DMG Chapter 3 (Part 3)

LONG CHAPTER AHEAD

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Meanwhile, monsters that had been scattered throughout the cavern began converging toward the queen, drawn by her cries.

No matter how many they killed, their numbers only seemed to grow, making the battle feel utterly hopeless.

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Time dragged on, and the Espers’ stamina dwindled. Though countless bodies of slain monsters piled up, just as many soldiers were born to replace them. There was no end in sight.

A few Espers, too exhausted or seriously injured, retreated to receive guidance and temporary treatment. Yet, nothing was resolved, and the fight continued to stagnate.

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Kang I-won glanced toward the queen. Even from afar, the core embedded in the center of her head glowed vividly, a clear target.

“Hey, don’t even think about it,” Choi Soo-bin said sharply.

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She was always quick to catch on.

Feigning ignorance, Kang I-won replied, “Think about what?”

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“Whatever it is you’re thinking of right now.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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“Don’t play dumb. If you wait, they’ll take care of it. You know they’re stronger than you, right?”

“I know.”

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Of course, Kang I-won was aware. How could his regeneration ability compare to the diverse and potent powers of his peers?

But they couldn’t even get close to the queen because of her venom. And without an Esper capable of neutralizing the poison, those who could act were frozen in place.

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The few who had dared to charge earlier had already been poisoned and forced to retreat.

Without destroying the core, defeating the queen was nearly impossible. Her endless stream of soldiers and the worker wasps flying out of the hive above were constant obstacles.

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Burning the hive wasn’t a viable option either. The flammable liquid dripping from the hive coated the ground, and one stray spark would set the entire cavern ablaze—along with every Esper, all soaked in the monsters’ sticky fluids.

At this rate, the Espers would collapse from exhaustion before they could finish the battle. Many were already nearing their limits.

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This wasn’t a fight that could drag on into a war of attrition.

“…”

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Kang I-won’s gaze returned to the queen.

The reason Kang I-won was recognized as an A-rank Esper despite only having a regeneration ability was simple—he acted without hesitation in moments like this.

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Each of those moments had built up his track record, elevating him to A-rank.

And the most important thing about Kang I-won? He never listened to anyone’s advice—not even Choi Soo-bin’s.

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“Just block the stingers for me,” he said calmly.

“Ha… why did I even bother trying to stop him? I knew this would happen. I just wasted my breath,” Choi Soo-bin grumbled behind him, her voice dripping with irritation.

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Even as she complained, she knew she would help him, and Kang I-won, unfazed, dashed toward the queen.

He weaved through the Espers fighting the queen and scaled the wall, stepping onto the heap of rotting meat piled nearby. Without hesitation, he sprinted across the putrid, squelching mound. The sensation was like running through thick mud.

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The highest part of the pile reached the queen’s chest. Kang I-won planned to use the stench of the rotting food to mask his approach while the other Espers distracted her.

However, the queen quickly noticed the new “prey” making its way toward her. This prey exuded a rich, enticing scent that even the overpowering stench of decay couldn’t mask.

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Displeased but intrigued, the queen waved one of her antennae, aiming to swat away the bold intruder daring to tread on her feast. Kang I-won twisted his body just in time to dodge the attack.

While it would have been ideal to reach the top unnoticed, Kang I-won had never expected the queen to ignore him completely. Dodging the venomous stinger, he seized the base of the antenna brushing past him and gripped it tightly.

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The queen recoiled in irritation as her antenna was grabbed, instinctively lifting it, causing Kang I-won to be hoisted into the air. At the same time, her remaining three antennae whipped toward him, aiming to strike.

Ting!

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Before they could reach him, Choi Soo-bin’s sharp gusts of wind intercepted the incoming antennae, knocking them off course.

“Who is that? Are they trying to get themselves killed?!” a sharp voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.

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Kang I-won ignored it completely.

Using the thick antenna like a rope, he climbed rapidly toward the queen’s head. He had to reach her core before she fully realized what was happening.

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As he drew closer, the queen, now aware of the threat clinging to her antenna, began shaking it violently in an attempt to dislodge him.

Undeterred, Kang I-won held on tightly. In frustration, the queen extended three of her spider-like legs to grab him, her movements quick and precise.

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As the legs closed in, Kang I-won let go of the antenna and, in one fluid motion, landed on one of the legs reaching for him. Using it as a springboard, he leapt high into the air. His movements were swift and light, defying the queen’s attempts to catch him.

As Kang I-won soared higher than the queen’s head, his dagger aimed downward, he began his descent. A shadow fell over the queen’s face, and she smirked faintly.

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The queen opened her mouth and released a spray of paralytic venom.

Damn it. The unexpected move forced Kang I-won to bite back a curse. The venom stiffened his muscles, and the grip on his dagger weakened involuntarily.

