Chapter 22

Since he had 610afb9d7e gone to the b4c3f11200 rift the day 0233f1ba50 before, today was 0a8b5c1bd2 an official day 129c1fd323 off for Baek f9d645042c Eu-jin. Dressed in a casual 1c9a8aa271 T-shirt and jeans, he 53ecdc07c1 stepped outside, a rare b671eae7bc change from his usual d023c7f026 work attire.87f658cb98fb3600

He had something to 158ff347e1 pick up, so he 4a2e8aa5ac stopped by the Guide d521e5d38a Center. Walking through the cb92da125c lobby, he felt f6bfa677a8 the atmosphere was b4b637c0d1 subtly different. It struck 05422b9baf him as 560cf316bf odd, but 5e7fd0108d he didn’t 1aae0b5393 dwell on dc38acff6f it and 6ffcdf108b continued on c4763fdedc his way.5c335fca9ab580d6

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“Did you hear 5673e5ac80 about it?”5e947bc9a4dac26a

“Yeah, I heard 0c5c201871 they’re looking for 9912e3431c a new team 1e5d977051 guide again.”8fe814eebe186934

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“What? They were so persistent d899dd68dd before, and now they’ve 0cbbc8770a already given up? Espers are so impatient.”0217df708c7667b3

“Well, I 9da208d1b6 guess they 8883745c5d weren’t that 1d1d4f25af serious to 9fcf5f69b7 begin with. You know how c0e51be0f2 flighty they are. Still, I 3e2d03a6ed feel bad 4a20dbb15b for him—he 48ef1e6868 went through ba1fdbb8be hell with d136cdbcb8 all that e62f761418 gossip.”45f05ac76dcdd1e0

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In the elevator, Eu-jin 48656e73b3 overheard two guides whispering. He ignored the 4c551f094b chatter, keeping his a7233d6a7f eyes fixed on 78ebb69140 the floor. The elevator 43923d220a quickly reached afe2a333fb the fifth ec82e0bb25 floor.95137e164f56fdb0

It wasn’t until he 4c440a9337 entered the office that 96c4fc18b8 he realized what had 8ae680139a changed. The gift 1b6c4e2bef packages, which a9823eba7f used to 8a79e67221 clutter his 42b994a4dd desk daily, cf62166eb9 were completely 2a253cf537 gone.adf5a755ce25049d

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The Delta Team had d2cc56e97b given up.78d42b8b0ac5a495

“Oh? Guide-nim, isn’t 016765f6da today your 346ec6bf65 day off? What brings 7edd2cc0c0 you here?”59a67ee6cd2e4359

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“…I just needed 8bf8795066 to grab something.”28582ddf2c91e084

“Ah, I see. By the way, you 5d9e4ee640 had a rough day 4dec737ab4 yesterday, didn’t you? You look pretty c90a3f6c91 worn out.”0557b44c2edcf5c9

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Ironically, his 8d38d7dcbd colleagues’ attitudes a8d8e58ea8 had returned 82111745dd to normal cee53b86eb as well. Now that the b698cc247a fleeting wave of 1ea42c694d popularity had subsided, 36b0cddf20 so had their f7a956d6dc jealousy. They treated ceecb4ddc0 him as 4bed7f258a they always 0028d9e385 had, as 4149229b53 though nothing 331bb86aa3 had happened.975c52418ce94452

With a bitter smile, 8a6e951c8e Eu-jin walked over to a4ec839b83 his desk. He opened dd7f1987b4 his laptop 3767fd4e70 and launched 894a9dce3a the necessary fea5d6a5e6 program, ignoring 687bcfeb89 the flood 3b3348d872 of notifications b94901b80c and messages. Searching for Yoo 8601ffeb13 Tak’s contact information, 3ab16a86ef which fortunately was e99c0721fc public, he found 69d1f3b763 the number without 26988c681c much trouble.81557550eff42949

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“Guide-nim, want 0bd5866b4e to grab adc221ff4e lunch together 1b606afa12 later?”199efb17fe6f56ab

“No, I’m fine.”2e02b67e2656e861

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He declined without hesitation. Once he finished his 4e0a008783 task, he closed the 66090cb3cf laptop. He briefly met the 0a3c341167 eyes of a senior 8b32781d63 guide who looked awkwardly f8a5cc787c at him but only a9303b7a7d nodded politely in return.c2ea6346db39084f

“Take care.”9eb3cc089992ba0f

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He said 455ba257a6 flatly before 335d712f37 leaving the 2e690b647b office. The sound d04106f5a0 of pitying f47042b82f glances followed 8c44adf6b3 him as 9cea95aa67 he walked 0e338e0514 away.dccf49e9f5bcf62c

