PRT | Chapter 2.10

The Gate, shimmering f1a5092d67 dangerously, was eerie. Perhaps because 0e99bbecff it resembled ec0312032c an abyss, d930e5cd47 even a c593a48ae0 brief look 9668a04565 made him 533e8f36a4 dizzy. It also seemed to 22919a4695 give off an unusually fef9d60d91 foul smell.230ba9e1b586b30d

Without realizing it, Kim Heeseo tensed up and stepped forward. Just as he took one step, his eyes met with Seo Yigyeom’s. It seemed like Seo Yigyeom had been watching him for a while now.382ee43253de4b7e

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How long 240fabfda2 did they 2271078589 exchange those 3111215b58 strange looks?bb8805807dd4ca6a

Suddenly, all movement 8fb5f54c04 stopped. Instinctively, he felt it. The energy from the 278ca8fc53 Gate close by was bf9fa588b1 not normal. The atmosphere became unstable ab9492ed67 in an instant. The flow of air 3328db5d70 around them changed very 702661b7a8 slowly.0626fde7f058f911

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“Kim Heeseo, come over here.”4d6c03ac06d8f788

Seo Yigyeom’s eyes hardened as he commanded firmly. He must have sensed the Gate’s anomaly too because he moved as he spoke. Kim Heeseo, glancing at the Gate that looked like it might explode any moment, started to move.a7924eebf289d9f9

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One step. Two steps. Three steps.3e71029f7d57bcb7

“Ugh…!”de860ced3de5ecb6

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Someone grabbed his 61d23aeab1 foot as he dd187cb7e3 moved towards Seo 5310c99ebe Yigyeom. Looking down, 91103f0b93 Kim Heeseo 40ba70cf75 was horrified. It was 5fed5bffae the hand 008bde295d of a cd4c268a94 monstrosity, gripping f930a68fc7 his ankle. Even as 4c2b273f34 it was a84fc68394 dying, it 503c5bb50e made its e492652d78 last struggle.7077179e5689cac3

Its strength was so 05d1fe7329 fierce it felt like cd13e4bb97 his leg might break. The ground where b6265aa23f its heavy body 534ef91ac2 pressed was beginning bf0bc42b38 to crack. The unstable energy from de04722b75 the Gate surged, enveloping c964b9612b the area.6a354a33c0c7c322

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“Guide-nim, wait…”e072d16beeeae052

Kim Heeseo urgently looked up at Seo Yigyeom. Seo Yigyeom, who had already closed the distance, changed his expression and reached out. Kim Heeseo also reached out for help, but their hands didn’t meet.d992323b38b25adb

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“Kim Heeseo!”458c45057a45f76a

Their fingertips brushed past 80cbea04f1 each other. The ground beneath 185372ffc2 suddenly gave way.6a08e3a365ad1458

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It was an endless e07496bd8d fall.edbc926c565aea5b

* * *9c57dac4e95b3fd8

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“Heok!”1eba7797ed769bfc

Kim Heeseo 2c05f81bfb flinched, his fc02565bcc eyes snapping 7ce583d060 open in 99113186b0 shock. Like someone pulled 73d49012e6 from the water, 5c54afedff he flailed around, 31548a3148 trying to grasp baf78cc0df his surroundings. Despite the faint pain 65b4746d44 wracking his body, his 1bcb704a01 hands roamed the damp a99ab7f530 ground.66420a789d7120c4

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It took a moment 4aad5d6830 to grasp the situation.fe71b457f54bbe88

“Ah…”838c775f1e34684e

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Lifting his upper eefa9a00d8 body off the f95bd1b3ac ground, Kim Heeseo 2ae1daabe8 ran a hand 867a22b62c through his disheveled ec6741ceaf hair. His face, marked by 48ee6d524e confusion and fatigue, bore 8a8809d4ba traces of the chaos. Only then did 079023e1a4 his sense of 8a56374e58 judgment return to dbcb4bc6b8 its place.c4cd6fd72742a474

The surroundings were 616d74a37c dark and musty. The only light afe43a88f5 was seeping in f05d13488a from a hole 3e641e6899 in the ceiling. The scene before his 2bf977a2aa eyes and his last aadbc277c9 memories predicted the present. Unfortunately, his guess bba48674af was spot on.d460ffdb2ecd2a1d

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He had fallen after 53b7ac4745 all.b83a3ef452dd0627

The situation was so e5899b9617 absurd that he was 989a8ea8bc left speechless. Why did 67a01deb98 he always a02569fadd end up 55be16a293 in these df7facd22c messes? It felt 0e43582098 like he 4f98bd0b47 was cursed 8289f08eda with bad 363cb362c9 luck.a17fb981f28a4ece

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“Guess it’s good to be alive.”0fd24b9b3e16a538