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Gritting his teeth, Kang I-won tightened his hold on the dagger and plunged it downward with all his remaining strength. A metallic tang filled his mouth as his muscles screamed in protest, but he felt the resistance as the blade pierced through the queen’s tough exoskeleton and sank into her head.

“Gah!”

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Kang I-won spat blood suddenly, something sharp having stabbed through his back and into his chest. A wave of searing pain spread through his body, draining his strength completely. His limbs went limp against his will.

His vision blurred, and the world tilted. Through the haze, he saw the queen’s venom-coated stinger, slick with his blood, protruding from his chest.

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Kang I-won raised his eyes. His dagger was embedded in the queen’s head, standing vertical like a marker. He needed to grab it and extract the core, but—

The thought didn’t finish. Warm blood trickled from his nose. The sensation in his skull was horrifying, as if his brain was melting. He couldn’t tell if the liquid streaming from his nostrils was blood or something worse.

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His mind spiraled into darkness, his body completely limp. Fading into unconsciousness, Kang I-won plummeted.

But before he hit the ground, something caught him mid-air. His lifeless form was pulled upward, rising again toward the queen’s head.

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“Kiieeeek!!”

The queen screeched, her shrill cry echoing throughout the chamber.

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She was enraged. How dare mere prey threaten her source of power?

The object lodged in her head irritated her greatly, but it was in such a precarious position that removing it recklessly wasn’t an option. Though the stabbing sensation was maddening, it wasn’t unbearable—at least not yet.

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The queen decided to leave it alone until the chaos subsided.

Despite her mounting frustration and the throbbing pain, she couldn’t suppress a sense of excitement. The most tantalizing prey, the source of the intoxicatingly sweet aroma, was now firmly in her grasp.

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Of course, the ongoing rebellion of the “bugs”—the Espers—meant she couldn’t enjoy her meal at leisure. Ideally, she’d clean up the mess before savoring the prey slowly.

But circumstances forced her to abandon the idea of savoring. Having already used her venom, a drawn-out feast was no longer feasible.

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If she hadn’t resorted to venom, she could have captured all the bugs and relished the freshest prey. A shame, but unavoidable.

The queen adored fresh prey, especially those that struggled and twitched in her grasp. To preserve the freshness to the last bite, she always started eating from the bottom. Beginning from the top would cause the treasured freshness to fade too quickly.

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Her mandibles twitched in anticipation as she prepared to indulge in her unexpected prize.

The queen opened her mouth.

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Crunch, crunch.

The chilling sound of something being crushed echoed through the chamber. With the screams of humans below serving as background music, the queen savored the sweet flavor spreading across her mouth.

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Crunch, crunch.

Crunch—

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The grotesque sound, paired with the unbearable pain, snapped Kang I-won back to consciousness. Though his brain remained sluggish from the venom, he found he could think again.

His eyes slowly moved, taking in the scene.

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The dagger he had embedded in the center of the queen’s head was still lodged there, untouched. The queen, completely engrossed in gnawing on Kang I-won’s body, didn’t seem to notice he had regained awareness.

His regeneration ability had begun repairing his damaged brain, restoring his mental faculties little by little. The fog clouding his mind lifted, and his thoughts started to race. Unfortunately, so did the clarity of the pain coursing through his body. Kang I-won grimaced as the agony became sharper.

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Pain could wait. Right now, survival was the priority.

Kang I-won forced himself to assess his condition.

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The venom had ravaged not only his brain but his entire body. The paralytic venom sprayed by the queen had dulled his movements, but the lethal venom from her stinger made even the slightest motion excruciating.

Still, Kang I-won pushed himself to move. His fingers twitched slightly. The sensation was sluggish, and the pain that followed was almost unbearable, but it wasn’t impossible to force himself to act.

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What’s more, his position wasn’t bad. If he could raise his upper body just a little, he’d be close enough to grab the hilt of the dagger he had driven into the queen’s head.

The queen, utterly focused on her meal, remained oblivious to his actions.

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It was the perfect opportunity to target the core.

But there was a problem—did he have the strength to twist the dagger and destroy the core?

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In his current state, poisoned and weakened, merely moving was a monumental task. Exerting the force needed to remove the core seemed impossible.

Kang I-won’s sluggish eyes flicked around the battlefield, searching for a buff-type Esper. If someone could augment his strength, there might still be a chance.

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A buff-type Esper had the ability to temporarily enhance the physical abilities of others. Knowing he couldn’t do this alone, Kang I-won sought to borrow someone else’s strength.

His gaze locked with an Esper watching him from a distance, wide-eyed in shock. Kang I-won opened his mouth wide, wordlessly demanding a physical enhancement. The Esper hesitated, clearly flustered, but Kang I-won kept repeating the same demand until the Esper finally seemed to understand. Muttering something under their breath, the Esper activated their ability, and strength began surging into Kang I-won’s weakened body.

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The queen remained focused on tearing into Kang I-won’s lower half. This was his one and only chance.

