wouldn’t mind
giving seduction a go.
As he turned around, feeling a bit downcast, a towering figure
suddenly blocked his path, causing Owen to yelp.
“Shit! You scared me!”
“Shit?”
It was Tae Ha-Jin.
With his superior height, he looked down at Owen, his
crimson eyes sharp enough to make Owen gulp nervously.
“Oh, no. It wasn’t aimed at you, Esper. I was just startled.
Sorry.”
“B-rank espers must have plenty of time on their hands these
days. Chatting away with their ideal types and all.”
“…Sorry? No, no. B-rank espers are swamped with work,
actually.”
Owen waved his hands defensively, rambling about the
struggles of B-rank espers. Tae Ha-Jin tilted his head slightly
and asked again.
“Then why is it just you who’s got free time?”
“Uh, I-I don’t…”
“There’s been a surge in door incidents in the O’Halla region
recently.”
Tae Ha-Jin dropped this random briefing. Owen, completely
lost, tilted his head in confusion. Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t the type to
strike up casual conversations with anyone. In fact, this was
the first time they’d ever spoken outside of work. The sudden
intensity left Owen rattled, Tae Ha-Jin’s typical arrogant gaze
cutting through him like a knife.
“Let’s head there for three months to help out.”
“…Sorry? You mean O’Halla?”
O’Halla was a remote, rural region at the edge of the country.
Infamously hot in summer and freezing in winter.
This had to be a joke, right?
Owen tried to convince himself otherwise, but Tae Ha-Jin
checked his watch before speaking again.
“It’s 10:43 a.m. now. We should be able to get there by 3 p.m.”
It took at least six hours to drive to O’Halla. Owen was so
stunned he could barely stutter out a response. Tae Ha-Jin’s
expression twisted in irritation.
“Strange, isn’t it? You’ve got time to post comments and take
screenshots but none to go on a field mission?”
…What the hell is this?
Why’s he coming at me like this? Did I do something wrong?
Owen didn’t dare ask. Instead, he bolted, shouting, “No! I’m
leaving right now!” as he sprinted off to pack. Tae Ha-Jin
watched him for a moment before heading to the elevator.
In the end, O’Halla had requested reinforcements. What was
the harm in sending someone who seemed to have plenty of
spare time, no matter how busy they claimed to be?
As he scrolled through his contacts, Tae Ha-Jin dialled a
number.
—Yes, Esper! This is the head of the ACB News Bureau. How
can I assist you?
“I read your article.
—Which article, sir?
“These reporters, are they thick in the head or something?
Seems like they don’t understand a bloody thing about privacy
rights.”
The news director swallowed hard. Espers like Tae Ha-Jin,
those at an abnormal grade, were constantly exposed and held
such high public positions that legal trouble never usually
came up from writing articles about them. But suddenly, this
was an invasion of privacy?
Tae Ha-Jin spoke in a calm voice.
“They should’ve blurred it out. Thanks to that, my personal
guide’s in quite an amusing situation now, isn’t he?”
Ah. That handsome exclusive guide of his… with that striking
face, he became a favourite amongst the broadcasters, who
were all too eager to exploit him.
For someone like him, though, his public standing wasn’t high
enough, so an invasion of privacy could be a legitimate issue.
However, in the case of espers and guides, no one really
bothered with legal battles, and it was a publicly accepted grey
area.
But here he was, Tae Ha-Jin, an esper of abnormal grade,
making a fuss about it.
“Director.”
—…Yes, Esper?
“Want to join the journalist in prison?”
 Chapter 2. Part 5
—Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…
“Or do you fancy hell?”
—…
“Don’t make me lose my skilled guide. You know what I’m
like. I’ve got a bad temper.”
—…
“And right now, I’m in a fucking foul mood too.”
—Y-yes… I’ll personally make sure this gets hushed up. I’ll
shut every damn broadcaster up, too. Yes, of course.
“Good.”
Click.
Next, he called Doberman.
—Yes, Esper. Have you eaten yet?
“Throw the bastards who left hate comments about Yeon in
prison.”
Doberman went quiet. The small talk about food was
immediately ignored, as Ha-Jin’s demand was deadly serious.
Doberman had seen the article himself, but the comments?
Most of them were a bit of a laugh, nothing too harsh.
‘Maybe there were a couple of nasty ones…?’
—Bit extreme for comments, don’t you think?
“Especially the prick going on about their ‘ideal type’ or
whatever.”
—Oh… um, right, got it. What’s got you so worked up all of a
sudden? Did Guide Yeon say something?
“Whether he’s just too kind or a complete idiot, he didn’t seem
bothered.”
—Then maybe it’s not something to blow up over, is it…
“Did you comment on it too?”
—Huh? Me?
“Do as I said.”
Click.
Tae Ha-Jin stormed past Emergency Room 2 on the ground
floor, but then something familiar caught his senses.
Instinctively, he turned his head and spotted Lee Yeon guiding
some esper. As usual, he was doing wrist guidance, but the
esper’s gaze was disturbingly fixated on Yeon’s face.
Frowning, Tae Ha-Jin ran a rough hand through his hair,
muttering under his breath like a sigh.
“Why the fuck did I even take his mask off…”
It was a miscalculation.
The idiot had been keeping his ridiculously pretty face hidden
for ages, but Ha-Jin had insisted on revealing it—half out of
sheer stubbornness, half with the intention of making him his
exclusive guide. But somehow, his mood was only getting
worse and he became more and more annoyed.
He’d spent so long searching for that face, not even able to
remember it clearly, and now everyone else could stare at it
freely. It felt a bit like a bloody insult.
‘Do I fix this mess?’
Maybe he should reinstate the rule banning masks and hats.
But covering a face that had already been splashed all over the
place wasn’t going to undo anything.
Ha-Jin hated his stupid decisions.
Tap, tap, tap.
He quickly activated his watch and sent an emergency call to
Yeon.
Through the window, he saw Yeon glance down at his watch,
eyes widening. He stopped guiding the esper and hurried to
grab his jacket.
The man burst through the door with quick steps, looking
startled to see Ha-Jin standing there.
“Esper? What are you doing here?”
He stared at his watch in confusion, muttering about a
malfunction. Ha-Jin, watching the top of his head for a
moment, spoke.
“Not going to the hospital today?”
“Oh, no. I was told I couldn’t for a while. My energy’s too
strong and it interferes with Uibin’s treatment. But what’s with
the emergency call? Is your watch broken?”
In truth, Ha-Jin had pressed the button on a whim, so he was
momentarily at a loss for words. The red eyes briefly glanced
to the side.
Ha-Jin, lost for anything to say, just blurted out something
random.
“There’s something you could help me with.”
“Are your corruption levels high?”
“No. I moved house and need help unpacking.”
Yeon blinked, confusion plain on his face.
…What did he just ask?
Honestly, he was a bit taken aback. It was the first time Tae
Ha-Jin had asked for something so personal. Even though
Yeon had rushed out after wrapping up his guiding, he had no
other appointments today, and someone once told him that
even a boss’s personal requests could be considered part of the
job.
After a moment of hesitation, Yeon nodded.
“You seem in a hurry.”
“Very much so.”
Lately, Yeon had been riding in Tae Ha-Jin’s supercar more
often. He strapped himself into the sleek, cushy seat and
fastened the seatbelt.
Five minutes later, they arrived at his new place, which was
conveniently close to the centre.
It was practically a mansion, a huge standalone house hidden
behind dense trees that made it impossible to see from outside.
They parked in a private garage and took the elevator into the
house.
The three-storey mansion was almost ostentatious in its luxury,
and Yeon couldn’t help but think, This is fucking extravagant.
“Do you live here alone?”
“Yes.”
His answer was brief.
It looked like he’d really just moved in, as there were still
some unpacked boxes scattered about. However, the furniture
and paintings on the walls somehow didn’t feel out of place,
like they’d been there forever.
“It looks like someone’s been living here for a while.”
“I used to stay here occasionally.”
Ha-Jin owned several houses in the capital. He’d been staying
in a villa with a view he liked, but after Ronile visited, he got
rid of it. He didn’t want any lingering bad memories.
That’s why he’d moved to this house, which had just been
sitting there, its furniture untouched. The move hadn’t
disrupted his life one bit since the staff had handled
everything. It was closer to the centre too, which was
convenient.
Dragging Yeon along with him hadn’t been part of the plan.
Thankfully, with unpacked boxes around, there wouldn’t be
any misunderstandings.
“A place like this, right in the capital… Wow… That garden’s
a bloody work of art! What the hell, is that a pool?”
Beyond the huge living room’s glass wall, the garden gleamed
in the light. Awestruck, Yeon opened the glass doors and
stepped out into the garden. Though barefoot, the grass felt
nice against his feet.
A garden surrounded by trees, a perfectly tiled swimming
pool, a massive three-storey house.
It was like a dream.
Yeon wandered the garden, marvelling at its beauty.
Ha-Jin, feeling oddly thirsty, made coffee. He prepared two
steaming mugs, letting the aroma fill the air as he walked back
into the living room, only to stop dead in his tracks.
“…….”
There, barefoot, Yeon stood admiring the garden. Bathed in
the soft glow of the setting sun, his figure seemed to glow,
pale and pristine, as if the scene belonged in a movie. Ha-Jin
could only watch, rooted to the spot.
He swallowed dryly.
That kid. He was that kid.
Had he always been this beautiful?
The Yeon he remembered, blurred by time, was gone. The
Yeon before him now felt just as distant, as if always meant to
be out of reach.
Like a blank canvas, and Ha-Jin worried that if he moved even
a little closer, he’d stain it with black.
“Esper! The pool water’s warm! Did you fill it beforehand?”
‘You’re still on the other side of the glass, aren’t you?’
‘Back then, no matter how far I reached, I could never touch
you. Now, I could reach out and easily take hold of you, but
somehow, I still can’t do it.’
Yeon sat by the pool’s edge, rolling his trousers up to his
knees, letting his pale skin dangle into the water, splashing it
playfully.
The ripples, soft and endless, seemed to stir more than just the
water.
“Can I come by sometime to swim?”
The coffee was either cooling off or his hands were getting
hot. Ha-Jin couldn’t tell anymore. He stood there, silently, as if
trying to etch this moment into his memory.
‘Sometimes, you make me speechless.’
“Are you hinting that we should get to work?”
Tipping his head back, he stared at the sky, lips quirking into a
wide smile, as though he found something amusing. Beneath
Lee Yeon’s messy hair, his curved eyes, neat nose, and
graceful jawline were revealed. Even the smooth line of his
neck drew attention.
Not a single part of him wasn’t pretty.
Was his guide always like this?
Yeah, he’d always been pretty, hadn’t he?
A dull ache pulled at the back of his neck.
It was enough to make Tae Ha-Jin feel like he was losing his
mind.
“Fuck…”
With a twisted expression, Ha-Jin squeezed his eyes shut. If he
stayed like this, he’d end up reaching for this blank slate of a
man. He’d end up defiling him, letting his urges take over.
With a deep sigh, he turned on his heel and headed for the
kitchen.
Ssshh.
He poured out the coffee he’d just made. Ha-Jin leaned against
the sink, trying to meditate, but his body tensed.
Lee Yeon had followed him without a sound, now clutching
the hem of his shirt.
Ha-Jin frowned, staring at the hand that gripped him.
“Are you pissed? ‘Cause I’ve been slacking off?”
Completely oblivious, Lee Yeon tilted his head in genuine
confusion, his slightly red lips catching Ha-Jin’s attention.
He rubbed a hand over his face.
‘Mate, where the hell did you leave your common sense?’
Ha-Jin swallowed a sigh and turned around.
“No.”
He was about to leave the kitchen, needing to escape Lee
Yeon’s presence, but Lee Yeon quickly followed.
“So what should I start tidying up then?”
“Sort it out yourself.”
“It’s not my house, how am I supposed to know?”
Ha-Jin let out a heavy breath, halfway up the stairs when he
noticed Lee Yeon still following. He stopped on the middle
step, looking down at him.
“Lee Yeon.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve done enough. Go home.” His voice was quiet but
firm. Lee Yeon blinked in confusion.
“…What?”
‘You’re telling me to go home?’
Lee Yeon had been called out of an urgent situation,
abandoning an esper who was in the middle of guiding.
Somehow, Ha-Jin had been right by the door, and one thing led
to another, and he ended up at his house. Now, after a little bit
of work, he was being told to leave…?
In fairness, Lee Yeon wasn’t particularly fond of working hard
either.
But… It was still Tae Ha-Jin’s private space that he’d been
wandering around in, and that was quite the rare opportunity.
He wasn’t too keen on leaving just yet.
“I’ll work like a bloody ant. I swear.”
He clenched his fists to show his determination. Ha-Jin
watched those fists for a moment before raising his gaze to the
ceiling, his red eyes just barely visible under his lashes, as if
he were reaching his limit.
Lee Yeon was still wondering what was up when Ha-Jin
suddenly lowered his eyes and looked directly at him.
“…!”
In an instant, Ha-Jin shoved him against the wall, their faces
so close it was almost suffocating. Lee Yeon’s eyes widened in
shock, though it didn’t hurt. He hadn’t expected this level of
contact.
Their noses nearly touched. Ha-Jin’s sweet scent filled the air
between them.
“You should’ve gone when I told you.”
Ha-Jin’s low voice was just a bit rough.
His red eyes fixed intensely on Lee Yeon’s lips before closing
the distance, softly covering them with his own. Lee Yeon
froze, his heart racing wildly as he stood there like a statue.
Ha-Jin’s soft lips moved sensually against his, teasing and
warm. It was dizzying.
Then Ha-Jin’s tongue brushed against his, and in a panic, Lee
Yeon tried to push him away. But before he could, Ha-Jin had
already pulled back, moving slowly away.
Lee Yeon’s eyes quivered.
“What the hell…”
Ha-Jin’s gaze was clouded.
“If you ask me why I kissed you… I don’t know.”
With those words, and a face full of frustration, Ha-Jin turned
and stomped up the stairs. Lee Yeon, still in shock, narrowed
his eyes in confusion. What the hell just happened? He
followed after him, needing answers.
But Ha-Jin raised a hand in warning.
“Don’t follow me.”
“…”
“Stay downstairs. Do whatever you like.”
Lee Yeon stood frozen halfway up the stairs, his feet like lead.
After a long pause, he let out a sarcastic snort.
What, does he have a fucking vault hidden on the second
floor?
‘Whatever it is, I wouldn’t even want it.’
He did want to ask why the hell Ha-Jin had kissed him, but
since the guy had already said he didn’t know, it would just
make things awkward if he kept pushing.
‘Crazy bastard…’
Lee Yeon absentmindedly touched his lips with his cold
fingertips, which still felt hot. The sensation lingered.
His heart finally started to calm down.
Lee Yeon swallowed.
“Fucking pervert.”
He headed downstairs. Lee Yeon decided to finally get on with
the packing. He figured keeping busy would help him shake
off the weird tension in the air. He opened the most obvious
box, finding it filled with papers.
‘So I guess this goes in the study.’
He glanced around the house. The place was so bloody big he
wasn’t sure if the study was even on the first floor. As he
wandered down the eerily empty hallway, he passed a few
unused rooms.
‘Some of us have to live in double rooms in the dorms, yet Tae
Ha-Jin lives here alone?’
Then again, Lee Yeon was now an A0-grade guide. He should
be able to move into a single room, shouldn’t he?
Suddenly, Ju Mi-Hoon crossed his mind. He’d heard Mi-Hoon,
who’d been Ha-Jin’s exclusive guide and an A-grade guide,
had stayed in a double room. Meaning Ha-Jin hadn’t pulled
any strings for him either.
‘Guess I shouldn’t expect special treatment.’
Lee Yeon shook his head, realising he probably wouldn’t be
moving into a single room anytime soon.

Eventually, he came across a massive study. The walls were

lined with books from floor to ceiling.
Lee Yeon set the box of documents down with a thud! It
seemed like they were already somewhat sorted, so he figured
he’d just organise them on the table.
As he began laying the papers out, his hand paused.
“…”

[‘Experimental Records of Converting Non-Abnormals into

Abnormals’
Final Authorisation: Lee Hong-Jun]

The name caught his eye, and his breath hitched. Lee Yeon
stared at the paper, his expression turning dark.
It was his father’s signature.
His father’s handwriting.

[Experiment Subject HQ22: Injected with CH serum. Suffered

high fever of 40°C. Died on the sixth day after a sudden drop
to 35°C on the third day.]
[Experiment Subject HQ23: Injected with CH serum.
Developed black spots all over the skin. Died on the second
day. Suspected that harmful cells proliferated during the
process of converting into an abnormal.]

“What the fuck…?”

Turning non-abnormals into abnormals?
Lee Yeon’s lips tightened, his face grim. His father really did
think he was some kind of god. As he flipped through the
pages, the records detailed the deaths of countless subjects
who couldn’t withstand the side effects of the experiments.
His fingertips grew cold.
‘You mad bastard.’
Even though he’d grown up in the research lab, his father had
kept certain areas strictly off-limits. Perhaps he thought it was
for the sake of his child’s mental health.
That forbidden lab, the first time Lee Yeon had snuck in…
It was where he had met that child.
The shock of that encounter had shattered his innocence.
Now, Lee Yeon couldn’t even remember what that boy had
looked like. Only the lingering fear was etched into his mind.
“Bloody hell…”
Yeon ruffled his hair irritably. Years had passed, but his father
hadn’t changed a bit.
Honestly, Yeon had completely distanced himself from the
man. Whatever experiments his father had been conducting,
Yeon had been too young to understand, and if he could be
blamed for anything, it was only for being born the son of a
deranged researcher. Not his fault, not his problem. That’s
what he kept telling himself, even though his heart always felt
heavy. Maybe time really did heal, because after running away
nine years ago, he had managed to live a decent life as a
separate entity from his father.
“And yet, here I am, still living like this?”
The information on the test subjects came up. They varied in
age and characteristics. One profile in particular caught his
attention.
[Important subject: Red-eyed Epilox race. Exhibits absolute
genetic inheritance. Must be experimented on for immortality.]
Naturally, Tae Ha-Jin’s red eyes came to mind. Red eyes were
rare. Not non-existent, but rare enough that he hadn’t thought
much of it. Yet here was his father’s report claiming that the
“Red-eyed race” possessed absolute genetic traits. Something
about it bugged him, but he had too many documents to go
through to linger on it. He flipped through the papers quickly,
a speed-reading skill he had picked up in his childhood.
Then, something stood out.
 Chapter 2. Part 6
[First and last failure record—Genetic Maximisation
Experiment]
Subject Christina: A distant descendant of a dual bloodline.
A+ grade esper. Genetic likelihood: 0.003%, extremely rare.
Currently pregnant. The key factor is how much this rare
genetic trait will be maximised.
…
Subject Christina’s son: At 15 years old, manifests as a B0-
grade guide. Genetic maximisation failed.]
It was an experiment on his mother.
Lee Hong-Jun considered that experiment to be his “first
failure”. Yeon didn’t feel particularly sad about it now. He’d
known since he was a child what his father had done to his
dead wife. How his awakening was of paramount importance.
He had never even been allowed to set foot in the lab, but Lee
Hong-Jun was more than happy to lecture him about it. His
father’s gaze never looked at him as a son, but as an intriguing
test subject. It sickened him. That was why Yeon had
pretended to be a B0-grade guide all these years, to escape his
father’s clutches.
‘Did Tae Ha-Jin read this?’
It would be disastrous if he had. Tae Ha-Jin knowing that Yeon
was a distant descendant of a dual bloodline would be a
nightmare. The document looked pristine, without even a
crease. Most of the other documents were in similar condition.
In fact, this one was buried at the very bottom of the box.
Yeon hadn’t even read half of it before he absorbed it into his
left hand in a hurry.
‘Why the hell are Lee Hong-Jun’s documents in Tae Ha-Jin’s
house?’
Did they know each other? Were they close enough to share
documents?
Yeon’s expression hardened as he reached back into the box to
check the other papers.
“You’re working hard, aren’t you?”
Tae Ha-Jin was leaning against the door, having appeared out
of nowhere. Yeon froze. The two men locked eyes for a long
moment. Tae Ha-Jin didn’t look startled, shocked, or angry.
His unreadable expression made Yeon’s heart pound like he’d
been caught doing something unspeakable.
“How’s it going? From the perspective of Lee Hong-Jun’s
son?”
“I was just curious.”
It seemed he hadn’t noticed Yeon absorb the document.
Relieved, Yeon let go of his tense posture.
“Do you have contact with my father?”
Tae Ha-Jin chuckled dryly.
“Me?”
“These documents… They’re clearly in the handwriting of the
research director, with his signature. You couldn’t have them
unless you got them from the research lab.”
“That’s right. I stole them.”
Yeon’s face twisted. The lab wasn’t an easy place to break
into. Unless Tae Ha-Jin himself, as an esper, had stormed the
place. But Yeon knew how busy the man was with his
responsibilities in the country. He must have sent someone to
do it.
“So, the research director was out of the lab?”
“Every once in a while, yes.”
“How did you break in?”
“I don’t know. You’d have to ask Doberman about that.” Tae
Ha-Jin shrugged casually, making Yeon feel a bit sorry for
Doberman. Breaking into the central lab… Tae Ha-Jin’s
assistant really had a tough job.
Yeon was puzzled, though. Why wasn’t Tae Ha-Jin angry?
Unable to bear the silence, Yeon spoke up.
“Aren’t you pissed?”
To be fair, he had been caught snooping through sensitive
documents. And on top of that, he was the son of Lee Hong-
Jun, which should have made things awkward as hell. But Tae
Ha-Jin just watched him without any apparent irritation.
“The documents?”
“Yes.”
Tae Ha-Jin laughed lightly.
“I was planning on showing you anyway. The son should
know a few things, right?”
“You mean… you’ve gone through all the papers in this box?”
Including the results of my mother’s experiment? Do you
know I’m from a dual bloodline?
He hid his true thoughts behind his question.
Tae Ha-Jin, eyeing him strangely, tilted his head.
“Yeon.”
“Yes.”
“Lee Hong-Jun isn’t an idiot. Do you think he’d just leave
crucial documents lying around?”
“…..”
“The papers in that box aren’t worth anything to him. They’re
nothing. No value.”
“…….”
“That’s why I didn’t bother wasting time going through them
all. Don’t you think?”
He was answering Yeon’s unspoken question: would I bother
reading the documents your father discarded as worthless?
Yeon felt a mess of emotions inside. Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t wrong.
Lee Hong-Jun was meticulous. A man who had committed all
kinds of mad shit yet never faced punishment. He must have
hidden away the truly important information, encrypted as data
somewhere far away.
Which meant…
‘My mother’s experiment… Lee Hong-Jun considers it
rubbish?’
He had thrown away his “first failure” like trash. It didn’t
matter who touched or took it.
So, naturally, Lee Hong-Jun regarded his son, the product of
that experiment, as trash as well. Both mother and child were
discarded together.
“Ha.”
A bitter laugh escaped him. He thought he’d long since lost his
anger towards his father. But clearly, that had been a lie.
If he still felt this fucking rotten.
Fury boiled inside him. His fists clenched so tight that his
knuckles turned white.
With a smirk, his brows furrowed, Yeon called out to the man.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin.”
Tae Ha-Jin gazed down at him quietly.
Those red eyes. The race with absolute genetics…
Would Tae Ha-Jin know? That someone who might be a
distant relative of his was being tortured as a test subject.
“You’re at odds with Lee Hong-Jun, aren’t you?”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to the Basen Research Lab,
swiped all these documents, and dragged them all the way
here. And there was no way this was for Lee Hong-Jun’s
benefit.
“What do you plan to do about Director Lee Hong-Jun?”
The answer came reflexively.
“I’m going to destroy him.”
Tae Ha-Jin didn’t hesitate. Even knowing full well that Lee
Hong-Jun was his father.
If you wanted to be generous, you could say he was gutsy. But
really, he was just an arrogant bastard.
The son of a madman spoke.
“I’ll help you.”
Tae Ha-Jin’s eyes widened ever so slightly. Yeon replied in a
cold voice, unwavering.
“I want to bring down Lee Hong-Jun.”
For a brief moment, the man stiffened. But soon after, his
brow furrowed, and he responded calmly.
“That’s not necessary.”
“I’ll be useful. Didn’t Doberman mention it? If we’re going to
pull the data from the lab, we need Lee Hong-Jun’s genetic
material and will to do it.”
That was the security system Lee Hong-Jun had put in place to
protect his research. Yeon had been forced to learn
programming and machine operation from him. Education was
vital, Lee believed. If it was his bloodline, it damn well had to
be done right.
Because of this, Yeon knew how to operate the re-awakening
tester, and though it was limited, he could handle some of the
machines in the lab.
“As much as I hate to admit it, I am his son. His genetic
information is in me too. As long as I have the will, I can pull
the data myself.”
‘I can handle the machines too.’
He was trying hard to assert his value.
Use me to take down that bastard.
The man who used his pregnant mother as a test subject,
driving her to suicide, then dumped her test results in some
dusty pit of the lab, labelled “failure.”
For keeping his mouth shut, closing his eyes and plugging his
ears all these years, Yeon believed he’d fulfilled his duty as a
son. Now, he wanted to bring his father down. To make him
pay for his sins and free himself from this cursed bondage.
He was deadly serious.
“Yeon.”
The voice calling his name was as calm as ever. Tae Ha-Jin
uncrossed his arms and stepped toward him. Then he bent
down to meet Yeon’s eyes, sitting right in front of him.
The man’s scent wafted over him.
Ha-Jin’s gaze raked over Yeon with unsettling intensity.
Then, out of the blue, he said,
“Are you alright?”
…Alright?
Time froze for a moment. Maybe his heart stopped. It was
such an absurd question, so baffling that Yeon couldn’t wrap
his head around it.
Alright?
Yeon was functioning perfectly fine. He had always resented
his father, despised him. Today, all he’d done was put an end
to it. His father’s records were so predictably vile that they no
longer had the power to shock him.
So, he was alright.
Or so he thought.
But…
“No, I’m not alright.”
The moment Tae Ha-Jin asked, Yeon realised just how far
from alright he really was. The heart he thought was unscathed
had long since burned black and crumbled into nothing.
He hated Lee Hong-Jun. Hated him so much it hurt. He felt
pity for the test subjects sacrificed, for the dead child, for his
dead mother. And in the end, he felt sorry for himself.
He’d spent so long suppressing his pain, living in denial, that
only now did he fully understand just how much of his life had
been an act of avoidance.
“Why…why am I…?”
He scrubbed at his cheek with his hand, embarrassed. He
hadn’t even realised he’d started crying. He quickly wiped
away the tears running down his face, but they kept coming.
Why?
Was he disappointed in Lee Hong-Jun? No, that couldn’t be.
He’d never had a shred of hope for that scumbag. How many
times had he sworn to himself he wouldn’t even attend the
man’s funeral when he died?
Yet, ironically, tears fell. It was a violent reaction from his
body, with no clear reason behind it.
Showing this overwhelming emotion in front of Tae Ha-Jin
only made Yeon feel ashamed and dizzy.
Without a word, Tae Ha-Jin reached out his large hand and
placed it over Yeon’s eyes. The cold touch soothed the heat in
his eyes. His vision went black.
Suddenly, the confusion in Yeon’s mind cleared up.
“Esper… why?”
His chest rose and fell shallowly. In moments of complete
hopelessness, life sometimes felt utterly unfair, bringing a
surge of resentment along with it. Yeon thought this was
exactly one of those moments.
Without a single sob, tears continued to flow from beneath Ha-
Jin’s hand. Yeon bit down hard on his lower lip, trying to
suppress the sobs, and Ha-Jin watched as blood beaded up on
his split lip. Frowning, Ha-Jin used his free hand to gently rub
Yeon’s lips, smearing the blood.
“I’ve got it.”
Yeon couldn’t see Ha-Jin’s expression, but his slow, steady
voice lingered in the air.
“You’re the one who’ll destroy him.”
“…”
“I’ll just help.”
Yeon swallowed hard. He’d expected Ha-Jin to scold him for
crying like this, but there was none of that.
Still biting his bleeding lip, Yeon tensed up, and Ha-Jin,
annoyed by the sight, suddenly moved his hand away. The
darkness Yeon had been hiding in disappeared, replaced by
harsh light. He bowed his head low, unwilling to show his
crying face. Ha-Jin clicked his tongue.
“You’re not a child.”
Ha-Jin suddenly stretched out his hand again and spread his
large palm right in front of Yeon’s face. His hand was wide
enough to cover Yeon’s entire face.
A few moments passed, then Ha-Jin stood up, and without
hesitation, walked out of the study.
‘What did he just do?’
It had only been a moment, but Yeon had felt a disturbing
energy from Ha-Jin. Startled, he touched his face. He stroked
his cheeks and lips slowly, blinking in surprise.
The tears had vanished.
The disgusting tears, the stubborn blood.
Ha-Jin had devoured them.
Once that realisation hit, heat surged to his face. He suddenly
felt incredibly embarrassed. Not only had he cried like an idiot
in front of Ha-Jin, but he’d let the man consume his tears and
blood.
This is mortifying.
“Fuck…”
Yeon curled up, hiding his face against his knees. The
darkness that engulfed him again brought him a bit of comfort.
Getting comfort from Tae Ha-Jin—of all the bloody things that
could’ve happened.

***

Doberman stood aimlessly in the desolate halls of the palace.

As a transportation esper, he’d been called by the Diaylen
nation to bring back a key figure from the Epenhar region.
That was his current assignment.
Though he was Ha-Jin’s personal secretary, he was still part of
the royal administration, so Doberman performed his duties
diligently, even on missions like this.
“Lock up every online troll in prison?”
He stared at his phone in disbelief, letting out a long sigh. Tae
Ha-Jin had a habit of acting impulsively, and this was one of
those times.
The only question was, what emotions had driven him to issue
such an order this time?
‘Is it because of Guide Yeon?’
Since Yeon had been transferred to the Basen region, Tae Ha-
Jin had developed a strange fixation on him, constantly
meddling in his affairs. After all that torment, had he
developed some twisted form of affection for the guy?
Snorting, Doberman began his walk into the heart of the Sun
Palace.
Doberman had no intention of following through with Tae Ha-
Jin’s latest order. If they locked up every troll in prison,
there’d be an unprecedented crisis of overpopulated jails.
‘Let’s just grab the worst of them… that’ll do.’
It wasn’t ideal, but it was the best compromise he could think
of.
Tae Ha-Jin wielded tremendous power within the judicial and
administrative branches. During disasters, his judgement and
insight were indispensable, and as an S-grade esper, his
authority was absolute. Naturally, even outside of crisis
situations, his influence was enormous.
So, with just a word, he could easily break someone.
There were countless people he’d wanted to break, and
Doberman had received countless orders to do so, but not
many of them had actually been broken.
‘You’re one lucky esper. Keeping a secretary as competent as
me by your side, huh?’
It was all because Doberman showed a bit of flexibility. Not
that it mattered, but there was a time he paid someone off
who’d been raising a stink, threatening to sue Tae Ha-Jin.
Handling it himself, cutting it off at the source, and carrying
out the orders just right — isn’t that what made for a model
secretary?
“Haha, I really am brilliant.”
Feeling rather pleased with himself, Doberman smirked as he
arrived at the Sun Palace office.
The moment the door opened—
Whoosh! Crash!
A glass ashtray suddenly flew through the air, smashing
against the wall into a thousand pieces.
“My apologies. I’ll speak to him, Your Majesty.”
The man bowing deeply at a ninety-degree angle was the
father of Dion, the commander of the Royal Guard. Despite
being middle-aged, he was still an A+ grade esper and
executed his duties flawlessly.
Doberman bowed his head, unable to meet the Emperor’s
eyes. He didn’t have to guess; the Emperor was definitely
fuming.
“How long am I supposed to wait for your son, hmm? I
commanded him to stay in the capital and dedicate himself to
the nation! But your son? He’s wandering the frontier every
bloody day, leaving disaster threats unattended!”
Hmm.
Doberman, a mere third party, stood awkwardly in the middle,
watching their exchange. He cursed his rotten luck for walking
in at such a moment. The Emperor’s anger was
understandable.
Dion was a free spirit, the kind of guy you’d call a lazy genius.
Despite his exceptional talent, he never made proper use of it.
He was constantly off on some expedition to god knows
where, usually volunteering for them without anyone even
asking.
Yes, doors popped up here and there in the frontier regions,
though they were small enough that the local Disaster Defence
Centre could handle them. Dion always sent in reports
promptly, presenting himself officially as the “hard-working
son of the Royal Guard Commander,” serving the provinces.
“If you’ve got ears, you must’ve heard. The statistics don’t lie.
We’ve got doors appearing in our nation far more frequently
than in any other country! What if a red door suddenly
appears? It’d be a state of emergency! And yet, one of our few
S-grade espers is absent from the capital! What, is this some
sort of joke to you?”
Whoosh! Crack!
This time, a wooden drawer shattered. It seemed the Emperor
wasn’t exactly skilled at throwing things since he kept missing
commander Dicaine’s body.
“I have no excuse. I’ll explain it clearly to Dion, Your
Majesty.”
The commander bowed his head in silent apology. It wasn’t an
uncommon sight to see the Emperor berate the commander
like this. The man, steadfast and loyal, often took the blame
without protest, making him an ideal outlet for the Emperor’s
frustration.
The power of the S-grade espers had grown stronger, while the
Emperor’s influence had waned. Like a beast born to lead, he
wasn’t taking it well.
“I can’t stand the sight of you.”
With a dismissive wave, the Emperor issued his decree.
Commander Dicaine, bowing even lower, turned to leave. As
he walked out, he briefly locked eyes with Doberman. His
steady, deep brown gaze revealed his unshaken sense of duty.
Dicaine was a rare man who placed great value on justice and
loyalty. Despite enduring such insults, he respected his
sovereign’s will and always sought to discern right from
wrong. It was no wonder he was one of the most trusted
figures in the nation.
Even Doberman found his conviction admirable — if a bit
uncomfortable to witness.
“Go on in.”
After Dicaine left, Doberman realised how badly he’d timed
his entry. The Emperor’s anger still simmered, and his sharp
eyes bored into Doberman.
“Bring Dion here.”
Hadn’t Doberman been tasked with fetching some key figure
from Epenhar?
When he didn’t respond immediately, the Emperor snapped
irritably, “I hear Dion rescued some lost granddaughter of the
Blonid family in the frontier. When you go to Epenhar, bring
both her and Dion back.”
Who the hell had he saved now?
Doberman nearly burst out laughing. Biting his lip to hold it
in, he bowed low. Ronile. What on earth would the
granddaughter of a rich family be doing, lost in the frontier?
And Dion, of all people, just happened to find and save her?
It was such a feeble excuse.
‘Is esper Dion… dating?’
But no, Ronile had been Tae Ha-Jin’s former fiancée. The idea
of her being romantically involved with Dion seemed far-
fetched. Word had it she’d only just returned from staying in
Diaylen for a long time.
‘She still seems fond of Tae Ha-Jin esper.’
To think she’d still pine for such a cold-hearted man. Tae Ha-
Jin had only helped because commander Dicaine had asked
him to. Even that had been forced by the Emperor pressuring
the commander.
Their engagement had once been used as a symbol of
diplomatic ties with Epenhar.
‘I still remember how hard it was to stop Tae Ha-Jin from
killing the Emperor back then…’
Recalling the tense past, Doberman let out a bitter laugh.
At any rate, Dion seemed to be in another country now. If it
wasn’t for a romance, why was he in Epenhar?
There was no need to think too deeply about it. Dion was a
wanderer, constantly flitting about from place to place. He
enjoyed it. Most likely, he’d just popped over to a
neighbouring nation for a bit of fun, only to have his location
discovered by the Emperor.
Even the Emperor seemed to find the news hard to swallow,
brimming with displeasure.
“A fool. Going abroad at a time like this?”
After a long silence, Doberman cautiously spoke up. “I’ll go
and bring him back, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t bother bringing him to me. Take him straight to the
commander.”
“Yes. I’ll report back.”
Doberman bowed deeply before leaving the office. Tapping on
his watch, he received Dion’s location coordinates. After a
brief pause, light enveloped his body.
In a flash, he disassembled and reappeared, opening his eyes
to a brightened scene.
“Oh, the secretary’s here?”
 Chapter 2. Part 7
“…?”
Dion waved cheerily from his spot on the bed, where he was in
the middle of engaging with a man dressed in uniform. From
the looks of it, the man seemed to be some sort of high-
ranking guard.
His bare body was slick with sweat, and the man below him
flushed as he shrank away. One glance lower, and Doberman
knew he’d see something he didn’t want to.
Fortunately, Doberman wasn’t particularly flustered. It was the
kind of thing a transportation esper often experienced. After
all, sexual encounters through guiding weren’t exactly
unusual.
As Doberman appeared, Dion withdrew his member and
hastily threw on a nearby robe.
“Well, since we have company, I’ll have to say goodbye.
Shame, it was urgent, but thanks for the guiding.”
Dion waved at the man, who hurriedly fixed his uniform
before fleeing the room, face red with embarrassment.
“A guard, you said? And you guided him?”
Inwardly astonished, Doberman asked. Guards were typically
espers, given their vastly superior physical capabilities.
“Guard?”
Dion blinked for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“He’s just a guide. You know, costume roleplay?”
“…?”
A costume? Doberman hadn’t even considered that. So Dion
esper had a thing for costumes?
He’d come to another country, dressed his guide up in
uniform, and received guiding through sex?
His adaptability and creativity were truly remarkable. And the
guide? Impressive as well.
‘Do I really need to know Dion esper’s costume kinks…?’
Shaking his head, Doberman sighed inwardly.
“I’m here to escort you back to the capital. Let’s go.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Dion sighed dramatically. “The
Emperor’s throwing a fit again, isn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“And he threw something at my father again?”
“…Yes.”
Dion let out a low scoff as he strolled towards the dressing
room.
“Honestly, my old man’s such a stiff. Can’t stand his uptight
nature.”
‘I wonder what’s happened to the commander now, though.’
It wasn’t long before he’d changed and returned, moving over
to Doberman. Watching him, Doberman noticed something
off, tilting his head slightly.
“That’s not the watch you usually wear, is it?”
Dion, still buttoning up the last of his shirt, let out a soft sound
of recognition, glancing down at his wrist.
“Oh, it broke, so I got a new one.”
The watch had a GPS built in, tracking his location and
sending coordinates to the transportation espers. Watches like
that didn’t come cheap. Breaking one, then replacing it just
like that—it hit Doberman again just how wealthy Dion, son
of the commander, must be. As Dion finished up, he grabbed
Doberman’s arm with a practiced ease.
“See, that’s why I say you’ve got an eye for detail, mate.”
“Well, it’s slightly different in shape…”
“Didn’t realise you were so interested in me.”
“…Don’t flatter yourself.”
Doberman was about to transport them to the Imperial City
when he suddenly remembered. He also needed to bring
Ronile, granddaughter of Chairman Blonide.
“Where is Ronile?”
“Not sure… Isn’t she still in the Diaylen capital?”
“…Sorry, what? Didn’t you rescue her, Esper Dion?”
“Who’d believe that load of bull? Obviously a lie.”
Dion chuckled at Doberman, who stared back at him in
disbelief. The look in Dion’s eyes seemed to be saying, ‘Don’t
tell me you’re the idiot who bought that.’ Doberman felt
indignant. Of course he knew it was a lie, but since the
Emperor had personally ordered Ronile be brought to the
capital, he assumed she’d already be here.
“She fancies Ha-Jin, doesn’t she? Pretty sure she’s still in the
capital. Didn’t see her anywhere in Epenhar.”
“But I’ve been ordered to bring Ronile as well…”
“You’ve got an idea of where she might be, don’t you? I know
where she is.” Dion smirked. She’s probably in Diaylen. If that
was true, then there was only one logical place for her to be…
“Tae Ha-Jin Esper’s apartment?”
“Yeah. She used to go there all the time when they were
engaged.”
“Tae Ha-Jin Esper sold that place.”
“He sold it?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm. That right?”
Dion scratched his chin thoughtfully, then grinned.
“Doesn’t hurt to check, does it? If you’re meant to bring her
back.”
Doberman, hesitating for a moment, glanced at Dion gripping
his arm before using his ability. In an instant, both of them
vanished into the light.

To their surprise, inside Tae Ha-Jin’s sold apartment, Ronile

was sprawled out on the sofa. Hearing the noise, she sat up in
shock, then, recognising Dion and Doberman, she slowly
stood, irritation clear on her face.
“You scared the hell out of me! What are you doing here? This
seems a bit rude, don’t you think?”
Despite her annoyance, she kept her temper in check.
Doberman, instead of cutting to the chase, couldn’t help but
ask,
“Long time no see, Ronile. We’re here on the Emperor’s
orders… But I thought this apartment had been sold?”
“Oh yeah, Ha-Jin put it on the market. So, I bought it.”
“…You’re the buyer?”
“Paid for it with my own money. Borrowed a name from
someone in Diaylen for the paperwork, though.”
“You borrowed a name?”
Seeing the confused look on Doberman’s face, Ronile
shrugged.
“What was I supposed to do? If I bought it under my own
name, Ha-Jin wouldn’t have sold it. I’ve got a lot of fond
memories in this place, y’know? Cost me a bloody fortune,
too. Was it always this expensive?”
It wasn’t just an expensive flat, it was obscenely priced. She
must’ve pestered her grandfather endlessly to buy it.
Doberman felt uneasy. He didn’t know how much Tae Ha-Jin
had sold it for, but the fact that Ronile was the one who’d
bought it was disturbing. She was gently running her fingers
over the edge of the sofa as though reminiscing. It was the
same couch Ha-Jin had left behind when he couldn’t be
bothered to take it with him. Doberman distinctly remembered
arranging for it to be hauled off to the scrapheap, so why was
it still here? He glanced around. All the other furniture was
still in place, untouched.
“…..”
Doberman struggled to maintain a neutral expression. There
had been times when Tae Ha-Jin’s admirers acted like stalkers,
and Doberman usually stepped in to deal with them for their
own safety. But Ronile, the daughter of a wealthy magnate
from a neighbouring nation, wasn’t someone he could handle
so easily. He’d witnessed their engagement, knowing full well
that it was nothing but a formality. Tae Ha-Jin despised Ronile,
and Doberman had sensed that deeply. Was she really this
naïve, pampered to the point of ignorance? Buying back a flat
he’d sold, even recovering the bloody furniture he’d left
behind… Tae Ha-Jin would be furious if he knew.
Ronile, smiling sweetly now, said,
“Make sure to tell Ha-Jin something for me.”
“…What should I tell him?”
“That I’ve bought the apartment he used to live in.”
It was incomprehensible.
“This place belongs to me now. He can’t just take it back. So,
he might as well know it was me who bought it. Actually, I
hope he does.”
Dion, who had been listening, burst into open laughter.
“Well, damn. You’ve really thrown yourself into this, haven’t
you? Chasing love with everything you’ve got, yeah?”
Dion turned to Doberman as if seeking confirmation. It
seemed like this wasn’t their first encounter. Doberman found
himself at a loss for words. Seeing this, Ronile shot Dion a
withering glare.
“Coming from you? As if you don’t live like there’s no
tomorrow.”
Dion just smiled silently. Ronile, now the owner of the flat,
walked around the space with ease, changing her clothes
before stepping out to join them.
“You said the Emperor’s looking for me? That reminds me,
there’s a banquet tomorrow. I’ll be attending as my
grandfather’s proxy. He’s busy with other matters.”
“Guess we’ll see you tomorrow, then, Ronile?” Dion grinned.
“Seems so,” Ronile replied offhandedly, before turning her
gaze to Doberman.
“You can feel it too, right?”
“…Feel what?”
“This place… Can’t you still smell Ha-Jin in here?”
Doberman was sure of it—there was absolutely no trace of Tae
Ha-Jin here. He had practically lived in his office even when
he owned this flat, leaving it mostly unoccupied. There hadn’t
been any chance for his scent to linger, and Ronile, who had
no esper abilities, wouldn’t be able to sense anything even if it
had. The idea that she could smell Ha-Jin here was ridiculous.
Then, in that moment, as Ronile reached out to grab
Doberman’s arm for transport, an instinctual disgust flared
within him, causing him to reflexively slap her hand away.
“…….”
“…….”
Even Dion noticed the rejection, casting a curious glance his
way. Coming to his senses, Doberman reluctantly offered his
arm again. He didn’t apologise, nor did he offer any excuse.
Ronile shot him a brief, hardened look but said nothing, taking
his arm once more.
In the cold silence that followed, the three of them vanished
from the apartment.

***

Time passed, and Tae Ha-Jin still hadn’t returned to the study.
Yeon, who had given up trying to think and stuffed the
revolting documents back into the box, wandered into the
living room.
Surprisingly, Tae Ha-Jin was tidying up the scattered bags. He
didn’t seem like the sort of bloke who’d ever bother with such
menial tasks.
‘Funny that…’
Suddenly, Yeon recalled a moment in the past.
It was when he had faked a guiding session to conceal the fact
he’d entered a saturated period. Tae Ha-Jin had expertly
calmed him down and, as soon as he finished, the first thing he
did was straighten out the bedding. He’d even wiped Yeon’s
body clean with his rather rough hands.
Another memory resurfaced—Tae Ha-Jin’s flashy sports car.
The interior had been spotless, not even a bloody air freshener
in sight. It was so clean, there wasn’t a place for the eyes to
rest.
Despite occasionally smoking, Tae Ha-Jin always smelled
fresh when he was around. Then again, he was the type to
shower immediately after returning from the field, so it made
sense.
‘And the house interior…’
The house was luxurious and appeared expensive, yet there
was no unnecessary clutter. The space felt vast, almost barren,
with only the essentials in place. As Yeon stared at Tae Ha-
Jin’s broad back, the man turned his head and their eyes met.
“What.”
It was the kind of look that asked, “What the fuck are you
staring at?” Feeling a bit awkward, Yeon replied.
“You’ve got eyes in the back of your head, do you?”
‘You’ll never have to worry about getting hit from behind.’
Hovering aimlessly near the boxes, half-considering offering
help, Yeon watched Tae Ha-Jin narrow his eyes. He pointed
somewhere with his long fingers and said, “I’ll handle this.
You go over there.”
Yeon’s gaze followed his gesture to the front door.
“…You want me to leave?”
“Move.”
Tae Ha-Jin swatted his hand like he was shooing a fly away,
signalling Yeon to get out of the way. It was a polite version of
“You’re useless, get lost.”
Under normal circumstances, Yeon would have been more
than happy to oblige. The fact that he was even helping Tae
Ha-Jin with personal tasks was already quite generous of him.
But Tae Ha-Jin’s abrupt dismissal felt less like he was just
being unhelpful, and more like he couldn’t stand the sight of
him moping about.
That was the key issue.
‘Leave in this uncomfortable state?’
On top of that, Tae Ha-Jin must’ve noticed him come out into
the living room earlier, yet hadn’t said a word.
He didn’t ask why Yeon had been crying, when they were
storming the research lab, or what he had found in the
documents. It was as though he had erased the entire scene
from his memory.
That only irked Yeon even more.
—Stop crying for no reason. You humans of that age think
tears solve everything. They don’t. Unless you resolve the root
of the problem, those tears will just evaporate, leaving nothing
behind.
Yeon recalled the time when he was a child, crying because he
didn’t want to learn machine control. His father had always
looked at him with contempt during those moments, as if he
were an annoying little brat. He repeatedly taught him how
worthless his tears were.
From that point on, Yeon had forced himself not to cry,
rationalising it away.
‘Was that supposed to be his version of comfort?’
Maybe Tae Ha-Jin’s words and actions had no deeper
meaning, and Yeon had simply mistaken them for comfort.
Still, it wasn’t fair. Now he was being told to leave? Was
crying really that unbearable for him?
“I don’t cry often, you know.”
Yeon tried to keep his expression neutral as he spoke, his tone
firm. Tae Ha-Jin, who had been folding a box, raised an
eyebrow. “What?”
“I can’t even remember the last time I cried… If I annoyed
you, I apologise.”
Yeon lowered his eyes for a moment, as if lost in thought, then
turned around and grabbed his jacket from the sofa. He
retrieved his phone from the study before heading for the front
door Tae Ha-Jin had pointed out. His pace quickened as if
even he didn’t understand why he was in such a rush to leave.
He slipped on his shoes, crushing the backs, and reached for
the door. But then his collar was yanked back roughly, pulling
him back into the house with such force that he staggered.
Yeon spun around, startled, and found himself face-to-face
with Tae Ha-Jin, who slammed the door shut with a bang. The
door seemed to scream for mercy.
Tae Ha-Jin placed his hand on the closed door, leaving Yeon
half-pinned between him and the entrance. His crimson eyes
bore down on him with an intensity that made it hard to
breathe.
“What the hell are you on about?”
“…Pardon?”
“What exactly did I do to piss you off?”
Was this why he had grabbed him?
Yeon blurted out the thought that had been running through his
mind. “You told me to go home because I cried, and it
bothered you.”
Tae Ha-Jin’s face twisted at that. “I told you to go home before
you even started crying.”
His words were delivered with sharp precision. Automatically,
Yeon recalled the moment Tae Ha-Jin had poured out the
coffee in the sink before heading upstairs. He had told him to
leave then.
Apparently, the order to go home had been issued long before
Yeon shed any tears.
“And.”
Tae Ha-Jin tilted his head arrogantly, as if urging Yeon to
continue. Yeon, hesitating for a moment, recalled the earlier
situation and responded.
“You looked at me with an annoyed expression.”
“It was annoying.”
“…”
“You were blocking the boxes.”
Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t the type to make up stories just to placate
someone. If anything, he’d sooner knock someone down than
flatter them.
Realising this, Yeon understood he had let past trauma cloud
his judgement, unfairly projecting it onto his superior. It was
pure paranoia. Now he just felt embarrassed and wanted to
escape. More accurately, he wanted to flee from Tae Ha-Jin’s
unrelenting gaze.
“…Seems I misunderstood. I’ll be off now.”
Yeon reached for the handle again, but with a quick motion,
Tae Ha-Jin grabbed his wrist, twisting it slightly. His grip was
strong.
“Are you blind, or just thick?”
Tae Ha-Jin spat the words out as he dragged Yeon’s hand onto
his crotch. Yeon’s eyes widened in shock. It wasn’t just the
unexpected contact—it was the fact that Tae Ha-Jin was
already rock hard.
Yeon hadn’t even noticed before. It was clear now that he had
been oblivious to more than just his emotions.
“You didn’t get it the first time, so let me explain. The first
time I told you to go home, it was because I wanted to fuck
you blind. The second time, it was because I wanted to fuck
you till you cried.”
His tone was as casual as if he were giving a report in a
meeting. For a second, Yeon wondered if he’d misheard. But it
was impossible to ignore the throbbing cock beneath his hand.
‘Is he even aware of what he’s saying?’
Swallowing nervously, Yeon tried to pull his hand away, but
Tae Ha-Jin’s grip only tightened.
“You exposed me, now listen closely.”
“…”
“How do you think I felt getting hard while watching you
cry?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s gaze dropped to the pale hand pressed against his
trousers. He guided Yeon’s hand to stroke him slowly, the
motion deliberate and exuding an almost obscene sensuality.
He bent down, his face so close that their noses nearly
touched, and murmured, “It’s not that difficult. If you need a
reason for this kind of contact, I could always push myself into
a frenzy just to make one.”
“…?”
“But I’m not into forcing things.”
“Esper.”
“So drop the ridiculous misunderstanding and…”
He released Yeon’s wrist, turned the handle, and flung the door
open.
“…Get lost when I’m still being nice.”
It was his third dismissal.
Tae Ha-Jin held the door open, using his foot to stop it from
closing, gesturing with his chin for Yeon to leave. Yeon
exhaled sharply, not even realising he had been holding his
breath. Tae Ha-Jin’s words may have been nonchalant, but his
gaze felt like it had already devoured him a thousand times
over.
Yeon’s body refused to move. He needed to leave, yet the red
eyes seemed to bind him in place. Tae Ha-Jin, watching him
with a languid expression, started counting down.
“Five.”
4.
3.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Yeon bolted through the wide-open door as if fleeing a crime
scene.
Bang!
The door slammed shut behind him with a resounding crash.
Judging by the noise, it wouldn’t last a month before breaking.
He walked past the swimming pool in the vast garden, heading
for the exit. He couldn’t even bring himself to look back, as if
doing so might kill him.
Tae Ha-Jin’s words, spoken with a straight face just moments
ago, kept echoing in his ears. The way he threatened Yeon
with foul language left the latter utterly dazed.
‘Does he call that an explanation?’
He was so convincing in his explanation that Yeon couldn’t
help but admit he’d misunderstood this esper. In short, he said,
“I want to have sex with you, but I’m not going to force you.
I’ll let you go, so fuck off.”
It left Yeon feeling utterly stunned.
 Chapter 2. Part 8
Tae Ha-Jin, saying he was aroused by Yeon’s tears instead of
being irritated by them?
‘If he had the means, he’d use them to the fullest…’
He had mentioned it earlier, too. If he needed an excuse for
physical contact, he could go on a rampage. If that happened,
Yeon, as his exclusive guide, would have no choice but to
guide him.
Setting aside why he didn’t resort to such means…
‘He wants to have sex with me even if it’s not for guiding?’
That was unexpected.
Tae Ha-Jin usually kept his hands off Yeon’s body unless it
was for guiding, and apart from when he was tormenting
Yeon, he placed great importance on maintaining boundaries.
“…Feels like he’s crossed a line himself.”
Muttering to himself, Yeon stepped out through the main gate.
The tension seemed to ease a bit once I was out of his territory.
Meanwhile…
“Fuck…”
With quick hands, Ha-Jin cursed under his breath as he undid
his trousers. The realisation that he’d crossed a line hit him
just as hard.
As soon as Yeon had walked out and the door closed, Ha-Jin
hastily unhooked his trousers. He unzipped them and pulled
out his angry, throbbing erection. Leaning against the entrance,
he began to masturbate, utterly exasperated by himself.
“Am I really just a horny bastard?”
He’d lost count of how many times this had happened.
Somewhere along the line, Yeon had become the focus of his
desires every time he touched himself. The image of Yeon in
his mind was enough to shake his brain and arouse him to the
point of losing himself.
He had never been so starved for sex that it felt like hell.
The thought that crossed his mind when he saw Yeon silently
crying earlier was so crude it shocked even him. It was the
first time he’d ever been aroused by someone’s tears.
Knowing full well who Yeon was—a child from the Basen
Research Lab—yet ending up like this… His reason was
thoroughly defeated by instinct.
“Ah, fuck… This isn’t right.”
He let out a groan, tilting his head back with a thud. The door
creaked under the pressure. His Adam’s apple bobbed as his
hand moved faster. As he became increasingly aware of his
depravity, his arousal only grew stronger.
Letting himself think whatever he wanted was one thing.
There was no need to justify his dirty thoughts.
But seeing Yeon with that sad look on his face… He couldn’t
just stand by.
Why?
What was it about Yeon?
The fact that Yeon was from the Basen Research Lab did hold
some meaning for Ha-Jin, but it had nothing to do with this.
Despite the guilt he felt about that child, Ha-Jin had gone on
living his life just fine.
Even so, something about it all was messing with his instincts,
making it hard to rationalise.

[Yeon, how have you been? You haven’t been coming to see
Uibin lately, have you? T_T It’s been so hard to meet you. The
patient’s condition has improved significantly, so… when are
we going on that date? I don’t want to pressure you, but
waiting is painful, you know.
9:06 AM]
It was Dr. Choi Sa-Rang.
Yeon had just stepped out of the car and was running towards
the main building. Oversleeping this morning was a
nightmare. His office was directly opposite Tae Ha-Jin’s, and
the last thing he wanted was to bump into the workaholic and
let him see he was late.
As he quickly tapped his watch against the scanner, the bloody
slow entrance door finally opened. He dashed straight for the
elevator, nervously punching the button for the 20th floor. As
the lift ascended, he quickly texted back to Choi Sa-Rang.
[9:19 AM
I should have contacted you sooner. My bad. How about today
or tomorrow? I’ll adjust to your schedule. Let me know what
time works for you.]
After tapping out his message and pressing send, Yeon stepped
out of the elevator, still staring at his phone.
Smack!
“Ah… shit!”
It felt like his forehead had cracked open. Rubbing his sore
head, Yeon looked up and froze. Of all the people to run into,
it had to be Tae Ha-Jin, standing there in his pristine white
uniform, staring down at him with that trademark
expressionless face. Sure, Ha-Jin’s beauty was almost
blinding, but right now, all Yeon could think about was the
throbbing pain in his head.
Of all times to be late, and of all people to see…
“You’re looking very flashy today,” Yeon muttered.
“Lee Yeon,” Tae Ha-Jin’s voice was calm but firm.
“Yes?”
“If I smash that phone of yours, will you stop being late?” His
gaze shifted to the phone tightly gripped in Yeon’s hand. Yeon
reflexively jerked his hand back and shoved the phone into his
pocket.
“…No, that wouldn’t help. I’d just be late more often because
I wouldn’t hear the alarm.”
“Submit a report.”
Yeon’s mouth fell open. A guide submitting a report for being
late? He had never heard of such a thing before. But Tae Ha-
Jin wasn’t joking around.
Yeon nodded weakly but then suddenly felt indignant. ‘Why
the hell do you think I didn’t sleep last night?’
Every time Yeon closed his eyes, all he could see were Ha-
Jin’s intense stares from the night before. The way he
comforted him, spoke crude words, or even looked at him with
raw, unabashed desire. It haunted him to the point where Yeon
had been afraid he’d start dreaming about it. This out-of-
nowhere insomnia had utterly exhausted him.
Buzz.
Another message. Yeon pulled out his phone as he walked
towards his office.
[How about tonight? I can pick you up from the Centre this
time!
9:22 AM]

[9:23 AM
No need to go through the trouble because of me.]

[It’s no trouble! You always come to the hospital for me.

9:23 AM]
Yeon blinked slowly. The only reason he went to the hospital
was to see Uibin, not Choi Sa-Rang. But there was no point in
clarifying that. He was about to send a half-hearted reply when
he felt a sharp gaze from above. Tae Ha-Jin was staring at his
phone.
“Is the reason you’re late because of a woman?”
Yeon shook his head, internally sighing. He couldn’t exactly
say, ‘No, I was late because of your filthy words.’
Tae Ha-Jin looked as if he was mulling something over.
“This is a dilemma.”
“What do you mean?”
“If it was the phone, I could smash it. But I can’t exactly break
the doctor, can I?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Submit two reports.”
Ha-Jin walked into his office and shut the door behind him.
‘Did he seriously just say he wanted to smash Sa-Rang?’
…He had to be joking, right?
Yeon frowned as he entered his own office. Most of his time
was spent on guiding missions or in emergency rooms, so this
place still felt unfamiliar.
[Exclusive Guide Lee Yeon]
He looked at the nameplate, which had already gathered a bit
of dust. It was too much of a hassle to clean it. He briefly
wondered why Ha-Jin had been standing by the elevator
earlier but dismissed the thought.
Then he noticed a massive box on his desk. Judging by the
extravagant wrapping, it had to be something fancy.
“Is this even for me?”
It could’ve been Ha-Jin’s, after all. Yeon set it aside on the
floor and powered on his laptop. He had a bunch of guiding
reports to catch up on.
Team Leader Rose from the A-grade team was kind but strict
about procedures. As Yeon half-heartedly started typing up his
report, the door flew open. Tae Ha-Jin strolled in like it was no
big deal. It was the first time Ha-Jin had ever entered Yeon’s
office, so Yeon just stared at him, bewildered. Ha-Jin scanned
him from head to toe, then put one hand on his waist.
“What are you doing?”
“Writing up a report.”
“And the box?”
So it was his. Yeon picked up the box from the floor and
handed it over.
“I thought it was yours, so I set it aside.”
Ha-Jin frowned, checked his watch, and said, “That’s yours.
You have two minutes. Get changed and come out.” Then he
left.
‘Mine?’
Yeon stared suspiciously at the box before reluctantly opening
it. Inside was a fancy tuxedo with a bow tie, and the fabric
shimmered in the light like it was made from some absurdly
expensive material. A pair of polished shoes sat neatly beside
it.
‘Am I seriously supposed to wear this right now?’
His job mostly consisted of guiding and writing reports. Why
the hell did he need a suit like this? Yeon shook his head in
disbelief. He’d been late, so maybe this was his punishment. If
he didn’t get changed within two minutes, he had a feeling
those reports would multiply from two to five.
He hurriedly swapped out his trousers and was halfway
through pulling on the shirt when the door swung open again.
Tae Ha-Jin stood there, blatantly looking him over like he was
admiring a painting. Yeon, still shirtless, couldn’t exactly
scream at another bloke for looking, so he just continued
dressing.
“Are you a time wizard or something? I’ve still got a minute
left.”
“Considering you’re late, you’re really going to talk about
time?” Ha-Jin said.
“…”
Once he had changed into the entire outfit, Yeon raised his
arms, signalling he was done. Ha-Jin’s gaze trailed down and
then back up, taking a little longer than expected.
“There was a Yellow Door incident earlier this morning,” Ha-
Jin said.
“What? I didn’t get any alerts.”
Ha-Jin, already stepping outside, responded, “Couldn’t use an
emotionally unstable guide.”
Yeon didn’t know where they were headed, but he naturally
fell into step behind Ha-Jin. He pieced together what had
happened. If Ha-Jin said he couldn’t “use” him, that meant it
was Ha-Jin’s doing that his watch hadn’t gone off at all.
Being the head of the central control room, it wouldn’t have
been hard for Ha-Jin to disable his alerts specifically.
‘Emotionally unstable? What the hell is that supposed to
mean?’
Yeon thought for a moment before scrunching his face up in
frustration.
“Are you taking the piss out of me again? What the fuck’s
your problem?”
“Ah, getting slagged off for doing a good deed – that’s new,”
Ha-Jin replied casually as he stepped into the lift.
He clearly thought Yeon had fallen apart because he’d shed a
few tears. Was that why he switched off the alarm? Some kind
of weird attempt at compassion?
Yeon’s blood ran cold for a moment. So what the hell had
happened to your guiding then?
Yeon grabbed Ha-Jin’s wrist for the guiding session.
“What?”
Yeon tapped on his watch. The contamination levels were a
decent 33 percent.
“Weren’t you called to the Yellow Door?”
“Yeah, I went.”
“And yet your levels are fine?”
“Do you think you’re the only guide in the whole bloody
Centre?” Ha-Jin said with his usual calm as he stepped out of
the lift. Yeon froze in place. It wasn’t something he’d ever
considered before – he felt like he’d just been punched in the
gut.
‘Of course… that’s how it is,’ Yeon thought. Being bonded
was just one of those things, a system designed to maximise
efficiency. Prioritising each other when it came to guiding was
all it boiled down to. So why the hell would Ha-Jin only ever
need guiding from him?
But for some reason, Ha-Jin had always come to him. He’d
never been guided by anyone else. Yeon had gotten used to it,
and somewhere along the way, he’d started taking it for
granted.
The realisation hit him hard.
While Yeon stood there frozen, the lift doors closed again. He
hadn’t pressed the button to open them, but the doors slid back
open anyway. Ha-Jin was standing there, waiting, his jaw
jutting out impatiently as if to say, ‘What the hell are you
doing? Get out here.’
“Get a move on. We’re short on time,” he snapped.
They stepped out of the building and into Ha-Jin’s violet car.
Like always, the bastard’s car was immaculate – almost
irritatingly so. After a while of silently staring out the window,
Yeon finally asked, “Who guided you?”
The question seemed to catch Ha-Jin off guard. He raised an
eyebrow and glanced over at Yeon.
“That’s not like you. Shouldn’t you be asking where we’re
going instead?”
“You’re talking like you know me well,” Yeon muttered.
Ha-Jin chuckled.
“Haven’t we seen enough of each other to say that? After all,
we’ve seen each other’s dicks.”
“… So what, do all blokes who’ve been to the same bathhouse
know each other?”
“Nah. But we’ve rubbed cocks, haven’t we?”
Yeon went silent. It was better not to continue that
conversation. He never did find out who guided Ha-Jin. Ha-Jin
clearly wasn’t in the mood to talk about it, and Yeon didn’t
push it further. Could it be that, just like when they first met,
Ha-Jin had opted for some quick oral guiding instead?
The scene flashed in Yeon’s mind: Ha-Jin lounging lazily,
gripping a guide’s hair while they…
Well. Yeon wasn’t sure how he felt about it. Neither good nor
bad, really. That kind of guiding wasn’t uncommon, especially
for someone like Ha-Jin, who was an S-grade esper. It was just
practical. Though Ha-Jin had made it clear a few times that he
didn’t exactly enjoy that kind of guiding. Still, it wasn’t like
Yeon enjoyed the thought of Ha-Jin getting guided by
someone else when he was supposed to be bonded to him.
‘See? That’s what happens when you try to be considerate,’
Yeon thought bitterly. He should’ve just let the damn Yellow
Door alarm go off – it wasn’t like he’d slept properly anyway.
“Out.”
They hadn’t been in the car long when Ha-Jin suddenly
ordered them to get out. They were in a park on the Centre
grounds. A Doberman was sprawled across a bench, looking
utterly exhausted. Despite wearing a suit, his tie was half
undone, making him look like an overworked office drone.
And it wasn’t even that late in the morning yet.
“You’re late, both of you…”
“Good to see you again, Doberman,” Yeon greeted him with a
smile. Doberman stood up with a bright grin.
“Yeah, long time no see. How’ve you been?”
“Better than you, by the looks of it.”
“Ah, you know me – always marching towards the grave.”
The dark circles under Doberman’s eyes said it all. He grabbed
both of them by the arms, pulling them along with him. Yeon
had gotten so used to it by now that he didn’t even flinch
anymore.
“You’re shining today, guide. Looking even better than usual
in that getup.”
“Yeah, the fabric practically reflects light.”
“Haha, nah, it’s not just the fabric. You’ve got a proper glow
today…”
“Shut it,” Ha-Jin cut in.
“…Right,” Doberman fell silent but shot Yeon a playful grin.
Yeon couldn’t help but admire Doberman’s resilience. It was a
mystery why someone so competent was working under
someone like Ha-Jin.
‘Then again, I’m in a similar boat,’ Yeon thought with a quiet
laugh to himself.
The place they were heading to was the Royal Palace. Usually,
only staff were seen bustling about here, but today, elegantly
dressed guests were making their way up the steps to the grand
hall above. A long red carpet stretched out before them.
Curiously, there weren’t any cameras or reporters around.
“What day is today?” Yeon asked, feeling completely out of
the loop. Doberman explained as they climbed the stairs.
“Ah, so you came without knowing. Today is the ‘Diaylen
Banquet,’ an official event. It’s nothing special, just an annual
gathering where the Diaylen nation invites distinguished
guests from other countries. Think of it as a massive high-
society mixer.”
A ‘massive high-society mixer’? Yeah, that sounded about
right. It felt like a pretty fitting description of the event. No
wonder there hadn’t been any talk of it among regular people.
A celebratory event like the national opening ceremony
banquet would’ve been widely publicised to the public.
“So why am I here?”
“Because you’re my exclusive guide.”
“…So just being exclusive to you automatically gets me into
high society, does it?” Yeon gave him a sceptical look.
Doberman glanced at Ha-Jin’s broad back as they ascended the
steps. The truth was, this banquet carried more weight than
one might expect. With high-ranking officials from all over the
world attending, the guest list was meticulously reviewed, and
security was tight. That’s why there weren’t any reporters.
Even though Yeon was Ha-Jin’s exclusive guide, it wasn’t
exactly the sort of event a guide would typically attend.
‘Well… Yeon does have the standing of being the son of Lee
Hong-Jun, the head of Basen Research Lab, so I suppose he
qualifies,’ Doberman thought. But officially, Yeon was here
purely as Ha-Jin’s exclusive guide. Ha-Jin had essentially
strong-armed his way in, saying, “You never know when the
Door’s going to blow. If my bonded guide isn’t coming with
me, I’m not going to any banquet.”
‘He’s never brought his exclusive guide along to one of these
before,’ Doberman mused. It seemed like Ha-Jin was more
attached to Yeon than he imagined.
“Don’t worry about it too much,” Doberman said in a soothing
tone. “Just sip some wine and make your escape when the
moment’s right.”
Yeon climbed the steps in silence. He wasn’t particularly
worried. It was just that these clothes, this atmosphere, felt
burdensome. Ever since he started to step out of the shadows,
revealing himself and his abilities, he was becoming more and
more accustomed to being watched. But that didn’t make
events like this any less awkward. The only silver lining was
that he wasn’t the centre of attention here and could blend in.
Normally, you’d have to hand over any weapons when
entering the hall – it was a royal event, after all. But Ha-Jin
strode in with his sword still strapped to his side. No one
stopped him, of course – he was allowed to carry it due to the
ever-present threat of a Door outbreak.
“Hey, is that Tae Ha-Jin?”
“His height is no joke. He could be a model or an actor!”
“I heard he’s a total powerhouse. Even takes care of Yellow
Doors like it’s nothing.”
“Yellow Doors? Really? In my country, we go into emergency
mode for a week when one opens.”
“That’s normal. How many nations even have an esper like
him?”
As Ha-Jin entered the hall, whispers followed him, eyes
tracking his every step. And then Yeon entered behind
Doberman, his black tailcoat making his pale skin look even
brighter by contrast.
“Who’s that with him?”
“Is that Tae Ha-Jin’s guest?”
“I thought he only ever brought his secretary?”
“Maybe he’s some famous actor.”
“With looks like that, he’s probably raking it in. Should we
invite him to work in our country?”
“Hahaha. Are you going to use it to promote your country?”
“You can do a lot with it, right? Haha.”
In the midst of the bustling crowd, well-trained waiters moved
around with several glasses of wine. Yeon took one, following
Doberman’s lead. The first place Tae Ha-Jin headed to was
where the Diaylen Royal Family were gathered.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin!”
Crown Prince Ricardo grinned widely, waving his arm. Ha-Jin
glanced at him briefly, then turned his gaze to greet the
Emperor. Yeon and Doberman also bowed together in
courtesy.
“We greet the Sun of Diaylen.”
“Ah, welcome, esper Tae Ha-Jin. And today, I see you’ve
brought Yeon, your guide, as well.”
“Yes. He’s my exclusive.”
The answer was curt, but the Crown Prince covered his mouth,
laughing. Since when had he started taking his exclusive guide
everywhere?
“Well, I hope you enjoy yourself. Let’s have dinner together
after the banquet.”
“Yes.”
Yeon, watching the conversation unfold, turned his head and
locked eyes with Princess Elena. She was dressed in an elegant
green gown. It was the first time they had crossed paths since
Yeon publicly read her Vessel in the dining room of the Crown
Prince’s palace.
Yeon’s gaze turned cold. Ever since she learned he was an S-
grade, the Princess had dropped hints to her father and leaked
information to some journalists that a prodigy was standing
beside Tae Ha-Jin.
It was the usual political bullshit, but being the one dragged
into it, Yeon found no pleasure in the matter. He had no desire
to acknowledge her any longer. If it suited her, she’d sell out
even those closest to her without hesitation.
Just as he tried to distance himself, Elena’s heels clicked
against the floor as she approached.
“Yeon.”
Her voice, still as pure as he remembered, rang out. Yeon
didn’t respond, merely meeting her eyes. Elena, looking a bit
flustered, dropped her gaze. Her lips moved slightly before she
forced herself to speak.
“I’m sorry… for using you.”
Her face did reflect some guilt. But to Yeon, even that looked
like part of her political game, so he didn’t bother showing any
reaction. The Princess raised her green eyes and took a step
closer.
“But I didn’t reveal your secret. And besides, didn’t you
publicly recite my Vessel? For a princess, that’s a deeply
humiliating experience. Still, I had my own wrongs as well…
So I thought maybe we could forgive each other.”
What a load of nonsense. Yeon’s expression subtly twisted.
“Your Highness.”
His throat dry, Yeon took a sip of wine, staring at her with a
blank, icy face. That gaze alone was enough to tell Elena what
would come next.
“Do we really need to forgive each other?”
“…”
“I don’t want to.”
Yeon turned away from her but then paused, exhaling softly,
and looked down at Elena once more.
“I was nearly exposed, and you think it’s fine because you
didn’t spill the core details? Just because we’ve both wronged
each other, you expect forgiveness? Since when did
forgiveness become some kind of one-to-one exchange?”
“Yeon…”
“I don’t know what kind of thorny path you’ve walked, and
frankly, I don’t care. But just because you’ve had to walk
through thorns, doesn’t mean you can go kicking up thorns on
other people’s paths too.”
His voice grew more heated, despite himself. She wasn’t even
worth it, really. But she’d been kind to him once, and now he
just saw her as a pitiful creature who couldn’t live any other
way. Her helpless expression only seemed to reveal the cosy
bubble she lived in.
If no one told her, she’d never understand what she’d done
wrong. Everyone around her probably just kissed her feet.
“Never use me as your stepping stone again. How do you
know that the stone you tread on might not be a landmine?”
Without any more pleasantries, Yeon turned away coldly. The
Princess didn’t protest or rebuke him. She didn’t follow either.
Her face, full of regret, seemed genuine enough.
Yeon had no intention of getting tangled up with her again or
hating her anymore. Hatred, after all, required too much
dedication.
“I’m truly sorry,” she murmured behind him, but Yeon didn’t
turn back.

***

“Where are you off to? Stay and play a little longer,” Ricardo
murmured teasingly, sidling up closer to Ha-Jin. His voice
lowered to a more private tone.
“Stop inviting me to these bloody parties. I know you’re using
me, but at least keep it reasonable.”
His tone would have made most people flinch, but Ricardo just
kept smiling. He knew full well that Tae Ha-Jin hated crowded
places like this. But wasn’t it fitting for the world’s top S-
grade esper to grace such an event with his presence?
“Oh, don’t be scary. We’re friends, you’re a Grade 5, and
attending these parties is only natural, right?”
“If I cut ties with you and change my citizenship, I’m guessing
you’d shut up then.”
“…”
“What, you think I won’t? Try me next year.”
Without waiting for a response, Ha-Jin turned away, leaving
the Crown Prince standing with his mouth agape. He had no
interest in being anyone’s performing monkey.
His red eyes swept across the hall, searching. Doberman, ever
the social butterfly, was engaged in lively conversation with a
group in the centre of the hall.
‘Yeon’s probably somewhere tucked away.’
And, as expected, Yeon stood near a secluded wall, his face
serene as he observed the people around him. A glass of deep
red wine slowly disappeared into his mouth.
A tall man approached Yeon, trying to strike up a
conversation. Yeon simply chuckled and shook his head.
‘What’s so funny?’
Ha-Jin’s face instinctively darkened. His guide, who barely
ever smiled at him, was apparently finding amusement in this
place. Ha-Jin’s steps quickened as he made his way over. But a
faint yet insistent hand suddenly grabbed at his coat.
“Ha-Jin… How have you been?”
Snap!
The moment she spoke, Ha-Jin harshly shook off her hand. It
was Ronile, his former fiancée. Her eyes looked hurt as she
stared at her hand before forcing a smile.
“There are a lot of eyes watching. Is this really okay?”
Her innocent words made Ha-Jin laugh out loud. Ronile
looked up at him, mesmerised. But Ha-Jin’s smile soon turned
bitter, and he spat his words like venom.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop showing up?”
 Chapter 2. Part 9
He had never cared about people watching. There had never
been a need to. Her grandfather’s position as the chairman of a
major corporation meant nothing to him. Killing Ronile would
be inconvenient, but still something that could be swept under
the rug.
“I know you don’t mean that. I know you’re a kind person…”
What an absolute joke.
Ha-Jin regarded Ronile as though she were some bizarre
creature. Only someone delusional could be this far off base.
“I missed you… I keep thinking of you, and I can’t bring
myself to leave. That’s why I’ve stayed in Diaylen all this
time.”
“I told you.”
“…”
“If you show up again, I’ll tear your face apart.”
“You said you’d tear me up if I came into your space
uninvited. But this isn’t your space, right?”
Technically, he had said that. It was meant as a warning not to
show herself in his presence. But she’d taken it literally. Ha-
Jin let out a bitter laugh.
“Did you manage to pick up the house I threw out?”
“Oh, did your secretary tell you?” She beamed with delight.
Finally, Ha-Jin realised she wasn’t right in the head. She had
always been missing a screw, but now it seemed she was
completely broken.
‘Apparently, she picked up the furniture I tossed out too…’
How the hell was he supposed to get rid of this woman?
As Ha-Jin mulled it over seriously, Yeon had been watching
them both from a distance.
“Well, if a glass of wine’s too much, how about just your
number? What do you say?”
Some bloke had been pestering the guide for a while now.
Why was he even asking for his number when he had no clue
who he was? Yeon shook his head again. Apart from when he
was guiding, he hadn’t really dealt with this kind of blatant
flirting before. Back in the day, he’d kept his face covered up,
after all.
More importantly, Tae Ha-Jin was chatting away with some
woman. A new face in a tight, red dress and neatly trimmed
bob. She had that carefully groomed, cutesy look about her.
Her body, on the other hand, had curves that didn’t quite
match the innocent vibe, giving off a slightly strange
atmosphere.
“Aren’t those two engaged or something?”
“No, they broke it off over a year ago. It’s a pretty famous
story by now.”
“Why is it so famous?”
“Well, apparently Ronile was really obsessive. Tae Ha-Jin
didn’t give a damn about her though… Heard she even tried to
kill herself when he dumped her.”
“Oh my God… Still, isn’t Ronile a great catch? She’s the
granddaughter of the Blohnid company owner, isn’t she?”
“Who knows. Tae Ha-Jin’s an esper of such a high grade that
he probably doesn’t feel like he’s missing out.”
Two posh ladies whispered, clearly loud enough for anyone to
hear.
‘So that woman’s his ex-fiancée.’
Yeon recalled reading a comment on Owen’s tablet.
Apparently, Ha-Jin had gotten engaged and then called it off.
At the time, it had just been a bit of interesting gossip. But
now that he was seeing the two of them in the flesh, it felt
different.
Is this what it’s like when one sees celebrity gossip play out in
real life?
Yeon pricked up his ears as he watched the pair, who were
drawing everyone’s attention. Oddly enough, they actually
seemed to suit each other.
‘Feels strange, doesn’t it?’
Yeon had always thought Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t the type to be
interested in relationships, let alone marriage. Given his…
well, wild ways, it didn’t seem like he’d ever be one to settle
down. And despite what the gossiping ladies were saying,
those two seemed to be getting along just fine.
They were standing close. The woman blushed coyly, and
even Ha-Jin cracked a smile now and then.
Rumours always get blown out of proportion, don’t they?
Who knew, maybe things were going well between them after
all. As Yeon drifted into his thoughts, the guy who’d been
trying his luck with Yeon finally gave up and left with a scowl.
Then, a new man approached.
“Hyung!”
Given that Yeon had never been called ‘Hyung’ before, the
only person it could be was the S0-grade esper, Dion. Yeon
turned to see him grinning brightly as he hurried over. His
wine sloshed dangerously in the glass, but somehow didn’t
spill.
“We’re not that close, are we? Esper Dion,” Yeon said
indifferently.
“Oh, come on. Do you have to be so cold to a guy just trying
to say hi?” Dion laughed awkwardly, clearly a little deflated.
Yeon had relied on him once. Back during the Pink Door
incident, Yeon’d entrusted him with his body. Dion seemed to
think that had made them friends.
Yeon glanced at his wine, then raised the gaze to his face. His
chin was bruised, and his lip was split, still bleeding. From the
look of the bruises, it had been a few days since the hit.
Was the injury getting worse?
For an esper like Dion with a naturally high healing ability, the
fact that the wound wasn’t closing meant the person who hit
him was probably an esper too.
“Who hit you?” Yeon asked.
Dion blinked slowly before smiling.
“I didn’t get hit. I tripped.”
It was obvious he was lying, but Yeon didn’t press. He wasn’t
particularly curious about the details, nor did he have any
intention of getting involved in Dion’s personal life.
“Doesn’t it hurt when you talk? You should probably get that
lip stitched.”
Yeon studied his split lip intently, making Dion look away
awkwardly.
‘Is he feeling embarrassed?’
But pretending not to notice didn’t seem right either,
especially when his lips kept bleeding into his mouth. Even
with an S-grade esper’s natural self-healing, the wound kept
tearing open, mostly because Dion wouldn’t stop talking.
“I’ve been travelling so much for work, that’s why you haven’t
seen me around. But now, I’ll be staying in Diaylen for a
while. His Majesty has asked my father to—”
“Just shut up,” Yeon interrupted. Dion’s lip kept bleeding
every time he spoke, and it was beginning to get on his nerves.
With a gentle frown, Yeon reached out a pale hand, moving it
closer to the esper’s face. He started guiding Dion’s energy,
purifying it.
“Your contamination levels seem to be hovering around 30%.
I’ll start guiding the energy around your face to stop the
bleeding.”
Dion’s eyes shifted to his face, watching as he focused. The
heavy energy that had been weighing him down began to clear,
purified and returned to him. This was the first time Dion had
been guided by Yeon. Though the energy returning to him was
his own, it tasted sweeter, warmer, and more comforting than
ever before. The pain in his lips dulled.
‘Is this because Yeon has a dual bloodline?’
It was a calmness he’d never felt before. Now, he understood
why Tae Ha-Jin had let himself go berserk just to feel this.
Dion’s thoughts wandered. This gentle, beautiful man had no
idea that Dion knew his secret.
“I’m getting excited here,” Dion grinned.
“Stop moving your mouth,” Yeon chided.
Ah, this was getting troublesome.
It was hard not to laugh, but when he did, his lip split open
again, blood spilling out. Yeon sighed, his brow creasing.
“You really don’t listen, do you? How old are you, Esper?”
“Twenty-four.”
“Stop talking.”
“But you asked…”
“It was rhetorical. I wasn’t expecting an answer.”
Yeon curtly mimed zipping his lips shut. The gesture almost
made Dion burst out laughing again, which was only making
things worse. The sensation of his wound stinging, combined
with the joy buzzing through his body, was overwhelming.
Unable to bear it any longer, Dion grabbed Yeon’s wrist and
gently pulled his hand away. Then, he took out his phone and
typed quickly before showing the guide the screen.
[Is this some new form of torture? It’s tickling me to death.]
After telling him to shut his mouth several times, it seemed
like he’d finally understood. Yeon smiled slightly as he read
the message.
“Just keep quiet for the rest of the day. And no smiling.”
Dion typed again.
[If I don’t smile, people will think I’m angry. I’m always
smiling, you know?]
“Who cares what people think. If something’s not funny, don’t
smile.”
“….”
For the first time, Dion’s smile disappeared. His face seemed a
little surprised, maybe even thoughtful.
Yeon studied his now serious expression and felt a strange
sense of satisfaction.
‘He looks like a completely different person when he’s not
smiling.’
With his high-grade abnormality, Dion had a face that could
stop traffic. Normally, he had a soft, approachable vibe, but
with his expression neutral, he seemed sharper, more
dangerous.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Tae Ha-Jin give a real
smile either.’
He usually smirked, sneered, or let out a laugh when
something amused him. But would he ever smile like Dion?
It was just a small thought.
[See? Don’t I look scary when I’m not smiling?]
Dion typed again, lifting the phone up with his lips barely
curled in a mock grin. Yeon shook his head.
“I know you’re not going to hurt anyone, so why would I be
scared? This is just another side of you, Esper. It’s good to see
you have different expressions.”
“…..”
Dion stopped typing after that. He just stood there, quietly, his
calm eyes focused entirely on him.
 ***

‘Dion now, is it?’

‘Earlier, it was some lanky bastard.’
Out of the corner of his eye, Ha-Jin noticed Lee Yeon
extending his hand towards Dion’s face. It looked like guiding.
Ha-Jin, always sensitive to energy, could feel a faint trace of
Yeon’s aura even from here.
Guiding, right in the middle of a banquet hall, with no signs of
a Door opening.
‘My guide is always bloody busy, isn’t he?’ Ha-Jin swallowed
down his irritation and looked down at the woman in front of
him. He’d wasted enough time pondering what to do with her.
In silence, he stepped closer to her. Ronile fiddled nervously
with her hands, blushing like a shy schoolgirl.
“Ronile.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to fuck?”
His voice wasn’t quiet. Ha-Jin had deliberately chosen to spit
out something crude, something meant to offend. He didn’t
particularly enjoy doing it, but it was necessary now to put an
end to things. This was a banquet hall with more than enough
ears listening in. Sure enough, a few murmurs broke out as
people stared at them. Ronile, startled, shook her head.
“No… why do you keep talking to me like that? I’ve told you,
countless times… I love you. I mean it.” Her voice was quiet,
like she was speaking to herself. Of course, as a well-known
figure, she was conscious of the stares around her. Ha-Jin
smirked.
“Ha-Jin, I—”
“I’m just curious how genuine your love is,” he interrupted,
pointing to a man across the hall. Ronile followed his finger to
where the Prime Minister of the Bobcam Nation stood.
“How about you go have a go with him? Maybe then your
bloody ‘sincerity’ will be recognised.” Ha-Jin then pointed to
another man.
“Or maybe go over there and kiss that guy.”
Both men were famous for being hopelessly devoted to their
wives. Ronile’s eyes wavered. She was so stunned she
couldn’t even respond, staring at Ha-Jin with a deeply hurt
expression.
“Ha-Jin, how could you say such things…”
“What I’m saying is, there’s no bloody chance of me getting
with you. That’s how much I despise you.”
“….”
“Maybe you’ll try another suicide stunt like last time? Go
ahead. Won’t be at your funeral anyway.”
Ha-Jin took three steps back, putting some distance between
them. He was going to end this twisted history with Ronile
tonight. That was his plan.
With an indifferent gaze, Ha-Jin unsheathed the sword from
his side. The sharp blade gleamed under the lights of the
banquet hall, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Ahhh!”
“Wait—Tae Ha-Jin, is he really—”
“Is he about to kill someone? Somebody, stop him!”
“Isn’t that Ronile? Where are her bodyguards…?”
People were already watching the tense exchange between the
two, but now the situation had escalated. Panic rippled through
the crowd as Ha-Jin coldly aimed the sword at Ronile. If it had
been a centimetre longer, it would’ve touched her throat.
“Wha—”
Even Lee Yeon, standing at a distance, was taken aback.
Ha-Jin, under the horrified gaze of the entire room, stood
threateningly over the trembling woman.
‘Weren’t they on good terms?’
Ronile, visible even from afar, was trembling violently. Her
face had gone ghostly pale as tears began to spill down her
cheeks. Ha-Jin tilted his head slightly, staring at her with a
detached expression.
“This way, you’ll never forget me. My sincerity.”
Screams broke out across the room.
Ronile, paralysed by fear, collapsed to the ground. The hem of
her red dress fanned out across the floor like a pool of blood.
“Ha-Jin, Ha-Jin… why… why are you doing this?”
Dropping the façade of humour, Ha-Jin’s face hardened. He
lowered the sword towards the woman who was now huddled
on the ground.
“From now on, I’m drawing a line,” he said coldly. He swung
the sword towards the floor, the sharp blade splitting the
marble with a loud crack, carving a large, clean line. It
perfectly divided the space between him and Ronile.
Speaking quietly, so only she could hear, Ha-Jin murmured,
“If you look at me, speak to me, touch me, or step into my
space…”
“…”
“I’ll carve this line across your throat.”
He sneered.
“I’ve told you countless times, haven’t I? That I’m not
interested. But you never fucking listen.”
Ronile’s face remained frozen in shock, tears streaming down
her face. She tilted her head up to look at him, and in response,
Ha-Jin lifted the sword once again, aiming it directly at her.
“Look again and I’ll kill you.”
At that, Ronile dropped her gaze. Her posture would’ve
inspired pity from anyone, but not Ha-Jin. If he didn’t deal
with her like this, she would never stop clinging to him. Last
time, she’d stopped eating, and before that, she’d even tried to
kill herself. It was pathetic, and Ha-Jin couldn’t stand it.
In his mind, he’d already shown far too much tolerance for
Ronile’s obsessive behaviour.
“And about that house I got rid of,” he said with a laugh.
“Wasn’t it a bit too expensive?”
Ronile flinched, nearly meeting his eyes again. What the hell
was he on about now?
“You really thought I didn’t know you were the one who
bought it?”
“….”
“If you really wanted to fool me, you should’ve used at least
five different intermediaries.”
With a casual flick of his wrist, Ha-Jin sheathed his sword.
“I sold it out of charity, but I jacked the price up as high as it
could go.”
The fact that she bought it… well, that granddaughter of the
chairman must be bloody loaded.
Ha-Jin had no intention of selling his old home to just anyone.
Too much of his DNA could be left behind—just a hair strand
could expose him to serious risk. His past life as an
experiment had made him hyper-cautious.
Naturally, when someone tried to buy the house, he did a
thorough background check and quickly discovered it was
Ronile.
So he’d sold it to her. As a final gift. At three times the market
price. He couldn’t help but laugh when he heard she’d gone
through with it.
‘Didn’t expect her to collect the trash I’d thrown away,
though.’
When Doberman told him, his brows furrowed instinctively.
As Ha-Jin recalled that unpleasant memory, he noticed the
emperor and crown prince approaching noisily from a
distance. Doberman, who had been chatting with someone
else, was also rushing over with a flustered look on his face.
‘Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later,’ Ha-Jin thought.
Dealing with this granddaughter of a chaebol was necessary,
but it had been a bloody hassle. All he did was threaten her,
and it had turned into a massive uproar.
And then—
Vreee!
Vreee!
A piercing noise blared through the banquet hall’s speakers.
An alarm. Ha-Jin’s wristwatch began flashing red.
[Red Door detected.
Location: Central capital centre grounds. Massive appearance
of 3rd grade abnormal creatures, 2nd grade demonic beasts.
Minor appearance of 1st grade monsters. Multiple 4th grade
and below entities present.]
What…?
 Chapter 2. Part 10
Tae Ha-Jin couldn’t help but be shocked by the latest alarm.
His watch displayed three different bombshells.
First, a Red Door, a catastrophic event that rarely happens,
maybe once a year, if that. Second, the location was right in
the centre of the capital. Third, the appearance of a Grade 1
abnormal monster.
“Re-Red Door?!”
“I told you Diaylen is a dangerous place!”
“W-We need to get the fuck out of here… This place is about
to go under!”
“Where’s the transportation esper?! Get them here now!”
“A Red Door? Are you fucking kidding me?!”
The banquet hall erupted into chaos. People were running
around frantically, all searching for transportation espers,
desperate to get out of Diaylen as quickly as possible.
“You! Aren’t you a transportation esper? Get me to Shultz! I’ll
pay whatever it costs!”
“What? A transportation esper? Where?!”
“Take me first! I’m the one from Bobkham…!”
Ignoring the desperate pleas from the higher-ups, Doberman
made his way towards Ha-Jin, who was staring at his watch
with a serious expression.
“Esper, we need to move, now…!”
“Escort the royal family to a safe place first.”
“Ah.”
Right, that was important. But the capital centre was a two-
hour drive from the royal palace. Even if the Red Door
exploded there, it would take at least a few days before the
royal palace was under threat.
With Tae Ha-Jin around, no way it’d take more than two days
to handle the Red Door. And besides, the explosion site was in
the centre—where the largest concentration of espers and
guides in the world was located.
“Isn’t this the safest place in the whole damn country right
now, I mean the royal palace?”
“Ask the Emperor what he wants to do.”
Ha-Jin turned and headed for the wall at the edge of the hall,
while Doberman, en route to the Emperor, spotted the massive
line drawn on the floor and Ronile trembling next to it.
‘The esper’s got some luck.’
Despite pulling this kind of shit in the middle of the banquet
hall, the Red Door’s catastrophe had conveniently buried Tae
Ha-Jin’s little performance. Everyone’s attention was now
fixed on the disaster, and people would soon forget about his
antics. No one would bother to gossip for long.
Fortune was really on his side.
‘Not that the esper gives a damn about what others think
anyway.’
“Please… Take me with you.”
Ronile, having recognised Doberman, was barely able to
suppress her trembling as she begged earnestly. But Doberman
just walked past her. He didn’t like Ronile. When they were
engaged, she’d constantly bombarded him with messages and
calls.
Besides, she was a bloody heiress, and her personal
transportation esper would undoubtedly whisk her away. Sure
enough, espers in suits were already rushing towards her from
a distance.
Doberman approached the royal family members.
Meanwhile, Yeon said his farewells to Dion.
“I’ll see you out there, Esper.”
“Yeah, hyung.”
Dion gave a small chuckle and a nod. As Yeon sprinted to the
centre of the hall, he ran into Ha-Jin, who was heading his
way.
“Where’s your secretary? We need to head straight to the site.”
“He’ll be here soon.”
“A Red Door at the centre? The whole place is probably a
fucking wreck by now. This’ll be my first time seeing a Red
Door up close.”
He’d only ever read about them in the news. Reports of cities
being thrown into chaos. The last Red Door he could
remember was a year and a half ago.
“What were you talking about with Dion?”
As they surveyed the chaos of the banquet hall, Ha-Jin asked,
a question out of nowhere. Yeon recalled his conversation with
Dion.
“Nothing much.”
“You was reaching for his face.”
“Ah. He got into a fight somewhere. Kept bleeding, so I gave
him a bit of guiding.”

What the fuck did Yeon do to heal him that made that bastard
still look at him like that? Dion wasn’t smiling. Ha-Jin raised
an eyebrow at the sight.
Dion always smiled.
Even when everyone else was losing hope.
His gaze was locked onto Yeon’s back. Ha-Jin, who’d known
Dion for a long time, understood that look all too well.
‘Possessiveness.’
Towards his guide.
That guy never craved anything. And yet, now he was after
Yeon?
Dion’s and Ha-Jin’s eyes met. A moment ago, Dion had been
sending him a dark, possessive look, but now he was smiling
brightly. Ha-Jin smiled back, then, with a bit of showmanship,
draped his arm over Yeon’s shoulder.
“…?”
The weight was heavy enough to make Yeon lose balance as
Ha-Jin leaned into him. Yeon looked up at him, puzzled.
“What are you doing?”
“What.”
“You’re heavy.”
Yeon tried to shake his shoulder free, but Ha-Jin didn’t let go.
In fact, he tightened his grip, his long arm feeling like it might
soon strangle Yeon’s neck. Ha-Jin wasn’t even looking at him,
his attention fixed elsewhere.
‘What’s he looking at?’
As Yeon turned his head to follow Ha-Jin’s gaze, Ha-Jin’s free
hand gripped Yeon’s chin, stopping him.
“Where do you think you’re looking?”
Yeon blinked slowly.
The strength of Ha-Jin’s grip was absurd. No matter how much
effort he put in, his chin wouldn’t budge. Yeon quickly gave
up. No use wasting strength when it wouldn’t work.
Doberman, now running up to them, came to an abrupt halt
when he saw the two of them. From an outsider’s perspective,
the pose could’ve looked quite intimate, but Yeon’s pained
expression made it resemble a scene from a horror flick.
“You two seem… cosy.”
Yeon shot him a dead smile.
“Do I look like I’m being cosied up to you?”
“Haha. Guide, you clearly haven’t experienced real torment. If
the esper really tried, it’d be properly brutal…”
“Stop chatting. Move out.”
Ha-Jin let go of Yeon’s shoulder and barked an order.
Doberman quietly shut his mouth and grabbed them both.
As they arrived at the centre’s core, the sight before them was
nothing short of hell. The main buildings of the centre were
collapsing and burning. In the middle of the park stood a
gigantic Red Door, its crimson gates wide open, spewing out
all manner of creatures. The blood-red portal was as big as a
small mountain.
A deafening roar echoed across the ruins, and a horde of ant-
like beasts swarmed out, attacking every human they spotted.
But these weren’t just any humans; they were trained. Physical
espers manipulated water, air, and earth to take down the
massive ants.
The problem was with the guides.
Most of those trying to escape were guides, and the espers
were too busy fighting to protect them. The rear support squad
handed out pistols in a hurry, but most shots missed, and
guides were taken down in quick succession.
Ha-Jin prioritised dealing with any beasts attacking the guides.
When the situation grew critical, he didn’t hesitate to use his
‘Devouring’ ability. Every time he used that power, blue veins
bulged from his hands.
“T-Thank you…!”
A guide who barely escaped death crawled away, trying to get
as far as possible. Ha-Jin knew that guide would be dead soon.
“AAAAHH! AAAARGH!”
A wolf-like creature, its maw filled with rows of sharp teeth,
sank its fangs into the guide’s arm and abdomen. Blood
spurted like a fountain.
‘Idiot.’
Running in the wrong direction. The area around the Red Door
had already been flooded with monsters; trying to flee was
pointless. Heading to the rear support squad’s tents and finding
a transportation esper should’ve been their first move.
Though even that had its limits.
A high-pitched screech echoed again.
Tae Ha-Jin thought calmly as he swung his sword sideways.
Bang!
A Grade 3 monster flying in from the sky was torn in half with
a single slash.
The crimson beasts climbing the building devoured the
concrete and steel. Amongst the gnashing teeth of some, he
could see the remains of legs and shoes.
“Fuck…”
What really shook Yeon wasn’t the sight of the beasts, but the
fact that the sixth dormitory where he lived had collapsed so
completely, not even his brother would recognise it.
The first thought that crossed his mind was:
‘Jung Woo-Cheol… dead, maybe?’
He knew it was a rotten thought, but if Woo-Cheol had died
like that, he’d at least attend the funeral.
Koooom! Koom! Bang!
The ground shook like an earthquake. Suddenly, a shadow
large enough to cover the sky loomed over Yeon. He craned
his neck, looking up until it ached. His eyes widened. His skin
prickled with goosebumps.
A giant?
No, it’s…
A Grade 1 monter.
The massive beast, humanoid in shape, had black skin cracked
like the bark of a rotting tree. Its yellow, pupil-less eyes
gleamed without even blinking.
It had no hair, no nose, no mouth.
Just a bloody, upright monster.
Boom! Boom!
It was stomping towards him, crushing buildings like they
were sandcastles. Yeon stood frozen, overwhelmed by its
enormous size.
Logically, he thought, ‘Can I escape?’
Most of the area around him was already buried in its shadow.
The only way out was to fly. But to do that, he’d have to use
telekinesis, revealing his dual bloodline.
“…”
He suddenly felt pitiful.
The fact that even on the verge of death, he had to calculate
like this was suffocating.
Whooooooo…
The Grade 1 monster lifted its colossal black foot. If that thing
stomped on him, there wouldn’t even be a body left.
Should he absorb it?
No, absorbing something that twisted would probably kill him.
Better to use his telekinesis and get the hell out of—
Whoosh!
The massive foot plummeted towards him, powered by its
immense weight. Simultaneously, Yeon’s body floated
upwards, defying gravity. But it wasn’t his telekinesis. It was
Tae Ha-Jin.
Holding Yeon in one arm, Ha-Jin soared into the sky and, with
his other hand, slashed the beast’s arm clean off. Bang! The
massive limb crashed to the ground. The monster didn’t
scream, but slowly turned its head.
Those eerie, gigantic yellow eyes seemed to focus on Ha-Jin.
Yeon felt his heart racing just being in front of them.
A Grade 1 monster…
The sheer presence of it was on a whole different level
compared to other beasts.
Yeon flinched as Ha-Jin gave him a look of disbelief.
“You’re not scared of me, but this thing rattles you?”
Ha-Jin scolded him, tightening his grip around Yeon’s waist.
Yeon wrapped his arms around Ha-Jin’s neck, breathing
heavily.
“…This is my first time seeing a Grade 1 monster. That
thing… it’s really looking at us, isn’t it?”
Despite his fear, Yeon couldn’t help but stare at it, something
about it piquing his curiosity. His heart pounded loudly in his
chest.
“Yeon.”
“Yes?”
“If it’s that terrifying, you could always just look away.”
Ha-Jin cupped Yeon’s cheek with his hand, forcing him to face
him. As soon as the deviant disappeared from his sight, the
fear lessened considerably. Or maybe it was Ha-Jin taking up
his entire view that eased the tension.
With Yeon’s attention back on him, Ha-Jin raised his arm and
hurled his sword with brutal force. Whoosh, thud! It moved
too fast to see, striking the deviant’s eye. Crimson blood
poured out in torrents.
Koom!
The beast staggered and dropped to one knee. It clutched its
face, seemingly in pain.
Roaaaaar!
“Why the hell did you throw your sword?” Yeon shouted as
Ha-Jin, still holding him, landed atop the deviant’s head.
Yeon thought he was mad. Being classed as a Grade 1 monster
basically meant it was a walking disaster.
With a mighty leap, Ha-Jin drove his foot into the beast’s
skull. The impact sent shockwaves through Yeon’s body,
powerful enough to demolish a few buildings in the process.
“Snap out of it and guide me!” Ha-Jin barked when he saw
Yeon staring blankly.
Yeon, who had been dragged along in Ha-Jin’s wake, flying
here and there as he swung his sword, finally made a sound.
Wrapping his arms tighter around Ha-Jin’s neck, he caught a
faint whiff of something heavy. Was it his body wash? Or
cologne?
He was curious what it was.
“Use me as a backup battery. I’ll keep guiding you.”
Ha-Jin’s energy had already dropped to 57%. Yeon hurriedly
siphoned it off, starting the restoration. Ha-Jin descended a
little, now standing in front of its face. He stretched out his
hand and erased the beast’s other yellow eye.
Yeon knew that the eye had been devoured by Ha-Jin’s Vessel.
The now-blind monster started thrashing, slamming its head
into the ground repeatedly. Every strike split the earth beneath
it.
After a few more blows, a massive sinkhole formed,
swallowing broken buildings and other beasts alike.
“Bloody hell…” Yeon muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
As he was doing that, he suddenly felt a gaze on his cheek.
Turning his head, he found Ha-Jin’s face alarmingly close.
Instinctively, Yeon pulled his head back.
Ha-Jin spoke calmly, laying out his plan.
“I can’t keep carrying you around like this.”
“…If it wasn’t for the Grade 1 monster, I wouldn’t be such a
burden.”
“Leaving you alone is a distraction.”
“…”
“So let’s get somewhere without any deviants.”
Yeon frowned.
“And your guiding? How will you use your abilities without
—” he trailed off.
Because Ha-Jin kissed him.
It wasn’t even a proper kiss. Just lips pressed together, soft and
fleeting. His dark hair fluttered in the wind as they rose higher
into the sky.
To a place no one could see, and where no deviant could
reach. The air was getting thinner, barely enough to breathe.
At this height, guiding would be easy without any
interruptions from the deviant.
Ha-Jin pulled back.
Even then, his red eyes were unwavering as they stared
directly into Yeon’s.
“That one was just because I wanted to.”
“…”
“Now, for the guiding.”
With those words, he pressed his lips against Yeon’s again.
Down below, the world was filled with screams and roars, but
up here, it was peaceful. Plus, Ha-Jin’s contamination levels
needed easing before the next fight.
Maybe it was the certainty that falling from here meant death,
but Yeon clung to him tightly.
In response, Ha-Jin bit down hard on his lip.
“…!”
The sharp pain made Yeon open his mouth, and Ha-Jin’s
tongue slid in without hesitation.
It was as if it belonged there from the start, natural and
unrelenting. Their tongues intertwined, saliva exchanged, and
it was anything but innocent. Ha-Jin kissed him with a brutal
intensity, almost like he wanted to devour him. One arm
around Yeon’s waist, the other supporting his hips, he held him
securely.
Ha-Jin continued to pour his contaminated energy into Yeon.
They maintained a precarious balance.
He pulled his tongue out, and their lips simply rubbed against
each other. Parting, meeting, a shallow but deep kiss.
Whenever they separated, Ha-Jin would close the gap again.
This somehow felt even more obscene.
‘What the hell…’
To do efficient guiding, it was best to mix saliva. This kiss
wasn’t getting the saliva across, so it was less effective.
‘What the hell is this?’
Why is this embarrassing kiss making things so awkward? But
somehow, it wasn’t exactly unpleasant, and Yeon chewed on
his frustration. Seeing him being so unusually obedient, Ha-Jin
grinned and shoved his tongue in. The way it rubbed against
the roof of Yeon’s mouth was messing with his head.
‘We should stop this now, shouldn’t we?’
Amidst that thought, Yeon came to his senses and lightly
tapped Ha-Jin’s shoulder. But Ha-Jin completely ignored him
and pulled Yeon’s waist even closer, his hand softly caressing
his lower back.
“Mmm! Puh! We need to go down now!”
Yeon finally managed to break free and snapped back to
reality. But Ha-Jin just raised an eyebrow and said, “No.”
…Wasn’t he a workaholic? Wasn’t he the guy who was always
out saving people?
As Ha-Jin’s reddened lips inched closer again, Yeon pulled his
head back. Ha-Jin looked at him, clearly displeased.
“What?”
“I need to get back to work!”
“Guiding is an extension of your job, isn’t it?”
Yeon let out a hollow laugh. Technically, guiding was work.
But calling a kiss exchanged in secret up in the sky ‘guiding’
seemed a bit much. This felt more personal, more intimate—
and definitely more awkward.
“I want to.”
His tone was detached, but Ha-Jin’s gaze was stubbornly fixed
on Yeon’s lips. Yeon, caught off guard, covered his mouth with
his hand.
“We’re at 39 percent. That should be enough for a while,
right?”
“It’s a tease.”
Ha-Jin deliberately let his disappointment show. Yeon shook
his head firmly.
“Hold it in. Don’t forget, we’re in a disaster zone.”
“Why do you think the birth rate goes up during wartime?”
“…What?”
Yeon frowned, thinking he must have misheard.
Ha-Jin, lost in thought, finally began their descent. Even as
they dropped down, Yeon continued the guiding with his
hands. As they got closer to the ground, the ruined Disaster
Defence Centre came into full view. Dozens of espers floated
in the air, locked in battle with flying creatures.
Ha-Jin lowered Yeon down to the backline support tent, where
a group of espers were defending it from incoming monsters.
Despite the chaos, all eyes turned towards the pair as they
arrived. Those who saw Ha-Jin lit up with hope.
“They’re alive…!”
“Thank the gods!”
Yeon broke off the guiding and stepped away from him. Ha-
Jin rummaged through the support team’s table, smashing
open a weapons case. He grabbed a handgun and handed it to
Yeon.
“If you’re going to die, do it where I can see you.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Preferably, don’t die.”
He placed a hand on Yeon’s head and, without another word,
shot off towards where a first-grade mutant was rampaging.
He’d likely be retrieving the sword he’d lodged in its eye
earlier.
Yeon, watching Ha-Jin shrink into the distance, turned his
focus back to the espers defending the tent. Without hesitation,
he resumed guiding them.

In the corner, a group of guides, hiding for their lives, watched

him. They were already guiding the espers, dodging monsters,
or tending to their wounded comrades.
One of them was Yeon’s roommate, Jung Woo-Cheol.
‘We’re both A0-grade, so why…’
If he keeps guiding like that, he’s going to run out of strength
in the Vessel. The way he was showing off in front of
everyone made Woo-Cheol sick to his stomach.
‘Who does he think he is?’
Yeon was an esper who had gone through a re-awakening at
the B0. And ever since, he acted like everyone was beneath
him, glaring at people in the dorms like they were dirt. The
thought of being on the same team, at the same grade, as this
prick was infuriating.
Why the hell had an S-grade esper chosen someone like him as
their exclusive guide?
‘It should’ve been me. I’m way better.’
Woo-Cheol couldn’t stop thinking about Yeon descending in
Ha-Jin’s arms. Even in the middle of a massive disaster in the
capital, the atmosphere between the two of them had been…
strange. Especially the way Ha-Jin looked at Yeon—it was
different from before. Ha-Jin had even touched his head,
hadn’t he?
‘No way…’
Did that bastard really use his body to seduce Ha-Jin? It made
sense now. He might not have had much going for him, but he
was annoyingly good-looking.
“Hah, fuck. This world’s so unfair it makes me sick.”
Woo-Cheol let out a bitter laugh, catching the attention of a
few guides nearby. He quickly clammed up and pulled out his
phone to send someone a message.
[Meet me when the door closes. I’ve got something to show
you.]

Meanwhile, in a far corner of the battlefield, two men were

huddled together, whispering.
“Mate, are you out of your mind? Dragging me here for field
reporting? You trying to get us killed?”
“Keep your voice down. This is a Red Door event. It’s opened
right here in the capital centre! Do you know how many
journalists would kill to get footage from inside? If we survive
this, we’re set for life!”
“Christ, you trying to fill your coffin with money?”
“You were the one who agreed to come along!”
“Yeah, but how was I supposed to know a Red Door was
going to be this fucking bad? We’ve almost died twenty-five
times just getting to this tent!”
“At least we’re still alive thanks to those espers, aren’t we? As
long as we’re breathing, it’s all good, right?”
“Mate, I’m too scared to even leave this fucking tent! And you
want to film? How?!”
“Just wait. One epic shot, and we’ll be rolling in it.”
The journalist, Duke, was a man who often bought lottery
tickets and dreamed of striking it rich. There weren’t many
reporters who had the guts to sneak past the broken barricade
in a disaster this big. And with the chaos surrounding the Red
Door, the security around the scene was lax.
‘I had a good dream last night.’
A dream of money rolling in by the truckload. The thought
alone made Duke grin wickedly.
His cameraman, Kim Doo-Young, clenched his fists and
trembled, already swearing to himself that if they got out of
this alive, he’d kill Duke first.

***

“If you don’t want to die, anyone still standing should get to
guiding!”
Yeon, fed up from guiding alone, turned and snapped at the
slackers behind him. His face twisted in frustration. Surely it
was common sense to guide the espers risking their necks in
battle, right? That’d at least increase their chances of survival
by one percent.
“I, I’m able to guide again now.”
“I’m feeling better too…”
At last, some of the other guides awkwardly shuffled forward,
clearly realising they’d rather not die. Lucky for them, most of
the espers here were B-grades, with a few A-grades scattered
in. Guiding them was nothing compared to Ha-Jin. It was so
easy, in fact, that the espers, startled by how fast they were
being restored, kept glancing back at Yeon.
Wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, Yeon said,
“Right, I’m off. When the numbers go up, make sure you force
the other guides to get to work.”
“A-ah, yes! But where are you going, Guide?”
Yeon’s gaze turned toward the giant Red Door in the distance.
That’s where the A-grades were dealing with the waves of
monsters. It was far from where Ha-Jin was battling the
monster hordes.
‘Princess Elena… why are you here?’
An unexpected figure had caught his eye. The woman should
have been back at the capital, according to the plan. Her green
dress, now torn in parts, looked incredibly out of place. Her
dishevelled golden hair clung to her, as she knelt on the
ground, hands pressed against the earth, her face deadly
serious.
Yeon recognised that posture immediately.
“…Wide-area guiding.”
She’s really doing it?
Yeon’s eyes shook with disbelief.

__
This chapter is a bit longer in order to compensate for the shortness of the previous
one.
 Chapter 2. Part 11
Guiding usually involved physical contact. If you didn’t touch
directly, the energy simply wouldn’t flow. But once you were a
guide above grade A, you could manage by just placing your
hand on top of someone’s clothes. You could easily channel
the energy through a single layer of fabric.
Still, there wasn’t really any need for even a grade A guide to
go through clothes. It took way more energy, wasted time, and
sometimes got you criticised by espers for inefficient guiding.
It was, to put it bluntly, a poor method.
“How are they going to handle the backlash from that?”
Wide-range guiding was a concept that existed only in theory.
It was a technique that could only be used by an SO-grade
guide, and worldwide, there were only five S-grade guides.
Officially, only one of them was part of the Diaylen nation.
Princess Elena.
Yeon wasn’t listed in the statistics since he was officially
graded at A0, but…
‘So that’s why, huh.’ No wonder the A-grade espers were
fighting on the ground instead of in the air.
There were far more beasts roaming the earth than those flying
in the skies. Attacking them from the air gave you better
visibility and the advantage. But these espers had given that
up, opting to fight on the ground to receive wide-range
guiding.
‘Isn’t Doberman over there?’
Doberman was darting back and forth, teleporting the most
critical patients to safety. He looked frantic. Yeon figured
Doberman’s contamination level must’ve been climbing.
Yeon made his way to a secluded corner of the tent, keeping a
watchful eye to ensure no one was looking. Once satisfied, he
pulled out the floating boots he’d absorbed with his left hand.
A gift from the Crown Prince.
Quickly slipping them on, he waited until he was out of sight
before lifting off into the air. His body wobbled a few times
before he found his balance.
Kurrrraaa!
Kaaaarrraaa!
Monsters, covered in grotesque horns, were swinging massive
clubs and attacking the espers. Thud! Crack! Crunch!
“The front lines of the Door are overwhelmed! We need to
hold them back from the front!”
“Aaargh! M-my arm…!”
“Where is Esper Dion? We’re short on manpower! And the
contamination levels are… ugh!”
“B-grades, don’t engage the Grade 2 beasts! Leave them to the
A-grades! Focus only on Grade 3 and below!”
Despite the team leaders doing their best to organise the
battlefield, the sheer number of beasts made it impossible to
maintain order. In chaos like this, strategies fall apart real fast.
They herded the lower-Grade beasts towards the centre where
Tae Ha-Jin was stationed, avoiding the rare Grade 1 monsters.
The ones they couldn’t handle were left to Ha-Jin.
“Where’s the princess?”
The spot where she’d been was now empty. From the air, Yeon
scanned the battlefield for her. In the chaos, he spotted a frail
figure trembling in the middle of the carnage, hands planted on
the ground, breathing so hard that even from above, Yeon
could see her chest heaving.
A few espers stood around her, acting as makeshift
bodyguards, but the princess was right in the middle of the
monsters’ territory.
Ooouuurgh!
Keeeii!
Monsters with some semblance of intelligence were repeatedly
charging at her from all directions. It seemed they wanted to
take out the guide fuelling their enemies first.
“Protect Her Highness!”
“Don’t let them through! Hold the line!”
The espers struggled to fend off the relentless attacks, being
forced back step by step. The beasts’ clubs found every little
gap in their defence.
Then it happened.
In a brief moment when an esper faltered, a Grade 2 monster
snapped its head around.
Kegek, kegek!
It was a grotesque green-skinned creature, typically classified
as a troll. Its pitch-black eyes locked onto the princess, and it
charged through the gap with terrifying speed.
It moved fast. Its massive jaws opened wide, ready to tear into
her. The princess remained focused on guiding, trusting the
espers to deal with the threat.
“Fuck…!”
Yeon didn’t think; he acted. The troll was moving far too fast.
He poured all his energy into the floating boots, pushing them
to their limit as he descended at a steep 45-degree angle. The
troll’s razor-sharp teeth snapped just past the espers, and it was
on the princess in a heartbeat.
Kyaaa!
A sharp scream echoed across the Red Door. The espers
battling the beasts turned pale, watching in horror as Yeon
swooped in just in time, snatching the princess away before
the troll could sink its teeth into her fully.
But there was a problem…
“Aaah! It hurts…! Ugh…!”
The troll was chewing contentedly, its jaw working up and
down. From its enormous maw hung a delicate, mangled arm.
The princess’s arm had been torn off.
Blood gushed from the wound like a fountain, her once
pristine green dress now soaked and turning crimson. Her face
had gone as white as a sheet, and her body was drenched in
cold sweat.
“Stay with me! You can’t lose consciousness!”
From a distance, Doberman was rushing over, but using his
teleportation ability at this range would drain his energy, and
he needed to conserve it.
Yeon frantically tore off the butterfly bow tie around his neck,
using it to tie off the stump of her arm. He had to stop the
bleeding. He met her eyes—eyes that looked like they were
moments from death.
“Y-Yeon…?”
Wide-range guiding came with a steep cost. As far as Yeon
knew, no S-grade guide had attempted such a feat in the
modern era. There were limits to the Vessel, and guiding
through the earth drained an enormous amount of energy.
Considering how many espers were receiving her energy, the
princess had likely used up every last drop of her power.
She could pass out at any moment—and on top of that, she’d
lost her arm.
‘Why are you here?’ The Elena he knew would have holed
herself up in the palace by now. Why had she done something
so reckless?
Truthfully, Yeon didn’t need to save her. He’d sworn to stay
out of her life. He didn’t like her.
‘But…’
He hadn’t sworn to hate her, either.
Unlike the other guides, this woman was at least pulling her
weight. That’s why he’d saved her. If it hadn’t been for him, it
wouldn’t have just been her arm—it would’ve been her whole
body.
“I… need to… guide…”
The princess whimpered through her pain, tears streaming
down her face. Yeon hadn’t known she was even capable of
crying.
The fact that she was still trying to guide infuriated him. This
woman, who never showed her face at the Centre, who spent
all her time in the palace, was now saying she wanted to play
the part of the guide?
“Don’t play the martyr. This isn’t like you. You usually don’t
even work as a guide, so why now?”
Despite his harsh words, Yeon pulled the knot on her arm
tighter. The flow of blood was slowing. The princess was
covered in cuts and bruises, her once flawless skin now
marred.
“You’re right… I… am a hypocrite.”
Elena didn’t even try to deny it. She smiled weakly through
her tears.
Was she really trying to atone now? He couldn’t believe it.
She’d calculated this move, even now. For the future. That had
to be it, right?
That’s what he wanted to say.
But it was pointless, standing there with a half-conscious
princess. He’d vowed not to hate her, and yet here he was, full
of resentment. He was lashing out at a woman who was
making her own sacrifices. Who was he to judge her?
Yeon bit down hard on the inside of his cheek.
He felt a kind of kinship, a twisted sense of understanding,
with a person he’d once thought was trash.
It made him sick.
Even if she was just another power player who’d used him.
“Guide Yeon!”
It was Doberman. He looked between Yeon’s cold expression
and the unconscious princess, his face drained of colour.
Doberman carefully took the princess from Yeon’s arms.
“Dekal should be able to restore her arm. Please take care of
her.”
Doberman nodded firmly. He, too, was thinking of taking her
to Dekal. The princess had never looked so pitiful. Normally,
she wouldn’t guide anyone below A+ grade unless absolutely
necessary, always trusting the other guides to handle things.
But even she had to be present for an event like the Red Door
—a disaster that could bring the whole nation to its knees.
The massive Capital Centre collapsed in an instant, the result
of an overwhelming disaster.
All S-Grade espers were required to attend the Red Door, so it
was no surprise the Princess herself had shown up.
‘But why did she push herself like that?’
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have overexerted
herself while guiding.
“Yes, leave it to me. I’ll take her back and return immediately
once the situation is under control. But what will you do,
Guide…?”
“I’ll…” Yeon, gripping his waist mid-air, closed his eyes
tightly and let his head drop. Haa. It was a sigh dragged up
from deep within.
On the front lines of the Red Door, the espers were fighting
like machines. There was no retreat, only the hope that the
door would eventually close. They looked exhausted.
The monsters were still pouring out without end. From a
distance, the Capital Centre was blackened, entirely consumed
by the beasts.
‘This won’t do.’
At this rate, one by one, espers would begin to go berserk.
That would be an even bigger headache than dealing with
Grade 2 and 3 monsters. Yeon, with a grim expression, stared
at Doberman.
“I’ll stay as the Princess’s replacement.”
“…Alright.”
“Go on, quickly. That one’s about to die.”
Doberman hesitated for a moment, but seeing the resolve in
Yeon’s eyes, he nodded. With one last glance at the shrinking
figure of Yeon descending to the ground, his gaze wavered.
‘Guide, what exactly are you planning…?’
Snapping back to reality, Doberman knew there was no time.
In the next instant, his figure vanished in a flash of light.
“This Red Door’s nothing like the one from two years ago! At
this rate, the door should be closing, but…!”
“Everyone, check your contamination levels! Shout out the
numbers!”
“58 percent!”
“63 percent!”
“Shit, I’m at 72 percent! We’re fucking doomed!”
Mu Fei, who had finally managed to slip away from Lee
Yeon’s constant supervision, gritted his teeth in frustration
while wandering around the Centre.
‘Why the hell is my luck so bad this year?’
First, he got humiliated during a live combat exercise, then
exiled to some backwater by Tae Ha-Jin’s retaliation, only to
get stuck being watched like a hawk. And now, on his rare day
off, he’s dragged into this Red Door situation. The gods must
have abandoned him.
Every step felt like he was treading on a minefield.
‘Is this all some bloody trap?’
“Damn it. I must have caught some serious bad luck. If I get
out of this alive, maybe I’ll need to get an exorcism. Haa…”
Beyond his lament, the reports from other espers kept coming.
“I’m at 50 percent! Give me the Grade 2 monsters!”
“Huff, huff… 78 percent here. I’m out, can’t fight anymore.”
Hearing the report, Yeon landed next to the esper at 78
percent. The esper was kneeling, struggling for breath.
Without hesitation, Yeon grabbed his wrist and started guiding.
Not at an A0 level, but at an S+ level.
“Wh-what…?”
“I’ll bring you down to 60 percent. Find a transportation esper
if you can; if not, head to the rear support tents.”
The esper was a B+ Grade. For Yeon, a S Grade Guide, this
was easy work. Leaving the bewildered esper behind, he
turned toward his next target—Mu Fei, whose berserk rate had
shot up to 72 percent. Mu Fei flinched as Yeon approached.
‘This bastard is where all my bad luck started.’
That thought made Yeon’s handsome face look like a cursed
doll to Mu Fei.
Yeon reached out to grab Mu Fei’s wrist for guiding, but Mu
Fei jerked away, startled.
Yeon’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the man, taking in his
sharp gaze, sunburnt skin, and the crooked line of his lips.
‘He looks familiar…’
But there was no time to dwell on it. Instead of the wrist, Yeon
grabbed Mu Fei by the back of the neck—hard.
“Urgh!”
“What the fuck, let go! I’m already cursed enough, and if I—”
“Do you think I want to help?”
Yeon’s face twisted in frustration as he tightened his grip. Mu
Fei felt the energy being forcibly drained from his body, eyes
widening in shock.
The cursed doll was now performing Subording on him.
“O-Oi!”
A strange sensation coursed through Mu Fei, making him
hunch his shoulders. Yeon, standing a head taller, looked down
at him and said:
“It’s an emergency. You’re a berserk candidate, and you’re not
listening, so I’m using Subording. If you’ve got a problem
with that, overpower me.”
Mu Fei wanted to retort, but he couldn’t, the pressure from the
Subording holding his tongue. The cursed doll’s power was
crushing him as it guided him.
Frustrated, Mu Fei made a weak, half-hearted attempt to swat
him away, only for Yeon to grip his neck tighter.
“Urk…”
“Is your heart in good shape?”
Suddenly concerned about his heart?
Mu Fei swallowed nervously at the ominous feeling.
“If you want, I can stop guiding now. I’ve brought you down
to 40 percent, but since you’re under Subording, you might go
into cardiac arrest.”
“…”
“Shall I stop?”
“…”
“Smart choice. Stay still.”
In the midst of all the chaos, the two of them shared a strange
silence. Yeon lowered Mu Fei’s berserk rate to a stable 30
percent, then clicked his tongue.
“Stay and fight to the end.”
Yeon had only planned to guide him just enough to prevent
berserk, but Mu Fei’s resistance had been so strong, he’d been
forced to use Subording. It was an emergency, but he’d wasted
too much time on the man. Yeon moved away without looking
back, missing Mu Fei rubbing the back of his neck in
irritation.
Yeon made his way to the centre, where the Princess had been
sitting earlier. He now understood why she had moved her
guiding to that spot. It was right in the middle of the
battlefield, perfect for wide-area guiding.
Click. Bang! Bang!
He blew off the head of a monster that had found a gap and
rushed at him. Tae Ha-Jin’s gifted handgun was working
wonders. Reaching his destination, Yeon surveyed the area—
espers staggered around, breathless and clearly at their limits.
‘I don’t even know anymore. What am I hiding for?’
He had been concealing his status as an S-Grade Guide just to
survive, keeping his head down to live a long, quiet life. That
was all he ever wanted. But his simple dream had hit a wall.
Now, there was the Red Door.
People were dying in real-time. This was the Capital Centre,
and the espers were fighting with everything they had to
survive and save others. Many had holes punched through
their bodies.
Could he really justify hiding while witnessing such sacrifice?
‘Am I supposed to fear my old man more than all this?’
If he kept running, what would happen when the consequences
finally caught up with him?
‘I just… wanted to live quietly.’
For so long, he had hidden away, indifferent to the lives that
were lost in the process. Even as an S-Grade Guide, he
couldn’t take responsibility for everyone.
But watching people die in front of him while continuing to
hide…
That didn’t sit right.
‘Enough of this pitiful life.’
He wanted those fighting for survival to live.
And maybe, just maybe, this was what he had wanted all
along.
Yeon knelt in silence.
In a reverent posture, he let out a long breath, extending his
pale arm to touch the blood-soaked green grass beneath him.
Veins bulged along the back of his hand, the tendons in his
neck standing out.
“What the…?”
 Chapter 2. Part 12
“Bloody hell, what the…?”
“The energy… it’s being purified!”
“At this speed? Is the Princess doing a mass guiding
again…?”
Those who had been wielding their swords and using their
abilities against the monster suddenly noticed Yeon. He was
crouched down, concentrating hard, mirroring the posture of
the Princess.
“Is that guy… an S-Grade guide?”
“Wait, who are you talking about?”
Mass guiding was a famous concept in theory. It was so
revered that it often served as one of the reasons to praise an
S-Grade guide. Just the fact that someone could perform mass
guiding was proof of their S-Grade status.
‘Stop staring at me,’ Yeon thought, doing his best to ignore the
curious eyes fixed on him. He focused on channelling the
energy into his hands. This kind of large-scale guiding was
new to him, and to be honest, he was a bit flustered. He could
feel the energy being drained out of him rapidly, like water
flowing from a cracked dam. The coldness of the ground
beneath him seeped into his bones as his energy was pulled
farther and farther away, disappearing into places unknown.
Soon, he encountered the contaminated energies of each esper.
They all emitted distinct vibrations and sounds, each one
unique.
The Vessel trembled, rejoicing as it received the water. A
shiver ran through his body, intense and electrifying.
‘How can I make this more efficient?’ Yeon wondered. Right
now, his guiding was random and widespread, as mass guiding
inherently was.
‘Can’t I focus this energy better?’
He tried to control the energy that was spilling out
unnecessarily. He fought to suppress the rising tide, forcing his
eyes shut in deep concentration. Gradually, the flow of energy
became more apparent to him. He could see it now: the tired
energies of the espers, his own energy rooted into the ground
like a tree.
The higher an esper’s rampage rate, the darker and more
volatile their energy appeared. Yeon redirected the energy he
had suppressed towards those whose energy burned the
darkest.
‘It’s working…!’
Beyond the frontlines, in front of the Red Door, Yeon
tightened the boundary, ensuring that his energy wouldn’t seep
past the park. His arms trembled, and he kept coughing.
Clenching his teeth, he tried to calm himself with deep
breaths.
‘This is bad…’
The energy inside him was surging uncontrollably, like a fish
in water, bursting out faster than he could manage. Even Yeon,
experienced as he was, couldn’t contain it.
He had no idea what his Vessel even looked like. No one could
see their own Vessel—it was something someone else had to
read for them. Even Tae Ha-Jin couldn’t read his own.
That meant Yeon had no clue how much he could use before
the Vessel ran dry.
For now, though he felt nauseous, it was still bearable. The
Vessel inside him buzzed and thrashed.
“Lee Yeon,” a familiar, incredulous voice called from behind
him.
Even with his eyes closed, deep in concentration, that voice
made Yeon feel an odd sense of relief. He turned his head
slightly to see Tae Ha-Jin standing there.
Covered in blood that clearly wasn’t his own and holding a
massive sword, Tae Ha-Jin approached with a furrowed brow.
His eyes flicked to the beads of cold sweat dripping from
Yeon’s chin.
“You… right now…”
“Your contamination rate is 82%, Esper. I can feel it, clear as
day. Weird, isn’t it?”
Tae Ha-Jin sheathed his sword and knelt on one knee in front
of him. His large hand gripped Yeon’s chin, lifting it gently, as
his serious eyes scanned Yeon’s face.
He was assessing him.
“You alright?” Tae Ha-Jin asked.
Yeon blinked in surprise. Was he actually worried? Tae Ha-Jin,
concerned for someone else? It was almost laughable. But his
face was too serious for it to be a joke, so Yeon awkwardly
responded, “I’m… managing.”
Tae Ha-Jin’s grip on his chin tightened, causing a slight pain.
Yeon winced as Tae Ha-Jin’s thumb wiped across his upper
lip, coming away smeared with dark red blood.
Nosebleed?
Yeon’s eyes widened.
A nosebleed?
He’d coughed up blood before, but a nosebleed? This was
new.
“You really are a bloody liar, aren’t you?”
“I’m not lying, I swear I’m fine.” Yeon tried to argue.
“What the hell are you doing to yourself?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s frown deepened, making Yeon chuckle bitterly.
“Yeah, good question. Why am I doing this to myself?”
He couldn’t help but laugh, genuinely baffled by his own
actions.
Tae Ha-Jin clicked his tongue in frustration and rose to his
feet. Yeon channelled energy into the ground, quickly
beginning to purify Tae Ha-Jin’s contamination. Tae Ha-Jin
felt the guiding and scowled.
“Lee Yeon, there’s no guide stupid enough to destroy
themselves for an esper.”
Yeon agreed with him, but instead, he just smiled weakly,
looking up at Tae Ha-Jin.
“I really do value my life, Esper.”
“Then don’t push it.”
“Then why are the espers here fighting to the death?”
Yeon glanced around. The world was chaos.
CRACK. BOOM. THUD.
The sounds of violence gnawed at his sanity. He saw elite
espers fighting for their lives against the overwhelming force
of the creatures spilling from the Red Door. Before becoming
Tae Ha-Jin’s exclusive guide, Yeon had never cared about
battlefields like this.
He used to think everyone had their own role to play,
including espers.
He had once believed that as long as he did his part, that was
enough.
It was a selfish, lazy way of thinking.
‘I’m no different from Lee Hong-Jun.’
His father had carried out unethical experiments behind closed
doors, but he’d also developed items that benefited humanity.
Yeon knew all about those filthy contributions. And yet, even
though he had the power to help so many, he had lived with
his eyes closed, ignoring the suffering around him.
In moments like these, he saw his father’s reflection in the
mirror.
It was a bitter and disgusting feeling.
Sometimes, Yeon just wanted to live like a human being. He
wanted to stand tall and say, ‘I’m not like Lee Hong-Jun.’
For some reason, today, he felt that urge stronger than ever.
“I just realised something. It’s better to be an idiot than to be
garbage.”
Tae Ha-Jin stared at him, eyes narrowing at Yeon’s exhausted
face. Clearly, something about that statement didn’t sit well
with him.
“You are an idiot.”
With an annoyed huff, Tae Ha-Jin spun around and launched
himself towards the Red Door. At the Door’s frontline, dark,
shadowy creatures erupted from its mouth like an unending
tide.
“Shit…”
Hours had passed since the Door first opened, and it seemed
they were nearing the end. More and more monsters poured
out, signalling that the Door was about to close.
Yeon sometimes thought the door had a mind of its own. The
faster the monsters died, the quicker it spat out more. It was
fascinating, really. If the elite espers took their time clearing
the area, the door would slow down too.
But when every abnormal type esper in the Centre worked
together, the door would close faster than expected.
‘The Door’s definitely got consciousness.’
Once the door had spat out everything it held, it would finally
shut.
“Fifteen minutes… maybe thirty.”
Yeon mumbled, his voice hoarse as he stared at the Red Door.
Hundreds of monsters still poured out, and Tae Ha-Jin was at
the front, annihilating them. Half of them were erased in an
instant, the rest cleaved apart by his sword.
BOOM. BOOM.
His sword strikes carried a terrifying destructive force,
creating waves of destruction with every swing.
Suddenly, Yeon realised something.
‘You’ve lived like this all your life, haven’t you?.. Dragging
these overwhelming battles towards victory…’
“Shit…”
Yeon winced, feeling his body’s limits. How long had he been
mass guiding in this awkward position? Ever since Tae Ha-Jin
arrived, he’d been pouring too much energy into him. His
entire body ached.
Cough.
“…Huh?”
Though he’d been clearing his throat for ages, what he spat on
the ground now was blood. Again. More blood. The first thing
Yeon did, in his shock, was glance at Tae Ha-Jin. If he saw,
who knows what kind of snide remark would come his way.
Yeon shuffled forward, tucking the blood under his knees,
wiping it away with his trousers. Then he froze.
‘…Since when did I start giving a damn about Tae Ha-Jin’s
opinion?’
Why did he so naturally assume that Tae Ha-Jin’d get angry
just because he was bleeding?
“…”
Suddenly, an itchy sensation crawled from his heart, through
his veins. His chest felt tight, like he’d swallowed a rock. He
couldn’t help but let out a bitter chuckle.
The idea that Tae Ha-Jin was worried about him… What a
ridiculous thought.
“Guide, are you alright?”
“Hold on, just a bit more!”
“Protect him properly! The war’s nearly over!”
With their stats gradually recovering, the espers were fighting
off the Grade 3 monsters while surrounding Yeon in a
protective circle, their abilities flashing with intensity. He
could feel how determined they were to keep him safe.
Oddly enough, he felt almost grateful.
“Finally…!”
“The door’s moving!”
“What? Seriously?”
“It’s been still this whole time.”
“No! I saw it move, even just a little!”
“How the hell did you see that?”
“My eyesight’s 2.0!”
The group’s mood brightened, thanks to this miraculous
display of good vision.
“You little bastard! Those sharp eyes are doing us a favour!”
As the witness claimed, the red door had stopped spewing out
monsters. Now, all they had to do was take care of the
remaining ones to wrap this whole thing up.
“Yes!!”
“Just a bit more, then we can go home!”
“We’re alive! We made it!”
Amidst the cheers, sobs, and relieved gasps, Yeon allowed a
faint smile to cross his face. A cold chill ran through his body,
and his strength was so drained he felt as if even his soul had
left him.
“Thank you, Guide! You saved us!”
“It’s true! Because of you, we’re alive!”
Yeon looked down at his dirt-smeared hands.
‘Because of me…?’
A surge of emotion washed over him, almost overwhelming.
His body trembled.
“Did everyone see that? This was the site of the Red Door!
What just happened was a demonstration of wide-area
guiding! As you know, only an S-Grade guide can perform
that! And we’ve just uncovered the shocking truth that Guide
Yeon, previously thought to be Grade A0, is actually an S-
Grade…”
There was a lot of chatter, but it all became a confusing blur in
his mind. The noise buzzed in his ears, making him dizzy.
At last, Yeon lifted his hands from the ground. He couldn’t
guide anymore. If he pushed any further, the Vessel would
crack for sure.
“Ah, hell…”
He stared up at the sky, the absurdity of it all making him
laugh. Sunlight filtered through the thick clouds, blinding him
with its brightness.
He was still kneeling, struggling to keep his eyes open when
suddenly, a warm hand covered them, blocking out the
dazzling light.
The scent was all too familiar by now. Bloody hell.
“Rest for now.”
…Can he really?
The words never made it out of his mouth, just a mumble in
his throat. Tae Ha-Jin’s voice dropped lower, almost tender.
“Yeah.”
Yeon let out a small laugh. He always knew what Yeon was
trying to say, didn’t he?
Carefully, Tae Ha-Jin eased Yeon’s head down to the ground.
How long had it been since he’d laid down? The exhausting
day flashed before his eyes like a fading dream. Tae Ha-Jin’s
hand retreated, letting the light back in, though Yeon kept his
eyes shut.
Thud.
He felt a slight weight and warmth settle over him—Tae Ha-
Jin must have draped his jacket over him. Weird behaviour for
a guy like him, but Yeon didn’t really mind anymore. People
always had two sides, after all.
“I’m just going to finish up here. Stay put, don’t move a
muscle.”
“…”
“I won’t be long.”
Yeon let out a dry laugh. Had he asked when he’d be back?
Tae Ha-Jin really was like a ghost, always finding the words
Yeon tried to bury deep inside. It was a skill that could cut him
open, yet he found it amusing, and a small smirk tugged at the
corner of his lips.
Tae Ha-Jin glanced down at Yeon’s faint smile for a moment
before turning away, heading towards the tents where reporters
and cameramen were broadcasting live.
The scent of blood faded further and further into the distance.
Time passed, and still, Tae Ha-Jin hadn’t returned. Even so,
the warmth of the jacket helped Yeon hold on. It wasn’t much,
but it was something.
“….?”
Too exhausted to even blink, Yeon suddenly felt a strange
sensation on his wrist. His watch—something he never took
off, not even while sleeping—was gone. Someone had taken it
off.
Then his body was lifted into the air. Someone had slipped an
arm beneath his back and knees, hoisting him up.
Tae Ha-Jin? Already back?
It had to be him—there was no one else who would do this. So
Yeon stayed still.
But something felt off.
‘…Why don’t I smell Tae Ha-Jin?’
As that thought crossed his mind, the feeling of his body being
dismantled and reassembled hit him. Teleportation.
Was it Doberman?
His body was already in a miserable state, and now the nausea
from the teleportation was pushing him over the edge. But
when he finally focused on the face before him, it wasn’t Tae
Ha-Jin’s sharp, clean-cut features. Instead, it was a flat-faced
man, looking down at him with a worried expression.
“…Who are you?”
Yeon weakly turned his head, realising they were now
standing right at the threshold of the Red Door.
Even though the door had finished spewing monsters, it
wouldn’t close immediately. It usually took at least four hours,
sometimes even twenty-four, to shut and vanish completely.
During that time, mining teams would normally enter the door
to extract valuable magic stones and ores, which were
essential to the nation’s energy supply.
But not this time. The centre was in ruins, and the tools for the
job were either destroyed or unavailable. So the Red Door, in
its desolate state, was closing all on its own, ever so slowly.
‘Why bring me here?’
Who the hell is this guy?
Yeon’s head pounded, and he couldn’t muster any strength in
his fingers. Even his esper power seemed completely drained
from the guiding. Whether or not that was even possible, Yeon
couldn’t say for sure. Living dual-bloodline espers were
unheard of.
One thing was clear—his Vessel was empty, and it would take
time to refill.
“Are you sure about this? I heard this guy’s supposed to be a S
Grade guide.”
“You believe that bullshit? Come on, it’s obvious he’s pulling
some kind of trick. He reawakened from Grade B0 to A0.
There’s no way he jumped to S-Grade. What, did he re-
reawaken or something?”
To his surprise, it was Jung Woo-Cheol, his former roommate.
Yeon had hoped he’d died in the chaos when the sixth
dormitory collapsed, but apparently, he’d survived.
“Yeah, but still…”
“Look, your part’s done. Just leave him here. I’ll handle the
rest.”
“This is the last time I help you. And remember, no one can
know about this.”
The man sounded worried, but Jung Woo-Cheol responded, his
voice dripping with annoyance.
“Mate, no one’s gonna notice. Can’t you see how bloody busy
everyone is? Just relax, yeah?”
Woo-Cheol glanced around. People were occupied, moving
bodies, tending to the wounded, searching for the missing.
Even the espers looked exhausted, sprawled out and receiving
medical attention.
No one was near the Red Door. It was just them.
Finally convinced, the man set Yeon down just a step away
from the door. He glanced nervously at Yeon’s pale face before
leaving.
The second he was laid on the ground, Jung Woo-Cheol’s face
twisted in disdain, and he kicked Yeon hard in the stomach.
Thud!
Wham!
The man flinched at the sound of successive kicks. Jung Woo-
Cheol’s eyes had turned wild, like he’d come face-to-face with
a lifelong enemy. The man thought to himself, “Getting caught
by a persistent bastard like that, what rotten luck.”
This wasn’t the first time Jung Woo-Cheol had killed someone
at the door. He never let anyone who disrespected him walk
away. Especially those who went too far—they always ended
up dealt with at the door like this.
“I just need to get paid for my trouble,” he reminded himself.
He gave himself a cut for jobs like this. It was good money, so
he occasionally did favours for the guy. Today was one of
those days.
Wham!
Jung Woo-Cheol poured all his strength into beating the man
senseless.
The other guy had no intention of stopping him, nor did he
want to stick around. His job was done. He didn’t care if that
pretty boy got his head bashed in or his neck snapped.
“I’m off. Don’t drag me into your mess.”
“If you’re going, then fuck off already, you prick.”
“Tch, you’re such a bastard.”
After watching the violence for a bit longer, the man took off,
almost in a sprint. There was a faint flash of light.
Thud. Thud.
Jung Woo-Cheol’s footsteps crunched over the grass as he
walked towards Yeon.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
He kicked Yeon in the stomach again. As Yeon doubled over,
Woo-Cheol kept stomping down on every inch he could reach.
Thwack, wham!
Crunch!
Not satisfied, he kicked harder, stomping repeatedly. For a
healthy bloke, Yeon was taking the kicks well—maybe
because Woo-Cheol was throwing everything into them.
Wham!
Yeon clutched his stomach, groaning in pain.
Coughing up blood, his throat felt like it was ripping apart. His
whole body screamed in agony.
“I warned you, didn’t I? You keep acting like that, and you’ll
be dead in the water. You were so fucking annoying; I wanted
to kill you from the start.”
Wham!
Thwack!
Jung Woo-Cheol stomped on Yeon’s body, pressing down on
his head like he was trying to crush it. It hurt so much Yeon
could feel his blood vessels bursting. He was probably already
bruised all over.
“You arrogant prick, thinking you’re all that….”
Wham!
“You’d be better off dead. How the fuck are you supposed to
be an S-grade? You’re weak as piss, wouldn’t be surprised if
you dropped dead right now. You might fool the world, but
you don’t fool me, you little maggot.”
There’s a limit to pain.
Yeon’s body was already battered from too much guiding.
Every joint ached, and the blows from Jung Woo-Cheol had
left him numb. The pain had reached its peak, and now he
couldn’t feel a thing. Thank fuck for that.
He was still being beaten, but it didn’t hurt anymore. He
coughed, more blood spilling out, splattering Jung Woo-
Cheol’s shoes.
“Oh, fuck’s sake! Disgusting!”
Woo-Cheol wiped his shoes on Yeon’s clothes, swearing under
his breath. Yeon lay still, as if dead, and Woo-Cheol slung his
limp body over his shoulder, marching towards the Red Door.
He crossed the threshold of the massive, crimson portal.
It was Woo-Cheol’s first time inside the Red Door. The cold
air and eerie atmosphere made his legs feel weak.
“This place gives me the creeps.”
The cavern stretched up and out so far that calling it a cave felt
wrong. Sharp, shimmering minerals jutted out from the walls,
and the darkness inside was so complete, it was impossible to
see what lay beyond.
Thud!
Woo-Cheol dumped Yeon’s body onto the floor of the cave
inside the Red Door. Yeon didn’t make a sound, despite the
pain of hitting the ground. Woo-Cheol stared at him, clearly
unsatisfied.
“Glad to see you’re ending like this. Go to hell, you bastard.
Hah!”
 Chapter 2. Part 13
He pressed his boot down on Yeon’s neck, laughing as his
breathing was cut off. Yeon’s face flushed red from the
pressure. Woo-Cheol kicked him in the gut again, grinning as
he did.
Then, as if the door itself was bad news, Woo-Cheol quickly
walked back out, the sound of his footsteps echoing against the
ceiling.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Three deafening gunshots rang out inside the door.
Jung Woo-Cheol was already on the ground, bleeding heavily.
Yeon, lying in the dirt, had a gun in his hand, his eyes locked
onto Woo-Cheol’s dying body with cold precision.
“You go to hell, you dumb fuck….”
Yeon’s ragged breathing slowed.
From the moment Woo-Cheol had slung him over his
shoulder, Yeon had been “reverse guiding” him without
drawing attention. He had been draining Woo-Cheol’s energy,
and he hadn’t given it back. Then, he severed the guiding
altogether.
He’d moved just enough to grab the gun, and luckily for Yeon,
Woo-Cheol was too much of an idiot to notice.
Yeon was an S+ grade guide, but he was also an A-grade
esper. Stealing a guide’s energy? That was nothing to him.
Once he had the gun, it wasn’t hard to shoot the fool.
“Hah….”
Yeon dragged himself across the floor, propping himself up
against a shining mineral embedded in the cave wall. It felt
like gravity was pulling him into the centre of the Earth.
Tae Ha-Jin’s words suddenly echoed in his mind.
—Training is dull. If you’re going to shoot, do it in the field,
when I’m distracted, when everyone’s in chaos.
—That’s when you shoot.
—A door breach turns the area into a lawless zone until the
incident is resolved. What happens there, the government will
ignore.
—That’s when you show your skills. I don’t like being
disturbed when I’m sleeping.
Yeon chuckled softly.
It was funny. He had actually followed Tae Ha-Jin’s advice to
the letter. He’d saved his best for the door.
He glanced at the gun in his hand. Tae Ha-Jin had given it to
him.
“Cunning bastard….”
Did Ha-Jin see this coming?
The gun had a six-shot capacity. He’d used three bullets on the
bigwigs earlier, and three just now on Jung Woo-Cheol. He
had used them all perfectly.
Yeon forced a smile, trying to shake off the chill in his bones.
His energy was returning, but just barely. If he wasn’t careful,
he’d die before it fully recovered. The pain was still absent,
though. His ribs were probably broken, and he might have
some internal damage as well. He had coughed up blood more
than once.
Turning his head, he saw that Woo-Cheol was dead. A pool of
blood had formed under his corpse.
The Red Door was slowly closing.
As Yeon lay there, thoughts filled his mind.
‘What happens when the door closes completely? What
becomes of the space inside?’
Do they both vanish?
Some scholars studying the doors believed that what lay
beyond was an entirely different dimension. They claimed that
stepping through the door would lead to another world.
It sounded like a dream. Yeon had always thought their
theories were no more than delusions. Another dimension? As
if these doors were some kind of gateway.
He turned his gaze to the darkness beyond the door.
The void was so black, it seemed as if light itself would never
touch it.
If there was a world beyond that, it would surely be hell.
A hell filled with monsters, so terrifying you couldn’t hold
back from vomiting.
‘It’s so quiet.’
Silence enveloped everything.
Yeon closed his eyes before the wave of sorrow could
overwhelm him.
He had no clue. He’d imagined it once, vaguely wondering—
what form would my death take, and where?
He used to think it’d be on his father’s lab table. A fitting end,
he thought. But no. This death was better than that. He’d
rather die here, alone, than be dissected on that lab table,
broken down to the molecular level.
Ha-Jin must be searching for me.
That thought seemed certain. That esper couldn’t function
without him. What fool of an S-grade guide would ever agree
to work with someone like Ha-Jin, with his awful temper?
‘No one but me.’
Yeon smiled.
That esper was probably tearing through everything, desperate,
like someone hunting for their last lifeline.
Ha-Jin had said he’d be back soon.
But Yeon’s watch had been snatched earlier by Woo-Cheol’s
accomplice. The bastard took it to block the tracking. Not a
complete idiot, apparently.
Ha-Jin wouldn’t find him.
And who would ever imagine he was trapped in here, in this
filthy, sprawling Red Door? Even if Ha-Jin came, Yeon would
likely be a cold corpse by the time he arrived.
“If you’re coming, hurry up…” he muttered.
My damned esper.
Yeon let go of his consciousness, feeling like he couldn’t face
death while fully aware.
“Lee Yeon.”
A dream. A hopeless, absurd dream.
In it, Ha-Jin found him, embraced him, calling his name. The
scent of Ha-Jin filled the air, the same scent Yeon thought he’d
never smell again.
A dream so vivid it restored even his sense of smell. How
cruel.
Why is it Ha-Jin here at the end? That thought flashed by.
As absurd as it was, that bastard had been significant to him.
“You said you’d be back soon, and now you’re late.”
The warmth of Ha-Jin’s body was too real to deny. He was
stroking Yeon’s hair, holding him tight, leaving no room for
escape.
With his eyes closed, Yeon’s senses began to return. Ha-Jin’s
red energy was forcing itself into his body, filling the Vessel.
He was unnervingly skilled at filtering out only the clean
energy.
‘No, this won’t do.’
Ha-Jin’s contamination levels would rise because of this. A
guide wasn’t supposed to let this happen. But Yeon accepted
all of Ha-Jin’s energy.
At death’s door, if this was the lifeline, he’d grab it.
As the energy settled in, his Vessel began to function, slowly
producing its own.
He became sure of it.
‘I’m not dying today.’
Burying his face into Ha-Jin’s shoulder and neck, Yeon let out
a breath. The relief that washed over him was almost comical.
Ha-Jin silently stroked his hair. Noticing his body covered in
wounds, Ha-Jin held him more gently than usual, avoiding any
pressure.
“You should’ve come sooner…” Yeon blamed Ha-Jin, though
it wasn’t really his fault.
He just felt like it.
Ha-Jin chuckled softly.
“Yeah, my bad.”
Even if it wasn’t sincere, it was surprising to hear Ha-Jin say
something like that.
“I’m late.”
Yeon felt on the verge of tears again.
Ha-Jin had taken on all the weight, as if it were his fault. Yeon
happily blamed him in his mind.
‘Why the hell were you so late? Do you know how cold and
terrifying it was inside this door? It feels like it’s freezing in
here. Where’s the coat you gave me? It was warm… I killed
Woo-Cheol, using the method you taught me. I don’t feel
guilty about it. Am I becoming like Hong-Jun? Tell me I’m
not.’
Yeon swallowed all the words.
This place was too filthy for a confession, and Ha-Jin was no
priest.
“It’s fine now. Just… stop, okay?”
The energy flowing into him helped his body function again.
The dull pain returned, and the healing process, which had
been halted, sped up. He’d recover as long as he rested.
With that, Ha-Jin finally let him go.
“Ugh!”
Yeon swallowed a groan as the pain surged back. Ha-Jin
looked directly at him, his sharp red eyes scanning his face,
then gently wiped the dirt from Yeon’s cheeks with his palm.
He sighed, speaking softly.
“Watching you like this…”
“…”
“Why the fuck do I feel so pissed off?”
As he spoke, he continued to wipe Yeon’s face, as if tending to
something precious.
Yeon sat there between Ha-Jin’s legs, wrapped in his arms.
Ha-Jin cupped Yeon’s face with both hands, large and firm yet
gentle. His gaze fell on Yeon’s lips.
Slowly, their faces drew closer. Yeon knew it was coming but
closed his eyes anyway.
The Red Door was lawless, so rational behaviour was
pointless.
In this place, instincts were all that mattered.
Their lips met softly. Yeon’s heart pounded, the reaction to the
tension. Ha-Jin bit and released his lips repeatedly, a lewd
sound echoing in the door’s vastness.
The lips parted and came back together, softly brushing, until
it became unbearable, and then they joined again. It wasn’t
enough, yet it was overwhelming. With a furrowed brow, Yeon
bit down harder on Ha-Jin’s lower lip. Ha-Jin understood the
intent and opened his mouth willingly. Their tongues met in
the middle, grinding together messily.
Ha-Jin’s kiss grew more intense, wild even. The gentleness
from earlier seemed like a lie. His grip on Yeon’s cheeks
tightened, veins bulging in his hands.
The pure energy that had been flowing into Yeon stopped. This
wasn’t about energy exchange anymore; the kiss was a
warning of something else.
Ha-Jin’s hand slid down to the back of Yeon’s neck, stroking
slowly. The sensation made Yeon’s body shudder.
“Agh…”
The slight movement made Yeon’s body scream in pain. The
stabbing aches felt unbearable. He groaned from the agony.
At this point, Ha-Jin should’ve stopped, worried, but he only
pressed harder. Startled, Yeon grabbed his wrist. His thick
wrist bulged with veins as if he was holding himself back.
Is he restraining himself?
The fact that this rough kiss was him holding back—how
ridiculous.
Honestly, kissing Ha-Jin felt good. It always did. Ha-Jin had a
way of kissing that could steal your soul.
There was something so obscenely enticing about it.
But if this kept going, Yeon’s body might crumble. He tapped
weakly on Ha-Jin’s shoulder.
And, for fuck’s sake, wasn’t there a corpse just lying over
there?
“Mm… Mmph!”
“Just a bit more.”
Ha-Jin growled low like a beast and leaned in again. As Yeon
was consumed, another flash of realisation hit him.
This isn’t guiding.
No energy flowed between them.
This wasn’t guiding, reverse guiding, or anything like it. It was
just a kiss. He’d thought the same thing earlier, but now that
the realisation came again, a storm of emotions raged inside
him.
A red warning blared in his mind.
What are we even doing?
Why didn’t it feel wrong?
There were too many things that couldn’t be explained by
saying it was because of guiding. Yeon had never gotten
aroused during guiding sessions. Except with Ha-Jin.
Confused, Yeon pushed him away.
“Ugh!”
His body screamed.
“…”
Ha-Jin let out a long sigh and rested his forehead on Yeon’s
shoulder. There was no weight to it, as if he was holding
himself back. He stayed still, breathing deeply as if trying to
calm something within him.
Yeon was also overwhelmed by the excitement, but the pain
anchoring him was stronger.
A little while later, Ha-Jin lifted Yeon like a sack of potatoes.
“Ah! That hurts!”
“Better than walking.”
Ha-Jin strode towards the Red Door’s exit. It was already two-
thirds closed. Dangling in his arms, Yeon’s eyes widened as he
noticed something.
‘Bloody hell…!’
He squeezed his eyes shut like he’d seen something he
shouldn’t have.
The corpse of Jung Woo-Cheol, shot to death, was in bits, as if
it had been shredded by a sharp blade. It was the most
horrifying and brutal sight he’d ever seen in his life. If his
instinctual filter hadn’t blurred the image, he’d have thrown
up.
‘Tae Ha-Jin… What the fuck did you do to a dead man?’
He didn’t want to know. Quickly, he wiped the thought from
his mind.
As soon as he stepped out of the door, the air felt clearer. Even
with the stench of monster blood and damp earth, it was still
better than the suffocating Red Door.
Inside, it had been so stifling, damp, and rank.
“I’m outside the Red Door. Get here now.”
—The Red Door? Was Guide Lee Yeon inside? No wonder I
couldn’t find him…
“Shut up and come. Lee Yeon’s hurt.”
—W-What? Where’s he hurt…
Click.
He ended the call, and Doberman was there in an instant. He
looked worn out, gaunt from his own struggles.
“Guide…! What bastard did this to…?”
“Hospital. Now.”
“Right.”
The three of them rushed to the emergency room of the
genetics hospital. The bed carrying Yeon was pulled away for
diagnosis. Tae Ha-Jin watched the scene, then turned to
Doberman.
“Did you check the fingerprints?”
“Checked, but there was too much dust. No results.”
“Location of the watch when it was lost?”
“Yes. As you suggested, we turned the central control room
upside down and found a suspect. The esper was briefly there
when Guide Lee Yeon lost the watch. Name: Bansu-man, 31,
B+ grade transportation esper, assigned to the Capital Centre.”
“Capture and lock him up.”
“The arrest team for abnormal types is already en route.”
“Tell them not to detain him. I’ll handle it myself.”
“Understood.”
Tae Ha-Jin received a briefing from Doberman on what still
needed handling. As they spoke, he glanced at the door to the
treatment room where Yeon had gone.
The memory chilled his blood.
After exterminating the remaining monsters, he’d dealt with
the Red Door and the broadcast team that had been filming
Lee Yeon. It had all been broadcast live, so there was no way
to retract it. The footage of Yeon’s guiding had already spread
worldwide.
Lee Yeon had been prepared to perform a massive area-wide
guiding, which meant he knew the risks.
With that thought in mind, Tae Ha-Jin had returned to the park
where Yeon should have been. He had hurried, but all that
remained was an abandoned coat. His coat.
Where the hell did he crawl off to in that state?
He’d told him to rest as if he were dead.
Picking up the coat, he saw Yeon’s watch discarded beneath it.
That’s when the tension in the back of his neck set in, and his
mind spiralled with all sorts of thoughts.
Had he been caught by the monster they missed?
Had someone already kidnapped him, now that his status as an
S-grade guide was known?
Or…
He had no idea how long he searched for Yeon. He flipped the
central control room upside down, using every means
available—CCTV, the watch’s fingerprints, everything—to
track him down.
When he heard that the CCTV around the red door had been
destroyed, Tae Ha-Jin had wanted to obliterate the entire area.
Yeon’s pale, limp face flickered in his mind.
‘Why do you always make me so fucking angry?’
As time passed, his frustration grew. He summoned espers
with search abilities and ordered them to find any trace of Lee
Yeon.
One of them, an esper with a strong sense of smell, said,
—The scent cuts off here. It seems a transportation esper was
involved.
Another esper, who could glimpse the past from objects, had
picked up the watch.
—Can’t find him through the watch. All I saw was Guide Lee
Yeon frequently checking Tae Ha-Jin esper’s schedule.
Yeon had been checking his schedule often?
It was an interesting development, but not the information Tae
Ha-Jin had been hoping for. What he wanted was to find Yeon.
An esper who could detect faint sounds from a distance spoke
up.
—Something’s odd. Didn’t we clear all the monsters in the
Red Door? I’m hearing some faint… breathing.
That’s it.
‘You’re in there.’
Tae Ha-Jin flew into the Red Door. The first thing he saw was
a corpse, riddled with bullet holes and lying in a pool of blood.
Yeon’s roommate.
He’d had an informant dig into Lee Yeon’s dorm before, and
they had mentioned his roommate. Tae Ha-Jin had dismissed
the guy as a nobody.
The body had been shot through the back of the head, heart,
and stomach. Tae Ha-Jin knew Yeon’s shooting skills well, so
it didn’t faze him. It simply proved Yeon had been here.
Just in case, though he knew it couldn’t be Yeon, Tae Ha-Jin
flipped the body over.
It confirmed his suspicions. This guy was the cause of the
“Lee Yeon disappearance case.”
No way Yeon would shoot an innocent guy three times.
Lee Yeon was soft like that.
Even when Tae Ha-Jin had tormented him, all Yeon had done
was fire a training rifle at him.
—Lucky bastard.
Tae Ha-Jin thought as he slashed the roommate’s body with
his sword.
Damn fortunate. To die by Lee Yeon’s hand.
Yeon was kind, after all. The first shot would have been to the
head. The roommate was probably dead before the second and
third shots even hit.
The guy’s only pain was from that initial hit.
After exacting some final punishment on the body, Tae Ha-Jin
spotted a figure against the wall. A white-skinned man caught
his eye. Drawn like a moth to a flame, he approached him.
Kneeling, Tae Ha-Jin placed his hand on the cold cheek. There
was blood around his mouth as if he’d coughed it up. His
breathing was faint, his shirt covered in dark bruises. Tae Ha-
Jin ground his teeth.
—That bastard…
He glanced at the shattered corpse. His insides churned. If he
could, he’d chase him to the afterlife and rip him apart again.
Suppressing his rage, Tae Ha-Jin pulled Yeon into his arms.
His body was so cold, he already felt like a dead man. Tae Ha-
Jin furrowed his brow, rubbing his hands over Yeon’s body,
trying to share his warmth.
The slight easing of his breath echoed in Tae Ha-Jin’s ears.
—Back then, I abandoned you.
Not that you’d remember.
Yeon remained unconscious. Tae Ha-Jin gently stroked his
hair, murmuring,
—Never again.
On the day Yeon became his exclusive guide, he had made just
one request:
Protect me.
Tae Ha-Jin had no intention of breaking that promise.
You will remain at peace.
I will gladly be your shield and sword.

