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#3

The somewhat chilly guiding room was silent. Choi Soo-bin, who had been silently holding Heo Do-gyeong’s hand while receiving guiding, finally spoke up.

“Guide Heo Do-gyeong, I have something to ask.”

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“Yes?”

“Did Kang I-won receive guiding yesterday?”

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“No.”

“Ugh, I thought so. He had a rough time yesterday, you know. That’s why I was insisting he get some guiding, but I guess he still didn’t take it.”

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Heo Do-gyeong didn’t know much about Kang I-won. The fragmented pieces of information and his brief experiences had led to a strong misunderstanding of the Esper.

However, through his conversation with Han Kang-jin, Heo Do-gyeong had come to realize that he might have been misjudging Kang I-won.

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Still, nothing had changed. Heo Do-gyeong still didn’t understand Kang I-won, and he didn’t have any means to do so. The only difference now was that he had stopped being unnecessarily harsh toward him.

In that moment, when Choi Soo-bin brought up Kang I-won’s story, a small curiosity began to stir. Heo Do-gyeong casually asked,

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“What kind of hardship are you talking about?”

“It was a bigger and more troublesome monster, so we had to fight it from the inside. That’s why Kang I-won had a hard time.”

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“…From the inside?”

Heo Do-gyeong couldn’t understand Choi Soo-bin’s words. Fight it from the inside? How? Despite Heo Do-gyeong’s confusion, Choi Soo-bin hesitated before adding playfully,

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“That’s something a precious Guide doesn’t need to know.”

“Is that so?”

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“You’re not denying it, though?”

“Well, I am a precious one, it’s true.”

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Choi Soo-bin chuckled at Heo Do-gyeong’s words. When her laughter subsided, Heo Do-gyeong asked lightly,

“Even though I’m a precious body, are you not willing to tell me more?”

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“No.”

Choi Soo-bin firmly refused with a voice full of laughter.”Why’s that?”

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“Would you believe me if I told you?”

“Of course.”

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“Everyone says that. But when I tell them, they always think I’m exaggerating. So I don’t bother saying anything.”

Once the guiding was over, the two of them released each other’s hands without hesitation. Choi Soo-bin rested her chin on her hand and spoke.

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“I don’t know what prompted it, but it seems like Guide Heo Do-gyeong has started to take a little interest in our Kang I-won…”

“It’s not that I’m interested.”

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Ignoring Heo Do-gyeong’s words, Choi Soo-bin grinned and continued.

“If you’re curious about him, go see for yourself with your own eyes. I’m not going to tell you anything.”

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At those words, Heo Do-gyeong awkwardly laughed.

* * *

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The development of guiding drugs had been ongoing without pause for a long time.

While the number of Espers was small, the number of Guides was even smaller. In the past, this had led to the oppression and exploitation of Guides. To achieve more effective guiding, sexual acts were often coerced, and for high-ranking but difficult-to-handle Espers, they were locked in rooms with Guides of high matching rates until they formed an imprint. Of course, many times, the Esper would simply break through the walls, rendering the procedure futile.

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Because of these practices, jokes about the government supporting prostitution were often made.

However, in the present day, such practices were no longer possible. This change came as a result of Guides uniting to fight for better rights, having endured years of oppression and exploitation.

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Guides now had the right to offer the level of guiding they desired, and Espers were required to respect this right.

As a result, guiding drugs had been developed steadily over the years. Recent versions of these drugs were quite effective, though not without their downsides.

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The drugs were effective, but the inevitable physical side effects that followed use, as well as frequent additional complications, meant that, unless absolutely necessary, guiding was still preferred over the drugs.

The side effects of the drugs varied.

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The most common side effects included headaches, muscle pain, chills, fever, nausea, and depression. Rarely, more severe symptoms like nosebleeds, coughing up blood, fainting, vision problems, breathing difficulties, and erectile dysfunction occurred. The latter side effect, in particular, caused many male Espers to avoid using guiding drugs.

One positive aspect was that the side effects didn’t last long. While the duration varied from person to person, on average, the side effects lasted from a few hours to a day or two.

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Despite the relatively short duration, the side effects were not trivial, so most Espers preferred to receive guiding from a Guide unless it was an urgent situation.

Kang I-won, who didn’t belong to the majority of Espers in this regard, skillfully tore open the plastic, removed the cap, and with practiced hands, injected the needle into his arm.

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Perhaps because of his regenerative abilities, Kang I-won experienced the side effects faster than most. They usually passed within minutes, or at most half a day, which made the process less bothersome for him.

Though the sensation of his body not being able to move after the drug took effect was still present, today he felt fortunate as there were no additional side effects. This wasn’t unusual, so Kang I-won shrugged it off without much thought.

