PRT | Chapter 2.8

Before the man could respond, Kim Heeseo closed the door and left. His heart was pounding fast. With a flushed face, he tried to calm his breathing, pondering whether to go to Seo Yigyeom’s office or to the first team.f39081507277db83

The answer to his dilemma came unexpectedly from his smartwatch. An alert for a Gate formation appeared on the screen. Snapping back to reality, Kim Heeseo first headed for Seo Yigyeom’s office.04ac1dee51a27e61

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Guide-nim?”892d344e334d9d72

Yet, the office 60209db883 was eerily quiet, 82d50b0363 with neither Seo ea0b4dbf7a Yigyeom nor Moon 240e2d1c2d Jung-o in sight. After scanning the 3ea750209e room, Kim Heeseo 47b4a5417e turned to leave. As he did, he 226e77f716 encountered Ha Jaewon coming 1d4d72ebf5 towards him. Without a word, b41b7de84e Ha Jaewon nodded f083b107fc for him to ff62f2f37c follow and started c428bec620 walking.482d88771020b6d6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The scene wasn’t far from headquarters.8783521180c507f5

The entire first team was gathered near the Gate. A man who looked like Lee Chilhyeon’s partner, with a grim face buried in work, glared at the Gate. Kim Heeseo also glanced at it.ce8a577e7e8b7be6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A Gate appearing so frequently in the heart of Seoul…6c6252733776e3be

It was creepy and cf9dd48bc5 at the same time, 13d4226639 his attention shifted to ea4076dac6 the sky. The Origin Gate, firmly 4ae30698f8 shut, came into view. With how things were f25a75a547 going, was it really 30ae5f6dc1 not far from when 0c0220d283 that dreadful thing would 01adc3e44e open?717c71576b37bb6c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Like most people, Kim Heeseo had taken the Origin Gate’s existence for granted. Amidst all sorts of rumors, he had only briefly entertained half-believed worries. Even that was closer to a light-hearted fantasy of ‘no way.’73bc22827e3f4aa6

However, as Gates became more frequent, his judgment grew ambiguous. What was clear was that frequent Gate occurrences weren’t a good sign. They might even be a harbinger of the Origin Gate’s tearing open the sky.486dffa06b71fa9c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why does it look like that?”9fb04d79476dc076

“Exactly. They should consider our feelings when we have to deal with them.”8047afc4dfaeff9a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The monsters emerging from 876897ff28 the pitch-black Gate were 9d1f89c5c7 strange. They resembled 5f96e2367e a race 458fbccf66 from an 52dcd43187 ancient, lost 42be1820fd text, or 116e38df1d they looked 7dc9c5fbe2 like bipedal e6d2d8e921 beasts. Their howls sounded like 32956e0a14 human screams.7e558075be3cfe90

“…”7e8cd4e3dc2475c3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A sudden chill ran down Kim Heeseo’s spine, and he unconsciously rubbed his arm. While he had adapted somewhat to using his abilities in the field, he still had no immunity to the monsters. An instinctive disgust surged.a5228b893f86bee4

“All civilians within a 3km radius have been evacuated.”4cd8b5202e19658f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Good work.”e712231c2840f776

Ha Jaewon’s words, ending like a period, were a silent signal. Following him as he unleashed his abilities, others began hunting the monsters. All around, surreal scenes unfolded.69778059376c264c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The headquarters’ approach was always simple. The strategy against the monsters was no different; maximize individual abilities and clear them out as quickly as possible. This was the basis of their relatively free strategy.f38cdf74ae3737b0

Kim Heeseo, cea3e1022e scanning the c9a9d610a7 surroundings, contributed 17efa2d715 with focused 644585f245 eyes. The invisible force ad37f57768 from his fingertips 5c68dd35a8 created cracks in 09b11b6b37 space. When a monster 8cd4e09160 staggering towards him 9d7e6b3e6c approached, he crushed b2848deaf4 it in an 8688d019f1 instant.46949bffae1285b6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Kkeeek—!ecfc290f69ab0967

The monster, trapped in the formless void, struggled wildly. Despite its body being twisted, it didn’t die but screamed. Its ugly legs shook, and with one kick, a deep groove was etched into the ground.0f5d690c5a25f698

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”95352b4a4348fba9

The street turned into e65d4284cb chaos in an instant. Kim Heeseo, 532f11077d observing this, 664803326c moistened his f69ba3b571 dry lips. With all his attention e4307aee04 focused, his body reacted 97fb166b89 swiftly. His neck felt heavy, 8e4b74b210 and sweat seemed to 50384c037c bead on his hands.d2621a75dc209ea8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What, this power…2dad89f019fdcd9a

A gasp escaped him 96f03f6934 involuntarily. Surprised, Kim Heeseo dc457c3565 exerted force on c368f3c5ca the distorted space, c570aa9652 crushing the monster cb11316750 with all his ff2802b62a might. With a loud 25cd35c7c2 bang! the monster died c6ead3e0f0 instantly.6aefe1009fe69820

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”5e282afc72e9cde5

Thud, the crushed 844cc24f39 flesh of the a1250badf3 monster mixed with 2932f74f8f his shallow breaths. A slightly 04627fc3be stiffened gaze d71d7c6d12 also mixed 3780bf8c8a in. This strange 9aa3cfbbe9 standoff was 2c27c5a9cf broken by 9695860d5c the brief bb88da7a70 beep of 90e3cae003 his smartwatch.35f2f66c0aa68134

