Chapter 4

Eu-jin stepped out onto the main road and immediately hailed a taxi. Without hesitation, he shoved the burly Seok-woo into the back seat first. Following him in, Eu-jin slammed the door shut and called out to the driver.

“Driver, are you okay with a long-distance trip?”

“Oh, absolutely! Where to?”

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“Take us to Sokcho. But stop by Gangnam Terminal first.”

“Sure thing! Terminal first, then Sokcho! I’ll get you there safe and sound!”

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The taxi driver, clearly pleased to have landed a long-distance fare, started humming a cheerful tune. Shifting into drive, he smoothly merged into the busy road and began picking up speed.

“What… what are you planning to do?”

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Seok-woo stammered nervously.

“Listen carefully, Seok-woo. You’re taking this taxi all the way to Sokcho.”

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Eu-jin placed his credit card and switched-off phone into Seok-woo’s massive hands. Gripping the back of Seok-woo’s neck, he firmly laid out his instructions.

“Pay with my card when you arrive. And once you’re inside Sokcho city limits, turn the phone back on.”

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“What? You want me to go alone? What about you, Captain…?”

“You’re going to pretend to be me and throw those guys off my trail. Buy me as much time as you can to escape. Got it?”

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Still stunned, Seok-woo eventually nodded vigorously. Seeing this, Eu-jin’s tense expression finally eased. Leaning back against the taxi seat, he let out a tired sigh.

“Thanks. I knew I could count on you.”

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Eu-jin patted Seok-woo’s hand as if in praise. Seok-woo flipped his hand over and tightly clasped Eu-jin’s, giving it a squeeze. Feeling the awkward tug, Eu-jin glanced down.

“… Hey, are you seriously feeling guiding from me?”

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“Yeah, really strongly.”

“Fantastic. Just great,” Eu-jin muttered, his frustration evident.

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Eu-jin let out a deep sigh at Seok-woo’s firm response. With his free hand, he removed his cap and ruffled his hair, damp strands sticking to his fingers.

Something completely unimaginable had happened. Judging by Seok-woo’s reaction, it didn’t seem like a lie either.

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If any ability were to return, why couldn’t it have been his Esper powers? Why guiding, of all things?

This was unacceptable. Under no circumstances could he return to the Bureau.

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While sorting through his tangled thoughts, the taxi reached Gangnam Terminal. Eu-jin adjusted his backpack and tightened his shoelaces. Before stepping out, he gripped the door handle and delivered a final word of caution.

“Seok-woo, I’m counting on you. I’ll repay this favor someday.”

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“Don’t worry about it, Captain. Stay safe!”

With that steadfast farewell, they parted ways. The taxi drove off, leaving Eu-jin behind. Watching the taillights disappear into the distance, Eu-jin steeled his resolve once more.

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He emptied his remaining cash to purchase tickets for every bus departing at that time. His eyes, concealed beneath the brim of his cap, quickly scanned the positions of the terminal’s CCTV cameras.

With a firm stride, Eu-jin entered the boarding area and confidently climbed aboard one of the buses. Flashing his ticket, he made his way to the most secluded seat at the back.

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The late-night bus was nearly empty, shrouded in darkness with its lights off. The driver was chatting with a colleague, too distracted to notice what Eu-jin was doing.

Quietly, Eu-jin slid open the window and tossed his backpack outside. He followed immediately, jumping out of the bus and keeping low as he darted between the rows of parked vehicles. The massive buses provided cover, shielding him as he weaved through their blind spots.

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Without even checking the destination, he climbed aboard a random bus.

“Oh, you’re cutting it close!” the driver greeted cheerfully. “Show me your ticket and take your seat. We’re leaving right now.”

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The door closed with a hiss as the bus departed.

Eu-jin sank into his seat as the final bus of the night rolled out of the terminal, heading toward Yecheon, Gyeongbuk.

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* * *

The taxi carrying Ki Seok-woo had just exited the highway.

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[Welcome to Sokcho City!]

The bright white letters of the sign glowed vividly against the dark backdrop, drawing his attention.