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After returning to the center, taking a shower, and heading to the cafeteria on the first floor for a meal, Kang I-won suddenly felt that something was wrong.

Kang I-won was descending the stairs. As he stepped onto the middle stair, a sudden dizziness overwhelmed him, and his vision spun. He couldn’t maintain his balance, and his knee gave way, causing him to tumble down the remaining steps.

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Fortunately, there were only a few steps left, and he didn’t sustain any significant injuries. However, Kang I-won couldn’t get up.

The dizziness wouldn’t subside. It felt as though he were completely drunk, his stomach churning and his head ready to explode. With his lips clenched, Kang I-won curled up on the stairs. After a moment, something warm and sticky started dripping from his nose, running down his cheek.

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Weakly, he wiped beneath his nose. Blood covered his fingers.

It was a side effect of the guiding drug. He hadn’t been lucky this time, and the side effects had hit him late. And of course, it happened now.

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“…I’m hungry.”

How much better would it have been if these side effects had come after he ate at the cafeteria?

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He had used his abilities, and the hunger struck him with a vengeance, tightening his stomach painfully. The dizziness kept spinning his head, making it impossible to even rise, and now his empty stomach was tormenting him—it felt like he might die.

He thought about asking Choi Soo-bin for help, but the side effects blurred his vision. The hazy sight made it hard to even see the small screen on his device. Kang I-won quickly gave up on asking for help and let his body go limp.

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Pulling up his sleeve, he pinched his nose to stop the bleeding. Slumped against the corner of the stairs, eyes closed, he simply waited for the side effects of the guiding drug to subside.

How much time had passed? The dizziness still lingered, and his blurry vision hadn’t cleared. The nosebleed, too, showed no sign of stopping, and his sleeve grew steadily wetter.

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“…What are you doing there?”

At that moment, a voice filled with displeasure echoed from above. Without a doubt, it was Heo Do-gyeong’s voice. Kang I-won answered weakly in a small voice.

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“I’m resting.”

“Resting here?”

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“Yes.”

“Why…?”

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Not bothering to explain further, Kang I-won waved his free hand dismissively, as though signaling for Heo Do-gyeong to leave. When he didn’t go, Kang I-won added, with a hint of finality,

“Go ahead.”

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The sound of Kang I-won’s muffled voice echoed in the stairwell as he tried to block the blood flowing from his nose. Opening his mouth caused the blood to trickle down, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

He didn’t want this. He wanted food. Or at least chocolate or jelly. Anything that could fill his empty stomach would be better than this.

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What was truly frustrating was how the dizziness showed no signs of subsiding. The continuous flow of blood from his nose only seemed to make the dizziness worse. His regenerative abilities were useless in situations like this.

Heo Do-gyeong hesitated for a moment, then crouched down in front of Kang I-won and said,

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“…Move your hand.”

“No.”

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“It smells like blood. Please move it.”

“It’s nothing. Just a nosebleed. I’m just lying down because I’m dizzy.”

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Kang I-won muttered in defense, but Heo Do-gyeong didn’t even pretend to listen. With gloved hands, he tried to remove the hand that was holding Kang I-won’s nose.

After a brief struggle, Kang I-won finally let go of his hand, and Heo Do-gyeong succeeded in pushing it away.

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As soon as the blockage was removed, blood gushed out. Heo Do-gyeong stared in shock, and after a moment, his voice trembled as he spoke.

“Is this all… just from a nosebleed? Wait, hold on, what is this… This isn’t just a nosebleed, is it? The blood is still flowing!”

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“It’s fine…”

“No, it’s not fine!”

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Heo Do-gyeong, unusually agitated, bit his lip and took a deep breath. He quickly removed his outer coat and wrapped it around Kang I-won’s body.

In a swift motion, Kang I-won’s body was lifted into the air. The sudden shift in height caused his head to spin even more. He groggily opened his blurry eyes.

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“Wh-what… are you doing?”

Held tightly in Heo Do-gyeong’s arms, wrapped in the coat, Kang I-won silently stared in disbelief. It was one thing to be draped over someone’s shoulder, but this position was all wrong. Kang I-won hurriedly said,

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“I can just carry you.”

“Do you want to get all that blood on my shirt?”

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“Then just throw it over your shoulder…”

“Is there any need for that? Stop saying ridiculous things.”

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Heo Do-gyeong snapped irritably, and Kang I-won obediently shut his mouth, covering his face.

Heo Do-gyeong quickly left the emergency stairs and, remembering the location, made his way to the infirmary. While he had checked the map when he first arrived, it was his first time going there directly.

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He arrived at the infirmary at a fast pace and opened the door abruptly.

