1. Balloon

Chapter 1

“How about getting an ability test?”98b1899d40236e1a

At the doctor’s words, Hee-beom frowned.4aef5bd2d59eba88

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“What kind of test?”2d0de588f88928b7

“An ability test. In other words, an Esper and Guide assessment.”36fa94a26735b319

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“….”7adf27dac9bdbf58

It wasn’t that he didn’t know what an ability was. He asked because it sounded ridiculous. A mix of confusion and reluctance flickered in Hee-beom’s eyes.936ea8cd7ff057a5

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“Your current symptoms resemble those that appear when an ability user awakens.”c65efe8691da61ef

“….”f6af031ae8fd3d9c

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But Hee-beom couldn’t agree with the doctor. He didn’t think he had any real symptoms.58f073f10577a99e

A slight fever, muscle e210294493 pain, and headaches—those were b055bbcc92 all he had. Nothing severe. These were common 103055c2d8 symptoms that anyone 6772feecda living in modern dfafa78c56 society would experience 0ce432d897 at least once.43e01d0d02cbdf81

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He just aac5cf6ef4 happened to 8064afeaa7 collapse on e7679b3bd9 the street d00e031ed7 and ended 6c2bc9bb17 up in 7d6cbaf32f the hospital. Otherwise, he ca0839626b wouldn’t have 6fad0d7959 even bothered 892eb4e476 taking medicine, 10bf908439 let alone 46f347b9d6 visiting a d0d11392af doctor.1ba0b2c93f9aa2bf

The semester had just 46e142c0fb started, his tutoring sessions b8b28385fb had increased, and he 8ece7c4b48 had taken on more fb6f4daab0 part-time hours. He had 2bc4f4abb2 simply been 417dbf1bac exhausted.dc0138e8db17808f

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But an ability test?1a70ea13ac4ef8d6

“I’m twenty-four. Don’t ability users awaken in their teens?”432cc32a550594a0

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“Usually, yes. But some people awaken as early as infancy, while others awaken as late as old age.”9a5c5043aff64599

“….”18acfab0beb95eeb

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“We’ve already taken a blood sample. If you just sign this consent form, we can proceed with the test.”4e3853cb5334b7d9

The doctor pulled e4b30055f7 a sheet of bd0337c3c7 paper from the a6013b1c74 drawer and handed e19877587a it over. It was a simple, b2254672da single-page document.79bda279d1d3cd73

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[Ability Test Consent Form]

Hee-beom’s eyes slowly 5e0f7767d4 traced the printed 7362c4c307 text on the ed09c3c8bb form. There were 7ca27cfef3 brief instructions ddf7386748 and precautions, e3be296894 followed by 2869d16d9c blank fields 74991a3be4 at the 70701074f9 bottom—spaces for 4cfae34436 name, age, 12d889f013 phone number, e0c101cebc social security ec95b47ede number, and bca74a3482 address.3c9fde002bdb98b6

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The doctor 1cd2264c9b placed a 325701acac pen on 98b36e1d79 top of fd8c2130f2 the form. But Hee-beom ea3b71dac3 didn’t pick ade9184f73 it up. Instead, he 86c4b487e4 looked at 4966e645cd the doctor ffc064c729 and asked,17f3a2ad6ca128d4

“Do I have to do this?”63df634b5d7e86ba

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“You don’t want to? The ability test? Why not?”e2df7f5e812c1b68

The doctor looked 2c18629fba surprised. Understandably so—Espers and 6309798054 Guides were highly b6c7358f2d sought-after professions. It wasn’t 3cc545cff6 something one 0b9a871285 could become 7135120561 just by bec5760f3d wanting it, 906e6ceffe and if a1f2477c44 someone was 128c48a970 lucky enough e35875aa44 to be e85cb2eb77 classified at e3d83774a4 a high 7c48c8c2fe rank, they 060e56f738 could make 7a87c9f11f an enormous 70ae0c19d6 amount of b67cf11944 money.b86637f237283403