__
Phases with — at the beginning the author used to indicate
direct speech in the flashback - yep, exactly like direct speech
of a person on the phone. Even though I’d prefer having them
in single quotation marks, I didn’t replace it. That probably
will remain in the future, so be prepared.
 Chapter 3. Part 1 [PG-18]
[Comprehensive] Lee Yeon, Grade A0 esper, has been guide to
Tae Ha-Jin, Grade S esper!
It’s been five days since the infamous Red Door appeared in
the Capital Centre. And at the heart of the buzz is one person:
guide Lee Yeon. According to the Genetic Hospital, Lee Yeon
had recently awakened from Grade B0 to A0 earlier this year.
The Hospital Director stated that this result was obtained
through a process certified by the Epenhar genetic testing
device, developed by Head Researcher Lee Hong-Jun, with a
margin of error as small as 0.001%.
But the most shocking turn of events came when Lee Yeon
was broadcast performing wide-area guiding during the Red
Door incident. This technique is a well-known concept but is
only possible for Grade S guides or higher. His guidance
completely turned the tide at the frontlines of the Red Door,
where they had been pushed back. His self-sacrificial spirit
moved many people, likening him to a true hero. The footage
was captured live by HBS Broadcasting, showing the pivotal
moment.
Let’s hear from the espers who were on site:
“He looked like a ray of light. I thought I was done for, the
contamination levels were rising fast. But the moment that
guide arrived, my body cleared up. His skill is the real deal!”
“Yeah, I was commanding as a team leader, and it was chaos.
But when a guide, not even an esper, steps up like that, it just
makes you want to work harder. I want to thank him for
staying strong till the end.”
However, there are some who question whether a second
awakening, or what they call a ‘re-awakening,’ is even
possible. For clarity, we’ve brought in an expert in genetics:
none other than Doctor Lee Hong-Jun of the Basen Research
Lab, a renowned expert in genetics, mechanics, and
electronics.
Q: Hello, Doctor Lee Hong-Jun.
A: Yes, hello.
Q: So, Lee Yeon, guide to Tae Ha-Jin, Grade S esper, has been
revealed to be Grade S. What do you think?
A: It’s as I expected.
Q: …as expected?
A: Yes.
Q: Some are questioning whether a re-awakening is even
possible for abnormal types. What’s your professional take on
this?
A: It’s impossible.
Q: Oh? Could you explain why?
A: Genetics are built to only allow for two stages of mutation.
The moment it reaches a third stage, the cells undergo
immediate self-destruction, causing a loss of genetic structure.
A third awakening is categorically impossible.
Q: Then how do we interpret Lee Yeon’s case? Could he be
some kind of rare mutation?
A: Don’t assume mutations happen without reason.
Q. …Could you clarify that further?
A. That’s as much as I’ll say. I’m busy.
While a precise answer wasn’t given, Director Lee Hong-Jun
seemed to acknowledge Guide Lee Yeon as a mutation.
Unfortunately, it was reported that Guide Lee Yeon had fallen
into a coma following the Red Door incident.
At a Red Door briefing, Esper Tae Ha-Jin addressed questions
regarding Guide Lee Yeon with a firm warning:
“Refrain from spreading baseless rumours about my exclusive
guide. I will ensure strict repercussions.”
Today, the government of the Diaylen released a statement on
the devastating national-scale Red Door incident, outlining the
damage as follows:
Collapse of all buildings within the central capital
centre.
 Deaths of 341 abnormal types affiliated with the centre,
with 2,980 injured and 33 missing.
Civilian casualties: 42 dead, over 700 injured (under
investigation), 14 missing.
Damage to 12 nearby office buildings, 5 mixed-use
structures, and 3 public facilities.
Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun issued the following
statement:
“We deeply regret the tragedy caused by this disaster and plan
to arrange a mass funeral for the deceased. Individual
ceremonies will be available based on the families’ wishes.
The government will take full responsibility for the treatment
of the injured and compensation for the losses. The destroyed
capital centre will be gradually restored using restoration
espers. We hope everyone finds the strength to overcome this
challenging time.”
The capital centre announced that updates on building
restoration and temporary housing for abnormal types would
be provided in a separate notice.

***

“How much longer do I have to wait before I can see Yeon?”

Kim Uibin sighed heavily, folding her newspaper in half as she
perched on the hospital bed.
Dekal, focused as he placed his hands over hers, raised an
eyebrow.
“You’ve absorbed the full energy of an S-grade guide. That’s
not something that disappears in just a few days.”
“And these injuries… wouldn’t they heal on their own if left
alone?”
“They would, but it would take months.”
“That long?”
“The esper who struck you did so with infused energy. That
doesn’t heal overnight.”
“…”
“If you’re concerned about Guide Lee Yeon, then cooperate.
He would want that too.”
At Dekal’s blunt tone, Uibin sulked and nodded. She was
worried about Yeon—terribly so. It was said he still hadn’t
regained consciousness.
That the fact of him being an S-grade guide was revealed so
quickly weighed on her mind. Surely, he hadn’t acted
recklessly, but worry gnawed at her all the same.
Would the research director discovering this be a problem?
Yeon was receiving intensive care in the same hospital as her,
reportedly staying in a VVIP suite befitting royalty, as per Tae
Ha-Jin’s demand.
How much must he have suffered to be in a coma?
What if something went wrong?
Biting her nails anxiously, Uibin was stopped by Dekal, who
reached out to prevent her from continuing.
“It’s unseemly.”
“Ah… I’m sorry. I didn’t realise.”
The restoration continued in silence. Having met Dekal
frequently, the awkwardness had faded, though progress was
slow and clearly limited by his drained energy.
Red marks still marred her wrists, evidence of where she’d
been tightly bound. Dekal’s gaze lingered on them briefly
before returning to his work.
Uibin, lost in thought, flipped through the newspaper yet
again, folding and unfolding the pages countless times.
“Kim Uibin.”
Hearing him address her directly for the first time, she
flinched, startled like a frightened animal. Her wide-eyed
reaction made Dekal feel as though he’d been branded a
criminal.
The trauma from her assault was clear.
“…Yes?”
“Once Guide Lee Yeon regains consciousness, you may visit
him for a day.”
“Really?”
Was she that delighted?
Her radiant smile lit up her face as if she’d just been handed
the world. Dekal, who lacked confidence in his own sense of
aesthetics, admitted to himself that she looked better smiling
than crying.
He nodded, acknowledging her reaction.
“Right now, you’re in a mentally unstable state. That isn’t
conducive to recovery. Visiting him when he wakes might
help.”
“Thank you!”
“Don’t mention it.”
Dekal stood, shrugging on his jacket from the chair. As he
made to leave, Uibin called out urgently.
“Dekal!”
“Yes?”
Turning back, Dekal regarded her with his usual impassive
expression.
“I heard… there are espers who can erase scars.”
Dekal blinked slowly, surprised by the sudden statement.
Fidgeting with her hands, Uibin hesitated before continuing.
“I’m sorry, but… I noticed the scar on the back of your neck.
It’s quite large. Wouldn’t it be better to have it removed?”
“Are you saying it’s unsightly?”
Uibin flailed her hands in denial, eyes wide with panic.
“Not at all! It just looks painful… I thought it might bring
back bad memories.”
Dekal stared at her for a moment before his gaze softened
slightly. Raising a hand, he placed it on the back of his neck. A
soft blue glow emanated from his palm, and when he pulled it
away, the large scar was gone.
“The esper who can erase scars,” he said calmly, “is me.”
“…”
“I didn’t erase it before because it didn’t bother me.”
It was shocking. The burn scar was severe enough to make
anyone wince just looking at it. Whatever he’d gone through,
it was easy to imagine how painful it must be to have a
constant reminder of the past etched onto his skin.
And yet, that man spoke as if it meant absolutely nothing.
Something he could erase with a touch, but chose not to, as
though it wasn’t worth the effort.
‘Even the marks left on my wrists weigh heavily on my
heart…’
Kim Uibin rubbed her fingers over the red marks on her wrist.
Could he truly feel nothing at all?
How much pain would someone have to endure to grow numb
enough for scars like that to stop mattering?
Dekal might have been a man of little emotion, but there was a
subtle kindness in him, she thought.
“Well then, I’ll be off. Take care of yourself.”
Dekal exited the VIP hospital room. His schedule was already
packed, so he needed to hurry. Restoration espers were rare,
and ones of A+ grade like himself were practically unheard of.
The ability to restore even a human body? He was nearly the
only one.
Notifications flooded his watch as he stepped outside. As he
walked, Dekal absent-mindedly rubbed the back of his neck.
The once-rough surface was now smooth.
‘Did I really need to?’
The scar had been there for so long that he’d left it without a
second thought. Erasing it now felt like an unnecessary
fixation on the past, like advertising that he couldn’t let go.
Or maybe he’d stubbornly kept it all this time as a matter of
pride.
Why remove it now? Well…
‘I wondered what kind of face she’d make.’
It was curiosity, nothing more. The scar, to him, held no real
value. Something so trivial didn’t warrant restoration.
Kim Uibin came to mind. She had an expressive face. Sad,
then laughing, suffering, pretending to be fine, wincing in
pain, then acting as if it didn’t hurt.
Had she been surprised earlier?
Dekal pondered her reaction.
‘She’s braver than she looks.’
Kim Uibin and Lee Yeon were clearly precious to each other.
Uibin probably knew exactly who Yeon’s father was and that
he’d been an S-grade guide all along. That knowledge must’ve
made her stare anxiously at the headlines.
Lee Yeon was anything but ordinary. Like the eye of a storm,
everything would eventually revolve around him. He
possessed much, and those who possess inevitably attract.
But Kim Uibin…
Beyond her pretty face, she was a painfully average woman. A
B- grade guide who had terrible judgement in men—
evidenced by her ex—and likely came from a modest
background. Yet here she was, lingering close to the storm’s
eye.
She looked fragile but had a shocking amount of nerve.
Dekal rubbed the smooth skin on his neck again. Its unfamiliar
texture felt almost intolerably strange.

***

Doberman, who had come to visit Yeon, found himself

momentarily stunned. Tae Ha-Jin, an esper, was gently wiping
the sweat from Yeon’s pale face with a damp cloth. His hands
moved with such care that Doberman hesitated, unsure
whether to announce himself.
“Stop just standing there,” Ha-Jin muttered without turning
around. Not that it mattered whether Doberman made a sound;
Ha-Jin would know he was there anyway. Doberman set the
clothes he’d brought onto the side table.
“I brought these in Yeon’s usual size, same as his dress
uniforms.”
It had been a simple request: bring a change of clothes for
when Yeon woke up. Doberman had intended to visit anyway,
so he complied willingly.
“He doesn’t look too well,” he remarked.
“His fever’s high,” Ha-Jin replied, his voice flat.
Doberman shrugged off his coat, hanging it neatly on the
nearby stand. “Did the doctor say why?”
“When a Vessel runs dry for the first time, fever’s normal.”
Ha-Jin’s gaze remained fixed on Yeon as he spoke. Doberman
blinked in surprise.
“That’s remarkable. He’s been guiding for years, and this is his
first depletion? His Vessel must be enormous.”
Only something on the scale of widespread guiding could have
drained it. As expected of an S+ grade guide—there was
always something extraordinary. Doberman recalled
something from the past.
When Yeon first arrived at the Libramji Centre, Ha-Jin had
experienced his guiding and described it like this:
—I couldn’t read his Vessel. It’s never happened before.
At the time, it had been a mix of shock and amusement. In
hindsight, Ha-Jin had been perceptive. He’d recognised Yeon’s
singular nature from a single encounter, enough to make him
his exclusive guide. And he’d succeeded.
Back then, Ha-Jin had hated Yeon with a passion. Now, here
he was, tenderly wiping away his sweat. The contrast was so
jarring that Doberman couldn’t adjust.
Had something happened in his absence?
Adjusting the humidifier, Doberman asked, “Did you finish
him?”
“Yeah.”
The Special Subjugation Unit for abnormal types had been
quick. Skilled espers, they’d apprehended the accomplice
without delay. The name attached to the “Lee Yeon Abduction
Case” was Bansu-Man.
After Yeon collapsed, the first Yellow Door incident occurred.
Ha-Jin had dragged Bansu-Man to the scene. By the time
Doberman arrived, the man was barely recognisable, beaten to
a pulp.
—Agh… Help, please…
Ha-Jin had hung him upside down from the highest streetlight
near the Door. The implication was clear: stay put until the
Door’s resolution. When the Yellow Door finally began to
seal, Ha-Jin sliced through the rope. He caught the falling
Bansu-Man with eerie nonchalance and dragged him into the
void of the closing Door.
Even as he dismembered the man piece by piece, Ha-Jin’s
expression was eerily calm. His voice, though soft, was colder
than steel.
—At least you’re alive. Jung Woo-Cheol’s already dead.
Slash!
The last limb was severed. Blood poured freely, pooling
beneath the battered body. Even then, Bansu-Man didn’t
succumb to shock. A testament to his B+ grade. Ha-Jin
smirked faintly.
—Want to hear something funny?
The man whimpered incoherently.
—I couldn’t care less about this country going to shit. Or how
many people die because of the Doors.
Ha-Jin’s eyes were devoid of empathy, filled only with
contempt for the world.
—Everything is just a means to an end.
No guilt, no hesitation. He glanced at the mutilated body
before continuing.
—I don’t feel bad. Not for the women who claimed to love me
and died trying to prove it, nor for the men I tear apart with my
own hands.
He paused, his tone dropping to an almost bitter whisper.
—And yet, Lee Yeon accepts me. Even like this.
Tae Ha-Jin’s thoughts drifted to Ju Mi-Hoon’s funeral.
Doberman had insisted they attend, practically dragging him
along. Ha-Jin had intended to leave after placing a single
flower, but then he spotted Kim Uibin and Lee Yeon seated
together.
Lee Yeon, in his perfectly pressed black suit, was as
immaculate as the fresh white chrysanthemum he’d just laid.
He stood calmly by Uibin, who was in tears, taking her side
without hesitation.
—It might sound harsh, but even though Ju Mi-Hoon had an
unrequited love, his death wasn’t Tae Ha-Jin’s fault. Let’s flip
it around. If someone who loved me couldn’t handle my
rejection and committed suicide, is that my fault? Would you
get angry and call me the bad guy?
Ha-Jin had been stunned at the time.
At the time, it hadn’t been long since he’d caused trouble for
Lee Yeon with his own rampage, and it was still early in their
exclusive guide relationship. Yet, there Lee Yeon was,
standing up for him to a friend he held in the highest regard.
A peculiar sense of triumph and euphoria had overtaken him
then.
Recalling that moment, Tae Ha-Jin chuckled to himself. His
accomplice, Bansu-Man, was now nothing more than a cold
corpse. Looking down at the lifeless body, Ha-Jin spoke.
—Good for him. Even garbage had a companion.
Lee Yeon was the boy who had endured hell alongside him in
the Basen Research Lab. Even amidst a fog of forgetfulness,
Lee Yeon had sided with him, staying at his side as his
exclusive guide.
Lee Yeon was truly something special.
Finishing his thoughts, Ha-Jin brushed back Lee Yeon’s sweat-
drenched hair. As the smooth forehead came into view, Lee
Yeon’s delicate features stood out more vividly.
From his seat on a side chair, Doberman watched this scene
with a touch of confusion.
‘Why is Tae Ha-Jin acting like this?’
The touch was oddly tender.
In the seven years Doberman had known him, he’d never seen
Ha-Jin pay such attention to anyone. Sure, Lee Yeon was an
exceptional S-grade guide, but Ha-Jin had always been
indifferent even to S-grade guides from other nations.
‘Surely not…’
A theory—wild yet strangely plausible—flashed through
Doberman’s mind: perhaps Lee Yeon had uncovered Ha-Jin’s
hidden weakness and was blackmailing him. But that didn’t
quite fit. Lee Yeon wasn’t the type for such convoluted
schemes. He was too straightforward for that.
Struggling with his thoughts, Doberman hesitated before
asking, “Why do you give special treatment to Lee Yeon?”
For the first time, Ha-Jin shifted his gaze from Lee Yeon to
Doberman, narrowing his brows slightly.
“Why?”
“I’m just curious. I’ve never seen you act like this before.
Sure, Lee Yeon’s good-looking and all, but you’ve never cared
about those things. You’re not… interested in him, are you?”
Doberman fumbled his words under Ha-Jin’s intense stare. Ha-
Jin tilted his head and casually nodded.
“Correct.”
Doberman blinked, tilting his head in confusion. “Correct
about what?”
“I like him.”
“…”
Did I mishear that?
Doberman scrubbed his ears with his palms and asked again,
“What did you just say?”
Ha-Jin didn’t bother to repeat himself. That silence alone
confirmed the truth of his words. Doberman’s jaw dropped.
‘Tae Ha-Jin likes… someone?’
A chill ran down his spine.
It seemed impossible. Ha-Jin was a man incapable of affection
—a barren desert incapable of nurturing love.
‘Tae Ha-Jin… likes Lee Yeon?’
As the idea sank in, pieces of a long-unsolved puzzle began to
fall into place.
Why Ha-Jin always paid attention to Lee Yeon’s safety during
operations. Why he demanded the imprisonment of anyone
who left malicious comments about Lee Yeon. Why he wore
that expression when Lee Yeon went missing.
And now, why he was looking at Lee Yeon with those eyes.
In hindsight, it was absurd that no one had noticed. Despite his
usual blank expression, the unbroken thread of affection in Ha-
Jin’s gaze was unmistakable. Doberman felt something well up
inside him, a strange mix of awe and disbelief.
So you’re human, after all.
“Isn’t it… hard for you?” Doberman asked, trying to contain
his emotions. “Accepting those feelings, I mean. For someone
like you, it can’t have been easy.”
Ha-Jin scoffed lightly. “What do you take me for? Some idiot
who doesn’t recognise his own emotions?”
Yes, actually…
Doberman barely stopped himself from blurting it out, pulling
his lips into a thin line. Ha-Jin toyed absentmindedly with Lee
Yeon’s slender fingers, as if they were a trinket, before
speaking again.
“I haven’t known for long.”
“Oh, so you’ve liked him for a while, but only realised it
recently?”
“Yeah.”
His answer was curt, but for Doberman, this was a rare
opportunity to chat about something other than work. Ha-Jin
seemed unusually open today, so Doberman decided to press
further.
“When did you realise it? That you liked Lee Yeon?”
His voice was almost giddy.
Ha-Jin raised a brow at Doberman, who looked far too excited
for his liking. Doberman’s eyes gleamed like those of a child
awaiting a bedtime story.
“When, huh…” Ha-Jin glanced to the side, as if replaying a
memory. “It was probably that day.”
He paused, his tone more reflective now. “Lee Yeon was
playing in the water in my garden.”
Doberman nodded enthusiastically. “Right, the pool. I know
that one well. Go on.”
“He was beautiful. Stunning.”
“…”
And that’s it?
Doberman frowned. Everyone already knew Lee Yeon was
beautiful. Even kids on the street could tell you that. How was
that a pivotal moment?
Truthfully, Doberman had expected some grand, dramatic
event—a scene straight out of a romance drama. Instead, it
boiled down to he looked pretty while playing in the water?
What a letdown.
“I don’t get it, Esper. Lee Yeon’s always been handsome. How
does that make you realise you like him?”
“I didn’t know,” Ha-Jin replied. “That he was that beautiful.”
“Oh.”
You didn’t know? How could anyone not notice that? Now that
Doberman thought about it, Ha-Jin had never openly
commented on Lee Yeon’s looks, nor had he seemed
particularly captivated by them before.
“So… you’re saying you fell for him because of his beauty?”
Ha-Jin shook his head, still absentmindedly rubbing Lee
Yeon’s palm with his thumb. “I couldn’t touch him. Even
though I wanted to. Even though I wanted sex.”
That was the trigger.
Even though Ha-Jin’s lust surged countless times, just
imagining the pretty Yeon, he couldn’t let himself act on it.
What he felt in the garden that day, as he looked at Yeon, was
distance.
Like the glass wall of a capsule, the folding doors of the living
room separated him from Yeon. He felt as though Yeon was an
unreachable presence, distant and faint. It drove him mad. He
wanted to smash the glass and take the man beyond it.
And yet, a strange sense of regret surfaced.
That pale, beautiful being—if Ha-Jin approached him, would
he stain him black?
It was absurd, but he felt as though touching him might wear
him away to nothing.
This feeling of something overriding his desires was alien to
Ha-Jin.
Yeon often suppressed his instincts, and just as often paralysed
his rationality.
If this wasn’t love, then what the hell was it?
“Ah…”
Doberman, listening to him, let out a sigh—not quite a sigh,
but close enough. He had been hoping for a pure, first love
story, but the word “sex” had burst out instead. If this was a
confession, Tae Ha-Jin would have been immediately rejected.
Still, Doberman found himself somewhat understanding the
way he expressed it.
For Tae Ha-Jin, who wasn’t familiar with feelings like
affection, maybe this was how he had come to accept Yeon.
Doberman gave a bright smile.
“First love, huh?”
The word had never been stored in his left brain before. Ha-Jin
raised an eyebrow and mulled over it. His crimson eyes locked
onto Yeon’s face.
His gaze was unrelenting.
“…”
And then, finally, Ha-Jin gave a small nod.

***

Three days later.

Yeon opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was a blindingly white ceiling. Outside
the window, the sun was setting, painting the sky red. Yeon
instinctively realised he was in a hospital. The sharp scent of
alcohol and the sickly odour of the place pricked at his senses.
For some reason, he felt like turning his head would reveal Tae
Ha-Jin standing there.
He turned, full of odd anticipation.
“Yeon-ssi, you’re awake?”
But the face that greeted him was that of a doctor, Choi Sa-
Rang.
She stood with her hands in the pockets of her lab coat,
smiling faintly. Taking out a thermometer, she gently placed it
in Yeon’s ear. A beep signalled his normal temperature.
“I read the news. Yeon-ssi, they’re saying you’re an S-grade
guide. It’s all over the place.”
Ah.
Now that she mentioned it, he remembered they’d decided to
go public.
‘But already? There are articles about it?’
He hadn’t expected it to spread so fast. Yeon furrowed his
brow. Some lunatic journalist must have slipped into the Red
Door site amidst the chaos. There must have been gaps in
civilian control due to the pandemonium.
His head began to throb, and he raised a hand to his forehead.
“How long have I been asleep?”
His dry voice cracked as it came out. Choi Sa-Rang, checking
something on the chart she held, poured him a glass of water
from the bedside table and handed it to him.
“It’s your eighth day today.”
“…What?”
Yeon jolted upright, startled.
“Ugh…!”
Pain shot through him like his body was tearing apart. His face
twisted in agony, a groan escaping his lips.
“When you were brought in, your condition was terrible.
Luckily, being an S-grade abnormal type, your recovery was
quicker than most. The bruises all over your body have faded
significantly. Even so, you’ve been lying down for eight days
straight. Your body is stiff, and the muscle pain will be
intense.”
Her words rang true. Every inch of his body screamed in
protest. Leaning on the soft mattress with great effort, he tried
to catch his breath. He’d assumed he’d been out for a day or
two at most, but eight days?
It was ridiculous. Surely a Door must have opened during that
time.
Who the hell guided Tae Ha-Jin in the meantime?
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin. Where is he?”
The question implied both his location and condition. Choi Sa-
Rang caught on quickly, her lips curving into a small smile.
“He was here, taking care of you until not long ago. He
insisted he was your guardian and wouldn’t let anyone but the
medical staff near you. There’s a crowd of reporters camped
outside the hospital. Then, two White Doors opened
simultaneously, so he left to respond.”
As she explained, Choi Sa-Rang recalled Tae Ha-Jin.
He had declared himself Yeon’s guardian. Yet, while he
allowed other medical personnel in, he had outright banned
her from entering.
When she protested, looking up at the towering man:
—You’re not allowed.
—And why is that? I may not be your primary physician, but
I’m a specialist. I have the right to check on the patient.
—Does being a specialist mean I have to let you in?
—You let all the other specialists in, didn’t you? Why single
me out?
—Because I don’t like you.
—…What did you just say?
—In many ways, I dislike you, Choi Sa-Rang-ssi.
He never explained further.
The sheer hostility in his gaze made it impossible for her to
push past him. She had only managed to come in because Tae
Ha-Jin had momentarily left. Outside the VVIP room, two
espers stood as security guards. It had taken multiple
verifications to prove she was a doctor before they let her
through.
She’d encountered Tae Ha-Jin once before, by the purple
supercar. She’d thought him unpleasant then too…
“Oh, I see. Then do you know who’s guiding him?”
Choi Sa-Rang shook her head but answered firmly.
“You’re still a patient, Yeon-ssi. I saw the recordings—your
wide-area guiding lasted an extraordinarily long time. For
anyone else, their Vessel might’ve shattered. Right now, your
stability comes first. Forget everything else and rest.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Yeon could feel that his Vessel was intact, and his energy had
returned enough for everyday activities. If needed, he could
guide again.
‘But Tae Ha-Jin…’
By now, someone else must have guided him. Yeon had no
intention of pushing himself unnecessarily, especially while
still recovering. But as the thoughts churned in his head, Choi
Sa-Rang sighed loudly, ensuring he heard it.
Resting her hands on her hips, she wore a look of dismay.
“It was a Red Door, Yeon-ssi. I heard how much you went
through that day. Missing our dinner date was completely
understandable.”
Ah.
He’d forgotten entirely.
That day had been chaotic—he’d nearly died because of Jung
Woo-Cheol. Since then, he’d been unconscious, and now he
was here. He should have apologised as soon as he saw her,
but the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind until she
mentioned it.
Choi Sa-Rang’s brows drooped as she bit her lip, looking
forlorn.
Yeon was unusually flustered.
“Well, I mean…”
“I thought that when you woke up and saw me, you’d
understand that there were circumstances that day and maybe
say it was okay. But Yeon… you forgot, didn’t you? The
promise you made to me.”
“Choi Sa-Rang… I…”
“I don’t even know why I’m saying this to someone who just
woke up. I shouldn’t be pushing you like this. I’m sorry.”
Choi Sa-Rang mumbled, lowering her head. Yeon swallowed
nervously, then took a sip of the water she had handed him.
“Today.”
He figured he might as well resolve this now—strike while the
iron is hot. Choi Sa-Rang had been a benefactor to Uibin, and
postponing things any longer would be downright impolite.
“How about tonight?”
Choi Sa-Rang’s round eyes widened. She stammered,
“Pardon?”
“My vessel is fine. The energy replenished itself while I was
sleeping, and all that’s left is some muscle soreness. I’ll be
better by evening if I stretch a little.”
Truthfully, he wasn’t even sure he could walk in his current
state.
It’ll work out somehow.
Yeon wanted to get the date over with today. He felt terrible
for Choi Sa-Rang, but this outing felt more like a chore than a
pleasant encounter with a beautiful woman. He wasn’t excited;
it was more about paying off a debt.
Which made him feel even guiltier toward her.
“Well, that’s…”
Though her mood seemed to lift, Choi Sa-Rang hesitated, her
expression uncertain. It appeared her professional instincts as a
medic were at odds with taking a freshly-awakened patient
out. Yeon forced a smile.
“A date isn’t exactly strenuous activity. I’ll rest afterward, so
don’t worry. Let’s go tonight.”
Whatever thoughts crossed her mind, Choi Sa-Rang’s face
reddened. She pressed her hands to her cheeks as though to
cool them and replied haltingly.
“I—alright. Since it’s not… strenuous. I’ll see you tonight!”
She smiled brightly, then darted out of the room. Yeon stared
at the doorway for a moment before his thoughts turned to
Uibin.
How she’s doing.
He’d been keeping his distance, worried that his energy might
delay her recovery. But now, as his energy was stabilising, he
figured it wouldn’t harm her.
‘I’ll just check in on her.’
With the date looming, there wasn’t much time to waste. Yeon
pushed himself off the bed.
“Ugh…”
Every step wracked his body with pain, but he figured the
movement would loosen him up enough to manage the
evening.
A neatly folded shirt and trousers sat on the side table. They
weren’t his; they had to be something Tae Ha-Jin brought over.
The simple yet elegant style matched Tae Ha-Jin’s tastes
perfectly.
Grunting, Yeon managed to get dressed. The clothes,
surprisingly, fit him like a glove—just like the tailcoat Tae Ha-
Jin had given him before.
“Ow…”
Leaving the hospital room, he found security espers trailing
behind. They didn’t block his way, thankfully. Tae Ha-Jin must
have assigned them, and since they weren’t likely to leave,
Yeon decided to let them be.
The VVIP and VIP wards were one floor apart. It wasn’t far,
so he opted for the stairs, a decision he soon regretted.
Clinging to the railing, he practically crawled to Uibin’s room.
Creak.
“Uibin…?”
“Yeon!”
“Oh, you startled me. Esper Dekal, you’re here too.”
Uibin’s face lit up when she saw him. She was holding hands
with a tall man in the room, and for a moment, Yeon almost
mistook him for another unsavoury character she had brought
along. But it seemed Dekal had come at Yeon’s request.
The man offered a slight bow.
Yeon returned the gesture before stepping inside. His
awkward, laborious gait made Uibin’s face pale with concern.
“Yeon, what’s wrong with you? Are you okay? What did the
doctor say?”
“It’s just muscle pain. Moving around will sort it out.”
He staggered to the bed, bracing himself against it. Watching
him silently, Dekal stepped forward and placed a hand on his
shoulder. The unfamiliar contact made Yeon glance up, just as
a calming blue light enveloped him. The pain vanished
instantly.
Yeon’s eyes widened.
“Muscle pain is easy to restore,” Dekal said matter-of-factly.
Yeon hadn’t expected him to be here, let alone help like this.
Dekal always seemed so stoic.
‘And yet, he readily agreed to help Uibin recover.’
Yeon’s opinion of Dekal improved ever so slightly—by about
2%.
“Thank you. That’s an incredible ability you have.”
Yeon’s absorption ability was useful at times, but its
limitations were stark. Absorbing the wrong thing could knock
him out for days.
That made the ability to restore things all the more impressive.
He bowed deeply in gratitude.
Dekal nodded. “It has its uses.” He turned back to Uibin and
resumed the restoration process. Then, he glanced at Yeon.
“The energy filling Kim Uibin’s vessel…”
“Yes?”
“Can you extract it?”
Extract it?
Yeon hadn’t expected that question. The energy in Uibin’s
vessel wasn’t something he’d deliberately placed there. It had
accumulated naturally, like a resonance. And Uibin, as a guide,
couldn’t be treated like an esper in this regard.
Still, Yeon considered it. He’d never examined Uibin’s vessel
before. It might be worth taking a look to determine if
extraction was possible.
He placed his hand on her head.
Uibin instinctively flinched. Understandable—Yeon had
absorbed her consciousness a few times in the past to protect
her, though the sensation had always unsettled her.
“I’m not doing that. I’m just checking your vessel.”
“Now? Tch… You wouldn’t do it when I asked, but now you
want to?”
“Your vessel is like your weakness, Uibin. Don’t ask anyone
to check it for you.”
When he closed his eyes, her vessel appeared to him. It was
small but crystal clear. Among all the vessels he’d ever seen,
none were as pure as Uibin’s. Even the vessel itself was
sturdier than most.
‘If only it were a little bigger, she’d be a B+.’
Extending his perception, Yeon noticed something surprising
—a misty white energy surrounded her tiny vessel entirely.
‘My… energy?’
The sensation was unmistakably familiar. Yeon recognised it
immediately—his energy. For the first time, he realised that
his energy was white.
‘White energy? I didn’t know that was even a thing.’
Most people’s energy had a colour, like Tae Ha-Jin’s deep
crimson. Yeon’s, however, was a flawless, pure white. The
energy surrounding Uibin’s Vessel was like a vigilant sentinel,
guarding it with no gaps in its defences.
Yeon felt awkward. When he opened his eyes, Uibin and
Dekal were both staring at him. How the hell do I explain this?
That my energy is overprotective of Uibin?
“Ahem. My energy is certainly abundant, but I’m not sure I
can extract it.”
“You should try. Your guide energy is repelling my ability.”
Dekal’s tone was matter-of-fact.
Yeon considered it. As an esper with a dual bloodline, maybe
he could extract it through reverse-guiding?
Leaning close to Uibin, he whispered, prompting a giggle from
her, likely because it tickled.
“I’ll reverse-guide using my esper energy. Try not to react too
much.”
Uibin looked up at him with startled eyes. Understandable—he
rarely used his esper abilities, so it wasn’t something she
would have seen often.
Placing his hand back on her head, he focused, trying to pull
the energy out of her Vessel. He grabbed at it with all his
strength.
Thwang!
“Bloody hell.”
Yeon was genuinely shocked. When he attempted to remove
Uibin’s energy using his esper abilities, the white energy
guarding it had kicked him out, almost literally. He hadn’t
even gotten close.
How was he supposed to describe being physically booted out
by his own energy? He didn’t enjoy it, that was for sure.
‘Simple. Uibin’s Vessel is filled with my S-grade energy, and I
just approached it with my A-grade esper energy. Of course, I
lost.’
With a troubled expression, Yeon glanced at Dekal.
“You’ve looked at her Vessel too, haven’t you?”
Since his restoration ability wasn’t working, it was only
logical that Dekal had inspected her Vessel. At B-Grade, Uibin
wouldn’t have noticed.
Yeon’s opinion of Dekal dropped by one percent.
Dekal shrugged nonchalantly. It couldn’t be helped, his
expression seemed to say.
“Wasn’t it cute? Be honest.” Yeon asked slyly. Uibin’s Vessel
was genuinely adorable, like something out of a whimsical
fairytale.
Dekal replied as if discussing the weather. “It was small.”
“Not just small, though, right?”
“Very small.”
“Think again. Didn’t it make you want to laugh out loud just
looking at it?”
“It was just small.”
Yeon’s opinion of Dekal dropped by another one percent.
Unbelievable. Uibin’s Vessel was so cute it might as well have
had unicorns and teddy bears etched into its surface. And all
Dekal could say was “small”? Clearly, the man had no eye for
aesthetics.
Uibin, meanwhile, seemed oblivious to their conversation.
“Either way, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to work. It’s my
energy, but it won’t listen to me. Sorry, but you’ll need to give
it another go, esper. Feel free to bill me. Actually, better yet,
send the bill to Tae Ha-Jin.”
For the first time, Dekal’s expression shifted—his brow
twitched ever so slightly at the mention of Tae Ha-Jin.
“Tae Ha-Jin.”
Another slight twitch. It was barely noticeable unless you were
paying close attention.
“Tae Ha-Jin.”
“That’s enough,” Dekal said, his tone serious. Yeon had only
been teasing, but Dekal’s reaction was just as entertaining as
when Yeon teased Uibin.
“Why should he be billed?”
“He’s loaded.”
“That doesn’t explain why Tae Ha-Jin should pay for it.”
“Well, I’m officially an S-Grade guide now, so my rates have
gone up. Since he’s taken me on exclusively, I’m sure he’ll
cover it.”
Yeon smiled brightly.
Looking at that grin, Dekal thought bitterly. This is all because
Tae Ha-Jin ordered me to treat Uibin. I’m not actually going to
bill him.
“Fine,” Dekal said noncommittally. There was no point
arguing further. Yeon declared he wouldn’t be visiting Uibin
for a while and excused himself, claiming other commitments.
“Text me, yeah? And take care of yourself,” Yeon said, waving
cheerfully.
Uibin tried to hide her disappointment, waving back with a
forced smile. Once Yeon left, Dekal answered his ringing
phone. It was Tae Ha-Jin. He lowered the call volume to
ensure Uibin wouldn’t overhear.
“Yes.”
—Lee Hong-Jun. How often has he been to the capital lately?
“According to reports, about once a week on average.”
—That’s much less frequent. Any other locations?
“His assistant is a transportation esper, so tracking him is
difficult.”
—Hong-Jun is an A+ Grade esper. Any known ability?
“Rumour has it he’s got something called ‘Combination.’”
—Keep watching him. If he has any hidden labs, I want them
documented.
“Understood.”
—How’s Kim Uibin’s condition?
“Unchanged.”
“I take it she’s nearby.”
“Yes.”
The call ended abruptly. Dekal slipped his phone back into his
pocket. Uibin glanced at him curiously, pretending not to care
while stealing glances.
How can someone’s face be this transparent? Dekal thought,
genuinely astonished. Her expressions were so easy to read it
felt like he’d suddenly developed telepathy.
“A friend.”
“Ah, right. A friend.”
Yeon’s energy wasn’t going anywhere fast. It would take
several more days to fully extract. Until then, Dekal would
keep an eye on Uibin, though the restoration process continued
at a snail’s pace.
When Dekal stood up, Uibin quickly exclaimed, “Ah, wait!”
“Aren’t you heading out for centre restoration?”
“That’s right.”
“But didn’t you already come here after working all
morning?”
“Yes.”
“Then… should I guide you? I noticed earlier that your
contamination level was at 59 percent.”
An awkward silence fell between them.
Dekal blinked slowly. Uibin, unnerved by his lack of response,
began to explain hurriedly.
“No, I didn’t mean anything by it! I just… well, I wanted to
show my gratitude. You treated Yeon earlier, after all.”
She looked embarrassed. Dekal glanced at his watch to check
the time before sitting back down. The gesture puzzled him.
‘Her Vessel is so small. How does she intend to guide me?’
To be honest, Dekal would have believed Uibin’s grade was
closer to C+ than B-. Her energy was notably clear, but her
Vessel was absurdly tiny.
And he was an A+ grade esper. Even an hour’s worth of
guiding would barely lower his contamination level by 10
percent.
When he sat back down, Uibin offered him a faint, grateful
smile. Then, out of nowhere, she pricked her fingertip with a
small blade. A bead of crimson blood welled up and began
dripping onto Dekal’s palm.
“…!”
Dekal’s face twisted in disbelief.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I know it’s nearly impossible to guide someone of your grade
through mere contact. But blood is supposed to maximise the
guiding effect.”
Her expression was sincere.
Bleeding herself for a few percent of guiding? For someone
she barely knew?
Dekal was tolerant by nature, adaptable to others’
eccentricities. But a woman casually offering her blood,
considering it perfectly natural—he found that difficult to
accept.
“Miss Kim Uibin.”
“Huh? Oh, look! Your contamination level’s already down to
57 percent!”
She smiled brightly, as if she’d performed a miracle. Dekal
frowned, reached for a tissue, and pressed it firmly against her
bleeding finger.
“Miss Kim Uibin,” he repeated, his voice quieter now.
She flinched slightly before replying, “…Yes?”
“Who taught you to guide like this?”
Silence followed.
Uibin couldn’t answer. It was a method she had learned from
her ex-boyfriend, Ju Dae-Young. He had told her that if she
lacked ability, she should bleed for guiding. That it was the
only way she could be of any use.
Dekal’s usually unreadable expression now held a faint trace
of distaste. Uibin, sensing his displeasure, lowered her head.
Dekal reached out and lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his
gaze.
“I’m not blaming you.”
“…I’m sorry if I offended you. I only wanted to help…”
“Was he your ex-boyfriend?”
She didn’t respond.
Dekal’s mood soured. Her blood had a pure and serene quality,
but for her to consider bleeding a normal part of guiding? That
meant her ex had taught her such nonsense.
“To guide through blood… That’s supposed to be a last
resort.”
Even among espers, it was extreme to demand guidance at the
expense of a guide’s pain.
‘Is that why her body is littered with bruises? His doing?’
He felt a twinge of disdain. But then again, he couldn’t wholly
blame her. As someone who had spent years as a test subject in
a lab, Dekal was all too familiar with the feeling of helpless
inevitability.
Still, to have felt that way because of a lover… That was a
mystery to him.
“You don’t need to go to such lengths for guiding,” he told her.
“I know… I just thought you looked tired and wanted to help.”
“I treated you earlier because it was my duty. You have no
reason to feel indebted to me.”
Dekal studied her expression. She looked upset, perhaps even
guilty. Her eyes drooped slightly. To confirm his suspicions,
Dekal brought his watch close to hers.
Beep!
The matching rate appeared on the screen—85 percent. Dekal,
despite himself, was startled. He hadn’t expected such a high
compatibility.
Uibin, on the other hand, lit up.
“Wow…! An 80 percent match? That’s amazing! Looks like
guiding will work even if I’m not perfect.”
Dekal sighed silently and stood up. Leaning over, he brought
his face close to hers, startling her.
“There are more effective methods,” he murmured.
“…”
“Surely this is better than bleeding yourself.”
Dekal glanced briefly at her lips before pulling back. Acting as
if nothing had happened, he added, “Forget guiding for now
and take some proper rest.”
With that, he grabbed his coat and left the room.
Left alone, Uibin let out a shaky breath. Her heart pounded
wildly, echoing in her ears.

***
It was late in the evening. After handling two consecutive
White Doors and attending a lengthy royal meeting about the
restoration project, Ha-Jin returned to the hospital.
Click.
“…”
The room where Lee Yeon should have been was empty. The
guards who were supposed to be stationed at the door were
also missing. Ha-Jin frowned as he pulled out his phone.
Several messages from the guards awaited him.

[Lee Yeon is on a guided outing with Dr Choi Sa-Rang.

Currently en route to the “Lio Restaurant.”
6:23 p.m.]

[They’ve moved to a nearby bookstore. Browsing titles now.

7:31 p.m.

[Currently at “Loving Macaron Café,” eating dessert and

chatting. No security issues.
8:50 p.m.]

[Now at a bar. The woman is drinking; Lee Yeon isn’t.

Situation remains secure.
10:03 p.m.]

The last message was from an hour ago. A vein bulged in Ha-
Jin’s neck as irritation flared within him.
Lee Yeon was on what could only be described as a textbook
date.
Is this woman really a doctor?
Taking a recovering patient out on a date?
Ha-Jin’s mood darkened. He had spent eight days tethered to
Yeon’s hospital room, waiting for him to wake up. He had
attended every matter virtually and even assigned Doberman
as his proxy to stay by Yeon’s side. When Yeon had suffered in
his sleep, drenched in cold sweat, Ha-Jin had been the one to
wipe him down.
And now? While Ha-Jin had been occupied handling large-
scale White Doors and an emergency royal meeting, Yeon was
out… enjoying himself.
The audacity was unbearable.
‘Gone off on a bloody date while I was out, has he?’
Breathing heavily, Tae Ha-Jin forced himself to calm down,
suppressing his rage. His phone vibrated, demanding attention.
His eyes narrowed, sharp and ice-cold, as he unlocked the
screen.

[Transferred. Location: T Hotel. Approximately 20 minutes

ago, Lee Yeon checked in with Dr Choi Sa-Rang. Confirmed
entry to Room 2601. No issues with his security.
11:06 p.m.]

Crunch.
Ha-Jin’s grip crushed the phone, folding it like a tin can.
This bloody bodyguard reports after 20 minutes passed?
Expression darkening, he tossed the destroyed phone to the
hospital room floor and stormed out, lips pressed into a grim
line.
“Ha…”
A bitter laugh escaped him, the kind that made the back of his
neck tense unbearably.
All that restraint, holding himself back for so long, and yet Lee
Yeon had been happily indulging himself.
Figures. He’d always been like that in the beginning too.
Whether it was Choi Sa-Rang or Kim Uibin, neither looked
the type, but both were apparently bursting with it—infidelity.
And now? Seems he’d thrown Ha-Jin into the bloody tank as
well.
SCREECH!
Jaw clenched, Ha-Jin slammed his foot on the accelerator, the
car roaring in agreement.

***

Meanwhile, Lee Yeon was in a bit of a bind.

From the moment they’d left the bar, Choi Sa-Rang had been
knocking back drinks like a fish in a desert. Now? She was
utterly smashed, barely able to stand. No matter how many
times Yeon asked for her address, the most he got was a
slurred “Uuuuugh” in response.
Taking her to a hospital wasn’t exactly an option either.
With no other choice, Yeon had driven to the nearest hotel,
checked in, and settled her on the bed. Choi Sa-Rang, clearly
not in her right mind, clung to his sleeve like a lifeline,
refusing to let go.
“Yeon-ie… Don’t… go…”
Her words were a drunken mush, tongue tangled beyond
repair. With a soft sigh, Yeon pried her fingers off his sleeve,
one by one, his patience gentle but firm.
“Please, Dr Choi. As I said earlier, I’d prefer to remain nothing
more than a close acquaintance to you.”
Half of this situation was his fault. She’d started drinking
heavily after making a confession back at the bar:
—I like you, Yeon. So much that I can’t focus on anything, I
end up waiting endlessly, and when I see you, my heart… It
hurts so much it’s got to be love, right?
But Yeon had seen this kind of charged atmosphere before.
Prepared for it, he’d chosen his words carefully as he swirled
the water in his glass.
—Everyone I’ve ever dated has ended up miserable. In
hindsight, I think I started things too lightly. It was my
mistake. You’re a wonderful person, Dr Choi, but I don’t have
feelings for you in that way. I’m sorry.
—At least you gave them a chance,” she’d countered. “Can’t
you give me one too? Who knows—you might come to like
me if we tried, Yeon.
Her gaze had been painfully earnest, her sincerity undeniable.
In another time, another place, maybe Yeon would have dated
her. Choi Sa-Rang was talented, beautiful, and charismatic.
But Yeon was sure of one thing: he wouldn’t fall for her.
Because even in that moment, he’d been thinking of Tae Ha-
Jin.
At the restaurant they’d stopped by earlier, he’d idly wondered
what Ha-Jin would order.
In the massive bookstore they browsed, he’d thought about
how Ha-Jin would hate a place like this.
At the macaron café, he’d questioned if Ha-Jin would even
touch such sugary nonsense.
At the bar, he’d mused over Ha-Jin’s alcohol tolerance.
And in the end, he was left wondering: where was Ha-Jin now,
and what was he doing? Was he with another guide, indulging
in one of those scandalous guiding sessions?
—I’m sorry. I just… don’t have it in me to give you that
chance.
This line of thought was alien to him. Never before had he
been this consumed by someone. He wasn’t even sure if it was
because Ha-Jin was his esper, someone he was obligated to
care for.
But one thing was clear: toying with Choi Sa-Rang’s feelings
would be cruel. A clean rejection was the only path forward.
And now here they were. She’d accepted it bitterly and drunk
herself into oblivion.
“I’ll leave now,” Yeon said quietly, pulling the blanket up to
her chin. “Check out tomorrow morning. There’s a hangover
remedy in the fridge.”
Choi Sa-Rang buried her face into the pillow, her muffled sobs
faint but unmistakable. Yeon watched her for a moment, then
stepped out of Room 2601, the door clicking softly shut
behind him.
As he turned towards the lift, his heart nearly stopped.
“Oh, shit!”
Leaning against the wall by the door, arms crossed, was none
other than Tae Ha-Jin. His expression was colder than usual,
his red eyes fixed sharply on Yeon.
Relief briefly flickered through Yeon, overriding his
confusion.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, a faint smile tugging at
his lips.
Ha-Jin scoffed.
“Quick, weren’t you?”
“Pardon?”
“I didn’t expect my guide to be so bloody premature.”
“What—?”
The word caught Yeon off-guard. Premature?
He barely had time to grasp Ha-Jin’s meaning before the man
closed in.
“Lee Yeon, is your fishing ground that vast?”
Ha-Jin’s smirk was sharp, his words dripping with mockery.
“To the point where you can leave a big catch like me unfed
and locked up?”
Yeon froze.
“You feed and water the little fish, but you don’t even glance
at me. Big catches don’t like being ignored, you know.”
Voice laced with venom, Ha-Jin pushed off the wall and closed
the gap in a single stride. His hand shot out, gripping Yeon’s
jaw with brutal force.
“Ah—!”
“First, you kiss me. Then, you fuck her?”
The pressure on Yeon’s jaw intensified. Pain flared as he
grabbed at Ha-Jin’s wrist in vain.
“Get your bloody act together, Lee Yeon. A big catch like me
has a nasty temperament. I’ll eat up all the little fish around
you, and if I get hungry enough, I’ll tear down the net and
devour the fisherman too.”
“T-Tae Ha-Jin—!”
Ha-Jin leaned in closer, voice dangerously low.
“If you want me to swallow you whole, just say so. But stop
stabbing me in the bloody back, yeah?”
With that, he released Yeon and turned on his heel, heading for
the lift. Yeon sank to the floor, clutching his aching jaw, too
stunned to respond.
‘Why the hell is he acting up again?’
As if anyone came here by choice.
And now, whatever misunderstanding he’s concocted, it’s all
about fishermen and fish, the stuff of underwater fantasies.
Lee Yeon got to his feet and raked his hair back roughly.
It wasn’t as though his mind wasn’t already tangled enough
thanks to Tae Ha-Jin.
“Oh, for crying out loud.”
He’d stormed off after saying his piece without even
pretending to listen to Yeon’s side. And what was Yeon
supposed to do? Chase him down, saying, That’s not it. Let me
explain. My side is this? They weren’t close enough for that
kind of nonsense. Since when did someone report their private
life to a superior, anyway?
But then again…
‘Bloody hell… What part of this screams ‘colleague’ to him?’
No guiding. Just hugs and kisses—not even subtle ones.
It wasn’t just the memories creeping in every moment; it was
how personal things had gotten. Heated exchanges over trivial
matters. As much as it irritated Yeon to think of Ha-Jin being
guided by someone else, he had to admit he wasn’t much
better.
“Ugh, that dysfunctional bastard…”
He thunked his forehead against the wall a few times.
Even with his head in chaos, he couldn’t stop dwelling on the
fact that Tae Ha-Jin had just cleared two White Doors today.
When Ha-Jin had grabbed his chin earlier, even for that brief
moment, the strong contamination level had been
unmistakable.
‘Did he come here without getting guided?’
Had he shown up at the hotel just to blow up like that? If
guiding were the goal, wouldn’t he have asked for it outright?
But no, instead, he was on about “cleaning up other fish”…
“Do I look like a bloody fisherman to you, you bastard?”
Yeon muttered irritably. He’d never juggled multiple
relationships in his life, for crying out loud. The closest he’d
come was balancing his dual bloodline.
He felt thoroughly wronged.
Sure, he knew the bodyguards were tailing him, but for them
to snitch on him down to the room number? That was a level
he hadn’t anticipated. Swallowing his irritation, Yeon set off
purposefully.
There were things that needed doing.

***

The moment Ha-Jin stepped into his unnervingly vast, empty

house, he grabbed a bottle of wine from the cabinet and
downed it like water. The more he thought about it, the more
ridiculous it seemed.
‘Me? Just a fish?’
No one had ever treated him like that before. Not even a main
fish—just some fish that didn’t even get fed.
He must be losing it. The thought of being guided by someone
other than Lee Yeon made him sick. Sure, it made sense to like
Yeon, but this much?
Was it really jealousy? Such a pitifully tame word couldn’t
contain the ugliness of his emotions.
“Bloody hell.”
In the eight days Yeon had been unconscious, guiding had
been a goddamn headache for Ha-Jin.
Even when the cleaners dragged in guides by force, he’d
refused outright. He’d asked for a wrist-only guiding, but they
all said it was impossible, shaking their heads.
Only then had he fully realised how skilled Lee Yeon was.
Eventually, he’d given in, summoning a male S-Grade guide
all the way from the Epenhar nation for a wrist-only session.
Doberman’s strange looks the whole time? Thoroughly
unappreciated.
“You leave me screwed over, and now you’re off screwing
around with Choi Sa-Rang?”
Standing in his living room, Ha-Jin muttered to himself while
glaring at the pool where Yeon had once been splashing about.
The image of Yeon from that day—unusually serene and
beautiful—flickered in his mind again.
He slammed the wine bottle down hard.
He’d never been drunk in his life. Didn’t even know what
being tipsy felt like. Irritated, he stalked off to the bathroom
and let cold water pour over him.
Afterwards, dressed in a black bathrobe, he towel-dried his
hair while heading back to the living room. That’s when the
doorbell rang.
“Who the hell is it?”
When he pressed the intercom, Yeon’s face filled the screen.
Annoyingly good-looking even through a pixelated feed.
He sighed.
Staring at his defiant finger, which had betrayed him by
pressing the unlock button, he clicked his tongue and made his
way to the door, steps matching the rapid thumping of his
heart.
Standing before the door, he suddenly didn’t want to open it.
Then a familiar, clear voice called from the other side.
“Esper, I know you’re right there.”
Like hell you do. You don’t know a damn thing.
Ha-Jin opened the door just enough for his eyes to be visible,
making it clear Yeon wasn’t welcome inside. But Yeon,
undeterred, grabbed the doorknob and gave it a hard tug.
Ha-Jin’s brow twitched.
“It’s freezing out here. Let me in.”
“Go home.”
When Yeon tried to step over the threshold, Ha-Jin stomped
his shoe down on Yeon’s foot.
“Agh! Damn it!”
“Do you own shares in this house? What makes you think you
can waltz in here?”
Yeon tried to pull his foot free, but Ha-Jin only pressed down
harder.
“Agh, it hurts!”
“Say what you came to say, then leave.”
When Yeon stopped trying to push in, Ha-Jin released him.
Leaning against the wall, Ha-Jin towered over him. The faint
scent of something clean and luxurious wafted from him, still
damp from his shower.
Yeon glared at the man’s audaciously beautiful face. It was
infuriating. Like God had taken his personality and left him
with nothing but looks.
Beyond Ha-Jin, Yeon could glimpse the cold, desolate living
room. Why wasn’t he letting him in? Normally, he’d have
invited him inside without a second thought.
‘Don’t tell me… This esper…’
Had he already brought a new guide home out of spite? The
freshly washed appearance would fit the theory perfectly.
“Say your piece and go.”
“Got someone hidden in there?”
When Yeon asked this while glancing past him, Ha-Jin scoffed
before scowling.
“Do you think I’m you?”
“That’s exactly what I was about to say. How dare you
compare me to a morally bankrupt esper?”
“Keep going. I’ll listen all day.”
Ha-Jin crossed his arms, an air of amusement around him.
Yeon steeled himself. He had to clear up this
misunderstanding, even if he’d only come this far on impulse.
“I didn’t sleep with Choi Sa-Rang.”
“Oh? Just held hands at the hotel, then?”
“We didn’t even do that. She was drunk, so I made sure she
got back safely. That’s it.”
“Thirty minutes holed up in there says otherwise.”
“She wouldn’t let me leave. I couldn’t just peel her off and
abandon her…”
This wasn’t explaining; it was starting to sound like an excuse.
Yeon furrowed his brow.
“No, hold on. This is absurd. Why should I justify my personal
life to you? There’s no reason I need to.”
It wasn’t as if Ha-Jin would listen. He’d already made up
every possible scenario in his head. What more could Yeon
say? Ha-Jin was just his superior—a ridiculously aggravating
one.
Occasionally kind, mostly a pain in the ass.
In response to Yeon’s question, Tae Ha-Jin offered this answer:
“Because I like you.”
He said it flatly, like he was stating the time of day. Yeon was
so stunned by the bombshell that his jaw didn’t even shut.
…What?
Never in his life had he received a confession this abrupt or
devoid of preamble. Not to mention, this was the guy who, just
moments ago, was practically slamming the door in his face.
And Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t done. He drove the point home.
“I should’ve never let you take off that mask. If I’d known you
were this pretty, I’d have wrapped you up and tossed you into
the river.”
“…”
“Yeah. I like you.”
Hang on. What the hell is this guy saying?
One shocker after another tumbled from Tae Ha-Jin’s mouth—
words Yeon would’ve bet money he wasn’t capable of saying.
His brain latched onto one absurd fragment, toss you into the
river, as if that was somehow the main point.
Yeon opened his mouth to say something, but Tae Ha-Jin
pressed on.
“You’ve got to at least have some interest in me too, Yeon.
Right? Otherwise, why didn’t you push me away when I
kissed you?”
The sheer audacity of his statement was jaw-dropping. Yeon
scowled, his mind spiraling into chaos. Words floated in a fog,
refusing to connect.
‘I have feelings for Tae Ha-Jin?’
As Yeon sat there in dazed silence, Tae Ha-Jin shook his head,
grabbed the doorknob, and muttered, “How old are you that
you can’t even figure out your own feelings?”
“What—”
“Or maybe you know exactly how you feel and you’re just too
busy ignoring it?”
“…”
“My guide’s got a packed schedule, huh? Feeding fish,
running away from emotions, chasing after runaway fish—”
Clicking his tongue, Tae Ha-Jin moved to shut the door. Yeon
panicked and quickly blocked it with both hands.
“Wait a second! Why is it always like this with you? You just
say whatever you want and leave? How about listening to me
for once?”
“I don’t bother with idiots who don’t even know their own
minds.”
With that, Tae Ha-Jin’s large hand landed on Yeon’s head,
shoved him out of the doorway, and slammed the door shut
with a bang!
“…”
He actually closed the door.
Yeon stood frozen in shock. The bastard had just dropped a
series of bombshells like he was reading out breakfast options
and then left him standing there.
As Yeon blinked in disbelief, the door suddenly creaked open
again. Tae Ha-Jin didn’t show his face, just his hand, veins taut
as he tossed out a thick black puffer jacket and slammed the
door shut again.
“…”
He’s serious, isn’t he.
Yeon stared at the jacket on the floor, unsettled. If Tae Ha-Jin’s
words were genuine, then this coat was proof enough.
‘So this is how Tae Ha-Jin shows he likes someone.’
When Yeon had said he was cold, Tae Ha-Jin had tossed him a
coat and told him to bugger off.
It was so absurd, it was almost impressive.
‘That bastard’s probably never been in a relationship, has he?’
If he had, he’d almost certainly been dumped. Yeon sighed,
picked up the coat, and pulled it on. Even at 183 centimetres
tall, the jacket practically swallowed him whole.
Tae Ha-Jin must be a bit over 190.
And considering his bulk of muscle, his clothes would
naturally be massive. Yeon decided he wasn’t going to budge.
He crouched by the wall next to the door, fully intending to sit
there until Tae Ha-Jin came out and apologised.
Let’s see how long he takes.
Surely, if he was even remotely human, he’d feel guilty about
leaving someone he liked freezing outside in the cold.
But no sooner had Yeon settled down than the door swung
open again. Tae Ha-Jin, looking utterly unimpressed, grabbed
the back of Yeon’s coat and yanked him up like a sack of rice.
“If you’re here to catch the runaway fish,” Tae Ha-Jin
muttered, his brows furrowing, “congrats. You’ve succeeded.”
With that, he dragged Yeon inside and stormed off to the living
room. Yeon, slightly dumbfounded, looked down at his feet.
Did I really just catch the runaway fish in under a minute?
Turns out the easiest fish to catch was right here.
He slipped off his shoes and stepped inside, taking in the
spotless flat. It was a sharp contrast to the last time he’d been
there, when boxes were still scattered everywhere. Now, it was
quintessentially Tae Ha-Jin—minimal and orderly.
“Coffee, green tea, wine,” Tae Ha-Jin called out.
“…Green tea.”
He set the kettle on and poured himself a glass of red wine,
sipping it as he prepped the tea leaves. Watching Tae Ha-Jin
move effortlessly through the kitchen, Yeon found himself lost
in thought.
‘Do I like Tae Ha-Jin?’
He’d never felt any sort of attraction to another man before.
Naturally, he’d assumed he liked women. Then again, when he
thought about it, he’d never really been that into women either.
Tae Ha-Jin was, without question, the most flawless human
being Yeon had ever encountered. At least on the outside.
But Yeon had always been drawn to warm, kind-hearted types.
That’s who he’d dated in the past.
‘Tae Ha-Jin is the complete opposite of that.’
Still… he couldn’t entirely deny it.
He liked the way Tae Ha-Jin respected boundaries, kept his
promises, and even managed to offer comfort in his uniquely
blunt way. There was a quiet tenacity about him that was
oddly endearing.
No, Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t just a colleague or a friend. Not
anymore.
Yeon ran a hand over his cheek, nodding reluctantly.
“…Fine. I admit it.”
“Admit what?”
“Looks like I’ve got feelings for you.”
“Congrats, you’re no longer an idiot.”
Tae Ha-Jin placed a mug of green tea on the table. Yeon sat
silently, sipping the tea. It was leagues above any cheap tea
bag.
“How’s your body?” Tae Ha-Jin asked, watching him.
‘Oh, now he asks.’
Yeon clicked his tongue inwardly, answering with feigned
nonchalance. “Thanks to you, my jaw and feet hurt a bit.
Otherwise, I’m fine.”
Those were the exact spots Tae Ha-Jin had grabbed and
stomped on earlier. Tae Ha-Jin raised a brow, his gaze
sweeping lazily from Yeon’s jaw to his feet.
“It was meant to hurt.”
“…You’re lying, aren’t you? When you said you liked me.”
“No, I meant it.”
“Who threatens someone they like, though? Huh?”
Yeon swung his arms in mock intimidation, his expression
exaggerated. Ha-Jin, amused, chuckled under his breath and
calmly responded.
“Oh? And who walks into a hotel with another woman if
they’re liked?”
Wearing the clothes I bought you, looking all nice?
“That’s…”
“And not just any hotel—my hotel?”
“T-Hotel is yours?”
Yeon blinked, genuinely surprised. While he knew Ha-Jin was
wealthy, he hadn’t realised just how much. T-Hotel was a top-
tier five-star establishment in the capital, right at its bustling
centre.
When Yeon asked, clearly flustered, Ha-Jin smiled—a sharp,
predatory curve to his lips.
“If I liked you just a little more, you’d be dead by now.”
It wasn’t a comforting grin. It was the kind of smile that
promised trouble, and Yeon didn’t like it one bit.
‘Is he serious?’
He tossed out such chilling words so casually, brushing past
Yeon as he tapped him lightly on the shoulder. Moments later,
he stopped in front of a door at the end of the hallway and
gestured with his chin.
“You’ll stay here from now on.”
“…Excuse me?”
“We’re prioritising restoration of the main facilities. The
dormitories in Building 6 won’t be ready for a while. Stay
here.”
Yeon had planned to recover at Uibin’s family home. It wasn’t
technically his home, but they would welcome him without
hesitation. Sure, it was a bit far from the centre, but that wasn’t
an issue.
And with the number of hotels around, there was no reason to
accept this arrangement. Regardless of his growing feelings
for Ha-Jin, Yeon wasn’t about to blur the lines between
personal and professional matters.
As he opened his mouth to refuse, Ha-Jin cut him off.
“Two hours ago, Director Lee Hong-Jun made a public
announcement. He declared that S-Grade Guide Lee Yeon is,
in fact, his biological son.”
…So, it finally happened.
Yeon nodded quietly, unbothered. He’d suspected as much
since his widespread guiding sessions. The man who treated
him and his mother like failed experiments wouldn’t stay quiet
forever—not when the “failed” son turned out to be an S-
Grade Guide.
No way he’d keep that card hidden.
In fact, Lee Hong-Jun would likely tighten the reins, using
familial ties to bind him further.
“S-Grade Guides are rarer than S-Grade Espers. And unlike
Espers, they’re practically powerless in combat. It makes them
prime targets for abduction.”
Ha-Jin explained further, even hinting that other nations might
send people after him soon.
“If someone like that lunatic Director Lee isn’t the one
experimenting on you, then it’ll be someone worse. And that’ll
be a bigger mess.”
“There’s a reason the Imperial Princess rarely leaves the
palace.”
Yeon was curious about what had become of her severed arm
but chose not to ask. She was a topic he needed more time to
approach.
Ha-Jin returned to the living room, lounging on the sofa with a
wine glass in hand. He crossed his legs leisurely, studying
Yeon’s expression as he took a sip of the crimson liquid.
“Got a better shield than me?”
The question was laced with a challenge.
A shield.
If Yeon stayed at Uibin’s home, it could mean putting her
family—three women with no combat ability—in harm’s way.
That was unacceptable.
Uibin’s mother had once been a Guide but was now an
ordinary civilian. Her younger sister Euiju hadn’t even
awakened yet.
This wasn’t a scenario Yeon had fully considered, but it was a
critical one.
And then there was the matter of his abilities. If someone tried
to abduct him while he stayed at the hotel, his Esper traits
wouldn’t be of much use. He had resolved never to wield them
unless absolutely necessary.
Bringing along a half-baked Esper for protection was equally
pointless.
“Agh.”
Yeon buried his face in his hands, groaning.
This was why he’d kept his identity hidden all his life. He
knew it would become this tiresome.
“Is it such a difficult decision? I protect you, and you
cooperate.”
“…But this isn’t a standard professional relationship anymore,
is it?”
Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow at that, an amused smirk tugging at
his lips.
“Then what is it?”
Thud.
Ha-Jin set his glass down and stood, walking leisurely toward
Yeon, who was seated at the kitchen table. He braced his large
hands on the tabletop, leaning in close enough to trap Yeon
between him and the surface.
A faint, intoxicating scent drifted between them, and their
faces were alarmingly close. Instinctively, Yeon turned his
head, but Ha-Jin followed the movement, his gaze
unwavering.
“Why?”
His voice was low, almost teasing.
“Worried I’ll cross the line and pounce on you?”
Yeon nodded. “Yes. Are you confident you won’t?”
“Not at all.”
The answer was immediate, without even a hint of hesitation.
Yeon let out a disbelieving laugh.
“You’re asking me to sleep in a tiger’s den, then?”
“Don’t worry. This tiger’s patience is decent.”
“I’ve never seen you exercise patience in my life.”
“What are you talking about? Everything so far has been
thanks to my patience.”
Yeon frowned at that.
Drawing swords on people for annoying him, forcibly
summoning officials for reawakening tests, bending Centre
regulations to cause chaos, triggering self-induced runaway
states just to rip off his mask…
“…That’s your idea of patience? Don’t make me laugh.”
Thinking back, Yeon’s annoyance surged. He’d suffered too
much at Ha-Jin’s hands to take his words seriously.
‘And now, the man had the gall to claim he liked him? It’s got
to be a lie.’
Shielding him, comforting him, saving him, kissing him…
Yes, there were moments when Ha-Jin had shown care. But it
was never the kind of open adoration Yeon had seen from his
past lovers. No hearts in his eyes, no overly sentimental
confessions.
Yeon narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Aren’t you mistaken? Maybe you don’t like me, but the idea
of an S-Grade Guide.”
Their eyes met again. This time, Ha-Jin tilted his head slightly,
his gaze growing heavier.
“If only it were a mistake. Damn it all, but I think I’m
serious.”
His lips curled into a grin, full of frustration and amusement,
as if laughing at his own misfortune.
“I’d gladly swim through your unpredictable waters if it meant
keeping you close.”
Yeon’s eyes wavered.
It had been just a brief moment, but…
The gaze of an old lover had been directed at him, filled with
unspoken longing. A tacit confession: I want you.
His heart raced, pumping blood at a speed that made his
fingertips tingle. Swallowing hard, Yeon barely had time to
react before Tae Ha-Jin’s lips crashed onto his. It was rough—
brutal, even. The sheer force made Yeon’s body tilt back onto
the table.
Ha-Jin’s hand slid to Yeon’s waist, lifting him onto the table as
if it were the most natural thing in the world. In a swift
motion, Yeon was laid flat. The chair next to them clattered to
the floor with a loud bang as Ha-Jin kicked it away.
Large, rough hands cupped Yeon’s face. Lips pressed, rubbed,
sucked—and then Ha-Jin bit down on Yeon’s lower lip.
“Agh!”
The soft cry barely escaped before Ha-Jin’s tongue invaded.
Every sound Yeon might have made was swallowed whole.
Ha-Jin was relentless, licking and exploring as if he intended
to map every inch of Yeon’s mouth. His tongue teased
sensitive spots, and as it gently grazed the thin membranes,
Yeon winced, his brow furrowing.
Unable to simply dangle his hands in the air, Yeon wrapped
them around Ha-Jin’s solid back. He felt the man tense slightly
under his touch.
The kiss grew even deeper—almost violent in its intensity.
“Hah…”
Yeon managed to break away momentarily, gasping for air, but
Ha-Jin seized him again. Cold air slipped under Yeon’s rolled-
up shirt, brushing against his skin. But before he could even
process the chill, Ha-Jin’s hand slid up his side, leaving a
heated trail.
Yeon jolted in surprise.
They’d shared some heated skinship before—an unfortunate
result of that incident with the Restoration Vessel. It had been
a long time since, and neither of them had so much as brought
it up. Yeon had even appreciated Ha-Jin’s restraint.
But this… This was the first time Ha-Jin’s hand ventured
beneath his clothes.
Something hard pressed against Yeon’s thigh. He didn’t need
to wonder what it was—it was Ha-Jin, plain and simple. His
lips were still captured, his side caressed, and the weight of
Ha-Jin’s body pressed down on him.
As if sensing his discomfort, Ha-Jin slid an arm under Yeon’s
back and lifted him with ease.
“Whoa—!”
Thrown over Ha-Jin’s broad shoulder like a sack of rice, Yeon
was momentarily stunned. It wasn’t as if he was small or light;
his height and weight were hardly negligible. But S-grade
esper strength? That was another story.
“Where are you taking me?”
Abandoning futile resistance, Yeon decided to ask outright.
Ha-Jin didn’t answer, striding up the stairs without a word. It
was their first time heading to the second floor.
Yeon’s eyes widened as if he’d discovered uncharted territory.
The first floor had a spacious living room, a corridor, and
several rooms. The second floor, in stark contrast, was an
enormous bedroom. It was vast—so vast it felt almost absurd.
Aside from a bathroom tucked against one wall, there was a
massive bed and sleek, modern décor.
Even the walk-in wardrobe was exposed, lacking a door to
hide its contents.
Ha-Jin’s destination was clear.
The bed.
Yeon’s pupils dilated.
“Wait, wait. Ha-Jin—”
Desperately, Yeon tapped his back, but Ha-Jin ignored him,
striding over and depositing him onto the specially crafted
mattress. He stood above Yeon, damp hair casually swept
back, his gaze devouring.
In his expanded view, Yeon caught sight of the stark bulge
under Ha-Jin’s dark robe. Trying to pretend he hadn’t seen it,
Yeon sat up quickly.
“Calm down.”
“No.”
Despite the firm response, Ha-Jin didn’t move further. He
rested one hand on his waist, looking down at Yeon with a
mixture of impatience and frustration.
“Do you want to or not?”
“Want what?”
“Sex.”
Yeon hadn’t asked because he didn’t know.
The soft give of the mattress beneath his hands made Ha-Jin’s
intentions blatantly clear. Yeon, however, was still reeling.
“First… let me take a shower.”
He tried to buy time. Sliding off the bed, he headed for the
bathroom. Before he could make it far, Ha-Jin grabbed his
wrist with a loud smack.
“Does ‘shower’ mean you’re agreeing?”
Yeon blinked.
Did he really just ask that outright? Ha-Jin’s communication
style could be utterly baffling at times.
Then again, considering the situation, it wasn’t unreasonable.
If Yeon wasn’t planning to go through with this, why bother
showering? It was clear how Ha-Jin would interpret the act.
Still… asking again, was that his way of seeking certainty?
Shaking off Ha-Jin’s hand, Yeon said, “Turn off the lights or
close the curtains. I don’t like it bright.”
Ha-Jin’s face stiffened.
Looking visibly troubled, Yeon slipped into the bathroom.
“…”
To be fair, Ha-Jin wasn’t exactly calm, either.
Back when he’d lived in hell, Yeon had been a faint glimmer
of light—a memory that still burned like a brand.
What had started as simple curiosity had grown into fondness,
and then into something far deeper. It had taken every ounce
of restraint to hold himself back. Admitting his feelings hadn’t
been difficult—his uncharacteristic actions around Yeon made
it impossible to deny.
The boy got under his skin. Lit him up.
Fucking hell.
While Yeon showered, Ha-Jin headed downstairs. He
rummaged through a storage box, tearing it open to grab a
pack of condoms and a bottle of lubricant. The items in hand,
the reality of what was about to happen hit him like a truck.
“Haah…”
A sigh escaped, laced with a strange sense of guilt.
Ha-Jin wasn’t kind, nor particularly thoughtful. But with Yeon,
he wanted to give him a choice, even if it killed him. He’d
suppressed his desire all this time for that reason.
Not that it hadn’t been tempting. God, it had been tempting.
‘If we start, I won’t be able to stop.’
He knew himself too well.
Walking back upstairs, Ha-Jin placed the items on the bedside
table. As Yeon had requested, he went around the room pulling
the blackout curtains closed. The space plunged into near-
darkness, save for a sliver of light he left at the edge.
Too dark, and Yeon wouldn’t see a thing. Ha-Jin, as an S-grade
esper, had no such limitations.
Glancing around the room, Ha-Jin scowled.
He felt ridiculous.
Click.
The sound of the bathroom door opening and closing came
from the distance. Even from far away, the scent of shampoo
reached him.
“Wow… I can’t see a damn thing, where are you?”
Lee Yeon, wrapped in the provided bathrobe, stood in the
darkened bedroom, looking around in slight panic. He had
always lived suppressing his esper abilities. Unlike other
espers, his sight, hearing, and smell weren’t particularly
enhanced. His senses were no better than the average human’s.
As he fumbled his way through the darkness, blindly waving
his arms, Tae Ha-Jin grabbed him by the wrist and guided him
back to the bed, tossing him onto it like he weighed nothing.
“Ugh!”
As soon as Lee Yeon was down, Tae Ha-Jin climbed on top of
him. His kiss was urgent, like a thirsty animal finally getting
water. Just moments earlier, while in the shower, Lee Yeon had
been lost in thought.
‘Why the hell did I come here again?’
Yes, there was the need to clear up misunderstandings, but in
truth, he was here to guide him. After dealing with two doors
today and feeling the contaminated energy in the hotel
hallway, it had slipped his mind, swept away by Tae Ha-Jin’s
explosive words and actions. Even that kiss at the table had
left him so stunned he’d forgotten to guide.
So, Lee Yeon refocused on pulling Tae Ha-Jin’s energy.
“Hah…” Tae Ha-Jin let out a low groan, their kiss intense
enough, but now that Lee Yeon had deliberately started
guiding, the overwhelming clarity of his energy rushed back
in, dissolving the tension that had built up inside. Tae Ha-Jin
wrapped his arms tightly around Lee Yeon’s back and neck,
pulling him in close.
At the same time, their erections brushed against each other.
Lee Yeon’s body jerked in surprise, and even that small
movement was enough to ignite something new in Tae Ha-Jin.
His large hands reached for the belt of Lee Yeon’s robe,
untying it in a slow, deliberate motion. Like a snake, the belt
slid off. Tae Ha-Jin’s hands explored his body, from his
stomach up to his chest, savouring the touch, until his fingers
grazed Lee Yeon’s nipple.
“Mm!”
Unlike the chaotic heat of the past, Lee Yeon was now fully
aware, and a bit startled by the situation. But Tae Ha-Jin
wasn’t about to give him a moment to breathe, his fingers
playing with his nipples in a way that sent jolts through Lee
Yeon. Their tongues tangled messily, creating lewd, wet
sounds. Tae Ha-Jin pulled away, only to plant kisses along Lee
Yeon’s jawline, down to his neck, where he sucked at the skin,
not hard enough to hurt but enough to leave a red mark, a
satisfied hum escaping him as he continued downwards.
He bit Lee Yeon hard on his collarbone.
“Ah…!”
Lee Yeon’s soft moan filled the room as Tae Ha-Jin licked the
spot he’d bitten, the cruel contrast of pain and tenderness
driving him mad. The assault continued, hands, lips, and teeth
exploring him. Lee Yeon swallowed hard.
‘He’s… enjoying this, isn’t he?’
Tae Ha-Jin shifted his hips, grinding his erection against Lee
Yeon’s thigh. The sensation snapped him back to reality.
Grabbing a handful of Tae Ha-Jin’s hair, he tried to push him
off, but Tae Ha-Jin looked down at him, his eyes half-lidded,
burning with lust.
“What’s the problem?”
‘The problem? Are you fucking serious right now?’
Lee Yeon’s mind was racing. That… thing was really going
inside him? Either he was going to be torn in half or split
apart. He’d done his best to rationalise everything while in the
shower, and he had always prided himself on his ability to
rationalise—after all, it was the only way to survive in this
shitty world. But no matter how he looked at it, he was
definitely getting the short end of the stick here.
It wasn’t just the size of Tae Ha-Jin’s body; every time they
had any form of physical contact, it was always Lee Yeon who
ended up on the bottom. Sure, he was attracted to him, no
denying that. And yes, Tae Ha-Jin’s actions, his words, even
now, had Lee Yeon embarrassingly hard.
But this? This was fucking overkill.
Lee Yeon glanced down at Tae Ha-Jin’s body under his robe
with a look of horror. Tae Ha-Jin let out a low chuckle.
“Impatient, are we?”
With that, he reached over to the nightstand, grabbing lube and
a condom. His hands shook as he tore the packaging open, too
eager. Lee Yeon felt a cold sweat break out as he watched. It
felt like he was seeing his future, and it wasn’t a bright one.
Snatching the lube from Tae Ha-Jin’s hands, Lee Yeon sat up
halfway.
“It’s not going to fit. I’m sorry, but I’m not sacrificing my
body just to satisfy your libido.”
It wasn’t polite to refuse at this point, not after coming this far.
But Lee Yeon didn’t love Tae Ha-Jin enough to hand over his
body on a silver platter. He had agreed to this because he
wanted it, not because of some romantic notion or out of pity
for Tae Ha-Jin’s pent-up desires.
But that? That thing? No fucking way.
Despite the firm rejection, Tae Ha-Jin didn’t so much as raise
an eyebrow, as if he’d expected this reaction. He silently
removed his robe, revealing a sculpted body that looked like it
had been chiselled to perfection. Lee Yeon couldn’t tear his
eyes away. Tae Ha-Jin bit open the condom wrapper and
slowly rolled it onto his massive cock.
The condom, despite being the largest size available, seemed
like it was begging for mercy.
“You don’t like pain, do you?”
“That’s part of it, but it’s also not going to fit.”
“It’ll fit.”
“I know my own body. There are limits to what the human
body can handle.”
“You don’t know. You haven’t tried it yet.”
Lee Yeon, slightly irked, nodded begrudgingly. It wasn’t like
he had experience being fucked by a man. Just then, Tae Ha-
Jin grabbed his cock and started stroking it, his hand rough but
firm.
“Ah…!”
Lee Yeon’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth gaping. His cock
was on the verge of death but had been forcibly revived. The
sensation was so overwhelming he forgot to blink.
At the same time, Tae Ha-Jin pushed Yeon’s shoulder down
with one hand, laying him back. Then, he snatched the gel
from Yeon’s hand and squeezed out an excessive amount,
slathering it on his hand and his cock. The slippery liquid
oozed out in streams, and his thick thumb teased the area
beneath Yeon.
The slick sensation skimmed the surface before he pressed a
drenched finger inside. The thick, long digit parted the inner
walls as it entered, flooding Yeon with an unfamiliar and
unpleasant foreign feeling.
“Ugh…!”
“It won’t hurt.”
He moved it back and forth a few times before inserting
another finger.
“Ah…!”
What started as mere discomfort quickly evolved into pain.
Just two fingers felt filthy painful. Yeon knew well how long
and firm Ha-Jin’s hands were—he reckoned, almost
exaggerating, that those two fingers could easily be the size of
the average man’s cock.
Fucking hell… How’s this supposed to not hurt? If two fingers
feel like this?
Ha-Jin’s hand persistently explored the inside, the gel
slathered on thickly, creating a squelching noise. There was
nothing enjoyable, just pain.
As Yeon groaned and scrunched his face, Ha-Jin glanced at
him and pressed his free hand against Yeon’s abdomen. Yeon’s
eyes shot open wide. A red aura flowed from Ha-Jin’s body
and spread into his, sweeping through his nerves as though
inspecting every inch of him.
It burned, like being seared by fire.
“What… What the hell are you…!”
He was about to shout when a strange feeling overtook him.
The agonising pain from moments ago vanished in an instant.
Yeon glared at Ha-Jin with incredulous eyes.
“You’ve done something to my body.”
Ha-Jin didn’t answer. Instead, he thrust his fingers deep again.
This time, Yeon let out a moan of a different sort, his back
arching. With the pain gone, a new sensation emerged,
unmistakably vivid. Ha-Jin, clearly amused, watched with a
smirk.
He relentlessly prodded the spot that had made Yeon react
earlier.
“Ah! It hurts…!”
“Liar.”
Yeon had spoken out of habit, but it seemed Ha-Jin wasn’t
buying it. Embarrassed by the sounds slipping from his mouth,
Yeon bit down on his lip. He felt humiliated. In response, Ha-
Jin teasingly pried his hand from his lips.
Left with no choice, Yeon clutched the sheets, his body
trembling.
“I snatched the pain before your nociceptors could signal it to
your brain.”
“Wha… What the fuck…!”
“I thought about devouring the cells themselves, but if I did
that, down there might not function as it should.”
Without feeling pain, the body becomes sluggish, unable to
react to attacks or injuries. Ha-Jin left the cells intact but used
his ability to devour the pain receptors in real-time before the
brain could register the sensation.
‘This bastard…’
Yeon realised just how obsessed this man was with sex. There
was no way anyone below Grade S could even attempt this.
That explained why Ha-Jin’s red aura had thoroughly swept
through his deepest parts.
With the pain gone, every other sensation became heightened.
At some point, Ha-Jin had inserted a third finger, and Yeon,
feeling himself in ways he’d never imagined, sighed. It was a
bizarre sensation.
He tried to block out reality, covering his eyes with the back of
his hand, but once again, Ha-Jin forcefully yanked his arm
away. He wouldn’t allow him to hide his face.
Like a punishment, his hand jabbed rougher at Yeon’s insides.
“Ah! Stop…!”
The wet, obscene squelching sound filled the room as Ha-Jin
inserted yet another finger, making it four now. There was no
pain, but the sense of foreign intrusion hadn’t vanished, and
Yeon’s face twisted in response. The mix of pleasure and
discomfort created a disorienting feeling.
Ha-Jin tilted his head, leisurely watching Yeon’s expression.
His gaze was explicit. Flushed with shame, Yeon shouted.
“Ugh! Enough, already, haah…! Just put it in!”
“It’s good already.”
Despite saying that, Ha-Jin gripped his cock and aligned the
head with Yeon’s entrance. His movements were a bit more
hurried now. After applying more gel over the condom, he
started to push in slowly.
“…!”
The pressure was incomparable to fingers. Even though the
pain was gone, it was hard to believe something that massive
could enter a human body. It felt like an arm was forcing its
way inside. Even without pain, it left Yeon gasping for breath.
Ha-Jin’s broad chest loomed over Yeon’s torso as he lowered
himself.
In a low, husky whisper, Ha-Jin spoke directly into his ear.
“I get so fucking hard when you cry.”
Like a declaration of intent, Ha-Jin suddenly thrust his hips,
burying himself to the hilt.
Thud!
The sound of their thighs slamming together echoed in a heavy
burst.
Yeon’s pupils dilated. The cock pressing in had slammed right
into his prostate, sending a bolt of pleasure so intense it was
paralysing. He couldn’t even close his mouth before Ha-Jin
sealed his lips with a kiss. His tongue slid inside, probing deep
into his mouth. He was being conquered from top to bottom.
Despite the brutal depth of Ha-Jin’s thrusts, he kept his
movements slow, allowing Yeon’s body to adjust. It was
careful, almost as if he feared tearing him apart. Each time the
cock pulled back, scraping against the inner walls, it pressed
against the prostate again.
“Mmngh! Huhh…!”
Yeon had never thought he’d experience pleasure like this.
He’d always dismissed the notion that men could feel anything
from back there, but with the pain removed, he was drowning
in an unexpected ecstasy.
Moving slowly, Ha-Jin’s lips grazed Yeon’s ear, biting at the
shell before licking it tenderly.
“Haa…”
Yeon flinched, letting out another moan as kisses rained down
on him. Ha-Jin’s teeth bit harder, making Yeon flinch. Ha-Jin’s
insides clenched with how damn tight and perfect Yeon felt.
His inner walls, taut and soft, clung as if begging him not to
pull out, while the constriction alone could drive someone
mad.
Ha-Jin felt like some amateur experiencing sex for the first
time.
“Fuck.”
He clenched his arms tightly to restrain himself from pounding
away mercilessly. Each slow thrust had Yeon blushing, his
eyes welling up with pleasure. Yet Yeon seemed too proud to
let his moans slip freely.
‘So that’s how you want to play it.’
While Ha-Jin was busy restraining himself, Yeon was taking
every ounce of pleasure yet stubbornly trying to hide it.
Annoyed, Ha-Jin’s face hardened. His red eyes flickered with
a dangerous gleam.
“Looks like I’ve been going too easy on you.”
With that low mutter, Ha-Jin released the restraint he’d
imposed on himself, his hips driving in hard.
Thud!
“Ahh!”
Lee Yeon gasped as Tae Ha-Jin’s thick cock thrust deep into
him, his face contorting in pleasure. It invaded all the way to
his stomach. Ha-Jin gripped his thighs and continued
pounding, the force of each stroke driving the air from Yeon’s
lungs. The burning friction and the violent pace left him
trembling helplessly.
“Ugh, ah! F-Fuck, this is crazy! Ah!”
The relentless rhythm and overwhelming pleasure swept
through Yeon’s mind like a storm. Ha-Jin, like a wild
racehorse, showed no intention of slowing down as he
slammed into him from below.
Smack! Thud!
“Ahh! Stop! Please, I—Ahh…!”
His moans betrayed his will, pouring out despite himself. The
sheer intensity of the pleasure was too much, and pre-cum
leaked from his cock, smearing against Ha-Jin’s abs. The
sensation of his cock rubbing against Ha-Jin’s stomach was
driving him mad, while his body was shoved mercilessly to its
limit.
His mind was turning to mush.
Yeon whimpered, broken, his brain scrambled from the
overwhelming sensation.
“This is what I like to see,” Ha-Jin said with a grin, never
slowing the thrusts. As Yeon struggled to reach for his own
cock, his hand trembling, Ha-Jin clucked his tongue.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He grabbed Yeon’s wrist, stopping him, and then pulled his
cock out. The sudden emptiness left Yeon blinking in
confusion. With a swift movement, Ha-Jin flipped him over,
lifting his hips and forcing his chest to the bed. He grabbed
Yeon’s hands, tying them tightly with the belt from his robe.
Yeon furrowed his brows as he processed what had just
happened.
‘Wait, did he just tie me up?’
All he wanted was to touch himself a little—was that so bad?
“What the—ah! Fuck!”
Just as he started to protest, Ha-Jin slammed back inside,
grabbing Yeon’s hips as if he intended to break him. The
sound of their flesh colliding filled the room as Yeon rubbed
his face into the pillow, barely holding onto his balance. There
was no way to stop the moans tearing from his throat.
‘I need to cum.’
The need was unbearable. He was desperate to cum, but with
his hips pinned by Ha-Jin’s large hands, he couldn’t even rub
his cock against the bed. His arms were tied, and Ha-Jin only
became more ruthless with each thrust.
“Please! For fuck’s sake, untie me! Ah, let me—ah!”
“Just take it.”
And with those words, Ha-Jin focused entirely on his prostate,
thrusting with pinpoint accuracy. This position was perfect for
that brutal assault. Yeon, consumed by the desire to cum,
stopped resisting and embraced the pleasure. Even as he was
only being pounded from behind, he could feel the orgasm
building at the front.
“Haaah! Ugh! Ah… fuck!”
Ha-Jin noticed as Yeon’s body tensed, on the edge of release,
and he slowed his movements. Watching Yeon tremble,
forehead pressed into the bed, Ha-Jin smirked.
“Good boy.”
He reached out to stroke Yeon’s sweaty hair, his touch almost
gentle for a moment.
“Ahhh…” Yeon sighed deeply, a wave of consciousness
hitting him like a brick wall. The reality was crushing—he had
just let himself cum while being fucked by the man he
despised most.
But there wasn’t much time for that to sink in, as Ha-Jin
resumed his relentless thrusting.
“Focus.”
Perhaps noticing the shift in Yeon’s mind, Ha-Jin delivered a
sharp slap to his arse. This time, Ha-Jin didn’t hold back the
pain, and Yeon could feel it sting through the haze of pleasure.
Not just the slap, but the burning in his arse, came rushing
back in full force.
“Ah! Fuck!”
As Yeon screamed, feeling like he was being torn apart, Ha-
Jin’s ability kicked in again, pulling every sensation—both
pleasure and pain—into sharp focus. The sharp contrast
between heaven and hell left Yeon’s eyes swimming in tears.
His cock, despite having just cum, was already hard again. He
couldn’t believe his body was this insatiable.
‘Fuck… Don’t you dare cry, you fucking idiot.’
Yeon fought to hold back the tears as Ha-Jin grabbed a fistful
of his hair, pulling him up sharply. The force lifted Yeon’s
upper body from the bed, leaving him gasping.
“Mmph!”
As he continued to pound him, Ha-Jin kissed him hard, his
tongue as invasive as his thrusts. His hips circled slowly, then
came crashing down again.
Yeon couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down his face.
Noticing the fresh tears, Ha-Jin’s expression twisted.
“Ah, fuck…”
He muttered a curse and finally untied Yeon’s wrists, pushing
him onto his back. He climbed on top, positioning himself
between Yeon’s legs, and resumed thrusting—his eyes locked
on Yeon’s face.
Thud, thud!
As Yeon felt another orgasm build, Ha-Jin ground his jaw,
spitting out his words.
“Cry harder, Lee Yeon.”
He grabbed Yeon’s chin and kissed him again as his cock
pounded relentlessly into him. Yeon refused to give Ha-Jin the
satisfaction of seeing him break, but the constant brutal thrusts
pushed him past his limit, leaving him a sobbing mess.
Ha-Jin, seeing Yeon’s tear-streaked face, let out a groan as he
came. He collapsed forward, burying his head against Yeon’s
shoulder.
“Ah.”
Ha-Jin panted heavily, lifting his head after a moment. He had
deliberately held off his own climax, tormenting Yeon the
whole time, and now he felt a deep release. His cock was still
rock hard though, not ready to stop.
“……”
But Yeon had passed out.
Ha-Jin hadn’t expected him to pass out so soon, though to be
fair, Yeon had only just woken up from an 8-day coma and had
even spent the day on a date with Choi Sa-Rang. It wasn’t
surprising that he was exhausted.
With a sigh, Ha-Jin pulled out, tossing the condom into the
bin. He clicked his tongue, irritated by the incomplete
satisfaction, then turned to stroke Yeon’s cheek.
“……”
As he wiped away Yeon’s drying tears, he wondered if he had
gone a bit too far this time. His phone vibrated noisily on the
bedside table, interrupting his thoughts. Running a hand
through his hair, Ha-Jin answered it.

__
Translation guide:

1. When Tae said “It’s good already.”, in the original it was:

“안 먹어도 배가 부른데”. It’s a Korean idiom, that literally
means “be full even without eating [rice].” And the
interpretation is to be very satisfied because something good
happens.
Source: https://hinative.com/questions/19779767
 Chapter 3. Part 2
“What?”
—Esper, have you seen the news?
“What news?”
—It’s about that famous actress, Selene. You know, Lee Hong-
Jun’s second wife.
At the mention of Lee Hong-Jun’s name, Ha-Jin’s eyes flicked
towards Yeon’s sleeping form. He moved towards the door of
the bedroom as he spoke again.
“What about her?”
—She’s dead. The news says she took pills and committed
suicide. Lee Hong-Jun announced it’ll be a private family
funeral—no visitors allowed.
Ha-Jin’s expression darkened as he made his way down to the
study. That lunatic had likely claimed another victim—he
seriously doubted it was a suicide, knowing Lee Hong-Jun all
too well.
Ha-Jin grabbed a calendar from the desk, flipping through the
pages absentmindedly, until he stopped on next month’s date.
‘Next month…’
It would be the anniversary of Christina’s death, Yeon’s birth
mother.
Christina had been buried in the royal family’s private
cemetery, a special resting place reserved for those who had
made great sacrifices for the royal family or those specially
ordered by the royal household. It was a peaceful spot
overlooking a serene lake.
Ha-Jin had visited her grave every year, out of regret for
Christina and guilt over the child he had believed was dead.
For ten years, he had held on to the faint hope that Yeon might
still be alive and would visit his mother’s grave.
But Yeon never had. Not once in those ten years.
That’s when Ha-Jin had finally accepted that the boy he had
known was dead. The child had loved his mother deeply, and
if he were alive, surely, he would have visited her.
‘Yeon. Why didn’t you ever visit your mother?’
It was a question he couldn’t bring himself to ask.
—Ah, and I heard Lee Yeon is helping with the research centre
raid, yeah? That’s great news, we’re gonna need to bring it
forward. There’s something off about that new assistant of
Hong-Jun’s.
“Send me the report. I’ll scope out the facility—depending on
the door situation, we’ll hit it this week.”
—Got it, I’ll send it over…
The call ended with a click.
Tae Ha-Jin was scanning through his messages when one
caught his eye, and his brow shot up. He immediately called
someone else. It was Dekal.
—Yes?
“Lee Hong-Jun’s destination was Epenhar?”
—Yes. We’ve tracked several instances of him heading there
with his subordinate, a transportation esper.
“The movement pattern?”
—On average, twice a week.
“Does the Emperor know?”
—Not a clue.
Ha-Jin chuckled darkly, clearly irritated. Things were taking a
grim turn. For months, Lee Hong-Jun had been acting
unpredictably, shifting his routine in odd ways. Since the
moment Ha-Jin had clawed his way into power, he had been
tracking Hong-Jun’s every move. But this… this was the first
time he’d seen the ever-confident research director trying so
hard to cover something up.
Usually, he was either holed up in the central research lab or
making occasional trips to the labs in the regions. But now,
apparently, the man had been using a transportation esper to
sneak off somewhere.
‘And that somewhere is Epenhar?’
Epenhar was the second-largest nation after Diaylen. The
conquest wars had ended centuries ago, and though there was
a tentative peace, the Emperor of Diaylen still kept a wary eye
on Epenhar’s president.
The president of Epenhar wasn’t just a political figure—he
was a Grade S0 esper, held in deep reverence by his people. It
was no wonder the Emperor of Diaylen viewed him with such
contempt.
The one thing that gave the Emperor peace of mind was
Diaylen’s unmatched number of abnormal-type espers. There
was a reason they were still called the most powerful nation in
the world.
In most countries, even having one Grade S esper was a rarity.
The fact that Diaylen had multiple Grade S espers and had
maintained that status was nearly unthinkable. People with that
kind of overwhelming power often had a natural tendency to
want to stand at the top, so keeping several of them under
control was no easy feat. It was no surprise that the Emperor’s
authority had been eroded.
“The president of Epenhar and Lee Hong-Jun… the worst
possible combination.”
The President of Epenhar’s ability was highly classified. No
one knew what it was, because anyone who had discovered it
either ended up dead or missing. But the whispers were that it
was something truly rare.
Lee Hong-Jun, on the other hand, was known as the greatest
genius in the world.
—Yes. I suggest dealing with the research labs first. We need
to cut down his influence, somehow.
Ha-Jin had already had a similar conversation with Doberman.
Things were spiralling faster than anticipated.
—Should we keep this from the Emperor?
“Wouldn’t help even if he knew. He’d just start messing about
with pointless political moves.”
—Yes.
“What about Princess Elena?”
—Still the same. Apparently, she hasn’t left her chambers.
“Unbelievable.”
Ha-Jin tapped his watch out of habit. A notification hovered,
showing his corruption level at 4%. Yeon had been guiding
earlier, and somehow, it seemed he’d done it unconsciously,
even while having sex. He let out a little chuckle—what a
diligent bastard he was.
Just then, his watch blinked yellow, accompanied by a warning
alarm.
[Yellow Door Detected
Location: Residential District, Capital Gistange Street
Monsters: Grade 3 Predator-type, Grade 3 Immortal-type, and
Grade 4 Beast-type. Numerous casualties reported.]
Dekal must have seen the same alert on his own watch, as he
ended the call, saying he’d meet him at the scene. Ha-Jin,
feeling lighter than usual, quickly changed and floated into the
air, heading toward the location. As he ascended, he glanced
back for a moment.
His gaze lingered.
It was the second floor, where Lee Yeon was probably asleep.

***

In the remote region of Daklan, a four-hour drive from the

capital, a desolate landscape stretched out in every direction.
Daklan was one of the most barren places in Diaylen, a vast
wasteland dotted with a few crumbling houses. Though it was
large, the dry climate made it a difficult region to develop.
At the heart of this desolate expanse, however, lay a massive
secret: a research facility built with the utmost care by Lee
Hong-Jun. His “Mirage and Invisibility Device” cloaked the
entire building, rendering it invisible to the human eye. The
lab was right there, in plain sight, yet to most, it appeared as if
nothing existed.
It had been ten years since Lee Hong-Jun had built this hidden
facility in Daklan. After his first wife’s suicide, he had erased
the Basen Research Lab, where she had stayed, from the map
entirely. He’d done this out of a rare moment of regret, which
was something that hindered his research.
This place was his replacement for Basen.
“Yaaawn…”
Adrian, Lee Hong-Jun’s sole assistant, let out a massive yawn
as he shuffled lazily along, moving at a sloth’s pace.
“Good morning!”
“Ah, morning.”
Every researcher who passed by greeted Adrian with the
utmost respect, while he yawned repeatedly as he greeted
them.
He took the lift to the 4th floor and headed down to the 5th
basement level. When the doors opened, a massive lab came
into view. The left wall was lined with enormous capsules,
each holding a naked human inside. Along the right wall were
capsules containing ostrich-sized eggs in every imaginable
colour.
Adrian made his way through the lab and spotted Lee Hong-
Jun at the far end, writing up an experiment report. He was
examining a shattered green egg.
“You’re being noisy,” Lee Hong-Jun muttered, annoyed by
Adrian dragging his slippers across the floor. Not that Adrian
cared—he spoke slowly.
“You’re trying to become a god, aren’t you?”
Amidst the broken green egg, something that looked like a tiny
human arm poked out. Lee Hong-Jun’s dark eyes shifted from
the experiment log to Adrian’s face. His expression was lazy,
indifferent. Adrian smiled faintly.
“Ah… that’s right. The teacher always said gods were failed
beings… didn’t you?”
With that, the irritation on Lee Hong-Jun’s face faded, and he
set the experiment log aside. He pressed a red button on the
capsule.
Whirrrr!
In an instant, the shattered green egg turned to dust, and the
tiny arm dissolved in mid-air.
“I guess it’s not going to work? Looks like even with your
‘Fusion’ ability, creating humans is a no-go.”
Adrian chuckled as he wandered around, examining the
various eggs. Most of them had cracks or looked like they
were on the verge of breaking. Failures, all of them.
Adrian had always been curious about the man known as Lee
Hong-Jun. Even in his youth, though he was labelled a
prodigy, a genius in his later years, Adrian had never been able
to surpass Lee’s reputation. Everyone had expected Adrian to
awaken as a Grade S esper, but instead, he became a Grade A0
transportation esper. It was his first real taste of failure.
A few years back, he had approached Lee Hong-Jun, asking to
become his disciple.
He’d boasted about his academic achievements and the awards
he had won, claiming he would be a great asset to Lee’s
research. But Lee barely glanced at his résumé before asking
him a single question:
—Do you have anything you need to protect?
It was an odd question, but Adrian, ever sharp, knew it was a
crucial one. He had a family, but he didn’t love them. He had a
nationality, but no patriotism.
So he answered negatively.
Lee Hong-Jun, holding a syringe from who knows where,
grabbed Adrian’s arm and injected something into him without
asking for permission. Adrian winced at the sudden sting.
—Good.
Tossing the used syringe into the trash, Lee Hong-Jun looked
at Adrian with lifeless eyes.
—I’ve implanted a microchip in your body. If you reveal
anything about my research, it will turn into a bomb.
In other words, Lee had accepted him as a disciple with a two-
sentence threat.
If you have anything precious, I’ll use it as an experiment.
If you open your mouth carelessly, you’ll die.
Adrian had heard the rumours about Lee being a psychotic
researcher, but this… this was beyond what he had imagined.
His experiments were bizarre, unlike anything he had ever
seen before. And there were always sacrifices. Too many of
the things he witnessed were stomach-churning.
‘You’re used to it now, aren’t you?’
But the results were extraordinary, and they filled the
emptiness Adrian had always felt. Lee Hong-Jun had provided
him with a kind of euphoria.
Moreover, Lee Hong-Jun was an A+ grade esper, possessing
the ability ‘Fusion’. He could combine subjects without any
special process, a power that was invaluable in the
experiments.
‘But even that ability isn’t enough for this, huh?’
Adrian casually looked around at the capsules containing the
eggs. Inside the capsules, dozens of artificial blood vessels
tangled together, connected to the eggs. It was a grotesque
sight.
These were the test subjects for genetic experiments.
The experiments had been going on long before Adrian had
even become a disciple. The problem? Not a single success.
Lee Hong-Jun extracted superior-grade genetic traits and
injected them into artificially created eggs, using his fusion
ability. He had even simulated blood vessels, creating the
conditions for birth as closely as possible, but the foetuses
inside never lasted long and always died.
“This experiment is a waste. Let’s scrap it and move on.”
They’re all going to die anyway.
Adrian gave one of the capsules a hard knock, the capsule that
had consumed so much money and care. Lee Hong-Jun
responded with a sinister smile.
“Adrian, you’re still missing something.”
“…And what’s that?”
“These eggs are meant to die. That’s the point of the
experiment.”
Adrian furrowed his brow slightly. What the hell? This
experiment, designed to create superior human weapons, relied
on the test subjects dying to succeed?
Lee Hong-Jun handed Adrian the journal he’d kept on “Gene
Trait Fusions.” Adrian’s eyes widened.
This was the one thing he’d never allowed anyone to see.
Thump, thump.
Adrian’s heart raced wildly as he held the papers. What kind
of madness would they reveal this time? He couldn’t help
feeling a twisted excitement.
Ever since becoming Lee Hong-Jun’s assistant, after having
been his disciple, Adrian had to admit that he was beginning to
resemble the man.
Shuffle, shuffle.
Adrian’s eyes sparkled with intrigue as he carefully studied the
records. His hands turned the pages faster and faster.
It was impressive.
The records started with artificial eggs, where conflicting
genes were forcibly preserved and bound into a single form.
Then, there were notes on types of “support blood vessels” to
nourish the artificial eggs, automation of capsules simulating
the function of a womb, the exact time of death when weak
traits were fused, and how long stronger traits lasted before
dying…
And finally, the last page.
[Subject 2-224. Dark green hue. A+ grade gene trait fused
with A+ grade gene trait. Developed from embryo to foetus.
Survived for 8 months. Fully formed human body. Movement
in fingers before death.]
It was the result of the green egg Adrian had pulverised earlier.
“Wow…”
The implications were staggering. The more superior the traits,
the longer the egg survived, even enduring the flawed ‘egg’
structure. The fusion alone had been enough to create an actual
human body, and life had briefly flickered within it.
Adrian couldn’t stop admiring the last report on the now-
powdered “green egg.”
[Gene Trait Extraction 1 - Lee Hong-Jun / Gene Trait
Extraction 2 - Christina.]
“…What?”
Adrian blinked in disbelief. The A+ trait in the green egg had
come from the lab director’s own genes.
And the second gene trait? “Christina.” Wasn’t that the name
of Lee Hong-Jun’s first wife? The one who’d died?
“This… This second gene trait… it’s from your deceased wife,
isn’t it?”
Lee Hong-Jun, who had been placing a new artificial egg into
the cleaned capsule, replied nonchalantly.
“My wife had extraordinary traits. She didn’t inherit much of
the ‘Great Gene’ from her ancestors, but she was still an A+
grade esper. Before she died, I took a sample and stored it. I
figured she’d make a suitable final test subject.”
Adrian had no idea what this “Great Gene” was. Lee Hong-Jun
never talked about it.
‘Fucking psycho.’
It was disturbing. Keeping your dead wife’s genes stored
away, only to fuse them with your own and create a child?
‘And then you turned it to powder?’
Madness.
That green egg, strictly speaking, was basically Lee Hong-
Jun’s child. Adrian swallowed dryly. He couldn’t fathom what
was going on in the man’s mind. Rumour had it that Lee
Hong-Jun had loved his first wife deeply once, but…
Where the green egg had been crushed, a new artificial egg
now rested. It gleamed, polished to perfection. It was clear
more effort had gone into this one than any of the others.
What kind of gene traits had he put in that egg, to make him
look so bloody pleased?
Lee Hong-Jun was smiling.
Like he was overjoyed, thrilled.
“Do you know? Strong traits can even overcome artificial
creation.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“I have countless genetic traits stored away. But there’s one
I’ve kept back, one I’ve treasured. And recently, I found the
perfect match for it. And what do you know? I already had it
in my possession. This experiment is going to succeed. I’m
certain of it.”
He muttered to himself like a man possessed. His eyes shone
with an unnatural brilliance, like the skin of a snake about to
shed.
Quickly, he left and returned with two boxes: one pristine and
one old and worn.
Click, click.
Opening the boxes revealed small capsules containing genetic
traits. Lee Hong-Jun inserted them into slots on the device
holding the artificial egg.
Whirrrrr!
Whirrrrr!
Beep!
A deafening noise erupted from the giant capsule, one Adrian
had never heard before. It was so intense that he instinctively
took a step back, half-expecting it to explode.
Whoooosh.
The vibrations of the machine eventually subsided.
Once the sound had quieted, Adrian opened his eyes, which
he’d tightly shut.
“…”
Lee Hong-Jun was gazing at the artificial egg with a look of
pure ecstasy. Adrian knew, just from that expression, one
undeniable fact.
He had just half-succeeded in creating a human being.
‘This man’s a monster.’
Adrian, rattled, averted his gaze from the egg. It would be
another ten months before the human inside it woke.
“Dispose of the other eggs.”
“Yes, right…”
As he paced around the lab, Adrian noticed a newspaper on
the table. The front page announced that the lab director’s
second wife, Selene, had committed suicide. Adrian let out a
scoffing laugh.
“You already published an article? Suicide, huh.”
Lee Hong-Jun was still lost in his own world, looking like a
drugged-up lunatic.
“So, I guess your experiment with your second wife didn’t go
so well, then?”
At the mention of failure, Lee Hong-Jun’s head snapped
around. Adrian flinched for a second, but the director’s
expression wasn’t angry. He spoke in a flat tone.
“Not at all. The experiment was a success. It’s completely
possible to turn a normal person into someone with abnormal
traits. However…”
However?
He continued.
“It’s forced mutation. Even if they manifest, the maximum is
Grade C, and normal bodies can’t withstand it. No matter who
I tried it on, they all died.”
“So, are you satisfied?”
Even though your second wife is dead?
Adrian bit back his last words with a sarcastic laugh. He half-
expected Lee Hong-Jun to use his second son, who was
trembling in some corner of the house, as the next test subject.
The director was more than capable of it.
Lee Hong-Jun muttered as he stared intently at the new egg
he’d created.
“In a way, yes. All I really wanted to know was, ‘Can I turn a
normal person into an abnormal one?’ And I’ve found my
answer.”
Adrian blinked slowly. His second wife had died as a test
subject, and he felt absolutely nothing. Why bother
remarrying, then?
He was a man with too many secrets. The kind of man who
could get away with the vilest deeds and still live to breathe
another day. He was still flitting between Diaylen and
Epenhar, after all.
Does being the greatest genius mean you get away with
everything?
If that’s the case, Adrian thought, then I want to be the greatest
genius too.

***

The stench of blood hit Yeon’s nose, yanking him awake. His
lower body throbbed with a pain that felt like it was about to
shatter. Bloody hell, it hurt. Tae Ha-Jin had devoured the pain
with his ability during sex, but now that it was over, the
aftermath came crashing down.
“Hah.”
Thinking about last night left him with a strange feeling. Yeon
shoved off the heavy arm draped over his chest and sat up.
Gripping his throbbing waist, he reached for his phone on the
bedside table.

___
If I gambled, I’d wage all I had on this egg being a combo of
Tae and Yeon genes.
 Chapter 3. Part 3
A flood of messages awaited him. Ever since he revealed
himself as a Grade S guide, the people contacting him had
increased significantly. Most were fleeting acquaintances.

[Guide, this is Doberman. Where are you right now? It’s chaos
out here. The Yellow Door opened at dawn, and then a Pink
Door followed in the morning. Tae Ha-Jin has been working
hard, but the problem is, he’s refusing any guiding from
anyone else. His contamination level hit 85%, and then he just
went home. If he goes berserk, the whole city could be wiped
out. Please, guide him as soon as you see this. I’m begging
you.
11:29 a.m.]

Yeon read Doberman’s desperate text among the latest

messages.
‘Bloody hell… Yellow Door and Pink Door?’
Turning his head, he finally noticed Tae Ha-Jin. He was lying
on his side, facing Yeon, shadows lingering over his usually
neat brow. His all-black clothes were soaked in monster blood,
turning a dark, grim red. Bright red stains marred the pristine
white sheets beneath him.
With his usual obsessive cleanliness, Tae Ha-Jin must have
been really struggling to hold himself together in this state.
‘Makes it hard to even cuss him out.’
Last night, Tae Ha-Jin had practically pulverised Yeon,
making him pass out. Yeon had planned to curse him out and
run off to the Recovery Centre once he woke up. But now,
seeing that Tae Ha-Jin had dealt with both the Yellow and Pink
Doors while Yeon had slept soundly, it was clear the man had
gone through hell.
Yeon tapped his watch and saw the number—85%.
Any regular esper would be halfway to losing their mind,
thrashing around or unable to sleep from the pain. As Yeon
watched, the contamination level ticked up to 86%.
“Huh.”
I must be a bloody saint.
Yeon sighed and lay back down, turning to face Tae Ha-Jin
and lifting the man’s arm onto his body. He placed his hand on
Tae Ha-Jin’s waist and began guiding him. The tainted energy
surged through Yeon’s hand and into his body, violently
overwhelming. As he returned the purified energy, Tae Ha-
Jin’s furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
Yeon found himself staring at the man’s sleeping face. He had
never seen Tae Ha-Jin look so defenceless before. To be
honest, it made him want to smack him, just once.
Isn’t he practically knocked out?
He hadn’t even bothered to change his blood-soaked clothes
before crashing.
Caught up in these thoughts, Yeon balled his hand into a fist.
He slowly raised it toward Tae Ha-Jin’s forehead, thinking just
a light tap wouldn’t hurt. But as his fist neared, Tae Ha-Jin’s
eyelids fluttered open, revealing those crimson eyes. His gaze
shifted from Yeon’s fist to his face.
“…Don’t misunderstand. It’s not what it looks like.”
Yeon quickly opened his fist, awkwardly brushing Tae Ha-
Jin’s fringe. The man said nothing. Just as Yeon was about to
pull his hand away, Tae Ha-Jin grabbed his wrist.
Then, he lowered Yeon’s hand, pressing it against his lips.
“…”
The warmth and softness of his lips tingled against Yeon’s
palm. Tae Ha-Jin’s tongue briefly flicked out, lightly licking
his palm. Yeon’s hand flinched. He wanted to pull away, but
they were in the middle of guiding, and the more contact, the
better.
Besides, Tae Ha-Jin looked… tired.
He looked worn out, like a beast searching for solace.
“You must’ve had a rough time today.”
In response, Tae Ha-Jin merely closed his eyes. His long
lashes cast shadows beneath his lids. Seeing him like this—
unguarded—dampened Yeon’s urge to fight. He didn’t feel
like arguing.
Last night had been rough, sure, but if he were honest, it had
also been overwhelmingly good. All these jumbled thoughts…
he just needed to sort them out, accept them, and move on.
Once he made up his mind, it didn’t seem so bad anymore.
“Yeon.”
Tae Ha-Jin’s voice was rough, tired. Yeon ignored it, focusing
on the guiding.
“Your stepmother’s dead. They say it was suicide.”
It was surprising news, but not completely unexpected. Yeon’s
stepmother had been far from likable. He never cared for her
much. With an expressionless face, he studied Tae Ha-Jin’s
profile. His lips still pressed against Yeon’s hand, and each
word he spoke sent a strange tickle through his palm.
“I think it was murder.”
“…”
“Why did Lee Hong-Jun bother marrying her if he was going
to kill her in the end?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s tone left no room for doubt. He was convinced
Lee Hong-Jun had killed her. Yeon found that puzzling. In the
Diaylen nation, anyone who wanted to live a quiet life
wouldn’t dare touch the head of the Basen Research Lab. Even
if a bold journalist tried to dig up the truth, a higher-up would
either silence them or bury them.
But Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t someone who had to worry about such
trivial things. His very existence was power in itself. So why
did he hate Lee Hong-Jun so much?
Tae Ha-Jin had hired experts to raid Lee Hong-Jun’s lab. He’d
even suggested they break into Lee’s system together. What
others took as speculative headlines, Tae Ha-Jin spoke of as if
it were plain to see.
It was as if Tae Ha-Jin knew Lee Hong-Jun inside out.
‘But didn’t he say he liked me, despite being Lee Hong-Jun’s
son?’
Yeon couldn’t reconcile the two. If it were him, he’d never be
able to like the child of someone he hated. Just being around
them would bring up too many unpleasant memories.
Reflecting on these thoughts, Yeon finally responded.
“They look alike.”
His mother and stepmother.
Tae Ha-Jin’s brow furrowed again.
Yeon knew exactly why Lee Hong-Jun had remarried. His
stepmother had looked just like his birth mother. His mother,
who had died young, was forever frozen in memory, never
ageing. And like her, his stepmother had married young and
died young.
Yeon thought back to the first time he’d seen her, the year after
his mother had passed. A woman had walked in, heavily
pregnant. At the time, just by looking at her face, Yeon
thought his mother had returned from the dead. The light
brown hair, the large eyes—they were all eerily similar.
His stepmother.
His father’s love had manifested in such a grotesque way,
something Yeon could never understand.
Cha-Hyun, the stepmother’s son, must be around eleven now.
He’d resembled her too, which meant he also bore some
resemblance to Yeon.
That thought disgusted him.
Yeon smiled bitterly.
“Let’s stop talking about this.”
They fell into silence, but their eyes stayed locked for a long
time. Yeon had never stared into anyone’s eyes for this long.
Tae Ha-Jin’s eyes were beautiful, a shade of red that no
amount of paint could ever capture.
Ding.
Yeon’s wrist alarm interrupted the moment. He tried to remove
his hand from Tae Ha-Jin’s waist, but Tae Ha-Jin held it in
place.
“I may be your exclusive guide, but I still have other things to
do. I’ll get fired if I don’t.”
“I’ll pay you more. How about guiding only me?”
Yeon snorted.
An exclusive guide was assigned to prioritise a particular
esper, but as long as he worked for the Centre, he had to guide
others as well. Tae Ha-Jin was basically telling him to quit.
“If it was about money, don’t you think I’d have revealed
myself as a grade S long ago? No thanks.”
Yeon yanked his arm free and checked his watch.
[Emergency secret call: S0-grade esper, Dion. Location:
Training Grounds, inside the royal fortress.]
A secret call?
It was the first time he’d ever seen such an alert. And the
esper’s name was Dion? The last time he saw him was at that
banquet. Something must’ve happened.
The fact that the location was the royal fortress… was this call
related to the royal family?
The “secret” label made him feel like it was something he
should keep under wraps. Yeon quickly turned off his watch
before Tae Ha-Jin could see. Better safe than sorry.
Tae Ha-Jin’s contamination level had dropped to 43%.
Crisis averted. Time to get going.
“Oof…”
Grabbing his still-aching waist, Yeon stood up. Tae Ha-Jin’s
voice followed him, sounding deceptively casual.
“You look like you’re in pain. Want me to call in and excuse
you from work?”
“No, thanks. I’m heading out first. Get some rest.”
He only grabbed his clothes and stormed out of the house. He
was in a rush, but thankfully, the exhausted Tae Ha-Jin didn’t
bother chasing after him. There was just a faint sense of eyes
boring into his back.
‘Do I really have to take a bloody car all the way to
Hwangseong?’
It was a two-hour ride—far from convenient. As he mulled it
over, his phone buzzed.

[Hyung, I’m hurt. Can’t you come quickly?

1:07 PM]

‘How the hell did he get my number?’

Yeon suddenly felt like his number had been sold to the whole
town. Lately, he’d been bombarded with spam messages from
people he didn’t even know.

[1:08 PM
Wait two hours. Or maybe call a guide stationed in the
Palace?]

He reached out to flag down a taxi, but then light flared next to
him, revealing a man he’d never seen before. From his robe-
like attire, it was clear he was a transportation esper from the
Palace.
“I’m here at Dion’s request. I’ll take you to him.”
They must’ve tracked my location, Yeon thought, suspicion
creeping into his eyes. Why does Dion have the authority to
summon royal staff like this? Was this just how things went if
you were an S-grade esper?
‘Well… Tae Ha-Jin’s got loads of power too, so who knows,’
he shrugged mentally as he grasped the esper’s arm. In an
instant, they were at the Palace training ground.
As soon as Yeon arrived, he silenced his watch. It was
considered proper etiquette at this place, especially for secret
summons. Besides, with the nature of this meeting, his watch
shouldn’t be making any noise.
Looking around, the vast space resembled a stadium, but only
one person was present. The transportation esper had already
disappeared.
“It’s killing me, Hyung,” a familiar voice whined through a
smile.
Dion’s dark brown hair was strewn across the floor as he lay
sprawled out, catching his breath. His body was a wreck,
visibly battered, with a sword lying discarded beside him.
Yeon had never seen him use a sword before—it was a
surprise.
“You don’t look like you need guiding.”
“I do though, my corruption level’s at 72%,” Dion grumbled,
waving his watch around. Since when does sword training
spike corruption levels?
Yeon sat beside him, gripping Dion’s wrist, and glanced over
his face.
“The cut on your lip’s healed. The bruising’s gone too.”
“You remember that?”
“It was only a few days ago.”
“I thought you forgot, since you didn’t visit or even contact
me.”
“What reason would I have to come looking for you, Esper?”
“But you go to Ha-Jin hyung, don’t you?”
Has his voice always been this deep? Yeon slowly blinked
down at Dion, who wasn’t smiling anymore. Last time, Yeon
had told him not to force a smile if he didn’t feel like it.
Apparently, he’d learned that lesson well. Yeon replied
casually.
“He’s my exclusive esper.”
“That’s the only reason?”
He asked if it was the only reason, and Yeon didn’t answer
immediately. Just yesterday, their relationship had taken on a
murkier shape. They weren’t exactly dating, but…
Was it just a one-night stand?
“I wouldn’t say it’s the only reason—maybe 70% of it.”
“And the other 30%?”
“I don’t feel like answering that.” Yeon cut off the
conversation firmly. Dion crumbled into a laugh. Now, he was
starting to feel like the Dion Yeon knew. Moving his arm,
Dion tapped his watch against Yeon’s. A matching rate of 66%
popped up. Pretty high.
Dion stared at the number for a moment, then grinned
mischievously.
“How about being my exclusive guide, Hyung?”
Since discovering that Dion’s smiles weren’t always genuine,
Yeon had stopped seeing him as just some innocent, pure kid.
Even though he said it playfully, there was a certain
seriousness in his tone. Yeon responded calmly.
“Exclusivity means something when there’s only one person
involved. In an emergency, they’re your priority. If you have
two, things might get complicated later.”
Dion smirked.
“When did I say you’d have to juggle two? I’m saying you
should drop him and be my exclusive.”
“…I’m not really keen on the offer.”
“Don’t tell me, Hyung…” Dion’s smile took on a knowing, sly
edge. “You aren’t guiding Ha-Jin hyung just ‘cause he’s got a
big cock, are you?”
“…What?”
Yeon was so taken aback by Dion’s crude comment that he
instinctively broke the guiding flow. Normally, espers would
complain about a sharp jolt of pain, but Dion just chuckled.
“Is that why you won’t be my exclusive? Ah, don’t worry. I’m
just as big as him, you know.”
What the fuck? Has he lost his mind?
Yeon’s gaze turned a shade colder.
“I didn’t come all the way here to be sexually harassed, esper
Dion.”
“And who’s the one being rude here?” Dion shot back.
“When have I been rude?”
“You know damn well how sensitive S-grades are. You show
up here covered in another esper’s energy, for fuck’s sake.
What, advertising it? Like you’re saying, ‘Oh, I just fucked
another S-grade a little while ago?’”
Excuse me?
He could still feel Tae Ha-Jin’s energy on him? Sure, they’d
had sex yesterday, but all he’d done earlier was guide Tae Ha-
Jin. He had purified and returned the energy, so there shouldn’t
be any lingering traces.
If Dion was right and Tae Ha-Jin’s energy still clung to him,
then yes, that was a breach of etiquette. Guiding someone
while inadvertently spreading another esper’s energy was like
injecting them with someone else’s blood.
Yeon couldn’t think of a good response and chose silence.
“Why are you acting all innocent? Don’t you know? Ha-Jin
hyung marked you on purpose, like territory?”
Suddenly, Tae Ha-Jin’s words from before rang in his head,
something about clearing out all the other fish in the pond.
‘…If that’s true, how did I not notice?’
Yeon prided himself on his mastery over esper energy, more so
than anyone else. If Tae Ha-Jin had marked him, Yeon
should’ve sensed it immediately. He closed his eyes and
scanned his own energy pathways. Then, he flinched.
“See? I was right, wasn’t I?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s red energy clung to his pathways, subtle but
present, flowing along with his own energy like it belonged
there. It was such a fine, delicate movement that it had gone
unnoticed in daily life.
‘Damn it… Tae Ha-Jin.’
‘What am I, a dog? Marking his territory on me like that?’
Yeon rubbed his face in frustration.
“…Yeah, you’re right. My mistake. I’m sorry if that made you
uncomfortable.”
Dion shrugged, as if to say, it’s fine.
“Don’t worry about it. I was just pissed off and said some
shit.”
“But, esper Dion,” Yeon said, his tone sharpening.
“Yes, Hyung.”
“Can I ask something?”
“Shoot.”
“What is that smell of fire coming from your body?”
“…”
Dion clammed up, his eyes scanning Yeon’s face as if
measuring his next move.
“Well, I am a fire esper, you know.”
“But you didn’t use fire in the training hall. Besides, sword
practice alone doesn’t spike your corruption level this much.
There was an incident in the capital today, but as far as I know,
you weren’t on-site. If you and Ha-Jin were both there, he
wouldn’t have come back in that state. So, where exactly did
you use your ability, Esper Dion?”
Yeon laid out his reasoning, calm and collected. The fire
energy radiating from Dion’s body didn’t add up. He claimed
to have been training with a sword, yet there wasn’t a drop of
sweat on him.
And yet, his corruption level was unusually high—he must
have used his powers somewhere. But if it wasn’t the capital
incident, where had he unleashed such a powerful fire ability?
Dion scratched his eyebrow with his fingertip, chuckling
awkwardly.
“What if I told you I grilled some squid?”
“No chance.”
“You don’t believe me? That’s a shame, ‘cause it’s the truth.”
Dion sat up abruptly, leaning in with a bright smile. Yeon
didn’t flinch, staring right back at him. Their gazes met for a
moment before Dion averted his eyes.
“You’ll keep guiding me, yeah?”
He extended his solid arm forward. Without a word, Yeon
grabbed his wrist and began guiding. It seemed Dion had no
intention of answering the question.
‘Let’s just get this over with and be done.’
The whole ‘secret call’ bit had got Yeon rushing over here,
only to realise it might actually be a real secret after all.
Feeling uneasy, Yeon applied the guiding with more force than
usual.
“Ah, hyung… I don’t mind it rough, you know.”
Snap.
Yeon deliberately broke the guiding connection this time. Dion
covered his mouth, bursting into laughter. He laughed so hard
he slapped the floor, leaving dents with each hit.
‘What a monster…’
Seeing Dion laugh like that made Yeon feel like laughing too,
but he pressed his lips together just in time. Suddenly, voices
echoed from the entrance to the training hall.
“Did the President of Epenhar really send such a letter?”
“He arrived just yesterday, seems like he’s got some serious
backing.”
“His Majesty must be furious.”
“Throwing things, making a fuss. Better steer clear of the Sun
Palace for a while, mate.”
“I serve His Majesty. If he calls, I go, simple as that.”
“A real shame, innit? My old man never gets the loyalty
thing.”
It was Crown Prince Ricardo, chatting with someone
unfamiliar. Ricardo was decked out in a dazzling uniform that
screamed royalty, while the other man was in a sharp, black
outfit. Clearly a subordinate.
The Crown Prince spotted Yeon and his eyes widened.
“Well, well, if it isn’t our top-grade S-grade guide!”
“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Yeon stood and bowed respectfully. Ricardo gave him a hearty
slap on the back, laughing.
“Heard you were out cold for eight days, eh?”
“Er… yes.”
“Looks like you’re in fine shape for someone who was
knocked out cold.”
“Yeah, I suppose.”
“Saw the wide-area guiding footage. You were shining, mate.
Guess it’s ‘cause you’ve got that pretty face, eh?”
“Ah.”
“But what brings you here?”
Ricardo barely gave him a moment to respond, his expression
brimming with excitement like a granddad proud of his
grandkid’s show-and-tell. Just as Yeon was about to speak,
Dion draped an arm around his shoulder.
“I called him over. I needed top-tier guiding today.”
“You used an S-grade guide when we’ve got palace guides?”
“Hyung, come on. I’m S-grade too. Don’t be a snob.”
Dion grinned cheekily. The man standing next to Ricardo
stiffened, speaking sternly.
“Dion. Show some respect to His Highness. Do you even
know where you are?”
Clearly used to such remarks, Dion didn’t even pretend to
listen. He picked up his sword from the floor and pointed it at
the man.
“Let’s just get started, Knight Commander.”
“Dion, you…”
“You wanted a spar, didn’t you? Or I can bugger off.”
A chill swept through the training hall. Yeon, sensing the
rising tension, glanced around. It seemed Dion was here for a
planned duel. Dion’s face was now void of the usual smirk.
Apparently, there was someone else he didn’t feel like
grinning at.
The man, addressed as the Knight Commander, grimly drew
his sword. The finely sharpened silver blade gleamed, looking
like it could pierce right through Dion’s neck. The Knight
Commander took a step back, creating the necessary distance
for the duel.
Ricardo, who had been watching, pulled Yeon to the sidelines.
“So, I hear you don’t get along with your old man either?”
“Yes.”
Yeon answered casually, considering their earlier dining room
conversation had made it obvious.
“Same with those two. Father-son dynamics, always a mess.
Watch closely, though. Dicaine’s a technical genius, but Dion’s
just raw talent. Wonder how it’ll end, eh?”
Boom!
Before Ricardo could finish his thought, the two men collided.
Though it was sword against sword, the force of the clash sent
a sharp wind cutting through the outskirts of the training hall.
Dion, striking down from above with sheer power, crushed
down on the captain’s blade.
 Chapter 3. Part 4
Dicaine skilfully diverted the force by adjusting his sword
angle, deflecting Dion’s strength and throwing him off
balance. Before Dion could recover his stance, the captain
swung horizontally, aiming for his neck. Dion narrowly
dodged by ducking just in time.
Dion retaliated with a swift thrust towards the captain’s gut,
but Dicaine blocked it cleanly, his blade positioned with
precision. At the same time, Dicaine landed a sharp kick to
Dion’s shin.
“Ugh!”
Grimacing, Dion staggered back. Watching the intense
exchange, Yeon leaned in to ask the Crown Prince.
“Is Commander Dicaine also an esper?”
Espers generally had bodies tough as steel. Especially S-
grades like Dion, whose physical durability was exceptional.
Yet he winced in pain from a kick. That could only mean his
opponent was no ordinary man either.
“Yes, he’s a grade A+. If he was S-grade, he’d have conquered
the world by now.”
Yeon nodded in agreement. Dicaine’s swordplay was clearly
top-notch, even to an untrained eye. Dion relied on brute force,
while Dicaine masterfully dismantled that strength, exploiting
every opening. In terms of pure efficiency, Dicaine was
dominant.
Then, Dion gritted his teeth and ignited his sword in flames.
The blazing red fire consumed the blade, burning fiercely.
“Isn’t that cheating?” Yeon asked, startled. The Crown Prince
laughed heartily.
“Haha! You’ve never seen an esper duel before, have you?”
“No.”
“This is standard. A few rounds with just swords, then abilities
get mixed in. You’ve got to be ready for anything in real
combat. Of course, swords remain the focus in a duel, but
abilities are fair game.”
Yeon finally understood. No wonder Dion’s contamination
levels were high, and why he reeked of fire. If espers were
allowed to use their abilities during a sparring session, Dion
must’ve been practising full-force.
‘Guess I asked a stupid question.’
Feeling a bit embarrassed for prying, Yeon watched as the
fight continued. Dicaine, observing Dion’s flaming blade,
made a cold remark.
“That’s why your sword keeps breaking. You’ve got the talent,
but using it right is what makes a genius.”
“Didn’t ask to be a genius.”
Dion’s fiery sword lashed out, dangerously close to Dicaine.
He dodged by leaning back, his hair slightly singed by the
flames. With a flick of his hand, shadows beneath Dion
clamped down on his ankles, a clear indication of Dicaine’s
ability to control shadows.
Trapped for a moment, Dion struggled as Dicaine’s sword
came down fast, forcing Dion to block it with effort.
Their eyes locked briefly. Dion’s brow furrowed deeply, and
he shot flames towards Dicaine, forcing him to retreat. Dicaine
hurled his sword towards Dion’s position, then moved his
hand. Shadows from the ground caught the airborne sword,
sending it plummeting down towards Dion’s back.
Thunk!
“……”
In a flash, Yeon’s eyes widened.
A shadowy blade plunged into Dion’s shoulder. Though brief,
there had been enough of an opening for Dion to dodge it. It
looked like he didn’t even try to avoid the blow.
As the shadow withdrew its blade, blood poured from Dion’s
shoulder. Yet, instead of writhing in pain, his face remained
blank. He stared at his father, his eyes slightly reddened.
Even Dicaine seemed a bit surprised. It was the first time his
son had openly taken an attack during a sparring match.
Gripping his sword tighter, Dion’s voice dropped into a low
growl. “Father.”
It was a title he rarely used, and Dicaine’s eyes narrowed.
Dion’s lips twisted into a cruel smile, and he muttered as if
spitting out his bitterness.
“I’ve no fucking clue why you even had me.”
Dicaine’s eyes flickered momentarily before he regained his
usual expression. Lifting his sword, he responded, “Focus on
the sparring, Dion.”
“You probably had me to make some weapon for the country,
didn’t you?”
The last words were more to himself than anyone else.
Dicaine remained silent at his son’s accusation. Dion, still
holding his sword, furrowed his brow in pain. Yeon felt an odd
sense of sorrow as he watched Dion, who clenched his lips
tightly, slam his sword into the ground.
Simultaneously, columns of fire erupted throughout the room.
Fwoosh! Dozens of fiery pillars tore through the air, aiming to
strike down Dicaine.
The Crown Prince, who had been watching, looked startled
and grabbed Yeon, lifting them both into the air. He skilfully
dodged the flames, heading towards the exit. A group of
guards, espers surrounding the prince, rushed in.
“Your Highness! Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, but… the Royal Knight Commander? Not so
much. Oh, Lee Yeon, you good?”
“Yes,” Yeon answered, shaking free from the prince’s grip and
turning back inside.
The walls and ceiling were already engulfed in flames, and the
sheer intensity made him wonder if anyone could possibly
survive in there. A crashing sound echoed from the building.
“Dion’s really overdone it this time,” muttered Ricardo,
clicking his tongue as he reached out towards the room.
A massive wave of water burst from his hands, making Yeon’s
eyes widen. He had always considered the prince to be just a
figurehead, a playboy, and had forgotten that Ricardo was an
S-grade esper. It had been so long since he’d seen him actually
work.
‘Him against Dion’s not going to end well,’ Yeon thought.
Water versus fire. Dion was an S0-grade esper, so a result
would come, but there was no winning in a fight like this.
As Ricardo doused the flames, smoke filled the air, and slowly,
the room came into view. One figure lay on the ground, while
another stood with a sword raised.
The standing figure was Dion, whose shoulder had already
stopped bleeding.
He glared coldly down at his father.
“So, when you took in Ha-Jin, was it because you thought I
wasn’t enough of a weapon?”
Did you think I’d lost my fucking use?
Dion’s voice trembled slightly. Once again, Dicaine gave no
answer. The captain’s breath came out in ragged gasps as he
stared up at his son.
“Fucking hell, Father. Even if I die, I’ll never understand you.
So don’t even bother expecting it.”
With a sharp hiss, Dion threw his sword at the burning wall.
Most of the training hall was scorched, but the spot where
Dicaine lay remained untouched. He had deliberately avoided
hitting it.
Yeon glanced between the unscathed area and Dion. He
couldn’t understand why Dion acted so violently when he had
no intention of killing his father. Did he hate his father, or did
he care for him?
Dion’s expression remained cold as he walked towards the
exit.
As he passed Yeon, Dion suddenly stopped by his side.
Without turning, he spoke quietly. “Want to hear something
interesting?”
Yeon listened absently, thinking that nothing could be more
intriguing than the brutal sparring match he’d just witnessed.
Then he heard Dion’s words, and they hit like a blow to the
gut.
“Ha-Jin’s from the Basen Research Lab.”
…What?
Yeon’s expression froze, then twisted in disbelief. If this was a
joke, it was in fucking poor taste. Yet, he hoped desperately
that it was just that—a joke.
But life, as always, wasn’t that kind.
“Ha-Jin was one of your father’s test subjects. Probably locked
up there for quite a while. When he finally escaped, our father
took him in. Ha-Jin and I lived together for years. Quite the
story, don’t you think?”
“……”
If what Dion was saying was true, then one mystery was
instantly solved. Why did Tae Ha-Jin hate the research director
so much? Why was he hellbent on taking the place down? It
all made sense now.
If Tae Ha-Jin had been one of the test subjects, then his anger
was entirely justified.
Yeon’s mind went cold.
‘So all this time, Tae Ha-Jin… he knew who I was. He knew I
was Lee Hong-Jun’s son.’
Dion placed a hand on Yeon’s shoulder, snapping him out of
his thoughts. Leaning closer, he whispered, “And yet, you’re
still going to remain Ha-Jin’s exclusive guide?”
“……”
“At first, I didn’t understand him. After finding out you were
the son of the lab director, he still kept you as his guide. I
wondered if he was planning revenge on you instead of your
father.”
“……”
“But the two of you don’t seem to be on bad terms. So I
thought maybe he was going to use you and then discard you.
You know Ha-Jin’s reputation. He’s always been a bit… messy
in his relationships.”
What the fuck are you trying to say?
Yeon was already rattled, and Dion’s words only stirred the
pot. As far as Yeon knew, Dion and Tae Ha-Jin were close. So
why was he acting like this?
Earlier, Dion had accused his father of taking in Ha-Jin
because Dion wasn’t enough.
‘Is this just jealousy?’
Dion kept talking. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Yeon. Don’t
trust Ha-Jin too much. Every time he looks at you, he’ll be
reminded of your father.”
That hit like a punch to the gut. Yeon’s eyes twitched slightly.
The Crown Prince, having just handed Dicaine over to the
medics, tilted his head at the tense atmosphere between Yeon
and Dion.
“What’s going on here?”
Without a word, Dion left the scene, cold as ice.
“Hey, look at him. Kid’s gotten too close for comfort, huh?
Lee Yeon, are you alright? What did that bastard say to you?”
Yeon’s ears buzzed. A sharp, ringing noise filled his world as
it all went silent.
‘Tae Ha-Jin… was a test subject at Basen Lab?’
Images of the moments Tae Ha-Jin had broken down
emotionally, his twisted behaviour, flashed through Yeon’s
mind.
“……”
It wasn’t an impossible story. Lee Hong-Jun had used and
discarded thousands of test subjects in his lifetime. Yeon
didn’t know the exact numbers.
But Basen Lab… that place…
Yeon had lived there until he was twelve.
Basen was wiped off the map after Yeon left for the capital.
Lee Hong-Jun had erased it. If Tae Ha-Jin had been a subject
there, it meant they had been in the same place at the same
time.
At that moment, an image of a boy, one Yeon thought was
long dead, flashed through his mind.
‘That boy… what did he look like?’
His head throbbed like it was going to split open. He couldn’t
even remember the name. But he knew he’d met him.
Dekal’s words came back to him, words spoken long ago:
—Have you had a head injury before?
Yeon didn’t remember any such injury. But maybe, somehow,
he had been hurt without even realising it. Tae Ha-Jin’s
striking features were unforgettable, even if he’d been
younger. Had they really never crossed paths?
It didn’t make sense.
When Yeon was a child, he used to run all over the research
lab. Back then, he wasn’t doing much more than chasing after
traces of his mother, but he ended up seeing countless test
subjects. He’d seen kids his age, too, many of them.
‘What if Tae Ha-Jin had been one of them?’
Tae Ha-Jin was only two years younger than him. There’s no
way his younger self would have passed by a kid like that
without noticing. At the very least, he would’ve paused.
Maybe lingered for a bit longer to look.
‘But I don’t remember a damn thing.’
Yeon’s thoughts went that far.
Could Lee Hong-Jun have messed with his memory without
him even realising?
“Oi, Yeon, snap out of it! The guy’s got a temper, yeah, but
don’t take it to heart, just forget about it, okay?”
Ricardo, clueless as ever, was fumbling through a few
comforting words. Yeon lifted his head and looked him dead
in the eye.
“I’ll need a transportation esper.”
“W-wait, you’re leaving right now? Actually… my sister,
Elena, the princess, I think you should meet her first.”
“Give me just one day. Sorry, I can’t do that today.”
Ricardo awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, eyes
drifting off somewhere distant. He flicked his hand, and
immediately, a man in uniform snapped into a perfect salute.
“I greet the little sun of Diaylen!”
“Take the guide where they need to go.”
“Where to?”
All eyes turned to Yeon. He spoke calmly.
“I need to go where restoration esper Dekal is. Can we track
him with the Crown Prince’s authority?”
Ricardo burst out laughing, as if he couldn’t believe what he
just heard.
“Hah! So our guide’s giving me orders now?”
“My apologies. But since you granted my request, can I not
fulfil one of yours in return?”
“And if I tell you to jump, our guide will have to ask, ‘How
high?’ right?”
“I belong to the Centre, not the royal family. If this is too
much trouble, I can always ask someone else…”
“Ah, relax, I’m just kidding.”
Of course, handling an S-grade wasn’t easy. Ricardo waved
his hand, still chuckling, then made a quick phone call. In
moments, he had the coordinates, which he relayed to the
transportation esper.
“We’re settled. Tomorrow, you’ll meet Elena. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Alright. Off you go.”
The two of them disappeared in an instant. Ricardo, watching
the afterimage fade, muttered to himself.
“How does Yeon know Dekal, anyway? Thought they barely
crossed paths before…”
Questions circled his mind. Ricardo, who knew Tae Ha-Jin’s
past better than most, couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Would
everything be alright? Tae Ha-Jin had been one of Lee Hong-
Jun’s test subjects. But it seemed like Yeon had no idea.
If he ever found out, who knows what could happen? Tae Ha-
Jin must have an inkling of what might go down…
Maybe their seemingly friendly relationship was headed for
disaster.
‘Dekal was a test subject, too.’
And Yeon knew nothing about that either. Ricardo hoped,
more than anything, that this wouldn’t disturb the peace in
Diaylen. After all, just one S-grade was powerful enough to
tear it all apart.

Dekal wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve as he
worked to restore the main building of the Centre, now in
ruins. Restoration espers were rare, so they had to make the
most of the few hands they had.
Dekal made it a point to take a day out of every two to go and
treat Kim Uibin. Yeon’s condition was finally starting to
improve, so the healing process had sped up a bit. Once he
finished today’s restoration work, he’d have to head over to
the VIP ward by nightfall.
—Thanks for always taking care of me. Once I’m all better,
I’ll treat you to some macarons! There’s this amazing place by
the Centre’s main gate.
In the beginning, her face had been perpetually gloomy. He’d
pegged her as a morose woman. But lately, she’d started
smiling more, chatting away about anything and everything.
As he worked on restoring the 5th floor of the main building,
Dekal’s mind wandered.
‘She said there’s a macaron shop by the gate?’
Tae Ha-Jin had instructed him to “make sure Yeon doesn’t pay
her too much attention.” Maybe picking up some macarons
wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Earning some goodwill couldn’t
hurt.
As these thoughts played out, a burst of radiant light flashed
from behind him.
Doberman, maybe?
Lately, Doberman had been making regular appearances
whenever restoration was needed. Slowly turning his head,
what he saw was surprising—Yeon, the guide, was standing
there.
And his expression wasn’t good. The transportation esper
who’d accompanied him quietly excused himself, leaving as
quickly as he could.
Dekal had no idea why Yeon had come to see him.
Kim Uibin’s treatment had been going well.
There was absolutely no reason for him to show up looking
that cold…
“Esper.”
“Yes?”
“Back at the subway site, you asked if I’d ever hit my head,
didn’t you?”
Ah, that.
If this was about that, he’d have to consult Tae Ha-Jin. At the
time, the plan had been to keep quiet, so there was no need for
consultation. But telling him now, well, that was a different
matter.
Dekal was about to play dumb.
But then Yeon spoke again.
“I think there’s something wrong with my memory. I don’t
know if Lee Hong-Jun did this to me, or if I hit my head
without realising it. Right now, I feel like I’m drifting in the
middle of the ocean.”
He looked troubled.
Yeon’s expression was strained, his hand clutching his head as
his eyes fixed on the ground. Dekal found himself at a loss for
words. He shouldn’t care whether this man was suffering, but
there was something about it that made him hesitate to turn
away.
What did you call this feeling?
Ah, pity.
Naming the emotion made Dekal feel ridiculous. Who was he
to pity anyone?
He’d never resented Yeon for being the lab director’s son. It
wasn’t like Yeon had chosen to be born into that bloodline.
Still, Yeon had lived a far easier life than either him or Tae Ha-
Jin. He hadn’t been pricked with needles hundreds of times,
crammed into a suffocating capsule filled with solution, living
in that hell for years.
Yeon hadn’t gone through any of that.
So really, Dekal had no reason to pity him.
“You know something, don’t you, Dekal? I know you read
something back then. I’m not asking you to restore it for me. I
just need to know. Was there something wrong with my
memory?”
Yeon had no idea.
No idea how heavy, how burdensome, the confirmation he was
asking for was.
Saying it would be easy. There were traces of something
deliberately erased in your mind. How hard would it be to just
say that?
But then Yeon would be left spiralling, piecing things together,
driving himself mad. Who had wiped his memory, what had
they wiped, and why…
‘Why does he even want to know?’
Some things were better left unknown.
There were worlds that stayed peaceful as long as certain
truths remained buried.
Dekal realised, with a sinking feeling, that he held the key to it
all.
‘I’ll have to tell him.’
There was no way he could just send Yeon away, having come
here so certain. Besides, the situation was different now from
when Tae Ha-Jin had erased Yeon’s memories. Tae Ha-Jin
wasn’t as powerless anymore, and Yeon was no longer a child.
It would be fine, right?
Dekal sighed, exasperated, and stepped closer to Yeon.
“You’ll regret this.”
His low voice carried a grim warning. Yeon swallowed hard.
Dekal spoke as if he knew exactly what Yeon’s lost memories
held. Even though that shouldn’t have been possible.
“So… it’s true that I’ve lost my memories, isn’t it?”
It was shocking. He had lived normally all this time, yet there
were memories he didn’t even know he was missing.
What kind of memories could they be? His guess was that they
must have something to do with the Basen Research Lab.
“I’m offering you a chance now,” Dekal said, his voice
neutral. “If you’ve been living without any issues after
forgetting them, you can just continue living that way.”
“But those memories are still a part of me, Dekal.”
“If it were me, I wouldn’t bother trying to recall them.”
“Respect that. They’re my memories.”
Yeon laid claim to the memories he had lost. What had he
heard that made his thoughts go in this direction? It didn’t
matter anymore. Dekal silently placed his large hand on
Yeon’s head.
“I’m starting the restoration. There may be pain depending on
the weight of the memories.”
And then, it hit. A pain beyond description. His skull felt like
it was being shattered into pieces. His heart pounded
erratically, and something burning inside him felt like it was
about to incinerate his entire body.
Images flashed before his eyes in a whirlwind of memories.
It was his childhood.
 Chapter 3. Part 5
It was dawn again. Yeon’s mother rose from her bed like a
sleepwalker. He had known for some time now that she went
somewhere every dawn. He was worried. What if she bumped
into Father while wandering around like that?
Ten-year-old Yeon quietly followed her. His mother’s pale,
bare feet moved down the corridor, her figure appearing
thinner than ever. His heart ached.
‘Why did Mum marry someone like Father?’
They reached a dim corridor where his mother began feeling
around the lower part of the wall, like she was familiar with it.
Ziiiiiiiing.
With a chilling sound, a large hole appeared in the wall. It was
a passageway he’d never seen before. Yeon had explored
every corner of the research lab, but this was a place he had
never discovered.
He couldn’t follow her any further. She’d find out he’d been
trailing her.
That night, Yeon returned to his room, pretending to sleep.
After about an hour, his mother returned to her bed and fell
into a deep sleep. Yeon waved his hand in front of her face to
check, confirming she was out cold. His heart pounding, he
headed back to that wall.
‘It should be around here…’
Fumbling around awkwardly, he pressed against a part of the
wall.
Ziiiiiiing.
The dark passageway appeared again. A thrill ran through him,
like he had just discovered an unknown world. What was his
mother hiding in there? Worried about running into lab staff,
Yeon quickly slipped into the passageway.
He ran for a while and eventually arrived in a vast room
bathed in a faint blue light.
It was a laboratory.
Yeon had visited so many labs before that they bored him. He
had learned machine handling and some research methods
from his father. But this place felt different.
It felt… colder.
His younger self rubbed the goosebumps on his arms.
Along both walls, massive capsules were lined up in neat
rows.
Turning to his left, he saw naked humans curled up inside,
sleeping in some kind of solution. Turning to his right, there
were giant eggs, much larger than a human, cracked open
inside other capsules.
‘What the hell is this?’
The test subjects Yeon had seen before were either caged,
lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth, bleeding, or being
dragged somewhere.
This was the first time he had seen such still subjects.
The design of the capsules was familiar—he had seen them in
lessons. But seeing people inside made them look like the
insides of some monster’s stomach. These trapped subjects
seemed to be suffering more than those who screamed in pain.
Yeon felt tears welling up and fiddled with his long hair.
‘Why does Mum come here?’
He couldn’t turn back just because he was scared.
He wanted to know why his mother came here every dawn.
Despite growing up showered with her love, there was always
this gnawing sense of absence. She clearly loved him, but her
eyes always seemed hollow. That emptiness left him with an
insatiable need to understand everything about her.
Step by step, his feet were braver than him. Yeon found
himself walking past the capsules. The humans inside seemed
to vary in age. They were all asleep—old people, tiny babies,
adults covered in scars.
Then he noticed something odd—a girl about his age. As he
passed by her, more children his age appeared.
Walking further, he passed a boy with black hair.
“Shit!” Yeon yelped, startled. He instinctively clamped a hand
over his mouth and looked around frantically. What if a
researcher walked in?
Sinking into a crouch, he glanced back at what had scared him.
It was a boy.
A small boy, younger than Yeon. What had frightened him was
that the boy had his eyes open. Yeon, who had felt safe
walking among what he thought were sleeping subjects, had
locked eyes with him.
“How…?”
He scanned the boy’s capsule suspiciously. The solution inside
was designed to keep subjects asleep for a set time, feeding
them just enough nutrients to prevent malnutrition.
‘Is the machine broken?’
The boy’s red eyes stared directly at him. He was curled up,
hugging his knees. Yeon didn’t have any friends his age,
having grown up confined to the lab. The only people he ever
met were researchers or his mother.
His father had always warned him: Never talk to the test
subjects.
Yeon had made that mistake before, talking to some out of
pity, only to watch them be disposed of afterward. The trauma
of that event had stopped him from ever getting involved
again.
But here he was, staring at this boy, his hand stubbornly over
his mouth. The boy’s lips moved in the liquid, as though he
were trying to say something.
‘What’s he saying?’
He couldn’t make it out. The label on the boy’s capsule read
“TQ-001”. Yeon didn’t know what TQ stood for, but the 001
meant he’d been trapped here a long time.
Yeon felt sorry for him.
‘There’s no one else around… It wouldn’t hurt to speak to
him, right?’
After one more glance around, Yeon cleared his throat and
spoke up.
“What did you just say?”
But the boy only slowly blinked his eyes. Then Yeon realised
his mistake—the boy couldn’t hear him through the liquid!
His gaze moved to the top of the capsule, where dozens of
small buttons were arranged in neat rows. Without thinking,
Yeon pressed the red button on the bottom right.
Piiiiii, chwaaaa!
The sound of the liquid draining was far louder than expected
in the early dawn silence.
Startled, Yeon quickly checked his surroundings again. Only
rows of capsules met his eyes. The only ones awake in this
place were him and the boy.
As the liquid completely drained, the boy stood still, staring at
his bony hands and feet. Yeon swallowed hard. Hopefully, he
wasn’t going to start cursing him out right away.
The boy’s expressionless face only made him more
intimidating.
‘He looks younger than me…’
Yeon had never imagined someone his age could make such a
face. That look was reserved for the adults dragged
unwillingly into the labs, those who had long since lost hope.
“You, you’re that woman’s daughter, aren’t you?”
Yeon was jolted from his thoughts. The boy had suddenly
spoken. His striking red eyes scanned Yeon’s entire body, as if
inspecting a strange object. It seemed clear that “that woman”
meant his mother.
‘Why did he call me her daughter, though? I’m a boy.’
Instinctively, Yeon fiddled with his brown hair, which fell to
his waist. Oh, right. He was wearing a purple bear-printed
outfit and had a red ribbon tied in his hair. His face turned red
with embarrassment.
He had dressed like this to please his mother, not expecting to
meet someone his own age. Flustered, he quickly turned his
head away.
“Answer me.”
The boy urged him.
“Why are you asking that kind of question?” Yeon was curious
as well.
“How do you know my mother?”
“I don’t.”
“…What?”
“Don’t go around telling people I know her, if you really care
about your mum.”
He wasn’t angry, nor was his tone particularly scary. It was as
if he was talking about the weather, his voice calm, like
reading from a book. Yet, Yeon felt terrified of the boy.
The boy sat there, perfectly comfortable in the sealed glass
chamber, which only made Yeon feel more uneasy. This entire
situation—his father’s doing.
“You like my mum too, don’t you?” Yeon forced a smile.
Though the boy acted nonchalant, Yeon could tell he was
concerned for his mother. That’s why he was warning him to
be careful. For the first time, the boy’s face showed some
expression. His brows furrowed ever so slightly.
“What does ‘like’ mean to you?”
What kind of question was that? Yeon thought about the things
he liked—his mum, his shooting instructor, nap times, shiny,
beautiful things.
“It means something that keeps popping into your mind,
something you start wanting.” Yeon explained.
The boy’s face returned to its neutral state, and he replied
flatly, “Then, I don’t like her.”
“Don’t lie. You were worried about her earlier.”
“I hope she’s safe here. And yes, she does come to mind. But I
don’t want her to come here.”
“Why?”
“It makes me feel weird.”
The boy sat down on the floor, staring at Yeon.
“You should leave too.”
“…Why?”
“You look just like her. It’s unsettling.”
Unsettling? Yeon was curious but didn’t ask. He could tell the
boy wasn’t quite sure himself. Just like the boy, Yeon slid to
the floor. The glass chamber between them felt more like a
barrier. Without realising, Yeon reached out and touched the
glass. His small hand pressed against it.
“Mum comes to see you, doesn’t she?”
“Maybe.”
“What does she do when she’s here?”
The boy averted his eyes, thinking for a moment before
answering.
“She teaches me how to speak.”
“…What?”
Yeon was shocked. His mother came to visit in the early
mornings to teach this boy how to talk? It stung a bit. Growing
up, Yeon was always told he was clever. He learned to read
quickly and picked up things his father taught him with ease.
His mother, in contrast, didn’t focus much on his education.
She’d always just told him to live as he wanted.
“And what else?” Yeon asked, hiding a faint jealousy. Why did
his mother care so much for this boy? Visiting him in the early
hours when his father was asleep. His father was precise with
his time. He didn’t do anything outside of his planned
schedule, so Yeon figured the only time his mother had to
herself was in the early morning.
Was this boy a way for her to escape?
Just as that thought made Yeon feel even more down, the boy
spoke up again.
“She talks about you often. Says you’re kind and good-
hearted. Said one day she’d bring you to meet me.”
“…”
“So, stay that way. Stay kind.”
“…”
“And don’t come back. If you don’t want to end up trapped
here like me.”
Yeon listened carefully, but his eyes drifted to the boy’s arms,
his hands, his feet. There were so many marks, needle pricks
covering them. Yeon looked down at his own arm.
‘He’s had more than me.’
It always hurt to get a shot—whether they took blood or put
something in. The boy must’ve been in pain too.
Yeon’s lips trembled, and tears began to well up.
“I’m sorry…”
The boy squinted as if trying to understand what Yeon meant.
“Sorry for what?”
“For you living like this… and for the pain. It’s all because of
my father, isn’t it…”
So, I’m sorry.
Tears spilled over. Yeon buried his face in his knees and cried
quietly. He’d learned to hold back his sobs. His father hated
the sound of crying, and if Yeon made too much noise, he’d be
scolded.
So, he bit his lower lip, trying to suppress his tears, but they
kept rolling down his cheeks. I shouldn’t be the one crying.
That boy should be.
Tap, tap.
A knock on the glass. Yeon sniffled and looked up. The boy
was pressing his hand against the glass, his expression more
serious.
“I don’t blame you.”
“Huh?”
“It’s not our fault.”
“…Yeah.”
Yeon knew he should stop crying now that the boy had
comforted him, but his body betrayed him. More tears came,
dripping down his chin.
Yeah. It’s not our fault.
It’s my dad. He’s the bad one.
Please… say that’s true.
Ignoring the test subjects all this time, pretending not to see
them—it had been eating away at Yeon. He feared that one
day, he’d end up like them. He felt guilty. Being a bystander
wasn’t something you could easily live with.
“What’s your name?” Yeon asked, wiping away his tears.
The boy hesitated, awkwardly fiddling with his wet hair before
responding.
“I didn’t have one. Not before.”
Yeon instantly understood the hidden meaning behind his
words. His mother had given the boy a name. The boy’s eyes
darted around uncomfortably before he finally let the
unfamiliar word slip off his tongue.
“Tae Ha-Jin. That’s my name.”
Yeon was a bit surprised. It suited him perfectly, like he had
grown into it from birth.
“Tae Ha-Jin… It suits you.”
Yeon spoke sincerely. By then, the tears had stopped. As he
wiped the last traces of them from his face, the boy asked in
return.
“And what’s yours?”
Yeon was about to say “Lee Yeon” but stopped himself.
His father always said to bring honour to his name. If you
couldn’t do that, you had no right to use it.
If he gave his real name, and his father used a machine to read
the boy’s mind—yes, such a machine existed—and it printed
out the name “Lee Yeon”, it would be a disaster.
‘He’d kill him.’
Yeon’s father had disposed of test subjects before for just
speaking to him. If he found out Yeon had given his name, the
boy would surely die. With that thought weighing heavy on his
mind, Yeon replied softly.
“Lee Yu-Jin. My name’s Lee Yu-Jin.”
“Lee Yu-Jin…” The boy repeated it, tasting the unfamiliar
name.
“Doesn’t suit you,” he declared flatly.
The statement hit Yeon like a jolt, and he quickly averted his
gaze out of guilt. Then suddenly, it hit him how late it was. His
heart raced. Yeon stood up abruptly, sensing it was time to
leave. The boy stood too, realising Yeon was about to go.
As Yeon hurriedly said his goodbyes, the boy called out.
“Lee Yu-Jin.”
“Make sure you fill the capsule before you leave.”
“Ah… right.”
Yeon nearly asked who he was calling, but caught himself in
time, turning his head in confusion. The boy pointed upwards
to the ceiling of the capsule.
“I almost forgot the most important thing.” Yeon thought,
realising how easy it was to miss things when flustered. This
was why pulling off the perfect crime was so damn hard.
Yeon hesitated just before pressing the red button again. The
thought of flooding the boy’s capsule with his own hand was
too much. Seeing Yeon standing there, torn, the boy spoke
calmly.
“It’s alright.”
…What the hell is alright? Do you even know how terrifying
this solution is?
Yeon swallowed those words, squeezed his eyes shut, and
pressed the button. The liquid began rising from the boy’s
bony feet, filling the capsule. Unable to bear watching, Yeon
squeezed his eyes shut.
“Sorry… I’m so sorry…”
“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
Yeon wanted to look, though he knew he shouldn’t. What kind
of face does someone who’s ‘used to it’ make? He sneaked a
glance at the capsule.
The boy had his eyes closed, proving his words true. The
liquid quickly filled the capsule, and his airways connected to
the breathing apparatus. Like the other test subjects, he curled
up, becoming just another experiment without a trace of
discomfort.
“…….”
Yeon watched him for a moment before abruptly turning away.
Even though he was only going where he needed to, it felt like
he was abandoning the boy. And to be fair, he was.
If they caught him, they were both screwed. Time was running
out, and he needed to leave before the researchers returned.
“Sorry, Tae Ha-Jin.”
After that day, Yeon would visit him when he could sense the
mood was right. Sometimes every day for a week, other times
just once. It was always in the dead of night when his father
was asleep.
Every time Yeon came, Ha-Jin would get angry. He’d told him
not to come, so why the hell was he here again? But for Yeon,
who had no friends, Ha-Jin became a good companion, and
even a bit of a hobby. It was amusing that Ha-Jin thought he
was a girl.
Once, Yeon accidentally gave a different name than ‘Lee Yu-
Jin’, which he had previously used. After that, Ha-Jin stopped
trusting him about his name. Whatever name Yeon used, Ha-
Jin would snap back, “That’s not your name. If you’re gonna
lie, don’t bother.”
But Yeon couldn’t reveal his real name.
He had to make sure Ha-Jin didn’t die.
As time passed, if Yeon hadn’t visited for a while, Ha-Jin
would start asking questions. Why hadn’t he come? Did
something happen?
The boy who once put up walls had made a surprising amount
of progress.
Yeon realised Ha-Jin had started waiting for him.
When Yeon teased him about it, Ha-Jin spat back with venom,
telling him never to come again.
Yeon just laughed.
The boy with crimson eyes was beautiful, strong, and meeting
him became Yeon’s only pleasure in his suffocating daily life.
They spent about a year together like that.
Everything seemed fine.
Until his father found out.