“What seems to be the problem…?”

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The doctor in the infirmary, leisurely sipping from a paper cup of coffee, asked. Heo Do-gyeong laid Kang I-won down on the bed inside and said,

“The nosebleed won’t stop. It keeps flowing.”

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“Let’s take a look. Let’s check your face.”

Kang I-won still kept his face covered despite the doctor’s words.

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There were many things that made Kang I-won uneasy with the doctor. It wasn’t the first time he had come to the infirmary due to the side effects of guiding drugs.

Especially when he first arrived at the Southern Gyeonggi Branch 3, his old habits hadn’t yet been abandoned, and he had overused the guiding drugs for various reasons, ending up visiting the infirmary almost every week, often getting scolded.

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Of course, it wasn’t Kang I-won’s choice to go to the infirmary. If it hadn’t been for Choi Soo-bin, he would have just waited in some empty place until the side effects wore off, as he always did.

The doctor, tapping on the hand that was covering Kang I-won’s face, spoke.

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“Hey, Kang I-won. Do you think I won’t recognize you just because you’re hiding your face? We’ve seen each other more than ten times already.”

At the doctor’s words, Kang I-won, embarrassed, slowly lowered his hand from his face.

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“Also, move the hand covering your nose.”

“…The nosebleed won’t stop.”

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“I need to see the condition, so move it.”

Reluctantly, Kang I-won lowered his sleeve. The nosebleed still didn’t show any sign of stopping and continued to drip, soaking the front of his training clothes. The doctor handed him a clean cloth, and Kang I-won used it to block the flow.

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“Goodness, why is there so much blood? Any other symptoms?”

Kang I-won glanced at Heo Do-gyeong, who was standing by, arms crossed. He couldn’t make out Heo Do-gyeong’s expression due to his blurred vision, but from the posture, it seemed like he wasn’t planning on leaving anytime soon.

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The invisible gaze felt heavy, so Kang I-won spoke up.

“Thanks for bringing me here to the infirmary. I’ll leave now.”

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“Don’t worry about me. Just get checked out.”

Despite his words, Heo Do-gyeong immediately rejected Kang I-won’s attempt to dismiss him. Kang I-won repeated,

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“…I’m concerned.”

“Don’t be.”

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“….”

Why was Heo Do-gyeong acting like this? It made Kang I-won’s head throb with discomfort. He hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking again.

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“I’m feeling dizzy. My vision’s a little blurry too…”

“Dizziness, nosebleed, and vision problems? Sigh, it’s obvious. You used the drug again, didn’t you? I told you to take it easy with that stuff. How many times have I told you? Of all the Espers I know, you’re the one who listens the least. Do you know that?”

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“Drug?”

At the doctor’s words, Heo Do-gyeong mumbled quietly, catching a single word. He immediately thought of the guiding drug, but quickly pushed the thought out of his mind. After all, even though he was just a temporary Guide, there was no reason to use the drug when a Guide was right there.

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As though mocking Heo Do-gyeong’s thoughts, the doctor continued his scolding.

“Kang I-won, I’ve said this repeatedly, but no matter how good the drug is, it’s never better than guiding. That’s why I’ve always told you to get guiding when you can. Why do you insist on the drug all the time? There are things you should stick to, and this isn’t one of them.”“…I never insisted on it.”

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“Then why are you constantly brought here for the side effects of the guiding drug? Seriously.”

Kang I-won looked up at the doctor, his face full of frustration, but Heo Do-gyeong’s gaze darkened as he looked down at him.

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Listening to the doctor’s words and seeing Kang I-won’s reluctance to deny them, it was clear that he had used the guiding drug. He couldn’t quite understand it, but somehow, his pride was stirred.

No, his pride was hurt.

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Heo Do-gyeong had always been a person of excellence. He was always the center of attention, and that continued even after he manifested as a Guide.

Any Esper, even those who didn’t deserve it, would desperately want to undergo a matching test with him. And if their matching rate was even slightly higher, they would beg for his guiding. It was a disgusting metaphor, but they would approach him like a dog in heat.

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Some crazy idiots even tried to overpower him, attempting to crush him underfoot. Of course, that attempt had failed, but even so, it had a significant impact on Heo Do-gyeong’s severe germophobia and disdain for Espers.

He quickly shook off the unpleasant memory and refocused his thoughts.

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When Heo Do-gyeong was still at the Seoul Branch, there were Espers everywhere who would practically beg for his guiding if their matching rate just exceeded 70%. They would plead for imprints and exclusive contracts, causing a commotion.

Having seen so many of those types, Heo Do-gyeong initially thought Kang I-won, who had reached out to him right away, was just another Esper of the same ilk—one that he so despised. Especially with the high matching rate Kang I-won had, it made him more certain.