Ignoring the pain that racked his entire body, Kang I-won forced his limp torso upright. He stretched out his hands, clutching the hilt of the dagger embedded in the queen’s head, and twisted with all his might.

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Crack.

The sound echoed as the core shifted slightly. Kang I-won didn’t stop there—he dragged the blade across the queen’s tough exoskeleton, carving out a piece of her flesh along with the core.

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Finally, the core came loose, along with a chunk of the queen’s head. As it fell through the air, the leader of Team A darted forward and snatched it up.

“Kiieeeeeek!!”

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The queen let out a deafening, anguished screech, her body writhing violently. The force of her thrashing flung Kang I-won into the air.

He plummeted toward the ground, his legs severed below the knees. Before he could hit the ground, Han Kang-jin, who had been battling soldiers below, caught him mid-fall.

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“I-won! Are you okay?” Han Kang-jin asked, alarmed.

He wasn’t okay. The venom, the severed legs, and the strain from his reckless actions all took their toll. Regeneration would take time, and his overexertion had triggered severe backlash, leaving him utterly drained.

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Kang I-won couldn’t even move a finger. His limp body lay motionless, save for his faint, labored breaths.

Han Kang-jin sighed heavily. “You’ve done enough. Let the rest of us handle this. Just rest.”

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“Hey, are you alive? You’re not dead, right?!”

Choi Soo-bin appeared beside him, shaking Kang I-won’s limp body.

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“Captain, is he dead? He’s not answering!”

“Soo-bin, how is he supposed to answer if you keep shaking him like that?”

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“Come on, say something! Are you alive?”

“…Yeah,” Kang I-won muttered faintly, barely audible.

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Despite the weak response, Choi Soo-bin let out a sigh of relief. “Good, you’re still alive.”

Han Kang-jin carried Kang I-won to the rear of the battlefield and laid him down. A Guide, who had never seen Kang I-won’s condition before, approached, visibly panicked.

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“Should I—treat him? Or… how do I—”

“No need to treat him. He’ll heal on his own. Just provide guiding,” Han Kang-jin instructed before returning to the frontlines.

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The Guide hesitated but eventually attempted to provide guidance. However, the low compatibility made it far from effective.

The Guide’s eyes flickered toward Kang I-won’s severed legs, which were slowly regenerating, flesh writhing as they grew back. The grotesque sight made the Guide grimace and turn away.

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Kang I-won, accustomed to such reactions, remained indifferent.

Once the Guide left to assist another Esper, Kang I-won pulled out a tin case from his inner pocket. Normally, two pills would suffice, but today he needed more. He poured the contents into his hand and swallowed several at once.

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The bitter taste spread across his tongue as the pills dissolved, but the pain in his body dulled significantly. He felt almost nothing—his senses were so numbed it was even difficult to move his fingers.

Lying flat on the ground, Kang I-won turned his head to observe the battlefield.

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Thanks to his efforts, the queen had lost her core, and her antennae—the most potent weapons—were quickly severed by the Espers. Without her primary means of attack, the queen’s resistance waned.

But even weakened, she wasn’t defenseless. Abandoning all attempts to fight, she scrambled up the walls with her eight legs, focusing on spawning more soldiers.

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Plop. Plop.

Eggs filled with soldiers began falling from the hive. Though the core’s removal had slowed her spawning rate, the soldiers that hatched were still formidable.

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Fortunately, the Espers now outpaced the rate of spawning. With every soldier defeated, the tide of battle began to shift, and the number of enemies visibly dwindled.

Several Espers who had been focused on defeating the soldiers shifted their efforts to assist in dislodging the queen from the wall.

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With their combined attacks, the queen finally fell from the ceiling, crashing heavily to the ground. Her eight legs flailed in pain, but the Espers wasted no time. They swarmed her and successfully destroyed her storage sac.

No more soldiers would be spawned.

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The team leaders quickly shared their assessments through their devices.

The queen’s core and storage sac had been destroyed, and her ability to produce soldiers was nullified. Though the chamber was still teeming with worker and Ground Wasps, their low individual strength posed no significant threat. The queen’s death was now within reach.

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After a brief exchange, the team leaders reached a consensus:

1. Injured Espers, Guides, and those unable to contribute further would leave for the dungeon’s entrance immediately. A few Espers who still had energy to spare would accompany them to provide protection and clear any remaining monsters on the way.

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2. Messages were sent to locate and direct any lost personnel still wandering the ant nest to the entrance.

3. The remaining teams would block the multiple exits to minimize pursuit by the worker and Ground Wasps, kill the queen, and escape before the dungeon collapsed.

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Execution of the plan was swift. Kang I-won’s team, Team 5, was among those heading for the entrance. Since Kang I-won’s legs were still regenerating, Han Kang-jin carried him on his back.

The group encountered several straggling monsters along the way but dispatched them quickly, thanks to the remaining capable Espers. Before long, they reached the entrance.