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Following Baek Eu-jin’s instructions, Seok-woo held down the power button on Eu-jin’s phone. Moments later, the screen lit up, and the device began vibrating violently as if an earthquake had struck.

Nam Director, Bae Jae-hyuk, Nam Director, Nam Director.

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The phone buzzed incessantly in his hand, and his heart raced as fast as the vibrations. Who knew something like this could feel more nerve-wracking than fighting monsters in the rift?

Soon after, the taxi pulled up to the quiet Sokcho Port.

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“Here we are, sir!” the driver announced cheerfully.

“Thank you. Here’s the card.”

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Seok-woo replied, handing over Baek Eu-jin’s credit card.

The payment went through, and a notification popped up on the phone, confirming the transaction.

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As Seok-woo moved to step out of the taxi, he froze mid-motion, his foot barely touching the ground.

The taxi was surrounded by six or seven Espers. Judging by their pale, queasy faces, they must have arrived via teleportation.

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“Ran off, huh?”

Director Nam’s voice cut through the silence, his face ashen with frustration. The moment he saw Seok-woo stepping out alone, he knew the situation had spiraled out of control.

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“…Yes,” Seok-woo admitted weakly.

“Where?”

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“Ahem, I… I can’t tell you even if it kills me—Ack! Ouch! Director! That hurts!”

Nam’s large hand came down hard on Seok-woo’s back, slapping him repeatedly with a force that was more punishment than mere venting.

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After his outburst, Director Nam turned to the Espers standing idly by and barked.

“What are you waiting for? Issue a nationwide search warrant for Baek Eu-jin! I want every corner of this country combed until we find him!”

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“Yes, sir!”

Even after giving the order, Nam’s clenched fists trembled with residual fury.

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You slippery little rat. Do you think you can escape me? Baek Eu-jin, I will catch you no matter what.

Glaring at the dark, restless sea, Nam Hyunwook made his resolve clear. With a determined look, he pulled out his phone and made a call.

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* * *

Five hours as a fugitive.

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The bus heading to Yecheon made a stop at a rest area. Baek Eu-jin immediately got off and switched to another express bus that was parked nearby. Once again, he had no idea where the new bus was headed.

It wasn’t until he disembarked at the final terminal that he realized he’d arrived in Mungyeong City, North Gyeongsang Province. He had assumed the southern regions would all be rural, but the relatively bustling streets surprised him.

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Eu-jin carefully scanned the area around the terminal. With almost no cash left, his first priority was to find a pawnshop nearby.

Fortunately, a shabby-looking pawnshop was still open in the early hours of the morning.

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Fiddling with the watch on his wrist, Eu-jin hesitated for a moment. It was the most valuable item he had on him. He had even brought the original case and warranty, just in case. He figured pawning it would at least provide enough funds to get by for a while.

“Uh… do you take watches?” he asked hesitantly.

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“Let me see it first, and I’ll tell you,” the shop owner, a man who appeared to be in his sixties, replied casually, picking up a black magnifier.

Eu-jin pulled out two boxes from his bag, their brand logos pristine and barely touched by fingerprints. Finally, he unclasped the watch from his wrist and handed it over through the metal bars.

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“…Hmm,” the shop owner muttered.

He carefully examined the warranty documents and the condition of the watches. After a thorough inspection, he leaned back and stated flatly,

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“This one’s worth 350, and the one you’re wearing is 280. Interest rate’s 4%.”

“…Haa.”

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The price was less than half of what the watches were originally worth, but that wasn’t what left Eu-jin at a loss. It was the mention of the interest rate, which meant he’d need an ID to finalize the deal.

“Are you pawning them?” the owner asked.

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“Uh… I don’t have my ID with me right now. Could I… just sell them for a lower price instead?”

The shop owner lowered his glasses to the bridge of his nose and scrutinized Eu-jin’s face.

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Though the cap he wore obscured much of his face, his pale skin and delicate jawline stood out. The heavy backpack slung over his shoulder clearly marked him as someone unfamiliar with the area.

He didn’t look like a criminal—but then again, what does a thief’s face even look like?