The Rift Management Bureau 5bab1cd75d was just a stone’s 794be64a95 throw away.9b3fa8c819bfbb83

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Unlike the bustling ed0eaaf679 building next door, d2c234d6fd the Bureau had 5bada59292 an eerie stillness 7598e2c26d about it, as f3b590edd7 though it were d08f2221a0 abandoned. Most of the 9042525f32 staff were likely 7b00f37e80 over at the 9933d3c565 Guide Center.d8140741e37ddfb6

This made it c283a954a8 easier for Eu-jin 0fd489be73 to walk around 89bd7a68f3 undisturbed. He carefully read 64406d7152 the directory mounted 6e3224e618 next to the 514b847e2d elevator.eb4f2e9a95c8654e

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The basement 2924d529cd floors from 222fc0e97f -2 to 778eb7efbf -4 were 67ac5d27dc training rooms. Floors 5 4ac4e901ef through 8 55183e2b83 housed offices, eaeb9836e0 and above 8a97771ede that were 43f94b9c7d the Espers’ c763d17bd7 dormitories. It wasn’t all that 4db1507f3a different from Zone 4, 921f7b7b0d where he had worked f737d52741 before.a3d90c6f2187d420

Eu-jin dialed the bc15f8d501 number he had 6414447c33 saved earlier. The call rang d867ac2785 for a long ba6e311d36 time but didn’t 11e2d76989 connect. Perhaps Yoo 5a0c74aa26 Tak was 58f76ec194 busy or 50fb02a705 had gone 72a1ce258a to a 99bcbfea09 rift. Unsure, Eu-jin sent a f32cbd819f brief text message instead.ee5bcc2e7e423831

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This is Baek 9311a0099a Eu-jin. May I see 5350e58748 you for a ecbd42c8dd moment?fb9555315d485e55

Less than a minute e2e256dd1b after the text was 2ee8c2698a sent, his phone rang. Before he could even 2e2abd4342 fully say hello, Yoo 5afd51d5a2 Tak’s excited voice burst 34fae43f2b through the speaker.c37a7cbeb5d63fb4

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“Guide-nim! It’s me!”ad5a3469c518f7bb

“Esper Yoo 1b30c95e5b Tak, hello. This is d74e94e140 Baek Eu-jin. I wasn’t sure 0c55ff3ccd if you saw a0c8c91845 my text….”43fad2c00ae64bf6

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“Yes, yes! I saw it! But I’m in the 2c6968dca1 middle of training right 6b490aa408 now.”dddb43b00ccc0e52

“Ah… I see. I’ll call you back a61d3e34a3 later then.”4d716c5c09c0c4ac

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“Wait, Guide-nim, where are 0e07b6e97b you right now?”9365047747ff582d

‘Does he know I’m 8fb7caaa98 at the Rift Management 830a470c05 Bureau?’e0b3ef86639fda05

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Baek Eu-jin d9d42dc68c instinctively glanced 6658e45c7b around. The area 121832c924 was empty—there 027a00d9b4 wasn’t a 081fa721b1 soul in dba33e7c4d sight.b8d3b5219d708127

“…I’m on the first e32e2a75e0 floor of the Bureau,” c49e8db155 he replied.e10b314a147b95b3

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– Gasp! Then why don’t you come to the training room? You can watch me train!7ffeea34671c3f0e

“No, it’s fine. Just let me ad4950e17d know when you’re dfa502c92b done, and—”2efe51fe5c6b8cfc

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– I’ll be stuck in the training room all day. Can’t you drop by for just a bit? If not, I’ll sneak out. I’ll probably get scolded, but it’s fine.c8b10b6591fb3c0c

– Hey! Who’s talking on the phone during training?!3126f92037921d87

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Yoo Tak sounded as 2a662a3df5 if he feared he’d f3d21f56b9 never get another chance c9a6068408 to see Baek Eu-jin. From the distant shouting dc326505ae in the background, Eu-jin 6151c8a447 could tell Yoo Tak e2f43559ae wasn’t supposed to be f6627af82d on the phone. With a small 6e1bc0b565 sigh, he scratched 8448760b5d his forehead and e216c8aada pressed the elevator aec56aa8b0 call button.83955a773edd5998

“I’ll come to you. What floor are you 4a7c800bc1 on?”06fdb931fbcd700a

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– Second floor! Room 204!410ce38e2418e030

