#4

After returning from Jeju Island, life had been relatively peaceful. Today, in particular, was exceptionally quiet. There were no team calls, let alone any emergency summons.

Thanks to that, Kang I-won was able to spend some time in the lounge, flipping through the newly updated list of monsters. Beside him, Kim Young-ho and Choi Soo-bin were also killing time.

Kim Young-ho spoke up.

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“To be honest, I really resented Soo-bin at first. But when I saw the amount deposited into my account, wow, I actually started thinking I wouldn’t mind going on another dispatch mission.”

“If you want dispatch missions, you should head to Seoul, not stay here.”

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Most dispatch missions were handled by the Seoul branch. Except in special cases like the last time, it was rare for them to get involved in such operations.

For reference, the dome that had appeared on the outskirts of Seoul had vanished, and the casualties had been limited to double digits. This was thanks to an S-rank Esper who happened to be patrolling nearby and got caught up in the dome.

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At Choi Soo-bin’s remark, Kim Young-ho waved his hands dismissively.

“Ah, I’m just saying.”

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“What, you’re not thinking about going to Seoul?”

“No.”

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“Why not?”

“Well…”

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Kim Young-ho glanced at Choi Soo-bin before quickly averting his gaze, his ears turning a noticeable shade of red. Choi Soo-bin pretended not to notice and turned to Kang I-won instead.

“I-won, you’ve been getting your guiding sessions regularly, so why do you look more and more exhausted? I just don’t get it.”

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Lately, Kang I-won had indeed been receiving guiding sessions consistently. Not that it was his choice.

Since Jeju, it seemed that Heo Do-gyeong had undergone some sort of change. Every time Kang I-won returned from the field, Heo Do-gyeong would push for guiding sessions, and a gleeful Choi Soo-bin would shove Kang I-won toward him.

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Even though Kang I-won insisted it wasn’t necessary to go this far, Heo Do-gyeong ignored him and carried out the guiding as he pleased.

Thanks to a high-compatibility Guide consistently and diligently providing guiding sessions—even without frequent physical contact—Kang I-won’s chronic guiding deficiency had significantly improved. As a result, his overall physical condition was better than it had been in years. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt this refreshed.

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However, as Choi Soo-bin pointed out, Kang I-won’s face looked gloomier than usual. Dark circles hung heavily under his eyes. After hesitating for a moment, Kang I-won finally spoke.

“…I haven’t been sleeping well.”

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“You don’t say. It shows. Is there something bothering you? It’s not like work’s been that hectic lately, and you’re getting regular guiding sessions. Nothing seems off.”

“There’s no problem.”

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That was a lie. The guiding sessions were the problem. The stability Heo Do-gyeong’s guiding brought to Kang I-won’s body had, ironically, become a significant obstacle to his sleep.

“Really? Then why is this happening?”

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“I don’t know.”

Of course, Kang I-won had no intention of sharing the truth with anyone else.

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All he could do was hope that Heo Do-gyeong would return to Seoul soon and that he would be assigned a new Guide with a more reasonable compatibility rate.

As Choi Soo-bin rubbed at the dark circles under Kang I-won’s eyes, she suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, “Oh, right. How about grabbing some coffee together?”

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“Huh? What about me?”

Startled by her suggestion, Kim Young-ho pointed at himself with his finger.

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“I’ll bring you some. What do you want?”

“You’re leaving me out while the two of you go off? Why?”

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“I need to talk to him about something.”

“What about me?”

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“Young-ho, I told you. I need to talk to him one-on-one.”

Choi Soo-bin’s tone, both coaxing and slightly scolding, made Kim Young-ho glance at Kang I-won with a faint trace of jealousy. Both of them noticed but chose not to comment on it.

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Kim Young-ho, pouting slightly, muttered in a sulky tone, “…I’m fine. I don’t want anything.”

“Really? Got it. We won’t be long, so wait here. Let’s grab dinner later. My treat.”

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“….”

Though he was clearly sulking, Kim Young-ho didn’t outright refuse. Smiling faintly, Choi Soo-bin patted his shoulder before leaving the lounge with Kang I-won.

