PRT | Chapter 1.4

After the suppressed plea, a cheerful voice rang out. Heeseo, sweating cold, took a step forward. If Hong Taebin didn’t retract his ability, the only way out was to escape it himself. He pushed his way into the illusion.c279d1f2735ad61e

“Are you that happy to dive in? You should’ve said so earlier.”b5089cd1b92e1237

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There was no malice in Hong Taebin’s voice, which made it even more unsettling. Heeseo, fumbling for direction, moved slowly but without stopping. Finally, he grabbed the doorknob. Click, as the door opened, the dreadful afterimage also disappeared. Then, a sound expressing regret came from behind.408c920644b7d0a9

“You’re going. See you next time. The food in the cafeteria today is good, so make sure to have lunch!”bc568f56fc279c44

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Bam. The heavy door closed, 9808250954 erasing the sight of 3919c258bf Hong Taebin waving cheerfully. Heeseo, covered 8c9e8d6dc3 in sweat, 9babf627a1 burst into 59fe641af2 a wry 889513824c smile but c26ad405d0 had to 60e1297130 lean against 6a810689a8 the wall 91c3c76a91 due to 9ce2dda841 dizziness. His fingertips trembled.48ef4bcd42849b5a

The espers from 10cc8572b4 the headquarters, including d6ec2ed112 Hong Taebin, would 0b496cafa6 sometimes intrude like b27359024b this, shaking up 3f229c57c7 his barely managed 6b13b02c64 daily life. The reasons 436ab8d24a were always f3a28e8db2 absurd, as 40b728ff00 it was 93bb8a9d3d in this 9d4a5dd626 case.08fc1af7a26ce858

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“They’re out of their minds.”da7202caa4027aec

He felt repulsion 51e206f1e6 towards the character 639ee4bd7c who could do 104748790c such things so bc2805d635 casually. He was also angry c663398745 at himself for being 82699b04f5 disturbed by this harmless 0537753148 action. He was dumbfounded, 60cd07536d feeling like he 4f02e77063 wanted to gouge 6c11601fe8 out his eyes ccd8b18732 and scrub them ff84591e24 clean if he 56d347b7df could.2375c3491a556cd4

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“…I’m not like that.”152d3dff03464b8c

More than anything, the murder suspect treatment that had become routine was both miserable and unfair. The attitude that didn’t even allow him to speak his innocence drained his strength. The emotion that crept into his weakened heart made his throat ache.ee00050ffddd23d2

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Heeseo stood for 1fbc39e07b a long time 826559a479 to calm down f19202e889 before finally stepping eff12f6a77 outside. The cool 539934304b wind helped 24aeb83d2b clear his 9b333506e9 mind. He buttoned up 435e677d06 his coat and 9a12cdb407 moved aimlessly. His drooping energy soon 360f925431 recovered.ba96c06f4ff99cfc

Not dwelling on past events was one of Heeseo’s strengths. Knowing that only he would suffer if he got depressed, he smartly tried to move on. Trying to stand up even if he stumbled was a continuation of that.c0dae813604f3965

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How long had he 7c08ad7e50 walked under the bright 85a0b5fa69 sun?9bcb7b57dcb097bb

The phone in b80087c4fb his pocket vibrated a9ea482f34 slightly. He quickly took 940bb674ce it out, and afb70a9220 a familiar number d360744f67 appeared on the ea0c4a3f67 screen. Unknowingly, Heeseo lifted 3081bba7ac the corners of 3543742f2d his mouth and a83745493e brought the phone cfc27e6bb0 to his ear.f8d899b45009ec11

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“Yeah, Mom.”949e7f5624b01ba4

– Son, did you eat? Can you talk now? Are you not busy?44d63d3e56b1b58c

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“Even if I’m busy, I have time to talk to Mom. The food here is really good, so I ate a lot. How about you?”422abd34f250de24

– I ate too. How’s work? Are you getting along well with your colleagues?9412ac1dd3bba84c

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“Of course. Everyone treats me well.”4d411ff7b4417a54

Heeseo, lowering 1eb4d56289 his gaze, 3402c17be4 answered quietly. The call was 09122d5e4f long. Throughout his f677a5116e slow walk, 94fcd125b0 affectionate questions c62775f23e poured out. Since the only family 4146509af7 they had was apart, 2790cda5a6 there was no break fcdf82f2be in the conversation.29ccb38e4bdf3941