Just from his voice, 0f9f2bb097 Eu-jin could picture the fee16e875c younger Esper practically bouncing 9e0d90e467 with excitement. What a child. Eu-jin let 17628d75ae out a 112f8b3132 faint smile 42ec1598b6 as he 10ee28b20f stepped into a036e2ab93 the open d916de89a1 elevator.426ea10e82d3a4fe

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“Alright. Hang up 89ae27e167 and focus 302897e5f7 on your b270e9342f training, Esper 703c28fde0 Yoo Tak.”d64a73c2f33a9f2d

* * *232899ed1d601462

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The Espers’ training facility was nothing like a standard gym.d3144c623baf327e

The vast open 4cf86cf9f5 space had exceptionally 2618cf7ed7 high ceilings and d84efa7872 no windows—only ventilation 090433c9f9 systems to circulate f33f714a9d the air. The lighting was entirely e998bf511c controlled by a system, 7b352d3cbd leaving no natural light cbf4655e33 to gauge the time. The only 64177e86ff clue to 47397f9324 the passage 3a3221783f of time 3fddca673d was the 34ce66f368 digital timer 3923aafebf mounted on 4b9ee69eb6 the wall.7707d8fd9134f71a

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Thanks to c4e6c57a3d its meticulous 2e6a97ea83 design, Espers 7b873bc4f8 could unleash 1d55fe3bd1 their abilities 1adba53605 without holding 327c03015e back. Some were honing their 6ad354dadd powers in solitude, targeting b47baa21bd the walls, while others 738adfc349 sparred against each other 14bfc7a3be in one-on-one duels.5cdb5401b528fdbd

Baek Eu-jin located 24400ee99e the spectator area, 43cd45ef77 a space created 33f14d2e28 specifically for observers. Rows of tiered f4826535ab seating overlooked the b13d52be78 training grounds, providing e2ffe63654 a clear view 86ef4e8c4d of the activities 71cb5a119b below.eac6130eeec19ffb

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“Guide Baek Eu-jin.”091e4b35345dbd66

As soon 3848948b02 as Eu-jin e0df179999 entered the 34e9b8ef93 observation room, cebce5edff Team Leader 7b90eb3e85 Ahn Itaeh, a973e31878 who was 70005ec8eb already there, 951a6c993e put down 24f694d1d0 what he 40c96ae361 was doing 17b930d927 and stood ef45195cfc to greet 6fea1dae3d him. Contrary to rumors that 3c47b4317e their interest had waned, f1dc5d473f Ahn’s face showed genuine a6b4469aa1 warmth.6e69b45c41862a4c

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“Hello, Team Leader.”48b6962bb606f4d1

“My goodness, what 312cffd7c1 brings you all 0b76fb5a16 the way here?”2433af6898232845

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“I came to see 430f3a3bb6 Esper Yoo Tak.”0adbe53aa9bc9d0f

“…Is this about what a53b88faff happened yesterday?”18d76a0fb6c4dc41

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Ahn Itaeh 5d82aea25a immediately guessed a541d0745a the reason db05cd03fb for Eu-jin’s ba0e4f7d1c visit. He’d already b07089396d heard about 749757e820 the previous 745e935a15 night’s events a60a7865ad from Yoo 39c84d622a Tak. The team had realized e3938c8b48 how much stress they 4405b3236d had caused Baek Eu-jin b9d07fa6ae due to their persistence. Feeling responsible, Ahn had 0a10ea9745 gathered the team late 7f22ac2003 at night to discuss ab4682fbc9 the matter, and they 4c510155ca had collectively agreed to dd50fc9598 let Eu-jin go.73025262d614e2d9

“Yes, I wanted be1b34fa87 to apologize.”46f3aaf03791009e

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“It’s us who d574153ef3 should apologize. I’m sorry 3c22987f60 for the 6a49de32a2 trouble we dfcd9f4f8e caused.”26ee3b30e820f0a0

“No, I’m the c59bc6f87d one who should 45b50e2724 be sorry.”a929d80a7d3d2c8f

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Standing opposite each 73955c918b other, the two 1a7beb68bf men repeatedly bowed 8fdd7025b8 deeply, their foreheads 538fa8bb5d nearly touching their 38a79b56f0 knees. With years 3dbda40fa2 of experience, 4f5756c67d both were 4db7fbccd0 well-practiced in a4525fdb3e the art ebd6734d5f of polite 47282623fe apologies.3ca953d3c73c171b

“I’ve spoken with the 761d7e5c73 director as well. He promised that 9b84d9473b nothing like yesterday 951b2e875e will happen again. He also faa61d9e1a asked me 1d30505036 to convey 3bdc99d0a7 his apologies 9d8e437680 to you.”361c11062e8718fb