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The two went straight down to the first floor, bought two drinks at the café, and headed to the quiet walking path behind the center.

Sitting on a nearby bench, they sipped their drinks, the cold breeze brushing past them. After taking a long sip of her iced Americano, Choi Soo-bin got straight to the point.

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“I’m going to Seoul. I’ve already told the team leader.”

Kang I-won, who had been drinking his frappuccino, swallowed and replied, “You finally made up your mind.”

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“Yeah.”

“Did you clear up what was bothering you?”

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“Hmm, not really.”

Choi Soo-bin glanced at Kang I-won briefly before turning her gaze forward again.

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“It still weighs on me. It will even after I leave. But what can I do? There’s something more important to me than that.”

Though she didn’t specify, Kang I-won understood what she meant. She continued,

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“Take care of yourself while I’m gone.”

“I’ve been fine without you.”

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“Did you look fine to anyone else?”

“As long as I have all my limbs, it’s fine.”

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Choi Soo-bin thought back to when she first met Kang I-won.

Back then, “fine” was all he was—barely. She didn’t know what he’d been through, but he had built walls of sharp, unapproachable thorns around himself, barring anyone from getting close.

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On top of that, his demeanor had been so cold that those who met him during that time still found it hard to approach him even now.

Though he still disliked and avoided interacting with others, he had come a long way since his first arrival in the southern region.

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“When are you leaving?”

“There’s no exact date yet. Maybe next month? It could be sooner or later, depending on the situation.”

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“You haven’t told Young-ho yet, have you? He’s going to be upset.”

“I didn’t tell him on purpose. I’ll let him know when the date’s set. Maybe… three days before I leave?”

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Kim Young-ho had feelings for Choi Soo-bin. He had even confessed.

Although he tried to hide it as best as he could after being rejected, it was painfully obvious to everyone around them that he hadn’t been able to move on.

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Choi Soo-bin, pretending not to notice his feelings, treated him like any other junior teammate, keeping things light-hearted but always feeling a burden beneath the surface.

Receiving unrequited affection was a trial in itself for her.

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“You’re not going to tell him, right?”

“Young-ho’s going to hold a grudge against me and the team leader.”

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“Just lie and say you didn’t know.”

“Probably for the best. Though I doubt he’ll believe it.”

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Their soft laughter rippled in the chilly air, a light breeze brushing against their faces. Kang I-won combed his fingers through his bangs, which had been tousled by the wind.

Choi Soo-bin watched him intently.

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His bangs covered his eyes, and his longer hair fell over the nape of his neck. Through the parted strands of his hair, his tired-looking eyes peeked out.

Despite the dark circles making him seem a bit irritable, his gaze was gentle. Those mild eyes and the pure black sheen of his irises had once been what Choi Soo-bin liked most about him.

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“When are you going to get a haircut? You’re making good money—why be so frugal? It’s not like it costs much.”

“The money I’d spend on a haircut could buy me a few snacks.”

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“There’s a place that gives discounts for Espers. Go there.”

“Their base prices are already expensive.”

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“So you’re just going to let it grow? Well, it does suit you.”

At her comment, Kang I-won shook his head with a faintly reluctant expression.

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“…I’ll cut it soon. It’s gotten too long.”

“Won’t you feel sad?”

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The sudden, unexpected question made Kang I-won meet her gaze. He smiled faintly.

“No, I won’t.”

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Why would he feel sad? Choi Soo-bin had simply chosen the best path for herself. It would be absurd for him to feel hurt over it. It was a decision worth celebrating.

“You ungrateful jerk. Don’t forget who’s buying dinner later.”

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“Oh no, I’m devastated.”

“Right?”

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At his exaggerated reply, Choi Soo-bin burst into laughter.

After exchanging a few more trivial words, they used their devices to call Kim Young-ho from the lounge and headed to a nearby restaurant.

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True to his nature of never turning down a free meal, Kang I-won ate with the gusto of someone intent on emptying Choi Soo-bin’s wallet. Meanwhile, she handed over her card with trembling hands, barely holding back her indignation.

