PRT | Chapter 1.1

At times, a fleeting moment can become a lasting memory, even if it comes unexpectedly.

“No changes in the wave patterns. Continuing the test.”

Amidst the hustle of busy personnel, the eerie, mechanical sound echoed. Whir. The constant hum nagged at Kim Heeseo’s ears. Feeling a slight annoyance, Heeseo let out a soft sigh.

The test was long. Although it was a standard procedure, it felt burdensome and uncomfortable. The people around, busy as they had been on their first visit to the Headquarters just like today, scribbled down notes, their eyes emotionless, focused solely on the results.

Heeseo quietly surrendered himself to the situation, his gaze shifting around. The bulky machines blocking his view almost made it hard to breathe, and the piercing stares felt like they were tearing him apart.

Stuck in a tedious moment where he couldn’t do anything, his mind freely wandered. Memories naturally split into various paths. Using the incessant noise as a stepping stone, his thoughts jumped across these tracks.

The Esper Management Headquarters is under the government’s jurisdiction. This place was a home for those with abilities. By today, it had become no different from any ordinary government agency.

Today marked Heeseo’s 14th day here. Normally, the headquarters would officially recruit personnel twice a year, but Heeseo was inducted as a special case, leaving him still as a temporary member.

“Stability at 39%.”

The monotone voice announced a below-average reading. It was an unremarkable figure for the amount of effort put into the work.

“Risk of rampage at 72%.”

A few numbers dictated life in this world. Heeseo closed his eyes to the voice dissecting him. He didn’t care to know or wished to remember certain truths, instead chewing over the moment.

How did he end up here?

The sensations enveloping his body. The screams of others announcing the end of everyday life. The thick fog that eerily hung in the air. Beyond the blurred and damaged scene, only the sharp pain remained vividly with him.

“Suddenly, it exploded….”
He had killed someone.

“His neck was snapped. That person, that person….”

No. In an instant, he became ‘someone who had killed a person.’ The only witness had pointed right at Heeseo. He couldn’t show any reaction, not even blinking, as he stared straight ahead.

In the intense flames, the man enveloped in black smoke burnt up and was eventually torn apart, imprinted deeply in Heeseo’s eyes. While everyone looked at Heeseo, he alone revisited the already concluded situation.

The man was dead. Suddenly a distorted space and abruptly expanded air crushed the man. It was the first time Heeseo had felt such a sensation, his fingertips trembled. But the man’s death had been certain long before that.

There was another esper on the spot. At the moment when his vision was blocked by flames and gray smoke, Heeseo felt someone pass by his side. The brisk presence drifted away, mixed with the terrible smell of burnt flesh and blood.

Knowing it,but not being sure of it, he couldn’t say anything. His breath was crushed under the piercing, contemptuous stares. Muttering in a twisted voice was the best he could do.

“Control the area.”

“…No.”

Maybe he had sensed it. Denying it was useless.

“Is it gravity? Can you manipulate the atmosphere?”

The question posed to the frozen Heeseo was merely to identify his ability.

“What is your name? When did you awaken? An unregistered Esper is a subject of legal sanctions.”

“I’m not, that’s not what I am.”

“Show me your identification.”

He hadn’t intended anything, but the outcome had pointed at Heeseo. The only remaining trace in that chaotic moment was Heeseo. Everyone there had already branded him a murderer.

Really, I’m not that…

Heeseo trembled. Having lived a normal life unrelated to abilities made the situation even more bewildering. Even if the truth was as it was, he feared others might see it as a lie. Those who were actually present at the scene showed no interest in hearing the story. The sudden reality was too overwhelming.

He thought his life was over. An awakening at the age of twenty-three came with bloodshed. It seemed that only collapsing in a blood-smeared mess remained.

But the situation afterward was a bit different.

“A, no, it’s at least an S level or above.”

The Headquarters, which handles all matters related to espers, did not escalate the situation. They simply observed the scene carefully and looked at Heeseo as if he were something rare. The dead man was discarded like trash and hidden from view.

The aftermath of the incident was just that. Having stepped onto the horrific scene, they immediately verified Heeseo’s identity and moved him to the headquarters. Heeseo was dragged along without the will to resist.

The ongoing tests. The interviews. The piercing interest felt like bars stabbing at him. The moment of becoming an unfamiliar esper was overwhelmingly noisy. Amidst the chaos, Heeseo just clenched his trembling fists tightly.

“Something’s wrong… The values are below average.”

Despite the scrutinizing and disparaging looks, he tried to remain calm. Even as he was wrongfully accused of murder and fury rose within him, he gritted his teeth and endured. He also endured the strange sensation uncomfortably enveloping his body, desperately trying to maintain the twisted trajectory of his daily life.

“Kim Heeseo, no change in the space distortion ability.”

The voice putting a full stop to the burdensome recollection rang out. Heeseo slowly opened his eyes and stepped out of the machine. Half-listening to what was being said around him, he nodded and exited the place.