___
The name “태하진” (Tae Ha Jin) is composed of three Korean characters (Hanja),
each with a unique meaning when interpreted individually:
1. 태 (Tae, 太): This character often means “big,” “great,” or “grand.” It can also
refer to something vast or immense. It’s commonly used in names to signify
greatness or prosperity.
2. 하 (Ha, 夏): This character generally means “summer,” but in names, it can
also symbolise brightness, warmth, or flourishing. It is sometimes used to
suggest vibrant energy or growth.
3. 진 (Jin, 珍): This character often means “precious” or “rare.” It conveys a
sense of value, something that is cherished or esteemed.
So, the name 태하진 (Tae Ha Jin) could be interpreted as “Great Brightness and
Preciousness” or “Grand Summer’s Treasure,” depending on the intended
connotations. It combines notions of greatness, warmth, and something highly
valued.

The name 이유진 (Lee Yu Jin) is also composed of three Korean characters
(Hanja), and it can be broken down as follows:
1. 이 (Lee, 李): This is a very common Korean surname, derived from the
Chinese character meaning “plum tree.” It doesn’t have a specific meaning
when used as a surname, but historically it can imply fruitfulness or
rootedness, symbolising lineage and tradition.
2. 유 (Yu, 柳 or 侑): There are multiple possible Hanja for “유.” Common ones
include:
◦ 柳 (Yu): This means “willow tree,” symbolising flexibility, grace, or
resilience.
◦ 侑 (Yu): This means “to assist” or “to help.”
3. Depending on which Hanja is used, it could suggest grace (willow tree) or
supportive/helpful qualities.
4. 진 (Jin, 珍): This character, as mentioned earlier, means “precious” or “rare.”
It conveys a sense of value or something cherished.
So, the name 이유진 (Lee Yu Jin) could be interpreted in various ways depending
on the chosen Hanja for “유,” but a common interpretation might be “Precious
Willow” or “Helpful Treasure,” blending ideas of grace or helpfulness with
something highly valued.

The name 이연이 (Lee Yeon Yi) is composed of three syllables, and each can be
represented by Hanja characters that give the name specific meanings:
1. 이 (Lee, 李): As previously mentioned, this is a common Korean surname
derived from the Hanja meaning “plum tree.” It doesn’t have a specific
meaning when used as a surname, but it can historically symbolise fruitfulness,
rootedness, or tradition.
2. 연 (Yeon, 連 or 淵): The syllable “연” can be written using various Hanja
characters, with different meanings:
◦ 連 (Yeon): This means “to connect” or “to link,” symbolising continuity,
connection, or unity.
◦ 淵 (Yeon): This means “deep” or “profound,” often associated with deep
waters, suggesting depth of thought or emotion.
3. Depending on which Hanja is used, “연” could signify something linked or
profound.
4. 이 (Yi, 怡 or 利): The final syllable “이” could also be represented by
different Hanja:
◦ 怡 (Yi): This means “joy” or “happiness,” conveying a sense of
contentment or delight.
◦ 利 (Yi): This means “benefit” or “profit,” symbolising advantage or
success.
Therefore, the name 이연이 (Lee Yeon Yi) could carry meanings such as “Linked
to Joy,” “Profound Happiness,” or “Connected and Beneficial,” depending on the
chosen Hanja characters for “연” and “이.”

[PS. When I only started working on it, my translator gave me just Yeon, not Yeon-
I nor Yeon-Yi. Since the publication process started, I decided to stick to this
version. ]

And while we’re on the topic:

The name 이홍준이 (Lee Hong Jun Yi) contains four syllables, and each can be
represented by specific Hanja characters. Here’s a breakdown:
1. 이 (Lee, 李): As mentioned before, this is a common Korean surname
meaning “plum tree.” When used as a surname, it doesn’t carry a personal
meaning but symbolises tradition or lineage.
2. 홍 (Hong, 紅): This character commonly means “red” and can symbolise
passion, vitality, or good fortune in East Asian cultures. It often evokes
feelings of vibrancy, warmth, or even celebration.
3. 준 (Jun, 俊 or 準): There are several Hanja characters for “준”:
 ◦ 俊 (Jun): This means “talented” or “handsome,” often symbolising
excellence, brilliance, or superior qualities.
◦ 準 (Jun): This means “standard” or “rule,” suggesting something precise,
measured, or exemplary.
4. 이 (Yi, 怡 or 利): As mentioned earlier, “이” could be represented by:
◦ 怡 (Yi): Meaning “joy” or “happiness.”
◦ 利 (Yi): Meaning “benefit” or “advantage.”
Thus, the name 이홍준이 (Lee Hong Jun Yi) might mean something like “Red
Talent and Joy” or “Vibrant Excellence and Benefit,” depending on which Hanja
characters are used. It combines the ideas of passion, skill, and possibly joy or
success.

The reason the glyphs (Hanja) in parentheses are different is that Korean names are
often written using Hangul (Korean alphabet), but they have Hanja (Chinese
characters) origins. Many Korean syllables can be represented by multiple Hanja
characters, each with its own unique meaning. When a Korean name is written in
Hangul, it doesn’t specify which exact Hanja character is being used, because many
Hangul syllables have more than one corresponding Hanja.
In Korean names, the meanings of the syllables depend on which Hanja the person
or their family has chosen. That’s why different Hanja are provided in parentheses,
as each syllable can correspond to multiple possible characters.
 Chapter 3. Part 6
The lab was thrown into chaos. Yeon, sneaking into the lab at
night, was caught by two researchers while walking down the
hall. They reported it to the lab director immediately.
“What were you doing in that lab?” his father asked. He was
never the forgiving type.
“Nothing,” Yeon answered.
It wasn’t as though his father had expected a truthful answer.
He picked up a syringe, the needle spraying a small amount of
liquid. Yeon didn’t resist. He knew it was better to stay still
than struggle and be forced by the researchers.
The thick needle pierced his skin. Injections always hurt, no
matter how many times he’d had them.
“What are they putting in me this time?”
Even if he asked, there was never a reply, so Yeon stopped
bothering. Soon, his head began to swim, the room spinning
around him as his legs gave way. He felt the researchers
supporting him, stopping him from falling.
His tongue felt like it was melting, and a strange sound slipped
out of his mouth, “Uh…”
“What’s your name?”
“L-Lee Yeon…”
“Your age?”
“Ten…”
“How did you find the lab?”
“M-Mother… where are you going…?”
Even as his brain felt like it was turning to mush, Yeon
realised what had been injected into him.
A truth serum.
The drug index described truth serums as highly toxic, meant
only for emergencies. Yet, they’d used one on him. It wasn’t
even shocking; it was just disgusting. The nausea crept up
through his insides.
“What did you see in there?”
“E-Experiment… broken egg…”
With each question, memories resurfaced, flooding to the
forefront of his mind. Whatever came to mind, he was forced
to answer. He couldn’t hide anything. If they asked, he’d even
spill how much he hated his father.
An alarm sounded inside Yeon.
No. This can’t happen.
If this keeps up, Tae Ha-Jin is going to die.
Yeon bit down on his lower lip with all his strength. His lip
tore open, blood trickling down his chin. The pain was
overwhelming, but he kept biting down.
A chilling silence filled the room, as if even the researchers
were shocked. One of them finally snapped to attention and
shouted.
“Y-Young master! Are you alright?”
“Get a restorative! Bring the emergency kit!”
The researchers scrambled in a panic. Yeon, now kneeling on
the floor, kept his lips firmly sealed. Blood dripped steadily
from his torn lip. If they asked another question, he looked
ready to tear his lip apart entirely.
His father, Lee Hong-Jun, watched his son with disdain and
tossed the syringe onto the table.
“You and your mother are impossible to understand.”
“……”
“A researcher must remain objective with their subjects.
Without neutrality, the results are compromised.”
“…Hrk, ugh.”
Yeon’s body burned, the room spinning, bile rising in his
throat. He hated his father. He wished he would die, set
everyone free, and end this misery.
But that wasn’t going to happen.
The subjects in that lab would likely be disposed of tomorrow,
if not within the week.
The shame and filth of it all made Yeon cry. It had been so
long since he’d cried in front of his father. The tears welled up
as his lip burst with blood.
“What’s the point in talking to you?” his father scoffed.
“Hrk…sniff…”
“If you’re going to cry, do it in your room. There’s no liquid
more useless than tears.”
Lee Hong-Jun clicked his tongue, staring at Yeon as though he
wasn’t his son, and left the room. The researchers hurried in
with the restorative device and began tending to Yeon’s lip.
“The wound’s pretty deep. It’ll need stitches.”
“Master Yeon, are you alright? Does it hurt?”
You’re all hypocrites.
You do unspeakable things to the test subjects, who are just as
human, without a second thought.
Yeon closed his eyes, swallowing his anger.
It stung. It hurt so damn much.
The little world he had built was crumbling around him.
“What the hell…”
Four days passed, and his father stayed quiet. Yeon thought
maybe this time he’d managed to sneak back into the lab
without issue.
But he’d only been fooling himself.
When he entered the lab, it was like walking into hell. The
bodies of the test subjects, naked in their capsules, were
covered in bruises, blue and red. Some of the capsules were
tinged with blood from where the solution had leaked.
“This… this is all my fault.”
Yeon clamped his hand over his mouth, stifling the scream that
threatened to burst out. His heart ached in a way he’d never
known before.
Where’s Tae Ha-Jin?
Forgetting the guilt, he ran towards where the boy was.
Thankfully, the boy was still inside the ‘TQ-001’ capsule. Just
like the other test subjects, he was bruised all over, his little
finger twisted as if broken.
Tears welled up again, as stupid as it was. Yeon couldn’t help
but question his own ability to learn.
The boy’s red eyes slowly scanned Yeon’s body, as if
searching. His gaze, which had been rising, stopped at Yeon’s
stitched-up lips. The boy’s brow furrowed deeply. His mouth
moved slightly, trying to say something. Familiar with this,
Yeon pressed the red button on the capsule.
Hissss… Whoosh!
The water drained slowly, and the boy stood upright. His first
words were:
“Did that bastard hit you too?”
The only harm Father had done was inject the truth serum with
a needle. Yeon shook his head honestly.
“Then what’s up with your lips?”
“I… I bit them.”
“Why the hell would you do that…?”
“Are you okay?”
The boy, whose sentence had been cut off, closed his mouth.
After a moment of rolling his eyes around in distress, he
replied.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry… I got caught by Father. It’s my fault. It’s because
of me…”
“I said I’m fine.”
Yeon bowed his head, swallowing dryly. This was the last time
he would come here. If Father had done this to the test subjects
as a warning, Yeon couldn’t afford to do anything that might
upset him again. That was the only way Tae Ha-Jin could
survive.
As Yeon wrestled with how to say his final goodbye, Tae Ha-
Jin spoke up.
“Is she alright? It’s been days since I’ve seen her.”
Mum was locked up.
Thanks to the truth serum, Yeon had blurted out her night-time
wanderings. He himself had been spared because he was
constantly busy learning and studying, except for when he
slept.
Fortunately, Father hadn’t inflicted any physical harm on
Mum. He made sure she ate every meal, and her meals were
rich, packed with hard-to-get restorative dishes. So, she was
probably locked up in safety.
Yeon forced a smile, trying not to worry the boy.
“Don’t worry about Mum. Just… focus on keeping yourself
alive.”
The boy’s eyes narrowed. His small hands rested on the glass,
his pale face drawing closer to it. In a cracked voice, he asked:
“Why are you crying again?”
Only then did Yeon realise there were tears rolling down his
cheeks.
I’m crying, aren’t I?
It was strange. As Father always said, tears meant nothing.
Yeon had learned how to hold them back, how to live without
them. All those painful thoughts had become as bearable as
air.
But ever since meeting the boy, every time Yeon thought of
him, the tower of resentment his father had built became
unbearable.
Tears might not mean anything, but Tae Ha-Jin meant
something to Yeon. He, who had nothing, had finally gained a
friend. That made him even more afraid of losing him. He
wanted the beautiful, kind boy to live for a long, long time.
Yeon didn’t bother wiping the tears away. Instead, he placed
his hand over the boy’s, still pressed against the glass. There
was no warmth from the boy’s hand, only the cold chill of the
glass, bringing him back to reality.
“I don’t think I can come here anymore.”
Yeon’s voice wavered.
Stop crying and say what you need to say.
If you cry, you’ll only make him feel worse.
Please, just stop… Stop crying.
No matter how many times he told himself, his throat was
tight. Yeon looked into the boy’s red eyes and forced a smile.
Then he spoke.
“I want you to live.”
For a moment, the boy’s pupils shook.
The boy furrowed his brow in confusion, resting his forehead
against the glass. After a long silence, he let out a small sigh.
“Don’t go yet. I’ve got something to say.”
He kept Yeon there for a long moment, his lips moving
without sound.
Yeon wished the boy would curse him out. Over the past year,
Tae Ha-Jin had been kind to him, but maybe, in this final
moment, he was angry at Yeon for abandoning him.
Yeon would understand, no matter how harsh the words were.
After what felt like an eternity, the boy finally spoke.
“Thank you.”
Time, unstoppable until then, seemed to freeze. Yeon couldn’t
believe what he was hearing. His chest ached, as if he couldn’t
breathe.
“You were my salvation.”
His forehead was still against the glass, so Yeon couldn’t see
his face clearly, but…
The boy’s trembling voice.
The stubborn refusal to show his face.
The droplets falling to the floor.
All of it proved one thing.
The boy was crying.
Tae Ha-Jin had probably searched through all the words he
had learned to find the right ones. And all of them were words
Mum had taught him.
‘It’s okay,’ ‘Thank you,’ ‘Salvation.’
Mum had visited him in the dead of night, teaching him those
words.
Words meant to crush any guilt.
Words too tragic to bear.
“What…”
Yeon’s eyes widened. Tae Ha-Jin was the strongest person he
had ever known. He endured what even adults couldn’t handle.
He stayed awake when everyone else was asleep. Whenever
Yeon apologised or worried, he always said the same thing:
‘It’s okay.’
But Tae Ha-Jin didn’t look okay at all right now.
“Ah…”
Suddenly, Yeon realised he wasn’t much better than his father.
He was just as much of a bastard.
Because he was glad.
Glad that the boy was crying for him. That he was receiving
comfort as the one walking away, glad that Tae Ha-Jin didn’t
seem to hate him.
Yeon was disgusted with himself.
“Get out of here. Quickly.”
The boy had pulled himself together, raising his head. He
wiped away his tears as if nothing had happened, his face as
steely as ever. Strong enough to take on the world.
But Yeon knew better now. He knew Tae Ha-Jin far too well.
It was almost as if he had gained the power to read minds,
because he could practically hear the boy’s thoughts.
‘Don’t go.’
‘Stay with me.’
‘Come see me again.’
In that moment, staring into his beautiful eyes, Yeon made up
his mind to run away. If he looked at that expression any
longer, he’d stay by the boy’s side, just like he wanted.
And that would lead to the boy’s death.
And Yeon… Yeon would end up in one of these capsules as
the next test subject.
Pressing his lips together, Yeon averted his gaze and firmly
pressed the red button on the capsule.
Whoosh…
The solution started rising from the boy’s feet.
It was then that Yeon realised once more.
Ah. I really am hopeless.
Even in this moment, I’m worried about myself.
I pretend to care about you, but here I am, abandoning you.
“…Live well, Ha-Jin.”
Overcome with shame and self-loathing, Yeon turned his back.
Forcing his feet to move, step by step, he thought, Maybe he’ll
stop me, maybe he’ll call out to me.
But nothing happened. The boy remained as calm as if his
tears had been a lie.
When Yeon had walked far enough, he thought he heard a
faint murmur.
“Thank goodness…”
Yeon fled.
He had finally succeeded in abandoning him.
A crushing sorrow invaded his mind. It didn’t make sense. He
was so selfish, yet that boy had been kind beyond words.
‘Thank goodness?’
You’re making me feel even worse about myself.
What on earth could you be grateful for?
Grateful I left you? Grateful I ignored your eyes begging me to
stay?
Why had Mum chosen to teach him those words? Yeon threw
himself into bed and buried his face in the blankets. He sobbed
aloud, knowing no one could hear but himself.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”
But… He really meant it.
All you could think about was that I wanted you to live.
Nothing else came to mind. That’s how it felt when guilt hit.

Three days later.

Yeon found a massive cart in the wide hallway. It was loaded
with dead test subjects being taken away for disposal. Today,
the cart seemed especially heavy. Three researchers were
struggling to push it along, groaning under the weight. A large
cloth covered the top, hiding its contents.
A wave of unease washed over Yeon.
A nagging sense of déjà vu clung to him, refusing to be shaken
off.
No way. No… way.
Yeon hesitated for a moment, then yanked the cloth off the
cart.
“D-Dae-Young?”
“You shouldn’t be here, young master. You must return to your
rooms.”
Through the researchers standing in his way, Yeon glimpsed
the cart. Bodies, drenched in blood, were stacked on top of one
another. Familiar test subjects. Yeon had often passed by the
lab in the early hours, sneaking in to catch a glimpse of the
boy.
The sleeping faces he’d seen every time… they were all there.
And amongst them, a jet-black head and a frail, skeletal back.
His legs gave way, and Yeon collapsed onto the floor.
“Ugh!”
He retched, bending over as bile rose in his throat. The stench
of blood and rotting corpses finally hit him. He hadn’t eaten in
days after their final goodbye, and now only clear stomach
acid splashed onto the floor.
He’s dead.
Tae Ha-Jin is dead.
Even after I abandoned you, you died.
Yeon stared down at his trembling hands, his gaze hollow. His
father had taught him yet again—showing him just how much
like his father he truly was. How easily he could cast aside
something precious just to survive.
After accepting the boy’s death, Yeon carried on with his life
as usual.
Study. Eat. Take the injections.
That day was no different—another sleepless night stretched
ahead. He still found it hard to sleep through the early hours.
The memories of the boy, smiling and talking to him, flashed
through his mind like a dream.
Yeon curled up like a prawn, closing his eyes.
I need to sleep. That kid died because of me.
And then.
Ssshhhh.
A strange crackling sound came from behind. Yeon shot up
from the bed, his eyes widening in disbelief.
The wall of his bedroom had disappeared, like it had been
chewed through by a Grade monster.
And through the gaping hole, Tae Ha-Jin walked in. The boy
wore clothes far too large for him, as if he’d borrowed them
from an adult.
“Tae… Ha-Jin…?”
It was impossible, wasn’t it?
The boy had died alongside the other test subjects that day.
Yeon had seen that black hair and thin frame with his own
eyes.
So, is this a ghost?
As the ghost strode forward, Yeon instinctively backed away.
But the ghost moved faster, pulling Yeon into a fierce
embrace. Or rather, because Yeon was taller, it seemed like the
ghost was the one being held.
‘Must be a dream.’
It was startling how real it felt.
The thought gave Yeon courage. His trembling hands wrapped
around the boy’s back. He flinched—the boy’s body had no
flesh, just bare bones.
It was like hugging a piece of hard wood.
As he stood there, holding the boy, a wave of sorrow welled
up inside him.
‘I’ll never forget you.’
The beautiful boy remained etched in Yeon’s heart as a debt he
would never repay.
The moment the cold corpse appeared, Yeon’s tears, long dried
up, began to flow freely.
“Ha-Jin.”
“…Yeah.”
“Don’t go.”
Yeon’s voice trembled as he choked back his sobs.
“Take me with you. Please… I’m sorry I left you that day. I
was wrong.”
They say people are honest in their dreams. Yeon didn’t hold
back, spilling everything he’d been holding in. How much
he’d thought of him, how much he regretted abandoning him
that day—he rambled, words tumbling out without sense.
The boy remained still, his cold hand gently rubbing Yeon’s
back.
And then he spoke.
“I’m sorry. I’m not strong enough right now.”
It was a refusal to take him along. In that moment, Yeon felt
he would follow Ha-Jin to the depths of hell if that’s where he
was headed. After all, whether in life or death, it would be the
same hell.
Let’s both become ghosts and leave this wretched place
together.
If I’m with you, even that journey would be bearable.
The research lab was unbearably quiet and sorrowful after the
boy was gone. Yeon hadn’t seen his mother in a long while.
Desperate, weighed down by despair, Yeon sobbed and clung
to him.
“I’m scared. Won’t you take me where you’re going?”
The boy, his face troubled, shook his head.
“I’ll come back for you. I promise.”
Even in death, he was resolute, straightforward. Yeon buried
his face in the oversized shirt the boy had stolen, hiding his
tears. Soon, this ghost too would disappear.
“If you leave me… what will I do? I might just die from
sadness.”
At that, the boy let him go, his movements urgent—like
someone being chased, like someone trying to flee.
His eyes met Yeon’s, and Yeon recognised that look. It was the
same one he often gave Ha-Jin.
Yes, that’s it.
The look of someone leaving another behind.
A spoonful of guilt. A spoonful of shame.
“I’ll come back when I’m stronger.”
He murmured, as if swearing to himself.
Ha-Jin had another child to take with him. Like him, the child
had spent their entire life as a test subject. The awakened
ability of that child was special, essential to Ha-Jin’s plan.
He didn’t have the strength to take both of them. And in the
face of their imminent escape, he wasn’t foolish enough to
attempt the impossible.
The boy before him was the research director’s son. At least,
he would have a better life than the test subjects. That
rationalisation was needed. He had to abandon this boy.
Though your life isn’t much better than that of a test subject…
In the end, Ha-Jin made a choice based on necessity.
His selfishness gnawed at him like poison.
“You won’t be sad. You can forget about someone like me.”
The boy’s small hand gently patted Yeon’s head. His
expression was pained, like someone chewing on bitter
medicine. Ssshhh. That same crackling sound filled the room
again, as the world around them crumbled into darkness.
“…”
Ha-Jin gently laid the unconscious Yeon back on his bed, then
turned to leave. Determination flashed in his eyes.
That night, the lab was thrown into chaos once more.
 Chapter 3. Part 7
A huge hole was found in the research director’s son’s
bedroom, as if someone had broken in. Two test subjects,
secretly hidden away by the director, had escaped. Without a
trace.
Strangely, the director made no move to retrieve the runaway
subjects.
Whispers circulated around the lab.
Apparently, the research director’s wife, the usually kind and
gentle Christina, had cried and shouted at him. A researcher,
eager to spread the gossip, shared what he had overheard.
“I heard her yelling in the hallway! She was furious, telling
him to leave the kids alone, threatening to kill herself if he
brought them back.”
“She got mad? No way, mate. You must’ve dreamt that. She’s
the calmest person ever.”
“I swear, it’s true! Look at what happened. Two subjects
escaped, and instead of hunting them down, nothing’s been
done! Seems like Hong-Jun is whipped by the missus, eh?”
The only order Hong-Jun gave was this:
Never speak of this incident again.
Especially not in front of his wife or son.
For a while after that, the young master of the lab remained in
a daze, staring at the massive hole in his bedroom wall in
bewilderment.

***

Dekal returned the shattered fragments of Lee Yeon’s memory.

Just as his hand left Yeon’s head, he froze. Yeon was crying.
Tears streamed down from under his tightly shut eyelashes,
tracing lines down his face.
“……”
Restoring the memory took Dekal barely three minutes. The
memories weren’t completely severed, and the remnants left
behind were clear enough to allow for restoration. It had only
been three minutes for Dekal, but to Yeon, it was as if he’d
returned from a distant past, completely consumed by
emotion.
Yeon’s eyes, though softly closed, refused to open. Silent, he
just let the tears drip down, his throat bobbing intermittently.
His lips were clamped shut, as if holding something back.
Dekal stood frozen, unable to move or speak. He felt as though
he needed to preserve the silence for Yeon’s sake.
Time passed slowly, but eventually, Yeon lifted his eyelids.
His gaze locked with Dekal’s, the light catching in his bright,
wood-brown eyes.
“…I knew something was strange. Dekal, you… you were in
the capsule next to Tae Ha-Jin, weren’t you?”
Dekal was slightly taken aback by the unexpected remark. He
hadn’t imagined that he’d been part of Yeon’s memories too.
Dekal knew that a girl used to come by the adjacent capsule in
the dead of night. In that lab, it was only Tae Ha-Jin and him
who were still awake during those hours. Dekal would always
close his eyes on purpose whenever she showed up.
From the brief glances he took, it was clear the girl came from
a wealthy family. She wasn’t in the same pitiful situation as
experimental subjects like him. He’d never seen any test
subject come out well when tangled with people like her.
Unless you were someone as bold as Tae Ha-Jin, the usual
move, like Dekal’s, was to close your eyes and stay out of it.
So, for the entire year, Dekal had pretended to be asleep
whenever she visited, yet it seemed Yeon had been watching
him closely all along, even when he thought he was hidden.
‘How did he recognise me?’
Back then, Dekal had been a scrawny thing with plain black
hair. His entire appearance had changed dramatically since
then—down to his very bone structure.
Noticing the puzzlement in Dekal’s expression, Yeon wiped
his tears and said, “I spent a year in that lab. Not just the
capsule next to Tae Ha-Jin, but I often saw the other test
subjects as well. I’ve seen your face enough times to
remember. The only reason I didn’t recognise you right away
was that a part of my memory was erased, and with it, my
impression of you faded too.”
He smiled faintly as he continued, “Now I remember
everything.”
With his emotions back under control and his awareness fully
restored, Yeon took a long look at Dekal’s face and body. It
was as if he were seeing him anew.
“You’ve grown well. Strong and healthy.”
“……”
“Back then, there was a huge commotion about two test
subjects disappearing. I’m sure Lee Hong-Jun tried to keep
things under wraps, but how could they silence so many
researchers? When I heard about it, I wondered what kind of
daring test subjects had managed to escape… So it was Tae
Ha-Jin who took you and ran.”
“……”
“Yes. Thanks to Tae Ha-Jin’s sloppy memory erasure, I
thought the kid had died. I couldn’t even remember his face or
name. The only thing left was the mystery of the hole in the
wall.”
Yeon smiled a small, knowing smile as he pieced things
together.
“How the hell did the two of you escape anyway?”
“…We awakened just before we escaped.”
“Both of you, at the same time?”
“Around the same time, yes.”
“Wow, impressive. You two successfully escaped hell by
erasing someone else’s memories.”
The tone had a strangely accusatory ring to it, and Dekal, for
some reason, found himself avoiding Yeon’s gaze. He wasn’t
even sure why he was dodging it. Had he done something
wrong to Yeon?
As he reflected on their past connection, Yeon, now calmer,
rubbed his throbbing head and said, “Dekal, you knew, didn’t
you? That I was the one who came to visit every night.”
If he admitted he knew, it would be obvious that he had
intentionally hidden his memory loss. But Dekal decided to
answer truthfully. Yeon was sharper than he looked.
“Yes.”
“How did you know? The only one awake at that time was
supposed to be Tae Ha-Jin.”
“I was always awake too.”
“…Seriously?”
Yeon looked genuinely startled. He couldn’t believe there had
been a third person listening in on all his conversations with
Tae Ha-Jin. For a whole year, they’d shared all sorts of talk.
He couldn’t remember all the conversations from his
childhood, but in hindsight, a lot of it was embarrassingly
childish.
Feeling a bit sheepish, Yeon scratched his cheek. “Well, I can’t
really blame you. If I’d been in your shoes, I would’ve kept
my eyes shut too.”
In that lab, survival was the priority. Making the choice to look
away had been the smart move. Hell, he was the lab director’s
son. To the other test subjects, he was nothing short of the
monster’s offspring.
“But still… isn’t it too much to live without such an important
memory? You should’ve said something. If I hadn’t come to
you, Dekal, would you have never told me?”
Yeon glared at Dekal accusingly.
Dekal gave no response, his expression as unreadable as stone.
Watching him, Yeon had a new realisation. There were only
two test subjects he knew well, and both of them were
emotionally stunted compared to regular people.
Finally, a lot of things started making sense to him. Why Tae
Ha-Jin was such a prick, why he was obsessed with digging
into his past, why he was so hell-bent on destroying Lee
Hong-Jun.
Then, suddenly, another question popped into Yeon’s mind.
His face hadn’t changed much since his youth—just matured a
bit. So why hadn’t Tae Ha-Jin recognised him right away?
One thing was certain: Tae Ha-Jin had only found out that
Yeon was the lab director’s son in the dining room of the Sun
Palace. That day, Tae Ha-Jin had been shocked, asking Yeon
all sorts of questions. It was only then that Tae Ha-Jin had
realised that Yeon was the boy from the past.
“Did Tae Ha-Jin lose his memory too? Like me?”
Dekal thought for a moment, then replied, “He did. I heard he
lost part of his memory after his first near-berserk outburst.”
“Ah… So you could restore his memory like you did mine,
couldn’t you?”
Dekal shook his head.
“His type is far stronger than mine. I’ve tried several times,
but I get repelled before I can even get close.”
“But my type’s also far stronger than yours. And yet, you
managed to restore mine.”
“It’s different. Your memory was erased by someone, whereas
Tae Ha-Jin’s memory loss was a side effect of an S-grade
berserk state. The origin is entirely different.”
To be honest, Yeon didn’t quite understand all the
technicalities. The gist of it seemed to be that Tae Ha-Jin’s
memory couldn’t be restored because it was tied to a berserk
episode, unlike his own.
Yeon slowly nodded.
He had so many more questions for Dekal, but there was
something more pressing right now. Straightening out his
dishevelled appearance, Yeon spoke.
“Thanks for today. I’ve got to go.”
“Of course.”
Yeon forced a smile through his puffy, tear-swollen eyes.
Dekal gave him a slight nod and turned to leave. As he walked
away, Dekal pulled out his phone from his pocket. Before
Yeon could meet Tae Ha-Jin, he needed to send a message
about what had just happened. After all, restoring the memory
had been a decision Dekal made on his own. It could be
problematic if he didn’t report it.
But before he could send the message, Yeon snatched the
phone right out of his hand. Smirking, he waved it in front of
Dekal’s face.
“Ha! Knew it. You were going to snitch on me, weren’t you?
What kind of loyalty is that, Dekal? Do you even have any?”
From Tae Ha-Jin’s perspective, Dekal had plenty of loyalty. As
Yeon fiddled with the phone, Dekal didn’t try to stop him.
Yeon went straight to the messages.
‘Damn…’
There was a reason Dekal didn’t stop him. His phone was
wiped clean every day—no messages, no saved contacts. It
seemed Dekal memorised phone numbers and communicated
without leaving any trace. With a deflated look, Yeon handed
the phone back.
“Fine, don’t report anything today. I’ve been lied to my whole
life, and it’s only fair I get a bit of payback. I plan on meeting
that bastard and pretending I don’t remember anything.”
“I’m going to tell him.”
The reply was firm. Yeon let out a hollow laugh. No matter
how much Tae Ha-Jin had done for Dekal, this blind loyalty
was a bit much. Hell, maybe Dekal had been brainwashed.
Yeon cleared his throat and stepped a little closer to Dekal,
lowering his voice so only Dekal could hear.
“Dekal, you need to listen closely, okay? Stand in line. You
might not know it, but Tae-ha-jin likes me. I still can’t believe
it, but he said it with his own mouth.”
“……”
Dekal looked down at Yeon with a gaze that practically said,
“What nonsense are you spouting?” But Yeon continued
unfazed.
“I’m serious. If Tae Ha-Jin comes at you later asking why you
did it, I’ll take the blame. I swear on my life, I’ll cover for
you. So, just keep quiet for today. How about it?”
Yeon politely brought his hands together in a plea. Dekal
stared at him as if he were sizing up a con artist. Tae Ha-Jin,
liking Lee Yeon? That was hard to believe. Sure, Tae Ha-Jin
seemed to pay him more attention than usual, but wasn’t that
just because Yeon was the boy from his past?
Besides, Tae Ha-Jin might think of that boy from time to time,
but he certainly didn’t have any romantic feelings toward
Yeon. Though doubtful, Dekal didn’t think Yeon would lie
about something like this without a good reason, so he
reluctantly nodded.
“I believe you. See you next time, Dekal,” Yeon smiled
brightly before darting down the newly restored emergency
stairwell.
As soon as Yeon was out of sight, Dekal pulled out his phone.
Out of habit, he began typing a report to Tae Ha-Jin, but
paused. He suddenly remembered Yeon’s teary expression
from earlier.
“…….”
Maybe just for today, it would be alright. Dekal blinked
slowly, deciding to turn off his phone when a text message
popped up.

[Is this Dekal? It’s Kim Uibin. What time are you coming
today? Lately, Yeon seems really drained! I’d love to show
you the results ^^
4:01 PM]

She had been pestering him for his number, so he finally gave
it to her. Now, she had actually sent him a message. Kim
Uibin’s bright voice almost seemed to echo in his mind as he
read the text again and again.
Should he… reply?
After agonising over it for a while, Dekal slowly began typing.

[4:17 PM
I’ll be there at six.]

***

Yeon quickly exited the half-destroyed centre and hailed a

taxi. Tae Ha-Jin’s office on the 20th floor hadn’t been fully
restored yet, so he was probably at home in his study.
He was nervous.
The thought of going to see him was making him antsy. He
desperately wanted to get there quickly, to confirm that he was
still real, still there.
Sitting in the back seat of the taxi, Yeon anxiously fidgeted
with his fingers. He had planned on pretending to have lost his
memory again, just like yesterday, but today… today felt
different. Imagining the conversation they might have, Yeon
squeezed his eyes shut.
I can’t do this.
“Excuse me, can you stop here for a moment?”
“What? But we’re still a ways from your destination.”
“It’s fine. I’ll get off here.”
He couldn’t meet Tae Ha-Jin in this unstable state. He needed
time to collect his thoughts. So Yeon got out halfway there and
began walking aimlessly towards Tae Ha-Jin’s house.
The weather was bright and sunny, completely at odds with the
chaos in his heart.
‘The boy I thought was dead… is actually Tae Ha-Jin…’
The memories he had lost had returned, completing the puzzle.
But even with the whole picture, something still felt off. Yeon
hadn’t yet figured out how he should act around him.
In the past, Tae Ha-Jin was his best friend, his only true friend.
Now, though, the boundaries were blurred. Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t
just his superior anymore, and the returning memories didn’t
automatically bring back the same friendship. In fact, Yeon’s
feelings for Tae Ha-Jin had become even more tangled and
intense.
How much does he remember?
After learning Yeon was Lee Hong-Jun’s son, Tae Ha-Jin
hadn’t reacted with anger but instead seemed relieved. Yeon
recalled some of his words:
—How have you been? All this time.
—…Honestly, even if I could go back, I’d make the same
choice. I’m a bastard like that.
—What’s my name?
Now, finally, Yeon understood what all those reactions had
meant.
Even after discovering that Yeon was the boy from his past,
Tae Ha-Jin had confessed his feelings. He didn’t seem to care
at all about what they had been to each other back then.
‘I… don’t know.’
To Yeon, that boy had been a whole world.
Back then, Tae Ha-Jin had been a soothing presence, a rare
source of joy in Yeon’s otherwise empty life. He had buried
him deep in his heart, thinking he was dead.
‘Even though I remember all those times, will I be able to see
you rationally?’
Yeon had no idea.
Lost in thought, he found himself standing before a large gate,
surrounded by tall, dense trees.
“What should I do?”
He hesitated, swallowing nervously. His palms were clammy.
He wasn’t just going to see his esper—he was about to face
the boy he had thought was dead.
Taking a deep breath, Yeon closed his eyes and reached for the
intercom.
BAM!
The gate swung open.
There stood Tae Ha-Jin.
The moment their eyes met—those familiar red eyes—Yeon
felt something crumble inside him. The memories he thought
were lost came rushing back, as vivid as if they had happened
yesterday. His heart ached unbearably.
“Lee Yeon,” Tae Ha-Jin called, stepping towards him slowly.
The boy from before, now a man, looked nothing like his
younger self.
 Chapter 4. Part 1
Tae Ha-Jin frowned as he glanced up and down at Yeon.
Yeon had seen that gaze a thousand times before, but now it
felt… foreign.
‘Did he sense my presence?’
Yeon wasn’t ready for this. His heart pounded erratically as
adrenaline surged through him. In that moment, Tae Ha-Jin’s
current self overlapped with the image of the small, skinny
boy he once knew.
For a brief second, Yeon’s gaze wavered.
‘I thought he was younger than me. Who would’ve guessed
he’s actually two years older? Now, at 27, he looks every bit
the grown man. But back then, he was so frail.’
It was surreal.
Yeon was caught between two worlds—the boy he cherished
as a friend and the man Tae Ha-Jin had become.
“What are you doing, just standing there?”
Yeon swallowed nervously. He was frozen mid-reach, his hand
hovering over the intercom.
‘I can’t do this now.’
Maybe I’ll talk to him next time.
Yeon spun around, ready to walk away, but Tae Ha-Jin swiftly
caught the back of his collar.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He looked at Yeon like one would a misbehaving kitten. Yeon
stiffened and tried to avoid eye contact, inwardly cursing
himself.
‘Why am I acting like this?’
To any onlooker, it would seem like Yeon was the one at fault
here. But he had nothing to feel guilty about. It was Tae Ha-Jin
who had erased his memories and ran away.
Finally, Yeon met his eyes. Now, with all his memories intact,
those crimson eyes made his heart churn.
“You wear that watch like it’s just decoration.”
“Ah…”
Yeon suddenly remembered that he’d set his watch to silent
back in the Sun Palace. Now, with Tae Ha-Jin gripping his
collar, he checked his watch. Fifteen missed calls.
“When you’re done using me, you toss me aside like rubbish.
And now you’re off to meet Dion, yeah?”
“What… what did you just say?”
Who the hell had tossed aside who now? Yeon thought back to
the intense night they’d had, and a dry laugh escaped him. If it
weren’t for his immense dual bloodline, he doubted he’d be
walking today.
But how had he figured out that Yeon was meeting Dion? It
had to be either the Crown Prince snitching or Tae Ha-Jin
using the Central Control Room to track him.
With a displeased look, Ha-Jin yanked Yeon inside the house.
“Hey, hey, wait a sec…!”
Beep-beep-beep. Click.
In an instant, Yeon was thrown into Ha-Jin’s house. Ha-Jin
didn’t let go of his collar until they reached the entrance,
where he finally released him, crossing his arms and leaning
against the wall.
“I told you clearly, didn’t I? Empty the fish pond.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“One guy isn’t enough for you, is it?”
“…What?”
“Last night, you were acting like you couldn’t get enough.
Need more, do you?”
Ha-Jin sounded genuinely pissed off. Yeon stayed quiet, sizing
him up. The thin, fragile boy he’d known was gone, replaced
by someone with muscles like rock. If not for his still-
handsome face and elegant hands, Yeon would hardly have
recognised him.
“And why’d you ring the doorbell halfway through? Trying to
drive someone mad, eh?”
…The boy from back then was nowhere to be found. Even
back in the day, Tae Ha-Jin had been prickly, sure, but there
had been a purity to him, a kindness that made him consider
others before himself.
The boy who used to cry with his head hung low had grown up
tough, no longer shedding tears.
That was a relief, at least.
‘You did that for me.’
It was to spare Yeon the pain that Ha-Jin had erased his
memory.
—You won’t be sad. You can forget about someone like me.
Ha-Jin’s words had only been half right. Yeon had lived,
thinking the boy was dead. He had forgotten his face and his
name, but he never stopped replaying the moments where he
had to let him go.
Thanks to those words, Yeon had managed to live without
sadness.
But he had never truly forgotten that boy.
Whenever the memories came back, they stung like a guilty
conscience.
‘I wish you’d just hated me.’
That would’ve made it hurt less.
If, on the day Ha-Jin found out Yeon was Lee Hong-Jun’s son,
he had shown anger instead of relief, things would’ve been
easier.
Yeon’s face, which he had worked so hard to keep calm,
finally crumbled. The dry corner of his eye quickly filled with
tears. Thank God he wasn’t dead. Thank God the corpse on
that stretcher hadn’t been him.
The more Yeon tried to hold it together, the harder it became.
He forced a smile.
“Tae Ha-Jin.”
“…”
The use of his full name made Ha-Jin’s eyebrow twitch, and
his sharp eyes seemed to widen slightly.
Yeon had thought he could spend the day pretending not to
know, watching Ha-Jin’s reactions, using the time to organise
his own thoughts.
But no. He couldn’t.
It was impossible.
His emotions rolled out of control, and Yeon could no longer
remember how he used to behave around him. He admitted it
to himself—trying to separate the boy Ha-Jin once was from
the man he was now had been a mistake.
Whether it was the boy of the past or the man of the present,
they were both the same person.
“Tae Ha-Jin…”
There was something he had wanted to say to the boy who had
chosen to be forgotten.
Finally, tears rolled down his face, one after another, like water
bursting from a dam. His nose and eyes turned red.
At that, Ha-Jin, looking startled, uncrossed his arms and
cupped Yeon’s cheeks. His movements were slow and
deliberate. With a serious expression, he wiped Yeon’s tears
with his thumb.
“Why are you crying?”
“…Tae Ha-Jin.”
“Are you crying because I told you to empty the pond?”
With an intense gaze, Ha-Jin held his eyes for a moment, then,
as if coming to a decision, he said firmly, “Cry all you want.
I’m not budging on the pond.”
“…Hkk, sniff.”
What a bloody lunatic…
Yeon hiccupped, trying to stifle his sobs. It was absurd, but the
tears kept flowing. Even in this situation, all Ha-Jin could
think about was the damn fish pond. Shouldn’t he be offering
to give it up?
Yeon buried his face in his hands, laughing through the tears.
Then Ha-Jin pulled him into a firm embrace, gently stroking
his back.
“Just don’t cry where I can see it. It’s seriously turning me
on.”
His large, calloused hand tousled Yeon’s hair roughly.
Ha-Jin had come for him on the day he’d been left behind. Just
like this, he had embraced him.
But why had he come back?
He could’ve left Yeon behind and walked away without any
trouble, yet he had taken the risk.
Yeon had always thought that the boy from that day had been
nothing but a dream. After all, there was no way the dead
could come back to life. But no—Tae Ha-Jin had always been
real.
Thinking about it now, Ha-Jin had never been an illusion, not
even for a second.
“Stop crying, will you?”
Feeling Ha-Jin’s awkward touch, Yeon hugged him back
around the waist. At that, Ha-Jin stiffened.
Yeon buried his face in Ha-Jin’s shoulder and spoke softly.
“Thanks, Ha-Jin.”
His emotions now in check, Yeon’s voice came out steady. Ha-
Jin’s hand, which had been stroking Yeon’s hair, froze. He
must’ve realised it by now.
Yeon had regained his memories.
Finally, they had reunited.
With a voice thick with emotion, Yeon whispered, “You were
my salvation too.”
This was what he had always wanted to say to the boy he had
thought was dead. God, he had regretted it so much. He should
never have left him behind. If only he had told him how he
truly felt. The year spent trying to find him had been the
happiest time of his life.
Such simple words, yet he hadn’t been able to say them.
Yeon held Ha-Jin tight, burying his face in the man’s neck.
The flood of emotion threatened to swallow him whole, yet the
firm body holding him reminded Yeon that this was the
present Tae Ha-Jin. His scent, rich and heavy, grounded Yeon
in the now.
“It’s good to see you, Tae Ha-Jin.”
And just like that, Yeon returned to being Ha-Jin’s guide.
He forced a smile through his trembling lips.
That was enough. He had said what he needed to say. There
was no point in dwelling on the past any longer. Recovering
those forgotten memories didn’t change anything.
Now, Yeon understood that.
He was still Tae Ha-Jin’s guide, Ha-Jin was still his superior,
and they were both living in the present.
“You…”
Ha-Jin grabbed Yeon by the shoulders and pushed him back.
The strength of the shove startled Yeon, his eyes widening.
Ha-Jin, with a slightly confused expression, scrutinised his
face.
“What the hell’s going on?”
Yeon stayed silent. He didn’t want to throw Dekal under the
bus by telling Ha-Jin that he had restored his memories.
Looking at Yeon’s sealed lips, Ha-Jin made a guess.
From the way he was talking, it seemed like his memories had
returned. He had realised that Ha-Jin was the boy from back
then.
But how?
Ha-Jin clearly remembered devouring Yeon’s memories. Even
though it had been a bit sloppy, he could still feel the sensation
of tearing through them. There was no way Yeon could have
recalled anything on his own.
Except if… Dekal had been involved.
‘That bastard…’
He had stuck his nose where it didn’t belong.
Ha-Jin had once idly wondered what would happen if Yeon
remembered their past. He’d been certain that if they could
share those memories, they would be closer than ever.
But now?
That was the furthest thing from what Ha-Jin wanted.
There wasn’t a single part of him that wanted to be friends
with Yeon, like some childhood sweetheart.
“Esper…?”
With no response, Yeon called out to him, but Ha-Jin was still
eyeing him up with a calculating look.
His expression didn’t seem remotely welcoming.
Why?
‘Not happy that my memories are back, are you?’
Lee Yeon glanced up at Tae Ha-Jin nervously. He was clearly
delighted to see him. Tae Ha-Jin, who had been biting his lip,
issued a low warning.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“What the hell are you on about?”
“I’m not here to play friends with you, Yeon. For fuck’s sake,
when were we ever just friends?”
The words hit like a punch.
Friends?
Young Yeon had thought of Tae Ha-Jin as a friend. Clearly,
they’d been friends. When the memories came flooding back,
Yeon had been anxious, wondering if that’s all they would
ever be again. But no. The Tae Ha-Jin of now felt more real
than the one in the past. Yeon still wanted to be close to him.
Hell, they’d already slept together.
The thought of staying just friends never even crossed his
mind.
Come to think of it… back when they were all about
friendship, they had a silly conversation like this.
—We’ll be friends forever, yeah!
—Sure thing.
Even back then, it was a conversation that made one cringe. To
think that Dekal overheard that from the capsule next to them.
Yeon felt embarrassed just remembering it. But back then, it
was exciting, their first proper friendship. As Yeon tried to
explain, Tae Ha-Jin’s expression hardened as he spat out his
words.
“What are you thanking me for? Did you forget I left you? Just
hate me and let’s drop this whole friends thing. You think I
wouldn’t notice you trying to draw some invisible line
between us?”
“……”
“Do friends have sex, Yeon? Where did you pick that up, huh,
being such a shameless little—”
What the hell?
Yeon slapped his hand over Tae Ha-Jin’s mouth to shut him
up. Tae Ha-Jin glared at him, narrowing his eyes.
“When did I ever ask you to be my friend? Why are you
overreacting like that?”
Ha-Jin didn’t bother pulling Yeon’s hand away. His eyes just
bore into him, daring him to keep talking. Yeon let out a deep
sigh and spoke calmly.
“We’re too old to be living in the past, don’t you think? I’ll
admit, it’s a bit strange. The fact that you’re that Tae Ha-Jin,
and that I was missing parts of my memory. But, to be honest,
there’s nothing left of that old Tae Ha-Jin in the esper you are
now. Frankly, you might as well be someone else. The only
thing that’s the same is your face.”
Yeon studied his face, nodding.
“And it’s not like you didn’t remember everything and still
acted all fine with me. I’m planning to do the same.”
Tae Ha-Jin’s eyes, once burning with intensity, settled down.
Seeing that he understood, Yeon removed his hand from his
mouth. Tae Ha-Jin ran a hand through his hair before pulling
his phone out of his pocket. He started dialling a number, but
Yeon panicked and grabbed his hand.
“Wait, you’re calling Dekal? He’s innocent!”
“If you know, then let go, Yeon.”
“Come on, what does that make me? I told him not to say
anything to you!”
“So, you’ve met with Dion, the Crown Prince, and Dekal
now? Never a dull day for you, is it?” What the hell is he
going on about?
Yeon was stunned, feeling wronged.
Tae Ha-Jin tried to shake Yeon’s hand off, but Yeon, quick as a
flash, snatched his phone and bolted out into the living room.
In his haste, he even ran inside with his shoes on. Sprinting
down the corridor, Yeon frantically searched for somewhere to
hide. He darted into the most secluded room, the light was off,
and it was pitch black. Yeon crouched down behind the door,
curling into a ball.
“What the hell is all this madness?”
Thinking that, Yeon turned on Tae Ha-Jin’s phone and
furiously began pressing random buttons to delete Dekal’s
number. By mistake, Yeon ended up opening the message
inbox instead.
‘…This is Pandora’s box. Don’t open it.’
Even as he thought that, his fingers scrolled through the
messages. Reading someone else’s messages gave Yeon a
strange thrill, almost addictive. Shockingly, he felt no guilt.
After all, this was Tae Ha-Jin’s phone, and the bastard had
already pried into his life without permission. His eyes, trained
from reading quickly, flew through the messages. Most of it
was work-related.
Boring.
Yeon was about to leave the inbox when one message caught
his eye.

[10:33 AM
Lee Yeon is currently guiding in Emergency Room 2. The
esper is a Grade A woman named Jane.]

[12:19 PM
Lee Yeon is now eating lunch alone. The menu is bacon toast
and fruit juice.]
Messages tracking his every move.

[3:50 PM
Here’s a picture of Lee Yeon heading to the car park.]

There were even photos of him doing everyday things. Dozens

of them. Yeon let out a bitter laugh as he scrolled further up.
Even the day he met Choi Sa-Rang at the hospital, someone
had been tailing him.
‘No wonder I felt someone watching me in the car park.’
Had Tae Ha-Jin assigned a stealth esper to follow him? If not,
there’s no way he wouldn’t have noticed. Then he remembered
the security guards tailing him at the hospital. Tae Ha-Jin
clearly didn’t trust him.
‘To go this far…’
He was paranoid.
Yeon’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door
creaking open. He looked up. Tae Ha-Jin stood there, holding
the door and staring down at him. The man looked so self-
assured, despite having a surveillance report about Yeon in his
hand.
“That photo turned out pretty well.”
It was the shot of him walking in the car park. Yeon scoffed at
how absurd this all was. Tae Ha-Jin’s response left him
speechless.
“Do I come across as untrustworthy? For what it’s worth, I
keep my private life quite clean, you know, Esper.”
“That’s a shame. If your private life was messy, I’d have
cleaned it up for you.”
He extended his hand, palm open, asking for his phone back.
Still squatting on the floor, Yeon shook his head.
“Aren’t you going to apologise for these messages? They’re
seriously unpleasant.”
“I’m sorry.”
Yeon frowned. He almost wanted to faint from the absurdity of
it all. Tae Ha-Jin was talented in offering apologies that
sounded anything but genuine.
“Why the surveillance?”
Even when cornered, Tae Ha-Jin showed no signs of
embarrassment. He answered like he was stating an obvious
truth.
“At the time, there was plenty to be suspicious about with you.
I had to find out who was backing you, so surveillance was
necessary.”
“And what’s with all the photos? They don’t seem very
necessary.”
“That’s just my personal interest.”
Yeon blinked, thinking he’d misheard.
“…Excuse me?”
“I was curious. I wanted to see you.”
“…”
“So I had them send me some photos while they were at it. If
you don’t like it, file a claim for infringement. I’ll pay you for
your trouble. If you’re really upset, go ahead and report me to
the human rights commission. I’ll take whatever punishment
they give me.”
Yeon closed his mouth, utterly speechless.
He’s insane.
How could anyone respond to that?
Considering the way Tae Ha-Jin had lived, as a lab
experiment, it wasn’t surprising he doubted everyone around
him. Yeon knew his past, so he couldn’t fault him for that. Tae
Ha-Jin was also the type to follow through on his promises. If
Yeon filed a report, he would take the punishment. But Yeon
wasn’t planning to drag it that far.
“I understand why you did it back then. But if you ever assign
someone to tail me again, tell me first. Got it?”
What’s the point of that? Tae Ha-Jin didn’t really see the logic
in it, but he nodded anyway.
Yeon narrowed his eyes, glaring at him for a moment before
letting out a sigh.
“And by the way, leave Dekal alone, alright? The only thing
he’s guilty of is listening to my request. If anything, thanks to
him, I was able to recognise you, so it all worked out in the
end, didn’t it?”
“Give me my phone. I’m asking nicely.”
Tae Ha-Jin raised one eyebrow, stretching his hand out again.
Yeon suddenly felt like he might get smacked. He decided that
if Tae Ha-Jin tried to pick a fight with Dekal, he’d be there to
stop it. After all, he didn’t want anyone else caught up in this
mess. He handed the phone back, though reluctantly.
Of course, Tae Ha-Jin immediately dialled Dekal.
 Chapter 4. Part 2
—Yes.
“You helped Yeon recover his memories, didn’t you?”
Straight to the point, no faffing around. There was silence on
the other end of the line. Yeon could feel his guilt gnawing at
him.
‘I’m sorry, Dekal…’
We’re both victims here.
Dekal finally spoke after a pause.
—That’s right.
“How much did he get back?”
—Most of his memories were intact from the start. The bits he
lost were only a small fraction, so I’d say everything’s back
now.
Tae Ha-Jin kept his face neutral at the report, but inside, he
was a mess.
Most of the memories were still there?
He clearly remembered devouring all memories related to him
when he abandoned him. But it had been so long ago, and his
abilities were still raw back then. Must’ve been a mistake.
‘So, Lee Yeon… was living with all those memories, after
all?’
The thought was unexpected.
A silent bond formed in Ha-Jin’s mind—Lee Yeon had carried
most of their shared memories all this time. And yet, after
regaining everything, Yeon hadn’t changed much. He just
showed a bit more emotion towards him now.
Truth be told, Ha-Jin had been a little worried.
Worried that Yeon might be angry about the erased memories.
He had half expected him to say he was going to abandon him
again. Even if he did, Ha-Jin wasn’t planning to let him go so
easily.
—Is something wrong?
“No.”
—If it’s necessary, we could just erase the memories again.
Ha-Jin turned his head, staring at Yeon. Yeon mouthed
something silently to Dekal, telling him not to get upset.
‘Erase them again…’
There was no need. Yeon didn’t hate him, so what was the
point? If anything, he preferred things as they were now.
Still gazing at Yeon’s lips, Ha-Jin grabbed the back of his neck
with his free hand and yanked him closer. Their lips locked.
Yeon’s eyes widened as his body stiffened.
It was a soft kiss, yet intense. Ha-Jin devoured Yeon’s lips,
savouring him as if it was a meal. Wet sounds filled the room.
Yeon gripped Ha-Jin’s forearm tightly.
“Mmph!”
The phone call with Dekal was still ongoing. This was a real
problem. Yeon shot a nervous glance at the phone still in Ha-
Jin’s hand.
—Hello?
No answer. Only strange sounds greeted Dekal on the other
end of the line, causing him to check the signal. Yeon couldn’t
concentrate on the kiss, but Ha-Jin didn’t care—he only
deepened it, his hunger growing. What started as an
affectionate kiss was now something entirely different, driven
by raw need.
“Mmmph!”
The more Yeon tried to pull away, the more Ha-Jin twisted his
tongue around his. That’s when Yeon realised—Ha-Jin was
doing this on purpose.
He wanted Dekal to hear.
But why?
Yeon was too overwhelmed to think clearly. Slowly, he let his
eyes fall shut. He didn’t care anymore. There were a hundred
ways he could stop this, but none he wanted to take. The kiss
was doing a fine job of drowning out the chaos inside him.
When Yeon finally kissed him back, Ha-Jin pulled away, a
satisfied grin on his face.
“Good work, Dekal.”
—…What?
Ha-Jin didn’t take his eyes off Yeon’s lips as he continued.
“I’ve decided Yeon and I are no longer friends.”
—…
Click.
Ha-Jin ended the call, tossing the phone onto the floor before
diving back into the kiss. Yeon, still flustered, blinked slowly.
It was like the past and present had blurred together in that
moment.
Sharing this warmth, Yeon suddenly remembered something
Dion had said in the training ground.
—And yet, you’re still going to remain Ha-Jin’s exclusive
guide?
—After finding out you were the son of the lab director, he
still kept you as his guide. I wondered if he was planning
revenge on you instead of your father.
—But the two of you don’t seem to be on bad terms. So I
thought maybe he was going to use you and then discard you.
You know Ha-Jin’s reputation. He’s always been a bit… messy
in his relationships.
It was transparent manipulation.
Now that Yeon had regained all his memories, he was sure of
one thing.
Tae Ha-Jin could never hate him.
Even back then, when they were kids, Ha-Jin knew exactly
who his father was. And yet, he had been kind to him every
day. He was the boy who had told him it wasn’t his fault, the
one who reassured him it would all be okay.
That boy hadn’t changed.
There wasn’t a hint of resentment in Ha-Jin’s calm confession.
“Haa…”
Yeon pulled away, breathless. Ha-Jin rested his forehead
against his and closed his eyes.
In the heavy silence, he spoke.
“I came to get you.”
His words were soft, as if he was reminiscing.
“But you weren’t there.”
“…”
“I couldn’t remember your face. And you never told me your
real name, for fuck’s sake. Even with my new powers, I
couldn’t find you. I thought you were dead.”
He rambled, his voice low. It was comforting in its familiarity,
and Yeon stayed quiet, letting him speak. Ha-Jin gently
stroked the back of Yeon’s neck.
“It was too late.”
“…”
“I promised I’d come for you.”
There was guilt in his tone.
“I hope you didn’t wait too long.”
Yeon kissed him again. He didn’t want to hear the next words.
It was probably going to be some version of “I’m sorry.”
He didn’t need to hear it.
They were young. They had both chosen survival in a brutal
world. Of course, they had hurt each other. Sacrificed each
other.
But it didn’t matter now.
They understood, forgave, and had never blamed one another.
—I don’t want you to get hurt, Yeon. Don’t trust Ha-Jin too
much.
—Every time he looks at you, he’ll be reminded of your father.
Dion, you know nothing about our story.
That’s why you can say things like that so easily.
This relationship had defied common sense from the very
start.
“It’s fine, really.”
Ha-Jin’s face twisted at those words.
The Yeon who remembered him was now saying the phrase he
had once repeated more than any other.
Yeon’s mother had taught him that word. It had been Ha-Jin’s
go-to whenever he needed to calm Yeon down. “It’s fine.” He
hadn’t been fine at all back then. And he had never expected
that word to become such a frequent part of his vocabulary.
Yet every time he said it, Yeon’s expression had softened, even
just a little. Young Ha-Jin had been grateful he learned that
word.
It was almost as if his mother had taught it for moments like
these.
And now, it was coming back to him.
Ha-Jin felt strangely unsettled.
“Yeon.”
Before he could say more, Yeon wrapped his arms around Ha-
Jin’s neck and kissed him softly again.
“Haa…”
Ha-Jin’s breath came in ragged gasps.
It was almost unheard of for Yeon to initiate anything like this.
They shared a heated breath, but Ha-Jin found himself holding
back. He had become so careful with him. His brows furrowed
in frustration.
If he wished for this kiss to last forever, was that just his own
selfish desire?
He didn’t know.
All he knew was that Yeon was bloody beautiful today.

***

The sound of knives scraping against the round marble table

was the only thing filling the room. It wasn’t the frozen air that
felt unsettling—only the surrounding senators seemed
uncomfortable. The Prime Minister of Epenhar sat politely,
hands clasped together.
‘Wielding that knife like a bloody sword, aren’t you?’
His gaze briefly flicked over the table as he lowered his eyes.
The President of Epenhar had no sense of table manners. More
accurately, he didn’t even care to learn.
The steak on his plate was being hacked apart like it was under
attack, the scene more reminiscent of a slaughterhouse than a
dinner table.
Scrape, slice. Scrape. Bang!
Scrape.
The middle-aged man sitting opposite President Carlos didn’t
flinch at the jarring sound of the knife. That was impressive in
itself.
‘Is this what they mean by a real genius?’
The Prime Minister knew that this middle-aged man was the
most trusted individual in Diaylen.
Lee Hong-Jun.
Refined features and elegant movements radiated an air of
dignity. Compared to that…
Carlos’s plate was now nothing but a mess of bleeding steak.
The Prime Minister squeezed his eyes shut at the sight. But
who was there to criticise the ruler of Epenhar?
Carlos had come from the streets, after all.
Born as the illegitimate child of a high-ranking official, he was
left to fend for himself on the streets. At the age of 17, he
awakened as an SO-grade esper and became little more than a
madman. The first thing he did was rally troops.
He gathered people who resented the rotting state of the
country, those with power, and planned a coup in secret. By
the time he turned 20, Epenhar was flipped on its head for the
first time in its history. The previous president was
overthrown, most politicians replaced, and the nation’s
governance changed completely.
A dictatorship based on democratic principles had begun.
The revolutionary uprising tore out the nation’s roots
completely. Carlos personally dealt with corrupt officials, and
then handed positions of power to those who’d supported him.
Despite his lack of formal education, Carlos had luck on his
side and keen instincts. He successfully dragged the war-torn
Epenhar back on its feet. Even in elections held every few
years, he won consistently with a high approval rate.
Now, after about 30 years, Carlos remained a popular leader.
Despite the dictatorship, there was little public dissatisfaction.
He didn’t follow any formalities and preferred casual attire,
which only boosted his public image.
Moreover, he’d taken a dying country and made it the second
most prosperous nation in the world. Of course, the people
supported him. He had established a stable grip on power as a
ruler.
Rumours about his extraordinary esper abilities also
contributed to his high approval ratings.
‘Impressive, but…’
Lately, President Carlos seemed to be planning something
new. The Prime Minister sighed inwardly. Carlos’s power had
grown so great that the Prime Minister himself was little more
than a puppet.
Is this how it should be?
“How does it taste? I had one of my prized calves prepared
especially for this,” Carlos asked, chewing noisily on his
steak. Lee Hong-Jun, who had already finished eating, wiped
his mouth with a napkin.
“It’s… not bad.”
Carlos burst out laughing at the curt response.
“Haha! Is that all? I personally had this prepared for you,
Director. How disappointing.”
“Get to the point. There are too many eyes following me
lately.”
In other words, he wanted to leave soon. Carlos raised an
eyebrow and took a sip of wine. Tilting his head, he asked,
“Shall I deal with them for you?”
“Not possible right now.”
“There’s no such thing as the wrong time to kill someone. We
can always take care of it quietly.”
Carlos smiled as Lee Hong-Jun sipped his wine, unmoved.
“I didn’t call you here for anything complicated. I’ve someone
to introduce you to.”
Carlos’s eyes glinted meaningfully as he glanced towards the
far end of the dining room. He made no effort to hide his
anticipation, nervously bouncing his leg. He hardly resembled
the leader of a nation.
Time passed, and still, no one appeared. Lee Hong-Jun
remained seated in silence. Carlos’s expression sharpened as
he called for his second assistant.
“Find out if he got caught on the way.”
“Yes, sir.”
The aide quickly left the dining room. Carlos’s growing
impatience was palpable. If things continued like this, people
were going to start dropping dead. He was more of a brute
than a politician—he acted more like a knight than a president.
The aide, Frank, rushed to the waiting room where the guest
should have been.
Knock knock.
No response.
Knock knock.
Growing uneasy, Frank cleared his throat and asked, “This is
Assistant Frank. The President is waiting for you. When will
you be joining us?”
Silence.
Anxious, Frank took a deep breath. “Excuse me,” he said,
opening the door and stepping inside. What greeted him was
an all-too-familiar scene.
Two people were passionately kissing, hands all over each
other. The man’s belt and zipper were undone, and the
woman’s dress was hiked up, exposing her thighs.
Frank discreetly averted his eyes. Working in high society,
he’d seen scenes like this more than a few times.
Ahem.
He coughed awkwardly, and only then did the couple turn to
look at him. The woman casually straightened her skirt and
moved away from the man. Frank bent at the waist, bowing
deeply as he greeted her.
“Good day, Miss Ronile.”
“Good to see you.”
Ronile was the granddaughter of the head of Epenhar’s largest
corporation. She often visited the palace with her grandfather,
and apparently, today was no exception.
Why’s she with that guy, though? Frank wondered.
The man stood up leisurely, pulling up his zipper and fastening
his belt. He threw an arm over Ronile’s shoulder and motioned
towards the door.
“Shall we, Miss Ronile?”
“Why the formalities now?”
“Would you prefer I call you noona?”
“I wouldn’t mind.”
Ronile replied coolly, as Dion, the man, smirked and followed
Frank’s lead.
“Keep your promise, Dion,” Ronile said, her face hardening as
she glanced back at him while they walked down the corridor.
Dion smiled. She was a difficult woman to understand.
Publicly humiliated by Tae Ha-Jin at a banquet, yet still
clinging to him.
Despite claiming she loved Tae Ha-Jin, she couldn’t stand
being lonely and ended up kissing Dion. She was also set to
marry another man soon, in a political marriage no less.
‘What’s going on in her head?’
Dion mused. Ronile could have had everything, but Tae Ha-Jin
was the one thing she couldn’t get. Perhaps that’s why she
foolishly couldn’t let go.
At the same time, she didn’t want to let go of her current
privileges either.
Dion smiled.
“Better focus on yourself, Miss Ronile. I’m not keen on
ruining things.”
He intentionally avoided calling her ‘noona’. Ronile shot him
a glance before storming off, presumably to the garden where
her grandfather was waiting.
Lee Hong-Jun glanced at his watch after finishing his wine. It
had been far too long. He was about to excuse himself when
President Carlos refilled his glass.
“You’re being too cold to your partners, Director.”
“We’re way past the agreed time.”
Despite Carlos’s cheerful attempts to keep him seated, Lee
Hong-Jun stood up. He had mountains of research waiting for
him and no desire to waste time here. He didn’t feel the need
to humour Carlos either.
Just then, the door clicked open, and Frank walked in,
followed by a man.
Lee Hong-Jun raised an eyebrow. He recognised the man
immediately.
It was Dion, the son of the Diaylen Knight Commander.
One of the last people who should be here.
When Lee Hong-Jun looked at him directly, Dion smiled and
waved.
“It’s been a while, Director.”
These two had met at several occasions at the Palace as well as
had talked at various banquet halls. Every time, it had been
Dion who tried to start a conversation while Hong-Jun had
barely responded, at best nodding silently.
President Carlos, clearly delighted by a familiar face, spoke
cheerfully.
“Dion. Why so late?”
“I ran into an old acquaintance. Apologies if I kept you
waiting, sir.”
“No matter. A young man in his prime can easily find himself
distracted.”
Carlos’s gaze lingered briefly on Dion’s lips, where the faint
imprint of lipstick remained. With a hearty slap on Dion’s
back, he motioned for him to sit down.
Lee Hong-Jun’s eyes hadn’t left Dion since the moment he
entered. His look was one of cold observation.
“Let me introduce you. This is Dion Luissen, another one of
my trusted allies. I believe you two already know each other?”
Carlos rested his chin on his hand, glancing back and forth
between them. Dion wore his usual broad smile, but Hong-
Jun’s eyes sparkled with a hint of curiosity.
“What kind of cooperation are you getting from Dion,
President Carlos?” Lee Hong-Jun asked, his tone purely
inquisitive.
He was intrigued by Dion’s appearance. This man, a close
friend of Princess Elena and Crown Prince Ricardo, was also
the son of the Royal Knight Commander. An S0-grade esper,
with top-tier fire abilities and a striking presence wherever he
went. And now here he was, turning his back on Diaylen and
working with Epenhar.
What role did Dion play in Carlos’s schemes?
For a fleeting moment, Hong-Jun’s expression flickered with
something sharper.
Carlos answered, “Dion has been working with me for quite
some time. Longer than with the Director, in fact. You’re
aware, I assume, of the fatal flaw in my ability? Dion’s been
instrumental whenever I run into trouble.”
“I see,” Lee Hong-Jun said calmly. “But how can you be so
sure, sir, that Dion isn’t a spy?”
A chilling silence settled over the room.
The Prime Minister’s eyes widened. He knew the Research
Director’s bluntness all too well, but to ask someone so openly
if they were a spy, and right to their face…
Dion’s smile stiffened slightly. Carlos tilted his head, as if
weighing Lee Hong-Jun’s words.
“Hmm… Should I take that to mean you don’t trust Dion?”
“My opinion is irrelevant. I simply find it hard to believe that
Dion would have any motive to betray Diaylen.”
A burst of laughter broke the tension, all eyes turning to Dion,
who laughed so hard that tears formed in the corners of his
eyes. He wiped them away carelessly.
“Oh, that’s funny. Really. How exactly do I prove I’m not a
spy, Director?” Dion grinned, looking completely unbothered,
almost amused by the situation.
Lee Hong-Jun responded immediately, “There are two ways.
You could write up a detailed motive following the six
interrogative principles and present it yourself. Or, we could
verify it with the incident reader at my lab.”
 Chapter 4. Part 3
“…Either way, I’d have to visit your lab, wouldn’t I?” Dion
chuckled. “Surely, you don’t plan to use me as one of your test
subjects, Director?”
Lee Hong-Jun didn’t answer. The silent affirmation made Dion
laugh even harder, slapping the table with glee.
“President, did you hear that? Your ally here wants to use me
as a test subject. Should I really trust this?”
“You must not know, Dion, but I, too, occasionally volunteer
as one of the Director’s test subjects,” Carlos said, his voice
light with amusement.
“What?”
Dion looked at Lee Hong-Jun with a mix of amazement and
disbelief. The fact that even foreign leaders were subject to
Hong-Jun’s experiments was almost absurd. In truth, Dion had
been equally shocked when he first learned of Hong-Jun’s
cooperation with Epenhar.
Lee Hong-Jun had always lived freely and luxuriously in
Diaylen, enjoying the finest treatment. What could possibly
have driven him to ally with Epenhar?
Perhaps it was the promise of using Carlos as a test subject?
Dion and Hong-Jun exchanged bewildered glances, neither
fully understanding the other’s motives for working with
Carlos.
“Oh, by the way, I heard your son has been confirmed as an S-
grade guide recently,” Carlos said casually.
“Yes,” Hong-Jun replied.
“I saw the footage. His wide-area guiding was quite
impressive. If your son ever decided to join our side, that
would be quite the advantage.”
The mention of Lee Yeon visibly stiffened Dion’s expression.
Even Hong-Jun, who had been studying Dion’s behaviour,
turned his gaze towards Carlos. In an even tone, Hong-Jun
responded.
“If you need him so badly, I recommend kidnapping him. He’s
not exactly the cooperative type, and by his account, we’ve
severed ties.”
“Hah! A man like no other. It seems the Director’s bloodline is
remarkable in more ways than one,” Carlos chuckled.
Dion, meanwhile, found himself lost in thought.
‘Why did I do it?’ he mused. Yesterday, at the training
grounds, he had acted out of character, stirring up trouble.
Normally, he wasn’t one for such reckless behaviour. But there
was something about Tae Ha-Jin… something he just couldn’t
stand.
A petty sense of inferiority had wormed its way into his heart.
Dion didn’t hate Tae Ha-Jin as a person, but the things Tae Ha-
Jin had always possessed effortlessly—that was a different
story.
Even his father, who had never shown Dion much affection,
seemed to care deeply for Ha-Jin. And Yeon, who always put
up walls around himself, had become Ha-Jin’s exclusive
guide. No matter how hard Dion tried, he could never obtain
the things Ha-Jin had so easily.
‘Maybe I really have gone mad…’
Dion smiled his usual carefree smile, but something deep
inside felt broken.
Then there was Lee Yeon. When Dion had been at his lowest,
questioning the point of his existence, it was Yeon who had
told him to stop forcing himself to smile. That simple, earnest
remark had shaken him to his core. Words he had longed to
hear, yet no one had ever said them before.
Just that one sentence and those clear eyes had changed
everything.
Dion sighed.
He hadn’t initially cared that Yeon belonged to Ha-Jin, but
now, the more he thought about it, the more he wanted him.
‘There must be a way.’
Dion took a sip of wine, his mind whirring with possibilities.
There were many methods to achieve what he wanted, but
none that could guarantee success. His brow furrowed as he
sank deeper into thought.

***

“So, you’re living together now?”

Doberman had stopped by to pick up Lee Yeon for a trip to the
Sun Palace. He’d texted Yeon early in the morning, only to
find out that he was at Tae Ha-Jin’s house. The news that they
were together at 7 a.m. came as a bit of a surprise.
When Doberman entered the house, two figures emerged into
the living room. Ha-Jin was in a bathrobe, and Yeon was
wearing what was clearly Ha-Jin’s oversized T-shirt and
trousers.
Yeon looked well-rested, but Ha-Jin, on the other hand,
appeared exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes.
Doberman thought he recognised the look—it was the kind of
face people had after a mission at Yellow Door.
When asked why they were together, Yeon answered
nonchalantly that he’d decided to stay with Ha-Jin.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“How did that happen?”
“Well, since I was revealed as an S-grade guide, and with the
dormitory collapsing, there’s also the threat of me being
kidnapped by other nations…”
“Ha-Jin suggested it?”
“Yes.”
Doberman sighed, looking at Yeon’s innocent nod.
Poor lamb.
It was true that S-grade guides were valuable and in high
demand. But in this day and age, the idea of nations
kidnapping them like common criminals was ludicrous. And
the dormitory issue? One phone call from Ha-Jin, and it would
have been restored in a day.
Doberman thought back to the scene of the collapsed
dormitory building. Only the dormitory had been utterly
destroyed, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if Ha-Jin had
orchestrated the entire thing to ensure Yeon stayed with him.
Just days ago, Ha-Jin had boldly confessed his feelings for
Yeon. And now, here Yeon was, sitting in his house.
Doberman couldn’t help but admire the speed of Ha-Jin’s
manoeuvring. Was this his version of romance? It was
baffling, but perhaps Ha-Jin was a master in the art of love.
Doberman cast a sidelong glance at Ha-Jin, who simply raised
his chin, as if to ask, What are you looking at?
“Don’t worry too much about it, Guide Yeon. The Centre’s
being rebuilt faster than expected. I’m sure the dormitory will
be ready soon,” Doberman said with a smile, though he could
feel Ha-Jin’s glare burning into the side of his face.
Silently swallowing irritation, Ha-Jin took out his phone and
sent a message to Dekal.

[7:04 AM
Block 6 Dormitory: latest to be restored. Actually, never mind,
let’s just scrap it.]

[It’d be difficult to discard it, sir. There are too many guides
living there. We’ll restore it as late as possible.
 7:05 AM]

Tae Ha-Jin frowned slightly as he read the reply.

Yeon slapped his hands together as if he’d just remembered
something important. “Hey, wait, I’m S-grade now, right? That
means I don’t have to live in the dorms anymore, does it?”
It clicked for him. S-grade espers weren’t required to live in
dormitories. Tae Ha-Jin didn’t, Dion didn’t, and neither did the
princess or the crown prince—they all slept wherever they
liked.
“Then I’m free from that double room too!” Yeon grinned,
feeling triumphant. He had some savings stashed away, and
since there was no need to worry about money from now on,
he figured finding a decent place to rent in the capital wouldn’t
be such a bad idea.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Do you know anything about real estate, by any chance,
secretary?”
“I know a few agents.”
“Then could you introduce me? I’ve been meaning to try
living on my own for a while now.”
Yeon couldn’t contain his excitement as he whipped out his
phone and started browsing listings in the capital. Tae Ha-Jin
quickly snatched Yeon’s phone and chucked it onto the sofa in
the living room.
“Who said you could live on your own?”
“It’s my decision. I’ve got enough saved up, and I’m decent at
cooking, so—”
“Have you forgotten already? I told you I like you, Lee Yeon.”
“…”
“If you’re not staying at my house, then go lock yourself up in
the dorms.”
Tae Ha-Jin crossed his arms, glaring down at him. Watching
this unfold, Doberman struggled to keep his composure. He
was starting to think that the rumour about Tae Ha-Jin being
some sort of dating expert was rubbish. How on earth did
someone so clueless about relationships get that title?
‘How could anyone say something like that?’ Doberman
thought, utterly baffled.
What kind of idiot would like someone with that kind of
attitude? He briefly thought about his wife. If he ever said
anything remotely similar to that, he’d be out on the streets
with divorce papers shoved in his face.
Not even Tae Ha-Jin’s good looks could save him from this
mess. Throwing around “I like you” so carelessly—he had to
be mad.
“Fine… How about I rent a two-bedroom flat on the first floor,
then?” Yeon asked.
What?
Doberman gaped at him. Why on earth was Yeon playing
along with Tae Ha-Jin’s nonsense?
Tae Ha-Jin, now slightly less irritated, smirked faintly. After
pretending to ponder for a moment, he generously replied,
“This place is pretty pricey, you know. But since you’re my
personal guide, I’ll allow it.”
“That’s a bit much. I’ve heard that accepting favours
eventually turns into debt. If renting’s a problem, I can just pay
monthly rent instead.”
Doberman felt a cold sweat drip down his back as he watched
this go down. Yeon was being conned right in front of him.
Seizing the moment, Doberman grabbed Yeon’s arm and led
him away to a corner, shooting worried glances at Tae Ha-Jin.
“Why are you just going along with him?” Doberman
whispered urgently. “I can introduce you to a proper agent.
Don’t stay here. You heard the nonsense he just said!”
Yeon awkwardly ruffled his hair. “Think about it, Doberman,”
he replied.
Taking a step further away from Tae Ha-Jin, Yeon carefully
explained his reasoning.
“If I decide to live on my own, Tae Ha-Jin’s going to call a
meeting with the Centre’s top brass and change the rules so I’ll
be forced back into the dorms. Or worse, he’ll just buy out
every house I try to rent. Even if I manage to move out, he’ll
keep using ‘exclusive-emergency calls,’ and I’ll end up
wandering around like a nomad until I have no choice but to
crash at his place.”
Doberman couldn’t argue with that. He could no longer
dismiss Tae Ha-Jin’s extreme behaviour as mere exaggeration.
Tae Ha-Jin, who was still throwing sharp glances their way,
looked perfectly capable of pulling all that off.
Doberman now had a newfound respect for Yeon’s insight. It
had taken Doberman years to get used to Tae Ha-Jin’s
eccentricities, but Yeon had already adapted—and more
impressively, learned how to handle it.
Yeah, Doberman thought. It takes someone like him to deal
with a bastard like Tae Ha-Jin.
In that moment of clarity, Tae Ha-Jin returned from the second
floor, holding something in his hands. It was a hat, a mask, and
a pair of glasses.
Doberman blinked, realising that he’d seen this odd
combination somewhere before.
“Put these on,” Tae Ha-Jin commanded.
Yeon, just as bewildered, stood there frozen. He had no idea
why Tae Ha-Jin was now insisting he cover up.
“Wear them.”
Without giving Yeon a choice, Tae Ha-Jin shoved the items
into his hands and then walked off towards his study. Yeon,
confused but resigned, put on the hat. It was about time for
him to head to the capital anyway. Though he figured he’d
have to take them off as soon as they arrived.
“Shall we go, Doberman?”
“Yes, sir.”
Yeon grabbed Doberman’s arm, and the two of them
disappeared from the living room in an instant.
“Haa, fuck…”
Tae Ha-Jin, who had been rifling through papers in his study,
threw them down on the desk. Finally, the lingering presence
of Lee Yeon was gone. It was good that they’d started living
together. Just yesterday, Tae Ha-Jin had been enjoying all the
sweet, polite things Yeon said.
But for some reason, Tae Ha-Jin couldn’t bring himself to
touch him. Yes, they’d slept together once before, but it had
been too rough. If he tried something like that again, Yeon
might just leave—or worse, distance himself completely.
Better to hold back his urges, then.
Last night, Tae Ha-Jin had sent Yeon off to sleep in the guest
room on the first floor while he himself went to bed upstairs.
But sleep didn’t come easily.
Tae Ha-Jin’s senses were sharper than a beast’s. He could hear
every little movement Yeon made downstairs, his soft
breathing, the cool energy radiating off him—everything about
Yeon disturbed Tae Ha-Jin’s mind all night.
He’d slept in the same space as Doberman for work reasons
before and hadn’t been bothered in the slightest. So why was
this different?
It could only mean one thing: Tae Ha-Jin was too preoccupied
with Yeon.
Not seeing him was frustrating. He wanted to see him, to be
near him. He just wanted him around.
“Am I going mad?”
Tae Ha-Jin frowned, deep in thought.
Was this what it meant to like someone?
Every moment was a whirlwind, leaving people hanging with
absurdity.
“You’ve ruined them, turned them into a bloody wreck.”
What?
The trail?
Fortunately, Yeon expressed his willingness to stay here for
the time being. If he hadn’t, Ha-Jin would have been left
scratching his head, trying to figure out how to keep Yeon tied
down.
“Haa…”
Ha-Jin rubbed his face, a dry wash of his hands over his skin.
Even amidst the chaos, Yeon’s lips kept flashing in his mind.
He was clearly losing his mind.

***

As they transported to the Sun Palace, Yeon, whose heart had

been pounding, opened his eyes wide, his pupils quivering
violently.
“Why here? No, what… what is this?”
A colossal banner was draped near the entrance of the palace.

♡ Guide Yeon, with your S-Grade beauty! We always support

you! ♡ - Desert Fox Fan Club

♡ Guide Yeon, can you guide regular folks too? ♡ - Desert

Fox Fan Club
The front gates of the palace were crowded with people, all
yelling and screaming for Yeon.
“Hyung, you’re gorgeous! Aaaah!”
“Look here! Guide Yeon, please notice us!”
“Just one handshake! Oppaaaaa!”
Some wielded professional cameras, capturing Yeon’s every
move, while others waved bouquets in the air. The palace
espers stood by, struggling to contain the disorderly mob. Yeon
swallowed hard, nerves shooting up his spine.
What the hell is going on? The crowd was so massive, he
could feel his life was in danger.
Instinctively, Yeon grabbed Doberman by the collar.
“What the… what’s happening? Desert Fox Fan Club? What
the hell is that?”
Yeon, normally composed, stammered as he strained to ask the
question. Doberman laughed heartily.
“This sort of thing happens occasionally. When someone with
a good look and high-grade abnormal type appears, a fan club
is bound to pop up. Tae Ha-Jin, the esper, experienced the
exact same thing a few years ago. Of course, he scared them
all away, and the club disbanded quickly.”
“But, this is the entrance to the palace. Is it even allowed to
hang banners like that here?”
Yeon stared at the scene in sheer bewilderment, the gaudy pink
banners almost too embarrassing to look at more than once.
“They pay for it. And since you’re from Diaylen, these
banners hold a bit of public significance. From the palace’s
perspective, having a popular guide from their nation is a
positive thing. It means more foreign requests will come in.”
“How did they know I was coming here…?”
“That, I have no idea. Maybe they’ve got a personal informant
on the inside.”
Doberman chuckled, teasing. But Yeon found no humour in
any of it. The crowd screamed louder, all aimed at him.
At that moment, Yeon remembered the mask and sunglasses
Tae Ha-Jin had handed him earlier. He had absentmindedly
only worn the hat and now felt utterly exposed.
‘I’ll remember this…’
He felt like a hot potato on a grill, his nerves frying. Yeon
glanced at Doberman with pleading eyes, silently begging for
rescue.
“Why didn’t you head straight inside the palace? Why stop out
here?”
Doberman usually went directly into the palace. But today,
they had stopped at the entrance, which raised Yeon’s
suspicions. Just then, two espers came rushing from the
security booth near the gates.
“You’ve arrived!”
“Yes. Sorry, but could you hurry? We’ve got to get inside.”
Doberman handed over his watch as he spoke. One of the
security espers scanned a golden card over it.
Beep! Approved!
Yeon’s eyes widened. This was the first time he’d heard a
voice from the watch. After finishing their task, the two espers
bowed at a sharp 90-degree angle and returned to their post.
“What was that?”
“Oh, even transportation espers can’t just pop into the palace
freely. You have to get prior approval through the watch. If
you don’t, the defence system will scramble your coordinates,
and you’ll end up somewhere entirely different.”
That defence system was another creation by Lee Hong-Jun,
the head of the Basen Research Lab. But Doberman didn’t
bother to mention that.
“Usually, I get pre-approval, so we can just go straight in. But
today, Guide Yeon, you’re here without approval. Since your
meeting with the princess is personal, not official, we had to
get special permission.”
“Oh… it’s because of me, then. Sorry for causing such
trouble.”
“No trouble at all. You’re an official S-Grade, so the process
was cut down quite a bit. Now, we can head in.”
“Oppa! Just one look this way, please!”
As they prepared to leave, the shouts from the crowd grew
more desperate. Yeon pursed his lips tightly and gave a
respectful 90-degree bow to them. Doberman chuckled at the
sight.
After dropping Yeon off at the Sun Palace, Doberman
disappeared elsewhere. Yeon found himself staring at the
building, where white roses twisted into flames across its
surface. The building oozed the refined, regal atmosphere of
Princess Elena.
‘What am I even supposed to talk about with the princess?’
He had come because of Ricardo’s request, but truth be told,
he had no idea why he was really here. The last thing he
wanted was another encounter with the princess. Thinking of
Elena made his head spin.
The place was deserted. Yeon removed his hat, absorbing it
back into his hand.
“Haa.”
He wandered around the garden near the fountain, unsure of
where to go. Eventually, a maid approached him.
“Are you Guide Yeon? Her Highness has been expecting you.”
“Ah, yes.”
It seemed the princess had been informed of his visit in
advance. Yeon followed the maid inside the palace, where a
subtle scent of roses filled the air. As they climbed to the fifth
floor, he took in the clean yet extravagant interior.
‘An audience chamber?’
The large white doors seemed too extravagant for a mere
audience chamber.
Knock, knock.
The maid opened the door wide and gestured for Yeon to enter
before stepping back. Inside, a fluffy white cat circled around
him, briefly rubbing against his leg before scampering off.
Yeon lifted his gaze to where he expected the princess to be.
“…!”
Seeing Princess Elena sitting on the bed, Yeon’s expression
instantly contorted. He stormed towards her.
“What the hell is going on here?”
 Chapter 4. Part 4
Lee Yeon’s hand froze mid-air. There was nothing to hold
onto. The princess’s arm… hadn’t been restored.
His eyes fixated on the emptiness where Elena’s left arm
should be. The sleeve of her dress hung limply. That day, he
had passed her to Doberman, who then handed her over to
Dekal. Her arm should have been restored.
But why?
Yeon couldn’t hide his confusion, stiff as a statue. Elena,
watching him intently, finally broke the silence.
“Don’t bother asking if I’m alright. I’m not.”
Her face was even paler than before. She had always been
thin, but now her fingers were so gaunt, they looked skeletal.
Yeon asked gravely, “Of course you’re not alright. What
happened? Didn’t Dekal restore it?”
Elena, staring down at her bony fingers, turned to look out of
the window.
“Restoration isn’t about creating something out of nothing.”
“…”
“If you don’t have the torn-off limb, it’s impossible.”
“Did Dekal say that?”
“Yes.”
Her voice carried a hint of resignation. It had been about ten
days since the Red Door event. During that time, it seemed the
princess had gone through the process of accepting reality.
Yeon thought hard.
“It can’t be restored?”
Thinking back, even when Dekal restored the buildings, the
debris was still there, piled up. When he treated Uibin, Uibin’s
body was intact—nothing missing.
‘Then what about my memory?’
The missing pieces had been devoured by Tae Ha-Jin’s ability.
Erased completely, swallowed by his Vessel. Shouldn’t that
have been impossible to restore as well?
“I need to make a call.”
The princess was still gazing out of the window, giving Yeon
the impression she didn’t mind. He stepped into the corridor
and searched through his limited contact list for Dekal’s
number—saved because of Uibin.
―Yes?
“Dekal, it’s Lee Yeon.”
―Go ahead.
“I’m with Her Highness the princess right now. I heard her
arm couldn’t be restored because you can’t create something
from nothing. But you restored my memory, even though it
had been wiped out.”
Dekal paused, choosing his words carefully. His calm voice
came through the line.
―Your memory was gone, yes, but your body still
experienced those moments, didn’t it? Even if your brain lost
the memories, your body held them. That’s why restoration
was possible. But in the princess’s case, without the remaining
material, there’s no way to restore her arm.
“I see… So there’s no way for Princess Elena to regain her
arm?”
―She could’ve had an artificial arm attached, but she refused.
It looks like there’s no way.
In the background, a voice called out, “Dekal, we need you for
immediate restoration here!” The noise suggested he was in
the middle of work.
“I’m sorry for bothering you. I always seem to cause trouble.”
―It’s fine. Let’s end the call here.
“Alright.”
Yeon stared blankly at the screen before slipping his phone
into his pocket. The princess had truly lost her arm. Somehow,
it felt more shocking than he expected. Were there no other
espers with a suitable ability?
Then Yeon hesitated.
‘Why am I… so caught up in this?’
It wasn’t his problem. There were countless people who lost
limbs in battles with monsters, and many were just grateful to
be alive. If he had been even a little slower that day, the
princess would’ve died in agony.
Still, it bothered him. The image of the proud princess, now
shut away in her room. He remembered her guiding that day,
in a green dress that didn’t belong in the middle of a disaster,
the fabric tattered and dirty.
When Yeon returned to the bedroom, the princess spoke in a
voice that was slightly hoarse, still looking out the window.
“You have a way of… making people feel small, Yeon.”
Elena recalled the day of the Red Door. As an S-grade guide, it
was her duty to respond, but she hadn’t intended to put in any
effort. Throughout her life, she never had to. Things naturally
fell into place without needing to try.
Losing or protecting something had never been her talent.
Even so, she had to at least appear to be guiding for the sake of
her image. So, she headed to the frontline of the Red Door.
She had planned to selectively guide the strongest espers, but
then she saw Yeon.
While other guides stayed back, keeping themselves safe,
Yeon moved among more than ten espers, guiding them all.
She thought it was a waste. Why bother? No one would
recognise his efforts.
Standing out like that only invited resentment.
But then Elena witnessed something.
Not Yeon himself, but the espers he guided.
She saw, for the briefest moment, relief on their faces. A
flicker of comfort, perhaps even sadness, all brought forth by a
single guide’s actions.
As the ground trembled, monsters roared, and chaos engulfed
the world, Elena felt as though time stood still. A gnawing
sense of insignificance clawed at her insides.
She was a princess, yet all she had ever done was calculate and
strategize. The thought sickened her.
I can do this too.
I could help so many people…
Elena had wanted to show Yeon. To prove her worth to the
man who despised political games. Even knowing it was
beyond her, she’d stepped onto the stage, performing a wide-
area guiding.
The espers around her were shocked, but overjoyed.
—Thank you, Your Highness!
—We’ll protect you, no matter what!
Fools.
She was only putting on a show, afraid of appearing small. She
didn’t deserve their gratitude.
But in the end, Elena began to try. She started to pray for the
survival of the espers fighting and dying around her. All
because of a few words of thanks.
And then, she lost her arm.
For the first time in her life, she made a bad deal.
“You effortlessly had showed me how useless I was. Your
caring gaze and careful actions… The passion of your
words… Witnessing you, I was disgusted with myself.”
Tears streamed down her hollow cheeks. She turned her head
and gazed up at Lee Yeon with wet eyes.
“A bird with broken wings can’t fly, can it? Now, I… I don’t
know what to do anymore. There was a time when I thought I
could reclaim the heir’s position whenever I wanted. I had the
ability back then. But now, the emperor won’t consider a
crippled princess as his heir. I’ve lost my sky.”
The princess had given up on so much. Normally, she would
have documented that massive area-wide guiding from the
Red Door incident, turning it into a headline, boasting about
her incredible feat to the world and using it for political
leverage.
But after losing her arm, none of it mattered anymore.
As a disabled person, receiving attention felt like poison.
Elena pressured the media, instructing them not to publish any
articles about her area-wide guiding. After all, there was no
way she could outshine Lee Yeon.
The guiding he had demonstrated was on a completely
different level.
Hers lasted a mere twenty minutes at best, whereas he had
guided until the door was sealed shut.
So now… none of it held any meaning anymore.
“Your Highness.”
Her eyes had lost their focus.
The once fearless princess had become a pitiful bird overnight.
She had lived her entire life with the goal of becoming the
heir, using everything as a tool, clinging to that one hope. And
now, having lost that purpose, her anguish was unimaginable.
Lee Yeon looked at her tears, tightening his lips.
He wasn’t sure why she had sought him out, but there was one
thing he felt he had to say.
“I don’t know about anything else. But there’s one thing I can
tell you.”
“…”
“When I saw you doing your area-wide guiding, I felt just as
insignificant. It felt like my entire life was being denied. In
that moment, I realised that the princess I had thought was
beneath me was actually better than me.”
It wasn’t meant as comfort. Lee Yeon spoke as if he was
simply recounting his thoughts.
“I’ve always known how to hide, cowering in the background.
That’s all I was ever taught growing up. But that day, I learned
how to stand out. That’s why I decided to reveal my grade.
Because I couldn’t bear to look at the pathetic version of
myself any longer.”
The princess bowed her head deeply, burying her face in her
frail hands. Her thin shoulders trembled softly.
“I’m still learning every day. Learning how pitiful and selfish I
am… but thankfully, I don’t think I’m beyond redemption. So
I’m trying to at least act like a human being now.”
“Huh… huh-huh…”
“You’re a much better person than I am, so I’m sure you’ll rise
again. Don’t fall apart—it doesn’t suit you.”
“… Hic… Hic…”
He’d said all he could.
There was nothing more left to say to her.
Lee Yeon watched the princess weep for a moment before
turning away. She needed some time alone.
As he stepped out of the bedroom with a heavy heart, he found
the crown prince leaning against the hallway wall. Ricardo had
his arms crossed and his head bowed, but upon noticing Lee
Yeon, he raised his green eyes—identical to Elena’s.
His expression wasn’t good either.
“…Thank you.”
His gaze briefly flickered toward the princess’s bedroom door.
Lee Yeon, who was about to offer a bow of respect, hesitated,
then shook his head.
“Please pretend you didn’t hear anything just now.”
“Why?”
“I think that’s what Her Highness would want.”
“…I see.”
Lee Yeon gave a small bow and walked past the prince.
Ricardo seemed lost in thought as well.
As he left the princess’s palace, Doberman was pacing around
the garden. Didn’t he say he had business in the palace?
“Secretary?”
Lee Yeon blinked slowly, surprised that Doberman had been
waiting for him. Hearing his voice, Doberman snapped his
head up, quickly walking over.
“There’s trouble!”
“What?”
“Four White Doors just opened at the same time! We need to
go, now!”
What?
Four doors, simultaneously?
Lee Yeon’s face twisted immediately. He glanced down at the
wristwatch he had forgotten about. It was flashing red with a
persistent warning. He had put it on silent when entering the
palace, but now it blared for attention.
‘How is this even possible?’
Two doors opening at the same time was rare enough. Three in
a row had been unprecedented.
But four? At once?
This had never happened in the history of the world.
“When did they open?”
“Over an hour ago. Because the locations are out in the Basen
region, there were major issues with response and
mobilisation.”
Doberman, despite his urgency, kept his tone steady as he
grabbed Lee Yeon’s arm.
“We’re moving now!”
Lee Yeon was in a state of shock, unable to even ask where
they were heading or the scale of the damage. He was simply
dragged along. As they arrived, trying to calm the nausea in
his gut, the sight before his eyes was nothing short of
unbelievable.
Four massive White Doors stood like towering corners of a
square, facing each other as if forming some kind of barrier.
From each door, monsters of all shapes and colours poured out
in a relentless tide, trampling and destroying everything in
their path.
ROAR!
CRASH!
Cackling, screeching, and snarling echoed through the air as
buildings, cars, and streets were obliterated into pieces.
It was a place he had never seen before. Judging by the lack of
tall buildings, it clearly wasn’t the capital. This seemed more
like a mid-sized city, which had already been partially
evacuated, likely with support from the centre in the O’Halla
region.
It had to be, given the destruction. In just over an hour, half the
city had been levelled.
“Ahhh! Stay away! Please, someone help us!”
“Esper! Please save my child! I beg you!”
“Help… please, arrghh! Ack!”
Espers were throwing themselves into the fray, battling the
monsters as civilians screamed for help. But when doors
opened, the priority wasn’t to kill monsters. It was to save
civilians and minimise damage.
Things were not looking good.
Even if White Doors were the weakest in terms of grade, the
sheer number of them meant the overall threat level was
Yellow or higher. And the fact that this was happening in a
regional hub meant there were far fewer Espers available,
leaving civilians vulnerable.
The barricades meant to keep people out were useless. The
four doors had opened in the heart of the city, where civilians
naturally clustered. People fleeing the doors were running in
every direction, trying to get as far away as possible.
But without Esper assistance, it didn’t take long for them to be
torn apart by monsters.
‘This is bad.’
Taking down the monsters quickly would help close the doors
faster. But each door had a different number of monsters. Until
all four doors were closed, it was going to be a gruelling siege,
a race to protect civilians while monsters kept spilling out.
There was no clear solution in sight.
“Where is Esper Tae Ha-Jin?”
Lee Yeon whipped his head around, asking Doberman. The
man seemed momentarily stunned, staring blankly at the sky.
Lee Yeon followed his gaze.
There, in the centre of the four White Doors, high in the sky,
floated Tae Ha-Jin. Even from a distance, his presence carried
an almost indescribable weight. Dust covered him, showing
he’d been fighting for some time.
Tae Ha-Jin’s face was stern, eyes closed, brow furrowed in
deep concentration. His hands, clasped together like he was
praying, slowly parted.
Between his hands, something dark and crimson flared,
erupting like a cosmic explosion. The once-blue sky turned a
deep, ominous red as the smoke-like energy spiralled
outwards.
With a grimace, Tae Ha-Jin raised his arms.
That’s when it happened.
The sky itself seemed to tear open, a massive wound forming
and growing wider with each passing second. Strange,
cracking noises filled the air, spreading through the battlefield.
The monsters, which had been wreaking havoc, suddenly
froze, heads snapping up to the sky in unison, sensing
something amiss.
It was a chilling scene.
The monsters, devoid of reason, moved in unison, as if guided
by an unseen hand.
The humans were equally stunned. Even those running for
their lives halted, frozen in place, staring at the sky.
Gulp.
Yeon swallowed hard. Sweat dripped down his spine, starting
from his neck. He took a few unconscious steps back.
In the crimson sky, something even redder—an enormous
maw—revealed hundreds of jagged teeth. The sight was
utterly shocking, as if the entire sky was the body of this
monstrous mouth.
“Hah…”
Yeon collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath as if someone
was strangling him. He knew exactly what that maw was. It
was the monster that dwelled within Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel.
The maw curled into a wicked grin.
Thousands of blood-red spinal cords shot out from within,
coiling into one massive tongue. The tongue, made of writhing
spines, slowly licked its own teeth, like a creature savouring
the sight of a delicious meal before it.
“What the… what is that?”
“It’s a monster! A monster has appeared!”
“Screeeam! Run! Diaylen is finished!”
The humans who had been standing still began sprinting in
panic. Even a few espers turned and fled, fear overriding their
sense of duty.
Yeon thought to himself.
If that maw wants to, your escape means nothing.
He recalled a time he’d reached a place with no sky above.
“Tae Ha-Jin…”
Yeon clapped his hand over his mouth, fighting the nausea
rising in the throat. Images of almost being devoured by that
maw, swallowed by the giant waves of a blood-red ocean,
flashed through his mind.
Tae Ha-Jin floated in the sky, his face pale.
Cough.
A dark, almost black, torrent of blood burst from his mouth.
Yeon’s vision blurred with panic.
A sinister aura spread out from the maw, engulfing everything.
As someone sensitive to energy, Yeon felt like he was
suffocating. He also instinctively knew that Tae Ha-Jin’s
energy was heavily contaminated.
With an indifferent swipe, Ha-Jin wiped the blood from his
chin, raising his left hand toward the sky. The maw responded,
opening even wider as if in ecstasy. The more of its interior
that was revealed, the more terror gripped Yeon’s heart.
“This can’t be real…”
Inside the maw was another world.
A sky filled with thick, black clouds, a scorched earth burning
in darkness, and tentacles sharpened to tear anything apart.
Would stepping inside mean total annihilation?
Suddenly, as the maw opened fully, an unbelievable event
occurred. From its core, an immense gravitational force
emerged, shaking the White Door rooted in the ground that
had been spewing out monsters. The door trembled violently,
back and forth.
For a moment, the flow of monsters from the door stopped.
Thud.
Creak, creak!
The door was being ripped out of the ground. The immense
gravity was pulling it out, roots and all, as if the door was a
living thing thrashing in pain.
Thud!
People scattered in pure terror, running desperately. In this
moment, there was no difference between espers and ordinary
people.
Crash!
Finally, one of the White Doors floated into the air, and the
enormous teeth of the maw began to chomp down, devouring
it piece by piece. As the door shattered, the falling fragments
were snatched up by the flying tentacles.
The monsters watched in silence. The sight of them standing
still shattered any remaining assumptions about how they
behaved.
Even after consuming one door, the maw wasn’t satisfied. The
two remaining doors began to sway violently, as if trying to
resist. The suction force focused solely on the doors, warping
the very air around them.
One by one, the maw devoured the remaining doors.
Crunch, crunch!
The sound of splintering wood echoed through the sky as the
maw looked almost delighted with its meal. Yeon steadied his
breath and checked on Tae Ha-Jin’s condition.
The esper was coughing up more blood. Even from a distance,
he looked like he was struggling.
‘This is dangerous.’
I need to guide him… I have to…
A sense of duty overwhelmed Yeon, stronger even than his
fear of the maw. He had to save him.
Looking around, no one seemed to be paying attention to him
in the chaos. Yeon crouched low, pulled out the floating boots,
and quickly slipped them on. As he lifted into the air,
intending to fly to him, he hesitated.
Tae Ha-Jin was reaching out to him with a pale, trembling
hand.
At first, Yeon thought he was beckoning him to hurry, but then
he spoke.
“Don’t… come.”
 Chapter 4. Part 5
His voice was hoarse, cracking with strain.
Even speaking seemed to cause him pain, his face contorted in
agony.
“What do you mean? I need to guide you…!”
“Please… just… listen to me.”
He clutched his chest, grimacing. Yeon’s eyes wavered.
Why?
Why doesn’t he want me to come?
Before Yeon could advance, the maw—still crunching on the
doors—suddenly froze. Although the sky didn’t have eyes,
Yeon felt an eerie sensation as though something was
watching him.
Chills ran down his spine.
It was clear.
That maw was watching him.
Tae Ha-Jin gasped, struggling to breathe.
“It wants… to eat you.”
He narrowed his eyes, his face filled with anguish.
“It wants you because I want you… it seems that monster does
too.”
He looked tortured, like he was confessing a secret he’d been
desperate to hide. His words struck Yeon like a bolt of
lightning.
The obsession Yeon’d sensed from him, on occasion, now laid
bare.
Yeon couldn’t help but recall.
That day in the subway, when he’d been reverse-guided by Tae
Ha-Jin, Yeon had been pulled into his Vessel, facing the
monstrous maw that had halted his thoughts with sheer terror.
—You… look delicious.
And now, Tae Ha-Jin had said it again.
The maw desired her, just as he did.
But back in the subway, their relationship hadn’t been so
ambiguous. They had clashed, testing each other’s limits. So,
why had the maw wanted him then?
In the silence, Yeon continued to ponder.
‘Could it be…’
He formulated a hypothesis.
If, during that year in the lab with Tae Ha-Jin, the maw had
already been coiled within him, slowly growing larger…
‘Had it been watching me all along?’
Tae Ha-Jin had told him he’d lost some of his memories due to
rampage syndrome. But the maw had always been inside him,
lying dormant. If Yeon separated Tae Ha-Jin from the maw,
the creature would still remember all the emotions Tae Ha-Jin
had harboured towards him since they were children.
Even in the lab, he had desired Yeon.
Tae Ha-Jin had looked at him with longing, often revealing his
true feelings, showing how glad he was Yeon was there. So,
the maw must have carried that same thirst and hunger Tae
Ha-Jin had felt for him since childhood.
Of course, this was all based on the premise that the maw had
been inside Tae Ha-Jin for that long.
‘Tae Ha-Jin and Dekal were both awake at dawn, unlike the
other test subjects.’
And they had both awakened as abnormal espers around the
same time. They had even escaped together. That meant they
had been experiencing the signs of awakening for over a year.
Could their sleeplessness have been due to the early symptoms
of awakening?
Was the abnormal traits of the two of them stronger than the
sedatives?
Thinking that way seemed to clear up a lot of questions. After
endless speculation, Yeon reached a conclusion.
From the start, Tae Ha-Jin had that mouth creature within him.
That mouth had been yearning for him, influenced by its host.
‘Then, was that why it sucked me into Ha-Jin’s Vessel during
the reverse guiding…?’
Had that monster dragged him in?
It wasn’t a typical case. Being sucked into an esper’s Vessel
during reverse guiding was unheard of.
And on top of that, the kind of monstrous force that could pull
in someone like him—someone with a dual bloodline.
Only a mouth capable of devouring a Door could possess such
power.
Yeon stopped thinking.
“…Esper.”
Tae Ha-Jin looked pitiful, writhing as though he might
collapse. Ignoring his pleas, Yeon lifted himself up and
approached.
“Stay back!”
He coughed up more black-red blood, his body curled in
agony.
Yeon didn’t stop. The closer he got, the wider the mouth
creature’s grin stretched. It looked pleased.
Come closer.
You’ll be the perfect meal.
Yeon moved cautiously towards Ha-Jin, staring directly at the
creature, as if taming a wild beast. When he reached him, he
suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Tae Ha-Jin’s body felt scorching hot, solid.
“You’ve got no respect for what people say, do you,” Ha-Jin
muttered darkly, his face twisted in pain. Yeon ignored him,
focusing instead on cleansing Ha-Jin’s terrifying energy. It was
no joke—the aura was so wicked it made his skin prickle.
The contamination level must’ve been around 90 percent.
For over an hour after the Door’s appearance, that kind of
level was absurd.
Yeon smiled through the discomfort, pretending it didn’t
bother him.
“That thing can’t eat me anyway, Esper.”
“What…?”
Ha-Jin finally gave in, leaning against Yeon’s body. The toxins
in his system made him feel like death, but the guiding that
Yeon provided sent a dizzying wave of pleasure through him.
Like holy water in a poisoned chalice, it was sickeningly
sweet.
“That thing knows how valuable its host is. If I’m holding
onto you, it won’t be able to devour me.”
It sounded like a stupid plan, but Yeon meant every word. And
just as he said, the mouth creature only licked its lips with its
tendrils, taking no further action.
“And I might be wrong, but… even if I let you go, it probably
still wouldn’t eat me.”
With that, Yeon focused on guiding.
He thought it through. If that mouth was really so desperate to
devour him, wouldn’t it have already done so when he was
still far off in the distance? Instead of swallowing up three
Doors on Ha-Jin’s command, wouldn’t it have swallowed him
up first?
Even when he’d floated up in the air, the same was true.
If it really intended to eat him, it could have easily snatched
him up with those grotesquely flexible tentacles. It was foolish
to just sit there licking its lips.
‘It’s just like its master,’ he mused.
He wasn’t oblivious.
He knew exactly how badly Ha-Jin had wanted him when they
kissed in his house.
And yet, Ha-Jin hadn’t pushed for more. Surprisingly, he had
shown restraint.
Now that he thought about it, Ha-Jin and the mouth creature
were in perfect sync.
“Haa…”
A heavy sigh escaped Ha-Jin as he reflected on the situation.
It had been years since he last had a brush with losing control,
not since he was eighteen when he’d first used the mouth
creature openly. He couldn’t devour anything above a White
Door—the consequences were too severe.
But when he saw so many White Doors today, he thought it
might be possible. The damage from four Doors was severe,
and the number of monsters pouring out was overwhelming,
exceeding even a Yellow Door’s level.
Half the city had been wiped out. Countless lives lost.
In a bid to reverse the situation in one move, this was all he
could think of.
‘But then that monster…’
He was baffled.
The way the mouth creature had looked at Yeon with such
greed was beyond comprehension. Ha-Jin hadn’t expected his
inner desires to manifest so blatantly.
He looked at Yeon, alive and unharmed.
It was a relief. Yeon’s refreshing presence was cleansing his
dark thoughts.
“Are you two alright?”
Doberman came rushing over, having helped evacuate the
civilians. Ha-Jin was in an absolutely wretched state. As soon
as Ha-Jin saw Doberman, his eyes slid shut.
And with that, his body slumped.
“Oh…”
He passed out.
Yeon looked at Doberman with a slight shock on his face. The
last time Ha-Jin had fainted was back when the pink Door
appeared, but that had been because Yeon had taken advantage
of a weakened moment to knock him out. Seeing him collapse
voluntarily like this was a first.
“In seven years, I’ve only seen Esper pass out twice… Today’s
the second time.”
Doberman watched Ha-Jin’s unconscious body with a flicker
of emotion.
For all his roughness, Ha-Jin trusted him. The fact that he let
go of his fragile hold on consciousness the moment he saw
Doberman said it all. Those small actions stirred up emotions
Doberman found hard to suppress.
Saaah.
The blood-red sky, which had looked like the end of the world,
began to return to its usual blue hue. As Ha-Jin lost
consciousness, the mouth creature faded away like red mist.
The creature, with Ha-Jin’s grin, mumbled something. Yeon,
as he had done before, tried to read its lips.
[You have the right, but not the courage… You will be left
alone.]
Foolish, weak one.
He couldn’t help but understand.
The vague words he’d read from its lips last time now formed
clearly in his mind.
Dozens of voices, overlapping as one.
It was a strange, unsettling feeling.
Swallowing hard, Yeon looked at Doberman, his voice
trembling slightly. “Did you… hear that?”
“Hear what?”
Doberman, who’d been staring at the clearing sky, tilted his
head. Yeon pressed his lips together. It seemed the mouth
creature had only spoken for him to hear.
‘It claims to want me, yet dares to curse me?’
He was irritated.
Gently, Yeon stroked the broad back of the man in his arms.
The guiding was progressing smoothly. As the mouth creature
completely disappeared from the sky, the once frozen monsters
began rampaging again, as if on cue.
Fortunately, Ha-Jin’s devouring ability had already consumed
three of the Doors. Only one remained, and the espers were
starting to regain their resolve as the tide turned in their
favour.
The capital, realising the urgency of the situation, had sent
even more reinforcements. As more espers with abnormal
types arrived, the number of monsters turning to dust
increased.
The final White Door was soon dealt with.
There was no need for wide-range guiding today. Yeon
focused solely on guiding Ha-Jin, observing the devastated
scene. Espers, guides, and civilian hospital staff were busy
moving through the area.
There was no longer any reason for them to stay here.
“Secretary, I think we can head home now.”
“Yes. I’ll take you both.”
Doberman helped transport the two of them to Ha-Jin’s
bedroom on the second floor. Thanks to him, Yeon was able to
lay Ha-Jin directly on the bed.
“I should assist at the scene. Sorry, but please take care of our
Esper for me.”
Doberman’s face showed an apologetic look.
“No problem. It’s my job, after all. You take care out there,
too.”
“Yes, then.”
For the next two hours, Yeon quietly guided Ha-Jin. The
backlash from devouring three Doors was intense; every time
the levels dropped, they’d spike again. Any delay, and Ha-Jin
might have lost control completely.
The thought made Yeon shudder.
Ha-Jin’s deathly pale face began to regain some colour. His
breathing steadied. Though the contamination level was still at
42 percent, there was something strangely enjoyable about
calming Ha-Jin’s overwhelming energy. It was on a
completely different scale from any other esper he had guided.
Watching Tae Ha-Jin’s face, with his eyes gently closed, had
its own peculiar charm.
“That must’ve hurt.”
Tenderly brushing Esper’s hair aside, Yeon found himself
feeling sorry for him.
Tae Ha-Jin had been hovering around 90% contamination. It
must’ve been agonising, enough to drive him mad. He had
vomited blood multiple times, yet even in that state, he had
pushed Yeon away, resisting the guiding process. Tae Ha-Jin
didn’t want him to come near, afraid he’d be devoured by the
Grade 2 abnormal-type monster.
‘…You really can’t hide it, can you?’
Tae Ha-Jin’s confession had been so matter-of-fact, it was
almost baffling. For a moment, Yeon wondered if he was
lying. But as time passed, his sincerity became undeniable,
shining through more clearly with each moment.
‘What am I supposed to feel about you?’
After the confession, Yeon had already admitted to himself
that he had feelings too. After all, the bastard he once wanted
to beat to a pulp had become someone he worried about and
couldn’t stop thinking of. Physical contact with him wasn’t
repulsive anymore.
‘And now?’
It was difficult.
Knowing how Tae Ha-Jin felt, Yeon’s own emotions remained
elusive. They weren’t anything to each other yet. Not
colleagues, not lovers—something in between. Yet neither of
them tried to define their relationship.
It was too heavy a burden to simply label, given the shared
past they carried.
“…”
Yeon lowered his face after watching Tae Ha-Jin’s handsome
features in silence. He pressed his lips softly to Tae’s. This
wasn’t for guiding efficiency; he just wanted to do it.
As he tried to pull away, a large hand gently cradled the back
of his head.
“…!”
Yeon’s eyes shot open.
‘He wasn’t asleep?’
Caught sneaking a kiss! Yeon wasn’t some innocent child, yet
here he was, secretly kissing someone… His face flushed with
heat.
Tae Ha-Jin cupped his cheeks with both hands. His hands were
as large, rough, and strong as their owner.
Thinking of that, Yeon’s mind inevitably wandered to
something else equally… robust.
‘God, I’m losing it…’
Sticking close to Tae Ha-Jin had apparently turned her into a
pervert too.
Yeon pushed against his chest. Tae Ha-Jin let him go without a
fight.
“I thought you’d passed out.”
“I did.”
His low voice was rough, his throat clearly parched. Yeon
poured him a glass of lukewarm water from the bedside table,
which he accepted and drank as he slowly sat up.
“When did you wake up?”
“Around ‘That must’ve hurt.’”
Did I say that out loud?
Yeon silently stuck his tongue out. He hadn’t realised he’d
spoken the words.
Thud.
After setting the glass down on the table, Tae Ha-Jin gazed at
him intently. Feeling slightly awkward, Yeon averted his eyes.
“Let’s finish what we started.”
Grabbing Yeon’s wrist and pulling him towards the bed, Tea
Ha-Jim didn’t use much force, and yet, the action was
effortless and swift, resulting in Yeon ending up on Tae’s lap.
Slowly tilting his head, Tae Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow at this
unusual compliance.
“What’s with the cute behaviour? Did I do something good?”
He chuckled.
Sneaking a kiss on an unconscious man, and now obediently
following his lead? The usually aloof Yeon, who acted like a
haughty cat, was now guiding him through physical contact
like it was nothing. This guide’s abilities were undeniably
impressive.
“Are you feeling alright? I saw you cough up blood at least
three times earlier.”
“Yeon.”
“Yes?”
“I feel like I’m dying, but I still want to have sex with you.
Am I losing it?”
“Yes.”
Ha-Jin laughed softly, despite the seriousness of his words.
“Damn, this is bad. I really want to.”
Though he joked, Tae Ha-Jin was already lifting Yeon off his
lap, showing no intention of acting on his desire. He wasn’t
the type to take advantage of Yeon just because he wanted to.
And yet, Yeon grabbed Tae’s wrist to stop him.
Esper’s smile faltered slightly. Yeon pursed his lips, the brow
furrowing.
“I’m human too, you know. I’ve got an appetite. And yes, that
includes a sexual one.”
“…You’re serious?”
“Can we do it like last time? Without hurting me?”
Yeon smiled awkwardly.
Admitting such a thing felt strange, difficult even. He wasn’t
used to it. Every word made his face stiffen, but despite the
awkwardness, the desire to be closer was genuine. The unique
scent of Tae Ha-Jin filled his senses, making him wondering
what kind of lover Tae Ha-Jin would be this time.
Tae Ha-Jin reached up, touching the corder of Yeon’s lips with
a thumb. The touch was so gentle, any awkwardness
immediately melting away.
He spoke with a serious expression.
“You sure about this? I don’t think I can hold back this time.”
The crimson eyes focused on Yeon’s lips, fingers tracing the
curve of the mouth. Yeon swallowed nervously.
‘Is he implying he held back last time?’
Yeon couldn’t believe it. He’d cried during their last
encounter, and by the end, he had fainted. If he hadn’t blacked
out, Ha-Jin probably would’ve gone at him even more
relentlessly. It had been Yeon’s first time being on the
receiving end like that, and he wouldn’t have been surprised if
his body had been torn in two.
Arguing was pointless, and he had nothing else to say.
Yeon silently met his gaze. Their eyes locked, an unspoken
tension crackling between them.
Tae Ha-Jin’s lips curved into a smirk.
“Sometimes, it feels like you were made to drive me insane.”
 Chapter 4. Part 6 [PG-18]
As soon as the words left Tae Ha-Jin’s mouth, he shoved Lee
Yeon down onto the bed, his hand pressing against Yeon’s
collarbone. His touch was rough.
His long index finger traced slowly from Yeon’s chest down to
his pelvis. When he pressed firmly on the hollow of Yeon’s
hip, his body jolted.
Ha-Jin watched Yeon’s immediate reaction with a smug grin.
His finger slid lower, teasingly brushing against Yeon’s
erection, which had risen at some point. Yeon’s brow
furrowed, realising that Ha-Jin was deliberately toying with
him.
Ha-Jin’s fingertips worked their way up the shaft, circling the
tip. The dampness in Yeon’s trousers was becoming more
noticeable, already soaked from his arousal.
Without warning, Ha-Jin lowered his head, dragging his
tongue over the damp fabric of Yeon’s trousers.
“What the…!”
Yeon’s eyes widened in shock at the lewd act. He reached to
push Ha-Jin’s head away, but before he could, Ha-Jin’s lips
wrapped around the tip of his cock, biting down slightly as
though devouring it. The strong pressure made Yeon gasp.
“Ah!”
Yeon groaned, furrowing his brows as the breath caught in his
throat. The hand that had been trying to stop Ha-Jin now
hovered aimlessly in the air, his fist clenching. Ha-Jin, still
teasingly mouthing Yeon’s cock, ran his hand up the inside of
Yeon’s thigh, creeping deeper. He massaged Yeon’s balls while
pulling down the zipper of his trousers with his mouth.
Impatiently, Ha-Jin yanked down both Yeon’s trousers and
underwear in one go, followed almost immediately by
stripping off his own shirt, exposing his sculpted body.
Ha-Jin’s eyes lingered for a moment on Yeon’s twitching cock
before he grabbed Yeon by the waist and hoisted him onto his
shoulder. Yeon scowled, dangling like a sack of potatoes.
“What the hell are you doing?” Yeon asked, his voice
incredulous.
Still carrying him, Ha-Jin stepped down from the bed and
began walking towards the bathroom. Yeon blinked in
surprise.
“Now you want to take a shower?”
No way… right? But Yeon’s body was burning with desire.
Even though they’d just fought off a Grade 4 monster, and his
clothes and body were filthy, Yeon wanted nothing more than
to fuck.
Ha-Jin, as usual, was calm as he answered, “What if you get a
disease?”
“You’re really worried about your health right now?”
“Not mine. Yours.”
Ha-Jin set Yeon down inside the bathroom and turned on the
shower, finding the right temperature before pushing Yeon into
the water.
“Ugh!”
Caught off guard, Yeon was now completely soaked. With his
bottom half naked and only his shirt clinging to his wet body,
he looked utterly indecent. Ha-Jin stood back, watching for a
moment. His gaze travelled from Yeon’s toes, slowly moving
up to his lips, which were flushed red like they had been
painted.
His eyes traced the outline of Yeon’s nipples, visible through
the wet fabric, and finally settled on his still semi-hard cock.
“Fuck…”
Ha-Jin ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. He wanted
nothing more than to shove Yeon down and fuck him senseless
right there. To lose himself in Yeon’s cries as he released the
pent-up frustration inside him.
But, showing an unusual level of restraint, Ha-Jin removed his
trousers. His cock, already hard, jutted out, twitching with
anticipation. Yeon stared at it with wide eyes.
‘How does that even fit?’ Yeon wondered, genuinely
bewildered. It was a miracle he wasn’t split in half.
Yeon turned off the water, shampoo lathered in his hair, and
Ha-Jin strode over with body wash in hand, rubbing it into
Yeon’s chest. Yeon flinched at the sudden contact.
“I can do it myself.”
“You wash me.”
“Why don’t we just wash ourselves separ—Ah!”
Ignoring Yeon’s protest, Ha-Jin reached down and stroked his
cock. Yeon buckled, leaning into Ha-Jin’s firm chest as he
gasped.
“Ah… that’s enou—”
“Will you wash me or not?” Ha-Jin’s tone was both
demanding and playful.
Yeon could only groan in response, his mind clouded with
desire as Ha-Jin continued to tease him. He felt like he was
going to lose it any second.
“Answer me.”
Each time Yeon was about to come, Ha-Jin slowed down,
edging him cruelly. The frustration was driving him mad.
Desperately, Yeon finally cried out, “I’ll do it! I’ll wash you!”
Even after Yeon agreed, Ha-Jin didn’t stop. His hand moved
more purposefully now, squeezing just the right amount and
keeping the rhythm just on the edge of overwhelming. Unable
to hold back, Yeon came, spilling onto Ha-Jin’s thigh.
“Haa…”
Panting, Yeon rested his forehead against Ha-Jin’s chest. He
hadn’t planned on coming in the shower.
Meanwhile, Ha-Jin seemed satisfied, casually washing the rest
of Yeon’s body. It had been years since someone else had
washed him, not since his mother was alive. The act felt
strange but oddly comforting, especially with how natural Ha-
Jin seemed about it.
Yeon’s eyes drifted to Ha-Jin’s erection. ‘Doesn’t it hurt?’ he
wondered aloud.
It had been hard since they were in bed, yet Ha-Jin was still
holding back. In an unexpected display of patience, Ha-Jin had
shown more self-control the deeper their emotions had grown.
Yeon, now determined, grabbed some body wash and reached
for Ha-Jin’s cock.
Ha-Jin, who had been scrubbing Yeon’s arm, turned his head
slowly.
“What are you doing?”
“You said you wanted me to wash you.”
“Not starting with my cock.”
“…Well, isn’t that my choice?”
Grumbling under his breath, Yeon awkwardly began washing
Ha-Jin’s cock. He’d done this once before, the last time Ha-Jin
had been overwhelmingly turned on. That time, Ha-Jin had
even come all over Yeon’s face, much to Yeon’s surprise and
embarrassment.
Ha-Jin chuckled as though remembering the same moment.
“You remember the last time, don’t you? In the bathroom?”
Ha-Jin’s cock, already large, seemed to swell even more as
Yeon’s hands worked up his stomach. But Ha-Jin grabbed his
wrist, pushing his hand back down to his cock, which throbbed
ominously in his grip.
“Your face looked so damn sexy back then.”
The tone was almost like an exclamation. Tae Ha-Jin’s gaze
was so intense, it felt as if it could pierce right through
someone. His crimson eyes flickered dangerously for a
moment before he closed the distance between them, his lips
crashing down on Yeon’s as if to devour him.
Overwhelmed by Ha-Jin’s strength, Yeon’s body was pushed
back. He nearly slipped on the slick floor, but Ha-Jin’s arm
was quick to snake around his back, steadying him. His hand
found the shower button, pressing it without a second thought.
Shhhhhh.
It wasn’t warm water. Instead, bubbles spilled out, but Ha-Jin
didn’t care. His tongue invaded Yeon’s mouth, expanding his
territory, the wet sounds echoing through the bathroom.
“Mmph… uh…!”
His hands began to explore Yeon’s body, one trailing from his
waist up to his chest, where his fingers teased the nipple,
slowly applying pressure. Yeon frowned slightly. He doubted
he would ever get used to this feeling — it was a bizarre mix
of ticklishness and heat bubbling up inside him.
Tae Ha-Jin pressed another button on the shower. This time, it
was normal hot water that poured out, washing away the
foamy bubbles that had covered them both.
Click.
When the shower was over, Ha-Jin grabbed Yeon’s wrist
hastily and dragged him out. He guided Yeon to the bed,
drawing the curtains halfway before returning. From the
bedside table, he retrieved a condom and a bottle of gel,
tossing them onto the bed.
“Anything else you need?”
…Was that a question?
Yeon tilted his head. It was strange how Ha-Jin, who was
already raging with arousal, still managed to take care of
preparation.
“Probably not—”
Before Yeon could finish, Ha-Jin’s lips were on his again. He
grabbed them both in his hand, squeezing them together,
rubbing up and down. Water dripped from their still-wet
bodies, the slick sound of skin on skin dominating Yeon’s ears.
Ha-Jin laid Yeon down on the bed and straddled him, opening
the gel while kissing and slathering it onto his hand until it
was thoroughly slick. Without hesitation, he slid a finger
inside Yeon.
“Nggh…!”
It didn’t take long for a second finger to join the first. The
unfamiliar intrusion twisted Yeon’s expression. Though there
was no pain, thanks to Ha-Jin’s ability, the discomfort was
sharp. Ha-Jin’s mouth left Yeon’s lips, moving down to his
chest, where his tongue traced over his nipple, dragging
slowly.
He played with it, as if tasting an ice cream, sucking and
nibbling at the sensitive skin. It tickled. Yeon bit down hard on
his lower lip. Below, Ha-Jin’s fingers thrust back and forth,
stretching him wider. When a third finger pushed deep toward
his belly, Yeon’s back arched.
“Ah! Wait a second!”
Yeon, overwhelmed by the pleasure, gripped Ha-Jin’s wrist,
but his strength was nothing compared to Ha-Jin’s. His fingers
kept moving relentlessly inside him, and Yeon could feel every
shift of motion.
He squeezed his eyes shut, the vulgar, wet sounds growing
louder with each thrust, each time hitting just the edge of
something that left him wanting more.
“Haa…”
Ha-Jin chuckled under his breath. He withdrew his fingers,
positioning himself between Yeon’s legs, swiftly slipping on
the condom. Grabbing Yeon’s hips, he parted his thighs and
began to push inside. Despite all the preparation, the entrance
stretched tight, the muscles tensing as if about to tear.
There was no pain, but every sensation was sharp and clear.
Yeon gripped Ha-Jin’s thigh, trying to bear the foreign feeling.
“You’ll snap me in two. Relax a little, will you?”
Ha-Jin’s lips curled into a smirk as his hand found Yeon’s
member, stroking it gently. The combination of the fullness
below and the pleasure above loosened the tension in Yeon’s
body, allowing the rest of Ha-Jin to slide in more smoothly.
“Haa…”
Ha-Jin clenched his jaw, a small crackle of teeth grinding
together.
Was this heaven or something else entirely?
“I don’t understand… why does it feel so damn good?”
He murmured the words almost to himself, climbing fully on
top of Yeon, their bodies pressed together. At last, they were
completely joined. His fingers brushed over Yeon’s furrowed
brow, smoothing it out.
Even in distress, Yeon looked beautiful to him. Those delicate
eyes gazed back at him.
“…”
In that moment, something struck Ha-Jin like a bolt of
lightning, cutting through his thoughts.
‘I…’
I think I love you.
The sudden realisation made heat surge through his body.
That word — love — was the first word Yeon’s birth mother
had taught him. Since then, it was a word that had rarely
crossed his mind. Yet now, Ha-Jin felt an inexplicable rush of
emotion.
He was still inside Yeon, unmoving, when Yeon, with one eye
cracked open, peered up at him.
“Why aren’t you moving—ugh!”
Suddenly, Ha-Jin snapped his hips, pulling almost all the way
out before slamming back in. The abrupt, rough motion made
the world spin for Yeon, the force of it shaking the bed. Every
time Ha-Jin thrust, he hit the mark with brutal accuracy,
sending waves of pleasure through Yeon.
“Ah… wait, wait…! Haa!”
The pleasure was tearing him apart. Yeon gripped Ha-Jin’s
shoulders tightly. Feeling that grip, Ha-Jin lowered himself,
resting his forehead against Yeon’s shoulder.
Thrust.
Thrust.
The movement of Ha-Jin’s hips showed no signs of stopping.
His low voice rumbled with a groan.
“You know…”
“Ah… slower…!”
“You’re fucking beautiful.”
He raised his torso, placing Yeon’s legs over his shoulders and
driving into him harder. The harsh sound of skin slapping
echoed through the room. His thick length pounded Yeon’s
prostate, making his face flush deeply.
“Ah…!”
Ha-Jin continued to thrust, the sight of Yeon coming undone
beneath him driving him wild. He was obsessed. It wasn’t just
pleasure anymore; it was something deeper, something more
primal. For the first time, Ha-Jin found himself wanting to
satisfy his partner, not just himself.
If only Yeon would lose his mind like this.
If only Yeon’s world revolved around him, as his now did
around Yeon.
He reached down, stroking Yeon’s neglected length without
mercy. The wet sounds grew louder as pre-cum dripped from
Yeon’s tip, his prostate being hit at the same time.
“Ah! Stop… stop!”
Yeon’s back arched as his body tensed. His cock throbbed,
spurting milky liquid in quick, desperate bursts. Yet Ha-Jin
didn’t stop. His gaze lingered on Yeon’s dazed face.
Ha-Jin leaned forward, Yeon’s legs still on his shoulders, and
their bodies pressed close again, his hips never halting.
Thrust. Thrust.
“Lee Yeon.”
Ha-Jin slid two fingers into Yeon’s mouth. After calling his
name, he made sure Yeon couldn’t respond.
“Suck.”
Yeon felt like he was going to die. He had just climaxed, but
Ha-Jin wouldn’t stop, and the relentless pleasure threatened to
drive him mad. He sucked weakly on the fingers in his mouth,
trying to distract Ha-Jin enough to finish.
Licking his fingers, Yeon saw Ha-Jin’s face tighten, his brows
pulling together. His thrusts grew rougher as he inched closer
to his own release. Yeon bit down harder on his lips, gripping
the sheets for dear life.
“Fucking hell…”
Ha-Jin yanked his fingers out, his movements slowing. There
was a deep, rolling sensation as his cock throbbed within
Yeon, and Ha-Jin finally came.
Yeon blinked, slightly dazed. He hadn’t expected that to work
so well.
Just as he began to gather himself, Ha-Jin, now free of the
condom, flipped him over without warning.
“What the… ugh!”
Yeon didn’t even have a chance to finish before Ha-Jin pushed
back inside, even deeper than before. His cock rammed into
Yeon’s core, and though there was no pain, the pressure was
intense, almost overwhelming. Ha-Jin kept going, his mind
lost to the sensation.
Thrust.
Every time Ha-Jin’s hips met Yeon’s, the sound of skin
slapping filled the air, and Yeon’s grip on the sheets tightened
until his knuckles turned white.
Ha-Jin leaned down, pressing his chest against Yeon’s back,
still thrusting. His palm pressed down on Yeon’s belly.
“Haa… what are you—”
“Do you see it?”
His voice was playful. Yeon, head buried in the sheets,
glanced down and saw it: the bulge in his stomach where Ha-
Jin’s cock was stretching him out.
Yeon’s pupils dilated.
‘He’s that deep inside me…?’
A reasonable suspicion crossed his mind—could one of his
organs have ruptured? Tae Ha-Jin’s overwhelming masculinity
was intimidating. And yet, every time he moved in and out, a
dizzying sensation rippled through his entire body. The
absence of pain only heightened the delirium, turning it into
unbearable pleasure.
“Ha… Ha… Tae… Ha-Jin…!”
You mad bastard.
There was no time to say anything more. He never gave a
chance. As Tae Ha-Jin thrust himself inside, he kissed him, a
maddening invasion of his mouth. Their tongues met, and it
felt as though he was losing his mind, saliva dripping out, but
it didn’t matter anymore.
Briefly pulling back, Tae Ha-Jin revealed his crimson eyes,
glinting with lust. He looked beautiful, even as he neared
climax, overtaken by desire.
That lust.
That gaze—directed solely at him—was undeniable. The
sudden realisation made Yeon’s face contort in disbelief. Tae
Ha-Jin’s lips curved into a smirk.
“Fallen for me, finally?”
Thud!
Yeon bit down on his lower lip before he could deny it. The
bastard never allowed time to answer. He’d been teasing him
all along.
Then Tae Ha-Jin flipped him onto his side, lifting one leg into
a cross-like position, and entered him deeply once again.
Gripping his thigh, Tae Ha-Jin ran his tongue slowly up Yeon’s
ankle.
Yeon’s eyes widened, and he tried to push him off with all his
strength, but it was no use.
Thud!
“Aah…!”
“Stay still.”
Yeon squeezed his eyes shut. Why was he biting his ankle? He
couldn’t understand, yet the tickling sensation wasn’t as
unpleasant as it should have been, driving him mad. Tae Ha-
Jin, now moving within him, grabbed Yeon’s hand, guiding it
towards his own groin.
Perplexed, Yeon lifted his head, only to see Tae Ha-Jin’s
wicked smile.
“When I come, you’ll come with me.”
“…What did you say?”
Yeon frowned, as if he hadn’t heard right. Tae Ha-Jin’s
response was unwavering.
“Or I’ll keep going until you pass out.”
The intensity picked up, and Yeon realised the silent game had
begun. Tae Ha-Jin was fully capable of making good on his
promise, continuing until Yeon lost consciousness.
To save himself, Yeon grasped his own cock, stroking as Tae
Ha-Jin thrust deeper. As he jerked himself off while being
penetrated, Yeon was forced to confront his own growing
depravity. It felt like his brain was shutting down,
overwhelmed by shameless desire.
The room echoed with all sorts of sounds.
The smack of skin on skin, the wet noise of his hand moving,
the slapping of their bodies…
Yeon’s vision blurred like someone experiencing their first hit
of a drug. He was surrendering to the overwhelming
sensations flooding through his body. Watching him, Tae Ha-
Jin bit his lip.
“You’re driving me insane.”
“Hah… Hah… Just… a bit… faster…”
Tae Ha-Jin’s face twisted as he complied with the desperate
plea. The bed creaked, responding to the feverish pace, and
Yeon matched it, jerking himself frantically. The once
shocking scene had now become inevitable.
“Hah…!”
A low moan escaped, barely contained. Tae Ha-Jin thrust hard
into him one last time, spilling inside, and Yeon followed suit,
his release immediate.
It took them a while to regain their breath, both lost in a haze
of exhaustion and release.
Tae Ha-Jin pulled out, groaning. For the first time, he’d
finished inside Yeon without a condom. He’d never done that
before.
“Sorry.”
Tae Ha-Jin ran a hand through his hair, looking troubled. It
was rare for him to apologise, and if Yeon hadn’t been so
drained, he might have been more surprised.
The moment Tae Ha-Jin moved away, the pain, which had
been absent, slammed into Yeon’s body.
‘Am I out of my mind…?’
It hurt like hell.
There wasn’t a part of him that didn’t ache—thighs, buttocks,
everything. Tae Ha-Jin had done all the moving, yet somehow,
Yeon’s back felt like it had taken the brunt of it.
Limp like a wet rag, Yeon stared blankly at the high ceiling.
Soon, his eyes drifted shut. Tae Ha-Jin, noticing the mess
they’d made, fetched a few towels from the bathroom.
With practised ease, Tae Ha-Jin cleaned Yeon’s lower body,
using his fingers to scoop out the remnants of his own release.
It was embarrassing beyond belief, but Yeon kept his eyes
closed.
“Yeon.”
Tae Ha-Jin spoke quietly as he continued to wipe him down
with a damp towel.
Yeon answered silently in his head.
What is it, you perverted bastard?
Tae Ha-Jin’s hands moved methodically over Yeon’s reddened
skin, wiping away the sweat and cum. His voice was calm,
almost detached.
“I think I’m in love with you.”
“…”
Yeon slowly opened his eyes, staring at the man who had just
confessed. He didn’t seem like someone who had bared his
heart just moments ago.
‘Why does he always…’
…drop bombs like that, out of nowhere?
Yeon swallowed hard, his hands and feet going numb. No
matter how many times Tae Ha-Jin confessed, Yeon would
never build up an immunity.
A hollow laugh escaped him.
“…You’re insane.”
The words croaked out, dry as sand. Tae Ha-Jin’s smirk
widened. Yeon closed his eyes again. The world seemed to
fade to black as sleep pulled him under.
Just before unconsciousness took him, Tae Ha-Jin’s lazy voice
reached him.
“You’ll love me too, eventually.”
The weight of that promise pressed against his heart.
Yeon passed out.
 Chapter 4. Part 7
—Heavens, what kind of work trip lasts this long?
“I’ll be back soon, Mum. I should be home the day after
tomorrow.”
—Uibin, you ought to thank Yeon. He’s been the one keeping
me updated, calling more often than you. Can’t believe you’re
still my daughter with the way you act!
Mum. Trust me, I’m already grateful beyond words.
Uibin smiled weakly as she packed her things, a bitter
expression on her face.
“Sorry, Mum. I’ll call you later when I’m not so busy, okay?”
—Fine, but don’t you forget to call, alright?
“Yeah, I won’t. Talk soon.”
Ending the call, Uibin composed herself, turning towards the
man helping her with her packing. She flashed him a bright
smile.
“Thank you so much, Dekal.”
Dekal had insisted on helping her pack, even though she had
tried to refuse. Their treatment sessions had come to an end,
and thanks to him, Uibin was being discharged earlier than
expected. It hadn’t been a long stay, but it had felt endless.
“It’s nothing.”
Dekal continued packing the uneaten food into her bag. The
fruit and piles of macarons were gifts he’d brought each time
he visited. Uibin felt guilty, like she owed him too much.
“Really, I mean it. No one knew I was here except for you and
Yeon. Sometimes I felt so lonely, but you always came to
visit… It was comforting. Isn’t that funny? You were just
doing me a favour.”
Dekal blinked slowly, his expression unreadable, then spoke in
his usual calm tone.
“It’s not funny.”
“…What?”
Surprised by his unexpected reply, Uibin turned to him. Dekal,
still packing, continued.
“Why would it be funny that you found comfort?”
His brow furrowed slightly, as if it didn’t make sense to him.
Noticing the subtle change in his face, Uibin burst out
laughing.
Dekal frowned deeper.
“Haha, it’s just… you’re so serious all the time. It’s amusing,
don’t you know that?”
Dekal was always so earnest. His seriousness reassured Uibin.
Once, she had casually mentioned her favourite macaron shop,
and every time since then, he’d brought macarons from that
very shop.
Even though he never ate them himself.
Uibin had realised that Dekal had no taste for sweets, yet he
always brought enough macarons to feed an army. Before that,
it had been seasonal fruits of every variety.
‘He’s a good person.’
Dekal was a good man.
He always kept a neutral expression, his tone was steady, and
he wasn’t much of a talker, but he had a knack for making
silence comfortable. Even while receiving his restoration
treatment, Uibin was able to remain calm.
Thanks to Dekal.
What’s more, whenever Dekal visited the hospital, his
contamination level was always low. It was because he’d
received guiding in advance. Uibin realised this later on. Ever
since guiding him with his own blood, Dekal had been
deliberately getting guided before coming to the hospital.
“So… I suppose we won’t be seeing each other again.”
Uibin, who had been laughing for a while, said with a tinge of
regret in her smile. At this, Dekal lowered his gaze as if in
thought, then looked at Uibin.
“Seems so.”
Uibin had expected Dekal to offer a polite, “We’ll run into
each other, I’m sure,” or, “Won’t we see each other around?”
But his response was so typically Dekal that Uibin couldn’t
even feel disappointed. It seemed she’d grown fond of him in
that time.
Just as Uibin was about to say something else, the door
suddenly swung open with a loud thud!
Both of them turned their eyes toward the door.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Denied.”
“…Did you just say denied? Have you eaten your conscience
for dessert?”
It was Yeon and Tae Ha-Jin.
They were bickering as they walked in. Every time Ha-Jin put
his hand on Yeon’s shoulder, Yeon shook him off in irritation.
Ha-Jin, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy Yeon’s harsh
reactions. His lips were curled ever so slightly upward.
Uibin tensed slightly as Ha-Jin entered her room. Tae Ha-Jin
had never given her a particularly good impression. Since
arriving in the capital, Ha-Jin had consistently pestered Yeon,
and the whole incident with Ju Mi-Hoon also weighed on
Uibin’s mind.
On top of that, it seemed Ha-Jin didn’t like her much either.
Their eyes met briefly, and Ha-Jin’s gaze was cold enough that
it was hard to ignore.
“Oh, Dekal, you’re here too?”
Dekal, who had been silently observing Ha-Jin, now turned his
attention to Yeon.
“Yes.”
“Thanks so much for looking after things on my request…
really, I appreciate it.”
Dekal glanced at Ha-Jin.
It was clear that Yeon had asked as a favour, but honestly,
Dekal hadn’t been that concerned. If it hadn’t been Tae Ha-Ji’s
request, he probably wouldn’t have gone to the effort.
But now… it was different.
If he had known what kind of person Kim Uibin was, he had
the feeling that even if it were just a simple favour for Yeon,
he would have made an effort. He didn’t know why, but he
would have.
“It’s nothing.”
“Next time, I’ll treat you to a really expensive meal. Just give
me a call when you’re hungry.”
Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow at Yeon’s light-hearted remark.
“Why the hell are you buying him a meal?”
Ha-Jin didn’t seem to be hiding his connection to Dekal in this
place.
‘Pretending not to know each other outside, but here…’
He didn’t seem to mind that Uibin was fully aware either. That
was actually a good thing. But Yeon was still not in a good
mood towards Ha-Jin. For the last couple of days, he’d been
stuck in Ha-Jin’s quarters, constantly tormented by him.
Every time he regained consciousness, that bastard would
pounce on him like a starving beast, draining him in every
possible way. Truthfully, he was still sore down there. He was
just pretending to be fine in front of Uibin.
“Then do I have to buy you a meal, Tae Ha-Jin? Why would
I?”
Ha-Jin scoffed.
“Why not? I mean, I’ve been…”
Yeon’s eyes widened as he lunged to cover Ha-Jin’s mouth.
Glancing at Uibin, Yeon growled in a low voice, teeth
clenched.
“I’ll buy you whatever you want. Just make a list.”
His words were threatening, but Ha-Jin nodded with
satisfaction. Watching the two of them, Dekal felt a strange
sensation. Yeon’s words from the other day struck him like
lightning.
—Dekal, you need to listen closely, okay? Stand in line. You
might not know it, but Tae-ha-jin likes me. I still can’t believe
it, but he said it with his own mouth.
To think it was true.
The idea that Tae Ha-Jin could actually like someone felt
oddly wrong. And Yeon, of all people, was the son of the
research director.
Even if there was no bad blood between them, liking him
seemed difficult.
Dekal remembered how the two had spent a year together in
the lab, forming an unexpectedly deep bond. He used to
wonder if they were both sane, laughing and chatting in such a
desolate place.
And now, they must both be aware of who they were back
then.
‘How are they so unbothered by it?’
Maybe their bond was even deeper than he had thought.
“Uibin. Are you fully recovered now?”
“Yeah. Fully healthy.”
Uibin swung her arms in circles, showing off her restored
health. Dekal glanced at her thin, spinning arms before
catching Uibin’s gaze.
“……”
“……”
Both of them looked away at the same time, as if it were
planned.
Yeon glanced between the two of them, sensing something off.
What’s this… atmosphere?
No way…
“Did you two have a fight?”
A flustered Uibin quickly waved her hand.
“No? What fight? It’s not like that.”
“Then why’s the mood so weird?”
“It’s not weird. Now, should we all head out? I’ve already
packed everything.”
As Uibin tried to pick up three bundles of luggage, Dekal
reached out and took them instead. Uibin, who was about to
protest, lowered her hands. Dekal had a subtle stubbornness
about him. No point arguing with him.
Seeing Uibin give up so easily, Dekal smirked slightly.
“Dekal, can you explain Uibin’s condition in detail?”
Yeon followed Dekal as he exited the room first, turning off
the lights. Uibin was about to step out too, but froze at the
sound of a voice that pierced the silence.
“Kim Uibin.”
Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, Tae Ha-Jin had called
her. The directness of it startled Uibin; she hadn’t expected
Ha-Jin to speak to her so suddenly. His gaze was still cold, and
his presence was suffocating.
‘How… does Yeon live with someone like this every day?’
Uibin swallowed dryly, marvelling at Yeon’s courage. Being in
Ha-Jin’s company even for a short while was exhausting.
The dark room was dimly lit by the light streaming in from the
open door. Ha-Jin stood against the wall, barely visible in the
shadows, but his sharp red eyes pierced through Uibin.
“Don’t cause Yeon any more trouble.”
“……”
“If you can’t protect yourself, then stay out of the way.”
Tae Ha-Jin’s words stabbed at Uibin’s heart like a giant thorn.
“I don’t care about whatever circumstances you have, Kim
Uibin. What I see is Yeon constantly protecting you, and I hate
it.”
Ha-Jin was recalling several moments.
Like when Yeon begged him to find Uibin’s location to save
her from her boyfriend, only to be troubled by the boyfriend’s
outburst.
Or when Yeon had made his first-ever request to him, asking
for Uibin’s whereabouts.
Or when Yeon assaulted Dae-Young and ended up with a
lawsuit because of it.
That blind protection—Ha-Jin didn’t understand where it came
from, nor what kind of bond they had built between them.
But regardless of the reasons.
The last thing Ha-Jin wanted was for Yeon to get hurt.
“Frankly, it pisses me off. That you’re Yeon’s weakness. It’s
fucking annoying, if you ask me.”
Ha-Jin had considered every possibility.
If a Door opened and Uibin was about to be crushed by
monsters, Yeon would do anything to save her.
If someone tried to hurt Yeon, they would look for his
weaknesses, and inevitably, they’d land on Uibin.
“If you’re in danger, Yeon will risk his life trying to help you.
He leaves my side so easily, but I doubt he’ll do this to you.
Unintentionally, Uibin had the potential to cause Yeon pain.
Kim Uibin’s face crumbled.
His words were brutally real and deeply painful.
Uibin couldn’t say a word, not because she didn’t want to, but
because everything he said was undeniably true.
Yeon would likely never abandon her.
“But if Lee Yeon gets hurt or ends up in serious trouble
because of you…”
I will kill you, Kim Uibin.
His eyes gleamed with a chilling certainty.
Uibin bit down hard on the inside of her cheek. If she didn’t
do something to stop herself, she knew she’d burst into tears.
She still had her pride, after all. If she broke down here, Ha-Jin
would only press harder.
The man stayed silent, merely observing her.
Tossed between feelings of bitterness, helplessness, and a faint
sense of injustice, Uibin met his gaze. Her voice, trembling
with frustration, grew louder.
“I don’t want to be a burden. I hate that Yeon suffers because
of me. And I really hate hearing this from you. But what do
you expect me to do? I’m a Grade B guide. It’s hard enough to
take care of myself, let alone protect someone else. Do you
have any idea how humiliating that is? Do you even
understand what it feels like to be this powerless?”
Ha-Jin continued to watch her, his face impassive. He nearly
scoffed at her question about powerlessness.
Twelve years.
He had spent twelve long years trapped as an experiment.
From the moment he awakened at one year old until he finally
escaped at thirteen, he had lived in constant subjugation. He
wasn’t even treated like an animal—he was treated as less than
that. Every day, he wondered whether he’d die today or
tomorrow, living a life of complete helplessness.
Everyone has scars. No one starts off strong.
His voice turned cold.
“At least try. Whether you run, hide, or fight, find a way.
Struggle to survive. Because I want Lee Yeon to live a long
life.”
With those words, Tae Ha-Jin pushed off from the wall and
left the room without looking back. He had no intention of
involving himself in Kim Uibin’s choices anymore.
He hoped the foolish woman would wake up. Realise the
impact her weakness had on those around her. If she couldn’t
win, she should at least run.
That was the only way Yeon could live safely.
And now, Yeon was officially a Grade S guide. There was no
telling where or when danger would strike. Kim Uibin needed
to think about how she would protect herself, without relying
on anyone else.
The harsh words he had chosen were deliberate, but there was
no guilt.
Ha-Jin found Uibin thoroughly unappealing.
“Where is Uibin? Why’s she taking so long?”
“Esper! We need to go! The auction’s about to start!”
Doberman had appeared without warning, and Dekal was
already loading the luggage into his sedan. He seemed ready to
take Uibin to her destination.
“She said she needed the toilet.”
Ha-Jin came up with the excuse on the spot, grabbing
Doberman’s arm.
“Then why are you late, Esper Tae Ha-Jin?”
“Had to clean up.”
“…What were you cleaning? Uibin sorted the hospital room
ages ago, didn’t she?”
Yeon eyed him suspiciously, but in the end, he too took
Doberman’s arm. They had somewhere urgent to be, and
Dekal would make sure she got there safely. It seemed fine to
leave first.
Yeon sent a quick text to Uibin.

[10:13 AM
I’ve got somewhere to be, so I’ll go ahead. Dekal will drop
you off. Call if anything happens, and congrats on your
discharge.]

With a bright flash of light, the three of them vanished.

Moments later, Uibin emerged from the restroom. She stood
still for a moment as a sleek, black sedan hummed to life in
front of her.
Dekal rolled down the window when he saw her.
Her eyes and nose were slightly red, and Dekal, noticing her
condition, spoke quietly.
“I’ll give you a lift.”
“…Thank you.”
Once Uibin climbed into the passenger seat, the car glided
forward. Their destination was the dormitory at Block 2 of the
centre, a building Dekal had personally restored for her.
The drive was silent. Dekal didn’t ask why she’d taken so long
or why she had been crying. Uibin was grateful for that. Had
he asked, she might have burst into tears. Fidgeting with her
phone, she read Yeon’s text and suddenly felt an
overwhelming sadness.
She cleared her throat, voice trembling with emotion.
“I… I want to become stronger.”
As they passed through the gates of the centre, Uibin finally
spoke.
Dekal kept his eyes on the road and gave no reply. Soon after,
the car stopped in front of the dormitory. He helped her out
and handed over her luggage from the boot.
“There’s guide training starting tomorrow,” Dekal said
suddenly.
Uibin’s eyes widened at the unexpected news. Dekal gazed
down at her, his expression blank.
“Espers will be leading the training. So…”
“…?”
“I’ll help. To make you stronger.”
Her chestnut eyes wavered at his words. It was exactly what
she needed to hear.
Uibin lowered her head, her lips pressed into a tight line. He
was always so unpredictably kind.

***

Once a year, the Diaylen nation hosted its largest auction. Rare
mana stones mined from the Door, precious treasures, even
inventions personally crafted by the heads of the Basen
Research Lab—everything imaginable was up for grabs.
The colossal auction house, built in the heart of the capital,
was usually used to process mana stones. Normally, only
authorised personnel had access, but for one day a year,
anyone with the right “qualification” could enter.
The requirement was simple. You had to have wealth
exceeding a certain threshold reported to the state. In other
words, only the top 1% of society could attend. This rule
applied to both citizens and foreigners alike.
However, some individuals were exempt from the wealth rule,
including royalty, rulers, and espers of Grade S or above.
“Why are we heading to the basement? The auction’s
supposed to be on the 9th floor.”
The three of them had cleared security at the auction entrance
and were now in the elevator. When Tae Ha-Jin swiped his
black card against the scanner, the lift began descending
automatically to the 5th basement floor.
Yeon was familiar with that black card. He had one herself,
inherited from his father, and had even used it during her
recent reawakening tests.
Without that card, no one would be able to reach the 5th
basement.
Doberman, noticing his confusion, explained, “It seems Esper
Ha-Jin didn’t bother to explain. There’s a difference between
the auction on the 9th floor and the one in the basement. They
sell different things.”
“What sort of things?” Yeon asked.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Doberman gave a hesitant smile, as if struggling to put it into
words. Yeon nodded in understanding.
When the elevator dinged and the doors opened, they weren’t
greeted by a hallway.
Instead, a vast hall stretched out before them, so large it
seemed to belong in a movie. Luxurious burgundy chairs were
filled with prominent figures, and at the far end, the host was
testing a microphone amidst the buzz of conversation.
“Testing, one, two.”
Clearly familiar with the venue, Doberman and Tae Ha-Jin
made their way towards the centre seats. Yeon quietly
followed, recognising some of the influential figures he had
encountered at the recent banquet.
One man he had avoided back then caught his eye.
“Aren’t these assigned seats? Am I even allowed to sit here?”
Yeon glanced at Doberman and Tae Ha-Jin before awkwardly
settling into a seat. Everyone else seemed to be sitting in
assigned spots, so he felt out of place. Seeing him hesitate, Ha-
Jin glanced his way.
“That seat is for you, Lee Yeon.”
“Really? This is my first time here, you know.”
Tae Ha-Jin reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled
something out, handing it to Yeon. Taken by surprise, Yeon
accepted it and glanced at the object, pupils shaking.

