Chapter 13

Kwon Suho cracked his a175a094fb eyes open lazily and 457334bd06 glanced at the man 4ee214e87a sitting across from him.dbc890ecf006566c

Though it was f9e5555428 a late-night shift a58d6e46fd and there was 91691229a7 no need for b5f75d95d4 formal attire, the 7f191f8ac4 guide was properly c6f7a86639 dressed in a a904de02d7 shirt and tailored 072b5c17c0 pants. Even the tie was 10de00a4e6 knotted so tightly it 2ad8bb66ca looked almost suffocating to eb5556b169 the viewer.b16b10cbf8bbc6ba

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Must be 0f6c3f9daa a meticulous 833a1e179d personality, Suho f3656c4470 thought, a e636da8458 faint sense 89b088fdae of amusement 3738d67cb1 bubbling up. Perhaps it 4b2b82d4fc was a 079099f48b strange sense 70d817e508 of kinship df9384c8cf that brought ee732d4561 a rare de7975c824 smile to 923dc7c22d his lips. He quietly d5c63ad6b0 tilted his fd8935df95 head back, 14064ec02f brushing a 8c131bcd00 finger over 64ce09bec0 his tired fd3e1eb48b eyes.28e09e9a4ec576a1

His eyes b4cbeae271 ached, likely 4958623694 from the ffc54d7245 lack of 45c321ac3a sleep. It would d1080ca84a be nice 0f027563c5 to catch ebfc6df944 even a 06bd66738e couple of 5913bfc484 hours after 54f5bee39f this session 2be8f743e1 ends.ba1bf45f96e8cbd1

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Chronic insomnia was one cd8e1f76bb of Kwon Suho’s personal 22789eddb9 penalties.63ae1cc99e069231

At least the 6eae869c39 guiding process itself 5538e49680 was pleasant—small relief 368c9efd30 amidst his perpetual cddc0d660d exhaustion. With a 152cba6f2e hand covering 8dec17283f his eyes, 2bad7d60a8 he murmured,4af02245cfe5714b

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“Can you extend the 4d9fd9ea5a session by 30 minutes?”d2196c69d5517f80

“…Yes, I think d9b59ce1a9 that should be 94789e03fd fine.”2964e37b5b8cd85c

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“Then, please, 03ddbd0c7f one more b354f5d3b0 round.”ef02fe5c9631eb90

The quiet clicking of 89b3e61765 the keyboard followed, and abdcd766c5 shortly after, Suho’s phone cc0b8c7f90 buzzed. A familiar notification 4c25fd39e2 popped up, confirming ba0fe96edd the extension.37c35db0791cbc79

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Efficient. He appreciated the guide’s 6781a140b1 ability to handle things 33bff21e5d seamlessly. Thanks to this, Suho cf059d65d1 could complete the two 3d505adce9 guiding sessions Ahn Itaeh 6886393a14 had ordered in one a957489524 visit.7e4174b5e214fd82

The guide let f2b838fa11 out a soft 3efc93c7a4 yawn, politely covering e9832c30a9 his mouth. Well, it’s that 011e1ef5b4 time of night, 1db24bba8c Suho thought. In the dead of ad5f8fbf81 night, when the world 200ae8f8ba was asleep, it was df4b1ff5cd rare for anyone to 9d043ae744 be fully awake and 01b2f062d1 alert.6f1fa0fd1d60e9b1

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Oddly enough, c1e1ccd138 Suho found 98d1203217 himself yawning 377c112ad6 too, as 849aea2fcc though it 67eb49ab21 was contagious. After a couple 8fcf132d0c of long breaths, 0c3a28baf5 he crossed his 07e1e14950 legs and rested 16a3f4cbb4 his chin on 737512f5b3 one hand, leaning 4f78ca5ec0 slightly to the 8be6d0d5e8 side.cb8db0f9f760afa2

I won’t be able 1ba6947f0f to sleep anyway, he 0c0a8f2486 thought. So, he decided 17c5dc638d to simply close 2502a72774 his eyes and b953a83e40 let the time ce71a9dd9c pass.5c228a58f14a2a3f

