Chapter 14

“Don’t beat around the bush. Just say it directly.”

“You’re well aware of how short-staffed we are when it comes to field positions, aren’t you, Guide Baek Eu-jin?”

“That’s the same everywhere, isn’t it?”

“True. But with resources already so limited, the Bureau insists on only recruiting A-rank guides. As you know, A-rank guides are treated as special cases within the centers.”

Eu-jin nodded slightly in agreement. Entering a rift required a guide, but there were far too few of them to meet the demand. This was an issue across all districts.

Moreover, Espers were highly sensitive inside rifts, often preferring guides they were particularly compatible with. Eu-jin himself had spent months convincing Choi Ran to join his team as a guide in the past.

“I understand what you’re saying, but I have no intention of pursuing that path.”

However, understanding didn’t equate to agreement. He was already fulfilling the guide role reluctantly—it was more than enough.

At Eu-jin’s firm rejection, Jang Hyun-nam sighed deeply, disappointment evident in the sound. Lowering his head in thought, he eventually lifted his tired face with a resigned expression.

“You know it’s a shame to waste your skills, don’t you?”

“……”

“I understand your circumstances, Guide Baek Eu-jin. And I’m aware of the terms we agreed upon when you transferred to Zone 1. I don’t intend to push you into this.”

Yet, the regret in Jang’s voice made his words unconvincing.

Eu-jin’s gaze fell to the table at knee height. The luxurious tea set and the jar of tea leaves next to it seemed to hint at the situation’s context. The Rift Management Bureau must have applied pressure.

“Did Director Kang ask you to bring this up?”

“So it’s that obvious?”

“It seems your expensive tea leaves were wasted. You’ve gone to unnecessary trouble.”

Jang Hyun-nam let out a low laugh. Smiling, he opened a fancy wooden tea box, revealing its contents. After emptying the steeped tea leaves from the teapot, he grabbed a generous handful of the gifted tea leaves.

“It’s fine. I have so much to collect from that man anyway. This much is nothing—it’s like taking payment in advance.”

Freshly brewed pear blossom tea filled the cups, steam curling warmly into the air. Jang offered Eu-jin a cup first, then picked up his own. Taking a moment to savor the fragrance, he casually spoke while looking at Eu-jin.

“Is there a need to outright refuse? Think about it. You’ll eventually have to do some fieldwork anyway. Let’s talk again after you’ve returned from your next assignment.”

“You haven’t given up yet?”

“Spending enough time in this position sharpens your ability to read people. And I believe you, Guide Baek Eu-jin, are perfectly suited for fieldwork.”

Jang smiled and gently blew on his steaming cup. His eyes, seemingly kind, narrowed slightly as he did so.

Director Kang’s original request was something else entirely. But Jang decided not to bring it up for now, knowing that revealing it prematurely would only foster unnecessary bias. The true reason would remain hidden—for now.

* * *

The schedule for his first field assignment was finalized much sooner than expected. The announcement came the very next day after he returned to work.

The team he was assigned to was none other than the infamous Delta Team.

“Who sends a rookie on their first field assignment with Delta Team? Are they insane?”

“Is this even okay? Feels like someone made a mistake with the notice.”

“Who’s the mentor assigned to go with him?”

The other guides from Team 3 were already fretting and voicing their concerns.

While everyone around him made a fuss as if it were their own problem, Baek Eu-jin simply stared indifferently at the official document lying on his desk. Ever since his one-on-one meeting with the center director, he had expected something like this to happen.

“Well, it’s not like anything major is going to happen,” he said calmly.

“You just don’t get it, Eu-jin. The first field assignment is so important. What if you end up having a bad experience?”

Despite the seniors’ concern, Baek Eu-jin merely shrugged his shoulders, unfazed. He pushed the troubling document aside and opened his laptop, methodically clearing out the schedule he had planned for the field assignment period.

“Work is the same no matter where you go. If I write down the cancellation reason here, it’ll send automatically, right?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, that’s how it works. But wow, you’re so calm. Aren’t you nervous about going out into the field?”

“No, I’m actually really nervous,” Eu-jin replied, placing a hand over his chest and taking a deep, exaggerated breath as if to prove his point. Yet the rhythmic clicks of his mouse didn’t pause for a second.

That’s nervous? The guides watching him tilted their heads, unconvinced.

Once a guide receives notice of a field assignment, their regular work is temporarily suspended for a week. They must remain on standby since a rift can occur at any time.