After Choi Soo-bin left, saying she had another appointment, and Kim Young-ho went his separate way, Kang I-won found himself alone. He returned to the center and headed straight for the training room.

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Starting with light exercises to aid digestion, his training gradually intensified, pushing his body to its limits. Even when his muscles screamed in agony, the training didn’t stop.

The cycle of his muscles protesting and then adapting repeated several times. Only when even lifting a finger became a struggle did Kang I-won finally finish. Afterward, he showered, changed into fresh training clothes, and headed home for the day.

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As soon as he got home, the first thing Kang I-won did was turn on the TV to dispel the oppressive silence.

He aimlessly flipped through channels before settling on one, letting time pass meaninglessly. When boredom crept in, he would browse through new or already familiar information about gates and monsters. Knowing the enemy in detail increased the odds of survival—though not his own survival, but that of others.

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After killing time like that, it was finally bedtime. Though it didn’t help much, Kang I-won took a sleeping pill and lay down in bed.

Even with the pill, he tossed and turned for hours before finally falling asleep. It wasn’t long before his peaceful facade shattered. His face twisted in a grimace, and his body writhed, soft groans of pain escaping his lips.

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“No… No, stop… Don’t….”

In his sleep, Kang I-won began clawing wildly at his abdomen.

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His shirt rode up, revealing a jagged scar running horizontally across his navel, encircling his abdomen like a noose. His nails raked at the scar as though trying to erase it, scraping away flesh with desperate intensity.

Flesh peeled under his relentless assault, gathering under his fingernails. Even as the skin beneath his nails split and blood oozed out, Kang I-won couldn’t stop clawing.

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“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… is sorry….”

Through his frantic apologies, he remained locked in sleep. His hands continued their self-inflicted torment as if determined to remove the scar entirely. The flesh he clawed at healed rapidly, only to be torn apart again, the cycle repeating endlessly.

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“I’m sorry….”

Apologies and self-harm intertwined, blood from his abdomen soaking into the sheets. His fingers became a mix of shredded skin and crimson. Yet no matter how deep his nails dug, his body’s regenerative ability left no scars behind.

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At last, his hands stilled, as though frozen in place.

Moments later, his eyes fluttered open. Exhaustion was etched into his face as he slowly sat up, staring blankly at his bloodied fingers, now caked with shredded flesh.

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Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, sliding down his cheek before falling onto his lap.

The room was still shrouded in darkness. His mind and body, deprived of proper rest, screamed with fatigue. Kang I-won buried his face into his knees.

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Once again, that kind and meticulous guiding had proven to be a profound detriment to him.

* * *

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Guiding involves mutual physical contact.

And Heo Do-gyeong disliked physical contact. Though his gloves had recently become thinner, he still couldn’t give them up entirely.

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This was why Kang I-won initially dismissed the steady guiding sessions that began after Jeju Island as mere whimsy. He figured the precious young master, who had grown up surrounded by nothing but the best, was simply acting out after being shocked by the harsh realities he had encountered for the first time. Surely, it would pass.

But it didn’t stop.

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The consistent guiding kept his body in peak condition, but it also prolonged his sleepless nights, leaving his mental state increasingly worn down. The gap between his physical and mental health was growing wider.

The prolonged sleep deprivation caused numerous issues.

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There were times he didn’t hear the blaring summons, and in critical moments, his distracted mind led to unexpected injuries.

He even made mistakes he wouldn’t normally make, which drove him to the brink of madness.

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The solution to sleep deprivation was simple—get a good night’s sleep. But as soon as he lay down, nightmares plagued him, and sleeping pills, having built up a tolerance, no longer worked effectively.

The only viable option seemed to be maintaining his guiding deficiency. Yet, with the steady guiding sessions, even that was impossible.

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Kang I-won had long maintained a state of guiding deficiency partly because of the placebo effect—it made him feel less pain. But more importantly, it helped him sleep.

Of course, he couldn’t sleep soundly even in a deficient state. His body ached, making it hard to fall asleep, but at least it spared him the dreams that tormented him.