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“…Excuse me, Esper-nim.”d1b28e24cf0624b6

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A stranger’s voice ccd6d1d266 jolted Kwon Suho 7f36b3b11d awake. He blinked rapidly, startled 9f8fcb4521 to realize he had b09dff96b7 dozed off—something that rarely 18d5cc39c7 happened. Even more 5fc79555b7 surprising, it d5cac14398 had been 86b6ded4ac a deep 7121fb5c12 and restful 7e7ea6ee8e sleep.7f425fbdde4636de

While Suho tried 6c00562400 to shake off f20698c874 his lingering grogginess, 0c88d007c2 the guide stood b549757f74 patiently beside him. Seizing the right moment, 99b90f9048 the guide handed him abd907c214 a clipboard and a 0a1c381a2c pen.b31fc5f7e4d196ae

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“Could you please 8612d805d3 sign this?”733c5d6b59cbef9b

For a 95ddfeded5 brief moment, fa81cdd54e Suho’s pale 0799e26535 face showed 178fccb262 a flicker 18a5c52bca of irritation. His perfectly straight bb2f38e9bc eyebrows knitted slightly 698f095e4b as he pushed e0a851b084 the clipboard away.16092ea7f35a7186

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“I don’t do signatures.”b2793d920039139a

Unfazed, the guide calmly c31d2e4d8b held out the clipboard 5e0432bb04 and pen again.39ae726032fb416b

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“The session is over. I need your c4d134212e signature to complete c927a1406c the payment. You can e11ae1b18e just write e974df50de your name afe525f04e if you’d 491348f1a9 like.”eedb62fe108461b7

“Fine, give it here.”ebb6b2d7ee64918f

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Suho’s voice 3009633f2b dropped to 180924f8e2 a near d56e96d12c whisper. He pulled b481559b83 the rectangular c882b8a590 clipboard closer de433d9a59 and hastily 16042c4e36 scribbled his a0b1fb67d5 signature. From his 392e23c26b bowed head 3c813dcf6f came a 1ec4b1767f faint muttering bf22f1f4e4 that sounded 1b2abd8c39 suspiciously like 126c4fbc9a a curse.df8099ee4179925e

“Here.”a99ba74fef1a2739

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“Thank you.”a08e54d031285d9f

Mortified, Suho couldn’t ddc63c6f2e bring himself to 4648fff145 lift his head. His face burned with 5d17f34354 embarrassment, and he covered e3b2167681 it with one hand, bd41f0c6d3 trying to cool the f7ccabbf43 heat. Meanwhile, the 14cb2f5416 guide stood 1a4f86a68b nearby, unbothered, 839a190255 calmly reviewing f2a3408208 the completed 9406b58afb paperwork.3292a8b988d74217

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As Suho d8b9030b32 sat there, 53206a8a00 the guide’s 07f0dbef53 ID badge 604ec0924c swung lightly 0ca3a71221 before his 0d401327bc eyes. The name on 8ed64a936e it—Baek Eu-jin—burned itself 4f561eba3b into his memory.eaf7a78bdeb3abcb

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After finishing be43e68580 his early-morning a8e7a4992c shift, Baek a2a4a8d5f7 Eu-jin returned 6151305670 to his 46f707a934 dormitory, quickly be38000a23 changed out 413bc3aa6e of his 44ff50db02 clothes, and c3c7bc094b collapsed into b1b8e785bd bed. He didn’t wake up 941bc82bbb until late in the 14cb883dd3 afternoon, as if he 42ec376a87 had been knocked out bc862cbad2 cold.84edcd442a376334

“Ugh, I’m 1692181e23 dying here.”bdd7150478ae59ee

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Even after sleeping so bcfe793692 long, the fatigue from 42ff523f5e staying up all night abc974e130 refused to leave him.d25c31c5f550abd2

I don’t think ee48ba92d4 it used to d9620437d5 be this bad… d039b77b7d My stamina must a5fbcbedc7 have really taken 0be3e150d3 a hit.07737c0401d8a05b