__

The following phrase doesn’t make much sense to me, but I’m
not sure if I forgot something related to blood and guiding, or
it was a proverb or any other implication. So I left it
untouched.
The phrase:
Ever since guiding him with his own blood, Dekal had been
deliberately getting guided before coming to the hospital.
The Korean version:
자신이 피를 내어 가이딩한 이후로, 그가 일부러 가이딩을
받고 병원에 온다는 것을.
__
Me from the future here, it does indeed mean guiding with a
guide giving their blood to their esper. And we need to live
with this.
 Chapter 4. Part 8
It was a black card.
“This is…”
“It’s S+ grade, isn’t it? Lee Yeon, you’re in the same
category.”
The black card was something an S-grade abnormal type esper
could rightfully own. However, it could only be issued by an
international organisation approved by the leaders of major
nations. Even if you qualified, the process to prove it was
notoriously difficult.
It required passing multiple reviews and obtaining the consent
of several people to finally get one.
‘I didn’t even bother because of how much hassle it is.’
Yeon stared at the card, his name engraved on it. He was even
seated right next to Tae Ha-Jin at this event. How had he
arranged that?
Tae Ha-Jin watched his reaction with a leisurely smile.
‘He’s not touched, just a bit surprised.’
What would it take to make Yeon fall in love with him? The
man barely blinked at anything. Even giving him a black card
only earned this much of a response.
He’d even paid the original owner of the seat next to him to
secure it. Not that Yeon would ever know the trouble he went
to.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I’m Gaspar Revilon,
your host for this year’s auction! I hope we’ll have a great day
together!”
A high-end speaker system made the entire auction hall hum
with his voice.
His powerful projection, trained tone, and ability to capture the
audience’s attention revealed his skill. The host looked much
younger than Yeon had imagined.
Clap, clap, clap!
Dressed sharply in a bow tie and tailcoat, the host’s greeting
was met with applause from the guests. The buzzing
excitement continued.
“This year’s items are even more special than previous
auctions! I hope you’re all looking forward to it!”
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
The sound of drums boomed through the speakers. Music was
expertly used to heighten tension at the perfect moments.
The host tapped the floor twice with a long staff, and a
massive burgundy curtain behind him began to lift.
“And now, for our first auction item!”
Whoosh!
“……”
The item, hidden by the curtain, was revealed. More than ten
children, dressed in ragged clothing, stood in a line. Their
wrists were shackled with heavy iron cuffs.
Their emaciated bodies looked lifeless, and despite being put
on display for everyone to see, their expressions remained
unchanged.
It was as if they were here to die.
“What… is this? Tae Ha-Jin?”
Yeon looked at the stage in bewilderment.
In the capital of Diaylen, in this lavish underground auction
house… they were selling slaves?
Humans being auctioned off like objects?
“What does it look like?”
Tae Ha-Jin kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, delaying his
response. The host walked along the line of child slaves,
continuing his speech.
“They’re all under 10 years old! Our tests have shown they
carry no infectious diseases and will faithfully follow orders.
We are auctioning all ten as one lot! The bidding will start at
20 gold!”
20 gold?
That was an absurdly low price. 1 gold could feed a family of
four for a month. Yet they were auctioning off ten human
beings and starting at just 20 gold?
How could anyone put such a price on a human life?
‘This is insane.’
Yeon couldn’t understand why he was sitting in such a
disgusting place. Even worse, the host used the word “lot,” as
if these children were mere objects.
Then, something surprising happened.
Contrary to what Yeon expected, no one was rushing to place a
bid. In this enormous auction hall, only one person raised a
paddle with a number on it. Yeon turned his head towards
them.
A young man. With a tired expression, he yawned lazily. His
hair was messy, and his clothes dishevelled, not fitting in at all
with the well-dressed attendees.
His paddle bore the number 92.
“21 gold.”
This private auction skipped the usual pleasantries, proceeding
with paddles and bid declarations due to the sheer number of
participants.
“Yes, 21 gold! We have 21 gold! Any more bids?”
Why wasn’t anyone else bidding? The wealthy were often
driven by curiosity. Surely someone here would be interested
in buying slaves. Besides, 21 gold wasn’t a large sum for
them.
Yeon furrowed his brows, glancing around. The participants
seemed eager for this round to pass quickly.
Why?
Why was the man with the paddle numbered 92 seemingly
monopolising the bidding?
And then—
“100 gold.”
Tae Ha-Jin, seated next to Yeon, lifted paddle number 44. All
eyes turned to him. A madman had appeared, offering five
times the initial bid.
“Did you hear that? 100 gold…”
“Ten slaves going for 100 gold?”
“That’s Tae Ha-Jin, isn’t it? With his wealth, it’s no surprise,
but still…”
“Isn’t this a problem? Number 92 is with Director Lee Hong-
Jun’s lab.”
“I know, right? Slaves are supposed to be ceded in these
auctions.”
The crowd buzzed with disbelief. The most flustered people,
however, were the host and the man holding paddle 92.
The host broke out into a nervous sweat.
The private underground auction didn’t just sell slaves. It dealt
in the rarest and most valuable items that even the rich
couldn’t normally obtain. But selling slaves here carried a
special significance.
Lee Hong-Jun, the most brilliant mind, obtained about 30% of
his test subjects through this auction.
Lee was a man of perfection. He ensured there would be no
issues with the test subjects he gathered. Buying slaves in front
of everyone was the most rational route.
Hence, the Emperor supplied subjects via this auction. Outside
of this method, he did not provide any to Lee Hong-Jun. It was
the Emperor’s way of carefully managing things—secretly
complying with Lee’s demands while minimising public
outcry.
‘The auction is run by an international organisation.’
The imperial family couldn’t overstep. They merely fulfilled
their role as suppliers.
The Emperor kept these dealings hidden from Elder Chairman
Cha Seung-Kyun, proceeding in the shadows.
If anything went wrong, the Emperor would stay silent.
‘I’m not going to face imperial sanctions.’
Other participants also implicitly supported this arrangement
by refraining from bidding. After all, Lee’s research benefitted
them too. They accepted the need for test subjects.
Moreover, Lee’s reputation was high even in other nations.
Crossing him would lead to serious consequences.
‘What now?’
The host furrowed his brow slightly, unseen by the audience.
He had to ensure the slaves went to Lee Hong-Jun’s people. It
was his obligation, so he stalled for time.
Hoping number 92 would raise the bid.
“100 gold…?”
The exhaustion vanished instantly.
Adrian, Lee Hong-Jun’s assistant, found himself in a difficult
spot. Securing test subjects from this auction had always been
his responsibility. Recently, however, espers—thieves, really
—had been stealing the slaves he’d won, making him nervous
about Lee’s reaction.
Despite the machines and equipment Lee had provided, the
esper thieves had found creative ways to snatch the slaves.
This year, Adrian had promised he’d secure the subjects
without issue.
‘Tae Ha-Jin… Has he finally decided to act?’
Adrian knew about Tae Ha-Jin’s past as a test subject. It was
impossible not to. He’d spent too many years in the lab.
But Tae Ha-Jin had never interfered so openly with Lee Hong-
Jun’s work before. Until now, Adrian had thought even
someone as notorious as Tae Ha-Jin avoided conflict with Lee.
‘What is he planning?’
A ploy to drive up the price?
Crazy bastard…
Adrian clicked his tongue, holding up the paddle once more.
“101.”
For God’s sake… admiration rippled through the crowd.
Adrian bid with a hollow feeling in his chest. To buy a mere
ten subjects—young human children, no less—for one
hundred and one gold pieces.
It was an absurd waste.
Sensing the tension, the auctioneer was quick to jump in.
“101! If there are no further bids, it’s sold! One, two—”
The auctioneer, looking desperate, counted quickly. Just as he
was about to call the final count, Tae Ha-Jin lifted paddle
number forty-four again.
“150.”
The crowd gasped, voices buzzing with intrigue. They were
fascinated by Tae Ha-Jin’s eccentricity. Yeon, observing from
the sidelines, leaned over and whispered in his ear.
“What’s your plan?”
Why the hell would he want slaves?
Yeon knew him too well. Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t the type to be
moved by pity for slaves or to buy anyone’s freedom out of
compassion.
As an esper, Tae Ha-Jin had fought monsters without sparing a
thought for others’ lives or deaths. That’s why Yeon couldn’t
fathom his motive. Doberman, watching quietly, leaned close
and lowered his voice.
“Guide Yeon.”
“Yes?”
“These slaves…”
Why was he hesitating?
Yeon eyed him with growing unease. Doberman seemed to
wait for some sort of approval, glancing toward Tae Ha-Jin,
who gave no response. Taking that as permission, Doberman
explained.
“That number ninety-two assistant? He’s been working under
Research Director Lee Hong-Jun.”
“….”
“If those slaves get sold to him, they’ll end up as test subjects.
Espers like us have been working for years to stop that.
Though, this is the first time it’s been done so publicly…”
What?
Yeon’s chest tightened as he scowled and exhaled heavily.
‘Damn it…’
Why do I always feel like I’m complicit in something?
Anger simmered inside him. So this was how test subjects
were procured—bought and used up like goods. He had never
even thought about a slave auction, and the realisation
stiffened his expression.
He’d known his father was filth, beneath contempt.
But this…
This was truly unforgivable.
Yeon gazed at Tae Ha-Jin, bewildered.
‘Why would you save them? Why have you done this before?’
The question rose to his throat, but he forced it down. He
couldn’t understand Tae Ha-Jin’s actions. The man clearly
didn’t care about other people’s lives. And yet, he had
somehow prevented slaves from being dragged off as test
subjects until now.
‘Is it because you don’t want anyone to endure the hell you’ve
lived through?’
Was it really that simple?
Yeon felt shaken. For a moment, Tae Ha-Jin seemed like a
stranger.
“Tch. I suppose there’ll be another opportunity,” grumbled
Adrian, pulling a face.
No matter how important the supply was, there was no way
the slaves were worth paying more than a hundred and fifty
gold for. So, as a final insult, Adrian decided to let Tae Ha-Jin
have his way.
Now, Tae Ha-Jin would be stuck paying a hundred and fifty
gold—just for a measly ten slaves.
“One hundred and fifty gold! Any other bids?”
The auctioneer, glancing at number ninety-two, counted as
slowly as he dared, but ninety-two did not raise his paddle
again.
What is he playing at?
The auctioneer seemed to be burning with frustration but,
aware of the many watching eyes, he had no choice but to
move things along. He tapped the gavel with a loud bang bang
bang on the floor.
“Sold! To bidder number forty-four for one hundred and fifty
gold. You may collect your winnings after the auction.”
Adrian felt secure in his assessment.
The man’s antics should be satisfied now.
What a fool, spending one hundred and fifty gold just for spite.
Then, trouble started.
“35 gold.”
“50.”
This madman was…
“17 gold.”
“30.”
He was snatching up every single slave Adrian tried to bid for.
The smug grin on his face was evident.
‘He’s lost his mind…’
Adrian’s budget was fixed. He couldn’t exceed it, and if he
wanted to, he’d need permission from Lee Hong-Jun. But
Hong-Jun was deep in a critical experiment and unreachable.
Tae Ha-Jin was driving the prices for every slave auction into
staggering sums.
“122 gold.”
“200.”
“That lunatic…”
How much was he planning to spend?
Surely, he had already spent well over a thousand gold by now.
Adrian’s face drained of colour. After working alongside Lee
Hong-Jun, he thought he was inured to surprises, but this was
beyond the pale.
‘Could he really be that rich?’
Even for an S+ grade esper, his show of wealth was
outrageous. Adrian began to wonder if the man could actually
pay all that gold.
“Two hundred gold! Any more bids?”
The auctioneer, visibly resigned, shot a look at ninety-two and
counted down. A large group of slaves had just been sold to
number forty-four. The proceedings were reaching an almost
surreal conclusion.
‘If nothing else… the last slave must be bought by Lee Hong-
Jun’s assistant.’
Only one slave remained. The auctioneer, Gaspar, grew
solemn.
Adrian, number ninety-two, wore an equally determined look.
The final slave was one Lee Hong-Jun had waited so long for
—a subject vital to his research.
“Finally, we’ve come to the last slave of the evening! Perhaps
some of you have heard of them: the Epilox Race, with red
eyes! These people possess a ‘pure hereditary trait’ that once
made them immensely popular. Their most fascinating trait?
Any offspring born to them will always bear red eyes!”
If just one parent carried Epilox blood, the child would
inevitably have red eyes. For a time, every nation had at least a
few individuals like this.
But they were rare.
And the reason was clear.
“The Epilox race? Never heard of them.”
“It’s obscure. You know that esper Tae Ha-Jin? People say his
red eyes make him a descendant of the Epilox.”
“First time I’ve heard that.”
“People in the know are aware. Their unique genes make them
highly sought-after by experimenters. They’ve been sold here
at auction a few times.”
“So, that’s why there aren’t many red-eyed people?”
“Yes, mostly. Their descendants typically end up dead after
experiments. They’re pretty scarce.”
Unless they were strong enough to protect themselves, their
survival rate was low.
The crowd cast glances at number forty-four, whispering
amongst themselves. Yeon closed his eyes. The murmurs
would be clear as day to Tae Ha-Jin, but…
The mention of the Epilox race brought to mind a document
Yeon had read not long ago. It had been in Tae Ha-Jin’s home,
written by Lee Hong-Jun. It had even contained information
about the Epilox.
Yeon found himself glancing at Tae Ha-Jin without realising it.
Even as a show of respect, that was a line he shouldn’t have
crossed. Doberman had once mentioned he reckoned Tae Ha-
Jin was likely parentless.
‘Will Ha-Jin be alright?’
Yeon glanced carefully over at Ha-Jin, having been forcing
himself to look straight ahead. And just then, their eyes met.
Stunningly vivid red eyes.
Tae Ha-Jin sat there with his arms folded, leaning comfortably
back against the chair, as relaxed as ever, showing no reaction
to the talk. Doberman, too, seemed thoroughly bored with the
topic, wearing a look of utter disinterest.
When Yeon threw a cautious glance at him, Ha-Jin smirked.
“Quite a look you’ve got there.”
Yeon’s face showed complete bewilderment. He had no idea
what sort of expression he was even wearing. Ha-Jin
responded in a light tone.
“The look of someone feeling sorry for me.”
“….”
I had a look like that?
Yeon was taken aback, not sure why he’d felt pity for any
aspect of Tae Ha-Jin’s life. So what if he didn’t have parents?
Yeon himself was practically living parentless too.
Or was it because… maybe because the Epilox race were so
often snatched up for experimentation?
Because Tae Ha-Jin, a descendant of that bloodline, had been
dragged along that same cursed path?
“….”
A jumble of reasons filled his mind all at once, and he realised
he must have pitied him after all.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t…”
“What are you sorry for? I told you, I like that look.”
Ha-Jin’s smile was genuine enough to look sincere, and Yeon
narrowed his gaze at him.
“What’s there to like? There’s nothing pleasant about pity.”
“Nah, it’s good. Whenever you have that look, you always
treat me better.”
“….”
Yeon opened his mouth, then shut it. So he had looked at him
with pity on more occasions than he’d realised. Was he talking
about the time in the lab?
At that moment, auctioneer Gaspar continued with the
proceedings.
“Look here! This is one of the descendants of the Epilox race!
These days, it’s rare to see eyes like this. Now, starting bid is
200 gold! If you’re interested, raise your paddles!”
A curtain rose, revealing an elderly figure who looked on the
brink of death. Yet, even in that state—
“220 gold!”
“270 gold!”
“280 gold!”
None had wanted to buy other slaves, but the Epilox
descendant’s appearance broke the unspoken rules, sparking
bids from several corners of the hall. Then, as the bids
climbed, 92 raised his paddle high.
“400 gold!”
Mouths dropped open in astonishment. It was almost unheard
of for Lee Hong-Jun’s assistant to bid such a high amount.
Adrian had decided to throw in his entire prepared budget –
400 gold – to secure at least this one elder as a test subject.
But then 44 lifted his paddle.
“450 gold.”
Adrian almost threw his paddle down in frustration. Who
would bid 450 gold for an old man, even one from the Epilox
bloodline? Bloody madness. But he couldn’t call a higher bid,
and defeat showed on his face.
“…450 gold, then! Any higher bids?”
 Chapter 4. Part 9
Gaspar stalled for as long as he could, but the Epilox elder
ended up in the hands of 44.
With that, the last test subject was taken. The auctioneer knew
he’d be catching hell for it later but tried to shrug it off.
‘At least that’s all the slaves sold.’
Now, he could conduct the auction without the weight of that
discomfort.
By then, Adrian from 92 had already stormed out of the
auction hall. Meanwhile, Tae Ha-Jin had won in a grand
display of wealth, having spent a staggering 1500 gold in total.
The auctioneer admired the sheer financial power he’d
displayed.
“Are you sure about this, Esper…?”
Yeon asked with concern. No matter how wealthy the bastard
was, even if he owned the K Hotel, a lump sum of over 1500
gold wasn’t pocket change.
If it was all to free those slaves, that was a hefty burden.
Yeon worried Tae Ha-Jin might end up bankrupt. After all,
1500 gold wasn’t an amount one could casually toss around in
an auction.
But Tae Ha-Jin just chuckled, ruffling Yeon’s hair.
“If it takes that much to make you worry about me, it’s worth
every coin.”
Next to him, Doberman joined the laughter and assured him
not to fret.
“Guide, there’s no need to worry. Esper Tae Ha-Jin may look
modest, but he’s loaded. He owns more than five hotels in the
capital alone, runs a foundation on the side, and he’s a genius
investor. You wouldn’t believe the number of buildings and
properties he’s got. You know, to the point where…”
Doberman listed Tae Ha-Jin’s assets with a look of pride, as
though bragging about his own fortune. Yeon, feeling sheepish
for worrying about a millionaire’s wallet, just listened.
‘Not that Ha-Jin’s exactly frugal, though.’
The man drove a bloody purple sports car. He probably had a
few other cars stashed somewhere. And those massive, flashy
homes – more like castles.
Calling him “modest” was a stretch…
Meanwhile, more items were sold off one by one.
“And now, introducing the final item of this auction! There’s a
bit of a story behind this one.”
Gaspar, with a sly grin, wheeled out an item covered in black
cloth. Yeon, who had been listening to Doberman’s stories,
glanced up at the podium, noticing the auctioneer’s serious
expression.
What could it be?
Then, dramatically pulling the black cloth away, Gaspar
revealed the item, trying to stoke the crowd’s excitement.
“Dear heavens, that’s grotesque…”
“Who’d put that up for auction?!”
A wave of disgusted reactions rippled through the crowd.
Floating in a small capsule filled with solution, the auction
item became visible. Yeon squinted, staring hard.
That’s… could it be?
Gaspar, with a slimy grin, spoke up again.
“Don’t be shocked, everyone! You may have heard about the
Red Door incident in Diaylen, when Princess Elena lost an
arm? Apparently, a certain Esper on the front lines testified
she’d had it bitten clean off by a Grade 3 monster.”
The crowd murmured louder, and the comments picked up.
“The princess lost her arm?”
“First I’m hearing of it…”
“Oh, I knew already. There were plenty of witnesses – must be
slow on the uptake.”
“So the successor’s definitely going to be Prince Ricardo,
then?”
“Stocks related to the princess are going to tank…”
Yeon’s expression soured. Was this idiot auctioneer trying to
die today? What in hell was he thinking, letting slip a rumour
like that? Regardless of how little respect the royals had these
days, she was still part of the imperial family. Losing a limb
didn’t make her any less so.
But this was an international auction, so the royals wouldn’t
interfere directly. Still, publicly airing royal matters like this
was just reckless.
“This, ladies and gents, is none other than Princess Elena’s
arm, the one bitten off by the monster! A certain Esper
managed to retrieve it. It’s been stitched up as best as possible,
and the preservation solution makes it look freshly severed.
What do you say? An S0-grade guide’s arm, and none other
than the princess’s!”
Gaspar was promoting the arm excitedly, but the sweat on his
forehead was telling. He knew this might be his last auction
before he got sacked, but he had to make the most of it,
thinking only of the hefty commission he’d pocket if he sold it
for a high price. To hell with the royals.
“Bidding starts at 300 gold! If you’re interested, raise your
paddles!”
The crowd buzzed. Princess Elena’s S0-grade arm was
incredibly rare, but 300 gold wasn’t something you could
casually spend.
Then, 45, who’d been waiting, raised a paddle high.
“301 gold!”
With an unwavering expression, Tae Ha-Jin’s brow twitched as
he looked at the side of Lee Yeon’s face. From Yeon’s
stubborn mouth set in determination, Tae could tell he was
absolutely bent on acquiring that item.
‘Didn’t you dislike the Princess?’
As Tae recalled, Yeon had never been particularly fond of
Princess Elena. He’d often shot her disapproving looks for her
casual spilling of information around the dining room of the
Crown Prince’s quarters.
But why would he want that now?
Tae had no interest whatsoever in the final auction item,
whether it was a finger from a Grade 1 monster or the arm of a
princess.
Their history with the princess didn’t exactly compel him to
retrieve her arm on her behalf.
And yet…
“I’ll take it for 320 gold!”
Braks, a researcher from the Diaylen nation, was practically
ablaze with excitement, waving his paddle marked 211. He
had narrowly missed out on an Epilox elder just moments
before and was determined to secure at least this piece.
Despite the high price, this item would surely be worth it. The
arm contained veins, skin, and genetic information—key
elements for an ultimate creation.
‘I will best you, Lee Hong-Jun.’
In his youth, Braks had studied abroad in the Diaylen nation,
where he attended the same institution as Lee Hong-Jun, often
competing for top scores yet never surpassing him, forever a
close second to Hong-Jun’s first.
The humiliation of being second, feeling the vast chasm
between them, had become a deep-seated wound in Braks.
Even in their later years, every invention Braks created
seemed to be eclipsed by one of Hong-Jun’s by the time he
finished it.
‘I’ll surpass your research yet.’
Braks gave his paddle a vigorous wave as he renewed his bid.
Then, out of nowhere—
“321 gold!”
A young man seated at position 45 raised the bid by just one
gold, and Braks scowled. Where could someone so young find
that much money?
Braks had no idea that the young man was Hong-Jun’s own
son.
“330 gold!”
Though the burden was pressing down hard on his shoulders,
Braks knew he was the top researcher in his nation; his
country would surely support him for this amount. Seeing the
young man hesitate at the new bid, Yeon frowned.
With that arm, he could restore the Princess’s own. Then,
maybe she’d stop the defeated wailing about clipped wings
and fallen skies.
Not that he needed to go this far, but perhaps if he secured it
and charged her appropriately afterward, she’d understand.
But…330 gold…
Yeon’s wealth was around 340 gold total—carefully saved,
along with what he’d withdrawn from his father’s black card
after running away. Although Tae had given him a new black
card, it couldn’t be used for large withdrawals just after
issuance.
The middle-aged bidder at position 211 seemed absolutely
hell-bent on obtaining that arm, his eyes almost crazed.
‘…Is there anywhere I could pull funds from?’
In a rare moment, Yeon found himself frustrated over money.
Then, without warning—
“500 gold.”
Astonished gasps rippled through the crowd.
Yeon jerked his head toward Tae Ha-Jin, who lowered paddle
44 with a nonchalant tilt of his head, followed by a lazy smile.
“I’ll get it for you.”
Yeon’s eyes wavered.
This lunatic…was offering to buy the princess’s arm as a gift.
Yeon was at a loss. The amount was too large just to accept
outright. With that sum, he could easily buy a house in the
capital. But if he refused and the arm fell into the hands of the
man at position 211, then the princess would never have the
chance to restore her limb.
As Yeon stood there, frozen without a response, Doberman
raised his sleeves.
“Guide, just take it while he’s offering! Think of it as
compensation for all the pain Esper Tae Ha-Jin has put you
through!”
Tae said nothing, merely curling his lips slightly. He seemed to
be waiting for Yeon’s answer. All eyes were now on the two of
them.
The host swallowed.
Five hundred gold…!
At that amount, he could regain his position as auctioneer in
no time. All the effort to pitch it had paid off.
“Then.”
After a long pause, Yeon leaned close to Ha-Jin’s ear,
whispering so others couldn’t hear.
“I’ll…repay you in instalments.”
“Haha.”
Ha-Jin covered his lower face with his large hand, laughing.
The thought was almost funny—repay 500 gold in
instalments? What would he be paying each month?
To Ha-Jin, it sounded like a lifetime commitment.
‘Not a confession, but close.’
He lowered his gaze, laughing briefly before glancing up with
a twinkle in his eye.
“I’ll buy it for you.”
Installments for 500 gold…definitely an amusing thought.
But Ha-Jin wasn’t interested in tying Yeon down with debt. If
money could win Yeon’s favor, it was something he’d freely
give.
“…Still.”
Yeon shut his mouth upon seeing Tae Ha-Jin’s expression and
tone. Ha-Jin looked far from burdened—if anything, he
seemed entertained.
‘Today, Tae Ha-Jin is unpredictable.’
He’d once told Yeon he loved him. Yeon had scoffed at the
absurdity of the statement, but now, looking back, Tae Ha-Jin’s
words carried a certain weight. He had chosen to be the fool in
his own affection.
The bid was settled, and Ha-Jin ended up paying nearly 2000
gold at the auction. After a quick phone call, a staff member
confirmed the payment.
On their way out, Yeon caught sight of the middle-aged bidder
at 211, glaring with gritted teeth. A unique sort of person,
indeed.
“The slaves will be dealt with accordingly.”
The slaves Ha-Jin had won were crowded together in a caged
enclosure, huddling in a corner for warmth, tense as the three
approached. Yeon’s expression grew serious again.
The sight reminded him too much of the test subjects he’d
seen before. He even caught a glimpse of a younger, starving
Ha-Jin in them. Without Ha-Jin’s intervention, they would
likely face the fate of experimental subjects.
“What will you…do with them, sir?” he asked cautiously.
Doberman gave a slight smile, blinking slowly.
“You needn’t worry. There have been plenty of precautions up
until now, and it’s the first time we’ve purchased slaves
through formal channels like this. But before now, we’ve often
rescued slaves through espers, albeit through less visible
means.”
Though, even the hidden routes haven’t been uncovered.
Doberman glanced sympathetically at the shivering slaves,
then continued.
“Once rescued, they disperse through various channels. Some
find employment at the esper’s hotel, some promising civilians
are introduced to the Centre as cleaners, and others receive
sponsorship from his foundation to get an education. That’s
the reason the foundation was set up in the first place.”
Yeon’s eyes widened; the methods were more specific than
he’d imagined. He looked at Tae Ha-Jin with astonishment.
Ha-Jin’s gaze rested quietly on the slaves behind the iron bars.
He met Yeon’s gaze with a faint laugh.
“Don’t misunderstand—I’m not motivated by any sense of
justice.”
He stepped closer to Yeon.
Yeon held his ground, meeting his gaze squarely as Ha-Jin
reached out, gently cupping his cheek, his thumb tracing along
his eye.
“You’re the one who saved them.”
“…What?”
Yeon asked, thrown off.
Ha-Jin continued, “The fact I couldn’t save you—it drives me
insane. So I’ve saved others in your place.”
The guilt that had consumed Ha-Jin, believing Yeon dead, had
led him to this choice, rescuing substitute test subjects as a
form of atonement. Perhaps, in heaven, the young boy would
forgive him for this.
A selfish piece of trash that couldn’t be forgiven.
Ha-Jin gave a disbelieving laugh.
Even saving someone seemed pathetic in its selfishness. He’d
never be redeemed—at least, not without Yeon.
‘I just need you.’
Because even if I’m trash, you’ll stay by my side.
Ha-Jin brushed Yeon’s cheek, his hand unusually tender.
“Don’t forgive me.”
“…”
“I don’t give a damn about forgiveness anyway. Just stick by
me.”
An ironic thing to say.
Hearing it made Yeon’s anger boil. Why did they always end
up apologising, begging for forgiveness? They both knew they
were still alive, yet the weight of their past choked them
whenever they let their guard down.
If anyone should be begging, it was him.
He was the one who’d been born as the bastard’s son, who’d
met him. Even with his strong abnormal type, he hadn’t had
the guts to reveal all his secrets. While he hid away, Tae Ha-
Jin had been facing off against Hong-Jun on his behalf, paying
for his sins.
It shouldn’t be you on your knees.
“If you’re the one who stays, I’ll keep up the good-guy act like
this.”
…Why?
The more he understood Ha-Jin’s emotions, the more it felt
like his heart was on fire. Knowing Ha-Jin had been freeing
slaves because of him actually filled Yeon with a twisted sort
of satisfaction.
Yeon let out a sigh.
He had no right to seek forgiveness himself.
“Hmm…”
Watching from a distance, Doberman felt utterly awkward.
The former slaves were staring, fascinated by the affectionate
scene unfolding before them. He was itching to get out of here,
but Tae Ha-Jin and Yeon seemed to have formed a world of
their own.
Their looks and touches were intense, practically dripping with
longing.
‘Definitely their first love.’
What else could this pure, agonising intensity be?
Out of respect, Doberman looked away and glanced over the
former slaves. His gaze landed on one man in particular.
A young man who looked like a deer.
Yeon’s guide was tall and beautiful, but this guy was barely
around 170, skinny enough to look fragile. The lad was staring
past the bars, eyes locked somewhere.
Following his gaze, Doberman saw Ha-Jin, standing tall,
almost shining.
The kid’s look was one of admiration—or maybe even awe.
‘Huh…’
Doberman watched him for a moment, then shrugged.
Whatever. All he really wanted was to go home and see his
adorable daughter.

***
“So, you lost the test subjects again?”
Lee Hong-Jun raised his head slowly from the door fragment
he’d been examining under the microscope. His assistant,
Adrian, looked away, responding, “It’s as you said.”
“You’ll make up the numbers yourself, then.”
“…Where the hell am I supposed to find more test subjects?
You’ve already used every trick in the book, Director.”
At this, Hong-Jun’s eyes turned steely as he raked a hand over
his worn-out face.
“I don’t care how. Raid orphanages, snatch homeless people,
con refugees… Just get it done. I don’t have the time to worry
about supply issues.”
Keep it quiet.
He turned his focus back to the microscope.
Adrian clenched his fist. Why was it always like this? When it
came to Ha-Jin, Lee Hong-Jun went uncharacteristically soft.
“…Are you really just going to let Tae Ha-Jin run loose? The
auction house was utter chaos today; you should’ve seen it.”
Hong-Jun kept his gaze on the microscope, answering curtly.
“You’re interrupting.”
The implied order to leave was clear. Adrian, scowling,
whipped around and stormed out. The other researchers,
sensing the tension, slipped out after him.
As the room fell silent, Lee Hong-Jun returned to jotting down
his notes, brow raised.
“TQ-001…”
He knew.
He knew it was TQ-001 who had infiltrated the lab to steal
documents, who regularly sabotaged or snatched test subjects.
The reason he’d let it go was that other, more significant
matters outweighed the rebellion of one escaped specimen.
But to draw a blade in plain sight like this?
If Christina hadn’t died screaming to let them go, the two
runaway specimens would’ve been recaptured ages ago. But
now, they’d grown too damn influential to touch.
‘What to do…’
Lee Hong-Jun tapped the table, lost in thought.
His son probably knew, too—that Tae Ha-Jin had been a
specimen. Yet they kept each other close. It was a relationship
he couldn’t quite fathom.
He’d known.
He’d known since his son, just eleven at the time, had sneaked
into the lab late at night and met a specimen who turned out to
be Ha-Jin. He hadn’t known at first. Even under interrogation,
the kid had refused to say a word.
But the day the two test subjects had escaped?
His son’s bedroom wall had a massive hole punched through
it. That’s when he’d realised how close TQ-001 and his son
actually were. They’d had the audacity to exchange goodbyes
as they ran.
Even back then, TQ-001 had nerves of steel.
He’d stayed silent, not making a sound through every vile
experiment.
“A warning should be enough.”
Before long, the snowball he’d set rolling would be so massive
it’d burst on its own. Imagining the inevitable, the Director
closed his eyes.
The day had to come sooner.

__
Just a quick note of appreciation of Hong-Jun. The dude just
wants to work.
No test subjects? Raid orphanages!
That’s the spirit.
 Chapter 4. Part 10
The next day, a state of emergency was declared across
Diaylen.
Director Lee Hong-Jun had issued a blanket shutdown on all
his own inventions. The moment he entered the command into
the system, every machine under his creation ground to a halt.
Factories, cars, hospital devices, emergency watches, phones,
the walls defending the capital—all were dead on arrival.
Nothing remained untouched by his handiwork. Problems
erupted everywhere. People died from seemingly minor
malfunctions; doors went unattended, causing the damage to
skyrocket.
There wasn’t a single working sector left.
“Get emergency power on! Pull the central lab’s network over
to us!”
“We’re on it, but there are so many networks to link up… It’ll
take time.”
“Damn it all… How did this happen?!”
Central power and the emergency response team worked
frantically, but they couldn’t contain the damage across all
sectors. Officials finally recognised just how deeply their
nation depended on the Director’s inventions.
“We’ve got no choice. Get a backup network set up, and tell
the government to send some experts! Now, move it!”
“Yes, sir!”
In the royal court, the Emperor had swiftly convened an
emergency council. Furious, he issued an official statement of
regret to the press.
The Emperor’s words didn’t so much as make Hong-Jun
flinch. The sheer number of labs he’d set up made it
impossible to track him down.
Even the central command was offline in the blackout.
Diaylen’s Emperor, Teraphin, had a pounding headache.
He hadn’t even yet dealt with the recent letter from President
Epenhar.

[To the Esteemed Emperor Teraphin Le Diaylen,

It has been a long time. I’ve heard Diaylen has been
overwhelmed with Door breaches lately, unlike other nations
that are gradually settling into stability. It must be troubling for
you as Emperor to watch.
Days like these bring back memories.
Was it 30 years ago? I was just assuming control over Epenhar
when you took pleasure in mocking me—difficult to forget,
really, especially when you became Emperor purely by
bloodline, having built nothing by your own hand.
Surely, a man with a strong spirit knows to return blessings or
insults alike.
Prepare yourself. Whatever you imagine, I am ready to return
it twice over.
Carlos de German of Epenhar ]

Most heads of state would avoid such a personal letter—too

much at stake politically and diplomatically. But Carlos was
different: a long-standing ruler of Epenhar, a man arrogant
enough to believe he was the sky itself.
He was a man who acted on his words.
It was clear intimidation, but Emperor Teraphin couldn’t
reveal this letter to anyone. It would confirm that his own
careless words in the past had finally returned to haunt him.
Sending a reply rankled him; an apology felt impossible. And
even if he apologised, Carlos wasn’t the sort to simply back
down. He was known as the Madman.
‘And now, with Lee Hong-Jun acting up as well…!’
The Emperor stifled a sigh.
The guide camp training, once scheduled for the next week,
was postponed indefinitely. With the populace in fear, they
vented their rage at the Research Lab director and the
government’s incompetence. The anxious Emperor shifted his
tone, issuing a public call for people to voice their concerns.
It was a public capitulation, but in the face of national
collapse, what else could he do?
The next day, the Research Lab director sent a letter to the
Emperor—delivered by a document-handling drone, no less.
Tae Ha-Jin Esper has crossed a line. The years of loyalty to
Diaylen have been in vain. I will not work for this country
until I have received his apology. If you’re going to cross the
line, be ready for my retaliation.
It was madness. Not only had he shaken the nation over a petty
grudge, but to continue with such arrogance…
The Research Lab director, Lee Hong-Jun, had always been
arrogant, but it was getting beyond measure. Declining to
work in service of the nation was outright intimidation. If he
withdrew, it would slam the brakes on Diaylen’s recent
progress.
His statement about accepting punishment was hollow.
Incarcerating him would amount to massive national losses
and a huge strategic blow.
So the royal family would never punish Lee Hong-Jun.
‘Director… why on earth is he acting like a brat!’
BANG!
The furious Emperor slammed his fist onto the table.
“What is all this turmoil… Look at this letter, Tae Ha-Jin
Esper! Surely, you have something to say?”
The letter had arrived mid-meeting. Ha-Jin blinked slowly.
He’d expected some retaliation—perhaps an attempt to kidnap
Yeoni or to experiment on Doberman.
Those would have been easier to fend off.
But this, this was a surprising counterattack. Ha-Jin smirked
internally, knowing he’d provoked the director thoroughly.
Bearing the collective stares of the elders and the Emperor,
Ha-Jin let a smug smile creep up his face.
“You all know,” he said, “that I was once the director’s
experimental subject.”
The room was silent; though everyone knew this, it was the
first time he had mentioned it.
He glanced around the circular table.
“Let’s not turn the victim into the offender.”
He poured a glass of water, took a sip, and looked the Emperor
square in the eyes.
“An apology is hardly difficult, your Majesty. I’ll do it right
now if I must.”
He stood abruptly, causing the elders to reel back in shock.
Ha-Jin glanced at Doberman, who watched anxiously from
afar.
“Contact the HBS reporter. Say that Esper Tae Ha-Jin has
apologised to Lee Hong-Jun. Don’t mention the reason.”
Doberman hesitated.
Apologising publicly to Lee Hong-Jun—are you certain you’ll
be alright?
No matter what wrong Ha-Jin may have committed,
apologising to Lee Hong-Jun was unthinkable. Ha-Jin was
always the victim between the two of them.
But Doberman’s worry faded quickly as he saw how
unaffected Ha-Jin appeared.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin, what exactly happened with the director?”
One elder inquired, and Ha-Jin replied indifferently.
“Would be nice if something had happened.”
He leaned back in his chair, his expression empty.
In truth, Ha-Jin didn’t care.
An insincere apology was worthless, and Lee Hong-Jun would
know that too. He knew such tactics wouldn’t affect him in the
slightest.
Frankly, Ha-Jin wasn’t overly concerned about the national
crisis either. It was Diaylen’s own mistake to rely entirely on a
madman. Perhaps this event would open the country’s eyes to
the issue.
The supposedly strongest nation in the world, Diaylen, was
brought to its knees by one man’s whim.
No doubt, Lee Hong-Jun had anticipated this.
It was his way of shaking the nation, showing that it held no
real value to him, and that he would next aim to shake the
Emperor himself.
Ha-Jin chuckled to himself.
The Emperor’s foolishness was almost enjoyable.

After the apology was published.

[Breaking News: A Malware Attack on the Central

Research Lab’s Supercomputer?!]

Nationwide systems came to a standstill as all devices

developed by Director Lee Hong-Jun ceased functioning,
plunging Diaylen into an unprecedented emergency. Hospitals
and essential energy systems stopped, leaving citizens
distressed and demanding a statement from the director.
Though Emperor Teraphin himself expressed regret over the
situation after two days, the Central Research Lab remained
silent. Yet following HBS’s report on Tae Ha-Jin’s apology,
the Research Lab abruptly issued a statement.
It read:

[“Greetings, citizens. This is Lee Hong-Jun, Director of the

Central Research Lab. I deeply regret the confusion caused by
the recent system shutdown. This error was due to a malware
attack on the lab’s supercomputer, which has now been
resolved. We are working to prevent any future incidents. We
are also actively pursuing the person responsible. Thank
you.”]

After the statement, all systems resumed normal operations as

if nothing had happened. While many citizens expressed relief,
some speculated that the incident was orchestrated by Lee
Hong-Jun himself.
Was a mere virus truly able to keep a genius like him occupied
for two whole days? The excuse felt as hollow as Ha-Jin’s
apology.
Further raising questions was the fact that Ha-Jin’s apology
had been directed at none other than Lee Hong-Jun himself.
With the statement following so soon after, many suspected
deeper discord between them.
In response, the Diaylen government said it had no further
comments, promising only to focus on mitigating the people’s
losses.
Shhh.
The newspaper, once neatly spread, was folded in half. A man
with round glasses rubbed his temples, closing his eyes tightly.
“The director has finally lost it.”
The man, with a solid build and an orderly appearance, looked
like he maintained himself meticulously. His perfectly knotted
tie and pristine suit revealed his nature. He bore hints of white
hair but chose not to dye it.
His brown eyes looked weary.
“We need to overhaul the system architecture. Relying on the
Central Research Lab has brought this mess upon us. We
overlooked the risk. Lee Hong-Jun could die today or
tomorrow—our dependency was excessive.”
Wasn’t it?
The man’s muttered comments were directed at Dekal.
Dekal, who was watching him, was struck by mixed thoughts.
Indeed, the Elder Chairman was something else. In most
nations, Cha Seung-Kyun’s role would be akin to a president.
He was a meticulous man, orchestrating an extensive range of
operations from behind the scenes.
He never attended time-wasting meetings. He despised
confronting the Emperor and simply waited for the meeting
results, deciding what to implement afterward.
Whenever the Emperor’s politicking grew excessive or he
sought to wield his power too recklessly, Cha Seung-Kyun
would quietly but definitively bring it to a halt.
Cha Seung-Kyun never flaunted his status or power.
He preferred to tidy up from behind the scenes, avoiding open
confrontation with the Emperor. Though they mutually
despised and watched each other closely, Cha Seung-Kyun
kept his silence, maintaining peace.
‘Perhaps Diaylen’s most fearsome figure was Cha Seung-
Kyun himself.’
Dekal thought so.
Cha Seung-Kyun mastered the art of quiet brinkmanship.
Unlike Emperor Teraphin, who gained power by birthright,
Cha Seung-Kyun was chosen by the people for his steadfast
temperament, backed wholeheartedly by the Elders.
The seasoned hand in keeping the imperial family in check,
along with his sound policies, had gained Cha Seung-Kyun a
strong base of trust among the people. His approval rating had
never dipped below the majority—a first in his line.
He was already ten years in, with two terms behind him.
“How exactly are you planning to overhaul the system?”
“The government itself will operate it.”
“That’d be impossible for anyone without a director-level
mind.”
“Well, there’s no way around it. We’ll just have to recruit the
best and brightest.”
Cha Seung-Kyun was a decisive man, always seeing his plans
through, no matter the obstacles. His words held a gravity that
made them sound prophetic.
Sipping the coffee he’d ordered, he fixed his gaze on Dekal.
“When the time’s right, I’ll also look to topple Emperor
Teraphin.”
“……”
“The man’s been taking far too much. The once ‘golden card’
Lee Hong-Jun has been downgraded to a disposable one. I
won’t stand by and watch these disgusting slave auctions any
longer.”
“……”
“Crown Prince Ricardo’s a sharp one. With the right warning,
he won’t repeat his father’s sins.”
Dekal, who had been standing with his hands behind his back,
met Cha Seung-Kyun’s gaze. He understood what that look
meant: it was a read, a weighing of his reaction.
And it dawned on him then why Cha Seung-Kyun was saying
these dangerous things to him.
“It’s time to choose a side, Dekal.”
Dekal blinked slowly. He had already spent years as a double
agent, slipping between the emperor and Cha Seung-Kyun.
More accurately, he had been funnelling what he learned from
both to Tae Ha-Jin.
The emperor used his A+-grade restoration esper talents as
much as he could, and Dekal acted precisely as the emperor
wished.
Cha Seung-Kyun, however, often sought his counsel. At first,
his summons had felt out of place, but over time they grew
frequent, morphing into conversations. Becoming a double
agent had been almost a natural progression.
Tae Ha-Jin had never forced him into it.
Dekal had chosen to do it on his own, out of a desire to help in
any way he could.
“I don’t know what you mean, Elder Chairman.”
“It’s not as though I’ve only known you a day.”
“Yes.”
“I knew from the beginning that you and esper Tae Ha-Jin
spent time as test subjects in Lee Hong-Jun’s lab.”
“……”
This was the first time he had heard it from Cha Seung-Kyun,
but Dekal wasn’t surprised. He’d suspected for a long time
that someone in Diaylen’s inner circle would know.
Uncrossing his legs, Cha Seung-Kyun leaned forward,
studying Dekal.
“Do you remember the first time I called you in?”
“Yes. It was seven years ago.”
“Right. And back then, the reason I called you in was simple: I
wanted to check what sort of contamination the emperor had
allowed into his inner circle.”
The Elder Chairman recalled that day.
Tae Ha-Jin and Dekal had come on like a comet. They acted as
if they didn’t know each other, but Cha Seung-Kyun was
aware they were both former test subjects.
Until Tae Ha-Jin officially began his career at twenty, he had
been the adopted son of Commander Dicaine. The question
still lingered—why would the commander adopt a man he had
no connection with?
Dekal, on the other hand, blended into the general population,
working part-time jobs to get by. Then suddenly, this young
man had appeared by the emperor’s side as an A+-grade
restoration esper.
Cha Seung-Kyun, who had long been curbing the imperial
family’s actions, saw Dekal as contamination. He couldn’t rest
until he had confirmed for himself why this man had managed
to enter the imperial palace.
And so, he summoned Dekal.
—What’s your name?
—I don’t have one. You may call me 002.
The young man’s answer had caught Cha Seung-Kyun off
guard. He didn’t look like the type to enjoy word games.
—…Are you taking to make fun of me? I asked what people
call you.
—They don’t, usually. But if you must, 002 will do.
It was hard to dismiss as a joke, as there was nothing in the
young man’s eyes—nothing at all.
Since he’d known from the start that the man was a test
subject, Cha Seung-Kyun quickly realised “002” was his
experiment number. He’d intended to strip the young man
down, expose whatever dirty agenda he harboured, but…
—I hear you meet with the emperor regularly. Has he never
asked for your name?
—No.
Cha Seung-Kyun scowled slightly. That damn emperor was
just using the kid and couldn’t even be bothered to give him a
name. And yet the young man looked completely unaffected.
He stood before the Elder Chairman of Diaylen without a trace
of nervousness.
It was… surprising.
Feeling somewhat thrown, Cha Seung-Kyun took a moment to
observe the young man’s unyielding demeanour.
Just for a second, Cha Seung-Kyun’s gaze wavered.
—How about the name ‘Dekal’?
—……
—It was my late half-brother’s name. He was about your age
and had a similar level of grit. He’s dead, but if you’d like, you
can use it.
The young man gave no response.
That day, Cha Seung-Kyun had gained no information from
him, for he had lost the will to pry. Many years later, he
received reports on the restoration esper “Dekal” and his
accomplishments.
And he summoned the young man bearing Dekal’s name once
again.
—You’re using the name I gave you.
—Yes.
—So you liked it, did you?
—Yes.
—Really? What about the name appealed to you?
In a rare good mood, Cha Seung-Kyun had asked, and the
young man replied:
—The fact that it’s a dead man’s name.
—…What?
His answer was nothing like what Cha Seung-Kyun had
anticipated.
Flattery, a comment on first impressions, something like
that…
—I wanted to live like a dead man.
Whenever he spoke with him, Cha Seung-Kyun often found
himself lost in thought. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation; very
few people had this effect on him. After that, Cha Seung-Kyun
would summon Dekal frequently, posing various questions and
teaching him things over the years.
Cha Seung-Kyun was well aware that Dekal was leaking
information to Tae Ha-Jin esper. The Elder Chairman was an
A+-grade esper who could read others’ thoughts for a few
seconds when their eyes met, though he used this ability
sparingly due to its severe side effects.
So he’d deliberately handed over certain pieces of information,
those safe enough for Tae Ha-Jin to know.
He had realised that Tae Ha-Jin was the one person this dead-
man-walking seemed to care about. So for his sake, Cha
Seung-Kyun didn’t mind passing along these crumbs. If Tae
Ha-Jin was the only thing he valued, the chairman was willing
to help.
Cha Seung-Kyun had realised something else.
He had grown fond of this pitiful young man.
“It’s been some time, hasn’t it? I think we’ve built our own
story, enough that you should stop spying for the emperor.”
Dekal thought to himself: Once the emperor was deposed and
the crown prince took the throne, there’d be no need for him to
see Teraphin ever again.
“Very well.”
Cha Seung-Kyun’s rigid expression softened slightly.
“And perhaps it’s time you cut ties with Tae Ha-Jin esper as
well? From what I hear, he’s getting into some rather
troublesome business.”
“Apologies, but esper Tae Ha-Jin has never reached out to me.
I have only ever followed in his shadow. There is no hand for
me to let go of.”
It was a firm refusal.
Cha Seung-Kyun shook his head and chuckled dryly. Despite
years of kindness, Dekal had not changed one bit. He wouldn’t
appear without a summons, never showed his face first.
“You fool…”
“I…”
As Cha Seung-Kyun tutted, Dekal’s lips moved slightly, as if
to say something. After gazing thoughtfully at the table, he
spoke at last, slowly.
“I have never leaked any of the information you’ve shared
with me to anyone other than Tae Ha-Jin.”
 Chapter 4. Part 11
Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun froze, cup in hand.
“I’ll continue on that in the future, too.”
“……”
“I’ll pay you back for the name you granted me, in whatever
way I can.”
The young man bowed silently, showing his respect, and
walked out. Cha Seung-Kyun swallowed dryly, feeling
something intense rise within him.
The boy who once swore to live as though dead.
That kid, who had been as lifeless as stone.
Now, he’s managed to come out with a few words that actually
hit the mark.
Cha Seung-Kyun let out the breath he’d been holding in.

***

Late that evening, Yeon scowled as she scrolled through the

news on her phone.
“May the virus freeze to death.”
This had to be one of Lee Hong-Jun’s stunts. She could tell
from the fact that Tae Ha-Jin had been holed up in the royal
court for days. He’d gotten busier than ever—sorting out the
latest breaches and cleaning up the mess Lee Hong-Jun had
left behind.
Ordinary folks would think it was all due to the “virus.”
Lee Hong-Jun was both the pride and glory of Diaylen.
Thanks to him, the country’s prestige had skyrocketed; no one
could argue against it. Any sensible person would believe he
wouldn’t recklessly shake up the entire nation.
Beep.

[Won’t be back tonight. Don’t wait up.

9:40 p.m.]

It was a message from Tae Ha-Jin.

After days of silence, he’d finally begun texting her. At first,
she’d even doubted it was really him. She’d never expected
that guy to be the type to send texts.

[9:41 p.m.
Wasn’t waiting.]

Yeon responded playfully. He had wondered when Tae’d

return but wasn’t exactly pining for him.
Yeon was staying alone at Tae Ha-Jin’s residence, waiting for
the princess to summon him.
He was eager to deliver the arm he’d managed to procure for
her. But Elena had forbidden any visitors.
She seemed to have a lot to think about. If she’d just let Yeon
tell her that her arm was ready, it would all be solved. But
since he couldn’t reach her…well.
Beep.
Seeing the notification, Yeon paused for a second, unsure why.

[I miss you.
9:41 p.m.]

“…Crazy bastard.”
Turn on your blinker before you come in.
Suppressing the shock fluttering in his chest, Yeon frowned.
The texts between him and Tae Ha-Jin were straightforward.
Even when busy, the esper was punctual with his replies,
occasionally dropping some outrageous lines that startled him.
Yeon skimmed over the messages he’d received from him over
the past few days.

[Did you eat?

1:00 p.m.]

[Guided at the royal court on the go.

4:13 p.m.]

[How’s it, you ask? Like hell.

4:15 p.m.]

With Doberman occupied with the slave situation, and

concerned for Yeon’s health, Tae Ha-Jin had said he’d avoid
getting guided for a while. He’d advised her to rest for a few
days, then left for the royal court.

[What did you do to me? Why do you keep popping into my

head?
11:49 p.m.]

[I want to kiss. With you.

3:02 a.m.]

[Actually… I want sex too.

 3:04 a.m.]

[Are you asleep?

3:37 a.m.]

[How’s your body? Said it hurt down there.

8:21 a.m.]

[Reply’s slow. Making me anxious.

8:40 a.m.]

…No doubt, his messages had a way of unsettling Yeon. Tae

Ha-Jin’s affection was brazen, making it hard to ignore. As
Yeon debated how to respond to his I miss you message, he
opened his phone’s camera app.
“…Not like I’ve taken any before.”
Click.
Click, click.
He awkwardly snapped a selfie and sent it. Ha-Jin’d said he
missed him, so Yeon figured showing him the face should
suffice.

[9:55 p.m.
《Photo》]

Normally, he’d reply in less than a minute, but ten minutes

passed without a word. Yeon felt himself growing inexplicably
nervous.
Does it look weird?
He opened the photo gallery to check the picture. Maybe it did
look strange; his smile was stiff, and the angle was off. His
face looked unnaturally pale. Trying not to obsess, he went to
the kitchen for a drink of water, but the moment he sipped, the
notification sounded.
Yeon glanced at his phone, still holding the glass.

[Send me a crying photo too.

10:07 p.m.]

‘What the hell?’

Yeon nearly choked on his drink. He cupped his flushed
cheeks, scowling. Tae Ha-Jin had previously admitted he was
turned on by his crying face, claiming of wanting to make
Yeon cry more. Especially during sex, he’d mutter things like
that. Naturally, a request for a “crying photo” seemed to
follow that trend.
Yeon splashed his face with cold water over the sink. The icy
sting helped him regain composure.

[10:10 p.m.
《Photo》]

Yeon straightened the hand before the phone and took the
picture of his straightened middle finger, signalling he wanted
nothing to do with this unrestrained esper.
But then…

[Looks like something I’d like to suck on.

10:11 p.m.]
“…Sick bastard.”

[Were you texting just to turn me on?

10:12 p.m.]

“What is he going on about?”

[Alright, then send me a crying photo.

10:12 p.m.]

Not worth the words.

Clicking his tongue, Yeon shoved his phone into his pocket.
Tae Ha-Jin seemed half-delirious tonight. Restless, Yeon paced
the hall before entering his room and rummaging through the
bag.
‘Tonight’s perfect timing.’
Tae Ha-Jin was tied up with court affairs, while Doberman
was busy arranging newly acquired slaves across various
tasks.
‘No time like now.’
It was the ideal opportunity. Tae Ha-Jin rarely let him out of
his sight like this. He donned the black clothes, hat, and mask
he’d stashed in advance, along with a pair of gloves. He
inspected himself in the mirror, a figure as ominous as death
itself.
Taking the gun from Tae Ha-Jin’s display cabinet, he checked
the magazine. Fully loaded.
‘This isn’t just a showpiece; it’s for emergencies…’
Given his status as an abnormal type, each of whom was
trained in handling firearms, he had no trouble with it. Without
hesitation, Yeon went to the underground garage and drove
off. He expanded his energy as far as possible, watching for
any spies Tae Ha-Jin might’ve stationed nearby.
After about a thirty-minute drive, Yeon arrived at the capital’s
central research lab.
He parked nearby and managed a short three-hour nap. The
operation was set for dawn. He woke to his alarm, around 2
a.m.
“Right then. Off we go.”
Into hell.
With a grim expression, Yeon got out of the car and tugged his
cap firmly onto his head.
Getting inside wasn’t hard. The researchers rarely stuck
around in the lab at such ungodly hours unless they were on
the night shift. Normally, he’d need an access card, but he’d
lived at the central lab right up until he ran away, so his
biometric data was still in the system.
Yeon had worried they might have erased his info, but while
they’d wiped his fingerprints, the iris data was mercifully still
there.
Stepping into this godforsaken place of his own free will made
his skin crawl. He never thought he’d set foot back here. His
whole body felt on edge.
Having company would’ve made things easier in some ways,
but stealth and movement were simpler solo. This time, going
alone was best.
‘Still looks the same.’
The inside of the lab hadn’t changed a bit—it was still
stamped with Lee Hong-Jun’s tastes. His destination was the
so-called “Data Control Room,” the lab’s nerve centre.
That room was where Lee Hong-Jun had stored every bit of
knowledge he’d amassed over the years. Every invention,
every discovery, hypotheses and results, all held in the
supercomputer there. No one but the head researcher could
even set foot inside.
Footsteps echoed faintly as he edged carefully around a corner.
“I’m bloody falling asleep here… Third Lab is an icebox.
Feels like I’ve time-travelled back to the Stone Age.”
“Oh, quit whining. Our lab’s like a volcano. Could blow any
minute. And don’t get me started on our head researcher, that
tight-arsed bastard…”
“Ah, hell. Why’s our lot stuck in this mess?”
“It’s all thanks to the boss. Why start a bloody coup in the first
place?”
“Exactly! Last week I wasted a whole day answering
complaints on the phone.”
“Oh, our lab just turned off the phones, haha. What do we say?
‘Sorry, our head researcher’s a total weirdo’?”
“But, honestly, he is a bit off his rocker, isn’t he? Not in the
lab as much lately. Always off with his assistant.”
“Look, it’s best not to get involved. Screw up, and we’ll end
up as lab rats ourselves.”
Yeon pulled back into the shadows, masking his presence and
waiting for the researchers to disappear.
He could’ve knocked them out and carried on, but there was
no need for such a clumsy approach. It’d only waste time and
attract attention.
When they ducked into the smoking room, Yeon dashed past
them, sneaking up a nearby staircase. He climbed four flights,
heading for the fifth floor corridor’s end.
“Ha… ha…”
He exhaled softly, her breathing heavy. He had to backtrack
every time he saw someone or felt any movement nearby.
「Data Control Room」
At last, he stood before the room, blocked by an imposing
steel door. Three layers of security were in place beside it.
‘Even Doberman and the other espers wouldn’t get in here.’
Whatever documents they’d brought back had to have come
from another lab.
No esper, no matter how skilled, would break through the
triple security system Lee Hong-Jun had designed. If the alarm
went off, they wouldn’t have even attempted.
For anyone else, the only way in would’ve been with Lee
Hong-Jun himself—or with the master key he kept on him.
‘First security layer.’
Yeon pulled his wallet from his pocket and fished out a black
card hidden in its deepest fold. The name on it read Lee Hong-
Jun.
Beep.
〔Welcome, Mr. Lee Hong-Jun.〕
The first layer was tied to his personal ID card.
‘Second layer.’
Yeon carefully keyed in a long string of letters and numbers—
the passcodes he used most often. After fifteen characters,
another beep sounded.
‘Third layer.’
A faint red laser flickered into view. Yeon bit his finger and
smeared blood across it before holding it to the laser.
〔Analysing〕
The light seemed to taste his blood, testing it.
〔Genetic match confirmed!〕
Just as he thought. He let herself relax—until he noticed the
door still wasn’t open.
He glanced back at the security system with a sinking feeling.
〔Enter the passcode〕
‘Are you bloody serious?’
There was a fourth layer?
He hadn’t imagined he’d go this far. Triple security was
usually enough for important areas. Right before he’d run
away, he could swear the Data Control Room only had three
layers.
The unexpected hurdle made him swear under his breath. If
only the system showed how many digits the password was, it
would be a massive hint, but all it displayed was the prompt to
enter the code.
Yeon took a deep breath, trying to imagine what kind of
password he’d use.
〔Incorrect entry. Four attempts remaining.〕
This one?
〔Incorrect entry. Three attempts remaining.〕
Damn it… This too?
〔Incorrect entry. Two attempts remaining.〕
Bloody hell. Not even that?
〔Incorrect entry. One attempt remaining.〕
A searing anxiety twisted inside him. He’d come all this way,
slipped in without a hitch. It wasn’t often he could slip past
Tae Ha-Jin. And the lab, chaotic as it was now, was a prime
opportunity.
Pushed to the wall, Yeon tried to put himself in his father’s
mind.
“Urgh!”
The thought turned his stomach. He felt sick, trying to think
like his deranged father.
What numbers would that obsessive bastard latch onto?
A flash of realisation jolted through his mind.
No… No way.
Hands shaking, Yeon slowly entered the numbers, pressing
each one with a faint tremor.
He prayed, really prayed it wasn’t this code.
Beep.
〔Welcome!〕
“…”
The Data Control Room’s doors slid open, and Yeon stared,
speechless, at the gleaming room beyond. His blood boiled.
That madman’s final security code… was the date of Yeon’s
mother’s death.
How could this man use that godforsaken day, the worst day,
as a code?
Yeon couldn’t fathom it.
Not a birthday, no—his mother’s death. She had died by
suicide, but, in all honesty, it was Lee Hong-Jun who’d killed
her. He had no right to taint that date.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself to step inside. The doors
sealed shut behind.
Yeon glanced around, spotting the computer at the room’s
centre. Almost unremarkable, it looked like any computer on
the market, but it was a weapon that could either save or raze
the world.
The computer hummed to life.
Tack, tack.
Click.
Yeon typed in the encrypted genetic data for himself and Lee
Hong-Jun. The screen flickered on, files floating up like ghosts
across the screen.
The first thing he did was manipulate the Basen Research
Lab’s CCTV audio files. Every recording taken there was
automatically uploaded, day in and day out.
Tack.
Click.
Yeon tweaked the settings to prevent today’s CCTV footage
from being uploaded. He also shut down every camera along
his exit path. Hong-Jun’s supercomputer could accomplish
nearly anything if you knew how to use it. Hacking a foreign
intelligence agency was no big stretch.
“I’m going to ruin you. Whatever you’re planning.”
Expression grim, Yeon inserted the large USB drive he’d
brought, copying all the data it contained. He wanted to erase
everything, but that would make it obvious he’d snuck in. He
had no clue what kinds of perverse experiments Hong-Jun had
in mind.
He extracted all the information related to dual bloodlines
from the drive. The USB was a gift for Tae Ha-Jin. Yeon
didn’t need the information himself, but it was what Ha-Jin
had been trying to steal. So, he’d delete his secrets and pass
the rest along.
The reason he came without Ha-Jin was precisely this. If
they’d come together, slipping out any dual bloodline data
might have raised Ha-Jin’s suspicions. He was sensitive to
even the slightest oddity.
It was unavoidable.
Yeon pulled out another USB drive.
This one had all the dual bloodline data, for himself.
Delete all records and traces…
He was about to leave.
Then, he felt two faint auras approaching through the metal
doors. They were coming closer.
Yeon’s eyes widened as he quickly reset the supercomputer to
its original state and slipped the USB into his jacket pocket.
Glancing around for a hiding spot, he dashed toward a stack of
boxes.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beeeeeep.
Chiiing.
The heavy security locks released easily, and Yeon heard the
door creak open. He crouched, hidden among the shadows,
pressing his lips shut.
 Chapter 4. Part 12
“Don’t touch anything.”
It was Lee Hong-Jun’s voice. Yeon’s eyes trembled.
Shit…
He had deliberately chosen the early morning, a time when
Hong-Jun was usually inactive. So, why was he up?
Hong-Jun followed his daily routine like clockwork. Unless he
had a special event, he stuck to his schedule rigidly. For over a
year, Ha-Jin had snuck around to see him at dawn without
being caught—proof of Hong-Jun’s rigid routine.
“Well, what do I need to know if I want to? Just in case,
Director.”
Yeon’s eyes snapped open at the sound of laughter.
It was Dion.
Yeon instinctively realised he was witnessing something he
shouldn’t be seeing.
His blood pounded, heart racing so hard he feared they might
hear it. Clamping his hand harder over his mouth, he steadied
himself.
“Don’t come here at this hour again. It’s… unpleasant.”
“Oh, sorry. It’s just that I can only sneak around at this time.
Lately, I feel like Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun is keeping
an eye on me.”
“I don’t care about your personal affairs.”
“How heartless.”
Tack, tack. Hong-Jun’s fingers resumed tapping at the
supercomputer. Yeon had restored it to perfection, with no
chance of leaving fingerprints and all his access records wiped
clean. Nothing should raise any suspicions.
Yeon peered through the narrow gap between the boxes,
catching sight of Dion inspecting the control room with
apparent fascination.
What’s his connection to Hong-Jun?
One thing was clear: their relationship would not work in
Yeon’s favor.
He recalled what he knew about Dion.
Dion was rarely at the centre. He was usually off on
assignments in the Basen region or outside the Diaylen nation.
Consequently, Yeon had never seen him at work during doors
—other than that one time at the pink door.
He didn’t seem on good terms with Commander Dicaine.
The two of them had looked like mortal enemies in the
training hall. More accurately, Dion seemed to harbour a
grudge against his father.
Dion had once told him that even if something wasn’t funny,
he had to laugh.
Now, after witnessing this scene, Yeon realised the Dion he
knew might have been a facade. No good could come of
entangling with someone connected to Hong-Jun.
“Scrambling your location is simple, but if you overuse it, the
Watch may notice a backlash, so avoid it when possible.”
Hong-Jun sat, tinkering with the supercomputer as he spoke.
Dion nodded, looking intrigued.
Scrambling his location?
Who would Dion, an S0-grade esper from the Diaylen nation,
need to scramble his location from? Yeon’s face grew serious
as he stared at Dion.
“…!”
His heart nearly jumped out of his mouth.
Dion’s gaze locked onto him.
Yeon was sure he wasn’t mistaken—Dion was staring right at
him through the narrow gap between the boxes. Dion smiled
softly, and Yeon’s eyes shook violently.
“Director.”
No…
He wanted to burst out, grab him, and demand he shut up, but
Yeon froze, barely breathing. If he was discovered now, he’d
be in serious trouble.
Dion chuckled softly. Hong-Jun, who was examining the
computer, gave no reply.
“What do you think of your son?”
A brief silence passed before Hong-Jun finally turned his
head, lifting his glasses with a lifeless expression.
“I don’t see any reason to answer. What’s the point of your
question?”
“Point… let’s call it curiosity?”
“Curiosity? How fitting.”
“Oh, come on. Guide Lee Yeon is quite intriguing, wouldn’t
you say?”
Dion’s gaze turned toward the boxes where Yeon was hidden.
It was clear he knew Yeon was there. The timing of
mentioning him was no accident.
Yeon was often confused by Dion. Was his attitude friendly, or
malicious?
After a moment’s pause, Hong-Jun replied indifferently.
“I think he’s stubborn. With his genetics, he should have
perished with a gust of wind… Sometimes, he seems like the
first failed product, though I’m beginning to see him as a
partial success.”
“That’s complicated. Can you break it down for me?”
“No.”
Listening in, Yeon felt anger rising. Dion was deliberately
discussing him, as if to taunt him.
He couldn’t grasp Dion’s intentions.
Dion’s gaze drifted around, and as Hong-Jun moved to follow
it, Dion blocked his view.
“Actually, I think I left my Watch in the third-floor lab. Mind
if I go check it out?”
Hong-Jun’s eyes flicked to Dion’s bare wrist, and his brows
furrowed. He wasn’t about to let this idiot touch anything in
the lab. But he didn’t feel like answering every trivial question
either.
Groaning, Hong-Jun rose from his seat, warning him sharply.
“Don’t touch anything. I won’t forgive it.”
“Fine, fine. I don’t care about this hunk of scrap metal
anyway.”
The supercomputer was priceless, but Dion referred to it as a
hunk of scrap, filling Hong-Jun with revulsion. He could
barely tolerate such an insufferable person. As Hong-Jun left
the room, Dion strolled over without hesitation, heading
straight for Yeon’s hiding place.
Yeon pushed himself up, aiming his gun at Dion, ready to fire
at any moment, both hands steady on the weapon.
Dion scoffed, an amused grin spreading across his face.
“Hyung. What’re you doing here?”
“That’s my line. What the hell are you doing here?”
“Working for the country, of course.”
…What?
Yeon blinked, convinced he hadn’t heard right.
Dion kept grinning like it was a joke only he got.
“The Emperor gave me a little secret job. Just stopped by to
get my watch checked. You know the drill, can’t exactly have
my whereabouts leaked.”
Sounded plausible, but Yeon wasn’t buying it.
“Don’t give me that rubbish. Then why would Elder Cha
Seung-Kyun be keeping tabs on you?”
“You didn’t know? The Elder and His Majesty aren’t exactly
on the best terms. Guess he’s keeping an eye on me out of
caution.”
Yeon narrowed his eyes.
“So just because you’ve got a grudge against the lab director
doesn’t mean everyone does. In this country, Lee Hong-Jun’s a
respected scientist. Known as someone who genuinely serves
the nation. Same reason I came by to see him.”
Dion took a step closer. Yeon instinctively backed up until his
shoulders hit the wall, and his finger shifted onto the trigger.
But Dion didn’t stop, approaching until the gun was pointed
dead centre on his forehead.
“Then what about you? Why are you skulking around here if
you hate the lab director?”
“Stop right there. Any closer, and I’ll shoot.”
“Oh, and give us away? Unless you fancy ending up a test
subject, move it.”
Dion finally halted when the gun barrel touched his forehead.
His smooth face was now barely an inch away. Yeon wanted to
fire but couldn’t. The risk of getting caught wasn’t the only
thing stopping him – it was the fact Dion was smiling, even
with a gun in his face.
It reminded him of Tae Ha-Jin’s reckless willingness to
embrace death.
Dion laughed bitterly.
“You’re so cruel to me, hyung. I went out of my way to save
your life.”
Yeon had figured it out ages ago – Dion had let Lee Hong-Jun
escape on purpose, shielding Yeon from seeing the lab
director.
Even so, Yeon wasn’t about to trust him. He replied, calm but
firm.
“There’s something that’s bugging me. Why did Lee Hong-Jun
meet with you at dawn? The lab director doesn’t exactly serve
the country; his own goals always come first. So if he’s giving
you time under the pretext of national duty, that’s…
suspicious.”
“So you think the lab director and I are scheming?”
“That’s my guess.”
Dion rested his hand on the wall beside Yeon’s face, leaning
close as if he’d kiss him. Yeon tightened his grip on the gun.
“Fair point. Then I just need to prove myself, don’t I?”
Dion’s smile turned sly.
Yeon frowned, not understanding his meaning, until Dion
leaned in further.
“You want to know something, hyung?”
“…”
“I know you’ve got a dual bloodline.”
At those unexpected words, Yeon’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Dion savoured his reaction.
“I figured it out back at the Pink Door incident. Kept quiet
about it for months. Meaning I’ve been watching your back all
along.”
Not like a certain someone who only ever led him into danger.
Yeon’s mind flashed back to the Pink Door incident. Before
Dion appeared, Yeon had absorbed the toxic substance from
the espers to save them. It seemed Dion had witnessed that.
Unbelievable.
“And even now, I’m protecting you.”
Dion gripped the barrel of Yeon’s gun, crushing it with his
bare hands. Yeon was too stunned to stop him.
“I wish you’d be nice to me, you know? Even if I’m a
bastard.”
“…”
“Please. I don’t want to force myself to smile anymore,
hyung.”
In a blink, his smile vanished, replaced by an unsettling
coldness. The man’s gentle look transformed. Yeon’s pupils
trembled, catching the movement in Dion’s throat as he
swallowed. Somehow, Dion didn’t look menacing to him – he
looked like a miserable, drenched puppy. Against his will,
Yeon felt his resolve waver, instinctively empathising with
Dion. It was a ridiculous, useless habit.
Dion, holding Yeon’s gaze, flexed his arm.
Flames erupted!
The wall behind him melted under the heat, leaving a gaping
hole. Through it, Yeon saw the dark night and felt the chill of
the night air rush in.
‘What the hell is he doing…?’
Wrecking the lab like this – Lee Hong-Jun wouldn’t let it
slide. Dion had to know that, yet he still looked calm, his face
set in a hard expression.
“Sorry about that rift I caused last time. Even I thought I was a
right idiot.”
“…”
“Catch you later.”
He gave Yeon a little shove on the shoulder.
“…!”
Yeon felt the pull of gravity.
Falling, he had just enough time to think.
They were on the fifth floor. Dion knew he had a dual
bloodline. And the midnight air was so cold it was sobering.
Using his telekinesis, Yeon steadied himself mid-air,
descending slowly to the ground without injury.
Even as he fell, their gazes locked.
‘Who…are you really?’
Yeon couldn’t hide his confusion. If Dion were scheming with
Lee Hong-Jun, he wouldn’t have kept his secret or let him
escape. He’d have used it as a weapon to control him.
Dion, staring down from above, soon slipped out of sight.
BEEP! BEEP!
The piercing red lights and sirens blared to life around him.
The hum of people’s footsteps grew nearer. Dion leaned
against the intact portion of the wall, closing his eyes.
‘What the hell am I doing?’
Even he didn’t understand why he was acting like this with
Yeon.
Yeon’s very presence seemed to draw others’ fascination.
Dion, too, had been struck by his ability and appearance, but
that wasn’t the point.
Covering up Yeon’s secret.
Letting him escape.
For no other reason than…
‘Because keeping his secret…’
There was a selfish pleasure in knowing something not even
Tae Ha-Jin did, a quiet payback for Yeon’s kind words about
not needing to smile. And, even if he did try to leverage that
secret, he doubted Yeon would bow to him.
In truth, he didn’t want to push him away. He didn’t want to be
hated.
‘As for letting him escape…’
Yeon hadn’t seemed like he’d actually pull the trigger. The
compassion in his eyes made Dion feel oddly pathetic, and the
wavering kindness in Yeon’s gaze unnerved him.
Pathetic, sentimental reasons. That’s all it was.

***

“Sir, Her Highness the Princess is ready to meet with you.”

Dressed in a smart outfit, Yeon glanced over at Doberman
while straightening his tie. He’d already received this notice
on his watch.
Doberman looked at him, puzzled by his exhausted appearance
and faintly visible dark circles.
“Didn’t sleep well, sir?”
“Ah… Just some nightmares, I suppose.”
Yeon shook his head, recalling the events at the central lab.
He’d practically passed out upon getting home and woke to
several texts from Tae Ha-Jin.

[“Ignoring me now, are you?”

10:30 p.m.]

[“I know you’re still awake. You never go to bed before

midnight.”
10:33 p.m.]

[“Alright. You don’t need to send me a crying picture.”

10:49 p.m.]
[“Yeon.”
11:00 p.m.]

[“Just you wait until I’m back.”

11:38 p.m.]

Though the message was severe, Yeon didn’t have the energy
to respond. It was a shock to learn Dion knew about the dual
bloodline. Whatever business he had at the lab felt secondary
now. His mind was a whirl of unanswered questions.
He carefully wrapped the containment capsule with the
Princess’s severed arm in a thick cloth.
“All ready. Let’s go.”
He clutched Doberman’s forearm. Doberman, with a
concerned look at Yeon’s pallor, transported them to the Sun
Palace. As before, Yeon was led by a maid to the reception
room with Doberman by his side. It was a different space from
their last encounter in the Princess’s chambers.
“Oh, you’re here?”
Around the circular table in the reception room sat Princess
Elena and Crown Prince Ricardo, both sipping tea. The
Princess put her cup down with a soft clink. Her gaze, calm
and piercing, was steady and no longer weakened as before.
“Greetings to Your Highness, the Crown Prince, and Her
Highness, the Princess.”
Doberman and Yeon bowed as they entered.
“Sit down, both of you. We’ve been waiting,” Ricardo invited
them warmly. But Yeon walked directly to the Princess instead
of sitting. He had something to deliver. Elena watched him
with measured curiosity before she spoke.
“Yeon.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
There was a hint of relief in her voice, a sense of resolve in her
smile.
“Just as you said that day, I’m going to live properly from now
on.”
She recalled his words with a renewed understanding.
“I don’t consider myself any better than you. I was cowardly,
calculated, and, honestly, a rather unremarkable princess…
But losing an arm—it made me realise just how small my
world was.”
In the few days since, the Princess had changed. Her emerald
gaze appeared clearer, brimming with new purpose.
“Please, forget the foolish princess I once was. I deeply regret
causing you such trouble for my own goals. If it’s alright with
you… could we perhaps be friends?”
Her tone, hesitant and uncertain, revealed how much thought
she had given the request. She quickly added as if fearing his
rejection.
“I need someone like you who can tell me the harsh truth. I
want you to see how much I can grow, Yeon.”
Their eyes met.
Doberman, observing from his seat, was genuinely astonished.
This regal woman, who had never bowed to anyone, was now
so unsure of herself before someone else.
Elena had always been formidable and intelligent, but her
ambition for the throne had been selfish. She lacked a sincere
regard for the people, avoided those she considered inferior,
and that had disqualified her in his eyes.
‘What exactly is Yeon, this guide… up to?’
He’d not only fascinated Tae Ha-Jin but now even changed the
Princess. Being around him meant seeing strange things
unfold.
Ricardo was just as surprised. It was unlike his proud sister to
show such vulnerability. She was known to speak her mind
even to the Emperor.
While everyone was focused on Yeon, he held out the wrapped
bundle to Elena. She looked puzzled at its size.
“Only if you feel the same way after seeing what’s inside…
then, Princess, I’ll be your friend.”
 Chapter 4. Part 13
His tone was steady, final.
Doberman, aware of its contents, gave a slight nod. Most
likely, the Princess and the Crown Prince didn’t know about
the auction. The auction house would have silenced any slip-
ups, and the Emperor would have made sure news of the
Princess’s severed arm was kept secret.
Unless, of course, someone within the royal family had gone
to extreme lengths to uncover the truth.
As expected, both Ricardo and Elena eyed the wrapped object
curiously. Slowly, Elena loosened the cloth to reveal the item.
“…!”
“What is that…?”
She recoiled, almost flinging the arm away. Floating in a
specialised containment solution, her severed arm bore
stitched scars. Ricardo jumped from his seat, peering intensely
at the object.
Yeon explained.
“After the Red Door incident, an esper retrieved your arm
from the monster and auctioned it. Using Tae Ha-Jin’s funds, I
managed to win the bid and retrieve it.”
“What? My sister’s arm… was up for auction?”
“Yes.”
Ricardo’s usually smooth brow furrowed deeply. He looked
repulsed. Meanwhile, Doberman slipped away quietly, going
to fetch Dekal.
The Princess stared at her severed arm in disbelief.
“So… this is….”
Her lips, slightly parted, pressed together tightly.
She thought she’d moved on, buried the loss.
An arm she never thought she’d see again. Yet here it was,
brought back to her. Joy and confusion overwhelmed her, and
she could scarcely believe it.
Ricardo, enraged, clenched his fists. Yeon, observing him,
added cautiously,
“This might be an inappropriate moment to mention it, but the
arm was nearly purchased by a foreign bidder. Tae Ha-Jin lent
me 500 gold to bring it back, so if possible, it’d be kind of you
to repay even a small portion to him.”
As he spoke, Yeon shook his head inwardly.
What a strange situation, to ask for money for something given
out of goodwill.
‘No choice.’
While Tae Ha-Jin had paid willingly for the arm, Yeon didn’t
want to owe him 500 gold. The royals could certainly manage
it.
True to form, Ricardo replied with grandeur.
“Of course! 500 gold is nothing compared to returning my
sister’s arm. I’d do more than that—I’d kneel in gratitude!”
Emotion swelling, Elena clapped a hand over her mouth. Tears
traced down her face. Ricardo gently patted her back, his face
softened with compassion.
Yeon’s expression turned thoughtful.
‘Weren’t the Princess and the Crown Prince rivals?’
He hadn’t cared enough to notice before, but they didn’t seem
to have an entirely bitter relationship. After all, he’d seen
Ricardo guarding the palace halls during his last visit.
‘Is this what siblings are like?’
Yeon’s mind drifted to his own half-brother, frozen in his
memory as a two-year-old. It had been that long since they last
met. Yet Yeon felt no longing; he’d never been attached to
family.
“Oh, and by the way. There’s this emcee, Gaspar Revilon, who
announced to the audience that the Princess had lost her arm.”
With a calm face, Yeon reported.
He couldn’t stomach the thought of someone like that going
unpunished.
“Excuse me?”
Ricardo’s expression darkened as his voice dropped. He was
furious; Yeon had never seen him so solemn.
Ricardo raised his hand, summoning the chamberlain, Doman,
closer.
“From this day on, I want a thorough investigation of the
capital’s auction houses. The auctioning of a royal body part is
no trivial matter. We’ll examine every transaction over the
years, uncover everyone involved, and specifically find out
who tried to bid on the Princess’s arm. Draft the directive for
the Justice Department at once.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“This Gaspar Revilon will face charges for defamation by
factual statement and slandering royalty. Any profits he’s
made from such dealings are to be confiscated by the state.”
“I’ll liaise with the Justice Department by day’s end.”
“Transfer 1,000 gold directly to Tae Ha-Jin’s account as well.”
“Shall we just draw from the imperial budget for this?”
“No. Use the personal budget allocated to me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Watching things progress so quickly, Yeon found himself a bit
surprised by Ricardo’s shift. He’d thought the Crown Prince
was just some aimless royal, but he was indeed every inch of
royalty. And to refund Tae Ha-Jin double what he’d spent—
500 gold—was a bold move.
‘Should I tell him about Dion’s situation?’
Since Yeon’d already tattled a bit, he wondered if he should
just go ahead and mention the rest.
He opened his mouth but stopped short and closed it again.
To say Dion was suspicious, he’d have to start from the night
he visited the central lab and cover all the conversations he’d
had with him. That would mean explaining the existence of the
USB and Yeon’s own secrets, which he wasn’t ready to share.
Besides, Ricardo and Dion seemed to go way back. They
looked rather close, and it could risk people doubting her
instead.
Fwooosh!
Just then, Doberman appeared with Dekal in tow, cutting
through the shimmering light.
Dekal seemed to have lost a bit of weight lately, probably from
how busy he’d been. He and Yeon shared a brief look,
acknowledging each other with silent bows.
“Your Highness, Crown Prince, I’ve brought Dekal.”
“Oh, good! Do come over. Busy with the capital centre’s
restoration lately, I hear?”
“Yes.”
Dekal replied quietly and walked straight over to Elena, who
was still in tears. Her arm looked pretty ghastly, but Dekal
took it from the solution without a flinch. Carefully, he aligned
the torn sections like puzzle pieces and focused his energy into
his hands.
‘This might take a while.’
Concentrating, he evaluated the time it would need.
‘I wonder if she’s all right.’
Lost in thought, Kim Uibin came to mind. Lately, every time
he used his restoration ability, his thoughts drifted that way.
It had been days now since he’d last seen Kim Uibin, who had
said she wanted to grow stronger.
‘Why did I…’
His routine hadn’t changed much. From morning till night, he
was swamped with the capital centre’s restoration, and when
his contamination level spiked, he had to seek out a guide he
barely knew.
The only real change was one thing.
He’d stopped visiting Kim Uibin’s hospital room.
Oddly enough, she’d left a deep impression. Unlike him, with
his limited range of expressions, she displayed a variety of
emotions on her face. Watching her felt refreshing, and he
found himself oddly soothed by her frequent apologies and her
genuine smile.
Now that that calm had suddenly vanished, it was only natural
to feel a sense of emptiness.
“Are you okay…?”
The princess asked worriedly.
“Yes.”
A soft light wrapped around the arm and shoulder, shimmering
with a faint glow.
Elena closed her eyes, unable to bear watching. Yeon watched
the miraculous sight quietly as the stitching on Elena’s arm
gradually disappeared, feeling a sense of relief settle over her.
“This debt…I’ll repay it someday.” Ricardo, standing beside
Yeon, whispered.
Yeon turned his head to meet the warm, grateful gaze. He
shook his head.
“Repay that debt to esper Tae Ha-Jin. We wouldn’t have gotten
this far without him.”
Ricardo gave him a look he couldn’t quite place, but he chose
to look away, unwilling to argue.
Some time passed.
“The restoration is complete. You should be able to use it as
before.”
Dekal stepped back three paces. Elena stared, wide-eyed, at
her left arm, opening and closing her left hand in wonder, like
a child. She looked up at Yeon with wet eyes, her lips
quivering as if to speak.
Yeon quickly realised what Elena wanted to say. It must be a
response to her words from earlier.
—Only if you feel the same way after seeing what’s inside…
then, Princess, I’ll be your friend.
Her eyes still held that clear, bright light, so Yeon felt as
though he’d already heard her answer. He responded in kind.
“The honour’s mine.”
“…”
“Don’t thank me. It’s a burden.”
Elena laughed through her tears.
Yeon found himself smiling too, hoping for good things for
her.
And that evening, Yeon officially stepped down as Tae Ha-
Jin’s dedicated guide.

__
Everything was okay until **the last phrase of the chapter**.
Excuse me?
Before this chapter ended, I was sure that each chapter was an
allusion to opening a secret - a sort of a door itself. 1st chapter
was about Tae getting to know that Yeon is the son. The
second was about Tae realising that Yeon was the person from
his childhood. The third, was about Yeon realising that the
kiddo from his childhood memories was Tae himself. Before
the end, I thought that Yeon would tell Tae about dual-blood,
showing the trust and acceptance. Well, I’m sad I was wrong.
Also, I know that the chapter is smaller than usual, but I’ll
make the next one a bit longer.
 Chapter 5. Part 1
“Ah, at last, the smell of the capital centre!”
Returning on orders from Tae Ha-Jin after an extended
mission in the O’Halla region, Owen Majayka was finally
back in the capital. Originally slated for three months, he
hadn’t even stayed a full month before being called back.
With the Red Door incident killing so many abnormal types,
the capital’s centre was shorthanded and needed him.
As Owen made his way back, he saw that the capital centre’s
restoration was nearly complete. Heading straight to the large
training grounds, he took in the familiar surroundings with a
satisfied sigh.
It just so happened that a joint training camp for guides and
espers was taking place the day he returned. Supposedly, it
was a survival training course designed to increase guide
survival rates. Regional centres were conducting similar guide
training around key locations.
The grounds were packed with abnormal types clustered in
groups. The transportation espers stood in a circle, linking
hands, and a few dozen abnormal types stepped inside. In a
flash, they were transported to the training site.
Moving people in bulk like this was pretty efficient.
If a door burst open in the capital while they were in the
provinces, they could quickly relocate essential personnel with
this method. Thanks to the number of transportation espers
deployed for training, capital security wasn’t an issue.
As Owen scanned the faces of the assembled espers, he
greeted them with a wave.
“Long time, no see, everyone!”
He gave an enthusiastic wave, but for some reason, the espers
didn’t look thrilled. Realising the awkward atmosphere, Owen
tilted his head in confusion.
‘What’s got everyone so glum…?’
Though training was tough, espers with enhanced bodies
generally enjoyed it as a break from the usual grind. The mood
here, though, was off. Like a school trip dampened by sombre
vibes.
A few espers finally muttered to him in low voices.
“Owen, you’re back? Heard you went to O’Halla?”
“Lucky bastard. Some of us have been slogging away in the
capital while you were kicking back in O’Halla.”
“Oi, knock it off. Owen’s not to blame. The real culprit is
Esper Tae Ha-Jin.”
Owen involuntarily flinched at Tae Ha-Jin’s name.
Though he wasn’t entirely sure why, he’d been dispatched to
O’Halla as if to stay out of Tae Ha-Jin’s sight. He’d assumed it
was a pointless trip until he arrived and found an actual role
waiting for him. Owen had been stunned.
“Why? What’s up with Tae Ha-Jin?”
The espers shared a grim look, speaking in hushed tones.
“Mate, he’s in a mood. A serious one. I’ve never seen him like
this.”
“You should’ve seen him when the Yellow Door opened. Like
a vengeful spirit, going on a full-blown massacre.”
“I thought he’d gone berserk… I was bloody terrified.”
“Even Doberman seems worn down lately.”
“Gotta hand it to Doberman. The man’s a saint, but you can
tell he’s feeling it. Looks older every day.”
“Anyone know why? What’s got Tae Ha-Jin in such a state?”
The espers went silent. It seemed no one knew exactly why
Tae Ha-Jin was on edge lately.
Listening to them, Owen couldn’t shake a sense of
puzzlement.
‘It doesn’t seem like anyone’s been directly affected.’
From what he gathered, people were just tense because of his
mood. But being an S+ grade esper, Tae Ha-Jin was bound to
have that effect.
He’d always been that way.
So what was different now? Just how bad was his mood?
Lost in his thoughts, Owen suddenly realised someone was
missing.
“Wait, where’s Mu Fei? Did he head to the training site first?”
The room fell silent at his question.
People let out a collective sigh.
“Ah, Mu Fei… well…”
At that moment, Mu Fei was shivering halfway up the
mountain, hidden among the thick trees, using his ability for
concealment. The air was so tense it felt like he might wet
himself.
‘Bloody hell… How did I end up as Tae Ha-Jin’s personal
attendant?’
Mu Fei bitterly regretted his decision. It wasn’t just that he’d
been sweet-talked by Doberman.
‘I even signed a contract!’
This wasn’t an attendant job—it was practically errand-
running and surveillance. Lately, Tae Ha-Jin’s demands were
getting more specific, and Mu Fei was starting to think he
wouldn’t live much longer.
In the eerie heart of the mountain, a tense confrontation was
unfolding.
Mu Fei, unintentionally, found himself an observer of a
strange sight: two men, both captivating in their own way,
standing face-to-face.
“Speak clearly. I’d rather not watch you drive me mad.”
Tae Ha-Jin grabbed Lee Yeon by the collar with such force
that his broad hand was streaked with red veins. Even though
Lee Yeon’s neck was slightly squeezed, his expression
remained calm.
“Get a new guide. I’ve told you several times, I am no longer
your personal guide, Tae Ha-Jin.”
“And I’m asking, why the hell did you make that decision?”
At the booming yell, Mu Fei flinched. Tae Ha-Jin’s terrifying
voice echoed across the mountain.
‘Is this a bloody courage test…?’
Mu Fei felt like he might die of fright. He was amazed at how
Lee Yeon stood there, enduring Tae Ha-Jin’s fury so
impassively.
Lee Yeon’s expression remained blank.
‘Huh?’
Watching Lee Yeon closely, Mu Fei noticed something ironic.
Lee Yeon’s face was expressionless, but on closer inspection,
his eyes seemed a bit misty, faintly glistening. No tears had
fallen, but there was definitely moisture.
“There’s no particular reason. We were never meant to be. I
don’t want to be tied to Tae Ha-Jin anymore, or to face him
like this. So… please, just let me go.”
Tae Ha-Jin’s face twisted in fury, his voice rough.
“You must think I’m trash, don’t you, Yeon? Smiling sweetly
and being kind, and you see me as garbage. I was too soft. If
I’d known that loving you would make me the weak one, I’d
never have started this.”
He truly thought so.
It hurt.
It hurt like hell.
Throwing hurtful words at Lee Yeon was painful beyond
measure.
It felt like his throat was burning, like his chest was splitting in
two. The bliss, tenderness, and longing he’d felt towards Lee
Yeon had now transformed into sheer pain.
Pathetically, just like flipping a switch.
“Did you play me? Was this all just a game? Was this your
way of getting back at me for leaving you when we were
younger?”
Anger surged through him.
He wanted to destroy everything, even though the sky was
shattering like glass around him.
And yet, Lee Yeon, spitting out those harsh words, looked
beautiful in a damned way.
Tae Ha-Jin’s eyes trembled ever so slightly.
This had to be a curse. He clenched his teeth.
“You say we were never meant to be? That you want nothing
to do with me, that you don’t even want to see me? That you
want me to let you go? Damn it, don’t spout that nonsense. If
this is your revenge, kill me instead. Don’t make me lose my
mind like this.”
“…This isn’t revenge. I’ve never resented you.”
“Then why are you doing this!”
“Can’t you just let me go…?”
Let him go?
He’d never truly had him.
He at least wanted a proper explanation—why Lee Yeon
suddenly wanted to leave him, what had changed his heart.
That was the only way he could even think about what came
next.
“….”
But Ha-Jin, who had been about to press him further, fell
silent.
Lee Yeon was crying.
Crying so bitterly.
“Don’t ask me anything, just… please. Let this be it for us…
please, just let it end here.”
Choking up, he forced out the words. Transparent tears rolled
down his cheeks, falling off his chin. Tae Ha-Jin felt an absurd
desire to become those tears.
He released his grip on Lee Yeon’s collar.
Lee Yeon’s sobs drained his anger, robbed him of any will to
continue. Every harsh word he’d forced out became
meaningless. Not one of them had been sincere.
Taking a step back, Ha-Jin looked like a man who had lost
everything. He couldn’t comfort the crying Lee Yeon.
He had a hand to wipe away those tears, yet he knew he had
no right to.
“Yeon.”
Tears flowed endlessly from beneath Lee Yeon’s lowered
lashes. Tae Ha-Jin traced the path of those droplets.
“Even now, you teach me about love.”
“…”
“Making it bloody hard to let go.”
He turned around, moving briskly, and disappeared from Lee
Yeon’s view. Down, further down the mountain, he walked
endlessly.
It was all he could think to do.
The only way to stop Lee Yeon’s tears.
“Hhic, ngh… snf…”
But Ha-Jin’s way was wrong. Once he’d vanished from sight,
Lee Yeon’s sobbing grew even more sorrowful. He leaned
against a tree trunk and slid down, face buried in his knees,
weeping openly.
“I’m sorry, Tae Ha-Jin…”
After a while, he recalled that day just a few days earlier.
After returning from the palace, he’d inserted the USB into his
laptop to check its contents. He’d only copied other sections
onto his computer, but the part that mattered to him was the
one on “dual bloodlines.”
Click.
As he scanned through the definitions of dual bloodlines, his
hand paused on the next page.
Few records remained of dual bloodlines, passed down since
ancient times. Most had been destroyed, and the few
remaining old texts were all in his possession. The time and
effort he’d invested in gathering them were immeasurable.
Ancient people had called those with dual bloodlines “gate-
openers.” Whether that “gate” was merely symbolic or
referred to the portal to disaster, there was no explanation.
Historically, dual bloodline individuals displayed certain
patterns:
Unbelievable beauty, traits of low grades, suffering among
those around them, short lifespans.
And… dual bloodline individuals were □□□ □□ □□□ □□
□□□□□ □.
Deep in concentration, Lee Yeon frowned. He couldn’t
understand what was hidden behind □. Lee Hong-Jun, who
placed high trust in supercomputers, had hidden this part,
indicating that it was crucial information to be kept in his mind
alone.
‘I’m dying of curiosity.’
Click.
Annoyed, Lee Yeon turned the page.
The ancient manuscripts contained only surface-level
information. There was no explanation as to why.
He felt a pang of curiosity. Could he, a mere human, defy the
genetic legacy of dual bloodlines, known as the “blessing of
the gods”?
‘Madman…’
The concept itself was wildly different from a normal
person’s. He thought his father had dared to peek into the
divine realm.
If only he could bypass the short lifespan and low-grade traits,
a dual-bloodline human could undoubtedly ascend to power.
Lee Yeon wasn’t particularly interested in power, but he was
elated by the idea of creating absolute strength. He decided to
begin the experiments.
Lee Yeon’s heart dropped at the next part.
The most crucial ingredients were twofold.
A descendant of the nearly extinct dual bloodlines.
And a newborn Epilox, with absolute genetic attributes.
His experiment was termed a “genetic amplification
experiment.” The first goal was to maximise the faint dual
bloodline. Increasing the grade of traits or extending longevity
would come later.
For this, he needed the genetic material of an Epilox child,
which would offer distinct hereditary traits. The younger the
subject, the less resistance, making the experiments easier.

[Over the years, I gathered all the necessary materials—a

descendant of a dual bloodline named Christina and a one-
year-old Epilox baby. TQ-001 never cried, even for a newborn.
Didn’t matter how many thick needles I stabbed in; the kid
endured. An excellent test subject.
Letting personal feelings interfere with Christina was a
mistake. I hadn’t intended to have her bear my child, but there
it was. Still, it was fine—my A-grade abnormal type was
plenty useful for the experiment too.
The ultimate specimen was born.
While the child grew, I injected him with genetic enhancers
derived from TQ-001’s blood. Every injection made the kid
scream, which slowed down the experiment, but I adjusted the
dosage so it wouldn’t cause shock. He wouldn’t die from
seizures, at least.
No matter how many tests, TQ-001 never collapsed or passed
out. Such resilience could only be a positive factor for the
outcome.]

“…”
So… Tae Ha-Jin was a test subject because of me?
He couldn’t turn to the next chapter. It was like this was the
final page.
Because what followed would crush him.
Yeon felt defeated.
This body living without pain, even his highest-grade dual
bloodline… All of it was the result of Tae Ha-Jin’s sacrifice
for twelve years, since he was one.
The injections Yeon’d received—unquestioned, endured—had
come from Tae Ha-Jin’s own blood.
Someone once said that every moment alive was a form of
atonement.
Yeon now felt that sentiment as though it was his own.
On the day he read Lee Hong-Jun’s documents in the home
library, he’d first encountered the Epilox genetics. And on the
day he saw an Epilox slave at auction, overhearing the
murmurings around him.
Yeon had seen those red eyes and never connected them to
these experiments.
Those lazy, careless moments now stabbed at his heart like a
dagger.
If only I’d known a little sooner.
If I’d known before you loved me…
Would we have hurt just a bit less?
“Ugh…!”
Nausea struck him.
He wanted to drain every last drop of this crimson blood from
his veins. This blood was his dead mother’s, his insane
father’s, and the blood of Tae Ha-Jin, who had been sacrificed.
Yeon had never once questioned what kind of experiment that
boy was subject to in that lab. Enjoying chatting with peers, he
hadn’t even thought to ask Tae Ha-Jin about his secrets. Yeon
had no idea when he’d been made into a specimen.
The reason Tae Ha-Jin had to endure twelve years as a test
subject… was because of him.
Because of this sacrifice, Yeon had become Lee Hong-Jun’s
perfect work.
Oblivious, claiming to be his friend, becoming his guide,
basking in his affection…
He had deceived Tae Ha-Jin at every moment.
It wasn’t enough to steal his life—Yeon had taken his affection
as well. If so, then…
“Ugh… ugh…!”
He wanted to vomit blood.
If this hated blood would just disappear, he’d be relieved.
Even after learning he was Lee Hong-Jun’s son, Tae Ha-Jin
had loved him. He’d accepted the whole miserable past,
welcomed Yeon with open arms.
But even he couldn’t have known.
The reason he had to live as a test subject was for one person’s
perfection.
And that person was his own exclusive guide.
‘So… that’s why.’
At once, a forgotten question was answered. Why did his
mother, Christina, visit the lab in the dead of night, name Tae
Ha-Jin, and teach him to speak?
His mother had known.
She had known that the red-eyed boy had been sacrificing
himself for her and her child all along.
Unable to bear the sorrow and guilt, her mother had risked
being caught, sacrificed sleep, to take care of Tae Ha-Jin.
Realising this felt like a death sentence for Yeon.
He and his mother had been no different from Lee Hong-Jun
—complicit in his suffering.
We deceived him all along.
“I’m sorry, Tae Ha-Jin…”
Yeon lifted his head from his knees, resting it against the tree
trunk. The tears wouldn’t stop. The old him would have gone
to Tae Ha-Jin and poured out every painful confession.
But he couldn’t.
He couldn’t tell him that, because of him, Tae Ha-Jin’d
suffered twelve years as a specimen—that this was the price
for making Yeon who he was.
Not a single word of truth could pass his lips. Tae Ha-Jin
didn’t even know he was of dual bloodline heritage. He
couldn’t let any of this slip.
Yeon understood now.
He was afraid.
Afraid of Tae Ha-Jin hating him.
If he learned the truth, he would be shocked, and no matter
how much he cared for Yeon, he’d end up resenting him.
Every time they faced each other, he would recall the pain of
his youth.
The thought of his cold, hate-filled gaze and the loss of his
affection terrified Yeon to the core.
‘I loved you too.’
The undeniable feeling clawed at his soul. He only realised it
too late, once it became impossible to face him.
Yeon had liked Tae Ha-Jin.
Yeon liked how Tae Ha-Jin’d faced him honestly, clumsy as he
was.
Yeon liked Tae Ha-Jin’s gaze, laden with desire, that clung to
him.
“I’m so sorry… hngh, ugh…”
Instead of enduring his hatred, Yeon chose to leave him while
still loved.
Even at his last moment, he was deceiving him.
Too afraid of being hated, Yeon ignored pain he caused,
allowed it, fuelled it.
In the days he resigned as his exclusive guide, he recalled the
hundreds of calls, dozens of texts. Tae Ha-Jin had found him
and, seething with anger, demanded answers.
He’d kissed abruptly, promised he’d do better, begged not to
abandon him, apologised for any imagined slight.
―What’s wrong? What’s the problem!
That kiss had been so achingly sweet, nearly suffocating.
So Yeon had to let him go.
If the person he came to love learned he’d deceived him all
along, Tae Ha-Jin would be devastated.
Leaving was the only solution Yeon could imagine.
“God…”
Don’t save me.
Let me ache like this forever, but save him instead.
Hands clasped in earnest prayer, he pleaded.
If there is a god somewhere, heed this prayer.
Let that poor child find happiness.

***

A few days later.

The Guide Training Facility.
“Ms Kim Uibin, you won’t need a sniper rifle. A handgun
would be more practical to carry and practice with.”
While some of the espers with abnormal types had gone to
handle the White Door in the capital, most of the guides were
in a massive open field, learning how to handle firearms. They
couldn’t kill grade monsters with a shot, but firing would buy
them time to escape.
The current training was structured to increase guide survival
rates.
Each guide was assigned an esper to teach them firearm use,
and only by passing a set shooting score could they move on
to the next training stage.
Uibin’s assigned esper was Dekal. She doubted it was a
coincidence—he’d promised to help her get stronger, after all.
“I’ll start with the safety rules. First, treat every gun as if it’s
loaded, even if it’s not. It’s best to develop careful habits to
prevent accidents. Also, keep your finger off the trigger unless
you’re ready to shoot. Misfires happen easier than you’d think.
Before firing, make sure you know what’s in front and behind
the target. It’s to minimise any innocent casualties.”
He was speaking calmly, almost like he was reciting from a
textbook, and his precise explanation left Uibin visibly
curious.
“Mr. Dekal, you seem to know a lot about firearms?”
Dekal paused, fixing a long gaze on Uibin.
“Knowing how to handle firearms is mandatory if you want to
be officially designated as an esper. That’s why most espers
can use them.”
However, just because they could shoot didn’t mean they were
any good at it. Many espers only knew the basics of firing but
struggled with accuracy. Most spent their time honing their
abilities or preferred using swords since guns weren’t very
effective against high-grade monsters.
But Dekal had a bit of a knack for sniping. After escaping the
lab and going his separate way from Tae Ha-Jin, Tae Ha-Jin
had stressed the importance of firearms to him.
When Dekal was first summoned by the Emperor, he and Tae
Ha-Jin would meet in secret for sniper training, even though
Dekal had found it bothersome. Tae Ha-Jin’s insistence had
left him with little choice.
After briefly reminiscing, Dekal continued his explanation.
“Now, let me teach you the proper way to hold it. The grip
method refers to how you hold the pistol…”
“Like this?”
Surprisingly, Uibin held the pistol in textbook form.
She pressed the grip firmly against her palm, her thumb and
index finger securing the back, and her middle finger
steadying just below the trigger. She kept her aim steady
without gripping too hard, positioning her hand high to
minimize recoil. With her other hand supporting the bottom of
the grip, she secured her arm to reduce shake—an ideal grip
for accuracy.
Then, she stepped forward, putting her right foot shoulder-
width apart and bending her knee slightly, her body aligned
forward.
“…”
Her form was flawless, to an almost unsettling degree.
Bang! Bang!
Nearby, guides were firing at monster-shaped targets, while
espers kept watch to prevent any accidents. Deafened by the
gunfire, Uibin focused on her target and raised her pistol.
Dekal couldn’t take his eyes off her; he’d never seen her look
this serious.
Uibin cocked the slide, loading a bullet, and fired at a target
ten meters away—just missing the monster’s vital point. The
target board flipped back, revealing a new one fifteen meters
away.
Despite the distance, she didn’t seem nervous. With her sights
perfectly aligned, she fixed her gaze straight ahead.
Bang!
She downed the target fifteen meters away, absorbing the
recoil by balancing her shoulder and arm. She missed the
bullseye slightly, but her skill would be considered exceptional
by any standard.
Other guides nearby watched her shooting in admiration; she
was that impressive.
“…”
Dekal felt something unfamiliar as he watched Uibin, who
usually seemed timid.
Bang! Bang! The loud shots echoed, filling his ears with a
ringing silence where only Uibin stood out.
Thud, thud.
His heart raced in sync with the gunfire, and his pupils shook
briefly.
“Wow, it’s harder than I remembered.”
Relaxing her posture, Uibin managed an awkward smile, so
different from her earlier intense expression. Noticing Dekal
staring at her in a daze, she tilted her head.
“Mr. Dekal?”
“…”
“Ah, I should have told you before I started shooting. I’m
sorry. Actually, I’ve been taking shooting lessons from Yeon
for a few years now. I’m still far from his skill level, but I did
learn the basics.”
Her words barely registered. The calm presence she usually
had now felt oddly unfamiliar.
“Oh?”
Uibin looked puzzled as she noticed Yeon striding into the
firing range, eyes red and puffy.
‘Was he crying?’
She was stunned. She couldn’t recall ever seeing him cry
before. Yeon had always been composed and mature, even as a
child. Now, though, his tear-streaked face was unmistakable.
‘He said he wouldn’t attend training for a few days…’
It seemed he’d had no choice but to come.
The moment he entered, he approached the proctor without
hesitation, his steps confident enough to leave the esper visibly
taken aback.
“To move to the next stage of training, you’ll need to pass the
minimum score. You’re allowed two attempts per day, and the
results will be recorded. Do you wish to proceed?”
“Yes.”
All eyes in the training area turned toward Yeon. For a man
with his reputation to attempt a shooting test without practice
was unexpected.
Though already well-known as an S-grade guide and Tae Ha-
Jin’s personal assistant, few thought Yeon would be skilled in
shooting.
What followed was astounding.
Yeon took the pistol, loaded the magazine expertly, and aimed
one-handed at the target. There was a flash of skill in his
stance—arms stretched out in a way that looked almost showy.
Yet, with a single hand, he made it seem effortless.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
With unerring accuracy, he struck monster-shaped targets at 30
and 50 meters, each shot hitting the vitals without missing a
beat. His gunshots echoed across the field, leaving the other
espers gaping at him.
A few espers nodded in quiet recognition, recalling his
shooting skills from past training sessions.
“Shall we proceed to the next training area?”
His eyes still puffy, Yeon looked to the proctor. The esper
proctor, who’d been watching in awe, nodded quickly.
“Ah, yes… Um, the next training will simulate the front line.
Espers will act as monsters, and guides must survive for an
extended time using weapons like guns or swords. The proctor
will provide further instructions. Please proceed to the lower
building.”
“Yes.”
Yeon returned his firearm and headed toward the large
building. Uibin watched him walk away, worried.
‘It seems like something happened between him and Tae Ha-
Jin…’
There was a rumour going around.
The one that claimed Guide Yeon had left Tae Ha-Jin’s
service.
Neither of them had addressed it, so people hadn’t taken it too
seriously. Not even to her had Yeon confided. Whenever she’d
asked, he’d simply say he was fine, to not worry.
‘Should I have stopped him…?’
Uibin touched her cheek anxiously.
The building Yeon had entered was the same one Tae Ha-Jin
had walked into that morning. His aura was so cold and
intense that it had frozen the entire area.
“Ms. Kim Uibin, please prepare to take the test as well.”
Dekal, who had been lost in thought, returned to his usual
calm. At his words, Uibin hesitated slightly; she hadn’t
practiced enough for a test yet.
Then, with a neutral expression, Dekal spoke again.
“You’re more than capable, Ms. Kim Uibin.”
His voice carried a rare hint of trust.
That settled her nerves. Uibin nodded, resolute.
In the combat training facility indoors.
“Hah, hah… What kind of… training is this…!”
The A-grade guide Ratsu En slumped to the floor, panting, and
glared resentfully at a certain man. To pass this test, they had
to survive for at least 10 minutes—an ordeal closer to hell in
difficulty.
All participants wore sensory vests that translated simulated
hits into real injuries.
No guide had managed to pass the test since the appearance of
Tae Ha-Jin.
―Please, spare me!
―You’ll need more practice.
―Argh!
―Do you think you can survive like this?
Beyond his sharpened gaze, Tae Ha-Jin was using only his
bare hands to confront the guides. Taking on the role of a high-
grade monster, his sole goal was to eliminate every guide in
sight.
He had the guides on their knees, thoroughly dominated.
Whenever one of them swung a wooden sword, he’d catch it
bare-handed and snap it in two. If they tried to shoot him with
air guns, he dodged every shot with a simple twist of his head.
A few guides protested fiercely.
—This is too much, isn’t it? At the very least, it should be
possible to pass!
—What kind of grade monster is this supposed to be? If
something like him existed, the world would’ve ended ages
ago!
—Exactly! Expecting Esper Tae Ha-Jin to play the role of a
monster is just cruel! The man is above even a Grade 1
abnormal type!
The centre staff hosting the training session were visibly
uncomfortable. They had advised Ha-Jin beforehand to ease
the difficulty level, but he clearly wasn’t inclined to hold back.
In the end, the organisers and cleaners came to a decision.
They’d send the other espers to a separate training ground,
leaving only Tae Ha-Jin to play the role of the monster. He
was even given a handicap—he was only allowed to use one
hand.
“Bloody hell… that freak,” someone muttered.
Ratsu En glanced at the guides who were repeatedly ‘killed’
and couldn’t help feeling a bit sorry for them. Once they were
counted as ‘deceased,’ they’d be stuck waiting around for over
ten minutes before they could reattempt the trial.
Most had half-given up by now. Dozens of them had charged
at him, yet Ha-Jin’s breathing hadn’t even quickened.
And then, suddenly—
Screeeech.
A tall beauty stepped into the oppressive atmosphere of the
training ground. It was guide Lee Yeon. Ratsu En stared as
though enchanted. In fact, everyone in the area couldn’t look
away.
Even Tae Ha-Jin.
Ha-Jin, who had been standing still as a statue, did not tear his
gaze away from Yeon for a single second. And Yeon, upon
spotting Ha-Jin in the centre of the training ground, couldn’t
look away either.
It was a charged moment.
‘Aren’t they each other’s exclusives?’ Ratsu En thought,
puzzled, watching the two of them.
Rumours had been floating around about Ha-Jin and Yeon,
with some saying they were so close they might be in a
romantic relationship. People at the scene often noted how
friendly they looked together. Tae Ha-Jin, infamous for his
cold demeanour towards everyone, was said to treat his
exclusive guide differently.
“‘Doesn’t… look like they’re on good terms, though.’
Both of them stood there, like frozen icebergs. The tension
between them could be felt across the entire space.
“I am Proctor Tae Ha-Jin,” he finally broke the silence, his
deep voice reverberating throughout the room.
“To pass the test, you must survive a minimum of ten minutes.
If you endure beyond that, the additional time will be recorded
and favourably applied to any future promotion assessments.
Participants may utilise the building’s structures and all
weapons provided here. You have until sunset. Failure to pass
by then means repeating basic training.”
“…”
“Any questions?”
Yeon’s eyes wavered slightly.
Ha-Jin had never been this formal. Ever since they first met,
he’d been anything but detached. He’d always displayed a
personal curiosity, an intense interest.
Seeing him act like a stranger now sent a shock through Yeon.
Just a little while ago, Ha-Jin’d been practically demanding
answers from him, irritated.
“No… no questions.”
“When you’re ready, come to me. Consider the spot where I’m
standing to be the primary door, and I will kill each participant
to the best of my ability.”
The crimson eyes staring down at her were icy.
Yeon, with the gaze lowered, finally responded, “Understood.”
He took a moment to look around. Dozens of guides were
either lying down or sitting against the walls, resting. It looked
like he was the only one left to face Ha-Jin.
‘This… isn’t good.’
Attacking him alone was clearly a death sentence. Yeon
decided to wait for the others to get back on their feet.
Even while waiting, though, he could feel the crimson eyes
never leaving him. He struggled to ignore the piercing stare.
After a while, some of the guides groaned and slowly pushed
themselves up, muscles aching.
“Oh, come on… do we really have to do this pointless
training?”
“We can’t just wait for sunset, mate. At least if we try, there’ll
be no bad remarks.”
Yeon slipped among the other participants, keeping his upper
body low and gripping the wooden sword he’d picked up from
the ground. Once enough people had gathered, Ha-Jin’s voice
rang out, dark and ominous.
“Let’s begin.”
 Chapter 5. Part 2
“Charge!”
“Argh!”
The guides at the front swung their weapons and charged at
him. Tae Ha-Jin moved gracefully, his well-defined muscles
allowing him to disarm them with a single strike to the wrist,
causing them to drop their weapons.
“Agh!”
“Ugh!”
At that moment, a guide who had positioned himself behind
Ha-Jin aimed his gun and fired a special bullet with a loud
bang. Even with his back turned, Ha-Jin casually ducked,
letting the bullet whizz over his head.
Then, spinning around, he leapt towards the guide who had
just fired. Rising into the air, he kicked the gun from the
guide’s hand on his descent. The one-hand restriction did
nothing to limit the use of his legs.
“Aaaagh!”
Clutching his numb hand, the guide yelled out in protest.
“Isn’t using abilities against the rules?”
Ha-Jin smirked wickedly.
“First time seeing a flying grade monster?”
“…”
“I’ll make sure you lot get trained properly—so you won’t be
dying out there.”
With that, Ha-Jin took a slow look around at the guides
charging at him, aiming for their solar plexus one by one. He
stopped just shy of actual contact, but it was enough to
activate their pain sensors.
“Kyaaah!”
“Ouch!”
Though he hadn’t actually hit them, several guides groaned as
if they’d been struck. And through it all, Ha-Jin’s crimson eyes
searched for one specific person, skimming over the boxes and
columns in the room.
Where could he be?
Where was his bloody first love hiding?
“Please, I’m sorry! Argh!”
“I just died, didn’t I?”
Yeon was smart, after all. Charging a grade monster head-on
wasn’t going to improve his survival chances. If it was hard to
beat him with strength, the best strategy was to stay out of his
line of sight.
Ha-Jin strolled slowly through the training area, picking off
the guides one by one.
By now, Yeon should be visible somewhere.
As he glanced past a sharply angled pillar, a faint sense tingled
across his chest.
Bang!
A thin wire pressed against his chest, and a hidden air gun
triggered from the top of a nearby box, firing a round directly
at his head.
Ha-Jin leaned back, narrowly dodging the special bullet. In the
fraction of a second it took to rebalance, Yeon leapt out from
behind a column and swung the wooden sword, aiming
straight at his face.
“…”
“You can’t win without hitting.”
The wooden blade stopped right in front of Ha-Jin’s forehead.
Yeon bit his lower lip hard, frustrated.
The core of this training was to make use of all available tools
and terrain. Yeon’d utilised an unknown fishing line to set up
the trap. Tied to the air gun’s trigger, the wire would loosen
and fire when touched. He’d planned to catch him off guard
and land a hit in that brief opening.
But—
Tae Ha-Jin hadn’t moved.
Even though the timing was off and he’d been a split second
too slow.
“Why… didn’t you dodge?”
Yeon asked, the voice slightly trembling with frustration as he
bit her lip harder.
Ha-Jin raised his gaze to the high ceiling. After a moment’s
thought, he responded calmly.
“If taking the hit would make you feel better.”
Yeon’s face twisted in anguish. He had no right to be angry
with Ha-Jin; it wasn’t as if Ha-Jin had done anything wrong. A
feeling of suffocation settled over Yeon, as if his chest was
blocked.
Watching Yeon’s expression change, Ha-Jin lifted the corner
of his mouth in a smirk.
“So, Yeon… why didn’t you strike?”
Yeon clamped his mouth shut at Ha-Jin’s playful tone. He
swung the wooden sword again toward Ha-Jin’s forehead. This
time, though, Ha-Jin wasn’t in the mood to let it land; he lifted
a hand and caught the sword in mid-swing.
With a quick tug, Ha-Jin pulled Yeon toward him, catching
Yeon’s waist with a firm grip. Their faces were so close Yeon
could feel Ha-Jin’s breath. The musky scent unique to Ha-Jin
filled his senses.
All around, people watched the two men intently, but Ha-Jin
didn’t seem to care at all.
“You know something?” Ha-Jin’s gaze dropped to Yeon’s lips.
“When you’re near me, your heart pounds so loud I can hear
it.”
“…”
“Admit it—you fancy me, don’t you?”
Yeon’s steady gaze wavered in an instant, a flash of emotion
he’d only just begun to acknowledge. He hadn’t yet built any
defences against it, and Ha-Jin’s certainty made his heart
pound even louder.
Ha-Jin laughed, seeing Yeon’s expression, pleased and almost
triumphant.
“No way the fearless Yeon is nervous just because of me. That
would be ridiculous.”
“…”
“So, why don’t you just be honest?”
He could feel his heart thumping even louder. Every word
from Ha-Jin’s mouth drove away Yeon’s attempts to suppress
his feelings. He wanted to be even closer, to lean in and finally
confess, to lower his head and plead for forgiveness.
“What, did someone tell you to leave me alone? Gave you
orders to stay away?” Ha-Jin’s voice lowered, almost gentle,
but his eyes gleamed with an intense sharpness. “I’m curious,
who was it? Who’s the bloody coward?”
It wasn’t like Yeon had been ordered or threatened. Every
choice had been his alone. If anyone had pushed him into it,
Ha-Jin would have gladly turned his sword on them.
Yeon shoved him back firmly, and Ha-Jin released him
without resistance.
Yeon pulled a small air gun from his pocket and aimed it at
Ha-Jin.
“You said you’d let me go.”
His voice shook slightly. Ha-Jin chuckled, recalling their
conversation in the mountains.
“I intended to.”
“So then…”
“But I can’t now. I’m convinced we’re in this together, Yeon.
If you don’t hate me, there must be some other reason.”
“…Ha-Jin.”
“Whatever it is, forget the nonsense and come back.”
“…”
“Don’t make anyone angry.”
Ha-Jin’s expression hardened, his voice definitive, almost
coaxing, as though scolding a runaway cat.
Yeon placed a finger on the trigger.
“I’m leaving.”
Bang!
“To go back to the time when we didn’t know each other.”
Bang!
Two consecutive shots. Ha-Jin didn’t flinch, and the
specialised rounds hit the Grade Three monster’s head and
heart without missing a beat.
[The monster hit in its vital spot will be immobile for five
minutes.]
The announcement sounded from Ha-Jin’s jacket. He gazed at
Yeon, his face as hard as ice.
[Congratulations. You’ve achieved the minimum required time
of ten minutes! From now on, the time will be recorded!]
The voice came from Yeon’s jacket. He slumped to the
ground, sitting in silence, gazing up at Ha-Jin.
“…”
“…”
The two of them simply stared at each other for the full five
minutes.
 ***

The training continued over several days.

Outside of the Centre’s scheduled sessions, each esper had free
training time. But Lee Yeon opted out of it; he preferred to use
that time for sleep, hoping it might help him erase thoughts of
Tae Ha-Jin from his mind.
Yeon was sleeping on a makeshift cot in a tent next to the
training centre. Other espers with abnormal types rested at the
capital Centre dormitories, thanks to the help of transportation
espers.
Yet, for some reason, only the sixth dormitory, where Yeon
had been staying, hadn’t been restored.
So, Yeon had no choice but to stay in a tent near the training
centre.
“I’ll head in first! Thanks for today, Dekal!” Uibin’s cheerful
voice rang out as she entered. Yeon, who had been resting with
his eyes closed, opened them.
“Yeon, let’s go grab some food!”
“What about your dorm?”
“I’ll go after dinner with you!”
Honestly, he didn’t have much of an appetite and would have
preferred not to eat at all. But he couldn’t just turn Uibin away,
and considering he’d skipped a few meals lately, he knew he
needed to eat for survival’s sake. With a heavy sigh, he got to
his feet.
“Woah… are you alright, Yeon?” Uibin’s voice was concerned
as Yeon wobbled slightly when he tried to stand. The world
spun around him momentarily; it was probably just a touch of
orthostatic hypotension. Uibin moved to support him, but he
waved her off—it wasn’t that serious.
“Let’s go,” Yeon reassured her, repeatedly insisting he was
fine as they headed to the training centre’s canteen. It was
buffet-style; you could help yourself to as much as you
wanted. Too weary to look around, Yeon simply grabbed
whatever food was closest.
As they were looking for a seat, Yeon suddenly stopped in his
tracks.
“…”
Tae Ha-Jin was there.
Yeon had always known Ha-Jin was good-looking, but right
now, it seemed to hit differently.
From a short distance away, he watched as Ha-Jin carried two
plates, setting them down at a table where another man was
already seated.
The man was delicate-looking, like a human version of a deer.
His features were fine, and there was a flush of colour in his
cheeks and around his eyes. He appeared to be in his early
170s in height.
“Why… is Tae Ha-Jin with him?”
That was Yeon’s first thought.
Sitting across from someone other than Doberman or himself
for a meal was strange enough. It was even stranger watching
him fetch someone else’s plate. The Deer kept darting glances
at Tae Ha-Jin, barely picking at the food.
“Yeon, chosen what you want to eat yet?”
Are you already over it? Just like that?
It was the first time he’d seen Tae Ha-Jin since the training
exercise. No more pitiful or furious texts and calls. It felt like
they were strangers again.
‘Isn’t this what I wanted?’
Ignoring Tae Ha-Jin when he clung on, cutting him off without
a second thought—that had all been his choice. He’d been the
one unable to offer any kindness, even at the end.
Tae Ha-Jin was smiling, a look he used to give him so often.
As if he found it all laughable, absurd.
Back then, that look had always felt like a sneer, only fuelling
his irritation. Now, as an outsider looking in, he found it
precious. It hurt, seeing that smile directed at someone else. A
pang of jealousy, knowing he could never have it back.
No, if he was honest, he just wanted Tae Ha-Jin himself.
‘To you, was I nothing more than this?’
The kind of presence that flutters by like a passing season.
Misery sneaks in the moment you start comparing.
Yeon could feel himself plummeting right into it.
‘Too damn fast, you bastard…’
Something twisted sharply in his gut.
Rough but gentle. Strong yet frail. Simple but layered.
He’d understood every side of him.
They shared a past, weathered it together, something he
thought had made them special.
“Yeon, what’s wrong?”
Tae Ha-Jin suddenly felt miles away. As if some invisible wall
had sprung up around him. And Yeon couldn’t help but envy
the Deer, blushing in front of him. This kind of envy was a
first.
‘If only I hadn’t been the director’s son.’
Then maybe he and Tae Ha-Jin could have…
He caught the Deer looking his way, eyes widening in
surprise. Tae Ha-Jin slowly turned, his usual red gaze
hardening instantly.
Yeon realised in a flash.
That was how Tae Ha-Jin looked at him now.
“Uibin.”
“Yes?”
“Sorry, but I’ve lost my appetite. Not feeling great.”
“Want to go to the hospital? I’ll come with you.”
“No. Just… feel like lying down.”
Keeping his eyes fixed on Tae Ha-Jin’s hardened gaze, Yeon
shoved his plate aside and stood. Sorry as he was to Uibin, he
couldn’t stand being in the same room anymore.
Before he hurt any more, he closed his eyes to it all.
As he hurried out of the restaurant, he half-expected footsteps
following him.
The Tae Ha-Jin he knew, whom loved him, would have chased
him.
But nothing happened.

***

Dekal sat alone in a quiet bar in the capital. After dropping

Uibin off at the tent, he’d come straight here, arriving early.
Not much for drinking, he’d ordered the mildest cocktail.
While he sat, some guy approached.
“Here alone?”
Dekal stared blankly at him, then turned back to his drink.
Ignoring him didn’t stop the man, though. He sat down beside
Dekal and took a swig of his own whiskey.
“If you’re alone, why not hang out with me?”
Dekal couldn’t be bothered with this nonsense and let his
irritation show.
“I’m expecting someone.”
“Oh, come on. I watched you sitting here by yourself.”
The guy was a bloody nuisance. Dekal decided silence was
best.
“I’ve got money, you know. Can’t you tell?”
The man flashed a bit of designer gear, clearly expecting to
impress.
What does he want, a bloody applause? Dekal felt nothing. No
anger. Even anger felt too deliberate.
“Dekal, I’m late, aren’t I? Sorry.”
Finally, his guest arrived. He was exactly on time, not a
minute off. Doberman, brushing rainwater from his shoulders,
strode over. The flashy guy glanced Doberman up and down
and sneered.
“This older guy is your type? Really, why?”
“Wow. Got yourself an admirer, eh, Dekal? Even a fake posh
lad.”
Doberman fired back without missing a beat, the guy’s
cockiness pricked by the jibe. He scowled, visibly insulted.
“Who the hell are you? Do you even know who I am? I’m the
grandson of JR Architecture’s founder, you ignorant twats…!”
Doberman sighed and tapped his watch. He flashed his ID
right in front of the man’s eyes.
It read, “Doberman, personal secretary of Grade S+ Esper Tae
Ha-Jin.” A status few people in the world could afford to sneer
at.
The man’s bravado crumbled as he glimpsed the watch,
trembling. High-grade espers weren’t to be trifled with. He
fled, leaving behind his wallet in all its supposed splendour.
“Make it a double whiskey for me.”
Doberman chuckled, ordering his drink.
“You look well, Dekal.”
“You don’t.”
“Well, can’t exactly say I am.”
Dekal could tell without asking. Tae Ha-Jin had been in a
dreadful mood for weeks now, growing worse by the day. His
demeanour had become increasingly volatile.
Dekal asked casually, as though it weren’t his concern.
“I heard Yeon’s quit as his exclusive.”
“Yeah… That’s about the heart of it.”
Doberman swirled his whiskey, the ice clinking against the
glass.
For now, Tae Ha-Jin had managed to keep it quiet. He didn’t
want Yeon attracting attention if people knew he’d left.
Doberman understood. No one would idly ignore an S+ Grade
Guide. Yeon had managed a semblance of normalcy because
Tae Ha-Jin had cleared a path for him. Anyone with half a
brain wouldn’t risk crossing Tae Ha-Jin.
Most people thought it was a minor falling out.
In reality, it was much worse.
Yeon hadn’t even shown up to training. Though doors were
regularly breached, he’d avoided Tae Ha-Jin every time,
guiding the espers from afar. And then he’d text Doberman.

[Take care of Tae Ha-Jin’s guiding, please.]

“It’s like Tae Ha-Jin’s spiralling… He was always a little

unhinged, but lately, it’s worrying. He’s refused guiding unless
it’s absolutely critical, and he’s struggling with insomnia. Yeon
got him to quit smoking, but he’s back to chain-smoking now.
And he was only ever a social wine drinker, yet now he’s
drinking every night.”
Dekal raised an eyebrow. Tae Ha-Jin’s condition was worse
than he’d imagined. He was usually disciplined about his own
limits, careful about excess.
‘Well, suppose he would be.’
Firsts are significant for everyone.
“So, why did Yeon quit?”
“Can’t say I know… I visited him a few times, but he just kept
apologising.”
Dekal pondered.
Yeon hadn’t turned away from Tae Ha-Jin even after learning
about his past as a test subject. If anything, they’d seemed
closer. What reason could he have had to quit so abruptly?
Nothing made sense.
“To be honest, I was glad. Seeing Tae Ha-Jin become a little
more human after Yeon arrived… Seeing someone with so
much hurt able to care about someone else… It was
impressive.”
Doberman downed his whiskey in one go.
“Tae Ha-Jin told me about your past. That you were a test
subject too… And that you two were partners.”
Dekal’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected Tae Ha-Jin to share
that. He’d always acted as if he’d wanted to keep it hidden.

__
The person was for real called a deer in the raws.
What’s more, the used glyphs are: 꽃사슴. The direct
translation is flower deer, which I found absolutely adorable.
Meaning Cervus though, no actual flowers.

PS. Somewhere at the middle of this part, book 3 was finished

and book 4 has started. There are 5 books in the main story
(and 7 overall, but 2 books with side stories are way shorter).
PSPS. Remember that phrases starting with ‘—‘ is the author’s
way to show either a phone call phrase or dialogues in the
past? Well, next chapter has a phone call in the past, so be
prepared.
 Chapter 5. Part 3
“When I heard those words, I felt grateful to Lee Yeon. I
thought Tae Ha-Jin had decided to open up, even though it
took him seven years to reveal this secret.”
“Is that so.”
“I had my suspicions, you know. When Dekal said he saw me
at the Sun Palace, I thought he was lying. I’ve never set foot
there, after all, so I was convinced he was a suspicious
character. Ha-ha.”
Dekal took a sip of his cocktail, wetting his lips.
It was odd to be meeting with Doberman, someone he barely
knew, in a bar. Clearly, Doberman wanted to talk about his
connection to Tae Ha-Jin.
As Doberman drank, his guard dropped, and he began to
ramble.
With every word, he seemed to lose his way, and his thoughts
wandered.
Thud!
His head hit the table.
Bzzzz.
Doberman’s phone rang. Dekal read the caller’s name and
answered.
“This is Dekal.”
—Is Doberman there?
“He’s passed out drunk.”
—Are you at Fairy Bar?
“Yes.”
Click.
Tae Ha-Jin arrived at the bar shortly. He looked drenched from
head to toe, as if he’d dashed there through the rain. His
disheveled hair and the way he ran his hand through it gave off
a restless, almost decadent air.
After ordering a whiskey, Tae Ha-Jin settled into the seat next
to Dekal and, without preamble, said something unexpected.
“I can’t stop thinking about Lee Yeon.”
No small talk, just his unfiltered emotions on display.
It was so like Tae Ha-Jin that Dekal just stared ahead, letting
him speak.
“He wants me to let him go. Bloody hell, what exactly does he
want me to let go of? It’s not like I ever had him in the first
place.”
“…”
“I’ve never once had a grip on him. Every single day, he does
something to defy my expectations.”
As Tae Ha-Jin muttered under his breath, Dekal drifted off in
thought. Why did so many people seem to open up to him?
Whether it was Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun, Kim Uibin,
Doberman tonight, or even, on rare occasions, Tae Ha-Jin. It
baffled him.
Why? He couldn’t quite understand why people were drawn to
someone as unremarkable as himself.
Tae Ha-Jin continued.
“Last week, I ran into Lee Yeon at a restaurant.”
He frowned slightly, as if remembering it clearly.
One of the slaves he’d rescued from the auction had been
recommended as a cleaner for the Centre. Among them, a
young man named Raine seemed particularly well-suited.
Though an ordinary person, he had a sharp intuition and a
keen sense of his surroundings, qualities the Director had
taken a liking to.
Tae Ha-Jin had ordered two plates of food and was looking for
a place to sit when he noticed the former slave sitting idly, not
even eating. It reminded him of his own first experience at a
buffet—a strange place for someone like him, who’d spent his
life as a lab specimen. He’d left without eating much.
‘Is he like that, too?’
The thought bothered him. Ignoring Raine felt like ignoring
his own past, so he grudgingly offered him a plate and sat with
him.
—Oh, hello.
Raine seemed surprised, and he barely touched his food,
glancing at Tae Ha-Jin now and then before hesitantly
speaking.
—Um, I saw you at the auction… with someone, a really
handsome guy.
—Someone?
—Yes… the good-looking one you were with….
Tae Ha-Jin immediately knew he meant Lee Yeon. The
attractive, insufferable guide who had tried repeatedly to leave
him. Yet thinking about him brought an involuntary smile to
his face, and he cursed himself for being such a fool.
—He’s not what I’d call handsome.
—…Pardon?
—Lee Yeon’s more… pretty.
Raine nodded slowly, shifting his focus back to his plate
before looking up cautiously.
—So… are you two… together?
The question caught Tae Ha-Jin off guard, almost making him
drop his fork.
Ah… bloody hell.
‘How did I not think of that?’
Until now, he’d been content just knowing Lee Yeon was his
personal guide and that Lee Yeon had some affection for him.
He’d never felt the need to label the relationship.
Romance had never been his thing, and he groaned at the
thought.
Was that why Lee Yeon had quit as his guide? Was it because
they’d never defined their relationship?
A foggy future suddenly became a bit clearer.
‘A relationship, huh….’
Thinking about it made him feel oddly content. If he were to
date Lee Yeon, he imagined putting up banners across the
entire nation, proclaiming it proudly. That way, Lee Yeon
would undeniably be his.
He answered with a smile he didn’t know he had.
—That’s the plan. For now, I’m just in love with a brick wall.
But Raine’s startled expression made him turn around.
Standing behind him was Lee Yeon, looking thinner than he
remembered, worryingly so.
It almost made him get up instinctively, but he froze when Lee
Yeon, upon meeting his eyes, discarded his food and bolted
out of the restaurant.
—….
He wanted to chase after him.
To grab Lee Yeon’s wrist, kiss him recklessly, demand to
know what was wrong, ask what had made him so unwell,
even wonder if he was leaving because of some incurable
disease.
But he didn’t.
The memory of Lee Yeon begging to be let go held him back.
He’d just been daydreaming about a future with him, and
reality hit him like a punch to the gut.
For days, he’d been avoiding Lee Yeon, but he couldn’t resist
going to the tent where Lee Yeon slept, just to see him again.
Yet he stopped himself right at the entrance. He didn’t want to
intrude, to make him uncomfortable.
Lee Yeon resented him already, but he couldn’t bring himself
to hate him back.
And if that meant suppressing his feelings, then so be it.
In another time, Tae Ha-Jin would have followed his heart
without a second thought. But he was different now.
He loved Lee Yeon too much.
Too damn much to push him away.
“Damn it… does my face make you lose your appetite now?”
Does it?
As Tae Ha-Jin showed his face, Dekal studied his features
closely. Yes, he was handsome, but with an unsettling aura that
would spoil anyone’s meal.
Dekal said nothing.
After downing a shot of strong liquor, Tae Ha-Jin grimaced.
“Sent that USB through Doberman, didn’t he.”
“Lee Yeon did?”
“Yeah.”
Lee Yeon, who wouldn’t even face him, had sent him a USB
drive filled with incriminating evidence against Lee Hong-Jun,
the lab director. Each piece of data was worth its weight in
gold.
They’d planned to raid the lab together, yet Lee Yeon had gone
alone, taking the Central Research Lab by himself.
‘Pulling that kind of dangerous stunt.’
Fury boiled up.
Who the hell asked for this goddamn USB?
All he wanted was for Lee Yeon to come back safe and sound,
but instead, here they were with some nerve-wracking piece of
crap. He had no clue what happened at the lab, and that was
what scared him the most.
Tae Ha-Jin’s blood simmered. Maybe this whole damn Cold
War had started at that lab.
—Ah, and…
Doberman, who was standing nearby, cautiously spoke up,
trying to gauge Ha-Jin’s reaction.
—A little while back, a thousand gold was deposited into your
account, Esper. When I looked into it, it was from His
Highness the Crown Prince. Did you know about it?
—What?
Tae Ha-Jin hadn’t a clue about his own account balance. He
didn’t track the comings and goings; the numbers were simply
too vast for him to care, so Doberman and the tax experts took
care of it.
He received a regular bonus from the royal payroll, but never
had money arrived directly in the Crown Prince’s name.
Money was never a factor in their relationship.
Ha-Jin immediately dialled Ricardo.
—Well, well, how rare to hear from the esteemed Esper Tae
Ha-Jin! To what do I owe the pleasure?
“What’s this thousand gold?”
—Oh, did it finally get deposited? Took long enough; guess
the steward’s been busy. But hang on, I bet you’re just here to
get the info and hang up, aren’t you? You might want to
remember that, before anything else, I am the Crown Prin—
“Is it Yeon’s doing?”
—…Yes, alright, alright. Apparently, you bought my sister’s
arm at the auction. I wanted to repay your guide, Lee Yeon,
but he refused, saying the thanks should go to you instead.
Funny, right? You probably have more money than I do, yet
Yeon was worrying about your pocket change… Made me
laugh a bit.”
“Goodbye.”
Ha-Jin ended the call.
Doberman, having heard it all on speaker, looked equally as
unsettled. He hadn’t expected Guide Lee Yeon to have been
thinking of Ha-Jin all along. The USB from Lee Hong-Jun was
heavy enough to shake the foundations of the country.
For someone who’d cut ties with Ha-Jin as his exclusive
guide, it was baffling to Doberman why they’d send
something so critical to him. Why walk away while still
thinking of Ha-Jin this much?
Doberman looked at Ha-Jin.
Earlier, he’d been blazing with anger, but now he looked
almost vacant. Ha-Jin swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple
bobbing visibly. The defined lines of his face seemed
consumed by a shadow.
—After all that, he still want to leave…
Ha-Jin muttered, almost to himself.
His voice was so low, so bitter, and so terribly sad.
Doberman couldn’t help but swallow the lump in his throat.
The memories of that day flashed through Ha-Jin’s mind as he
let out a hollow laugh. One thousand gold and a USB left like
alms by Lee Yeon. That treacherous guide of his.
“Dekal.”
Ha-Jin covered his face with his large hands, wet strands of
hair brushing against his fingers.
With a sigh, he murmured, “Why is it that Yeon’s plea to let
them go sounds like a desperate cry to hold on?”
He pushed away the glass of alcohol he’d been drinking.
Tomorrow was an important day. He didn’t want to
overindulge, even if he wasn’t getting drunk.
 ***

[Yeon… Shouldn’t you visit this year? You know today’s the
day, don’t you…?
7:11 a.m.]

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the roof
of a white tent.
Reflexively, Yeon checked his phone and blinked slowly.
Yes, today was the day. The loneliest day of the year. Yeon got
up and went to his bag, which was packed simply. He fished
out a wig of long hair and a teddy bear.
Yeon pulled out his phone and replied to Uibin.

[7:15 a.m.
Yeah, I’ll go this year.]

[Really?! Haha, good choice! Let me know how it goes when

you’re back!
7:16 a.m.]

He asked the transportation esper waiting outside the training

centre to take him to the capital centre.
Upon arrival, Yeon got into his car. For once, he felt the wind
against his face as he drove. It must have rained earlier this
morning; the air was as fresh as it could be. The wet scent
made him feel somehow hollow.
Without thinking, Yeon turned on the radio.
With nothing to fill the silence, his mind kept drifting to Tae
Ha-Jin.
“Yes, hello. This is HBS with today’s news.”
The morning slot was news, which Yeon didn’t particularly
care for, so he went to change the channel.
“Do you remember the body of a young boy found in the river
in the capital three days ago? It’s been about a week since Lee
Hong-Jun, head of the research lab, reported his second son
missing. There was growing concern that the body found in
the river might be his son…”
Yeon’s brows knit tightly. The news felt unreal.
“A moment ago, the autopsy results came through. Sadly, it’s
been confirmed that the body was indeed the son of Lee Hong-
Jun, the lab director. Cause of death: drowning. Police believe
the boy slipped while playing near the river. There were no
signs of foul play found during the investigation.”
So Lee Chae-Hyun’s gone, too.
More than the shock, he felt a deep sadness. The last time he’d
seen that child was when he was just two years old. Even at
that young age, he was strikingly adorable. The lab director
had shown signs of caring for him, so Yeon had thought,
however distantly, that the boy might survive.
Drowning seems too convenient.
The child probably hadn’t even left the lab many times. What
would he know about going out to a river to play, only to slip
and drown?
Maybe he tried to escape…
Perhaps he’d gradually realised the truth about his father, Lee
Hong-Jun, and discovered his mother hadn’t killed herself but
had been murdered. Maybe he’d tried to run and got caught.
Yeon’s face hardened.
Chae-Hyun, if you hadn’t been Lee Hong-Jun’s son, you
could’ve led a completely different life.
“With the lab director’s second wife having recently taken her
own life, there are concerns for the director’s own safety. A
while back, a virus infiltrated the supercomputer at the central
research lab, sparking theories that someone might be
targeting those around him intentionally. Director Lee Hong-
Jun announced he would hold another private family funeral.”
The public would never imagine what he was truly like. To
them, he was a brilliant scientist who’d dedicated his life to
the Diaylen nation. No one knew just how twisted he was or
the things he’d done.
Yeon didn’t know every detail, but one thing was certain—the
boy’s death wasn’t an accident.
He wasn’t going to attend the funeral. Even though they
shared blood, that boy was never really a part of his life.
Seeing Lee Hong-Jun’s face would be more than enough to
ruin any day.
But he did plan to visit the graves of his stepmother and half-
brother later.
What had they done to deserve their fates?
The harsh words of his stepmother that once haunted him had
faded into mere echoes now. As he went to visit his half-
brother, he’d also say a little prayer for her peace.
He let out a heavy sigh.
He couldn’t stand in front of Tae Ha-Jin, thanks to Lee Hong-
Jun’s atrocities. Thoughts of Ha-Jin clung to him, making it
impossible to focus on anything. Each time he took on a
guiding job, he worried for Ha-Jin’s safety. And even when he
was guiding other espers, he kept an eye on Ha-Jin’s moves.
Ha-Jin had once gone so far as to self-trigger a rampage to
manipulate him into guiding him. There were times when
Yeon worried that he’d rampage again, forcing him to step in.
That was within Ha-Jin’s capabilities.
But instead, he’d kept his cool, taking on every job like the
capable esper he always was. Ha-Jin was so busy that Yeon’s
efforts to avoid him seemed almost ridiculous.
‘It’s as if I mean nothing to him.’
His mouth tasted bitter as though he’d bitten into something
foul. The thought of Tae Ha-Jin had him missing the days
when he was under his obsessive scrutiny.
Yeon parked the car when he arrived at the National Royal
Cemetery and put on the long brown wig he’d brought.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he chuckled.
It was the look his mother had always loved. Today, he’d
return to being the child she cherished.
—My sweet Yeon… my precious little one.
So gentle was his mother.
No matter what he did wrong, she was always there to forgive
him and smile.
Exiting the car, he walked along the wide lake. His mother’s
grave was just a bit further ahead. A faint mist drifted over the
lake, casting a soft, dreamy light across it—a setting as serene
as his mother herself.
—You’ll be happy, my love. You’ll meet someone who’ll love
every part of you. So you won’t be lonely.
Those were the last words his mother said to him.
Her tone, brimming with certainty, gave Yeon hope. I’ll be
happy, truly happy, he’d thought, even if briefly.
But in brutal irony—
His mother hanged herself the next morning, before dawn.
In the early hours, driven by a nightmare, Yeon had crept to
her room, only to be met with the sight of her limp figure,
swaying from the ceiling. The only son, he’d been the first to
witness her death.
You said I’d be happy.
You said I wouldn’t be alone.
How could you leave me like this?
In the face of that sheer terror, even grief and fury had lost
their meaning. His strangled cries never made it past his
throat.
The black-haired boy, his only friend, had died as well, and his
mother—his only solace—had ended her own life. That was
when Yeon locked away his heart, shutting out all emotion.
Until he met Uibin’s family, he had been nothing but a hollow
shell, a monster devoid of feeling.
‘I didn’t want to come.’
Every year on the anniversary of his mother’s death, Yeon
stubbornly refused to visit. He resented her. He hated her for
forcing him to witness such a horrific scene. The mother
who’d promised to stay by his side, who’d left him alone,
filled him with a deep bitterness.
Yet, oddly enough—
Every year, on her anniversary, he would still prepare a wig of
long hair. He’d spend the day, clutching his car keys,
repeatedly picking them up and setting them down.
Yeon knew it.
Even in his resentment, he missed her.
Step, step.
It was Tae Ha-Jin’s presence that gave him the courage to
come this year.
The black-haired boy he thought dead was still alive, and Yeon
had learned that he was not alone after all. Though he could no
longer be at Ha-Jin’s side, that fact alone gave him the strength
to face his mother’s grave. There were things he wanted to say
to her.
Step, step.
Ahead, a beautifully adorned grave came into view. In the
distance, he could see the delicate sculpture of the headstone.
And there—
“……”
Tae Ha-Jin stood there.
Dressed in a black suit, holding a bouquet of chrysanthemums
in his arms, Ha-Jin looked like he belonged, as if he were a
part of that quiet scene. He looked so distant, like something
only meant to be admired from afar.
A breeze swept through, stirring his black hair gently. The
earthy scent of damp grass rendered Yeon momentarily
speechless. The scene felt surreal to him.
By the mist-covered lake, Ha-Jin stood in silence, staring at
the weathered gravestone.
The place that had haunted Yeon for years seemed beautiful
for the first time. All because of this man’s presence.
What on earth is Ha-Jin doing here…?
Yeon froze in place.
An indescribable feeling washed over him.
He was still far away; if he turned and fled now, he could
escape unseen. Yeon took a few steps back. Then, turning
silently, he slipped away.
“Hah… ha…”
As he retraced his steps, he noticed a flower shop selling
chrysanthemums. It was inside the national cemetery grounds,
affiliated with the royal family. He hadn’t noticed it earlier.
As if drawn by some unseen force, he entered the shop.
Jingle.
“Love, could you sign the guest book at the back first?”
The kindly shopkeeper smiled as she spoke. The royal family’s
national cemetery required a record of all visitors. Absently
grabbing a pen, Yeon moved to leave his name, but his hand
suddenly froze.
Visitor: Tae Ha-Jin.
His name stood out neatly on the line above. Yeon’s voice
trembled as he asked the shopkeeper.
“…Did someone named Tae Ha-Jin buy flowers here today?”
The woman laughed heartily, covering her mouth.
“Ah, the handsome young man? He’s been here since dawn.
Wonder if he plans to spend the whole day there again.”
“What do you mean, ‘again’…?”
 Chapter 5. Part 4
“Oh, he’s here every year on this day. He always comes
around five in the morning, buys a bouquet of
chrysanthemums, and stays all day. Impossible to forget
someone as striking as him, isn’t it?”
“……”
“He could easily pass for a celebrity. Have a look around—
you won’t miss him.”
The woman seemed unaware that Tae Ha-Jin was an esper.
There was not even a television in the peaceful little shop.
Yeon silently flipped through the guest book.
This day last year.
The year before that.
Five years ago on this day…
Every year, Ha-Jin’s name was there.
His breath caught in his throat, and a shiver ran through his
body. Tears filled Yeon’s eyes, and his hands shook too much
to turn the pages any further.
“Oh, my dear? Are you alright?”
He dashed out of the shop, running back towards his mother’s
grave.
Endlessly.
He ran, wishing his heart would still.
After a brief sprint, Ha-Jin came into view once more.
Standing exactly as before, seemingly unaware of Yeon’s
presence, he gazed at the gravestone. His red eyes, staring
down at the stone, seemed to hold an almost hypnotic
intensity.
“……”
Thank goodness.
At least you came to see her.
What Yeon felt then was a deep sense of relief.
Her only son had avoided her anniversary for years, but here
was the boy she’d once taught to read, paying his respects
instead. She was not alone.
Yet this boy was our family’s sacrificial lamb.
Tears streamed down his face.
You foolish man.
You don’t know anything.
And that’s why you visit her grave so innocently each year,
offering your respects. This wretched bloodline took
everything from you.
It was Lee Hong-Jun, and in a way, it was Yeon himself.
Tears continued to fall. He didn’t even know what pained him
so much, why he felt so bereft. Silently, he wept, covering his
mouth to stifle the sounds.
Ha-Jin, standing by the grave, looked heartbreakingly
beautiful.
“Yeon.”
Yeon jolted, his body stiffening at the sound of his name.
Opening his eyes, he saw Ha-Jin watching him. Those crimson
eyes travelled slowly, from the tips of his shoes to his long
hair, settling there.
Ha-Jin chuckled, almost incredulous.
“You’re turning my head here.”
Still clutching the chrysanthemums, he approached. The tall
man walked without hesitation. Even though Yeon’s mind
screamed to flee, knowing he couldn’t face him here—
He closed his eyes.
Just for today.
Just for one more day, he wanted to deceive himself.
Ha-Jin, close in an instant, pulled him into a wordless
embrace. In his broad, cold arms, Yeon caught the faint
mingling scent of chrysanthemums and Ha-Jin himself.
“It feels… like I can finally breathe…”
Ha-Jin exhaled deeply.
Holding him tightly, almost crushing him, Ha-Jin buried his
face in Yeon’s neck, inhaling his scent.
That sensation made Yeon’s body tremble. The fact that this
man still wanted him filled him with a painful joy. It felt
unreal, and for a moment, he feared it was all a dream.
He willed his racing heart to quiet.
The perceptive man might even hear that sound, too.
“Shall we call off this game of cat and mouse?”
“……”
“How old are you, playing games like this?” Ha-Jin
murmured. “I never realised, Yeon, that you had a knack for
torture. Slowly driving someone out of their mind…”
Yeon stayed quietly in these arms, listening to the voice by his
ear, letting it calm him.
“Beautiful one second, making me want to smack you the
next, then beautiful again… Who the hell taught you to play
people like this?”
A chill wind blew, cooling his head, which had been flaring
hot. All the foolish things he’d done started to make sense.
Late-blooming love makes you act like a fool, he thought.
Just as Ha-Jin said, he needed to end this game of hide and
seek.
He’d been stalling things indefinitely. But he could see it now.
Ha-Jin loved him even more deeply than he’d imagined.
‘How could I treat someone like that so carelessly?’
He needed to tell him why.
He had to give Ha-Jin the freedom to despise him if he wanted
to.
If he was going to face this pain one day, it would be better to
take the hit now.
In this dreamlike setting, with Ha-Jin’s unyielding gaze,
Yeon’s thoughts finally lightened.
“Tae Ha-Jin.”
“What?”
Yeon gave him a slight push against his chest. Though Ha-Jin
leaned back, he didn’t actually let go. His hands gripped
Yeon’s shoulders to keep him in place, possessive but gentle.
The stubbornness of his touch made Yeon feel strangely
relieved. He thought he might be losing it.
Now that they were face-to-face, they took a moment to
absorb each other’s expressions. Ha-Jin’s gaze narrowed
slightly as he slowly brushed a hand down Yeon’s cheek.
Yeon looked worn.
He took a deep breath and wiped his tears away.
“Because of me… you were a test subject.”
“…What?”
He sounded like he hadn’t heard him right. Yeon’s heart gave a
painful lurch. He dreaded the words he had to say, but they
had to be spoken.
“I found out while rifling through the Data Control Room at
the lab. Lee Hong-Jun experimented to create a more perfect
version of his son. And that’s what you were—the test subject.
Truly, that’s what you were. Because of me… you were used
as a lab rat for years.”
Yeon’s voice trembled as he forced the words out. Every
sentence felt like the ground beneath him was cracking open.
When he finally finished, Ha-Jin’s face twisted. He scanned
Yeon’s features with a look of raw anguish. After a long
silence, he finally spoke.
“Must have really hurt you, finding that out.”
…What?
‘What the…?’
Yeon had been holding back his grief, but now he looked up at
Ha-Jin, his gaze unsteady. Ha-Jin seemed almost awkward,
brushing his eyes lightly with his hand.
“I hoped you’d never know, Yeon. Because I figured you’d
look like this.”
“You… knew?”
How?
Yeon had only found out himself after breaking into Lee
Hong-Jun’s lab. There was no way that Ha-Jin, who was
merely a test subject, could have known before him.
Seeing his confusion, Ha-Jin drifted into thought.
He’d known it even before he’d met Yeon in the lab. Yeon’s
mother had told him about it when she’d taught him to speak.
She had explained that he was there as a test subject because
of her son. And she had told him how sorry she was for it.
She’d been a strong woman.
Soft-spoken and gentle, but unyielding in certain matters.
—I’ll be teaching you to speak, Ha-Jin. I want you to survive
and to be clever, and to do that, you’ll need to know how to
talk.
—Why…?
Ha-Jin, who barely knew a handful of words, looked at her,
confused. It was strange enough that she’d given him a name,
and now she wanted to teach him something. And she was the
woman who often sat next to the lab director.
Ha-Jin didn’t bother to hide his suspicion. She gave a sad
smile.
—I know this isn’t easy to hear, but… my child is also a test
subject like you. And you’re here as a test subject because of
him. I just thought you should know. I don’t want you to think
I’m being kind out of some sense of charity or pity.
—…
—It’s pure selfishness that I’m teaching you. Because I want
you and my child to survive. You’ll meet him someday. My
sweet child.
—…
She hadn’t hidden anything from him, hadn’t withheld a single
card. From the start, she’d been open, and her frankness had
lowered Ha-Jin’s guard. He observed her closely, committing
everything she shared to memory.
He’d never wondered why he was a test subject. He’d had no
reason to. Life was just about existing, no more, no less. He’d
never thought to question it.
It had been odd, though. To think that he was locked up there
for her child’s sake.
What was even stranger was that she still came to see him.
Those lonely hours in the early morning were gradually filled
with her presence.
—You hate Lee Hong-Jun, don’t you?
One day she’d asked him that. Ha-Jin kept his mouth shut,
watching her.
—I get it. I hate him too. Sometimes I feel sorry for him,
living a life like that. But mostly, it just makes me furious. Lee
Hong-Jun is going to get what’s coming to him. I know it.
—Then… why?
—Why did I marry him? It’s complicated… I doubt you’d
understand even if I explained.
—Doesn’t make sense.
—Right? Sometimes I wonder why I live this way myself.
She laughed softly.
She must have missed her sleep every night to come see him at
dawn. Her face looked increasingly exhausted, but Ha-Jin
never told her not to come. Her visits were better than the
loneliness.
—One day, when you’re strong enough, Ha-Jin. Get back at
Lee Hong-Jun for everything he did to you. You’re going to be
the strongest man out there.
She often spoke about the future as if it were a certainty. It felt
reckless, but her bright face gave Ha-Jin a quiet comfort. He’d
thought he would die soon, but listening to her made him feel
as though he might survive.
In time, Ha-Jin finally met her child, just as she’d said.
—…
When Ha-Jin saw the boy enter the lab, he felt the world slow
down. He’d never seen a kid like this before, so unblemished.
The boy looked around the lab, wide-eyed, as if exploring
some strange new world.
He looked exactly like her. The resemblance was uncanny.
Their eyes met.
Those large, innocent eyes grew wider, and the boy stumbled
back. The bear he was holding dropped and rolled across the
floor, his long hair dishevelled. He muttered something,
looking genuinely startled.
Ha-Jin couldn’t help but stare. This pretty human was oddly
fascinating to look at.
‘So this is the one I’m locked up for?’
It didn’t feel real. Ha-Jin’s red eyes traced over the boy.
Just like him, the child’s arm bore the marks of needles, the
scars unmistakable. His pale skin mirrored Ha-Jin’s own.
Ha-Jin blinked slowly.
He’d assumed this kid had an easy life…
‘But you’re no different from me, are you?’
There was a strange sense of connection. Back then, he hadn’t
known.
That this kid would end up intertwined with him in such a dark
way.
Finished with his recollection, Ha-Jin looked to the side,
struggling to explain.
“Your mother told me, Yeon. It was so long ago I don’t
remember exactly when. But yes, I knew even before I met
you.”
Yeon’s head spun as though she were on a carousel.
He’d thought that his mother would have known Tae Ha-Jin
was a test subject. Assumed she’d taken pity on him, looked
after him out of compassion. But he’d never expected she’d
tell him something so intimate.
The idea that she’d share that with a young boy… it was
baffling. Yet, despite knowing it all, Ha-Jin had stayed friends
with him, developed feelings for him, even visited his
mother’s grave.
Yeon couldn’t imagine a more foolish gesture.
‘So, have I just been making a complete fool of myself?’
He recalled the missed meals, the days spent languishing,
crying—scenes that now played out like a tragic reel. Yeon
shut his eyes in embarrassment, feeling shame creep in as he
looked at Ha-Jin’s calm face.
Watching Yeon’s shifting expressions, Ha-Jin suddenly
scowled.
“Tell me, you didn’t seriously quit as my exclusive over
something so trivial, did you?”
Yeon could barely react, beyond stunned.
How could he reduce it to “something so trivial”? Ha-Jin had
lived his life as an experiment! That was enough reason for
most to be bitter forever, and Yeon had assumed Ha-Jin had
never known the truth.
If he did, it only made Ha-Jin’s forgiveness more astonishing.
“Well, I’m afraid forgiveness doesn’t come so easily, Yeon,”
Ha-Jin sneered, reaching out to tousle Yeon’s hair.
“You think that little of my love? To throw me away for
something like that?”
“I…”
“Did you ask Lee Hong-Jun to experiment on you? You’re just
as much a victim. Who are you to pity me?”
“I… I didn’t mean—”
“Enough. We’ll talk more back home. This isn’t exactly the
place for grilling you, Yeon.”
‘Grilling?’
Yeon clamped his mouth shut, but Ha-Jin didn’t give him a
chance to explain. He seized Yeon’s wrist, pulling him
unceremoniously to his mother’s grave. Up close, the modest
headstone was plainer than he’d ever noticed.
Ha-Jin lowered the chrysanthemums he’d brought, still
holding Yeon’s hand tightly. Standing upright, he looked at the
grave.
“Well?”
“Well… what?”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your mother?”
Yeon felt a twinge of discomfort. After thirteen years of visits,
what did introductions matter now? Besides, standing here
brought back memories of her death, scenes Yeon couldn’t
shake or understand.
He muttered awkwardly, “How would I even introduce you?
You know her well enough already.”
“Such an attitude. What’s with that stiff tone, huh?”
“…”
Yeon lowered his eyes in resignation. Ha-Jin had no idea what
Yeon had gone through all this time. Only now did Yeon
realise how generous Ha-Jin had been, to know everything yet
still say he loved him…
—You’ll be happy, my love. You’ll meet someone who’ll love
every part of you. So you won’t be lonely.
His mother’s final words suddenly struck him, echoing like a
bolt of lightning. Yeon’s hair stood on end as he looked at the
grave, its engraved words now clearer than ever:
Seek your destiny without fear. Only those who walk willingly
are truly blessed.
Mother… what were you trying to tell me?
His gaze softened as he read the words, but Ha-Jin interrupted,
his fingers entwined with Yeon’s.
“I’m planning to date Yeon,” Ha-Jin said solemnly. “Haven’t
asked him yet, but we’re obviously both interested. It’s hard
not to notice the way his heart races around me.”
“What… did you just say?”
“Your son’s sweet, but insufferably stubborn. Sometimes, I
wonder about his upbringing.”
Yeon shot him a wide-eyed glare, but Ha-Jin just continued, as
if speaking to a living person.
“Still, he turned out well. You always praised him, didn’t you?
It’s well-deserved. Thirteen years without so much as a visit…
don’t be too hard on him. I’m sure he had his reasons.”
Ha-Jin’s tone was oddly sincere, as if genuinely conversing
with Yeon’s mother, not merely addressing a grave. He
chuckled to himself, then composed his face, so earnest that it
almost felt familiar.
Yeon had to hold back a laugh. Somehow, he could imagine
Ha-Jin coming here every year, talking to himself like this.
Then, out of nowhere, Ha-Jin yanked Yeon’s wig right off,
revealing his tousled hair. Yeon looked at him, stunned.
“Long hair’s pretty and all, but I like you as you are. Stop
trying to reinvent yourself.”
“Ha-Jin…”
“How thoughtful. Growing your hair out, carrying around that
stuffed bear… if only you put half that effort into me.”
He tossed Yeon’s wig next to the chrysanthemums, then
casually grabbed the small stuffed bear Yeon was holding onto
as if it were nothing.
“I’ll be keeping this, by the way. Ever since I saw it in the lab,
I knew you’d held onto it out of sheer stubbornness.”
“That’s mine!”
“No, it’s mine now. Consider it my apology gift.”
“I’ll get you a new one. That bear’s—”
“No, this bear or nothing. Or… I could just take you instead.”
Take him instead?
‘Am I worth less than a stuffed bear?’
Yeon frowned, but Ha-Jin only shrugged, clutching the bear
until its neck bent under the pressure. It wasn’t exactly small,
but in Ha-Jin’s grip, it looked tiny.
“Apologies, but we’re leaving early. I’ve got to take this boy
home. He’s in need of a good scolding.”
He nodded toward the headstone. “Say goodbye, then. We’re
off.”
He was a whirlwind of a man, dragging Yeon along with him.
Yeon gave up trying to understand it all, like finally losing a
troublesome tooth.
He tried to pull his hand free to bow to his mother, but Ha-Jin
held it tight.
When Yeon looked up, he was met with a daring glare.
To Yeon, the headstone was just stone. He couldn’t treat it as a
person like Ha-Jin could. So, he spoke his thoughts inwardly.
Mother…
I still resent you.
I don’t understand why you abandoned me.
I know you must have struggled. Staying must have been hard.
But I don’t understand. I guess I’m still immature.
Today, I heard that Cha-Hyun has passed. My stepmother is
gone too. Please look after them if you meet them.
And the person who loves all of me…
Could that really be Ha-Jin?
“Time to go.”
Ha-Jin’s gaze softened as he took Yeon’s hand, pulling him
close in a sudden embrace. Yeon barely had time to react
before they were both airborne. Startled, Yeon instinctively
wrapped his arms around Ha-Jin’s neck.
“What… what are you doing? What about the car?”
Ha-Jin chuckled. “Relax. You’ve got time to worry about the
car?”
Tae Ha-Jin shot through the air at a terrifying speed, the wind
slamming against him as if trying to shove him back. His
power wasn’t even telekinesis, yet he cut through the
resistance easily, soaring towards some point in the capital.
The brutal ride made Yeon’s stomach churn, with no time to
admire the view below. His clothes and hair whipped in the
wind, untamed.
Moving at this speed without telekinesis as a core ability…
Unbelievable.
“Urgh…”
The second he was back on solid ground, Yeon sprinted
towards the nearest luxury bathroom, clutching his stomach.
He hadn’t eaten, so there was nothing to throw up. He just dry-
heaved for a while, then rinsed his mouth with a fresh
toothbrush. ‘T-Hotel’ was printed on it.
‘This place… does it belong to Tae Ha-Jin?’
Why did he bring me here?
Yeon wandered out of the bathroom, his face still pale, his
head spinning. Did this mean they’d reconciled? Was he back
to being Tae Ha-Jin’s official guide?
Then, Tae Ha-Jin, who had been sitting off in the distance,
strode over and, without warning, kissed him hard. He grabbed
Yeon’s face with both hands, forcefully sliding his tongue
inside. Yeon’s eyes widened in shock.
 Chapter 5. Part 5 [PG-18]
“Mmph!”
Yeon staggered back, his heels catching as a chair toppled
over. Tae Ha-Jin’s intensity was palpable, even through the
skin.
Bloody hell…
Muttering under his breath, Tae Ha-Jin didn’t even make it to
the bed; he directed Yeon straight to the sofa. Sitting down
heavily, Yeon glanced up at him, breathing hard. Tae Ha-Jin’s
darkened, crimson eyes were fixed on him, raw desire evident
in his gaze.
“I’m debating something.”
He spoke in a low tone.
“How I should punish you… How to make sure Lee Yeon
doesn’t repeat this stupid behaviour…”
His words were slow and deliberate, as if genuinely weighing
his options while studying Yeon’s face. Yeon swallowed
involuntarily, his heart pounding. Tae Ha-Jin leaned in close,
planting one knee on the sofa as he loomed over Yeon, the
cushion dipping under his weight.
With a rough hand, Tae Ha-Jin tilted Yeon’s chin up.
“Say it. Tell me how you should be punished.”
His face was expressionless, but the anger was unmistakable.
Earlier, he’d restrained himself, likely out of respect for his
mother’s presence at the cemetery.
Yeon felt the gravity of his own mistake. This whole mess was
his fault—a delusion that Tae Ha-Jin would be disappointed, a
selfish desire to avoid his anger. Tae Ha-Jin had been patient,
endured frustration, and had every right to be furious.
Yeon wanted to apologise, sincerely.
He looked up, finally speaking.
“I’m sorry. Honestly… I was afraid you’d hate me. I thought
I’d be better off leaving before we reached that point, thinking
I didn’t deserve to stay by your side. I… I’m nothing more
than the result of your sacrifice…”
“Enough.”
Tae Ha-Jin pressed his thumb against Yeon’s lower lip, hard
enough to hurt.
“Some half-baked apology won’t fix this. Think again.”
He stared fixedly at Yeon’s flushed lip. Yeon’s gaze faltered
under the scrutiny, his brows furrowing. Tae Ha-Jin’s intense
gaze was relentless.
‘Think again?’
Yeon didn’t know what would appease him. Nothing short of
sacrificing some part of himself would convey how sorry he
was.
Yeon took a deep breath, eyes serious.
Then, with white-knuckled fingers, he pushed Tae Ha-Jin’s
torso away, surprising him. Tae Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow,
stepping back slightly, allowing Yeon space on the sofa.
With a thud, Yeon knelt.
Tae Ha-Jin’s brow furrowed, as if he hadn’t expected this. Did
Yeon think kneeling and begging was the way to apologise?
The very sight of it frustrated him.
Then, Yeon raised his hand towards the zip of his trousers,
fingers brushing the place he’d already been aroused since
their embrace at the cemetery.
Tae Ha-Jin’s pupils dilated slightly.
When the buckle came undone, his waistband loosened,
revealing his hardening length beneath. Yeon took both his
trousers and briefs down in one go, his manhood springing
free in front of Yeon’s face.
Caught in a trance, Yeon reached out, wrapping both hands
around him. Tae Ha-Jin looked down, his gaze darkening as he
watched.
It was beyond provocative.
Yeon, on his knees, holding him so firmly, looking up with
innocent eyes…
Tae Ha-Jin’s large hand brushed back Yeon’s fringe, exposing
his smooth forehead and straight brows. He wanted to kiss
every inch of him.
Then, Yeon leaned forward, running his tongue over the tip.
Just a quick flick, like a child tasting ice cream, but somehow
maddeningly seductive. He continued, licking away the bead
of pre-cum that had formed.
Tae Ha-Jin had thought about sinking himself into that mouth,
but he’d assumed Yeon’s pride would never allow it. He’d
never dared ask.
Now, Yeon was slowly taking him in, his tongue grazing his
sensitive underside.
“Ha…”
A low sigh escaped Tae Ha-Jin.
The sensation was intense. Half-lidded, he began running his
fingers through Yeon’s hair, almost tenderly.
Yeon seemed slightly overwhelmed.
“Mm…”
He’d thought he could handle it, but it was already so thick,
filling his mouth to the brim. Tae Ha-Jin’s length was smooth,
and—surprisingly—clean, given his obsessive neatness. It was
perfect, except for the size…
Awkwardly, Yeon started to bob his head, gripping Tae Ha-
Jin’s muscular thigh for support. With his other hand, he
steadied the base.
“Don’t push yourself.”
But Tae Ha-Jin’s hand pressed gently on the back of Yeon’s
head, easing him forward. His cock moved in, forcing Yeon’s
mouth to open wider. Yeon could hardly believe it; his words
were at odds with his actions.
The further he went, the rougher Tae Ha-Jin’s breathing
became. Yeon stifled his gag reflex, taking him deeper each
time before pulling back, repeating the motion.
“Ah…”
Tae Ha-Jin took a firmer hold of Yeon’s hair, setting a slow but
unyielding rhythm, his girth stretching Yeon’s mouth as he
withdrew and returned. Yeon could feel saliva slipping down
his chin.
Holding his thighs, Yeon let go of any restraint. With arms
relaxed, he adapted to Tae Ha-Jin’s movement, the slight ache
in his throat becoming almost natural. Tears pricked at his
eyes, but his resolve kept him going.
“Mm…!”
Tae Ha-Jin’s grip tightened as his motions grew rougher,
grinding against Yeon’s lips. His size filled his mouth without
the need to tense. Before Yeon knew it, warmth flooded his
mouth, metallic and thick.
His eyes widened.
As Tae Ha-Jin withdrew, his hand rested on Yeon’s face.
Glancing down, Tae Ha-Jin gestured.
“Spit it out.”
Spit it… out?
In hesitation, Yeon swallowed it down, letting it slip down his
throat.
Tae Ha-Jin’s brow furrowed, but he smirked.
“You swallowed?”
“Er… yes.”
“Why the hell would you do that? Now you’re just tempting
me again.”
The heat in his eyes hadn’t lessened. His need never quite
seemed to be satisfied, and Yeon was beginning to understand
why he never saw him truly “done.” Every time, Yeon would
be the one to drift off to sleep first.
After kneeling for so long, his legs had gone numb.
Straightening his trousers, Tae Ha-Jin slid Yeon’s black jacket
off his shoulders, then casually tugged his own tie loose,
discarding it. He tilted his head, taking his time as he undid
Yeon’s shirt buttons, one by one.
Tae Ha-Jin’s lips curved into a smile, perfect and effortless.
“How about being my boyfriend, Yeon?”
“…”
Thunder seemed to crash through Yeon’s head, and he blinked
in shock. Was this really the right moment for a confession?
Normally, people would consider the mood, timing, and the
other person’s state of mind before declaring their feelings.
But this man—did he miss the memo on subtlety? Was he ever
anything but direct, Yeon wondered.
“These days, Yeon, it’s like your heartbeat does all the
talking,” Tae Ha-Jin chuckled, clearly amused. Yeon sighed
inwardly. It was impossible to hide his reactions from an esper
whose senses were sharper than any animal’s. His heart had a
mind of its own, pounding erratically every time Tae Ha-Jin
pushed at his limits.
With all the buttons undone, Tae Ha-Jin slid the shirt off his
shoulders.
Yeon hadn’t been eating well lately, and it showed in the
sharper lines of his ribs. Tae Ha-Jin’s long fingers traced along
them, his expression turning serious.
“No rush on your answer. But looking at how thin you’ve
gotten, I’d say you’re not shaking me off that easily.”
“I… I could answer now.”
“No, keep it for later. Any answer you give right now would
probably betray what your heartbeat’s telling me.”
Tae Ha-Jin knew him well. Yeon had planned to turn him
down, after all. His feelings were strong, but he wasn’t one for
casual relationships anymore. His previous flings hadn’t left
him with any fond memories.
Tae Ha-Jin meant something different to him, someone worth
being careful with. A fleeting relationship wasn’t worth the
risk now.
Tae Ha-Jin kissed Yeon gently, his lips brushing over his
cheek, his nose, his lips. The soft contact made Yeon close his
eyes, and Tae Ha-Jin chuckled at his response.
“Tell me, then—if this isn’t what being boyfriends is, what is
it?”
“They call it a ‘fling,’ I believe.”
“A fling, my foot.”
Tae Ha-Jin grabbed his wrist and led him to the suite’s
bedroom, questions on his mind as they walked.
“That’s really all there is to it? That’s why you quit?”
“…Yes.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“…No.”
“This is starting to get on my nerves,” he muttered, his grip
tightening.
“So, why did you toss your food when our eyes met at the
restaurant?”
When Yeon didn’t respond, Ha-Jin stopped, surprise flickering
across his face. Yeon hadn’t expected him to bring that up.
‘Dammit… What am I supposed to say?’
That he’d felt jealous seeing him with some stranger? That
seeing him offer a plate to that “deer” had set him off?
Too embarrassed to admit it, Yeon averted his gaze, shifting
the topic back.
“Well, the great esper didn’t exactly look pleased to see me
either.”
“Then stop wasting away—you’re breaking my heart.”
“…”
That’s why?
Yeon hadn’t expected such a reason, and he felt deflated. He’d
thought he might have driven him away somehow.
“Stop dodging and answer me. Why did you throw it away?”
Relentless, he pressed again. Yeon exhaled, glancing aside
before muttering awkwardly.
“That… deer… You looked so pleased with him it killed my
appetite.”
“Deer?”
Tae Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow, baffled, then smirked as if
realising something. He chuckled and asked, teasingly, “Just
admit it—you were jealous, weren’t you?”
“I was not.”
“You’re making my heart race.”
Feigning a hand on his chest, Tae Ha-Jin leaned in close,
staring right into Yeon’s eyes.
“And here I thought… you were the only deer I needed.”
Yeon rolled his eyes inwardly; that “deer” was nothing like
him. He’d been small and slight, with a kind of vulnerable
charm. Yeon, however, was tall, sturdy, and well-equipped to
take care of himself.
With a mischievous glint, Ha-Jin’s hand traced down Yeon’s
throat.
“How about venison for dinner tonight? You’ve lost some
weight, so maybe a bit undercooked to retain the texture. Sink
my teeth in, let the juices run, till I’m craving even more.”
His voice dropped to a murmur, thick with intensity.
“I prefer my prey live, anyway.”
Bang!
Tae Ha-Jin kicked open the bedroom door, pressing his mouth
to Yeon’s in a heated kiss as he moved them toward the bed,
his jacket and tie slipping away. His hands moved with
urgency, making quick work of Yeon’s shirt.
Click.
Tae Ha-Jin undid Yeon’s belt, tugging his trousers and boxers
down in one swift motion, leaving Yeon bare to his touch.
Before he could object, Tae Ha-Jin turned him around.
“Tae… ngh!”
Flattened against the bed, Yeon’s eyes widened as he felt him
press closer. Tae Ha-Jin hadn’t even fully undressed, moving
against him with slow, teasing movements, his fingers
brushing over Yeon’s lips, slipping inside to graze his tongue.
“Mmf!”
His fingers left his mouth and trailed down, grazing over
Yeon’s back before pressing further. Despite himself, Yeon
tensed as they pushed inside, his body adjusting to the familiar
yet overwhelming sensation. The man only increased the
pressure, his movements slow but intent.
‘Will I ever get used to this?’
They say, humans are known for their ability to adapt, yet
these thick and long fingers, even if only two, still felt too
unfamiliar. They moved back and force inside Yeon, teasing
sensitive muscles and spots. A few thrusts after, Tae Ha-Jin
inserted three, not two, fingers.
“A-ah…”
Thanks to his esper ability, there was no pain, but tonight, it
was clear Tae Ha-Jin was especially charged. Why, Yeon
couldn’t tell.
And sure enough, he heard the sound of a belt unbuckling and
a zipper sliding down. Yeon’s eyes widened.
Was he… going to?
Usually, Tae Ha-Jin would have prepared properly, condoms
and all, taking his time to ensure they were both ready. They’d
likely have showered first too.
But tonight was different.
Keeping one hand on Yeon’s back, Ha-Jin spat into the other
and applied it hurriedly. He positioned himself, pressing the tip
against Yeon’s entrance.
“Wait, hold on! Esper! You’ll…!”
“I’ll make sure you don’t get hurt,” he rasped, his voice a raw
whisper, lower than Yeon had ever heard it. The tension was
so thick that Yeon thought Tae Ha-Jin might truly be on the
edge.
As he slid inside, Tae Ha-Jin let out a sharp breath, pushing
forward slowly, savouring the connection. Two weeks without
this, he thought. Two endless weeks waiting for this moment,
holding Yeon, breathing him in, feeling him completely.
As their bodies moved together, Ha-Jin felt a fierce surge of
satisfaction. He wanted Yeon all to himself, wanted those
beautiful eyes to look only at him, those delicate hands to
touch no one else.
“Bloody hell, Yeon…”
Though he started slowly, he suddenly bucked hard, driving in
to the hilt.
“Ah…!”
Yeon’s moan echoed, the intense pressure vanishing as
pleasure took its place. He gripped the sheets tightly, every
sense focused on the feeling as Ha-Jin’s hips moved
rhythmically, pushing him deeper into the bed.
“Ahn…!”
Yeon buried his face in the sheets, only for Ha-Jin to force his
head back, stealing another kiss, their tongues intertwining.
Ha-Jin bit down on his lip, then softly licked it as they moved,
the heated sound filling the room as Yeon’s senses spun wildly,
surrendering entirely to the moment.
“Haa…”
Tae Ha-Jin lifted his body, grabbing Yeon’s hips firmly as he
thrust rough and deep. Thud, thud! The obscene sounds
echoed beyond the walls, almost as if they were intentionally
broadcast. Ha-Jin’s hand slid along Yeon’s spine, grasping his
shaft with a tight grip.
“Ha… uh!”
“Lee Yeon. You like it?”
Yeon felt like he was on the edge, the pleasure eating away at
him. Ha-Jin’s large hand skilfully worked his hard shaft, not
relenting for even a moment.
Smack!
Yeon bit his lip to stifle a moan, but Ha-Jin smacked his arse,
hard, like punishment. Startled, a moan slipped out.
“Haa!”
“Answer me.”
He pressed on, his soft tongue tracing the shell of Yeon’s ear,
murmuring in a low voice.
“Do you enjoy fucking with me?”
Thud! Thud!
Ha-Jin moved his hips relentlessly, determined to get his
answer. The force of his thrusts was so strong that Yeon’s body
was inching up against the bed’s headboard.
“I… love it. Being with you, like this.”
Ha-Jin knew every inch of Yeon’s body, repeatedly hitting his
prostate. His vision blurred, overwhelmed by sensations he
couldn’t even name. The tears nearly spilled, overtaken by the
ruthless pleasure.
Even so, the fact that it was Tae Ha-Jin, that sex with someone
he loved could be this intense, rocked his mind.
“Stop…!”
Yeon’s forehead pressed into the bed as he shouted in
desperation.
“Good… haa… I said, I like it!”
Ha-Jin clenched his jaw, his movements like a man possessed,
hips thrusting rapidly. The speed and force left Yeon shaking,
his pleas stammering out.
“I’m… I’m about to…! Please, just stop!”
“Alright, I’ll give you more.”
With a low groan, Tae Ha-Jin gripped Yeon’s hips and picked
up the pace. Thud, thud! The slapping sound crescendoed, the
tension fierce. Yeon clenched his fist tightly, his body
trembling as he climaxed several times on the bed.
“Haa…”
Ha-Jin looked down at Yeon, satisfied, and rolled his hips
slowly. Then, as if reliving a memory, he withdrew only to
plunge back in hard.
The memory of that moment at the cemetery came back—the
first time he’d seen him. Dressed in casual clothes, holding a
small teddy bear, wearing a wig with long hair. Ha-Jin had
thought him a girl.
In the dark lab, you walked in, holding onto fragments of light
just barely.
From that moment, you shook my world. Now, I think it was a
warning—a sign that I would lose my soul to you.
‘I…’
Loving you had become a habit.
“Lee Yeon.”
You, so blinding I didn’t even dare to possess you.
Still, you overwhelm me—more than I deserve.
“I love you.”
It was an affection so deep it hurt.
Ha-Jin pushed into him, grounding himself in Yeon’s presence.
Yeon groaned, gripping Ha-Jin’s hand tightly, wanting him
closer, deeper.
He prayed for the waves to pull them under, together.