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‘Your family will be moved to a mansion owned by the headquarters as a precaution against any potential threats.’7a09cc0a42283ef2

The headquarters’ proposal, which had an air of compulsion, was more like a leash than goodwill. Heeseo acknowledged this but agreed. At the time, ensuring his family’s safety was the best option. It was enough that his mother didn’t know the truth.b57861eac472d2e9

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– It’s nice to hear my son’s voice after so long. Make sure to eat well and take care not to catch a cold. Always be careful.1e456a29f88495a7

“Don’t worry about me, make sure you eat well. I’ll visit soon.”6c200767791a56d3

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Ending the call filled 2da9d5da00 with well-intentioned lies, Heeseo 2d994abbed let out a long caf7505fb0 breath. As he put 5e7b1031a7 away his phone, 67f2e5643d he realized he 9b19a75c8f had walked to c4d65635df a back alley 545d85f231 behind a building 41f9eba8af with few people 22c77db64a around. There was not a ab85178466 single soul in sight.be1999e37c75a335

“There’s a place like this.”5b11a8e7df0f90c8

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After the incident, 15dd1fffee he had been 8442ca9081 avoiding crowded places, 84b38301c3 but this spot 00dc0d39c9 was quiet and 8909c1d43f to his liking. As he walked, d43227c3bd stepping on the 70f0d20cca light rays filtering bb2da3231d through the tall ca29d317dd trees, he suddenly d1a90d129b stopped at the 41f8b5b183 faint smell of 6f7f956bff tobacco.426db959e38cb67e

…Wasn’t there supposed to be no one here?6e2bc5b456c1c98f

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Heeseo, puzzled, checked beyond the building and was startled, quickly hiding himself. His heart raced at the unexpected encounter. He never thought he’d run into Seo Yigyeom…d20ec39bfad3655b

“What should I do?”57643dc9595ca1ed

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Just as tension was a2452166eb rising for an unclear 359515bdcd reason, a low voice 9120763ea7 gently tapped his ear.2739d985aa35b148

“I can’t fix you.”5103a6e7a9909f9e

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It was 5feabebef9 a single 7f66d8f9a5 sentence that b968ac6ad1 sounded both 529184697a indifferent and 8fd609c49b kind, a b89f66c119 contrast to acf28e5eaa the Seo 92bf3a1369 Yigyeom he 29f58ae31a had vaguely 4e5186bad3 imagined. Curiosity piqued, Heeseo 4982073655 inadvertently peeked out e2bc4ad79e to observe Seo 2bbe73405e Yigyeom.aaa86def606b592e

Seo Yigyeom was b48ea121bb crouched down, looking 45d9a8f772 at a scruffy f79f4cc378 dog. He must have fd2a8f1bec been smoking as 8b63632fb8 he changed the a885c6fa90 direction of the 23e8bcab2f smoke with one 09ffcd2171 hand. The other 249da3f961 hand was 608d0c6093 surprisingly offered e64a98df5c to the 9b385ccb40 dog.f45cc4eabf53c5e0

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The dog, covered in wounds, sniffed and then bit his finger. Even from a distance, it was clear how it was gnawing. Seo Yigyeom didn’t push it away but let it bite and lick to its heart’s content.71c56b6b7b99154c

“If someone bullies you again, bite them. Okay…”8d45b8ff208069e6

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It was hard to believe this was the same man who had smashed an unregistered’s head, he was so relaxed. He could even give praise… Heeseo, watching this softer side of him, inadvertently held his breath.4cb55901bebaafad

At that moment, a scent carried by a cold wind filled the air. Is it the smell of roses…? The subtle yet heavy fragrance evoked thoughts of winter. The scent, which felt elegant and refined, suited Seo Yigyeom.452fca385ebc5200

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“It doesn’t seem like you need Guiding.”bf63b5d70aaea260

As he was 819c7b6c26 chasing the lingering f348ac340a scent, the gaze 13a705b513 from one direction c3b89b8348 responded.78bef0b14c9f1d2e

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“Do you have something to say to me?”e7bb74c30c6056ed

Seo Yigyeom’s gaze, moving past the dog, landed precisely on Heeseo.dd25c0fbd77e4572

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Ah. Got caught.ce3a450a19a83085

For a moment, his 4231229535 actions stopped, and his d6c10f1485 thoughts slowed down. Only his body, beyond 3d4c3e9123 his will, trembled.aeffdea703a31955