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But after that day, Kang I-won showed no particular reaction. In fact, he even acted rather indifferent.

Heo Do-gyeong had thought that Kang I-won was just pretending to be uninterested on purpose. But what if that wasn’t the case?

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Heo Do-gyeong quietly retraced Kang I-won’s behavior in his mind.

Thinking back, during the matching test, despite seeing an 89% matching rate, he didn’t feel overly pleased.

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After the first guiding session, Kang I-won had tried to reach out to him, but after that, there had been no such attempts. In fact, after every session, he would simply get up and leave, acting almost casually.

Heo Do-gyeong compared Kang I-won’s behavior with the fools he had encountered in Seoul. And then, he remembered the dismissive gesture when Kang I-won waved him away as if he were an annoying fly.

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Finally, he recalled the sight of Kang I-won being brought into the infirmary, suffering from the side effects of the guiding drug, even though he had a Guide right there.

A helpless chuckle escaped Heo Do-gyeong’s lips. It was only then that he admitted to himself that he had misunderstood Kang I-won.

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He wasn’t someone trying to make advances at him. In fact, he wasn’t even interested at all. To have warned him about making advances—it was absurd.

Heo Do-gyeong’s face flushed with embarrassment.

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While Heo Do-gyeong was busy flustered and embarrassed, Kang I-won was still suffering, though for entirely different reasons. He ignored the scolding, his focus solely on his hunger.

After pressing around his nose for a while, the dizziness began to subside, and the nosebleed, which had been flowing endlessly, had mostly stopped. He shoved a tissue into his nose and muttered something as the doctor handed him a warm, damp towel. Kang I-won wiped his face and hands, which were stained with blood.

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“Let me see your hand.”

The doctor handed him several different pills—iron, vitamins, and other supplements.

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“Take these after meals if possible. Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

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“You should go eat then. By the way, the new Esper? Is that right?”

The doctor’s question was answered by Heo Do-gyeong.

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“He’s a Guide.”

“Ah, I see. I thought he was an Esper. He’s so tall and fit. Anyway, since this is a side effect from the guiding drug, there’s nothing more I can do. Just take him to get something to eat and make sure he takes the supplements. And, as much as possible, don’t let him use the guiding drug again.”

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“Yes.”

While Heo Do-gyeong nodded obediently, Kang I-won couldn’t hide his surprise.

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“Doctor, why are you telling that person about all this?”

“Kang I-won, you never listen even when I tell you a thousand times. So, I have to tell the people around you instead.”

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“……”

He wanted to protest that Heo Do-gyeong wasn’t someone close to him, but the words got stuck in his throat. If he argued, the conversation would drag on even more, and his stomach, still growling in hunger, wouldn’t be quieted anytime soon.

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The two of them left the infirmary side by side. Kang I-won was carrying Heo Do-gyeong’s coat, which was stained with blood from when it had wrapped around him. An uncomfortable silence fell between them as they walked in silence. Eventually, Kang I-won broke the silence.

“…Guide Heo Do-gyeong, thank you today. I’ll wash the coat and return it to you.”

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“It’s fine. Just throw it away.”

“It looks expensive.”

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“It’s not that expensive. Just throw it away.”

Kang I-won nodded. It did look expensive, but there was no way he was just going to throw it away. He planned to clean it and wear it himself.

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But why was Heo Do-gyeong suddenly so grumpy? It was hard to understand what he was thinking

Kang I-won checked the time on his device and decided to speak up, eager to get Heo Do-gyeong to leave.

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“It’s time to clock out. I’ll eat and take the medication myself, so you can go home now. You’ve had a long day for no reason.”

“He told me to make sure you eat and take your medication.”

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“Just ignore it. Why does Guide Heo Do-gyeong need to check on that? I can handle it myself, so don’t worry about it.”

“Someone like you is using the guiding drug?”

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The topic was one Kang I-won didn’t want to discuss. Heo Do-gyeong sighed deeply before speaking.

“Esper Kang I-won.”

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“Yes?”

“Seriously, what were you thinking?”

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“…What?”

“You have a Guide right here, and yet you’re using the guiding drug. What was going through your head?”

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Kang I-won had his own reasonable explanation, but it wasn’t something he felt like sharing with Heo Do-gyeong. He didn’t want to talk about it.

“Does it matter?”

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“Of course, it matters. The pharmaceutical companies are well aware of the side effects of the guiding drug. That’s why they recommend using it sparingly and getting guiding when possible. That’s what most Espers do.”

“Not all Espers can do that.”

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“You’re one of the Espers who can. You have a temporary Guide here at the center.”

