Chapter 2

After finishing two consecutive tutoring sessions, Hee-beom headed to a nearby smoking area and lit a cigarette.

It wasn’t just any smoking zone—this was the one he habitually came to after tutoring.

Of course, no more, no less—just one.

A pack of cigarettes cost as much as a meal, so even if he wanted to smoke like a chimney, he couldn’t afford to.

Exhaling a slow stream of smoke, Hee-beom pulled out his phone.

A sharp light pierced through the darkness, making him squint. He lowered the screen brightness and—

[6 missed calls]

Director Jang had called him again. Repeatedly.

“Why the hell…?”

He muttered to himself, the cigarette bobbing between his lips.

It was already past 10 PM—shouldn’t the guy be off work by now?

Was this really because of him?

Who did he even think Hee-beom was?

Was Korea really that short on Guides?

He couldn’t recall ever reading an article about it.

Or maybe he just never cared enough to notice.

As Hee-beom took a slow drag of his cigarette, his phone rang again.

“…….”

He hesitated for a moment, about to shove it back into his pocket.

Did this guy literally have to stay at work until Hee-beom picked up?

The thought made him feel oddly sorry for Director Jang. A working adult pulling overtime because of some random college student?

With a sigh, Hee-beom pulled the cigarette from his lips and brought the phone to his ear.

“Yes, hello.”

— Ah! Mr. Joo Hee-beom! Please, don’t hang up!

“Go ahead.”

— Since you’ve awakened as a Guide, you’re required to visit the association for evaluation. Refusing to comply is illegal. If you ignore more than five requests, law enforcement may intervene.

Jang Jun-ho rattled off his words like a machine-gun burst, as if afraid Hee-beom might hang up at any moment.

Hee-beom’s eyebrows arched slightly.

“Law enforcement?”

— It means we’ll have to come pick you up ourselves.

“…….”

— And you’ll be billed for the transport costs.

“…….”

— And let me tell you, it won’t be cheap. When dealing with an ability user, we need to send other ability users. And in case you didn’t know, Espers and Guides have very high hourly rates…

“I’ll go.”

Hee-beom cut him off. There was no need to listen any further.

What had started as a suggestion was quickly becoming a threat.

If he kept refusing, there was a chance he’d get dragged off by some annoying Esper—or worse, tranquilized like an animal.

No way in hell was he letting that happen.

Jang Jun-ho ’s voice immediately brightened as he rattled off an address.

The call ended.

Hee-beom took a deep, forceful drag from his cigarette. The ember at the tip burned an angry red.

As he exhaled, he felt his lungs fill with smoke, then let it out in a long, slow breath.

A white plume curled into the pitch-black night.

“Fucking bullshit…”

Muttering under his breath, Hee-beom placed the nearly finished cigarette back between his lips.

* * *

[KESPA · Korea Ability Association]

The gold plaque affixed to the stone marker was so pristine it practically gleamed.

Hee-beom passed it by with an expressionless face, slowly sweeping his gaze from left to right.

The association was massive—bigger than the Korea University campus he attended.

And the number of buildings? Ridiculous.

Naturally, the place was bustling with people.

“Ha…”

Feeling drained already, Hee-beom ran a hand down his face before heading toward a nearby map.

Main Building, Training Hall, Hospital, Research Wing, Dormitory, Garden, Lake…

Of all these places, his destination was the Main Building.

After briefly memorizing the layout, he let out another sigh and started walking.

Countless people passed him on either side.

Most looked like ordinary office workers, but some stood out with their bizarre attire.

Swords and guns weren’t an uncommon sight among them.

Every time one of those types brushed past him, Hee-beom’s already pale skin seemed to drain of what little color remained.

“…Fuck.”

Muttering a quiet curse, he pulled his hoodie further down over his face.

He’d expected this, sure.

But actually being here like this?

It pissed him off.

The main lobby was vast, spotless, and undeniably luxurious.

There were sculptures, holograms, and countless things worth admiring—but Hee-beom didn’t spare them a glance.

Instead, he immediately searched for the reception desk and walked straight toward it.

“Hello! How can I help you today?”

The seated receptionist greeted him with a bright smile, rising slightly from her chair.

Even though no one was rushing him, Hee-beom felt oddly hurried as he responded.

“I have a 3 o’clock appointment with someone named Director Jang. Where should I go?”

“One moment, please. Could you provide your name?”

“Joo Hee-beom.”

The receptionist nodded and turned to her computer. Just as she was about to type in his name—

“Oh! Mr. Hee-beom! Over here! Over here!”

A voice called out from behind.

Hee-beom turned his head.

A middle-aged man in a neatly tailored suit was jogging toward him. His ID badge swung wildly around his neck, the name Jang Jun-ho printed on it.

“…….”

Hee-beom gave the receptionist a slight nod, signaling he wouldn’t need her help after all.

She responded with a polite smile and a slight bow in return.

By then, Director Jang had reached him.

He was about a head shorter than Hee-beom, with a thin, pale face and slim build—but his expression was almost giddy, like someone meeting their favorite celebrity.