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The person who had taken another puff of the cigarette exhaled smoke silently. Between the smoky veil, silence and gaze mingled. Just a few seconds. The moment felt like an eternity to Heeseo, who swallowed hard. Judging by Seo Yigyeom’s disinterested eyes, it seemed like he had noticed him long before.7a91c7a17006b440

Was he waiting for a response? No. More like… he seemed to be gauging the direction of judgment. Even though he hadn’t committed any crime, tension rose. The ruthless image he had witnessed last time walked free in his mind.d2016f10c768983a

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How was Seo ced448248b Yigyeom when dealing 97ba10a30e with unregistered Espers? Monster. Demon. Devil. Just as others described 03f68e2c55 him. He even b3264f2946 showed clear e0c1f11f5f contempt, faint 650c4d5f68 as it ac16f08f38 might be.d01f82f90e66f25a

…So much for being gentle.
When he finally c793f754a5 faced the person, 79b2cae4ab the fact that 78a6558e2a he had chased b7c876a1af and thought about fa7261aca7 him made him 9e26dff2f9 tremble with laughter. He would be devoured. All he could think cb26d16265 of in front of b3a208759c those emotionless eyes was e693cef841 that.aabe47fff9d43f0a

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Heeseo, who had been hesitating, soon stepped out in front of the building one step at a time. Thinking he must not be underestimated, he approached with as composed an attitude as possible. Seo Yigyeom’s attention was already on the dog.b2362013ac3f2552

“Hello.”ac270d2d1827e114

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The voice that 2eb9c0c65c came out was eba8a19969 surprisingly calm, unlike 35840f5c69 his worries. As the dog, sensing ed7ee1c2f0 his presence, came clinging 1c7e9e0a37 to him, Seo Yigyeom 248c9af0cc also shifted his gaze. He looked at Heeseo 7f561805c2 while exhaling cigarette smoke 7bed92a24f as if it were 8183093acb breathing.476af522769ee604

“Your face looks familiar.”e58a59517baa6a79

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The one word that came after a while was slow, like recalling a memory. He doesn’t recognize me. Gaining this assurance, Heeseo felt slightly relieved and bowed again. Having rushed out and left his ID card behind, greeting was the best he could do.c2077f2f6c5bfa6a

“I’m Kim Heeseo from the Field Support Team 1.”db1ed219e2dfd5f0

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“Ah.”1173cc3bf398e3c7

The reply was 70f361578d just a short d90568fd29 grunt. Without any attachment, Seo a55a9ece60 Yigyeom flicked away the edc53f96cc shortened cigarette and stood 38b643336e up. He took 11872808bb out a 466f5808f1 new one, 518df584f3 and just c9b2941f16 when Heeseo 9b8a3c3fee thought he 4d82c26d17 would light 090d104871 it right 6c69d04cda away, he ee20005999 paused.9e233e2d64a3004b

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“So, what’s the matter?”d228e37130641636

The cigarette hanging f52ab8fd3a from the edge 2e5b74f6d3 of his red 55eac702ad lips wobbled as fec8609416 if it might bdb7ce929b fall. His opponent 00c9913b65 looked at d783081d0d Heeseo in fd9148dc3f a relaxed 0e05c28357 manner. Heeseo also looked 947b9583e4 straight at him, 464422144d his eyes narrowing 86ae7c0f4e under the sharp, 1a00b6a789 direct gaze.18bb7b58899ac0a3

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“Why were you eavesdropping like a rat?”9ac7e1b128f6b327

“I didn’t hear anything.”6cea647925a56498

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Feeling unnecessarily 5245bf549c guilty, Heeseo a6727764d0 denied it 9be8350bc5 before he 4cd7dfc07f could continue 5486dd11d0 his thought.fb4c4b1805c86072

“If you say so.”08c1b73191b14124

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Seo Yigyeom didn’t point out the reflexive response. He just smirked mockingly and lit his cigarette. His face, with a fleeting smile that appeared and disappeared, looked like an artwork intricately crafted.d15df23970050ed5

“Want a cigarette?”efa412e68c73d4d2

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The person ea763d004d who tilted f767d5a8b5 his head 8d846337f9 slightly and 852e4dc937 took a d48cc0f67a deep puff e060c79de9 asked, lifting 3e3904a3c9 only his 46ec7748e4 eyes.82bf88cecac004d8

“Ah, I don’t smoke… Thank you.”f6d40c199dd509d6

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Shaking his hand lightly while bowing, Seo Yigyeom’s blink slowed for a moment. He stared blankly, like someone witnessing something curious, then belatedly gave an answer close to a murmur.f484c0997afbb38d