Kang I-won frowned at Heo Do-gyeong’s insistence. He had been fine when he had mentioned receiving minimal guiding during their first meeting, but now, Heo Do-gyeong seemed to be acting like a strict, dutiful Guide for no reason.

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“The doctor said you’ve used the guiding drug more than once, didn’t they? You can get guiding any time, so why use the drug?”

Kang I-won hesitated for a moment, then gave the most plausible, understandable explanation he could give.

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“…It’s a habit. Back at my previous location, there was a severe shortage of Guides, and the guiding drug was the best option.”

“If it’s a habit, you need to break it. Here, there’s no shortage of Guides, and the guiding drug is not the best option.”

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Kang I-won was growing impatient. All he wanted was to get Heo Do-gyeong to leave so he could finally fill his gnawing hunger, but Heo Do-gyeong wasn’t showing any signs of leaving. Worse, he kept pushing the conversation toward topics Kang I-won didn’t want to discuss.

“I don’t understand why you, Guide Heo Do-gyeong, care so much. I’ll handle my own business.”

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“It doesn’t look like you can handle it on your own. Otherwise, why do you think the doctor told me to take care of you?”

Heo Do-gyeong didn’t back down, and Kang I-won snapped back with irritation.

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“Guide Heo Do-gyeong, do you realize that what you’re doing now is just unnecessary interference?”

“Unnecessary? Caring for an Esper is a Guide’s duty.

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Kang I-won couldn’t help but frown at Heo Do-gyeong’s insincere attempt to act like a diligent Guide. It was annoying, and his head was pounding from the endless cycle of the same conversation.

“I don’t understand why Guide Heo Do-gyeong is suddenly acting this way. Don’t you hate guiding? You’ve got a germophobia, and even wear gloves when guiding. That’s why you seemed to like the minimal guiding I received, right?”

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“That’s not it. I don’t hate guiding; I just dislike physical contact with Espers. I have germophobia. But in the end, I’m a Guide, and whether I like it or not, I have to do it. It’s my job.”

Heo Do-gyeong paused for a moment, then continued.

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“At first, I thought it would be easier if I did less guiding, and that was fine for me. But back then, I thought that was enough. I’ve never met an Esper who wanted less guiding. All the ones I know wanted more, not less.”

“You’ve just learned something new. That some Espers prefer less guiding.”

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“So why do you want to receive less guiding? Is there a special reason?”

Kang I-won felt a growing irritation as Heo Do-gyeong kept prying into things he didn’t want to discuss. He couldn’t understand why Heo Do-gyeong, who treated him like a germ earlier, was suddenly acting like he cared.

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Kang I-won didn’t want to continue the conversation, so he snapped, “I’ll handle my own business.”

“I don’t think you can, which is why I’m here. Why do you think the doctor asked me to take care of you when I first arrived?”

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Heo Do-gyeong didn’t let up, and Kang I-won couldn’t hold back his frustration.

“Guide Heo Do-gyeong, do you realize that this is just unnecessary interference?”

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“It’s not unnecessary. Caring for an Esper is a Guide’s duty.”

Kang I-won’s patience was wearing thin. He could feel his pride getting pricked, and he didn’t want to engage in a pointless conversation. But Heo Do-gyeong kept pressing.

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“So you really don’t care about your health, do you? You just keep doing things your way. You’ve used the guiding drug more than once, and yet you still refuse guiding when it’s available.”

Kang I-won sighed, rubbing his temples. He really didn’t want to explain himself, but he knew he needed to say something. “It’s a habit. At my last place, we didn’t have enough Guides, so the guiding drug was the only option. It’s just what I’ve gotten used to.”

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“If it’s a habit, you should fix it. Here, there’s no shortage of Guides, and the guiding drug isn’t the best option.”

Kang I-won just wanted Heo Do-gyeong to leave so he could finally eat, but Heo Do-gyeong wouldn’t stop bringing up topics he wasn’t ready to talk about.

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“Why do you care so much about this? I can handle it myself,” he muttered.

“I care because I can see that you can’t handle it. You’re an Esper, and I’m your Guide. It’s my job to make sure you’re taken care of.”

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Kang I-won bit back his frustration. He hadn’t planned to talk about his reasons, but now, Heo Do-gyeong was forcing him to. He didn’t feel the need to explain further.

He sighed heavily and then gave in. “It’s because I’m stubborn.”

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Heo Do-gyeong seemed to catch on to Kang I-won’s mood and didn’t press further. Instead, he asked a seemingly unrelated question.

“By the way, how old are you?”

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Kang I-won blinked in surprise at the question. “Why do you want to know?”

“I’m curious.”

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Heo Do-gyeong paused for a moment, then answered, “I’m twenty-three.”