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After reporting their arrival, they waited briefly. A few embarrassed-looking Espers from Team E, who had gotten lost, eventually arrived at the entrance. A little more time passed, and the gate began to hum and shift—the signal that the queen was dead.

“All right, let’s head out. Injured personnel will exit first!”

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The injured Espers were escorted out of the dungeon to receive treatment. Among them was Kang I-won, still slung over Han Kang-jin’s back.

While his legs would regenerate on their own, the venom coursing through his body required external assistance for faster recovery.

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The gate opened to reveal bright daylight, where a large group of personnel waited for the returning teams. Among them was Team 5’s temporary Guide, Heo Do-gyeong.

Heo Do-gyeong’s usual indifferent expression faltered as his eyes landed on Kang I-won, carried out by Han Kang-jin.

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Kang I-won was drenched in blood and an unidentifiable viscous fluid. His limp body sagged heavily against Han Kang-jin, showing no signs of movement.

His skin had taken on a sickly bluish tint, drained of any vitality. The stark contrast between his ghostly pale complexion and the long black bangs hanging over his face made him look eerily like a corpse.

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His legs—or what was left of them—were grotesque. Only his ankles remained, dangling pitifully, while his torn pants revealed the absence of flesh and bone below his knees.

Heo Do-gyeong’s stomach churned at the sight. It was as if all the air had been sucked from his lungs.

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Among the injured emerging from the gate, Kang I-won appeared to be in the worst condition. What on earth had he been doing on his own?

Heo Do-gyeong approached the pair, his voice trembling as he asked, “…He’s not dead, is he?”

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“Alive and well. Why are you trying to kill someone who’s perfectly fine?” Kang I-won replied nonchalantly, still slung over Han Kang-jin’s back.

His voice, calm and steady, stood in stark contrast to his corpse-like appearance. While he sounded weaker than usual, it was clear he was alive.

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Realizing he wasn’t dead, Heo Do-gyeong unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

But just being alive didn’t mean much when Kang I-won’s condition was this dire.

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The pungent metallic stench of blood was far worse than when Heo Do-gyeong had encountered Kang I-won at the emergency stairwell. How much blood did he have to lose for the smell to be this overpowering?

To make matters worse, Kang I-won’s pallor was so severe that it wouldn’t have been surprising if he closed his eyes and never reopened them. The sight was unnerving, and Heo Do-gyeong couldn’t hide his rising anxiety.

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“That he’s alive is honestly more shocking,” Heo Do-gyeong muttered, his tone betraying his unease.

Noticing his rare display of distress, Han Kang-jin chuckled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Guide Heo. As rough as he looks, Kang I-won has a pretty decent ability. He’ll regenerate soon enough.”

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Heo Do-gyeong’s face twisted into an expression of disbelief. “…You’re calling that fine? How can you say something like that after looking at him? Does that look okay to you? No, it’s not okay! Not at all!”

He raised his voice, almost yelling, which startled both Han Kang-jin and Kang I-won.

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After biting his lip and running a hand roughly through his hair, Heo Do-gyeong added, “I’m sorry for raising my voice.”

“It’s fine. You’re just worried about I-won, aren’t you?” Han Kang-jin said with a placating smile.

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Still draped over Han Kang-jin’s shoulders, Kang I-won spoke in an unexpectedly gentle tone, sensing Heo Do-gyeong’s unfamiliar agitation. “Guide Heo, I really am fine. You don’t have to worry.”

“Fine? How can you call that… Hah. Fine. I get it. Just go get treated already. I’m in the way here,” Heo Do-gyeong replied, pressing his fingers firmly against the bridge of his nose before stepping back.

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As he walked away, Han Kang-jin frowned slightly and asked, “Why’s Guide Heo acting like that all of a sudden?”

“…I don’t know either,” Kang I-won replied, still visibly puzzled. It was strange enough that a Guide, who should’ve been safely stationed at the center, was even waiting out here at the gate.

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And just like that, Heo Do-gyeong disappeared, leaving only questions in his wake.

* * *

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As Han Kang-jin and Kang I-won exited the gate, Kim Young-ho, still waiting behind, suddenly asked as if a thought had just struck him,

“Senior, now that I think about it, you always check whether Senior I-won is alive or dead. Why do you do that? He doesn’t die anyway.”

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“Oh… that? Why?”

“I’m just curious. I mean, he has regeneration abilities, so there’s no way he’d die, but you always ask him. You never ask me or the team leader.”

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“Aw, are you upset that I don’t ask you?”

“No, it’s not that…”

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Kim Young-ho trailed off, looking flustered as he tried to deny it, though his face betrayed some lingering dissatisfaction. Choi Soo-bin, who had been watching him silently, hesitated before speaking.

“Young-ho, you know Kang I-won’s still human, right?”

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“Uh, yeah?”