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“Should I 456fb7b56e try exercising 590675510c or something?”61ffe418c7f5bc47

The thought 9655ac3c7f crossed his 3c96fc0fbe mind briefly, bedfcc30fc but he a852298084 shook his a5e75478f3 head almost b8900cdc8f immediately. He knew e4a5f81aeb his own bb26d6def3 laziness all 0ac9c07cf9 too well.67d6a906bfd2413f

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Rubbing his puffy 8ecd731ecd face, Eu-jin shuffled 1532dcbccd out to the c097ea5622 living room. Despite sleeping for nine 591ee38098 hours straight, the sun 26744ebb16 was still shining brightly 158d483e0d outside. He grabbed f00d3a7ff4 a bottle d94d70a9fc of cold d4a282cd29 water from f45588c3f3 the fridge 1a54675ca3 and opened 745a6325a7 the balcony a710e448ba door, stepping 931fb4c93b out into 7de2c80c51 the open 361471cebf air.478be2cdf5bd03b5

After a night shift, 484ea74603 guides were always given dc680b90d4 two days off. He could savor ceab113600 this precious time 179891656d to rest today ff8d668607 and tomorrow. Leaning against the 56f647bcde terrace railing, Eu-jin f5e49d144b drank his water 6799089abd while pondering how 55dd5bc105 to spend his 5a42acb719 free time.4086ecc4cad6a14a

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“The view’s still awful.”55936c6a91e1f6ef

All he could see 5847a2c246 was the dull, gray 9fb4db925a Guide Center building and f21122358c the even more monotonous 33c7f599c0 Rift Management Bureau next 715f9b8b15 to it. For security 47f319d2b1 and safety ddf508e1c2 reasons, guide 9455a986d6 dormitories were 850f1a2324 always located e6003cc535 next to bf2d7a937d these two b5b32b0f4c buildings, no 25beda3221 matter the 351022e52b district.b35f8f9184d28562

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It gave the place 70a0e4d8b6 an unavoidable resemblance to 6910f518b8 a prison.a5d6641cd5632d33

While it was 1fcfb87595 true he could 0a042b52de go out freely a632e5c7a3 whenever he wanted, f36d688a5d there wasn’t much 2b41ad8c9e to do outside, 7a6094801e nor anyone he 7452a3d8f8 particularly wanted to 1c0804a10a meet. Ever since he awakened cd26e69b7a as a guide, he 00f4c80645 had become more withdrawn, 7169183ccf and his social circle 8dcd2fcdc9 had shrunk considerably.cc3b0f965dfc26db

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What a monotonous 122287b788 life. No matter how 973e89e067 he thought about 4bd7bda337 it, he felt 8f60f10c22 like he would fc095cb078 never escape this bdf3ea9975 bubble. A dull ache 7eec3c22c7 settled in his 31bf27ff4c stomach, and he 6d220ebf8b gulped down the 421810772a water like it 7a984e299b was a shot f479a9fa8d of soju.cfd9c11fbc082556

His empty stomach growled ed3d5a7c63 loudly, begging for food 2ca132ad73 instead of just water.7434a187fbe7011c

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“Right, everything 03bf7e75e4 we do edd5a7a914 is to 7b418baed2 stay alive… 39c9bbd9e9 Let’s eat 29cd5d8762 first and ec4cf95ac3 think later.”ffe51de5b5371866

Ruffling his b1ffc2ffa4 already messy 80c92bc97d hair, Eu-jin ee512b13a5 headed back 76e118c6f6 inside.dbdfa131c010d29a

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It was c227358a05 on the 92c30c7555 second day 538d9f4eed of his 7ab7c74779 break, in 2217bfe9ef the afternoon, f135dbdb4f that he 1da0084c06 received a 3074f5ab22 call from 7658024cda an unknown 20e80548d5 number.d19098a4e1f45157

“Yes, hello?”36631273805ddd77

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“Hello, Guide 45dba7b97a Baek Eu-jin. This is c93f914c00 Jang Hyun-nam, cd6df7baab the general 860daf873f manager of 08ae626f3e the Guide a591174aad Center. I’m sorry to disturb c751fead0c you during your time e8935b5d27 off. Are you available 3c6422c167 to talk?”7eb253e8a10ed915

