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#6

The center was unusually noisy today. Espers sat in groups on chairs scattered throughout the center, whispering and chatting animatedly.

“Jealous,” “miracle,” “D-rank.” These were words repeatedly popping up from different groups, making it clear they were all talking about the same topic.

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Having lost his only reliable source of information, Kang I-won was out of touch with the center’s rumors. As a result, he had no clue what the hot topic was that had so many Espers buzzing.

“Oh, Sunbae I-won!”

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He turned his head at the familiar voice calling out to him. Hyun Ho-jun was walking toward him with a bright smile.

“Esper Hyun Ho-jun.”

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“Just call me Ho-jun comfortably! I’d prefer it if you treated me the same way you treat Young-ho.”

Hyun Ho-jun and Kim Young-ho, who had initially seemed awkward with each other, had quickly become close in no time. It was a level of sociability that Kang I-won couldn’t even dream of achieving.

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Hyun Ho-jun stopped close enough that the distance between them felt too narrow. Kang I-won took a step back and spoke.

“I’ll do that once I feel comfortable.”

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“Ugh, I wonder how long that’ll take for you to feel comfortable.”

His voice carried a heavy tone of disappointment. Kang I-won thought to himself that if Hyun Ho-jun didn’t behave the way he did, maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to call him casually.

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At that moment, someone brushed past Kang I-won, bumping his shoulder as they went. They seemed too focused on chatting with their companion to properly pay attention to where they were going. The Esper gave a half-hearted apology.

“Ah, sorry. Anyway, I’m seriously so jealous, it’s like they must’ve saved the country in their past life or something.”

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“Ha. I’d trade my ability in a heartbeat if it meant getting a better one.”

“Same here.”

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Two Espers laughed as they brushed past Kang I-won and Hyun Ho-jun. Watching them intently, Hyun Ho-jun turned to Kang I-won.

“By the way, Sunbae, have you heard the rumors?”

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“Rumors?”

“Yes. Apparently, a D-rank Esper suddenly became an A-rank overnight. That’s why the center’s been in chaos all day. Everyone’s been talking about it since morning.”

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“D-rank became A-rank?”

Kang I-won’s voice was tinged with surprise. Hyun Ho-jun smiled and continued.

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“Oh, so you hadn’t heard yet. I don’t know all the details either, but here’s what I’ve heard….”

There was once a D-rank Esper whose ability was physical enhancement. Being D-rank, his power was only enough to make his body a bit stronger and tougher than the average person. It wasn’t anything extraordinary, but his ability still qualified him as an Esper, and the pay wasn’t bad.

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But one day, he started to notice his power weakening. He couldn’t block a monster’s attack that he would have barely managed to fend off before.

At first, the D-rank Esper denied it. But as the days passed, his diminishing power became undeniable. He could no longer repel monsters’ attacks.

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He came to accept it—his ability was disappearing, and he was reverting to being a regular person.

Espers gain their abilities suddenly and without warning. The cause and reason behind this phenomenon remain a mystery. It’s purely a matter of “luck.”

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And just as abilities are gained unexpectedly, there are rare cases where they vanish just as abruptly.

Those who lose their abilities undergo re-evaluation, and if complete loss of power is confirmed after at least six months of observation, they lose their Esper title and return to being regular civilians.

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The D-rank Esper was one such case. His powers had begun to weaken without warning, signaling the disappearance of his ability. As he prepared for re-evaluation, he also started to worry about how he would make a living afterward.

Come to think of it, there was a support program aimed at helping Espers who had lost their abilities start anew. Just as the Esper was reflecting on this, a miracle happened.

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A new ability awakened. Although his previous power had vanished, it seemed to have been consumed, paving the way for a new one to bloom. His new ability allowed him to manipulate plants, and it was immediately rated as A-rank.

“They’re calling it nothing short of a miracle,” Hyun Ho-jun said.

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Only then did Kang I-won understand why the center had been so lively.

In Korea, it had been 12 years since the last case of an Esper’s reawakening. And for this one to manifest as an A-rank ability? It was no wonder the entire center was abuzz.

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“Consuming the old ability to give birth to a new one,” Kang I-won mused. All he could feel was envy—though not for the new ability itself, but for something else entirely.

“Oh, by the way, Sunbae. I was about to ask if you wanted to grab lunch—”

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“Hey! Why are you so late? Huh? Sunbae? What are you two doing here?”

Kim Young-ho’s annoyed voice cut through Hyun Ho-jun’s sentence. Turning his head, Kang I-won saw Young-ho approaching with a frown on his face.

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“Did you two plan to meet up?”

Although Kang I-won hadn’t arranged anything, he felt inexplicably guilty, as if he had. Young-ho’s tone was blunt as he continued.

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“We were supposed to eat together, so I was waiting. But you didn’t answer your phone or show up….”

“I was just about to ask Sunbae if he’d like to join us. If you haven’t eaten yet, would you like to come along?” Hyun Ho-jun asked, flashing a hopeful smile.

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Kang I-won immediately declined.

“No, I already ate.”

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“Oh… Then next time, let’s eat together for sure!”

“Sure. You two should go now. Young-ho’s been waiting.”

