Chapter 12

The loud chatter came to an abrupt halt.

Oh Han-gyeol frowned, his delicate face stiffening, as he grabbed the Esper who had been clinging to him moments before. Covering his mouth with one hand, he whispered something in the Esper’s ear.

Whatever instructions he received made the Esper’s lips curl into a twisted grin. Rising to his full height, he walked straight toward the vending machine. There, he intercepted Baek Eu-jin, who had just picked up a drink and was about to leave.

“We’ve met before, haven’t we? At that café.”

“……”

Baek Eu-jin silently looked up at the man—a fire-type Esper with sharp features and a large build. Was his name Yang Tae-joo? The profile from the records briefly came to mind.

Although the man’s cocky demeanor, which had resurfaced in just a few days, was annoying, Eu-jin saw no need to stir up unnecessary trouble. He gave a slight nod and tried to leave, but the Esper extended an arm to block him.

“You’re the new recruit, aren’t you?”

“……”

“Even if guides don’t have much hierarchy, shouldn’t you at least greet your seniors when you see them?”

“Seniors?”

Yang Tae-joo pointed his thumb over his shoulder at Oh Han-gyeol.

“Go ahead, greet him.”

“……”

“Tae-joo, stop it. Forcing it like this makes me uncomfortable. And he’s older than me. Maybe he doesn’t see me as a senior,” Oh Han-gyeol interjected, pretending to dissuade while subtly provoking.

Encouraged by this, Yang Tae-joo became even more aggressive. His fierce gaze swept between Baek Eu-jin’s ID and his face.

“Ha, look at this guy. Not even a flinch. What, are you an A-rank too or something? Hey, do you think someone like you could even compare to Han-gyeol? You’re in a whole different league.”

“Who asked you to compare us?”

“What?!”

“I don’t get why you’re acting like someone who hit their own panic button. I’m not interested, so how about you stop picking fights?”

“You little—oh, so you wanna go, huh?”

Yang Tae-joo finally grabbed him by the collar. The pristine white collar of Eu-jin’s shirt crumpled violently as his body was shoved back. His back and head slammed against the vending machine with a loud thud. The impact was so strong that the large machine shook, and the drinks inside rattled and toppled over.

The sudden pain made his head spin.

Always relying on brute strength… Baek Eu-jin swallowed a curse and tightly closed his eyes before opening them again. Raising both hands, he firmly gripped the thick wrists of Yang Tae-joo, who was clutching his collar.

He couldn’t win by brute force, so this was the only way. High-intensity guiding energy surged into Yang Tae-joo through their contact.

As expected, Yang Tae-joo flinched in alarm. His arm trembled, but he couldn’t release the grip or move; his face only turned redder, and his body stiffened as though he had forgotten how to breathe.

“I told you to watch your hands, didn’t I? Do you know what happens when you assault a guide?”

Baek Eu-jin’s voice dropped to a chillingly low tone. Locking eyes with Yang Tae-joo’s trembling pupils, he continued,

“Esper Conduct Code, Article 3, Clause 7: Forcibly touching or causing harm to a guide’s body is considered a serious crime and is punishable by both a fine and imprisonment.”

“Ugh, urgh!”

“There’s one CCTV camera at 3 o’clock, and another down the hallway. What are you going to do? Looks like the evidence is solid.”

Baek Eu-jin looked at the man, whose face seemed ready to explode, with a mix of pity and disdain. Then he shoved away the hand gripping his collar. Though he hadn’t used much force, the large man staggered back like a kite with its string cut.

He picked up the can that had fallen to the floor. For a moment, he felt a surge of annoyance and considered just throwing it away, but then thought, What crime has the drink committed? and decided to take it with him.

“Go tell your guide that you’ve completely picked the wrong person to mess with.”

“……”

“Try living quietly for a change. You’re way past the age to be playing the schoolyard bully.”

With that, he handed the dented can to Yang Tae-joo, who looked even angrier than the can itself. Without sparing a glance back, Baek Eu-jin left the break room.

“Damn it! What the hell is his deal?!”

Only after Baek Eu-jin’s figure had disappeared from sight did Yang Tae-joo snap out of it. He slammed his bare hand against the wall in frustration. The lingering sensation of guiding energy still faintly coursed through him. Clenching the cold, dented can in his trembling hand, he tried to cool his rising fury.

Later that evening, after finishing work, Baek Eu-jin sat down to check the reservations for the following week. He let out a dry, incredulous laugh.

The name Yang Tae-joo was written in bold, right at the top of the list.