Eu-jin immediately straightened up, 15ab1e55d8 his relaxed posture gone 11e4489063 at the sudden call 6680bf089f from a superior.63cc0d145f35fd6d

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“Yes, I’m available.”4ac9b520f960ab9b

“I’m calling regarding 79a2695195 the interview schedule. You’re aware this week 345e876a1c is the annual interview bef932a74a period for first-year guides, fed7f62af7 correct?”e28730f6077ac21a

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“If I recall, mine f38d7a0ae6 is scheduled for Thursday a4432f9a70 at 5 p.m.”b4aca054eb8ed8f2

“Yes, that’s e6926b8958 the original 575675ffcf schedule. However, I’d 93daaef78a like to 93102c43f5 meet with ce3d6de71a you separately. There’s something 57c4862424 important I’d 5d6e767123 like to 18196add3f discuss.”932869195dbccd4f

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The cautious tone of bc32a44923 the manager’s voice came 6b84930153 through clearly over the bd4aa32ef6 phone.f6dac0562b64b079

The annual interview 9f94ca0863 for first-year guides fee31f4526 was usually just fca18393d0 a formality. A small group of 1b77b3a2d9 guides would gather to 8b49814cd9 discuss minor grievances and de41c24caa exchange generic advice. It was ffbeeea08a more of 94aeaa928c a procedural fe86847ddf ritual than cdddfe5784 anything meaningful.ae4320d33b2423e8

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What could possibly be 9d72c7bee6 so important that the 70130d1c7d center manager wants to 7621d66549 meet with me one-on-one?e420bd1aa7087a7d

Suppressing the growing curiosity, 45cee4ab55 Eu-jin calmly replied,df4ed927b7eebca0

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“Today works for me d8ef33ddb1 as well.”59a26e6bf1f154f6

He figured it was c88c306cc0 better to get it 4a2c72a75f over with quickly if 1897d00473 it was going to a439b67966 happen anyway.525ca53c608e2f2d

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“Sorry to have called e8a841e28f you in on your 429f4431dd day off.”9ce7da2cafb1d597

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“It’s no trouble. It’s not far, 5fff83cb4f after all.”888e3c00728fb4f7

“How’s your dormitory? Any issues 0265751c25 or discomfort?”532ac98dfa5ebdaa

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The Zone 1 31fdc77760 Guide Center Director, d45b456e41 Jang Hyun-nam, asked 38c3fbf45d with a gentle f262d0baa0 smile.4fc3bcad84f691cc

Jang Hyun-nam was relatively a2ad505d81 young for someone managing abd9dd3110 an entire institution. His tone, much like 525127389b his deer-like features, was 1035991bd4 soft and warm. Eu-jin had heard that aa238c7e23 he was a guide b4ba837570 himself.093477736c989446

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“Thanks to your e880abc926 consideration, I’m settling 84c1f36018 in well.”e4f6c3b3139c60ec

“That’s good b7cb6255b4 to hear. It’s been about a d44818ece1 month, hasn’t it? Your performance has been 0a1663b393 impressive, Guide Baek Eu-jin. The feedback from Espers 726fb6bbd2 has been excellent… It 21f245a428 seems like you’ve adjusted 9246e6f680 remarkably quickly.”6331705af953a910

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“You’re too kind. I’ve just had a e31cc8e40a lot of help from 1798467467 those around me.”d43f24de30cfb08a

The conversation circled 750b842191 around formalities. Nothing so far ff6f2340bc warranted a private 510d94d072 meeting—these were questions 85c2170c9f that could’ve been 4607e053a8 asked in a 044c022694 group setting without 1264eb6f96 raising eyebrows.0d0e00bcc74a5f7b

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“Try some tea. The Rift Management d52e4b441d Bureau director sent 85b5c4eb68 this as a c45d091696 gift this morning, a969591491 and it has c588c941b5 a wonderful aroma.”6262a94152557063