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Kang I-won gave Hyun Ho-jun a gentle push on the back. With quick bows, the two headed toward the center’s exit.

“So, what should we eat?”

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Young-ho’s voice trailed off as they walked away.

“What about you, Young-ho? What do you feel like eating?”

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“I’m good with pork cutlets or gukbap. Oh, spicy stir-fried pork sounds nice too.”

“Then let’s go for something refreshing like cold noodles.”

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“Why’d you even ask if you were going to decide on your own?”

Since Choi Soo-bin left, Kim Young-ho had shown subtle signs of discomfort within the team. It was clear he had been hurt, not just because Han Kang-jin and Kang I-won knew about Soo-bin leaving but also because they had kept it from him.

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Still, things had started to improve with Hyun Ho-jun joining the team. As someone of the same age, Ho-jun’s presence seemed to bring back Young-ho’s relaxed demeanor. Kang I-won silently hoped the two would grow even closer, so Ho-jun would finally stop directing so much attention his way. The younger Esper’s relentless interest and friendly gestures were downright exhausting.

After sending Ho-jun and Young-ho off, Kang I-won turned and headed toward his destination—the Guiding Room. Walking past Espers and Guides chatting amiably, he soon arrived at the room where Heo Do-gyeong was waiting.

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He knocked and immediately opened the door. The unlocked door swung open smoothly, and through the small gap, Do-gyeong’s voice reached his ears.

“No, I said I can handle it myself. Hah… I’m not some ten-year-old kid. Seriously… Just stop worrying already.”

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Though he sighed, his tone carried a hint of familiarity, almost friendly. Hand on the doorknob, Kang I-won froze for a moment, startled. Near the window, Do-gyeong stood, speaking into his phone.

Just as Kang I-won was about to quietly close the door and leave, Do-gyeong spotted him and waved him in while continuing his call.

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“It’s manageable here. Yes, I’ll be heading up soon, so I’ll make sure to visit then.”

Heading up soon? Why would Heo Do-gyeong need to go to Seoul? Kang I-won’s mind began racing. The longer he thought about it, the more it seemed like there was only one possibility.

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Heo Do-gyeong was still a temporary Guide. Although he had been here for over six months, his position hadn’t changed.

Even if Do-gyeong chose to stay here instead of returning to Seoul, as a temporary Guide, he could still be called back at any moment.

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Was this it? Was he finally preparing to leave Team 5 and return to Seoul for good?

“Alright. Take care until then,” Do-gyeong said, finishing his call with an unpretentious smile.

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Sitting across from Kang I-won, he casually added, “That was my father.”

“Pardon?”

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“You looked curious, so I figured I’d save you the trouble of wondering.”

“…Ah.”

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Sure, he was curious about that, too, but what piqued his interest more was the other matter. Still, there was no need to pry unless the other person brought it up first. Once things were confirmed, he figured Do-gyeong would speak up on his own.

Was it that obvious, though? Kang I-won brushed his cheek with the back of his hand.

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“Have you eaten?” Do-gyeong asked.

Kang I-won nodded, taking a moment to study him.

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It had been two days since the day he’d seen Do-gyeong looking utterly terrible. Yet from that moment until now, Do-gyeong had acted like his usual self, as if that worn-down appearance had never existed.

Whether it was concern, sympathy, or any other emotion, Kang I-won found it endlessly burdensome to impose such feelings on others. Do-gyeong’s composed demeanor felt oddly reassuring.

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Still, for some reason, there was a faint trace of disappointment he couldn’t quite shake off. No, there was nothing to feel disappointed about. Kang I-won quickly dismissed the thought.

“By the way, the center was noisy today. Do you know why?”

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Though Kang I-won wasn’t the most sociable, Do-gyeong was even less so. It was as if he were intentionally keeping his distance from anyone outside Team 5, wearing his temporary status like a badge that signaled he wouldn’t be staying long. As a result, Do-gyeong, like Kang I-won, was out of touch with the center’s rumors.

“Oh, that.”

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Kang I-won shared what he’d heard from Hyun Ho-jun on the way. It was a novel experience for him—he was used to hearing gossip from Choi Soo-bin, not passing it on to others.

“A D-rank became an A-rank? That Esper’s really lucky. Usually, it just ends with losing their powers.”

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“Exactly. It’s enviable, in a way….”

The words slipped out before he realized it. Kang I-won quickly closed his mouth, but it was too late.

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“What part of it do you envy?”

The question, delivered with a smile that had an oddly sharp edge to it, threw him off. What was the intent behind it? Masking his thoughts, Kang I-won answered.

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“They awakened a powerful ability, after all.”

“Well, fair enough. Shall we get to guiding, then?”

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Do-gyeong extended his hand, his expression calm, as if the earlier exchange were of no consequence.

Had he been overthinking it? Kang I-won stared at him for a moment before reaching out. Familiar energy coursed through the point of contact, now a sensation he was used to.

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* * *

For a while, days of peace stretched on. Recently, the number of monsters appearing had decreased, and even when they did show up, their ranks were so low that tension in the body naturally eased.