***

Senior Elder Cha Seung-Kyun, having received the reports

from the Elders, headed straight to the Special Investigation
Office within the administrative department. The office,
staffed by elite detectives, former judges, profilers, and
researchers, investigated high-profile cases—matters involving
top officials, issues of national impact, or things best kept
from public knowledge.
The appointees here worked covertly, operating in secret as
agents, with Cha Seung-Kyun himself treading carefully. This
department had been his first creation upon his appointment as
Senior Elder a decade ago.
But today, the Special Investigation Office had sent an urgent
summons.
Bang!
“Begin the briefing.”
Cha Seung-Kyun strode into the expansive conference room,
his presence met by respectful greetings from the gathered
staff. The assembled senior members were already seated,
faces visibly tense.
‘This is serious.’
Sitting among them, Doberman, a young late-bloomer esper in
his late twenties, reflected on the weight of the upcoming
news. Once a high-flying elite lawyer, he had abandoned his
past life to embrace his newfound status as an A+-grade
transportation esper.
An esper of B-grade or lower could pledge to renounce their
abilities and live as a regular citizen. But for an A+-grade
esper, like Doberman, there was no choice. And while
adjusting, he had met Tae Ha-Jin.
Despite everything, Cha Seung-Kyun had valued Doberman’s
sharp intuition and experience. Cha appointed him as the first
abnormal-type agent in the office. Doberman, originally Tae
Ha-Jin’s assistant, had initially refused.
But the cases handled here were of such a nature that
Doberman reasoned he could help Tae Ha-Jin if he took on
this role.
His instincts had proven right.
Whenever Tae Ha-Jin was about to stir up a storm in the
judiciary or administration, Doberman, as an investigation
agent, could clean up swiftly. He’d even used classified
information gathered as an agent to intimidate high-ranking
officials—all for Tae Ha-Jin’s sake.
He liked to think his role kept Tae Ha-Jin safe and untouchable
by those who’d resent his rise.
‘It’s Tae Ha-Jin’s fault I turned out this way.’
 Chapter 5. Part 6
Doberman took comfort in laying the blame squarely on Ha-
Jin. The shade of Tae Ha-Jin was a surprisingly cozy place to
be.
Of course, just being Tae Ha-Jin’s assistant kept him insanely
busy. Doberman attended the investigation office only for
critical cases, a leniency granted by Cha Seung-Kyun.
For years, Tae Ha-Jin had known Doberman was hiding
something about his work, though he had never outright
confronted him about it. He merely tried to trace him
occasionally. Doberman didn’t mind; he understood Ha-Jin’s
past as a test subject.
‘Let’s focus.’
Doberman thought to himself. If he wrote an autobiography, it
would be at least three volumes, one likely dedicated to Tae
Ha-Jin.
“We’ll begin the briefing.”
The investigator brought up a presentation, his face grave.
“Recently, the family of Research Director Lee Hong-Jun has
experienced a string of deaths. Officially, his first wife,
Christina, committed suicide by hanging in the Basen
Research Lab 13 years ago.”
An image of Christina in life appeared on the screen. The
beauty of her face held the room’s gaze. Doberman’s eyes
widened, momentarily mistaking her for Lee Yeon, the guide.
“The whistle-blower was a former chief researcher at the
Basen Lab who left due to alleged brainwave erasure by Lee
Hong-Jun.”
None of the investigators seemed surprised. Former lab
researchers often remembered nothing of their time there.
Even interrogations had yielded nothing.
“But he managed to retain personal memories. The whistle-
blower reported passing by the director’s wife’s room on duty.
The door was open that night, and Lee Hong-Jun’s young son
was sitting on the floor, crying silently. Beyond him, the first
wife was hanging.”
Doberman swallowed hard.
It seemed Lee Yeon had witnessed his mother’s suicide. The
guide he’d initially thought unreachable, his cold walls high,
was now making sense.
“His second wife was an actress, known as Celine.”
Celine’s photo, an entrancing beauty, appeared, drawing
whispers from the crowd. Both wives resembled each other
strikingly—Christina, a delicate beauty, and Celine, a more
sultry version.
“That woman also took her own life from an overdose a few
weeks ago. Autopsy showed no particular anomalies, so, as
per Lee Hong-Jun’s request, she was cremated immediately.
Then, just days ago, his eleven-year-old son, Lee Chae-Hyun,
was found dead in the river. There’s a well-known trend of
researchers from Lee Hong-Jun’s lab facing suspicious
suicides or accidents, isn’t there?”
The boy’s death was a catalyst of sorts.
Doberman, who had long harboured doubts, found Lee Chae-
Hyun’s death deeply unsettling. The number of sudden deaths
surrounding the lab director had raised many eyebrows.
While other powerful figures turned a blind eye to Lee Hong-
Jun’s corruption and misdeeds, Doberman had neither the
loyalty nor the incentive to do so.
He’d heard snippets about what Tae Ha-Jin had gone through
as an experiment subject. Even the summarised stories were
harrowing. That alone was reason enough for him to keep a
close watch on Lee Hong-Jun and his circle, though
admittedly, Tae Ha-Jin had also instructed him to do so.
“Director Lee Hong-Jun has already raised countless issues
regarding the experiment subjects. Due to Doberman’s
persistent concerns, we are initiating a further investigation.
Our focus is on labs within the Diaylen nation.”
A vast map of the Diaylen continent spread across the screen,
where over thirty red dots flashed—each marking a research
lab established by Lee Hong-Jun over his lifetime.
For decades, Diaylen had poured support into Lee Hong-Jun’s
research, with the Emperor even pleased to grant him the
freedom to establish labs. Since he personally bore the costs,
no one saw a reason to object.
However—
“Our investigators, while carefully examining this map,
noticed something peculiar.”
The investigator paused, looking at the senior council
members as if doubting his own words. He met Elder Cha
Seung-Kyun’s gaze, who gestured for him to continue. The
investigator’s throat bobbed nervously.
“…The locations of these labs. Please take a closer look at the
red dots. After verifying multiple times, we confirmed—these
lab locations are the only places… where no Doors have ever
emerged.”
The officials who had been briefed on this beforehand cast
anxious glances at Elder Cha Seung-Kyun, who appeared
visibly shocked, his eyes locked on the map’s red dots.
“So, what you’re implying is… that Director Lee Hong-Jun
manipulated the emergence of doors to avoid his labs?”
The suggestion was beyond belief.
A door was a disaster—a punishment from the gods.
Unpredictable in time and place, it brought ruin and death to
humankind.
During Lee Hong-Jun’s decades as a director, the occurrence
of doors was frequent, countless. But thinking back, no reports
had ever mentioned any of his labs being destroyed by a door.
Cha Seung-Kyun’s gaze wavered in disbelief.
Doberman, too, was just as stunned. This briefing suggested
that Lee Hong-Jun had enough power to manipulate the
occurrence of doors.
“We haven’t yet confirmed if this was intentional on Lee
Hong-Jun’s part. It simply raises questions—could such a
coincidence really be possible?”
Clang! Bang!
Everyone turned to see Elder Cha Seung-Kyun slam his fists
on the table, rattling it.
“Bring Director Lee Hong-Jun in for an immediate arrest! This
cannot be swept under the rug!”
“But without a warrant, arresting Director Lee—”
“Bring him now! I’ll take full responsibility!”
His thundering command shook the room, sending the arrest
team rushing out. Cha Seung-Kyun looked at the remaining
officials.
“You’re all aware, I trust? The incidence of Doors has been
skyrocketing in Diaylen, while declining in other nations. If
there’s even a fraction of truth in Lee Hong-Jun’s involvement,
Diaylen would have no choice but to sentence him to death.
This is serious—watch your tongues.”
With a deep sigh, Elder Cha Seung-Kyun left. Investigators
exchanged glances, sensing the gravity of the situation.
“I’ll take my leave. There’s more to investigate.”
One investigator excused himself and left. Doberman watched
him closely as he departed.
The investigator’s steps quickened as he reached the
emergency stairs, pulling out a hidden phone to make a call.
—Hey, what’s up?
“Assistant Adrian! There’s trouble! The special investigation
is suspicious about the door-free zones near the labs. The
arrest team is on their way to apprehend Director Lee Hong-
Jun!”
—Wait, what? Now?
“Yes! Quickly, warn the Director—ugh!”
—Hello? Hey! Are you there?
The investigator, attempting to pass along the news, was
suddenly kicked down the stairs. He groaned, sprawled on the
floor, as Doberman took the unusual-looking phone.
“Damn it!”
The line went dead. Doberman tapped the phone with his
watch—no response. No chip, no GPS—a device likely
custom-made for the Director’s spies. The brief conversation
hinted it was indeed Lee Hong-Jun’s assistant Adrian on the
other end.
So, the investigator was a mole placed by Lee Hong-Jun…
Doberman, who rarely attended special briefings except for
major cases, had noticed that this investigator always left
early, often with a strange glint in his eye. Today, he looked
especially tense, beads of sweat marking his neck.
Thwack!
Doberman knocked the investigator unconscious and dragged
him to the interrogation room.
“Wh-what’s going on, Doberman? That’s one of our
investigators…”
“He’s a spy planted by Director Lee Hong-Jun. I overheard his
call. Here’s the phone he was using—give it a thorough
examination. I’m sure something will turn up.”
Doberman handed over the phone, left the room, and sighed.
With his Guide temporarily out of service, Tae Ha-Jin’s mental
state was also unsteady.
‘This needs to be reported.’
Doberman checked his watch for his assigned esper’s location.
Tae Ha-Jin was at his residence, as expected. He memorised
the coordinates and teleported there.
Flash!
Arriving in Tae Ha-Jin’s study, Doberman raised an eyebrow.
Recently plagued with insomnia, Tae Ha-Jin had been working
here night after night, yet he wasn’t here.
‘Maybe he’s in the kitchen?’
Doberman searched through the kitchen, living room, and
every corner of the first floor. He seemed to be sleeping, then.
Given the situation, Doberman started up the stairs to wake
him.
As he neared the second floor—
“Ha… ahh!”
“…?”
It sounded like pained groans—but distinctly not Tae Ha-Jin’s
voice. Doberman frowned and moved further up the stairs,
where the sound grew more distinct.
“You…bloody bastard! Stop… ah!”
“Oh? Throwing punches now?”
“Ah, shit… bastar—stop… ah! Uh, let’s…just… get some
sleep!”
“Swear at me more, Yeon. I love it.”
The ruckus of scuffling continued. Thuds echoed up, leaving
Doberman unsure if it was the sound of punches or a
particularly fervent romp.
“…”
Doberman blinked, suppressing a smirk as he quietly made his
way back down the stairs. This house had been built with extra
soundproofing—Tae Ha-Jin, sensitive to noise, had insisted on
it.
Apparently, he’d only heard the noises upon reaching the top
of the stairs. Back on the ground floor, Doberman stifled a
chuckle.
Good.
He was relieved Tae Ha-Jin was as audacious as ever.
Knowing his blunt nature, he likely didn’t waste time and cut
right to it.
He wouldn’t push Yeon into anything he didn’t want…
No wonder Yeon had been out of contact for three days after
visiting the national cemetery.
‘Looks like he and his Guide made up.’
Doberman savoured the rare moment of relief, enjoying a
coffee in the kitchen. The first floor was entirely silent. With
some effort, he could listen in, but he wasn’t inclined—
voyeurism wasn’t his thing.
They should be done soon.
Surely they’d be down soon…
Three hours passed, and Doberman’s patience was running
thin. Was that mad esper planning to wear his Guide out? He
finally heard footsteps, and Tae Ha-Jin, in a robe and dripping
wet from a quick rinse, descended the stairs.
“What’s up?”
The red eyes locked onto Doberman, who was seated at the
dining table.
“Why didn’t you respond to the White Door incident
yesterday?”
“Was busy.”
“No matter how minor a White Door it was, if you’d shown
up, it would’ve been over in no time.”
“There weren’t any casualties. Let’s cut to the chase, okay?”
Today, this esper seemed to be in a particularly good mood.
In truth, there was no reason for an S+ grade esper like Tae
Ha-Jin to go to a small White Door event. A-grade espers
could handle it just fine, and the government preferred not to
send out Tae Ha-Jin, saving his strength for bigger issues. He
had a mountain of other tasks anyway.
Still, Tae Ha-Jin usually scoffed at such reasoning, calling it
“idle chatter,” and would head out to practically every door
that appeared. But this time, seeing it was an “isolated
location” and a “small White Door,” Tae Ha-Jin had sent a
message saying he wasn’t coming.

[Can’t. Got something more urgent.

4:47 pm]

[Just in case, call in plenty of A-grade espers. Report any

abnormalities.
4:48 pm]

The day before, a minor Pink Door had also appeared, and Tae
Ha-Jin had looked noticeably annoyed. It seemed that it had
been because of Lee Yeon, who he’d left at home. At last,
things were starting to make sense.
‘Then why the hell didn’t he just tell me?’
Doberman sighed, glaring irritably at Tae Ha-Jin, feeling the
weight of his recent worrying over Yeon, thinking they were
still in some cold war.
“Whatever… Anyway, I have urgent news to report—”
KABOOM!
KAAA-BOOM!
A monstrous blast rang out, and the entire house shook as if it
were the epicentre of an earthquake. Doberman’s eyes
widened, turning to Tae Ha-Jin. This place was built with
perfect earthquake-resistant design; ordinary tremors wouldn’t
make it shake like this.
Tae Ha-Jin’s brows furrowed, glancing up at the second floor
before striding into the living room. He yanked the curtains
open.
“…!”
Doberman’s eyes bulged as he looked out beyond the glass. A
massive building in the distance was engulfed in flames.
That building was the Central Research Lab.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Two more explosions tore through the air. The domed top of
the lab collapsed in a shattering rumble. Tae Ha-Jin didn’t look
away, staring intently at the scene.
The timing was suspiciously convenient. The Special
Investigations Office had just sent an arrest team to apprehend
Director Lee Hong-Jun, and Doberman had just apprehended
an informant who had been leaking information to Lee’s
assistant.
And now the Central Research Lab was blowing up…
That evening, the news broadcast reported that the Central
Research Lab had suffered a terror attack from unknown
forces. Although they had successfully contained the fires
post-explosion, they announced the tragic death of Director
Lee Hong-Jun.
Items presumed to be the director’s—glasses, a key, and a
fountain pen—had been found on an unrecognizable charred
corpse. The state of the items made it difficult to identify
them, but eventually, they’d managed to do so.
The world was in shock.
A genius scientist like Lee Hong-Jun, dead in a terror attack?
People reacted with mixed disbelief, yet many were already
mourning his loss. A researcher dedicated to Diaylen’s future
had been killed in such a tragic way.
Yeon, who had passed out, woke late that night, sprawled
across the first-floor sofa. Hearing the news on the TV, he
shook his head.
“Bullshit…”
Lee Hong-Jun wasn’t the kind to die over a bloody terror
attack. More likely, he’d stolen anything valuable and staged
the attack himself. It was too half-hearted an explosion to be
his usual work. The man clearly had no regard for the world’s
attention.

[Had to leave urgently. Medicine’s on the table, porridge’s in

the fridge. Don’t go wandering around, just rest.
9:22 pm]

Yeon scoffed at Tae Ha-Jin’s text.

“No strength left to wander anyway, you bastard.”
Swallowing his irritation, Yeon stumbled toward the table in
the kitchen. Every movement sent fresh pain stabbing through
his body. When he was with Tae Ha-Jin, the pain dulled, which
was nice. Of course, resting was impossible around him; the
guy just couldn’t keep it in his pants.
“Sigh.”
Just as Tae Ha-Jin had said, there was an ointment on the
table, and a bowl of porridge in the fridge. It didn’t look
particularly appetising, probably homemade, but he ladled it
out while listening to the news, not even bothering to heat it
up.
It turned out to be decent enough, and Yeon scraped the bowl
clean, chuckling to himself.
‘Guess he felt a bit guilty about leaving me alone.’
The more he learned about Tae Ha-Jin, the more intricate and
surprising he found him. If he were to paint an image of Tae
Ha-Jin, it would once have been nothing but red.
But now, he could see himself adding black, white, even
green.

***

“Are you unwell? You look like hell.”

Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun handled the most urgent
matters, and then his first visit was to the Crown Prince’s
reception room at the Imperial Palace. Given the situation, he
arrived unannounced. Usually, Ricardo would have greeted
him with a broad smile, but today his expression was grim.
Whatever had happened, it had clearly taken its toll on him.
Ricardo rubbed his temple, closing his eyes in fatigue.
“Elder Chairman Cha.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Did you know my father… has been auctioning slaves?”
Cha closed his eyes, slowly reopening them. So, the Crown
Prince had just found out. With his diplomatic duties and
political manoeuvring, it was understandable. The Emperor
had gone to great lengths to conceal it, after all.
Princess Elena, who had once vied for the succession, now
seemed to have abandoned the ambition entirely. Despite
rumours about her losing an arm, she appeared confidently,
guiding high-grade espers whenever a door appeared.
It was unusual for her to guide anyone below an A grade, and
people had noticed.
Pondering these things, Cha Seung-Kyun took his time to
respond. Eventually, Ricardo rubbed a hand over his face,
looking up at Cha with a mixture of bitterness.
“The slaves were sold as test subjects to Director Lee Hong-
Jun. Did you know that?”
“Yes.”
Ricardo fixed Cha with a slightly disdainful gaze.
“Why didn’t you stop him? Surely you could have prevented
my father’s descent into depravity.”
“The Emperor hid it well. I only learned after many had
already perished. And… Are you unaware of the power
Director Lee Hong-Jun held within Diaylen? He and the
Emperor were entwined in this so closely, I couldn’t
intervene.”
“Hah…”
Ricardo propped his elbows on his knees, burying his face in
his hands with a weary groan.
Cha Seung-Kyun reclined, observing the prince with a critical
eye.
“Your Highness, how long do you intend to keep up this idle
front?”
“…”
“Now that Princess Elena has fully renounced her claim,
there’s no reason for you to keep hiding your strength. She’s
no longer a threat. She’s simply an S0-grade guide now.
Nobody will harm her.”
Ricardo removed his hands from his face, looking up at Cha
with a twisted expression.
“Were you aware of this?”
“Yes.”
It would have been absurd not to be. Elena and Ricardo were
full siblings who’d been inseparable in their youth, the pride of
their family. But politics had slowly driven a wedge between
them as they’d grown older.
Most had supported Ricardo as the successor. Aside from
being S-grade, he’d outshone Elena in every area. But once
he’d assumed the role of Crown Prince…
Ricardo had become something of an indolent rogue, speaking
carelessly and blurring the lines of people’s perceptions of
him.
Cha knew Ricardo did this to protect his sister’s position,
though she probably had no idea, tirelessly vying for the
throne.
But none of it mattered now.
There was no longer any need for Ricardo to play dumb, nor
for Elena to fear falling from grace. She had surrendered her
claim.
“There are quite a few crimes attributed to His Majesty, Your
Highness. If you wish, I can compile a list.”
“… And why exactly should I read it?”

__

Aww, Ricardo cares for this sister so much, that he holds back
his influence so she wont be harmed by people that want to see
him at the throne.
 Chapter 5. Part 7
“What do you think? I don’t see Emperor Teraphin as a mere
symbol anymore. Haven’t you read the reports of Research
Head Lee Hong-Jun’s death? I don’t even think he’s truly
dead. It’s all just an interim situation, as I see it.”
Despite a somber tone across the world about Hong-Jun’s
reported death, top officials like Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun
seemed hardly convinced. It didn’t add up that someone so
meticulously guarded would be done in by a mere explosion.
Not to mention, it happened just as Doberman exposed the
identity of an internal informant.
Cha Seung-Kyun spoke with a steady voice.
“The Diaylen nation must change. We need to sever the rotten
head and cut out dependent organs before we can truly enter a
new era. If His Majesty truly cares for his people, he mustn’t
be swept away by sentimentality.”
These were words only someone like the Elder Chairman, a
leader among rulers, could voice on state matters. Ricardo
smirked bitterly as the blunt criticism continued.
“So… what, you’re telling me to oust my father and take the
throne?”
Cha Seung-Kyun shook his head.
“Situations will force him out. You’ll naturally ascend. All I’m
saying is to be prepared for that moment. Stand firm and
unwavering.”
“…”
“Did you intend to sit on the throne without that resolve? I
hope you won’t disappoint me further. I have no interest in a
weak-willed figurehead.”
“…I’ll sort my thoughts and get back to you. I’d like to be
alone now.”
“Understood. I’ll take my leave.”
Cha Seung-Kyun bowed and left without hesitation. Ricardo
sat alone, his mind feeling on the brink of exploding.
Initially, he had simply wanted to dismantle the auction house
that defamed Elena. That was the starting point. He intended
to capture the auctioneer, Gaspar Revilon, seize his entire
fortune, and put a stop to the corruption and depravity of the
auction house.
Yet the deeper he dug, the more he uncovered piles of his
father’s sins. That the Emperor had allowed slaves to be
auctioned was an incomprehensible disgrace to Ricardo. To
learn that some of those slaves had even been sold to Lee
Hong-Jun’s lab as test subjects was gut-wrenching.
Ricardo knew Tae Ha-Jin’s past. He knew the excruciating
torment Ha-Jin had endured as a subject. While he despised
Hong-Jun as a vile researcher, they had engaged in an
inevitable coexistence.
But to think one of those responsible for supplying test
subjects had been his own father—
His close friend, Tae Ha-Jin—
Those same test subjects—
And his own father—
“Haah…”
Ricardo leaned back, staring blankly at the ceiling. He had
always cherished his own bloodline. Amidst the tangled
political web, it was the one connection he could always trust.
But Ricardo was now beginning to see things more clearly.
From the moment he ascended to the Emperor’s seat, he would
have to consider who his real family was.
As a symbolic figure, his role was to endure for the people of
Diaylen.
A civilisation woven together by various nations and races.
This extraordinary country…
 ***

Thanks to his natural regenerative abilities, his body recovered

quickly. Yeon, with the help of a transportation esper, arrived
at the training grounds. For weeks, guides had been
undergoing survival training. Apparently, even Uibin was
focusing on shooting practice alongside Dekal.
‘She was so against it when I suggested going to the shooting
range.’
It was almost comical.
Considering everything he had drilled into her, she was bound
to be better than most at shooting. And with Dekal watching
her back, he figured she’d manage quite well. He was a decent
guy, after all.
Uibin, though initially unmotivated, was showing a surprising
dedication to training, which was satisfying to see.
‘Why the sudden change?’
In messages and calls, she insisted she would protect herself,
urging him not to worry so much.
Puzzled, but pleased, he didn’t dwell on it.
“Whoa—!”
As Yeon walked toward the training hall where Ha-Jin was, he
was abruptly yanked by a grip on his wrist. It was a firm hold,
pulling him behind one of the buildings.
When he looked up, he found Dion standing there.
The man who had helped him escape the lab, who had kept his
dual bloodline secret.
A man whose motives were always unfathomable. Yeon had
worried Dion might face repercussions from the lab director,
yet he seemed fine.
Dion was, for once, out of his usual uniform. Yeon raised an
eyebrow as he glanced over Dion’s casual attire.
“What are you doing?”
Yeon tried to pull his wrist free, but Dion didn’t let go. His
face was set as he spoke.
“Come with me, hyung.”
Go? Where?
Yeon frowned and tilted his head, trying to understand.
“You want to survive, don’t you? Coming with me is the only
way.”
Dion’s expression was deadly serious, his sharp gaze
unyielding. None of this made sense. Dion’s grip tightened,
causing a prick of pain that made Yeon wince.
“I’m offering you a chance. It might sound strange, but…
could you trust me, just this once?”
“What are you talking about? Could you just explain—”
“I don’t want you to die, hyung. I want you to live. I want to
keep seeing you.”
“…`esper Dion.”
Yeon wanted to scold him. Out of nowhere, he was saying
things like, “I’m giving you a chance,” and “Come with me.”
But he couldn’t find it in himself to lash out.
Dion looked so desperate.
This wasn’t the Dion he knew, the one who sometimes let
shadows flicker in his expression.
“Does this have to do with Research Head Lee Hong-Jun?”
Yeon steadied his gaze and asked. Dion remained silent, but
his silence spoke volumes.
So, Lee Hong-Jun was indeed alive.
“Is something going to happen to this country soon?”
Again, Dion said nothing. He just held Yeon’s gaze, standing
resolutely.
Yeon thought carefully. Hong-Jun, faking his death to escape,
surely wouldn’t have done so without a backup plan or an
escape route. Likely, he had an ally behind the scenes or a
bolthole ready.
One thing was clear: Hong-Jun was no longer within Diaylen.
Given his reputation, hiding was difficult, and he valued time
too much to waste it on a pointless chase.
So it followed that a foreign power was supporting him, and
Dion’s words implied that something catastrophic was
imminent.
And…
Yeon wanted to ask Dion.
Are you in league with Hong-Jun after all?
Is that why you act like you know everything?
Is that why you were at the central lab that dawn, with hidden
motives?
Then why… why do you want to protect me?
“Come here, Yeon.”
All those questions dissolved.
Tae Ha-Jin’s cold voice rang out from behind him. Yeon
turned to look, but Dion clasped his face with his free hand,
blocking his view. Dion had likely noticed Ha-Jin’s approach.
Their faces were suddenly close. Yeon met his gaze, his own
eyes uncertain.
“Can’t you please… choose me?”
His voice was filled with an aching sincerity. It was a sound
that couldn’t be fabricated, and Yeon raised an eyebrow. He
had always wondered.
What was it that hurt you so much?
Why do you seem so endlessly lonely?
“Trust me, hyung. Please… we have to go.”
If this was an attempt at seduction, Dion had a knack for it.
The soft gaze, the touch, the flickering veins, the pained voice.
It made Yeon pause.
Yes, you must have your reasons.
You, too, have struggled down a difficult path.
But Dion’s pleading gaze and broken tone couldn’t compete
with the image of Ha-Jin trapped inside that capsule. Ha-Jin,
who had refused to be pitied, versus Dion, who sought it—
there was a gulf between them. And even now, Ha-Jin’s life as
a test subject seemed profoundly tragic.
Putting all the doubts aside.
“After teaming up with Lee Hong-Jun, you’re telling me to
come along? Esper Dion.”
Yeon poured strength into his wrist and flung Dion’s hand
away.
A flicker of hurt crossed Dion’s eyes.
“I choose my own way to survive. I have zero intention of
following anyone else’s path.”
“…Hyung, think about it one last time.”
Dion stepped back, giving Yeon the space he needed. Finally
free, Yeon looked away, catching Tae Ha-Jin’s expression.
Arms folded, Ha-Jin watched them, disbelief written all over
his face. His gaze was enough to kill Dion where he stood.
‘Waiting so calmly, huh.’
Yeon thought Ha-Jin would charge in and pull him away any
second. Maybe he had more patience than he looked. With a
slight sense of relief, Yeon turned to Dion, a bit of softness
entering his face.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re going to regret this, Esper
Dion?”
“…”
“Perhaps it’s you who should rethink things. Leave that path
you’re so set on and come with me.”
A tremor flickered in Dion’s dark brown irises.
This was Yeon’s final offer, his last courtesy to Dion. Letting
him walk away didn’t sit right. Dion was complicated, a man
of contrasting shadows and light. And yet, to Yeon, he wasn’t
all bad.
As Dion said, this was his last chance. Yeon wanted to extend
the same.
While he still had time to turn back.
While he still had time to escape.
A sorrowful smile curled onto Dion’s lips.
“You make it hard to hold a grudge, hyung.”
“Esper Dion.”
“I’ll go. And… sorry for grabbing your wrist so hard.”
Yeon looked down. A dark bruise had formed where Dion had
gripped him. Just as he was about to dwell on it, he felt a soft,
brief touch on his forehead. Yeon’s eyes widened.
Dion had pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“That bastard.”
Shing!
Ha-Jin, who’d been observing the whole time, contorted his
face with fury and drew his sword. Startled, Yeon rushed
forward to restrain him, but before he could intervene, an
outsider materialised, whisking Dion away. A transportation
esper.
Boom!
Crack!
It all happened in a flash. If Dion had delayed a moment
longer, he would have been sliced in two by Ha-Jin’s blade.
The building’s outer wall, which Dion had stood against,
crumbled under the blow. Yeon stared at Ha-Jin, appalled.
‘Why take it out on the building?’
Yeon knew the truth. Ha-Jin had held back deliberately.
Anyone familiar with his blade in action would have realised
that if he’d intended it, he could have struck before Dion
vanished.
‘…When he’s not even going to kill him.’
Unloading his frustration on a wall instead. Yeon opened his
mouth to tell him off, but Ha-Jin let out a bitter laugh.
“Caught cheating, and yet you’re the one to scold.”
“…What did you say?”
“You didn’t even flinch when he touched you. Great for the
poor guy watching.”
Yeon was left speechless. Ha-Jin moved closer, their noses
almost brushing. He murmured a warning, low and serious.
“Let me catch another scene like that again.”
I’ll be far less forgiving.
Standing tall, Ha-Jin pressed his palm firmly against Yeon’s
forehead, as though wiping away something unpleasant.
“If you haven’t noticed, Yeon, you’re damn difficult only
when it comes to me. Isn’t that right?”
“…”
“You didn’t hesitate when you dated other people, so why get
so cautious just with me?”
Grumbling, he kept scrubbing Yeon’s forehead until it turned
pink. Yeon couldn’t help a soft laugh. If he found this
behaviour endearing, maybe he’d truly fallen hard.
Yeon gazed at him quietly before taking Ha-Jin’s face in both
hands and pulling him close. He pressed a gentle kiss to Ha-
Jin’s lips.
Caught off guard, Ha-Jin’s eyebrows shot up.
After a moment, Yeon pulled back with a playful smile.
“Now that your mood’s improved, let’s get to training.”
With his hands behind his back, Yeon walked past Ha-Jin
towards the training hall. Standing frozen, Ha-Jin cursed under
his breath, rubbing his flushed face, ruffling his own hair.
He muttered to himself, eyes glaring off into the distance.
“This guy… keeps me on edge.”
He ignored the heat spreading to his ears.
As Yeon headed towards the training hall, he pulled out his
phone and quickly dialled Doberman.
—Yes, Guide?
Doberman’s voice was warm and welcoming. Yeon smiled,
pleased.
“So, you’ve heard? Tae Ha-Jin and I made up.”
—Ah, yes… heard that. Er… good to hear…
“What’s that?”
—Ah, nothing, nothing. How can I help?
“I think I may have stumbled upon some critical information.
There’s something I urgently need to ask of you.”
—Critical information?
“Yes. I suspect Diaylen may soon be in serious danger. To be
safe, I’d like to evacuate my closest people. I’ll text you their
addresses; would you be able to arrange their transport?”
—It’s not difficult… but, just what kind of danger are we
looking at?
“That, I can’t say for sure. I have some ideas, but no clue how
big it’ll get. Just in case, it might be wise for you to evacuate
your family too.”
Doberman paused, pondering. He’d been getting an ominous
feeling lately. The recent attack on the Central Lab didn’t add
up, and Lee Hong-Jun’s death was equally baffling. It was
more likely he’d escaped.
Even the imperial family felt restless.
His eyes sharpened as he resolved himself.
—Yes, I’d best evacuate them too. Just in case. Where were
you planning to send your loved ones, Yeon?
Yeon had a few places in mind. If the capital was in danger, all
of Diaylen likely was as well, so he preferred somewhere
distant, in a country that was safe and relatively free of
discrimination.
“Kisili.”
—Ah, Kisili, yes… good choice. Send me those addresses
right away, I’ll arrange it.
“Thank you. I owe you one.”
—Ha, it’s nothing. You know I’m always happy to assist. Take
care now.
“Will do.”
Yeon dialled another number. It rang a few times before
someone answered.
—Ah, Yeon! How’ve you been?
“I’m well. Uibin visited recently, didn’t she? Did you get a
chance to catch up?”
—We did! She cried as soon as she saw me, the silly thing.
Still a kid, bless her.
Jeong-suk, Uibin’s mother, laughed heartily. Yeon’s lips lifted
into a smile.
“I’m calling because there’s something I need to tell you.”
—Oh? What is it, dear?
“Diaylen’s been facing some trouble recently. I have a feeling
something dangerous may happen soon, so I’d like for you and
Euiju to head to another country for safety.”
—…What? Flee?
“Yeah, I mean it. If nothing happens in a month, you can come
back. I’ll take care of everything here. And don’t forget that
card I gave you. You haven’t used it at all, but now’s the time
—while you’re somewhere safe.”
Jeong-suk blinked at Yeon’s serious tone. She’d thought it was
a joke, but amidst the daily disasters, nothing seemed too out
of the ordinary.
She touched her cheek, worry etched across her face.
—If you’re saying that… then fine, we’ll manage. But what
about you? And Uibin?
“Disasters or emergencies, we espers have to stay and protect
the nation. We can’t go with you, Mother.”
“I suppose. I used to work as a guide myself, so I understand.”
“Please don’t worry too much. Someone named Doberman
will come and get you. He’s a transportation esper, so it’ll be
an easy journey.”
“Alright… just keep in touch, will you? I’ll be worried.”
“I’ll call. Just think of it like a vacation and try to relax.”
“Alright… be careful.”
“Of course.”
Click.
Yeon ended the call, then sent a text with Uibin’s address. It
was the best they could do. There wasn’t another option, and
they had to be ready in case things got worse.
He looked up at the cloudy sky.
A bad feeling loomed over him—a sinister calm before the
storm.
 ***

At the Red Hall in Epenhar, Dion fought to keep his emotions

steady. Several prominent figures were already gathered.
“Running a bit late, Dion.”
Carlos, President of Epenhar, smiled.
“Where’s the honoured guest you mentioned?”
Dion had asked them to wait a little longer, just to bring Yeon
along, but Yeon had ignored his warning and refused. Dion
had expected it, but it didn’t make him feel any better.
—Perhaps it’s you who should rethink things. Leave that path
you’re so set on and come with me.
Yeon’s words echoed in his mind. Dion managed a wry smile.
It’s far too late. Too late for us to walk the same path.
He didn’t understand why he was always lenient with Yeon.
The unclear mix of possessiveness and jealousy wouldn’t take
root, just drifted aimlessly. Yet Yeon’s image haunted him,
kept drawing his attention.
He didn’t love him, but…
He cut off the unwelcome thoughts, then turned his focus back
to Carlos.
“I’ll consider him dead.”
Shall we begin?

__
HE BLUSHED AAAAAAA!

PS. Yeon really called Jeong-suk Mother. The devil is in the

honorific though. He addressed her as 어머님, which means
someone else’s mother. Your mom you’d address with 어머니.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Korean/comments/r9gc51/use_of_th
e_honorific_어머님/

PSPS. Just imagine Carlos’ ego if he conspired with the

scientist and others just to show this Emperor that he is
capable.
 Chapter 6. Part 1
The dawn’s moon had just faded, the sun beginning to break
through the thick clouds. But a normal weekday, an ordinary
day, was nowhere to be found.
“A—a Door…?”
“This can’t be happening… Is the world ending?”
“Where—where should we run?”
Across the Diaylen nation, dozens of Doors erupted at once.
From the ground, the open sky, and beyond the sea.
It was incomprehensible, impossible for anyone to grasp. This
was a catastrophe beyond reason.
Even the constant vigilance of the abnormal types meant
nothing today. Dozens of doors at once. When a region was in
danger, the capital’s Disaster Defence Centre would usually
send backup, but with this many emergencies, priorities fell
apart.
White doors, pink doors, yellow doors.
And, rarely, a red door.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Thud. Thud.
Screech. Crack.
Countless monsters burst forth all at once, shaking the earth
across the continent like an earthquake. The sun seemed
swallowed in darkness, as if its light had been completely
devoured.
Even the well-trained espers were struggling. They couldn’t
decide where to deploy first. Alerts flashed red on their
watches, never pausing. Rescue signals were flooding in from
every corner of Diaylen.
Save us.
There’s nowhere to escape.
“Everyone, keep calm! Stay sharp! Prioritise areas with the
most people, regardless of door size. Regional centres, focus
on highly populated areas first!”
Broadcasts carried the same message across regional centres.
The urgency was clear, and centre staff steeled themselves,
their initial panic subsiding. They knew that losing control
now would mean their own deaths.
“Stay focused, all of you!”
“Focus! If you’re below S-grade, avoid illusion-type monsters,
and don’t engage anything above Grade 2!”
Even the guides, who would normally panic, sprang into
action, following orders with an edge of desperation. Their
training, both in physical endurance and mental resilience, was
paying off now.
Training to fight monsters without espers—the knowledge that
you’d kill or be killed.
Abnormals rushed to cities packed with civilians.
Transportation espers linked hands, transporting groups of
espers to the front lines.
The doors had barely opened, and yet monsters were already
scaling buildings, breaking down anything in their path.
Espers who arrived first had to fight instead of retreat, battling
monsters to keep them at bay.
Normally, the goal would be to evacuate civilians first.
But… this was the capital. There wasn’t a safe place to
evacuate to, not with the whole city paralysed.
“My phone isn’t working! Why… why won’t it work?”
“Damn it! What’s going on? Why won’t the car start?”
“Help! I’m trapped in the elevator! Somebody, please!”
“My phone’s dead! Can anyone get through to someone?”
It was a déjà vu of the disaster caused by Lee Hong-Jun, when
a single touch had brought all of Diaylen to a halt. Back then,
the government had quickly regained control, averting a
complete crisis.
But now, even the government couldn’t contain the situation.
The central network wasn’t fully integrated with the
government, only an intended direction by Elder Chairman
Cha Seung-Kyun.
And now, dozens of doors had opened. The chaos was
unimaginable. Monsters were rampaging, people were dying
brutally.
Everything, from vehicles to communication lines, was down.
And though Lee Hong-Jun was supposed to be dead, he was
clearly the cause of this.
People realised it all too well.
This was hell. Survival wasn’t an option.
“Damn it…!”
Boom!
Screech!
Ha-Jin cut down a monster with a sweep of his sword. Ideally,
he’d use Devouring to consume the doors whole, but with so
many of them, that would only escalate the situation, pushing
his abilities to the point of overload. So he held back, relying
solely on his blade to take down each monster.
Thud-thud-thud!
Thud-thud-thud!
Yeon unleashed his automatic rifle, aiming for their heads and
hearts. The untrained shouldn’t fire automatic weapons in the
midst of doors, as stray bullets could hit civilians.
But for Yeon, the weapon was efficient. Monsters couldn’t
even get close, torn apart by his bullets. Some vanished
instantly, but most only froze briefly before resuming their
attack.
Yeon gritted his teeth, firing in bursts.
“Lee Hong-Jun, you crazy bastard!”
He didn’t care who heard him curse his father. The man was
deranged. Yeon had known he’d escaped, but now he’d seized
control of Diaylen’s systems again.
The watches that had worked perfectly minutes ago were now
useless, as were phones and even streetlights. The extent of
Lee Hong-Jun’s reach was dawning on him all over again.
“There’s someone here! Help, please…!”
“Mum… Mum, where are you…!”
“Please! Somebody, save us!”
Disconnected civilians were in despair, and Yeon furrowed his
brows.
‘Didn’t need it anyway.’
With dozens of Doors torn open, neither civilisation nor
technology mattered anymore. Yeon smirked bitterly, killing
monsters with calm efficiency, prioritising those threatening
civilians.
“Get inside the big buildings! Pull yourselves together!”
Yeon shouted from the city’s centre. In typical disasters,
staying inside was dangerous—collapsing buildings usually
brought death. But with monsters prowling the streets and
skies, a sturdy building’s interior was preferable. As long as
they hid well enough, they might survive without the whole
structure being pulverised. Better that than becoming monster
fodder outside.
People scrambled in a frenzy, crashing into and trampling over
each other. Yeon clenched his jaw; no one around seemed
remotely composed.
CRACK!
A deep, splitting noise erupted from below. Yeon’s gaze
wavered as the ground started to break open. The strain of the
dozens of doors scattered across the land had become too
much, splitting the earth.
“Aaaargh!”
“Help, please! Aaaah!”
Those who didn’t notice the cracks in time fell into deep
chasms or stumbled back. The giant fissures appeared as deep
ravines, nearly cliff-like, while some nearby buildings tilted
dangerously. Even some monsters tumbled down into them—a
bloody mess if ever there was one.
“Yeon, are you all right?”
Yeon turned to the familiar voice. It was Prince Ricardo,
finally appearing on the field where he had been noticeably
absent until now. Royal espers surrounded him, protecting him
as they fought off monsters. Ricardo was manipulating water,
pushing monsters into the fissures he conjured from thin air.
CRASH! SPLASH!
Yeon paused, impressed by the prince’s technique, then
quickly snapped back into action, sending a hail of bullets that
knocked more monsters down into the abyss.
“Yeon! I’m here, too!”
The princess was there as well. Gone was her dress, replaced
by comfortable trousers and a shirt. Her personal espers spread
out around her, and she extended a hand to the ground, starting
a widespread guiding operation. Just what they needed with
everyone’s contamination levels climbing; her timely arrival
was an enormous relief.
The princess, once hesitant to show her power, now radiated
with undeniable strength, brighter than ever before.
CLACK! CLICK! RAT-A-TAT-TAT!
Yeon reloaded, sending another volley from his machine gun.
The espers began to get a grip on the situation, fighting back
against the monsters with newfound clarity. Ricardo’s powers,
unexpectedly efficient, were wiping out vast numbers of
monsters, showcasing the value of an S-grade esper who could
control the flow without sweeping away civilians.
“Damn it, where’s Dion disappeared to this time?”
“Yeon! Have you seen Dion?”
Both Ricardo and Elena asked at once. Yeon frowned and
stayed silent. Just as he’d warned yesterday, chaos had erupted
over Diaylen like nothing they’d ever seen. Thanks to that
heads-up, Uibin’s family had evacuated, but it was hardly a
consolation.
‘Idiot me, feeling sorry for that bastard.’
Suppressing his anger, Yeon kept firing, biting back his
frustration. When Dion had given his warning, Yeon hadn’t
expected a disaster of this scale, assuming it might just be
some minor terror attack.
Now he could barely comprehend the extent of it.
‘How did this happen?’
No matter how much of a genius Lee Hong-Jun was,
managing the Doors was beyond anyone’s reach. They were
an unfathomable anomaly, beyond human science and fantasy.
Above, Tae Ha-Jin was in mid-air with the other espers,
swinging his sword with precision. He seemed to be sparing
his ability, and Yeon nodded at the wise decision.
Doors continued spewing monsters as if endlessly sick,
choking Yeon with the relentless fighting.
Then, out of nowhere, a colossal light flared up in the sky,
followed by waves of soldiers in unfamiliar uniforms flooding
through.
“At last…”
Ricardo looked up, frowning as he recognised them.
“Reinforcements from Rodrox Nation!”
“Support from Cheriseion Nation!”
“Lakungal Nation is here to assist!”
As soon as the doors had erupted across Diaylen, the prince
had reached out to foreign allies. While some nations refused,
most with friendly ties pledged their support.
As the world’s leading power, Diaylen had a lot to repay to
these allies once this was over. With the arrival of
reinforcements, the number of monsters began dropping
rapidly.
Foreign espers fought with unwavering dedication, as if
protecting their homeland, weaving through the chaos as
monsters and espers tangled. The sight made Yeon’s skin
crawl. It was like watching a black wave in perpetual motion.
BANG! CRACK!
Yeon’s gunfire provided cover as monsters attempted to
ambush other espers.
“Damn, Yeon, you’d make a good sniper,” said the prince with
a smirk as he observed the scene. Ricardo mentioned that
reinforcements had been sent not only to the Diaylen capital
but across other affected regions. Finally, some good news.
BOOM! BOOM!
“Watch out, don’t get stomped!”
“Arrrgh!”
The Grade 1 monsters stomped around, each step as large as a
building. Bullets didn’t even scratch those beasts.
WHOOOSH! BOOM!
Ha-Jin, wielding his sword with both hands, sliced off one
monster’s massive arms. As the severed limbs tumbled to the
ground, they disintegrated mid-air. Humans bracing for the
impact fled in panic as the appendages vanished.
Enraged, the monster pivoted toward Ha-Jin, who was luring it
to a less crowded area.
Meanwhile, hideous phantom beasts poured out of a pink door
hanging ominously in the sky.
“Beware, they’ll induce hallucinations! Avoid engaging the
phantoms if you can!”
With the communication watches down, even their gas masks
were ineffective. Fortunately, only a few pink doors seemed to
have opened, but only S-grade espers or higher could resist the
hallucinations. For everyone else, avoiding them was the
safest bet.
Hefting another machine gun, Yeon sprinted toward the
incoming phantom horde.
RAT-A-TAT-TAT! RAT-A-TAT-TAT!
Phantoms, with their slender bodies, were more vulnerable to
gunfire than other monsters. A shot to the head would kill
them instantly. Relishing the unexpected ease, Yeon fired
tirelessly, determined to clear the phantoms first.
WHOOSH! SMASH!
Ha-Jin swooped in, piercing the skull of a monster sneaking up
on Yeon. As he landed, he scowled.
“Keep an eye on your back.”
“I’m doing my best here!”
Ha-Jin leaned in close, his voice low beside Yeon’s ear.
“Then get a bloody grip, will you? If you die, I’ll come after
you.”
Yeon, startled, shoved him off, feeling the tickle on his ear. As
he rubbed it, Ha-Jin chuckled, rising back into the sky.
‘If I die… what the hell does he mean by that?’
Looking at his back in bewilderment, Yeon wondered, ‘How
can you be so calm?’
As time passed, more espers began suffering under their rising
contamination levels. Espers split into two groups—those who
fought the monsters and those who protected the guides in
combat.
“This way for guiding! Come here!” someone shouted.
A rounded building stood, heavily guarded. Inside, guides
waited to assist the heavily contaminated espers, who would
enter, receive guiding, and leave. Meanwhile, other espers
fought to protect the building from damage.
The longer the fight dragged on, the more crucial the role of
the guides became.
Kim Uibin was on the sixth floor of the building where the
guides gathered, her rifle carefully trained through a window.
Quietly, she picked off monsters one by one.
Bang! Bang!
‘Got ‘em!’
She’d lost count of how many lives she’d saved from her
sniper post, and pride surged within her. Training had proven
her a top-notch shot among guides—something she’d only
achieved because Yeon didn’t compete this time. Still, it was
her first time at the top, and she felt overjoyed.
Bang! Bang!
Empty shells clinked into a box piled with spent cartridges.
She’d hauled it along as soon as the disaster hit, finding her
way to this shelter under the protection of other espers. Here,
she guarded others, unnoticed.
‘My guiding’s got limits, anyway,’ she admitted to herself.
She knew her strengths and weaknesses well. High-grade
guiding was for others—she was here to do what she could
within her own capacity.
‘What’s Dekal doing, though? Hope he’s alright…’
Bang! Bang!
The recoil jerked her body back. Wind slipped through the
narrow crack in the window, carrying the faint, metallic scent
of blood mixed with the stench of monsters. Her thoughts
drifted to Dekal.
Yesterday, when they were training together…
—Kim Uibin.
Panting, she looked up.
—Yeah?
—How would you feel about being my exclusive guide?
Having just finished a lap around the field, she’d nearly
choked on her water.
—What? Why…all of a sudden?
She was a Grade B guide and had never received an offer like
that. And from an A+ grade esper like Dekal, no less. She’d
given a small, disappointed smile.
—Honestly…I can’t guide for long. I wouldn’t be much help.
—Yes. I know that.
—…What was that?
She’d laughed in disbelief. Dekal wasn’t one for flattery.
Normally, someone would say something to smooth things
over, but he…didn’t. Yet that made her comfortable in a
strange way, trusting he wouldn’t lie to her. Lately, she often
felt his gaze on her, especially during shooting practice.
He’d praised her skills and reassured her she was already
strong. Dekal’s words had filled her with strength.
—Still, I’d like you as my exclusive guide.
—…Why? You know I’d be more of a burden than a help…
—To create a reason to see you, Kim Uibin.
—…
—After your treatment ended, we haven’t had a reason to
meet. But I kept thinking about it. So, I decided I needed to
find a way to see you.
—…
—If you don’t want it, I won’t force you. I’ll think of
something else.
In the end, she hadn’t answered.
She’d been too flustered.
Even now, the memory made her face burn. What could he
mean? Why would someone like him want a reason to see her?
Why would he need that?
She tried to temper her expectations. Dekal was a good person,
and he’d occupied her thoughts since the end of her treatment,
too. But love…she wasn’t ready for that again. She’d been
through enough heartbreak.
‘Not going back to being a garbage collector,’ she thought,
recalling Yeon’s words. His advice to steer clear of her past
boyfriends had proven solid—they were all trash. She’d made
up her mind to only date someone Yeon approved of from now
on.
Bang!
Another monster’s head exploded, and Uibin smiled in
satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Dekal…
He was helping restore buildings where civilians hid,
minimising casualties. He attended to those who’d lost limbs
or were bleeding out.
While skilled with firearms, Dekal excelled in swordsmanship.
Since coming of age, he’d often been Tae Ha-Jin’s sparring
partner and had never grown rusty.
Whoosh!
With a single swing, he cleaved off a horned monster’s head.
As he scanned his surroundings, noting the endless work
ahead, his gaze landed on an esper nearby—a guy trying to
fend off monsters with what appeared to be conjured tree
branches. A rare ability, and a powerful one. But with the
limited branches he summoned, he wasn’t making much
headway.
Dekal’s eyes narrowed. ‘He’ll hit his contamination limit
soon.’
Such powers came with a high risk. Drawing on nature’s
energy required fine control, and the denser branches reacted
strongly to the esper’s energy. But without a guide nearby to
stabilize him, the esper could easily go rogue, forcing others to
deal with him.
Dekal was about to turn away when he heard a shout.
“Damn it! Kim Uibin, where the hell are you?!”
Kim Uibin?
The name stopped him cold, and he glanced back at the esper.
Of course. It was Ju Dae-Young.
During her treatment, Dekal had found himself wondering
what kind of scum had left her in such a state. He’d asked Tae
Ha-Jin about her ex, wanting to see his file. Tae Ha-Jin had
raised a brow.
—Why?
—Just curious.
—Why are you curious?
—I think it’ll help with her recovery.
Though suspicious, Tae Ha-Jin eventually sent him Ju Dae-
Young’s info—a rich idiot, apparently. It’d been a while, and
he’d forgotten about him, but to see him here in this crisis…
Dekal’s eyes were hard as he observed him.
What had Kim Uibin ever seen in this guy?
“She’s just wasting her strength,” Dae-Young muttered. “Hell,
I’m doing all the work here…”
Brandishing his branches, he cursed under his breath.
Dekal’s expression hardened, memories flooding back of Kim
Uibin, guiding him with her own blood.
—Who taught you to guide like that? I’m not criticising you.
—I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable. I just wanted to
help…
—An ex-boyfriend?
She hadn’t answered, but the idea had put him in a foul mood.
Seeing the culprit now was like a punch to the gut. That
bastard had degraded her, struck her using esper energy, and
made her guide him with her own blood…now he had the
audacity to insult her?
‘Does he deserve to live?’
With that thought, Dekal strode toward Dae-Young,
determination set in his jaw.
“What’s your problem?” Dae-Young demanded, frowning as
the towering man closed in. “Shouldn’t you be fighting
monsters, you bastard?”
Just recently, Yeon had beaten him within an inch of his life.
After barely recovering, he was finally back at work, only for
this damn disaster to hit. And Yeon was some S-grade guide,
impossible to sue thanks to his powerful connections. His
parents had even persuaded him to drop charges.
Dae-Young was fuming, still bitter about Yeon. That bastard
was all over Uibin, protecting her like some personal
bodyguard. Why? She wasn’t answering his calls or texts
anymore, either. He’d make her regret that, once he found her.
Squelch!
“Aaargh! What the hell!”
Dae-Young doubled over, screaming as Dekal stabbed through
his right hand with his sword, then tore it free to stab the other.
“Why…why would you attack me?! What the hell’s wrong
with you?!”

__
I love how practical Dekal is, while Uibin is basically a
camper.
 Chapter 6. Part 2
As that bastard crawled, blood streamed from his hands,
painting a line of red across the road. With a blank expression,
Dekal drove his sword deep into the bastard’s back.
“Gah! Urgh…!”
“I’m killing monsters here, right now.”
“Cough… urgh…”
Dekal twisted the sword instead of pulling it straight out.
Blood gushed from Ju Dae-Young’s mouth, organs clearly
mangled. Since his days as an experiment, Dekal hadn’t felt a
fury like this. Every fibre of his being screamed to kill Ju Dae-
Young.
This place around the Door was lawless.
And in all this chaos, a monster like him would only be safe if
he were gone for good. In a place where Kim Uibin couldn’t
see, he had to die.
“How do you turn someone so… bright… into that?”
Dekal muttered, perplexed. It was beyond him.
When he’d first met Kim Uibin, her smile was polite but
shadowed. He’d thought she might just be a gloomy person.
Yet, the more he knew her, the clearer it became: she was
bright by nature, even if it wasn’t obvious at first.
Her ex had shattered her confidence.
‘What the hell did you do to her?’
Dekal’s brow furrowed.
He had no intention of letting this bastard mess up Kim Uibin
again just as she was starting to rebuild herself.
Ju Dae-Young’s gaze grew dim. He was nearly dead.
“I’ll restore Kim Uibin myself.”
“….”
“Now, do me a favour and die.”
Crunch! Crunch!
The sound of a monster charging from behind reached his ears.
Dekal grabbed Ju Dae-Young by the collar and hoisted him up,
then tossed him straight into the jaws of the approaching beast.
Snap, crunch!
As the creature happily tore into its meal, Dekal watched until
it was done. Then he drove his sword through its skull, turning
it to dust.
It was a fitting end for a monster in human form.

***

“Everyone, hang in there! We’re getting through this!”

“Anyone injured or in need of guiding, come this way!”
Yeon, having just received another round of machine guns for
the support team, was still right in the thick of it.
Ratatatat!
Ratatat!
In all his life, he’d never seen monsters so densely packed, nor
imagined the capital could be brought to its knees like this. Yet
people fought on, holding their ground as best they could.
Support from other nations had been a godsend.
Dozens of Doors had opened, and several had already been
cleared. As long as they survived, it was a battle won. Every
esper and guide fought to survive rather than save others. Self-
preservation was the seed of survival.
Every esper, guide, every person fought desperately.
But should they even hope?
Was it right to be optimistic in the depths of hell?
Yeon was sceptical.
Expecting the worst was the best shield.
“Ah, citizens of Diaylen! Can you hear me? This is Carlos,
President and ruler of Epenhar.”
Yeon thought that was just bloody typical.
Before they could even start hoping, things were spiralling
further into chaos.
“From this moment on, Epenhar declares all-out war on
Diaylen. Let’s see which nation stands at the top of the world.”
In the sky, several massive airships drifted by. The outer walls
of the ships displayed huge screens, where the ruler of
Epenhar grinned as he addressed the crowd.
Usually, a country’s head of state would have sent a
representative to speak for them. But not this bastard. He
seemed too cocky for that—or maybe he wanted to be seen.
“War…?”
“A war? In this bloody mess…? Dammit!”
Despair rippled through the survivors. Cries and prayers
echoed everywhere.
“Reporting to HQ! Epenhar has declared war! Should we…
continue the operation?”
The foreign support espers looked bewildered. They’d come to
aid in a disaster, not join a war. Their team leaders scrambled
to check with their superiors.
International organisations were already closely monitoring
Diaylen’s situation. With dozens of Doors broken and the
Diaylen Crown Prince calling for help, Epenhar’s sudden war
declaration was a brutal shock.
Leaders from various nations gathered with transportation
espers in an international conference room, voices raised at the
sheer absurdity.
“This is outrageous! We must issue a warning to Epenhar!”
“Indeed! In this age, who wages a war like this?”
“President Carlos threatens global peace! And not even a hint
to our alliance…!”
The era of conquest wars had ended centuries ago. Nations had
stabilised and chosen coexistence. Now, Epenhar had kicked
down the door with all the grace of a sledgehammer.
Epenhar had always been headstrong, its ruler Carlos having
led the nation for over 30 years, often against global
consensus. He’d even threatened to withdraw from the
International Union a year ago—and now, this.
Flash!
Suddenly, appearing in the conference room were Doberman
and Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun. Doberman took his
place alongside the other transportation espers, and Cha
Seung-Kyun walked purposefully to Diaylen’s designated seat,
straightening his dishevelled tie before sitting. All eyes turned
to him.
“Diaylen’s representative is present.”
“Welcome.”
The Union’s Secretary-General greeted him.
The Secretary-General, overseeing the discussion while
receiving live updates from Union executives, slowly raised
her hand. The noisy room fell silent. The silvery-haired
woman spoke, her gaze steady as she looked around.
“This crisis is beyond what Diaylen alone can bear. The Union
echoes the sentiments of our members here, and we oppose
Epenhar’s unilateral war. We will impose high-level sanctions
on Epenhar to curb the situation. Heads of state, we request
you dispatch espers as aid to Diaylen if your capacity allows.”
Attentive to the proceedings, the leaders’ aides quickly took
notes on the unfolding situation.
Then Cha Seung-Kyun raised his hand. The Secretary-General
nodded.
“Epenhar is heavily influenced by President Carlos’s will.
High-level sanctions alone won’t stop this war. The people of
Diaylen are already plunged into chaos, facing both disaster
and war. As Diaylen’s representative, I believe it is necessary
for the Union to secure President Carlos’s custody until the
crisis is resolved.”
Murmurs rippled through the room.
After all, Cha Seung-Kyun’s call for “custody” implied
labelling Carlos a criminal. His statement dripped with disdain
for Epenhar. Yet, regardless of the Union’s authority, arresting
a sovereign leader wasn’t straightforward.
The Secretary-General silently observed Cha Seung-Kyun’s
composed stance. His dedication to his country was
unmistakable, and his insights had often been prudent. She
respected his clear judgment.
Besides, Epenhar had long been a headache for the Union, a
democratic country corrupted into something entirely
different.
Listening to the Union’s executives through her earpiece, she
removed it, her face calm as she addressed the assembly.
“A valid point. Imposing sanctions alone will hardly impact a
country run by one man’s will. Given Diaylen’s efforts toward
world peace, it’s only fair the Union does its part. If we let this
slide, who knows which nation will be targeted next?”
Who indeed would be the next to fall?
This hit home for the bystanders watching the devastation.
The Secretary-General continued in an even tone.
“From now on, Union-affiliated espers will be deployed to
safely apprehend President Carlos. Quelling the chaos in
Diaylen and ensuring global peace requires this. If anyone has
objections, please offer a better solution.”
The heads of state glanced at each other. Voices filled their
earpieces with counsel from their aides. It was no minor
matter. If the Union’s powers escalated, its influence could
become disproportionate.
But the Secretary-General wasn’t power-hungry, and the
Union remained a neutral body. In this exceptional case, such
action might be warranted.
Yet, a better option…?
No one could think of an alternative to solve this mess.
The Secretary-General smiled gently, wrinkles forming at the
corners of her eyes.
“Then, I’ll take that as a consensus.”

***

Multiple airships floated ominously above. Glancing up as he

fired at the monsters, Yeon muttered to himself.
“Is that bastard backing Lee Hong-Jun?”
He swallowed his frustration.
This wouldn’t end at the Doors. Lee Hong-Jun had clearly
chosen his moment. With Diaylen weakened by the Doors’
havoc, it was the perfect time for war.
In the distance, a figure rocketed toward the airships, sword
raised. Tae Ha-Jin. He too was done with this nonsense,
slashing his sword through the lead ship with full force.
Boom! Fwoosh!
The ship split in half, black smoke billowing as it plummeted.
The broadcast screen shattered. Tae Ha-Jin, scowling, turned
back to face the monsters.
Yeon let out a short laugh. It was oddly satisfying. Not that
Carlos himself would be on that ship.
“Is… is that man insane?!”
“Good grief! Nearly scared me to death!”
Those aboard the other airships slumped in relief, clutching
their chests as they wondered if Tae Ha-Jin might bring them
down next. Beyond the glass, Lee Hong-Jun looked down at
the half-ruined Diaylen.
“How is it, Director? It’s your masterpiece, after all.”
Adrian stood with arms folded beside Lee Hong-Jun,
observing him closely. Lee Hong-Jun, who usually shunned
the spotlight, had left Adrian expecting him to remain in
Epenhar, watching events from the sidelines.
Surprisingly, though, Lee Hong-Jun had insisted on seeing the
situation in Diaylen firsthand.
Carlos had tried to dissuade him, but his resolve was
unwavering.
Of course, there was little real danger. With Adrian constantly
at Lee Hong-Jun’s side, they could always retreat to Epenhar if
necessary. Perhaps that was why Lee Hong-Jun seemed
unbothered, even when Tae Ha-Jin shattered the adjacent
airship.
“How could this possibly be my masterpiece?”
Lee Hong-Jun muttered with a bitter smirk, his eyes fixed on
the heart of the capital. Both Adrian and Lee Hong-Jun wore
specialised lenses, capable of observing individuals at great
distances with ease.
Adrian followed his gaze, scanning the battleground below. To
his surprise, Lee Hong-Jun’s focus was on Lee Yeon. The
young man wielded a machine gun, eliminating monsters with
relentless precision. But then, as if sensing something, Lee
Yeon glanced upwards, a look of confusion crossing his face.
At that moment, Epenhar’s bombers had just reached
Diaylen’s airspace. The full-scale bombardment commenced.
Screeeech!
Boom!
Screeeech!
Boom!
Despite the excellent soundproofing within the airship, the
explosions resonated clearly. The bombers were custom-
modified upon Lee Hong-Jun’s joining. Their advanced
payloads scattered destruction across Diaylen.
Boom! Boom!
Adrian raised an eyebrow as he peered through the dark
plumes of smoke. Defensive espers had erected a formidable
barrier to counter the onslaught. Judging by its appearance, it
seemed that allied support teams from other nations had
intervened.
‘Diaylen must be grasping at frayed ends.’
But that shield wouldn’t last long. Lee Hong-Jun’s innovations
had an unrivalled potency.
Had the International Union not enforced the global
confiscation of nuclear materials, Diaylen would have been
obliterated with a single nuclear strike. Lee Hong-Jun was a
genius in all fields—biology, mechanics, weaponry.
It was no stretch to say his ability wasn’t ‘Combination’ but
sheer ‘Intellect.’
“Then whose masterpiece is it? You orchestrated the Doors in
Diaylen, didn’t you, Director?”
Adrian didn’t know the full details. He’d only heard in passing
that the collaboration between Lee Hong-Jun’s ‘Combination’
and President Carlos’ abilities had made this possible.
Wasn’t it something to do with increasing probabilities?
“Haha. You really know nothing, do you?”
Lee Hong-Jun laughed for the first time in ages as he watched
Diaylen crumble. Adrian’s brow furrowed. Hidden behind Lee
Hong-Jun’s shadow, he, too, was once hailed as a prodigy.
When Lee Hong-Jun treated him with blatant disregard, it
stirred an intense indignation within him.
‘He never explains anything, then scoffs. Unbelievable.’
Adrian turned his head sharply.
“This is all the work of the divine, Adrian.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Do you think a mere human could control the catastrophic
Door phenomenon? I tried, but it’s impossible.”
Adrian, his expression hardening, turned back to stare at Lee
Hong-Jun.
So, the dozens of Doors erupting in Diaylen… weren’t your
doing?
Lee Hong-Jun’s eyes didn’t stray from his son’s desperate
struggle below as he continued.
“Tell me, have you ever heard of the dual bloodline?”
It was a term that any enthusiast in the field of traits would
know. Adrian nodded slightly without speaking. He had
occasionally pondered whether Lee Hong-Jun, with his
insatiable drive for research, might have attempted to
experiment on the dual bloodline himself.
But no record or document he’d come across had ever
mentioned it. He’d assumed it was simply an extinct genetic
line, lost to history.
Lee Hong-Jun’s lips curled into a chilling smile.
“In my research, I left a mark that might be the first and last of
its kind. After analysing and cross-referencing countless
ancient texts, I discovered an intriguing secret.”
Adrian’s ears perked up.
‘Ancient texts regarding the dual bloodline?’
He’d been under the impression that such texts had been
destroyed long ago, with rulers ordering the eradication of all
related information. No one knew why the information on the
dual bloodline had been so thoroughly expunged.
History was often accepted as truth based on what was
preserved in records.
‘You researched the dual bloodline?’
So, what did you discover?
What secret did you unearth?
The anticipation was unbearable. Adrian nervously fiddled
with his fingers, awaiting Lee Hong-Jun’s next words. Finally,
Lee Hong-Jun spoke.
“Today is a day of celebration. My hypothesis has been
proven, you see. So, I’ll tell you something special. It’s about
the part of the dual bloodline’s history that was ‘erased.’”
The erased part?
Adrian’s brow knit tighter.
“‘Doors frequently appeared where dual bloodline carriers
resided.’”
…What?
Screech!
The airship lurched sideways, sending researchers and officials
sprawling. Adrian stood frozen like a statue, the weight of Lee
Hong-Jun’s revelation crashing over him.
‘Doors appeared frequently where dual bloodline carriers were
present?’
If that was the significant hypothesis Lee Hong-Jun had
extracted from ancient texts…
Then the dozens of Doors tearing apart Diaylen right now…?
Adrian, bracing himself against the wall, shouted over the din.
“What are you saying? Are you claiming there’s a dual
bloodline carrier in Diaylen? Is that what caused this crisis?
Are you saying this isn’t your doing, Chief?”
That… that can’t be true!
“That’s my belief. The reason Doors relentlessly form around
dual bloodline carriers… is that these celestial calamities are
driven by jealousy of the divine blessing that is the dual
bloodline. Isn’t it ironic?”
Lee Hong-Jun’s cryptic words hung in the air, accompanied by
a knowing smile.
Inside, he thought: I only increased the odds.
History recorded that those around dual bloodline carriers
often faced great misfortune. With the hazy details in mind,
Lee Hong-Jun spent years gathering evidence, finally
discovering that countries with known dual bloodline carriers
were disproportionately affected by Door phenomena.
Who could have guessed that the ‘blessing of the gods’ was, in
reality, a ‘curse of the gods’?
It had been hard to believe at first.
He needed to know more.
How could a mere genetic trait summon such catastrophic
events?
Why were those carriers called ‘Dooropeners’?
—Would you accompany me for a moment?
—…Yes, I will.
Curiously, the woman he’d found, Christina, had been trusting
enough to follow him. Despite being a descendant of the dual
bloodline, only a fraction of her unique genes remained.
Alone, she couldn’t prove the theory that these genes triggered
calamities. But Lee Hong-Jun was determined to find out. He
amplified those latent genes through extensive
experimentation, only to consider the project a failure when no
immediate results followed.
Even after discovering his son was an S-Grade guide, Lee
Hong-Jun had long suspected that his genes were enriched
with the dual bloodline. The boy bore an uncanny resemblance
to his mother, and those around him often met with
misfortune.
‘He would have a stronger dual bloodline than his mother, at
least.’
Lee Hong-Jun had long been working to prove his hypothesis
using blood samples and cellular analysis taken from his son
over the years.
Deep down, Lee Hong-Jun was certain. Even if his son didn’t
have dual bloodline traits, the genes of the dual bloodline were
still strongly present in his body.
Then came one fateful day.
—What do you say to joining forces with me, Director?
You’ve been eyeing a much bigger world, haven’t you?
It was two years ago, during the banquet in Diaylen.
The ruler of Epenhar had approached him discreetly.
Preoccupied with his own research, Lee Hong-Jun hadn’t been
particularly interested in Carlos. The nation wasn’t valuable
enough to justify collaboration.
But then.
Carlos had brought up a most intriguing topic.
—Can you guess what my ability is?
—…
—Ah, you’re no fun at all. Looks like I’ll have to tell you
myself. The truth is, I can open “dimensions.” Completely
useless, mind you, since it drains all my energy! Ha ha ha!
Opening a dimension, was it…?
If true, it was a hell of an ability. There was a longstanding
debate among researchers, one hypothesis being, “Does
beyond the Door lead to another dimension?”
Lee Hong-Jun, who hadn’t even looked Carlos’s way, finally
turned to him. Carlos chuckled darkly and continued.
—Once, I was wondering what the hell to do with this trash of
an ability. So, I tried opening a dimension just big enough for
one person to pass through. Sent one of my subordinates in to
have a look around.
—…
—And when he got back? You’ll love this. He said he’d been
to a “parallel world”! A bloody parallel world! Hahaha! The
stuff he said made me laugh so hard I thought I’d crack.
—…
—Over there, he said, lived people who looked exactly like us,
living lives just like ours. He came back so pale… and you
know what? The story was oddly detailed. Not the kind of
thing you could just make up.
Carlos explained that the dimensions he opened always
seemed to lead to different worlds. He’d sent numerous
subordinates into various dimensions, but only one of them
claimed to have visited a parallel world. Even as an S0-grade
esper, Carlos couldn’t choose the dimension he opened.
He also pointed out that no esper with a movement ability in
this world could cross into another dimension.
At that moment, Lee Hong-Jun froze, listening. Carlos,
looking at him with a strange expression, leaned closer and
whispered.
—Help me, and when I do open a Door to a parallel world
someday… well, I might bring back your dead wife for you,
Director. She’d be exactly the same, yeah? It’s a parallel
world! Hahaha!

__
I… dont like how practical Dekal anymore
 Chapter 6. Part 3
Clearly, Carlos knew how fixated Hong-Jun was on Christina.
Hong-Jun’s brow creased.
The idea was absurd.
No way was he about to believe this utter fantasy. His wife had
killed herself, and no amount of research would change that.
He’d tried before. Attempted to bring her back.
But he’d been forced to accept it. The dead were gone.
That’s why he’d remarried—found a woman who looked just
like her.
But it didn’t satisfy him. They were entirely different people,
and his second wife merely became a reminder of Christina.
Christina was a curse, a chain he longed to break.
That day, when he followed Epenhar without even realising it,
Hong-Jun confirmed that Carlos’s dimension ability was real.
He could create a space leading to another dimension, if only
for a short while. And that one truth was enough to inspire a
hundred new plans.
—I have more nerve than the Emperor of Diaylen himself,
Director. Any research you want? Specimens? I’ll provide
them, whatever it takes. How about it? Bring Diaylen to its
knees and get exactly what you’re after.
Hong-Jun looked at Carlos with lifeless eyes.
Diaylen had occasionally restricted the supply of test subjects
or types of experiments. That had always bothered him. But
right now, Hong-Jun’s thoughts were elsewhere.
What I want…
He just wanted to know what dual bloodline was, what it
brought with it.
He’d met Christina out of simple curiosity, to satisfy his
questions about such trivial things. Since meeting her, his life
had only become more miserable. His work became harder to
focus on, and her existence became an obstacle to his
ambition.
He’d realised it the day she died.
People around those with dual bloodline… they became
miserable, didn’t they?
Why were dual bloodline people so strikingly beautiful,
anyway?
—Twice a week. Can you open a dimension for me twice a
week?
—Of course. I’ll do my utmost to find a parallel world.
Christina.
If you’d left my name even once in that damned suicide note
of yours, I wouldn’t have obsessed over you like this. You’re a
curse. I’ll bring you back and be free of this chain.
After that, Hong-Jun began his experiments. Using the
genetics of dual bloodline, he conducted trials to increase the
occurrence of Doors in Diaylen.
Amazingly, the experiments were a success.
Combining Carlos’s dimensional ability with his own research
and genetics drawn from his son’s blood, they created a small
gemstone. Initially, the stone produced minimal results, but he
kept refining it, drawing more and more from his son’s
bloodline.
By embedding it, he could trigger a Door with high probability
at a specified location.
—Damn impressive, Director. You’re boosting Door
occurrence rates! A stroke of genius! And I’m honoured my
dimension ability’s been put to such good use. By the way…
whose blood is in this gemstone?
The blood in the stone belonged to Yeon. But information
related to dual bloodline was Hong-Jun’s most painstakingly
acquired result. He had no intention of handing it out easily.
—I’m afraid I can’t tell you that.
—Well, that’s a damn shame.
He wasn’t creating new Doors.
He was redirecting Doors that would have occurred
somewhere else in the world, pulling them here. As a result,
Doors decreased in other nations and began to appear at an
unusual rate in Diaylen.
—Shall we trigger a Door at the Central Centre this time?
What do you think, Director?
—Central Centre has a high number of abnormal types. It
won’t be easy to plant the gemstone there.
—Ah, don’t worry about that. I have a capable collaborator.
On the night of the Diaylen banquet, Carlos induced a Door at
the Central Centre. Busy with this, neither he nor Hong-Jun
attended the banquet. The Door that opened that night turned
out to be a “Red Door.”
One fact emerged too late: the one who had embedded the
gemstone was Dion Luissen.
When Hong-Jun and Carlos induced Doors in Diaylen, Dion
was the one who facilitated it all. Under the guise of “business
trips,” he handled tasks Carlos himself couldn’t accomplish
within Diaylen borders.
“What’s Esper Dion’s take on it? Watching his cherished
nation fall to ruin?”
Lee Hong-Jun, his eyes blank, asked as he looked away from
the airship’s window. To him, Dion was just another specimen.
He was curious.
The man sitting on the floor, head resting against the wall,
replied.
“Honestly? It feels… bloody awful.”
Hong-Jun nodded, intrigued. Dion’s brow was tightly
furrowed, eyes shut, as though he meant every word.
Hong-Jun couldn’t quite understand him.
After all the pretence, all the fake trips he’d taken to enable the
spread of Doors in Diaylen… and now he felt guilt?
Rumour had it, Dion had even assisted Carlos in sending
espers to other dimensions a few times. Just a few weeks back,
they’d dropped him into a dimension swarming with squid-
like monsters. With his flames, taking down a few monsters
would’ve been easy.
“Guess I’ll head down there too.”
Dion got to his feet, face still sour. Tae Ha-Jin was shattering
bombers in mid-air. With dozens of Doors active, Diaylen’s
lands were overrun with monsters.
Carlos had decided not to use Epenhar’s espers. A war amid
monsters would only harm Epenhar too. Instead, they’d opted
for bombers to weaken Diaylen.
Once the Doors were cleared out a bit, they’d send in espers to
finish the job.
“Director, shall we return to Epenhar? Looks like this airship’s
on its last leg.”
Adrian gestured towards Dion.
Dion opened the airship door. Boom! The wind rushed in, and
a harsh red light flashed inside. He looked down at the clouds
below and fell out, his form disappearing.
After watching a moment longer, Hong-Jun placed a hand on
Adrian’s shoulder.
Flash!
Both men vanished, leaving the researchers inside to panic.
“What the fuck are we supposed to do now?!”
“Everyone, grab your parachutes and get out! The airship’s
gonna—AAAAAGH!”
Boom!
A nearby bomber exploded, shattering the airship in its wake.
The ship, with a massive hole in its side, plummeted.
Yeon watched the chaotic sky, shaking his head. Tae Ha-Jin
was still dismantling bombers, but Epenhar had evidently
come prepared; for every bomber destroyed, dozens more took
their place.
“Yeon, we’ll have to switch. I can’t keep up.”
Elena wiped her sweat as she stopped her area-wide guiding.
Espers fighting the monsters looked at each other nervously.
They had to be reassured. Yeon knelt down, steadying himself.
“Alright, I’ll take over.”
“Rest until your energy’s back up, Elena.”
Ricardo flew off with his sister to the building where the
guides had gathered. Yeon, meanwhile, began purifying the
energy of the espers fighting around him, performing wide-
range guiding.
“Urgh….”
It was overwhelming. The fatigue of the others felt searingly
real, as if it had crawled right into his bones, from his
fingertips all the way to his shoulders. Espers gathered around
him, forming a tight defensive line to keep monsters from
getting close. It reminded him of the Red Door incident.
He glanced down at the ground, thinking.
Is there really no better way to deal with this?
Yeon had a dual bloodline. Along with his guiding ability, he
also had an esper’s “Absorbing” ability. If he could use that
here… He ran through different ways he might adapt it while
still guiding.
An idea struck him.
The energy he sensed in the ground wasn’t just the espers’.
The foul energy of the monsters was mingling with it too,
starkly different from anything human.
Could it work?
It was a fleeting thought, but Yeon was desperate to turn the
tide of this mess. He began infusing his guiding with his
esper’s “Absorbing” ability, his arms tingling painfully from
the strain.
“Bloody hell, this hurts….”
With a grimace, he began absorbing the fatigue of the espers
around him. As expected, the sheer amount was almost enough
to knock him out cold. But Yeon diverted the energy into the
earth itself, redirecting the fatigue right back toward the cursed
energy of the monsters.
“Eh? Feels like I’ve gotten lighter, yeah?”
One of the espers stabbing a monster’s chest widened his eyes.
“The monsters are slowing down?”
“Damn, it feels good!”
The reaction was instant. The espers moved faster and lighter,
while the monsters lumbered, slowed by the redirected fatigue.
The rate of clearing the monsters shot up. But Yeon had to cut
it off quickly.
“Hah… ugh…”
Trying to use his “Absorbing” ability alongside guiding was
too much, even for him. Besides, with every use, he felt his
contamination level creeping higher. At this rate, he’d need a
guide himself.
“You alright, Yeon?”
Before he could respond, Ha-Jin was at his side, having
noticed his state even from a distance. It was fortunate he’d
suppressed his esper energy just in time. If Ha-Jin had been on
the ground, his sharp senses would’ve picked up something.
Yeon let out a shaky sigh of relief, forcing a chuckle.
“Be honest with me, esper. Are you here just to watch me
suffer instead of fighting?”
“Gotta keep an eye on my future partner, don’t I?”
“…Alright, while you’re here, get some guiding and get out.”
As if he’d planned it, Ha-Jin sat down next to Yeon. Stretching
his legs, he surveyed the chaotic battlefield around them—a
storm of monsters and bombers, yet here it felt oddly peaceful.
“Lucky to have you back as my guide, Yeon.”
The comment came out of nowhere. Yeon chuckled, focusing
his energy on guiding Ha-Jin.
“Why’s that? Thought you wouldn’t have to worry about
going off the rails?”
“Not just that.”
Not just that?
Yeon gave him a puzzled look.
“Now I don’t have to chase you around like a bloody rat.
Nearly lost it, even thought I should’ve killed back then.”
When Yeon had quit as his dedicated guide, he’d gone out of
his way to avoid Ha-Jin on the field. He’d thought Ha-Jin had
long lost interest.
So he’d wanted to kill me, huh….
“Are you telling me you’re capable of killing someone you’re
in love with? Does that even make sense?”
Yeon shot him a look, half-amused, half-exasperated. Ha-Jin
met his gaze, his lips curling into a smirk.
“In bed, I mean.”
“….”
“Didn’t know you looked so damn tempting running away
from me. Had this sad, lost look that just begged to be…
ruined….”
“We’re in a bloody warzone! Get your guiding and sod off,
yeah?”
Yeon shut his eyes tightly.
How could anyone think like that at a time like this?
He’d long known Ha-Jin was twisted, but this was beyond
belief. While he’d been hiding in despair, Ha-Jin had
apparently been relishing the sight, getting off on his
misery….
‘What the hell’s wrong with him?’
Still, it was oddly reassuring to have him nearby, as ridiculous
as it was.
Ha-Jin had saved his energy, so it didn’t take long to bring his
contamination level down to about 30%. The guiding done, he
ruffled Yeon’s hair and shot off. Moments later, Yeon saw
several bombers disintegrate in mid-air.
He shook his head with a sigh.

***

“That mad bastard Carlos… you’ve really crossed the line this
time…!”
The emperor was hiding in a secret bunker within the Sun
Palace. The esper guards stationed around it were members of
the royal family’s elite forces. Even if they were all killed,
there was no way the bunker would be discovered. Only a few
people, all royalty, even knew of its existence.
This bunker could withstand multiple bombs without danger.
So, there was no need to worry.
…Then why.
Emperor Teraphin paced the bunker, anxiety gnawing at him.
It was frigid here underground. He couldn’t risk lighting a fire,
given the need for stealth. He’d been holed up in here for
hours now.
What’s happening out there?
Where were the Crown Prince and Princess? They hadn’t
checked in on him once. Commander Dicaine had said he’d
survey the situation outside but had yet to return—a worrying
delay.
Clunk.
Screeeech.
Finally, someone was coming.
The sound of the iron doors unbolting echoed through the
bunker. The emperor moved towards the entrance, shouting.
“Dicaine! Report on the situation! As a commander, you’re
proving utterly useless—”
“I greet Your Majesty, Emperor of Diaylen.”
It wasn’t Dicaine who appeared. The emperor’s face twisted as
he spat out the name.
“…Dion, is it?”
It was Dion, Dicaine’s son. The emperor had never been
particularly fond of him. The brat was always using “business”
as an excuse to slack off.
The emperor’s face contorted as he gnawed on his nails, his
nerves on edge.
“Where is your father? That incompetent fool—it’s his job to
protect me, and he’s abandoned it! Fetch him at once, Dion.”
Srrrng.
A metallic scrape rang out.
The emperor turned slowly, horrified to see Dion draw a sword
from his side. He stumbled back, outrage spilling from his lips.
“You… you…! Put that weapon down at once! Are you truly
insane, drawing a sword before your emperor?!”
His words halted abruptly. Something was distinctly off about
Dion today. The emperor’s eyes flickered with an uneasy
dread.
For once, Dion wasn’t smiling.
The man who had always grinned, no matter the
circumstances, now looked monstrous. A chill ran through the
emperor’s body. He gulped, his mouth dry.
Where the hell were the palace espers?
Did they let this man in, thinking he was on their side?
Or did he… kill them all?
The royal espers were more capable than those from the
Centre. That was why they’d received prestigious positions
and benefits. Even if Dion was an S0-grade esper, he shouldn’t
have managed this alone.
And why would he want me dead in the first place?
“My father is fighting near the capital. There’s been an
outbreak of Doors in that area.”
“What? What the hell does that mean…?!”
“I’ve always thought you relied far too much on your title,
Your Majesty.”
Dion’s sword scraped along the bunker floor with a chilling
screech.
“Underestimating the S-grades, were you? The espers
guarding this place were all A-grade. Perfectly suited to fight
monsters, but stopping an S-grade? Bit more than they could
handle.”
He shrugged, flashing a cold smile.
“Oh, don’t worry. I didn’t kill them all. I only came here to see
you.”
The Emperor staggered back, cold sweat breaking out across
his brow. There was something disturbing in Dion’s eyes—a
look that belonged on a madman. As the Emperor’s legs gave
way, he collapsed onto the floor, making Dion loom
abnormally large over him.
“W-What’s going on here? Do you honestly believe you’ll be
forgiven after this? Do you even understand what you’re
doing?”
“Your Majesty. You don’t get on well with President Carlos,
do you? From what I’ve heard, even the current disaster and
this bloody war seem to be products of none other than your
own foolishness.”
“W-What… what nonsense is this?”
“Just one thing to tell you, then… a little secret.”
Dion leaned down, his face closing in on the Emperor’s. The
Emperor flinched, wide-eyed, recoiling in fear. In his younger
years, he might have been able to fend Dion off or even
escape. But now, weakened with age and stripped of his
Vessel, he could no longer produce energy. He was,
effectively, no more than an ordinary, powerless man.
Dion’s gaze fell, eerie and dark. “I was the one who suggested
the war to President Carlos.”
“…”
“He accepted gladly, as it wasn’t much of a loss for him. Turns
out he’s got quite the grudge against you too, Your Majesty.
Anyway, you see… I’ve wanted this nation to collapse for a
very long time.”
He wasn’t smiling.
The Emperor couldn’t make sense of Dion’s words. Wasn’t he
supposed to be the loyal son of the Knight Commander…?
Stab.
Stab.
“Gah! Ugh…!”
Blood spattered across Dion’s clothes and face. Without a
shred of expression, he continued plunging the blade into the
Emperor’s body, each thrust of the sword turning Dion’s figure
darker red. Blood pooled on the floor, soaking into his shoes.
He had waited for this moment since he was a child—the
moment he would destroy the man who had ruined everything
he held dear.
This damned, decrepit old man.
“I’ve always wondered why I didn’t have a mother, why my
father never smiled at me, why I had to grow up as a loyal dog
of Diaylen.”
No one had ever answered these questions, so Dion had
stopped asking. He had long accepted his father’s indifference
and his mother’s absence as natural parts of his existence—
until the day Tae Ha-Jin was taken in as his father’s foster son.
He’d thought his father was cold to everyone; that was the one
solace he had held onto. But Ha-Jin was different. His father
taught him swordsmanship earnestly, smiled at him, and spent
time with him—all things Dion was never allowed.
—Young master, you must smile. Otherwise, people will
despise you.
That was what his nanny had drilled into him from an early
age. She would sometimes look at him with disgust if he
didn’t smile. Even as a child, Dion hadn’t been naïve; he
noticed how people lowered their guard when he put on a
pleasant face. Smiling became second nature.
He had hoped that by doing so, he would earn his father’s
affection.
But Ha-Jin never had to force a smile—not even on his worst
days—and yet everyone flocked to him.
‘What makes him so different from me?’
Even the crown prince and princess, who had been raised
alongside him, were enamoured with Ha-Jin. They were close
in age, and Dion found himself feeling an odd sense of
distance despite sharing their company.
He could count the times he’d genuinely smiled on one hand.
‘Escaped test subject from a research lab?’
One day, Dion overheard the prince and princess discussing
Ha-Jin’s background—that he’d once been an experimental
subject. The boy who once seemed so noble suddenly felt
pathetic. Dion thought that his father had taken Ha-Jin in out
of pity.
Momentarily, he felt a slight relief in knowing Ha-Jin’s tragic
past.
But then their conversation turned to him.
—Brother, why does the Knight Commander despise Dion?
—I don’t know… maybe because he was a forced creation?
—Forced?
—I heard the Knight Commander was compelled to marry an
S-grade esper from another country to produce an exceptional
bloodline.
—An exceptional bloodline?
—Yeah. Father says if two high-grade abnormal types marry,
they’ll produce a high-grade child. Father plans to turn Dion
into a weapon. That’s why he made a deal with that foreign
esper… Even though Dion is a good kid…
—That’s awful… so where’s Dion’s mother?
 Chapter 6. Part 4
—She returned to her homeland right after giving birth to him.
…What?
For young Dion, their words hit like a storm. At last, he
understood why he was treated with such disdain. His father’s
apathy stemmed from the fact that he wasn’t born out of love
but out of necessity.
He had been created as a tool from the start.
The countless swordsmanship lessons, the academic study—
suddenly, they all seemed part of a blueprint to forge a
weapon. He felt nothing but a nauseating dread.
His father had devoted his loyalty to the Emperor, who took
his loyalty for granted, belittling him in front of others.
‘Why do you cling to him like that?’
Dion wanted to ask.
Wanted to tell him to give up the knighthood.
But his father never left him the time to ask those questions.
As time passed, Dion’s resentment for the Emperor festered.
The Emperor was the one who had forced his father into that
marriage, robbed him of his time, and humiliated him. The
thought that he, too, would one day become the Emperor’s dog
filled Dion with revulsion. But even so, he still craved his
father’s approval. During their brief training sessions, even
that little attention from his father made him happy.
—Father…! I’ve finally mastered your first form of
swordsmanship!
Dion knew his father wanted to raise him as a weapon. And
so, he decided he would become one, hoping for some
validation. When he finally mastered his father’s techniques,
he’d been thrilled. Surely, his father would praise him.
Instead, his father’s expression was one of utter horror, as
though looking at something repulsive.
—Why do you even try, Dion?
—Huh? Well, because…
Because you wanted a weapon, Father.
After that day, his father became even more indifferent,
focusing all his energy on teaching Ha-Jin. Dion couldn’t
understand. Why did his father look away from him when he
was doing exactly as he’d been raised to?
Dion wanted to quit everything.
He became the “lazy genius” everyone called him.
By the time Ha-Jin reached twenty and Dion was seventeen,
Ha-Jin had publicly declared himself an S+ grade esper,
quickly establishing himself at the centre of the capital. Dion,
who hadn’t yet awakened, found himself crushed by the
weight of others’ expectations.
—You’ll achieve better results than that foster child.
—Dion, you’ll be the next Knight Commander of Diaylen,
right?
—Just look at your father. He’s upright and principled.
Everyone expected him to inherit his father’s position. Even
the prince and princess insisted he would be the next Knight
Commander. Dion felt sick. That gilded position was nothing
more than a worthless pile of filth to him. Why should he
inherit his father’s miserable title?
Dion had inherited his father’s gift for the sword. But at
eighteen, he awakened as an S0 grade esper. Normally, it
would have been cause for celebration, but Ha-Jin had already
announced his S+ grade, leaving Dion’s awakening to go
largely unnoticed.
His father’s reaction was worse than indifference; he seemed
to hate it.
Even the Emperor was unimpressed.
—So, Dion, you’re just an S0 grade. What a waste,
considering your father went as far as marrying a foreign esper
just to produce you.
Dion overheard the Emperor muttering to his father as he
approached to ask for a sparring session. His father merely
bowed his head, not offering a word in his defence.
‘Am I really nothing more than a weapon to everyone?’
Dion’s heart felt as though it was being torn apart. He hadn’t
chosen to be born, hadn’t chosen this fate. He couldn’t
comprehend why the man he idolised would shrink in front of
the Emperor.
‘I want to kill them all.’
Dion had grown to detest the very concept of abnormal types.
This world, run by people who measured others as tools,
disgusted him. The rot in Diaylen was bone-deep. Every
aspect of this nation made him want to burn it to the ground.
However, he always had to smile. Otherwise, people would
hate him. It didn’t matter what he did; he always felt lonely
and isolated.
Dion hid behind a mask while nurturing a monster inside.
Even when meeting the imperial princess and crown prince
without a care, his insides twisted at the thought of the
Emperor. Not a single day in his life was ever peaceful.
His fundamental rage was directed at the Emperor and his
father, but he even felt inferior to Tae Ha-Jin, whom he was
always compared to. The maddening thing was that Tae Ha-Jin
didn’t even seem to notice him.
In the end, Dion wanted to tear down everything his father had
protected.
He wanted to show his father that the weapon he had created
would be the one to destroy Diaylen.
“Your Majesty. Why did you force my birth?”
“……”
“How does it feel to die at the hands of a weapon?”
The dead do not speak.
Dion, with an anguished expression, drew back his sword and
said, “Why the bloody hell… didn’t you ever treat me like a
person?”
I’m a person too. So is my father.
He smiled like he was about to cry.

***

There was no more effective way to break the enemy’s morale

than by killing their leader.
Another method was revealing that a trusted ally was actually
an enemy.
“Dion…! What… are you…?!”
“Ah, Father! How could…?”
Corpses of countless people, collapsing buildings,
innumerable monsters, and towering doors scattered across the
landscape…
This was the capital of Diaylen, where nothing seemed
normal.
The worst scene of all was unfolding now. Elena, who had
emerged from the Guide building, covered her mouth to stifle
her sobs. Ricardo stared at the situation in disbelief.
Dion had appeared holding the Emperor’s head.
Even Lee Yeon, who had been performing a wide-area
guidance, paused and stared at Dion. Dion stood there,
drenched in blood, with all eyes fixed on him. He dropped the
Emperor’s head with a thud.
Teraphin’s head rolled across the floor.
“Argh! Father! No… ah, Father…!”
Elena’s screams were raw, as though she would pass out. She
collapsed to the floor, unable to catch her breath as she wept.
Ricardo stood frozen, mouth agape, unable to react or speak.
‘What… is this…?’
Lee Yeon struggled to comprehend the scene. Dion had
appeared out of nowhere, carrying the Emperor’s head.
He had suspected Dion was a traitor and even realised he was
in league with Lee Hong-Jun. But it was impossible to imagine
he would walk in carrying the Emperor’s head. It was
unthinkable. Even if Diaylen’s capital was on the brink of
collapse, Dion had ventured alone into enemy territory.
It was an incomprehensible choice. Dion surveyed the
battlefield with a cold gaze. Everyone there had encountered
him at least once.
His gaze met Lee Yeon’s for a moment and moved on.
“Where is Ha-Jin?”
Dion, holding the Emperor’s head, was looking for Tae Ha-Jin.
Lee Yeon felt a sinking dread grip his chest. A foreboding chill
crawled over his skin.
“Dion, what have you done?” Ricardo’s voice was harsh, his
expression twisted with disbelief. He could not fathom that
Dion, whom he had always thought of as his kind little
brother, had shown up in this way. And with their father’s head
in his hands.
It felt as though ice ran through his veins. Everything looked
like a nightmare: the crumbling capital, Dion’s unfamiliar
face, their dead father…
As Ricardo shook his head in denial, Dion answered in an
impassive tone.
“Isn’t it obvious? This is a coup.”
“Dion, why…?”
“Call Ha-Jin here, will you?”
“You mad bastard! Answer me properly! What have you
done?!”
Ricardo’s shout was desperate. He couldn’t believe it. It defied
reason. They had known each other for so long; how could this
be happening?
Dion gazed at the stormy sky, lost in thought, and muttered to
himself.
“There he is. Ha-Jin.”
Thud!
Whoosh!
Dion leapt into the sky, the spot where he had been standing
now a crater.
“Dion!”
Ricardo, biting his lip, launched himself into the air to follow,
but Lee Yeon grabbed his arm. The crown prince turned, eyes
wide.
“Guide Lee Yeon…”
“What are you planning to do if you chase him? Don’t act on
emotion. We need to do what we must. Shouldn’t we get
Princess Elena to safety first?”
Ricardo’s gaze fell on his sister, who was sobbing on the
ground. His heart felt like it was shattering. He wanted to
collapse and weep himself. But he couldn’t. He had to hold on.
Raking his weary face, he walked to Elena. Lee Yeon picked
up the machine gun he had set down.
After continuous wide-area guiding, dizziness was creeping in.
It was more efficient to fight the monsters for now. Yeon
looked up at the sky for a moment.
Whoosh!
A massive pillar of fire burned in a perfect circle in the sky. It
was Dion’s boundary line. Dion and Ha-Jin were likely within
that ring of fire.
No one would be able to interfere with their fight. Lee Yeon
had never heard of two Grade S espers clashing before.
‘Ha-Jin…’
Please, be safe.
Come back alive.
“I’ve cleared the obstacles for you, hyung.”
Tae Ha-Jin silently regarded the man. He had been dealing
with bombers when Dion suddenly appeared and swept them
all away. Bombers engulfed in flames plummeted from the
sky.
Dion’s actions showed he hadn’t considered contamination
levels at all. Looking down, Ha-Jin saw Elena crying and the
Emperor’s head.
His advanced sight was only a curse at moments like this.
Ha-Jin, who had been slicing through bombers with just his
sword, let out a bitter laugh.
Dion approached with that face. His intentions were clear.
“Did you get Carlos’ permission? For taking down the
bombers.”
“No. I think he’ll let this slide.”
Even with Dion’s betrayal, Ha-Jin didn’t look particularly
surprised. He didn’t trust people easily, and Dion had always
had a dual nature. It wasn’t entirely unexpected.
Ha-Jin had known. Each time he trained in swordsmanship
with Dicaine, Dion had hidden behind a pillar, watching.
At first, he thought it was just a child’s jealousy. But from
Dion’s occasional, more hostile behaviour, Ha-Jin had kept his
distance. Dion’s insistence on calling him “hyung” had often
felt uncomfortable.
Whoosh!
Dion moved his hand in a circle, and a vast column of fire rose
in the sky.
A stage had been set.
“Truthfully, I never deeply resented you, hyung. Though I did
find you irritating.”
Ha-Jin tilted his head, as if inviting Dion to continue.
“But I realised that killing you is the only way to wrap this up
properly. Sorry to Ronile and Yeon, but… that’s my decision.”
Dion had made a deal with Ronile. After Diaylen fell and if
Ha-Jin was badly injured, Dion would hand him over to
Ronile. In return, Dion planned to take Yeon’s custody. Given
Ronile’s powerful influence in Epenhar, it had seemed like a
fair trade.
But that no longer mattered.
Dion pulled out the sword, the one still soaked in the
Emperor’s blood.
Ha-Jin followed, silently, freeing his own sword. He didn’t ask
why Dion had done all this - not because he believed
wondering was pointless, but because he didn’t care enough to
bother.
Kwaaang!
The clash of two swords sent a violent gust rippling through
the air between them.
Fwooosh!
Dion’s flames roared to life, blazing even brighter in the centre
of the battlefield. Their gazes locked over the crossed blades—
a bitter moment shared by two who had once sparred together,
had grown up side-by-side, even fought on the same side for
years.
All of that past was collapsing to zero.
Fwump! Fwoosh!
Dion wrapped his sword in fire, the blade glowing red-hot, but
Ha-Jin shoved it back with brute force.
Bang!
Dion staggered back a step, then raised his free hand, hurling a
wave of flame at Tae Ha-Jin’s side. Ha-Jin stretched his palm
out, snuffing the flames out in an instant. Without hesitation,
he launched himself at Dion, cutting through the air with
terrifying speed.
Boom!
Ha-Jin’s heavy blade bore down on Dion’s, forcing him to his
knees.
“Urgh!”
Ha-Jin glared down at him, that familiar look of disdain in his
eyes.
“Does your father know?”
That his son’s gone mad?
Dion clenched his jaw hard. If there was anyone whose words
he didn’t want to hear about his father, it was Tae Ha-Jin. Fury
surged to the top of his head.
Grind, grind!
Their blades scraped together, sparking. Dion’s fire flared,
lashing wildly towards Ha-Jin.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
The flames curled around Ha-Jin, only to be swallowed by his
palm, turning it black with char. The smell of burnt flesh
wafted through the air.
Dion straightened up, resetting his grip on his sword. His
expression twisted with frustration.
He couldn’t stand the look on Ha-Jin’s face. Here they were,
fighting for their lives on a battlefield, and he showed not an
ounce of tension.
Ha-Jin glanced down at his burnt hand, unaffected, and fixed
his red eyes on Dion.
“Honestly, Dion, I think this fight is pointless.”
Dion frowned. Even in their old sparring matches, Ha-Jin had
a habit of walking away without crossing swords a single time,
saying fighting him was dull.
Fwooom! Dion shot up a cluster of fire pillars, as fierce as a
volcanic eruption.
The flames raged forward, threatening to reduce Ha-Jin to
ashes.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
The intensity was enough to make the others on the field
tremble in terror. The ground was crawling with Grade Two
monsters, the sky was ablaze from bombers overhead, and
Doors still spewed out monsters. A few of the espers, caught
in the hallucinatory effects of a pink Door, started babbling
about dying right there.
Dion poured everything he had into the flames.
Hoping this time he’d burn Ha-Jin to nothing.
Hoping, by the time the flames died down, he’d see the end of
him.
Only after ages had passed, and the rising contamination made
him sick to his stomach, did Dion finally let the flames sputter
out. He dared to hope Ha-Jin was gone, but no—Ha-Jin stood
unscathed, only a few singed ends in his hair.
Irritated, Ha-Jin brushed a hand through his scorched hair.
“Why are you fighting a losing battle?”
“Shut up, Ha-Jin.”
“Our abilities don’t match well, Dion. Especially not for you.”
Looking down at the panting Dion, Ha-Jin drew on his energy.
In an instant, a tremendous force spread around the fire pillars.
It was Ha-Jin’s red aura.
“Argh—Gah!”
Dion suddenly clutched his throat, gasping.
The oxygen around him was gone in a heartbeat. Every time
the air tried to fill the space, Ha-Jin devoured it.
Dion’s face turned an alarming shade of red.
Ha-Jin didn’t stop there, swallowing all the oxygen in the
vicinity, leaving only a small bubble around himself. Instantly,
the raging flames were snuffed out. Without air, the fire could
not survive.
“Gah—Aagh!”
“Why do you think the international organisations exist,
Dion?”
“Urgh…!”
“They’re there to maintain the status quo. Abnormal events
don’t need a place in history.”
He walked towards Dion, not fast, but not hesitating either.
“By now, I reckon the UN’s put some leash on Carlos for his
rogue antics.”
In these times, wars didn’t start so easily. Diplomatic ties
between nations were complexly entangled, and apart from
countries like Epenhar, with absolute monarchies, no one
entertained war as a viable option.
Doberman had likely already gone to meet with Elder
Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun and other foreign leaders. Ha-Jin
had known for years that Doberman was tied to the Special
Investigations, but since it didn’t interfere with his own
business, he hadn’t cared enough to intervene.
Doberman always managed to be out of reach in times like
these, so it wasn’t difficult to guess.
The real problem now was the partially-destroyed Diaylen and
the dozens of Doors that had opened. Epenhar’s war held no
allure for Ha-Jin.
“A tragic situation, indeed. A son with a narrow view can
never grasp his father’s grand intentions.”
Dion was on the verge of suffocating, his face pale as a corpse.
Ha-Jin lifted his sword, as if to slice down on him, the blade
poised with deadly intent. He threw all his strength into it,
hurling the blade at Dion’s heart like a spear.
Whoosh!
The sword sliced through the air with brutal speed.
Thud!
The merciless blade struck true—but in Dicaine’s gut. Blood
spilled from his abdomen, dripping down the sword’s edge.
Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow. He’d felt it the moment his sword
left his hand, the swift approach of someone from the earth
below.
And without needing to see, he knew it would be Knight
Commander Dicaine.
A thrown blade couldn’t be pulled back.
He’d assumed the Knight Commander would parry with his
own sword—Dicaine was certainly skilled enough.
He hadn’t expected him to take the hit head-on.
Dicaine didn’t look like a man who’d just been impaled. Blood
poured from his mouth and stomach, yet he didn’t so much as
groan. Ha-Jin, grudgingly impressed, observed him in silence.
With a strained expression, Dicaine glanced back at his son,
trembling on the verge of suffocation.
“…”
Watching silently, Ha-Jin allowed the oxygen to flow back.
“Gah! Hah, hah!”
Dion gasped for air, barely able to stay upright. He thumped
his chest, struggling to steady his breathing.
As his blurred vision cleared, he looked up at the towering
figure in front of him—a broad back with a sword sticking out
of it.
His father.
“Why did you take the blow, Commander?” Ha-Jin tilted his
head, puzzled.
Dicaine had taken it on purpose.
Dicaine wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his
hand, answering gruffly, “A father’s burden is his son’s sins.”
Ha-Jin, understanding Dicaine’s stance to some extent, rolled
his eyes, then slowly shook his head.
“A gut wound isn’t enough to absolve that sin.”
“True… My death alone won’t be enough.”
He’d already seen the Emperor’s severed head on the
battlefield. Dicaine inwardly groaned. Just as he’d made it
back to the bunker after shutting down several Doors near the
palace, he’d found the Emperor’s body, butchered and lifeless.
Few people knew the bunker’s location.
Himself, the imperial family, and his son Dion.
“Yes.”
“Ha-Jin, this isn’t something you can settle yourself, is it?”
Though he knew it was ridiculous, Dicaine asked weakly. Ha-
Jin shook his head coldly.
“Apologies, but I’ve already repaid the Commander’s grace
during our previous engagement.”
Right. Of course.
Dicaine furrowed his brows slightly, letting out a deep sigh.
Everything was his fault. Failing to raise his son properly,
failing to stop things from spiralling this far.
Cough!
Blood trickled from his mouth again. His organs seemed
damaged. It was only natural, considering he’d been struck by
Tae Ha-Jin’s forceful throw of the sword.
He struggled to turn his body, eyes locking onto Dion. Dion’s
face twisted in pain as he looked down at his abdomen.
Judging by the warmth spreading, blood was still flowing.
“Hate me, Dion.”
Dicaine spoke through gritted teeth. His son gazed up at him
with eyes full of confusion. As he watched his grown son,
memories from a distant time came flooding back to Dicaine
like a panoramic view.
Dicaine’s father had been a condemned man. A violent
criminal, an abnormal type who’d murdered dozens. Even
after his public execution, Dicaine had never managed to
escape the shadow of being the son of a murderer.
He had loved swords and enjoyed learning. Though the world
cursed him, Dicaine had always wished to live as a knight, just
once. It had been foolishness in his youth.
—I recognise your ability. I will allow you to become a royal
knight.
Teraphin had recognised Dicaine’s talents. He took Dicaine
into the royal knights but set one condition: “I do not trust
your bloodline. Therefore, I will place an unbreakable restraint
on you using esper abilities.”
The terms were simple.
He could never harm a member of the royal family, and he
would have to obey the Emperor without question.
A binding spell was cast on Dicaine’s body by an esper with
the ability to cast curses. The condition was clear—if he broke
it, his life would be forfeit. But Dicaine had been grateful. At
least now, he could wield his sword freely. His father’s crimes
would be repaid through his service to the state.
Dicaine, burdened by the guilt of his father’s murders, had
accepted whatever came his way. Even when the Emperor
treated him harshly, labelling him the son of a serial killer,
even when they forced him into an unwanted marriage to
breed more weapons.
 Chapter 6. Part 5
He accepted it all.
—This child… my son?
When Dicaine had first seen his newborn son, a fresh wave of
guilt overwhelmed him. He had agreed to the political
marriage, believing that the country needed powerful weapons.
So, a child would be born. He accepted it without much
thought.
It had been a foolish decision, a naive one.
—Yes. Your son will surely become the greatest weapon in all
of Diaylen!
The wet nurse had said this. She had been chosen by the
Emperor. It was then that Dicaine realised just how foolish he
had been.
‘This child is supposed to grow into a weapon?’
When he looked at his son, all he could think of was how he
didn’t want that for him.
More than anything, he wished for his son to live freely, unlike
him.
Dicaine struggled with the dilemma.
How could he raise the child as a weapon, as per the
Emperor’s orders, while giving him the freedom he so badly
wanted?
He couldn’t bring himself to treat Dion as his son. Every time
their eyes met, all Dicaine could feel was the weight of the
guilt—the guilt of turning his own son into a weapon to die for
the Emperor.
Dicaine kept his distance, staying busy on purpose, avoiding
interaction with his son.
He couldn’t break the Emperor’s command. He had no choice
but to treat Dion like a weapon.
Every action he took felt like a betrayal of his son.
—Please adopt me.
One day, as Dicaine entered the royal palace, a young boy
stepped in front of his car. The espers tried to forcibly move
him, but the boy remained unshaken, staring directly at
Dicaine.
The boy was ragged and dirty, his appearance uncaring about
shame.
His eyes were red.
The distinctive eyes of the Epilox race.
The boy’s appearance was unremarkable. But for some reason,
he reminded Dicaine of his own lost past, the one he’d been
running from. He couldn’t bring himself to ignore the boy.
—Let him be. I want to hear what he has to say.
In the designated sitting room, the small boy requested to
speak with Dicaine alone. Despite his youth, the boy didn’t
seem intimidating, and Dicaine agreed to send the others away.
The boy then said something astonishing. He claimed to be an
experimental subject from the Basen Research Lab who had
recently escaped and had no identity.
—I’ve heard. Commander Dicaine is said to be the most
honourable in this land.
The boy explained that he needed an adult to look after him
until he came of age, having heard rumours of Dicaine’s
reputation. He wanted to be adopted.
Dicaine was speechless. How could a child think such things?
His ability to choose a guardian for himself was unlike
anything Dicaine had ever encountered. The boy was
intelligent. He knew his place and spoke truthfully.
But Dicaine had no intention of adopting him. He couldn’t
even raise his own son properly; there was no way he could
take on another burden.
Then, the boy said something truly shocking.
—I’ve heard that high-grade abnormal types are treated well in
Diaylen.
—Why?
—Before I escaped, I checked with the lab’s scanner. It said I
was an S+ grade esper.
The boy said this with an impassive face. Dicaine could hardly
believe it. Was he bragging? Such a young child awakening as
an S+ grade esper? Impossible.
The boy, as though expecting Dicaine’s disbelief, casually
placed his hand on the table.
Shhh!
The table vanished in an instant. Dicaine’s pupils trembled.
—I’m not sure, but I think my ability is either ‘Erasure’ or
‘Devouring.’ With such a dual bloodline, doesn’t it make me
useful to the Commander?
Such abilities were rare, and rarity earned respect. Even if the
boy wasn’t truly an S+ grade esper, the abilities he spoke of
were extremely valuable.
A flash of realisation hit Dicaine’s mind like a thunderbolt.
‘This boy… he could replace Dion, couldn’t he?’
As Dion grew older, the Emperor’s interest in him increased.
Dicaine had no choice but to raise his son as a weapon. But if
he took in a child like this, one with abilities stronger than
Dion’s, perhaps the Emperor would notice him, and he could
become the weapon the Emperor desired.
‘Maybe my son could live freely after all…’
—I’m not asking you to adopt me just like that. If you protect
me until I come of age, I’ll make sure you benefit from me.
—So, you want a deal?
—Yes. But until I reach adulthood, my grade and abilities
must remain a secret. After I turn eighteen, feel free to erase
me from your records.
The boy’s use of the word ‘deal’ soothed Dicaine’s troubled
conscience. In his desperation, he hoped that this boy would
take his son’s place. Though he felt guilty for his selfish
desire, it was growing clearer by the day.
Dicaine spent the next few days investigating whether the boy
was truly worth the trouble. To his surprise, the boy was
beyond extraordinary.
Whether it was shooting, swordplay, or anything else, the boy
learned quickly and excelled. Dicaine couldn’t help but
compare him to Dion. The boy was far superior.
—You must become stronger than anyone else, Ha-Jin. You
must protect this country.
Dicaine, hiding his true intentions, trained Tae Ha-Jin with
fervour. Recently, the Emperor had started to take an interest
in the boy. Dicaine could almost hear Dion’s freedom slipping
away.
But then…
—Father…! I’ve finally mastered your first form of
swordsmanship!
Dion, who had always seemed to dislike studying, was now
putting in more effort. At such a young age, he had mastered
swordplay and started to stand out. Dicaine felt like the ground
was slipping from beneath him.
‘You… you shouldn’t have to learn such things.’
‘You shouldn’t be trapped by the Emperor’s commands.’
He wished for his son to live freely, doing what he loved.
—Why do you even try, Dion?
—Huh? Well, because…Because you wanted a weapon,
Father.
…What?
Dion smiled as he spoke, and Dicaine realised something was
terribly wrong. His son had always smiled. He had always
thought that meant his son was happy. Having grown up
without a father, Dicaine hadn’t understood his son’s
perspective.
A sudden sense of dread filled Dicaine’s heart.
His son was working hard, not for himself, but to earn praise,
to win his attention. Every action, from his swordplay to his
studies, was all to get noticed by his father.
‘No…’
In a panic, Dicaine withdrew his attention. The more he
ignored Dion, the less effort the boy seemed to put in. He
started avoiding training, spending more time outside, and
Dicaine felt relief.
—Is that the Commander of the Royal Knights?
―They say he’s devoted to Diaylen. Can’t stand injustice,
they say.
Every time he heard such words, it left a bitter taste in his
mouth.
Dicaine knew all too well how selfish and flawed he was. But
he’d put on a show of virtue, wanting only to be seen as a
good father by his son.
Given his own father had been a criminal, Dicaine had taken
great care to keep any such disgrace from touching his own
son. He wanted no chains holding back the boy’s future
freedom.
—Your son’s useless, Dicaine. All that money, and yet this is
all you get? Tsk, tsk…
It wasn’t long before Dion fell from the Emperor’s favour.
People started calling his son a “lazy genius.” Meanwhile, Tae
Ha-Jin’s influence grew by the day, fulfilling exactly what
Dicaine had once desperately hoped for.
—Dion… an S0-grade esper?
—Yes, congratulations, Commander!
If only you’d been a little less remarkable.
If only you’d been just a little more ordinary.
It was all his own damned ambition. He’d wanted his son to
have what he himself never did, and all he’d done was drive
Dion to this ruin.
Hack!
Blood spilled from his mouth. Dicaine raised his hand to his
lips, trying not to let it splatter Dion’s face.
He looked up at his son, who only stared back, bewildered, at
the blood-soaked wound in his father’s abdomen. His boy had
grown up so strong and healthy.
“Dion…”
Only now does this foolish father understand.
Maybe what you needed wasn’t freedom, but just a bit of my
love.
“I’m sorry.”
With blood-stained teeth, Dicaine managed a smile. For a
moment, he saw his son’s eyes quiver. And in that moment,
Dicaine realised—this was the first time he’d ever smiled at
his boy.
The first smile, at a time like this. His heart felt like it was
tearing apart.
He’d never explained his motives to Dion. He’d only wanted
him to grow up in peace, unburdened. To live without
knowing he was a criminal’s son, without knowing the
Emperor’s grip on him…
I wanted you to know nothing.
“A-ah, father… why…?”
Tears filled Dion’s eyes, looking heartbreakingly forlorn in his
father’s rare absence of a smile.
Was it selfish to want you to always smile too?
“Live as you want.”
I should have told you sooner.
And for not saying it…
“Father… just for a moment, Father…”
“All your sins… are mine…”
With what little strength he had left, Dicaine closed his eyes,
hovering in the air, and then he began to fall. Dion could only
watch, mouth agape.
Thud.
For reasons he couldn’t fathom, tears began to spill down
Dion’s cheeks.
Why was his father here? Why had he taken Tae Ha-Jin’s
blade? Why apologise to him?
None of it made sense.
As Ha-Jin glanced back at Dion, he dropped to the ground,
catching Dicaine’s body before it could hit.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin!”
From a distance, Lee Yeon came running towards them, and
Ha-Jin expanded his senses, scanning the ruined city. He
caught Dekal’s aura, busy repairing a building nearby.
“We’ll talk later,” he muttered.
Ha-Jin shot off toward Dekal’s location. Dicaine’s death
wouldn’t erase Dion’s guilt, and he had no intention of letting
such a pointless death go by.
In an instant, Ha-Jin vanished somewhere into the distance.
Yeon frowned, trying to piece it all together.
‘What the hell happened here? Wasn’t that the Commander?’
Yeon knew of the Commander, a well-known figure in
Diaylen. And yet here he was, Tae Ha-Jin’s blade sticking out
of his abdomen. Yeon looked up at the sky in confusion.
Hadn’t Dion been fighting Tae Ha-Jin earlier?
It was then that he noticed Dion again.
Yeon’s pupils shook with alarm.
“This…”
A chillingly violent energy surged out of Dion’s body. Yeon
glanced around and shouted urgently.
“Everyone, get back!”
Boom!
Boom!
Whoosh!
An enormous burst of fire exploded from Dion’s body in the
sky. Pillars of flame appeared from nowhere, shooting up from
the ground. As the flames spread, defensive espers quickly
threw up barriers around areas thick with civilians.
Whoosh!
The indiscriminate flames burned anything in their path—
monsters and airships alike reduced to ashes. The sheer power
made Yeon doubt his own eyes.
Dion had gone berserk.
“Guide Lee Yeon! What’s going on here?!”
The Crown Prince, who had just brought the unconscious
Elena to safety, looked around in shock as the firestorm raged
on.
Whoosh!
“Aargh!”
“Daddy, no…!”
A civilian father and daughter nearly got caught in the flames,
but the Crown Prince doused the fire with water just in time,
shielding them. Grey smoke drifted in all directions. Yeon
couldn’t tear his gaze away from Dion.
‘An S-grade berserk state…’
It was every bit as terrifying as he’d heard. They said that
when an esper goes berserk, they lose all sense of reason, their
violence flaring as their suppressed subconscious lashes out.
Now Dion, unconscious, was unleashing everything he had,
seeming bent on destroying it all.
Boom!
Boom!
Explosions erupted throughout the buildings. It was fortunate
the monsters were dying, but at this rate, Dion would die too—
and so might the espers fighting to defend them, caught in this
cascade of berserk fury.
Tae Ha-Jin was their only real hope, and he’d disappeared.
Elena was likely unconscious, and the Crown Prince was
struggling to protect civilians. The other abnormal types
looked on, bewildered by the berserk chaos.
“We’ve got to stop this! Somehow…!”
“N-no, it’s impossible! The flames… ugh!”
Defensive espers were desperately forming barriers, but if
those broke, everyone in the vicinity would be burned alive.
Dion’s fire held the power of an S-grade ability, and their
shields wouldn’t hold long.
‘No.’
Not that.
These people had survived catastrophe after catastrophe.
They’d fought monsters side by side, leaning on each other,
doing whatever it took to stay alive.
Yeon thought to himself.
He was done hiding who he was.
Crack!
With a bound, Yeon leapt into the sky. Ricardo, busy putting
out fires with water, squinted in disbelief.
Guide Lee Yeon had taken to the air.
“A Guide… flying?”
Ricardo wasn’t the only one astonished. The civilians,
paralysed by fear, could only watch in stunned silence as Yeon
soared above them.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Up in the sky, Yeon deflected the incoming pillars of flame
with a sweep of his left hand, absorbing them briefly before
redirecting them away. The brutal fires surged toward him, as
though eager to consume him whole.
As Dion drew closer, the overwhelming heat of his
contaminated aura seemed poised to corrupt the very soul. The
formidable contamination made Yeon grit his teeth. His skin
prickled, and the surrounding air grew so stifling it felt like it
would ignite him.
Yeon swung his left arm again, absorbing the heat around him.
Extending his right hand, he gripped Dion’s neck tightly.
Dion’s eyes had already rolled back, showing only the whites,
froth spilling from his mouth, with powerful flames roaring
around him.
Whoosh!
“If you’re going to die, do it alone! Dion!”
Yeon shouted irritably, pulling at Dion’s energy.
“Ugh! You… insane…!”
It felt like Dion’s contamination level had reached 97 percent.
Yeon was astonished that the man’s body hadn’t already
succumbed. Ferocious energy surged into the Vessel, making
Yeon’s own energy hum noisily.
Yeon could feel how excited his Vessel was, a painful
thrumming in his skull.
“Aargh!”
It hurt like hell.
Blood vessels throughout his body burst, agony spreading as it
ravaged his body. His skin, unable to contain the swelling
veins, tore in places. Gritting his teeth, Yeon guided Dion. The
man’s body convulsed under the strain of his own energy.
Disordered energy clawed to survive, surging into Yeon’s
body.
‘Dangerous…!’
Yeon felt an inexplicable sense of danger. Continuing to guide
like this risked damaging his own Vessel. He’d already been
using wide-area guiding and had absorbed Dion’s flames
several times. If he carried on like this, it would be disastrous.
Yeon pushed the energy pouring into him away with all his
might, forcing his own power into Dion’s Vessel instead. It
was reverse guiding in a desperate bid for survival.
Crack!
Crrk!
A strange sensation made Yeon’s eyes snap open. Something
was breaking.
‘No way….’
Crrk!
Yeon’s pupils trembled. It was clear now—Dion’s Vessel was
beginning to shatter under the strain of Yeon’s energy.
He had never broken someone’s Vessel before, and the eerie
feeling twisted Yeon’s face. It felt terrifying, like committing
murder. If he stopped now, Dion’s Vessel might be left cracked
but intact.
But stopping meant he wouldn’t fully subdue Dion’s rampage.
Yeon steeled himself. Dion had brought this upon himself,
after all. The weight of countless lives far outweighed Dion’s
single existence. A shattered Vessel wouldn’t kill him.
With that resolved, Yeon poured his energy into Dion without
hesitation.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Yeon’s energy mingled violently with Dion’s, battering his
Vessel like relentless waves. The cracks widened.
Crrk!
Bang!
Finally, Dion’s Vessel shattered. The rampaging energy within
him dissipated, aimlessly disintegrating. Yeon opened his eyes,
glancing around. The towering flames that had threatened to
incinerate the capital were now gone.
No trace of energy remained around Dion’s neck. The man,
devoid of power, slumped lifelessly. Instinctively, Yeon caught
him.
“Haah, haah…!”
Yeon panted heavily.
A wave of dizziness overcame him. It felt like sprinting on an
empty stomach—his head pounded as though it might burst.
The intense guiding had taken its toll.
“You mad bastard… Have you lost it?”
Yeon glared at Dion’s limp face in his arms. He wanted to
throw him to the ground, seeing that serene expression only
made him feel worse.
Just as Yeon heaved a deep sigh and lifted his head—
“…….”
His eyes met those of Tae Ha-Jin, who hovered beyond the
dark clouds.
 Chapter 6. Part 6
The man’s sharp gaze pinned Yeon with such ferocity that
Yeon swallowed nervously.
‘Damn… this is bad.’
He had just exposed his dual bloodline to everyone. Tae Ha-
Jin, however, likely remained unaware of this yet… but his
demeanour was ominous. Yeon instinctively started to retreat.
The more he moved back, the darker Tae Ha-Jin’s expression
grew.
Yeon retreated further still.
“Lee Yeon.”
A low voice, chilling enough to raise goosebumps, called his
name. Just that, but it felt like a threat. It seemed to carry an
unspoken warning that if he moved any further, he would pay
for it.
Yeon could only stare at Tae Ha-Jin, unable to offer a word of
defence. Their gazes clashed in the space between them.
Swish.
Tae Ha-Jin drew his sword from his hip, lifting it as if
preparing to strike. Yeon watched with wide, trembling eyes.
‘Is he… trying to kill me?’
Whoosh!
The blade sliced through the air as Yeon squeezed his eyes
shut.
Screech!
A monstrous scream erupted from behind him. A flying Grade
4 monster split in two, vanishing. Yeon’s heart pounded like a
drum. Tae Ha-Jin’s bloodlust was so intense that Yeon almost
believed the sword was aimed at him.
Yeon glanced away from the beast’s remains and turned back
toward Tae Ha-Jin.
“Ah… bloody hell…”
Tae Ha-Jin was already right in front of him, staring at Yeon
before shifting his gaze to Dion in his arms. He grabbed
Dion’s arm and yanked him away.
Then, he let him drop carelessly.
“What are you doing…!”
Dion’s limp body began to plummet. Was this how punishment
was supposed to be meted out? Killing him like this? Yeon’s
eyes widened in shock, following the descent. But before he
could act, Tae Ha-Jin’s large hand clamped around his jaw,
forcing his gaze upward.
Faint voices of other espers reached them. It seemed others
had already retrieved Dion’s body.
As Yeon’s attention wavered, Tae Ha-Jin’s grip tightened. The
sheer strength made Yeon wince.
“You think I wouldn’t know?”
“…….”
Yeon couldn’t fathom why he felt so unnerved. Right now, Tae
Ha-Jin genuinely terrified him. His eyes flicked down briefly
to Yeon’s shoes and he spoke.
“Not even using floating shoes.”
Yeon swallowed dryly. His mouth was parched. Tae Ha-Jin,
head tilted slightly, moved Yeon’s chin side to side. His eyes
bored into him, as cold as winter.
‘Lee Yeon’s… dual bloodline, is it?’
It was so shocking, it made him angry. An S-grade guide who
possessed esper abilities as well?
The term was only something he’d heard in theory. A dual
bloodline was supposedly so rare that most historical cases had
died young. Yet here was Lee Yeon, seemingly unscathed and
functioning as though he’d defied every rule.
To fly, one had to be at least a high-grade esper. Espers below
Grade B couldn’t fly, only use their innate powers. Thus, the
floating Lee Yeon implied he was a high-grade esper too.
‘An S-grade guide and a high-grade esper?’
Bloody hell, suddenly?
Is that even possible?
Ha-Jin had flown over quickly when he realised that Dion’s
energy was spiralling out of control. And naturally, he saw it:
Lee Yeon in mid-air, “absorbing” Dion’s flames.
This suggested that Lee Yeon’s ability was probably in the
realm of “absorption” or “storage.”
Amidst the various thoughts racing through his mind, Ha-Jin
suddenly realised a certain truth. He had always known he was
a subject in experiments related to Lee Yeon. It was something
he’d been aware of from a very young age, so he’d never
really been curious about the specifics of those experiments.
Just knowing he was an experiment subject was infuriating
enough.
But if Lee Yeon possessed the rare trait of a dual bloodline, it
made sense why Lee Hong-Jun had kept him captive for so
long and conducted various experiments. A madman like Lee
Hong-Jun would certainly have carried out experiments related
to his son’s unique trait.
Ha-Jin also had an idea of how Lee Yeon managed to survive
and remain unscathed while holding two high-grade traits.
Lee Hong-Jun’s experiments, conducted by a genius
researcher, must have succeeded.
Ha-Jin’s brow crumpled in disbelief, a mix of relief and
irritation tightening his face.
‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’
Hide this? When he’d been shadowing me as my own damn
personal guide?
Ha-Jin recalled the moment he’d saved Yeon from a Grade 1
monster when the Red Door went off. Had he not flown on
purpose then? Just to hide his dual bloodline?
All this time, he’d been hauling his guide up into the air, none
the wiser.
No wonder he could never read Yeon’s Vessel.
Of course—if Yeon was high-grade dual-blooded, that would
make sense.
A scoff slipped out of him. “Well, this is a new one, Yeon.”
“……”
“All this time, I was only seeing your shadow. Isn’t that
right?”
It still didn’t sit well with him. Ha-Jin found it hard even to
count where he should start being angry. Dual bloodlines
weren’t exactly something you threw around lightly; he could
understand that much. Yeon must have had his reasons.
Still, annoyance was bubbling up inside him.
Like Yeon had been lying all along, spinning tales.
The Yeon he thought he knew suddenly felt strange.
Uncomfortably distant.
“Anything else you’ve been keeping under wraps?”
“……”
“How much more do I have to strip away before I see you for
what you are?”
A cutting glare bore into Yeon’s eyes, his expression
unreadable, words practically spat out. “This is bloody
unbelievable. You know that?”
Yeon thought, So this is what people mean when they say
they’re about to piss themselves. Ha-Jin’s eyes looked like
they’d spit out a Grade 1 monster. He hadn’t had a chance to
speak, let alone blurt out, “Oh, by the way, I’m dual-blooded,
and sorry I kept that from you.”
True, he could have confessed after making amends or when
Hong-Jun pretended to leave Diaylen, but… he’d never
worked up the nerve. Honestly, he’d been planning to keep it
secret until the end if he could.
Yeon’s gaze drifted aside. Anything he said now would only
worsen things.
“Guide Lee Yeon.”
Just then, Ricardo came up, looking at him with a troubled
gaze. Complex, to say the least. But somehow, Yeon
welcomed his presence and answered, “Yes.”
“Dual bloodline, huh…? Since when?”
“Er… since my awakening….”
Yeon spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, sneaking a
glance at Ha-Jin. Ricardo’s eyes widened.
“So, what about your reawakening test results?”
“That’s…”
“I’m having a conversation with Yeon here. Bugger off.”
Ha-Jin dismissed Ricardo with clear annoyance. Yeon looked
at the crown prince as if begging him to keep talking, to stay
right there. Ricardo blinked slowly, caught between two
pleading looks.
Then again, Ricardo’s mind wasn’t exactly sound at the
moment either. His father had died, Dion had turned rebel
overnight, and an S-grade esper had just gone berserk. Now it
turned out Yeon was dual-blooded as well.
“What the hell is going on here?”
He clutched his throbbing head and turned away. “Fine, we’ll
talk details later… What the hell is that?”
Ricardo’s gaze had fixed on something alarming. Ha-Jin and
Yeon turned to follow his line of sight.
“What in the—”
Flash! Flash! Flash!
Countless lights exploded across the sky. Yeon knew exactly
what those lights meant. A massive arrival of transportation
espers. In an instant, hundreds upon hundreds of espers
flooded the air, easily numbering over a thousand.
Their uniforms, deep brown, marked them as Epenhar’s
abnormal types. Each one held weapons like swords or guns.
Dion’s rampage had burned a huge portion of the monsters,
offering a brief lull in the chaos. The doors were still spitting
out beasts, but Diaylen had begun to hold its own, enough to
give the slightest hope of survival.
And now, Epenhar had deployed their armed espers.
“Bloody hell… this is endless,” Ricardo muttered.
Ha-Jin exchanged a look with Ricardo. Then he tightened his
grip on Yeon and began a rapid descent.
Whooosh!
Yeon couldn’t even scream as they hit the ground in an instant.
Nausea clawed at him, but there was no time for it. Far larger
airships and bombers now filled the sky above them.
And on the screen of one airship’s outer wall appeared
President Carlos.
“Hahaha! Did you think I’d just stand down? Go on, interfere,
all of you lot—let go, you bastards! Before I kill every last one
of you! Bloody hell—!”
Carlos’s laughter morphed into thrashing rage as espers in
suits, wearing UN badges, flanked him. He was being dragged
off, mid-broadcast, half-mad yet grinning to the end.
“Diaylen is doomed today. I’ll see it fall with my own eyes!
Diaylen will be… Epenhar’s colony!”
His face disappeared, the screen going dark. Yeon clicked his
tongue, wondering how someone like that had managed to stay
in power for so long. Did Epenhar’s citizens genuinely look up
to someone like him?
Even the espers floating in the sky seemed taken aback.
“Stay focused, everyone! Full offensive, now!”
The lead high-grade esper bellowed, dropping rapidly toward
the ground. His shout spurred the hesitant espers into action,
and they followed suit, descending in a wave. Yeon rolled and
grabbed a machine gun.
Boom!
Crash! Snap!
Screeches and cries!
The gathering of abnormal types seemed to rile up the
monsters further. The beasts were spewing out of the doors on
all sides, the buildings towering doors hideous to behold.
Pew! Pew!
Boom! Boom!
Bombs from countless bombers fell, pushing the tension to the
brink. Ordinary citizens cowered under the protection of
abnormal types, trembling as the ground teemed with
imminent threats.
“This is our land, our Diaylen! Don’t retreat! Fight to keep
what’s ours!”
The crown prince shouted, conjuring a torrent of water with
his hands. His fierce display rallied Diaylen’s abnormal types,
who clenched their fists and threw themselves into the fray.
Espers clashed in a chaotic battle, Epenhar’s forces storming
from above and Diaylen’s defenders fighting from below.
Watching the scene, Yeon thought, there really was no answer.
Diaylen had become a warzone, a bloody battleground.
Ha-Jin braced himself, ready to use his ability. To Yeon, it felt
like the war was only beginning. Just as Ha-Jin tightened his
jaw, finger hovering over the machine gun trigger—
Thud.
Thud, thud.
Thud.
“…?”
Yeon doubted his senses. In all this chaos, he couldn’t ignore
the massive tremor now vibrating through the ground. And he
wasn’t the only one. Even the most ordinary citizens, barely
perceptive, had gone still, their movements frozen by the
thundering approach of… something.
The sound grew louder.
Thud!
Thud, thud!
Thud!
The most chilling sight was that the rampaging monsters had
started rushing back to the doors that had spewed them out.
They seemed to be fleeing.
Epenhar’s espers stood shocked, staring in horror.
The monsters clawed their way back into the doors.
Thump!
Screech! Snap!
Even the Grade 1 monsters staggered and pushed themselves
toward the doors, gnashing and trampling each other in
desperate retreat.
‘What the hell…?’
He’d seen something like this before. The time Ha-Jin had
manifested the Erasure ability, consuming three White Doors
at once. Back then, the monsters had frozen, paralysed, staring
at the Erasure.
This seemed an extension of that, as if the creatures were
gripped by terror. It was ridiculous, of course.
Half-wondering if this was Ha-Jin’s doing, he glanced over,
but Ha-Jin’s own surprise showed plainly in his raised brow.
Screech!
Thud!
“Oof!”
“Yeon! You alright?”
A fleeing monster scraped past Yeon’s arm, drawing blood.
The cut was shallow, so Yeon didn’t fuss, but Ha-Jin went
after the beast, determined to kill it.
“Is that really necessary…?”
Yeon asked sheepishly, earning a glare from Ha-Jin, his
irritation clearly not yet assuaged over the dual-bloodline
revelation.
Yeon’s body was a mess, streaked with Dion’s blood, minor
cuts, and grime. Ha-Jin was hardly faring better; in this hell,
no one came out unscathed.
And then—
Thud.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
An enormous quake rippled through the ground, shaking the
earth and the buildings around them. The deafening roar made
Yeon wince.
Soon, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
Boom!
Boom!
From the ground.
From the very heart of the Diaylen capital.
The roads and ground splintered into fragments as an
enormous, pitch-black structure surged upward. The storm-
laden sky darkened as if foretelling the end of the world,
crackling with the threat of thunder.
“Th-that’s… a door?”
“A door, you say?”
People murmured as they stared at the upheaval that shattered
the earth. Yeon followed their gaze downwards. Right in the
centre of Diaylen, there was no denying it—a colossal, black
door lay sprawled on the ground rather than standing upright.
A sinister energy seeped from the edges of the door.
A Black Door.
An unprecedented catastrophe, neither seen nor heard before.
“A Black Door…”
The words came out in a whisper.
Yeon’s eyes trembled. It was something truly unfamiliar.
Creak…
The tightly sealed door began to open slowly. The eerie, spine-
tingling sound sent shivers down his spine. The black handle
was larger than a person and exuded a menacing aura.
Feeling the mounting danger, people started sprinting in the
opposite direction of the black door. Diaylen citizens, Epilox
espers, monsters, and ordinary people—all chose to run for
their lives.
“Run!”
“Ahhh!”
“Move! Get out of the way!”
Crash!
The door suddenly swung open wide. The tension made Yeon
clench his jaw as his pupils quivered.
Yet, no monsters emerged from the black door.
“What…?”
Then, all at once—
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
An intense gravitational pull began sucking everything in. The
noise was deafening, like a colossal vacuum devouring
everything in its path. Yeon, seemingly frozen in place,
quickly assessed the situation.
The black door was trying to consume everything above the
ground.
Yeon instinctively dropped to the floor, spreading himself out
as if guiding a wide area. Kneeling, he pressed his palms
firmly into the earth and shut his eyes tight. He maximised his
esper energy, spreading it thin and wide to reach those who
were fleeing and monsters that were escaping.
‘Please…!’
Yeon absorbed gravity from where the monsters stood. A
crushing weight pressed into his chest.
Cough!
Blood spurted from Yeon’s mouth.
“What the hell are you doing, Yeon!”
Tae Ha-Jin, who had stayed by his side, shouted in frustration.
Yeon clenched his mouth shut and shook his head. He didn’t
know why, but he felt this was the only way. For some reason,
he could envision the Black Door’s next move as clearly as a
painting.
“Lee Yeon!”
Yeon couldn’t hold onto the absorbed gravity for long. He
redistributed the energy evenly among the citizens of Diaylen.
As for the Epilox espers suspended in the air, Yeon couldn’t
spare a thought for their safety.
Some people collapsed as the sudden weight bore them down,
their bodies immobilised.
“My feet… I can’t move…!”
“Bloody hell! What’s this?!”
“My body feels so heavy! Please, save me!”
Their cries were short-lived. The black door erupted with a
deafening roar, pulling in countless objects from the ground.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
“Aah! Somebody, please sa—!”
“Argh!”
The airborne Epilox espers were rapidly drawn into the black
door. Monsters, deprived of their footing, were next. They
clawed desperately at the ground, trying to resist. But Yeon’s
constant absorption of gravity stripped them of their weight,
making them easy prey.
Blood streamed relentlessly from Yeon’s mouth.
The pain was excruciating.
It felt like his heart would stop. A fever spread through his
body, and dizziness clouded his vision.
He wanted to give up everything.
His arms trembled, the heat in his body flared, and then an icy
chill set in. It felt like the process of dying. Yet, as long as
Yeon exerted his energy, the citizens he shielded remained
tethered to the ground, safe from the black door’s pull.
He had to endure.
But… his infinite vessel was laughably near its limit. He’d
pushed himself too far today. One more second of this, and he
felt he might truly die.
Fear seeped in.
He hadn’t even properly dated Ha-Jin yet.
‘Damn it…’
What a fool he’d been to delay their relationship. He should
have just agreed to date him instead of lingering in an
awkward half-romance. The thought of dying like this filled
him with bitter regret.
Just then—
Tae Ha-Jin’s large hands settled over Yeon’s own as he pressed
against the ground. Yeon’s pupils quivered in an instant. Ha-
Jin knelt in front of him, mirroring Yeon’s pose, placing his
hands firmly over Yeon’s.
“You’re allowed to be ordinary sometimes.”
His voice was steady.
From Ha-Jin’s palms came a warm, crimson energy. The
vessel that had been scraping empty was now filling with
another’s power. The sensation was overwhelming and
humbling.
Tears slipped unbidden from Yeon’s eyes. His nose stung, and
his eyes burned.
‘Why?’
Why did this…?
Drop.
A tear splashed onto the cracked, grey road.
“Why do you try to carry everything, you idiot?”
More tears flowed.
Yeon let out a shaky laugh. He didn’t know. Today had felt
like pure hell, and the thought that this day would end in his
sacrifice had left him hollow.
Up until a moment ago, he had felt so lonely.
He thought dying would feel unbearably unfair.
But now…
You’ll die with me, won’t you?
Yeon smiled through his tears. Ha-Jin’s energy was strong and
reassuring—it made the path to death feel far from cold. He
felt safe. They wouldn’t abandon each other, after all.
Weeping with relief, Yeon refocused his energy.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
The gravitational pull intensified, even dragging in other doors
that had been tearing the world apart. The spectacle was
surreal.
Dozens of doors, hundreds of bombers, thousands of foes…
All that chaos vanished into the black door. Its pull grew even
stronger. Yeon strengthened the hold on the citizens’ feet,
anchoring them to the ground. Terrified, they watched the
impossible scene unfold.
Roar!
A Grade 2 monster tried to grab Ha-Jin with a clawed paw.
Slash! Its talon grazed Ha-Jin’s shoulder. He couldn’t release
Yeon’s hands, still pouring power into him.
Roar!
Unable to hold on any longer, the monster’s claws slipped,
tearing flesh and drawing blood.
Yeon didn’t want to see Ha-Jin hurt.
Suppressing sobs, Yeon spoke in an unexpectedly composed
voice.
“Shall we date, Tae Ha-Jin?”
 Chapter 6. Part 7
He laughed, but his attempt at steadiness failed, his voice
trembling pathetically. He’d wanted to confess somewhere
better, with the perfect atmosphere, with grander words…
Ha-Jin chuckled quietly.
“I love you too.”
Now, he could feel the subtle tremble of Tae Ha-Jin’s hand
touching the back of his own. The blood vessels on the back of
Tae Ha-Jin’s hand were visibly ruptured and swollen. Lee
Yeon felt as though blood would soon burst from his mouth.
He forced it back down, swallowing the surge with sheer
willpower.
Are you the same as me?
His vision blurred. Whether it was due to dizziness or the tears
half-veiling his sight, he couldn’t tell. Lee Yeon, sensing the
faltering energy from Tae Ha-Jin, realised that he too had
reached his limit.
“Hah…”
He lifted his head with difficulty, glancing around. The flying
crafts and enemy forces that had filled the sky were gone. The
Grade Four and Grade Five monsters were still being dragged
relentlessly toward the Black Door, and even the few
remaining portals were being wrenched out, roots and all, into
its void.
Yet despite swallowing so much, the Black Door showed no
sign of closing.
Even if he and Tae Ha-Jin sacrificed themselves, if that door
didn’t shut, everyone in the Diaylen nation, and eventually
everything in this world, would be wiped out.
Whiiing!
Whiiing!
Lee Yeon’s mind raced.
Under normal circumstances, the original door would only
begin to close once it had expelled all the Grade monsters it
had contained. But this Black Door had not spat out a single
abnormal type. Instead, it had only devoured whatever lay
outside.
Thinking through the logic of aura, if an ordinary door shut
when it had expelled all the corrupted energy it held, then this
Black Door was absorbing anything steeped in aura, including
other doors themselves.
Countless buildings rooted to the ground resisted, refusing to
get sucked into that vortex. And not just the capital’s doorways
—doors from all over the bloody country were flying in,
drawn in like they were being yanked by some monstrous
force.
‘So, that means… to close the Black Door…’
Realising how the Black Door worked, Yeon swallowed hard,
a shiver running through him. He looked at Tae Ha-Jin with
eyes full of dread.
Cough!
Blood splattered from Ha-Jin’s mouth.
He’d been holding it back, it seemed, barely managing to keep
his suffering in check.
“…”
He wiped the blood away calmly with his shoulder, barely
flinching. Seeing this, Yeon smiled, bittersweet.
“Ha-Jin.”
The unexpected use of his name made Ha-Jin lift his head. His
crimson eyes searched Yeon’s face, trying to understand.
Yeon let his hand slide away from Ha-Jin’s, allowing it to fall
to the ground.
Then Yeon smiled—a soft, almost beautiful smile.
“Think you can hold on a bit longer?”
“What…?”
“Just a bit longer. Keep it steady like before, just as I showed
you.”
By now, Ha-Jin must have figured out that he’d been sharing
his energy with everyone else around them. That’s why he’d
been able to channel it so skilfully. Yeon had already
established a conduit through which all that energy could flow.
Ha-Jin only had to keep it going.
“Please.”
Yeon got up, leaving Ha-Jin there, staggering a little, dizziness
hitting him. He fought to steady himself.
“Yeon! What the hell are you…!”
Step by step.
Yeon started towards the Black Door, releasing just enough
gravity beneath his feet to keep himself steady. He was the
only one who could end this.
The Black Door worked by pulling in energy or a Vessel.
The fact that it hadn’t closed yet meant it was still hungry—it
hadn’t reached the level of energy it needed to close. Yeon
thought it over.
Enough energy to satisfy that Black Door… or a Vessel grand
enough to hold it.
And he realised, the person with the largest Vessel in this
entire damn world… was him.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Yeon clenched his eyes shut, stepping towards the Black Door.
No one had ever warned him it’d feel like this—to walk
towards his death. It wasn’t like just dying.
Not with someone who loved him, calling out his name right
behind him.
That kind of death was gut-wrenching.
Yeon didn’t look back. If he saw Ha-Jin’s face now, he’d lose
his will. He’d want to live more than ever.
In that moment, Yeon knew—I really love you.
Love enough to make him question if dying was such a bad
thing.
He was almost there, just about to reach the raging Black
Door, when a fierce grip yanked him back. Yeon, drained of all
strength, stumbled and fell backwards.
“I’m not abandoning you.”
Ha-Jin looked down at him, his eyes full of sorrow, his throat
visibly tightening.
“I just… love you too fucking much.”
In that moment, Ha-Jin’s thoughts were clear.
He was terrified of living in a world without Yeon. It felt
easier to die for him than face that dark future. Dying in that
abyss was a thousand times brighter than a life in Yeon’s
absence.
Then he released his grip.
Yeon’s eyes widened in disbelief. Ha-Jin’s body started to tilt
back, inch by inch, slowly slipping into the Black Door.
Time seemed to freeze, stretched out in a single, eternal
second.
Yeon couldn’t even scream. Ha-Jin was falling into the Black
Door.
“Ha-Jin! Tae Ha-Jin…! Please!”
Yeon scrambled up, screaming, sprinting towards the Black
Door. He stumbled and got up again, over and over, his knees
bleeding, hands torn—he didn’t notice any of it.
In his final moments, he caught Ha-Jin’s gaze. Ha-Jin was
smiling at him, softly.
As if saying goodbye.
As if they’d never see each other again.
“No! Tae Ha-Jin…!”
Yeon hated that beautiful smile.
Creak!
Boom!
The Black Door shut, right as it swallowed Ha-Jin. The damn
thing shut as if in smug satisfaction. Now, all that remained
was the Black Door itself, sealed shut, looming ominously
over the land.
Typically, doors take hours to close, and once shut, they
disappear. But not this one.
No one knew why it remained.
Yeon collapsed on the spot, pounding the ground, screaming in
disbelief.
“S… shit… damn it…!”
Thud!
Thud!
He punched the ground, bawling, his hands splitting open. He
couldn’t stop.
Why had Ha-Jin gone in? Why couldn’t he have gotten there
faster?
Was Ha-Jin really… gone, devoured by that door?
“Tae Ha-Jin… please… Tae Ha-Jin…!”
Yeon wept, forehead pressed to the ground. Everything made
him sick. He wanted the whole world dead if it meant getting
Ha-Jin back. The pain in his throat was suffocating.
Shaking his head, Yeon tried to reject reality. Silence finally
settled over everything… but Ha-Jin was gone. All the peace
felt like worthless trash.
He crawled slowly to the closed door.
Cough!
Even as he coughed up blood, even as his body drained from
crying, the crushing grief wouldn’t let up.
“Who gave you permission…”
…to die?
“When did I ever…”
…ask you to do that?
He climbed onto the sealed door.
Bang!
Bang!
Yeon beat his fists against the door.
Open up.
Give Ha-Jin back.
For god’s sake…
Bang!
Bang!
Yeon pounded on the Black Door like a man possessed,
wailing, fists crashing down. He had no feeling left in his
hands. He’d rather die than live with this. He pressed his
forehead to the door, sliding his hands down its surface.
“Please… bring him back…”
Ha-Jin was his.
The first person he’d ever loved.
The only one who’d understood him, loved him, and saved
him.
And now, what—God was taking that away too?
Why had God always been so cruel to him? Always, always to
him…
In the midst of his grief-stricken denial, a single thought
crossed Yeon’s mind.
Ancient people referred to those with a dual bloodline as
“Dooropeners.” Whether “door” was a metaphor or literally
referred to the doors of disaster had never been confirmed.
It was something he’d once read in Lee Hong-Jun’s files on
dual bloodlines. That line had definitely been in there.
“A door opener…”
Yeon murmured, looking down at the Black Door beneath
him. The firmly sealed, blackened door was all he could see.
Desperate, Yeon clung to that sentence, repeating it to himself
like a lifeline.
Ancient people. Dual bloodlines. Dooropeners. Disaster
doors…
Why did they call people with dual bloodlines that?
Doors had existed since ancient times, so long that no one
really knew where they’d come from. There were only
theories floating around.
Yeon regretted it.
He’d only skimmed through Lee Hong-Jun’s files. The
moment he learned Ha-Jin had been used as an experiment for
dual bloodlines, he’d slammed the laptop shut. If only he’d
read a bit more…
If these “doors” weren’t just metaphors but real disaster doors?
Did humanity actually create disasters?
But why the hell would anyone want to open a disaster?
And if they were real doors, then how had they been opened?
The door was right there, sealed shut. Yeon wanted this
damned thing to open so badly he could scream. He mumbled
to himself, sniffling.
“Open, Sesame…”
Damn it… it’s not working.
Tears threatened to fall again. Besides that one magic phrase,
all he knew about opening doors was turning keys or entering
codes.
Even now, Tae Ha-Jin was likely dying inside the Black Door.
He might already be dead. The thought made Yeon’s heart
pound in fear.
Yeon’s mind raced.
The difference between dual bloodlines and ordinary people
lay in “heredity.” Ordinary people either had no abnormal type
or just one. But a dual bloodline esper had two, like a genetic
mutation.
The most distinctive sign of heredity was “blood.”
Without further thought, Yeon bit into his wrist. The flesh-
piercing pain was intense, but he bit down hard, hoping his
blood would flow more freely. His lips were soon smeared
with the metallic taste.
Drip, drip. Drip, drip.
Yeon squeezed his shoulder and arm, forcing out more blood.
“Open.”
Drip, drip, drip.
“Please…! Just open!”
His voice came out in sobs. As he looked at the unmoving
door, tears gathered in his eyes. He didn’t care if it was a
delusion or hallucination.
Even if it were just a dream, he wanted this door open to see
Tae Ha-Jin.
―If you’re going to die, do it where I can see you.
―Preferably, don’t die.
―Lee Yeon, is your fishing ground that vast?
―To the point where you can leave a big catch like me unfed
and locked up?
―Sometimes it feels like you were born just to captivate me.
―Yeon, I think I love you.
―I’m not abandoning you.
―I just… love you too fucking much.
All their moments together flashed through his mind. In
hindsight, Tae Ha-Jin’s devotion was truly reckless. He left
just when Yeon had grown used to his affection, insisting he
wasn’t abandoning him.
Liar.
You were just scared of being alone.
You went in there because you were afraid of being
abandoned.
Drip, drip…
His blood pooled in a small puddle, and a tear fell into it. Yeon
let out a sad laugh. Their love had always been selfish. We left
each other because we feared being left behind.
He was in the midst of this bitter realisation when—
Creeeeak.
Yeon’s eyes widened. The door beneath him began to tilt.
Creeeeak.
The door was sinking downward. Yeon realised it was opening
inward. Frantically, he scrambled to get inside, slipping his
hand through the widening gap.
If you’re on the other side of this door, I’ll open it as many
times as it takes.