Kang I-won was taken aback. He hadn’t expected such a direct answer, and it made him think about Heo Do-gyeong’s age. Despite his appearance, Heo Do-gyeong seemed younger than he had imagined. He was more youthful than Kang I-won had originally thought.

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Without realizing it, Kang I-won scratched his side. Then, his mind wandered to an old memory, causing a strange, unexplained sensation in his chest.

Kang I-won let out a small sigh. What had he even done, dragging along someone who hadn’t even graduated from university yet?

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“If you’re twenty-three, what year were you born? X4?”

“X5.”

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“……”

So, he’s the same age as that kid.

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Kang I-won slowly closed his eyes, feeling the emotion draining away from him like the ebbing tide. When he opened his eyes again, the irritation that had been there earlier was completely gone. Instead, he felt a little tired.

Kang I-won continued, speaking softly in a calm, tired tone.

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“…Guide Heo Do-gyeong, as I said, using the guiding drug is just a habit. It’s not because I dislike you. I’ve always been in rough places. There weren’t any Guides, but plenty of Espers who needed guiding. Maybe you don’t know this since you’ve only lived in Seoul, but in the provinces, places like that are everywhere. Anyway, after living in those kinds of places, I came to rely more on the guiding drug than on Guides. It became a habit, and that’s why I don’t like bothering Guides. So, I try to receive as little guiding as possible. That’s really all there is to it.”

He spoke at length, and his throat went dry. Kang I-won swallowed, careful to conceal the most important truths while speaking plainly about the more acceptable ones. Fortunately, Heo Do-gyeong nodded, though still unsure.

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“If you understand, then I’d like to go my way now. I’ll head to the cafeteria, and you can go home. I’ll make sure to eat and take my medicine, so don’t worry about it.”

Heo Do-gyeong nodded, glancing at the time.

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“Then I’ll say this one last thing.”

“Go ahead.”

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“No matter how much you hate it, I’m still a Guide, and I have an obligation to care for Espers.”

Heo Do-gyeong, the earnest Guide who despised Espers, started his speech with the same old refrain.

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“So, if you don’t mind me, and you’re not avoiding guiding just because of me, please accept it when you need it. It’s a habit, you say? It needs to be fixed. You don’t want to bother anyone, but others are fine with it. The others in Team 5 are the same—they call for guiding three or four times a week. To them, that’s normal. Why? Because they need it. Why should something that’s normal for everyone else not be normal for you, Esper Kang I-won?”

His words were rather arrogant, but they weren’t completely wrong, so Kang I-won let them pass, ignoring them.

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It seemed like Heo Do-gyeong wasn’t expecting an answer, as he continued without waiting for one.

“I’m sorry for keeping you for so long. I apologize for the misunderstanding. Well then, I’ll be going.”

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Heo Do-gyeong bowed his head and, as though he had never been there, turned on his heel and walked away with large steps. Kang I-won stared at his retreating back for a moment.

It was the first time someone had apologized for misunderstanding him.

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…It didn’t feel that bad.

As Heo Do-gyeong turned the corner and disappeared from view, Kang I-won finally pulled his gaze away and hurried on his way. His stomach, tormented by hunger, was demanding to be satisfied as quickly as possible.

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* * *

The stinging sensation in Kang I-won’s eyes, caused by the blood and foreign substances, made it hard to see. As he was dropping artificial tears to flush out his eyes, Choi Soo-bin nudged him in the side and asked.

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“What happened with Heo Do-gyeong?”

“Nothing.”

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“Really? There’s definitely something that happened, right~?”

Kang I-won blinked rapidly and lowered his head. The blood-mixed tears trickled down his cheek. It looked almost like he was crying blood, and Choi Soo-bin roughly wiped his cheek.

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At the rough touch, Kang I-won grimaced and pulled away.

“Why?”

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“He said if you were going to use the drug, he’d guide you, but you should come to him for guiding. I was so surprised when I heard that.”

Kang I-won blinked as he asked again.

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“Guide Heo Do-gyeong said that?”

“Yeah. You don’t believe it either, right? I didn’t either. So, what happened?”

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Choi Soo-bin didn’t hide her curiosity. There was nothing Kang I-won particularly wanted to hide, but he wasn’t inclined to explain everything in detail.

“Do I have to say?”

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“No, if you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t. It’s just… I’m really curious what happened for Heo Do-gyeong to act like that. I told you, I was really surprised. Honestly, most Guides don’t understand how terrible the guiding drug is. Some of the ones who don’t really know much about it tell Espers to use the drug instead of guiding because it’s easier, and some of them tell you to use the drug instead of guiding because they don’t want to do it themselves.”

