DMG Chapter 5 (Part 3)

“You went to the cafeteria again, didn’t you? I heard the food’s bad there.”

“It’s edible.”

Growl. Kang I-won’s stomach protested loudly, declaring its hunger. Heo Do-gyeong raised an eyebrow skeptically.

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“I thought you said you already ate?”

“I did. I ate until I was full.”

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Kang I-won rubbed his flat stomach, tilting his head in confusion. When his stomach growled again, a tinge of embarrassment crossed his face. Heo Do-gyeong chuckled softly.

“Sounds like you didn’t eat. Maybe you should go grab something now.”

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“No, I definitely ate. Maybe my digestion’s just unusually fast today.”

“Make sure you’re eating properly.”

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“I did eat properly.”

After reaching a compromise thanks to Choi Soo-bin’s earlier interventions, peace had returned between them—for the most part.

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Of course, when Heo Do-gyeong began joining field missions, their usual disagreements, thought to have disappeared, resurfaced in new forms. However, at least in the guiding room, peace remained intact.

Through the contact between them, Heo Do-gyeong’s energy delicately analyzed Kang I-won’s turbulent waves. The erratic chaos calmed, settling into a more stable rhythm. Yet beneath the newfound stability lingered an unresolved, faint sense of unease—a reminder that the root of the problem had not been addressed.

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Since their compromise, Heo Do-gyeong’s guiding was neither perfectly smooth nor entirely satisfying. It felt like it filled in just enough gaps to function, but no more. Moreover, it lacked the deeper stability Kang I-won didn’t want to acknowledge needing.

What others might view as insufficient or incomplete guiding, Kang I-won found to be satisfactory.

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Since the agreement, Kang I-won had stopped relying on guiding supplements. He still carried them around out of habit, but there hadn’t been any need to use them. With Heo Do-gyeong now present in the field, even in emergencies, Kang I-won turned to him for guiding rather than the medication.

Though the constant guiding sessions helped mitigate his symptoms, they didn’t leave him feeling fully refreshed. However, he no longer struggled with sleepless nights like he used to.

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With remarkable precision, Heo Do-gyeong provided only the level of guiding Kang I-won needed, no more, no less. His energy withdrew neatly, and though their hands remained clasped for a moment longer, the session was complete.

“Was it enough?” Heo Do-gyeong asked.

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“It was perfect,” Kang I-won replied.

With that, they released each other’s hands without hesitation.

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* * *

Patrolling, eliminating monsters, responding to calls, and occasionally being deployed alone for emergencies—it was the same routine, day after day.

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Even payday, which came once a month, brought no excitement. Kang I-won divided his salary into various allocations with mechanical precision.

The largest portion of his paycheck always went toward paying off his debt. And now, he was nearing the end of that burden.

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If he hadn’t been an Esper, or if he had remained a B-rank instead of advancing to A-rank, the thought of clearing his debt would have been a distant dream.

It was a debt that had dragged on for over a decade. The thought of finally being free of it felt almost unreal, and he couldn’t yet imagine what it would feel like when that day came.

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Instead, he began to think about what he would do after the debt was paid.

Having that financial weight lifted would give him more breathing room in life. Maybe he could treat the people around him for a change, instead of always being the one treated. Besides Choi Soo-bin and his team members, there weren’t many others to share a meal with, but it was still a nice thought.

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Or perhaps he could splurge on something for himself—like visiting a nice restaurant. Something like that upscale Korean dining place Heo Do-gyeong had taken him to once. That had been quite the experience.

If he didn’t know of any good places, he could always ask Heo Do-gyeong. Surely, he would have some recommendations. After all, Heo Do-gyeong had treated him to that fancy meal before; it only seemed fair to return the favor someday.

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Picking up a new hobby could also be an idea. While he didn’t have any specific interests, he could ask Choi Soo-bin for advice—she always seemed to have some lighthearted activities to suggest.

Or maybe he could follow Kim Young-ho’s lead and take up gaming. It had been years since he last played a game—since middle school, to be exact. He didn’t even know what games were popular now or how to play them, but he figured he’d get the hang of it eventually.

