Chapter 3

Baek Eu-jin closed his eyes and pressed his fingers against his temples. Damn, these cursed eyes. He pushed against the slight bulge of his eyelids as if trying to vent his frustration through them.

“What are you trying to say? Do you think my abilities are going to come back?”

“That’s impossible to know,” Jaehyuk replied nonchalantly.

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“Well, if they do, I’ll come back on my own. So stop wasting your breath. Until then, don’t even think about it.”

Despite Eu-jin’s firm stance, Bae Jaehyuk refused to back down.

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“Your old team is struggling. They’re all over the place without you.”

“……”

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“They don’t seem to get along with the new team leader. There’s constant conflict, and they’re getting injured left and right in the rifts. It’s a mess….”

“Those little bastards!”

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What was meant as a guilt trip only stoked Eu-jin’s anger.

Storming out from behind the counter, he yanked the café door open.

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He already knew the Leopold Team members had been lurking nearby for weeks. Worried about their former leader’s safety now that he was just an ordinary person, and perhaps hoping to coax him back by making their presence known, they’d even left shameless notes for him.

[Boss, that’s not a cat. It’s a wild lynx. You shouldn’t keep it!]

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As expected, Eu-jin quickly spotted them, despite their attempts to blend into the surroundings. They had used the terrain to hide, but his sharp teal-blue eyes saw right through them.

His piercing gaze swept the area, and when the team realized they’d been caught, they scrambled to duck out of sight, avoiding his glare.

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Eu-jin had been ignoring them, thinking that acknowledging them would only make them cling tighter. But now, it seemed like he needed to put an end to this once and for all.

After delivering a silent but searing warning with his eyes, he shut the door and turned back inside. Fixing Jaehyuk with a cold glare, he reiterated his stance.

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“Go tell them clearly: I’m not coming back. Even if they offer me the director’s seat, I’m not interested.”

“Come on, don’t be so harsh….”

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As Jaehyuk continued to plead, Eu-jin walked behind the bar and opened a drawer. He pulled out a sharp paring knife and, without hesitation, sliced the tip of his index finger.

“Hey! Baek Eu-jin!” Jaehyuk yelled, alarmed.

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Bright red blood dripped from the fresh cut, and Eu-jin held out his stinging finger for Jaehyuk to see.

“See this? I can’t even heal a small cut anymore. I’m just an ordinary citizen now. Get it through your head.”

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* * *

That evening, Baek Eu-jin found himself regretting his impulsive actions. The tiny cut on his finger stung so much that his left hand was practically useless. Even taking a shower was a challenge, as the slightest touch of water sent sharp pain shooting through it.

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Wrapping his finger in layer upon layer of bandages until it looked like a hotdog, Eu-jin stared at the scattered gauze and ointments on the floor. It hit him once again how much his life had changed.

“I overdid it. Why the hell did I cut my finger?” he muttered.

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He’d known perfectly well he no longer had healing abilities.

Now he had to be careful. Any pain or injury, no matter how small, would require ointments, bandages, and the patience to wait for natural healing—just like any other ordinary person.

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“Well, I guess this is normal,” he admitted with a resigned chuckle.

After tidying up the medical supplies and placing them neatly back into the first aid kit, Eu-jin went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Inside, rows of beer cans greeted him like loyal soldiers. Out of habit, he grabbed one.

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Settling onto the sofa, he turned on the TV with the remote. As the screen flickered to life, the satisfying pop of the beer tab echoed in the quiet room. Tilting the can to his lips, he took a long gulp, his Adam’s apple bobbing vigorously.

“Ahh.”

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He exhaled, a note of satisfaction escaping his lips.

Evenings like these were Eu-jin’s favorite. After a refreshing shower, he’d sit back, crack open a cold beer, and lazily watch TV. No worries about work the next day. No stress about late-night emergency calls. And with no financial struggles to speak of, this was as close to paradise as life could get.

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Idly flipping through the channels, Eu-jin stumbled across a travel show. The program showcased Europe, with stunning visuals of picturesque cities and rolling countryside.

Taking another sip of his beer, Eu-jin focused on the screen, mumbling to himself,

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“Maybe it’s time for another trip.”

Cancún had been great, but touring iconic tourist spots like those on TV seemed equally enticing. Even if it wasn’t Europe, closer destinations like Singapore or Hong Kong could be worth considering.

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Just as he was lost in thought, his phone buzzed loudly on the sofa beside him. The sudden vibration jolted him out of his musings.

Having been conditioned by years of emergency calls, Eu-jin’s body instinctively tensed at the sound of his phone vibrating. He sat upright in an instant, all traces of relaxation gone.

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Picking up the phone, he glanced at the caller ID and let out an irritated sigh.

[Leopold_Ki Seok-woo]

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“Now they’re calling me too?”

Even as his expression soured, he reluctantly answered the call. There was no hiding his annoyance, and his greeting came out sharp and unfriendly.

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“What do you want?”

– Captain, where are you right now?!

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“At home. You know that, so why ask?”

– It’s a disaster! The Bureau is in total chaos right now!

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“……”

Seok-woo’s frantic voice rang in his ears, but Eu-jin didn’t flinch. Instead, he tilted his head back and drained the last of his beer. Crushing the empty can, he replied nonchalantly.

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“And? What’s that got to do with me?”

– No, that’s not it. Ugh, geez!

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Seok-woo let out a frustrated groan, likely cursing his inability to explain properly. His muttered self-reproach filtered through the phone, his flustered tone a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.