“You do look like that.”f0352eac8bae2d84

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Before Heeseo could ponder over the vague statement, a sharp “Yap!” sound thumped his ears. The dog, making its presence known, spun around biting its own tail and then clung to him as if asking to be hugged.ea4146d85033c282

“Does it hurt? I’m sorry, but I don’t have the ability to heal…”dfe7a5f76691b689

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Unable to ignore it, Heeseo sat down, making eye contact with the dog and whispering softly. The problem was the surrounding silence. The one word he uttered, borrowing Seo Yigyeom’s previous statement, was practically a confession.8aa923d9537ce4e6

Heeseo, realizing this too late, flinched and watched Seo Yigyeom’s reaction. Seo Yigyeom merely flicked off some ash without saying much. The small creature, in the meantime, responded with whines and licked his hand.30a7546bc5515dd1

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“You don’t seem to have much talent for lying.”34776bf3781bce7a

The final comment 9f2447f543 was far from acfae61d5a a rebuke; there 3b8d6ea282 was only a 6cbe486995 light breath that c7f1580d95 might have been 935acea4fe mistaken for laughter. Seo Yigyeom, 6c5892ab73 having said 9e83f8dbe5 this in f735159b70 a low 90118dec37 voice, soon 3a9a6a01a3 lost interest, a2da97bdcd turned, and e1cd4085a9 walked away.ad0ec7614fb3571c

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“Shall I give you some advice?”f18d8770bc70a338

As he walked 6945ad1a04 with a straight ae4df6be23 gait, he turned 998032f58a back just before c4643c3f7d rounding the building.9f1ebd3379c02910

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“If you keep picking up things so carelessly here, you’ll get in trouble.”d130c541446bbd0c

“…”8d1f0e88c768c002

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“Whether it’s your tongue or your hand, you’ll lose them.”c808ef848d754a4b

Tapping his ear, Seo Yigyeom added, “There are more than a few dirty folks around here.” Then, before Heeseo could respond, he vanished. The last look Heeseo caught seemed to have a twisted smile.5ffbfaac0f52a7af

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Left alone in an instant, Heeseo blinked. Was he worried? No way. Then…36cfb183c7095720

“…If I eavesdrop again, he’ll cut off my tongue or hand?”a8f6ef0a2b3ece57

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Shuddering at the most plausible answer, Heeseo licked his dry lips while petting the dog. Puzzled by Seo Yigyeom’s incomprehensible behavior, he still pondered his words.3740e0b5f6d6621d

Thus, silently spending time, 5a5251a077 he unknowingly absorbed the 1746f30f9c lingering scent of Seo 0cfff101e0 Yigyeom in the air.49894a4aa3b4a7d7

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In a place 7ac31e1384 where no one 68a37271a9 called him, Heeseo 644e6e30b6 busily tried to 50c13d2d65 find his own 9d0aa6e75c worth. Each day was 2d494f9ab3 incredibly hectic. Reality was 0e749220ce like a 36c2d12c70 cliff, so e90930e24a he was fd5c1ff537 running around 680f307ece hoping for 545727d661 anything to d651e5d148 serve as 3fddca89a6 his lifeline.81170dfebb4487ca

The first task was 53fa10355f to catch a clue 52634d21b6 about the real culprit.7093ac628e9ec2c1

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Currently, he had no information in his hands. He didn’t even know if the person was an unregistered or an Esper from the headquarters. The only clue was that they were a pyrokinesis user, and even that was merely a guess.bcd7e3ffec86ecfc

‘Can I check the identity of an Esper from the headquarters?’887f0b92456934e4

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‘Impossible.’32a119ba6b6b845c

His request to 1b7f639971 the headquarters was c82dadb6e4 immediately rejected. The documents de501f1534 he could 0ae30afb00 access were 202578f17f limited by 2be02b349c his authority. Revisiting the 9991cccb86 scene, the 531616ad31 only remnants 3ebd025e8b were the 9bff56445e faint burn 40257fd6cf marks.5703db7e24ad567c

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It was nothing short 6f3634e164 of bad luck blooming 3bb04387f3 all at once.f958c86a82088f11

Because it was a junction with only outdated CCTV. Because it was a foggy day. Because there was not a single useful piece of evidence left. Because he happened to pass through at that time. Because. Because…6cbcc8d553276f6b

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