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But it was precisely during such times that one needed to stay vigilant and prepared for sudden crises.

Succumbing to fleeting peace would only delay readiness for situations like this.

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A B-rank monster had appeared for the first time in a long while. Kang I-won had been out on patrol, and since it was Heo Do-gyeong’s day off, he faced the monster alone. Quickly summoning nearby team members for backup, Kang I-won fixed his gaze on the creature.

He swiftly recalled the monster’s traits and weaknesses. The cowardly wolf. It was a tricky opponent because, the moment it determined its adversary was stronger, it would immediately flee with rapid movements.

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Kang I-won wasn’t fast enough to catch the monster once it started running. Therefore, the easiest way to subdue it was to sacrifice a part of his body to hold it in place.

An arm would suffice. If he could pin down the monster until reinforcements arrived, it would be a worthwhile trade.

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Recently, life had been peaceful, and his ability hadn’t been needed for some time. As a result, his condition had steadily improved. Using his powers again after such a long time didn’t seem like a bad idea.

With that resolve, he extended his arm. As if responding, the monster lunged at him, jaws wide open.

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The sound of teeth clashing filled the air. Kang I-won’s eyes widened.

The cowardly wolf’s tightly clenched teeth couldn’t bite into anything.

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“…What?”

Kang I-won stared blankly at his unharmed arm, muttering something incoherent. The arm he had clearly extended to its full length was now bent at the joint.

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“Did I… hold back?”

He muttered in disbelief.

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“Me?”

In a world without healing abilities, many Espers were cautious with their bodies. Though their physical strength was extraordinary, they weren’t invincible. Once irreparably damaged, there was no turning back.

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But Kang I-won wasn’t like that. No matter the injury, his body always regenerated. That was his one and only strength.

Kang I-won was weak. Despite being officially recognized as an A-rank Esper, his practical combat ability was lacking. His rank was more a reflection of his experience and results than his actual strength.

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The only way Kang I-won could protect others was by getting hurt in their place. If he started to fear that sole method, what would he do?

Biting down on his lip, he stabbed himself in the thigh. A familiar wave of pain spread quickly. Pain like this wasn’t something to fear. He couldn’t allow himself to be afraid of it—not Kang I-won.

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He dismissed it as a fleeting lapse, attributing it to having unknowingly grown complacent during the peaceful days.

But even after that day, his hesitation persisted. In moments when he would have once thrown himself into danger without a second thought, his feet felt as though they were glued to the ground. He clenched his teeth and rushed in too late, often missing the chance to land a meaningful hit.

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When this pattern repeated itself several times over the course of a week, Han Kang-jin eventually called him aside for a cautious conversation.

“I-won, are you having a hard time lately? Do you want to take a break? No one knows better than me how much you’ve been through, but you still need to do your part.”

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“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not scolding you. It’s just, I can handle it, but if Young-ho or Ho-jun gets hurt because of this, I know it’ll hit you the hardest.”

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“I understand your concerns. I’ll be more careful.”

“Just let me know if you ever want to rest. I’ll need time to arrange a replacement.”

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“No, I don’t need a break. It won’t happen again.”

“Alright. I trust you.”

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“Yes.”

With his head lowered, Kang I-won watched Han Kang-jin walk away, unable to lift his gaze. He bit down on his lips hard, so much so that marks were left, his lips split, and small beads of blood appeared. But as his tongue brushed over the wounds, the minor injuries healed instantly, leaving no trace behind.

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It was all because of Heo Do-gyeong. That face he’d seen. The trembling voice he’d heard.

Every time he tried to throw himself into danger, Do-gyeong’s haggard face resurfaced in his mind. That trembling plea to take care of himself echoed relentlessly in his ears.

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Left alone, Kang I-won let out a hollow laugh.

An excuse. He was blaming Heo Do-gyeong for his own weakness.

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He had grown complacent, lulled into comfort. Without realizing it, he had allowed it to happen. When had it all started? Slowly, Kang I-won traced his steps back through his past.

Ah, it was then.

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The moment he found common ground with Heo Do-gyeong and began receiving Guiding from him. That’s when it began. Without even noticing, he had succumbed to the comfort the Guiding provided.

He had tried not to rely on it. Reliance weakened the heart, and a weakened heart created cracks that turned him vulnerable.

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Kang I-won examined himself. His stable wavelength, his body free of any tension, and his mind clearer than ever—it was all nothing short of peak condition.

In the ten years he had lived as an Esper, there hadn’t been a single day of peace. The symptoms of Guiding deficiency had kept him in a constant state of unease. Even when wounds healed, the lingering pain tormented him. It was something he had grown used to—something he had to get used to.

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But now, comfort had barged into his life, uninvited. Even when he tried to push it away, to reject it, the overwhelming sense of ease enveloped him. His heart softened, and he let himself succumb to it, using excuses to justify it while pretending not to notice his growing dependence.

He had ignored it, wanting to savor this peace, this comfort, for just a little longer. That decision led to his current weakness.

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Now, the comfort he was aware of felt like an ill-fitting garment, bringing discomfort instead of solace.

And so, the relentless insomnia returned.