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Kang I-won had spent much of his life drowning in debt, suppressing countless desires along the way. Once free, it would make sense to start indulging in the things he’d denied himself.

But no matter what he imagined, nothing sparked joy or anticipation. None of the things he had gone without could truly excite him.

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There was, however, one desire that stirred his heart—a wish he longed for more than anything.

But it was the one thing that could never be fulfilled.

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No matter how much he wished for it, no matter what he did, it was unattainable.

The one thing granted to everyone else was forever out of his reach.

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Familiar faces flickered in his mind, and he closed his eyes against the bittersweet memories. Sharp, vivid emotions swirled, only to leave behind the ache of an impossible dream. The dormant melancholy beneath it all stirred, prompting him to stretch as if shaking it off.

“What are you doing there?”

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A familiar voice shattered his thoughts. The melancholy, startled by the interruption, receded, leaving only faint ripples behind. Slowly, Kang I-won opened his eyes to find Heo Do-gyeong standing over him with a disapproving expression.

In a slightly weary tone, Kang I-won replied,
“Just resting.”

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“Looked like you were deep in some strange thoughts.”

“I wasn’t thinking about anything special,” he said, masking his true feelings. Closing his eyes again, he sensed someone sitting beside him. He didn’t need to look to know it was Heo Do-gyeong.

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“Weren’t you on your way somewhere?” he asked without glancing over.

“It’s not like I’ve rented this space.”

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Kang I-won had slouched on one end of a long sofa that could comfortably seat three. The remaining two seats were free for anyone.

But did it have to be here? Why did Heo Do-gyeong, of all people, choose this spot? Annoyed but unwilling to voice his irritation, Kang I-won stayed quiet.

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Heo Do-gyeong didn’t say anything either—no questions, no comments, just his silent presence beside him, a quiet assertion of I’m here.

Oddly, Kang I-won found that calm silence and subtle presence comforting. He ended up staying on the sofa longer than he had planned.

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* * *

The monster resembled a hybrid of a crow and a chicken. Its overall appearance was that of a crow, but the comb on its head and the wattle hanging below its black beak brought to mind a chicken.

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There were a total of seven of these crow-chicken hybrids. Two teams were assigned to handle them, with Team 5, Kang I-won’s team, taking on four.

Kim Young-ho’s electricity quickly stunned one of the monsters, causing it to collapse in a jerking fit. While it thrashed on the ground, Kang I-won’s dagger pierced the joint of its wing.

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Three swift stabs rendered one of its wings useless. As it attempted to take flight, the crow monster stumbled and fell. Han Kang-jin’s massive shield was waiting for it.

“Hup!”

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With a powerful thrust, the sharp edge of the shield pierced through the monster’s neck, pinning it to the ground. Headless, the crow monster twitched briefly before going limp.

“If they weren’t flying types, I could help more,” Hyun Ho-jun commented regretfully, standing beside Heo Do-gyeong.

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As someone who wielded fire, Hyun Ho-jun was excluded from direct combat against flying monsters. Instead, he was tasked with protecting Heo Do-gyeong in Kang I-won’s stead.

Hyun Ho-jun’s flames were ferocious, capable of reducing everything in their path to mere ashes with their intense heat and devastating power.

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However, when it came to larger monsters, their deaths were often prolonged. Fire might be effective, but it wasn’t always instantaneous.

For now, Hyun Ho-jun watched as the team systematically took down the crow monsters, his frustration barely concealed.

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Hyun Ho-jun’s flames, capable of incinerating smaller monsters in an instant, burned through larger ones slowly, starting from the outside. The monsters trapped in his fire would writhe in agony, their screams echoing as they struggled.

Fortunately, Hyun Ho-jun’s flames only burned what he willed them to. They wouldn’t ignite anything he didn’t intend to burn. Even if a monster rubbed its burning body against a tree in desperation, the flames wouldn’t spread unless Hyun Ho-jun allowed it.