“….”

Thump. As the huge metal door closed, his breath naturally burst out. Rubbing his neck, Heeseo forced himself to focus and started walking. With each step, the ID card hanging around his neck jingled.

The cold plastic card bore a bright red mark. It meant he was a special management subject within the headquarters. It sounded nice to say “management,” but in reality, it meant he could be shot at any time as a dangerous individual.

Mulling over his situation, Heeseo let out a wry laugh. What a fine mess it was to suddenly become a murderer and treated like a ticking time bomb. His abilities shown two weeks ago had only been a momentary occurrence, but the reality was still miserably inadequate.

“Don’t measure the grade prematurely. It might be unstable because it’s the initial awakening.”

The headquarters deemed Kim Heeseo valuable. It seemed they had concluded he might be one of the few S-class espers in the country. That seemed to be the context for why they were drawing his blood every day since the second week.

…But what does that even mean, really?

Fed up, Heeseo indifferently stepped on the marble floor. What should he do now? He couldn’t go back to his original place. There was no immediate way to clear his name. He truly felt like his hands and feet were tied.

The misfortune that came without warning easily melted into his daily life. Ironically, he adapted quickly. Heeseo soon grew accustomed to the sharp contempt and disdain. Strangers’ eyes mixed with bright beams of light scanned his body.

Isn’t there a perfect secret?

“Is it him?”

The truth was distorted and spread further. It eventually became breaking news. Everyone was curious, not about the truth, but about the esper who had ended up killing someone, his abilities still unclear.

In a society that treated espers, especially unregistered ones, with extreme disdain, the distorted story spread like a tumor. Although he wasn’t being punished by the law, his situation couldn’t get any worse.

He had no strength left to voice anything out. All he could do was endure with all his might.

“….is it?”

As he absentmindedly waited for the elevator, a pleading voice rose. Above it, the sound of footsteps added on. Thud, thud. The steady noise was upright enough to conjure an image of the other person.

“It’s an order from the Head of Division. You know ignoring it won’t solve anything.”

The presence gradually got closer. Heeseo dropped his gaze and tensed up.

“Young master.”

“Why does that title come up here? You should start by distinguishing public from private.”

The slowly enunciated, low voice made his breath falter for a moment.

“Go and tell them, no.”

“But…”

“I’ll handle my own issues. If they don’t like it, tell them to fire me.”

The casual tone wasn’t kind, but it seemed playful, mixed with a sigh-like laugh. Unintentionally, Heeseo raised his head and followed the noise.

“….”

The other person had already approached him closely. Spotless shoes. A deep blue suit. Casually swept-back hair. An expressionless face. He had to raise his gaze quite a bit before he could see the face.

“Guide Seo Yigyeom.”

When he finally faced the other, he almost gasped. The man was Seo Yigyeom, living among abundant rumors. He was, in reality, an S-class Guide, a title hard to apply any descriptor to.

Seo Yigyeom’s demeanor was cold. Perhaps it was his sharply drawn eyes showing no emotion that made him difficult to approach. Despite his unruffled posture, his attire seemed casually thrown on, even giving off a reckless vibe. Strangely, the air density seemed different around him.

“It seems that habit of blindly following orders from above is still there.”

His face was so beautifully striking that it could fixate any gaze. Although not particularly sharp-featured, he was attractive enough to be called glamorous. Distinct brow bones, a prominent nose, and lush eyelashes that casually swept through the air. Each feature, on its own, was soft and delicate, but together, his face was exceptionally cool.

“Even a beast knows to think for itself.”

“….”

“If you’re that desperate, come and grovel yourself. Who knows? I might change my mind.”

“Guide-nim!”

“Lower your voice a bit.”

Seo Yigyeom spoke softly, pulling up the corners of his mouth. For a moment, he exuded a somewhat relaxed atmosphere, but soon his face became expressionless. The faint yet splendid smile disappeared, leaving his face emotionless.

Seo Yigyeom’s gaze never met Heeseo’s. Yet, tension rose. Heeseo swallowed hard and turned his head awkwardly. His reflection in the elevator door made him bow his head completely.

The man showed no interest at all. Even when getting into the elevator, he remained indifferent. He acknowledged Heeseo’s presence standing there blankly but closed the door coldly. Their eyes only brushed past each other.

“Ah…”

Heeseo flinched when the man extended his arm, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Had he hoped to be asked if he wasn’t getting in…? Maybe because he had gotten used to sharp looks in the past few days, the complete disregard felt even more alien.

A while later, when the next elevator arrived, there were several people inside. Heeseo, trying to mimic Seo Yigyeom’s nonchalance, boarded the elevator. Although the narrow space felt like a coffin, he kept his gaze straight ahead.

“Esper Kim Heeseo.”

A gruff voice stopped him as he was about to step out on the first floor.

“Come with me for a moment. We’ve got a report near city hall.”