***
Uibin had positioned herself in the building, aiming to snipe
the Epenhar espers appearing in the sky. Her hands shook with
fear, as she’d never killed a person with a gun before. Still, she
didn’t want to be a burden on a battlefield where everyone was
fighting.
Just as she steadied her resolve to shoot—
The Black Door appeared, causing an earthquake that began to
collapse the building her guide was on. Other guides had
positioned themselves on the first and second floors to
facilitate guiding and could escape more easily. But not her.
Crash, crash!
She wondered if she’d survive if she jumped from the sixth-
floor window. As a non-esper, her body wasn’t strong enough,
and she knew she was destined to die. Then, the crumbling
building suddenly halted. It was as if time had stopped.
The tilted building stood upright, and the shattered ceiling
restored itself. Uibin’s eyes widened at the scene as though
time were rewinding.
She knew this bizarre sight could only be Dekal’s ability.
“Miss Kim Uibin.”
She turned her head at the gruff voice. Outside the sixth-floor
window, he was clinging to the building’s exterior. He threw
open the slightly ajar window.
Dekal extended his large, rough hand.
“We need to leave.”
Terrified, Uibin took a deep breath and ran to him, grabbing
his hand and leaping into his arms. Being suspended in the air
without any safety harness was terrifying.
“Can’t we go down? I think I’m going to die of fright…”
Uibin clung to Dekal’s waist, her eyes shut tight. His body
stiffened. Awkwardly, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
After a pause, he spoke.
“Do we need to go down?”
“…What?”
“Never mind.”
When they finally reached the ground, the Black Door’s
immense suction began to consume everything around it.
Uibin tried to flee with Dekal, but he remained motionless,
like an unyielding wall. No matter how hard she pulled, he
wouldn’t budge.
He was staring fixedly at something.
“Dekal! We have to run…!”
Uibin cried out urgently, but then her steps grew heavier until
she felt rooted to the ground, unable to move.
“My… my legs, my body won’t move.”
Just then, the Black Door sucked in everything around it,
sparing only the people and buildings of Diaylen. Humans and
monsters alike were rapidly drawn into it. Uibin clamped her
lips shut in horror.
‘What is going on?’
Why aren’t Diaylen’s people being sucked in…?
Uibin, who’d been piecing things together, turned her gaze in
the direction Dekal had been staring.
“…”
And then she understood.
Yeon and Tae Ha-Jin were on the ground, doing something.
She realised that the reason she and others weren’t being
sucked into the Black Door was due to their efforts and
sacrifice.
With a worried heart, Uibin watched the two. She felt the
sadness as Yeon cried.
Yeon.
Why are you crying?
Then, with a determined expression, Yeon stood up. He began
walking towards the Black Door. Horrified, Uibin tried to run
to him, but her feet remained stuck to the ground.
Despair filled her. She couldn’t understand why Yeon was
approaching the Black Door.
Then, she witnessed it.
Tae Ha-Jin calling out to Yeon.
Tae Ha-Jin, who had been pressing his hand against the
ground, slowly rose.
Then, he threw himself into the Black Door.
As he fell backward, Tae Ha-Jin was smiling. How could
someone smile while being devoured by that monstrous door?
Uibin couldn’t comprehend it.
Tight.
She had been holding Dekal’s hand this whole time, and now
he gripped her hand with intense strength. His hand shook
slightly.
“Dekal…”
He didn’t take his eyes off them. Tae Ha-Jin’s descent into the
door, the door closing, Yeon climbing on top of it,
screaming…
Dekal remained expressionless.
All he did was grip her hand tightly.
And Uibin’s heart ached. It was as though Dekal was in
immense sorrow, though she didn’t know why.
She looked away, gazing at Yeon, who was sobbing from afar
atop the Black Door.
“Yeon…! Get off there now! It’s dangerous!”
That thing had just consumed countless lives and doors alike.
Standing on it seemed like a death wish. Even though the
Black Door was closed, Uibin couldn’t bear to watch the sight.
The weight that had once held them down had vanished, and
people around were baffled, unsure of what had just happened.
In the distance, the Crown Prince’s face twisted into a
grimace, looking like he was seconds away from bursting into
tears.
Uibin made a move to run to Yeon but was held back by
Dekal’s power.
Dekal slowly shook his head.
“I…”
“…”
“I respect my friend’s decision.”
Uibin froze as if she’d turned to stone. A single drop slid down
Dekal’s otherwise expressionless face as he kept his gaze fixed
on the Black Door. That someone could look so hurt in such
perfect stillness made Uibin’s heart ache.
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed.

__

The cover I used for this title is taken from the manga, but if
you check out the book one, you’ll have a visual idea of the
separation.
 Chapter 6. Part 8
“Kim Uibin.”
“…”
“Respect Lee Yeon’s decision too.”
In Dekal’s impassive tone, Uibin heard a whole world of
meaning.
Dekal was struggling.
Dekal and Tae Ha-Jin had been close.
And that she, Uibin, hadn’t respected Yeon’s choices.
That from now on, she would have to watch whatever choices
Yeon made, no matter what…
And then—what was thought to be sealed shut, the Black Door
opened.
A door that, once closed, would never open again, now
yawned wide, swallowing Yeon whole.

***

“This is a breaking story. Earlier, we reported a wave of doors

erupting all over the Diaylen nation, plunging the region into
unprecedented chaos. Additionally, President Carlos of
Epenhar has officially declared war. The Union has expressed
regret over this tragic turn of events and stated they will
restrain President Carlos’ actions to maintain world peace.
Meanwhile, Epenhar citizens are fiercely protesting, claiming
the Union is infringing on their nation’s sovereignty.
Union Secretary-General s has urged patience, saying that
once the crisis in Diaylen is resolved, he will issue a
significant announcement to Epenhar’s citizens.
Amidst all this, President Carlos, while restrained, has
deployed his espers to the Diaylen battlefield. And now, in a
shocking update—we’ve just received footage from a
reconnaissance camera operated by CCE Broadcasting.
Do you see this? A door unlike any other has been captured on
film. Named the Black Door, unlike previous doors, it doesn’t
spew out monsters. Instead, it pulls in everything around it.
Due to this unexpected Black Door, most of Epenhar’s
deployed espers have gone missing, and the doors that were
tormenting Diaylen have all been swallowed up. The camera
feed cut out right after recording the eerie sight of a door
devouring another door.
Scholars around the world are buzzing with theories and
hypotheses. The Union has yet to make a statement on this
anomaly, only deepening the confusion…”
In a hotel lobby in Kisilli, Jeong-suk and Euiju huddled,
unable to remain cooped up in their room. The world was in
chaos, and Jeong-suk couldn’t bring herself to believe that half
of Diaylen lay in ruins. They anxiously watched for updates on
the news.
“Wait… my sister and brother are there? This is insane!” Euiju
muttered, biting her nails, her voice shaking. Watching the
screen from her seat on the sofa, Jeong-suk felt her chest
tighten.
—Diaylen’s been facing some trouble recently. I have a
feeling something dangerous may happen soon, so I’d like for
you and Euiju to head to another country for safety.
—If nothing happens in a month, you can come back. I’ll take
care of everything here. And don’t forget that card I gave you.
You haven’t used it at all, but now’s the time—while you’re
somewhere safe.
In their last call before she left, Yeon had urged them like that.
It seemed he had sensed something coming but hadn’t been
entirely certain. So he told them to take shelter just in case.
Even here in Kisilli, Jeong-suk kept that card in her hand like a
talisman. She hadn’t used it once.
All she wished was for Yeon and Uibin to come back safe.
“Mummy! Here, eat this!”
As they waited, a little girl toddled up, grinning as she held out
a piece of chocolate. She couldn’t have been more than four or
five.
Jeong-suk gave her a faint smile and accepted the chocolate.
“This is tasty, isn’t it? Who gave it to you?”
The child beamed brightly. “Daddy!”
“Venisha, if you eat too many sweets, you’ll get a tummy
ache, yeah? Oh, my goodness, I can’t get hold of him. He was
sending messages just a moment ago…”
A woman in her mid-thirties approached, looking concerned as
she touched her cheek. Jeong-suk recognised her; this was the
wife of the man who had brought them here, Doberman.
After seeing them here safely, Doberman had vanished, but
she remembered how he’d lingered over his daughter and wife
before disappearing.
“Your husband’s Doberman, right?”
Jeong-suk smiled warmly. The woman blinked slowly before
offering a soft smile in return. She was quite beautiful.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m Herni.”
“My family is also indebted to Mr Doberman. I look forward
to spending our time here together.”
When Jeong-suk gave a respectful bow, Herni’s eyes widened
as she bowed in response.
“Venisha, say hello properly.”
“Nice to meet you!”
“What a polite little one.” Venisha, with her hand on her belly,
gave a neat bow, and Jeong-suk couldn’t help but beam back.
But as soon as she smiled, a shadow fell over her face.
Somewhere out there, her children were risking their lives.
Sitting here comfortably alone didn’t feel right; she couldn’t
relax for even a second.
Looking at the TV, now showing a “technical difficulties”
screen, she silently pleaded.
For her children to return safely.
To one day laugh about this day together.
Meanwhile…
Doberman, who had been on his way to a meeting at the
Coalition Headquarters with Cha Seung-Kyun, had almost
despaired watching the situation spiral out of control. How
many times had he debated running off to help Tae Ha-Jin?
But there were global matters to monitor and other nations’
objections to consider, so he couldn’t just leave Cha Seung-
Kyun’s side.
And that’s when he saw it.
The cruel footage, never broadcast to the public but captured
and saved from a reconnaissance camera.
Footage of countless lives and monsters being swallowed by
the Black Door, of Tae Ha-Jin and Lee Yeon bracing
themselves, of Tae Ha-Jin laughing as he stepped into the
door…
Inside his jacket, Doberman’s resignation letter rustled.
His face crumpled. He clenched his jaw, his eyes prickling to
the point he couldn’t keep them open.
You really were a cold-hearted boss.

***

In Epenhar’s Red Hall, Lee Hong-Jun clicked his tongue as he

monitored the spiralling situation. He sat in a newly
constructed lab in one corner of the hall.
Brand new equipment, cutting-edge gear, researchers planted
by Carlos.
Not a single thing pleased him.
All his familiar tools and devices had burned along with
Diaylen’s Central Research Lab. He had heard some
researchers perished, but he didn’t particularly care. It would
take time to bring the new researchers under control, which
annoyed him.
Knock, knock.
“Director, we’ve located the former A0-grade esper you
requested. Shall we bring him in?”
His assistant, Adrian, stood at the door. Of all the Diaylen
assets they’d salvaged, Adrian was the only one he’d brought
along.
Lee Hong-Jun eyed him without expression. At least Adrian
was useful and had enough tact to keep around.
“Yes, bring him in.”
“Understood.”
Lee Hong-Jun resumed writing in his experiment log.
The previous night, to sow chaos in Diaylen, they’d planted
raw gemstones in dozens of locations. Dion and a group of
espers had spent the night dashing around. As expected,
Diaylen was in unprecedented turmoil, and Carlos was
supposed to win this fight easily.
But he hadn’t anticipated the Union would get so heavily
involved.
Or that the Crown Prince and heads of foreign nations had
struck some kind of deal. He’d thought they’d simply sit back
and take it.
Through Epenhar’s transportation esper, he had real-time
information on the battlefield.
One of the stories he enjoyed hearing about the most was this:
His son, Lee Yeon, turned out to have a dual bloodline.
“Knew it.”
There was no way my experiment would fail.
Lee Hong-Jun let out a dry chuckle. It seemed his son had
hidden his abnormal type for quite some time. Audacious, to
think he could keep that hidden—it was a shame to consider
all the experiments missed because of it.
He’d created a high-grade dual bloodline. He’d succeeded in
overcoming the weaknesses of dual bloodlines.
If this got out, people would lose their minds. The blood both
blessed and cursed by the gods had been restored by a mere
human.
‘Christina…’
Now, there was only her left. He’d achieved everything. All
that was missing was her.
Lee Hong-Jun thought to himself.
If he could get her back, maybe this unknown thirst would
finally be quenched.
The outcome of the war didn’t matter anymore. He’d modified
bombers and airships, and even shut down Diaylen’s devices.
Who knew how much effort he’d put into creating original
stones and increasing the door emergence rate.
He’d gone above and beyond.
Even if the war ended in failure, Carlos would have no choice
but to introduce him to the parallel dimensions.
“They’re here. This is the esper who visited the parallel
world.”
“Ah, good day…”
A clumsy-looking middle-aged man greeted him awkwardly as
he entered. Lee Hong-Jun’s sharp gaze swept over the man.
He needed to verify. He had to know exactly which parallel
dimension the man had seen.
Then, he’d work out how to bring the Christina from that
parallel world here.
“Director, have you heard? I heard there was a Black Door
incident in Diaylen.”
It was part of his report. A door that didn’t release monsters,
but instead sucked things in… Lee Hong-Jun was already
considering researching it later. From the footage, he’d noticed
it didn’t pull in ordinary buildings—seemed like it only drew
in things infused with “energy.”
He figured this out in an instant from a single frame.
“That’s for later.”
Right now, his mind was consumed with bringing Christina
back. A gnawing obsession clouded his thoughts.
What would he say to her when he saw her?
Why didn’t you write my name in your will?
Why did you have to die like that?
Why… did you turn me into this?
“Lie him down.”
He heard nothing. He didn’t know that Tae Ha-Jin had entered
the Black Door, or that Lee Yeon had opened the closed door
and followed him in.
Christina.
My only flaw.
We will meet again soon.
The intensity in his gaze flared, holding the device in his grip.

***

The moment he entered the Black Door, Yeon felt himself

floating in midair. He knew his body would shatter if he fell
from such a height. But his energy wasn’t responding at all.
As if the control over his energy had been wrested from him.
He plummeted into the crimson depths of the door, squeezing
his eyes shut. He half-expected his skull to split open. But then
—
Splash…
A clear, rippling sound echoed.
When he hit the surface, he felt an odd sensation. His hands
and body felt like they were touching water, and there was no
pain at all. Waves pulsed out from where his hand landed. It
looked exactly like liquid.
But he didn’t sink.
It was elastic, like standing on jelly. It was even stable enough
to run or walk on.
“What…?”
Puzzled, Yeon slowly got to his feet, fighting the ache in his
limbs. His body screamed in protest, but right now, finding
Tae Ha-Jin was all that mattered.
“…!”
Yeon scanned the Black Door’s interior, frowning in disbelief.
He could hardly believe his eyes.
“This is…”
His voice echoed through the space.
He’d been here before. He couldn’t mistake it.
But this time, everything felt more vivid. The thick, hot air, the
fishy and suffocating smell, the eerie silence.
And there, lurking in the deep liquid below—an enormous
maw.
‘Why inside the Black Door…?’
Yeon thought. If this wasn’t a dream, this had to be inside Tae
Ha-Jin’s Vessel. To confirm, he glanced down and saw rows of
espers from Epenhar, along with dozens of doors and bombers,
all frozen in place under the red sea.
The expressions of the esper trapped in despair were like a
painting of hopelessness.
Crunch, crunch.
Crunch, crunch.
The maw revealed jagged teeth, feasting on the still forms bit
by bit.
Splash!
Yeon dashed across the surface of the liquid, desperately
searching for Tae Ha-Jin. Somewhere across this endless
crimson sea, Tae Ha-Jin had to be there.
“Tae Ha-Jin!”
Splash, splash!
Yeon scoured the water’s edge, hoping to catch sight of him.
Too many were frozen here. Out of all the humans, he alone
seemed to be missing.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin…! Where are you?!”
Fear gripped him. Though it was his second time visiting,
Yeon was just as terrified. He could feel the maw watching
him, waiting.
I have to find him and get out of here.
Get him out of this suffocating place.
Splutter!
Blood spurted from Yeon’s mouth as he ran. His hand
trembled as he touched his lips, revealing a dark stain of
blood. Inside his body, his Vessel was in turmoil, his energy
flowing backward. Yeon realised his Vessel sensed this space
as a threat.
Drip, drip…
A couple of drops of dark blood dripped from his chin,
staining the crimson sea. The moment the drops touched the
surface, the ocean began to darken at a terrifying rate. Yeon’s
eyes widened.
Shraa!
Shraa!
Just like before, a towering wave surged forward, rising as if it
would consume him. The colossal wave halted, creating a red
wall across the space.
And behind it, from beneath the red sea, the maw began to
surface.
Shraa!
Yeon took a few steps back, his heart racing. The enormous
creature that had been menacing from the deep was even more
horrifying out here, as it rose from the surface, its terrible
grandeur like a living nightmare.
The maw pulsated with countless dark red tendrils coiling
together, forming a shape with red jaws and razor-sharp teeth
writhing ominously.
〔Here to pick up what was discarded, are you?〕
The voice echoed in his head, reverberating with a strange,
layered effect as if dozens of voices were overlapping.
〔Foolish heir… I despise your hypocrisy.〕
Ssssh…
Yeon’s gaze wavered.
A dark red tendril inched closer toward him. He couldn’t
move. Only now did he understand the arrogance of his
previous thoughts.
The maw that had devoured three White Doors.
That monster had wanted to consume him, too.
Even Tae Ha-Jin had said back then—
―It wants… to eat you.
—It wants you because I want you… it seems that monster
does too.
But even Tae Ha-Jin hadn’t realised it.
Yeon could feel it. He knew it with certainty.
The thing inside the Vessel didn’t want to devour him because
it desired him. It wanted to devour him because it despised
him.
“Ugh…!”
Tentacles wrapped around Yeon’s waist, gripping him with
undeniable strength, lifting him up into the air. In a flash, he
was face to face with the gaping maw, and it seemed as if its
sharp teeth were ready to tear him apart.
〔Why did you abandon me?〕
The creature’s twisted mouth stretched into a disturbing grin,
and Yeon swallowed dryly.
〔Why did you leave me alone?〕
He understood.
The maw. That monster was perhaps the loneliness Tae Ha-Jin
had swallowed as a child. It was the sorrow and hatred he had
suppressed.
Yeon felt a lump in his throat. Not once had Tae Ha-Jin ever
blamed him. He had always greeted him with a warm smile,
listened to his chattering attentively, no matter how many days
had passed. He’d never imagined Tae Ha-Jin had been
growing such a monster inside him.
Because Tae Ha-Jin had always said he was fine, Yeon had
assumed he was fine.
〔I waited for you all this time.〕
“I’m sorry.”
The creature’s disturbing grin softened, and the sight was so
heart-wrenching that tears began to fall from Yeon’s eyes.
“You weren’t… you weren’t okay at all, were you?”
He tried to suppress his sobs, but the creature remained silent,
its grin gone, no answer coming forth. With his eyes closed,
Yeon felt something flowing from the tentacle gripping his
waist—Tae Ha-Jin’s memories.
In those memories, there was a gaze, always watching
someone’s back. A back with long hair—his own. The lab
fluid swirled as he turned his body and walked away, leaving.
The scene repeated dozens of times.
Moments when Yeon had left Tae Ha-Jin behind in the Basen
Research Lab and escaped. The child’s small hand pressed
against the capsule glass, reaching out as if to beg the leaving
figure not to go.
Yeon finally understood how Tae Ha-Jin must have felt inside
that capsule.
Desperate.
You’re leaving?
Already, today?
Then… when will you come back?
Inwardly, young Tae Ha-Jin had uttered those words. Yeon
pressed his lips shut. His desperate struggle to survive had
been nothing but a wound to him. How could Tae Ha-Jin have
told him he was fine? Yeon couldn’t comprehend it.
“Tae Ha-Jin… can’t you give him back?”
Please.
I’ll apologise for everything.
The maw began to grin again.
〔You’ll just abandon him again.〕
“No, I won’t. Not anymore.”
〔You only care about yourself. He’ll be abandoned again.〕
“Ugh, no… no! That’s not true!”
Yeon shook his head desperately, his voice breaking.
〔Prove it.〕
How?
Yeon wondered inwardly, tears choking his words. Somehow
understanding his silent plea, the maw responded.
〔Give me your heart. Then I’ll give Tae Ha-Jin back.〕
 Chapter 6. Part 9
Maybe a very mild TW about tentacles. Just a tip.
__

“…”
Yeon’s eyes wavered, and his tears halted.
…What the fuck did you just say?
Listening to it calmly now, he was downright furious. Fine, he
got it—the maw had been born from Tae Ha-Jin’s painful
memories, fed on his sorrow. He could handle its
condemnation, even if it took Tae Ha-Jin’s place to criticise
him.
But give up his heart?
“You’re having a laugh, aren’t you?”
〔…….〕
“Do you even care about Tae Ha-Jin’s pain?”
The maw’s smile stayed frozen, twisted in a grotesque grin.
Yeon was genuinely angry. Already feeling like death warmed
over, and here this thing was, laughing in his face. Acting all
wise like some ancient elder, then suddenly pretending to be
young Tae Ha-Jin? Ridiculous.
Thinking it through, Yeon realised this maw wasn’t on Tae Ha-
Jin’s side. If it truly cared for him, it wouldn’t binge itself into
a frenzy on the brink of destruction every day. If anything, it
would have learned self-control.
The maw cackled, opening and closing as if chewing in
delight.
〔Humans with dual bloodlines… truly fascinating.〕
The maw laughed for a long time before one of its tentacles
probed its own throat, rummaging around. Revolting as it was,
Yeon couldn’t tear his eyes away. Finally, the tentacle
withdrew, pulling out something carefully coiled within.
It was Tae Ha-Jin, encased in a transparent droplet.
Yeon’s eyes went wide as he slapped the tentacle holding his
waist.
“Let go! Let me go!”
The tentacle released him with a toss, letting him crash to the
floor.
Squelch! Squelch!
Forgetting to breathe, Yeon ran towards Tae Ha-Jin. Getting
closer, he stretched his hand out without hesitation, and the
droplet burst. Strangely, Tae Ha-Jin remained perfectly dry.
Yeon placed his fingers under Tae Ha-Jin’s nose.
“Ha…”
He was breathing, thank god. Overcome, Yeon collapsed to his
knees, cradling Tae Ha-Jin in his arms. Even the sight of him
lying unconscious was a strangely welcome relief.
A few dark-red tentacles lingered close by Tae Ha-Jin.
Scowling, Yeon hugged him tighter, glaring at the thing.
“What even are you? How are you here, inside the Black
Door?”
The maw laughed, stabbing its tentacles into the red sea,
scooping up a handful of espers and a Door, shoving them into
its maw.
Crunch, crunch.
Crunch, crunch.
The violence of it made Yeon’s stomach churn, his vision
blurring as he turned away.
〔Why do you dual-blooded fools always ask such stupid
questions? Asking a disaster why it exists?〕
“That’s not what I meant. How are you inside the Black Door
when you were in Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel?”
〔Look at this foolish question. I am a presence that can exist
anywhere.〕
What the hell is this bastard on about…?
Yeon stayed silent. It was clear this maw wasn’t interested in a
proper conversation. It kept eating, its maw cracking into a
sickening grin.
〔I am intrigued by you, human.〕
The tentacles, slick and rubbery, slithered across the crimson
sea, finally seizing a lone human. Yeon recognised him—one
of the commanders from the Epenhar esper corps who’d
charged in, proclaiming an attack.
The maw gobbled him up like a snack.
Crunch, crunch.
Yeon squeezed his eyes shut, turning his head sharply. This
maw was making a show of only devouring humans, casually
chewing on Doors when bored.
〔Of all the dual-blooded humans I’ve met, you are the most
self-centred.〕
“…What the hell do you want, you bastard?”
The insult was direct and bold. The words were so harsh that
Lee Yeon couldn’t even think of a retort. He glared at the
mouth as it mocked him, curling open and shut in a slow,
sinister laugh.
〔Do you think you’ll survive as long as they did? Do you
think those close to you will escape misery?〕
A tentacle traced its way up to its lips. It seemed to be
considering something, twisting its tendrils in a bizarre
rhythm. Then, in a sudden motion, the mass of tentacles
lunged at Lee Yeon.
“…!”
Lee Yeon held Tae Ha-Jin tightly, steadying his breathing and
refusing to let go.
But no pain came. The tentacles, which had seemed so
threatening, merely tapped Lee Yeon lightly on the forehead.
Darkness filled his vision.
In the depths of the dark, he heard the faintest whisper from
the mouth.
〔I shall be watching… to see how you die…〕

***

“Priest! Please, end this disaster!”

“Please, I beg you, Priest! Please…!”
At first, Lee Yeon couldn’t quite place what he was seeing.
Judging by the people’s clothing, it seemed like a scene from a
distant past.
In front of a kneeling crowd, a man stood on a dais, his back to
them. He turned slowly, the man they called “Priest,”
revealing his face.
‘…!’
Lee Yeon’s eyes widened in shock.
The priest was an older man with strikingly white hair that
only heightened his ethereal beauty. Wrinkles marked his face,
hinting at burdens long borne, yet his beauty was undeniable.
He was thin, with skin clinging barely to bone.
The priest lifted his gaze skyward, prompting Lee Yeon to
look up as well. Above, a Yellow Door stood open, releasing
monsters into the world. The priest rose into the air, flying
towards the doorway.
With a swift motion, he cut his hand with a dagger he had
prepared, crimson blood flowing down his arm. As other
espers protected the area, the priest approached the Yellow
Door.
He smeared his blood across its surface.
What followed was nothing short of miraculous. The door,
which had been pouring out monsters, began to close.
Lee Yeon watched the scene with trembling eyes.
“Praise the Priest! He carries the blessing of the gods!”
“Thank you! Thank you…!”
“Mum, how does the priest close the doors?”
“Hush now, someone might hear us. The priest has the
blessing of the gods. His blood alone holds the power to
command these disasters.”
“Then… we don’t have to die anymore?”
“Yes, my dear. The priest will always be with us.”
The scene shifted with a sharp crack.
The priest, who had been celebrated for his bravery in sealing
doors, now lay in a coffin. His hands folded gracefully over
his abdomen, he looked the epitome of serene dignity. People
wept openly before his casket.
“This is the end for us! We’ll be crushed by these disasters
now!”
“How will we close the doors from now on?”
“We’re doomed, doomed to be devoured by monsters…!”
Lee Yeon’s mouth fell open slightly.
Their grief wasn’t just about losing a respected priest. His
death meant there was no longer anyone to close the doors. A
man who had sacrificed himself, spilling his own blood to
protect them, was reduced to little more than a tool.
At that moment, a man with a fierce gleam in his eye
murmured to himself.
“The priest’s son… wouldn’t he share the same blood?”
Every gaze in the room turned to a boy sobbing in a corner.
The child, no older than five, wept for his father. Driven by
terror of the disasters, the people became monsters themselves.
They crowded around the child, grabbing his limbs and
slashing his arm with an arrowhead.
“Aaaargh! It hurts! Aaargh!”
That evening, the people smeared the child’s blood on the
door, and, miraculously, it stopped spewing monsters and
closed. The people rejoiced, celebrating what they saw as a
sign of divine favour, proof that they were not condemned
after all.
That day marked the priest’s death and the boy’s first true loss.
The scene shifted again, and there lay a coffin made of wood.
The child, now grown, was dead.
“What we’ve discovered is this: blood mixed with even distant
relatives is insufficient to close the doors. Only a direct
bloodline carries the power of the gods. Fortunately, the boy
had a son. For the future, we must ensure that bloodline
remains strong.”
The cycle continued. Descendants of the priest, each with a
unique beauty bestowed by the gods, were forced into lives of
captivity. The dual bloodlines were imprisoned, kept like
livestock, their blood harvested as needed. Some were bled so
frequently they died from shock.
They were forced into marriages, into bearing children, so
there would always be a next generation to suffer. With no end
to the sacrifice, many of the dual bloodlines died before
reaching twenty.
More than half chose suicide.
“I won’t have children. I’ll never love anyone… this curse
ends with me. No more sacrifices!”
One young man with dual blood fled his country, hiding his
lineage as he ran. He was painfully beautiful, capturing
attention wherever he went. Many were drawn to him, and he
finally fell in love, having a child of his own.
He died at twenty-three. Those who’d hunted him down killed
him, taking his child back.
But over generations, the blessing of the priest weakened.
Even direct descendants could no longer close the doors with
blood alone.
“What’s happening? Why won’t the door close?”
“Cut deeper! Perhaps there isn’t enough blood!”
A girl, who bore the burden of her bloodline, managed to
escape. She survived to thirty, believing she’d broken free of
the curse. But she, too, eventually fell in love and bore a child.
On the day her child was born, she took her own life.
Unable to bear the thought of passing on the cursed blood, she
saw her death as an escape.
Her child vanished. Witnesses claimed to have seen, but the
trail was lost. Nations that had once relied on dual bloodlines
to seal doors now feared the anger of their citizens.
Thus, they destroyed all records related to dual bloodlines,
ensuring no one could rekindle the memories.
The scene shifted.
A line of text regarding the dual bloodline etched itself into the
darkness. Lee Yeon’s eyes shook.
They had always loved and been loved in return. Their
stunning beauty was the god’s curse upon them. The god was
fair, for every blessing carried a curse.
In time, the story of the dual bloodlines became a legend, a
whispered tale, and eventually faded from memory. Few in the
modern world knew of them.
Centuries passed.
The final descendant of the dual bloodlines was Lee Yeon’s
mother, Christina.
“Mother…”
Lee Yeon saw her, young and happy, blending in among
ordinary people. No one knew she was the descendant of a
dual bloodline. Her smile was as radiant as the sun’s warmth.
But Lee Yeon also knew how she had ended.
His mother had hanged herself.
Even she couldn’t escape the curse of the dual bloodline.
At last, Lee Yeon understood the words the mouth had spoken
to him.
—Are you… their successor?
—You have the right, but not the courage… You will be left
alone.
He had hidden himself, concealing his face and abilities. As
the mouth had said, he lacked courage. At the time, he’d
thought it was the only way to survive.
—Of all the dual-blooded humans I’ve met, you are the most
self-centred.
He had indeed been selfish.
He’d kept his eyes shut, living a life of silence, just to hide. He
knew his selfishness better than anyone, and over time, even
Yeon had come to regret it deeply.
His damn maw knew everything.
Even his twisted insides.
—Do you think you’ll survive as long as they did? Do you
think those close to you will escape misery?
Lee Hong-Jun’s research on dual bloodlines flashed across his
mind. He’d documented it in the supercomputer, every note
preserved. The ancients had called those with dual bloodlines
“Dooropeners.” Whether this “door” was just a metaphor, or a
reference to the disasters’ door, wasn’t specified.
From what could be analysed, those with dual bloodlines
historically shared a few disturbing traits. They were
shockingly beautiful. They only possessed low-grade
abnormal types. Misfortune plagued those around them. And
they died young, never living long lives.
At last, it all made sense.
And Yeon knew one other truth no one else did.
Those with dual bloodlines…
Not only could they close an open door,
They could open a closed one too.
Those with dual bloodlines could move doors. Yeon, who had
once used his own blood to open a Black Door, was certain of
it. If the ancient dual-bloods had wanted to, if they’d had the
mind to destroy humankind, every one of them would have
been wiped out. They should be grateful the dual-bloods
simply fled, running instead of fighting.
After all, those with dual bloodlines could unleash disasters.
“Yeon! Lee Yeon! Are you with us?”
“Guide Lee Yeon! Are you alright?”
“Yeon… Please, don’t die!”
“Guide Lee Yeon! Esper Tae Ha-Jin! Are you conscious…?”
The flood of voices made his head pound. Yeon strained to
open his heavy eyelids. Above him stretched a clear sky, the
dark clouds vanished.
Kim Uibin, the crown prince, the princess, and Doberman
were all saying something. Dekal was standing nearby,
looking down at something. Their faces were blurry, details
slipping away.
Yeon turned his head in Dekal’s direction. Tae Ha-Jin was
lying there, his eyes gently shut, his chest rising and falling in
a steady rhythm.
He was alive. We made it out of that damned Black Door.
Relief flooded him.
Yeon closed his eyes again.
Slowly, darkness took over. The loud voices receded into
silence.
Finally… he just wanted to rest.
 Chapter 7. Part 1
The disaster and the war ended simultaneously.
For a time, the world was in an uproar over the Diaylen crisis.
In Epenhar, the citizens who’d been clamouring to have their
president released were devastated when over a thousand
espers sent to the Black Door perished. The espers deployed
for the war weren’t just powerful—they were some of
Epenhar’s best, someone’s family members, someone’s lovers.
Their obliteration due to their ruler’s arrogant miscalculation
was not something the people were willing to overlook. The
Black Door may have been an unpredictable disaster, but that
was no excuse.
Diaylen had already been overrun with dozens of doors.
Hundreds of bombers would’ve been enough to incite war, so
dispatching an entire army of espers had been reckless, to say
the least.
And then.
Breaking news! The Union exposes President Carlos of
Epenhar!
As Diaylen reeled from one shock to another, the Union,
which had remained silent for years, finally revealed the truth
about Epenhar. Secretary-General Jamahrah addressed the
organisation and delivered the message:
“Greetings. This is Secretary-General Jamahrah. First, let me
extend my condolences to the people of Diaylen who are
going through an unprecedentedly difficult time as they face
both disaster and war.
This incident has highlighted various issues on a global scale.
Before disaster, any superpower can be rendered weak, and
any act that threatens peace cannot be justified. We at the
Union have deemed it necessary to finally reveal the truth
about President Carlos. For the sake of peace, we held back
until now, but our silence has only led to the worst outcomes.”
Secretary-General Jamahrah outlined Carlos’s crimes over 30
years of ruling Epenhar, summarising it as follows:
“Though President Carlos has been revered for raising
Epenhar into an economic power, there’s a darker side to that
rapid economic growth.
He illegally provided slaves and drugs to foreign figures,
facilitated prostitution, and used bribes to consolidate his
position. Multiple witnesses have reported Carlos’s corrupt
dealings, and we hold a wealth of evidence. However, out of
respect for Epenhar’s sovereignty, the Union refrained from
additional sanctions for over a decade.
The situation is further complicated by Blonide, Epenhar’s
largest corporation, being deeply implicated. Blonide itself has
been repeatedly exposed for internal corruption.
Moreover, there’s substantial evidence of voter manipulation
during Carlos’s rule, undermining the democratic integrity of
Epenhar. The Union will make every effort to ensure the
people of Epenhar retain their right to democracy.
Additionally, it has been confirmed that President Carlos
collaborated with Director Lee Hong-Jun. We are investigating
the correlation between their cooperation and the sudden
Black Door crises. If Carlos’s influence extends to the Door
crisis itself, we will leave no stone unturned in demanding
accountability.
The Union will respect the wishes of the Epenhar people and
continue to seek the best way to maintain peace worldwide.”
The disclosed documents contained evidence of President
Carlos’s crimes and corruption, and Epenhar’s citizens were
left in turmoil, dealing with an unprecedented level of
confusion.
The Diaylen nation, with most of its capital in ruins, is
reportedly receiving aid from many advanced nations that are
part of the Union, including espers with restoration abilities.
Authorities are still assessing casualties, with current estimates
pointing to tens of thousands dead or missing.
In a shocking development, Emperor Teraphin Le Diaylen was
reportedly assassinated, sending shockwaves around the globe.
The Diaylen government has stated that details are under
investigation and that it’s too early to speculate.
All hospitals in Diaylen are at capacity, and many healing
ability espers from other nations are being deployed in
response.
Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun of Diaylen commented, “We
will make every effort to identify and punish those responsible
for this incident. Alongside the Union, we will work towards a
world that is just a little more peaceful. For now, we will focus
on supporting and treating the affected citizens, with the
ultimate goal of restoring the nation to its former self.”
Spectators from other nations, watching the broadcast, were
enraged by Epenhar’s declaration of war…
Article Comments
“What the hell is Epenhar on? There are dozens of doors open,
and they want a war? Cowardly bastards.”
⌞“Can’t agree more, haha. I was nearly dying every second,
but hearing them declare war had me ready to end it all.”
⌞“Looking for people to kill Carlos (99999/99999)”
⌞“Did anyone see the airship broadcast? Carlos looked like a
total psycho with that creepy grin.”
⌞“Tae Ha-Jin destroyed their airship, lmao. He must’ve been
livid, that was so satisfying.”
⌞“Why’s the UN actually doing something useful for once,
lol.”
⌞“Seriously, how did that country vote that freak into office for
30 years?”
⌞“Did you even read the article? There’s evidence of vote
manipulation, duh.”
“So what the hell is the Black Door anyway? I was scared we
were all done for. Thought it was the end of the world.”
⌞“Diaylen has no time to study that right now.”
⌞“Isn’t the Black Door a miracle for us, though? The doors are
all gone now, and all the Epenhar espers died in it. The war
would still be raging otherwise.”
⌞“If it weren’t for Tae Ha-Jin and Lee Yeon, the Black Door
would’ve been just another disaster for us, lol. I’m joining the
Lee Yeon Fan Club today…”
“Rumour has it Guide Lee Yeon is actually a dual-blood. Is
that true?”
⌞“That’s insane if true, lol. He’s an S+ grade guide and has
esper abilities too? Is he even human?”
⌞“Then he’s been hiding his ability all this time? Selfish as
hell. What’s he been doing every time the doors opened?”
⌞“Exactly, lmao. While others were dying, he’s just been
hiding his abilities.”
⌞“Oi, you all better shut it. Tae Ha-Jin will sue you if he sees
this, for real.”
⌞“How can you lot even think about slandering Lee Yeon in a
situation like this? Who do you think saved your sorry selves?
Just shut up and watch how things unfold.”
⌞“Couldn’t agree more. Honestly, plenty of people hide their
abilities just to live like normal people, haha. Who wants to
die in some door disaster?”
⌞“Stop hating on Lee Yeon~ Reporting this.”
⌞“Lee Yeon, stay strong! I heard he’s still in a coma…”

“Hah…”
Doberman stepped into the hospital, looking exhausted.
It had been a week, yet both Tae Ha-Jin and Lee Yeon
remained unconscious. It wasn’t a shock with Lee Yeon; he’d
once been out cold for eight days. But Tae Ha-Jin… he’d
never been out this long. It was worrying.
He recalled the diagnosis from Choi Sa-Rang, the doctor.
—Mr. Yeon seems to be completely drained of energy. His
body is covered in injuries, and the irregular brainwave
patterns suggest he’s suffered severe mental trauma. There’s
also the combined effects of exhaustion and overwork… It
will take some time for him to wake up. His life isn’t in
danger, but he’s running a significant fever.
—I see… What’s the condition of Esper Tae Ha-Jin?
Choi Sa-Rang, who had looked sorrowful when explaining
Lee Yeon’s state, became indifferent when describing Tae Ha-
Jin’s.
—Esper Tae Ha-Jin also had unstable brainwaves. While not
as depleted of energy as Guide Yeon, his contamination level
reached 89 percent, which is quite severe. His hands suffered
third-degree burns, and he had numerous smaller wounds all
over his body. One of his shoulders was missing a chunk of
flesh, which required cleaning and suturing. Typically, injuries
like these would mean a hospital stay of several months, but
Esper Tae Ha-Jin’s abnormal recovery rate makes it hard to
predict. He might wake up soon.
—So, he’s in good condition?
—No. He’s critically injured. His body is heavily exhausted.
Oh, and by the way, Secretary… Starting tomorrow, I’ll be
travelling around the Basen region for medical outreach. I
won’t be their attending physician anymore, so…
Choi Sa-Rang hesitated, then forced a bittersweet smile.
—Please take good care of Mr. Yeon. I don’t think I’ll be
seeing him as his doctor again.
—I understand… Thank you for everything.
—It was nothing. I’ll take my leave now.
—Yes.
Even so, the idea that Tae Ha-Jin could stay in a coma for an
entire week felt unfamiliar. Doberman trudged up the stairs to
the VVIP ward. It was a spacious single room, yet they’d
brought in Lee Yeon’s bed as well, anticipating the kind of
chaos Tae Ha-Jin would unleash if he woke up without his
guide by his side.
Doberman had rushed to the Sun Palace upon hearing that Tae
Ha-Jin had been swallowed by a Black Door. Guide Lee Yeon
had already been inside by then.
Remembering that moment sent a shiver down his spine.
Doberman had been gripped by a sense of loss so profound it
was as if he’d been hollowed out. His wife’s phone calls had
gone unanswered, a constant hum in his pocket. He wasn’t in
his right mind.
And then he saw it.
The tightly sealed Black Door.
Creak.
It opened once more.
Crash!
A grotesque, dark-red tentacle burst through the door,
squirming violently as if tossing something to the ground
before withdrawing.
What it dropped was none other than the bodies of Tae Ha-Jin
and Lee Yeon.
The sight was unforgettable. The Black Door had ejected only
those two, as if by some divine miracle.
Moments later, the Black Door vanished as though it had
never existed.
‘What was that…?’
The surviving citizens were crying tears of joy, overwhelmed
by relief. Only he, the crown prince, the newly risen princess,
Dekal, Kim Uibin, and a few others bore witness to that
miraculous sight.
“Welcome, Esper Doberman.”
“Thank you for your work. Any unusual occurrences?”
“None. A few visitors tried to come in, but we sent them away
as instructed.”
“Good.”
Doberman exchanged brief greetings with the Grade A or
higher security espers guarding the ward. It was imperative to
safeguard the unconscious Grade S abnormal type.
Creak.
“….”
Doberman froze as he entered the room.
Tae Ha-Jin, who was supposed to be resting, was not in his
bed.
An ominous feeling made his heart pound. Doberman quickly
crossed the room to Lee Yeon’s bed, yanking the curtain aside
with a flourish. His face went blank in disbelief.
“What are you doing, Esper…? I thought you’d been
kidnapped.”
Doberman pressed a hand to his chest, feeling his nerves
settle. In Lee Yeon’s bed lay two figures. Lee Yeon, flushed
with a fever, was sleeping, while Tae Ha-Jin was curled
around him, holding him tightly.
Tae Ha-Jin hadn’t even covered himself with the blanket,
whereas Lee Yeon was tucked in up to his chin as if he were
the most precious thing in the world, cradled against Tae Ha-
Jin’s chest.
The man’s red eyes fluttered open, and Doberman almost felt
like tearing up at the sight of that familiar hue.
“We’re dating.”
Doberman’s surge of relief disappeared instantly.
“…What?”
“How long have I been out?”
“…A week today.”
“Put up a banner. One week since Lee Yeon and I started
dating.”
Doberman gaped at him.
“…”
Why did I even worry about this man?
Realising how consumed he’d been by pointless concerns,
Doberman smirked. Amid all the chaos and his tireless work
between Cha Seung-Kyun and the Union, he’d still managed
to visit them daily.
He’d checked for breath under their noses, opened windows to
ventilate the room, torn up a resignation letter only to stow it
away again…
‘I’ll need a new one.’
Not having it on hand felt strangely unsettling. Doberman
laughed to himself.
“That’s a bit much, isn’t it? Putting up a banner to announce
something like that?”
“Everyone has to know.”
“…Judging by the comments, most people already do.”
“A banner.”
Tae Ha-Jin insisted with a sharp nod, ignoring the fact that he
was in patient clothes, pale as a sheet and clearly unwell,
talking about something so absurd.
Doberman glanced at Lee Yeon and sighed.
“Does Guide Lee Yeon know about this?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s lips pressed together. Doberman’s grin grew sly
as he coaxed him.
“I suspect Guide Yeon would hate the idea. If he finds out, and
you don’t mind being dumped, I’ll have it made.”
“Don’t be absurd. He’s the one who asked me out. He
wouldn’t end things over this.”
“…Guide Yeon asked you out?”
“Yeah.”
Tae Ha-Jin’s frown softened as if remembering something. His
eyes turned gentle as he looked at the sleeping face of Lee
Yeon.
In the depths of the Black Door, his body unconscious, he’d
been consumed by the Devourer. Yet the Devourer was
originally a creature bound within his Vessel. For reasons
unknown, he could sense Lee Yeon entering the door,
searching desperately for him.
Lee Yeon, shouting for him to be returned, his voice
breaking…
You are always precious.
“Well, well…”
But Doberman found it hard to believe.
That impenetrable Lee Yeon, confessing to Tae Ha-Jin?
“Did you dream it, by any chance? A dream where Guide Lee
Yeon confessed…”
Tae Ha-Jin’s glare was sharp, and Doberman’s awkward
chuckle trailed off.
“Anyway, I’ll stay in Kisilli for a while My family is still
there.”
“Dekal.”
“If it’s Dekal, he’s likely the busiest esper in the world right
now. Isn’t there no one better than him for restoration? I heard
he barely gets three hours of sleep a day. He’s focusing on
rebuilding the demolished medical facilities as fast as he can.”
“And Ricardo?”
“His Highness, the Crown Prince, is constantly in meetings
with the Elders, standing in for the late Emperor. I’ve heard
he’s been meeting frequently with Elder Chairman Cha Seung-
Kyun too. It looks like His Highness will ascend as the next
Emperor. He went through hell in this war, and the people’s
support for him has grown.”
“And the princess?”
“She’s been bedridden for days. The betrayal by Dion and the
Emperor’s death… it hit her hard. She asked to be contacted as
soon as Lee Yeon’s guide wakes up.”
“And Kim Uibin?”
Doberman blinked slowly. He hadn’t expected Tae Ha-Jin to
be curious about Kim Uibin. Actually, asking about others’
circumstances at all was unlike the old Ha-Jin.
‘You’re truly becoming more human…’
Doberman glanced gratefully at Yeon, still fast asleep. It’s all
thanks to you.
Lost in thought, Doberman allowed a small smile.
“I heard Kim Uibin quit as a guide. Apparently, she’s planning
to become a firearms instructor for abnormal-types. She’s
supposed to be taking the entrance exams for the instructor
position soon. She’s at the shooting range every day,
practising. What’s surprising is that Dekal used his sleep time
to restore the shooting range.”
“Why?”
“How should I know? Word is she packs lunch every day and
takes it to Dekal at work. Maybe he’s repaying her for that.”
Doberman was a keen listener. To restore Diaylen, Cha Seung-
Kyun had granted Doberman a high temporary post, giving
him oversight over the capital’s restoration. He seemed to
think Doberman’s meticulous nature would come in handy.
“And the Doors?”
Ha-Jin asked casually, sweeping a strand of Yeon’s hair aside.
Doberman had been planning to report this first anyway. He
brightened as he answered.
“The sudden surge of Doors bursting open seems to have
lowered the occurrence rate of Doors across Diaylen.
However, it’s increased in other nations. The International
Union is investigating the correlation.”
“And Lee Hong-Jun?”
“Ah…”
Doberman’s face turned serious. He lowered his voice.
“With President Carlos detained by the Union, Lee Hong-Jun
has gone eerily quiet. Epenhar is in chaos right now… He’s
confirmed to be holed up in his newly-built lab, and given his
unpredictability, the Union is hesitant to make a move.”
Ha-Jin silently caressed Yeon’s face, staring at him. Then he
spoke in a chillingly low tone.
“I’m going to kill him.”
“…Lee Hong-Jun? When?”
“Now.”
“P-pardon?”
Doberman flinched as Ha-Jin sat up, ignoring his throbbing
body. He got out of bed, straightened the blankets around
Yeon, and kissed him gently on the forehead.
Doberman watched his movements with wavering eyes.
Standing tall, Ha-Jin yanked the curtains closed, picked up his
prepared clothes, and slid into them, his scarlet eyes gleaming
intensely.
“Before Yeon wakes up, I’m ending this.”
His face was expressionless as ever, but he looked ready to
explode with rage. Any thoughts of advising him to wait, to
rest a bit more, vanished instantly.
“Scrap every plan we’ve made so far. It’s happening today.”
They’d devised countless strategies to ruin Lee Hong-Jun,
weaving connections, positioning pieces. Even with the
setbacks from Hong-Jun’s unpredictability, things had been
progressing well enough.
Ha-Jin had planned to crush Lee Hong-Jun in the most brutal,
devastating way possible—not merely to take his life.
But now…
He declared all plans off.
The reason was evident. Ha-Jin spoke, adding with finality,
“He’s getting in the way of my love life.”

***

Thud, slam!
The suitcase hit the floor, and Adrian, Lee Hong-Jun’s
assistant, frantically stuffed clothes, notebooks, anything he
could grab, into it. His hands trembled with urgency.
“Lee Hong-Jun’s done for! We’re finished…!”
He couldn’t believe how everything had spiralled so out of
control. When they’d raised the Door occurrence rate, flooding
Diaylen with them, even sending in bombers under President
Carlos’s orders, everything had seemed to be going smoothly.
Adrian had thought himself clever, switching from Diaylen to
Epenhar, expecting Diaylen would collapse and leave Epenhar
as the next great nation.
Yes, the war had taken an unexpected turn; the Union had
sided with Diaylen, a black Door had appeared—but those
events were manageable.
But this, this was something else.
“For fuck’s sake! Not like this…!”
Lee Hong-Jun, obsessed with his research all his life, had
suddenly halted it all, choosing seclusion.
It was insane.
The citizens of Epenhar raged, ready to tear the new lab down
daily. The United Nation espers were lying in wait, ready to
pounce. His face and Lee Hong-Jun’s were plastered across
wanted lists in Diaylen, with massive bounties.
And Lee Hong-Jun, who should have been continuing his
twisted experiments, had locked himself away.
He refused all contact. His lab doors remained firmly shut,
leaving him completely isolated.
Adrian shook his head bitterly. The golden opportunity had
turned to straw, and he couldn’t understand Lee Hong-Jun’s
abrupt decision.
If the head doesn’t cooperate, cut it off. He’d only been a tail,
but he’d survive and find another head.
“Damn it… where should I go?”
Click, whirr!
Adrian closed the suitcase and tapped his wristwatch,
searching coordinates for a safe location, somewhere ideal for
escape. Never had he been more grateful for his transport
esper ability.
“…What the hell?”

__
Remember do not get in the way of Tae’s love life.
 Chapter 7. Part 2
Adrian’s eyes widened as he tapped his watch, which wasn’t
responding. Just yesterday it had worked fine. Definitely Lee
Hong-Jun’s doing.
‘Why…?’
Why are you doing this to me, Lee Hong-Jun?
Adrian shut his eyes in frustration. Without coordinates, he
couldn’t go anywhere. Unlike Doberman, he hadn’t
memorised any coordinates, like a madman.
Tap, tap! Tap!
Abandoning the watch, he pulled it off, intending to dismantle
it. It would take time, but he could clear out Hong-Jun’s
tampering and reprogram it. Then, it would work again.
Just then—
Flash!
An all-too-familiar light and sound reached his ears. Adrian’s
pupils quivered.
‘No… way…’
Lee Hong-Jun.
A transport esper had managed to get in!
Adrian’s mind reeled. Normally, Hong-Jun scrambled the
coordinates or blocked incoming transport espers. So why had
he disabled it this time?
‘What the hell are you thinking, Hong-Jun?!’
Adrian froze, his body stiffening like a rock.
“Well, well. The new lab is impressive, I’ll give it that.”
It was Doberman’s voice. Adrian had seen him a few times at
auctions or when Hong-Jun had dragged him to events.
Though they were both transport espers, Doberman was A+,
whereas Adrian was A0. Despite the narrow grade difference,
Doberman was notorious among espers.
Not for his transport abilities, but for his judgement and
exceptional adaptability.
Moreover, because he was the man Tae Ha-Jin had entrusted
with his flank.
Splat!
The tip of a sharp blade pressed against Adrian’s neck. It
seemed the wielder had withdrawn all compassion, as the
blade had already pierced slightly, drawing blood. Adrian
winced, the sudden jolt of pain contorting his face. He felt the
warm trickle of blood seeping from the wound.
The supposedly comatose Tae Ha-Jin had appeared before
him, tilting his head with an eerie, expressionless stare. Their
eyes met. Adrian found himself shaken by the predatory gleam
in Tae Ha-Jin’s gaze.
“Don’t worry. You won’t die just yet.”
The voice was chillingly dark. Oddly enough, those words
provided a fleeting sense of relief. Adrian couldn’t even
swallow; any movement of his throat would push it closer to
the blade.
“Where is he?”
Our bastard.
Adrian realised at once that the ‘bastard’ Tae Ha-Jin was
referring to was none other than Lee Hong-Jun. He had
already resolved to cut all ties with Lee Hong-Jun, so if it
meant preserving his life, he’d do whatever was needed.
Adrian raised both hands, signalling surrender.

***
Lee Hong-Jun sat quietly in his lab, his body resting lazily
against the back of his chair, fingers interlaced and placed on
his thighs.
The lab was dimly lit by only a few lamps, an empty expanse
now devoid of its researchers, with shattered equipment
littering the floor. This place, once bustling, was now a
desolate and silent void.
Hong-Jun’s eyes focused on the supercomputer he had
painstakingly secured, a lifeless, mechanical stare.
It had been a week.
A week since he’d felt any purpose.
Carlos had once spoken of it. He said he could open
dimensional portals for limited periods and that an esper had
ventured through and returned, claiming to have seen a
parallel world. Hong-Jun had achieved everything. Every
experiment deemed impossible had succeeded under his
hands, his research marking pivotal moments in human
history.
For a man who had conquered so much, only Christina’s
absence remained an unscalable cliff.
“Christina…”
Hong-Jun whispered her name softly.
He had driven out every researcher, determined to face this
enigma alone.
He had tracked down the esper who claimed to have seen the
parallel world and scoured his memories, searching for any
sign, any hint of where Christina might be, and what that
world looked like.
As he watched the vast screen projecting the esper’s
memories, a smile tugged at Hong-Jun’s lips.
The beings, the people the esper had seen—they were all
reflections of what already existed here.
Then, something in the projection caught his attention. A
figure passed through, wearing square spectacles, fringe
hanging over their eyes, a large mask obscuring their face.
Hong-Jun’s heart skipped; he knew without doubt that this was
his son.
It wasn’t just a resemblance; it was a direct reflection of his
own past son’s look.
So even the Lee Yeon of that so-called parallel world looked
the same. That was comforting to believe.
And there, walking within the vision, was the researcher he
thought long gone. The bald-headed man carried the phone
model Hong-Jun himself had developed four years ago.
People passed by, equipped with wristwatches, headsets,
printers, and electric umbrellas—all inventions from four
years prior.
The most prevailing hypothesis about parallel worlds was that
they existed as separate realms inhabited by similar versions of
oneself living vastly different lives. But here, in the esper’s
memories, everything mirrored this world. It was all as it had
been four years ago.
Hong-Jun’s mind confronted a reality difficult to deny.
The dimension the esper saw wasn’t some parallel universe.
It was simply the past dimension, from four years ago.
Carlos had said so.
He could open dimensions, but only with temporal limitations,
and the specific dimension was unpredictable. Returning to a
previously opened one was rare and extremely challenging.
For over a year now, Hong-Jun had collaborated with Carlos.
Weekly, they had opened multiple dimensions, yet none
resembled any true parallel world. Nothing similar had
emerged.
Ordinarily, Hong-Jun would have demanded direct evidence
before sealing such a deal. But in matters related to Christina,
his logic wavered.
He knew it was unwise, and yet, he clung to uncertainty. Such
was the magnitude of his longing for her.
Enough to blur his vision.
If what he assumed to be a parallel world turned out to be
merely the past, then…
Even if he could open a past dimension where Christina lived,
matching the exact moment she was alive…
How many years? How many decades would he waste on
chance alone?
And there was a greater issue.
Even if by miraculous odds he opened a dimension and
brought the past Christina back to the present, what then?
Hong-Jun reflected.
A past Christina brought here would be one that didn’t exist in
her original world. So, wouldn’t that ultimately mean the
present Christina remained absent?
Thoughts circled endlessly, trapping him in a cycle.
There was only one conclusion Hong-Jun could draw.
That no matter what he did, Christina could never truly be
brought back.
For her, he was prepared to shatter Diaylen. He tolerated the
arduous process of instigating war, modifying bombers,
enhancing door activation rates, and enduring Carlos’ tedious
company.
But for what? To face an ultimate impossibility?
Despair, rage, self-scorn, and emptiness surged within him.
Research had always been a testament to life’s vitality for him.
The thrill of discovery was unmatched, the joy of rewriting
universal truths the highest form of exhilaration.
Before her, that was.
—Do experiments always have to be done?
—Hong-Jun. There are so many joys out there. Would you
come outside with me?
—That’s why the puppy jumped so high. It must’ve been
startled, ha-ha.
—That hypothesis was true? Incredible… I thought it was a
lie.
Christina, you were always peculiar.
Everyone looked the same in front of me. But why were you
always different, always smiling? In my memories, you were
forever smiling.
—I feel sorry for you.
No.
You didn’t always smile.
Sometimes you said such absurd things with eyes that looked
ready to cry.
—I pity you… I wish you’d stop all this. Even if I beg like
this, you’ll keep going, won’t you?
There were times you’d flare up, even cry. Your laughter
twisting into tears was strangely moving.
—Don’t touch those children! Leave them alone! Bring them
back one more time, and I swear I’ll die…! Test subjects?
What kind of nonsense is that?
—You… love me, you say? You, loving me… hic, loving me?
—Hong-Jun. Why do I… why do I feel sorry for someone like
you?
I thought about it countless times.
That I wanted to kill you.
You got in the way of my research. Whenever your
insignificant words or expressions unsettled me, I genuinely
wanted to erase you. People like you, useless to humanity’s
progress, deserved to be gone.
Starting research tied to you.
Finding you.
Seeing your smile.
Relishing in your pity.
Learning what feelings were from you…
Christina, your existence.
Was, without a doubt, the gravest mistake of all.
Just by putting your hand on the curse of God, you will have
sewn the first button wrong.

“…….”

Lee Hong-Jun, paralysed with thoughts and memories, darted

his gaze to the corder of the room - at the box placed there.
The box was covered in a thick layer of dust with a few finger
marks - physical images of touch.
Thud, thud.
Lee Hong-Jun walked to the corner, picked up the box, and set
it down on the table, cluttered with objects scattered without
any order. He opened the lid.
A few novels, some clothes she wore often, hair ties she’d
used, strands of a dead woman’s hair, her well-worn journal…
They were Christina’s belongings.
No one had touched the box since a lab worker organised it.
Since her death, Lee Hong-Jun hadn’t opened it once.
In her will, Christina hadn’t mentioned him even once. And
there was no reason for anything in that box to be connected to
him either. He had no desire to confirm that fact.
Besides, Lee Hong-Jun was certain he’d bring Christina back.
There was no need to open this box and acknowledge her
death. After all, he was a genius, and Christina was just one
human being.
Thud.
He lowered the lid. The scent of her wasn’t in the box. All that
remained was the stale smell of old paper. His hand drifted
naturally to her journal, with no hesitation.
Rustle.
Rustle.
He quietly observed the foolish woman’s life story. The entries
were irregular and erratic, as though only written whenever
she felt like it—a very Christina-like diary.
Rustle.
Rustle.
Flipping through the journal at speed, Lee Hong-Jun’s hand
gradually slowed, his eyes flickering. To his surprise, his own
name appeared quite frequently in Christina’s diary.
Rustle…
Rustle…
Thud.
After reading the final page, he wordlessly threw it back into
the box, glancing around. Rummaging through the cabinet, he
took out a rope and a hammer he often used on his test
subjects. Picking up the hammer first, Lee Hong-Jun swung it
down.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
He pounded his supercomputer repeatedly, fragments flying
everywhere as the motherboard shattered, rendering the
supercomputer completely useless. No one would be able to
restore it.
Then he reached for the rope.
‘Christina. How did you die again?’
Standing on a chair, he removed the ceiling light and looped
the rope around the exposed beam.
She’d tied the knot in a similar way when she died. He had
thought she’d done a pretty decent job securing it, but trying to
replicate it, he couldn’t help but wonder what was going
through her mind at the time.
Clench.
He tied the rope to the ceiling, fashioning a round loop big
enough for his head. Slowly, he blinked, remembering the
words he’d read in Christina’s journal.
She had never loved him.
She thought of herself as a disaster.
She…
Christina had chosen sacrifice the moment she crossed into his
lab as a test subject.
She’d been a fool.
Yet she was a remarkable specimen.
“Christina…”
Mumbling vacantly, Lee Hong-Jun slipped his head into the
loop. This was the final solution he’d devised. At the edge of
this last agony, he would meet her. In that realm where death
brushed against death…
Thud! He kicked away the chair he’d been standing on.
Crash! The chair toppled backwards.
Welcoming gravity’s pull, he looked forward to meeting her in
death.
Creak.
As he was dying, the lab door opened.
Walking in was TQ-001 and his assistant, Doberman. Hong-
Jun’s body dangled lifelessly as he gazed at them with a vacant
stare.
The assistant looked shocked, but the experiment, with its red
eyes, appeared unfazed.
TQ-001 perched on a nearby chair, resting his chin on the
armrest as he quietly observed the man’s death. Then he
changed his posture, leaning back and crossing his arms,
tilting his head.
Watching him, Hong-Jun felt a brief flash of regret.
Ah, I should have recorded that bastard’s behaviour in the
records…
‘You must be pleased, Christina.’
The specimen you cared for is still alive, even now.
In the end, the winner of this whole game was Christina.
If he could regret anything else, it would be leaving 「that
thing」 hidden in the secret lab…
‘I didn’t get to see the results.’
At the moment his life ended,
Lee Hong-Jun thought. He had always been curious.
What his death would be like.
Who would be the one to kill him, and how they’d do it.
And now he’d found the answer.
The person to kill him was himself.
Ending his final experiment, he closed his eyes.
“…Isn’t this too peaceful a death for him, esper?”
Tae Ha-Jin said nothing.
He continued to stare at the corpse, hanging from the ceiling,
his gaze unbroken. After a long moment, he rose and finally
spoke.
“He’d have been glad if I’d done it for him.”
“Ah…”
Doberman nodded, understanding dawning. That would suit
someone like Hong-Jun. Such a death would be fitting for a
man like him. His assistant Adrian was still tied up, locked in
a lab. With the esper team already called in, they must have
captured him by now.
Doberman scanned the lab. It was a wreck, a testament to
Hong-Jun’s mental state before death. He noticed a strange
box on the table, a suspicious smell lingering in the air.
Before he left, he took the box.
The box was the only thing in the lab left untouched and
intact. It must have held some meaning to Hong-Jun.
Doberman shot a glance at the utterly wrecked supercomputer.
“A vicious bastard…”
The obsession to keep his knowledge and information from
anyone else was clear. To pull this off just before his death…
he was a complete psychopath.
Doberman laughed bitterly.
They still had the USB Lee Yeon had handed to them. That
bastard probably thought his knowledge was gone forever.
Doberman thought of Yeon. Could he have foreseen this and
prepared the USB in advance?
Flash!
The two disappeared from the lab.

***

To avoid chaos in Diaylen, the government delayed the

announcement of Lee Hong-Jun’s death as long as possible.
The public had thought Lee Hong-Jun was dead after the
Central Research Lab terror incident. Through this war, they’d
learned he’d not only survived but had even allied with
Epenhar.
They couldn’t easily break the news of his death now to a
population already reeling with shock, claiming, “This time,
Lee Hong-Jun really is dead.”
When the news finally broke, long after his death,
the world was stunned. It was hard to believe a genius who
seemed unkillable had taken his own life. He was known far
and wide as a man obsessed with research.
“What? Lee Hong-Jun’s dead? That Lee Hong-Jun? You mean
he’s really gone this time?”
“Yeah, that’s right. They say it was suicide.”
“Suicide…? I don’t believe it.”
Rumours circulated that someone had hired an assassin to kill
him and staged it as a suicide. Diaylen’s government assured
everyone it was definitely a suicide, and Epenhar’s absent
president affirmed the same.
People were less concerned with the madman’s death than
with the setback to civilisation’s progress. Who could possibly
develop groundbreaking advancements like Lee Hong-Jun
had? Eyes turned to the knowledge and inventions he’d left
behind, wondering if any of it had been preserved.
The fact that Lee Hong-Jun had fled to Epenhar and meddled
in the war was already known, and the citizens of Diaylen
responded with merciless disdain, saying, “A dead man
deserved to die.” No one mourned his passing.
The world, which seemed like it wouldn’t function without
Lee Hong-Jun, spun on as if it were just another ordinary day.
Only a few questions and lingering confusion remained.

***
“Esper Dekal! Have you arrived?”
“Ah, you’re finally here… The government keeps sending us
lists, urging for immediate restoration…”
Dekal nodded and rolled up his sleeves. He’d already arrived
late to work, spending the morning restoring Lee Yeon’s body.
Despite checking on him numerous times, Lee Yeon showed
no sign of waking. It had been a month now.
Most doctors had confidently stated he’d wake within two
weeks. In fact, by the two-week mark, his energy had fully
recovered, and his fever had subsided. Yet, he still hadn’t
regained consciousness.
 Chapter 7. Part 3
In the meantime, Lee Hong-Jun had abruptly committed
suicide, and Tae Ha-Jin returned to his normal life. But as Lee
Yeon’s unexpected, prolonged unconsciousness continued, Tae
Ha-Jin grew increasingly tense.
—There’s nothing left to restore.
—Check again.
—Guide Lee Yeon is currently healthier than anyone else in
Diaylen.
—Then why the hell isn’t he waking up?
Exactly.
Why wasn’t he waking up?
Dekal’s thoughts turned to Lee Yeon, who lay in deep slumber.
He was already content that Tae Ha-Jin, once presumed dead,
had returned. The news of Lee Hong-Jun’s suicide even felt
like a relief.
But for some reason, Dekal found himself wishing Lee Yeon
would wake soon.
Because then, Kim Uibin would smile with ease.
“When will you be restoring the Supreme Court? Can’t you
move it up the list?”
Most major medical facilities had been restored. Now it was
time to focus on key government offices.
A man stood nervously, shuffling his feet and looking
desperate. Dekal, restoring the front entrance of the
government complex, kept his eyes on the building as he
replied.
“The Supreme Court’s next. Wait your turn.”
“Next? Any chance you could give a specific date…?”
“It’s hard to promise that.”
Dekal’s gaze kept drifting towards his watch as he continued
his work. It was a new model developed in haste by
government technicians, bypassing network dependencies. It
retained most features of the older version but was now
immune to connectivity failures.
He found himself checking the time every ten minutes.
‘Should be soon now.’
He glanced at his watch again.
‘She should be here by now.’
His brows furrowed slightly, wondering if something had
happened or if he should call. Just then—
“Dekal! Sorry, am I late?”
The voice he’d been waiting for echoed over. Dekal stopped
what he was doing and turned around. Kim Uibin stood,
panting, with a lunch bundle in her hand. He walked over
without a word and wiped the sweat from her brow.
“Oh…”
Caught off guard, Uibin blinked, averting her gaze awkwardly.
“You’re seven minutes late.”
“Oh, well, the roads are still a mess, lots of traffic and
accidents. Are you hungry? Let’s sit here and eat.”
With a bright smile, she moved to sit on the nearby grass.
Dekal took off his coat and laid it on the ground for her,
silently resolving that the Supreme Court’s restoration could
wait a few more days.
The roads, he decided, should be next.
Uibin hesitated before sitting on Dekal’s coat.
“You really don’t have to do this…”
“You brought lunch, didn’t you?”
“Huh? Well, yes, but…”
Ignoring his intense gaze, Uibin unpacked the four-tiered
lunchbox. Dekal was a hearty eater and never left anything
behind, no matter how much she brought.
The reason she started bringing him lunch in the first place
was because he had worked tirelessly to restore the firing
range before he’d even had any rest. Uibin had once told him
that she couldn’t be his dedicated guide.
—I’m training to be an instructor! Guiding doesn’t suit me
anymore, so I’m done with it. Ha ha.
—I see… Then you’ll need a firing range.
After a brief pause, he murmured.
—So, how will we meet, then?
—…Pardon?
—Every meeting has a reason.
Uibin blinked slowly. It was as if he only met people for a
purpose. Did there need to be one? Uibin chuckled.
—Isn’t it just natural to meet someone when you want to see
them? That’s how it is with Yeon too. Though he’s
unconscious now…
Dekal’s hand hovered briefly before gently touching the corner
of her lips as she grew somber. He murmured as if discovering
a profound truth.
—When you want to see them… I understand.
He nodded, as though something significant had clicked. Since
then, she had been bringing him lunch, and Dekal always
enjoyed it thoroughly. A few days later, Uibin brought another
lunchbox, which turned into a routine.
—Esper Dekal. What do you wait for during every lunch
break? Skipping meals and all.
—It’s nothing.
—Join us for lunch then, yeah?
—I’m fine.
Uibin once saw him standing where they had previously eaten
lunch. It struck her that he was waiting for her lunch, even
though she’d never said she’d bring it daily.
Feeling an odd sense of guilt, Uibin began bringing lunch
every day.
Dekal always ate it with relish.
One time, another restoration esper commented.
—Wow, Esper Dekal, enjoying that delicious lunch all by
yourself? Share a bit, will you?
When they tried to sit down beside him, he stopped them with
his hand.
—It’s mine.
—Come on, don’t be stingy with so much food!
—It’s all mine.
The blunt refusal left Uibin laughing awkwardly.
—Dekal, I’m fine with it. There’s plenty to share…
Dekal frowned, an unusual expression for him.
—Isn’t it my lunch?
His voice deepened, almost making Uibin hiccup. She hadn’t
realised he was this possessive over food. After that, her three-
tiered lunchbox became four-tiered.
Reflecting on these moments, Uibin covered her mouth,
giggling. Noticing, Dekal paused mid-bite, looking puzzled.
“Nothing. I just realised, you have an endearing side.”
Dekal froze.
Uibin meant it. Dekal was like a saviour to her—he’d healed
her when she was ill, supported her in becoming stronger, and
even rescued her during the Black Door incident…
He was someone to be thankful for. A good man.
Still holding his chopsticks, Dekal blinked slowly and asked,
“You come every day… because you want to see me?”
“…Pardon?”
Uibin recalled her own words—that you meet someone when
you want to see them. She did come daily with lunch just to
see him. So, naturally, he assumed she came because she
wanted to.
‘I mean, he’d skip meals if I didn’t…’
But none of that really mattered. Yet, here they were, sharing
lunch every day. Uibin lowered her eyes, a bit unsettled.
Did I come because I wanted to see Dekal?
When she didn’t respond, Dekal spoke a little faster.
“I want to see you.”
“…Pardon?”
“How can I see you more often, Miss Kim Uibin?”
He asked with an air of genuine curiosity, like a student
stumped by a tough problem. Uibin was caught off guard,
momentarily speechless. Dekal’s blunt honesty often did that
to her.
‘Dekal, do you… like me?’
She nearly blurted it out. Biting her lip, she stopped herself.
There was no way someone like him could have feelings for
her. He was tall, handsome, kind, skilled, and one of the most
promising figures in Diaylen. In every way, he was out of her
league.
Someone like him wouldn’t fall for her.
The thought felt like a thorn pricking her heart. She’d always
been wary of unrequited love, knowing it could lead only to
disappointment.
“Haha, is my packed lunch really that good? Good enough that
you’d want to see me more often?”
She tried to laugh it off, dodging the topic. But Dekal, after
watching her in silence, replied calmly in his usual slow
manner.
“Yes, it’s delicious. But I want to see you often because I like
you, Miss Kim Uibin.”
“…”
“I don’t fully understand emotions yet. But I’ve heard that the
desire to possess, sexual attraction, and affection—those are
all feelings associated with liking someone.”
“…”
“I feel at peace when I’m with you. Watching the changes in
your expression is enjoyable. And I think you’re incredibly
beautiful.”
Dekal truly meant every word. He spoke as thoughts floated
up naturally, and though he worried he might overwhelm her,
he didn’t want to hold back.
Whenever she appeared during his work, he experienced
something strange. In a world that was all grey, Uibin alone
appeared in full colour.
Though he was usually unfeeling, Dekal didn’t deny his
emotions. He was the kind of man who quickly accepted
things and adapted.
Uibin’s eyes widened, her pupils quivering. She couldn’t
believe what she’d just heard. They were simply eating packed
lunches on the grass, yet suddenly… a confession?
It wasn’t even a proposal to date—Dekal had just laid bare his
feelings. For the first time, Uibin didn’t know how to respond
to such a straightforward declaration.
After saying his piece, Dekal went back to eating. Uibin
couldn’t help feeling slightly baffled. This stoic man’s thought
process was completely beyond her.
‘But I…’
“I like you too, Dekal. But… I don’t want to dive into love so
easily again.”
Her past relationships had left her hurt more often than not.
She’d endured wounds thrown her way in the name of love,
and looking back, it was foolish. But at the time, she thought it
was the best she could do. Those scars now ran deep, and the
thought of starting a new relationship filled her with fear.
She hesitated, unsure of how to explain herself.
Dekal took a sip of water.
“I understand.”
He twisted the bottle cap back on and continued.
“Whatever you decide, I respect you, Miss Kim Uibin.”
“…”
“Still, I’d like to see you often. Because I want to.”
And then he went back to his lunch, entirely unbothered by her
response. It was as if he wasn’t even the slightest bit affected
by being ‘rejected’. For Uibin, who’d agonised over her
response, it was hard to grasp. She didn’t want to lose this
good person, Dekal.
But Dekal was the same as always. He hadn’t put pressure on
her, hadn’t demanded anything. He’d only said he’d respect
her.
Overcome with emotion, Uibin lowered her head.
She, too, felt at peace with him.
“Esper Dekal. Someone’s calling for you over there.”
A restoration esper had hurried over and called Dekal. With a
brief nod of apology to Uibin, he got up and walked towards
the distant figure, his tall form striding away. Uibin hid her
flushed face in her hands, trying to calm the warmth spreading
through her.
She couldn’t stop thinking about his confession.
“Is she your girlfriend?”
Cha Seung-Kyun, arms crossed, smirked as he observed.
Dekal approached him and shook his head.
“No.”
“So, someone you want to make your girlfriend?”
“She said she doesn’t want to start anything too quickly.”
“Ah, so you got rejected?”
“Yes.”
Cha Seung-Kyun raised an eyebrow, sizing up Dekal from
head to toe. The lad was flawless in looks and abilities, yet his
‘interest’ clearly had high standards.
‘Maybe she turned him down because Dekal’s such a stoic.’
Cha clicked his tongue.
“Try being a bit warmer. At this rate, you’ll never get
married.”
“Marriage…”
Dekal frowned at the unexpected word, pondering something.
“If you do get married, I’ll officiate.”
“She said she doesn’t want to rush into things.”
“Ha? Who says you’ll only ever marry her? You could marry
someone else. And if so, I’ll be the one to…”
“No. I wouldn’t marry anyone else.”
Cha snorted. Dekal was known for his one-track mind, and
apparently, that extended to love as well…
He seemed destined to live his life alone.
Plenty of people had asked to be introduced to Dekal, but it
looked like they had no chance. Cha was actually glad to see
him developing romantic feelings; he was slowly becoming
more human.
“There’s a favour I need from you.”
“What is it?”
“I need you to restore Lee Hong-Jun’s corpse to a usable state.
Diaylen wants his brain for experiments.”
“I’ll visit soon.”
“Right. Don’t take too long. For now, we’ve got him in cold
storage.”
“Yes.”
As Dekal turned to leave, the Elder Chairman called him back.
“Oh, and by the way, are you the one who kept Commander
Dicaine alive?”
Dion was currently in a coma, and Dicaine had recently
awakened but was under arrest. The Crown Prince still wasn’t
ready to see him. Dicaine, as the Emperor’s knight, couldn’t
avoid blame, particularly since his son was the killer.
“It wasn’t me.”
“…Not you? Witnesses said you restored him?”
Dekal shook his head.
“It was Esper Tae Ha-Jin who saved him. If not for him, I
wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of keeping Commander
Dicaine alive.”
With that, he walked off quickly. Cha watched, surprised at his
brisk pace, until he realised Dekal was heading back to finish
lunch with the woman he liked. Eating packed lunches and
unable to take his eyes off her. It was almost amusing. Cha
clicked his tongue.

***

Captured by a joint team from Diaylen and the International

Union, Adrian revealed every secret he knew about the
simultaneous door incidents that had been happening. In
exchange for immunity from execution, he spilled everything.
Governments and leaders across the world were horrified.
A dual bloodline experiment to amplify door occurrence rates
—what kind of twisted genius could dream that up? The dead
Lee Hong-Jun’s brilliance was undeniable.
“Th-The original stone is single-use! Once it’s used, it’s
useless! Now it’s just a rock… Please, no torture! I’ll tell you
everything!”
As if to prove him right, doors were no longer concentrated in
any specific nation.
Balance had been restored.
And then, an urgent meeting was called.
“What the hell is the meaning of this meeting?”
With the situation as it was, the Crown Prince couldn’t
understand why a gathering was held now of all times.
Several high-ranking officials had gathered in Diaylen’s grand
hall.
The elder chairman, Cha Seung-Kyun, Prince Ricardo, the
Union Secretary-General Jamahrah, the CEO of the world’s
top corporation Lacoom, Braks, a researcher from the
Domillier nation, the heads of wealthy nations…
These were individuals with no apparent common ground.
They had been urgently summoned by Tae Ha-Jin. This was
the first time Tae Ha-Jin had ever called for such a meeting, let
alone used the word “urgent” and mentioned that it concerned
“the future and peace of the world.” It compelled everyone to
rush to the Diaylen nation with transportation espers.
The invitation even included, “I will not be held accountable
for the consequences of non-attendance.” It was half a threat.
They couldn’t afford not to come, just in case.
No one could predict what monumental conversation awaited.
Clack!
Shortly after, Tae Ha-Jin and his aide, Doberman, entered the
conference room. Though it was said that Tae Ha-Jin had been
in a coma, apart from looking slightly haggard, he appeared
healthy. His well-developed physique contributed to his
commanding presence, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Thank you all for coming.”
Tae Ha-Jin ascended the podium, gripping the microphone.
“I’ll keep this brief since I know you’re all busy. As you’re
aware, Lee Hong-Jun, head of the Basen Research Lab,
destroyed his supercomputer before his death. All his work is
now lost.”
The news of Lee Hong-Jun’s death, which spread across the
globe, had been particularly welcomed by Braks. Always
second to Lee, Braks finally claimed the top spot among
researchers.
Among all who mourned was the supercomputer itself. It had
been completely shattered, and each component laced with
jamming devices that even restoration espers could not bypass.
Such was Lee Hong-Jun’s thoroughness.
Now, Tae Ha-Jin stood before them, speaking of the absence
of this supercomputer. He ruffled his hair tiredly before
continuing.
“I trust everyone here knows the value of his knowledge and
information.”
He scanned the room of high-ranking individuals and held up
a small black USB.
“This contains all of Lee Hong-Jun’s knowledge and data,
copied by my partner when the supercomputer was intact.”
…What?
A collective stir spread through the crowd. Voices rose, filled
with excitement and disbelief.
“What did you just say? Is that truly the case?”
“Tae Ha-Jin! Why didn’t you say this earlier?”
“I was told only Lee Hong-Jun could access that computer!”
“Is… is that really true? All of Lee Hong-Jun’s data contained
within…!”
“By the heavens. That USB might hold humanity’s survival
within it.”
“Can this be verified? It’s hard to believe just seeing it.”
“Who on earth would get their hands on something like that?
Explain how it was obtained!”
Bang!
The room fell silent as Tae Ha-Jin slammed his hand on the
wooden podium, splintering it. The sudden crack silenced the
commotion. He cast an irritable glance around.
“I will not entertain questions. I’m not obligated to. Anyone
who disrupts the meeting further will be escorted out.”
It didn’t matter to him who wielded power here. Tae Ha-Jin
was never one to cower before authority, and with the USB in
his possession, he was untouchable.
“My partner risked his life to obtain this, so it holds deep value
to me.”
However, keeping the USB for himself was pointless. After
glancing through it, he knew it was filled with terminology
only experts could decipher. Moreover, Lee Hong-Jun’s
knowledge and data were critical for humanity’s progress. It
was ultimately an asset that had to be shared for the world’s
sake.
Tae Ha-Jin met eyes with Prince Ricardo, who glared, as if
demanding the immediate surrender of the USB to Diaylen.
He smirked.
‘Why should I?’
Tae Ha-Jin held no loyalty to Diaylen. He’d needed power and
influence to topple Lee Hong-Jun, and Diaylen, as one of the
world’s strongest nations, had fit the bill.
While he’d grown acquainted with Ricardo, Tae Ha-Jin had no
intention of being played for a fool out of friendship. He might
continue serving as an esper for this nation, but the USB
belonged solely to him and Lee Yeon.
If Lee Yeon woke up, he would willingly hand over the USB
to aid the ravaged Diaylen. But Tae Ha-Jin had no such
inclination. Lee Yeon had gone through hell to secure it. If this
data were to be shared, it would be on his terms and for a
price.
After all, this was the least he deserved for the years he spent
as an experiment. He would sell Lee Hong-Jun’s lifetime of
work as simply as that.
“So, I’m starting a preliminary auction. Doberman, my aide,
will conduct it. The minimum bid is 10 billion gold.”

__
One thing is for sure, their newly founded family will have no
lack of funds.
 Chapter 7. Part 4
“What?”
“10… 10 billion gold?”
“You expect us to pay a nation’s budget?”
“The starting price is outrageous!”
Some protested, stunned by the figure. One gold coin was
enough for a family of four to live on for a month. The
minimum bid itself was astronomical.
Tae Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow.
“Leave if you wish. No one’s forcing you.”
Given the USB’s potential worth, even 10 billion gold was
generous. Those who knew this remained silent, resentment
flashing in their eyes as greed took over.
Doberman stepped in, replacing Tae Ha-Jin. Though nervous
addressing such an elite audience, he stayed calm, bolstered by
Tae Ha-Jin’s formidable presence behind him.
“Good evening. I am Doberman, aide to Esper Tae Ha-Jin.
We’ll begin the auction at 10 billion gold. Please raise your
hand and state your name; numbers haven’t been assigned.”
Let the bidding commence.
This unannounced auction had everyone eyeing each other
warily. How much would they bid? How would they secure
funds? With a starting bid of 10 billion, how high would the
price climb?
Some had already given up. The starting amount was
insurmountable.
Braks, among them, knew he stood no chance. Despite
Domillier’s trust in him, 100 billion gold was a laughable
dream. Even the Domillier government wouldn’t dare.
He couldn’t fathom why he’d even been summoned. Likely, he
was just brought as the next-best researcher after Lee Hong-
Jun. Bitter, he watched as his opportunity slipped away.
Then a voice broke the tension.
“Ricardo, 10 billion gold and 1 silver.”
Crown Prince Ricardo let out a sharp scoff, raising the bid by a
mere one silver above the starting amount. He was utterly
taken aback. Surely, Tae Ha-Jin should have given his friend
some advance notice? The sheer audacity left him seething.

What in the world did Tae Ha-Jin intend to do with over 10

billion gold? That sum would be more than enough for even
the descendants of his descendants’ descendants’ spouses to
live in luxury for generations.
Ricardo shot an irritated glare at Tae Ha-Jin, who simply tilted
his head and flashed a mocking smile.
‘Cheeky bastard.’
Ricardo ground his teeth.
Around him, high-ranking officials glanced nervously at the
auctioneer. Was such a move even allowed?
“Apologies, but increments in bidding must be in units of 100
gold or more. This bid is invalid,” announced the auctioneer.
“Jamahrah, 10 billion and 500 gold.”
The Union Secretary-General raised her hand with a smirk. If
she could secure Lee Hong-Jun’s USB, the global standing of
the Union would skyrocket. Not to mention, it would allow
them to allocate the knowledge for more constructive
purposes, ensuring it didn’t fall into the hands of the
unscrupulous.
She was listening to the voices of the Union executives in her
earpiece, relaying real-time opinions.
This bid was like a signal flare.
“Lacoom, 10 billion and 2,000 gold.”
“Ricardo, 10 billion and 2,100 gold.”
“Jamahrah, 10 billion and 2,500 gold.”
“Lacoom, 10 billion and 4,000 gold.”
“Ricardo, 10 billion and 4,100 gold.”
But in the end, the true contenders were whittled down to
three. Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun, representing his
nation’s interests, found himself limited by available funds. A
loan of such an amount—10 billion gold—was out of the
question.
By contrast, Ricardo had the wealth of the royal family at his
disposal. The Diaylen dynasty, with a history spanning
centuries, had amassed immense riches. Now that the Emperor
had passed, Ricardo could dip into those funds, within reason.
“Lacoom, 10 billion and 6,000 gold.”
The chairman of the world’s largest corporation, Lacoom,
participated with furrowed brows. The numbers were
beginning to strain even him. Although the company’s vast
resources could technically bear the expense, his personal
finances had their limits. Even selling shares came with a cap
—liquidating too many would risk destabilising not only the
corporation but potentially the national economy as well.
That USB held immense value, making it a profitable
transaction in the long term—but that was only the future
potential. The immediate cost was an entirely separate matter.
“Jamahrah, 10 billion 7500 gold.”
“What?! Director! Did you get approval from the Union for
this?”
Lacoom shouted, clearly doubting Jamahrah’s financial
capabilities. He sneered in response.
“Do you think I’d dive in blindly without approval?”
“Even so, this is absurd! Don’t inflate the price so
outrageously!”
“This may be informal, but it’s still an auction. How much I
bid is no concern of yours. If it’s too much for you, feel free to
withdraw.”
“You…!”
Lacoom trembled with rage, clenching his fists before biting
back his retort. The auction proceeded. Since it was an
informal setup, Doberman kept the atmosphere light, ensuring
the process flowed smoothly.
“Ricardo, 10 billion 7700 gold.”
Ricardo’s expression was no better. Considering Diaylen’s
situation, buying that USB was non-negotiable. Yet even with
the royal family’s funds, 10 billion 9000 gold was his absolute
limit. Beyond that, the risk was simply too great.
The other nations’ leaders had already bowed out at the start.
Ricardo wiped a hand over his grim face.
“Lacoom, 10 billion 8300 gold.”
“Jamahrah, 10 billion 9000 gold.”
“You’ve lost your bloody mind! 10 billion 9000 gold!”
Lacoom slammed his fist on the table with a resounding bang.
It was clear he couldn’t go any higher. He glared at Jamahrah.
“I’m stepping out here. But Director, let’s see if you can truly
pay this sum!”
“Please, by all means.”
Doberman surveyed the room to confirm no further bids.
“The bid goes to Director Jamahrah for 10 billion 9000 gold.
Congratulations.”
“Which account should I send the funds to?” Jamahrah asked
casually.
At that moment, Tae Ha-Jin stood from his seat, drawing
Jamahrah’s steady gaze before she rose as well.
Bzzz.
‘What’s this?’
Doberman’s phone vibrated in his pocket. Checking the
message, his eyes widened. Without hesitation, his body
shimmered with light and vanished from the room.
Jamahrah, fixated on Ha-Jin’s movements, didn’t notice
Doberman’s absence.
In her earpiece, the vice-president’s voice came through.
〔I’ve sent the funds to your watch. The amount’s far greater
than expected… Our organisation will have to tighten its belt
for the next few years.〕
Jamahrah raised her watch, which connected to Ha-Jin’s. The
transfer, due to the enormous amount, took a moment to
complete.
Jamahrah studied Ha-Jin intently.
“Impressive income you’ve got, Esper Tae Ha-Jin. Who on
earth funded such an extravagant deal?”
Ha-Jin didn’t answer. Jamahrah was sharp, dangerous even.
Though praised for her kindness, she was the sort of person
one preferred to avoid entangling with.
“Lee Yeon’s your guide, isn’t he?”
Ha-Jin’s crimson eyes locked onto his calm, smiling face. It
was no secret Lee Yeon was his partner—he’d had banners
hung three days prior, announcing it to the world. Yet hearing
someone else mention his still-unconscious lover left a sour
taste.
“They say he’s dual-bloodline. How remarkable. If only our
organisation had talents like that.”
“Keep dreaming.”
“Perhaps I’ll make him an offer when he wakes. He seemed
like a kind man—he might even agree.”
“Are you asking to die?”
Ding!
The transfer completed. Jamahrah shrugged, stepping back
from him. Everyone prepared to leave with their transportation
espers when—
Flash!
In a burst of brilliant light, two figures appeared.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin…!”
All eyes turned as Ha-Jin froze. His gaze landed on a pale,
hospital-gowned figure just a few paces away.
“Yeon…”
Doberman tactfully stepped aside as Yeon strode forward, his
face a mix of disbelief and fury.
With no hesitation, Yeon grabbed Ha-Jin by the collar.
“What the hell were you thinking auctioning that off?! After
all the crimes Lee Hong-Jun committed against Diaylen, you
should’ve handed it to them directly! You don’t even care
about money—why pull this stunt?!”
Yeon shook him furiously, his grip unrelenting. Ha-Jin,
stunned, could only stare at him. Slowly, Ha-Jin’s hand came
up, holding Yeon’s.
“Am I dreaming?”
The quiet murmur stilled Yeon’s anger for a moment.
He’d woken just hours ago to find himself alone, guarded by
restoration espers stationed outside. Doberman arrived shortly
after being notified, and Yeon demanded to know Ha-Jin’s
whereabouts.
Learning about the auction, Yeon had been dumbfounded.
He’d trusted Ha-Jin to use that USB in Diaylen’s best interest.
Instead, Ha-Jin put it up for sale? What sort of madness was
this?
Despite his fury, seeing Ha-Jin’s weary yet emotional face
made Yeon’s grip falter. The moment he let go, Ha-Jin pulled
him into an embrace.
“Yeon, I love you.”
Yeon stiffened, then exhaled deeply, closing his eyes. For
days, his dreams had been full of Ha-Jin—so much so that
waking without him had felt unbearably hollow.
But now, here Ha-Jin was, holding him close.
“Your body—are you alright?”
“…Perfectly fine.”
Curious glances and murmurs brought Yeon’s attention back to
the crowded room. Embarrassed, he tried to push Ha-Jin away,
but the man refused.
“Not letting go.”
“You’re embarrassing me…!”
“I don’t care.”
Yeon gave up and awkwardly glanced around, catching
Ricardo’s amused wave.
“Guide Lee Yeon. So, you and Tae Ha-Jin are dating?”
“Uh…”
Ah, right.
―Shall we date, Tae Ha-Jin?
He had confessed by the Black Door. Ha-Jin had said yes,
even returning his feelings. Now, as Ricardo approached, his
eyes narrowed.
“Fine, you’re in love, wonderful. But an S+ grade esper of
Diaylen just sold invaluable intel to the highest bidder. Care to
explain?”
“Ah, about that…”
Yeon hesitated before pulling an identical USB from his
pocket, holding it out.
“I brought a spare. Diaylen has enough on its plate. This one’s
for you, Your Highness.”
The room fell silent as everyone stared at the USB in Yeon’s
hand. Ricardo gaped at him, as if he were some sort of saviour.
The shock wasn’t just Yeon’s. Tae Ha-Jin, holding him tightly
moments before, stepped back and stared straight at him.
“You had a spare?”
“Oh, uh, yes. I only intended to extract the dual bloodline
data…”
At that, Ha-Jin’s face twisted into a grimace. Come to think of
it, he hadn’t even known Yeon possessed a dual bloodline. He
opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by the
sharp clicks of approaching boots. Jamahrah strode closer, an
awkward smile on her face.
“Well, this is troubling. If a spare existed, our Union wouldn’t
have had to bid a whopping 10 billion 9000 gold for it.”
Yeon already knew who the Director was, but the sheer,
unimaginable sum made him whip his head towards Ha-Jin in
disbelief.
‘What? How much?’
The idea of auctions with numbers like that was utterly alien to
him. Yeon and Ha-Jin exchanged sharp glares before Ricardo
snatched the USB from Yeon’s hand, cradling it as though it
were sacred.
Then, Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun, who’d been watching
from a distance, stepped forward to interject.
“Surely there’s no issue here, is there? It seems Esper Tae Ha-
Jin was unaware of the spare’s existence, and failing to verify
it beforehand is the Director’s oversight, wouldn’t you say?”
Cha Seung-Kyun, ever opportunistic, had been quietly hoping
for this. The USB was vital, and when Jamahrah’s winning bid
had left him despairing, Yeon had unexpectedly offered to
hand it over. Naturally, he wasted no time siding with Tae Ha-
Jin.
Jamahrah’s smile stiffened ever so slightly.
Tae Ha-Jin had stonewalled all her questions. What more
could he ask? If this spare USB ended up in the Crown
Prince’s hands for free, the value of the one he held would
halve.
She had already paid the full price. Yet, having concluded a
public auction, it seemed absurd to demand Ha-Jin return half
the money, and whether he would even agree was uncertain.
As Jamahrah pondered her predicament, she noticed Yeon
glaring daggers at Ha-Jin. Letting out a soft sigh, her
expression smoothed.
“Then how about this?”
She turned to Elder Chairman Cha with a proposition.
“We’ll acknowledge Diaylen’s ownership of the spare USB.
However, Diaylen must not share the related information with
any other nation and must report to the International Union
each time the data is used. After all, we must ensure such
information isn’t misused. That said, if it’s applied for the
right reasons, we will refrain from interference.”
She added that a formal agreement should be drafted, arguing
that her demands were reasonable given the enormous sum
involved.
“And one more thing. I’ve heard Lee Yeon possesses a dual
bloodline. During our investigation into Adrian, Lee Hong-
Jun’s assistant, we unearthed startling revelations. Therefore, it
would be ideal if Lee Yeon could occasionally assist us in
efforts for global peace. If he agrees to such conditions, I’m
willing to accept the spare USB’s transfer.”
Yeon’s face hardened.
The grim history of dual bloodlines as revealed by the Black
Door loomed over him. It felt as though that shadow now
extended to him as well. Those who had spoken of global
peace had once justified the sacrifices of dual bloodlines. How
was Jamahrah’s proposal any different from the
rationalisations of those in the past? Yeon couldn’t tell.
Tae Ha-Jin let out a derisive chuckle.
“Bloody ridiculous,” he said, his tone icy.
His sharp glare cut through the room.
“If you’re going to spout such rubbish, we’ll scrap the auction
altogether. The USB was retrieved by Yeon in the first place,
and here you lot are, trying to exploit him without a shred of
gratitude. Fine. I’ll return the money, so take the USB and sod
off, Director.”
Ha-Jin reached for his watch as if ready to undo the entire
deal. Jamahrah, caught off guard by his unexpectedly
aggressive stance, faltered.
Yeon was equally stunned.
But this was the Head of the Union…
Jamahrah was widely respected, known for her efforts toward
peace. As the room’s atmosphere grew icy, Yeon hesitated
before raising a hand.
“As Ha-Jin said, I have no intention of being used by anyone.
The USB, strictly speaking, is mine.”
He gripped Ha-Jin’s arm tightly as the man started to interject.
Although Ha-Jin scowled, he kept silent.
“That said, I understand Director Jamahrah’s position. The
Door is humanity’s problem, and I’m well aware of the impact
my existence might have. I’ll accept the proposal, but only
halfway. I’ll assist in efforts for global peace when I see fit,
and only on my terms. Additionally, any collaboration with the
Union will require Esper Tae Ha-Jin’s presence as a
condition.”
Ha-Jin’s gaze turned to Yeon, an unreadable expression in his
eyes. Then, with a faint smile, he placed a large hand atop
Yeon’s head, ruffling his hair with a surprising gentleness.
Jamahrah appeared to weigh Yeon’s offer carefully before
nodding.
“A fair compromise. I agree. Protecting Lee Yeon’s rights is
important, and such safeguards are appropriate. We’ll proceed
as discussed.”
As the situation de-escalated, murmurs spread through the
remaining crowd, and people began to disperse. Cha Seung-
Kyun and Ricardo exchanged knowing glances, their spirits
lifted as if a ray of hope had pierced through Diaylen’s despair.
Watching their joy, Yeon allowed himself a small, secretive
smile.
‘That USB’s data is already copied onto my laptop, anyway.’
Having duplicated the information the day he retrieved it,
Yeon stood to lose nothing by handing it over.
Jamahrah offered a warm smile before leaving.
“Until next time, Diaylen. I hope for your nation’s swift
recovery.”
“Thank you, Director,” Cha Seung-Kyun replied politely. As
the situation settled, Cha and Ricardo mentioned reviewing the
USB and prepared to leave with the royal transportation esper.
“Ah, Guide Lee Yeon,” Cha suddenly addressed him.
“Yes?” Yeon replied, keeping his tone casual despite the
weight of the conversation.
“Sooner or later, you’ll need to make a public statement about
the dual bloodline. The world knows now, and it’s too
significant to leave unaddressed.”
Cha had likely omitted harsher truths out of consideration.
Criticism was inevitable, but Yeon simply nodded, having
expected as much. Ha-Jin, standing beside him, looked
displeased but chose not to comment.
“Shall we head home?” Doberman chimed in with a grin.
Seeing that Yeon had recovered and appeared unharmed, he
quickly transported the pair to Ha-Jin’s estate.
“Enjoy your time together, you two.”
With a flash, Doberman disappeared, leaving Yeon looking
bewildered.
What does he mean, ‘enjoy your time together’…?
“Ah!”
Before he could gather his thoughts, Yeon was yanked back by
a sudden force. He gasped, nearly collapsing, only for Ha-Jin
to steady him with an arm wrapped firmly around his waist.
From behind, Ha-Jin leaned close and murmured into his ear.
“Why’re you screaming?”
So excitedly.

__
TAE REALLY HUNG BANNERS!

The poor Union, quite literally.

PS. Jamahrah was introduced as Secretary-General, and the honorific that’s used
toward this person can be translated as Director. Also, until the epilogue, I wasn’t
sure of the gender of this person. I just refactored this chapter and if I missed
something, feel free to point this out.

And welcome to another quick lesson of Korean language, my sweet petal.

Although it’s directly said that it’s gold, for example, 100억 7500골드, The use of
골드 here indicates that the currency or unit being referred to is “gold,” not the
material gold itself. This suggests a currency or points system where “gold” is the
unit of measurement (common in games, fantasy contexts, or certain economic
settings).

Initially, when Tae announced the minimum bid it was done this way: 100억, where
억 is 100.000.000 (one hundred million). So, he basically said: the minimum bid is
one hundred of one hundred million.
In Korean, the glyph “억” (eok) represents 100 million, and the term “십억”
(sibeok) represents 1 billion (1,000 million).
The use of 100억 (100 eok) instead of 십억 (sibeok) is likely due to a stylistic or
contextual choice, and it can be influenced by factors like clarity or emphasis.
While 십억 is the standard term for 1 billion, 100억 can be used to emphasise the
magnitude of the number more explicitly, especially in financial or commercial
contexts.
Here are a few reasons why 100억 might be used instead of 십억:
1. Clarity and Readability: For many readers, seeing 100억 immediately
communicates “100” and “eok,” making it easier to grasp the size of the
number. It may feel more direct or familiar, particularly for large figures.
2. Style and Popularity: In everyday speech, people sometimes use 100억 as a
more accessible way to refer to large numbers. It may feel more natural to say
“100억” instead of the more formal 십억 in certain contexts, particularly in
media or marketing.
3. Contextual Use: If the context involves financial transactions, auctions, or
large sums of money (like in your example with gold), 100억 might just be a
more colloquial way to express the number, even though technically 십억 is
the correct term for 1 billion.
 Chapter 7. Part 5 [PG-18]
“I’ll… I’ll take care of it. Don’t move.”
Ha-Jin leaned back lazily against the headboard of the bed.
Yeon was straddling him, gripping his own trembling hands to
steady himself as he moved to push Tae’s cock inside. Even
though Ha-Jin had done his best to ease things earlier, it
wasn’t going smoothly.
The gel made it slick and slippery, which added to the
challenge. Yeon furrowed his brows, concentrating hard, as
Ha-Jin watched him with a fond smile.
“You’re taking your sweet time.”
“Ugh, I said I’ll handle it.”
One hand braced against Ha-Jin’s shoulder, the other focused
on the task at hand. Just as Yeon managed to push at least the
tip of the cock in, Ha-Jin reached down, his firmly grip Yeon’s
length.
“Ah…!”
The unexpected touch startled Yeon, causing him to shiver and
lean forward. His forehead rested against Ha-Jin’s chest as
tension melted into an odd mix of relief and embarrassment.
Ha-Jin’s steady hand landed on Yeon’s shoulder, reassured
him. Tae’s fingers stroking Yeon’s cock while the other hand
pressed onto the shoulder, pushing himself deeper inside Yeon.
“Relax.”
Noticing Yeon’s furrowed brows, Ha-Jin murmured, leaning
closer. He opened his mouth, a a few inches from Yeon’s lips,
swallowing moans and stealing breath. Yeon finally found his
rhythm, moving at his own pace, feeling Tae deeper and
deeper inside. The initial awkwardness faded as he focused,
his determination overcoming the tension.
Despite how deep Ha-Jin was, Yeon felt no pain but intense
pleasure, making him move faster, charging release. Just when
Yeon was about to climax, Tae stopped moving. Disoriented,
Yeon looked up. Tae laughed, amused by the strikingly
beautiful face and its expression, and grabbed Yeon’s chin and
kissed him deeply.
Feeling the gentle touch of Tae’s tongue, Yeon wrapped his
arms round Ha-Jin’s neck, readily kissing back. As the sticky
sound hung in the air, Ha-Jin seized his hips, pressing down
firmly.
Ha-Jin kissed him relentlessly, not letting their lips part, while
gently guiding Yeon’s hips to move back and forth. The firm
yet tender touch made Yeon squeeze his eyes shut. With each
motion, he could feel the solid fullness within him vividly.
The overwhelming sensation of being connected with Ha-Jin
left Yeon breathless. Even after Ha-Jin’s hands left his hips,
Yeon instinctively continued to move on his own. His motions,
once circular and tentative, shifted as he used the strength in
his thighs to lift slightly before settling back down.
“Haa…”
A soft moan escaped Ha-Jin’s lips as he momentarily broke
their kiss. Being with Yeon like this was utterly intoxicating,
to the point it sent shivers through him. Yeon’s slow and
clumsy movements revealed and concealed Ha-Jin’s cock in a
maddening rhythm.
The intense arousal made Ha-Jin want to grab Yeon and take
control completely, but there was something equally thrilling
about letting Yeon move at his own pace. Yeon’s instinctive
motions found the places that made pleasure surge, continuing
with increasing confidence.
Biting down on his lower lip, Yeon exhaled heated breaths, his
face flushed and focused. Ha-Jin, with a hazy gaze, drank in
the sight of him—Yeon using him with unrestrained desire,
looking every bit as seductive as he was in control.
How would it feel…
Yeon, pleasuring himself with a dildo, filling himself
completely.
Ha-Jin clenched his jaw at the thought, his imagination
running wild. He wanted to see Yeon unravel, lost in
unrestrained desire. Unable to hold back any longer, Ha-Jin
gripped Yeon’s waist firmly with his large hands, holding him
steady, before driving himself inside with a forceful thrust.
Thud!
“Ahh, ngh, haah!”
Yeon gasped, wrapping his arms tightly around Ha-Jin’s neck,
savouring the sensation of being filled. Each time Ha-Jin
struck or grazed against that sensitive spot deep inside, Yeon’s
back arched, and soft moans spilled from his lips.
Ha-Jin’s hands gripped Yeon’s hips even tighter, spreading
him further as he pushed deeper with every thrust. The
increasing rhythm left Yeon feeling lightheaded, his mind
spinning. It was maddening.
The wet, slick sounds and the sharp smacks of skin meeting
skin painted a vivid picture of their fervent movements.
“Ah, yes! There, Ha-Jin, right there!”
Yeon’s voice trembled, desperate for more, longing for Ha-Jin
to push him further into bliss.
If only he’d push me harder.
If only he’d handle me rougher.
As the pleasure consumed him, Yeon started moving his hips
in sync with Ha-Jin’s rhythm. Ha-Jin smirked, thoroughly
enjoying Yeon’s reactions. He sought out the spots that would
push Yeon closer to the edge and drove into them relentlessly.
“Hngh!”
Something shifted. The once ticklish, addictive sensations
began to feel sharper and more intense. Yeon’s eyes flew open
as a forgotten ache came rushing back all at once.
Ha-Jin had stopped devouring the pain.
With a teasing grin, Ha-Jin moved his hips mercilessly, his
voice laced with playful cruelty.
“You should feel it raw, Yeon.”
“Ahh! Ngh! W-Wait, ugh!”
What had once been a mere discomfort now felt
overwhelmingly real. The weight, the fullness—it pressed
down on Yeon’s senses with an almost unbearable intensity.
For the first time, the sheer size of Ha-Jin registered vividly.
The irony was, the combination of pain and pleasure only
deepened Yeon’s craving. Despite the sting, he moved more
eagerly, chasing the addictive ecstasy that lurked just beyond
the discomfort.
Ha-Jin pounded into him with relentless force, his movements
almost pulling Yeon’s soul out of him. Then, without warning,
he came to an abrupt halt. Yeon, who had been teetering on the
brink of release, let out a frustrated groan, his face twisting in
dismay.
“What… what are you doing?”
Breathing heavily, Yeon glared down at Ha-Jin, whose slightly
glazed eyes met his. Propped against the bed’s headboard, Ha-
Jin shifted, still buried inside Yeon. Then, as if making a
calculated move, he lowered himself to lie flat on the bed,
pulling Yeon with him. Before Yeon knew it, he was straddling
Ha-Jin, completely exposed.
“Wha—?”
Ha-Jin leaned back, watching Yeon intently. His sculpted torso
gleamed in the dim light, each muscle clearly defined. The
intensity of his gaze as it roamed over Yeon’s body made heat
creep up Yeon’s neck, but the lingering hunger in his veins
wouldn’t let him stop.
Swallowing his embarrassment, Yeon placed his hands on Ha-
Jin’s chest and began moving his hips tentatively. Slowly but
surely, he adjusted, guiding Ha-Jin deeper inside. The
awkwardness of his initial movements gave way to a rhythm,
each motion driving pleasure higher.
“Hah, ahh…”
With his eyes tightly shut, Yeon let himself drown in the
sensations. Ha-Jin, utterly entranced, stared up at him.
He was beautiful.
The pale, unblemished skin, the flush of his bitten lips, the
softness of his brown hair—it was all Yeon. Everything about
him was stunning.
Ha-Jin clenched his fists tightly.
This moment, this connection—it felt like a miracle.
Yeon, who had always been just out of reach. A man shrouded
in layers of secrets, never once easy to figure out.
And the one I love so deeply it hurts.
“Fuck.”
Without warning, Ha-Jin surged upright and flipped their
positions. He pulled Yeon’s body forward, forcing him onto all
fours at the edge of the bed, his chest pressed to the mattress.
Standing firmly on the floor, Ha-Jin positioned himself once
more.
“Spread your legs.”
When a startled Lee Yeon hesitated, Tae Ha-Jin slid his hands
between Yeon’s thighs and forced them apart. Ha-Jin aligned
himself, his hand stroking his shaft before thrusting upward
with a resounding thud. It was a position that left Yeon
struggling to handle the depth.
“Ahh…!”
The rough intrusion made Yeon cry out in discomfort, but Ha-
Jin didn’t stop. His grip on Yeon’s hips tightened as he began
thrusting rapidly, his movements relentless. A hand trailed
slowly up Yeon’s spine, sending shivers down his body and
making him instinctively arch his neck.
Each thrust carried immense power, pressing Yeon into the
mattress. The sheets bunched up and spilled onto the floor, the
bed shaking violently as if on the verge of breaking. Yeon,
who had been bracing himself with his arms, finally collapsed
forward, his upper body unable to bear the force.
Ha-Jin pinned Yeon’s lower back with his hand, driving into
him faster and harder.
Yeon’s face was pressed into the mattress, his hips raised in
the air. The position left him gasping for breath as his body
clenched around Ha-Jin’s unyielding presence. Ha-Jin,
seemingly intoxicated by the sensation, moved with the
fervour of a man addicted.
“Damn… Lee Yeon.”
Suddenly, Ha-Jin grabbed Yeon’s hair, yanking him upright
with surprising strength. Yeon’s flushed face tilted back, and
their eyes locked. Ha-Jin’s crimson gaze bore into him, fierce
and unwavering.
“Ah! Hah…!”
Yeon sobbed softly, overwhelmed by the intensity of Ha-Jin’s
gaze. Though the overwhelming pleasure outweighed the pain,
it was still so much that tears began to well in Yeon’s eyes. A
single tear traced down his cheek, catching Ha-Jin’s attention.
Cursing under his breath, Ha-Jin thrust even harder. Thwack!
Thud! He leaned in, his tongue catching Yeon’s tear before
capturing his lips in a bruising kiss. One arm wrapped tightly
around Yeon’s torso, keeping him close as his relentless
rhythm continued.
The friction, the heat, the sheer intensity—it became too
much. Yeon’s body trembled as his climax overtook him, his
release spilling between them as Ha-Jin buried himself deeper.
“Hah!”
“Ungh…!”
Ha-Jin’s groans mingled with Yeon’s as he came, his body
shuddering with each wave of release. He withdrew, removing
the condom and tossing it aside before rolling on a new one.
Yeon, utterly spent, turned his head weakly, shaking it in
protest.
“Just… let me rest for a moment…”
“I will. Just one more time.”
Ha-Jin pulled Yeon’s thighs towards him, ignoring the quiet,
mouthed complaint that escaped Yeon’s lips: One more? My
ass.
Reading the words, Ha-Jin chuckled and entered him again.
“My Yeon knows me too well.”
“Screw you… You bastard, ugh.”
“Sure. Just one more time,” Ha-Jin teased, his tone light as he
resumed, utterly absorbed in the sensation of being inside
Yeon. His size stretched Yeon completely, the slick warmth
offering no resistance as he moved.
“Relax,” Ha-Jin murmured, delivering a playful smack to
Yeon’s rear. Yeon tried to obey, focusing instead on pulling
Ha-Jin down for a kiss. Ha-Jin’s brow furrowed slightly as he
smiled against Yeon’s lips.
Even such simple kisses felt unbearably good.
Still pressed close, Ha-Jin moved his hips, pulling back almost
entirely before slamming back in to the hilt. Each thrust was
met with Yeon’s trembling hand pressing against Ha-Jin’s
chest as if trying to anchor himself to the overwhelming
sensations.
“Haa… Tae Ha-Jin…!”
“What, Lee Yeon?”
Looking down at Yeon, Ha-Jin continued his rhythmic
movements. Yeon’s legs wrapped tightly around his waist,
urging him deeper. The unspoken plea was clear, and Ha-Jin
chuckled, his deep voice reverberating.
Thrust.
“Like this?”
Another thrust.
“Damn, like this?”
“Ah! Yes, please—ahh!”
“Use your words. Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to
you.”
Ha-Jin demanded an answer, all while moving in ways that
made it impossible for Yeon to respond coherently. Each
teasing question was punctuated by a deliberate thrust, and
Ha-Jin’s playful torment continued as he lifted one of Yeon’s
legs over his shoulder for a sharper angle.
His sweat-slicked muscles glistened, every motion a testament
to raw power and control. Yeon’s trembling hand clutched at
Ha-Jin’s arm, his fingers digging into the solid bicep. Ha-Jin
leaned down, grazing his teeth against Yeon’s fingers before
driving in deeper.
The room was filled with the sounds of their passion, the
bedframe creaking in protest under their combined weight.
Yet, amidst the primal chaos, there was something intimate in
Ha-Jin’s gaze—an undeniable tenderness.
Yeon’s hand reached up, brushing against Ha-Jin’s neck. His
Adam’s apple bobbed with each heavy breath, and even that
seemed indecent in the dim light.
Ha-Jin had always led with unrelenting confidence, yet he
adjusted seamlessly to Yeon’s needs, their connection
palpable. Memories of Ha-Jin’s restraint in the past, his
patience, came flooding back.
And now, this man—who reached for the unattainable like one
would reach for the sun—was his.
“I love you, Tae Ha-Jin.”
The sudden confession spilled from Yeon’s lips, his voice
trembling as he clung to Ha-Jin.
Ha-Jin froze mid-thrust, his movements coming to a sudden
stop as if the words had struck him to his core.
For the first time, Lee Yeon had said he loved him. Staring
down at him with an expression that betrayed shock and
disbelief, Ha-Jin forgot to even breathe. His Adam’s apple
bobbed visibly, as though swallowing down the weight of
those words. He blinked hard, thinking he might have
misheard, but then Lee Yeon spoke again, sealing the truth.
“I’m saying I love you.”
With just that single sentence, Ha-Jin felt his world turn upside
down. It was as if gravity shifted, pulling everything into a
chaotic free fall.
“…Damn,” Ha-Jin whispered, his voice breaking the silence.
“Bloody hell… I almost died.”
The words were muttered incredulously, yet there was a raw
honesty to them. He truly felt like his heart had stopped mid-
act. The term “dying from bliss” had never been so literal
before. It left him breathless, caught between amusement and
awe.
But then, his lips curved into a genuine smile, one filled with
wonder and admiration. So, this is how you plan to kill me?
he thought. Fine. But if you’re going to take me down, I’ll
take you with me.
Feeling his pulse roaring in his ears, Ha-Jin resumed, his entire
body feverish with desire. With a deliberate motion, he
plunged deep inside Yeon again.
“Ahh…!”
It was relentless, almost excessive, the way he claimed Yeon’s
every breath and movement. The rhythm between them
intensified, frenzied and all-consuming, as if it were the last
day on earth. Ha-Jin gave everything he had, pouring it into
Lee Yeon, who responded with equal fervour.
Much later, Yeon, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly
felt the Vessel within him churn like a vortex. He knew exactly
what that sensation was.
“Mm.”
Yeon furrowed his brow in annoyance and shoved away the
arm Tae Ha-Jin had draped around him. For a moment, the
arm receded, but then it returned, pulling him back with a
force that left no room for negotiation.
‘What the hell is up with him since last night?’
They had just spent hours tangled in a long, wonderful yet
exhausting sex, and Yeon had been desperate to get some
sleep. But every time he was on the brink of drifting off, Tae
Ha-Jin would pull another move, making it impossible to
ignore him.
Tae Ha-Jin wasn’t merely holding him—he was trying to read
his Vessel.
A deep red aura flowed incessantly from Tae Ha-Jin’s arm into
Yeon. It was relentless, blazing, and unmistakably his—much
like the man himself. The heat of it seared through Yeon,
making sleep utterly unattainable.
“Why do you keep dodging me?”
“Let me sleep, for fuck’s sake…”
“Or have you hidden another lover in your Vessel?”
What a load of bollocks.
Yeon let out a derisive snort.
He loved Tae Ha-Jin—he did. They were in a committed
relationship, so showing him his Vessel shouldn’t have been a
big deal. But Yeon wasn’t just anyone—he had a dual
bloodline. No one had ever seen his Vessel before, not even
himself.
And to be honest, he was bloody nervous about it. What if his
Vessel turned out to be a filthy dump, some grotesque
monstrosity? It wasn’t exactly something he’d like to parade in
front of Tae Ha-Jin, who might get an eyeful of Yeon’s deepest
flaws, ones even he wasn’t aware of.
Vessels were peculiar things, unique to every individual. For
some, they resembled simple, tangible objects like a rice bowl.
For others, they were abstract, undefinable things. And more
often than not, a Vessel bore some resemblance to its owner,
which made Yeon all the more reluctant.
“Show me.”
Soft lips trailed from his cheek to his neck, brushing over the
sensitive curve behind his ear. Tae Ha-Jin kept up his
relentless teasing, pressing kisses that sent shivers down
Yeon’s spine. When Yeon instinctively tensed, Ha-Jin’s hand
slid lower, boldly stroking him in a way that was anything but
subtle.
And even then, his aura kept pushing its way inside, through
every point of contact.
“Ah…”
Yeon swallowed a groan, irritation flaring up inside him.
This bastard is at it again.
There was no doubt in his mind—Tae Ha-Jin was obsessed.
He wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.
‘Should I keep hiding it?’
It wasn’t like he could conceal it forever. Tae Ha-Jin already
knew about his dual bloodline, after all. And honestly, even if
his Vessel turned out to be a heap of rubbish, it wasn’t like Tae
Ha-Jin would break things off over it. The man was utterly
infatuated—there was no denying that.
Hell, after everything they’d done, Tae Ha-Jin’s dick still
managed to spring to attention just from the briefest touch.
Sometimes, even meeting Yeon’s gaze was enough to set him
off.
‘…Now that I think about it, what does my Vessel even look
like?’
Curiosity started to creep in. He’d avoided the thought for so
long, convinced he’d never have a reason to find out. But
maybe, just maybe, letting Tae Ha-Jin see it wasn’t such a
terrible idea.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Yeon let the tension drain from his
body, finally relaxing in Tae Ha-Jin’s hold.
“…”
Tae Ha-Jin’s brow arched in surprise.
The unyielding barrier that had kept him out began to give
way, Yeon’s aura pulling back to grant him entry. Tae Ha-Jin
closed his eyes, momentarily pausing his teasing as he let
himself sink into concentration, fully immersing his senses in
Yeon’s Vessel.
The haze that had shrouded its form started to lift, peeling
back layer by layer until something vivid and unmistakable
came into view.
‘What the hell?’
 Chapter 7. Part 6
Before him stretched a sky divided in two.
On the left, there was a radiant, cloudless expanse of blue,
with a blazing sun that seemed to light up the heavens
themselves. On the right, a velvety night sky shimmered with
deep purples and a crimson moon glowing softly against the
dark.
Day and night—two worlds that should have been
irreconcilable—were coexisting in harmony, sharing a single
boundless sky.
“…”
Tae Ha-Jin was struck silent, overwhelmed by the surreal
beauty of it.
Usually, when someone peered into a Vessel, it was like
watching a flat, two-dimensional projection. At best, for high-
grade espers, it might feel slightly more immersive, like a
hologram. But this—this was entirely different.
He could feel it. Every sense screamed that this wasn’t just a
vision but a real place.
The crisp, invigorating scent of Yeon’s aura filled his lungs.
The soft, pillowy clouds beneath his bare feet.
The whisper of the wind brushing past him.
The air, hot one moment and cold the next, tingling against his
skin.
‘How the fuck am I standing on clouds?’
Tae Ha-Jin advanced step by hesitant step, his expression
clouded with confusion. As he crouched down and touched the
surface of the cloud beneath him, he realised something
astonishing.
His hand passed straight through the cloud, as if it were an
illusion. Yet, the clouds he stepped on were firm, compressed
tightly to form a path beneath his feet.
Instinctively, he understood.
Lee Yeon’s vessel was holding him up, ensuring he didn’t fall.
A peculiar feeling enveloped Ha-Jin, a mix of ticklish warmth
and deep unease. He furrowed his brows. Standing on the
border between night and day, the left side of his body felt
warm, while the right was cool to the point of discomfort.
‘Is this a dual-natured vessel?’
He had never seen such a vessel before. Lee Yeon’s dual
attributes set him apart from any vessel Ha-Jin had
encountered before.
Ha-Jin calmed his thoughts, letting the overwhelming sight
sink in.
He made a step forward. Then another one.
He moved to the left, walking across the expanse of day.
As he advanced, a familiar energy began to fill the space. The
bright, sunlit sky seemed to reflect Yeon’s “Guide” role. The
clouds blanketing the sky were his “Water.” Such a vast
reserve of energy—it was no wonder Yeon could perform
large-scale guiding for hours. He could channel guidance with
just the touch of a wrist.
The cloud-like energy was pure and untainted, resembling
freshly fallen snow. Ha-Jin had never encountered water
energy so pristine.
It was tranquil, cleansing his very soul with its serene beauty.
“…It’s paradise.”
He felt that even if he were to drown in this tranquillity, there
would be no regrets. If he could, he would stay here forever,
completely captivated by its comfort.
If I’m the sea, then you’re the sky.
“…”
Ha-Jin blinked slowly, then turned abruptly. Without
hesitation, he stepped toward the night sky. The warm clouds
underfoot instantly turned cold, enough to sting. As he
ventured further, the clouds grew darker, their shapes obscured
by shadow.
Ha-Jin was certain.
This dark night sky was Lee Yeon’s Esper vessel, the part he
had fought so hard to keep hidden. The vessel, mirroring its
owner’s heart, was dimly lit by a crimson moon and shrouded
in shadow. A cold, sharp wind swept through the air.
Loneliness, despair, sorrow, and rage—all these emotions were
palpable, clawing at his senses.
Confronting the darkness Yeon had carried all this time, Ha-
Jin felt himself freeze as if turned to stone.
“…What is that?”
Ha-Jin reached out with his large hand, stepping further into
the unending darkness as though spellbound.
Step after step, he walked. Yet no matter how far he ventured,
the crimson moon never drew closer.
‘Lee Yeon…’
It was impossible not to know.
The crimson moon radiated a trace of his own energy.
Ha-Jin understood now. The reason Lee Yeon’s Esper vessel
was so dark and sorrowful—it was steeped in the memories of
the lab Yeon had likened to hell.
That crimson moon—it wasn’t just a light cutting through the
darkness. It resembled the one person who had been his friend
in the lab: Ha-Jin himself. The sole, gentle light that
illuminated his shadows.
A beautiful yet hauntingly crimson moon.
There could be no other explanation. That moon, so similar to
himself, existed within Yeon’s vessel for a reason.
‘Lee Yeon, you…’
Unconsciously, Ha-Jin took a step back.
The stark reality struck him, accompanied by a sharp, aching
pain that coursed through his entire body. When he looked
down at himself, he saw countless wounds on his hands and
feet, blood dripping from open cuts. His clothes were tattered,
revealing skin scraped raw.
The cold wind hadn’t just been biting—it had been clawing at
him relentlessly.
“…Have you been in this much pain all along?”
He muttered as he stared blankly at his injured body. His
crimson eyes flickered with disbelief and sorrow.
Lee Yeon had never said a word. Not even in passing had he
grumbled about the hardships he’d endured. He had never
spoken of how difficult his childhood in the lab had been. He
had never shouted at Ha-Jin, asking why he’d abandoned him
or how hard it had been to survive.
And so, Ha-Jin had assumed.
He thought Yeon’s life must have been better than his own,
less devastating.
“…Damn it.”
Ha-Jin’s face twisted with anguish.
He realised now how dismissive he had been of Yeon’s pain.
He had deemed his own suffering monumental, while ignoring
the wounds borne by Yeon, the director’s son. He hadn’t
wanted to see them.
Because if he did, it would mean Ha-Jin wasn’t the more
pitiful one.
His chest throbbed painfully, as though his heart were tearing
apart. Lee Yeon hadn’t been fine. He had just worked
desperately to appear that way. And Ha-Jin hadn’t seen
through it.
He had arrogantly assumed things about Yeon’s past. Judged
it.
All while claiming to love him.
“…Hah…”
The wounds on his body burned painfully. Blood dripped onto
the once-pristine clouds, staining them red. Ha-Jin felt an
unbearable wave of self-loathing, as though his very presence
was tarnishing Lee Yeon’s purity.
Thud. Thud.
His heart pounded in his chest, each beat like a resounding
conclusion.
“Tae Ha-Jin.”
The two skies seemed to pull away, growing infinitely distant
from each other.
“Tae Ha-Jin!”
Heavy eyelids lifted with effort. Crimson eyes slowly came
into focus.
Lee Yeon was gazing at him, his expression a mix of worry
and bewilderment.
“What… did you see?”
Yeon’s voice trembled slightly with concern.
Ha-Jin’s dazed gaze shifted from the ceiling to Yeon’s face.
“…Why are you crying?”
A hesitant hand brushed at the tears clinging to Ha-Jin’s face.
It reminded Yeon of the boy who used to weep silently in the
lab capsule, head bowed. These were the first tears he had seen
from Ha-Jin since then. They didn’t suit his stoic face, making
him look all the more pitiable.
Yeon felt shaken. What could he have seen to make someone
like Tae Ha-Jin cry?
He was almost too afraid to ask.
Ha-Jin’s large hand covered Yeon’s, weak and trembling. His
crimson eyes, filled with turmoil, stayed fixed on Yeon.
And so, Yeon couldn’t hide his own distress as he asked once
more.
“Could it be… is there a monster inside me too?”
Just as Tae Ha-Jin’s Vessel harboured that gaping maw, Yeon
couldn’t shake the thought that something equally twisted
might be nesting within his own. His throat bobbed as he
swallowed hard. Without a word, Ha-Jin grabbed the back of
Yeon’s head and pulled him close, enveloping him in a broad
embrace.
Caught off guard, Yeon’s eyes darted around.
What the hell does this mean?
In the midst of his confusion, he felt Ha-Jin exhale softly. That
quiet sigh, laced with a burdened weight, sharpened Yeon’s
expression.
“Lee Yeon.”
“…Yes?”
Ha-Jin’s arms tightened around him, his voice barely above a
murmur.
“I’m sorry.”
The unexpected apology only left Yeon more bewildered.
What on earth did he see in there?
Could there really be something so horrifying inside him that
it compelled Tae Ha-Jin to apologise?
“…I was wrong.”
Ha-Jin’s words were fragmented, incomprehensible. The
gravity of the moment wasn’t lost on Yeon, who wisely chose
to keep silent and remain nestled against him. Whatever shape
his Vessel took, he no longer wanted to know.
Some truths aren’t worth the pain.
Ignorance is bliss, they say.
And in this case… it felt damn accurate.
What the hell did Tae Ha-Jin see inside my Vessel?
“Tae Ha-Jin, are you asleep?”
There was no response. He lay still, his eyes shut, as if the
world around him no longer mattered.
Yeon’s thoughts swirled chaotically, inevitably pulling him
back to the image of Ha-Jin’s Vessel.
A vast, crimson planet.
A maw capable of devouring worlds.
Yeon had no idea why such a creature had taken root in Ha-
Jin’s Vessel. Nor could he fathom what it was. All he knew
was that it was dangerous—too perilous to even contemplate.
Some primal instinct warned him to stay far, far away from it.
…Could it still be in there?
“Let’s have a look.”
Curiosity got the better of him, and Yeon directed his energy
toward Ha-Jin’s Vessel. The man remained motionless, as if
truly asleep. Slowly, the Vessel began to take form in Yeon’s
mind.
And there it was. The maw.
Still there. Still ravenous.
It was chewing away at something beneath a red ocean,
consuming it piece by piece.
Yeon tried calling out to it several times, but the maw ignored
him, focused solely on its grotesque feast. It didn’t respond,
didn’t acknowledge his presence. It didn’t even try to speak to
him anymore.

***
“Commander Dicaine.”
The voice was strained. The reception room of the Crown
Prince’s palace was steeped in silence. Ricardo rested his
elbows on the table, his hand covering his forehead, his face
heavy with shadows.
He wanted to keep his mouth shut. He had avoided this
confrontation for as long as he could, but in the end, there was
no escaping it.
Commander Dicaine stood with his eyes downcast, not
uttering a word. His steadfast presence, usually reassuring,
now only intensified Ricardo’s anguish.
“…Say something, please.”
It had been nearly an hour.
He had never found a conversation with Dicaine so suffocating
before.
For the past ten days, Ricardo had been consumed by the
chaos engulfing the Diaylen nation. He’d had no time to
mourn his beloved sibling’s betrayal or even his father’s death.
If anything, he’d kept himself busy on purpose—to avoid
thinking about any of it.
But there was no escaping the truth.
His son had betrayed Diaylen.
His son had killed the Emperor.
Dion had killed his father.
Ricardo’s face twisted in torment. After committing such
unspeakable acts, Dion’s Vessel had shattered, leaving him
unconscious. Meanwhile, Ricardo himself could do nothing
but lower his head like a guilty man, remaining silent.
‘How did it come to this? How the hell did it get so bad?’
Dion had always been a bright, cheerful soul. He laughed
often, played pranks, and lived life freely. Ricardo had never
once suspected him capable of orchestrating something like
this.
He thought back to the moment Dion stormed in, holding the
Emperor’s severed head, demanding Tae Ha-Jin’s
whereabouts.
That look on Dion’s face back then…
It had been hollow.
It had been anguished.
It was the face of a man resigned to a path of no return.
And then, like a bolt of lightning, a truth struck Ricardo.
That desolate expression—that had been Dion’s true self.
He realised that he had selfishly hoped Dion would remain just
his carefree younger brother. Without meaning to, he had
imposed silent expectations that might have felt like chains to
Dion.
“Your Highness, I…”
At last, Commander Dicaine spoke, his voice low and broken.
Ricardo dreaded what was coming. Dicaine had always been a
loyal confidant and a man of unshakable integrity. He had
dedicated his life to the royal family and the nation.
If Dicaine were to plead for mercy on Dion’s behalf, Ricardo
wasn’t sure what he would do. He didn’t have the authority to
grant a pardon—that power rested solely with Elder Chairman
Cha Seung-Kyun, who had shown no intention of forgiving
Dion or the others involved in the catastrophe.
And yet, Dicaine’s next words were wholly unexpected.
“I understand the weight of what Dion has done. If my life
could atone for his sins, I would offer it gladly… but that
wouldn’t be enough, would it?”
Dicaine’s gaze remained fixed on the floor as he continued, his
tone unwavering.
“This is all my fault. My failure as a father. I couldn’t give that
kind boy the love he needed, and I forced freedom upon him.
His emptiness… it created this monster.”
“…….”
“On the day that child is executed, please… kill me as well.”
Ricardo, who had been burying his face in his hands, slowly
raised his head, his eyes trembling.
It was strange.
Shouldn’t he be begging for mercy? Pleading for them to spare
his son? Asking them not to kill him?
If he had done that, Ricardo would have simply declined with
difficulty, apologised, and told him, “Your son must die. Not
even your request can change that.”
But anger flared unexpectedly.
Ricardo clenched his jaw, his reddened eyes fixed on Dicaine.
His streaks of grey hair made the once-strong man seem
suddenly frail.
The silent man. The man too upright for his own good.
You clever bastard. Asking to die alongside your son? It
makes it impossible to hate the two of you as a father and son.
Ricardo’s fury found no outlet.
“Don’t talk nonsense. There’s no one out there who’ll
commend you for dying alongside him. Once you’re gone,
forgiveness or redemption mean nothing.”
Ricardo turned his head aside, muttering bitterly. His gaze,
flicking back to Ricardo, landed on Dicaine, whose tortured
smile deepened.
A kind man.
The crown prince had no talent for cruelty. His father had been
murdered, the nation thrown into chaos, and mountains of
work loomed ahead. If the prince could have screamed
obscenities or hurled a few insults, Ricardo might have found
it easier to cope.
But the kind prince chose evasion. He balked at carrying out
punishment with his own hands. Because of that, Ricardo
couldn’t bring himself to beg. The prince would waver. He
might even search for a way to grant salvation.
And this man was destined to take the throne. He had more
than enough enemies waiting for him—Ricardo didn’t want to
burden him further.
Above all, he didn’t want to heap any more guilt onto the
crown prince or the nation.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” Dicaine said, his voice trembling
faintly.
“I only wish to walk that final road with my child.”
“…….”
“I’m sorry for being such an inadequate father.”
Ricardo found himself unable to say a word.
If Dicaine were executed alongside his son, it would be easier
to display the nation’s strength to its people during such
tumultuous times. It might even help bring closure to the
emperor’s death. Everything could move towards a better
direction…
The sheer pragmatism of his thoughts disgusted him.
Ricardo closed his eyes in silence.
Father and son alike—they made fools of men.

***

Yeon sat in Ha-Jin’s car, staring blankly out the window. Ha-
Jin, perceptive as always, had noticed Yeon’s disquiet and had
been driving silently since.
It was a beautiful day.
Scattered clouds dotted the blue sky, their shapes uneven and
disordered. They passed through a city in the throes of
reconstruction, weaving between scorched trees and broken
paths.
As he watched the scenery slip by, Yeon’s thoughts felt
hollow.
‘Lee Hong-Jun is dead…’
He still couldn’t believe it.
Apparently, Lee Hong-Jun had taken his own life while Yeon
had been asleep.
Just yesterday, Uibin and her family had come by to visit him.
They’d enjoyed a rare meal outside, sharing good times. Even
under their concerned gazes, Yeon had managed to reassure
them with a smile, saying he was fine. Seeing familiar faces
again had been a relief.
And then, this morning.
As he ate breakfast, Yeon had glanced at the news—and
dropped his chopsticks.
The headlines flooded every portal site, reporting on Diaylen’s
current crisis, the death toll, the search for missing persons—
and Lee Hong-Jun’s death.
Breaking News! Research Director Lee Hong-Jun committed
suicide at the Epenhar Research Lab?
The headline was shocking.
When Yeon had gone to the USB auction, he’d assumed Ha-
Jin intended to dispose of it. Never had he thought it was
connected to Lee Hong-Jun’s death.
But as Yeon began to read the article, he snorted. It sounded
no different from the typical media frenzy when the central lab
was bombed.
And yet, the report was true—Lee Hong-Jun had really killed
himself.
—…Is this for real? Lee Hong-Jun killed himself?
—Yeah.
—It’s not some bullshit rumour?
—No.

—Why the hell would that bastard…? Did you kill him, Ha-
Jin? Just tell me straight—I don’t care.
—He really killed himself, Yeon.
Ha-Jin, calmly brewing coffee, gave his matter-of-fact reply.
He wasn’t one to make things up, and given his meticulous
nature, Yeon was sure he’d examined Lee Hong-Jun’s body
thoroughly.
Still, the revelation left him reeling.
‘Lee Hong-Jun? Suicide?’
It didn’t make sense. A lunatic obsessed with research
suddenly taking his life after the war? That man didn’t seem
like the type to crumble over failure. Yeon had never imagined
a scenario where Lee Hong-Jun died by his own hand.
‘Faking his death and escaping…?’
It was possible.
If anyone could, it would be Lee Hong-Jun, holed up
somewhere conducting his deranged experiments.
Denial and acceptance warred in Yeon’s mind.
His chest burned, yet his head felt ice-cold.
What the fuck are you playing at, dying like this?
You think suicide is enough to pay for everything you did?
Your life’s worth that much?
You’re fucking kidding me, right?
Yeon chewed his nails anxiously, rage boiling over. Memories
of the years he’d hidden himself, of the childhood trauma
inflicted by Lee Hong-Jun, surfaced unbidden.
You.
A bastard like you…
Shouldn’t he die more painfully?
As Yeon nervously picked at his nails, a large hand reached
out and gripped his own. Caught in a chain of thought, Yeon
glanced up at Tae Ha-Jin, who spoke in a strangely calm tone
as he drove.
“Should I dig up the corpse and tear it apart for you?”
“……”
“Or should I bury the researchers who helped him alive?”
If Yeon were to wish for it, Tae Ha-Jin could certainly make it
happen. Yeon slowly shook his head, his eyes showing
confusion as he stared at the man.
“You’re not angry? He was the one who hurt you. He used
countless people as tools and killed them. Can you really
accept that such a bastard ended his life by suicide? Are you
satisfied with that?”
“Yeon.”
“……”
“The dead bastard doesn’t matter anymore. I’m busy with
dating you. Are you asking me to keep holding onto that piece
of trash?”

__
The book 4 is done. We’re on the finish line. There are 3 more: 1 book with ch7
(part 2) and epilogue and 2 books with extra stories - but these two are shorter and
approx of the same size as one book of the main story.
 Chapter 7. Part 7
Yeon closed his mouth.
The reality that he still hadn’t accepted Lee Hong-Jun’s death
hit him like a punch to the gut. It was over. The villain was
dead, and the rest had to look toward tomorrow. Yet, for Yeon,
it wasn’t that simple. The shackle he’d worn his entire life
remained, a scar obscuring his vision.
Yeon, frozen like a stone, slipped his hand out of Tae Ha-Jin’s
grasp. The man’s nonchalant composure suddenly felt
unbearable.
Ha-Jin raised a brow, slowly narrowing his eyes.
SCREECH!
Without warning, he pulled over on the roadside. The sudden
jolt sent Yeon lurching forward, and startled, he turned to glare
at Ha-Jin.
“What are you—mmph!”
Click. Ha-Jin unbuckled his seatbelt, grabbed Yeon by the
cheeks, and kissed him fiercely. Yeon’s eyes flew wide open. It
was rough. Ha-Jin’s tongue invaded his mouth, leaving him
dazed. His heart raced wildly, hammering against his ribs.
The wet sound of lips filled the car. Yeon’s soft lips felt vivid
and raw. His hands flailed in the air before he finally grasped
Ha-Jin’s shoulders, trying to push him away.
Ha-Jin leaned in further, and with a clunk, he reclined Yeon’s
seat. His torso pressed heavily against Yeon’s, his large hand
sliding under Yeon’s shirt with unsettling ease.
‘Here? In the bloody car? On the street?’
Horrified at the thought, Yeon shoved Ha-Jin’s shoulder with
all his strength. Strangely, Ha-Jin didn’t budge. Normally, he’d
have backed off by now.
“Mm! Mmph!”
Yeon struggled beneath him. Ha-Jin teased Yeon’s lips one last
time before pulling away, his crimson eyes clouded as they
stared down. His breath was slightly uneven when he
muttered,
“If I’d known you’d act like this, I’d have ripped him apart
with my own hands.”
“…What?”
“Do I have to be jealous of a dead bastard, too?”
Ha-Jin stared at him intently, almost obsessively, before sitting
back up. The storm that was Ha-Jin returned to the driver’s
seat and started the car again. Yeon, dazed, glanced at Ha-Jin’s
striking side profile.
“I should’ve just killed him,” he’d said.
It sounded as though he could have killed him but allowed him
to die on his own terms. Yeon blinked in confusion.
Absentmindedly, he touched his lips.
While Ha-Jin was kissing him, his mind had been a blur.
He’d been so overwhelmed that he couldn’t think of anything
else.
Ha-Jin had stolen his wits completely. He was a man of action
rather than words. As Yeon brushed his slightly swollen lips,
he shyly turned his head towards the window, his ears faintly
flushed.
Their destination turned out to be the execution waiting room.
It wasn’t until they arrived that Yeon realised where they were
headed. He felt a pang of unease.
“Is Dion being executed today?”
The aftermath of the Emperor’s assassination had been severe.
The emotionally charged public demanded justice, clamouring
for the punishment of the S-Grade esper, Dion, who had
presented the Emperor’s head.
Even the news earlier had been rife with criticisms of Dion
and the government’s delayed actions.
‘So, they’re executing him already?’
Had there been no trial?
Most public offices, including the courts, were still undergoing
restoration. Strictly speaking, the Door incident was a lawless
zone. Legally, there was no basis for punishing Dion for
killing the Emperor.
But this was one of those cases where the nation acted on the
people’s collective will, summarily judging a clearly guilty
individual.
“Wasn’t Dion unconscious?”
“He woke up this morning.”
Yeon’s jaw slackened.
‘He woke up this morning, and they’re already executing
him?’
Though the execution had likely been planned in advance, it
felt abrupt. Dion had killed the Emperor, and the Diaylen
nation had suffered greatly as a result. The death toll remained
unaccounted for. While the punishment fit the crime, it still
felt… rushed.
Yeon remained silent.
Inside the waiting room, Princess Elena and Crown Prince
Ricard were the first people Yeon noticed, along with
Commander Dicaine. The atmosphere was ice-cold.
Normally, there wouldn’t have been time for such a meeting
before an execution.
Yeon understood.
This waiting room was the Crown Prince’s final act of mercy.
“Ah, more spectators. Hello, hyungs, how’ve you been?”
Dion’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion. His complexion was
ghastly pale, his lips bloodless. He appeared gaunt, as if he’d
wasted away. His arms were bound behind his back.
Dion’s vessel as an S-Grade esper had been shattered. The
backlash must have been severe; had his body been any frailer,
his heart might have given out from the shock.
Yeon swallowed hard at the unfamiliar sight of Dion.
“This is harsh, isn’t it? I woke up today, and they’re already
executing me.”
Dion let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. Commander
Dicaine stared at his son with a stony expression. Elena, who
had been staring at the floor as if on the verge of tears, finally
lifted her gaze to meet Dion’s.
“Don’t you have anything to say to us?”
Her voice trembled, her nerves painfully evident. She looked
as though she had been through hell. Dion locked eyes with
her, silent at first, then slowly opened his mouth.
“If I apologise, will you forgive me, noona?”
“…”
“Don’t be stupid. Why would you forgive trash like me?”
He gave a self-deprecating laugh, turning his gaze to the
Crown Prince.
“And you, hyung. Why bother with this waiting room? Is it to
give me a chance for final goodbyes? Are you mocking a dead
man walking?”
“Dion… No matter what you did, to me and Elena, you were
still our brother. You were dear to us… cherished… Why…
why did you…?”
Ricard tried to maintain his composure but faltered. His voice
cracked as he murmured, his eyes shutting tightly. His
reddened eyes and trembling voice betrayed his anguish.
He wanted to keep Dion alive, even though he had killed their
father, deceived them, and abandoned their nation. The weight
of trivial, fond memories clung to his ankles like shackles.
A storm of conflicting emotions battered his heart.
Ricard hated and resented Dion. But memories of their
childhood kept resurfacing. He was furious at Dion for
pushing the situation to such extremes and for the countless
lives lost because of his selfish decisions.
Ricard’s face contorted, the lines of guilt, fury, and sorrow
etched deep.
The brother he had once treasured… had betrayed all their
memories.
He had always been the kind of child who smiled no matter
what you said. A kind, tender-hearted boy. I never once
thought to ask about his wounds.
Assuming he was fine, assuming he was happy, and letting
him fester in silence.
‘If only I’d recognised your wounds when you were younger,
would things have turned out differently?’
Ricardo’s chest ached with unbearable pain.
You had to die.
Your death was justice. Execution alone couldn’t absolve the
weight of your crimes.
And yet, his throat felt tight. Ricardo loathed himself for it. To
shed tears over a fleeting connection, despite being born of a
bloodline meant to represent a nation—it was disgraceful.
A criminal is still a criminal.
He couldn’t let himself forget that. Grinding his teeth, he held
back the tears that threatened to fall.
“…”
Dion caught the flicker in Ricardo’s expression, watching him
carefully.
His gaze faltered for just a second.
Behind them, Elena had already buried her face in her hands,
weeping silently. Her delicate shoulders trembled, her muffled
sobs flowering in the oppressive stillness.
Yeon simply closed his eyes.
The irony stung. Dion was the one being punished, yet
everyone else seemed to bear the weight of his sentence. It
was unsettling. Memories of Dion—his sorrowful smile, the
way he’d called him brother while helping him escape—rose
unbidden in Yeon’s mind.
Even so, he had no intention of mourning Dion’s death.
Yeon had witnessed the horrors of war with his own eyes.
“…”
Dion, lost in thought, let his gaze wander over the sombre
waiting room. His eyes met Tae Ha-Jin’s.
Ha-Jin wasn’t crying. His expression was blank, but his
unrelenting stare bored into Dion like a curse.
Dion glanced past him to his father, Dicaine, still alive and
seated nearby. It was likely thanks to Ha-Jin that his father still
breathed. He’d once thought of him as a lucky, pitiful fool, but
now jealousy and resentment felt meaningless.
In the end, Tae Ha-Jin was the true victor.
Dion stood from his chair, careful not to look at Yeon.
Somehow, it felt like he shouldn’t.
If this was the last moment, it was better not to.
Turning to the executioners waiting at the back of the room, he
said, “I’m ready. Let’s go.”
“Dion, you…”
Elena’s cry broke into sobs. Ricardo, overwhelmed by a tide of
emotions, couldn’t bring himself to speak.
As the two executioners took hold of Dion’s arms and began
leading him away, he hesitated for a moment. The sound of
Elena’s grief lingered in the air, clawing at him.
His face twisted, and he bit the inside of his cheek hard.
“Damn it… Don’t make me regret this.”
Dion stepped into the execution chamber as tears threatened to
flood his vision.
Then, unexpectedly, Dicaine—who had been silent all this
time—started walking toward the chamber. Yeon’s eyes
widened as he realised what was happening.
“What the…”
Startled, Yeon moved to stop him, but Ha-Jin caught his arm.
“Let go! Dicaine is—!”
Ha-Jin’s grip tightened. Yeon winced at the pressure but froze
when Ha-Jin shook his head.
Yeon turned to the siblings. Even Ricardo was crying now,
though he clenched his lips tightly to keep the sound from
escaping.
No one moved to stop Dicaine.
What the hell is this?
Dion was about to die—why was his father following him?
Did he intend to witness his own son’s death up close?
Yeon stared in disbelief as Dicaine disappeared through the
execution chamber doors.

“We will now proceed with the execution.”

Dion glanced around the chamber. Cameras had been set up,
likely for a public broadcast. He’d expected as much and
walked forward calmly. But then, he noticed two ropes
hanging from the ceiling, knotted into nooses.
He dismissed it as part of the usual setup. Following the
executioner’s instructions, he stepped into position and slid his
head into the loop. Soon, the machine would lift the noose
toward the ceiling, and that would be the end.
As Dion turned his gaze to the window, the weather caught his
eye. The sun was shining. His life flashed before him like a
panorama. Perhaps dying now wasn’t the worst outcome.
Creak.
That thought shattered the moment Dicaine entered the
chamber.
Dion’s eyes shook violently.
Dicaine strode forward, expression steady, and stopped
beneath the second noose. The executioner accompanying him
calmly slipped the rope around his neck.
Dion’s voice cracked as he screamed in shock.
“What… what are you doing? Get out of here!”
“…”
“What the hell are you doing, damn it! Father! What are you
doing! Why is Father…!”
“Dion.”
Dicaine’s impassive face softened ever so slightly. The
smallest trace of a smile appeared.
“Let’s go together.”
“…”
“You won’t be alone anymore.”
What the hell are you saying?
Why would you die with me?
Dion slowly shook his head. He couldn’t understand why his
father was pretending to be kind, acting as though he was a
good man, only now. Why? Why now?
You… Why?
At that moment, Dicaine used his abnormal shadow ability.
The shadow beneath his feet slithered upward like a serpent,
merging with Dion’s own shadow.
Dion’s eyes widened in shock.
Through the shadows, thoughts and memories began flooding
into his mind.
A serial killer and condemned criminal—Dicaine’s father.
His youth.
The imperial constraints carved into his very being.
The awe and joy he felt the first time he saw his son.
The vow to grant him freedom.
The reason he adopted Tae Ha-Jin.
His bitter monologue of regret toward Dion.
Thick tears streamed down Dion’s cheeks, falling heavily from
his chin. Overwhelmed by the rush of thoughts, his chest
ached unbearably. Even in these final moments, his father
could only convey his feelings in this way.
His father had always been afraid.
Afraid of being hated by his son. Afraid his actions would
become shackles around Dion’s life.
Such was Dicaine.
It was only now, after 24 years, that Dion truly felt his father’s
presence. He understood why Dicaine was willing to die
alongside him.
His father wanted him to regret.
To reflect on his choices by sharing in death.
To never leave him alone.
For once—just once—he wanted to be a good father.
Dion let out a suppressed sob through reddened eyes.
“I… I hate you, Father.”
“…I see.”
“I hate you so much it makes me sick. I will never forgive
you.”
Dicaine smiled bitterly.
“Then so be it.”
It was an ironic moment. The smile Dion had longed to see
from his father only appeared as death loomed over them.
Dion closed his eyes. Congratulations. Your intent was
successful.
Regret consumed him.
If only I had lived freely.
If only I hadn’t envied Tae Ha-Jin.
If only I had been honest with Elena and Ricardo.
If only I hadn’t aligned with Epenhar’s president.
If only I had spoken openly with my father.
‘Damn it all.’
He had thought he had nothing. He believed his hands held
nothing but slipping grains of sand. But in truth, he had
everything—friends, a father, even freedom.
Images of the Diaylen citizens, who had died due to his
choices, surged in his mind. He recalled parents wailing over
the loss of their children. It was all because of him.
“I’m sorry,” his father said.
Those simple words halted the flood of Dion’s regret and
thoughts.
“…”
Startled, Dion blinked and turned his head sharply away.
“…Forget it.”
Ssssssssss…
The rope began rising higher and higher. Dion stared at his
father, who kept his eyes closed. He then looked down. The
two shadows remained intertwined.
‘Damn it all…’
Regret stabbed deeper than ever.
For the first time, their shadows became one—and they
remained intertwined until both lives were extinguished.

***
There are days like that.
Days so blindingly bright, where even a clear sky might shed
rain.
On his way home, Yeon stared at the rainy sky. The clouds
thickened, growing heavier, and evening rain began pouring
down in torrents. Watching the stormy heavens, Yeon silently
wished for peace.
He prayed that much could be washed away by this rain.

Breaking News! ‘Grade S Esper’ Dion Luissen and ‘Imperial

Knight Commander’ Dicaine Luissen executed!

The Diaylen government announced today that it carried out

the execution of Dion Luissen and Dicaine Luissen. Given
Dion’s well-known ties to the imperial family, the public had
assumed his execution would be indefinitely postponed. Yet
the immediate proceedings following his awakening left the
nation in shock.
Some citizens expressed outrage, questioning why Dicaine, the
Knight Commander, had to be executed alongside Dion.
The government provided no further explanation, stating only
that it had respected Dicaine’s wishes.
This morning, Crown Prince Ricardo declared, “Dion
Luissen’s crimes are grave. However, both he and his father
have paid the price for their actions. They also have a long
history of devotion to Diaylen. Thus, while we will forgo a
formal funeral, the royal family will see to it that they are
interred in the national cemetery. We ask for the understanding
of our citizens.”
Meanwhile, the Union responded positively to the execution…
“What the hell is this…?”
Earlier, Yeon had been stunned by the news of Lee Hong-Jun’s
death. Now, he was reeling from the executions of Dion and
Dicaine. Trying to compose himself as he stepped out of the
car for dinner, his breath caught.
Banners hung from every lamppost along the street.
Lee Yeon and Tae Ha-Jin are dating.
Lee Yeon and Tae Ha-Jin are dating.
Not just in one spot—everywhere.
 Chapter 7. Part 8
You’ll be able to get most of the story without the following
info, but keeping in mind a few things will get you more. Also,
examples in other languages aren’t ideal, all depends on the
context.
[형] Hyung - aka ‘oni-san’ in Japanese - an older brother
(usually a male uses it to address a male). Might indicate
closeness/familiarity, and politeness. Can be used in lieu of
one’s name.
[님] Nim - aka Japanese ‘san’ or ‘sir’ in english - a form of
addressing someone with respect and admiration. In normal
circumstances, it also indicates a personal distance - not
detachment, but to the point when you aren’t close to the
person you’re addressing with -nim. Coworkers, neighbours,
people you interact with frequently but have no deep
connection. In some situations though, it’s a teasing tool to
sound at the same time formal and endearing.
[야] Ya - a bit like Japanese ‘anta’ or ‘bro’ in English - is an
informal way to address a close friend/person, attract their
attention [like ‘oi/hey’ in eng]. Might be consider offensive.
Sometimes, “야” can also be used in a playful or teasing way,
especially if there is an established relationship dynamic, like
in contexts where characters use it to show familiarity or to
challenge each other in a lighthearted manner.
[아] Ah - aka Japanese ‘chan’ or English ‘buddy’ - is a
friendly and affectionate honorific, used in informal, familiar
contexts with people you are close to. It softens the tone and
makes the interaction warmer, more intimate, and more
personal.
Lastly, in Korean culture, using first names without honorifics
can feel strange or uncomfortable in certain situations, even if
the relationship is close. This is primarily due to the strong
social hierarchy and emphasis on respect embedded in the
language and culture.
__

Yeon couldn’t hide his embarrassment, his face flushing bright

red. Ha-Jin, watching him with a slight tilt of his head, let out
a quiet chuckle.
“It’s been a while.”
“Who authorised posting something like that? Did the capital
really approve those banners?”
“If you’ve got the money, anything’s possible.”
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin!”
Shrugging nonchalantly, Ha-Jin stepped into the restaurant
first. It was the most renowned dining spot in the capital,
frequented by the elite and one of the first buildings prioritised
for restoration. The surrounding shops had initially protested,
but the restaurant owner’s substantial private funding silenced
the complaints.
Hiring a restoration esper’s services with money? What else
could be done?
Yeon stared blankly at the flashy banners before covering his
face with one hand and following after Ha-Jin.
“Let’s have a word, esper Tae Ha-Jin.”
Yeon reached out to grab Ha-Jin by the collar but froze. Ha-Jin
had stopped in his tracks. Following his gaze, Yeon spotted
Dekal and Kim Uibin seated at a cosy window-side table. The
city’s dim lights glimmered beautifully beyond the glass.
Dekal, strangely fidgety, kept picking up and putting down his
wine glass. When his eyes met Uibin’s, he quickly averted
them. If Uibin reached for a napkin, Dekal would pick it up
first and hand it over.
His expression was guarded, almost emotionless, but from a
distance, it was clear he didn’t know what to do with himself.
Yeon let out a small, incredulous laugh.
‘What’s this? Dekal?’
He tilted his head in confusion. He hadn’t imagined Dekal
capable of such behaviour. As far as Yeon knew, the two
weren’t even close—only connected after Uibin’s treatment.
Uibin messaged him daily, yet never once had he mentioned
Dekal.
“Hm… Looks like they’re having dinner together. Are you
going to join them?”
“Join them? Why would I?”
Irritated, Ha-Jin glared at Yeon before pulling him toward a
table on the opposite side of the restaurant. They were far
enough away that they wouldn’t disturb the pair. Besides,
Uibin seemed genuinely happy.
The way Uibin blushed, smiling shyly, was the unmistakable
look of someone in love.
Yeon thought to himself.
‘Well, if it’s Dekal…’
He’s a good guy, after all.
Honestly, if it was someone like Dekal, Yeon wouldn’t mind
giving his blessing. Dekal was capable, had endured many
hardships in his youth, and had a remarkable resilience. On top
of that, he had healed Uibin’s injuries. His quiet, reserved
personality didn’t seem likely to hurt Uibin emotionally either.
And, well, he was handsome.
The more Yeon thought about it, the more he hoped Dekal and
Uibin would work out. He nodded in satisfaction, watching
Dekal from afar.
Suddenly, a menu blocked his view.
“Should we have Dekal for dinner tonight?”
Yeon scoffed, taken aback.
“Aren’t you two friends? Why are you jealous?”
“Stop looking at him like that.”
“I was just looking.”
“You thought he was handsome.”
“…”
The waiter, who had been waiting to take their order,
awkwardly stood there, clearly uncomfortable. Yeon turned
away, his face flushing again, and placed their order. He chose
the full course meal. After handing back the menu, he turned
to find Ha-Jin leaning on his hand, watching him closely.
Under that scrutinising gaze, Yeon frowned.
“What are you staring at?”
“Forgiven me for the banners yet?”
Oh, right.
Distracted by Dekal and Uibin, he’d nearly forgotten. Yeon
sighed and shot him a glare.
“Why would you even put those up? Everyone already knows
we’re together.”
“And I made sure the ones who didn’t, do now.”
“Why not just run a public advertisement at this point?”
“Can I?”
“…Forget it.”
Yeon gave up, pouring himself two glasses of wine and
downing one like water. Wiping his lips carelessly, he
muttered.
“Come to think of it, you’ve been dropping formalities with
me lately.”
Ha-Jin smirked.
“Why, do you prefer it when I’m formal?”
That low voice sent an inexplicable flutter through Yeon’s
chest. Damn, he’s too good-looking for his own good. The soft
glow of the candle on the table couldn’t compete with the
brilliance of his crimson eyes. His jet-black hair only
heightened his presence.
Yeon mirrored Ha-Jin’s posture, resting his chin on his hand,
openly admiring him. Even when he couldn’t stand him, Yeon
had never denied Ha-Jin’s looks. No matter what he did or
said, Tae Ha-Jin was a strikingly beautiful man, flawless from
head to toe.
Even his hands—large, rugged, yet elegantly shaped fingers—
were captivating.
And then Yeon’s mind wandered to a more intimate detail.
‘Even his cock is ridiculously good-looking…’
What a ludicrous thought. That such a dangerous size could be
aesthetically pleasing.
How had things come to this?
He’d fallen for him. Just watching Ha-Jin made his heart ache
with a maddening warmth. The idea that a man like this
belonged to him felt surreal. If someone else stole him away,
Yeon wouldn’t even blame them.
And then it hit him.
“Ah…”
That must be why he put up those banners.
Thinking about it now, those banners seemed almost
necessary. They proclaimed that Tae Ha-Jin belonged to him.
Embarrassing, sure, but there was something undeniably
satisfying about it. Slowly, Yeon nodded.
“Why are you staring at me?”
“Hm?”
“You’re making me feel things.”
The audacity of this man! Yeon frowned and took another
swig of wine. Tonight, his thoughts were all over the place.
Hong-Jun, Dion, Dicaine… So many people had died. There
was no need to think about it anymore, yet his heart still felt
heavy.
As his expression began to harden, Ha-Jin leaned closer, his
face drawing nearer to Yeon’s.
“How long are you going to keep calling me Esper?”
“What?”
“We’re a couple now, aren’t we? Don’t you have a pet name
for me?”
“Oh…”
The directness of it caught Yeon off guard. He rubbed the back
of his neck awkwardly, his eyes darting as he thought to
himself, ‘Why am I even embarrassed about this?’
He’d dated plenty before, never one to feel shy or self-
conscious. But Tae Ha-Jin was so blunt, so relentless, that he
often left Yeon flustered.
Deciding to put his embarrassment aside, Yeon rested his arms
on the table and tried to appear calm.
“So, do you have any preferences for a pet name?”
Tae Ha-Jin smiled, his lips curling into a confident smirk.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Darling.”
“No.”
Every day felt like a battle. The thought of calling someone
like him “darling” made Yeon’s skin crawl. He simply
couldn’t imagine himself using it.
“Fine. How about honey?”
“Why are you doing this? No, absolutely not.”
“Then just call me hyung.”
“…Hyung? You want me to call Esper-nim that?”
Yeon furrowed his brows, genuinely questioning the absurdity
of it. Ha-Jin leaned back in his chair, chuckling softly.
“Forgot I’m older than you?”
“It’s only a two-year difference…”
“Then call me darling. I really don’t care either way.”
He shrugged nonchalantly as if it truly didn’t matter. Yeon, on
the other hand, was deep in thought.
‘Hyung, huh?’
Is that even a pet name?
“What would Esper-nim call me then?” Yeon asked.
“Is there something you’d like me to use?”
“Not particularly, no.”
“Then, Yeon-ya.”
Yeon physically recoiled. “Ugh.”
He almost gagged. Dropping his surname and calling him by
his first name so casually—it was nauseating. They hadn’t
even started eating yet, and his stomach was already churning.
Did they really need to settle this over a meal?
But Ha-Jin seemed to be having the time of his life, observing
Yeon’s reactions with an amused look. It was clear they
weren’t going to eat until this matter was resolved.
After what felt like ages of deliberation, Yeon reluctantly
nodded. Compared to “darling” or “Ha-Jin-ah,” “hyung”
seemed the lesser evil.
“Fine, then. I’ll call you… hyung.”
“Good. Yeon.”
“…Esper—no, hyung. Just call me Lee Yeon.”
“No.”
He was adamant. It was either “Yeon” or “darling.” There was
no compromise. Yeon felt a headache coming on as he tried to
imagine either word coming out of Ha-Jin’s mouth. Neither
would ever feel normal.
With a deep sigh, Yeon finally gave in.
“Fine. Just call me darling. I can’t bear to hear Yeon.”
“Sure.”
Ha-Jin’s smile was radiant, utterly pleased with himself.
Watching that beautiful smile, Yeon had a sinking feeling he’d
just walked into a trap. He’d played straight into Ha-Jin’s
hands.