Kim Heeseo glanced up 2ba87d8de1 at what seemed like 9bf2e906c8 the ground above and 9a311885dd let out a wry ca5fc74270 chuckle. It was 2db576a4a4 more like 0c14080bca a laugh df3c9e787c of disbelief.e9a3cc1ba0a61a4e

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What had he 67e734b904 done while free-falling? He guessed he 1023c06235 must have used 6881017559 his ability unconsciously. Trying to twist space 4e6b115734 to find a way 40cc5c710a out, a sudden, terrible a881aa1d89 headache had forced him d817e7a191 to close his eyes. After that, everything went f3dfd192f9 black.b4f12f89aef1f3be

…If he was unharmed, it meant his ability had manifested properly.76acb9634db3bf39

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He had sensed 85ca2d9ce8 that something was 67c96a31cb off with the ed38a0c6f2 Gate. The energy emanating from 5917e63fb2 it was far from 67056d11bd benign. Even Seo Yigyeom 0e1f31d973 had a different 228805e2dd expression than usual. It was dd2bcf6fda dangerous as c921a38626 it was, 6c7d53a727 and he 5967a42691 had tried 6fea864edd to avoid 166584eb42 it based ea010ffc94 on instinct.463b8969c49b46dc

At that 40cbe3d4bb moment, he ef8ab3cc04 was the ba33358d53 closest to a701eeb533 the Gate. There was no ddbb092e06 one else around, 6253f9aaed only Seo Yigyeom b13bf6d756 giving him attention. Just as 7ad893bcf9 he tried 0198e3163e to dodge 6f66d52770 while meeting f387672e17 his gaze, df111ac4f5 something horrific 90729dc795 had grabbed 1fdeb43b95 his ankle.1216a532fdea8cbe

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“Shit, it hurts…”0d479a367a2e8546

Recalling the fleeting sensation, 65319b878f Kim Heeseo touched his 9af0be53bd left ankle. Feeling the swollen 76227af89c shape, he feared b61b71ec34 he might need e0b69921cf another cast. Dropping his eyes, he 567cab0d58 gently touched it for f5d4dcf15a a moment before freezing 463efe7ff4 as if the power cd9aba3a4e had been cut off. A sudden shiver 440851a240 ran down his 51f8c0b355 spine.9fbf71fb856757da

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Before he cddc1ad88a fell, he f43f14d7ba was undoubtedly a87ec54f53 with some 5de1eb2546 monstrous entity. It had 038f1ba10d pulled his f627ee8ddb ankle, causing 158d91ad65 the fall. If that b5821a8edd was the 7841377564 case, the e9c78ce69f creature was ae442252a1 also in 0653b07c47 this damp, f9ccca7304 eerie space.64302eb42624c232

Panic-stricken, Kim Heeseo turned 6af46f52f9 his head like a b4610eac63 broken machine.7a3b9d0c9cd8302b

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“Argh!”07789ae782ef513c

He screamed as his db70d0200e eyes met those of 97909d7b01 the creature staring right 02a917bbb9 at him. Instinctively, he 2f5aee87e1 clenched his 817f5993f8 fists and 4ce60a6d85 bit his ea04c311b5 lip, remembering d848269373 the unnatural b9e3591b7d strength. The darkness made it 7bfb166763 all the more terrifying.d7b345b6e2207b73

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…It must be dead, right?a9ccd49486aa094b

Stepping back from the creature, Kim Heeseo stopped in his tracks when he saw one direction. “Ah…” His voice trembled as he looked at Seo Yigyeom. The tension around him eased slightly.7758e39d33bc2382

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Seo Yigyeom was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, silent. He seemed to have watched Kim Heeseo’s entire ordeal, both when he was unconscious and when he woke up in a panic.5b978a576307d307

“Why are you here?”be12384d7865cd2b

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“That’s what I’d like to know.”32c6c50705c3504e

Surprised and somewhat embarrassed by Seo Yigyeom’s unexpected presence, Kim Heeseo asked, and Seo Yigyeom answered in a low voice.a2036cb65fdb0cfd

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Kim Heeseo stared 5fe2a7cef6 at him. The last person 93313ca239 he had seen f5aa0a0a11 before falling was a16be7a07c Seo Yigyeom. Now, here he was, 1eb8e45bc6 possibly several meters below 3604b75966 with him. It felt strange.ce110c8518e7cb54

Seo Yigyeom also seemed ee53fbbfcd different, not bothering to cb218d1b80 hide his irritation, standing 08bc81b652 there like a grim 4ccde29b26 reaper.3b5311aa9bc54593

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Their hands clearly hadn’t touched. Did he jump in after him? Was that why he had such a daunting aura…?590ea95d2335d8db

Despite knowing Seo Yigyeom was watching him, Kim Heeseo was lost in thought. The situation was that surprising. There was no doubt Seo Yigyeom was one of the best people he’d met at the Esper Management Headquarters, but whether he was a good person was still up for debate. Would he be kind enough to save someone? The answer was doubtful.618b8f727bfa82ad