“And he gets hurt way more than most people.”

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“Yeah… that’s true.”

“Just because he’s a regeneration Esper doesn’t mean he can’t die.”

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“But Senior I-won is different, isn’t he?” Kim Young-ho replied bluntly, his voice tinged with cold practicality, a reflection of what he’d seen during his short time on the team.

“…”

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Seeing that reasoning wouldn’t get through to him, Choi Soo-bin fell silent, her thoughts drifting inward.

Kang I-won had been her classmate at the training center—and for a fleeting moment, her first love.

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Back then, he had been everyone’s first love. Among the rough, black-feathered crows of the center, he was the sole white crane, standing out in his elegance and purity. Who could have resisted being drawn to him?

When they graduated from the training center and were assigned to different branches, she’d eventually assumed he was dead, like many of their peers. By the time they reunited, any lingering feelings from those days had completely evaporated. All she felt was warmth and affection for a long-lost comrade.

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After all, by the time they’d reached their thirties, most of their classmates from the training center had already been reduced to ashes, placed in columbariums.

Perhaps that was why she felt so protective of Kang I-won—he was one of the few left. She wanted him to survive, at least for a long time.

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At the same time, she had always assumed that, thanks to his abilities, he’d outlive her. That thought, a small comfort, had kept her from worrying too much—until now.

One day, Choi Soo-bin noticed Kang I-won smiling faintly, almost relieved, when he was at the brink of death. That was when she realized:

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Ah, he’s someone who wishes for death.

The moment she understood that, a chilling thought crept into her mind—Kang I-won, who constantly drove himself into situations that courted death, might one day die quietly, alone, without anyone noticing.

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He might be gone before anyone could realize it, leaving behind nothing but silence. That thought lodged itself deep within her, refusing to leave.

But instead of voicing her concerns, Choi Soo-bin masked them with a lighthearted tone.

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“Why do I ask? Well… I’m just curious.”

“Why are you curious about that?” Kim Young-ho replied nonchalantly. “Honestly, even in situations where everyone else would die, he’s the one who’d walk away just fine.”

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At the bluntness of his remark, Choi Soo-bin’s face hardened in an instant.

“Don’t ever say that in front of him,” she said coldly.

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“Come on, I’m not a kid. I know what I can and can’t say,” Kim Young-ho mumbled, trying to deflect.

“If you know not to say it to him, then maybe you shouldn’t say it to me either. Don’t you think so, Young-ho?”

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Kim Young-ho froze at her sharp tone, his face flushing red with embarrassment. He quickly ducked his head and muttered, “…I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. Just make sure you don’t say things like that in the future.”

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“Yes, I’ll be more careful,” Kim Young-ho replied meekly.

Choi Soo-bin understood why he’d said it. Kang I-won had endured injuries that would have crippled others long ago, surviving fatal wounds that should have claimed his life without so much as flinching.

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But there were things that could be let slide and things that couldn’t. Kim Young-ho’s remark fell firmly into the latter category.

Even if Choi Soo-bin didn’t know Kang I-won’s full history, she knew enough to understand how deeply those words could wound him.

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After all, Kang I-won had survived multiple disasters, often as the sole survivor.

This was also why she kept her distance from Kim Young-ho. He lacked both tact and thoughtfulness. While she treated him well enough to avoid awkwardness within the team, that was as far as it went.

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The real problem was that it wasn’t just Young-ho. Even the team leader, Han Kang-jin, wasn’t much better.

Though he pretended to care with his scolding, it was all surface-level. Han Kang-jin only spoke up when Kang I-won needlessly put himself in danger. Otherwise, he subtly pressured Kang I-won to sacrifice himself for the team, masking it as praise or gratitude for his efforts.

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With a team leader and teammates like this, how could she possibly leave Kang I-won to fend for himself?

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Choi Soo-bin suddenly recognized what had been holding her back all this time.

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It was the thought of Kang I-won, left alone after she was gone, that had weighed down her steps and anchored her in place.

#3.3

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The return to base was postponed until the next day, given the injuries and fatigue of the Espers and Guides who had fought at the gate.

The Jeju Branch didn’t have many Espers and Guides, so when situations like this dungeon gate arose, requiring a large team, personnel were often dispatched from Seoul. These deployments were frequent enough that temporary accommodations had been prepared for them. The facility was large enough to provide each person with their own room.

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After his detoxification was complete, Kang I-won waited for his legs to finish regenerating before taking a quick shower in the attached bathroom. Once clean, he threw on his usual training clothes. Other than his slightly pale complexion, he looked perfectly fine—his earlier battered state now completely unrecognizable.

After a moment of hesitation, Kang I-won picked up his phone and texted Heo Do-gyeong.

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[Me: Are you available for guiding right now?]

Although he needed guiding, it wasn’t urgent. He could wait until he returned to the Southern Region Branch. However, the image of Heo Do-gyeong’s earlier distressed expression lingered in his mind, prompting him to make the request.