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There was only one solution left to resolve his sleep deprivation: revert his body to a state of guiding deficiency.

The best way to achieve that was by receiving guiding from a low-compatibility Guide.

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Low-compatibility Guides couldn’t address the fundamental issues, and unresolved needs would pile up, creating the symptoms of guiding deficiency.

But as long as Heo Do-gyeong stubbornly stood in as his temporary Guide, that wasn’t an option. So what could he do?

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There was only one way—stop receiving guiding altogether. If necessary, he could suppress the symptoms with guiding suppressant drugs. That would eventually force his body back into a state of deficiency.

To do so, he had to avoid Heo Do-gyeong.

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Avoiding him was easy enough.

If Kang I-won spotted Heo Do-gyeong from a distance, he immediately left the area and rested in places he normally wouldn’t go. When he saw Heo Do-gyeong waiting outside the training room, he abandoned his training and turned away.

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When Heo Do-gyeong sent a message:

[Guide Heo Do-gyeong: Why aren’t you receiving guiding?]

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Kang I-won ignored it.

After all, hadn’t Choi Soo-bin said it herself? Guides can’t stand being rejected.

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Even Lee Eun-young, who seemed so easygoing, had been like that. Surely someone as confident as Heo Do-gyeong would sulk and end his whim if faced with even a little rejection.

He had only expected things to return to the bare minimum of guiding sessions. He never imagined Heo Do-gyeong would go as far as to come find him.

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Certainly not while holding a cafeteria tray and locking eyes with him.

“Guh—cough!”

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Startled, Kang I-won choked, letting out a loud cough as he tried to swallow a large spoonful of rice.

The scene shifted back to Jeju Island, where during a brief conversation amid guiding, Heo Do-gyeong learned a few new things.

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“You seemed quite shocked today. Well, that’s understandable. It’s not like Guides often see things like that. But don’t worry too much. It was a bit rough today, but honestly, it’s not uncommon for him to get injured like that. Still, no matter how bad it looks, he always brushes it off and gets back on his feet like nothing happened. Ha! Do I stop him? I always nag him about it, but I-won’s stubborn. He never listens.”

First, he realized that even Han Kang-jin, who seemed relatively normal, had the peculiar mindset characteristic of Espers.

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“I mean, Soo-bin sunbae, too—why does… No, forget it. Anyway, about I-won sunbae? There’s nothing to really worry about. Oh, sure, he… uh, well, something happened, but it’s not a big deal. He’s got incredible regeneration, way better than you’d think. Honestly, I’ve been horrified by it more times than I can count, but in the end, my worries always turn out to be unnecessary. If anything, you’d be better off worrying about someone else. Oh! Don’t tell Soo-bin sunbae I said this.”

Second, he learned that what Kang I-won had experienced beyond the gate was something that would even make other Espers recoil in disgust.

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“What I wanted Guide Heo to notice wasn’t all that mess but simply that Kang I-won works himself to the bone. You misunderstood him, didn’t you? Oh, come on, it’s obvious. Sure, he acts like it’s no big deal, but it’s got to be frustrating to be misunderstood when you’re working that hard. So, what happened? That’s not something Guide Heo needs to know.”

Third, he discovered that his feelings toward Kang I-won, which he thought he’d hidden well, had been thoroughly seen through.

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By the end of the conversation, one thing stood out about all three individuals.

First, none of them seemed particularly worried about Kang I-won. Even Choi Soo-bin, the only one close to him, cared more about clearing up misunderstandings about him than about the injuries he had sustained.

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Second, all three were tight-lipped about what had happened inside the gate. Their reasoning? It wasn’t something an interim Guide like Heo Do-gyeong needed to know.

All he managed to glean was that it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary—just that Kang I-won had worked himself too hard fighting a monster and lost both his legs as a result.

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Of course, Guides didn’t need to know the specifics of what Espers endured on the battlefield or how they got hurt. What purpose would it serve?