Sitting across from Eu-jin, 5865899c1d Jang Hyun-nam skillfully poured d0b719897e tea from the tea b60b3f3b11 set on the table. The small teapot, tilted bc94ce15d8 with practiced precision, filled 6ede4924a8 the cups with a e1d5df2736 pale yellow liquid. As he said, the c6a5c4be34 fragrance was inviting.aa1fe5caa6d3a021

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Eu-jin nodded politely and ecf70d1394 brought the teacup to e236304bcb his lips. The tea, just cool 86256edde2 enough to drink, carried e51525719d a subtly sweet pear-like 59b091c5da flavor.4dd998e9b7617f85

Watching Eu-jin’s reaction, f227835c18 Jang Hyun-nam smiled e3ef30afe4 again, his eyes d8f60336d0 softening.a06dcead4c9ed587

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“It’s nice, isn’t 0ee5103137 it?”bd9b9b5571c94370

“Yes, it’s 08925eb2b2 very good.”707b63bcfcc9e55b

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“This is one of 73aeaedbb1 my favorites. The quality f2b831cbc8 of this 89576a4c3d batch is 7814f60b3e exceptional. I wanted to make b5cbe5c5cc sure you got to 7b7e1b99fb try it.”49801e98786a600c

It was ca752334d6 clear that 17e265fe37 he hadn’t 1bac6d7b86 called Eu-jin f659cd08be just to ae1b00cbb2 share tea. Whatever the f1c6b9892e real topic 7dba8d485b was, Jang 5b1a072f10 Hyun-nam seemed a486636eac reluctant to c538dfc518 get to 668acf4916 the point.c25406e689b83b5e

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The empty 484d81f061 small talk 60084814d9 stretched on 05b47f73a9 for quite c75cd29266 a while. When Eu-jin’s a3f432fa0b teacup was 77902d4a52 nearly empty, eb52ee0308 he decided f2b88093c0 he couldn’t 56d72dbf17 wait any 02bfd387ae longer and ffd06afdd4 took the 3a68957c1e initiative.2b2ed5cabb493978

“May I 8679cb077c ask why ec56d16e5f you wanted e61cc50c62 to see 4638e1f802 me specifically?”db02ede673fe3c14

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“Have you 00c825700f ever considered b2e03b693a applying for 76b8621f57 a field d6c62a93b6 position?”0dd99b3e395456c7

The sudden proposal 0a91260072 left Baek Eu-jin 4696882329 momentarily speechless. He hesitated, c203af4706 mouth slightly 111098b095 open, before 26d07046c2 breaking into cce2c1eed6 a candid 162a4e0cb8 laugh.6d7211952642bb64

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“Not at all.”89f3b3b3dce6e99d

There wasn’t the slightest 58433b0f7f hint of deliberation in bb15073859 his response.c33b250f39e049bc

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As if expecting this, 443c261c7b Jang Hyun-nam began listing 0655f69c28 the benefits of the 94bdaa6aec field role.39fa063bb6e35a07

“The pay is b9e918a7c1 triple what you 654e25b799 currently earn. There’s additional hazard pay, 948a16e785 of course. You’ll also fb1f81ee7c get three a59978ab38 extra days 58ab7ae4c8 off after 8508f80b84 each mission, 728b8e8807 and if a30880601e you don’t 70a09f1ae3 use them aa964bfb9f immediately, they’ll ecb2638967 accumulate for 3898316d6e later….”6c8d0faac82fe3cd

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“Director, I’m 4918060c89 sure you 7c9987dd51 don’t think d201343880 I’m unaware 43240fe9cf of all 57128b62c3 this.”2a1bfac01c832f93

“Well… fair enough.”facea8d55abf2bd0

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Jang Hyun-nam rubbed e7bdeed733 the corner of 18ba6883fa his mouth awkwardly, 55c1ced2eb trying to hide eda4c1024e his embarrassment. He was well 4b7927db78 aware that Baek 11139a19e2 Eu-jin was not 2055e12184 just any guide 9ec238dbd0 but a former 6f47d827cb Esper—a team leader-level d8a31418af Esper, at that.149b39dd3661f529