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[Heo Do-gyeong Guide: Yes.]

The reply came almost immediately.

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While the temporary accommodations included individual rooms, there weren’t designated guiding rooms. As a result, it was typical for the Esper to go to the Guide’s room.

Kang I-won started typing to ask which room he should go to but received another message before he could send it.

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[Heo Do-gyeong Guide: I’ll come to you instead. Just send me your room number.]

“Hmm,” Kang I-won murmured, a bit surprised. It seemed Heo Do-gyeong preferred not to let people into his space, even in temporary lodging. Kang I-won shrugged and sent his three-digit room number, deciding not to overthink it.

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With no other plans while waiting, he opened a bag of snacks and started munching. As wrappers piled up on the table, he briefly regretted not eating a proper meal first.

Just as he stuffed the last piece into his mouth, there was a knock at the door. Quickly swallowing, Kang I-won swept the trash into the bin before opening the door to greet Heo Do-gyeong.

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The Guide’s eyes immediately dropped to the floor. Kang I-won instinctively wiggled his toes, feeling self-conscious.

It seemed like Heo Do-gyeong was fixated on the fact that his feet, now fully regenerated, were moving as if nothing had happened. Understandable—Espers like Kang I-won weren’t something a Seoul-based Guide would see every day.

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After staring for a moment, Heo Do-gyeong changed into the slippers placed near the entrance and stepped inside.

The room’s layout was simple: a single bed in one corner, a small table with two chairs beside it, a wall-mounted TV, and a compact clothing rack.

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Heo Do-gyeong and Kang I-won sat across from each other at the table. The Guide spoke first.

“How’s your body holding up?”

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“As you can see, I’m fine,” Kang I-won replied casually.

The detoxification process was complete, and his legs were fully regenerated. While his energy waves were fluctuating erratically due to the excessive use of his abilities, it wasn’t unbearable. The overuse of painkillers had left him slightly nauseous, but even that would subside with time.

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Heo Do-gyeong studied him for a long moment, scanning him from head to toe before speaking slowly.

“You certainly look fine… so much so that it makes me feel like what I saw earlier was just a hallucination.”

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Muttering as if to himself, he added, “Now I understand why you said to just see for myself.”

Kang I-won raised an eyebrow at the cryptic remark, unsure whether to feel amused or concerned.

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“Esper Kang I-won, I have a few questions. May I ask them?”

“Sure.”

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“I understand that even with regenerative abilities, you still feel pain like anyone else.”

“That’s correct.”

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Pain is universal.

For regeneration Espers, the duration of their suffering might be shorter, but the intensity isn’t lessened. In fact, the process of regeneration sometimes brought an even greater degree of pain.

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“With injuries as severe as yours, it couldn’t have been easy. The pain must have been substantial.”

“I’m fine.”

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Of course, it had been excruciatingly painful, but after downing several painkillers, Kang I-won hadn’t felt much of anything once the drugs kicked in. Even now, the lingering effects of the medication left his body feeling slightly sluggish.

After a brief pause, Heo Do-gyeong cautiously asked, “…Is this sort of thing normal for you?”

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Kang I-won shook his head.

“Not at all.”

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Though cuts and punctures were frequent, injuries severe enough to cause the loss of limbs were rare, even for him.

“Then why are you so calm? I mean, you lost your feet—”

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“I’m fine,” Kang I-won interrupted flatly, showing no intention of elaborating.

His indifferent demeanor left Heo Do-gyeong swallowing the rest of his questions. With a soft sigh, the Guide extended his hand.

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“…Let’s just start the guiding.”

Kang I-won clasped the outstretched hand. His grip was unusually firm.

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The guiding began, and despite the strength of Kang I-won’s grip, the energy that flowed into him was gentle. Heo Do-gyeong’s energy worked meticulously, soothing Kang I-won’s erratic waves with precision.

Kang I-won’s toes wiggled involuntarily, a reaction he couldn’t help. He bit down on his tongue, irritated. Normally, guiding was quick and efficient, but today Heo Do-gyeong seemed intent on taking his time.

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The calming warmth of the guiding brought a deep sense of peace, so comforting that it felt like he could surrender himself entirely and drift into blissful sleep.

But Kang I-won didn’t want that.

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He struggled to keep his focus, forcing his defenses back up even as they crumbled and were rebuilt over and over again.

Yet Heo Do-gyeong’s energy was relentless, clinging stubbornly to Kang I-won’s waves, soothing and stabilizing them without retreating.

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Then, without realizing it, Heo Do-gyeong’s energy slipped deeper, reaching the core of Kang I-won’s being.

Unaware of what had occurred, Heo Do-gyeong didn’t notice any change.

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But Kang I-won did.

The instant that energy made contact with his core, his entire body flinched violently, reacting to the unintentional intrusion.