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Whenever he closed his eyes, his younger sibling appeared. What were once short and fragmented dreams now stretched out, showing his sibling scolding him, chastising him for living so comfortably.

“Hyung, I don’t want to die….”

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‘It hurts, it hurts….’

His younger sibling writhed in pain, gasping for air as if they were suffocating. Tears flowed freely from Kang I-won’s eyes. He couldn’t move. There was no feeling below his waist. His sibling was in such agony, yet Kang I-won was powerless. All he could do was watch.

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“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… Hyung is… Hyung is sorry….”

All he could offer was an apology. Even in his dreams, Kang I-won was weak and useless.

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The dream always ended with a blood-curdling scream—a final cry that pierced through the silence. Even now, that scream seemed to echo in his ears.

Awakening from the nightmare, Kang I-won slowly sat up. His pale face was drenched in cold sweat. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, traced the curve of his cheeks, and pooled at his chin before dripping onto the blanket below.

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In a daze, he turned his head to check the time. 03:45 AM. Barely five minutes had passed since he’d fallen asleep.

His stomach itched incessantly. Frustrated, he scratched over his T-shirt, but it wasn’t enough. Slipping his hand beneath the fabric, he scratched harder. His nails left fresh marks over the scar that circled his waist like a noose.

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The scar, more vivid than usual tonight, seemed to itch endlessly. Kang I-won clawed at it as if trying to erase it, but all he did was create new injuries that healed almost instantly, leaving the scar on his abdomen unchanged.

No matter how much he scratched, the itching wouldn’t subside. It wasn’t the scar itself that itched—no amount of scratching could relieve what wasn’t physical.

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This wasn’t enough. He looked around the room for something, anything, but found nothing useful. All he had were his own two hands.

The hands that had been clawing at his stomach suddenly stopped. Slowly, he raised them, noticing the blood smeared across his fingertips.

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The hands, now trembling, moved to his neck. A sharper pain would draw all his nerves to that single point, drowning out everything else. Kang I-won’s hands tightened around his throat.

Oxygen was cut off. Instinctively, his body began to fight for air, but the hands around his neck only squeezed harder.

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The lack of oxygen sent his head spinning, his vision blurring as darkness crept in. The guilt inside him morphed into raw pain, only to fade into nothingness.

A gasp, faint and pitiful, escaped his lips—a sound reminiscent of the final breath he had heard so often in his dreams. At the same moment, his vision dimmed to black.

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This was the only form of atonement left for a coward who had always survived alone and would continue to live alone.

* * *

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“Sunbae, didn’t you sleep well? You look really pale,” Hyun Ho-jun asked, his voice filled with concern.

Kang I-won tilted his head slightly, then shook it.

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“I slept fine.”

Of course, it hadn’t been normal sleep, but losing consciousness was no different from sleeping, right? Sure, he had almost been late because he didn’t hear his alarm, but it still counted.

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As Hyun Ho-jun and Kang I-won sat in the meeting room, the door swung open, and Kim Young-ho walked in. The moment he saw Kang I-won, he let out a startled yelp.

“Ah!”

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“Why are you yelling?”

Kang I-won rubbed his ear, frowning. Kim Young-ho, clearly rattled, stomped over to the light switch and turned on the room’s lights. The dim meeting room instantly became bright.

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“Ah, seriously, I thought you were a ghost! Why were you sitting in the dark?”

Kim Young-ho’s face turned red, either from embarrassment or frustration, as he stomped inside. But his expression quickly shifted to one of worry.

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“Sunbae, are you sick?”

“I’m fine.”

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“You really don’t look fine. You’re paler than usual, and your lips are white. Shouldn’t you go to the infirmary?”

“Really, I’m fine. Thanks for worrying about me.”

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“…Well, fine. If you don’t want to go, then forget it,” Kim Young-ho muttered, clicking his tongue in annoyance but still clearly concerned.

Kim Young-ho, though visibly uneasy, took his seat, suppressing his concerns.

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“Why don’t you just go to the infirmary, like Young-ho suggested? You can lie down for a bit. I’ll let the team leader know,” Hyun Ho-jun urged.

“No, I’m fine,” Kang I-won replied, brushing off their worries. He felt a little tired, but he wasn’t sick. And since he couldn’t really sleep even if he went, there was no point in heading to the infirmary.

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However, when Han Kang-jin arrived moments later and expressed concern after seeing him, and then even Heo Do-gyeong frowned and voiced his worries, Kang I-won started to wonder if something actually was wrong with him.

Yet, no matter how much he checked himself, there was nothing unusual. He was just a little fatigued, nothing more. In a slightly weary voice, he reassured them.

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“Really, I’m fine. I’m not sick. My face just looks like this.”

What else could they do when the person himself kept insisting he was fine? Reluctantly, they set aside their concerns. The one who had called Team 5 to the meeting room, Heo Do-gyeong, quickly began speaking.

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“I’ll be heading up to Seoul temporarily for training starting tomorrow.”

“Training?”

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“They said it’s mandatory for field Guides. It’ll take about a month. I hope you’ll excuse my sudden absence,” Do-gyeong explained.

Han Kang-jin waved his hand dismissively.