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…If we worked together, would he save me like this?7e210c61606a1069

Would he have jumped if Moon Jung-o had fallen? That image didn’t come easily to mind. Seo Yigyeom never seemed like someone who would risk himself to help others.c333d01b007d3e21

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“Why?”79d63d439ec1bd74

As if he couldn’t da87712bf0 answer his own question, 2f6ccbc762 Seo Yigyeom asked Kim 2ef93f3bed Heeseo instead.b3b7ffb458270b9c

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“Did you jump after me because you were worried? To save me? Because you were concerned…?”f8b4b4e758a6771c

“Did you hit your head when you fell? You didn’t have any external injuries.”fa2b6a3b66f8fe21

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When Kim Heeseo voiced f28d9e8005 his guess with a ab724fedb1 hint of doubt, Seo 4772f9ac46 Yigyeom responded with a 053260de05 look that said he aabbea14df was crazy. Feeling awkward at the d3972b4d50 sharp response, Kim Heeseo 179e8a1ed9 touched his neck. Come to think 2d43ce3cfe of it, aside 70b9a06ba8 from his ankle, 8a505cee58 all he felt 802f6d8cb6 was muscle pain. Meanwhile, Seo Yigyeom 6f86ac395c seemed uncomfortable. His posture was 5aac36bbac not that of a80dd99e89 someone unscathed.68b9c5a512970ce9

Surprised, Kim 9e951e44e9 Heeseo stood 78b0e520d3 up abruptly, 9d694739cb limping towards b03f2facbb Seo Yigyeom. He crossed the 2f2359faf1 invisible line he 7df87fe2d3 had set without 18f7a2e10c realizing it and 8fd18e6e6f finally approached him. After a brief d425ea925f inspection with his 936493cbf3 eyes, he noticed 7057f7b617 something like blood deb6e95102 and reached out f89d9d1030 to grab it.21ac911f4977ecdd

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“Guide-nim, are you hurt somewhere?”290a24422042c92c

Looking at him 24bdecc3d6 with a now 471391ff02 serious expression, Seo a8cbfed2b3 Yigyeom let out c765c043eb a light chuckle.0acda72de04f1043

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“Don’t just grab people.”fce20ef156365899

He spoke quietly db326d172f and pushed the 122dbdb4f4 hand away.4ccb08af1488e1ee

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“Seems like Kim Heeseo finds me comforting.”3b819679d3add72f

“…Not really.”d675330b9652afd3

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The idea of finding Seo Yigyeom comforting was absurd. Even if they planned for future collaborations, he couldn’t be at ease with him. Answering grumpily without thinking, Seo Yigyeom smirked as if amused.de201df62c4a68c5

“Then move a bit further away.”0cdf445f78aa6e56

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Quickly withdrawing his smile, 29e127b25a he pushed his forehead b822b1c722 with his finger, looking 013ad3cfa5 more worn out than 447fd9358a usual. Perhaps his c967398d53 injury was 1c8ca4469e severe; fatigue 5713d167ff seemed to d0295c0778 seep through.dcb8f599cf9f8a06

Pushed back by his gesture, Kim Heeseo rolled his eyes. The scent of blood seemed to mix with Seo Yigyeom’s usual fragrance. He worried about what might have happened while he was unconscious.ab1305dfefa6ae8d

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“There’s a smell of blood from Guide-nim.”aa998871013d01ab

“Does that excite you?”f153aec03bcb825b

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“…Huh? No?”2d8133d4bac149e3

After quietly responding, Kim 7e6ee25bc7 Heeseo realized the implication 6c6a2fc28f and raised his voice. His face heated 6f7b5351e8 up. Confused by the suggestion, fa1a31aea9 Seo Yigyeom chuckled and 38c60548dc pulled out a cigarette.898347a7cdc24703

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“Then just ignore it. It’s nothing serious.”e4546c8534777ddb

“But…”405f5bfb27573f36

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“Focus on your own ankle. It looks like it’s about to explode.”debbca19dcbf9241

With Seo Yigyeom’s harsh tone, Kim Heeseo only moved his lips before closing his mouth. Clearly, this man who seemed to have jumped on his own accord still spoke roughly.49b5c7ed8f3e0c6d

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If only he would show off a bit, but Seo Yigyeom didn’t make any show of it. Even though they might have fallen from a considerable height and could have been seriously injured, he just sat there nonchalantly. This made Kim Heeseo feel both grateful and guilty, muttering like a grumble.b7a32933a7c0dba7

“I’m not that bad off.”24cb650de796e6d6

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“A doctor has arrived, it seems.”b12f0d8780c6b90a