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It was brief but unmistakable—Heo Do-gyeong’s energy had forced its way deep into Kang I-won’s core.

His neglected and long-untended core, starved of proper guiding, reacted violently to the unfamiliar energy, stirring up an indescribable storm of emotions.

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Kang I-won felt nauseous and itchy, as if he wanted to claw at his insides. Panicked by the strange sensation, he tried to pull his hand away, but Heo Do-gyeong tightened their clasp, lacing their fingers together.

“W-wait…,” Kang I-won stammered, flustered.

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The relentless invasion of Heo Do-gyeong’s energy, breaking down the barriers he had so carefully constructed, left him unsure of how to react. Instinctively, Kang I-won pushed back against the intrusion.

If he didn’t stop this now, if he let Heo Do-gyeong’s energy completely envelop him, he feared he would lose himself. He could already imagine the degrading image of himself begging at Heo Do-gyeong’s feet, pleading desperately for more guiding.

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The thought was horrifying. A cold shiver ran down his spine, snapping him back to his senses for a moment.

Yet, even as he resisted, another voice within him whispered seductively: Why are you refusing? Let it in.

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The temptation was maddeningly sweet, urging him to give in, to let Heo Do-gyeong’s energy soothe and consume him.

But he didn’t want that.

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Clinging desperately to his wavering consciousness, Kang I-won summoned what strength he had to reject the energy’s pull.

“T-that’s enough,” he said, his voice trembling as he tried to push Heo Do-gyeong away.

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But Heo Do-gyeong, fully immersed in the guiding, didn’t hear him. Instead, his grip tightened, and his brow furrowed slightly as he tried to channel even more energy into Kang I-won.

Realizing his words weren’t reaching the Guide, Kang I-won panicked. Summoning his last bit of resolve, he yanked his hand free, breaking their connection.

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“That’s enough,” he repeated firmly.

Heo Do-gyeong blinked, his expression dazed as he slowly raised his head to look at Kang I-won. His heart pounded loudly in his chest, the sound echoing in his ears.

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Kang I-won met his gaze, his voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside him.

“You’ve done enough.”

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“…I suppose the guiding was sufficient,” Heo Do-gyeong murmured, glancing down at his gloved hands as if uncertain.

“It doesn’t feel finished,” he added softly.

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“It’s enough,” Kang I-won replied curtly. “I have things to do, so I’ll be going now.”

His tone was sharp, leaving no room for argument. Without waiting for a response, he stood abruptly and fled his own room like it was a trap.

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As he briskly walked down the hallway, Kang I-won brought a hand to his mouth, trying to stifle his growing embarrassment. Just the memory of Heo Do-gyeong’s guiding made his face burn.

Why did he have to act like that?

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His heart was pounding, and the warmth from earlier hadn’t subsided. His usual pallor, so stark against his dark hair, had been replaced by an unusual flush that spread across his face, ears, and even down his neck.

Kang I-won quickened his pace, scowling as he silently prayed for one thing:

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Please, let Heo Do-gyeong return to Seoul as soon as possible.

* * *

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When Heo Do-gyeong was first assigned to the Southern Region’s Third Branch, his initial impression of Kang I-won couldn’t have been worse.

At first, he thought Kang I-won was just another one of the clingy fools who latched onto him because of their high matching rate, the type who turned into relentless leeches.

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But he was wrong.

After realizing his misconception, Heo Do-gyeong discovered that the more he got to know Kang I-won, the stranger the man seemed.

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One moment, Kang I-won would collapse but refuse to ask for help, lying on the cold ground as if it didn’t bother him. Another time, he’d have access to a Guide but opt to use guiding medication instead. He avoided guiding altogether if he could, and even when he received it, he seemed reluctant, offering no clear explanation for his behavior.

Curiosity began to simmer within Heo Do-gyeong. What kind of person was Kang I-won? That bubbling intrigue lingered at the edge of his thoughts, though it hadn’t grown strong enough to be consuming—yet.

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“If you’re curious about him, see for yourself with your own two eyes.”

That simple remark from Choi Soo-bin had been enough to push Heo Do-gyeong to agree to the Jeju assignment.

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But the trip brought him more than he’d bargained for—it was a series of shocks, each more unnerving than the last.

The most striking was the sight of Kang I-won, limp and corpse-like, slung over Han Kang-jin’s back with both legs severed below the knees.

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The image stuck with him. It gnawed at him.

The wounds were horrifying, yet Han Kang-jin’s calm demeanor only deepened Heo Do-gyeong’s confusion. How could anyone act so nonchalant in the face of such injuries?

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Once they arrived at the Jeju Branch and were assigned their accommodations, Heo Do-gyeong found himself pacing his room like an anxious dog waiting for its owner to return home. His unease grew with every passing moment as he kept glancing at his device, hoping for a message from Kang I-won.

But the notifications that came were from others—never from the one person he was waiting for.