It was clear something was off. Picking up on this, Eu-jin grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. The house fell into complete silence.

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“Alright, take a deep breath and explain it slowly so I can understand.”

– It’s Choi Ran noona! She’s at the Bureau right now.

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“Seok-woo, I told you to explain it so I could understand, didn’t I?”

– Her abilities came back! But it’s healing—just like yours, Captain!

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…What?

Eu-jin, dumbfounded, repeated the words back as if to confirm he had heard correctly.

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“…You’re saying Choi Ran developed an ability? That she awakened as an Esper?”

– Yes! The test results just came out—she’s A-rank! And she has self-healing, too. Everyone’s saying it’s like someone copied your abilities and gave them to her.

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Seok-woo’s excited chatter became a blur in Eu-jin’s ears.

Choi Ran developed abilities. Not just any abilities, but A-rank healing, just like his used to be. If that’s true, then what about me…?

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– Oh, and now the higher-ups are saying you might develop guiding abilities, Captain.

Seok-woo’s words mirrored exactly what had crossed Eu-jin’s mind moments earlier. His vision swam, and his mouth went dry. Swallowing hard, he tried to steady himself.

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“Seok-woo, what’s the situation over there? Is everything in chaos because of Choi Ran?”

– Kind of, yeah. But Director Nam’s over the moon about it. He’s already talking about bringing you back immediately.

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“What?!”

– When they started testing Ran noona, they sent people to your place.

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“Why are you just telling me this now?!”

Eu-jin shot up from the sofa. If they sent people before the tests began, that meant they’d been on the road for at least thirty minutes—plenty of time to reach his apartment.

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Without wasting a second, he turned off every light in the house and stifled any movement. Quietly, he opened the balcony door and peered out.

Sure enough, several black vans were parked outside his building.

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A curse escaped his lips.

“Damn it. They’re already here.”

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– Captain, are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help?

Seok-woo’s small, worried voice filtered through the still-active call.

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Stay calm, stay calm.

Eu-jin took a deep breath and pressed the phone back to his ear.

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“Seok-woo, where are you right now?”

– I’m near Seongsu-dong. I had a bad feeling when I heard what was going on, so I came to check things out….

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“Well done. You’re the only one I can count on.”

The usually annoying tagalong suddenly felt like the most reliable person in the world.

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“Listen carefully, Seok-woo. I’m about to bolt. I’m turning off my phone, so meet me at the main road near my apartment in five minutes.”

– Wait, which part of the road? Be more specific!

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“I don’t have time to explain. See you there.”

Eu-jin abruptly ended the call and turned off his phone. Tossing it aside, he wasted no time opening the closet.

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He pulled out a black backpack buried deep inside and began stuffing it with essentials. Energy bars, chocolates, and three or four bottles of water went in first. Then he rifled through a drawer for valuables and emergency cash.

There wasn’t much cash on hand—thanks to credit cards being the norm—but he grabbed a hefty piggy bank filled with coins as a last resort and shoved it into the bag.

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Finally, he tucked a pair of black colored contact lenses into a pocket. Slinging the backpack over his shoulder, he grabbed sunglasses and a baseball cap. The sunglasses went into his pocket, while he pressed the cap firmly onto his head. After slipping on sneakers, he headed toward the balcony instead of the front door.

“……”

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The ground from the third floor looked dauntingly far below.

Back when he had his Esper abilities, he could’ve leaped down without a second thought. But now, in his fully human state, such a fall would land him in a hospital before he could even attempt to escape.

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Gripping the railing, Eu-jin clumsily climbed down to the second floor, which, thankfully, was vacant. Once the drop seemed manageable, he let go and jumped.

He landed on the first-floor ground with a roll, wincing as he tumbled. Just then, the lights in his third-floor apartment flicked on.

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Barely made it.

Ignoring the pain, Eu-jin scrambled to his feet and broke into a full sprint. He ran like his life depended on it—because it did. If they caught him now, it’d ruin everything.

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The faint glow of the main road came into view beyond a narrow alley. His lungs burned, and his legs felt like lead, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward. Just as he reached the alley’s end, a hand abruptly grabbed his waist and yanked him into the shadows.

“Ahh!”

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“Captain! It’s me!”

The one restraining him was none other than Seok-woo.

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The bulky man had hidden in the shadows of the alley, waiting for Eu-jin to pass, and expertly pulled him in.

Gasping for air, Eu-jin leaned heavily on Seok-woo’s shoulder. A wave of relief washed over him, though his heart was still pounding.

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“Damn it, you scared me! How the hell did you know to be here?”

“T-Team Captain…”

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Seok-woo stammered, trying to catch his breath as he steadied Eu-jin.

“Haah, what’s wrong?”

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Only then did Eu-jin notice that something was off about Seok-woo’s reaction. He quickly pieced it together and let out a small sigh.

“… Don’t tell me you’re getting guided by me?”

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Though it was too dark to see Seok-woo’s expression, Eu-jin could clearly make out the enthusiastic nodding of his head.

“Unbelievable.”

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Muttering under his breath, Eu-jin lightly patted Seok-woo on the shoulder, signaling him to lower his feet back to the ground.

As their ragged breathing began to even out, Eu-jin cautiously glanced back toward the apartment. The area around his old villa was growing more chaotic by the minute. Lowering his voice, he grabbed Seok-woo by the wrist.

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“We don’t have time to stand around. Let’s go, now.”

 

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