The first temporary Guide Kang I-won met after moving to the Southern Gyeonggi Branch 3 had been one of the latter types. Choi Soo-bin continued.

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“To be honest, I thought Heo Do-gyeong was that kind of person. But then he told you not to use the drug and to come to him for guiding, so I was shocked.”

Kang I-won was just as surprised. He had been told to receive guiding, and it didn’t seem like it was an empty promise. But it also felt uncomfortable.

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Choi Soo-bin didn’t press further and just smiled.

“Well, it’s good news, right? Before, even though we all knew you were using the drug, there wasn’t much we could do about it. But now that Heo Do-gyeong’s asked, you can just go to him and get proper guiding.”

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“Mm….”

That wasn’t exactly what Kang I-won wanted. But what could he say about it?

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“By the way, don’t do that with Heo Do-gyeong.”

“What?”

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“You’re good at getting on the Guide’s nerves.”

“…Me?”

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Kang I-won expressed his confusion at the unexpected statement. Choi Soo-bin nodded and continued.

“Yeah. Guides should be treated with respect. They hold our lives in their hands, you know? We should treat them nicely so they’ll treat us kindly in return. It looks like Heo Do-gyeong’s trying to be nice to you, so you should be nice to him too. When else are you going to meet someone with that high of a matching rate?”

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“…Wait, you’re saying I get on the Guide’s nerves?”

Kang I-won asked, slightly taken aback. Choi Soo-bin nodded again.

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“Yeah. That’s why Eun-young didn’t like you either.”

“……”

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Kang I-won had known that his former Guide, Lee Eun-young, had always been especially cold toward him. But he hadn’t realized it was because of his own actions, so he couldn’t hide his surprise. At his expression, Choi Soo-bin gave a small admiring sound before continuing.

“Wow, you really didn’t know, did you?”

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“What do you mean?”

“Do you remember? When Eun-young first became our Guide? Back then, you always tried to avoid getting proper guiding and just used the drug. I’d have to drag you to her every time and tell her, ‘Please guide him.’”

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This had happened not long after Kang I-won joined Team 5. Kang I-won nodded in acknowledgment.

“You’d always say, ‘I’m fine, I don’t need it right now, I’ll take it later,’ and that made Eun-young upset. She’s an A-rank Guide, when would she have ever been treated like that?”

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“…Is that really getting on her nerves?”

Kang I-won muttered, still not fully understanding. Choi Soo-bin nodded firmly.

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“Yeah. You wouldn’t know since the only friend you have is me, and your relationships are pretty limited, but Guides are a lot more sensitive than you think.”

“……”

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“Even a B-rank Guide gets treated well. If their matching rate is even a little higher, they have a lot of people trying to get close to them. And when they’ve been doing it for a while, their pride or self-worth or whatever gets pretty high. So, when they’re the ones being rejected, they can’t stand it. Eventually, I was worried that Eun-young might start hating me too, so I gave up on dragging you to her.”

Kang I-won remembered how Choi Soo-bin used to grab him by the collar and drag him to the guiding room, but at some point, she stopped doing that. It felt a little weird, but he never thought much of it. Now, hearing this reason, it all made sense.

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Choi Soo-bin continued.

“So, don’t do that with Heo Do-gyeong. After seeing him, I think he’s a bit of a pain, but it’s just his nature. He’s not as crazy as the rumors say. He tries to be polite when he can.”

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“Yet, he’s always going on about ‘Heo Do-gyeong’.”

“That’s just a nickname. Doesn’t it roll off the tongue?”

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“Not at all.”

A brief silence passed between them. Choi Soo-bin swept her hair back and asked.

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Kang I-won blinked slowly, covering his healthy eye with his hand, and glanced around. The world still felt a little blurry to him.

“I think it’ll take a bit longer.”

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Choi Soo-bin hesitated and, in a cautious tone, asked, “…I might be imagining things, but I think your regeneration has been a bit slower lately?”

“Really?”

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“Yeah. I remember it being faster than this last time. Your vision recovered more quickly too.”

“Did it? I don’t really know.”

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“Hmm… maybe I’m just imagining it. But still, take it easy.”

Kang I-won stared at Choi Soo-bin, who was nagging him, and replied, “You’re starting to act more and more like Team Leader. You know that, right?”

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“It’s your fault! It’s because of you!”

Choi Soo-bin kicked Kang I-won in the shin. Kang I-won rubbed his shin with his other foot and, feeling a sudden thought come to him, asked the question that had been on his mind.

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“By the way, what’s going on with your plans to go to Seoul?”

“I’m still thinking about it.”

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“Why are you still thinking about it?”