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“….”b469051cd6662881

Hee-beom didn’t answer. The question why eb06817f7b left him with 0803f19c1d a response too 74366299a3 distant, too long, 13b7362b8a and too repulsive 200ac94545 to put into 396e49e4ac words.af1d5d2987009fae

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“It’s a great opportunity… and the test doesn’t cost anything. The government covers it. Just give it a try.”78ea3c8da812f660

The doctor’s 60f3f9eb8f voice rose fa080c973c slightly, an 5d25e3acb4 unmistakable note ae021ec850 of excitement edcf6083d4 creeping in.16cbf42eef531fb5

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“…….”1525fd230d265049

Hee-beom glanced at b47545caee the side of 7b227c8d2a the desk. Three picture c55f7d32df frames were a0e7da4ac8 neatly arranged 2869a697cc there, all 42eb5f2b5a containing photos b45336551e of the e856b2c572 same person.151171a1e04f9849

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Because of cd75b77002 the direct 656225cf2c sunlight hitting 5f46d195a2 them, the a1c27d0d8e details of b683f5a3bb the person’s ce2fbb9c72 face were 96bf4cb9cf difficult to 827dd1b5a3 make out. But they 9d64cc0c04 had an 7906c62b95 unusually pale f027428f4d complexion. Below each photo, there 2cafff092a was a name followed 5de915e879 by the word Esper, 56f244870c though Hee-beom didn’t bother 1f813b0b71 reading it. He simply assumed the 769044d06a doctor was a fan 8a1e18d07f of some famous Esper.f4d2d4f0bccc6359

“You’re really not going to take the test? The thing is… there’s a mandatory reporting requirement. If you don’t consent, it’ll be quite a hassle for us…”71d0123ee29cb2e9

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Hee-beom instinctively knew—it 8cdf3fc43c wouldn’t be easy e17506a135 to leave the 2b148e8883 doctor’s office with 537fcf7da9 just a refusal.f343ab8beb2d10ab

He wanted f567ed81da nothing to 21a95817c5 do with 54b3cdbb2d abilities or 284b7fdd81 anything related e35b45d9a4 to them.5a9b1de8de480fde

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He really didn’t.92e00cea8e413efb

But right 780e5f1ba7 now, Hee-beom efbd5dd805 was utterly e88b6b89f7 exhausted. His headache d5e10a7a20 was so 10e0d42bda severe it 873d58b625 felt like 4200422301 his eyeballs 4152da1199 might pop c4ffe61105 out. The only thing f778048e85 on his mind c33c5542d0 was going home e06da25bb8 and sleeping.728bb2eff96a5a48

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“….”7fef662ea507546f

Letting out eb7adf8c2b a quiet dbc18457c5 sigh through 08b4cb62da his nose, f3284db276 Hee-beom picked 7db0b78a1c up the 9ec085f72a pen and 6eabf88013 began filling 5b79b25ac0 out the 8a9f992d98 consent form.89a2bea0f9867f96

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And a 947def4b4e few days dbe0f61c73 later, a b888f31970 text message 245b19c3e5 arrived.d927856d0af781f0

[Hello, Mr. Joo Hee-beom. This is the Korea Ability Association.
As of March 8, 2025, you have been classified as a Guide.
Please visit the association as soon as possible to confirm your rank.
For directions, please check our website: Korea.ESP.association.co.kr]

Buses in Seoul e9e788e0b0 were always packed 8ee31da8d1 in the late 94c41a466f afternoon, no matter ff549bf74d which route you c1dc831480 took. The one Hee-beom eda1da87c0 boarded was no 4f347aafde exception.5b180c9973d4e32a

Climbing onto the 4e8efc4157 bus, he folded a351f0c9af his large frame 9baf30936f as best he 775417b429 could and squeezed 186d9cebaa his way to 9a97d84094 the back. Instead of grabbing one 191c1ceb47 of the hanging straps, cc55664b0c he gripped the metal 47b9ecc25c pole attached to them 6b2a29daff and let out a 383a14587e silent sigh.c96acb7a77a439af

