Chapter 11

The Center Chief’s request was utterly unreasonable.

‘Identify the Variants among the thousand staff members. Figure out how to do it on your own.’

What kind of irresponsible directive was that?

While Kang Yu-han respected the Center Chief, he couldn’t help but feel this situation was being handled haphazardly. Yet, outwardly, he maintained a composed demeanor, accepting the ampoule with apparent compliance.

“Ugh, this is so frustrating. How are we supposed to weed out monsters with just this?”

Seo Ji-hyuk wasn’t any more pleased. Muttering about needing a cigarette break, he quickly disappeared into the lounge. Left alone, Kang Yu-han headed toward the elevator, his steps echoing in the hallway.

The large LED screen mounted on the wall continuously played promotional videos.

“Espers: Heroes Protecting Your Family.”
“An Esper saved my dad!” – Citizen Interview
“With Espers and Guides, humanity can triumph!”

The citizens in the video were all smiles, their voices brimming with positivity and hope. Knowing full well it was just an advertisement, Kang Yu-han still felt a heaviness settle over him.

To save someone, an equal or greater number of enemies had to be eliminated. Someone had to take responsibility for cutting down those labeled as monsters. In a way, it was no different from the butchers of old, doing the jobs no one else wanted to do.

The ampoule in his pocket was minuscule—barely 10 ml, if even that. According to the Center Chief, its effects weren’t even fully verified. If he used it in a life-or-death situation and it malfunctioned, the fallout would rest solely on him. And if an innocent person died because of it, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Ding.

The elevator arrived, and two male Espers of similar rank joined him.

“Good morning.”

“Ah, long time no see, Major.”

Keeping his gaze lowered, Kang Yu-han discreetly scanned his colleagues. Even activating his 3D vision yielded nothing—no abnormal cells, no suspicious energy patterns.

High-ranking Espers often had shielding abilities, which they kept active nearly all the time. It was the only way to avoid feeling exposed in front of vision-specialized Espers like Kang Yu-han. In this mission to root out internal threats, his powers were essentially useless.

Detecting Variants among ordinary civilians was simple. Once identified, they could be apprehended or neutralized. But within the Esper and Guide-filled Center, his abilities were meaningless.

‘Sigh.’

Initially planning to return to his quarters, Kang Yu-han changed course, suddenly desperate for caffeine. He hadn’t had his coffee break yesterday afternoon because of Lieutenant Lee’s Variant incident, and his body ached for a strong brew to jumpstart his mind.

The lounge was bustling with Guides, Espers, and administrative staff queued up in front of the coffee machines.

After the emergence of Variants and the subsequent collapse of global order, food culture had drastically changed. Fresh produce became rare, and most crops were now managed by emergency government agencies. Farming had become impossible for regular citizens.

Coffee, once a common luxury, turned into a rare commodity. It was too expensive to casually enjoy as before. Kang Yu-han considered himself lucky to have unlimited access to coffee simply because he was affiliated with the Center.

He waited his turn, filled his cup to the brim with hot coffee, and carried it to the window. From there, he looked out at the hazy, desolate cityscape and took a sip. The coffee had no discernible aroma and tasted bitter and acidic, but in these times, even that was a luxury. It tasted awful, but the caffeine rush was worth it.

“Kang Yu-han.”

A familiar voice called his name. Turning, he saw Seo Ji-hyuk at a nearby table.

The man lounged with his long legs stretched out, surrounded by a cloud of smoke. The ashtray before him was overflowing with cigarette butts. Even in a smoking zone, it was excessive.

“What is it?”

“You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Playing dumb, huh?”

It was clear something had upset Seo Ji-hyuk again. His snide tone was relentless. Kang Yu-han felt fatigue wash over him. His body wasn’t fully recovered, and the new mission weighed on his mind. Sparring with Seo Ji-hyuk was the last thing he wanted.

“I don’t know what you’re implying. Excuse me.”

He needed to confirm the ampoule’s accuracy and learn how to properly use it. Ignoring whatever retort Seo Ji-hyuk had prepared, Kang Yu-han left the lounge.

On his way to the research lab, his wrist communicator chimed with an incoming message. After the destruction of the communication network, smartphones had become obsolete.

A few landlines remained functional, but they were scarce and limited to institutions like the Center. Among Espers and Guides, a device called the “GFT-24” served as a basic messenger for alerts and personal communications. It was like an old-fashioned mobile phone substitute.

Who would be messaging me? The Center Chief?

Without much thought, Kang Yu-han glanced at the screen and widened his eyes. The sender was unexpected.

Kim Si-on, the Guide.

The very Guide who had sparked conflict between Seo Ji-hyuk and Kang Yu-han. In the past, Kang Yu-han had intercepted and taken Kim Si-on, who was about to become Seo Ji-hyuk’s exclusive Guide.

Seo Ji-hyuk didn’t know the full story, but on the surface, it appeared as though Kang Yu-han had lured the naive and inexperienced Kim Si-on to prevent the guiding. Officially, Kim Si-on was infatuated with Kang Yu-han.

‘Esper-nim, do you know where I am right now? You’d be shocked.’

“Ah…”

The thought alone made Kang Yu-han’s chest tighten. It had been a long time since he’d heard anything about Kim Si-on, who had moved to the provinces, and he’d almost forgotten about him. Why the sudden contact?

Could Seo Ji-hyuk’s earlier bad mood have been because of Kim Si-on? It wasn’t a far-fetched theory. Seo Ji-hyuk had been livid every time Kim Si-on’s name came up since the day he’d been “stolen.”

Before Kang Yu-han could reply, another message arrived.

‘I’m at the research wing right now. I came to see you, Esper-nim.’

Kim Si-on was an inexperienced and naive Guide, barely in his twenties. His large eyes always shone with curiosity, and his speech was blunt—bordering on insolent.

As a Guide, he wasn’t particularly exceptional. He had a B-level resonance wavelength, not much to brag about. But by some twist of fate, his matching rate with Seo Ji-hyuk was 77%. Objectively, it wasn’t astronomically high, but such cases were rare enough to be noteworthy.

Occasionally, there were Guides like him—like a power strip, compatible with multiple Espers. Test results at the time had shown that Kim Si-on was suitable for Seo Ji-hyuk, Kang Yu-han, and even an Esper from another Center.

Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Kim Si-on was summoned from his rural hometown to Seoul’s headquarters.

The moment Kim Si-on arrived, the Center became chaotic. It wasn’t just because he was a candidate for Seo Ji-hyuk’s long-absent Guide.

People naturally gravitate toward scandal, no matter how turbulent the times. That instinct doesn’t fade easily.

Two Espers and one Guide—it was the perfect recipe for gossip.

Seo Ji-hyuk publicly declared his intention to make Kim Si-on his Guide. Unless something unexpected happened, they were set to be matched as exclusive Esper and Guide, with an imprinting ceremony on the horizon.

Imprinting wasn’t common unless the pair were romantically involved. But Seo Ji-hyuk was an invaluable asset, and securing his stability early was a necessity. Once imprinted, Seo Ji-hyuk would be bound to Kim Si-on for life, receiving guidance exclusively from him. Their souls would be entwined, forming a bond unlike any other.

Kang Yu-han couldn’t stand the thought. He would do anything to prevent Seo Ji-hyuk from forming such a special connection with someone else.