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The shop owner, who had encountered all sorts of people during his decades running the pawnshop, couldn’t help but ask suspiciously.

“Did you steal these?”

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“I bought them myself,” Eu-jin replied firmly.

“Well, I can buy them outright, but I’d still need an ID. I can’t just take items that might be stolen, you know. Every other pawnshop will say the same.”

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“Please, I’m desperate. I’ll sell them for just a million won each.”

“…A million?”

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The pawnshop owner hesitated. Watches worth over ten million won being offered for such a low price was tempting, especially since they appeared authentic and barely used. It was an easy way to make a hefty profit.

“Hm…”

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While the older man scratched his white-haired head in thought, Eu-jin nervously bit his lip.

Just then, the fax machine in the corner of the shop whirred to life, spitting out a sheet of paper.

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The bold black letters in the top box caught Eu-jin’s eye: “Fugitive Wanted Notice.”

The pawnshop owner remained engrossed in his internal debate, paying no attention to the fax. Eu-jin, however, discreetly glanced at it, only to see his face emerging on the paper—a photo unmistakably taken from his ID.

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Missing Guide: Baek Eu-jin. 178 cm, slim build, brown straight hair, blue eyes. Speaks with a Seoul accent.
Everything about it, down to the description, was undeniable.

Click.

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Eu-jin quickly closed the watch box and stuffed it back into his bag. His sudden movement drew the pawnshop owner’s attention, who snapped his head up and stood.

“I’ll come back with my ID next time.”

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Eu-jin muttered before bolting out of the shop. Any attempt at composure was long gone.

He hadn’t expected wanted notices to circulate this quickly.

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I’m not even a criminal! This is ridiculous!

Clenching the straps of his backpack tightly, he fumed internally. The situation left him unable to use buses, taxis, restaurants, or even motels. His only solace was that the hour was late, and the streets were mostly empty.

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Eu-jin darted into the darkness, avoiding populated areas.

For the next week, he lived like a fugitive. During the day, he hiked through forests, and at night, he trudged along unlit dirt roads. He subsisted on energy bars and drank just enough water to keep his lips from cracking.

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After days of this, his once-fair complexion was grimy with dirt, and his hair had become greasy and stiff. He looked so disheveled that strangers instinctively avoided him.

“…I’m starving.”

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Collapsing to the ground, Eu-jin leaned against a wooden post, massaging his swollen feet covered in painful blisters. Every step had become agonizingly slow.

The cold mountain air bit into his skin, and the damp ground sent chills through his body. He hadn’t eaten in three days, and the gnawing hunger was almost unbearable.

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His emergency stash of energy bars and chocolates had long run out, and though he still had cash in his piggy bank, he couldn’t use it.

What kind of hell is this?

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For a brief moment, he considered surrendering and returning to the Bureau. But the thought only fueled his determination.

Even if I die on the streets, I won’t go back on my own.

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Sighing, Eu-jin forced himself to his feet as dusk began to fall. He shouldered his backpack and resumed his descent down the slippery mountainside.

By dawn, he stumbled into a remote mountain village.

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Geumchon (금촌, Golden Village).

The old-fashioned village was populated mostly by elderly residents, cut off from the fast pace of modern life. It was a quiet, slow-moving place where strangers stood out like sore thumbs.

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Eu-jin limped into the village, his vision flickering as darkness encroached at the edges. He bit down on his lip to distract himself from the pain, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth.

He was at his limit. His body, once accustomed to the endurance of an A-rank healing Esper, couldn’t handle the strain of this new reality. Only sheer willpower had kept him going this long.

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Passing through the uneven village streets, he staggered and eventually collapsed against a random house wall. He had hoped to leave the village before sunrise, but his body had given out.

Catching his breath, he lifted his head, only for his vision to swim uncontrollably.

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“…Damn it.”

He muttered faintly before the world tilted, and his head hit the dirt.

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The rough ground scratched his face, but the pain didn’t register. He had finally lost consciousness.

An hour later, the blue-painted gate beside the wall creaked open, its rusty hinges echoing in the still morning air.

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