* * *

Just past midnight, the entrance to the rift, known as the Porta, radiated a white and resplendent light. At the forefront, Delta Team’s leader, Ahn Itaeh, led the Espers as they emerged. Having just finished a battle, their exhaustion was written all over their faces.

“Guide-nim, you worked so hard today. Please, let’s meet again next time.”

“Park Saebyeok Esper-nim, you’ve done so much as well. Thank you all for your hard work!”

The guide, who had assisted them during the battle, offered a warm farewell with a beaming smile. The Delta Team Espers responded with polite bows, treating the guide as if they were welcoming a VIP.

Among them, however, one stood out for his stiff demeanor. It was as if his neck were in a brace. Unable to bear it, Park Saebyeok jabbed Kwon Su-ho in the side with her sharp elbow.

“Can’t you read the room? If you’re not going to act friendly, at least try smiling.”

“Why should I?”

“You know you’re seriously irritating, right? Ugh, I can’t believe I’ve been stuck with you for seven years. How do we even still work together?”

“Park Saebyeok, without me, your head would’ve been gone in a rift ages ago.”

“Hey, you’d be dead too! Do you even know how many times I’ve saved you?!”

In front of the Porta, the two Espers hurled insults at each other. The youngest of the team, Yoo Tak, who specialized in healing, nervously glanced between them, unsure whether to intervene. Only Team Leader Ahn seemed unbothered.

“Team Leader, shouldn’t we… stop them from fighting?”

“Haha, it’s fine. This isn’t my first time seeing them like this. Let’s go.”

With a serene smile, Ahn Itaeh continued escorting the astonished guide on their way.

Kwon Su-ho and Park Saebyeok, two of the core members of the Delta Team, had been in the same squad since joining Zone 1. Though their genders differed, they were the same age and, coincidentally, started at the same time.

Both had difficult personalities and frequently clashed, but oddly enough, their coordination in the rift was seamless. It might’ve been that synergy that kept them on the same team all these years.

“Alright, everyone, listen up. Come over here; let’s have a quick meeting.”

Having seen the guide off, Ahn Itaeh waved his hand. At his call, the youngest member scurried over. Even Kwon Su-ho and Park Saebyeok, who had been tearing into each other moments before, obediently ceased their bickering and walked toward him.

The reason Delta Team gathered after the battle was obvious: to decide on their team guide.

“I checked with Guide Kim Seok-hyun, and they’re willing to work with us for now. Let’s decide by a show of hands. Those in favor, raise your hand.”

Three arms shot up toward the sky. One was missing. All the Espers simultaneously turned to look at Kwon Su-ho, who stood motionless, hands stuffed in his pockets, refusing to budge.

Team Leader Ahn Itaeh rubbed his face, tiredness etched deeply into his features.

“Seriously, Su-ho, what’s the issue this time?”

“He sweats too much.”

It was an absurd excuse. Did he expect someone running around in life-or-death situations to stay perfectly dry? While everyone shared the same thought, no one dared voice it.

For Delta Team, choosing a guide required unanimous agreement.

Every team member’s opinion was respected, no matter the reason. It was an absolute rule of the Delta Team and the reason the guide position had been left vacant for nearly a year.

While other members occasionally expressed opposition, Kwon Su-ho’s constant refusal was the real problem. His pickiness was beyond measure.

“Aren’t we just never going to find a guide at this rate?”

The youngest member hesitantly voiced his concern. Park Saebyeok, standing nearby, clutched her head as if trying to suppress her irritation. In a barely audible whisper, meant only for the youngest to hear, she muttered:

“Should we just kill Kwon Su-ho? It might be faster than picking a guide.”

Somehow, Kwon Su-ho’s sharp ears caught her words, and he shot her a ferocious glare. Saebyeok feigned innocence, kicking at the dirt to avoid his gaze. The chilly night air only made the awkward meeting feel colder.

“Well… fine, we’ll respect Su-ho’s opinion. But just remember, we don’t have much time. As promised to the director, we have to finalize this within three months. After that, the decision will no longer be in our hands.”

“Why did you even make such a promise? The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it seems.”

“It’s all because of you guys! If there wasn’t a deadline, would we ever make progress? What, are we going to rotate temporary guides forever?!”

For once, Ahn Itaeh raised his voice—a rare sight for the typically calm team leader. The prolonged vacancy was clearly stressing him out, not to mention the constant nagging from the director. It was time for a decisive move.