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“No need to apologize. If anything, I should have prepared for this in advance… Honestly, it slipped my mind. Luckily, there are some freelance Guides available at the center, so we can manage with their help for now.”

Following up, Hyun Ho-jun asked, “If the training starts tomorrow, does that mean you’re heading to Seoul today?”

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“Yes. I’ll prepare after work and head up tonight,” Do-gyeong replied.

At that, Han Kang-jin said, “I got guided yesterday, so I’m fine. Just guide the others once and leave early today.”

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Kim Young-ho raised his hand.

“Uh, I’m good, too. No need for me.”

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“Then guide just the two of them and leave after that,” Kang-jin suggested.

“I’m fine, too,” Kang I-won interjected.

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Do-gyeong frowned.

“The last time you were guided was over a week ago. Even if you haven’t been using your ability much lately, you still need Guiding.”

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With Hyun Ho-jun volunteering to wait, Kang I-won ended up being the first to receive Guiding. Do-gyeong headed to the Guiding room, while I-won and Ho-jun stayed behind to go over some additional details.

After a moment of hesitation, Kim Young-ho looked around nervously and asked, “Do you think he’ll come back?”

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“Come back from what?”

Kang I-won asked, frowning slightly.

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“Guide Heo Do-gyeong. He’s still temporary, isn’t he? Do you think he’ll come back? If it were me, I’d take the chance to stay in Seoul. Honestly, I hope we finally get a permanent Guide dedicated to our team,” Kim Young-ho said, glancing at Kang I-won.

“I agree,” Hyun Ho-jun chimed in.

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“Who knows what Heo Do-gyeong’s thinking? Whoever takes us on permanently will be our Guide, regardless of who it is. Anyway, moving on…” Han Kang-jin interjected, steering the conversation back on track and starting the meeting.

The meeting itself was uneventful. It covered areas where monsters had been appearing more frequently, advising them to pay closer attention during patrols. They were also informed that patrol times would soon shift from morning to afternoon, followed by the usual reminders they heard every meeting.

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Once the brief meeting ended, Kang I-won headed straight to the Guiding room.

Sitting across from each other, their hands clasped, Heo Do-gyeong let his energy flow into Kang I-won. As he read Kang I-won’s wavelengths, his expression darkened.

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“Your wavelengths are all over the place, even though you haven’t been using your ability. Why is that?”

“No idea,” Kang I-won replied nonchalantly, feigning ignorance.

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“Tch. When the Guiding is done, go visit the infirmary. You look like a corpse—what’s with that state?”

Do-gyeong clicked his tongue in disapproval. Was it really that bad? Feeling a bit self-conscious, Kang I-won scratched his chin awkwardly.

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“I’ll be fine soon enough.”

“How can you be so sure?”

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Of course, he could be sure. Though he felt a twinge of guilt, Kang I-won knew that once Heo Do-gyeong left—whether intentionally or not—things would go back to how they were.

That’s how he planned it.

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Kim Young-ho had questioned whether Do-gyeong would return, and Kang I-won shared the same doubts. There was no real reason for him to come back. He was originally part of the Seoul branch and had every reason to return there.

He was an S-rank field Guide, after all. What reason could there possibly be to send someone like that back to this small branch?

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As Kang I-won watched Do-gyeong one last time, he silently prepared to say goodbye.

“Take care,” he said, his voice calm yet final.

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“Shouldn’t you at least say, ‘Have a safe trip’?”

The voice, tinged with a faint laugh, pretended to sound hurt. Kang I-won replied in a flat tone.

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“Should I?”

“That’s a bit cold. I thought we’d gotten closer, didn’t we? Or was that just me?”

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“You’re right. It’s just your imagination.”

“Now that really hurts,” Heo Do-gyeong said, sounding genuinely offended this time.

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In response, Kang I-won offered no words, only a faint, unreadable smile as he closed his eyes, letting himself feel the familiar sensation of Do-gyeong’s Guiding. This would be the last time.

Once the Guiding was over, Kang I-won left the room without hesitation. As he stepped into the empty hallway, he allowed his true feelings to escape into the void.

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“I hope we don’t have to see each other again.”

His face, as he uttered those words, was devoid of any emotion, barren and expressionless.

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* * *

The venomous stinger attached to the blood-red body of the ant monster lashed out toward Kang I-won’s face. He dodged quickly, but he couldn’t avoid being grazed. The stinger brushed against his cheek, leaving a long gash, and venom seeped into the wound, causing the area to swell rapidly.

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His face bloomed with fiery red welts, spreading like spilled paint across his skin. Any other Esper would have withdrawn immediately from such an injury, but Kang I-won ignored it, swinging his arm to sever the stinger.

With a screech, the monster recoiled, its severed stinger clattering to the ground.

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At the same time, Kang I-won’s body faltered. He collapsed to one knee, one hand pressed against the ground for support. The venom coursing through his system made his head spin, as if his brain was being violently shaken. He felt too dizzy to even lift his head.

Hyun Ho-jun rushed over, catching Kang I-won’s swaying body before it could fall further.

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An Esper capable of detoxification quickly approached, kneeling beside Kang I-won, whose body was now covered in vivid, blotchy heat marks. The Esper began the detoxification process.