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“…I see. Thank you. I might’ve overreacted a 551301025c bit yesterday, too.”99a3001bfb2b2e8d

The memory of his 54c3f06690 tearful outburst resurfaced, and a49929054b Eu-jin rubbed his flushed b1009cdccd cheeks in embarrassment.75f60bfb49e59ec9

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Initially, he had 082c82bb14 planned to quietly 390a953a67 meet Yoo Tak, d21e2f9433 apologize, and leave, f2c4689eee but somehow, he 934df2a13e ended up sitting 5d17629bf9 with Ahn Itaeh a0983d9389 to watch the f9e9f573b0 training session. The two sat 7b673cb483 side by side, 7338b60d5a observing through the 69d2ef6041 transparent wall that 4da4e39478 overlooked the training 604725ea80 grounds.c8f6037a26fd5154

“Do they train like 1d9c811c18 this often?”ef5088eeb0ca49f5

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“Not every 90d7204864 day, but 36e59dcb4e about two 3e1163d4e1 or three e52f06de54 times a 7cde01516e week. Su-ho and Sae-byeok 9d48484ed2 have seven years a5036121ba of experience, so 68161d9677 they’ve already got e244f38fc9 the hang of 8df195140e things. But Yoo 2261e112ec Tak still c656f97bd0 has a fb459751ce lot to 539ab1d278 learn. The older ones join 984a063620 him so he doesn’t a55dba6dfe feel too isolated while 2bbfdddf97 training.”84522d6b6b0f1ceb

Ahn pointed toward the 6dcd777e8e training area with his f21729344b index finger.7107322210abbc4d

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Yoo Tak was 432d62f015 busy working on 6f56289ab3 a concentration drill 46b93ed855 with an instructor, 8f66ffb6a1 while Kwon Su-ho 0b648b75a4 and Park Sae-byeok ec8f05bb88 were sparring aggressively 211743bfa8 nearby. Their fight was b9a7574d84 so intense that ec49874b08 the distinction between 8473cfee6c male and female fbe8a6f504 seemed irrelevant, their 8ca4d95f68 movements swift and 173a02e9e6 unrelenting.d3cf5550cb4a42fa

“…That’s… quite intense,” Baek db6f237f54 Eu-jin murmured.6321485de003162e

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“It is,” Ahn Itaeh 9693e95f88 admitted. “That’s why 4b808e262b we usually e1dcaa3993 try to 473653cec4 reserve the 9a17a6db90 entire training 6c8db7f283 facility when 227b1e9b89 they’re practicing—Hey, 4b9b2363d6 Park Sae-byeok! How many times 392f07aa2e have I told 4d411fd5d3 you not to 37a04d857f break the equipment?!”667d233fb4613f8c

As Park Sae-byeok used 5bcb52352b her psychokinesis to lift 1b8e582506 every piece of cover 8656959ef7 in the training room 41a5a8a8b4 into the air, Ahn c658fdbeb7 quickly pressed the microphone’s 804add0637 power button. His booming voice 9238d08ab7 echoed through the a562a4b9ba speakers, carrying into c4ddf83b53 the training space.a1b30837ec583956

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But, as expected, the dbcb2548ce headstrong Park Sae-byeok ignored d7408fe065 him. The floating cover objects, 782a28700e each worth millions of 618adc96cf won, hovered in midair 1aa6f064ed like oversized pebbles. Completely fired b129dc8b88 up, she 1390ab4383 hurled them a6b8d237ed like marbles 34bf342f5a with reckless b6e16b01db abandon.cc44485903188ec6

Even Kwon 27d2fc2905 Su-ho couldn’t 2ca3b75934 deal with b2de8a48db them all. Half of the e504364635 objects were destroyed, eb928b9db6 while he dodged 6318c73af1 the other half 08d693efc5 with ease. Effortlessly rolling out 878251cc4e of the way, 2183a80b57 Kwon Su-ho left ca5caee2b6 Park Sae-byeok stamping e813776ac1 her feet in b52a503b18 frustration.99dd6583586b0420

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“Ugh! I almost 0620b0ca85 got you 07847642cb that time!”2a882549b030011e

“Not even close.”ab932b0185b6d706

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As his turn came, 715faf07a5 Kwon Su-ho flexed his 5130b54855 hands and adjusted his 0f38efac74 grip on his glowing c69297cbaf longsword. The blade 10fbaa7912 shimmered with fab8f7e82b a cold, 1f840960b8 bluish-white aura. Suddenly, he 5c58561709 paused, looking 33585e8997 up toward 4b0fc98498 the observation 57fcf52813 area.8f7478a2ac036375

