PRT | Chapter 1.7

Could this also be part of his warning? Concluding alone, Heeseo asked, but Seo Yigyeom just played dumb.

“Tell me. I’m getting curious. What was Kim Heeseo thinking?”

The emotions reflected in those clear eyes were ambiguous. It seemed like simple curiosity or clear distrust. Hesitating to speak, Seo Yigyeom broke the silence again.

“I’m also curious if you thought I would believe any judgment you made.”

Heeseo remained silent. While it was true he was shocked by the overheard conversation, he had no intention of using it for leverage. He was too busy finding his own way to survive. Where was the time to weigh pros and cons?

Honestly, whether Seo Yigyeom harmed the head of the division or not, or brought down the headquarters or not, it didn’t matter to him. There was no one on his side there. If he had to do something for someone, ironically, it was for Seo Yigyeom.

Even if it was just a whim for him, for Heeseo, it was the first help he received here.

“…”

Even if for a moment he thought of using someone’s weakness to secure his life, it wouldn’t have been Seo Yigyeom. Even if he did, would it be a weakness to him? Not even sure of the answer to such a simple underlying question. With this, how could it be a threat? Swinging words like weapons would only hurt himself.

Heeseo was genuinely tired. These days were already burdensome enough. He wanted to just move past this accidental incident. Getting more entangled with Seo Yigyeom felt like his life’s trajectory would shift once again.

“Then why did you come here?”

“The situation has turned to shit, but I feel surprisingly good, so I was curious. Plus, I wanted to check on you.”

Seo Yigyeom laughed lightly, like breathing, using vulgar words in an elegant manner.

“…Why did you talk about such things outside without caution?”

“I was careless, not knowing there’d be people below. Right?”

Feeling wronged since he wouldn’t believe it anyway, Heeseo blurted out, and Seo Yigyeom responded with a smirk. Even though he was smiling, it sent shivers down Heeseo’s spine. He quickly shut his mouth, observing Seo Yigyeom’s reaction.

“And I didn’t come here to talk about that.”

Regardless, Seo Yigyeom continued guiding leisurely. Looking closer, energy was flowing more than before. Experiencing proper guiding for the first time, Heeseo stared at Seo Yigyeom, who held his hand, in a daze.

Every second, vitality was added, making him feel truly alive. Thankful for the help again, yet feeling awkward, Heeseo tried to let go of his hand, but Seo Yigyeom held on tighter.

“Stay still for a bit.”

Instead, he gripped even harder. Heeseo was inwardly shocked by the strength of his grip, surpassing that of an average esper, swallowing a scream. At this point, he was confused about Seo Yigyeom’s true intentions. What was he thinking…

“Which team were you with again?”

“Field Support Team 1.”

“Under Ha Jaewon Esper?”

“Yes.”

“Do you go out to the field often?”

“No. Only when called… My control over my abilities is still clumsy since I’m in the early stages of awakening. My rank is also undecided.”

“Undecided?”

Seo Yigyeom sarcastically repeated, letting out a chuckle. It was a reaction Heeseo couldn’t understand.

“How about guiding? Do you have a dedicated guide?”

“No. I’ve just received it from whoever I was matched with. It wasn’t as effective as this…”

“You shouldn’t compare those kids with me.”

His low voice was arrogant yet straightforward. Seo Yigyeom continued speaking, exuding a subtle force. He looked down at their joined hands as if confirming something, occasionally rubbing his fingertips against Heeseo’s skin.

“…I don’t know what you want, Guide-nim.”

“Hmm. I’m still thinking about that.”

Unable to judge, Heeseo murmured like a sigh, and a frivolous answer came back. Seo Yigyeom blinked several times before releasing his hand. It felt like an eternity, like the tick of a clock stretched out, the guiding ended.

“I’ll think about it too, so Esper Kim Heeseo should think about it. We’ll continue this conversation later.”

“I don’t want anything.”

“Want something. It would make tidying up the situation easier.”

Speaking in a tone that left no room for ambiguity, Seo Yigyeom stood up. In just a few steps, he reached the door, glancing back once. His smile was gone, his face was cold, yet so beautiful it was captivating.

“See you again. Take care of yourself.”

The greeting was monotonous. Without a chance to respond, the door closed with a thud. Heeseo, back in the silent space, thought of the vanished Seo Yigyeom. The scent of roses, reminiscent of him, lingered, brushing past his nose.

Did we really have a ‘next’ meeting? For some reason, he couldn’t jump to an answer easily.

Even though the answer to this question was clearer than any other.

* * *

Some dream of dwelling in a place where the world is laid out beneath their feet. As if defying gravity, or ruling over everyone. Yet, the face of Seo Yigyeom, who actually sat in such a position, was filled only with ennui.

The midday leisure flooded in through the wide windows. The warm sunlight spilled over like waves, wetting the floor. Even the air filling the spacious office felt as if it was steeped in tranquility.

“…”

In the center of it all, Seo Yigyeom leaned deep into his chair. With one arm resting on the armrest, he scrutinized the paper in his hand. With the other, he tapped the desk rhythmically with a pen.