But Heo Do-gyeong couldn’t help his curiosity. What could have possibly happened for him to lose both legs? Even though he knew his interest was unnecessary, he couldn’t seem to let it go.

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For reasons he couldn’t quite grasp, he found himself increasingly bothered—especially after seeing Kang I-won’s composed expression, which grated on his nerves.

Still, there was no way for Heo Do-gyeong to uncover more about Kang I-won. Espers who knew the details kept their mouths shut, and the information accessible to Guides didn’t include what Heo Do-gyeong was curious about.

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The reason Heo Do-gyeong had made the trip to Jeju Island was simple, yet unusual.

For a Guide, stepping outside the center was almost unheard of. The field was the domain of Espers and field Guides. Occasionally, a general Guide would accompany them, but even then, it was rare and only under the protection of other Espers.

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As such, contact between Guides and Espers outside of guiding sessions was minimal.

With so few opportunities for interaction, learning about Kang I-won had been a slow and unproductive process. His curiosity, however, only grew steadily, threatening to overflow.

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Then, a chance presented itself—not a direct one, but an opportunity to observe indirectly nonetheless.

To see Kang I-won in action, to reassess his own misconceptions, and to judge him without prejudice, Heo Do-gyeong made his way to Jeju Island.

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But instead of gaining clarity, things only grew more complicated. His unresolved curiosity piled up relentlessly.

Even so, Heo Do-gyeong continued his guiding sessions diligently. Part of it was guilt over his past misjudgments, and part of it was his dislike of seeing Kang I-won resort to suppressant drugs in a Guide’s presence.

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Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.

Espers were known to crave guiding, and they tended to open up quickly when treated well by a Guide.

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Kang I-won, being an Esper, wasn’t likely an exception. Heo Do-gyeong believed that by treating him well, he could eventually get him to open up—and perhaps satisfy his growing curiosity through conversation.

However, there was something off during the sessions.

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The instability and peculiar unease he had felt so vividly during Jeju Island were now entirely absent.

Even though he was paying closer attention to the guiding sessions than before, the sensation was nowhere to be found. He considered the possibility that he had been mistaken, but the vividness of the images that had surfaced then made it hard to dismiss as a mere misunderstanding.

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The high compatibility between them suggested that increasing physical contact could allow him to closely assess Kang I-won’s condition.

But he found the idea distasteful. The thought of removing his gloves to touch someone else made an intense discomfort rise within him. For that reason, Heo Do-gyeong still relied on gloves, though he had switched to thinner ones.

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Day by day, his attention to Kang I-won grew, to the point where he even dropped hints to Choi Soo-bin. Yet, as the days went by, Kang I-won’s presence grew quieter, while his appearance became more haggard.

Though his internal state seemed calm, his outward appearance was like that of someone on the verge of a breakdown.

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His complexion had darkened, his dark circles deepened, and he looked as though he might collapse at any moment. Alarmed, Heo Do-gyeong wondered if his guiding might be to blame.

When he consulted an acquaintance about whether excessive guiding could have adverse effects, he received a resounding “no,” along with curious questions about why he was even asking. Shutting off his phone, he decided to let the matter rest.

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When he asked Kang I-won directly what was wrong, the Esper brushed it off with vague answers. Even Choi Soo-bin couldn’t pinpoint the issue.

With no clues as to what the problem was, and reassurances that guiding wasn’t harmful, Heo Do-gyeong focused on doing his job.

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That was when the infuriating Esper suddenly began avoiding him.

He didn’t know why. Just the day before, Kang I-won had been receiving guiding without issue. But now, he was blatantly and deliberately evading him.

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At first, Heo Do-gyeong thought it was a misunderstanding. Why would an Esper avoid a Guide offering to help?

But as the avoidance stretched into several days, it became clear—Kang I-won was purposefully avoiding him.

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Watching Kang I-won’s retreating back, Heo Do-gyeong, suppressing his frustration, typed out a message deliberately, letter by letter.

[Me: Why aren’t you receiving guiding?]