“I don’t know. It’s just… um… I feel like I shouldn’t go just yet. Something doesn’t feel settled, and I feel kind of uneasy. It’s like I’ve missed something, but I don’t know what. But I’ll decide soon. I can’t keep putting it off forever.”

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“You’re going to go anyway, right?”

“Yeah. If I think about our cute little brother, I should go. I’ll go, but…”

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Choi Soo-bin frowned slightly, looking frustrated. Kang I-won spoke up.

“Make your decision soon, though. Don’t worry about me.”

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“Do you think I’m worrying about you? Come on, seriously. That’s a bit of an overestimation, don’t you think?”

“Whatever.”

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At the end of it all, Kang I-won just hoped his only friend wouldn’t let a good opportunity slip by.

“Soo-bin, I-won! They’re about to leave!”

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Kim Young-ho called to them. It was time to return to the center.

The four of them climbed into the team’s vehicle, and Han Kang-jin, who was driving, steered the car smoothly. It didn’t take long before they returned to the center.

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Once at the center, Kang I-won took a quick, refreshing shower, dried his hair, and changed into a new set of training clothes.

As he left the shower, Kang I-won paced the corridor, deep in thought. He didn’t need guiding right away. A couple of times was fine.

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Just as he was about to turn around, however, he was caught by Choi Soo-bin, who happened to be passing by. Without a word, she grabbed him by the back of the neck and dragged him to the guiding room.

“Guess it’s been a while, huh? This is kinda fun,” Choi Soo-bin said, glancing at Heo Do-gyeong, who stood there stunned. Without waiting for any reaction, she tossed Kang I-won into the room, slammed the door, and disappeared.

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After that, it was like nothing had happened. The two of them sat down across from each other, and the guiding began immediately.

Kang I-won could feel Heo Do-gyeong’s energy flowing through his hand. Without much thought, he let himself receive the guiding, feeling the subtle shift in Heo Do-gyeong’s focus. His eyes twitched as a sense of attentiveness replaced the earlier indifference.

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Even the parts he might’ve skimmed over before were now being carefully restored, making his toes twitch involuntarily from the thoroughness.

The chaotic, thrashing waves of energy calmed immediately at Heo Do-gyeong’s presence, like a wild creature suddenly tamed. Kang I-won chewed on the soft flesh inside his mouth, fighting against the overwhelming sense of instability.

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Heo Do-gyeong’s guiding was, quite frankly, almost unnervingly perfect. It was as though the thick walls he had carefully built to protect himself from the world were crumbling into sand, and only Heo Do-gyeong’s guiding was holding them together, keeping them from falling apart completely.

A part of his brain, unaware of its own anxiety, was gradually breaking down the walls he had built up, forcefully replacing it with a sense of stability he hadn’t asked for. Kang I-won fought to keep his mind focused and not let himself be swept away by that sudden comfort.

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After a while, Heo Do-gyeong finished the guiding and slowly withdrew his hand. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, clearly conflicted.

“…What on earth did you do for the waves to be this chaotic?”

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“I worked.”

“No, how… how did you work…?”

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Unable to finish his sentence, Heo Do-gyeong stared at Kang I-won, who simply kept his mouth shut. There was nothing to say.

* * *

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A dome with a 10 km radius appeared on the outskirts of Seoul.

A dome. Literally, a hemispherical structure, and a disaster unlike any gate.

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If you had to compare it, it could be seen as similar to a dungeon-type gate, but there were a few key differences.

The biggest difference was that, unlike a gate where the boss of the dungeon must be killed to destroy the gate, the dome could only disappear if all the monsters inside it were eradicated.

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It wasn’t strictly necessary to eliminate the monsters to make the dome disappear. If all other life forms besides the monsters were killed, the dome would also vanish.

In other words, the dome would not disappear until either the humans or the monsters inside it were completely wiped out. It was a more insidious disaster than a gate.

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The surface of the dome looked smooth, like a glass marble. Inside, a purple mist filled the space. As long as the mist filled the dome, no one could enter or leave.

That didn’t mean, however, that you could just wait until the monsters or humans inside were wiped out.

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The mist inside the dome would dissipate at regular intervals. Even then, while it would still be impossible to escape from inside the dome, the opposite was possible. When the mist inside the dome disappeared, prepared Espers, Guides, and soldiers would enter with supplies of food and resources.

The soldiers and Guides would rescue and protect civilians, while the Espers dealt with the monsters. The task of eradicating the monsters hiding in the darkened corners of the city took time and consumed endless human resources and supplies.

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And now, such a dome had appeared in Seoul.

Seoul had a barrier. However, the barrier couldn’t block the dome.

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The worst disaster, and the one that was equally dangerous to everyone. That was the dome.