Hiss. A sound like searing flesh echoed as blackened, poisoned blood oozed from the wounds.

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“Your regeneration ability really does make detoxification faster than normal. But that was far too reckless,” the detoxifying Esper said, clicking their tongue softly. Yet, they added cautiously, “Still, thanks to you, this will be much easier.”

For monsters with venom, the poison was often the biggest problem. Even when antidotes were available, the danger it posed was constant.

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By removing the stinger, Kang I-won had drastically reduced the threat level. Thanks to him, the Espers were able to swiftly subdue the monster.

By the time Kang I-won’s body was fully detoxified and his injuries healed, the monster’s massive form collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash.

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Han Kang-jin approached, holding the monster’s core in his hand. He walked over to where Kang I-won lay sprawled on the ground. Seeing this, Kang I-won slowly pushed himself upright, still catching his breath.

Han Kang-jin patted Kang I-won on the shoulder and spoke in a firm but worried tone.

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“I-won, you know how reckless that was, right? You almost got hit in the face. You scared the hell out of me, you punk. Watching stuff like that is terrifying too, you know? Like I always say, you’ve got to take care of yourself out there. What if you end up collapsing in the middle of a fight?”

He let out a deep sigh before continuing.

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“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately. Is it because of what I said to you before?”

“No, it’s not,” Kang I-won replied flatly.

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“Good. You’ve been doing well all this time. I don’t need to worry about you, right? I can trust you?”

“Yes,” Kang I-won nodded as he wiped away the dried blood on his cheek. Beneath the faint smear of blood, his skin was smooth, without a single scar.

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Despite his seemingly compliant response, Kang I-won’s reckless behavior didn’t stop.

A thorn speeding toward Kim Young-ho pierced through Kang I-won’s forearm instead. Kim Young-ho, who had flinched to avoid the attack, froze with a pale face as he stared at Kang I-won in shock.

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Ignoring the look, Kang I-won grabbed the thorn embedded in his arm and pulled it out. Thick blood, darkened and sticky, oozed from the wound, staining the broken thorn. The sharp, hard thorn had struck bone, shattering it, leaving his arm temporarily immobile.

Slowly, his bone began to regenerate. His arm trembled slightly as the process took place. Kang I-won stared silently at his healing arm while Kim Young-ho cautiously approached him.

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“Sunbae, don’t you think you’ve been overdoing it lately? You didn’t have to take that hit—you could’ve easily dodged it….”

“I’m fine,” Kang I-won interrupted, his tone cold.

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“Don’t worry about what happened to me before. Stuff like that can happen,” Kim Young-ho said awkwardly, glancing at the cast still wrapped around his wrist.

Not long ago, Kim Young-ho had been injured when Kang I-won failed to block an attack in time. While trying to evade it himself, Young-ho had ended up fracturing his arm.

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Kang I-won’s eyes flickered to the cast on Young-ho’s wrist before he muttered bluntly.

“I know.”

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Injuries were an everyday occurrence for Espers. Fighting monsters with their lives on the line made injuries inseparable from their profession. This incident was no different—just another day in the life of an Esper. It wasn’t Kang I-won’s fault.

Still, when someone close got hurt, it weighed on his mind. It was a reaction ingrained in him over years of experience, something he couldn’t help.

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He clenched his trembling wrist tightly and watched as the wound on his arm healed at a sluggish pace.

His regeneration was unusually slow today.

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Normally, by now, the bone would have fully regenerated, and blood vessels and muscles would be slowly forming over it. Yet, the wound remained barely at the stage of bone recovery.

Kim Young-ho, still standing beside him, frowned as he watched the sluggish healing process. His voice, tinged with confusion, broke the silence.

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“Sunbae, isn’t your regeneration… slower than usual? Or is it just me imagining things?”

Kang I-won didn’t reply.

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The silence seemed to confirm Young-ho’s suspicion, and his expression turned to shock.

“Wait, are you serious?”

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“No. It’s just your imagination,” Kang I-won cut him off sharply.

It was true his regeneration was slowing, but there was no reason to tell anyone about it.

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Hearing his denial, Kim Young-ho visibly relaxed.

“Oh… Right. I guess I was overthinking things. You really scared me for a second there.”

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“Stop slacking off and get back to dealing with the monsters.”

“Yes, yes, I’m going,” Young-ho replied, hurrying off.

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Once he was gone, Kang I-won wiped the cold sweat trickling down his temple with the back of his hand.

At first, he thought it was just a mistake. When Choi Soo-bin had mentioned it, and when he himself had noticed it, he dismissed it as a fleeting thought. But now, he was certain.

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His regeneration was slowing.

Was it a temporary condition, or was it the beginning of his ability disappearing entirely?

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That much remained unclear. But it wouldn’t stay uncertain for long—soon enough, the truth would reveal itself.

For the first time in a while, a faint light flickered in Kang I-won’s perpetually shadowed eyes.

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If his ability disappeared…

The thought trailed off. There was no point dwelling on the uncertain future. The pressing matter was the battle still at hand.