Despite the disinterested sound of the tapping, his eyes were sharp as they read through the text, showing an unusual zeal as if he had encountered something intriguing.

“Murder?”

“Yes. It’s said that he killed the man who was there at the time of his awakening. The deceased was an unregistered individual with a criminal record, someone the headquarters had been chasing. They tried to cover it up, but it seems the story got out.”

Murder… Listening to Jung-o’s words, Seo Yigyeom thought of Heeseo, a smile forming as if pressing down the corner of his mouth with his tongue. Murder, from that face which seemed so harmless. He didn’t look the type.

“Is it confirmed?”

“Yes, according to what’s written.”

“Hmm,” Seo Yigyeom, his voice vibrating from his throat, showed a lukewarm reaction but didn’t add more to it. He only imagined that Kim Heeseo’s situation must have become quite complicated.

“I apologize.”

The reason for Jung-o’s apology was obvious. Seo Yigyeom slightly tilted his head to look at the person standing stiffly across the desk. The loyal subordinate looked down as if he had committed a grave sin.

“Is there no responsibility on my part?”

What could be done by revisiting past events? Seo Yigyeom answered with a short laugh and withdrew his attention. Leaving Jung-o be, he meticulously investigated Heeseo’s personal information.

“Why did the headquarters keep him alive?”

“S-rank has high value. It could also be a threat. In fact, Kim Heeseo was brought in.”

“Indeed, S-rank.”

Seo Yigyeom clicked his tongue quietly. That day, the ability Heeseo displayed was undoubtedly above S-rank. He had never seen a wave amplify so quietly. In one way, it was even awe-inspiring.

When his eyes met with Kim Heeseo, who was alone in a space where even the sun and the strange were setting, what was that feeling? An indescribable discomfort swept through his entire body.

“Jung-o.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t like the ground I stand on to shake.”

After washing away that uncomfortable feeling, his mind calmed down. Just like he had tenaciously survived to get here, he saw another chance to rise. Ironically, the one to serve as that stepping stone was Kim Heeseo.

“What are your plans for him?”

“I’m thinking of holding the leash around his neck.”

Perhaps this kid could become a piece in my strategy. For a moment, he had that thought. If one could shake the earth, they could also solidify it.

“Wouldn’t it be a bit helpful, whether I commit an act of filial impiety or ruin this place?”

“What did you think when you saw him in person? I will follow your judgment, but he could be poisonous.”

Seo Yigyeom leisurely recalled Heeseo while humming. That one who looked so scared yet met his eyes. The one who spoke his piece despite being cautious. He reminded him of a wounded, ragged little creature, just…

“Still a kid.”

A kid who might still smell of milk. Still unripe, endlessly pale and white. Seo Yigyeom, without a shred of guilt, thought of using such a Heeseo while lighting a cigarette.

“What about the others?”

His pronunciation was slightly muffled by the cigarette hanging from his lips. Instead of the pen, Seo Yigyeom clicked the lighter, suppressing his urge to smoke.

“The head of the division has asked you to visit the main house.”

“That’s not good news.”

“Gate formations are increasing in the local areas. They’re small in scale. And this is a no-smoking area indoors.”

Seo Yigyeom rolled his eyes to look at Jung-o. With his head tilted, he pulled the corners of his mouth up and stared at him straight. At the end, he snapped the cigarette in half.

“…”

“The number of reports for unregistered individuals is increasing daily.”

“And many of them will disappear.”

Although it was good news to hear, silence was affirmation.

The headquarters did not leave unregistered Espers alone. No matter the method, they were punished as soon as they were caught. Everyone accepted it as natural since that was the law, but Seo Yigyeom had his doubts.

An Esper was inevitably required to belong to the headquarters. It was a system where one had to bow without choice. Simply put, unregistered individuals were those who opposed this system. And at the top of this hierarchy stood the head of the division. Looking at it another way, it was akin to opposing the head. This made him even more suspicious.

Most S-rank Espers within the headquarters were either family or had some blood relation, or were on friendly terms. Was this really a coincidence? The ruthless treatment towards unregistered Espers could only be read as the head’s deliberate action.

“Ah… You truly have a talent for making things feel like shit just by thinking about it?”

Seo Yigyeom muttered as if chewing on his words, leaning back in his chair enough to make it creak. His gaze caught the large painting hung on the back wall. It resembled the grotesque Origin Gate, tearing through the sky.

Seo Yigyeom’s eyes, scanning the painting, were colder than ever. He, who had been lounging leisurely, rose with a sharp aura.

“So, where do you think looks the best?”

“Incheon.”

Repeating “Incheon” slowly, Seo Yigyeom pushed aside the smartwatch that kept beeping and put on his watch. When the cold metal touched his skin, his eyes met Heeseo’s in the documents he had tossed down.

“Shall we go pick him up?”

After exchanging glances with the Heeseo in the photo for a moment, he grabbed his suit jacket and headed towards the door. His steps were firm, stepping down on the ground that seemed to shake, perfect without a flaw.

Soon, the door closed with a thud. The only one left in the empty room was Heeseo, captured in the paper made of letters, taken in by Seo Yigyeom’s gaze whether intended or not.