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However, that didn’t mean there was no effect. His flames wouldn’t spread, but they could still scorch. Leaves turned to dust, leaving no trace behind, and trunks charred into brittle, blackened husks.

Hyun Ho-jun’s flames, though controlled in their reach, had the power to reduce anything to ashes.

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If Hyun Ho-jun’s control over his flames were just a bit better, things might have been different. However, Han Kang-jin had judged his control insufficient and deemed it too risky. Poor control could cause catastrophic damage.

If a monster engulfed in Hyun Ho-jun’s fire managed to escape his range of control, the devastation could be unimaginable.

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Thus, Han Kang-jin had excluded him from direct combat in this battle.

Instead, Kang I-won had taken up the role. With his dagger in hand, he worked to lure the cunning airborne monsters that circled above, waiting for an opening. His blade, designed to kill monsters, gleamed in the light—but instead of cutting a monster, it nicked his own arm.

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The sudden gush of blood stained his forearm, the vivid red dripping onto the ground. The sharp scent of blood lured one of the monsters, which opened its beak wide and dived toward him.

Kim Young-ho quickly summoned an arc of electricity to intercept it, but the monster twisted mid-flight, evading the attack in an unnaturally fluid motion.

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The crow-like creature, now in full dive, clamped its open beak down on Kang I-won’s torso.

Despite being perfectly capable of dodging, Kang I-won didn’t. Instead, he drove his dagger vertically into the eye of the monster biting into his torso. The blade sank deep, twisting into its brain. The monster let out a high-pitched, guttural scream before convulsing violently and collapsing, lifeless.

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Watching from a distance, Heo Do-gyeong frowned instinctively.

He hated Kang I-won’s self-destructive tendencies. It grated on his nerves. As much as he wanted to heed Kang I-won’s advice and simply stop caring, he couldn’t. His attention had already been firmly captured.

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That was why he had impulsively become a Field Guide and followed Kang I-won to the field.

A dissatisfied mutter escaped his lips.

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“Does he really have to do that?”

“That’s just Sunbae’s way,” Hyun Ho-jun replied, grinning as he watched Kang I-won, not even sparing a glance at Heo Do-gyeong.

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Heo Do-gyeong turned a side-eye toward Hyun Ho-jun. He didn’t like him. Everything about Hyun Ho-jun, from his constant cheerful interference to his defense of Kang I-won’s methods, rubbed him the wrong way.

In a sharp, argumentative tone, Heo Do-gyeong spoke up.
“That’s not a method; it’s self-harm. He could have easily avoided that, but he didn’t. And you call that a method?”

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“Yes, it’s Sunbae’s method. And I respect it,” Hyun Ho-jun replied, still smiling.

A dry, incredulous laugh escaped Heo Do-gyeong.
That’s a method worth respecting?

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Not in Heo Do-gyeong’s book.

“That’s self-harm,” he said firmly.

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“There’s nothing right about casually sacrificing your own body like that. A broken habit built on flawed logic needs to be fixed.”

Kang I-won’s approach was something no one should grow used to. It was already bad enough, but letting it get worse was unacceptable.

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“That’s not something to respect,” Heo Do-gyeong continued.

“It’s a bad habit that needs to be corrected.”

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At Heo Do-gyeong’s words, Hyun Ho-jun shook his head firmly.

“Guide-nim, you’re a Guide, so you wouldn’t understand. Don’t try to understand—just accept it. And, if possible, I’d appreciate it if you stopped insulting Sunbae.”

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Heo Do-gyeong let out a short, incredulous laugh.
“Are you saying I insulted Kang I-won?”

“Yes. You’re constantly denouncing his methods. But you don’t have the right to do that, Guide-nim. Frankly, it’s an overstep.”

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“And it seems Hyun Ho-jun-ssi is the one overstepping now.”

“My apologies for that,” Hyun Ho-jun said lightly, inclining his head.

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Heo Do-gyeong was well aware that he didn’t have the authority to dictate Kang I-won’s methods.

But his methods were deeply self-destructive, and what was more troubling was that he showed no hesitation about them. His indifference to self-inflicted pain signaled a deeper problem.