“Anyway, that’s how it is. Good work, everyone. It’s a relief that we all made it back safely without injuries. Saebyeok and Yoo Tak, you’ve already received guiding in the rift, so you’re fine. As for Kwon Su-ho…”

At the mention of his name, Kwon Su-ho looked up. Dark circles hung heavy under his long eyes, giving him a worn-out appearance. Yet, under the moonlight, his sharp features looked almost like they’d been meticulously carved from ivory.

“Su-ho, you haven’t properly received guiding, have you? You look half-dead.”

“I’ll be fine with some medicine and sleep.”

“No way. You’re going to the Guide Center and getting a full two sessions. If you don’t have a record of guiding, you’ll be excluded from the next deployment.”

“Are you serious?”

He protested against the strict order, but Ahn Itaeh ignored him completely. For once, he had resolved to be firm. Su-ho’s tendency to distance himself from guides had gone on long enough.

“Alright, everyone, dismissed!”

With a loud clap that cut through the chilly night air, the meeting came to an end.

And with that, the long night of battles finally concluded.

* * *

It was already past 3 a.m. when Kwon Su-ho arrived at the Guide Center.

Half of the building’s lights were off, and only a handful of people were coming and going through the entrance. Thanks to the guides working the night shift, the center operated 24 hours a day.

After parking, Kwon Su-ho grabbed the hat he had tossed onto the passenger seat. Pulling the brim down low, it covered most of his face, even obscuring the bridge of his nose. He grabbed his car keys and phone before stepping out of the vehicle.

Even with his face hidden, his presence was impossible to conceal. Nearly 190 cm tall, broad shoulders that squared at perfect angles, and a lean, well-proportioned frame—it was easy to identify him as Kwon Su-ho from a distance.

He was well aware of this himself. That’s precisely why he deliberately chose the dead of night to visit the Guide Center when fewer people would be around.

As he walked toward the elevator, he fiddled with his phone, searching the app for the quickest available guide. He applied filters for wide-range guiding capabilities and set the allowable guiding intensity to the lowest level. Ratings and rankings didn’t matter—he just randomly picked the first name his finger landed on.

The reservation was confirmed almost instantly, the notification chiming in sync with the elevator doors opening on the first floor. Kwon Su-ho appreciated the efficiency. Stepping into the elevator, he rotated his stiff neck from side to side before pressing the button for the 15th floor. The yellow light lit up.

The dim hallway led him to room 1514, the only room with a brightly lit number plate, indicating it was currently being used for night guiding.

He had come this far, but the thought of interacting with a guide and sitting through a guiding session annoyed him to no end. With an irritated sigh, he rubbed his face and knocked on the door.

“Yes?”

A soft, measured voice responded from inside.

It was only then that Kwon Su-ho realized the guide was male. Not that it mattered to him who it was.

The door opened, and the owner of the voice appeared. With his hat pulled low, Su-ho could only see the guide’s body from the neck down. A red-bordered badge around the guide’s neck caught his attention—an A-rank. That was surprising.

“Kwon Su-ho, Esper-nim?”

“Yes.”

“Come in.”

The guide’s response was calm and professional. Unlike most people who would fawn over him upon recognition, the guide simply confirmed his identity, opened the door, and stepped aside.

Once inside, Su-ho instinctively scanned the room. It’s clean. A rare compliment formed in his mind. The guiding room was spotless, free of any unpleasant smells or signs of clutter. The organized space improved his mood somewhat.

“Please have a seat. We’ll start right away.”

The guide’s deep voice prompted Su-ho to walk over to the sofa and sit down. As soon as he did, the guide also sat across from him.

Only after settling in did Su-ho finally see the guide’s face. The man had soft brown hair and fair skin, and to Su-ho’s mild surprise, he was quite handsome.

As the guide focused on his laptop, Su-ho noticed the thick lashes on his lowered eyelids. His slender build suggested he was likely popular, though Su-ho’s interest stopped there.

Crossing his arms, Su-ho leaned back and muttered, “You do wide-range guiding, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go with that.”

“Understood.”

The guide’s response was short and precise. He extended a neat hand to press the timer on the table. The numbers began to silently count down.

At that moment, the guiding session began. As expected of an A-rank, the guiding energy was clean and dense. The flow was seamless, pouring out as though every bit was perfectly directed toward its target without waste.

“……”

It was remarkable—nothing about it felt unpleasant. The guide didn’t attempt any unnecessary conversation and remained wholly indifferent toward Su-ho. Even the rhythmic clacking of the keyboard sounded oddly soothing.