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Testing his now fully healed arm by clenching and releasing it a few times, Kang I-won stepped forward, driving his foot into the ground as he launched himself back toward the monsters.

The fight eventually calmed, and with things more or less under control, Team 5 boarded their vehicle to return to the center.

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Even after the fight was over, Kang I-won’s arm, which had been pierced by the thorn, continued to tremble intermittently. Gripping his arm tightly with his other hand, he leaned his forehead against the cool windowpane.

A sharp ringing buzzed in his ears, grating on his nerves. An all-too-familiar headache began creeping in, tapping softly yet persistently at his brain.

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It had been a long time since Kang I-won had experienced such severe Guiding deficiency symptoms. It had only been fifteen days since Heo Do-gyeong had left for Seoul, yet during that time, Kang I-won had pushed his body to its limits, causing his wavelengths to fluctuate wildly, leaving him in turmoil.

It felt like sinking into a swamp. His weakened mind kept yearning for Heo Do-gyeong’s Guiding, pleading to be freed from the suffocating feeling that consumed him.

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Despite having dealt with these symptoms for far longer than he’d gone without them, the sensation still felt unfamiliar, strange even. The absurdity of that thought almost made him laugh, but no laughter came.

After returning to the center, the first thing Kang I-won did was apply for a Guiding session. While waiting, he headed to the shower room to wash the blood off his body.

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The strong spray of the shower washed away the traces of blood that clung to his skin. The only mark left on his pale, resilient body was the scar that wrapped around his abdomen like a noose.

Kang I-won glanced at himself in the mirror. His neatly trimmed hair from winter had grown long enough to fall over his eyes.

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He swept the wet strands of hair back from his face, revealing a man who looked drained and miserable. The dark circles under his eyes, which had been fading, were now stark and prominent again.

He rubbed his eyes with his fingers, frowning at the unsightly dark shadows. Despite knowing they wouldn’t fade no matter how much he touched them, he couldn’t stop.

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After finishing his shower, Kang I-won dried his hair and left the shower room. His hair wasn’t completely dry, but it no longer dripped water.

His hands continued to tremble slightly, whether from the Guiding deficiency or another cause, he wasn’t sure. With his shaking hand, he grabbed a chocolate bar and used his steady hand to rip open the wrapper.

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Holding the heavy bar in his unshaking hand, he hid his trembling one in the pocket of his tracksuit as he made his way to the Guiding room. He bit into the thick chocolate bar, chewing and swallowing it. While it calmed his churning stomach slightly, it wasn’t enough. By the second bar, he had to rip the wrapper open with his teeth.

Since Heo Do-gyeong’s departure, a new temporary Guide had been assigned to Team 5. This Guide, a B-rank with an average matching rate of 54% for the team and only 51% with Kang I-won, was far from ideal. It wasn’t terrible, but it was just that—barely passable.

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Compared to Heo Do-gyeong, this new Guide’s Guiding felt pathetic. It was better than nothing, but it wasn’t much different from the effects of Guiding medication.

Kang I-won paused mid-step on his way to the Guiding room, chocolate bar still in hand.

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After swallowing the bite in his mouth, he muttered in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible, “When did I start relying on Guiding so much?”

Even in the field and now, he always carried Guiding medication. It wasn’t necessary to rely on a Guide; the medication could calm his erratic wavelengths just as well.

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In the past, he would have reached for the medication without even considering a Guide’s Guiding.

“Ha.”

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A dry, bitter laugh escaped his lips.

In just a short span of time, he had grown accustomed to being guided. The absurdity of how quickly he had adapted to it made Kang I-won laugh at himself.

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He had already requested Guiding, so the Guide was probably waiting for him. Just this once, he thought. After today, he would go back to how things used to be.

Resolving himself, Kang I-won habitually stopped in front of Room 10. He reached out to knock but paused mid-action.

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The new Guide wasn’t in Room 10 but Room 17. His body, too used to the routine, had automatically taken him to the wrong door. Correcting himself, he redirected his steps to Room 17.

Inside, he received the uninspired and unremarkable Guiding from the B-rank Guide waiting there. While his erratic wavelengths settled somewhat, the lingering symptoms of Guiding deficiency remained. At least the tremors had stopped.

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Looking at his now steady hand, Kang I-won clenched it into a fist. This was normal. He had simply grown too accustomed to Heo Do-gyeong’s Guiding.

Now it was time to readjust to life without him.

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Dragging his heavy body through his usual training routine, Kang I-won returned home and collapsed onto his bed. He was utterly drained and endlessly drowsy, too tired to do anything else. He lay still on the bed with his eyes closed, yet sleep wouldn’t come. His mind only grew more restless.

Midnight passed, and as the early hours of the morning crept in, Kang I-won still couldn’t sleep. His exhausted brain begged for rest, but his mind refused to grant it.

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Around three in the morning, his hands, moving almost of their own accord, reached for his neck. His body and mind cried out for relief, and with no other way to find it, Kang I-won resorted to what he could. Any kind of rest, no matter how fleeting, was necessary.

Deep down, he knew this was wrong. But his muddled mind refused to dwell on it.