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Heo Do-gyeong, unusually, ignored all other guiding requests that came his way, waiting solely for a message from Kang I-won.

When a text finally arrived, he felt an unexpected wave of relief. At least he’s alive. He looked like a corpse earlier.

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Still haunted by the image of Kang I-won’s severed ankles, he decided to offer to go to him directly. The reply came swiftly.

[Esper Kang I-won: 317]

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The message was blunt, just a three-digit number. Looking at the curt response, Heo Do-gyeong wasted no time preparing and immediately left his room.

Arriving at Room 317, he knocked, and when the door opened, his gaze instinctively dropped to Kang I-won’s feet.

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Bare feet.

They were flawless, with no scars or signs of damage. All ten toes wiggled slightly, as if to show they were in perfect working order.

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From the intact toes, his gaze traveled upward.

Kang I-won’s pale face was as composed as ever, no different from his usual appearance. He looked improbably fine.

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But appearances could be deceiving. How could someone endure such severe injuries and emerge unscathed?

The question lingered in Heo Do-gyeong’s mind. He remembered Choi Soo-bin’s words: “If you’re curious, see for yourself.”

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If he hadn’t witnessed it with his own eyes, he might have thought Choi Soo-bin was exaggerating or lying.

Now, standing face-to-face with Kang I-won, Heo Do-gyeong couldn’t help but wonder: Who exactly is Kang I-won?

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Even with the certainty of regeneration, he had lost both feet. How could he have remained so utterly unshaken by that fact?

The question gnawed at Heo Do-gyeong. What kind of person was Kang I-won? What thoughts allowed him to remain calm despite such devastating injuries? What kind of life had he lived to be this unaffected?

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The more he thought about it, the more his curiosity grew, surging like waves, each stronger than the last.

But Kang I-won’s dispassionate responses to his initial questions quickly discouraged him. Resigning himself, Heo Do-gyeong decided to focus on guiding instead, extending his hand to start the process.

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As he did, his eyes caught on his gloves.

He always wore gloves during guiding—physical contact with others was something he found deeply unpleasant.

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Today, though, the gloves felt unusually conspicuous. For a brief moment, he considered taking them off, but quickly shook the thought away. There was no need for that.

He pressed his gloved hand into Kang I-won’s and began channeling his energy, his expression tightening immediately.

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The state of Kang I-won’s energy waves was worse than expected—chaotic, turbulent, and in complete disarray.

Unbidden, the image of Kang I-won’s mangled ankles flashed in Heo Do-gyeong’s mind. He wondered again what could have happened to leave his feet in such a state. Then he remembered the torn fabric below Kang I-won’s knees earlier. If his regeneration ability had restored his feet, the entirety of the damage must have extended from his knees downward.

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Heo Do-gyeong felt his stomach churn and forcefully redirected his thoughts, focusing entirely on the guiding. He approached the process with more care than usual, carefully smoothing the jagged energy waves.

Yet, as he worked, something unsettled him.

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It wasn’t the wild fluctuations of Kang I-won’s energy—those were steadily stabilizing. It was something about the waves themselves. There was a peculiar quality to them, something inherently off.

Had they always been like this?

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The guiding process was nearly complete, and the waves had mostly calmed, but that strange undercurrent lingered, nagging at him.

Unconsciously, he began pouring more of his energy into the connection, unable to stop himself from probing further.

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Then, an odd image popped into his mind: an old, threadbare teddy bear. Its seams had burst, and tufts of stuffing poked out in every direction. Someone had attempted to stitch it back together, but the repair was clumsy, uneven, and incomplete.

The image was bizarrely vivid, yet Heo Do-gyeong felt compelled to examine it more closely.

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He vaguely registered Kang I-won flinching, but dismissed it. Without realizing, he adjusted their grip, threading their fingers together to increase the physical contact.

Even so, the sensation was faint—muted by the gloves between them. It was maddeningly close, as if the answer was just out of reach.

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If I could just go a little deeper…

A wave of unidentifiable urgency swept over him.

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The thought pressed at the edges of his mind, urging him forward.

In an instant, the energy waves Heo Do-gyeong had been sensing vanished. The connection severed the moment physical contact was broken.

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Heo Do-gyeong slowly raised his head to look at Kang I-won.

Kang I-won, his face slightly flushed, was breathing heavily as if he’d just escaped something overwhelming.

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“…I think the guiding was sufficient,” Kang I-won said, his tone curt.

“I don’t think it was,” Heo Do-gyeong replied, his gaze dropping to his gloves.

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If I hadn’t been wearing them… would I have been able to fully grasp that subtle something?

He thought about it as Kang I-won hastily left the room, practically fleeing. Left alone, Heo Do-gyeong sat quietly for a long time, staring at his hands.

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The gloves, which had always been an essential barrier for him, now felt like an obstacle for the first time.

The thought unsettled him.

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