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Even in situations where it wasn’t necessary, Kang I-won recklessly threw himself into harm’s way. These weren’t accidents—they were deliberate actions.

Just like now.

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How could Heo Do-gyeong watch that intentional self-harm unfold again and again without intervening?

Heo Do-gyeong knew someone else who had deliberately harmed themselves. Someone who habitually engaged in acts of self-harm, though never enough to threaten their life outright.

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He had tried to stop them, but his words had fallen on deaf ears. His voice never reached them.

In the end, he had grown weary and turned his back, just like everyone else had.

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She had died, alone and ignored by all.

She had left behind a grotesque smile as she quietly slipped away in a moment no one had anticipated, shocking everyone with her sudden death.

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That memory remained etched into Heo Do-gyeong’s mind, vivid and inescapable.

Of course, Kang I-won was different. Unlike her, Kang I-won had regenerative abilities. Ordinary injuries couldn’t kill him.

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But could he be so sure?

What if his abilities suddenly failed him one day? What if he reached an unforeseen limit of his powers, and his body succumbed to death?

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The thought made Heo Do-gyeong’s chest tighten with unease.

Heo Do-gyeong couldn’t help but worry that Kang I-won might end up like her—dying an empty, senseless death.

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Everyone expected Kang I-won to regenerate, but what if one day, suddenly, he didn’t? What if he received an unforeseen wound on an unexpected day and succumbed to it before anyone realized what had happened?

The thought gnawed at him.

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If someone were to ask Heo Do-gyeong why he was so concerned about Kang I-won, he wouldn’t have an answer.

There was no precise reason. He simply was. His concern lacked logic, but did it need any?

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Wasn’t Kang I-won’s reckless behavior reason enough to inspire worry without explanation?

“Doesn’t Hyun Ho-jun care about this at all?” Heo Do-gyeong asked sharply.

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“Care about what?”

“Kang I-won recklessly abuses his own body. He’s often covered in blood, and it’s excessive. Don’t you ever worry about him?”

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As a Field Guide, Heo Do-gyeong had observed Kang I-won closely.

Kang I-won treated his body as a tool, offering it up as bait to monsters without hesitation if it would help him defeat them. He didn’t seem to regard his own body as anything more than an expendable object. If a higher-grade monster appeared, he would undoubtedly throw himself into even greater danger.

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“Have you ever thought he might die because of it?”

“Die? Who? Sunbae?”

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Hyun Ho-jun sounded incredulous—perhaps even offended—when he replied.

“Sunbae won’t die. Guide-nim clearly doesn’t understand Sunbae’s abilities. But I guess you’ve never seen them in action. If I hadn’t witnessed it myself…”

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Hyun Ho-jun trailed off, lost in thought. His lips curled into a faint smile as if recalling something vivid.

Disgusted, Heo Do-gyeong frowned deeply and took a step back.

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The idea of Kang I-won being “unkillable” was absurd to Heo Do-gyeong. Just because he couldn’t die didn’t mean he couldn’t feel pain. Yet these foolish Espers seemed to equate immortality with invulnerability.

Espers, Heo Do-gyeong thought bitterly. They’re all unhinged in their own ways.

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“Do you know something?”

“What?”

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“I don’t like you, Hyun Ho-jun.”

“Ha! What a coincidence. The feeling’s mutual.”

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As the two exchanged unnecessary barbs, the seven monsters that had initially appeared were now down to just two.

The remaining monsters circled cautiously above, out of the range of the long-distance Espers’ attacks, watching the Espers below with wary eyes.

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“They’re not coming down,” Kim Young-ho grumbled, squinting up at the sky. The bright sunlight made it painful to look up for too long.

A multi-ability Esper fighting in the air struggled to keep up. The remaining monsters, having lost five of their comrades, were careful and avoided direct confrontation, dodging rather than attacking, making it difficult to land effective blows.

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After some thought, Han Kang-jin spoke.

“Time to go up and deal with them.”

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“Got it.”