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The one thing that had allowed Kang I-won to endure until now was his ability to detach himself emotionally and flee from reality.

The people he failed to protect, the ones he had watched slip away in vain—he had trained himself not to think about them. When he did, he quickly forgot. His younger sibling was the only exception, the scar on his body a constant reminder that forbade him from forgetting. But beyond that, he had lived by forcing himself to forget and turn away.

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Esper suicide rates were surprisingly high. Many Espers took their own lives for various reasons: trauma from the field, the anguish of being the sole survivor, the grief of losing loved ones, and countless other causes. For them, death became an escape from their suffering.

But Kang I-won had no such escape. All he could do was suppress his memories and emotions, creating a habit that left him indifferent to nearly everything.

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This indifference, however, had birthed his worst habit yet.

He felt the familiar pulse of his heartbeat in his hands. His vision gradually darkened, and his body slumped lifelessly onto the bed.

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Once again, Kang I-won fell into unconsciousness—a sleep so deep it felt akin to death.

* * *

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The massive snake monster, approximately 10 meters long, had its belly gruesomely slashed open. From the torn flesh, someone began to emerge, pushing their way out. It was Kang I-won, clutching the core that had been embedded within the creature’s entrails.

As the monster’s internal fluids poured out with him, Kang I-won twisted his body midair and landed lightly on both feet. While the landing itself was smooth, his body wavered like a piece of paper caught in the wind.

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“Cough, cough!”

With no one to catch him, Kang I-won collapsed, hacking violently as his blocked airways forced him to cough up what had been suffocating him.

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“Ugh, cough, cough… ugh!”

After several rounds of coughing, he finally took a deep breath, the core still clenched in his hand. Dragging his body along the ground, he pulled himself away from the snake monster. A close-combat Esper hurried over to help him.

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“The core is out! Finish it off!” someone shouted.

Arrows made of electricity and ice shot toward the snake monster, and explosions rang out from all over its body like bombs going off.

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The close-combat Esper helped Kang I-won lean against a nearby tree, glancing at his limp form with a small click of their tongue.

They still vividly remembered the sight of Kang I-won charging into the gaping maw of the snake monster without a moment’s hesitation.

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They’d heard rumors about this Esper—a guy who earned his A-rank with nothing but a regeneration ability. They’d always been curious about him, but now that curiosity was satisfied. He deserved his rank. The man was unbelievably tough. No matter how immortal someone might be, how many would willingly dive headfirst into such a situation?

Having done their part, the close-combat Esper returned to the fray to assist the others. Meanwhile, Kang I-won leaned heavily against the tree, struggling for breath.

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The unknown fluids that had filled the snake monster’s stomach had made it nearly impossible to breathe. The stomach’s tough walls had been difficult to tear through, and it had taken every ounce of strength he had, pushing him to the brink of unconsciousness multiple times.

If the stomach lining had been as tough as the creature’s outer skin, he would likely still be trapped inside, drifting in and out of consciousness. He would’ve had to rely on the other Espers to kill the monster and rescue him—a humiliating outcome he couldn’t bear to imagine.

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With labored breaths, Kang I-won forced his head to rest against the tree, his body still trembling from the ordeal.

Watching the dazzling attacks land on the snake monster, Kang I-won reached into his inner pocket with trembling hands and pulled out a vial of Guiding medication.

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Having overused his abilities inside the snake monster’s stomach, his wavelengths were violently fluctuating, and his body was in disarray. Fortunately, the contents of the stomach weren’t acidic, and the medication, safely sealed in plastic, remained intact.

Unzipping his jacket and lowering one shoulder, Kang I-won injected the Guiding medication directly into his bare skin. He waited for the effects to kick in, but his erratic wavelengths showed no sign of calming. No matter how long he waited, the chaos within him refused to settle.

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He stared at the last remaining vial in his hand, hesitant. The bright red warning printed on the plastic wrapper gave him pause.

[Recommended use: Once per day. Do not exceed the recommended daily dosage under any circumstances.]

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Below that, in smaller text, were additional warnings: the medication was a substitute for proper Guiding, and overuse or consecutive doses were strongly discouraged.

Kang I-won skimmed the text, then tore the wrapper open. What could go wrong from a slight overdose? His regenerative ability, while not as reliable as before, was still intact. After all, wasn’t it why he was still alive and breathing?

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Brushing off the warnings, Kang I-won injected the second vial without hesitation.

This time, the medication finally began to take effect. He felt the familiar pressure of the drug coursing through his veins, spreading throughout his body and subduing his erratic wavelengths.

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But then, a new and unfamiliar heaviness overwhelmed him. It felt as though something impossibly heavy was pressing down on his entire body.

He instinctively clutched at his throat, his fingers digging into his skin.

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“Ugh… hgh…”

He couldn’t breathe. This wasn’t like the suffocation he felt in the monster’s stomach—it was different, more insidious. Kang I-won scratched at his throat desperately, trying to force his airway open, as panic clawed its way up from his feet.

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Just before he completely succumbed to panic, a faint, needle-like stream of air passed through his constricted throat. It wasn’t enough. Gasping desperately, Kang I-won heaved for breath, his lungs aching.