“Hello, Mr. Hee-beom! It’s great to finally meet you!”

He extended his hand.

“……Yeah. Hello.”

Hee-beom reached out for a quick, light handshake—but before he could pull away, Jang Jun-ho clamped down on his hand with a firm grip.

Then, he shook it vigorously, up and down, with an unsettling amount of enthusiasm.

Uncomfortable, Hee-beom subtly twisted his wrist, trying to free himself—only for Jang Jun-ho to clasp both hands around his.

“Wow, you’re even more impressive in person! Tall, broad-shouldered… Honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d have thought you were an Esper! Hahaha!”

Hee-beom’s jaw clenched as the man openly scrutinized him, rambling excitedly all the while.

“……Yeah.”

Hee-beom replied a beat late.

Since when was looking like an Esper considered a compliment?

The thought left him with a strange feeling.

“Shall we move to a different location? Let’s head to my office.”

“Will this take long?”

“No, about an hour at most.”

“Alright.”

Jang Jun-ho started walking first, and just as Hee-beom was about to follow—

“My Guide!”

A clear voice rang through the spacious lobby.

At first, Hee-beom didn’t realize he was the one being addressed.

He only turned his head instinctively at the high-pitched voice.

And then—

A blur of movement.

Something came bounding toward him at full speed and latched onto his torso.

A strong scent of shampoo filled his nose.

“…….”

Hee-beom froze.

Completely.

Because a random living being had just thrown itself into his arms.

How could he not be stunned?

As he stood there, stiff and utterly bewildered—

“Nice to meet you!”

The thing in his arms lifted its face and beamed at him.

Bright, wide eyes.

Pale skin.

Jet-black pupils, glittering like polished stones.

A small but sharp nose.

Soft red lips, slightly parted, revealing tiny white teeth.

And damp, freshly washed hair, dripping shampoo-scented moisture down his forehead.

“…….”

Somehow…

The face looked familiar.

Not someone he knew—but someone he had definitely seen before.

Who was this?

As Hee-beom wracked his brain—

“Kwon I-young! What are you doing? Let go!”

Jang Jun-ho practically jumped in place.

At that name, Hee-beom’s eyebrows shot up.

“……Kwon I-young?”

If it was Kwon I-young, then even Hee-beom knew who he was.

His name appeared in newspapers, on the news, and in conversations more than the president’s.

Even though Hee-beom had zero interest in these things, it was impossible not to know.

In fact, it wasn’t just him—probably the entire world knew his name.

The only S-Class Esper in the country.

One of fewer than five in the entire world.

Hee-beom looked at I-young’s face again, just to confirm if it was really him.

But I-young didn’t let him see.

Instead, he buried his face into Hee-beom’s chest.

And then—

“Wow… whoa…!”

He let out an awe-filled gasp, like a child tasting ice cream for the first time.

At the same time, he fidgeted with Hee-beom’s waist, rubbed his cheek against Hee-beom’s chest to the point of squishing his pale face into the fabric, and even—

Sniffed him.

“…….”

Hee-beom’s brow furrowed.

Thanks to the thick hoodie, it wasn’t exactly unpleasant—but it was beyond baffling.

Just then, I-young peeked up at him with wide, gleaming eyes.

“You really are my Guide, aren’t you?”

“……Your Guide?”

Before Hee-beom could even ask what the hell that meant—

His body began to rise.

This wasn’t a metaphor for some emotion.

He was literally floating.

There was nothing beneath his feet.

At first, he thought maybe I-young was lifting him with brute strength—but no.

I-young was floating too.

Still clinging to him.

The way they were positioned—his small frame pressed against Hee-beom’s bigger build—it probably looked like Hee-beom was the one hugging him and jumping into the air.

“…….”

He was.

Floating.

In the air.

Because of an Esper’s ability.

The realization drained the blood from Hee-beom’s face.

In an instant, he shoved I-young away with both hands.

I-young’s entire body was sent flying backward.

It was strange—wasn’t he an S-Class Esper? Shouldn’t he be unmovable?

But Hee-beom didn’t care.

Because as soon as I-young let go—

Hee-beom dropped back to the ground.

“Ha…”

A deep exhale escaped his lips.

Hee-beom, his back hunched, covered the lower half of his face with one hand. His skin around his eyes was so pale it almost looked bluish. Even his fingertips were trembling slightly.

“Oh no, Mr. Hee-beom, are you alright?”

Jang Jun-ho examined Hee-beom with concern. Then, turning to I-young, he shot him a sharp glare.

“I-young, how many times have I told you not to lift people like that?”

“I’m sorry. I was just so happy to see him…”

Lowering his head, I-young obediently apologized.

Even so, he kept sneaking glances at Hee-beom.

Sensing that gaze, Hee-beom looked back at him.

“Sorry.”

I-young mouthed the words in an exaggerated motion.

And then—

As if there was something genuinely amusing about all of this—

His eyes curved into a bright, beaming smile.

Hee-beom did not smile back.