Without needing further clarification, Kang I-won stretched briefly and prepared himself. Since the monsters weren’t coming down, it was only logical for him to go up.

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He stepped onto Han Kang-jin’s shield without hesitation. Han Kang-jin exhaled deeply, focusing his energy.

Although primarily a physical reinforcement Esper, Han Kang-jin possessed a secondary ability—a force-releasing technique. While not particularly powerful in most combat scenarios, it came in handy during situations like this.

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Gathering his energy, Han Kang-jin directed it into his shield. The concentrated force surged through the shield, propelling it—and Kang I-won standing atop it—like a rocket into the air.

The shield shot upward, soaring past the frost-affinity Esper struggling midair and even overshooting the monsters themselves.

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Kaak, kaak! The crow-like creatures screeched mockingly as the shield zoomed past them without making contact, seemingly a wasted effort.

As the shield’s ascent began to slow, it arced and started its descent.

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Kang I-won, calm and calculating, gripped the hilt of the dagger at his waist, scanning his trajectory. Below him, the two monsters were completely unaware. His target: the head of the monster on the left.

Using the momentum of the falling shield, Kang I-won launched himself into the air, positioning his blade vertically for a direct strike.

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The acceleration from his freefall added to his speed, turning him into a sharp missile aimed at his prey.

The monster, sensing something too late, looked up. But by then, it was over.

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Thunk!

Kang I-won’s dagger buried itself deep between the monster’s eyes, half the hilt sinking into its skull. The sticky, metallic smell of blood coated his hand as it seeped down the weapon.

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Without wasting time trying to retrieve the deeply embedded dagger, Kang I-won used the monster’s limp body as a springboard. His movements were swift and deliberate, propelling himself back into the air, narrowly avoiding a dangerous fall.

Kang I-won’s target was now the last remaining monster, unaware of the situation just yet.

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The distance was precarious—he might have failed to reach it and plummeted to the ground. Fortunately, his hand latched onto the long tail feathers of the creature, using them like a rope to climb onto its body.

As Kang I-won prepared to draw his remaining dagger, the monster finally realized what was happening. It reacted by shaking its body violently, attempting to throw him off.

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Kang I-won immediately pressed himself low against the creature’s back, gripping its feathers tightly to stay on. The monster screeched angrily, jerking its body with even more vigor. Kang I-won clung stubbornly, refusing to let go.

Irritated by the persistent human clinging to it, the monster let out a shrill cry and abruptly changed direction, climbing higher into the sky. The rush of wind whipped past Kang I-won, tossing his hair wildly in all directions.

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When the monster reached a certain altitude, it suddenly halted mid-air. The abrupt stop caused Kang I-won’s body to lift momentarily off its back, giving the creature an opening to dive downward at high speed.

Kang I-won’s grip faltered but held firm just in time. The monster continued its rapid ascents and descents, attempting to dislodge him through sheer force. The shifting altitudes made his ears pop and adjust repeatedly, disorienting him.

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Gritting his teeth, Kang I-won clung tightly to the creature’s body. At the very least, if he managed to stay attached, he should be able to tear off one of its wings.

But raising his arm to strike was a struggle against the fierce wind pressure. It was clear he wouldn’t last long at this rate—his stamina would eventually give out.

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If only the creature would pause for just a moment—

As if in response to his thoughts, a strange, slightly concave wall of fire about a meter in diameter appeared in front of the monster. Its shape resembled a lens, radiating such intense heat that even from a distance, Kang I-won could feel its scorching temperature.

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It was Hyun Ho-jun’s doing.

The monster panicked, twisting its body to avoid the fiery obstacle. But the wall had appeared so close that the edge of its body grazed the flames. Hyun Ho-jun’s fire latched onto its feathers and ignited instantly.

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“Kyaaaak!!”

The creature screeched in pain, halting its frantic climbs and dives. It began flapping its wings erratically, desperate to extinguish the fire. Hyun Ho-jun’s flames, relentless and unyielding, consumed the feathers and began searing into the flesh beneath.