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The message showed as read, but there was no reply. Even after waiting for a long while, it stayed that way.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips. Being so thoroughly rejected stung Heo Do-gyeong’s pride. After all, who had ever genuinely rejected him before?

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Kang I-won was no different. Though he acted indifferent and unbothered on the surface, it was painfully obvious how much he liked receiving guiding. He tried hard to hide it, but it showed.

At first, Heo Do-gyeong hadn’t noticed, but as the days of dealing with Kang I-won stretched on, it became increasingly clear. And why wouldn’t it? Their compatibility rate was a staggering 89%. It was the highest Heo Do-gyeong had ever encountered.

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Perhaps it was because of the initial rejection that Kang I-won’s attempts to hide his enjoyment had felt a bit endearing. With that in mind—and his own ulterior motives—Heo Do-gyeong had been meticulous in providing guiding.

For any other Esper, it would have been a dream-level special treatment.

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Yet, this was the first time he had been outright rejected by someone he had truly put effort into. Of course, it wasn’t the first time he had been “rejected” in a technical sense. If anything, he had dealt with more of those fake rejections than he could count.

As an S-rank Guide, Heo Do-gyeong attracted all kinds of nuisances.

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Many of the Espers who gravitated toward him loved clichéd dynamics, clinging to tired tropes as if they were scripts.

One of the most overused was: “You’re the first Guide to ever ignore me!”—a line so stale it practically reeked.

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Every Esper who had “rejected” him in the past had been one of those fools.

These cases typically fell into two categories:

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First, there were the ones who pretended to be indifferent from the start, only to cling desperately when they realized Heo Do-gyeong truly had no interest in them.

Second, there were the ones who acted overly enthusiastic and eager at first, only to suddenly play hard-to-get, feigning disinterest or acting as if they had grown bored.

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In both scenarios, when they saw that Heo Do-gyeong didn’t even spare them a glance, they all came crawling back, grasping at his ankles in desperation.

Having dealt with those patterns countless times, Heo Do-gyeong found them tiresome and transparent.

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At first, he had assumed Kang I-won was just another fool in the first category. But he wasn’t. That had been a misunderstanding.

Then was he one of the second type? No, not that either.

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Years of enduring this nonsense had sharpened Heo Do-gyeong’s instincts, and he could tell—Kang I-won was genuinely avoiding him.

In other words, this was the first time someone had truly rejected him.

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And that crackled his lofty pride as an S-rank Guide.

“Ha…”

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A weary sigh escaped his lips.

Heo Do-gyeong was the first to realize why clichés are clichés. He also understood why Espers loved such worn-out clichés.

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Surprisingly, the cliché worked quite well. Of course, this was only true when it wasn’t being deliberately pursued.

Heo Do-gyeong felt a sting to his pride as he followed the same tired, outdated clichés that he had ridiculed and criticized for so long.

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But giving in to Kang I-won’s will here was even more unbearable. He wanted to know, just what was such a great reason that he was being rejected? He was determined to hear the reason.

Driven by a sense of stubbornness, Heo Do-gyeong headed to a place he had never once set foot in since arriving at the center.

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His destination was the cafeteria.

* * *

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“Cough, cough…”

Kang I-won, sitting in a corner of the cafeteria and eating quickly, suddenly lowered his head and coughed urgently. It was a choking fit. Heo Do-gyeong, holding his tray, clicked his tongue softly as he sat across from him.

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“Ah, you should eat more slowly.”

“Cough, cough…”

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“Do you want me to bring you some water?”

The overly friendly tone sent a chill down Kang I-won’s spine. He continued to cough, holding his mouth, and shook his head.

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“Cough, ah, no…”

For a moment, Kang I-won thought he was seeing an illusion. Heo Do-gyeong holding a tray? It just didn’t fit at all.

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Due to his severe germophobia, Heo Do-gyeong always brought his own lunch. He also ate alone in the guiding room. So why on earth was he here? And carrying that tray that just didn’t suit him.

Finally calming down, Kang I-won asked.

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“…Why are you here?”

“Why would I be here if not to eat? Just eat your meal.”