Meanwhile, at a table by the window, Kim Uibin was cutting

into her steak with slight unease, glancing at Dekal.
‘Can I really justify eating something this expensive…?’
She’d caught a glimpse of the menu earlier, and the prices
were outrageous. She knew this was one of the most exclusive
restaurants in the capital, but she couldn’t help worrying about
Dekal’s wallet.
Despite being an A+ grade restoration esper, surely he
couldn’t afford to treat every meal like this.
He’d insisted on buying her dinner as a thank-you for the
lunchbox she’d made him. She’d agreed, but she hadn’t
expected this.
After swallowing a bite of steak, Uibin hesitantly spoke up.
“Um… Dekal? Isn’t this a bit too much? Let’s split the bill
today, and next time, you can treat me to something simpler.
Honestly, I’m not picky at all.”
She smiled, trying to ease the awkwardness. Dekal blinked
slowly, tilting his head as though puzzled.
“Do you not like the food?”
“No, it’s delicious, but… isn’t it too expensive for you to
cover alone?”
Her gentle tone and smile didn’t seem to faze him. Instead, he
tilted his head again, pondering briefly before pulling out his
phone—a device she hadn’t seen him use even once during
their time together.
He tapped a few buttons with his large hands and abruptly
shoved the screen toward her.
Startled, Uibin blinked and read what was displayed.
It was a number.
“…”
“It’s my account balance at the Diaylen Bank. I also own
several properties here in the capital. I restore them every
morning. The rental income is… substantial. I’ve also
purchased several plots of land in the provinces, with two
villas built already.”
Dekal spoke matter-of-factly, his tone completely devoid of
pride or pretence.
As it turned out, Tae Ha-Jin had urged him to invest in
properties, even going so far as to help him buy a few.
Occasionally, Ha-Jin had even handed over buildings outright.
Though Dekal had initially helped Ha-Jin out of goodwill, the
latter had always insisted on compensating him. Ha-Jin’s
payments far exceeded what Dekal earned from his official
royal duties.
Without even realising it, Dekal had become exceptionally
wealthy.
No matter how much he spent, his balance never seemed to
change.
For once, he found himself appreciating Ha-Jin’s foresight. It
allowed him to buy macarons for Uibin, give her a ride in a
luxurious car, and treat her to exquisite meals without a second
thought.
These days, he was oddly grateful for Ha-Jin’s advice.
Dekal rattled off his financial assets with casual ease,
intending to ease Uibin’s worries. Uibin, staring blankly at her
phone screen, let out an awkward cough.
“So please, enjoy your meal comfortably. If the food here is
good, feel free to come by every day.”
“…Ah.”
Caught off guard, Uibin nodded stiffly. She’d seen plenty of
people flaunt their wealth, but Dekal’s way of doing it didn’t
feel like bragging—it was oddly genuine. His level of
affluence, nearly akin to that of a conglomerate heir, made him
seem impossibly distant.
My family’s poor, she thought.
Well, not poor exactly—just extremely ordinary. By all
accounts, they would’ve been considered impoverished if not
for Yeon sending her monthly living expenses. Thanks to him,
she never felt deprived.
But she didn’t intend to depend on Yeon forever. Uibin was
determined to work harder and become a capable training
instructor in her own right.
Lost in her resolve, she suddenly noticed Dekal holding
something out to her.
Her eyes widened as she looked at the item.
“I heard people like receiving this,” he said.
“…Who said that?”
It was a black card.
Dekal, a top-grade restoration esper recognised worldwide,
naturally qualified to own such a card. Of course, this too was
thanks to Tae Ha-Jin handling the numerous procedures on his
behalf. Dekal himself had little interest in the card.
At Uibin’s baffled question, Dekal replied with perfect
composure.
“Doberman told me. He said his wife was very pleased when
he gave her one of these.”
After a night of drinking at a bar, Doberman often invited him
out for drinks whenever he felt particularly thoughtful or
bored. Over several meetings, they’d shared countless stories.
During one of these conversations, Doberman had shared his
unrequited love story, offering tips on winning over someone’s
affection.
This card was one of those tips.
Flustered, Uibin waved her hands in refusal.
“T-That’s something a husband can give to his wife. But we’re
not anything like that! You can’t give me something like this.”
“Then what would we have to be for it to be okay?”
“…What?”
Looking slightly dejected, Dekal placed the card on the table.
“I want to do something for you. But everything I try, you
reject because we’re ‘nothing to each other.’”
Frowning slightly, Dekal carefully chose his words, speaking
with uncharacteristic deliberation.
“Every time I see you, I feel parched. But I understand your
perspective, so I’m doing my best to hold back. Doberman
said that when you see hearts in someone’s eyes, it means they
like you.”
He paused, his expression grave.
“But I don’t see hearts in your eyes. Does that mean I have no
chance at all?”
His earnestness made Uibin burst into laughter despite herself.
Dekal looked genuinely serious. Hearing her laughter, he
raised his gaze to meet hers.
As she looked into his deep eyes, Uibin thought, Isn’t this what
“eyes full of hearts” looks like?
‘How can someone be so honest?’
There wasn’t a shred of deceit in his words. It had been two
weeks since she’d first heard his confession. During that time,
Dekal had been consistent and cautious. Gruff but kind. When
they were apart, she often found herself thinking about him—
and missing him.
Smiling gently, Uibin said, “The card’s really unnecessary. I
think it’s best to take Doberman’s advice with a grain of salt.
Haha.”
“…I see.”
Dekal nodded slowly, seriously contemplating her words.
“Next time, let’s have a meal with Yeon as well, Dekal.”
“Understood.”
She liked him.
Uibin wanted Yeon to meet Dekal. She wanted to know if he
thought Dekal was a good person, a good boyfriend. Every
time she’d ignored Yeon’s advice about her relationships,
they’d ended in failure. Looking at Dekal, she felt nervous
anticipation.
Please, let Yeon approve of you.

***

The next morning.

Lee Yeon held a press conference at the government’s request.
Flashing cameras illuminated his face as reporters snapped
away, broadcasting his image live across the nation.
Leaning against the wall, Tae Ha-Jin glared at the reporters
with a look of discontent. It annoyed him that Yeon had to
make such an announcement. The thought of Yeon’s beautiful
face being broadcast to the entire world twisted his stomach.
It’s already too precious to share, even with him.
Yeon showed no signs of nervousness. His face was slightly
tense, but he exuded confidence. That unshakable strength was
always captivating. Ha-Jin found himself smiling
unconsciously.
“Good day, citizens of Diaylen. I am Lee Yeon, an S-grade
guide from the Capital Centre.”
That soothing voice.
Ha-Jin closed his eyes, savouring it.
“I’m here to inform you of a certain truth. I’ve spent much
time deliberating on how to express it, but I believe only
unvarnished honesty will suffice.”
Without hesitation, Yeon spoke plainly.
“I am a dual bloodline holder.”

__
허니 (heoni) - darling.
If curious, Uibin uses ‘-ssi’ with Dekal.

So many things in the chapter are based on Korean hierarchy and the language built
around it, so it’s hard to adapt it properly without cutting out pieces - and it’s the
last thing I want to do. if you’re able to read Korean, I encourage you to do so
instead of trying to navigate in my somewhat sloppy attempts to make this part
understandable for as many people as possible.

PS. Yes, the phrase ‘Even his cock is ridiculously good-looking…’ was in the raws:
‘태하진은 성기도 잘생겼고…….’
 Chapter 7. Part 9
Click, click!
The flash of cameras lit up the room.
“I possess the abnormalities of an S+ grade guide and an A+
grade esper. Historically, dual bloodline holders only displayed
low-grade abilities, so I understand if my existence seems
unusual to you. My father was the late Lee Hong-Jun, head of
the Basen Research Lab. At sixteen, I ran away, severing all
ties with him. But as a child, I was one of his test subjects, and
I suspect my abnormal abilities may be a result of his
experiments.”
It was a weighty revelation. Yet Yeon bore it with grace and
confidence, as though he’d long since cast off its burden.
Ha-Jin opened his eyes, taking in the sight of Yeon.
“I wanted to live. I was afraid of the world and terrified of my
father. I feared being captured again and reduced to nothing
but an experiment. My selfish desire to survive made me hide
myself. I think I was scared and hurt by trusting and relying on
others.”
These are the things I love about you, Ha-Jin thought.
Yeon had an extraordinary ability to accept his own flaws
without denial, embracing them instead. He was a man whose
vessel was exceptional from the start.
“I haven’t long entertained the thought of opposing my father,
but I’m grateful to my esper partner, Tae Ha-Jin, for his
immense support. Thanks to him, I’ve been able to shed the
masks I’ve been hiding behind, and now I feel truly liberated.”
A flood of memories raced through Ha-Jin’s mind.
The moment he rewrote the rules to reveal Lee Yeon’s true
identity.
The moment he pushed his limits, forcing Lee Yeon’s grade to
manifest.
The paradoxical image of Lee Yeon—simultaneously furious
and relieved.
You’ve always been astonishing, always admirable.
“If my desperate attempts to survive deceived someone, I offer
my deepest apologies. I’m ready to accept any criticism or
reproach. From now on, as an abnormal-type individual, I will
not hesitate to use my ability for the greater good. Director
Lee Hong-Jun is dead, and I am a living, breathing citizen of
Diaylen. I promise to dedicate myself to this nation.”
Thank you.
Click, click!
Click!
Ha-Jin stepped away from the wall as Lee Yeon descended
from the platform. He extended his hand, a broad, steady
gesture. Lee Yeon looked at him, his expression a mix of
weariness and surprise, before breaking into a small smile and
clasping Ha-Jin’s hand.
Ha-Jin pulled him into a firm embrace, gently stroking his
hair. The tension that had drained Lee Yeon’s body of warmth
was gradually replaced by a familiar, comforting heat. The
suffocating isolation, like drifting alone in an endless sea,
dissolved in an instant.
That embrace brought a flood of emotions.
“You did well.”
His voice was soft and low.
Lee Yeon’s eyes widened briefly before he let out a faint
laugh.
“…Yes.”
Click, click!
For days, the media buzzed incessantly about Lee Yeon. His
presence captured global attention, and his public display with
Ha-Jin became a sensation.
Anticipating potential backlash, Ha-Jin took pre-emptive
measures to prevent disparaging articles from being published.
Surprisingly, the majority of comments were positive.
The son of a mad researcher who betrayed his country? Now
that’s a backstory I can understand.
Of course, not all remarks were favourable. Whenever he saw
the occasional negative comment, Ha-Jin found himself
planning to track down and silence the poster, only for
Doberman to stop him.
Lee Yeon, however, showed little interest in public opinion or
online chatter. He carried on with his life, unbothered and
unyielding.
Watching him, Ha-Jin found himself falling for him all over
again.

***

“What are you saying, Grandfather?”

Ronile’s head tilted in disbelief, her expression a mix of shock
and indignation. She couldn’t comprehend the situation.
Born into wealth as the granddaughter of a business tycoon,
Ronile had never lacked for anything. Money had always
solved every problem. Whatever she desired, she obtained.
She had never known deprivation.
Except for one person.
Tae Ha-Jin.
They had even been engaged once. She had envisioned a
future with him countless times. But Tae Ha-Jin had always
kept his distance, pushing her away.
—You mean nothing to me.
—I’ll let you off lightly, so get lost. And don’t ever come
back.
—Let’s stop this, once and for all.
—From now on, I’m drawing a line.
—If you so much as look at me, speak to me, touch me, or step
into my space…
—I’ll carve that line onto your neck.
Every word had cut deep.
So what if I was a little persistent? So what if I visited him a
few times, clung to him, and even tried to take my life to get
his attention?
‘He can’t treat me like this.’
After all, we were engaged. We’d spent nights together, shared
countless moments. Ronile had convinced herself that Ha-Jin
was merely going through a phase. A temporary loss of
affection brought on by her foolish actions.
But then—
Tae Ha-Jin and Lee Yeon were dating.
The photo that went viral shattered her. It showed banners
strung across the Diaylen capital, proclaiming Ha-Jin’s
relationship with Lee Yeon. Public reactions ranged from “We
knew it!” to “What a pair!”
To make matters worse, Lee Yeon, the subject of Ha-Jin’s
affections, was a top-grade dual bloodline esper, celebrated
across nations.
Rage boiled within Ronile.
Ha-Jin is in a relationship…?
He hasn’t moved on from me. He’s stayed single all this time
because of me.
‘Someone must’ve put up those banners without Ha-Jin’s
consent.’
It must be Lee Yeon. That wretch.
That’s why she went to see my grandfather. To ask him to take
care of Lee Yeon, that guide. It would be easy enough to tear
down the banners, but she wasn’t going to let a dangerous
element linger. Grandfather was one of the wealthiest men in
the world—easily among the top five. As always, she was sure
he’d help.
Right after the brief war with the Diaylen nation ended,
Epenhar plunged into unprecedented chaos. Apparently,
President Carlos and her Grandfather were entangled in some
incidents, though even Ronile didn’t know the details.
Things had already taken a turn for the worse when the deal
she had with Dion fell apart overnight. Dion was executed, no
less. Naturally, Ronile was more anxious than ever.
She had to bring Tae Ha-Jin back to her side immediately.
“Why are you acting like this too?! I’ve got far more pressing
issues than some trivial problem right now!”
“Grandfather. This would benefit your business too, don’t you
think? If Ha-Jin becomes my husband, Blonid will become an
even more solid company.”
“Do you hear yourself, spouting such nonsense while
everything’s on the verge of collapse?! Ronile, don’t you
understand yet? President Carlos, the one who has been
backing Blonid with everything he’s got, could end up in
prison at any moment! And if it were just him, it wouldn’t be
so bad. Even I could end up behind bars! Do you not see
that?”
“Why would you go to prison? Just throw some money at the
problem, and it’ll—”
“You fool!”
Crash!
Unable to contain his fury, the chairman shoved a potted plant
off the table, sending it shattering to the floor. He glared at his
granddaughter, who stood resolute with a stubborn, defiant
expression. The mix of pride and sheer obstinacy in her face
made him sigh deeply.
Ronile.
My precious granddaughter…
When did you start looking like this?
The sheer, chilling determination in her eyes unsettled him.
Shaking his head in despair, the chairman thought back to how
much he cherished her.
She was precious to him.
Not long after her birth, her parents—his son and daughter-in-
law—had died in a car accident. He had raised her like his
own child, giving her everything. All he wanted was for her to
have a life of absolute abundance.
But the thing she desired most turned out to be Tae Ha-Jin, the
esper.
The strongest in Diaylen.
Falling in love with a foreign celebrity had made Ronile a
constant headache. To arrange her engagement with Tae Ha-
Jin, the chairman had funnelled an obscene amount of money
to Diaylen’s emperor. Even after the engagement was broken
off, she couldn’t stop obsessing over the esper, finding every
opportunity to involve herself in his affairs.
The chairman still turned pale when he recalled the time she’d
staged a suicide attempt to get his attention. His face twisted in
anguish.
My dear granddaughter…
Please, stop.
“Did you see the article, Grandfather? Ha-Jin’s apparently
dating someone else! Can you believe it? We’re still
passionately in love with each other… Aren’t we? Anyway,
when the dust settles, please take care of that guide, Lee Yeon.
Something feels off about him. I think he might be an
obstacle.”
The chairman covered his eyes with his hand.
Even after explaining that he himself might be sent to prison,
his granddaughter remained fixated on Tae Ha-Jin. She even
asked him to get rid of someone without a hint of hesitation.
She wasn’t like this before. She had been such a pure-hearted
child.
Bang!
The tightly closed office door suddenly burst open.
The chairman’s secretary, typically composed, barged in,
breathing heavily. Alarmed, the chairman fixed him with a
questioning look. The secretary, gasping for air, spoke between
laboured breaths.
“Sir, there’s… there’s been a major development!”
After taking a moment to steady himself, the secretary
continued.
“They’re putting President Carlos’s impeachment to a
nationwide vote! It’s been reported that the Senate and the
House are united on the matter!”
The chairman’s face contorted in horror.
The Senate and the House, united?
This was a worst-case scenario. Civil unrest was already
widespread, with protests breaking out everywhere. The only
reassurance had been Carlos’s careful cultivation of allies in
politics.
He’d bought off so many legislators that impeachment had
seemed out of the question. If anyone dared to move against
him, the rest would descend on them like piranhas.
But for the Senate and the House to rally together…!
“And… and there’s more. A massive boycott is targeting
Blonid Corporation. Not just in Epenhar but globally. Our
factories have halted operations everywhere.”
The secretary, drenched in cold sweat, struggled to deliver the
news. The chairman understood. Things were undoubtedly
worse than the secretary was letting on.
Blonid’s funds had been heavily tied to Carlos’s illegal
activities. Had the UN not exposed this, things wouldn’t have
spiralled out of control. The boycott had started small but
snowballed into a global trend.
This couldn’t happen.
Blonid had investments in countless ventures worldwide.
Mergers and acquisitions had left massive amounts of capital
tied up. For the factories, which should have been running at
full capacity to keep the money flowing, to stop production…
This was catastrophic.
The chairman sank into his chair, clutching his throbbing head.
Ronile watched him briefly before abruptly turning to the
secretary.
“Where are the company’s transportation espers?”
“…Pardon?”
“I need to go somewhere. Quickly.”
The secretary instinctively grimaced. The company was on the
brink of collapse, and the chairman’s granddaughter was
asking for a transport esper. Every executive knew how much
the chairman had sacrificed for her.
And yet, despite his visible suffering, Ronile…
“Also, summon an information esper. I need someone’s
location. I’ll need coordinates for the transport. Oh, and call in
an esper specialising in illusions.”
Ronile thought physical force would be pointless against
someone like Tae Ha-Jin, a high-grade dual-bloodline esper.
But an illusion esper could serve as an effective escort.
What a hassle.
The company’s problems weren’t her concern. She didn’t even
understand the terminology. Besides, Blonid had always
emerged stronger after crises. The company was far too large
to falter now.
With that in mind, Ronile had no intention of grasping the
gravity of the situation.
Click, clack.
Her heels echoed as she exited the office. The chairman, still
clutching his head, stared hollowly at her retreating figure. The
secretary, hesitant and pained, bowed to the chairman before
hurrying after her.

***

“The Door’s unusually quiet…?”

The yellow-grade Door that erupted in the capital had finally
been dealt with. After guiding Tae Ha-Jin, Yeon had been
systematically guiding other distressed espers one by one.
Though the capital’s centre had been partially restored,
ongoing recovery efforts were still underway after the most
recent skirmish left it half-destroyed again. Abnormal types
were sheltering in temporary accommodations prioritised for
restoration, staying prepared for any new Door appearances.
Guide training had been suspended until the capital could
return to its original state. Espers were using their abilities to
assist with recovery efforts in both the capital and outlying
regions. Ordinary citizens, who once viewed abnormal types
with discomfort, were beginning to interact with them more
easily.
Tae Ha-Jin had excused himself to the main administrative
office, claiming he had urgent matters to handle.
Meanwhile, Yeon couldn’t shake the suspicion brewing in his
mind about the noticeable drop in Door occurrences.
Is this Lee Hong-Jun’s doing, too?
Since his death, Door appearances in Diaylen had dramatically
declined, while the frequency of Doors in other nations
seemed to be increasing. The pattern was too suspicious to
ignore.
“Guiding’s done.”
Yeon rose from the ground, pulling his hand away from the
esper’s wrist. Around him, the city’s core bustled with
abnormal types rushing about.
‘I should check into this.’
Yeon decided he would examine the USB he hadn’t touched
yet, together with Tae Ha-Jin. Though he had already handed
it over to Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun, as its rightful
owner, Yeon knew he had every right to ask for another look.
“Yeon oppa!”
Lost in thought, Yeon turned sharply at the sound of a voice
calling from behind. A young girl threw herself at him,
wrapping him in a hug as she beamed brightly.
“Euiju.”
It was Kim Euiju, Uibin’s younger sister.
Though Diaylen was still in recovery, Uibin’s family had
returned home from Kisili; it wasn’t feasible to keep them
abroad indefinitely. However, they’d been warned to remain
indoors, as the situation could change rapidly.
Surprisingly, Uibin’s house had been restored by Dekal, who’d
worked tirelessly during his rest periods. Knowing someone
with restoration abilities had proven invaluable, and Yeon felt
reassured.
Smiling softly, Yeon ruffled Euiju’s hair.
“What are you doing here? Don’t you know how dangerous
this place is? Civilians aren’t allowed here. How on earth did
you get in?”
His stern words came out like a scolding, but Euiju simply
pouted, pretending to be annoyed.
“I came to tell you some good news!”
“Good news is great and all, but did you have to risk your life
to share it? Do you want me to scold you?”
“Why are you so serious, oppa?”
“Kim Euiju.”
Yeon frowned, pinching her cheek hard. Euiju yelped, glaring
at him.
“I didn’t sneak in! Look at this!”
She shoved her wristwatch in front of Yeon’s face. It was one
of the standard watches issued exclusively to abnormal types
affiliated with the capital centre. Yeon’s eyes widened.
“You….”
“I awakened as an A-grade esper! Kyaa!”
Euiju screamed in excitement, hopping up and down as she
waved her shiny new watch around. Yeon stood there, stunned,
his mouth slightly agape.
“An A-grade esper?”
It was shocking.
Uibin was a B-grade guide, and their mother, Jeong-suk, had
also been a B0-grade guide in her prime. For Euiju to awaken
as an A-grade esper was an extraordinary feat. Abilities were
heavily influenced by genetics, making this an unexpected
surprise.
Recovering his composure, Yeon asked seriously, “Are you
sure?”
“Of course! I even know how to use my ability, oppa.”
“…What’s your ability?”
“Watch this!”
With a confident smile, Euiju glanced around before walking
over to a pile of broken concrete from a demolished building.
Yeon trailed after her nervously. Placing her hands on a
massive slab, Euiju effortlessly lifted it above her head with
incredible strength.
“….”
“See that? My ability is super strength! Wahaha!”
“Well… that’s unexpected.”
With a loud crash, Euiju hurled the concrete aside, standing
proudly with a grin. Yeon stared at her, looking slightly
bewildered. Super strength? It somehow suited her cheerful
personality but also felt oddly mismatched.
After all, she was the spitting image of her older sister.
“I don’t need pocket money from you anymore! I’m getting a
salary now!”
“…What about school?”
“When you awaken as an A-grade abnormal type or higher,
you graduate early! Haha, I’m a working woman now!”
“Have you started esper training?”
“Huh? Oh, that’s next. The country’s such a mess that training
got delayed.”
Yeon nodded, giving her a gentle push back towards the
barricades.
“Then you’re still technically a civilian. Even though you’ve
got the watch, you can’t use it properly yet. I don’t know how
you sweet-talked a security esper to let you in, but until you’re
officially certified, stay out of these areas. Got it?”
“Tch. You’re so mean.”
“Don’t make your mum worry.”
“Do you know how excited I was to tell you this?! I even
begged her to keep it a secret!”
“So that’s why she kept trying to end our calls quickly. It was
you.”
“Yep! I told her to hang up before I slipped up!”
Euiju looked smug, clearly proud of herself. Yeon could only
shake his head at her antics before letting out a small chuckle.
He’d wondered what the good news could be, and it turned out
to be truly worth celebrating.
An A-grade abnormal type in the family was a tremendous
honour. It meant they’d never have financial struggles and
would be treated well wherever they went. Moreover, with her
super strength, Euiju could protect her mother and Uibin when
needed.
Yeon felt genuinely relieved. Euiju had grown up strong and
capable.
“Oh, right. Oppa, is it true you’re dating Tae Ha-Jin?”
Yeon, who had been smiling contentedly, suddenly froze.
Though he knew the rumour had spread everywhere, being
confronted about it by someone so close was still unsettling.

__
It seems that a better way to adapt their names would be: Ui-
bin and Ui-ju or Eui-bin and Eui-ju, but then again, the
publishing has started, and I’ll keep the current versions.
 Chapter 7. Part 10 [PG-18]
It had always been awkward guiding when espers constantly
avoided making eye contact, but now it was becoming clear—
they were wary of Tae Ha-Jin.
“Yeah, well… that’s what happened.”
“Wow, that’s insane! Tae Ha-Jin Esper is incredible! Could
you introduce me to him just once? Or maybe get me his
autograph? Please, I’m begging you!”
Lee Yeon laughed incredulously.
True, Tae Ha-Jin was remarkable, but it seemed Euiju had no
idea about the greatness standing right in front of her—a dual
bloodline esper. After the press conference, Jeong-suk had
called in astonishment, yet Euiju barely reacted. Perhaps she
was staying quiet out of consideration for him.
Just as he was about to reply—
Flash!
Four figures appeared midair. Unfamiliar faces, but one of the
women was instantly recognisable.
Tae Ha-Jin’s ex-fiancée, seen before at a Diaylen banquet.
Ronile, was it?
The towering men flanking her in tailored suits radiated esper
energy—likely bodyguard espers, with one being a
transportation esper.
The woman strode forward, her slender figure clad in a pure
white dress. Her short hair swayed lightly with each click of
her heels.
“You’re Guide Lee Yeon, correct?”
Yeon raised an eyebrow, silently assessing the woman who
was now scrutinising him head to toe, her expression twisting.
“Did you use your pretty face to seduce Ha-Jin?”
Yeon calmly analysed the situation: Tae Ha-Jin’s ex-fiancée
was picking a fight. But why?
Lingering feelings?
Unresolved ties?
Whatever her reason, it wasn’t worth dignifying.
“You’re not even dating Ha-Jin, are you?” she pressed. “Yet
you plastered banners everywhere. Was that necessary? I know
Ha-Jin well, and he hates that sort of thing.”
Yeon chuckled softly, tilting his head. There wasn’t even a hint
of tension in him. He felt confident he could take down all the
espers behind her if it came to that. Besides, wasn’t this
woman an Epilox native? He’d heard that Blonid Corporation
was dealing with massive fallout from their actions.
Next to him, Euiju frowned and asked, “Who’s this rude
woman, oppa?”
“What? Hey, how old are you?” Ronile snapped, her face
contorting in anger. She turned to Euiju, giving her a once-
over before sneering.
“Shouldn’t you buy some proper clothes? That fabric looks
like it’s falling apart.”
“How old are you, aunty? No amount of money buys back
youth.”
“…You little brat.”
Euiju burst into laughter.
“By the way, those banners? Tae Ha-Jin Esper put them up
himself. His assistant and some workers were caught on video
hanging them. Internet too hard for you to use at your age?”
“…What?”
Ronile’s eyes flicked between Yeon and Euiju in disbelief.
Yeon shrugged, casually pulling Euiju away.
“Stay out of this, Kim Euiju.”
“Why are you just standing there? Say something! She’s not
even worth dealing with!”
“Why waste my breath? For her sake?”
“Still, she’s so annoying!”
“Not enough to bother me.”
He meant it.
A woman like Ronile wasn’t someone who could sway Tae
Ha-Jin. There was no need to feel threatened or even remotely
concerned.
But the more indifferent Yeon became, the more Ronile’s
anger simmered. Her frozen smile eventually returned, her
voice sharper than before.
“Did you know? Tae Ha-Jin Esper and I slept together just a
few months ago.”
It was a blatant lie. Tae Ha-Jin hadn’t so much as looked her
way for years. But she needed to throw something—anything
—to crack Yeon’s composure.
And for a fleeting moment, it worked.
Ronile caught the faint hardening of Yeon’s expression, and
her grin widened.
“Maybe you’re not together, but if you are, you’d know. Our
Ha-Jin is phenomenal in bed. He didn’t let me sleep that night,
you know. Does he still do that to you these days?”
Euiju looked nervously at Yeon, her concern evident. But
Yeon’s expression remained calm as he processed. If this
supposed “night” happened months ago, it would’ve been long
before their current bond. Her vagueness about timing only
confirmed her desperation.
There was no reason to feel anger. No reason to be shocked.
He knew this logically.
Yet—
‘This is disgusting.’
Yeon’s face stiffened visibly. Ronile, emboldened by the
reaction, soared on her delusions.
“He’s incredibly tender, isn’t he? His kisses are gentle, and he
wanted to be so close to me that he didn’t even bother with
precautions. Afterwards, he’d always hold me close—those
strong arms made me feel so secure. Does he do that for you
too, Lee Yeon?”
Lies, all of them.
In truth, during their engagement, Tae Ha-Jin had never shown
her such tenderness. He always ensured precautions were
taken, never kissed her, and never held her after intimacy.
Replaying those moments in her mind, Ronile came to a bitter
conclusion.
Tae Ha-Jin had never loved her.
The thought boiled her blood.
And now, standing before her, Lee Yeon—a dazzlingly
beautiful man—was evidence of what she never had. Tae Ha-
Jin had given this man everything she had fantasised about,
willingly and wholeheartedly.
Her concocted memories of affection were this man’s reality.
It made her want to burn it all to the ground.
“When he told me he loved me, I was truly happy. His kind
eyes…”
If I can destroy this, even a little…
“Still, look at me. In the end, Ha-Jin abandoned me. He always
seemed sincere, but it was nothing more than a fleeting affair.”
I could have gladly become a devil.
‘All I ever wanted was your love.’
Ronile bit down lightly on the inside of her lip. Her stomach
churned, and it felt like she might cry. Her love for him had
been real. She truly did love him.
“Yeon will end up just like me. End it before it gets even more
pathetic. Ha-Jin can’t stay interested in anyone for long. He
moves on quickly, forgets even faster. Who’s next after you?
Can’t you think of anyone?”
Ronile swallowed hard after finishing her sentence. Her eyes
stayed fixed on the floor as her expression twisted in pain. She
remained silent for a moment, her cheeks glistening faintly
before the transparent streaks of liquid vanished.
“Let’s go. We’re done here.”
A nearby transportation esper, who had been watching the
situation nervously, nodded eagerly. Ronile walked briskly
towards the guards, her heels clicking sharply on the floor. As
she passed a hallucination esper, she spoke in a hushed voice,
barely audible.
“Cast a hallucination on that man. Make him see his worst fear
every time he meets Ha-Jin. I’ll pay you handsomely, but it
has to stick. Understood?”
The hallucination esper nodded firmly. They knew the man
was a top-grade dual bloodline esper, likely immune to most
hallucinations or hypnosis.
And yet…
That strikingly handsome man looked utterly shaken. His
trembling pupils betrayed his inner turmoil. A weakened mind
could render even the most powerful esper susceptible to
hallucinations. And the esper themselves was an A0-grade—
there was no way they would lose in their domain.
Resolving to give it everything, the hallucination esper drew
an enormous surge of energy from the Vessel. Using the
ground beneath their feet as a conduit, they channelled the
hallucination directly into Yeon.
Anything less wouldn’t hold. The illusion would shatter
instantly without this level of force.
Despite the tension, the hallucination seemed to have worked.
Yeon’s mind was too unsteady to resist.
“Phew… It’s done.”
The esper wiped the sweat from their brow, exhausted. Ronile
nodded, and the transportation esper activated their power.
A flash of light.
And they were gone in an instant.
Like a short-lived storm.
Euiju glanced up at Yeon with concern. She had never seen her
brother’s face so completely frozen. Even after the others had
vanished, Yeon remained unmoving, his body stiff as a statue.
Just as Euiju was about to say something—
Yeon reached out, gently ruffling her hair.
“Kids shouldn’t hear shit like that, right?”
“Huh…? Yeah…”
“Don’t grow up to be like them. You might get shot in the
middle of the night.”
“Mm-hm…”
“Take a taxi home. I can’t take you tonight.”
Yeon smiled as he patted her back. It was the first time Euiju
had seen such a hollow smile, and it made her shrink away.
Even so, Yeon ushered her into a taxi and sent her off.
“Haah…”
Yeon exhaled heavily, standing in the middle of the bustling
city.
What a transparent ploy. Ronile’s words couldn’t be trusted,
not completely. And Yeon, of all people, knew how sincere
Tae Ha-Jin had been with him.
If everything Ha-Jin had ever said or done was a lie, he should
quit being an esper and take up acting instead.
‘Let’s just talk.’
Yeon didn’t want to stew on it alone. If Ha-Jin had slept with
Ronile when their relationship was undefined, it wasn’t a
pleasant thought, but he needed to hear it from him.
Yeon floated upwards, heading for Ha-Jin’s office.
Now that his dual bloodline status was public knowledge, he
felt freer. Driving would probably end in a crash, and a taxi
wouldn’t give him the clarity of the open air. The cool breeze
helped steady his thoughts.
It wasn’t long before he reached the capital’s centre.
The building was half-restored, with its main wing fully
repaired. Yeon ascended further, passing the 10th floor, then
the 15th, and finally the 19th.
At last, he reached the 20th floor—Tae Ha-Jin’s office.
And froze.
Yeon’s entire body seized as if paralysed.
The scene beyond the glass was too shocking.
Tae Ha-Jin, clad in a grey robe, sat on the sofa, his wet hair
slicked back. A man approached him, smiling beautifully. The
man was naked. Kneeling before Ha-Jin, he parted the robe,
wrapping his delicate white hands around Ha-Jin’s imposing
member. He lowered his head, taking it into his mouth, gently
swallowing it whole.
It was the Deer.
Ha-Jin tilted his head back, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He ran
a large hand through the man’s hair, pulling him closer. His
length disappeared further into the man’s mouth.
Yeon had seen this man before, back in the training camp
cafeteria, before the war. Ha-Jin had handed him a tray and
smiled. Yeon hadn’t thought much of it then. It wasn’t worth
mentioning, so he never asked why. It lingered in his mind
from time to time, but nothing more. Ha-Jin had loved him
deeply since then, and the Black Door had soon erupted.
But this…
Ronile’s voice echoed in his mind.
—Still, look at me. In the end, Ha-Jin abandoned me. He
always seemed sincere, but it was nothing more than a fleeting
affair.
—Yeon will end up just like me. End it before it gets even
more pathetic.
Yeon’s mind flashed back to Ronile’s earlier question: Who’s
next after you?
The Deer.
The only person Yeon had ever felt jealous of.
And now, seeing this… He couldn’t breathe. His chest
tightened painfully, his hands growing cold.
Was this a nightmare?
Yeon wished it were, but the scene before him was too vivid,
too real. Ha-Jin’s depraved expression left no room for denial.
“Ah…”
How could it hurt this much?
Yeon clutched his chest, as if trying to soothe the unbearable
ache.
Ha-Jin rose from the sofa, his merciless length slipping from
the man’s mouth. The fawn gazed up at him with rapturous
eyes. Ha-Jin leaned down and kissed him.
With trembling hands, Tae Ha-Jin ran his large fingers over the
Deer’s delicate body, his excitement written all over his face.
Tossing aside his robe, his chiselled form was revealed—a
sight that sent ripples through Lee Yeon’s gaze. The muscular
body he had once considered his own overlapped with another
man’s now.
Back then, during the saturation incident, he had shared an
intimate moment with Ha-Jin in the office bed. The drawer by
Ha-Jin’s bedside still contained gel and condoms, a relic of
that night. What he had once dismissed as Ha-Jin’s
promiscuous past now grated on him, stirring feelings of
discomfort and anger. And yet, he had no right to judge—not
when he had loved, dated, and slept with others before. What
made him feel so righteous?
He recalled Ha-Jin, earlier in the day, rushing to the Disaster
Defence Centre, claiming urgent business.
‘Was your urgent business this Deer?’
“Goddammit,” Yeon muttered bitterly.
Through the window, the two men grew more entangled,
exchanging fleeting caresses that quickly escalated. For the
first time, Ha-Jin’s beautiful body appeared grotesque, twisted
by the rough, erratic rhythm of his movements. Beneath him,
the Deer’s face flushed crimson, dazed with pleasure.
Though no sound penetrated the glass, every sensation reached
Yeon as vividly as if it were happening beside him. The
imagined timbre of Ha-Jin’s low moans clawed at his
composure. Yeon had once heard that some shocks were so
profound, they left no room for tears. This was one of those
moments.
He could walk away.
Pretend this nightmare of a scene didn’t exist.
But his legs refused to obey, rooted in place. He couldn’t even
bring himself to ask, “Is this real?”
He could’ve grabbed Ha-Jin by the collar or landed a punch to
vent the anger choking him.
But the words burned inside him:
“Did you cheat on me?”
Or worse, “Do you prefer him now?”
The thought of voicing such pathetic questions and receiving
Ha-Jin’s stoic response filled Yeon with dread. His hands
trembled violently. Love had a way of throwing people into
infernos without warning. If this was love, Yeon wanted no
part of it again.
No one deserved this, not even for someone they held dear.
The image of this betrayal would never leave him.
He lingered, watching far longer than he should. Only when
his heart was numb enough did he finally turn away, his
expression as cold as ice.

Lee Yeon had vanished.

***

Days passed with no sign of him. Ha-Jin was a coiled spring,

his nerves fraying further with each hour. Returning home
after work, he was met with a stark emptiness. Yeon’s
belongings were gone, every last trace of him erased.
The spacious home, once unnoticed, now felt oppressively
vast. A wave of déjà vu made Ha-Jin’s brows knit together.
Yeon had done this before—abruptly quitting his exclusive
contract without a word.
Surely not again.
His unease proved true.
“Esper, sir… Guide Lee Yeon has submitted a transfer
request,” Doberman said hesitantly, fiddling with a paper in
his hands.
“What?”
Snatching the document, Ha-Jin scanned its contents.
“Transfer Request”
The audacity left him speechless. No reason provided, only a
broad request to be reassigned anywhere.
Lee Yeon wasn’t just any guide; he was an S-grade dual
bloodline. One of the most high-ranking espers in the Diaylen
nation. Not even Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun could stop
him from relocating if he truly wished it.
BANG!
Ha-Jin slammed his fist down on the desk, the paper
crumpling beneath his grip. The force cracked the desk’s
surface.
“Why the fuck now?”
“…Have you done something wrong again, sir?” Doberman
ventured cautiously.
“I don’t know! I don’t fucking remember!” Ha-Jin barked,
pacing in frustration.
Fortunately, the incident didn’t trigger any immediate disasters
like door ruptures, but Ha-Jin’s instability was enough to
worry those around him.
Doberman, ever the composed assistant, reassured him. “I
intercepted the request before it reached the centre director.
Don’t worry—no one else knows yet.”
The assistant was already investigating Yeon’s disappearance
through every available channel. Intercepting a document was
a trivial matter in comparison.
“Think, sir. Are you sure there’s nothing at all that stands out?
You were just with him two days ago at the Yellow Door site.”
Ha-Jin leaned back in his chair, which creaked ominously.
Closing his eyes, he retraced his steps. That day had been like
any other. Elder Chairman Cha had sent over urgent
documents, and Ha-Jin had left early to review them. After
finishing the paperwork, exhaustion overtook him, and he had
fallen asleep on his office bed.
By the time he woke up, it was evening. He’d tried to call
Yeon for dinner, but his calls were cut off after only a few
rings.
He had called over ten times, with the same result.
That’s when it hit him:
Yeon had blocked him.
“There’s nothing. Nothing comes to mind,” he admitted
hoarsely.
Doberman sighed. “Perhaps there’s been another
misunderstanding, like before?”
Ha-Jin said nothing, fidgeting with his phone. Call after call
went unanswered. Each one was cut off after the first ring—a
clear sign he was still blocked.
He scrolled through his sent messages.

[Where are you? Let’s eat.

7:22 PM]

[Why aren’t you picking up?

7:38 PM]

[Did you block me? Seriously?

8:01 PM]

[Why did you pack your things? If you’re upset, just tell me.
Don’t drive me insane like this.
10:03 PM]

[Fine. Let’s talk in person.

3:19 AM]

[You really think I can’t find you? I’m letting you have this,
but don’t push me. Come back now.
9:08 AM]
__
I simply love how Tae just asking “Why the fuck now?”. As if
Yeon runs away every Monday.

My remark might be funny, the overall situation is not though.

Not going to lie, I like this development. Ronile was
introduced at the first half of the story, and seeing how her
desperation has evolved into something like this seems
reasonable. Not many people are able to simply walk away,
especially if pampered. And as Ronile was introduced from
more or less beginning, the part of the story doesn’t feel as a
pointless drama in order to drag the story further - it’s a bit of
character development even.
I can even understand Yeon here, he saw everything with his
own eyes - knowing nothing of casted illusions. It wasn’t a
single misinterpreted glimpse or a picture, but the whole
process he was an unwilling witness of. After that, it really
doesn’t look like there is anything to discuss.
 Chapter 7. Part 11
[Planning to bleed me dry, aren’t you?
4:25 PM]

Not a single reply. By now, Ha-Jin’s anger was bubbling to the

surface. They were in a relationship now, and conversations
were crucial. Yet Yeon had bolted without so much as a
warning, cutting ties like severing a tail. This was the second
time it had happened, and Ha-Jin’s mood plunged further into
the depths.
‘Is this how it’s going to be from now on?’
He’d done his utmost for someone as precious as Yeon. Even
when Yeon quit their exclusive contract over a
misunderstanding, tried to abandon him for the Black Door, or
kept the colossal secret of his dual bloodline, Ha-Jin had
forgiven him.
Because it was Yeon, he could forgive.
As long as Yeon stayed by his side, nothing felt
insurmountable.
But now—
‘Has my unconditional love become a weapon for you?’
They were equals, loving one another as such. Just because he
loved Yeon more didn’t mean he was weaker.
His instincts warned him: if things continued like this, they’d
part ways for good.
Ha-Jin couldn’t let Yeon’s habit of running and hiding go
unchecked. This person, who inflicted so much pain on him—
That wretched guide.
Ha-Jin’s face hardened as he stared at Doberman. Crumpling a
piece of paper in his hand, he handed it over.
“Send this reassignment request to the Centre Director.”
“…Excuse me? Have you lost your mind? If you do that,
Guide Lee Yeon will be reassigned to a regional post instead
of the capital!”
“Send it.”
“Esper…!”
Ignoring Doberman’s protest, Ha-Jin rose from his chair,
pulling his coat off the rack. As he slung it over his arm and
stepped toward the office door, he paused, irritation lacing his
voice.
“Assign an exclusive escort to him. Make sure no one else gets
close, that he eats well, and report back on his condition.”
“If you’re going to do all that, then why—”
“Don’t take down the banners.”
Doberman hesitated, watching Ha-Jin’s retreating figure.
Then, as though steeling himself, he muttered, “Ah, about
those banners… A lad in a black hat took every single one of
them down early this morning.”
“…”
“They said he was probably an esper—he flew off with them.”
Ha-Jin clenched his teeth, laughing bitterly.
“My lover’s always quick on his feet, isn’t he?”
Expression icing over again, Ha-Jin strode out, leaving
Doberman alone in the office. Pulling his phone from his
pocket, Doberman quickly dialled a number.
―Yes, Secretary?
“Haa… Guide, was this really necessary? What’s going on?”
―I’m sorry, but I’d rather not explain.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin seemed furious. If you’re planning to hide,
you’d better vanish completely.”
Yeon chuckled dryly.
―Why should that bastard be angry? I’m not hiding—I’m
trying to end things for good.
“…Calm down. More importantly, I’ve got something to
deliver. Can I meet you now?”
―You’re not bringing Ha-Jin along, are you?
“Of course not.”
―Fine. I’ll text you the coordinates.
After leaving Ha-Jin’s home, Yeon had been staying at Jeong-
Suk’s house. Once the coordinates were sent, Doberman
prepared for his errand. Retrieving a box from the massive
safe in Ha-Jin’s office, he slipped the reassignment request
into his pocket as well.
As Tae Ha-Jin’s secretary, he would’ve destroyed the request
on command. But the unexpected instruction to send it left him
shrugging.
Doberman vanished with a flash, reappearing in a modest
garden. Yeon was there, yanking out weeds. As Doberman
approached with the box, Yeon looked up.
“You’re here?”
“…Guide, are you all right?”
The energetic voice from their call didn’t match Yeon’s
haggard appearance. His pale face and swollen, reddened eyes
told the story. Just how much had he cried? What had driven
him to request a transfer?
Doberman’s heart ached as he watched Yeon pick up a water
bottle and drink deeply.
“So, what have you got for me, Secretary?”
“Ah… this.”
Doberman averted his gaze politely, setting the box on the
grass. Yeon’s eyebrows lifted. The box was familiar, his
expression stiffening as memories resurfaced.
“It’s from the late Lee Hong-Jun’s lab. Most of the items were
smashed to bits, but this box was intact. I thought it might be
important, so I brought it with me.”
“…”
Yeon’s gaze darkened as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
Tossing the handful of weeds aside, he looked uneasily at
Doberman.
“You didn’t… open it, did you?”
“I only peeked but didn’t touch or examine the contents. It
felt… wrong to do so.”
“I see…”
Nodding slowly, Yeon sighed. The box was unmistakably one
of the countless others from the lab. Lee Hong-Jun had
obsessively used the same kind, making it hard to ignore.
“What could be inside?”
The sole box his late father hadn’t destroyed felt ominously
like a relic. A part of him recoiled from the idea of looking
inside. Pressing his tired eyes, he muttered:
“I’ll check it myself. Thanks for bringing it, Secretary.”
“Don’t worry… It’s nothing. If you ever need my help, don’t
hesitate to reach out.”
“Sure.”
Yeon forced a smile. Doberman exchanged a few more
pleasantries but never mentioned making amends with Tae Ha-
Jin. After expressing his support, he disappeared. Yeon stared
blankly at the empty space where Doberman had stood.
‘I won’t have any reason to contact you again.’
Doberman was a good man. Truthfully, Yeon wanted to see
him for as long as possible, but he was unquestionably one of
Tae Ha-Jin’s people. If they stayed in touch, news about Yeon
would inevitably reach Ha-Jin.
‘Absolutely not.’
Even now, his mind reeled with images of Tae Ha-Jin tangled
with that deer-eyed man. In this state, he couldn’t bear to see
any of Ha-Jin’s associates.
“Haa…”
Yeon collapsed onto the garden lawn.
For a long while, he stared vacantly at what appeared to be one
of Lee Hong-Jun’s belongings. Regardless of what wonders
lay inside, Yeon felt no sympathy or fondness for the man.
Hong-Jun was human trash. Yeon was opening the box purely
out of obligation.
Truthfully, he wanted to burn it without even looking.
With a smooth motion, the lid of the box came off and was set
aside.
The moment it opened, Yeon realised it wasn’t Lee Hong-
Jun’s belongings.
It was his mother’s keepsake box.
“…”
Inside were childish novels she often read to him, a couple of
dresses she loved, hair ribbons she used to tie for him, strands
of her brown hair, and a journal adorned with crude
drawings…
Yeon clamped his mouth shut, realising it had fallen open.
After her suicide, everything tied to his mother seemed to have
vanished. He’d been relocated to the capital’s research lab
immediately, and the Basen Research Lab, heavy with
memories and pain, had been destroyed by Lee Hong-Jun. The
cold-hearted man had obliterated any remnants of her. Yeon
hadn’t expected him to preserve anything.
“Fucking bastard…”
Yeon shook his head, staring at the long strands of chestnut
hair in the box. They were disturbing and sinister, making him
want to shut the box right then and there. But his eyes caught
on the journal—a notebook he’d never seen before, adorned
with childish drawings.
‘Did my mother keep a journal?’
A single palm print stood out on the dusty cover, impossible to
ignore.
Yeon guessed it might be Lee Hong-Jun’s. Doberman had
claimed he hadn’t looked inside, so the print, layered on dust,
indicated someone had opened it recently.
Had Hong-Jun opened it shortly before his death?
Doberman had said it was the only box Hong-Jun hadn’t
destroyed.
Questions swirled in Yeon’s mind. He knew of Hong-Jun’s
twisted obsession with his mother, but why would reading her
journal lead him to suicide?
Could it be the journal that drove him to kill himself?
Scoffing at the absurdity, Yeon brushed the dust off the cover.
His curiosity about the kind of entries his mother might have
written overwhelmed him.
The pages rustled softly as he opened the first one.

Age 17, a warm day.

Hello, Bianca. I’m going to start writing to you today. Talking
to myself feels lonely, so I’ve decided to name you Bianca.
Let’s be friends from now on! Honestly, I’m not sure I’ll keep
this up… Gran’s the one forcing me to write this. See you
tomorrow!

Age 17, a sad day.

Hi again. It’s been months, hasn’t it? I only came back because
I had a bad day. Gran scolded me. She warned me not to
wander around alone at night, saying it’s dangerous for
descendants of dual bloodlines like me. She told me my
grandfather passed away young because of it. She said I’d
better keep my head down if I want to live long. Tch, Gran
nags way too much.

Age 18, a sunny day.

Bianca! I have great news! I’ve finally awakened! Everyone
else did it way before me, so I was starting to worry I’d be
normal… Haha. I was terrified of being ordinary because
espers with abnormal types are so cool! The best part? I
awakened as an A+ grade esper! Gran will flip when she finds
out, so it’s still my little secret for now. Tomorrow, I’m going
to explore my ability. I’m so excited and nervous!

Age 18, a confusing day.

Bianca… It’s strange to write to you two days in a row. I’m
really shaken up right now. I spent all day trying to figure out
my ability but couldn’t get anywhere, so I gave up and went to
the market. That’s when it hit me—my ability revealed itself.
I… I think I can see people’s futures. Oh, Gran’s calling me.
I’ll write more tomorrow! Bye!

Yeon’s eyes widened.

‘Precognition?’
An incredible power. Predicting the future was an abstract yet
immeasurably impactful ability. Worldwide, there were fewer
than three known individuals with such a gift.
Yet she’d only been an A+ grade esper?
Shaken, Yeon read further, his gaze unsteady.

Age 18, a worrisome day.

I stopped mid-sentence last time, didn’t I? I’ve looked into it
more, and yes, my ability is precognition. When I focus my
energy while staring at someone, I see two versions of their
future, swirling like mist. One future unfolds naturally, while
the other changes depending on what I do. My influence seems
to shape the outcomes. But it’s scary… Today, I saw a man
about to get hit by a car. Before I knew it, I was running to
him, yelling, “Don’t go to the convenience store in the rain!”

Such an extraordinary ability. Yeon’s lips parted slightly.

Age 22, an ordinary day.

Hello, Bianca. It’s been years, hasn’t it? I’m sorry. Gran
passed away when I was 20. The worst part was knowing it
would happen. This ability is awful. Every day felt like
torment, knowing what was to come. I still miss her terribly…
Gran always warned me to stay cautious. I learned later that
my parents’ early deaths were because my father was a dual
bloodline descendant. What’s the big deal about dual
bloodlines? I’m just an esper with a single abnormal type. I’ll
never understand.

Age 25, a rainy day.

Bianca, I met a man at the market today. He looked a couple of
years older than me, with a rigid, cold expression. Most people
in the market are too busy ogling fruit stalls, right? But this
guy? He kept staring at me from the moment I arrived. His
gaze was so unsettling that I couldn’t help but use my
ability…
And I saw it. Two futures for him. I still can’t believe it. If I
don’t intervene, the world will collapse. He’ll bring ruin to
everything. I saw Diaylen, once so peaceful, devastated. A
global war tearing through the nations. So many people dead.
But then, I saw a different future, one I could influence.
Diaylen was still wrecked, but its people recovered faster.
Fewer deaths. No global war.
I don’t know, Bianca. I might see him again, but the idea that I
have to do something for the world? It doesn’t sit right with
me. You know what popped into my head? Grandma’s words.
The ones she repeated so many times:
“Dual bloodlines have always been sacrificed throughout
history.”
“That blood isn’t a blessing from the gods; it’s a curse!”
“Dual bloodlines can’t escape their predestined fate. The
blood itself is the problem.”
“Child, my granddaughter, live for yourself. It doesn’t matter
if others die; you must survive for yourself.”
Is that really okay, though?
Can I just live for myself? Pretend not to care while countless
lives are lost? I’m terrified, Bianca. I’m scared of him.

Age 25, a day of resolve.

He came to my house today. Lee Hong-Jun. That’s his name.
He introduced himself as a doctor and researcher. Asked me to
go with him.
I couldn’t refuse. I used my foresight again, and the future I
saw left me no choice. If I didn’t go with him, more than a
hundred people would be dragged into his lab. But if I went,
they’d live, and I wouldn’t get hurt.
What kind of choice is that?

Age 26, a Day When Everything Changed.

Bianca, I got married today. Not a ceremony—just legal
paperwork. Surprised I’m writing again after all these months?
I am too. Time passes, and I’ve resigned myself to this. When
I stay by his side, more people survive. I’m too much of a
coward to turn my back on their deaths.
The fate of dual bloodlines… maybe it’s real. The thought of
someone like me stopping the world’s destruction? It’s almost
laughable. I couldn’t even refuse when Hong-Jun proposed
marriage.
He’s a terrifying man. He tries to hide things, but I know. I’ve
seen it. The cruel experiments he conducts on his subjects.
I’ve wanted to help, but I don’t know how. I feel like a flower
wilting in a greenhouse, dying while someone else breathes.
I think he’s planning to experiment on me, too. He’s already
drawn my blood a few times, asked me all sorts of questions.
He must know I have a dual bloodline. That’s why he sought
me out.
At first, I was angry. Now, I smile. Because when I smile,
Hong-Jun softens. Just a bit. The man who’s a living disaster
listens to my requests surprisingly well. Isn’t that odd?

Age 26, the day I became a mother.

Hello again. It’s been half a year. I wanted to tell you—I’m a
mother now. I don’t even know how it came to this, but please
understand one thing. Every choice I’ve made has been for the
world. That doesn’t mean I hate the child growing in my belly.
I just pray he doesn’t take after Hong-Jun.
It’s a boy. I’d hoped for a girl, actually.
Grandma used to say that men born with dual bloodlines
suffered the most. She believed in superstitions, so it’s not like
I took her seriously, but… I still want my child to be happy.
But what can I do?
If he’s a boy, I’ll make sure he’s happy anyway. I’ll change the
future a thousand times over if it means he can smile. That’s a
promise.
Yesterday, Hong-Jun told me he loved me. He said it as if he
were explaining his research findings—calm, matter-of-fact.
Every time I look at him, I feel like I’m being sacrificed.
I’ve tried to change him. I suggested we go out, enjoy life a
bit. I listened intently to his theories, even the most ridiculous
ones. I begged him to stop the experiments. But he shook his
head. He says he loves me, but he can’t give up his research.
Even forcing a smile feels exhausting now.
How long will I have to live like this, Bianca?

Age 27, the day I reached my limit.

Today, I shouted at him for the first time. Told him to stop the
experiments. I cried and screamed, and he actually looked
shocked. Like he didn’t know he could make a face like that.
Bianca, do you know what’s strange? I pity him now. A
madman like him. Why he lives this way. Why he wastes his
brilliant mind like this.
Am I becoming a monster, too? Feeling sorry for him, does
that make me just as vile?
I apologise to the child in my womb every day. I just want him
to escape. Escape Hong-Jun’s grasp. Escape the fate of dual
bloodlines.
Please, God.

Age 30, a day of Heartbreak.

It’s been years, Bianca. Today, I learned something horrifying.
Hong-Jun told me he was experimenting on my unborn child
during my pregnancy. He called it “research for the child’s
benefit.” I couldn’t say no. The futures I saw were worse if I
refused.
But three years after my son was born, I discovered the truth.
Another child had been sacrificed because of us. A baby.
The child’s five years old now.
The guilt is suffocating me. Can you believe it? They used an
infant as a test subject.
One of the researchers said the baby had been abandoned on
the streets. Sold to the lab for a high price because of his red
eyes.
I cried. I wanted to apologise, so I went to see him early this
morning.
He was skeletal, but his crimson eyes were beautiful. The
moment I saw him, I instinctively glimpsed his future. And I
was stunned.
If Hong-Jun is a disaster, this boy will be the saviour. The
strongest defender of Diaylen and the world.
I don’t know if I should be amazed or heartbroken.
If I intervene, the child will grow to become a hero. But if I
turn away… the child will live as if dead in a laboratory and
won’t make it past twenty.
A stark, extreme future unfolded before me. Once again, I was
forced to make a choice. Though I was nothing more than a
criminal to this child, I found myself bound to care for him.
How could this be? For the sake of world peace, I must
deceive this child.
The torment makes me wish for death.
My son is so very precious to me, yet I can no longer endure.

Yeon swallowed dryly.

He had thought his mother cared for Tae Ha-Jin out of simple
pity and guilt. But no, it wasn’t that. His mother had been
preparing Tae Ha-Jin for a better future.
Teaching him to speak wasn’t mere charity; it was a stepping
stone toward the future she had foreseen.
Realising this truth left Yeon deeply shaken.
The current future was nothing short of one his mother had
meticulously designed.
 Chapter 7. Part 12
Age 38, a snowy day.
“Hello, Bianca. It’s been eight years since I last wrote to you.
A lot has changed. I gave the boy the name ‘Tae Ha-Jin.’ It’s
from a children’s story I read to Yeon—a hero’s name, one
who vanquished evil villains. Ha-Jin can now speak, even
understand most conversations. He’s a clever child, quick to
learn.
I’ve been sneaking glimpses into the futures of Ha-Jin and my
son. They’re supposed to meet as friends, you see. That’s why
I knowingly walked into the lab, even though I knew my son
was following me. Yeon’s naturally curious; I’m sure he’s
already met Ha-Jin. Sometimes, I hear him leave his bed in the
early hours.
He must be meeting Ha-Jin. They’re such adorable children.
I feel guilty, Bianca, but I’ve been deliberately teaching Ha-Jin
how to write for their shared future. When I’m no longer here,
I want Ha-Jin to fill my absence with kind and precious words
for Yeon.
The first word I taught him was ‘love.’ Because one day, they
will love each other.
The second word was ‘it’s okay.’ Because I want them both to
be okay.
Words are powerful, aren’t they? Ironically, I’ve imposed my
selfishness on Ha-Jin. I’m a terrible woman, Bianca.
Would you like to hear something funny?
A long time ago, I mentioned, ‘My son would’ve been so
pretty if he were a daughter.’ Not long after, Yeon started
growing out his hair and tying it up. I could see he wanted to
be admired, so I let him be.
I’d love him no matter what he looked like.
Bianca, I feel like a puppet of the divine now, moving exactly
as his design dictates.
I think this might be my final journal entry.
I must end my life in secret, without Lee Hong-Jun knowing. I
need to leave a will, pleading with him to spare the children
and show Yeon a shred of decency. Only then will he grant
them a measure of freedom.
Unbelievably, Hong-Jun seems fated to act according to my
will. I’ve seen his future: he’ll be stunned when he reads my
letter. I’ve also seen Yeon in the future, freely roaming with a
bizarre disguise, looking so adorably carefree.
Bianca, I’ll be fine.
Yes, I’m being forced into suicide, but it’s still my choice in
the end. I am tired of this life. Peering into others’ futures—
intruding on them—has become unbearable.
I’m not a kind or good person. I’m selfish and cruel. I’ve
sacrificed the few for the many, deceived sweet Ha-Jin, and
will leave my precious son to face the world alone.
But I saw another future: my son grown into a remarkable
man, sitting on lush green grass, tears falling as he reads this
journal. For him, I want to write one last letter.
Please understand, Bianca.

To my beloved son, Yeon.

Thank you for growing into someone even more extraordinary
than I imagined. I resented my ability every moment, yet
seeing your future brought me joy and peace. You’re such a
kind soul; I doubt you’d ever blame me freely… but I am
sorry. Sorry for leaving you behind.
In every future I saw, Ha-Jin was always by your side. He’s
the gentlest soul I know. I have no doubt he will love and
support you in my place.
And yes, you will have seen my death. I foresaw it too. I won’t
ask for your forgiveness. Knowing I subjected you to such a
shocking memory—it breaks me. It’s nothing short of
emotional cruelty.
But it had to be this way. So you wouldn’t visit my grave each
year. So your reunion with Ha-Jin wouldn’t be delayed. This
was the best future for everyone. My death is my gift to you.
This powerless mother had no choice, once again.
I am so sorry.
Don’t forgive me. Blame me.
I will take all your burdens and fate with me.
I was selfish. Though I lived for the world, what I truly wanted
was for you to have a peaceful world. A life free from the
vicious cycle I endured. To draw your own destiny.
Trust your decisions.
I saw it, Yeon.
You, happier than anyone else.
On a radiant day, like an unassuming flower blooming in
abundance.
This is the end of my letter, Bianca.
I’ve never written this much in a journal before. Now, at
death’s doorstep, I realise—like all with dual bloodlines, I
could never escape an early end.
But I’m truly fine.
Yeon will live long enough for both of us.
Goodbye, Bianca.
You were my only friend.

Tears wouldn’t stop falling.

Yeon let the journal slip from his trembling hands, dropping it
onto the grass. He tried to cover his eyes, but the tears kept
streaming. The journal contained too much—too much to
process in a single moment.
—You’ll be happy, my love. You’ll meet someone who’ll love
every part of you. So you won’t be lonely.
Her last words, spoken the day before her death, echoed in his
mind. Since childhood, she had made such definitive
statements about the future. Even her final words were no
different.
“You will be happy. Someone will love you.”
She had merely spoken the future she had seen. Every word
she uttered was a compass pointing forward.
Yeon sobbed, whispering bitterly.
“Don’t make me laugh…”
Mother, you don’t understand anything.
You didn’t know how much your absence hurt. Or how lonely
I grew without you.
Why the hell did you take it upon yourself to plan my life?
Why did you pretend to care about me, only to hurt me?
Can I ever truly… be happy?
‘Tae Ha-Jin.’
His name kept haunting Yeon’s thoughts. His mother had told
him that Tae Ha-Jin would always stay by his side. That they’d
find happiness together.
But Yeon had seen Tae Ha-Jin with another man. Caught him
in the act. It replayed in his mind like a wretched film on an
endless loop. He learned the truth from his mother’s journal.
Tae Ha-Jin was a child abandoned on the streets.
And now, Yeon hated himself. Every bond that tied him to Ha-
Jin stabbed at his chest. He pitied him. He resented him. And,
most painfully, he loved him with a bitterness that felt like
poison.
He wanted to run to him, beg him to stay. To abandon that
“innocent doe-eyed bastard” and choose him instead.
He’d even promise to try harder, to be better.
“Hrk, h-heuk…”
Yeon bit his lip, stifling the sobs that still spilled out.
He didn’t know anymore.
His mother’s foresight claimed that he and Tae Ha-Jin would
remain happy together. He desperately wanted that to be true.
But part of him began to understand why Lee Hong-Jun had
chosen to end his own life.
Hong-Jun must have realised it too.
That the one he loved most had seen him as nothing but a
burden. A disaster. Had loathed every moment spent together
and hadn’t cared for him—not even a little.
Lee Hong-Jun had adored his mother with a deranged
intensity, but in the end, his suicide had been inevitable.
He was a man who had achieved all he’d set out to uncover in
his obsessive research.
“Haa…”
Yeon rubbed at his aching temples.
Meeting Tae Ha-Jin, the mess of their current situation, the
world still turning as if everything was fine—all of it felt
unbearable.
Knowing his mother had orchestrated every moment, paid for
it all in sacrifices… it didn’t sit right with him. She had
insisted, over and over, that it was fine.
But Yeon couldn’t believe that.
When he’d walked toward the Black Door to close it, he’d
wanted to live. He had loathed the thought of sacrificing
himself.
Her words echoed in his mind again, the ones engraved on her
headstone:
Do not fear the path of destiny. To walk it gladly is the
blessing of the prepared.

So, did you truly walk the path of destiny?

It must have hurt… so much.
Did you really walk it gladly? Was it a blessing to you?
His heart ached. His mother’s life felt so painfully pitiful to
him.
“Hrk, this is… this is so fucking unfair.”
Yeon collapsed onto the grass.
He wouldn’t forgive her. He wouldn’t let go of his resentment.
No mere journals and letters could make up for a lifetime of
sorrow.
In the end, she’d only written him into her grand design. What
he’d needed as a child wasn’t her grand plan—it was her love.
As he swallowed against the lump in his throat, Yeon made a
silent promise to himself:
I’ll hate you for this, so…
…so please, at least be happy up there, Mum.

***

“What the hell is going on here…?”

Doberman’s eyes darted around, trying to make sense of it all.
Lee Yeon had filed his transfer request, and Tae Ha-Jin had
told him to approve it. But that morning, news came through
—Yeon had cancelled the request.
Was it because of the box Lee Hong-Jun left behind? Did it
mean something?
Doberman had been thrilled. He’d rushed off to find Tae Ha-
Jin to share the good news.
But then he saw it: Tae Ha-Jin, standing there, being guided by
someone else.
‘What the hell am I even looking at…’
Doberman froze, bewildered. Yeon had cancelled his transfer,
yet here Tae Ha-Jin was, letting someone else guide him.
The two men locked eyes from across the room. A tense,
charged atmosphere hung between them.
Doberman, who had arrived so full of excitement, now wanted
to quietly back away. Yet his legs wouldn’t move.
“What’s going on here?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s voice cut through the air, cold and steady. Yeon’s
gaze wavered under the sharp question, his wounded eyes
meeting Ha-Jin’s before he finally spoke.
“I came… to talk.”
Normally, Ha-Jin would’ve softened at that, maybe even
smiled. But now, his face remained expressionless, his voice
devoid of warmth.
Leaning back against the wall, his weary, imposing stance was
enough to make anyone watching feel uneasy.
“Why? All of a sudden?”
You didn’t say a word when you left.
Doberman screamed internally.
‘What the hell are you doing, man?!’
He didn’t know the details, but Yeon had clearly mustered up
the courage to confront him. And Ha-Jin’s coldness… it
wasn’t like him.
Yeon, his brow furrowed in distress, finally managed to speak.
“Hyung.”
“…”
At that, Tae Ha-Jin’s unreadable mask cracked. His eyebrows
twitched, his hand curling into a tight fist. The A0-grade guide
who had been guiding him flinched at the sudden surge of
energy.
Ha-Jin had insisted on this inefficient method of guiding, but
now, his aura was surging uncontrollably.
Yeon, unable to meet his gaze, stared at the floor. His voice
trembled as he continued.
“I want to talk to you, hyung, but… I…”
He trailed off.
Ha-Jin’s voice was ice.
“Talk about what? You packed up and left without a word.
Filed for a transfer behind my back. Am I supposed to just sit
here and wait?”
“…I…”
“You don’t give a damn about how I feel, do you, Lee Yeon?
Your emotions come first, always. You don’t care how much
pain the person left behind has to endure. Isn’t that right?”
Yeon wanted to argue. Who did he think he was to stand so
righteous?
He’d slept with the bloody Deer, for God’s sake, and Yeon had
witnessed it with his own eyes.
But he couldn’t argue. Tae Ha-Jin was right. No matter the
reasons, Yeon had always chosen to run when things got
tough. He’d put himself above anyone else.
His thoughts were a tangled mess.
Yeon loved him so much it hurt. He missed him to the point of
madness. If his feelings had been even slightly less intense, he
would have severed ties with Ha-Jin long ago. But forgiving
him—that was a mountain too steep. The memories of that
moment still haunted him relentlessly.
Even now, Ha-Jin was getting guidance from someone else,
treating Yeon with a coldness that stung like ice.
‘Has he finally lost all affection for me?’
The thought of his mother’s diary crept in.
Her prophecy that they’d find happiness together had turned
out to be false.
“I get it. I see just how lightly you’re taking this relationship.”
If you fail, you’ll just run away.
Right?
His harsh words made Yeon’s eyes waver.
Ha-Jin continued, spitting out his words like venom.
“I’m always the one left clinging, damn it. You wouldn’t know
what this suffocating, shitty feeling is like.”
“…”
“And if your feelings change, am I supposed to just accept you
with open arms? Is that what you want?”
Yeon’s throat tightened. He’d been the one furious, but now
Ha-Jin stood before him so unwavering, so assured, as if Yeon
was the one in the wrong.
He wanted to apologise for running away without addressing
things, to have a real conversation, to listen to Ha-Jin’s
explanations, excuses, whatever he had to say.
But right now, he couldn’t. Ha-Jin’s sharp, merciless attitude
was like a slap to the face, dragging him back to how things
used to be. It hurt.
At the same time, anger festered inside him, eating away at his
resolve.
Yeon’s expression hardened to match Ha-Jin’s.
“If you knew what I saw and heard, you wouldn’t dare say
those things.”
Ha-Jin’s brow twitched.
“What…?”
“Right now, I feel more fucked than you.”
He spat out the words, his voice as sharp as glass. Ha-Jin’s
eyes wavered.
Yeon bit his lower lip, turned, and walked away. The words “I
saw you with the Deer” lodged themselves in his throat,
unwilling to come out. Not in this situation, not with Ha-Jin
standing there so steadfast.
Doberman swallowed dryly from where he stood, tension thick
in the air. This was far worse than he had anticipated.
Yeon hailed a taxi from a distance and disappeared into it.
Doberman, still frozen in place, turned a despairing gaze
towards Ha-Jin.
Ha-Jin stood motionless, his large hand covering his lower
face.
“Fuck…”
Ha-Jin rubbed his face harshly, taking a shaky breath. He
gestured to the guide assisting him, signalling they could stop.
The guide gave a quick bow before scurrying away.
Doberman approached, his brows furrowing deeply.
“What exactly were you trying to do?”
“Couldn’t bring myself to be angry,” Ha-Jin muttered.
Doberman’s expression darkened further.
Why are you so angry?
You chose the most cutting words possible.
But Ha-Jin’s mind kept circling back to Yeon.
“What did he see? What did he hear?” Ha-Jin murmured, his
voice tinged with frustration. “Goddamn it…”
The way Yeon had spoken, the pain in his eyes—it twisted Ha-
Jin’s heart. He didn’t know how he had restrained himself
from running after Yeon, holding him close. His lover looked
so fragile, so overwhelmed.
Despite having every right to be furious, Ha-Jin found himself
wanting to let it all go. Even maintaining a stern facade felt
nearly impossible.
His very being screamed to reach for Yeon, to dive into the
Vessel he belonged to. Seeing him again after so many days
stirred an ache that was unbearable. Yeon was still so
beautiful, and Ha-Jin’s entire existence yearned for him.
But he knew better. If he gave in now, Yeon would just retreat
the next time things got tough. No, reconciliation couldn’t
come this easily.
And truthfully, his anger wasn’t gone.
Since Yeon had severed their exclusive contract, Ha-Jin’s
mind had been consumed by him. Work had become a
nightmare; his thoughts were plagued by fears of losing him
forever. It had been unbearable.
“Goddamn it…”
Ha-Jin rubbed his face again, his cheeks hollow from stress.
He loved Yeon so much it felt like his chest might burst. Yet,
even as his heart ached, he couldn’t give in. Not now. Hurting
Yeon with his harsh words felt like cutting himself, but it had
to be done.
Yeon’s every word, every action had the power to shatter him
completely.
“You can see it, can’t you?” Ha-Jin asked, his voice heavy.
“How much more I love him than he loves me.”
Doberman didn’t hesitate.
“Yes,” he said.
It was true, after all. For this relationship to last, things needed
to balance out. Yeon’s tendency to run away was doing neither
of them any good.
Being abandoned without understanding why was something
he’d had enough of.
“…I find it difficult to understand. Isn’t it something you
could just talk through and make peace over? Besides, Esper-
nim, don’t you even know why Lee Yeon is upset with you?”
That had been a question Ha-Jin had been wrestling with for
days.
‘Saw and heard,’ Yeon had said.
What on earth did that mean?
Why had Yeon tried to leave him?
And why did he try to come back?

The answer came the next day.

Even now, Ha-Jin’s fingers itched to call Yeon. But work took
precedence, and he forced himself to sit at his desk, signing
documents. When a soft knock at the door broke his
concentration, he raised an eyebrow and fixed his icy gaze on
the entrance.
It wasn’t Doberman or Dekal, who often came uninvited. The
aura was unfamiliar—new.
Sensitive to every detail, Ha-Jin made no reply. The silence
stretched before the door creaked open, tentative and cautious.
A girl poked her head in, bearing a striking resemblance to
Kim Uibin. Her clean, youthful face made it clear she hadn’t
yet reached adulthood—likely around eighteen.
“Um…hello.”
An esper?
Her aura was stable—A-Grade, perhaps.
Ha-Jin set his fountain pen down and leaned back, arms
folded, scrutinising the girl who now stepped fully into the
room. She clutched what appeared to be a sturdy bamboo
stick, holding it like a weapon.
Her gaze darted nervously around the spacious office before
briefly meeting Ha-Jin’s piercing eyes—only to flinch away.
Clearing her throat, she spoke.
“I-I’m Kim Euiju. I’m a prospective esper about to begin
training. My grade is A.”
 Chapter 7. Part 13
At that, Ha-Jin realised this girl was Kim Uibin’s younger
sister. The similar names were one clue, but her looks and
even her oddly bold yet hesitant mannerisms confirmed it.
Kim Uibin might have seemed fragile, but she was anything
but.
The woman who once leapt into danger to save her boyfriend.
The one who met his unflinching gaze without faltering. The
one who remained Yeon’s steadfast friend through years of
chaos.
Yeon, the man with the most dangerous abnormal type in the
world. Staying by his side alone was a feat of courage.
This girl—Euiju—had the same spark.
Most espers feared him. Some admired him from afar, but few
dared approach. Yet this teenager had walked straight into his
office.
‘A-grade, was it?’
Back when Ha-Jin was investigating Yeon, he’d also looked
into Uibin. Their late father had been an ordinary firefighter,
their mother a former guide of B-Grade. Kim Uibin herself
was a B-grade guide.
Given such lineage, producing an A-Grade esper was nearly
impossible—a rarity akin to “plucking stars from the sky.”
But Ha-Jin suspected one reason behind Euiju’s abnormality.
Recently, during his meetings with Elder Chairman Cha
Seung-Kyun, he’d been analysing data from a USB left by Lee
Hong-Jun. It contained a trove of information on
abnormalities, including an intriguing discovery:
According to research on numerous subjects, children who
grew up around top-tier abnormal espers were more likely to
awaken at a higher grade. The overwhelming aura of an S-
Grade could synchronise with and expand the Vessel of an
unawakened individual.
While rare, this phenomenon, often mistaken for a “miracle,”
had a clear cause-and-effect relationship.
Assuming this record was accurate, the reason behind Euiju’s
A-minus Grade awakening became apparent. Yeon, who had
run away at sixteen, had lived with Uibin’s family. That meant
Euiju had spent her formative years exposed to Yeon’s
unparalleled dual bloodline aura.
Her Vessel would have adapted, growing stronger and more
capacious to contain such immense energy.
Ha-Jin, his expression impassive, continued to assess the girl.
“I apologise if you were busy. I’ve come because I have
something important to say,” Euiju began, her earlier
nervousness hardening into resolve.
Normally, Ha-Jin would have dismissed such interruptions
without a second thought. But this time, he decided to listen.
“I saw the banners in the street. About you and Yeon oppa
dating…” She hesitated, then pressed on. “I know this is bold
of me to ask, but…did you break up?”
The girl’s bluntness left no room for ambiguity.
Hearing someone else speak Yeon’s name always felt strange.
But despite the usual irritation, Ha-Jin found a peculiar
warmth in it. He wanted even that name to be entirely his.
“And why does that concern you?” he asked coldly.
“Because it’s wrong.”
Her composed expression stiffened. Despite her courage, the
sheer weight of Ha-Jin’s presence unnerved her.
The air in his office was razor-sharp, frigid with hostility.
Euiju swallowed hard.
His crimson eyes, silently watching, amplified her unease. But
for Yeon oppa’s sake, she couldn’t back down.
“What kind of history do you have that justifies my Yeon oppa
hearing such humiliating things from that woman? He hasn’t
slept properly in days. He cries at night, wakes up with
swollen eyes every morning. I asked what happened, but he
won’t tell me.
“But I know. I’ve never seen him this broken before. And it’s
100 per cent because of you, esper Tae Ha-Jin.”
Ha-Jin frowned.
‘That woman?’
This was news to him.
Euiju detailed everything Yeon had endured recently. Ha-Jin’s
expression grew darker with each revelation.
“Do you even know? That short-haired woman in the fancy
dress came to see Yeon oppa. Do you know what she said?”
Euiju’s voice trembled with restrained anger. “She claimed
she’d slept with you. That you were…amazing in bed. That
you kept her up all night, kissed tenderly, didn’t bother with
protection, told her you loved her…
“Why should Yeon oppa have to listen to that kind of filth?”
Her face twisted as she recounted the vulgar words. Just
remembering them made her blood boil. It was absurd that
someone her age even had to speak like this.
That short-haired woman deserved ruin.
“Stop hurting Yeon oppa. Don’t make him cry. If you’re just
playing around, do it with someone else. Why torment
someone who was doing fine on their own? I’ve heard the
rumours—that esper Tae Ha-Jin can’t stay interested in anyone
for long. If it’s just a fling, break it off. That’s why I came.”
Finished, Euiju lifted her bamboo staff over her head. It was
more a defensive gesture than an offensive one.
Tae Ha-Jin thought.
Ah.
‘I should’ve killed Ronile.’
Rage surged within him.
That one miserable human could throw their relationship into
such turmoil was utterly maddening. Now he understood why
Lee Yeon had tried to leave him that way.
So, that’s why.
That’s why you…
As he tightened his grip, the armrest of the chair cracked and
crumpled under the pressure. Ha-Jin exhaled deeply, staring at
the girl before him, then rose from his seat. His breaths were
deliberately slow, as if suppressing the anger boiling inside.
The sudden movement startled Euiju, making her flinch. Tae
Ha-Jin’s towering height was intimidating, an oppressive
presence she couldn’t ignore. Even his handsome features,
usually a point of admiration, now seemed fearsome,
consumed by his authority.
At that moment, Euiju officially resigned from being a fan.
Grabbing the coat slung over the chair, Ha-Jin strode towards
her. His long, purposeful strides made her grip her bamboo
cane tighter. As he got closer, she instinctively squeezed her
eyes shut.
‘This guy… He’s going to attack me, isn’t he?!’
Frozen in place, she braced herself.
Thwack.
A large hand landed softly on the crown of her head. The
touch was so light, there was no sense of impact. Instead, an
unfamiliar scent wafted over her, catching her completely off
guard. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. Her gaze fell on Ha-
Jin’s chest, and she tilted her head further upward.
Bright, piercing red eyes looked down at her. His furrowed
brows left no room for pleasantries, but his beauty was so
dazzling, so otherworldly, that Euiju couldn’t help but be
struck.
Is this what it feels like to see a celebrity up close?
“Yeah… This is my fault,” he said.
“…What?”
“Thanks for letting me know.”
Ha-Jin removed his hand from her head, pulling out a business
card from his pocket and handing it to her.
“If there’s anything you want, call this number. Price doesn’t
matter.”
Before she could fully process his words, he left the room
without another glance. The cold gust that followed hinted at
his lingering fury.
Euiju stood alone in the empty office, staring at the card in her
hand. Written on it was:
“Secretary to S-grade Esper, Doberman. 010-××××-××××.”
Doberman—she recognised the name. He was the
transportation esper who had helped her and her mother escape
to the Kishili Nation. Absentmindedly, she rubbed the top of
her head. Tae Ha-Jin, whom she had thought to be absolute
scum, turned out to be… less of a scumbag than expected.
She had even worried he might harm her.
“…”
But no, she was firmly on Lee Yeon’s side. There was no way
she’d defend an esper like Tae Ha-Jin.
Still…
‘Should I… stay his fan?’
Euiju began to ponder.
And maybe… decide what she’d ask the Doberman esper to
buy her.

***
[Pink Door Alert
Location: Central Capital Park. Large emergence of Grade 3
reincarnation beasts, Grade 4 monsters, and numerous
abnormal types below Grade 5.]
“…Haa.”
Lee Yeon, seeing the alert on his watch, pressed his swollen
eyelids with both hands. His watch had been as good as
useless ever since his falling out with Tae Ha-Jin.
That bastard had used the Central Control Room to deactivate
his watch entirely. Even when a Door erupted, Lee Yeon
remained unaware. He hadn’t been able to guide Tae Ha-Jin
either.
The esper must have turned to someone else for guiding.
Lee Yeon clenched his teeth. This was Ha-Jin’s way of
pushing him away.
Even knowing that, he couldn’t bring himself to file another
“Reassignment Request” like last time. Not after reading his
mother’s journal. His thoughts about Ha-Jin had become more
entangled, more complicated. The mere idea of being far from
him left Lee Yeon feeling like he might lose his mind.
Today, though, his watch buzzed for the first time in ages.
Could I finally see Ha-Jin…?
He checked his phone with tired eyes. A text had arrived.

[Yeon! Are you free tomorrow evening? Mum wants to have

dinner together. ^^ Let me know if that works!
08:58 AM]

[09:22 AM
I’m free. I’ll come to her house tomorrow evening.]
Still groggy, Lee Yeon boarded a bus. He didn’t trust himself
to drive in his current state. Gazing out the window, he ignored
the sting in his eyes and observed the city. The capital was
well on its way to recovery, with most areas now restored. The
Disaster Defence Centre’s repairs were nearly 80% complete.
The faces of people outside, once steeped in despair, were
slowly returning to normalcy.
“This stop is Central Park.”
Without much thought, he stepped off the bus. The moment he
entered the park, an unsettling sensation crept over him.
Something was… off.
If a Pink Door had truly appeared here, the area should’ve
been in chaos. People would’ve been fleeing, and buses
wouldn’t still be running. The park itself should’ve been
overrun, a wasteland swarming with beasts and abnormals.
Lee Yeon, his mind still hazy from exhaustion, only now
noticed the oddness. He frowned, scanning the quiet park.
There were no beasts, no espers managing abnormalities. In
fact, there were no people at all.
‘What…?’
Lowering his posture instinctively, he moved cautiously into
the park. Normally bustling with walkers and pigeons, it was
eerily empty.
As he ventured towards the centre of the park, something
caught his eye.
“…!”
Four men lay buried neck-deep in the ground, their heads
sticking out like golf balls. Their bodies were completely
submerged, leaving only their terrified faces exposed.
Following their frantic gazes, Lee Yeon turned to look behind
him.
On a smoking bench marked Smoking Area, Tae Ha-Jin sat
with his legs crossed, exhaling a plume of grey smoke.
Relaxed, composed, and utterly in control.
Lee Yeon’s eyes widened.
The Pink Door alert—it was fake. Tae Ha-Jin had sent it just to
lure him here.
“What the…?”
Yeon stood frozen, overwhelmed by shock.
It wasn’t because Tae Ha-Jin had summoned him to this place.
It wasn’t even because those men were buried halfway into the
ground.
It was because Ronile, Tae Ha-Jin’s ex-fiancée, was strung up
like a butchered animal, bound tightly with ropes and hanging
upside down from a tree in the park’s centre. Ha-Jin, unfazed,
stood nearby smoking a cigarette, glancing briefly at the
exhausted, struggling woman.
Between his elegant fingers, the cigarette burned crimson.
When he spotted Yeon standing stiffly at a distance, his lips
curled into a smirk. He stubbed out the cigarette in a public
ashtray before rising from the bench, stretching his legs
casually. Then, with a flick of his fingers, he gestured for Yeon
to come closer.
‘Does he want me to approach?’
Yeon hesitated, unsure how to process the surreal scene before
him.
He and Ha-Jin were in a cold war. Ha-Jin had cheated, their
attempts at conversation had failed miserably, and Ronile…
Ronile was the woman who had ambushed Yeon not long ago
with cruel accusations.
Still, his legs moved on their own. Step by step, Yeon
approached.
Tae Ha-Jin stood near the tree where Ronile hung, two men—
presumably espers—standing behind him with their hands
clasped behind their backs.
When Yeon was close enough to talk, Ha-Jin spoke first.
“Ronile, say hello. That’s my boyfriend over there.”
Ha-Jin smiled, his tone mocking. Ronile, her face flushed
bright red, sobbed uncontrollably. Her loose hair fell around
her face like a vengeful ghost’s.
Tears ran down her forehead and dripped onto the ground.
“Ha-Ha-Jin, please… why are you doing this? Let me go, I’m
begging you!” she cried out, desperation thick in her voice.
Ha-Jin tilted his head, letting out a derisive laugh.
“Cut the bullshit. Thanks to you, my Yeon’s been through
hell.”
His cold eyes flicked to Yeon. As if putting on a show, he drew
a blade from his belt.
“Aaah! Ha-Jin, no! Don’t do this!” Ronile screamed, her voice
shrill with terror.
The deafening cry didn’t faze him. He extended his arm,
pressing the blade against Ronile’s neck.
Yeon flinched instinctively.
He wouldn’t really kill her… would he?
Yeon swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on Ha-Jin’s every move.
There was fury in Ha-Jin’s expression—a barely restrained
storm aimed squarely at Yeon, even as his blade threatened
Ronile.
“I told you, didn’t I?” Ha-Jin’s voice was calm, almost
conversational. “If you came near me again, I’d slit your
throat.”
Warnings weren’t difficult to understand.
Ha-Jin applied slight pressure to the blade. The razor-sharp
edge bit into Ronile’s neck, drawing blood. Her body
convulsed in pain, her eyes wide with horror. She
remembered, too late, Ha-Jin’s past threat.
—If you so much as look at me, talk to me, touch me, or
invade my space…
—…
—I’ll carve this line into your throat.
It was at the Diaylen royal banquet that he’d slashed a line
across the floor and made the promise.
Yeon winced at Ronile’s piercing shriek. Through it all, Ha-
Jin’s gaze remained locked on Yeon, cold and unwavering.
“Darling,” Ha-Jin said, almost teasing, “I should kill her,
right?”
“Tae Ha-Jin…”
“Why so formal? Call me ‘hyung,’” he replied, his smile laced
with menace.
Yeon was too stunned to respond, watching Ha-Jin’s unhinged
actions in silence.
“Ronile said, didn’t she? That I’m incredible in bed, that I kiss
sweetly, that I tell her I love her all the time.”
“…”
“So I’ve been wondering. Could my Yeon really have been so
easily swayed by something so pathetic as that?” His laugh
was hollow, bitter. His expression hardened, and he pressed
the blade deeper. Blood trickled down Ronile’s neck, staining
her face.
“AAAH! PLEASE, STOP! I’M SORRY, HA-JIN!” she
wailed.
“Funny thing, though,” Ha-Jin continued, his voice casual.
“Once I had her tied up like this, she started talking. Darling,
have you been having hallucinations? For someone with a top-
grade dual bloodline, why the fuck would you fall for
something so pitiful?”
…What?
Yeon’s eyes widened in confusion.
Hallucinations?
It didn’t make sense. Yeon had no history of hallucinations—
no experiences, no memories. It wasn’t even a possibility he’d
considered.
Noticing Yeon’s blank expression, Ha-Jin let out a frustrated
laugh.
“Whatever you saw, it was a hallucination. Everything
involving this crazy bitch happened before I even knew you.
Back when I had no idea you existed. And fuck, do I regret
every goddamn second of it. My past has never been this much
of a bloody nightmare.”
“…”
“But, Yeon.”
His voice dropped, low and dangerous.
“Whatever the reason, this isn’t right.”
“…”
“Making up your own stories, jumping to conclusions without
a single conversation, cutting me off like I’m some disposable
stranger… That’s not how you treat someone.”
“…”
“Am I really so worthless to you?”
His calm tone cracked, the raw emotion bleeding through.
“Why is it that, every single time, you go straight to throwing
me away? Like it’s your first choice. Do you know how much
that fucking hurts?”
“…Hyung.”
“And yet, even now, you’re so goddamn beautiful it’s driving
me insane. What the hell have you done to me? Why am I…”
Ha-Jin’s words trailed off, his usual composure crumbling. He
sounded lost, like a man grasping at broken pieces of himself.
Gritting his teeth, he stared at Yeon with an intensity that
burned.
“I hate you so much it’s killing me.”
With those words, Ha-Jin withdrew the blade from Ronile’s
throat. He slashed the ropes binding her to the tree, letting her
fall to the ground with a heavy thud. No one moved to catch
her. Shaking violently from pain, she stared up at Ha-Jin’s
sorrowful face in shock.
This man… he can make a face like that?
Even the searing pain in her throat and the crushing
humiliation couldn’t shatter Ronile’s awareness. She lay there,
trembling, as Ha-Jin’s desperate words rang in her ears. Words
full of longing, utterly at odds with his cold demeanour.
His expressions, too, didn’t fit the ruthless man she thought
she knew.
And in that moment, Ronile understood with bone-deep
clarity: this was Ha-Jin’s love. A love she had once yearned
for but could never have. His affection, his obsession—
everything she had desired but could never hold.
Even his affectionate expression was enough to stir desire.
“Hyung, if I misunderstood… I’m truly sorry.”
Yeon found himself at a loss for words.
Ha-Jin, his expression stony, walked past Yeon without a
word. Grabbing the hair of one of the men buried in the
ground, he yanked him out in a single, brutal motion.
“Aaargh!”
“Do you know this bastard or not?”
Ha-Jin thrust the man’s face toward Yeon, still clutching his
hair. Yeon stared blankly at the man who had been uprooted
like a weed. Recognition dawned—it was one of the guards
Ronile had brought with her two weeks ago.
“He’s an esper. Hallucination type. Do I need to explain
further?”
_
Tae is on a killing spree, rampaging.
 Chapter 7. Part 14
Yeon shook his head silently, prompting Ha-Jin to fix the
illusion esper with an icy glare. The man trembled and averted
his eyes, his jaw quivering.
Ha-Jin poured his energy into the man’s head with merciless
precision.
“Urgh! Guh…!”
“Hallucination espers shouldn’t use their abilities however
they damn well please. You can drive people insane, can’t
you? Isn’t that right?”
“Aaargh!”
“For the crime of abusing their powers for selfish gain, I, an
S+ grade esper of the Diaylen nation, will execute immediate
punishment.”
Ha-Jin lowered his gaze and ruthlessly drove his energy into
the esper. The force shattered the Vessel of the illusion esper
bit by bit.
Crack!
Snap!
“Aaaargh!”
The man’s final scream echoed through the park as his Vessel
shattered into pieces. Foam frothed at his mouth as his eyes
rolled back, and he lost consciousness. Ha-Jin let the broken
esper drop to the ground like discarded trash.
The other guards, still half-buried in the dirt, turned pale. The
sight of a Vessel being destroyed for the first time filled them
with raw terror.
But Ha-Jin’s interest wasn’t in them.
With long strides, he closed the distance to Yeon. The younger
man, still lost in thought, kept his head bowed.
He couldn’t believe it. The vision of Ha-Jin with the doe-eyed
man—it had all been an illusion.
But the more Yeon thought about it, the more sense it made.
Standing before him now were Ronile and the illusion esper,
both looking worse for wear.
Ha-Jin raised a hand and rested it lightly on Yeon’s head.
Yeon’s eyes widened.
This…!
“What are you doing?!”
Yeon tried to shove Ha-Jin’s hand away, but the motion was all
too familiar. This was how Ha-Jin had erased his memories
back at the lab, abandoning him. Instinctively, Yeon knew—
Ha-Jin was trying to tamper with his memories again.
“Let go! Ha-Jin…!”
You’re going to erase our memories again?
You’re going to sever ties with me like this?
“I told you I’m sorry, you bastard!”
Tears welled up in Yeon’s eyes.
Ha-Jin looked down at him and, without hesitation, forced his
energy into Yeon’s Vessel. Yeon’s Vessel resisted fiercely,
rejecting Ha-Jin’s intrusion. But Ha-Jin overpowered it,
pushing further in.
As he sifted through Yeon’s memories, Ha-Jin’s expression
twisted in fury.
There it was—a vivid image of himself with the cleaner. Their
naked bodies entwined in Yeon’s mind.
‘This is what he saw?’
The absurdity of it struck him.
The vision was so explicit, so lifelike, it was hard to believe it
was an illusion. Was Yeon’s imagination always this vivid?
“Why the hell would I sleep with someone else when I have
you?” Ha-Jin muttered irritably, clicking his tongue.
He began to consume the memory, carefully erasing the
illusion. As the false memory was excised, the tension in
Yeon’s eyes started to ease.
Once Ha-Jin had removed the illusion entirely, he frowned at
Yeon. The younger man’s body slumped, his energy drained.
“Ha.”
Catching Yeon as he collapsed, Ha-Jin pulled him into his
arms. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d held his lover
like this. For a long moment, Ha-Jin stood there, holding Yeon
tightly, his emotions a turbulent storm.
Finally, he turned to the waiting espers behind him.
“Treat her enough to keep her alive, then send her back to
Epenhar.”
“Yes, sir!”
The transport espers and restoration espers moved to follow
his orders.
As Ha-Jin hoisted Yeon over his shoulder, he caught Ronile
staring at him from a distance. Her face turned ghostly white
when their eyes met, and she quickly looked away.
Ha-Jin’s blood boiled with a primal rage.
In his mind, he had killed Ronile hundreds of times—each
death more excruciating than the last. Anyone who dared hurt
his lover deserved nothing less.
The impulse to act surged through his veins.
But this wasn’t a lawless battlefield. Ha-Jin didn’t want to
become a man who killed indiscriminately, not as Yeon’s
partner. Besides, Yeon wouldn’t approve.
He could always kill her discreetly, without Yeon ever
knowing…
No.
Ronile wasn’t worth the effort. His indifference would be her
true punishment.
‘Just a ticking time bomb of her own making,’ he thought
grimly.
As he approached Ronile, she backed away in a panic, her
steps faltering. Ha-Jin caught up effortlessly, his expression
cold.
Raising a single finger, he pressed it to her forehead.
Ronile stared up at him, her eyes trembling with fear.
“I should’ve done this sooner,” he said flatly.
“Ha-Jin, please…”
“Thank my lover, Ronile.”
A faint whimper escaped her lips as Ha-Jin released a burst of
energy through his fingertip.
“Want me to shut that careless mouth of yours for good?
Could do it easily enough. But nah. Not worth the effort.”
Tae Ha-Jin’s voice was low as he tore through Ronile’s
memories. They were an absolute mess, a cesspool of filth that
made his brow furrow instinctively. One by one, he devoured
every memory that involved him—anything that tied her to
him. Only then did he fully grasp how persistently she had
watched him.
So fucking obsessive.
He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
When he erased the memories entirely, Ronile’s focus went
blank. A moment later, she crumpled to the floor like a puppet
with its strings cut.
This was it. The end of their miserable entanglement.
He let out a sharp breath, thinking to himself: It’s only because
of Yeon. If not for him, Ha-Jin would’ve dragged the esper
and Ronile back to the scene and left them to die gruesomely.
Blissfully unaware of everything, Yeon was fast asleep.
Ha-Jin’s gaze softened slightly as he looked down at his face.
He muttered wearily, “You’re like a bloody exasperating
lover.”
It hurts this much just to look at you.

***

“Yeon, are you going to keep sleeping? It’s already evening.”

Jeong-Suk, Uibin’s mother, gently brushed her fingers against
Yeon’s cheek, her tone laced with worry.
Yeon stirred awake, just as he used to back in his school days.
Back then, he’d wanted to make a good impression on Jeong-
Suk.
He thought back to that cold winter day when he’d met the
mother and daughter by chance at the playground. If not for
them, he might have frozen to death. Their small, cosy home
had become his haven, and he’d wanted to stay there forever.
To avoid being kicked out, he’d acted as polite as possible,
even like a surrogate son. It was his way of giving Jeong-Suk
the devotion he’d never had the chance to give his own late
mother.
“How… did I get home?” Yeon asked, clutching his pounding
head.
Jeong-Suk’s eyes widened slightly before she replied, her
concern deepening. “Don’t you remember? Esper Tae Ha-Jin
brought you here. Yeon, you’ve been asleep for over a day and
a half.”
“What?”
His face twisted in disbelief as he scrambled for his phone.
The date confirmed it—he had really slept through an entire
day. It was already evening. He checked his messages, hoping
to find something from Ha-Jin, but there was nothing.
Ha-Jin’s last words to him echoed in his mind:
—Am I really so worthless to you?
—Why is it that, every single time, you go straight to throwing
me away? Like it’s your first choice. Do you know how much
that fucking hurts?
—I hate you so much it’s killing me.
Yeon swallowed hard, burying his face in his hands. A faint
groan escaped him. Jeong-Suk was right there, so he forced
himself to appear calm. But he could feel the tears welling up
again, threatening to spill over.
The door creaked shut. Jeong-Suk had quietly stepped out to
give him space.
The moment he realised that, his chest ached. He had been so
unfair to Ha-Jin. Too caught up in his own perspective, he
hadn’t even considered listening to him. And yet, he’d tried to
walk away. The look in Ha-Jin’s eyes flashed in his mind—
hurt, agonised.
‘He really did erase my memories.’
The scenes that had tormented him endlessly were now gone.
No matter how hard he tried to recall them, all that remained
was a void.

“Yeon-oppa! Time for dinner!”

Uibin’s younger sibling, Euiju, burst into the room with a
cheerful call but froze at the sight of Yeon, still hunched with
his face buried in his hands.
‘What the hell? Still not made up?’
Euiju couldn’t wrap their head around it. They’d been sure
everything would be resolved by now. Uibin had even sent
them to fetch Yeon for dinner.
Caught in an awkward limbo, Euiju stood there until Yeon
lifted his head with a deep breath. His slightly red-rimmed
eyes met theirs.
“What’s for dinner tonight?”
“Uh… braised ribs, kimchi stew, soy-braised beef.”
“What’s the occasion? Sounds like a feast.”
Yeon stood abruptly, straightening his bedding as if nothing
had happened. Euiju pressed themselves against the wall,
watching him cautiously.
‘Is he alright…?’
“Let’s go.”
“Oh, okay.”
Yeon gently pushed Euiju out of the room. When they reached
the dining table, familiar faces greeted them: Uibin, Jeong-
Suk, and—
“Dekal?”
An unfamiliar man, completely out of place in their cosy
home, sat stiffly at the table. Yeon’s brows shot up as he
addressed him. Dekal’s piercing eyes met Yeon’s, his posture
unyielding.
“Good evening.”
Dekal was immaculately dressed in a sharp suit, his short hair
freshly trimmed and styled. Clearly, he’d just come from a
salon. Sitting beside him, Uibin’s cheeks were flushed bright
red.
“Yeon, you’re up! You must’ve been really tired,” Uibin said
awkwardly.
Yeon’s gaze flickered between them. “What’s this? You two?”
“Er… Mum said she’d cook a nice dinner, so I invited Dekal
along,” Uibin replied with forced nonchalance.
Yeon recalled the text Uibin had sent the day before—an
invitation to dinner. On second thought, it hadn’t sounded like
her usual style. If Jeong-Suk had been planning dinner, she
would’ve called him directly.
Yeon’s eyes narrowed.
After knowing Uibin for nearly a decade, it wasn’t hard to
figure out her intentions.
‘She wants me to vet her new boyfriend, doesn’t she?’
A faint chuckle escaped him.
For years, she’d ignored his advice and pursued whatever
romantic disasters she pleased. And now, she wanted his
opinion?
Yeon smirked and took the seat opposite Dekal, straightening
his posture as though he were conducting an interview.
Dekal’s steady gaze lingered on Yeon’s slightly puffy face.
“Nice to see you again, Dekal.”
“The pleasure’s mine.”
“How much dating experience do you have?”
The sudden question caught Dekal off guard. He blinked
slowly, his expression unchanging. Beside him, Uibin gaped in
horror, shaking her head as if to beg Yeon to stop.
Yeon ignored her completely, his eyes fixed on Dekal.
Jeong-Suk, who was cooking nearby, cast a curious glance,
evidently entertained. It wasn’t every day her daughter brought
home a man she wasn’t dating. In fact, it was a first, apart
from Yeon.
This man, Dekal, seemed quite decent in Jeong-Suk’s eyes. He
didn’t overdo his compliments, refrained from unnecessary
remarks, and maintained an appropriate sense of decorum in
his actions. Even his strong and resolute appearance was
something she found agreeable.
Above all, his lips would twitch upward ever so slightly every
time he looked at Uibin. Witnessing such subtle expressions
from an otherwise stoic person made Jeong-Suk chuckle to
herself.
‘It’d be nice if someone like him became my son-in-law.’
“I’ve never… been in a relationship before,” Dekal admitted.
Yeon nodded casually, as if he had expected the answer. Dekal
had spent much of his life trapped in a laboratory before
managing to escape. Even after his freedom, his time as a
restoration esper had likely left little room for romance. His
reserved personality didn’t help, either.
But Uibin’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You seem… oddly natural for someone with no experience.”
“I’m not sure what you mean by that,” Dekal replied, his tone
flat as usual. Regardless, he denied it outright.
Watching the interaction, Yeon posed another question.
“Then, when was your first love?”
“Now.”
The response was immediate, without the slightest hesitation.
Yeon blinked, startled, before letting out a helpless laugh.
“There are quite a few people watching, you know, Dekal.”
Only then did Dekal glance around. Uibin, her mother, and her
younger sister were all staring at him, stifling their giggles.
‘And what of it?’ Dekal thought, his response slow.
“I’m aware.”
“Well then,” Yeon continued, his tone light, “how much do
you drink? Any bad habits when drunk? How many potential
romantic interests do you have? And are you into gambling or
games of chance?”
“I occasionally drink with Doberman when he calls me to the
bar. I don’t recall ever being drunk, and as far as I know, I
have no bad habits. Potential romantic interests… aside from
Kim Uibin, I wouldn’t know. As for gambling or games of
chance… I’ve never tried, so I can’t say.”
“Alright, you pass,” Yeon declared, nodding in approval.
Uibin looked at her sister, her expression incredulous. That’s
it? She had expected this process to involve more steps, more
scrutiny. After all, Yeon always approached her concerns with
seriousness.
But Yeon leaned back lazily, propping his chin on her hand.
“You might not know this, but Dekal and I go back quite a
while. From what I can see, he’s a good man.”
“So, I can date Dekal?” Uibin asked, her voice tinged with
playful mischief.
“…”
“Dekal,” she turned to him, smiling brightly, “will you date
me?”
Dekal froze, utterly rigid.
Out of all the people gathered in the room, he saw only Uibin.
The rest of the world blurred into shadow, leaving her as the
lone beacon of light. In her presence, he felt something swell
within him—a miracle, overwhelming and inexplicable.
He had wanted to live as though dead.
He had believed his life ended in that laboratory.
But whenever he looked at Kim Uibin, his heart stirred.
Fragile yet steadfast, she lingered in his thoughts, tugging at
the edges of his very being.
For the first time, time itself moved forward. For the first time,
he wanted to live.
Thump, thump, thump.
Dekal felt his pulse race uncontrollably. And amidst it all, one
thought resonated within him:
Serenity.
With you, I feel utterly at peace. My only refuge. My only
desire…
Slowly, Dekal reached out a large hand, cupping Uibin’s face.
He pulled her close and kissed her. Uibin’s eyes widened in
shock.
“…”
The modest dining table in the small house fell into utter
silence. Yeon, who had been watching with detached
amusement, found himself momentarily stunned by the
unexpectedly quiet yet intense kiss happening right in front of
him.
‘These two are completely oblivious to their surroundings.’
It was as though they had entered a world of their own.
Uibin’s bold confession had already surprised Yeon, but this?
Dekal’s open response—a kiss, uncaring of the onlookers—
was equally unexpected. Not a single person moved a muscle,
unwilling to disturb the mood.
Even Jeong-Suk, after her initial shock, nodded in satisfaction
as she watched her daughter kiss the man.
‘Someone like him is just what my indecisive Uibin needs.’
Modern youth were said to move quickly in all things, after
all.
‘Wow… this is so romantic!’Euiju, Uibin’s younger sister, was
practically trembling with excitement. Watching her sister
enter such a dazzling relationship filled her with awe. The
romantic fantasies she had nurtured through novels and
dramas stirred to life.
The kiss lingered, long and gentle, until Uibin’s fingers began
to tingle with tension. Finally, Dekal released her.
“Yes,” he murmured softly. The man, unaccustomed to
smiling, allowed a rare, sincere smile to touch his lips. “I like
you, Kim Uibin.”
Uibin stared at him blankly before her face flushed crimson.
She covered her cheeks with her hands, unable to lift her head.
“I-I like you too… but…” she stammered, her words trailing
off.
Finally, seeming to notice the others around them, Uibin
buried her face in Dekal’s chest. Dekal, careful and deliberate,
wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Watching the two of them, Yeon smiled warmly.
It seemed a lot had happened without him knowing.
And that was perfectly fine.
So, when’s the meal?

***

The hallway outside the Crown Prince’s conference room.

The Crown Prince entered the conference room first. Today, he
and Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun were set to deliver a
major announcement. The room was already packed with
numerous elders and officials.
Following Ricardo, Steward Doman stared wearily at the
entrance. Ever since the war ended, there hadn’t been a single
proper day of rest. With the Emperor gone, the Crown Prince’s
workload had increased exponentially—and so had his own.
The succession ceremony wasn’t far off either…
Every day was overtime.
“Hyung, how’ve you been?”
A familiar voice called from behind. Doman spun around
sharply to see Doberman waving with a healthy, cheerful
expression. Doman frowned.
“You look like you’ve been living the high life.”
“My esper’s becoming more and more human. He’s even
talking about giving me another holiday soon.”
__
Yeon giving dating advices in the midst of his own
relationship crisis is something ludicrous.
 Chapter 7. Part 15
Doberman laughed heartily, genuinely delighted. Doman,
however, looked at his younger brother with disapproval.
“I’m dying here. Ricardo has been so busy lately, and the
amount of paperwork… God.”
Rubbing his tired eyes, Doman sighed. Doberman, feeling a
hint of sympathy, suggested quietly, “I’ve told you before,
haven’t I? There’s a trick to managing all this stress—just
carry a resignation letter in your chest pocket.”
“You think resigning as steward is that easy? They’d need to
find someone as competent as me and ensure a seamless
handover. That alone would take years. His Highness is so
picky he won’t just accept anyone.”
The brothers, each highly capable in their own right, couldn’t
help but pity one another.
Their parents and grandparents had also held high-ranking
secretary roles, a talent seemingly ingrained in their blood.
“So, why aren’t you going in?” Doberman asked.
“I’m just… taking a moment to rest. What about you? Why
are you loitering out here?”
“Well…”
Doberman glanced uneasily toward the end of the corridor.
Doman followed his gaze. At the far end, Tae Ha-Jin and Lee
Yeon were having a conversation.
Ha-Jin leaned against the wall, silently watching Yeon, who
was speaking through swollen, teary eyes.
The atmosphere was tense.
“See for yourself,” Doberman muttered. “I figured I’d wait
until that’s over before going in.”
“Ugh. You’ve got it rough too.”
“You’re one to talk, hyung.”
Even as he spoke, Doberman’s eyes stayed on the distant pair,
concern etched into his face.
He couldn’t hear the details, but it was obvious Yeon had
made some serious misunderstanding.
‘Trying to leave without clearing it up…’
It wasn’t hard to see why Ha-Jin was so angry. Yeon’s way of
avoiding problems had its flaws.
Doberman couldn’t even count how many times Ha-Jin had
sighed in frustration recently, muttering things like:
—Yeon’s going to cry again.
—I should just kill Ronile already.
—What if Yeon gets fed up with me?
—God, I miss him like hell…
It was maddening to witness.
What surprised Doberman the most was how Ha-Jin, despite
being visibly tormented, refused to reconcile easily. Instead, he
stubbornly sought guidance from other guides, only to manage
with his own sheer willpower.
And now, here they were.
Fragments of their conversation reached Doberman’s ears.
“Tell me what I need to do. How can we make up? I’ll
apologise for what I’ve done wrong,” Yeon pleaded, his face
haggard. Ha-Jin seemed willing to listen for now.
“What exactly did you do wrong?”
Ha-Jin’s expression wasn’t much better, his fatigue evident in
his folded arms. Yeon bit his lip, staring at the ground.
“I misunderstood you… acted on my own… left without
saying a word…”
“And?”
“I ignored your calls… blocked you…”
“Keep going.”
“I should’ve asked before jumping to conclusions. I didn’t
even consider your side of things…”
His voice trailed off, trembling. He was clearly holding back
tears.
Yeon had already cried so much, yet the tears kept coming.
His nose tingled, his vision blurred.
He felt awful.
Even if Ronile’s trickery had led him into hallucinations, he
shouldn’t have left without confronting Ha-Jin. He hadn’t
considered how Ha-Jin might feel, prioritising his own
emotions above everything else.
When Yeon finally realised it had all been a misunderstanding,
a trap, the regret hit him hard. Ha-Jin wasn’t just someone he
liked—he was someone deeply precious.
I should’ve done better. I should’ve tried harder.
Loving someone for the first time was harder than he’d
thought.
“Are you going to do it again?” Ha-Jin’s voice was low.
Yeon quickly wiped the tears streaming down his face with his
sleeve, shaking his head.
“If something upsets you in the future, will you talk to me
about it?”
Sniffling, Yeon nodded.
Ha-Jin watched him for a moment, then exhaled deeply.
He couldn’t stay angry anymore.
He didn’t want to feel this kind of frustration ever again.
“Come here.”
Ha-Jin opened his arms.
Yeon, still wiping his tears, looked at him with trembling eyes.
Ha-Jin gave him a subtle nod, as if to say, What are you
waiting for?
Are we… making up?
Yeon didn’t dare ask. Before he could even move, Ha-Jin
grabbed his arm and pulled him into an embrace.
Pressed firmly against Ha-Jin’s chest, Yeon felt a strange sense
of relief wash over him. Ha-Jin was holding him tightly,
almost too tightly—but instead of feeling suffocated, Yeon felt
comforted to the point of tears.
He buried his face in Ha-Jin’s collarbone, letting out a shaky
breath.
“I’m sorry too,” Ha-Jin murmured. “For being such a jerk.”
A low voice spoke softly as he slowly ran his fingers through
Yeon’s hair, murmuring.
“We don’t have to abandon each other anymore, do we?”
“……”
“You and I, we can fix these bad habits of ours.”
“……”
“I promise, I won’t do things anymore that could make you
misunderstand me.”
Yeon nodded, yet an unbidden surge of emotion welled up
within him.
“I’m a victim too. If my hyung’d sorted things out properly in
the past, your ex-fiancée wouldn’t have pulled that stunt on
me.”
“You’re right. That was my carelessness. I should’ve dealt
with it sooner. I’m sorry.”
It seemed Ha-Jin was genuinely regretful, as his arms
tightened around Yeon with more force.
Yeon took a deep breath, letting the sensation fill him. For the
first time in ages, he felt like he had regained something he
had lost.
Inhaling Yeon’s familiar scent and presence, Ha-Jin let out a
quiet sigh.
Mine.
This precious, beautiful person was his.
“Lee Yeon.”
“……”
“I love you.”
Yeon closed his eyes, listening to the steady, quick rhythm of
Ha-Jin’s heartbeat. It washed away his lingering unease like a
cleansing tide. He liked the unwavering embrace of Ha-Jin’s
thick arms around him.
In a voice that cracked slightly, Yeon replied.
“I love you too.”
The arms around him tightened even more. It was almost
painful now, but Yeon endured. Even if he were to burst, he
would die without regret.
Ha-Jin didn’t care in the slightest about the staff passing by in
the Sun Palace’s corridors. He wanted Yeon to relax and lean
into him without a worry. Extending his energy into the air,
Ha-Jin devoured all the surrounding noise.
Relieved by the sudden quiet, Yeon let himself fully surrender.
Running his hand over Yeon’s thinner frame, Ha-Jin furrowed
his brows. Reports said Yeon had been eating properly, so why
had he lost so much weight?
His thoughts wandered as he began planning how to care for
Yeon in the future and how they might share their love more
freely.
“Excuse me, Esper? His Highness the Crown Prince is
demanding your presence immediately.”
Doberman approached cautiously with the message. His tone
was low enough that Yeon wouldn’t overhear.
‘How long has it been since we were this close?’
Frustrated but resigned, Ha-Jin knew the meeting was
unavoidable. Gently, he began to release Yeon from his arms.
Yeon’s sleepy gaze looked up at him, still dazed.
Ha-Jin chuckled softly.
“I need to attend the meeting. If you’re tired, go home and
rest.”
That seemed to wake Yeon up, as he quickly shook his head.
“No, I was told to attend today’s meeting as well.”
“By whom?”
“His Highness personally contacted me.”
“Forget it. If you’re exhausted, just go home.”
“I’m fine.”
Though Yeon’s condition didn’t look ideal, his stubbornness
prevailed. Ha-Jin didn’t like it but kept silent as Yeon forced a
smile.
When they entered the meeting room, over twenty high-
ranking officials were waiting for them.
“Can’t you hurry up, Esper Tae Ha-Jin?”
Ricardo glared at him in disapproval, but Ha-Jin ignored it
completely. The other executives had arrived early. Leading
Yeon by the hand, Ha-Jin guided him to a seat at the far end of
the room.
Yeon tried to free his hand, but Ha-Jin held on firmly. The
room’s occupants observed the scene with open curiosity,
though their shock was muted, given the publicised photos of
the two embracing during a press conference.
Ricardo gave them a derisive smile.
So they made up?
“Let’s begin the meeting now that everyone’s here,” Elder
Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun said, gesturing toward the
presentation screen. Normally, another official would deliver
the briefing, but due to the critical nature of the topic, the
Elder Chairman had decided to handle it himself.
The screen displayed a photograph of a USB drive that Yeon
had donated to the Diaylen nation.
“As many of you already know, this USB contains the
complete body of knowledge accumulated by Lee Hong-Jun.
Thanks to Guide Lee Yeon’s generosity, this priceless
information was entrusted to the Diaylen nation.”
Cha Seung-Kyun bowed deeply toward Yeon to express his
gratitude. Flustered, Yeon quickly returned the gesture.
“As anticipated, the USB contained astonishing discoveries.
While much of it requires further analysis, one particular detail
stands out.”
The slide changed to an image of a black, diamond-shaped
stone. Espers had retrieved these raw materials from a site
Adrian had identified.
“According to Lee Hong-Jun’s assistant, Adrian, this gemstone
can increase the occurrence of Doors. While its power is
single-use, its proper application could address many of our
current crises.”
Though the topic wasn’t new to the upper echelons, the
challenge was figuring out how to use the stones effectively.
Once spent, they were little more than waste.
“The Diaylen nation and the Union collaborated to decrypt the
USB. Within weeks, our analysts uncovered a method to refine
these stones.”
The next slide depicted a massive fortress.
Set amidst a vast desert, the design featured expansive tunnels
surrounded by impenetrable walls.
“The Diaylen nation and the Union have reached a decision.
We will construct the Zone of Total Destruction. The concept
is simple: by embedding these stones throughout the fortress,
we can concentrate the occurrence of Doors within its tunnels.
This would prevent Doors from appearing in populated areas,
allowing us to focus our defences on a single, controlled
location.”
The executives murmured in awe.
If successful, the measure would ensure that Doors no longer
erupted unpredictably in urban centres or transit systems.
Casualties from sudden disasters would decrease, and espers
dealing with abnormal types would have a far more
manageable task.
Ricardo nodded with satisfaction.
Reaching this point had required navigating countless disputes
with the International Union. It was a delicate process, but his
persistence had finally borne fruit.
The thought of their efforts so far filled him with a sense of
pride.
Ricardo thought of the late emperor.
‘Father, unlike you, I’ll become a better symbol.’
He wanted to be a strong pillar for the Diaylen nation.
Ricardo clasped his hands earnestly.
“We’re researching a way to make the raw material reusable
instead of disposable. The USB contains extensive data, and
the researchers are optimistic about it.”
One of the executives listening to Cha Seung-Kyun raised his
hand. Cha nodded.
“I have a question. Where is the fortress going to be
established?”
A crucial question.
The nation bearing the fortress would shoulder an enormous
burden. A faint shadow crossed Cha Seung-Kyun’s face.
“It hasn’t been finalised yet, but for now, discussions lean
toward establishing it in our Diaylen’s wastelands.”
The executives murmured amongst themselves.
This wasn’t a matter to be brushed off lightly. Cha Seung-
Kyun raised a hand, signalling for quiet.
“Diaylen possesses the largest expanse of land globally,
including the most extensive areas of abandoned wasteland.
After the recent disaster, our nation was on the brink of
financial collapse. Without foreign aid and support, the
situation would’ve been dire. However, that doesn’t mean we
should make a losing deal. If the fortress is established on
Diaylen soil, we’ll demand substantial annual resources from
the benefiting nations. Additionally, foreign abnormal types
will be stationed near the wastelands first.”
If that happened, Diaylen’s abnormal types could finally catch
a break—foreign abnormal types would guard Zone of Total
Destruction.
Despite Cha Seung-Kyun’s explanation, the executives still
looked uneasy.
One of them spoke up.
“I doubt the citizens will accept it. They’ve suffered massive
damage from the Doors. Setting up the eradication zone on our
land won’t be an easy sell.”
Cha Seung-Kyun nodded.
“I understand. But regardless of whether it’s Diaylen or
elsewhere, the fortress must be built. As I’ve mentioned, the
location isn’t set in stone. However, I assure you, establishing
it here will yield significant benefits, aside from the risks. We
also plan to install multiple protective barriers to prevent the
eradication zone’s impact from spilling into other regions.
These barriers will utilise top-tier USB technology.”
Cha Seung-Kyun added that detailed discussions would
proceed once the plan was confirmed.
“For now, since it’s still under consideration, I encourage you
to submit your suggestions later.”
He swiftly moved on to the next agenda.
Beep.
The screen changed to display a map of Diaylen, marked with
multiple red dots.
“These are the locations of research labs managed by Lee
Hong-Jun. Their apparent immunity to the Doors has raised
questions.”
Beep.
The map updated, doubling the number of red dots. The
executives stared at the screen in confusion.
“Assistant Adrian revealed that Lee Hong-Jun secretly
established numerous hidden labs. At first, I couldn’t believe
he did this without government approval, but the numbers
speak otherwise. Most of these labs were built in remote
corners or wastelands. They’re concealed by hallucinogenic
transparency devices, making them invisible to the naked eye.
Moreover, the surrounding lands were purchased as Lee Hong-
Jun’s private property, making it easier to evade scrutiny.”
The executives clicked their tongues in disbelief.
Lee Hong-Jun was truly a madman. Bold, too—constructing
dozens of labs behind the government’s back.
Cha Seung-Kyun, who had been explaining intently, suddenly
turned to look at the spot where Tae Ha-Jin and Lee Yeon were
seated.
“Before his death, Lee Hong-Jun already sabotaged the
network. Still, these hidden labs contain the knowledge he left
behind. Teams of high-grade espers have been dispatched over
the past few weeks to breach them, but they’ve faced
significant difficulties. The security systems have triple-
layered encryption, and most are plagued by hallucinations.”
Tae Ha-Jin furrowed his brow.
He understood what the Elder Chairman was implying.
“As you all know, S-grade abnormal types aren’t easily
affected by hallucinations. Moreover, one of them can handle
the work of hundreds. I am officially requesting this. Esper
Tae Ha-Jin and guide Lee Yeon, please retrieve the knowledge
from the hidden labs and dismantle them.”
Tae Ha-Jin crossed his arms, letting out a dry laugh.
“Fine by me. But why drag Yeon into this?”
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin only has two arms, does he not? I’ve heard
guide Lee Yeon can use the ability Absorbing. With that, he
could sweep up all the knowledge. Also, I’ve been informed
Lee Yeon guide can decrypt the labs’ codes. The two of you
together are the most efficient pairing.”
Ricardo closed his eyes tightly. Tae Ha-Jin might lose his
temper and storm out. But after a few moments, there was no
sound of retreating footsteps. Ricardo cautiously opened his
eyes.
Lee Yeon was gripping Tae Ha-Jin’s forearm.
Though visibly displeased, Tae Ha-Jin remained seated.
For a brief moment, Ricardo glimpsed hope.
A tamer had appeared.
A tamer for the feral, untameable beast.
“We’ll do it,” Yeon declared with resolve.
After all, it was his deranged father’s doing. As his son, it was
his duty to clean up the mess. No one understood the lab
structures or machinery better than he did. His involvement
was indispensable.
Not only that—Yeon had lived years disguised as a B-grade
guide. In that time, Diaylen had suffered. He felt compelled to
repay that debt little by little.
Tae Ha-Jin met Yeon’s crimson gaze, grumbling, “If you don’t
want to, just say so.”
“No, it’s fine,” Yeon replied, shaking his head.
He and Tae Ha-Jin were Diaylen’s abnormal types. As long as
they enjoyed the nation’s resources and privileges, they had to
obey its commands, even as S-grades.
Yeon truly didn’t mind.
“If you’re not fine, just say the word. We’ll move to another
country,” Ha-Jin said with a smirk.
Cha Seung-Kyun and Ricardo flinched.
‘Surely he’s joking…?’
If Diaylen’s strongest espers emigrated, the nation would
collapse.
Tae Ha-Jin, who held little attachment to the country, was
entirely serious. If Yeon ever showed the slightest discomfort,
he wouldn’t hesitate to leave. Yeon chuckled softly at his
sincerity. Only Tae Ha-Jin could make such remarks in a
setting like this.
Ha-Jin stared quietly at Yeon’s faint smile.
He reached out and forcibly pulled down the corners of Yeon’s
lips.
“Smiling so prettily for others, aren’t we?”
Ha-Jin wanted to possess even Yeon’s smile. There were many
things he disliked about this meeting. His inappropriate actions
made the officers tactfully avert their gazes.
They say you should strike while the iron is hot. The very next
day, Yeon and Ha-Jin embarked on a “Secret Lab Tour.” To
prepare for today, Ha-Jin had spent the entire night catching up
on pending tasks without a moment’s rest.
Yeon packed all his belongings from Jeong-Suk’s house.
Thinking it might come in handy, he absorbed his laptop into
his hand.
“Are you planning to move out again?”
“Yes, Mother. I’ve decided to return to where I used to stay.”
The sound of Ha-Jin’s voice telling him to return home
immediately still echoed in his ears. Yeon had spent the whole
night on the phone with him. Ha-Jin, who seemed to have a lot
to say, hadn’t hung up even as he worked.
He explained endlessly how hurt he’d felt and how much he
had missed Yeon, repeating himself until Yeon’s ears were
worn out. Yeon thought it was oddly embarrassing how easily
he expressed such feelings.
“That’s a shame… Mother’s so happy having you around,
Yeon.”

__
I strongly disagree with Tae blaming Yeon for running away
without making a scene. I find it unreasonable, especially as
Tae himself witnessed that Yeon had seen. Tae should know
how repulsing the picture was when seeing it with your own
eyes. Hence, blaming someone from turning away and leaving
is rather absurd.
Another thing is, Tae clearly wants to influence Yeon to the
point when the later would hold onto relationships more, but
his actions are manipulative and forcing.
Lastly, it’s reasonable to ask Yeon why didn’t he send a msg to
Tae, saying that he saw this act of infidelity and wanted
nothing more to do with the esper. This time, I’d defend Yeon
again, advocating for clearly stating this requires either
boundless kindness or sheer determination or immense anger.
Well, any strong emotion but pain will do, as I see it. While
Yeon was devastated to the point when he barely cooped.

Translation Guide:

Once again, Yeon used ‘어머님’ to address Jeong-Suk, which

means someone else’s mother, and is a common and polite
way to speak with someone. It seems to be appropriate to
translate it as ‘Auntie’, but with their current relationships, I
preferred ‘Mother’ to reflect closeness.
What’s more, in “That’s a shame… Mother’s so happy having
you around, Yeon.” She used ‘엄마’ which literally means
‘Mother’.
https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-meaning-of/korean-
word-375c1436c3be5521f931442bae896be3f5234683.html
 Chapter 7. Part 16
“I’ll visit often. Besides, even if I’m not here… it seems like
someone else comes by frequently.”
Yeon glanced at Dekal, who was pulling weeds in the garden.
The sight of him glaring intently at the weeds was so comical
that Yeon nearly burst out laughing.
Jeong-Suk, catching his amusement, covered her mouth and
chuckled softly.
“Oh, I was weeding when Dekal showed up to see Uibin. But
Uibin had gone out early for shooting practice. I told him she
wasn’t home, and the next thing I know, Dekal rolled up his
sleeves and offered to help with the weeding!”
“Haha. Seems like he’s doing a good job.”
“Yes, I was surprised too. He’s really good at it.”
Watching Dekal’s broad back with a smile, Yeon slung his
luggage over his shoulder.
“I’ve got a packed schedule today, so I’ll head out now. Thank
you, Mother.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. Just come back soon for another meal!”
“Yes, of course.”
Yeon hurried out through the front gate. Dekal seemed busy,
so Yeon didn’t bother saying goodbye. Further down the way,
Doberman, deeply focused on a map, lifted his head and
smiled at him.
“Did you bring everything?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go.”
With a sharp burst of light, they teleported.
Yeon hastily dropped his belongings at Ha-Jin’s house and
headed straight for the 20th floor of the main building with
Doberman. Ha-Jin was still in his office.
As they walked down the corridor, they froze when they
spotted a small figure sprinting towards them.
“Daaaaddy!”
“Venisha…?”
Doberman widened his eyes as his young daughter flung
herself into his arms. Venisha, who looked about four or five
years old, giggled as he picked her up. Yeon stared at her as if
encountering a rare creature.
“Is she… your daughter?”
“Oh, yes. She’s my daughter. Venisha, say hello to the young
man.”
“Hello!”
Her dimples deepened as she smiled. Yeon couldn’t help but
be astonished. Cute as she was, Venisha didn’t resemble
Doberman in the slightest. She must have taken after her
mother.
“Put me down! Put me down!”
Just as suddenly as she had climbed up, Venisha squirmed to
be let down. As soon as Doberman complied, she darted off
with glee towards Ha-Jin’s office. Yeon’s eyes widened.
‘Shouldn’t I stop her?’
The child was heading straight for Ha-Jin. Yeon shuddered to
think how Ha-Jin’s indifferent mannerisms might wound her.
Yeon quickened his pace and swung open the door to Ha-Jin’s
office.
“…”
What greeted him made his eyes quiver in disbelief.
Ha-Jin stood calmly signing documents, holding Venisha in his
arms with a surprising ease. The way he held her was
practiced, even natural. Yeon’s jaw dropped slightly.
“Ha-Ji-oppa!”
“What?”
“Do a whoosh for me!”
“Busy.”
“Then a zoom-zoom!”
“Venisha. Just stay still for a bit.”
Ha-Jin countered her demands with a serene tone, showing no
sign of irritation. Yeon raised a brow, tempted to capture the
moment. Fishing out his phone, he snapped a photo.
Finally noticing Yeon, Ha-Jin’s neutral expression softened
into a smile.
“You’re late, darling.”
“Could you not call me that and just stick to Yeon?”
“Just call me darling back.”
As Ha-Jin chuckled and bantered, Venisha, watching the two,
pouted and yelled.
“Play with me too, oppa!”
“Go ask your dad to play with you.”
Just then, Doberman came running up behind Yeon. Slightly
out of breath, he looked at Ha-Jin holding Venisha and rubbed
his face in exasperation. His daughter, without a shred of fear,
clung to Ha-Jin like a happy shadow.
‘Where does she get that nerve…?’
Perhaps it was because Ha-Jin had lifted her high into the air
before, or maybe because he never missed gifting her the toy
she wanted for her birthday. Whatever it was, Ha-Jin, while
cold to most, always treated his family with care.
Especially Venisha.
Doberman, recalling how Ha-Jin had saved both mother and
child during her premature birth, felt a pang of gratitude.
Approaching, he bowed slightly.
“I apologise, Esper Ha-Jin.”
Ha-Jin looked visibly fatigued, and Doberman decided it was
best to take Venisha off his hands.
“I don’t want to! I’m staying with Ha-Jin oppa!”
“Venisha. Did your mum drop you off here?”
“Yep!”
Doberman suppressed a sigh. It wasn’t just his daughter who
had guts; his wife, Herni, had nerves of steel. Occasionally,
when she had brief errands to run, she’d leave Venisha in Tae
Ha-Jin’s office. Ha-Jin, ever engrossed in his paperwork,
hardly noticed whether Venisha was there or not.
Herni, like Doberman, was a transportation esper.
Although she was currently on maternity leave, she still freely
used her abilities as she hadn’t officially left the esper world
behind.
‘A little heads-up would’ve been nice.’
Herni considered Tae Ha-Jin a good person. Sometimes, she’d
even bring over dishes she’d cooked. He’d often raise a brow
as if assessing whether it was safe to eat…
“I’ll take Venisha back to her mum now.”
“Waaah! Nooo….”
Flash!
It seemed Doberman was used to situations like this. Before
Venisha could even cry properly, they disappeared in a burst of
light. The office, as if a storm had passed through, settled into
an eerie calm.
Yeon smiled to himself as he looked at a photo he had just
taken. Ha-Jin playing with a child, his expression completely
deadpan. There was something oddly funny and adorable
about it. Yeon set the photo as his phone’s wallpaper.
Ttoddok, ttok.
As he fiddled with his phone, Ha-Jin had approached him
unnoticed. Without a word, Ha-Jin’s lips pressed against
Yeon’s, catching him off guard. Startled, Yeon instinctively
stepped back.
Ha-Jin followed, pinning him against the wall and kissing him
deeply. His tongue explored Yeon’s mouth with fervour.
Yeon’s hand braced against the wall as his body tensed. It had
been a while since they’d been this close, and it left him
unexpectedly nervous.
Ha-Jin grabbed Yeon’s hand and placed it over the front of his
trousers. Beneath his palm, something solid and heavy pressed
against the fabric.
Pulling back slightly, Ha-Jin murmured, his tone low and
suggestive, “I’m turned on.”
Yeon lowered his gaze, his own emotions mirroring Ha-Jin’s.
That deep voice, the hazy atmosphere, and the way Ha-Jin’s
eyes devoured him—it all made his pulse race.
Ha-Jin’s hand covered Yeon’s, guiding him to move. As Yeon
tentatively slid his hand over the firm bulge, Ha-Jin furrowed
his brows, his forehead falling to rest on Yeon’s shoulder.
“Let’s ditch everything and just go home,” Ha-Jin muttered,
his voice filled with raw frustration.
It sounded like he genuinely meant it.
Still stroking, Yeon shook his head. “Not today.”
“Don’t you feel bad for my cock?”
“…It’s only been a month.”
Ha-Jin chuckled bitterly, lifting his head to glare at Yeon. “A
month that felt like an eternity.”
He captured Yeon’s lips again. When Yeon tried to pull his
hand away, Ha-Jin retaliated by placing his own hand on
Yeon’s groin. The sudden contact made Yeon flinch, but with
the wall behind him and Ha-Jin in front, there was no escape.
Ha-Jin’s touch was maddeningly deliberate, enough to make
Yeon’s thoughts fragment.
Flash!
The familiar sound of a teleportation startled them. Yeon
shoved Ha-Jin away with all his might, panting, and wiped his
flushed lips with the back of his hand.
Ha-Jin shot an irritated glare at Doberman, who stood there
obliviously.
“My assistant is so diligent, isn’t he?” Ha-Jin grumbled
sarcastically.
“Pardon?” Doberman tilted his head, scanning the office.
Other than the slightly warm air and Yeon’s visibly red face,
nothing seemed out of place. From his inner pocket,
Doberman pulled out a coordinate map.
“Ah, right. You mentioned stopping somewhere first?”
Doberman glanced at the map showing the location of a secret
research lab. Yeon quickly sent over the prepared coordinates
via text.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Doberman, seeing no issue with a brief detour, teleported them
without further questions. Ha-Jin, arms crossed and visibly
displeased, followed in silence.
“…A cemetery.”
Doberman murmured softly as he looked around. They had
arrived at the National Cemetery in the capital.
While not as prestigious as the royal tombs, it was still
renowned for its cleanliness and meticulous upkeep. Just
ahead were two graves side by side.
The headstones read:
Actress Celine, laid to rest at 33.
Lee Chae-Hyun, laid to rest at 11.
Their inscriptions were plain and unadorned.
After a moment of staring at the headstones, Yeon turned away
to purchase two bouquets of chrysanthemums from a vendor
near the cemetery’s entrance. Ha-Jin silently observed his
every move.
The faint rustle of flowers followed as Yeon placed a bouquet
before each grave. He stood there with hands clasped, letting
the gentle breeze pass over him.
This was all the connection he had.
The kind of bond where a quick visit on an errand-filled day
sufficed.
Not one that warranted tearful goodbyes.
And yet, it wasn’t a tie he could completely ignore either.
“If you’re reborn, don’t marry a man like him again,” Yeon
thought, his gaze fixed on Celine’s headstone. At just 21, she
had married Lee Hong-Jun. Whatever reasons she had, Yeon
neither knew nor particularly cared.
What mattered was that they had all been Hong-Jun’s victims
in one way or another.
Despite whatever resentment Celine might have harboured
toward him, Yeon decided to let go of his hatred. Life was too
short to hold grudges against the dead. The neglect and harsh
words from his childhood? He would willingly forget them. If
possible, he hoped she had found peace.
Yeon tilted his head slightly, his eyes landing on his half-
brother’s grave.
‘I’m sorry,’ he thought.
Lee Chae-Hyun.
The last time Yeon saw him, he’d been two years old. It had
been over nine years since Yeon had run away, and they’d
never crossed paths again.
The boy had taken after Celine, his features eerily similar to
Yeon’s own.
The day Lee Yeon first laid eyes on Cha-Hyun, he felt an
instant dislike for the younger brother. Though they were born
of different mothers, Cha-Hyun’s face was strikingly similar to
his, marked heavily by Lee Hong-Jun’s preferences.
‘I’ve never thought of taking care of you, not once.’
Back then, Yeon was too preoccupied with surviving alone. He
wasn’t the kind of person to look after a half-brother he had no
affection for. Even when he heard of Cha-Hyun’s death
through the radio, he felt nothing.
‘So, it’s your turn now,’ was all he thought.
But standing here before the gravestone, something about the
moment felt strange.
This could have been his grave instead.
If his mother, Christina, hadn’t sacrificed herself, hadn’t gone
to such lengths to safeguard his future.
He might have ended up as nothing more than ashes scattered
across the wasteland, without even a gravestone to mark his
existence.
That thought brought the deaths of his mother and brother
closer to his heart.
To mourn you, I have to insert myself into your story.
What a futile kind of mourning it was.
“…”
Yeon reflected.
I’m sorry for being a selfish and inadequate brother.
And in those unbearable moments, if you had come looking
for me, even once…
I’m sorry for that, too.
“You can leave now,” he said aloud.
But his gaze lingered on the gravestone, refusing to break
away. Yeon stood there a while longer, dazed.
He felt as though if he didn’t, no one else would remember
this mother and son.
It was a hollow form of compassion.
Doberman watched him cautiously. Yeon had said they could
go, but leaving wasn’t so easy. The heaviness on Lee Yeon’s
face made it clear why.
“Doberman.”
“Yes?”
“What do you do when you loathe yourself?”
Doberman’s eyes wavered.
Here was a man, standing at the grave of a family he had no
love for, tormented by self-hatred.
Could someone like this truly be devoid of affection?
“…I simply accept it. Sometimes, self-hatred can be a
powerful springboard. When you overcome it, you’ll find
you’ve become a better person.”
Yeon nodded quietly at that.
After staring at the gravestone a little longer, Yeon turned
away. He walked over to where Tae Ha-Jin was waiting and
wrapped his arms around him. Ha-Jin didn’t hesitate, pulling
Yeon into a firm embrace.
A strong arm came to rest against his back.
The bitter scent of cemetery grass was swallowed by Ha-Jin’s
warm, familiar fragrance.
For the first time in a while, Yeon felt like he could breathe.

***

For over half a day, they moved across the map, dismantling
various “secret labs.” Doberman, prone to hallucinations,
waited outside while Yeon absorbed whatever seemed useful
inside—documents, devices, even entire fixtures.
Neither Doberman nor Ha-Jin showed signs of fatigue. Their
determination to finish this tiresome task today was palpable.
Doberman wanted time with his family.
Ha-Jin… well, Yeon guessed it was to finish the intimacy they
hadn’t had a chance to indulge in earlier.
“Hah, this is the last lab. It’s hard to believe a wasteland like
this exists in the Diaylen nation,” Doberman remarked.
Following Adrian’s confessions, Doberman had guided them
in order of the labs’ significance, from least to most important.
This last one was their top priority.
“The Elder Chairman asked us to thoroughly investigate this
one. Apparently, Adrian muttered some bizarre things about
it… Be careful in there.”
“Understood,” Yeon replied, nodding. He and Ha-Jin surveyed
the barren expanse. The other labs had been hidden behind
illusion devices but remained visible enough. This one, even to
an S-grade esper like Yeon, was entirely invisible.
As Yeon squinted at the landscape, Ha-Jin raised a hand,
obliterating every illusion device in an instant. A massive
secret facility suddenly appeared before them.
“…What if you’d accidentally destroyed the building as
well?” Yeon quipped.
“I don’t have a minute to waste,” Ha-Jin replied curtly.
“And why’s that?”
“You don’t need to know.”
As Ha-Jin effortlessly bypassed the triple security system,
Yeon gave him a skeptical glance. Ha-Jin shrugged and
entered the facility first.
Each lab they’d destroyed today shared one peculiar trait: no
personnel. Since Lee Hong-Jun’s death, it seemed the
researchers had fled, leaving the facilities abandoned. It made
sense; they were likely avoiding the legal consequences of
their work.
Yeon continued as he had been, absorbing any documents and
devices that looked valuable. He was unimpressed with the
lab’s contents, considering Doberman had hyped up its
importance.
Then he came across a particularly well-secured area.
The security here rivalled that of the central research lab, with
quadruple layers of protection.
“This place feels… off,” Yeon muttered.
“Open it,” Ha-Jin instructed.
Yeon typed in a password—his mother’s date of death.
Beep!
〔Welcome, Lee Hong-Jun.〕
The door slid open with a low hum.
That lunatic…
Even here, Hong-Jun had set the same password. At this point,
Yeon was no longer surprised.
Watching Yeon crack through security like a master key, Ha-
Jin’s eyes glinted with intrigue. His expression turned oddly
predatory, the corner of his lips curving upward.
Yeon turned abruptly, catching the intense look.
“What?”
“…Were you just thinking something dirty?”
“Yeah.”
Yeon furrowed his brows. No wonder he’d felt Ha-Jin’s
presence behind him, rippling like it was about to devour
everything in its path. Ha-Jin had started walking closer,
practically glued to his side.
“Anywhere’s fine for me, darling.”
“Get lost. I’d rather die than step foot in Lee Hong-Jun’s lab.”
“Anywhere but a lab, then?”
“Don’t cling to me, I said.”
Shaking off Ha-Jin’s arm as if peeling off a leech, Yeon strode
down the corridor and into the lab.
This place…
‘Déjà vu.’
It was eerily similar to the facility where Ha-Jin had once been
imprisoned as a test subject. Capsule after capsule lined the
walls on either side, stretching into the distance. The
arrangement practically screamed Lee Hong-Jun’s
stubbornness.
But there was one key difference from back then.
The Ha-Jin who had once been trapped in one of those
capsules was now standing beside him.
Yeon glanced back at Ha-Jin, overtaken by a sudden wave of
unfamiliar emotion. The gaunt figure of the past was gone,
replaced by a sturdy, strikingly handsome man. The only
remnants of the former Ha-Jin were his sharp features and
those unmistakable crimson eyes.
Ha-Jin smirked, his lips curling mischievously.
“Let’s do it?”
“…Don’t start.”
The lab didn’t seem to hold much of value at first glance. The
capsules were standard models, mostly empty. Still, just in
case, Yeon decided to check the very back of the room.
Step. Step.
When they reached the far end, Yeon’s face twisted into a
grimace.
“This… they’ve got one here too.”
A massive black egg, larger than an ostrich’s, was connected
to countless wires.
It was a grotesque sight.
Nutrients appeared to be flowing into the egg through the
cables.
The egg itself wasn’t entirely unexpected—Yeon had seen
similar ones lining the right wall of the Basen Research Lab’s
test chambers back in the day, every single one of them
shattered. He hadn’t paid them much mind back then,
thinking, Even Lee Hong-Jun screws up sometimes.
But this intact black egg was unsettling.
As Yeon stared intently at the capsule, a serious expression on
his face, Ha-Jin strolled over and casually slung an arm around
his shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s odd.”
“What is?”
“All the other capsules are empty, but this one has an
unbroken egg in it.”
 Chapter 7. Part 17
Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow, his gaze settling on the black egg.
It was his first time seeing an unbroken one too.
An eerie energy seemed to pulse from the egg.
“Then we destroy it,” Ha-Jin said nonchalantly, stretching out
his arm.
Yeon leapt forward, grabbing Ha-Jin’s hand to stop him.
“You don’t even know what it is! We have a duty to recover
knowledge intact. Besides, isn’t this the lab Lee Hong-Jun’s
assistant emphasised as crucial?”
Yeon had a hunch.
The reason the assistant had stressed this lab’s importance had
to be because of this black egg.
Ha-Jin, his expression unreadable, locked eyes with Yeon, his
crimson gaze unwavering.
“And you? Do you know what’s inside that you’re so keen to
keep it?”
“…What?”
“This could be one of Lee Hong-Jun’s Grade 1 monsters.
Knowing that lunatic, it might even be something worse. Do
you honestly think he’d go to such lengths to hide a worthless
egg?”
Yeon shivered, his eyes flicking to the ominous egg.
The thought was horrifying.
Something worse than a Grade 1 monster?
He wanted to dismiss it outright, but Ha-Jin was right—Lee
Hong-Jun wasn’t the type to waste resources on trivial
experiments. If anything, he was capable of creating disasters
beyond imagination.
A secret lab concealed by powerful hallucination devices.
Its innermost chamber, fortified with quadruple security.
The single remaining black egg.
And the capsule was fully automated, feeding nutrients into
the egg without any external input—a stark contrast to Lee
Hong-Jun’s usual preference for manual control. It was clear
he had prioritised this egg above all else.
‘Destroying it might be the only way to protect the world.’
Ha-Jin’s suggestion was beginning to make sense.
But Yeon shook his head.
“Even so, don’t use Devouring. It doesn’t just destroy—it
drags the target into your Vessel, erasing it completely. Do you
really want that thing inside you without knowing what it is?”
Ha-Jin scoffed.
Since when had he ever been picky about what he consumed?
He’d once swallowed an entire door, for crying out loud. The
concern was almost amusing.
As Yeon mulled over their options, he examined the controls
at the top of the capsule.
“Thankfully, it’s not too different from the others. It just needs
an authorised recognition to activate the shatter button.”
Without hesitation, Yeon bit the tip of his finger until it bled,
smearing his blood onto the capsule’s sensor.
The machine responded with a calm voice: “Authorisation
recognised.”
Just as Yeon reached for the shatter button—
Crack.
An unmistakable sound.
“…?”
Craaaack.
CRAAACK!
The egg was breaking.
Yeon’s skin crawled as the sound echoed in the lab. How could
an egg make that noise as it cracked? It was almost identical to
the shattering of a Vessel belonging to an abnormal type.
As Yeon stood frozen in place, stunned, the egg began to…
“Move aside, Lee Yeon!”
Tae Ha-Jin yanked Yeon’s arm urgently. He should’ve
destroyed it himself from the start. Stretching out his hand to
consume both the egg and the capsule, Ha-Jin froze as Yeon
stepped in front of him, his eyes wide with alarm.
“Hyung! Wait a second!”
“I said, move.”
“I think… it’s a person! Look, there’s a finger sticking out!”
Ha-Jin’s face twisted in irritation as he glanced at the egg
behind Yeon. Through the cracked shell, a tiny finger could
just be made out, unmoving. Whether it was alive or dead, he
couldn’t tell.
“Ha.”
A dry laugh escaped him.
A human? Created by Lee Hong-Jun?
Was the man truly trying to play god? Ha-Jin’s expression
darkened in disgust.
Crack. Craaack!
At last, the upper part of the shell broke away completely.
It really was a human. A newborn baby.
The infant, with jet-black hair, neither cried nor flailed. Curled
up as if lifeless, it lay encased in the remnants of the egg.
Slowly, its thin eyelids fluttered open.
Red eyes.
“……”
Yeon sucked in a sharp breath.
Jet-black hair. Crimson eyes…
Instinctively, Yeon’s gaze shifted to Ha-Jin. The hue of the
baby’s eyes was identical to Ha-Jin’s irises, as was the deep
black of its hair.
Ha-Jin’s brow furrowed ever so slightly as he studied the
child’s face. Then, confusion flickered across his features.
“Lee Yeon,” he said, his voice uneasy. “It… looks like you.”
“What?”
Yeon recoiled, his voice sharp with disbelief. “How could it
possibly look like me? It’s identical to you, Tae Ha-Jin! Black
hair, red eyes—there’s no mistaking it.”
Ha-Jin shook his head firmly. “No. Look closer. The face…
it’s your features.”
Despite himself, Ha-Jin couldn’t deny what he saw. The
baby’s eyes, delicate double eyelids, and a small, sharp nose
were unmistakably reminiscent of Lee Yeon’s face. For a
newborn, its features were unusually defined. And undeniably
beautiful.
How could this be?
The hair and eyes might clearly point to Ha-Jin, but there was
no question the child bore an uncanny resemblance to Yeon.
He didn’t know how to make sense of it. A strange discomfort
crept through him.
Yeon, equally unsettled, suddenly had a thought.
“The data,” he murmured. “There should be records of this.”
If it was Lee Hong-Jun’s work, there had to be detailed
information left behind.
Yeon summoned the laptop he had absorbed into his left hand.
Ha-Jin briefly wondered why he had the device inside him but
held his questions, observing as Yeon worked.
Before transferring the data from the USB, Yeon had already
compressed and backed it up. The information about the dual
bloodline experiment had been among the files he’d scanned
before. He began sifting through the compressed files, starting
with the most promising ones.
He hadn’t looked into them sooner. There had been too much
going on, and Lee Hong-Jun’s extensive data was daunting to
approach without setting aside proper time. The government of
the Diaylen nation and international organisations were still
combing through it as well.
Then, he found it.

Genetic Trait Fusion Experiment

This experiment spanned over a decade. I’ve long known how
to create humans. With my Fusion ability, I can ensure the
human form remains intact and complete. Knowing how was
not enough. I was consumed by curiosity.
Could I create the most powerful human the world has ever
seen?
I began the experiment immediately, crafting a specialised
capsule for creation.
The ‘artificial egg’ I developed was key. It forcibly preserved
and merged conflicting genetic traits into a unified form. By
supplying nutrients through the capsule’s auxiliary vessels, it
mimicked the conditions of a womb.
I conducted thousands of trials, using countless genetic
samples. One thing became clear:
When high-grade genetic material was used, the egg was far
more stable.
However, acquiring high-grade material was no easy feat. It
took untold effort to assemble the components for the ‘final
artificial egg.’
Astonishingly, I already had everything I needed.
Samples I thought were trash turned out to be invaluable.
Sample 1: S+ Grade Esper Genetic Material – Tae Ha-
Jin
Sample 2: Dual Bloodline of an S+ Grade Guide and an
A+ Grade Esper – Lee Yeon
The results exceeded expectations. Among the strongest
genetic carriers in the world, the combination was
unparalleled.
Sample 1 came from an experiment subject over a decade ago.
Sample 2 belonged to my own son, from whom I’d collected
samples during his upbringing.
Everything was prepared.
I merged the two genetic traits into the highest-grade artificial
egg. Watching the jet-black egg form, I felt a wonder I’d never
known. The hardness of the shell alone set it apart from
previous failures.
The system is automated. Even in my absence, the egg will
grow perfectly.
This experiment is a success.
Perhaps I’ve surpassed God Himself. God created ordinary
humans, but I have forged the strongest being in the world.

As Yeon read, his face turned pale. Ha-Jin, leaning over his
shoulder, absorbed the data in silence. Neither spoke for a long
time after finishing.
“……”
The air was cold with unease.
Yeon absently rubbed his hands together, his fingers trembling.
Without his knowledge, Lee Hong-Jun had used his genetic
material. Created a human. Even after his death, the automated
system carried on his work.
Now it made sense—why the baby had Ha-Jin’s crimson eyes
and black hair but Yeon’s facial structure.
Ha-Jin was descended from the Epilox race, known for their
“Absolute Genetics.” Any offspring containing his DNA was
bound to inherit red eyes.
“Should I kill it?”
Ha-Jin asked the question with chilling indifference.
Yeon’s pupils quivered.
Just as Lee Hong-Jun had noted, that child undoubtedly
carried the world’s most powerful abnormal type. It was
impossible to predict the horrifying results once it awakened.
It was dangerous.
A being like that was unimaginably dangerous.
Yeon himself was a top-grade dual bloodline esper. It was only
because he’d lived without straying into darkness that he
wasn’t a disaster in the making. Had he chosen a different
path, he might have become one of the world’s great
calamities.
Top-grade espers were often called monsters.
Like Tae Ha-Jin.
His overwhelming strength and abilities were both admired
and feared. But a human who combined both their abnormal
types…
Yeon turned his gaze to the baby curled up on the shell.
Their eyes locked.
“…”
Why aren’t you crying?
Newborns are supposed to cry.
Yeon’s face crumpled in anguish.
The baby was far too beautiful. He’d always heard that
newborns were wrinkled and not at all cute. But this baby had
emerged from the shell already somewhat grown. Its eyes
opened and closed slowly.
A strange sense of familiarity washed over Yeon.
Looking at the baby reminded him of Tae Ha-Jin, once trapped
in a capsule.
The same red eyes. The same voice that always whispered,
“It’s fine.”
But it hadn’t been fine.
A baby resembling him was now confined to a capsule. Surely,
they hadn’t wanted to be born like this. They were just like us
—another experiment.
Rage surged through Yeon’s chest.
Even with Lee Hong-Jun dead, why couldn’t they escape this
damned lab?
“Must we… kill it?”
Yeon’s voice trembled as he struggled not to cry.
It was a life.
It was alive, breathing right before them.
If a being is condemned as a sin from birth, isn’t that too
cruel?
He didn’t want to kill it. Killing this baby felt no different
from killing the Tae Ha-Jin who had once been trapped in that
capsule.
They were innocent.
We were innocent.
Yeon’s slightly trembling fingers touched the capsule. The
baby smiled softly.
“…”
It was a soul-shattering moment.
The baby, who hadn’t moved or cried, smiled just because
he’d reached out. Yeon couldn’t help but see a younger Tae
Ha-Jin in that expression.
Do you feel this touch is your salvation too?
Is that why you’re smiling?
“I’ll take responsibility. I’ll make sure this child doesn’t
become a monster… No matter what, I’ll stop it. Must we
really kill it?”
Yeon pleaded desperately. His gaze left the baby and shifted to
Tae Ha-Jin. Tae Ha-Jin’s expression was unreadable.
Ha-Jin thought about it.
He didn’t particularly want to kill the child. How could he? It
was a human who bore an uncanny resemblance to Yeon.
Ha-Jin wasn’t someone driven by moral righteousness or duty
to world peace.
He’d spent his life fighting disasters.
If this child grew to become one, then, as always, he’d simply
fight them with all his might.
And wasn’t this meaningful in its own way?
After all, it was a child created from his and Yeon’s genetic
abnormal types. Yeon was so desperate to save them.
In that case…
“Let’s share the responsibility.”
Ha-Jin’s low voice broke the silence.
Yeon’s hopeful gaze wavered, surprised. Ha-Jin smirked.
“You don’t even have a house.”
“…I can buy one.”
“You don’t have the money.”
“…I’ll earn it.”
“You don’t have the time.”
What Ha-Jin meant was clear: Let’s raise the child at my
place. But he felt too awkward to say it outright. Yeon, for his
part, felt deeply unsettled. They had come to this lab intending
to destroy it, but were leaving with a life instead.
Once the decision was made, everything moved quickly.
They informed Doberman, who was waiting outside, about the
USB data and the baby’s existence.
“What?!”
Doberman was dumbfounded and repeatedly asked if they
were really planning to raise the child. Though worried, he
eventually agreed.
Exposing a newborn to the germs outside was unthinkable. So,
capsule and all, Ha-Jin carried the baby to the hospital with
Doberman.
To their astonishment, the child was in perfect health—so
much so that they didn’t even need an incubator. Amidst the
chaos, the doctor casually mentioned that the baby was a girl.
Yeon could hardly believe it.
“There’s… no willy?”
“Of course not.”
A DNA test confirmed what they already suspected: the baby
shared 99.99% of their DNA.
At home, Yeon threw himself into learning how to care for a
newborn, meticulously jotting notes from online guides.
Despite moments of doubt, he resolved to do his best.
“I’ll be a good father,” he murmured.
This child would not endure the same hell. He’d ensure they
grew up surrounded by love and beauty.
Yeon’s determined expression softened as he whispered to
himself.

“I’m busy. Just get to the point.”

Tae Ha-Jin had come to meet Elder Chairman Cha Seung-
Kyun and Crown Prince Ricardo.
It was a necessary meeting.
Without preamble, he succinctly explained the events of the
past few days.
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin, that’s an incredibly dangerous choice. The
strongest living being ever created by Lee Hong-Jun… For the
future of the Diaylen nation, that child must be eliminated.”
Elder Cha Seung-Kyun spoke gravely.
Ricardo, unable to process the situation, looked utterly
flabbergasted. Tae Ha-Jin, seated with his legs crossed in the
parlour, nodded and responded calmly.
“Understood. Then I suppose we’ll have to emigrate.”
“Esper Tae Ha-Jin!”
“I’ve been clear from the start. Lee Yeon and I will take full
responsibility for the aftermath. Do we seem so incompetent
that we can’t manage it? If the nation cannot accept this, we’ll
simply leave for a country that can. It’s the cleanest solution
for everyone.”
“Haa…”
Cha Seung-Kyun rubbed his face in frustration.
If these two had wanted to hide the child, they could have
done so without anyone ever knowing. Yet, Tae Ha-Jin and
Lee Yeon had chosen to be honest—for the sake of the child’s
peaceful future, no doubt.
The elder was deeply troubled. The reality was, there were no
real options. Letting Tae Ha-Jin and Lee Yeon leave would not
only weaken the nation’s power but also have lasting
repercussions for Diaylen. Furthermore, if they were willing to
take responsibility and raise the child, there was even a chance
this so-called dangerous being could grow into a hero rather
than a catastrophe.
Optimistic, perhaps, but Tae Ha-Jin’s argument was
undeniable. Forcing them to kill the child wasn’t something
Cha could justify, especially when he himself balked at the
idea of taking a life.
Ricardo, still stunned, covered his gaping mouth and hesitantly
asked, “Wait… so you two… have a child now?”
Tae Ha-Jin furrowed his brows.
Not out of irritation, but because it felt surreal.
With their XY chromosomes, he and Lee Yeon weren’t
capable of having biological children. If they married,
adoption was an option he’d considered—if Lee Yeon wanted
it. Ever since Tae had realised his feelings for Lee, he’d
imagined distant futures like this countless times.
But now, a child made purely from their genetic material?
It was absurd.
It felt… bizarre.
“It’s true, though, isn’t it? The baby was made from just your
genetic material. That makes it your child,” Ricardo said with
a faintly incredulous laugh.
Never having encountered a situation like this, Ricardo
couldn’t help but find it absurdly amusing.
Cha Seung-Kyun, who had been quietly listening, shook his
head. If it truly was their child, the idea of killing it became
unthinkable. He couldn’t even imagine it.
The strongest esper in the world and the highest-grade dual
bloodline.
Their child…
“I’ll take that as your approval.”
Ha-Jin rose from his seat, brushed his coat, and flung open the
large window of the parlour. In an instant, he was airborne,
disappearing into the sky as a dot.
Cha Seung-Kyun and Ricardo both had a good idea of where
he was headed.
Likely to where Lee Yeon and the child were.
“Elder Chairman, they’re quite the fascinating pair, aren’t
they?” Ricardo remarked.
“…I wouldn’t know. Nothing involving Esper Tae Ha-Jin has
ever been fascinating to me. It’s always been frustrating and
dangerous.”
“Still, he’s become a far better man than he used to be, hasn’t
he?”
Cha Seung-Kyun couldn’t entirely disagree.
Once, he had been nothing more than a monster fighting other
monsters.
A man with a hollow laugh and an overwhelming disgust for
the world.
A walking time bomb, always on the verge of exploding. But
now? He seemed almost human. And much of that was thanks
to Lee Yeon. Together, the two had protected Diaylen during
its darkest days, when disaster and war threatened its very
existence.
Cha Seung-Kyun closed his eyes.
He could only hope their child would grow into a hero.