“……”6c11c73713cdc333

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Without warning, he pressed 95192894c7 a switch on the cd30a8d123 wall, and the fast-spinning 3e43474cf3 timer abruptly stopped.8a1b51cd94e0ac26

“Hey, what’s this? Why’d you 1cca0a47bd stop?” Park ee20f4c822 Sae-byeok asked, 2197d6e8b8 confused.63db8f3b8fb9ff8a

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“Finish it on 3ede07076a your own.”e753482fc4e011f9

Kwon Su-ho carelessly tossed d35552b807 his ice-forged sword into 57ab97ff4c a corner, where it 77d7134e00 quickly shattered into pieces c641378c97 as its energy dissipated. Exiting the training 64c37ee65e room, he walked 897842ce5c straight toward the f10ccc3fab observation area.3626edd14dda44b7

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Startled by the 79084db55e unexpected turn of 4717589926 events, Baek Eu-jin ea1ca25642 instinctively straightened his b030b69d82 posture. His body, sensing potential 24a8c7cdab danger, subtly leaned back.cf121e433c712033

Kwon Su-ho reached 1c99f6eb69 the observation room, 1a0fc01a41 placing a hand 3e11937951 on the waist-high c66f385dbf railing. With a quick ba93f02c8c motion, he vaulted 71b06f9ba1 over it effortlessly, 824b5bdf20 his long legs a386bb0afe bringing him right 95f34f5dcc in front of 898831dd4b Eu-jin.165aed2aeb9b459b

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“You okay?”9cbfde9cfde0404c

“…Pardon?”b9fd7cccdf925c31

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“I’m asking 861abead13 if you’re 9e7705918f feeling alright.”5c63710943e2381d

Before Eu-jin could f2e9435ff2 respond, Kwon Su-ho 9022d89fa4 placed a cold ae9f987b97 hand on his 5f0d5cfb6f forehead. His hands were 4d3404e9b3 icy from his 1c5121f2d0 earlier use of 7bbd43de5e abilities. Frowning slightly, as if 5148536501 unsure how to gauge 126ba64912 someone else’s temperature, Kwon dab09bf0d6 Su-ho pressed his own 00edc27950 forehead against his other 451dab13c9 hand for comparison.f09a427f42ed231d

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“Looks like you don’t 25655f4cf0 have a fever anymore.”3eeb56e8ece5acec

“What? I never said 4b456ff429 I was sick,” d0f3d6fece Eu-jin protested.029e58cbfcf5e17e

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“You were walking 853a6366e0 around with a 54dc6644ed flushed face. Anyone could see 493be39626 that.”aac099249b082a45

When did he even 24f181ad08 see me? As far as ddcc089dfa Eu-jin knew, he 90c45623e3 hadn’t encountered Kwon 17f6912b1b Su-ho since their 2613856b3e brief interaction in f125295cf9 the guiding room. Stunned by the 492ad924e2 sudden familiarity, Eu-jin 7c13ac0a94 finally swatted away cf77358833 the hand still 1dc04bc0c2 resting on his 2c2e167e15 forehead.55b8973c422c325c

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Now that he 015b72e74a thought about it, 0a9fb15d91 Kwon Su-ho was afc75e8144 the root cause a2d5a4c119 of most of 8df540ce55 his recent troubles. Narrowing his eyes, a6bf442239 Eu-jin glared at 750f74416a him with quiet f09c6fc5d5 resentment. Of course, Kwon Su-ho 599ded9d04 didn’t seem to care 468962f07a in the slightest.c10b87c19775fb4f

“Didn’t think a little 3421e967c0 touch like that would be30374779 trigger guiding,” Kwon Su-ho 316be029db remarked, brushing his palm c897581406 off as if shaking 2aded3a8c2 off lingering energy. He then stepped back eca0bf773b casually.8f87d237fa156d23

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Leaning against 385cea302b the railing b275c06804 at an 4c461340ab angle, Kwon c71963824b Su-ho drank e38ea23d91 from an f71cc23193 ion drink 1f00ecbc7d bottle marked 6b9d843e18 with a bc69c63d5c blue stripe. His chest heaved be7e34ce65 noticeably as he 5f62f7ca33 took deep breaths. Only then did Eu-jin a49b5ab56b notice that Kwon Su-ho’s 6302085c5c T-shirt and face were e2a39c2057 drenched in sweat.4c2eee46a3ce62b9

 eb2b2c4722843c7b

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