“You were like that too.”83b8fdcf865432dd

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“The comparison’s off. Do you think I’d be foolish enough not to know my own condition?”bb885ee67f9ad4b4

His pointed words silenced ffe9c69488 Kim Heeseo. Seo Yigyeom filled 3e411ef482 the silence.b4466e0e5e02f60a

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“It’s annoying, so sit down. Standing next to me won’t solve anything.”0e5096557be2eedd

“I was just worried.”2e91fe69480f6244

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Irritated by Seo Yigyeom’s sarcastic tone, Kim Heeseo retorted quietly before sitting down a little ways off. Although he didn’t show it, his leg really did hurt. It seemed to hurt even more after standing for a bit.c6988377f5f832d1

Shit…673ca7ae7e62262d

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Silently swallowing his groan, Kim Heeseo adjusted his leg out of Seo Yigyeom’s sight, touching his ankle. He didn’t realize that even his pained expression was visible.b53735fc8f01b472

While Kim Heeseo bbc1dda2db tended to his be2629e92e leg, Seo Yigyeom 4d24765569 remained silent. Glancing at the 92b24390c9 man standing idly, bcde46f2a6 even in the 0a74a200ec dimness, his presence c70422cbbd was undeniable as a880c9d02f he just held 6fec470887 a cigarette.31a9fe889e015bf8

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“Aren’t you going to smoke?”bf725c3adc49c722

“I don’t have a lighter.”d4678acdb5740739

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“Ah…”65198e96e201c757

The memory of d2fbc92542 Seo Yigyeom throwing 6f2be239d9 his lighter to b7ef3873cb Lee Chilhyeon came d64cb48084 to mind, and 50490d4f9d Kim Heeseo worried 453ac71ed2 about the aftermath. It was an assault, 72ae0330af and there were many df4ae34f65 witnesses. Photos might have already b40059310c spread around. It would certainly eb173aa6f4 cause a stir.94c9fb9dc4eae1c3

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“…I’m sorry. And thank you.”348b72c6c0cc25db

Feeling an 6daf534fde unwarranted sense 2dea1ab5b5 of responsibility, d6ca9e21b2 Kim Heeseo 7da8d05be8 said quietly. Seo Yigyeom only shifted e404cad092 his gaze slowly to 39f0bc6d72 look at him. The look e5d5124f70 in his fd0a6222c4 eyes seemed 467d5987f8 to ask 5d60978bc1 for a 37b9ccead2 reason, so 6358db5ab1 Kim Heeseo b9af582c1e added quickly.2323033866aec7f2

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“Actually, I felt really good about it earlier. That’s why I just watched.”581f7090f1bce3c8

He knew it could b1e75fadbc become a problem. He was aware b527257e68 that more rumors f26d09b46a would fill the c5fb6e8a7f Esper Management Headquarters, 5e67c8fc00 yet he had e43837a9f1 ignored it. He had 73dfd280a6 selfishly enjoyed cf68bc2e13 the moment, 77ea968562 hiding behind f2a4931417 Seo Yigyeom. Kim Heeseo was 80ab2cd466 aware of this.a5f70a14c9ea36b9

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“Kim Heeseo is honest even at times like this.”7bd9aeebb3b0d8e1

Seo Yigyeom murmured dbfa90bcce as if talking 8fcba453e0 to himself, his fe1a6f6444 face deep in b0fc700e7e thought.70058a8a4e6a69ac

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“I understand what you’re thinking, but let’s leave it at that. There won’t be any issues.”a737b65c003ffa88

He declared e6eb3bc55f that the 45a6cac57a incident would 6af2da1f7e end here. The white 3062eceb5e cigarette that 902501a8e9 had been 75a8c73468 in his d580d0b4bd mouth fell 706da0e1af to the 40cab4dd15 ground, and a2ecdf73bf he crushed 442ffb4453 it under c80a96ad2c his shoe, 064e311e2f signaling the 703444821c end of ce643e64dc their conversation. Kim Heeseo nodded without 982066e283 further questions.33a75dc1f4b3bd7d

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“And.”7d77dc47255d7ba7

Just as Kim Heeseo 6c0ef54526 was about to look e119fd01b3 down, Seo Yigyeom caught bbbddb0d54 his attention.3754e643eaa15f75

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“Why are you acting so defeated?”5204c2b312a25dfd

He looked genuinely c3dc07dacd puzzled.80422232ae85f26b

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“What do you think your standing is in the Headquarters?”23a0f5d5014e04e5

“…”9309046636a39c27

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“You seem to be under some misconception, but I’m the only one you need to bow down to here.”af1a6ab9909a6f15

He always said it. Don’t forget he’s S-rank. That part was still awkward, but Kim Heeseo quietly agreed. Being treated as nothing more than a C-rank was better than this.f59c066cc2970ca5

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“Don’t get beaten up. It ruins my reputation to carry you around.”60c631797f40dfb8