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Heo Do-gyeong picked up his chopsticks as if to demonstrate. However, while his chopsticks fumbled around on the tray, they never actually brought food to his mouth.

After rummaging through the tray for a while, Heo Do-gyeong mumbled as if to himself.

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“Did I do something wrong without realizing it?”

At those words, Kang I-won’s hand froze for a moment. Heo Do-gyeong, still fiddling with his tray, continued muttering.

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“Or is it that I’m misunderstanding something again?”

Kang I-won swallowed what was in his mouth and glanced at Heo Do-gyeong. Heo Do-gyeong’s gaze remained fixed on his tray. His words didn’t stop and continued.

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“I’m sorry if I misunderstood you, Esper Kang I-won. I’ve seen things, so I’m trying to be polite. But right now, I just don’t understand.”

Slowly, Heo Do-gyeong’s gaze shifted to Kang I-won. His emotionless, flat voice pierced into Kang I-won’s ear.

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“Why are you avoiding me?”

At the sound of his voice, others eating around them stopped and turned their attention toward the two of them.

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The attention was terribly uncomfortable. Kang I-won wished they would just ignore him and finish their meals, but it seemed like they weren’t going to.

So the best course of action was to silence Heo Do-gyeong, who had suddenly come up to him and said such things.

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Kang I-won responded in a carefully composed, casual tone.

“I’m not avoiding you.”

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With a hint of displeasure, Kang I-won replied, turning the question back at Heo Do-gyeong in an almost accusatory tone.

“Do you really have to say that during a meal, in a place like this?”

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“I prefer quiet places to have conversations too,” Heo Do-gyeong replied. “But someone keeps ignoring my messages.”

The one who had ignored the messages fell silent for a moment. Heo Do-gyeong continued.

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“Saturday is a holiday, right?”

“Yes.”

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“Since it’s a holiday, how about we have a meal together that day? I’ll pay. I think I might be misunderstanding something about you, Esper Kang I-won, and misunderstandings should be cleared up with a conversation, don’t you think?”

It was true that Kang I-won was avoiding Heo Do-gyeong. It wasn’t a misunderstanding. But how could he address this in the wide-open cafeteria? The chances of unnecessary rumors spreading were high.

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This situation already had unnecessary details added to it, and some pointless rumors were bound to spread, but it was better to keep things quiet than add more fuel to the fire.

And since Kang I-won’s meal expenses were always tight, he never turned down someone offering to pay. Of course, he would refuse if it was a junior, but Heo Do-gyeong wasn’t his junior. Kang I-won nodded and said.

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“…Alright. I don’t like expensive, small portions. I prefer cheap and filling meals.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll send you the details through a message. Just don’t ignore it this time.”

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“…I won’t ignore it.”

Kang I-won gave Heo Do-gyeong a quick glare, noticing his oddly lingering attitude, before continuing to finish his meal. Heo Do-gyeong, having stopped pretending to eat with his chopsticks, watched Kang I-won eating with curious eyes.

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“Why?”

“No, I just thought you were eating neatly,” Heo Do-gyeong said.

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Ignoring Heo Do-gyeong’s unblinking gaze, Kang I-won continued his meal. Soon, his tray was completely empty. As he cleared it away, he spoke.

“You’re not going to eat that, right? Give it to me.”

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Heo Do-gyeong made a sour face at Kang I-won’s words. Kang I-won asked again.

“Why, are you going to eat it?”

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“No, that’s not it…”

“Don’t waste it, just give it to me.”

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He only fiddled with it a few times with his clean chopsticks. Isn’t it a waste to throw it away? Kang I-won finished it off cleanly, stacked both trays, and stood up.

“By the way, do you still need guiding?”

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Heo Do-gyeong, following behind Kang I-won, asked. Without looking back, Kang I-won responded firmly.

“No. Not yet.”

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* * *

Saturday arrived quickly. Kang I-won stood staring at his wardrobe. His entire collection of clothes consisted only of white and black short-sleeve T-shirts and black sweatpants.

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Among them, there was one odd item. Heo Do-gyeong’s coat.

 

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