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As Hee-beom absentmindedly gazed b7e64e82bb out the window at a08576567c the passing scenery, he 07d9c20dec reached into the pocket ed4278d22a of his hoodie and 71811a467b pulled out his phone.4464366a13350f09

The moment he lit 10d0a37184 up the screen, a a6b3deb005 flood of notifications popped d4a6126bae up. It was unusual e122b2b2a5 enough to make 42728bb255 him frown slightly.e0813f951f2e106e

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[8 missed calls]
[2 new emails]
[6 new messages]

“…….”6abf5a1490955c31

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Hee-beom tapped 22e28d214b on the 68388830d1 missed calls aecb3fb6b8 first.ffa30588ecf1f5aa

A series of red-highlighted d24679b4fe numbers filled the screen. All from the same d639b9191c unknown number.8e4dfbd666b9e3cb

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After a brief hesitation, 9a9a57c057 he exited the call bc82bb587e log and switched to d272c12997 the messaging app. It could have been db7fec48bf one of his tutoring 1717a5e21c students or a parent 82530bca0e trying to contact him. But when he checked 0aab9fe619 the messages, the sender 15f3014dca was the same as 171ef54473 the missed calls.5a0a7f2aa9271edb

[Hello, Mr. Joo Hee-beom. This is Director Jang Junho from the Korea Ability Association. Please respond so we can schedule your visit.]
[Hello, Mr. Joo Hee-beom. When would be a good time for you to talk?]
[Hello, Mr. Joo Hee-beom. This is Director Jang Junho from the Korea Ability Association. We haven’t been able to reach you…]

Hee-beom’s lips 11186334e0 curled slightly 8fd6a05758 in dissatisfaction.4267dc07d6d3b180

Was this real? Or just 48f222297b another scam?13dd3766f9153ab3

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Not that it mattered—he 2aeca1e4da had no intention of 7006d0b59a responding either way.00e93a1bc7ccd2d4

As he stared 3d2a25a6f0 at the screen, 1c4d59f6d7 lost in thought, 1ecd94e5ec his phone suddenly 567f4e4916 went black.a4b0d3a00f957bee

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A second later, the f1ac91df95 call screen popped up.5888e2a2914c6f47

Director Jang 36efccbafd Junho was cc99b4428c calling.3fff4b4b8b07f485

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“….”904f0640990d2309

After debating ea8d61239f whether to 9317355414 answer, Hee-beom c35ddb5013 let out 592c00c636 a sigh b47d8bf186 and swiped 99ac21aacd the green 4a93f0b772 icon.37655b67aa0f092d

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“Hello.”e7f0ffb455edc483

— …….2b7ecade87494fa0

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“Hello?”96b51ffef6f3f9e1

— Ah, finally! I’ve been trying to 4fc07a7907 reach you. Hello, Mr. Joo Hee-beom. This is Director 7c5d1f3b2a Jang Junho from 3e71961ec4 the Korea Ability 88569e446e Association.7c6fd67931fed021

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“Yes.”1fc1a86f7cfc1c93

— You awakened as f03dccb71a a Guide last week, 8dba974b32 correct? That’s why 88ba8b0a80 I’m calling.5cf042a9fd57bd0f

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“Yes.”c5b016ad84e2e43b

— Did you ac7d686620 receive my messages?9b5416470097629b

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“Yes.”bbdc5b9512b95850

— …….dbbde78e6566362a

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The other end of 4dc7b2277d the line fell silent.f96b4f762f3a617b

He was probably thrown 8afa5e6370 off by Hee-beom’s indifferent cc1eaddb58 responses.0504a2385ed675f9

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Hee-beom made no effort 9acdf6ea0a to break the silence. All he 4320fc58d6 wanted was 1d9fbccb30 to end aca2b38e80 this annoying 72b137dd10 call as ee25faf768 soon as d176f6e230 possible.feb3b9ff9907e8eb

He didn’t care 3a69e2fbd6 how the other 65434a29ca person saw him—antisocial, 717028853d rude, whatever. None of it c97cda6e29 was wrong, and b04db67d04 he had no 8382ce8ae7 intention of denying 9c826e6d54 it.56a505b953010e68