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Though the monster continued to thrash violently, its movements were now slower and less chaotic. Kang I-won recognized the opportunity. While aiming for the neck was still too risky, targeting one of its wings was now well within reach.

The fire consuming the monster grew more intense, threatening to engulf even Kang I-won. The heat was palpable, his skin uncomfortably warm and flushed. He needed to end this quickly.

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As the monster thrashed wildly, Kang I-won reached for his last dagger at his waist. But just as he grasped the hilt, a violent jolt from the creature made him lose his grip, the dagger falling uselessly into the abyss below.

Damn it. That was my last one. He clicked his tongue in frustration.

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Fortunately, another Esper quickly assessed the situation and fired an ice arrow. Conscious of Kang I-won clinging to the monster, the arrow was lodged shallowly in a safe but awkward position. Kang I-won stretched out his hand and yanked it free.

With a burst of strength, he drove the arrow into the joint of the monster’s wing. The flapping ceased abruptly, the wing rendered useless.

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One wing burned to ashes, and the other disabled by the ice arrow, the monster began to plummet.

The flames on its body intensified as it fell, spreading rapidly from a few feathers to engulfing half its body. The searing fire posed a new threat to Kang I-won, who clung to the monster’s side.

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He hesitated briefly, unsure how to proceed, when the fire consuming the monster began to subside. Hyun Ho-jun’s flames, powerful but controlled, gradually dwindled. Kang I-won exhaled in relief, scanning the ground for a landing point.

His eyes caught sight of a tall tree with long, sturdy branches. It was the perfect spot to break his fall. Timing his jump carefully, Kang I-won kicked off the monster’s body and leaped toward the tree.

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He managed to grab hold of a thick branch, but his grip, weakened from clinging to the monster, faltered. He slipped, tumbling down through the branches.

Luckily, one of the branches slowed his fall enough to prevent serious injury.

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Thud! Kang I-won landed flat on his back with a loud noise. Pain shot through him like a cracking whip, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle.

Not bad, considering. He thought, lying still as his body began its slow regeneration. The strain of healing left him famished.

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With his eyes closed, Kang I-won felt a shadow fall over him. Someone was standing nearby. He debated opening his eyes but chose to remain still; his eyes had sustained minor burns from Hyun Ho-jun’s fire, and he wanted to avoid the light.

A moment later, a hand touched his neck. The sensation was hesitant, trembling. The light touch of two fingers told him someone was checking his pulse.

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Instinctively, Kang I-won opened his eyes, despite the sting. Above him, Heo Do-gyeong’s face came into view, twisted with an expression Kang I-won had never seen before—strained and deeply unsettled.

“…Ah,” Kang I-won muttered, caught off guard.

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He can make a face like that?

His heartbeat quickened, erratic and unfamiliar. Kang I-won blinked, rolling his eyes in confusion. What’s happening? I’m not startled… Is this just the impact from the fall catching up to me? It’s never happened before.

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Even as his thoughts wandered, Heo Do-gyeong’s trembling fingers stayed at his pulse, his hand unsteady.

Kang I-won found himself looking at Heo Do-gyeong again. That face, still distorted with worry, drew his gaze back. There was a weight in his chest that he couldn’t quite explain.

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Maybe I should get a check-up soon. My heart must’ve taken a hit.

“Why is your face like that?” Kang I-won finally asked, breaking the silence.

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Heo Do-gyeong’s expression twisted further. His handsome face, now deeply contorted, struck Kang I-won as oddly fascinating.

Heo Do-gyeong exhaled sharply, his voice heavy with frustration.
“For once… just take care of yourself.”

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With that simple plea, his hand left Kang I-won’s neck. The warmth of his touch faded as he stood and stepped away. The shadow over Kang I-won disappeared, and sunlight poured down onto his face.

The sudden brightness stung, and Kang I-won closed his eyes again, shielding them with an arm.

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He frowned, uncertain of the cause.

Was it the sharp sunlight cutting through his eyelids, or the lingering image of Heo Do-gyeong’s pained expression that stubbornly stayed with him? He couldn’t tell.

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