A few days later, as Eu-jin sat alone in the office, his phone rang with an unusually loud and jarring sound.

BEEEEP—!!

“Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve heard this.”

The emergency alert was an obnoxious noise loud enough to startle anyone hearing it for the first time, but for Eu-jin, who had endured it countless times over 11 years, it wasn’t surprising at all. In fact, it felt oddly nostalgic.

He neatly took off his slippers and switched into proper shoes. Dressed in a neatly pressed white shirt, tailored trousers, and polished shoes, he left the office.

It was the beginning of his official first field assignment.

* * *

A rift had appeared in a quiet residential neighborhood.

Since it occurred in broad daylight, the area was teeming with onlookers. Rift Management Bureau employees scrambled to maintain order, making the chaotic scene even more frantic.

“Guide Baek Eu-jin, you’ll need to stay sharp from now on. Once we go in… it’s going to be a whole different world.”

Yoon Ga-eul, a third-year guide who had accompanied him to the site, spoke with a tone of significance. She pulled the much taller man closer to her side, showing her responsibility as his mentor.

Baek Eu-jin straightened his posture and fixed his gaze on the cordoned-off area. The distant Porta shimmered with a shifting blue light.

Judging by the brightness radiating from the entrance, the rift was likely at least a Level 2. Such a rift typically required the deployment of three or four A-rank Espers. It promised to be no easy fight.

“Just stick with me,” Yoon Ga-eul said confidently, taking the lead.

She pushed through the dense crowd, heading inside. After showing her ID to the Rift Management Bureau staff controlling access, two uniformed officers saluted and stepped aside to let them pass.

“Team Leader Ahn!”

Yoon Ga-eul’s voice made the group near the Porta turn around. Their faces, a mix of familiarity and indifference, belonged to none other than Delta Team.

“Ah, you’re here.”

A man with a lean build and glasses stepped forward. Delta Team leader Ahn Itaeh extended a hand for a handshake, greeting Yoon Ga-eul warmly.

“We’re not late, are we?”

“No, we just arrived as well.”

“Team Leader, this is Guide Baek Eu-jin, who’ll be joining us today. I believe you were informed.”

The introduction flowed naturally. Ahn Itaeh’s soft gaze shifted to Baek Eu-jin.

“Yes, I heard. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ahn Itaeh, leader of Delta Team. I look forward to working with you.”

“Likewise. I’m Baek Eu-jin.”

The two exchanged polite greetings. Ahn’s demeanor toward the first-year guide was surprisingly kind and respectful, more so than Eu-jin had expected.

“Let me introduce the rest of the team. This is Esper Park Sae-byeok, next to her is Esper Kwon Su-ho, and over here is our youngest, Esper Yoo Tak.”

With an open hand, Ahn gestured to each member of Delta Team. The Espers, seemingly in the middle of planning their strategy, only glanced briefly before returning to their discussions.

“What’s this? Two guides today?”

“One’s a trainee. A first-year.”

“Unbelievable. Now we’ve got a kid to babysit.”

Park Sae-byeok’s sharp eyes flashed with irritation. She seemed more on edge than usual, likely due to the tension before entering the rift. Her already biting tone turned even more cutting.

“Park Sae-byeok, watch your tone.”

“Whatever. Just don’t be dead weight in there.”

She shook her head in exasperation and turned away. Yoo Tak, the youngest, scratched his short hair awkwardly and bowed toward Yoon Ga-eul and Baek Eu-jin.

“Nice to meet you, Guides. I’ll be in your care.”

“Yes, let’s work well together.”

As Eu-jin finished the awkward exchange and lifted his head, his eyes met a dark silhouette standing like a shadow. It was Kwon Su-ho, staring directly at him.

“You came dressed like that?”

“Pardon?”

Su-ho’s icy gaze swept over Eu-jin’s entire body, leaving a chill in its wake. Despite the summer heat, it felt unnervingly cold.

“You’re planning to go into a rift wearing a suit?”

“……”

“Doesn’t seem like you have any intention of getting your hands dirty.”

Kwon Su-ho tossed out his remark and turned away indifferently. With a snap of his fingers, Yoo Tak scurried over to him. The Delta Team seemed entirely uninterested in the guides, quickly resuming their discussion without further acknowledgment.

Stung by Su-ho’s blunt criticism, Baek Eu-jin stood frozen, as if he’d just been struck in the back of the head.