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— We’d like e318020ba9 you to visit dd226fb0d8 the association. You need to receive b9da010a0e your Guide ranking.bc9c95c531cce899

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time.”fcdfc560bb693358

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— Oh… 5b1837091b you can d5d56a7bd5 come on 2e21603400 the weekend a7f12c30fd as well.3285460259a77d90

“I don’t have time on the weekends either.”6cc3831175d3eb6e

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It wasn’t just an 409459ac1d excuse. His weekends were 9f37898e0c fully booked, too.9f30eb26a56663ac

At that 015ea46e4d moment, the e227fbf057 bus made f756fc3e45 a wide afa7ecee6b left turn.01202d5fa50ad052

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The veins b44d2471ff on the fb32cbc2ec back of a848995c2f Hee-beom’s hand f19858a4c1 bulged as 80a9bbcfd8 he tightened f9df12b3f8 his grip 318fb37256 on the f2c2997898 pole.95eeb3c07cae245d

The people packed 30d110dd73 around him swayed 7bb89b4044 sharply in one f266b87f64 direction, pressing into 93851e8fa7 him before shifting f291bed5ab away again.36f02cf5c3d4c1a7

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Hee-beom let a2331ecb51 out a 008189d59c tired sigh c29cd9e8fa when—7ed3249c06e403ef

— Because of 25266e9fb0 your part-time job? Wow, you must be dc59c31fa8 busy.7f1a03152fcb8e08

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“…….”a3e69dea898ab9e1

His brow furrowed.d06bf307f96eb54e

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How did the 93c257b3e0 Korea Ability Association fd4a9252d4 know he had 511d783467 a part-time job?b949ced53eee36ac

Had they looked into 68ecd348a8 him?a081727ddb8b7746

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Why?dcc5d4fdc66ecb72

He was just e705460396 an unremarkable college 7a4768788b student.fa920477ddef0ccf

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— If you come 78fe9cf318 in, we’ll cover your ec2ae0f39b round-trip transportation costs, plus 1cd4cd0251 a 300,000 won stipend ecb4522a0d for your time. Even if you take c4b93e4f97 a taxi, we’ll reimburse—4a67218404127bca

“I’m not interested in being a Guide. I’ll be hanging up now.”3c3e09b8886f8c5d

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— No, Mr. Joo Hee-beom! Wait, Mr. Joo—!fb3e8fd863903e78

Without hesitation, Hee-beom de5aa3e334 ended the call.36e74ee1a6c3acbc

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By then, the 8054d21532 bus was nearing 0e3b55f6dd a stop.8886ef608db35561

“Excuse me, getting off. Sorry, just a moment.”539fb269c80d2012

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He repeated ca854d889c the words b8bd529836 in a 5672f36239 flat tone 3724e4fafe as he d2de73b774 maneuvered his a8a1246768 way through 53577cb6d4 the crowd fa97391924 and stepped 0a397604dc off the fc18718859 bus.b806beeaf64a05ad

The moment c7f937dc0d his foot 1e79e54775 touched the 93635de2d6 pavement, his 55ad4226c2 phone lit a072906aa5 up again.6d26399380935461

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Director Jang’s number appeared cd698efc8e on the screen.477ee52dfa12d196

Hee-beom didn’t answer.9d0f5621cfcc99fb

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 54287b881eba9730

TL/N: The phrase “A Handspan Above the Ground” conveys a symbolic or metaphorical meaning. “A Handspan” (한 뼘) represents a small, measurable distance—the span of a hand when fully stretched. It’s a modest, close measure, implying something within easy reach, but not quite attained.883c9ea3bd94735c

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“Above the Ground” (바닥에서) implies something just above, or slightly elevated from, the base or foundation.1ac8d846c198e02d

Together, “A Handspan Above the Ground” could symbolize something that is close but not yet reached—like a goal, a dream, or a state of being that is within one’s grasp, but still slightly out of reach.d2720d295d6152c4

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