***

One corner of the expansive house was already overflowing

with baby supplies. Tae Ha-Jin had seemingly developed a
shopping addiction, with a constant stream of parcels arriving
at the front door. Half were for the baby, and the other half
were clothes for Lee Yeon.
Every room on the ground floor, except for the study, had been
converted into spaces for the child.
Returning home from errands that morning, Lee Yeon
discreetly tucked some of the items into a corner before
heading to the nursery, where Tae Ha-Jin was.
“So, have you decided on a name yet?” he asked.
They still hadn’t settled on one. Naming their daughter was
proving to be more difficult than expected. Lee Yeon didn’t
want her to inherit his surname—Lee Hong-Jun’s surname.
After much insistence, they had agreed the child would take
the name “Tae.”
The baby was peacefully sleeping in a wooden cradle. She
rarely cried, drank formula without fuss, and slept soundly.
An extraordinarily easy child to raise.
Tae Ha-Jin gently pressed the tiny hand in his own before
saying, “Yu-Jin.”
Lee Yeon raised an eyebrow. He had expected some bizarre,
grandiose name, but this one was surprisingly ordinary.
“Tae Yu-Jin? Why Yu-Jin?”
Surely it wasn’t because his name was Ha-Jin. Lee Yeon
narrowed his eyes suspiciously as Tae Ha-Jin playfully poked
the baby’s cheek.
“It was the first name you ever told me. Lee Yu-Jin,” he
replied.
“…”
Lee Yeon froze for a moment.
That had happened. Fearing trouble if his real name was
discovered, he had once lied to Tae, introducing himself as
Lee Yu-Jin.
—Lee Yu-Jin. My name’s Lee Yu-Jin.
—Lee Yu-Jin…Doesn’t suit you.
Tae remembered even that?
Lee Yeon had nearly forgotten it himself. It was just a name he
had made up in haste. Feeling oddly flustered, he turned his
head awkwardly and muttered, “You said it didn’t suit me.
This child resembles me, doesn’t she? Then surely the name
wouldn’t suit her either.”
“It suits her,” Tae Ha-Jin said simply, gently stroking the
baby’s cheek.
“…What kind of nonsense is this?”
Yeon let out a soft chuckle. Tae Ha-Jin, calmly toying with the
child’s hand and cheek with a blank expression, was
heartbreakingly adorable.
Suddenly, a wave of emotion, too complex to name, washed
over Yeon.
The sorrowful connection they’d made in that lab. The
countless missions they’d endured together. The endless wars
fought by his side…
In the end, we survived.
Before his brain could catch up, the words spilled out:
“I love you.”
Tae Ha-Jin shifted his gaze from the child to Yeon, his
persistent crimson eyes blazing as always. He had this way of
appearing uninvited in Yeon’s life, shaking his soul to its core.
My lover.
My esper.
The one I love.
“I’ve got something for you. Wait here.”
Yeon headed to the next room, returning with the items he’d
stashed away earlier. Without a word or preamble, he handed
them over. Tae Ha-Jin raised an eyebrow as he accepted them.
Paper and a pen.
“Marry me,” Yeon said with a bright smile.
The paper he’d handed over was a marriage registration form.
“…”
Ha-Jin froze, staring at Yeon as though he’d been turned to
stone. His mouth opened as if to speak, only to shut again. His
gaze searched Yeon’s face, as if trying to determine whether he
was serious.
“And,” Yeon added, “I heard proposals require this.”
He pulled a small ring box from his pocket. Inside were two
rings, lying side by side. Embarrassed, Yeon’s ears flushed
red.
“They’re really expensive, you know. I practically emptied my
savings. But since you’re rich anyway, I figured it wouldn’t
matter.”
“…Lee Yeon.”
It was surprising that Tae Ha-Jin, of all people, could look
genuinely moved. But Yeon, overwhelmed with
embarrassment, kept rambling.
“And we need to get Yu-Jin added to the family register… I
mean, this is really awkward, so could you just—”
The paper and pen clattered to the floor.
To be precise, Ha-Jin had thrown them aside.
His large hands cupped Yeon’s face, and his lips descended in
a fervent kiss. It was overwhelming. Avoiding the sleeping
child, Ha-Jin pressed Yeon out into the hallway, his body
pinning Yeon against the wall.
Ha-Jin slid a knee between Yeon’s legs, making his eyes
widen.
The kiss was so forceful it felt like Yeon might lose his mind.
He frantically patted Ha-Jin’s shoulder.
“Mmph! Mmm—!”
Yeon tried pushing him away, but Ha-Jin was too focused, as
though entranced. His tongue moved with dizzying intensity,
and the knee pressing between Yeon’s legs was impossible to
ignore.
With all his strength, Yeon shoved at Ha-Jin’s shoulders and
finally managed to gasp out, “So… what’s your answer?”
He hadn’t heard an answer yet. Though he was certain it
would be a yes, Yeon couldn’t help but feel oddly anxious.
Ha-Jin frowned, then smiled despairingly.
“I love you, Lee Yeon.”
He wanted Yeon so badly it was maddening.
The one person who accepted him, despite his flaws. His only
salvation.
As he kissed Yeon again, Ha-Jin thought:
People called those with dual bloodlines by one title.
The Dooropeners.
Yes, Yeon was a dooropener.
The one who opened the door to the lab.
The one who leapt through the Black Door.
The one who effortlessly unlocked even the most tightly
closed heart…

『Open The Door』 The End.

___
We did it! It’s not the end though. There will be an epilogue and 2 more books with
extras.
 Epilogue. Part 1
A burst of light flashed across the spacious house—the signal
of a transportation esper’s arrival.
“Commander of the Second Division! It’s an honour to meet
you for the first time, sir…! I’m Willet!”
A young man snapped into a rigid bow, his face flushed with
nervous tension, a testament to his untainted naivety.
Yu-Jin, now five years old, was having her outfit adjusted by
Yeon. He sighed inwardly. It might be the lad’s first time, but
teleporting directly into a superior’s home unannounced? Not
exactly proper.
What if he’d startled the child into falling over?
Contrary to Yeon’s concerns, Yu-Jin simply stared at the esper
named Willet with wide, curious eyes. Yeon gently patted his
daughter’s dark hair.
“It seems you weren’t briefed properly, Willet.”
“D-Did I make a mistake, sir?” Willet stammered, turning
pale.
Yeon shook his head. He wasn’t planning to scold him much.
After all, the need for a new transportation esper had been
prompted by Tae Ha-Jin’s jealousy, not Willet’s doing.
“In the future, please teleport to the garden, not inside the
house. As you can see, my daughter’s still quite young.”
Willet, too preoccupied with nerves, only now noticed the
little girl. His eyes widened as he looked down at her.
“Wow…”
There were moments when reality seemed too surreal, and this
was one of them. Willet stared in awe at the young girl with
her flawless features, so strikingly similar to the Second
Division Commander.
The Division Commander’s renowned beauty was no secret.
Prior to his visit, he had prepared himself by viewing
numerous photos to avoid appearing disrespectfully awestruck.
Yet, encountering the commander’s daughter left him utterly
stunned.
“You’re awfully quiet.”
When Lee Yeon chuckled softly, Willet snapped to attention,
his posture rigid.
“Yes, sir! I’ll start moving to the garden from tomorrow!”
“Good. Let’s head to the garden now.”
“Yes, sir!”
As Willet hurried ahead, Yeon rose to his feet, ruffling Yu-
Jin’s hair gently.
“Stay and have fun with Venisha, Yu-Jin.”
“Okay.”
“Kiss Daddy’s cheek.”
Bending down and tapping the cheek lightly, he waited as Yu-
Jin pressed a small kiss there. The affectionate sensation
warmed him deeply.
Contrary to everyone’s concerns, Yu-Jin was growing into a
gentle and considerate child. She never threw tantrums or
cried like others her age. She was remarkably mature—quiet,
yet thoughtful toward others.
Occasionally, she’d murmur to himself, which Yeon found
endearing. After all, he’d been the same way as a child. Yu-Jin
loved stargazing and had a special fondness for Tae Ha-Jin.
—Read this to me.
When she had just started recognising letters, Yu-Jin would
pester Ha-Jin nightly to read her difficult books. Though
visibly annoyed, Ha-Jin always obliged, reading with
surprising diligence.
Yu-Jin’s intellect was extraordinary. She quickly mastered the
common tongue after only a brief introduction to reading. By
the age of five, she was already consuming books meant for
adults. Even with toys piled high like a mountain, she showed
no interest.
As a result, the toys Ha-Jin had splurged on during late-night
shopping sprees were either donated or discarded.
People who heard about Yu-Jin called her a prodigy.
Yeon smiled fondly at his daughter, who was beaming so
beautifully it stirred a pang of sadness in his chest.
‘I wish you could grow up like any ordinary child.’
But in her veins flowed the blood of a dual bloodline—blood
that would never allow her such normalcy.
“Daddy has to go now. Uncle Doberman will be here soon.”
“Okay!”
A housekeeper often came during the day to care for Yu-Jin
while Yeon and Ha-Jin worked. Even before Doberman
arrived, there was no need to worry.
After lingering a moment longer, Yeon stepped outside.
“To the base, please.”
“Yes, sir!”
Fwoosh!
He no longer commuted to the central Disaster Defence Centre
in the capital.
Five years ago, when war and calamity struck simultaneously,
the world underwent drastic changes. The International
Coalition and the government of the Diaylen nation joined
forces. Using Lee Hong-Jun’s USB data, they finally
implemented the Zone of Total Destruction.
The Zone, eventually designated for the Diaylen wastelands,
ignited fierce internal backlash.
Why should our nation bear the sacrifice for the world?
The Diaylen people demanded solutions to their grievances:
How would the inherent risks be managed?
What advantages would this bring?
How would the nation’s citizens be compensated?
Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun, Crown Prince Ricardo, and
Jamahrah, the Secretary-General of the Union, organised to
persuade the public. It took over a year and three months to
pass a referendum approving the initiative.
Including construction, the entire process spanned three years.
From then until now—two years later—the world had faced its
share of setbacks. Nations argued endlessly over the number
and duration of abnormal-type espers to deploy, with some
shirking their responsibilities entirely.
“Some countries send a deluge of abnormal-types, while
others send barely any! What kind of imbalance is this? Is the
Union favouring certain nations?”
“Indeed! Deployment quotas should be equal for all nations—
none excluded!”
Epenhar was particularly vocal.
Its former ruler, President Carlos, was impeached amidst
revelations of rampant corruption. Jailed, he left behind an
economy crippled further by the collapse of Blonid, Epenhar’s
corporate powerhouse, which succumbed to acquisition by
foreign competitors.
While Epenhar’s new leadership struggled to rebuild, their
participation in the Zone lagged, sparking outrage among other
nations.
“From now on, any nation that shirks its duty will face severe
economic sanctions.”
Diaylen and the Union adopted a hardline stance. No country
was charitable enough to tolerate free riders. This led to an
implicit global agreement to prevent isolation and ensure
survival:
 1. Every nation must deploy 20% of its abnormal-types to
the Zone.
2. Rotational teams would alternate monthly to manage
deployments.
3. Deployment would include a balanced mix of grades,
ensuring at least 30% high-grade espers.
The Zone, nicknamed Zero, was where everything vanished.
Visitors to Zero were awestruck by its vastness. It was the
focal point for all doors and monsters worldwide, housed
within a facility so immense it dwarfed comprehension.
For Diaylen, utilising their barren wastelands this way wasn’t
a losing trade.
Zero operated 24/7, 365 days a year. Abnormal-types fought in
shifts, ensuring constant defence. As raw material research
progressed, doors reliably converged on Zero. Incidents of
doors manifesting elsewhere had dwindled to near
nonexistence.
Researchers also discovered blueprints within Lee Hong-Jun’s
data for monster-destroying bullets and other effective
weapons. These advancements, while slow, finally bolstered
humanity’s arsenal.
The world rejoiced.
Gone were the days of fearing monsters in the streets.
“Salute to the Devision Commander!”
“Salute to the Devision Commander!”
Lee Yeon arrived at Zero’s headquarters with Willet. The
subordinates were lined up, waiting in anticipation. Yeon
exchanged brief nods with the abnormal types greeting him
before heading straight to the field. Behind him, over a
thousand people naturally fell into step.
Zero was a ruthlessly meritocratic society.
Those with higher grades, more experience, or superior
performance were granted privileges regardless of age,
nationality, or any other conditions. When Zero was first
established, abnormal types competed fiercely based on their
achievements to determine hierarchy. Since members hailed
from various nations, they implemented a fair system from the
start to prevent future chaos.
How many monsters of a specific grade they killed, how many
other abnormal types they assisted, their contributions in the
field, and the extent of their abilities—all these factors were
quantified and evaluated by a newly developed supercomputer
that updated statistics daily.
For months, Yeon and Tae Ha-Jin had been locked in an
unrelenting battle for first and second place.
At work, they fought like rivals, each ensuring they earned
their share. Yet, when they returned home, they became a
newlywed couple living out their domestic days.
—Are those two close or at odds?
—Can’t you see? They’re close! Look at Tae Ha-Jin’s eyes—
they’re practically dripping with honey.
—But guide Lee Yeon’s glare looks like daggers.
—…No idea. They’re ruthless competitors, though.
—Still, their records are insane. One of them’s bound to be
Commander again, right?
—Who else would take the role if not them?
People marvelled at how strictly Yeon and Ha-Jin separated
their personal and professional lives.
Eventually, Ha-Jin became Commander of Zero’s First
Devision, while Yeon took charge of the Second. By the
smallest margin, Ha-Jin’s achievements surpassed Yeon’s.
Both of them fulfilled their duties as the ultimate authorities
overseeing countless abnormal types. Zero was a busy and
chaotic organisation, yet the two maintained a relatively
peaceful relationship—except in moments like these.
As Yeon appeared at Site 6, Ha-Jin approached him with a
grin.
Tae Ha-Jin, who had always mixed formal and informal
speech as if speaking casually out of respect, had now fully
discarded formality.
“You’re late to work,” he teased.
Yeon, repositioning his subordinates, shot him an irritated
glare. “Why do you keep swapping out my dedicated espers
without permission?”
It was utterly ridiculous.
Traveling from the capital to Zero’s headquarters required
transportation espers. As a top-ranked Commander, Yeon was
entitled to several dedicated ones. Yet, Ha-Jin constantly
meddled with them whenever he got the chance.
“Maybe stop having such intimate contact with them.”
“How do you expect me to teleport without physical contact?”
“Hold their wrist. No need to grab their shoulder.”
Yeon let out a hollow laugh. He’d only touched a
transportation esper’s shoulder once, and that had been for a
mere moment. The fact that Ha-Jin even knew about it was
baffling.
“You’re still keeping surveillance on me, aren’t you?”
Ha-Jin, now slicing through oncoming monsters with a
horizontal slash of his sword, met Yeon’s gaze with alarming
calm. “Yu-Jin’s under surveillance too.”
“….”
Yeon’s mouth opened and closed. Forget it. If he asked why,
Ha-Jin would smile and reply, To protect the family.
Cooperate, won’t you?
“Second Devision Commander! Mole-type monster incoming!
Watch out below—”
“Commander!”
CRASH!
A massive mole-type monster burst out of the ground right
next to where Yeon was standing. Its enormous shadow
loomed over him, but Yeon, lost in thought, didn’t react in
time. Yet he didn’t feel any fear. It was obvious—Ha-Jin
would save him.
SCREEEEECH!
The death wails of the mole-type monster echoed.
Yeon, however much he loathed Ha-Jin sometimes, wasn’t
entirely ungrateful. Feeling his irritation ebb slightly, he turned
his head—only for his eyes to widen in shock.
…It wasn’t Ha-Jin who had saved him.
Standing atop the giant corpse, his blade buried in the
monster’s temple, was another man.
“Are you all right, Second Commander?” the man asked.
His name was Cesar.
Hailing from the nation of Bovcam, he was the son of
Jamahrah, Secretary-General of the Union. Like Ha-Jin, he
was an S+ grade esper—and also Commander of the Third
Devision.
At 27, he had risen to the position of Commander. Considering
Yeon was 30 and Ha-Jin 32, his rapid rise was extraordinary.
Whoosh.
The mole-type monster crumbled into ash, confirming its
death. Cesar, now grounded, let his long silver hair, tied up
high, cascade gracefully. It shimmered faintly, sometimes
appearing like bright ash-grey.
As he approached Yeon, his sharp grey eyes scanned Yeon’s
body, checking for injuries. They flickered with urgency.
Then, frowning, he asked, “Are you unhurt?”
Yeon blinked slowly.
This is awkward.
When this one acts like this, that one is bound to—
Unsurprisingly.
“Does he look hurt to you?” Ha-Jin sneered from behind,
leaning lazily against his blade. His face was blank, but the
dangerous energy he exuded was anything but.
Ha-Jin’s mood was far from pleasant.
Even without the other man intervening, Ha-Jin could’ve
easily dealt with the monster himself. Yet Cesar always made
it a point to step in whenever Yeon was involved.
He was, to put it bluntly, an utter bastard.
Lee Yeon glanced nervously between the two men. Ever since
the hierarchy had been established and their respective titles
granted, they couldn’t miss an opportunity to butt heads. It
was glaringly obvious—Tae Ha-Jin was just jealous.
If the Devision Commanders, the highest-ranking espers, kept
feuding, the Zone of Total Destruction could descend into
chaos. For that reason, Tae Ha-Jin was barely suppressing his
fury, watching Cesar’s every move.
Thank God Tae Ha-Jin listens to Doberman’s advice…
Yeon shook his head.
Cesar was unfailingly kind to him. Despite his cold
appearance, he was surprisingly considerate and well-liked
within “Zero.” From Yeon’s perspective, Cesar treated him the
same as he did everyone else.
But Tae Ha-Jin had a very different opinion.
Yeon recalled one of their recent arguments.

—That bastard’s got a thing for you. It’s fucking obvious.

—What do you mean, a thing? Cesar’s not like that.
—Not like that? Does he bake everyone cakes for their
birthdays, huh? Bullshit!
—…Well, I wouldn’t know about that.
Ha-Jin ground his teeth.
—Let’s bet on it. With a wish on the line.
—A wish? What kind of bet are you talking about?
—If that bastard confesses to you, you lose.
It was a pointless wager, but Yeon was confident he wouldn’t
lose.
—Fine. But how exactly are you going to prove Cesar’s
feelings? Asking him outright seems a bit… out of line.
—One month.
—What?
—If he confesses within a month, I win.
Yeon had scoffed back then.
He and Tae Ha-Jin were officially married. It was common
knowledge—practically impossible to find someone who
didn’t know. The idea of the level-headed Cesar confessing to
him within a month was absurd.
On top of that, Yeon was certain Cesar wasn’t interested in
him. He distinctly remembered Cesar once saying, “I like
people who trigger my protective instincts.”
‘And there’s no way I fit that description, right?’
Yeon was a top-grade esper. Whether it was shooting or close
combat, he never lost easily to anyone.
A confident smirk spread across Yeon’s face. He was already
imagining how he’d use his wish if he won.
But on days like today, when Cesar approached him or acted
overly kind, Yeon couldn’t help but feel a creeping unease.
Surely not.
It couldn’t be.
“You might have injuries where your clothes cover. Isn’t that
right, Second Commander?”
Cesar’s smile was disarmingly soft. Whenever he acted so
gently, Yeon instinctively avoided him. He didn’t want to
trigger the man’s protective instincts and had even started
weight training recently to appear stronger.
He really wanted to win Ha-Jin’s wish.
“Uh, right… Thanks for saving me, Cesar.”
Yeon awkwardly offered his thanks and, as usual, tried to
leave the scene.
The Sixth Site they stood in wasn’t particularly chaotic today.
Only one yellow door and seven white doors had opened, a
smaller scale than usual. The legion’s espers were handling
things well, so there was no need for the commanders to
intervene.
Still, I should keep an eye on things.
And then—
Thwack!
Yeon’s wrist was suddenly grabbed. It was Cesar.
This was the first time he’d ever been physically stopped like
this, and Yeon’s expression showed his surprise. Cesar
rummaged in his pocket with his free hand and handed Yeon
something.
“These are bullets made by the Union. They’re the same
calibre as what you usually use but powerful enough to kill
Grade Three monsters instantly. Use them in emergencies.”
The man’s gentle smile caught Yeon off guard.
He felt a chill run down his spine.
Union-made “Monster Destruction Special Bullets” took ages
to produce and were notoriously hard to acquire. They cost a
fortune, and customised bullets for specific firearms like these
were even pricier.
‘Why go through so much trouble for me?’
It didn’t make sense.
“……!”
Before Yeon could even react, Tae Ha-Jin’s sword came
slicing down.
Whoosh!
The next thing he knew, Cesar’s wrist was severed cleanly.
Blood sprayed, staining Yeon’s face and clothes. Cesar’s hand,
which had been holding his wrist, fell to the ground. Even the
gifted bullets were speckled with crimson.
Yeon stood frozen, unable to say a word.
“What’s got you so insecure, First Commander?”
Even with his wrist severed, Cesar didn’t flinch. Smiling
faintly, he locked eyes with Ha-Jin, who stared back with cold
indifference.
“Isn’t it obvious? Lee Yeon’s too pretty for his own good.”
Cesar chuckled softly, nodding as if in agreement.
Energy surged through his body, and before Yeon’s wide eyes,
Cesar’s severed wrist began regenerating.
It was the first time Yeon had seen Cesar use his ability.
“You’re… a restoration esper?”
In no time, the hand was fully restored. Cesar flexed his
fingers and smiled charmingly.
“No. My ability is Creation.”
“Creation?”
It was a new type of ability Yeon hadn’t encountered before.
Yeon had never questioned Cesar’s powers, assuming it was a
Bovcam custom to keep one’s abilities private. Even when
abilities were revealed on the field, detailed explanations were
rare, a cultural quirk Yeon had respected.
Cesar’s ability remained an enigma until now, shrouded in
whispers and rumours that Yeon had never bothered to listen
to.
Not that I particularly cared, anyway.
“Yes. You could say I can create anything as long as I
understand its structure, principles, and form.”
He chuckled, a sound oddly light for the weight of his words.
“I don’t use it often, though—it takes a lot of energy.”
Strangely enough, Cesar was explaining his ability without a
hint of hesitation.
‘I thought their culture was supposed to be conservative?’
Even so, as Yeon listened to the explanation, the custom-made
bullet came to mind.
“Oh, so this bullet…”
“Yes. I acquired the production method and generated it
myself. No need to feel burdened.”
Yeon slowly nodded, though his gaze drifted to Ha-Jin. The
man was still watching him with that ever-unimpressed glare.
‘You knew, didn’t you?’
He muttered internally.
As crazy as Ha-Jin was, even he wouldn’t have casually sliced
off the wrist of a Third Division Commander. He must have
known about Cesar’s ability. He’d figured it’d be no big deal
to cut it off since it could just be restored.
Ha-Jin strode towards Yeon with purpose.
“There’s something dirty on my darling.”
Using his sleeve, he wiped the blood splatter from Yeon’s face.
He rubbed with such deliberate pressure that Yeon’s skin
turned pink.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Ha-Jin
planted a kiss on Yeon’s reddened cheek. It wasn’t a move
made out of awareness for their surroundings.
This happened far too often to be self-conscious.
Yeon stared at him, dumbfounded.
“They said no physical contact in Zero,” Yeon reminded him.
“I said I didn’t care,” Ha-Jin replied with a smirk, pulling
Yeon into a blatant embrace.
Ha-Jin buried Yeon’s face against his neck, his expression
darkening as he addressed Cesar.
“Third Division Commander. Can you regenerate if your neck
gets sliced off?”
 Epilogue. Part 2
Tilting his head slightly, Ha-Jin’s voice carried an icy,
unnerving weight.
Cesar, who had been silently watching Yeon in Ha-Jin’s arms,
froze for a moment. But soon, he forced a casual smile.
“Well, I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had my head separated
from my body.”
“It’d be an enlightening experience. Keep being a nuisance,
and we’ll see.”
Ha-Jin’s lips curled into a vicious grin, his red eyes flashing
with a dangerous gleam.
In Ha-Jin’s arms, Yeon clenched his eyes shut.
‘Don’t fight. Division Commanders aren’t supposed to fight
each other…’
Every time Ha-Jin spoke, Yeon could feel the vibrations of his
voice through the skin pressed against his. Despite the chaos,
Yeon let out a silent sigh.
And yet, he still found himself appreciating the subtle warmth
and the faint scent that lingered on Ha-Jin.
‘Five years of marriage, and it’s only getting worse.’
Ha-Jin muttered under his breath, his voice carrying irritation.
“High standards, my arse. Fucking ridiculous.”

***

“What’s life as an emperor like?”

“Please, Elena… Just take over for me…”
Ricardo slumped forward, his forehead hitting the grand
dining table with a dull thud.
Standing nearby, Steward Doman spoke in a hushed tone.
“Your Majesty, there are many eyes watching.”
“I know.”
“You should compose yourself. The dignity of the emperor
must be maintained.”
“…What’s dignity got to do with anything in this day and
age?”
Even as he grumbled, Ricardo pushed his heavy upper body
upright. Shadows clung beneath his eyes. Across from him,
Elena quietly sipped her coffee, sparing her brother a sidelong
glance.
“I like how things are now.”
“You used to want this position. You can have it.”
“No, thank you. Thinking about it now, a bothersome role like
that suits you better.”
“…Haa.”
Ricardo ran a hand over his face.
As Crown Prince, the role of Emperor had seemed
straightforward. A figurehead who could indulge and coast on
symbolism.
But that was an illusion.
His father, the previous Emperor, had shirked most of his
responsibilities. The steward and his aides had been the ones
to manage the workload.
Hard to believe? Perhaps. But when an emperor slacks off, the
empire grinds forward regardless, driven by those around him.
Ricardo had no desire to be such an emperor. Even if his role
was largely symbolic, he wanted to do it right.
For state events, he donned cumbersome, ornate ceremonial
garb. He walked the central square, waving at citizens until his
face ached from smiling.
—Long live His Majesty!
—Yes, that’s me, the Emperor… Ha ha ha.
Behind closed doors, he reviewed government policies, sought
areas to contribute, and travelled to international events to
restore Diaylen’s prestige.
—I hear Diaylen’s economy has returned to its peak.
Congratulations, Your Majesty.
—Thank you, but the recovery was complete years ago. I see
Bovcam’s exports have surged too.
—Indeed, thanks to Jamahrah’s leadership. Being Bovcam-
born has its perks.
—Of course. We, too, are proud to have Yeon and Ha-Jin
leading Zero’s First and Second Legions. They’re remarkable
figures, as you know.
—Ah, yes. I heard about their rise—defeating rivals from
across the globe. Truly exceptional talents.
Ricardo even maintained the imperial residence as a cultural
landmark, drawing tourists despite the shadow of the Zone of
Total Destruction, Zero.
As emperor, he had to be flawless. The nation’s pride and
foundation.
Not that he felt remarkable himself.
‘Ha-Jin and Yeon are far more impressive than I’ll ever be.’
The role demanded dignity—a stark contrast to his freedom as
Crown Prince.
Those days felt like a dream.
“So, how’s the guide training going? Heard some foreign
guides put up resistance.”
He kneaded her shoulder lightly with his hand as he spoke.
Elena, who had been savouring the aroma of her coffee beans,
lifted her green eyes.
“What can you do? You can’t drag unwilling people along by
force. I just send them back to the field. Let them roll around
for a bit; maybe they’ll develop a taste for training.”
Elena’s sole talent lay in guiding, and for that reason, she had
been mercilessly sidelined in performance-based competitions.
It was essentially a contest among espers for slaying monsters.
Elena hadn’t managed to secure any significant rank, let alone
the position of Division Commander.
Still, her grade and guiding ability were undeniably
exceptional. An S0-grade guide couldn’t be relegated to the
role of a low-grade guide within a division.
The leadership, recognising that Elena had abdicated her status
as a princess, appointed her as the Chief Instructor of “Guide
Training.” It was a decision no one could find fault with.
To everyone’s surprise, Elena excelled in her leadership role,
steering the guides with remarkable skill. The swift
stabilisation of Zero owed much to her judgment and
dedication. Some of the discipline policies in Zero were her
suggestions.
“Don’t push them too hard. Later, people will start accusing
you of national discrimination again.”
“In times like these, who would be daft enough to
discriminate? It’s an issue with individuals. There’s no place
fairer than Zero. It’s the most dangerous, chaotic, and primal
place there is.”
Ricardo couldn’t help but agree with her words.
Zero was a battlefield that involved the entire world. Countless
incidents occurred daily, and only those with the capacity to
handle it consistently survived. Some abnormal types, crippled
by severe trauma, even gave up their abilities.
When that happened, they simply became ordinary citizens.
“Isn’t Instructor Kim Uibin supposed to be an outstanding
teacher? A guide affiliated with the royal family mentioned it
to me.”
The Emperor chuckled warmly.
Kim Uibin was a cherished friend of Lee Yeon. They had
exchanged greetings on several occasions, and Lee Yeon had
even introduced her personally.
Elena rolled her eyes as if deep in thought, then nodded
slowly.
“There’s no one among the instructors who can match her in
performance. At first, she seemed inexperienced, but now
she’s the best marksman, too. However…”
Her brows knitted slightly, as if recalling a particular memory.
Elena thought of the challenging situations she’d encountered.
Instructor Kim Uibin was someone utterly devoted to
education. She wholeheartedly taught her guides
marksmanship, and some of them inevitably developed an
interest in her.
It was a common occurrence.
The problem lay with Dekal, Kim Uibin’s partner and a
renowned restoration esper. Whenever he had the chance,
Dekal would show up at the training grounds. He’d sit quietly
in a waiting chair, arms crossed, watching Kim Uibin intently.
Or, more accurately, glaring at the guides who dared flirt with
her.
—Chief Instructor Elena, about Esper Dekal… Yesterday, as I
was heading to the restroom, he followed me in and just
stared. When I asked why, he didn’t say a word. I thought I
might be imagining it, but as I was about to leave, he said this:
—Kim Uibin is mine.
This sort of thing happened repeatedly. Dekal’s stern yet
striking appearance, coupled with his habit of lowering his
voice menacingly, sent chills down the guides’ spines.
Some guides, claiming they were merely chatting with Kim
Uibin, lodged complaints out of frustration.
But Elena had no interest in petty matters like this.
Shrugging, she said, “It’s not a big deal. At any rate, the guide
training is progressing smoothly, wouldn’t you say? By the
way, aren’t the Elders pestering you about getting married
lately?”
At the mention of “marriage,” Ricardo’s well-shaped brows
knitted in frustration. He gulped down the water beside him as
if parched, prompting his steward nearby to narrow his eyes in
disapproval. A silent admonition to maintain decorum.
Ricardo let out a dry laugh and began sipping the water
elegantly, albeit begrudgingly.
Thud!
“I’m only 35! Do I really have to marry just because the
Elders are breathing down my neck? How does an arranged
marriage make sense in this day and age, Elena?”
Expecting some sympathy, Ricardo looked to his sister.
Instead, her reply was cold.
“You need an heir to maintain the figurehead. Frankly, how do
you know if you’ll drop dead today or tomorrow? Producing
an heir is part of an Emperor’s duty.”
“…I’m going to dismantle that cursed obligation in my
generation.”
“Your Majesty, please be mindful of your language. Many ears
are listening.”
“Arrrgghh! Forget it! I quit! Summon Tae Ha-Jin… He can be
the next Emperor!”
Yu-Jin will be the Emperor after that…!
After years of bottled frustration, the Emperor vented his
grievances, his voice rising hysterically. He sounded like a
man who had truly lost it. Elena winced slightly, as if the rant
was too much even for her.
Doman, the steward, regarded the Emperor with pity but
maintained his duty.
“Your Majesty, please lower your voice. You are to be an
example to all.”
“Arrrgghh!”

***

Jingle.
Doberman entered the Fairy Bar, removing his coat as he sat at
the counter.
“The usual, please.”
“Malt whisky, right?”
“Yes.”
As he stretched his stiff neck, a crack sounded. He had just
dropped Yu-Jin off at Tae Ha-Jin’s house. On the way, he had
suggested they have a drink together.
—Daddy, alcohol is bad for your health!
Yu-Jin had declared before Doberman could hear Tae Ha-Jin’s
reply.
The girl had bolted over and wrapped her arms around Tae Ha-
Jin’s leg. Smiling faintly, Tae Ha-Jin replied,
—That’s what they say.
—…Yu-Jin? It’s fine to have a drink occasionally. Besides,
your dad isn’t the type to lose control over one glass.
Doberman chuckled as he spoke. Usually, kids would nod or
grumble at this point. But Yu-Jin, calmly fiddling with Tae Ha-
Jin’s trousers, replied:
—Uncle, alcohol has a strong dependency risk. Even
occasional drinking can affect the next day’s routine, leading
to stress. That stress might drive someone to drink again. It’s a
cycle that could sour Daddy Yeon’s mood and make Daddy
Ha-Jin feel pressured. It’s the root of family breakdowns.
Besides, since both dads fight monsters in Zero daily,
shouldn’t alcohol always be avoided?
—….
Doberman blinked, speechless.
‘What kind of five-year-old talks like this…?’
Her words, except for the endearing tone, were unnervingly
adult. How did Yu-Jin even know terms like that?
Every time I saw that peculiar girl grow or had a conversation
with her, I couldn’t help but think, So, this is Lee Yeon and Tae
Ha-Jin’s child.
Tae Ha-Jin, seemingly amused, picked up Yu-Jin and spun her
around, saying, “That’s what they say, isn’t it?”
“Have you been here long?”
Doberman was sipping whisky with a grin when I heard a
voice next to me. Dekal had arrived. Over time, the two of
them had become drinking buddies, meeting up now and then
to share a bottle, whether something was going on or not.
The topics of conversation usually revolved around
Doberman, with Dekal listening in silence. Even when the
occasional silence hung between them, it never felt awkward.
There weren’t many people as great to drink with as Dekal.
“Haha, I just got here myself. But what’s the occasion? It’s not
like you to call me for drinks first.”
This was a first. Normally, Doberman was the one asking.
Dekal, silent as usual, stared down at the whisky in front of
him. After a long pause, Doberman decided not to rush him
and took another sip.
Ding.
The sound of the Fairy Bar’s bell rang out again. Expecting
another customer, Doberman paid it no mind until he noticed a
man settling into the seat to his left. The man was a large
fellow in a suit, oddly paired with a hat and mask that clashed
with the formal attire.
“So you’re here too, Doberman.”
“…!”
That husky voice immediately gave him away—Elder
Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun. The Chairman and Dekal often
met to talk and drink. On a handful of occasions over the last
five years, Doberman’d joined them.
But those times had always been at the Chairman’s private
residence. To see him in a bar, of all places, was
unprecedented. His status wasn’t one that allowed for casual
outings.
“How on earth…?”
Glancing around, Doberman spotted individuals scattered
across the bar who were clearly esper bodyguards. As
expected, the disguise was paired with top-tier security. The
Chairman ordered a strong whisky, tugged his mask down
slightly, and smirked.
“I’m human too, you know. Even I crave a bit of indulgence
now and then.”
“I suppose that’s understandable, but still…”
“Don’t worry. Everything’s been taken care of.”
Dekal, who must have known in advance, gave a calm nod in
greeting.
The silence resumed, stretching out awkwardly.
As even more time passed without Dekal speaking, Cha
Seung-Kyun, seemingly impatient, broke the quiet.
“Isn’t twenty minutes pushing it? Dekal, I came here because
you invited me for once.”
At that, Doberman began to understand. Dekal hadn’t just
invited him but had called the Elder Chairman here as well.
Just what was he planning to say?
Dekal, blinking slowly, finally opened his mouth.
“I intend to propose.”
“…”
“…”
“I’m in love with Kim Uibin.”
For the first time in Doberman’s life, he felt like he might
choke on his drink. A confession like that should have been
cheesy, yet it came out so earnest and weighty that he was
taken aback. It was always startling to hear Dekal speak about
such things.
No matter the topic, the conversation always circled back to
Kim Uibin.
—So, our Venisha was being playful today. She’s so cute, I
could die.
—I understand what you mean. Kim Uibin has her cute
moments too.
…Or:
—Lately, Tae Ha-Jin’s been acting insane. He’s jealous of
Esper Cesar over Lee Yeon. Claims he likes him, but honestly,
Cesar just seems like a decent bloke to me.”
—I can relate. I’ve been debating how to deal with the pests
hovering around Kim Uibin.
For five years, Doberman’d been continually amazed that
Dekal was actually in love.
And now, finally, the word proposal had come up.
Cha Seung-Kyun, on the other hand, took it in stride.
“Surely you’re not thinking of blurting it out over dinner or
while out for a stroll?”
“…”
“Tsk, tsk. Don’t come crying to me if she rejects you.”
“…”
Dekal’s black eyes trembled ever so slightly, the closest he got
to showing shock. Doberman watched his subtle reaction with
delight. What an intriguing man. It was clear now why he’d
called us both here.
‘Hopeless romantics,’ he thought to myself.
The greatest hopeless romantic he knew was, of course, Tae
Ha-Jin.
His proposal had been a source of endless worry, but
thankfully, Lee Yeon had beaten him to it, sparing everyone
the trouble.
Smirking, Doberman offered a piece of advice, leaning back in
my chair.
“Let’s start with the basics, Dekal.”
“…Go on.”
Turning slightly towards, he gave Doberman his full attention,
which, for some reason, was hilarious.
“You need a bouquet and an expensive ring. You’ll also need
to prepare a few heartfelt lines ahead of time.”
Dekal didn’t respond, as though committing every word to
memory.
Feeling smug, Doberman recounted his own proposal to Herni,
certain it would be an inspiration.
“When I proposed, it was at the central park by the lake. Right
as the fountain soared into the air, I got down on one knee and
presented a bouquet of 100 roses, with a diamond ring nestled
in the centre. Do you know how moved she was? Everyone
around clapped! It was, without question, the perfect
proposal.”
He was lost in the memory, recalling how that day had brought
Herni and him closer than ever.
Cha Seung-Kyun, nodding thoughtfully, added, “A proposal
like that would certainly be effective.”
Dekal, having listened intently, seemed to be filing every
detail away.
A bouquet of roses, an expensive ring, a public setting…

Meanwhile, at home, Herni had just put Venisha to sleep and

was catching up with a friend over the phone.
—Hey, didn’t you get a public proposal? Wasn’t it at the
fountain park where everyone could see?
Her friend giggled as she brought it up.
Herni, recalling the moment, let out a dry laugh and shook her
head.
“Don’t even start. Do you know how hard it was to keep a
straight face? Who even likes public proposals? I nearly died
pretending to be thrilled because he looked so happy.”
—Haha! That’s right! Why on earth did your husband think
that was a good idea? It’s a bit of a cringey memory for you,
isn’t it?
“My husband still thinks I was touched. Honestly, if I hadn’t
been head over heels for him, I might’ve turned him down.
God, it was mortifying.”
She had had a hard time pretending to be content, so her future
husband wouldn’t be embarrassed.
Herni brushed the goosebumps from her arm, laughing
incredulously.

***

Rumble! Boom! Crash!

Rain poured down with thunderclaps loud enough to rattle the
walls.
The sound woke Lee Yeon from his sleep. He opened his eyes
to the sight of a dimly lit ceiling. Glancing down, he noticed
Tae Ha-Jin’s thick arm draped across his chest.
Yu-Jin preferred to sleep alone. Even if asked to share a bed,
she would stubbornly retreat to her own room, insisting
couples should sleep together while children slept separately.
She was an independent child, and Yeon saw no need to
challenge her choices. Tae Ha-Jin had welcomed the
arrangement.
Carefully, Yeon began to move Ha-Jin’s arm aside.
“…What?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s eyes narrowed as he stirred, his voice rough from
sleep. Instead of letting go, he tightened his grip.
“I’m just going to check on Yu-Jin. Go back to sleep.”
Ha-Jin studied Yeon’s face briefly before loosening his hold.
Closing his eyes again, he released Yeon, who slipped out of
bed and quietly descended from the second-floor bedroom.
Boom! Crash!
The thunder roared again, loud even within their soundproofed
home. Yeon started to feel uneasy. Mature as she was, Yu-Jin
was still only five years old. It was possible she was cowering
under her blanket, scared.
Crossing the living room, he headed towards her bedroom—
only to pause.
“…”
Yu-Jin was standing on the other side of the folding glass
doors, gazing out at the garden.
 Epilogue. Part 3 [PG-18]
It wasn’t the first time he’d found her like this. Sometimes,
when coming downstairs for water at night, he would catch her
staring at the sky.
‘What’s on your mind, Yu-Jin?’ Yeon wondered.
The little girl seemed to be watching the rain fall from the
heavens. Each time lightning split the sky, its brief brilliance
illuminated her profile. As usual, her expression was
unreadable—something she’d undoubtedly inherited from Ha-
Jin.
‘She smiles at me often, though,’ Yeon thought, leaning against
the wall with his arms crossed. He watched her in silence. She
was a lovable child.
Yu-Jin began to raise her arm slowly toward the glass.
What is she doing?
Yeon stayed where he was, observing.
And then—his eyes widened in disbelief.
The moment Yu-Jin’s arm lifted, the thunder and rain stopped
abruptly, as if silenced by an unseen hand.
“…”
The clouds obscuring the moon vanished in an instant,
revealing a reddish glow. The scene was surreal, leaving Yeon
to wonder if he was dreaming.
If this were a dream, it could only be a nightmare.
‘I wished for you to be ordinary…’
Perhaps it was too much to ask.
The daughter of two exceptional espers, one possessing the
strongest dual bloodline in history, Yu-Jin had never been
destined for an ordinary life.
Yeon’s face twisted with sorrow.
He had no choice but to acknowledge it now.
His daughter had awakened—manifesting abilities that defied
reason.
“Dad.”
Her small voice broke through his thoughts. The dreamlike
haze dissipated, leaving the harsh reality in its place. Yeon said
nothing, unable to tear his gaze away from her.
‘Does she know I’m here?’
His instinct to move silently was a habit from years of
fieldwork. Yet now that he thought about it, Yu-Jin had never
seemed startled by his sudden appearances.
Had she always been aware of his presence?
Even adult espers with abnormal abilities couldn’t detect him
so easily.
“I awakened,” she said calmly.
Her response was anything but typical. Most would be
shocked, overwhelmed, or confused by their awakening.
Ordinary people, suddenly experiencing the extraordinary,
rarely handled it so matter-of-factly.
But what troubled Yeon most was her age.
Five.
A mere five-year-old child.
Yeon had never heard of anyone awakening so young. He
himself had awakened around the age of fifteen. Ha-Jin had
been considered precocious at thirteen.
“How do you feel? Are you dizzy?”
Yeon unfolded his arms and approached the window where
Yu-Jin stood. He forced a smile, hiding the unease that
churned inside him.
The little girl continued to gaze at the now-clear sky. Raising
her delicate shoulders slightly, she answered,
“You want me to feel dizzy, Dad?”
“What…?”
Her words were difficult to process. Yeon looked down at her,
his eyes uncertain.
Finally, Yu-Jin turned from the window, her crimson eyes
meeting his.
“That’s normal, isn’t it? I know you and Dad wish for me to
grow up normal.”
He had never told her that. Never uttered the words aloud. He
had only hoped—silently—that she might live a simple, happy
life.
What gave it away, Yu-Jin?
Yeon’s chest tightened. These were not thoughts a child her
age should have to express.
“Come here.”
He knelt down and opened his arms. Despite his best effort to
appear cheerful, there might have been a trace of sadness in
his expression. Slowly, Yu-Jin stepped into his embrace.
“I just want you to be happy, Yu-Jin.”
She was such a kind child.
She must have known her awakening was coming. Espers
often sensed it before it happened.
And yet, she had said nothing.
She had borne it alone.
Because she was kind.
“You don’t have to pretend to be normal if it makes you
unhappy,” Yeon said softly, his voice firm with conviction.
“Whatever you are, whoever you become, we’ll always love
you.”
“……”
“We’ll protect you.”
He gently stroked her jet-black hair. Closing his eyes, Lee
Yeon let his thoughts wander. It had been some time since Yu-
Jin began using her ability. He’d seen her gazing at the night
sky, time and again, from dawn till late.
Perhaps she had been using her powers each time.
The night skies always seemed different.
‘Does she control the weather?’
Though he said it aloud, a tinge of unease clung to him. He
didn’t want the world to know about this power. Lee Yeon had
never encountered an esper who could manipulate something
so otherworldly.
To awaken at five years old was remarkable enough, but for
Yu-Jin to wield such a power? She’d become the eye of a
storm, drawing global attention.
That couldn’t happen.
Lee Yeon’s expression hardened.
“First, let’s head in and get some rest. It’s late.”
“Okay.”
Yu-Jin smiled brightly.
Yeon gazed at that smile with a trace of pity. There was a
question he wanted to ask.
Yu-Jin… have you awakened as a guide too?
Are you dual bloodline?
But he couldn’t bring himself to voice it. The question felt far
too cruel.

***

“Did hyung already know?”

At dawn the next day, Lee Yeon asked Tae Ha-Jin, who had
just finished his shower and was buttoning his shirt. The man
paused, tying his necktie, and raised an eyebrow. His crimson
eyes—matching Yu-Jin’s—fixed on Yeon, scrutinising him
with a probing gaze.
After a long silence, Ha-Jin finally spoke.
“Did Yu-Jin tell you?”
So you did know.
Lee Yeon’s face twisted. What was this gnawing sense of
alienation? He could tell they had kept silent out of concern
for his mental state, but it still stung. He glared at Ha-Jin.
“This isn’t right. You should have told me at least.”
Ha-Jin let his tie hang loosely and stepped closer, his face
nearing Yeon’s. A smirk tugged at his lips.
“Upset?”
“Back off. I’m seriously confused right now.”
“I like that look on you, though.”
Sexy, even.
A large hand slid around Yeon’s waist, pulling him close. As
their lower bodies brushed, Yeon felt something firm against
him. His eyes widened, incredulous. How the hell was he
already hard?
“Tae Ha-Jin.”
“Call me ‘Hyung.’”
“I said let go.”
Yeon’s tone was firm, but Ha-Jin ignored him, sliding the door
to the dressing room shut with a deliberate clunk. His lips
descended on Yeon’s in a skilled, syrupy kiss that scattered his
thoughts.
Pushed against the door, Yeon felt the buttons of his shirt
coming undone one by one under Ha-Jin’s rough hands. His
eyes flew open.
“Mmfh!”
It was nearly time to leave for work. In a few minutes,
Doberman and Willet would arrive in the garden, and Yu-Jin
would be eating breakfast with the housekeeper. He’d already
been late countless times because of Ha-Jin pinning him down
like this in the morning.
And every time, it meant extra hours at work later.
This is why I avoid looking at him in the mornings!
Still, the shirt was gone in seconds, as was Ha-Jin’s. His well-
maintained, muscular frame gleamed in the dim light.
Wearing only their trousers, the two men ground their aroused
bodies against each other. Even as his rational mind told him
to push Ha-Jin off, Yeon felt himself succumbing to his
desires. Years of being tormented by him had raised Yeon’s
libido to an unwelcome new high.
Ha-Jin chuckled softly.
“My darling, you’re so eager today.”
The remark snapped Yeon out of his trance. Ha-Jin was barely
moving, holding him in place, and yet—Yeon realised with
burning shame—it was his own hips doing the grinding. His
ears flushed scarlet as Ha-Jin nibbled playfully at them.
Then, in a husky whisper, Ha-Jin murmured, “I want to be
inside you.”
The words sent shivers down Yeon’s spine, both maddening
and thrilling. He closed his eyes tightly, overwhelmed.
Pressed against the door, Yeon suddenly wrapped his arms
around Ha-Jin’s neck and kissed him, pushing back. This
caught Ha-Jin off guard, and he stumbled, allowing Yeon to
guide him towards the bed.
Once free, Yeon grabbed his phone from his pocket and
quickly sent a message to the housekeeper, asking her to
ensure Yu-Jin didn’t come upstairs.
The text was mortifying, but he had no choice. Tossing the
phone aside, Yeon straddled Ha-Jin, tugging at his belt.
But Ha-Jin, with those large hands, cupped Yeon’s face and
pulled back slightly, smirking as he did.
“You’re too slow.”
I’m in a hurry, though.
With that, he flipped Yeon onto the bed. The cool sheets
pressed against his chest as Ha-Jin yanked down his trousers
and boxers in one swift motion. A cold finger traced up the
curve of his spine.
“Sometimes I wonder,” Ha-Jin mused, his tone almost wistful,
“what it would take to have you completely.”
Yeon clenched the sheets tightly, his body tensing in
anticipation of whatever Ha-Jin planned next.
“If only I could take root inside you forever.”
Ha-Jin’s touch slid down Yeon’s back as he murmured those
possessive words, his voice tinged with an almost unsettling
intensity. That raw, unrestrained need—it was impossible to
miss.
Ha-Jin fell silent, retrieving a bottle of gel from the nightstand.
But something was missing. He wasn’t reaching for a condom.
Yeon turned his head slightly, his gaze meeting Ha-Jin’s
darkened red eyes.
“Take the day off.”
You can’t.
You want me to request leave?
Do you have any idea how difficult it is for someone at my
level to take time off?
Lee Yeon swallowed the words before they could leave his
lips, unable to reply as Tae Ha-Jin’s fingers—slick with gel—
moved without hesitation.
The confined space left no room for gentleness. His fingers
spread, stretching the area with precise and unrelenting
movements.
“Ugh…”
The slight pain and intense sensations were sharp, the absence
of Tae Ha-Jin’s esper ability, Devouring, making every touch
more pronounced. The faint ache and vivid awareness sent
jolts through Yeon’s body, forcing him to bite down on his
lower lip.
The intent was clear—this wasn’t meant to be gentle.
Ha-Jin withdrew his fingers suddenly.
Wait.
Surely, he wasn’t planning to… already?
Eyes wide, Yeon glanced back. Ha-Jin had unzipped his
trousers, his cock imposing as ever. Without hesitation, he
began to move closer, aligning himself. It took him several
excruciating seconds before he pressed his cock against Yeon’s
entrance, pushing his way in.
“Ah!”
The pressure was immediate, sharp enough to make Yeon
squeeze his eyes shut. No matter how many times this
happened, his body couldn’t seem to adjust to him.
It was maddening.
Ha-Jin didn’t pause to help him adjust or ease the discomfort.
It wasn’t overwhelming, but there was enough strain to stir
unease. As he leaned forward, their bodies close, he murmured
into Yeon’s ear.
“Take me as I am.”
“You’re insane…” Yeon hissed.
“And yet you’re mine.”
For the first time, Ha-Jin didn’t stop mid-way, driving forward
with slow, deliberate force. It was relentless and impossible to
ignore. Yeon’s body strained to accommodate him, the
discomfort mixed with an undertone of heat that made him
clench the sheets.
“Ahh…”
When Ha-Jin’s movements hit just the right spot, Yeon’s back
arched involuntarily. The sudden burst of sensation made him
groan, and Ha-Jin’s low, rumbling voice followed.
“Damn…”
As Ha-Jin pushed further, Yeon’s body shuddered. His face
flushed red, veins standing out along his neck from the strain
of holding himself together.
With large hands gripping his waist, Ha-Jin started to move—
carefully at first, testing the limits of what Yeon could bear.
Each motion made Yeon feel like he was caught between pain
and overwhelming sensation.
When Ha-Jin finally used his esper ability, the tension shifted.
The sharp edges of sensation dulled, replaced by a growing
intensity of pleasure.
“Breathe,” Ha-Jin instructed, his hand tilting Yeon’s chin
upward.
His hand gripped Yeon’s chin, tilting his head back. Yeon
finally exhaled as their eyes met. Ha-Jin’s gaze softened, filled
with something almost tender, before he leaned in to claim
Yeon’s lips. The pain faded, leaving behind only a growing
heat as Ha-Jin’s movements became increasingly intense.
Thud!
Thump!
With only the slightest retreat, Ha-Jin surged forward again,
the force leaving a dull ache behind. Yet, amidst the pressure,
a sharp jolt of pleasure shot through Yeon’s mind.
“Ah…!”
His arms trembled, nearly giving way under him, but he held
firm. Suddenly, Ha-Jin shifted their positions, rolling them
over without breaking contact.
Now face-to-face, Yeon found himself pinned beneath that
unwavering gaze. Ha-Jin’s hands gripped his thighs firmly
before he moved again.
Thud!
Yeon’s back arched as a wave of sensation overtook him. Ha-
Jin showed no hesitation, his rhythm unrelenting. Each motion
seemed designed to overwhelm, to pull Yeon to his limits, only
to withdraw and leave him teetering on the edge. Then, just as
abruptly, the pace slowed.
Yeon, his breath ragged and face flushed, furrowed his brow.
This guy… Again.
Ha-Jin always seemed to enjoy pushing him, testing his
reactions, savouring his responses. It was infuriating,
especially now when Yeon felt like he might lose his mind
from the lingering heat and tension.
With a frustrated glare, Yeon mustered his strength, slipping
free of Ha-Jin’s grasp. Wrapping his legs tightly around Ha-
Jin’s waist, he pulled him closer, forcing the rhythm to
quicken.
Ha-Jin’s breath hitched as Yeon’s bold action caught him off
guard. The sudden depth made Yeon pressed his cheek against
the sheets, overwhelmed by the sensation that filled him
completely.
“…Ha.”
Ha-Jin let out a low, sharp laugh, as if both amused and
affected by the turn of events. For a moment, he felt like
nothing more than Yeon’s to command, and yet, that only
seemed to spur him on.
If you keep pushing like this… I won’t hold back.
With a serious expression, Ha-Jin adjusted his grip, lifting
Yeon slightly off the bed. The change in angle made the
sensation even more intense.
“Ah! What are you…!”
Yeon clung to him, wrapping his arms around Ha-Jin’s neck as
he was lifted further. Rising completely off the bed, Ha-Jin
moved Yeon’s body with effortless strength, each motion
precise and deliberate.
“Too deep…! Please…!”
The overwhelming fullness sent shivers through Yeon, though
it wasn’t pain that made him tremble. Even without the sharp
sensations, the intensity of Ha-Jin’s movements left him
breathless, almost dizzy.
Thud. Thump. Thud.
The closer Yeon held onto Ha-Jin, the more the other man
seemed to lose himself in the moment. Every muscle in Ha-
Jin’s body tensed and flexed, the raw strength behind each
motion evident in the way his veins stood out starkly against
his skin.
Their breaths grew heavier, the room filled with the sounds of
their shared movements, their shared heat.
The combination of sharp sensations and sweetness in the air
was intoxicating.
“Damn it, Yeon… You feel so…” Ha-Jin’s words trailed off
into a groan.
“Ah… Me too…! It’s… so good…!” Yeon managed between
gasps.
Finally, Ha-Jin bent over, pulling Yeon closer as the moment
reached its peak. His expression twisted as he released, a
warmth spreading between them as their breathing began to
slow.
Even as the sensations faded, Ha-Jin’s thoughts lingered.
You’re like a drug to me.
Even the smallest shred of reason was reduced to rubbish in
front of you.
I couldn’t stop desiring you, yearning for you. I wanted to give
you everything.
“You’re mine.”
The decisive verdict echoed.
Yeon was still being held aloft by Tae Ha-Jin, his forehead
resting against Ha-Jin’s broad shoulder as he let out a sigh.
Crazy bastard…
As if anyone in the world could fail to notice.
“Even if you’re reborn, you’ll still be mine. No matter where
you are or what you’re doing… I’ll find you. I’ll make you
love me.”
Soaking in the overwhelming weight of the man’s
possessiveness, Yeon was reminded of something Tae Ha-Jin
had said to him five years ago. It came alongside the first,
languid confession that had tumbled from his lips.
―You’ll love me too.
A declaration, almost like a prophecy.
And just as he’d said, Yeon had come to love Tae Ha-Jin.
At the same time, his mother’s last words struck him like a
bolt of lightning.
―You’ll be happy. You’ll meet someone who loves every part
of you. You’ll never be lonely.
What once seemed like a comforting lie had turned out to be
the truth. Five years of building a life together, filled with
happiness unlike anything he’d known. Sure, there had been
arguments, but Tae Ha-Jin had always been unwavering. Yu-
Jin was a child full of love. Loneliness had no place in Yeon’s
life.
“Once more, hyung,” he said, smiling despite his pale
complexion.
Ha-Jin chuckled softly, his crimson irises meeting Yeon’s. It
was as if he’d already planned it, given the persistent weight
of his growing erection.
“Only once?”
Yeon scoffed at his teasing and tightened his arms around the
man’s neck, giving up on replying altogether.
Love that was almost suffocating—but oh, how it was
welcome.

***

Saporin, capital of the Bovcam nation.

One of the most expensive areas in the world.
In a suburban neighbourhood of the capital stood a pristine
white mansion, its obsessively clean appearance almost
clinical. A gardener meticulously sculpted the trees in the
sprawling garden as if creating statues.
“The Third Corps is falling far short compared to the First
Corps, Cesar,” came a measured voice.
 Epilogue. Part 4
Even at home, her dark silver hair was neatly combed back,
blending naturally with streaks of white. This was Jamahrah,
the Secretary-General of the Union. She sat at a garden tea
table, reading a newspaper, her rounded reading glasses
slipping slightly down her nose.
Cesar, chin propped on his hand in boredom, gazed blankly at
the garden’s fountain. His long silver hair hung loose—he
wasn’t in combat, after all.
“Are you my boss now? Why harp on about performance even
at home?”
“Your success is directly tied to how much easier my work
becomes. And the re-election period is just around the corner.”
“Why bother with re-election? Just step down and enjoy some
peace.”
His tone was indifferent. Jamahrah lifted her ash-grey eyes to
regard her son.
She often felt a pang of guilt towards him.
As a prominent politician and philanthropist, she’d utilised her
son’s talents more than once for her own ends.
But Cesar had grown into exactly the kind of son she’d hoped
for—kind to everyone, never hated, a man who effortlessly
won people to his side.
Though born of a political marriage between powerful
families, Jamahrah had raised him with genuine care.
When he awakened as an S+ grade esper, the entire Bovcam
nation had erupted in celebration. His achievements
undoubtedly contributed to her current position.
“I can’t trust anyone else. Just look at the Epenhar incident. If
I hadn’t been Secretary-General back then, Diaylen wouldn’t
have recovered so quickly. The Zone of Total Destruction
wouldn’t have been established. Someone has to make bold
choices for the world’s sake.”
She meant every word.
This wasn’t about bragging. The role of Secretary-General
required a person with a sense of duty. If a worthy successor
existed, Jamahrah was ready to step aside.
The position came with endless slander and attacks, and the
responsibilities were overwhelming. She had more than
enough money to retire comfortably. The fact that she couldn’t
yet enjoy her twilight years was a source of frustration even
for her.
“Effort alone won’t miraculously improve the world. I get that
you’re a big deal, Mum, but don’t try to shoulder everything.
You’re not some god, are you?”
“Such a complacent remark.”
“It’s for your sake.”
While Cesar was known as a kind and good-natured person,
Jamahrah knew better. Her son was largely indifferent to
worldly affairs and deeply reserved. He rarely opened his heart
to anyone.
To the point where he’d never even been in a relationship.
“So, what about the Second Division Commander? Guide Lee
Yeon?”
No… should I call him a dual bloodline?
Cesar, who had been staring at the fountain, suddenly turned
his head. His interest was piqued by her seemingly idle
question. He sat up straight, his silver eyes glinting.
“Mum, are you close to the Second Division Commander?”
Jamahrah let out a faint laugh.
As Secretary-General, she’d never considered any relationship
to be a matter of “friendship.” Everything was always a matter
of cooperation for mutual benefit. Friendship? Not in her
vocabulary. For Cesar to ask such a foolish question…
“Close? Hardly. If anything, Lee Yeon might dislike me.”
At that, the light in Cesar’s eyes dimmed noticeably. He
frowned, his expression sharpening as if to interrogate her
meaning. Jamahrah ignored him, turning back to her
newspaper.
“Seriously? The Second Division Commander dislikes you?”
“Possibly.”
“Why?”
Jamahrah recalled the meeting five years ago.
The emergency session Tae Ha-Jin had called, which she’d
rushed to attend.
The day an astronomical auction was held over Lee Hong-
Jun’s USB.
The International Union had spent an immense sum to win the
bid.
But then, Lee Yeon appeared with another USB and donated it
to the Diaylen Council of Elders.
The Union had been made a fool of.
Desperate to mitigate the losses, Jamahrah had targeted Lee
Yeon, using his dual bloodline as leverage.
―And one more thing. I’ve heard Lee Yeon possesses a dual
bloodline. During our investigation into Adrian, Lee Hong-
Jun’s assistant, we unearthed startling revelations. Therefore, it
would be ideal if Lee Yeon could occasionally assist us in
efforts for global peace. If he agrees to such conditions, I’m
willing to accept the spare USB’s transfer.
Tae Ha-Jin had been furious, threatening to overturn the
auction. Ever since that day, the tension between her and Tae
Ha-Jin had remained palpable at public events.
She had only sought the most practical solution.
After all, the world’s peace depended on Lee Yeon’s
cooperation.
After hearing the suggestion, Lee Yeon had looked utterly
shaken, as if fear itself had gripped him. His expression was so
striking that it remained vivid in memory even now.
What could have frightened Lee Yeon so deeply?
It was likely something personal, beyond anyone else’s
comprehension.
—As Ha-Jin said, I have no intention of being used by anyone.
The USB, strictly speaking, is mine.
He was resolute in declaring he wouldn’t be swayed.
—That said, I understand Director Jamahrah’s position. The
Door is humanity’s problem, and I’m well aware of the impact
my existence might have. I’ll accept the proposal, but only
halfway. I’ll assist in efforts for global peace when I see fit,
and only on my terms. Additionally, any collaboration with the
Union will require Esper Tae Ha-Jin’s presence as a condition.
There was no need for him to agree, but Lee Yeon had
expressed his willingness to cooperate nonetheless. Something
about his unwavering gaze left Jamahrah with an inexplicable
guilt.
It made her feel like a terrible person.
Lee Yeon’s untainted nature was the reason.
In hindsight, her request that day might have hurt Lee Yeon.
She had foolishly prioritised the greater good without
considering his perspective.
Remembering the complex emotions of that day, Jamahrah
sipped her tea slowly.
Lee Yeon had kept his word. Whenever the international
organisation requested his assistance, he always acted—
accompanied by Esper Tae Ha-Jin. Consistently so, while Zero
was still establishing itself.
“If you ask me why… perhaps it’s because I touched his
reverse scale.”
In her eyes, Lee Yeon’s fear seemed to stem from that.
Anger at exposing a weakness—or was it terror?
A supreme-grade dual bloodline, capable of ruling the world.
And yet, even such a being had a vulnerability…
“Haa.”
Cesar, who had been listening to the recollection, rubbed his
face with both hands, his expression grim.
“So that’s why he’s been avoiding me so blatantly… It’s
because of you, Mum.”
Jamahrah’s eyes widened in surprise. She couldn’t imagine
Lee Yeon, for all his restrained nature, avoiding anyone purely
out of dislike. He was more likely to confront the matter head-
on.
Moreover, Lee Yeon wasn’t the type to shun someone just
because he hated their parent.
“Think it over. Maybe he’s avoiding you for another reason
entirely.”
“No, it’s definitely that. You’ve no idea how hard I’ve been
trying.”
Cesar muttered distractedly, running his fingers through his
hair. His strikingly handsome features seemed to gleam, but
her son had little interest in his appearance. His only grooming
habit was tying his hair up carelessly. Despite this, his
popularity was unmatched.
She couldn’t count the number of people who had begged for
an introduction.
But Cesar rejected them all outright, always saying:
—Mum, everything else is fine, but I’ll choose who I marry
and who I love.
Her breath caught when she first heard it.
It was only then she realised how much she had robbed him of
choice all this time.
Jamahrah had spent years regretting her mistakes. Even at her
age, she still had so much to learn.
She blinked slowly, then casually asked:
“Do you like guide Lee Yeon, Cesar?”
The question was blunt, but Cesar didn’t flinch. He let out a
bitter laugh and said:
“Isn’t it obvious? I’ve been hopelessly in love for over a year
now.”
“But guide Lee Yeon is married to Esper Tae Ha-Jin, isn’t he?”
“And? Judging by the way the 1st Division Commander acts,
they’ll divorce soon enough.”
Is that your wishful thinking? Jamahrah swallowed her words.
Stirring up discord wasn’t wise. But in her view, the odds of
those two divorcing were as likely as being struck by
lightning.
Who didn’t know about Tae Ha-Jin’s obsessive love?
“Mum, seriously? Falling for someone at twenty-seven, and
it’s my first love—what a joke.”
To top it off, he’s married.
Even Cesar found the situation absurd. He laughed heartily,
gazing up at the brilliant sky, his thoughts drifting to the
beautiful 2nd Division Commander.
It was when Zero was newly formed, and competition for
hierarchy was fierce. As always, he was busy fostering
connections and leaving good impressions. He’d been taught
that relationships were worth building wherever possible.
Fortunately, people often said his appearance made earning
goodwill easy.
Eeeeeek.
When the man entered the break room, Cesar was stunned. He
was the most breathtakingly handsome—or perhaps beautiful
—person he had ever seen. His flawless features were
captivating, and the aura he exuded was anything but ordinary.
Naturally, Cesar’s gaze followed him.
—I’m Cesar. I look forward to working with you.
He smiled the way people liked, hoping to make a good
impression. But the man barely acknowledged him, replying,
“Ah, yes.”
Taken aback, Cesar asked how his lunch was, sitting beside
him.
—I wouldn’t know. I ate outside.
—Ah… Then will you have dinner in the cafeteria?
—Not sure. I’ll decide when the time comes.
There was no malice in his responses, yet the man radiated
indifference so impenetrable it was daunting. It was the first
time Cesar had encountered someone so unresponsive.
Perhaps bothered, the man excused himself.
—He really is stunningly good-looking. Isn’t he the dual
bloodline, Lee Yeon, from Diaylen?
—Cesar, your social skills are amazing. Most people wouldn’t
dare approach him.
The others in the lounge remarked.
“Dual bloodline Lee Yeon” was a name even Cesar, usually
indifferent to the world’s affairs, had heard countless times.
After that, something stirred in him—a desire to break through
the man’s walls. He wanted to claim even a fragment of Lee
Yeon’s attention.
It was a first for him.
—Hah, hah… This is chaos.
Bang!
Crash! Creak!
Kuuooooo!
To rise to higher grades, you had to prove yourself. Cesar
wanted to be a son his mother could be proud of. On the day
three Red Doors erupted from zero, the unregulated field
descended into chaos.
Abnormal types from various nations clashed, each pursuing
their own methods. The lack of coordination led to
catastrophic damage. As Cesar saved one person after another,
his contamination level climbed to a staggering 85%.
His head pounded as if it were about to explode. He needed to
find a guide immediately, but the unorganised mess of the field
made it impossible to identify one.
He could’ve tried to focus his energy to detect a guide, but he
didn’t have the luxury of concentration.
Kuuooooo!
A bear-shaped Grade 4 monster came charging. Cesar’s vision
blurred. Mustering his energy, he summoned a massive
boulder out of thin air using Creation.
Boom!
The bear flattened like dried fish.
—…Haa…
They said Tae Ha-Jin, an esper, was also S+ grade, like him.
Apparently, they were the only two in the world at that level.
Rumour had it Tae Ha-Jin could surpass a 90% contamination
level without batting an eye.
‘That can’t be true, can it?’
Exaggerated gossip, surely.
Cesar could barely endure the agony. It was absurd to suggest
someone could function like that.
As he pressed his temples, his body swayed backwards, losing
balance.
Thud.
But he didn’t fall.
Through his dazed vision, Cesar realised the person steadying
his back was Lee Yeon.
—Are you all right?
Yeon asked casually.
Cesar struggled to clear his head. Not because of Yeon’s
striking appearance, but due to the refreshing guiding energy
flowing from Yeon’s hand on his back.
The blurriness in his vision disappeared as a peculiar clarity
took over.
—No… not at all.
Cesar admitted honestly.
Yeon let out a soft chuckle.
—You must be wielding a rather unruly ability. Your energy’s
quite volatile.
Despite guiding an S+ grade esper, Yeon showed no sign of
strain. Whether he genuinely found it easy or was simply good
at masking the effort, Cesar couldn’t tell.
Then it happened.
A bat-wielding monster charged at them. Cesar grimaced,
extending his arm to intercept.
Bang!
Bang!
Two gunshots rang out beside him. Yeon had shot the
monster’s weak point with unnerving precision while
continuing to guide Cesar seamlessly. His marksmanship was
almost otherworldly.
And then, as if nothing had happened, Yeon focused back on
the guiding.
Cesar, who was never at a loss for words around people, found
himself uncharacteristically quiet. Somehow, Yeon’s very
presence seemed to bring calm to the chaotic battlefield. It was
a baffling sensation.
From that moment, Cesar’s desire to grow closer to Yeon only
intensified.

Zone of Total Destruction Performance Rankings

1st: Esper Tae Ha-Jin (4,435,278 points)
2nd: Guide Lee Yeon (4,102,989 points)
3rd: Esper Cesar (4,088,176 points)
4th: Esper Venezia (3,834,009 points)

You’re incredible.
Before he knew it, Cesar had become Yeon’s fan. Staring at
the massive leaderboard screen in awe, he marvelled at the
dual bloodline guide competing with top-tier S+ espers. It was
astounding.
At that point, his feelings were pure admiration and a desire to
befriend Yeon.
That’s all it was.
—Bloody hell… seriously…
On his way to avoid waiting for the elevator, Cesar stumbled
upon Yeon sitting on the emergency stairs, face buried in his
hands. The sight froze Cesar in his tracks.
He seemed to be crying… Should Cesar pretend not to notice?
Rooted awkwardly in place, he didn’t move until Yeon spoke.
—Just come down. I know it’s you, Cesar.
—…Ah. Yes.
Cesar blinked sheepishly, tying his loose hair back as he
descended. Yeon probably hoped he’d just walk past, but
Cesar couldn’t bring himself to.
He sat beside Yeon on the steps.
A brown envelope rested on Yeon’s lap.
—Did you fight with Esper Tae Ha-Jin?
Cesar stared at Yeon, whose face was still hidden. By now,
Cesar knew the two were married. The idea of the first and
second-ranked individuals being a couple had shocked him at
first. He often thought Yeon was far too good for someone as
notoriously cold as Tae Ha-Jin.
Given Yeon’s muttered curses and tears, it was obvious they’d
had a fight.
Cesar hadn’t expected a response, but Yeon answered, perhaps
wanting to vent. The answer, however, was unexpected.
—They said I needed personal records to register as a member
of Zero. When I went to the administrative office to get
them… the documents listed me only as ‘Christina’s son,’ not
as Lee Hong-Jun’s child.
The infamous Lee Hong-Jun, the late head researcher, had a
scandalous reputation. That Yeon was his son was something
Cesar had only recently learned. Though surprising, Cesar
didn’t hold any prejudice and had simply accepted it.
‘Christina must mean… his mother.’
The topic of family made Cesar instinctively solemn, and he
listened attentively.
Yeon lifted his head from his hands. He’d been crying, just as
Cesar had guessed. His reddened eyes and nose stirred a
strange unease in Cesar.
—I have spent my entire life cursing the blood I share with
Lee Hong-Jun. There were times I wished every drop of his
crimson blood would drain from my veins. Whenever I caught
a glimpse of my flaws, I couldn’t help but wonder if they came
from him—it was chilling. Even after his death, I often felt I
couldn’t escape his shadow…
Cesar watched Lee Yeon’s distorted expression with a look of
pity.
—A law has been enacted. It allows children to request the
removal of a deceased parent’s name from their family registry
if the parent was a criminal of national infamy. It’s meant to
respect the child’s autonomy. I also heard, from Tae Ha-Jin’s
secretary, that he worked hard to ensure this law was passed.
Tears welled up again in Lee Yeon’s eyes. His brow furrowed
as he forced a painful smile—a truly complex expression.
—I don’t know why, but I wish he’d given me some warning.
It’s such a strange feeling…
Lee Yeon wept openly, tears streaming down his cheeks.
—I don’t even understand why I’m grateful to someone so
thoughtless. If Tae Ha-Jin had handed me the application form
for the registry removal as a ‘gift,’ I think I would’ve been
even more troubled. After all, the decision would’ve been
mine to make, and that would’ve led me to obsess over Lee
Hong-Jun all over again. But the way he handled it… It’s
almost a relief that he took it upon himself.
—…
—Isn’t it absurd?
—…
—For something as trivial as a piece of paperwork… I feel an
overwhelming sense of liberation. It’s as if a heavy shackle has
finally been undone…
Lee Yeon buried his face in his hands once more.
The enormity of the shadow cast by Lee Hong-Jun over Lee
Yeon’s life was painfully evident.
Cesar, who had instinctively reached out to wipe away Lee
Yeon’s tears, froze mid-air.
—…
A peculiar sensation coursed through him.
It was the first time Cesar truly saw how vulnerable Lee Yeon
could be. He had always thought of him as unshakably strong,
someone to admire. Yet this stark contrast between strength
and fragility stirred something deep within Cesar—something
that felt like being cast into the depths of his own heart.
The thought crossed his mind: I want to protect this person.
Boom.
It was as if a meteor had struck, shaking Cesar’s entire world.
He envied Tae Ha-Jin deeply in that moment, for being the one
who inspired such a love.
Lee Yeon’s words and expressions revealed his inner turmoil.
His tears weren’t born of hatred for Tae Ha-Jin, nor from
anger. Instead, they came from an overwhelming and
inexplicable gratitude.
—And yet, I like that insane bastard so much. It’s ridiculous…

___
Eh, Tae being Tae all over again, yet now it’s not as cute as I
thought in the beginning.
 Epilogue. Part 5
—…
—I adore every ounce of Tae Ha-Jin’s affection.
The confession spilled out, uncaring of the audience. It didn’t
matter who was listening—Cesar was simply there, a stand-in
for Lee Yeon’s thoughts.
Swept up in a whirlwind of emotions, Cesar found himself
unable to offer any words of comfort. He sat there, frozen like
a statue.

Later, as Cesar rose from the tea table in the garden, he

chuckled.
“Well, Mother, I’m someone who gets what he wants. I’ve got
a knack for it.”
Cesar strolled out of the garden with a satisfied grin, leaving
behind Jamahrah, who shook her head.
Her son truly didn’t understand the story between those two.
She, however, had seen and heard far too much.
The word “conquest,” Jamahrah thought, belonged only to
those who had earned the right to use it.
And she, coldly, denied her son that right.
“Fine. Getting thoroughly rejected will be a good experience
for him.”
Jamahrah had always won because she only fought battles she
could win. Unlike her naïve son, she had never thrown herself
into hopeless pursuits.

***
Following Tae Ha-Jin’s advice, Lee Yeon had no choice but to
take a leave of absence that day. His body was battered to the
point where walking was a challenge. Even now, he wasn’t
fully recovered. Instead of heading to the Zone of Total
Destruction, he was assigned to work as a guide trainer—a
suitable outside duty.
He had tasks to complete there anyway, and it gave him an
excuse to visit Kim Uibin.
“Feels like ages since I last drove.”
Among the cars in the garage, he picked one that caught his
eye. His previous car had been scrapped by Tae Ha-Jin, who
had disapproved of him driving a car bought with Lee Hong-
Jun’s black card. Tae Ha-Jin had replaced it with several
others.
‘Scrapping a perfectly good car, though… ridiculous.’
Lee Yeon shook his head.
As he drove through the capital’s streets, he suddenly froze.
“…”
Every streetlamp bore a banner that read: ‘Lee Yeon and Tae
Ha-Jin are married. Let’s all congratulate them!’
The banners were paid announcements.
Lee Yeon wasn’t unfamiliar with the banners. Five years ago,
he and Tae Ha-Jin had agreed to hang them for three years. At
the time, Tae Ha-Jin had pushed for a grand wedding to
publicise their union.
—Do we really need a wedding? Can’t we just file the
marriage papers?
—Then how will anyone know we’re married?
—Marriage isn’t about other people knowing.
—I want everyone to know. That you’re mine.
When Lee Yeon had refused a wedding, Tae Ha-Jin had
insisted on the banners instead. Reluctantly, Lee Yeon had
agreed. Marriage required compromise, after all, and Tae Ha-
Jin’s resolve had been unyielding.
After those three years passed, Lee Yeon had confirmed the
banners were removed.
‘So why are they back up now?’
It was baffling.
Clearly, they had gone up after the incident where Tae Ha-Jin
had severed Cesar’s wrist. Lee Yeon let out a disbelieving
laugh. Tae Ha-Jin’s antics were equal parts mischievous and
adorable.
Pulling over, Lee Yeon shot a message to Tae Ha-Jin.

[8:57 AM
What’s with the banners? Stick to our agreement. Take them
down by tomorrow.]

As always, Tae Ha-Jin’s reply was swift.

[I love you too.

8:58 AM]
…What?
Lee Yeon frowned, his ears flushing red as he rubbed at them.

[9:00 AM
You always try to brush it off like this. Why the hell do you
keep doing that?]

[I want to see you too.

9:01 AM]
Yeon tossed his phone onto the passenger seat. Talking to him
was like trying to reason with a brick wall. As he drove, he
deliberately ignored the flashy banners hanging along the road.
They made it impossible to hold his head up without feeling
utterly embarrassed.
SCREEEECH.
After smoothly parking, Yeon made his way towards the
capital’s guide training centre. Just as he approached the
entrance, he spotted a familiar figure lurking in a shadowy
corner of the building.
It was Dekal.
The man was staring blankly at an enormous bouquet of roses.
His gaze didn’t waver, not even to blink. Yeon considered
approaching him but decided against it; Dekal looked lost in
thought, and Yeon didn’t want to interrupt.
‘Is that for Uibin?’
The two of them had been in a surprisingly calm and sweet
relationship for five years now. Every time they met, Uibin
had that smitten look in her eyes and couldn’t stop singing
Dekal’s praises. Even Yeon had started warming up to the guy,
despite his initial scepticism.
Then suddenly—
Dekal’s expression hardened, and he turned the corner,
heading straight for the training centre.
Yeon’s eyes widened.
‘Wait… Is he actually planning to give it to her there?’
No way.
Frozen in place, Yeon hesitated for only a second before
sprinting after him. If he hurried, he might be able to stop this
disaster in the making.
BANG!
Yeon shoved the door open and scanned the expansive training
hall. Inside, groups were practising cooperative guiding
techniques, but every single person had gone stiff, staring at
one spot.
“Kim Uibin. Will you marry me?”
Yeon’s jaw dropped. He swallowed hard.
He’d barely walked in seconds after Dekal, but there he was,
already kneeling on one knee, mid-proposal. No warning, no
build-up—straight to the point, like something out of an old-
school drama. Dekal didn’t seem the least bit nervous as he
gazed solely at Uibin, offering her the massive bouquet with a
composed smile.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know I’m not
worthy of someone like you… but I swear I’ll love you more
than anyone else ever could.”
Dekal’s voice was steady, his expression unyielding.
Uibin looked utterly dumbfounded, her mouth slightly open as
she froze in place.
‘If she turns him down, I didn’t see anything.’
Yeon winced and squeezed his eyes shut, unwilling to witness
the inevitable awkwardness. He couldn’t fathom why Dekal
thought a public proposal was a good idea.
Still, his curiosity got the better of him. He cracked his eyes
open.
“I’ll do everything to make sure you never regret this. I’ll
make you the happiest person in the world. Please, give me the
chance to bring you peace for the rest of your life.”
Yeon knew about Dekal’s past as a test subject. He understood
the weight of such a straightforward proposal for someone like
him.
And then, he was stunned.
Uibin was covering her mouth with trembling hands, tears
streaming down her face.
“H-Hic… Dekal… This is so moving…”
Wait… what?
Yeon blinked, utterly thrown. Uibin hugged the bouquet
tightly, sobbing with what could only be described as joy.
“This is perfect… Dekal, you’re such a blessing to me. You’ve
made me so happy… I want to spend the rest of my life with
you too.”
Dekal stood, his towering frame softly smiling down at
Uibin’s tearful face. He pulled a ring box from his pocket and
slid a brilliant diamond onto her finger.
Uibin glanced at the matching ring on Dekal’s own left hand
and burst into louder sobs. Dekal, silent as ever, pulled her into
his arms, holding her close.
Around them, the stunned guides erupted into cheers and
applause. The sound was deafening.
“Congratulations, Instructor Kim Uibin!”
“Kyaaaa! Dekal the esper is so dreamy!”
“May you both be happy forever! Congratulations!”
Still in shock, Yeon found himself slowly clapping along with
the crowd. He had to admit—despite the clumsiness of a
public proposal, the love between Uibin and Dekal was
genuine. They were, without a doubt, the perfect couple.
Yeon’s mind wandered to Tae Ha-Jin, his own partner. He
frowned slightly. Comparing himself to Ha-Jin never felt
great; he always thought he came out ahead.
‘Well… at least it worked out,’ he muttered, watching Uibin
cry happily into Dekal’s chest.
His best and only friend, who’d been through so much
heartbreak, had finally found someone who made her
genuinely happy. Yeon felt a warmth bloom in his chest.
You deserve it, Uibin. All the happiness in the world.
Dekal tilted his head down and kissed Uibin gently,
completely ignoring the crowd’s presence.
“Kyaaaa!”
“Oh my God, this is so romantic!”
“Instructor Kim Uibin, you’re so lucky!”
Click, click.
Phones flashed as people captured the moment for posterity.
Lee Yeon glanced at the training officer, whose excitement
seemed to grow by the second, and then turned to leave the
facility. Today, it was best to respect their time together.
With a lighter heart, he made his way to the Zone of Total
Destruction, referred to as “Zero.” Although he’d taken a
personal day, going home felt too awkward. He decided to
work cautiously instead.
“Best of luck today, Commander of the Second Division!”
Transportation espers resting in the lounge stood and saluted
him.
The Second Division was already deployed. The fortress walls
surrounding various operational sites were colossal,
incorporating multiple structures like offices, dining halls, and
operational rooms. The walls were practical and formidable,
designed to withstand anything.
Thanks to Lee Hong-Jun’s expertise, a defence barrier was
maintained 24/7 to ensure the walls would never fall.
As he strolled through the long passage leading to the field,
Lee Yeon came to an abrupt halt.
“I wanted to say thank you. I’ve been reassigned to the
provinces, so I’m late offering my regards.”
It was the “Deer.”
This person’s presence stirred something protective in others,
as Cesar had once described. With his small frame and frail
appearance, he hadn’t changed at all in the five years since Lee
Yeon last saw him.
Cold shivers ran down his spine—clearly, a buried trauma had
surfaced.
Lee Yeon silently observed the Deer and Tae Ha-Jin, who
stood beside them, expressionless and looming.
“Belatedly, congratulations on your marriage. I heard you have
a daughter now…”
Tae Ha-Jin, geared for deployment, checked the time on his
wristwatch and spoke with indifference.
“There’s no need for thanks. It was for my partner.”
“Ah, yes. Still, I’m happy for you.”
“Are you done?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s disinterest was palpable, his cold demeanour a
familiar sight to Lee Yeon. It reminded him of the countless
arguments they’d once had, though even then, Tae Ha-Jin’s
expression occasionally showed some amusement.
‘No, even then, he found it mildly entertaining,’ Lee Yeon
thought, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
Deliberately making no effort to conceal his presence, Lee
Yeon strode toward the end of the corridor where the two
stood. Tae Ha-Jin turned his head, their eyes meeting. A faint
smile tugged at Tae Ha-Jin’s lips—unbidden, natural.
The Deer gazed up at his smile, saying nothing.
Tae Ha-Jin walked toward Lee Yeon, sliding an arm around his
waist.
“Didn’t my darling say he was taking a day off today?”
“Did you know Dekal is planning a public proposal?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s eyes shifted as if trying to recall. He lightly
brushed Lee Yeon’s waist and gave a half-hearted nod.
“Vaguely heard about it.”
“It’s happening today.”
“Have you eaten?”
Tae Ha-Jin’s complete lack of interest in anyone else’s affairs
was evident. When he asked if Lee Yeon had eaten, the latter
gave a noncommittal nod. He hadn’t eaten but couldn’t be
bothered to admit it.
Tae Ha-Jin frowned.
“Don’t lie. You haven’t.”
“…Seriously, are you still having Mu Fei tail me?”
Lee Yeon knew well about Esper Mu Fei tasked with
monitoring him. Rumour had it Mu Fei was handsomely
compensated for the job. Over time, his skills had grown so
adept that Lee Yeon often forgot he was being watched.
Turning his glare on Tae Ha-Jin, Lee Yeon caught the Deer’s
gaze. Startled, the man bowed deeply.
“Commander of the Second Division, it’s an honour.”
“Likewise. Were you reassigned to the capital?” Lee Yeon
asked, forcing a smile.
The Deer blinked slowly, seemingly unsure how to respond,
then waved a hand nervously.
“Oh, no… I’ve been reassigned to the imperial city of Diaylen.
I came today to express my thanks. I heard others you rescued
had already done so.”
“I see.”
Lee Yeon nodded. It had been five years since he’d likely
returned to the capital. His hesitation made sense for such a
belated visit.
Given the reassignment to the imperial city, the Deer must be
an exceptional cleaner.
“Perhaps we’ll meet again. For now, I must head to the field.
Please, continue your conversation.”
As Lee Yeon started to leave, Tae Ha-Jin followed.
“The conversation’s over.”
True to his word, the Deer was walking in the opposite
direction. The momentary resurgence of trauma faded,
replaced by calm. Lee Yeon was no longer unsettled; he knew
now that Tae Ha-Jin loved him more than anyone else.
As their eyes met, Tae Ha-Jin smiled warmly—his beautiful,
cherished man.
“Ha…”
The Deer, now alone, leaned against the corridor wall, gazing
up at the ceiling.
‘He seems well.’
That was enough.
Seeing him again after five years stirred memories of that
dark, oppressive slave prison. Tae Ha-Jin had shone brighter
than anyone else back then. The Deer owed him their life and
had harboured feelings that went beyond admiration.
But Tae Ha-Jin was far too extraordinary for anyone to covet
or even watch from a distance.
Time had dulled those feelings. Now, there was only respect.
Yes, that’s all.
Even when eating alone in the training facility’s cafeteria, Tae
Ha-Jin had brought him a tray without a word. Tae Ha-Jin had
sat with him, unmoving. On that day, Lee Yeon had walked in,
seen them, and stormed out, his shock palpable.
‘I think he misunderstood…’
Back then, the Deer had believed Lee Yeon despised them.
Even five years later, the memory of his expression haunted
them.
But today, Lee Yeon had smiled. A kind, warm smile, full of
quiet consideration.
‘I understand now.’
The Deer realised the truth.
Their reassignment to the provinces had been Tae Ha-Jin’s
doing, likely to avoid straining his relationship with Lee Yeon.
It was his way of protecting both his partner and the Deer.
And the Deer didn’t mind.
This peace, this simple life, was a gift—a joy they cherished.
Life in the provinces suited them better than the chaotic
capital. Even then, they’d heard that Tae Ha-Jin had ensured
they were well taken care of.
Perhaps that was why.
The peaceful everyday life was no more.
Even after the Zone of Total Destruction was constructed,
cleaners remained essential in selecting those with abnormal
types. He had been living a busy life.
“Unrequited love?”
“Huh…!”
The Deer clutched his chest, startled enough to nearly
collapse. Someone had appeared suddenly from behind the
corner. Dressed in a dazzling uniform of white and gold, it
took only a second to recognise who it was.
The Emperor of Diaylen.
Scrambling upright, the Deer bowed at a perfect ninety-degree
angle.
“I-It’s an honour to meet the Sun of the Empire…!”
Their voice echoed through the corridor, embarrassingly loud.
The mortification hit hard, and his face flushed red. Soon, he’d
begin working as a cleaner within the imperial palace, which
meant regular encounters with His Majesty.
A storm of worries flashed through his mind.
Ricardo, hands clasped behind his back, tilted his head slightly
as he watched the Deer. After a moment, he chuckled warmly.
“Raise your head. That’s far too formal.”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty…”
The Deer carefully straightened, still glancing nervously at
Ricardo, and tried to walk past him. Two esper guards stood
behind the Emperor, silently observing.
“You’ve got a lovely face, but as for that one—he’s not a great
choice for a crush.”
The Deer froze, their face burning with a mix of
embarrassment and disbelief. He’d noticed? Had he been
watching Tae Ha-Jin as well?
“It’s not like that anymore,” he stammered, rubbing the back
of the neck awkwardly. “I just… respect him. He’s an
incredible person.”
“Is that so?” Ricardo nodded, his lips curving into an amused
smile.
“You’re the cleaner Tae Ha-Jin recommended, aren’t you?”
The Emperor already knew about him. Cleaners were either
ordinary people or exceptionally sensitive espers, and the Deer
stood out even among the best. Word travelled quickly,
especially when it came to someone scheduled to serve in the
imperial palace. Ricardo himself had chosen the Deer for the
role.
‘I owe him,’ Ricardo thought, though he kept smiling.
This person had been sold at a slave auction. It was Tae Ha-Jin
who’d tipped him off. That abhorrent practice had been one of
the many evils perpetuated by Ricardo’s late father. This man
before him was a victim of that dark legacy.
Without Tae Ha-Jin’s intervention, there might have been one
more human being sold to some depraved bastard, doomed to
a life worse than death. Ricardo carried a deep guilt for those
enslaved under his father’s regime.
He’d worked relentlessly to root out every remnant of slavery
from the nation, and now, he was certain the practice had been
eradicated.
‘What else can I do to make amends?’
For others, financial compensation had sufficed. Many, with
help from Tae Ha-Jin and Doberman, had managed to rebuild
their lives. But imperial recognition was still necessary.
Having chosen Rain as a cleaner for the palace, Ricardo was
determined to ensure their future was brighter. To wash away
their painful past.
“You’ll be seeing me often,” Ricardo said gently. “It’d be nice
if you could greet me without panicking every time.”

__
Cant believe I haven’t mentioned it until now, but asking “Have you eaten?” [“밥
먹었어?”] is not just a question about food, but rather a way of showing concern
for someone’s well-being. It’s a shared phenomenon between Chinese and Korean
culture.
I find it funny how straightforward Tae with his blunt requests still asks indirect
questions instead of inquiring directly.

PS. I’m bothered that none has asked this poor Deer his name. || Future me here, it’s
Rain. We’ll need for the next part.
 Epilogue. Part 6
Rain’s wide eyes betrayed his surprise at the received warmth.
That open, sincere expression made Ricardo pause. He’d
thought the same when this person had shouted his greeting
earlier.
What a strikingly beautiful person.
Flustered, the cleaner bowed again.
“Th-Thank you! I’ll work hard…!”
“Don’t overdo it. Just… do enough.”
Rain bowed once more before fleeing down the corridor,
nearly tripping over his own feet.
Ricardo laughed heartily, watching the awkward retreat.
“Adorable,” he murmured. Anyone watching him might have
mistaken him for a Grade 1 monster.

***

The month-long wager with Tae Ha-Jin had only a week left,
and Cesar still hadn’t confessed. Unsurprising, really. He
wasn’t the type to throw himself at someone who was already
married.
Today, however, was special.
Together with Tae Ha-Jin and Doberman, Yeon carried three
bouquets. Their transport esper abilities had become second
nature, and motion sickness was no longer an issue.
With a flash of light, they arrived under a sky scattered with
clouds. The weather was perfect. Dressed in black suits, the
three of them walked with practiced ease.
Past intricately carved headstones, they stopped before two
standing side by side.
Dion Luissen, the eternal flame.
Dicaine Luissen, the shadow that guards the flame.

It was their memorial day.

Elena, who had arrived first, stood silently, her face buried in a
handkerchief as tears fell. She always came early, grieving in
quiet solitude. Yeon watched her with sorrowful eyes.
To anyone, Dion and Elena had seemed closer than just allies.
Even though Dion’s betrayal had left a scar Elena could never
erase, she still came to his grave every year, pouring her heart
into silent conversations.
Each visit must have been a battle against herself. Guilt and
longing intertwined in a way Yeon could only imagine.
Elena was strong but fragile in her own way.
“You’re here,” Ricardo said softly, his gaze fixed on the two
gravestones. His expression was unusually hard. Though he
tried to smile, it was clear he was struggling.
Every year, the memorial day robbed Ricardo of sleep. Yeon
could see it in his face.
“At least the weather’s kind this time,” Ricardo said. “It’s
usually raining, isn’t it?”
Yeon nodded faintly.
It was true. Every year, it rained. And every year, Yeon felt a
melancholy they couldn’t quite place. Dion, someone they
once thought irrelevant, had somehow left an impression that
wouldn’t fade.
His kindness, his secrets, his smile—all of it came rushing
back like a tide. But this wasn’t the time to dwell.
Tae Ha-Jin knelt first, placing a bouquet before Dion’s grave.
Yeon and Doberman followed suit.
Tae Ha-Jin lingered at Dicaine’s headstone, staring at the
inscription: The shadow that guards the flame.
“Do you regret your choice?” he murmured.
Yeon had spent years visiting various cemeteries with Ha-Jin
and had come to realise one thing: the way Tae Ha-Jin spoke
to the gravestone of his mother, Christina, applied to all
gravestones.
Without a care for how others might perceive him, he often
talked to the dead. It was his unique way of mourning, and
Yeon, with a complicated mix of emotions, quietly observed
him.
“It’s quite a belated greeting. I’m here today to express my
gratitude. Regardless of how our dealings turned out, I
survived because of you. And because of that, I met Lee Yeon.
So, it’s only right to say thank you.”
On the day Dicaine stepped onto the execution ground, Ha-Jin
had silently watched. Yeon had wondered how someone could
remain so unaffected while watching the man who had been
his adoptive father meet his end.
But each year, on the anniversary, Ha-Jin’s murmured
monologues weren’t entirely devoid of emotion. The mere fact
that he spoke at length was proof enough. Perhaps Ha-Jin
wanted to respect Dicaine’s choice in the end.
‘Did you regret it, Esper Dion?’
Yeon thought with a hollow feeling.
Though Dion was long dead, Yeon hoped he had felt regret in
his final moments. It was an unforgivable sin. Many lives had
been lost due to his decisions. He should have suffered
excruciating regret.
And if there were such a thing as a next life…
He wished that Dion wouldn’t don a mask of freedom but
would instead find true freedom, like a bird soaring in the sky.
Every year at this place, Yeon found himself thinking the same
thoughts. He couldn’t bring himself to cry for the man, so he
made small wishes instead.

That evening, Ha-Jin and Yeon visited the Epenhar Form

Hospital, accompanied by Yu-Jin.
“No one will know. I’ve already gotten all the approvals in
advance,” Ha-Jin assured.
To ensure secrecy, Doberman had joined them.
“Esper-nim Tae Ha-Jin, I don’t think I’ll be of much use here,”
Mu Fei, a stealth esper, remarked. Ha-Jin replied simply, “You
still need to keep an eye on Yeon.” Hearing this, Yeon let out a
faint laugh. Who on earth supervised someone by openly
accompanying them?
Yu-Jin, officially recognised as their daughter, naturally
attracted public attention. However, preferring books over
outdoor activities, Yu-Jin usually stayed indoors. Over time,
the public’s curiosity about her gradually waned. Whenever an
article featuring a photo of Yu-Jin did surface, Ha-Jin would
rage as though he intended to topple the broadcasting stations.
Journalists, fearing for their lives, refrained from sharing Yu-
Jin’s information. Yeon, being equally protective, ensured no
one endangered her safety.
They were, without question, the ultimate fathers.
“Yu-Jin, don’t worry. This is just to gather some information.
Just place both hands here,” Yeon said, stroking her hair as he
guided her hands to the Awakening Precision Scanner.
This scanner was far more advanced than its predecessors,
courtesy of information provided by Lee Hong-Jun. Despite
possessing knowledge that could benefit the world, Hong-Jun
chose not to share it, drawing the ire of many researchers.
“Okay,” Yu-Jin replied.
Contrary to their concerns, Yu-Jin seemed entirely unfazed.
She placed her small hands on the scanner’s hemispherical
surface. Yeon activated it using the operational procedures he
had memorised beforehand.
Vrrrr!
Blue light burst forth, illuminating the dim testing room. Other
than Yeon’s family, Doberman, and Mu Fei, no one else was
present—a testament to the test’s secrecy. The extent of Ha-
Jin’s efforts to ensure privacy was clear.
He had even visited Elder Chairman Cha Seung-Kyun to
secure government approval personally.
Vrrrr! Vrrrr!
Suddenly, the scanner’s blue light shifted to red, flashing
erratically as the words ERROR flooded the screen.
Yeon furrowed his brows. Surely Yu-Jin wasn’t interfering
with the machine like he had once done?
Just in case, he placed a hand on a part of the machine, closed
his eyes, and let his energy flow into its circuits. If Yu-Jin had
intentionally disrupted it, the energy’s flow would show
abnormalities.
But the flow was steady. There was no sign of interference. It
was her first time being tested, and Yu-Jin’s serene expression
suggested no effort to cause disruption. She was merely
following instructions, infusing her energy into the machine.
BEEEEEP!
A piercing sound rang out, followed by—
BOOM! BOOM!
The scanner exploded.
Having sensed the device’s odd behaviour, Ha-Jin had
extended his hand, absorbing the explosion’s impact entirely.
No one was hurt; only the machine was destroyed.
“……”
“……”
Yeon and Ha-Jin exchanged a glance, their expressions grave.
They quickly masked their concern, wary that Yu-Jin might
notice. But this was no trivial matter.
The precision scanner was designed to detect even S+ grade
energy. Yet, it hadn’t been able to measure Yu-Jin’s aura at all.
Worse, it had broken down completely.
“What… what just happened?” Mu Fei asked in shock.
Doberman jabbed him with his elbow, urging silence.
“What you’ve seen here today must remain a secret, Mu Fei,”
Doberman said ominously. Mu Fei, bewildered, nodded
hastily. These people were always so intense.
“Yu-Jin, are you hurt? How do you feel?” Yeon asked, holding
her small hand. Yu-Jin looked up at him with her crimson eyes
and smiled sweetly.
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t ask about her test results. It was as if she already
knew. Yeon struggled to hide his unease.
“Yu-Jin, Daddy Yeon and Daddy Jin need to talk for a
moment. Will you go home with Uncle Doberman for now?”
“Okay!”
“Good girl,” Yeon said.
Because of their unusual family situation, Yu-Jin had devised
the terms Daddy Yeon and Daddy Jin to differentiate between
them—a practical solution.
Flash!
Understanding the situation, Doberman took Yu-Jin’s hand and
vanished. Mu Fei followed suit.
The room reeked of burnt machinery. Yeon, his gaze serious,
looked at Ha-Jin.
“Hyung… What do we call a grade higher than S+?”
An SS-grade abnormal type?
It was unheard of. Even Ha-Jin frowned as if this was news to
him.
Lee Yeon wanted to deny it, but the facts didn’t let him.
Truthfully, he’d arranged this test to confirm if Yu-Jin had a
dual bloodline. All he knew was that she possessed an
extraordinary ability to control the weather.
“This must not be revealed. Awakening at five years old was
already unprecedented, but an S+ grade abnormal type?
Absolutely not.”
The world’s attention was a dangerous thing.
If it became known that Yu-Jin was an exceptional esper, her
life would become a relentless, exhausting race. She wasn’t
going to be thrown into Zero anytime soon anyway.
Moreover, if the world learned she could control the weather,
admiration would quickly turn into fear. A mere human
touching the realm of gods—that was how people would see it.
Ha-Jin seemed to agree with Yeon’s reasoning.
He had spent his life as a top-tier esper, fighting for his nation
and the world. He certainly wouldn’t want his daughter to be
thrust into such a brutal existence.
“Give it twenty years. Let Yu-Jin decide for herself,” he said,
brushing his hair back.
Twenty years? That was a strangely specific and utterly
unrealistic number.
Considering she was their child, it wouldn’t even take half that
time before the world demanded her. Yeon already felt a
headache brewing. He just hoped their sweet Yu-Jin wouldn’t
live a complicated life like theirs.
‘Thinking about it won’t give me any answers.’
It was a problem with no solution.
As Yeon lowered his head in frustration, Ha-Jin pulled him
into an embrace.
“What are you worried about? Yu-Jin’s stronger than us.”
Yeon let out a dry laugh.
Hearing that, he felt a mix of amazement and resignation.
Yeon had spent his life feeling burdened by the immense
power of his dual bloodline. Ha-Jin wasn’t any different. But
Yu-Jin, stronger than both of them combined?
Who was supposed to protect whom? Who should be worrying
about whom?
Yu-Jin was a smart child. She would undoubtedly carve out
her own path without needing them to fret over her.
Yeon closed his eyes in Ha-Jin’s arms.
This awakening chamber brought back memories of the time
they’d silently clashed here years ago. Back then, Yeon had
fervently wanted to punch Ha-Jin. Now, being held like this
felt surreal.
He suddenly asked, “Do you regret it?”
“Regret what?”
“Unmasking me. It was your influence that exposed me to the
world, wasn’t it?”
It was a pointless question, but Yeon was curious about how it
felt to strip someone of their facade.
Ha-Jin answered without hesitation. “Not at all.”
And then, firmly, he added, “There isn’t a single choice I’ve
made about you that I regret.”
Yeon recalled countless events and thought, Liar. How many
times did you torment me, and you regret none of it?
Perhaps Ha-Jin himself found certain things unsettling, as he
fell silent before eventually revising his statement.
“Want to hit me?” he asked, resting his forehead against
Yeon’s neck.
Yeon burst out laughing. Is this supposed to be endearing? It
was a problem that he found it slightly cute.
“I’m doing better these days, my darling.”
“Better at what? You’ve no shame.”
If he meant in bed, Yeon might agree. But even that was
excessive to the point of being a problem.
“I’m trying, alright? Never know when you’ll decide to ditch
me again.”
“…For heaven’s sake. I told you I won’t do that again. I mean
it.”
Satisfied with the answer, Ha-Jin chuckled.
“You can leave me—just make sure to take me back.”

That evening, Ha-Jin and Yeon decided to examine Yu-Jin’s

Vessel while she slept. The precise diagnostic tools had failed,
so it was up to them to check directly.
A sleeping Yu-Jin would be less guarded, making it easier to
read her Vessel. Or so they thought.
But to their shock, they couldn’t even approach it, let alone
observe it. Every attempt failed.
In the end, pooling their combined strength, they tried again—
and still couldn’t breach the barrier.
“This… this doesn’t make sense,” Yeon muttered.
Ha-Jin’s gaze lingered on their sleeping daughter, his
expression troubled. Even with the combined might of two
top-tier dual bloodline espers—one of them an S+ grade—they
couldn’t discern anything about her Vessel.
Yu-Jin, just what are you…?

***
The Diaylen Banquet had returned.
Since the war, the Diaylen nation had refrained from hosting
its usual high-society gatherings for five years. Ricardo had
prioritised national recovery over opulence.
Even after the nation regained its footing, Ricardo continued
to donate the ball’s budget towards stabilising the Zone of
Total Destruction.
Finally, this year, the ball was being held again.
“The Zone of Total Destruction is such a great solution. At
least now we don’t have to worry about dying to monsters,
right?”
“Exactly. Do you remember the banquet five years ago? When
the Red Door broke open in Diaylen, and everyone panicked,
trying to flee back home?”
“Oh, of course. What chaos that was. Now we only have to
monitor the Zone. What a relief.”
“Right. Imagine if it weren’t a nation like Diaylen. No other
country could handle a crisis of that scale.”
Prominent figures from various nations strolled through the
grand hall, clad in dazzling attire. Many held glasses of
crimson wine handed to them by waiters.
“This isn’t my scene, Yeon-ya…” Kim Uibin murmured,
glancing around nervously.
The emperor had personally invited her—not as a friend, but
as a distinguished training instructor. Yeon, sipping his wine,
chuckled.
“Just enjoy people-watching for a bit, then go home.”
“But they’re all such famous people. It’s making me nervous.”
Kim Uibin had become quite renowned as a firearms
instructor. She occasionally made the headlines too, though
she seemed unaware of how much her efforts shone. From
afar, a tall man approached with a measured pace.
It was Dekal.
From the moment he entered, his gaze had been fixed on
Uibin. Lee Yeon let out a dry chuckle. That unwavering look
and purposeful stride—anyone could tell it was him.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Dekal apologised, clasping Uibin’s hand in his. She shook her
head awkwardly.
“It’s fine. Yeon was with me, so I wasn’t lonely. Did the
mission go well?”
“Yes.”
“Dekal, sir? You do realise I’m here too?”
Yeon waved a hand directly in front of Dekal’s face, flaunting
his presence. Dekal blinked, visibly surprised, before his face
turned expressionless again. He offered a brief bow.
“Have you been well?”
“Sure. I heard you two are getting married. Have you set the
date?”
“It’ll likely be in two months.”
“Well then, make sure to send me an invitation.
Congratulations in advance.”
“Thank you.”
With that, Dekal’s gaze immediately shifted back to Uibin.
Yeon felt a pang of incredulity. Dekal’s devotion was almost
unnervingly singular.
“When is Tae Ha-Jin coming?”
He’d said he’d be late, busy clearing the Zone of Total
Destruction and handling affairs for the rest of the day. Yeon
had wrapped up his own tasks early that morning and had been
waiting since. As Commander of the First Division, his
workload always exceeded everyone else’s.
As Yeon idly sipped his wine, a murmur arose from the crowd.
Someone entered the hall.
It was Tae Ha-Jin.
From a distance, Yeon watched his husband quietly. Ha-Jin’s
tall frame, strikingly chiseled features, and commanding
presence naturally drew every eye as he walked in.
‘He really is handsome.’
Even back when Yeon disliked him, he’d never denied that.
The thought that this man was his lover stirred something
unfamiliar within him. Tae Ha-Jin was the type who sparked
possessiveness, the kind who made you want to win him over
simply to see that unyielding nature bend.
Feeling unexpectedly self-conscious, Yeon turned his head—
only to spot Ronile across the hall.
Her company, Blonid, had recently gone bankrupt and been
absorbed by a larger conglomerate. Her once-dazzling status
had clearly diminished, as evidenced by her noticeably plain
attire.
She was staring at Tae Ha-Jin as if mesmerised, like someone
falling in love at first sight.
‘Even after losing her memories.’
It seemed she’d fallen for him all over again. Her taste was
certainly consistent. Though enough time had passed for Yeon
to feel largely indifferent toward her, an unspoken irritation
lingered.
Ha-Jin strode over, plucking the wineglass from Yeon’s hand
and downing it in one go. Yeon frowned.
“Why drink mine? Can’t you just get your own?”
“Yours tastes better.”
Liar.
Yeon let out a dry laugh.
Ha-Jin had an inexplicable dislike for Yeon drinking alcohol,
even though Yeon rarely drank and had an impressive
tolerance. He’d never once gotten drunk, nor caused any
trouble after drinking. There was nothing for Ha-Jin to worry
about.
Once, they’d even had a drinking contest just for fun. Despite
downing several bottles of spirits, neither of them got drunk,
and the contest ended when they both felt too bloated to
continue.
“You know I don’t get drunk. Why do you always insist on
drinking in my place?”
Returning the empty wineglass, Ha-Jin narrowed his crimson
eyes, scanning Yeon’s delicate features with a disapproving
air.
Long ago, Yeon had shared drinks with Choi Sa-Rang at a bar.
When Ha-Jin eventually heard about it, the story included the
two moving to a hotel. Supposedly, nothing happened there.
Even so, the incident left a sour taste that still lingered.
Ha-Jin hated it when Yeon drank out of his sight. That slightly
tipsy, radiant look Yeon had—it was something Ha-Jin wanted
to keep all to himself.
The music shifted, the tempo quickening. The musicians
transitioned into a lively, rhythmic piece.
“Oh, it’s starting!”
 Epilogue. Part 7
During the first interaction between His Majesty and the Deer,
the author used ‘레인’ to address the cleaner, thinking it was a
LLM’s mistake, I replaced it with ‘Deer’. Seems like ‘레인’
was the actual name, even though he has never introduced
himself. From this part on, this person is called Rain.
__

“Diaylen’s events are so unique. A ballroom dance in this day

and age? Feels like the Middle Ages.”
“So what? Everyone loves this part!”
The crowd along the walls parted as couples made their way to
the centre of the hall.
Yeon, holding his empty wineglass, stood back to watch. But
suddenly, Ha-Jin snatched the glass from him, handed it off to
a passing waiter, and grabbed Yeon’s hand. Without warning,
he began pulling Yeon toward the middle of the floor.
“W-What are you doing?!”
For once, Yeon stammered, looking utterly flustered. Ha-Jin
chuckled softly.
“Just this.”
He wanted Yeon close to him.
The ballroom was a gathering of supposedly refined
individuals, where even married couples maintained a
dignified distance. Especially those of high rank.
‘This lunatic…’
Ha-Jin drew Yeon firmly into his arms, intertwining their
fingers as he led them into the rhythm.
“I don’t know how to dance,” Yeon muttered, lowering his
head against Ha-Jin’s chest in embarrassment. The humiliation
of being the centre of attention was almost unbearable.
Everywhere they went, eyes followed them.
“Just follow my lead.”
Ha-Jin’s arms tightened, his strength guiding Yeon’s hesitant
steps into a fluid rhythm. As a foster son of Commander
Dicaine, Ha-Jin had undergone every imaginable type of royal
education, including mastering ballroom dances.
Their movements synchronised seamlessly. Resigned, Yeon
clumsily allowed himself to follow.
“Wow, don’t they look perfect together?”
“They’re the couple of the century. A pair destined to shake
the world on their own.”
Across the room, Ronile, still transfixed, overheard the
murmured admiration and nodded slowly in agreement.
“Right, I’ll admit it… You two do look bloody perfect
together.”
Seated against the wall, Cesar brushed back his silver hair, his
expression stiff. Even he had to admit it—Tae Ha-Jin and Lee
Yeon were the kind of couple that turned every head in the
room.
The Second Division Commander scowled, but the redness
spreading to his ears betrayed him. Meanwhile, the First
Division Commander looked down at Lee Yeon as if the man
was the most precious thing on earth.
‘This is bloody infuriating.’
Something hot and restless churned inside Cesar. Ever since he
realised he fancied Lee Yeon, he’d been circling, waiting for
the tiniest crack to slip through. But no matter how hard he
looked, none existed.
Tae Ha-Jin was infamous for his foul temper, yet when it came
to his husband, he was utterly devoted.
Cesar had foolishly hoped they might divorce one day, but that
hope was now barely a flicker.
He sighed, weighed down by the same question he’d been
asking himself for months: What the hell do I do about this
unrequited love?

***

“Well, fancy seeing you again, Cleaner Rain.”

Ricardo, engaged in polite pleasantries with the guests at the
banquet, suddenly turned his attention to a solitary figure
standing at the edge of the dance floor. The figure was Rain,
staring blankly at the room as dancers twirled in sync to the
music.
Rain flinched when Ricardo addressed him so directly, bowing
hastily once he realised who had spoken.
“Your Majesty! I… it’s an honour…”
“Haven’t we met every day this week? Your greetings are
getting a bit rigid.”
Rain cautiously glanced up. He’d been taught that formal
greetings were safest, but it seemed the emperor disagreed.
And indeed, they had seen each other often recently—
whenever Rain deployed into the Zone of Total Destruction to
coordinate transportation espers handling the abnormal types,
Ricardo always showed up, making small talk before his
attendants inevitably whisked him away.
“Find the banquet hall fascinating?” Ricardo asked with a
smile.
Rain blinked slowly and shook his head. “No, it’s just…
seeing people dance like this to such music… It’s unusual.”
The synchronised movements of the dancers captivated him.
Rain couldn’t remember where he might’ve seen such a thing
before. It wasn’t like the flashy, chaotic dances of entertainers.
Ricardo hummed thoughtfully as he observed Rain’s reaction.
Raised as a slave, locked away from the world… No wonder
this all feels alien to him.
With a soft chuckle, Ricardo extended his hand.
Rain stared at the elegant palm before him, bewildered.
“I’ll teach you a step or two. I dare say I’m the best teacher
you’ll find here.”
“Pardon…?”
“It’s a party. Let yourself enjoy it.”
Rain fidgeted, his fingers twisting nervously. ‘The emperor
himself is offering—refusing would be rude, right?’
But I can’t dance!
Before his thoughts could spiral further, Ricardo grabbed
Rain’s hand with a decisive, “Excuse me,” and led him onto
the dance floor. The sudden attention from the crowd made
Rain want to sink into the floor, but Ricardo remained
unfazed, resting his hand lightly on Rain’s waist.
And just like that, the emperor began moving him, guiding
him like a puppet on strings.
“You need feeding up,” Ricardo remarked casually.
“Uh, pardon?”
“I’ll send some sweets to your dormitory. You need fattening
up.”
Still bewildered, Rain lowered his gaze, awkwardly following
Ricardo’s graceful lead. The emperor teased and laughed as if
thoroughly enjoying himself, leaving Rain stunned by the sight
of his carefree smile.
This man… is genuinely having fun, Rain realised. The thought
was strange, unsettling even, but not unpleasant.

***

“Ah, sorry!”
Lee Yeon’s apology carried not a shred of sincerity. He’d
stepped on Tae Ha-Jin’s foot for the third time. Considering
how much he weighed, it must’ve hurt, but Tae Ha-Jin only
smiled.
“Look at that. There is something you’re bad at.”
“…There’s quite a lot, actually. I’m not as impressive as you
think.”
“Good. You’re better off being just the right amount of
amazing. That way, I don’t feel so bloody insecure.”
He was spewing sentimental nonsense, and Yeon snorted,
shooting him a glare that barely concealed his amusement. Tae
Ha-Jin’s occasional bursts of insecurity could be baffling, but
Yeon never found his relentless affection unwelcome.
But then, Ha-Jin’s gaze turned dark, his voice dropping low.
“You’re making me hard.”
“…What?”
“I said you’re turning me on.”
Without warning, Tae Ha-Jin stopped dancing and grabbed
Yeon’s wrist, pulling him towards the stairs. Yeon’s eyes
widened in alarm as the crowd’s attention shifted to them, but
Ha-Jin didn’t seem to care.
This perverted bastard… What’s he planning now?!
Past the second-floor landing, they entered a dimly lit VIP
lounge. Yeon tried to yank his wrist free, but Ha-Jin was
unrelenting, his intensity impossible to ignore.
As soon as the door shut, Ha-Jin cupped Yeon’s face with both
hands and crushed their lips together.
“Mmph! Hey…!”
Yeon’s muffled protests died as Ha-Jin’s hand slid around his
waist, holding him firmly in place.
The curtains swished loudly as Ha-Jin shoved them into the
lounge’s dressing area. It wasn’t much—a mere partition—but
at least it offered some privacy.
Yeon’s heart pounded like mad, his senses overwhelmed by
Ha-Jin’s scent and touch. That unwavering obsession… It was
maddening, intoxicating.
Rough fingers slipped under Yeon’s shirt, grazing his side as
Ha-Jin’s arousal pressed against him.
Yeon’s mind spiralled. How the hell did it come to this?
The desire to give in to corruption, to tangle bodies together
with him, burned within.
And then—
Bang!
The sound of the door swinging open pierced the silence from
beyond the curtain. Someone had entered the room. Alarmed,
Yeon tried to push Tae Ha-Jin away. Ignoring palms slamming
his shoulders, the man, already consumed by excitement, only
tightened the grip around Yeon’s waist.
‘Let go, you insane bastard…!’
Yeon screamed inwardly. Despite the unexpected intrusion, the
VIP waiting room remained cloaked in dimness. The new
arrivals had not bothered to switch on the lights. Judging by
their footsteps, there were two of them. The rustling of their
clothing reached her ears, accompanied by a faintly damp,
squelching sound.
Yeon sighed.
It seemed they were here for the same kind of indecent
rendezvous.
But the words that followed forced Yeon to question his
hearing.
“Please kiss me more, Dekal.”
“Ah, Kim Uibin, just—mmph!”
What the…?
Yeon felt the heat draining from his body.
Of all people, the pair to wander into this room had to be Kim
Uibin and Dekal.
Gritting the teeth, Yeon pushed Ha-Jin’s shoulders with all his
might, the expression deadly serious. Tae arched a brow,
peering down in response, about to ask what was wrong.
Before he could utter a word, Yeon clamped the hand over Ha-
Jin’s mouth.
Yeon leaned close, whispering urgently, his voice barely
audible.
“Dekal and Kim Uibin are out there…!”
Ha-Jin, now silent, allowed his gaze to wander. The hand
smelled good, and he took a moment to savour the scent, his
head tilting slightly.
So?
Yeon read the unspoken question in the crimson glint of his
eyes and sighed softly.
“Let’s just stay quiet and slip out later. No need to embarrass
ourselves.”
Ha-Jin’s brow twitched in mild amusement. Beyond the
curtain, the sound of passionate kisses grew heavier, their
erratic breathing spilling into the room like an invasive force.
Yeon’s pupils quivered with unease.
Ha-Jin chuckled quietly from behind the hand.
‘This is getting interesting.’
His large hand slid around the waist, pulling Yeon close.
Shocked, Yeon gaped at him as if he were a lunatic. Then,
without warning, his tongue flicked across the palm. Startled,
Yeon jerked the hand back instinctively.
“This is getting me more excited,” he murmured.
Yet, perhaps not wanting to push the husband too far, Ha-Jin
played along, lowering his voice to a teasing whisper. Still, his
mischief did not end there. Grabbing the wrist, he guided
Yeon’s hand down to press between his legs.
He wasn’t lying. He was harder than before.
‘You pervert…’
Yeon stared at him, aghast, the expression drained of all hope,
getting in return a smug smirk.
“How about a competition, darling?” he purred. “Let’s see
which couple has more fun.”
Before Yeon could respond, Tae leaned in, lips brushing
against the neck.
Smooch.
The touch was soft, the gentle stroke of his tongue deliberate
and slow. A shiver coursed through Yeon’s body, the fists
clenching tightly. He could feel himself slipping into this
rhythm, but he refused to give in.
Screwing the eyes shut, Yeon clamped his hands over the ears
to drown out the indecent sounds echoing from outside the
curtain.
Uibin-ah, I really didn’t need to know this about your private
life…
Despite Ha-Jin’s persistent provocations, Yeon held his
ground. For once, he prioritised his loyalty to a friend over the
current predicament. Only after the Dekal couple left did he
and Ha-Jin quietly slip out of the room. Thankfully, Yeon had
plugged his ears well enough to miss the more explicit details.
Yeon exhaled heavily, relieved, while Ha-Jin cast her a
dissatisfied glance.
“First Commander,” a voice interrupted as they descended into
the main hall.
It was Cesar. He approached them, his usually stern expression
softening as his gaze met Yeon’s. Offering him a small smile
and a brief bow, he shifted his attention back to Ha-Jin, the
expression turning serious.
“Could I have a word?”
Ha-Jin raised a brow but nodded. “Don’t drink while I’m
gone,” he muttered to Yeon before releasing his hand and
following Cesar.
Their departure caught everyone’s attention, the tall, imposing
figures commanding the room without even trying.
‘What’s this about…?’
Yeon watched them go, the unease growing. Cesar summoning
Ha-Jin like this was unprecedented.
Outside, in the designated smoking area, the two men stood
under the faint glow of the setting sun. Cesar pulled a cigarette
from his coat and placed it between his lips before offering
another.
“Want one?”
Ha-Jin accepted without a word. It had been years since he’d
quit, ever since taking in Yu-Jin and meeting Yeon. Smoking
had nearly disappeared from his life entirely.
But moments like this called for exceptions.
Moments when unpleasant conversations were inevitable.
Click.
The faint sound of lighters sparked the silence as they both lit
their cigarettes. Ha-Jin inhaled deeply, the long-forgotten
sensation oddly comforting. He chuckled dryly. With Yeon
around, cravings like this rarely crossed his mind.
Nothing in the world is more addictive than his guide.
“Divorce isn’t in your plans, is it?” Cesar asked abruptly.
Snap.
Ha-Jin’s cigarette broke clean in half, crushed between his
fingers. His expression turned icy as he cast a murderous glare
at Cesar.
“You’ve lost your mind,” he hissed, his left hand twitching
ominously. The air around them grew tense, the faint aura of
Ha-Jin’s abnormal type swirling with crimson light.
Unfazed, Cesar met his gaze, inhaling deeply from his
cigarette before speaking again.
“I’ve wondered… what would’ve happened if I’d met the
Second Commander before you did.”
His words were calm, deliberate, as if he had rehearsed them.
A bitter smile played on his lips.
“Not that it matters. Even if I had, he still would’ve chosen
you.”
Ha-Jin, who would normally scoff at such a declaration, didn’t
so much as smirk. His eyes remained cold, the irritation
gnawing at him. Cesar hadn’t explicitly confessed to Yeon, but
this was close enough.
And that was enough to make Ha-Jin want to crush him.
‘Should I just kill him?’
He entertained the thought briefly. After all, who did Cesar
think he was, daring to covet what was his?
The time he’d tolerated that bastard’s greed had stretched on
for quite a while. While he openly flirted with Lee Yeon,
there’d been no direct contact or confessions, leaving things in
a strange limbo.
But killing him would mean risking Yeon’s hatred. Yeon
seemed to think of the bastard as a decent human being. Tae
Ha-Jin, however, found it hard to suppress the murderous
intent boiling up from his very cells. Every second that passed,
he wrestled with the question of how to deal with him.
Ha-Jin’s face was stone-cold as he stared at Cesar as if carving
him into pieces.
“Why don’t you pick a fight, Third Commander? That way, I
can kill you legally.”
Such cases weren’t entirely unheard of. When anger and
resentment between two individuals reached their boiling
point, they could settle it in the Zone of Total Destruction—a
lawless battleground. Even if someone died, legal
repercussions were rare in such places where casualties were
often high.
It was an unspoken rule, an informal duel acknowledged by
all. It existed in the grey zone of the law, but few ever let their
emotions drive them to such extremes.
Cesar chuckled at Ha-Jin’s words.
“I got a message from my mother this morning. She told me
not to fight battles I can’t win. If I want better odds, I should
choose wisely.”
He glanced down at the floor, a wry smile on his lips. The
belated wisdom from his mother felt tragically misplaced.
“You’re right; I do like the Second Commander. But I’ve
never thought about breaking up a perfectly good home just to
have him. He looks happy with you.”
Truthfully, Cesar had seen it more than once.
The rare, genuine happiness on the Second Commander’s face.
Even when he seemed angry, it was more like playful
grumbling. The way his eyes softened, watching someone
fondly, even in exasperation. All of it belonged to Tae Ha-Jin.
Cesar had considered saying something to the Second
Commander.
Not a declaration of “come to me,” but perhaps an offer—if
the First Commander ever acted like an irredeemable bastard
and Yeon wanted to leave, he’d help him. That he’d wait for
him.
But he had a nagging feeling.
That if he said something like that, he wouldn’t even get to
have the conversations they shared now.
‘No way… I couldn’t stand that.’
He glanced at the two of them in the centre of the banquet hall,
dancing without a care for the gazes of others. The Second
Commander looked simultaneously annoyed and joyful, and it
tore Cesar’s heart to shreds.
The certainty that he could never beat Tae Ha-Jin crashed over
him.
‘This crushing defeat, even before I’ve begun…’
Cesar let out a bitter laugh. People’s hearts were so
complicated and reckless. Better to keep his feelings buried
than risk never seeing him again. Besides, if Yeon’s current
marriage was truly his happiest choice, Cesar could do nothing
but support him.
He couldn’t bring himself to desire the man so much that he’d
ruin his peace.
That was Cesar’s love.
“Take good care of the Second Commander. If he ever decides
he doesn’t want to be with you anymore, I’ll be ready to step
in without hesitation. You know as well as I do—he’s someone
who deserves to be loved by anyone.”
Honestly, you don’t deserve him.
Ha-Jin shot Cesar a frosty glare.
The bastard’s meddlesome benevolence grated on his nerves.
He didn’t understand how deeply Ha-Jin loved Yeon, how
much he tried, or how fiercely he wanted to protect him.
Even after marrying Yeon, Ha-Jin didn’t feel like he truly
possessed him. As the bastard had said, Yeon was someone
naturally worthy of being adored. Precious and irreplaceable,
so much so that Ha-Jin occasionally felt he was out of reach—
too good for someone like him.
This unrelenting thirst would never be quenched, no matter
how much of his life he gave.
“Third Commander, keep your fucking feelings in check. Stop
bothering Yeon.”
Countless expletives sprang to Ha-Jin’s mind, but they felt
meaningless now.
The bastard had just declared his surrender.
As long as Cesar stopped hovering around Yeon, there’d be no
problem. But if he kept crossing the line after this
conversation, Ha-Jin had no qualms about killing him.
“I was already planning to. I’ll try to stay just a friend.”
“Disappear for good.”
“That’s not an option. I’m still human; I want to watch over
him from a distance.”
The bastard wasn’t one for empty words.
Ha-Jin’s gaze swept over Cesar’s infuriating silver hair and
ash-grey eyes. He truly was the most irritating human being.
The idea that he’d dared to intrude on their relationship was
laughable.
Even if Cesar hadn’t surrendered, Ha-Jin was confident he
wouldn’t lose.
He loved Yeon, and Yeon loved him back.
“You remind me of Jamahrah. Just as fucking annoying.”
With that, Ha-Jin strode out of the smoking area. Cesar, now
staring at Ha-Jin’s retreating figure, felt utterly drained.
Despite saying all he’d prepared to, a heavy weight still
lingered in his chest.
“Haa…”
Was this really how it ended?
Was this how it had to end?
The regret of not even trying anything gnawed at him, leaving
a bitter aftertaste. He hadn’t realised how deeply he’d sunk
into this web of love.
Cesar pulled out another cigarette. Between his graceful
fingers rested a stick that would soon burn itself into
nothingness.
His first love was achingly bitter.
 ***

The first holiday had finally come around. Not for himself, but
for Tae Ha-Jin.
Since the Zone of Total Destruction’s establishment, even
espers had been given structured breaks to prepare for
emergencies. A long-overdue breather for those with abnormal
types.
“Feels strange.”
Yeon eyed Tae Ha-Jin awkwardly, who spent the entire day
lounging with Yu-Jin, doing nothing. He was always out at the
crack of dawn, returning late at night.
Ever since Zero’s launch, the healthy and diligent Ha-Jin had
never once taken a sick day. As First Commander, his
workload was enormous, but he always made it home
somehow.
Even mature beyond her years, Yu-Jin never complained about
her fathers being busy. When she wasn’t being doted on, she
spent her time reading. According to the housekeeper’s
reports, 80% of Yu-Jin’s day was dedicated to books.
“Daddy’s finally taking a break. What should we do?”
 Epilogue. Part 8 [PG-18]
Ha-Jin lay sprawled on the oversized living room sofa,
propping his head with one arm, a smile playing on his lips.
His expression said he’d do anything Yu-Jin wanted.
She glanced up briefly from her book, swinging it lightly
before speaking.
“Why don’t you play with Dad? I’m busy right now.”
From the distance, Yeon, watching this rare holiday unfold,
couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. It was hard to tell who was the
adult and who was the child. Ha-Jin, seemingly prepared for
her response, let out a soft chuckle, rising from the sofa. He
tousled Yu-Jin’s hair carelessly before walking over to Yeon,
slipping an arm around his waist.
“Looks like I’m the only one who’ll entertain you today.”
“Let go of me. I have to get to work.”
Lee Yeon tried to pry Tae Ha-Jin’s arms off his waist.
However, his grip was so strong, even interlocked fingers
wouldn’t budge. He might have to tap into his esper energy to
break free.
Why is Willet so late?
The clock had ticked over 20 minutes past his starting time,
but Willet, the esper responsible for transportation, was
nowhere to be seen.
Ding.
A belated reply arrived to the text Yeon had sent, demanding
an explanation. Still held firmly in Ha-Jin’s embrace, Yeon
pulled his phone from his pocket. Both read the message
together.
[9:03 AM
Willet Esper. Why haven’t you arrived? Submit a formal
explanation for being late.]
[…Excuse me? I was informed the Second Division
Commander is on leave today ㅠㅠ I’m already at Zero,
Commander…
9:24 AM]

What?
Yeon frowned.
On leave? Since when?
Turning his head, he was greeted by Tae Ha-Jin’s radiant
smile.
This is your doing, isn’t it?
“A holiday without you is garbage. Naturally, we’ll rest
together,” Ha-Jin said, as if reciting a universal truth.
Yeon rubbed his face with his hand. As the First and Second
Division Commanders, if they both went on leave
simultaneously, the burden would fall on the Third Division
Commander, Cesar, and the other leaders.
Yeon, who had always prioritised Zero’s stability, couldn’t
help but feel a pang of guilt.
“It’s rare to have time off. Forget about Zero for once. Must I
get jealous of that, too?”
“Haa… I’ll never survive with you around.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll live a long life.”
Because I’ll make sure of it.
Knowing Ha-Jin, he probably meant it. Yeon let out an
incredulous laugh.
With breakfast out of the way, he began to wonder how to
spend Tae Ha-Jin’s first holiday. While he was still
contemplating, idly tracing his chin, a burst of light erupted in
the middle of the living room.
A distinctive aura signalled the arrival of Doberman.
Emerging from the light were Doberman, Dekal, and Kim
Uibin, each gripping one of his arms. Yeon’s eyes widened at
their unexpected appearance. The pair were supposed to be
preoccupied with their wedding preparations.
Unlike Yeon, Ha-Jin wasn’t surprised in the slightest. Even
Yu-Jin, who had been quietly reading, greeted them politely
without so much as a flinch.
“Hello, Yu-Jin! It’s been a while!” Uibin beamed, rushing to
Yu-Jin and nuzzling her cheek. Yu-Jin, expressionless but
accustomed to such antics, remained seated.
“Alright, time to go!” Doberman clapped his hands,
addressing Yeon and Ha-Jin. Yeon tilted his head in confusion.
Go where?
No one offered an explanation. Instead, Ha-Jin casually
scooped Yu-Jin up from the sofa and placed a hand on
Doberman’s arm, as if they had anticipated this.
Before long, everyone had their hands on Doberman. Swept up
by the atmosphere, Yeon hesitated but eventually followed
suit.
‘What on earth is going on…?’
A brilliant light engulfed them, only to fade away moments
later. As Yeon slowly opened his tightly shut eyes, he was
greeted by the sound of waves.
Shhhhhh. Shhhhhh.
The faint sound of waves crashing, the emerald-green beach,
and the salty scent of the sea mixed with sand—this was a
place he couldn’t mistake.
The famed Kisilina Beach, in the picturesque and well-policed
Kisili Nation.
“What the…” Yeon’s jaw dropped as he took in the
breathtaking view of cliffs and sparkling ocean waters. The
sheer beauty left him momentarily speechless.
While he stood in awe, Tae Ha-Jin draped an arm over his
shoulder.
“From now on, let’s take trips like this,” he said, his eyes fixed
somewhere beyond the horizon.
Yeon looked up at him. The man’s lips curled into a satisfied
smile, his gaze tranquil.
“I want you to rest,” Ha-Jin continued.
“…”
“I’ve bought a few villas for us.”
It was only then that Yeon realised something—like a bolt of
lightning striking him.
I’ve never truly rested before.
His life had been anything but leisurely. His childhood was
consumed by fear and countless wounds. Once he joined the
Disaster Defence Centre, chaos followed.
He fought against monsters, the world, and even himself. Not
a moment was spared.
Even after establishing Zero, he was consumed by
responsibilities—building, maintaining, and fulfilling his role.
He and Ha-Jin were always busy. Even at home, his time was
spent caring for Yu-Jin or reinforcing their relationship as
partners. He had never even dreamed of a proper holiday.
Yet, despite it all, he had been happy. The radiant man beside
him had loved him so profoundly, there was never a moment
to feel lacking.
It seemed Ha-Jin, on the other hand, had noticed this absence.
By arranging this holiday, he was giving Yeon what he had
never thought to give himself.
Yeon’s chest tightened with emotion. He frowned slightly,
staring at Ha-Jin in silence.
How could I not love you?
“If there’s anything you want to do, write it down. We’ve got
time, and I’ve got the means to make it happen.”
A breeze swept past.
Carried within it was a scent Yeon knew too well. He
swallowed dryly. At last, they had gained the luxury of doing
what they wanted. They’d earned that right.
It still didn’t feel real.
Laughter echoed across the beach. Yu-Jin and Uibin were
playing with the sand, and nearby, Dekal stood with a faint
smile. His gaze lingered on Uibin’s smile.
Doberman, excusing himself to fetch his family, had wandered
off.
The whole scene felt like some surreal dream. The world had
never seemed this quiet or peaceful before.
Yeon felt a lump rising in his throat, his eyes stinging ever so
slightly.
Without awareness, freedom was no different from a mere
illusion. Now, he was finally facing that freedom.
“I love you, hyung.”
“…”
Yeon’s tearful gaze turned to Ha-Jin. At the heart of this
newfound freedom, at the centre of his life, was him. Those
crimson eyes, unwavering as ever, were locked on him.
Reaching out, Yeon clasped the back of Ha-Jin’s neck and
pulled him into a kiss.
It wasn’t rushed but lingered just long enough.
Ha-Jin froze, forgetting to breathe for a moment. His heart
raced wildly. They’d spent so much time together, yet the
excitement never seemed to fade.
‘Am I losing it…?’
He wondered if he’d truly gone mad.
It had been five years since Yeon last told him, “I love you.”
Only twice in total had Yeon uttered those rare, precious
words. It struck Ha-Jin now, more than ever, just how sincere
Yeon was being.
Ha-Jin’s brow twitched. While he declared his love almost
daily, his partner always seemed stingy with affection.
The unfairness was maddening—but even that, he found
adorable. With that thought, Ha-Jin leaned in and kissed him
back.
Time passed both quickly and slowly that day.
Spending time with those who now felt like family, Yeon
couldn’t help but feel grateful.
For his survival.
And for his Tae Ha-Jin.

***

Ha-Jin’s villa stood right on the beach.

“Not going to sleep?”
Dekal stepped into the garden out front, clearing up after the
barbecue earlier. The Kisilina coastline wasn’t as dark as most
night-time beaches, thanks to the bright lights spilling from the
nearby mansions.
Seated at a garden table, Ha-Jin lazily drank wine straight
from the bottle, his crimson eyes glancing at Dekal. He
seemed relaxed.
“And you?”
“Just tidying this up before I head in.”
Dekal held up a bag of charcoal leftover from the barbecue.
Ha-Jin nodded and finished his wine.
Without a word, Dekal sat down in the chair beside Ha-Jin.
Ha-Jin didn’t seem to mind.
Shhh… shhh…
The waves whispered against the shore. Dekal, staring blankly
into the distance, suddenly broke the silence.
“Thank you.”
Ha-Jin pulled the bottle from his lips, eyebrows raising
slightly.
“For what?”
“I just wanted to say it. It’s thanks to you that I’m living this
life now. Meeting Kim Uibin, too.”
Ha-Jin chuckled, brushing it off at first. But Dekal’s serious
tone made him pause, narrowing his eyes slightly. Once upon
a time, when Dekal was a mere test subject, he had seemed
devoid of any emotion. Even now, his face remained stoic, yet
he was expressing himself freely.
‘Must be Kim Uibin’s influence,’ Ha-Jin thought.
Not that he particularly liked Uibin, but since Dekal cared for
her and Yeon held her dear, he didn’t bear any resentment
either.
Well, it was impressive she managed to change someone like
Dekal this much.
“All I did was get you out of there,” Ha-Jin said, taking
another swig of wine. He meant it. All the choices, all the
steps leading to Dekal’s current life, had been entirely his own.
Dekal had saved himself.
Not Ha-Jin.
Even so, Dekal had helped him tirelessly for years, even
playing the unlikely role of a spy. Their shared history, it
seemed, ran deeper than he’d thought.
Turning the wine bottle idly in his hand, Ha-Jin said,
“Congrats on the wedding.”
“….”
Dekal blinked, his mouth opening slightly before closing
again. At a loss for words, he merely nodded.
After a long silence, Dekal gazed beyond the waves, his voice
laced with hesitation. “Are we… friends?”
It was a question that had lingered for years. Today, for some
reason, he felt like asking. He wasn’t expecting much of an
answer. Ha-Jin wasn’t the type to offer warm reassurances,
and their bond had always been somewhat ambiguous.
But Ha-Jin replied without missing a beat.
“Yeah.”
“….”
Dekal stiffened briefly before nodding again.
Ha-Jin let out an incredulous laugh. What was with this guy
today, spouting the strangest things?
The sea breeze blew gently.
The weather was perfect.

***

After a meal at a nearby restaurant, everyone returned to the

villa. Doberman’s family splashed about in the water, Yu-Jin
retreated to his room with a book, and Uibin and Dekal
disappeared together, likely to their room.
Since earlier, Yeon had been deep in thought, a serious
expression etched across his face.
Ha-Jin, lying down with his eyes closed, finally asked,
“What’s on your mind?”
“Why.”
“…It’s just… don’t you think something was off?”
Lee Yeon, as if waiting for the question, jumped right in. Tae
Ha-Jin let out a dry chuckle.
“What was?”
“What else—Kim Uibin and Dekal.”
Recalling the expression Uibin had worn in the cafeteria, Yeon
adopted a serious tone.
“She didn’t look good at all. Her dark circles were terrible, and
she seemed completely exhausted… She kept saying she was
fine, but I wonder if something’s going on between her and
Dekal. Like, maybe Dekal’s secretly doing something
horrible…”
He couldn’t help but think of Uibin’s past lovers, including the
late Dae-Young, and the despicable things they had done.
Occasionally, the worst scenes from that time would come to
mind, vivid and unwelcome. Maybe that was why Yeon often
found himself worrying about Uibin, fearing Dekal might turn
out to be a two-faced scumbag just like the others.
If not that, then what else could explain Kim Uibin’s effort to
mask her exhaustion with feigned cheer?
Yeon didn’t believe her “I’m fine.” for a second.
Ha-Jin chuckled silently to himself.
Lying on the bed, he pushed himself up and approached Yeon
with purposeful strides, a playful smile lighting his face.
Yeon, lost in thought, blinked at the sudden closeness of Ha-
Jin’s face, his brow furrowing in suspicion.
“…What?”
“Should I tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Why Kim Uibin looks like that.”
Yeon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You know the reason? You’re saying you have an idea?”
“I do.”
Without warning, Ha-Jin bent down and scooped Yeon off his
feet, carrying him effortlessly. Caught off guard, Yeon yelped.
“Whoa—!”
Ha-Jin strode to the nearby bed and unceremoniously tossed
Yeon onto it. The luxury mattress absorbed the weight with
ease. Yeon, who’d been thrown around like this a few times
before, shot him a wary glance.
“What the… What are you doing all of a sudden?”
The man smirked. Kneeling on the bed, he nonchalantly
peeled off his top, revealing toned, golden skin stretched over
a solidly built frame. Yeon’s gaze flickered, unsteady.
“Say the word if you don’t want this.”
Because otherwise, he had no intention of stopping.
Ha-Jin undid his belt buckle with a decisive clink and pulled
down the zip. Though he didn’t remove his trousers
completely, the sight through the opened zipper left no doubt
of his intentions. As Yeon instinctively shifted backward, Ha-
Jin reached out and grabbed him, hand wrapping around the
already half-hard cock.
The grip wasn’t overly firm, but Yeon flinched reflexively. Ha-
Jin began stroking him with a tantalising rhythm, firm but not
rough. Yeon’s brows knitted together, unsure of how their
conversation had spiralled into this. What was clear, though,
was that Ha-Jin was shamelessly seducing him.
What followed was chaos.
Ha-Jin drove Yeon to his limits with relentless fervour. Yeon
had to stifle his voice repeatedly, worried others might
overhear. Ha-Jin, ever the mischief-maker, would pin Yeon’s
arms to the bed and deliberately make him cry out, moving
with intense force. It was as if he got a twisted thrill from
tormenting him.
The bed, the sofa, the bathroom, even the table—they didn’t
leave a single corner of the room untouched. Every glance
exchanged between them reignited the fire. Only now did
Yeon realise just how versatile this spacious suite could be.
“Haa…”
He’d lost count of how many times they’d gone at it. Even
after all that, Ha-Jin showed no sign of tiring, his stamina
seemingly endless.
“For the love of… Just stay away from me for a while,” Yeon
ground out, utterly drained from the overwhelming pleasure.
He wanted to shower, but his legs gave out the moment he
tried to stand. As he shifted awkwardly on the bed, Ha-Jin
reached over to steady him, laughing softly.
“Let go, you bastard. What’s so funny?”
“Come here.”
Still grinning, Ha-Jin scooped Yeon up again, carrying him
with ease. This time, he brought him to the vanity mirror. The
large mirror reflected their bare forms starkly. Ha-Jin tilted
Yeon’s chin upward, forcing him to look.
Compared to Ha-Jin, who looked relatively composed, Yeon’s
body was a mess of kiss marks, his skin pale and drained. He
looked like someone who hadn’t slept for days, worn thin by
constant work.
While Yeon stared in shock at his own reflection, Ha-Jin
leaned close to his ear, speaking in a low, teasing tone.
“This is the reason.”
“What…?”
“The reason Kim Uibin looked so exhausted.”
“…?”
“See? Doesn’t it look familiar?”
 Epilogue. Part 9
Ha-Jin chuckled, tilting Yeon’s head this way and that to
emphasise his point. Yeon opened his mouth, then closed it
again, utterly dumbfounded. After everything, Ha-Jin had just
wanted to prove this ridiculous point to him.
‘This lunatic…’
When viewed through Ha-Jin’s twisted logic, Uibin’s fatigue
and awkward attempts to claim she was fine did seem to make
more sense. Yeon couldn’t help but think of Dekal, recalling
the man’s composed and confident image.
Could he be just as merciless at night as Ha-Jin?
The thought was too much to dwell on, and Yeon quickly
shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
Perhaps feeling a shred of guilt for pushing Yeon so far, Ha-Jin
wrapped his arms around him in a rare show of affection,
nuzzling against Yeon’s nape like an oversized cat.
“Darling, shall we shower together?”
Yeon offered a faint smile.
“Get lost.”
As if expecting the answer, Ha-Jin laughed heartily. Hoisting
Yeon over his shoulder like a sack of rice, he carried him into
the bathroom. Too exhausted to protest, Yeon slumped onto
the edge of the tub, only for a sudden thought to hit him.
“Oh, wait. Didn’t I win the bet? Cesar never confessed, did
he?”
At that, Ha-Jin’s expression stiffened.
The bastard hadn’t outright confessed to Yeon, but he had
poured his heart out to Ha-Jin. That thought soured Ha-Jin’s
mood all over again. To be fair, a confession had been made,
which meant the bet was Ha-Jin’s win.
Still, there was no way in hell Ha-Jin was going to admit that
the bastard had been sincere with him. The idea of Yeon
replaying that confession in his head made Ha-Jin’s skin
crawl.
“Yeah, looks like you won,” he muttered grudgingly. Forcing
the corners of his mouth into a semblance of a smile, he
noticed Yeon’s curious look. Then Yeon’s face split into a
delighted grin.
“In that case, I’ll make my wish now.”
Whatever wish Yeon made, Ha-Jin was prepared to grant it.
Bet or no bet, if Yeon truly wanted something, Ha-Jin would
do it for him.
But when Yeon finally made his wish, Ha-Jin’s brows drew
together in an instant scowl.
“For the next month, don’t even lay a finger on me. That’s my
wish.”
Yeon laughed, his expression positively devilish.
‘Let’s see you choke on that.’
The number of times Yeon had been tormented by Ha-Jin
wasn’t small. Now, Yeon was hitting him with what he knew
would hurt the most. Watching Ha-Jin’s expression harden in
real-time filled Yeon with an intoxicating sense of victory.
So this is what payback feels like.
Ha-Jin forced a smile, though his tone was biting.
“Of all the things you could wish for, you had to pick that,
darling?”
“No backing out,” Yeon replied smugly.
Ha-Jin’s smile began to falter.
Cesar, you bastard.
Even though Ha-Jin had won the bet, it was because of that
bastard that Yeon had made his wish. If Cesar hadn’t been so
bloody earnest with Yeon, the wish would’ve been Ha-Jin’s to
make.
Ha-Jin sighed inwardly. “Fine, have it your way.”
For once, Ha-Jin seemed to accept defeat. When Yeon raised a
sceptical brow, Ha-Jin added with a smirk,
“You’ll come crawling back to me in less than a week.”
That sharp smile of Ha-Jin’s returned, dangerous as ever. He
already had several ideas on how to tempt Yeon without
breaking the rules. Ha-Jin knew exactly what kind of moves
would get under Yeon’s skin.
He could already picture Yeon coming to him, begging to toss
the wish out and just have sex already.
‘Bloody hell, that’s hot.’
Ha-Jin licked his lips and raised his hands in mock surrender.
“I won’t touch you. But you can touch me.”
His gaze softened, though his grin stayed wicked.
Whenever you change your mind, let me know.
His beautiful, lovable man was absolutely insane.

***

Yu-Jin stood on the terrace of the fourth floor of the villa.

The night was late, the stars shimmering overhead, and the
moonlight glinting off the distant sea. A cool breeze swept
through, rustling the pages of the book Yu-Jin had just closed
and set on the table. She’d already finished it.
Her dads probably thought she was asleep.
“Shut up, Vessel,” she muttered under her breath.
The damned thing was interrupting her reading.
When Yu-Jin mumbled like that, people assumed she was
talking to herself. Especially Yeon-Dad, who liked to
reminisce about how he used to talk to himself as a kid and
how she was a carbon copy of him.
To be fair, her face did take after Yeon-Dad. She only shared
the eye and hair colour of Ha-Jin-Dad.
〔Foolish child. I never speak first. It is you who pokes
through my thoughts unbidden.〕
The voice echoed through her Vessel like a chorus, dozens of
tones overlapping in perfect dissonance. It was the kind of
sound that would make most people flee in terror, but Yu-Jin
didn’t even flinch.
“You call yourself a god. Can’t you do something about this?”
〔I am merely the ‘Chaos’ of this world. I disrupt it, feed on
its discord, and cleanse its filth. Nothing more.〕
“You do what humans can’t. That’s why they call things like
you gods.”
〔If you mean the Creator, that’s someone else entirely.
Though you might yet reach—〕
“Not interested.”
Yu-Jin sighed, her gaze drifting to the sea. She leaned back in
her chair, closing her eyes, her mind slipping into the depths of
her Vessel - Vanta Black.
The space within was vast and oppressive, darker than pitch,
like the void between the stars. Scattered across this emptiness
were countless planets, their orbits erratic, chaotic.
At the centre of it all loomed a massive, red maw. Tentacles
slithered out from its mouth, snatching planets and devouring
them whole.
Yu-Jin had given it a name: Abyss.
Her Vessel housed this ravenous creature.
〔It’s been a while, Yu-Jin.〕
The maw growled.
“When are you leaving my Vessel?”
Crunch.
The creature bit down on a planet, its teeth grinding the
celestial body like a crisp biscuit. Its grotesque lips curled into
a grin.
〔What place could rival this glorious Vessel? If one exists,
I’ll gladly leave.〕
Yu-Jin’s brow furrowed in irritation. The thing was
insufferable. It had originally inhabited Ha-Jin-Dad’s Vessel
but moved to hers after meeting her. Abyss claimed its current
form was based on Ha-Jin-Dad’s original monstrous maw,
designed for consuming and cleaning.
And so, even after leaving, it had left behind a similar maw in
Ha-Jin-Dad’s Vessel.
〔So, how’s your family?〕
Oddly, Abyss had an unusual fascination with her family,
especially Yeon-Dad.
Though it annoyed her, Yu-Jin always answered its questions.
After all, she wasn’t uninterested in Abyss either.
Sitting atop a random planet, Yu-Jin stared into the red depths
of Abyss as she replied.
“They’re good people.”
The tentacles hesitated, as if pondering which planet to devour
next, swaying indecisively. Then, with startling speed, one
elongated tentacle pierced through a star. Another followed,
impaling more stars like skewers on a stick.
Each time, the maw savoured its meal and posed a question.
〔Humans… tch. I fail to understand why you insist on acting
like a child. Weren’t you already complete, even while still in
the egg?〕
Yu-Jin lay curled up on the planet’s surface, folding himself
like a shrimp. It was the posture she’d always found most
comfortable, even back in the egg. She spoke in a detached
tone.
“True. But my dads wanted me to be ordinary. Pretending to
be a child isn’t exactly hard.”
Her fathers thought she only had one ability.
The power to control the weather.
A rather useful skill, but not particularly essential for
maintaining her facade. Yu-Jin’s true ability was something
else entirely.
She could read people’s thoughts within a designated range.
Yu-Jin knew. She knew about the curse her father Yeon always
worried about—the dual bloodline. But despite the strong
genetic traits of her dual bloodline, Yu-Jin lacked the abnormal
type common to guides.
Instead, Yu-Jin was a perfect SS-grade esper, capable of
wielding two extraordinary powers. Was that an effect of the
dual bloodline? Perhaps.
‘How should I know?’
In any case, Yu-Jin saw no reason to believe that the curse
Yeon feared would apply to her. And even if it did, she was
confident she could suppress it.
〔You were planning to kill them, weren’t you, Yu-Jin?〕
Crunch. Crunch.
Abyss chewed through planets with disinterest as it asked the
question. Yu-Jin opened her crimson eyes and muttered.
“I was. At first.”
She recalled the moment she had faced the two men. Trapped
inside her black egg, Yu-Jin’s mind had already matured. The
man who created her, Lee Hong-Jun, had forcibly crammed
knowledge into her developing brain through synthetic blood
vessels and capsules. From the fragments of knowledge she’d
absorbed, Yu-Jin understood Hong-Jun’s ambition—to create
the perfect human.
That ambition was why the other eggs had failed, cracking
under the pressure.
But Yu-Jin was different. Her self-awareness had fully
developed in the egg, and she had awakened all her abilities.
So, when the two men tried to dispose of her, Yu-Jin could
read their thoughts in real-time. Her ability had proven
invaluable in that moment.
She had felt threatened.
Father Ha-Jin had genuinely intended to kill her.
Yu-Jin had contemplated unleashing thousands of lightning
strikes upon the research lab with her weather control ability.
She’d even broken out of the egg, ready to act. But when Yeon
saw her, the man hesitated.
Yu-Jin read his thoughts—compassion and a desperate desire
to save her.
That hesitation made Yu-Jin pause.
Everyone else she’d encountered in the lab had seen her as
nothing more than an experiment, a tool, or a nuisance. But
Yeon was different. He was the first to recognise Yu-Jin as a
living, thinking being.
A dangerous being, perhaps, but also pitiable.
Their eyes had met. Yu-Jin read his thoughts.
—Why doesn’t he cry? Newborns are supposed to cry, aren’t
they?
—It’s alive. Truly alive. If its very existence is a sin, isn’t that
unbearably tragic?
—We’re not sinners. Neither are you, little one.
It was a foolish and sentimental thought.
For the first time since her creation, Yu-Jin smiled. Not
because she was amused, but because she knew humans found
smiles pleasing. It was a calculated decision.
And Yeon’s response confirmed it.
—Are you feeling this touch as if it’s salvation?
—Is that why you’re smiling?
Yu-Jin decided then. If there was a human she could trust, it
might be this one. With Yeon, perhaps she wouldn’t have to
live as a mere tool.
She had also read Ha-Jin’s thoughts.
—I don’t particularly want to kill this child.
—She’s the spitting image of Yeon. How could I kill her so
easily?
—If he becomes a disaster someday, I’ll simply deal with her
then.
Their complacent thoughts had initially made Yu-Jin consider
becoming the disaster they feared. But as time passed, their
actions proved otherwise. They cherished her, did their utmost
to provide for her, and shielded her from anything unpleasant.
It was dull, but compared to the suffering inside the egg, it was
peaceful. Gradually, Yu-Jin grew attached to them. If they
wished for her to live as a child, she was willing to oblige.
〔Why not become the disaster, Yu-Jin?〕
It started again.
Abyss murmured such thoughts daily. Yu-Jin often overheard
them unintentionally.
Destroy everything.
Show humanity their end.
Disaster is merely the prelude to a new beginning.
Yu-Jin pitied it.
“All those destructive thoughts… How pitiful you are.”
She leaned back, crimson eyes calm.
“If not for my fathers, I might have become that disaster. But
now? I can’t be bothered. I’ll live as Yeon wants me to.”
When she awakened at the age of five, she hadn’t meant to
reveal herself. But the Vessel’s energy had grown too powerful
to suppress. Her fathers, prodigious even by human standards,
wouldn’t think much of a child awakening so young.
It was, in truth, a matter of convenience.
Abyss snorted at Yu-Jin’s refusal.
〔Ridiculous. Do you really think of yourself as human?〕
At that, Yu-Jin sat up and stared directly at the entity.
〔You are not human. If you wished, you could stand beside
gods. Human genetics? It’s nothing more than divine blessing.
A power that defies the impossible. You possess something
closer to divinity, don’t you?〕
How are you any different from a monster?
The words were designed to needle her, but Yu-Jin remained
utterly unruffled. She didn’t feel much of anything. Slowly,
she blinked and replied,
“Doesn’t matter.”
Her voice was steady, her face masked by the same unfitting
smile she always wore.
“Whether I’m rubbish or a monster, my dads said they’ll
protect me.”
〔Foolish enough to believe human promises, are you?〕
“Yep.”
But aren’t you just as foolish? A monster leeching off a
powerful human to grow stronger.
Yu-Jin’s smile deepened, sweet but razor-sharp.
Abyss’ planetary feast was a condensed lump of Yu-Jin’s vast
energy, unable to properly manifest. In simpler terms, they
were concentrated fragments of her power. Abyss would never
find a host as satisfying as her.
Unless, of course, it were Ha-Jin-Dad or Yeon-Dad. No one
else on this planet would suffice.
〔…….〕
The maw clamped shut at her words, only to curl into a twisted
grin moments later.
〔When you change your mind, let me know, Yu-Jin. I’ll be
here, inside you, waiting for your downfall.〕
“Wait all you like, Abyss,” she said coolly. “And do it
quietly.”
Without another glance, Yu-Jin left. Her face betrayed no
emotion as she distanced herself from the maw. Left alone in
the infinite expanse of the universe, Abyss’ grin faltered.
It had devoured the energy of countless dual bloodline hosts,
sapping them dry over the centuries. The reason descendants
of dual bloodlines rarely awakened strong grades or lived long
lives? It had consumed them, gnawing away at their essence.
The vessels simply couldn’t endure and perished under the
strain.
Dual bloodlines were humans blessed by the gods themselves.
Their energy was unmatched in its flavour and intensity.
‘Christina, wasn’t it?’
Abyssvremembered. Her body wasn’t ideal; using such a
potent ability like prophecy drained her energy far too quickly.
She wouldn’t last long. The maw had already been eyeing her
replacement. Originally, it had planned to move to her son, but
he was far too young. Instead, it settled for an experimental
subject—a hastily formed vessel.
Tae Ha-Jin.
It had been a long time since Abyss had inhabited a non-dual
bloodline human.
And yet, Ha-Jin’s vessel was uniquely… delectable. If it
weren’t for him, it would have latched onto Yeon’s vessel.
The plan had been simple: drain Ha-Jin dry and then jump to
Yeon. But then, an even better host appeared.
Yu-Jin.
The most radiant Vessel it had ever encountered in its
millennia of existence. No Vessel had ever compared to her
brilliance.
In hindsight, Yeon was an extraordinarily lucky human. By
sheer coincidence, he’d surrounded himself with strong,
flavourful Vessels, avoiding the Vessel’s curse entirely.
Yes.
The so-called “Curse of the Dual Bloodline.”
Another name for Abyss itself.
〔Heh… heh… heh.〕
Its twisted grin spread again.
Yu-Jin.
Do you truly believe tragedy will release its grip on you so
easily?
I will remain by your side, feasting on your delectable energy,
nurturing your despair.
And when your spirit wavers—
I will consume every part of you, emerging as the ultimate
calamity.
Finally, I’ll break free from the Creator’s chains…

***

“What’s this? You lot were having fun without me?”

“Yeon! How’ve you been? Feels like it’s been ages!”
Ricardo and Elena greeted him warmly.
Doberman just brought the pair of royals to the beach. Despite
their busy schedules, they’d managed to spare a little time.
The emerald shores of Kisilina stretched before them.
Alongside Doberman’s crew were the royal siblings, Uibin’s
couple, and Yeon’s family. Doberman surveyed the lively
gathering with satisfaction. People dripping wet from
swimming played in the sand.
Ha-Jin, it seemed, had been up to his antics again, prompting
Yeon to pelt him with sand.
“Right, setting the timer for ten seconds!”
Doberman barked as he precariously balanced a tripod in the
sand. At his command, the chatting group turned their
attention to the camera.
Dekal slung an arm around Uibin’s shoulder while she
wrapped her arms around his waist.
The Crown Prince playfully rested a hand on Ha-Jin’s
shoulder. Elena clasped her hands together, standing neatly
beside Yeon.
Covered in sand, Ha-Jin held his daughter’s hand while
tugging Yeon closer. Though Yeon looked annoyed at first, he
soon burst into laughter, flashing a V-sign at the camera.
Yu-Jin glanced up at her dads, then turned to the camera with a
bright smile.
“Everyone, smile!”
Doberman sprinted to join his wife and child, nearly tripping
in his haste but managing to settle just in time.
Click!
That very day, Yeon received the printed photo at the villa.
Every face in the picture beamed with happiness. Yeon studied
each one carefully.
It was no illusion.
They had survived.
They’d found their way back to one another.
No one was left alone. No one was left in pain.
“The Emperor’s paying for dinner tonight.”
“Oh? What’s the occasion?”
“Dunno. He seemed in good spirits.”
Ha-Jin’s comment drew a wry smile from Yeon.
Ding.
A message came through. Yeon pulled out his phone.
It was a photo of Euiju posing with a flashy new car, throwing
up a V-sign.

[Yeon oppa! Look, I got a new car today! Kyaa! Hahaha.

Please thank Esper Tae Ha-Jin for me! I can’t believe he
actually kept that promise from five years ago.
4:17 PM]

The sender was Uibin’s younger sister, Euiju.

Apparently, Ha-Jin had owed Euiju a favour. He’d promised to
buy her something, and she’d gone for the priciest car she
could find.
‘Honestly, that kid…’ Yeon chuckled under his breath.
Ha-Jin had told Ui-Ju he’d get her the car if she got her driving
licence. It seemed she’d finally done it.
“Hey, Euiju says thanks,” Yeon said.
Ha-Jin laughed.
“Let’s head out.”
Yeon nodded, taking his hand as they stepped out of the villa.
Laughter and conversation filled the air.
Yeon thought to himself.
I…
We’ve finally found our lives.
There’s no greater happiness than this.
Holding back the sudden swell of emotion, Yeon smiled.
The door to happiness had been here all along.

The End.

__
Thank you.
For reading, commenting, pointing on things I’ve missed out,
and supporting the author. At the moment of writing, 31 parts
were published thanks to people buying raws and roughly
200k people has viewed the story. With this, I feel doing all
this wasn’t in vain.

Thank you.
For taking this journey with me.
Stay strong and see you around.

PS. There are two books with extras left, but right now I have
no intention to translate it. Write me if you want me to
reconsider, maybe I’ll.

Translation guide:
Huston, we have a problem. The girl named the maw, literally,
‘Vessel’.
Raws: ‘유진은 그 입에 이름을 붙였다. 그릇.’ === ‘Yu-Jin
had given it a name: Abyss.’
When she says ‘Her Vessel housed this ravenous creature.’ in
raws it’s ‘제 그릇에 서식하는 식충 같은 놈.’. So, the author
uses the same glyphs [그릇] for the maw’s name and the
manifestation of esper/guide power. I took the liberty to alter it
to ‘Abyss’. The main goal is readability - without this change,
it’d be ‘Her Vessel housed Vessel.’

Directly, 그릇 means only a container/vessel/bowl as a noun.

https://korean.dict.naver.com/koendict/#/entry/koen/397803f8
ddc84bb0934133a96201366d