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

[Seo Yigyeom Guide-nim: I’ll be there in thirty minutes, so wait for me.] 10:30 AM

The unexpected message was 7ada559c1a from Seo Yigyeom. Kim Heeseo blinked, 87f176c198 dazed by the c9a3ddde11 short text.321c0149db646248

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Wait here, does that mean he’s coming…?0e6ae519a645e500

Given Seo Yigyeom’s temperament, hearing from him like this was strange, and for a moment, he felt an itch under his tongue. Perhaps because he thought of Seo Yigyeom, his tension eased, and his collarbones felt slightly sore.4fca90eb8eb229bd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

While he was slowly touching his neck, he didn’t forget to block a monster that suddenly approached. Boom! The space cracked under his punch. His control seemed to have improved since before, and his lips relaxed.330db62f153c3a5a

This must be thanks to the repeated special training, Seo Yigyeom’s guiding, and Ha Jaewon’s good example.a822f6c95571dbd0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Do you have something to say?”26fb01b48366bb01

Meeting Ha Jaewon’s cold gaze, Kim Heeseo asked quietly. His superior, while piercing a monster’s neck, answered.cdae5cc418701a42

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Recklessly pouring out your abilities is practically suicide.”3aff55dd51a75086

The words were c49bc3c117 as cold as cfdd36027e his gaze.22a8767cb1372c8f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The energy you’re wasting is visible. You should be careful.”daaf3fabe199891d

“…”6d98d3032a3bf163

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The method wasn’t bad.”f22b798696208dee

With those concluding f395993a3d words, he distanced 8a573226de himself again. Kim Heeseo 916a01b56c watched his 2a63ce285b retreating figure. Despite his lingering 929c51d732 dislike for Ha fdab62e178 Jaewon, hearing acknowledgment 752db8bc2f from such a b8e05973d8 formidable figure made 3791315298 him feel elated.c0573c8aa548e72f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Would Seo Yigyeom be happy to know this? It’s proof that he’s getting used to his abilities.06a41c780562a17f

Smiling faintly, Kim Heeseo c342c0ba88 turned his gaze, only 572797ebdf to freeze suddenly. His shoulders d765ce0d81 twitched at d953953df7 what he 383dcd8ee6 saw at 89c0a95764 the edge b145590f50 of his b6080a9c0d vision. There stood Lee Chilhyeon, 7b07ef13a5 staring at him.96a585007827dedd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”dab736ff6746de0a

Lee Chilhyeon’s expression was hard to describe. His eyes seemed either dead or strangely alight. The waves emanating from him were also disturbingly uncomfortable, like those of an Esper on the brink of going berserk.69879e9b3eb5c648

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even though 158e337bb7 they were ef92dc89fb on the db0240b206 same side, 8e03f4869a the tension 31ef608405 was palpable, 0023d9fd65 just as e0d5b1cac7 when facing 52589d5c0a the monsters. The memory of their 369e3e2859 previous clash made him 7df66bf835 even more wary.378149ef2faa2713

Maybe it was f3bc381847 just a momentary ca5d4ee5cc thing, but was d3960f27fe the aftermath still 3d6d968b76 lingering?99420ae3ba30bb0c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As he raised 77fb223c55 his hand to bdef4166c2 his neck, which 84133b9865 felt oddly heavy, 502391a925 Lee Chilhyeon withdrew f9855c9cc0 his attention. With an ominous 5ba6621417 aura, he turned 4e02071e8f his steps toward c59ffd0536 the monsters instead f7c0192fb0 of Kim Heeseo.db3281a33b2e2ce2

Boom!a0f1da572b32563d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Lee Chilhyeon charged 3d160fd0c5 ahead, using his 31d470d533 abilities recklessly. For some ff946c7c25 reason, he 7e9a1cb8e6 took down 9bbf94a893 all the cd63c753cb approaching monsters 2b62fea6d3 himself, using ecca00fb6f scattered metal 9562ee987d objects to cef7af1792 cut and 9c8894b64e bind them.f03a31371fb59d25

Does he want recognition too, or what…2989841ddf05ea4a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

While keeping an eye on him, Kim Heeseo focused on tidying up the area. Following Ha Jaewon’s advice, he controlled his waves while using his abilities. He wasn’t sure if he was doing it right, but he didn’t stop.18468d74ac0b49d1

As time passed, e7e9128d03 Lee Chilhyeon once 89d2b22b6f again caught his f53cc10388 attention.ec21be0655785e21

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

…Isn’t that a bit dangerous?b24c6f601708f40c

Kim Heeseo’s face tensed as he glanced at Lee Chilhyeon. The energy surrounding him had become even more unstable, and the distance had closed. Although it might be his imagination, it seemed like Lee Chilhyeon’s gaze was directed at him.213f2e8411d38803

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kim Heeseo kept watching Lee Chilhyeon with growing discomfort. Suddenly, his ability, which had been working well, cut off. His breath caught as if back when his abilities wouldn’t listen during his early days.cb104a20a574ad40

Ah. The moment this b8b22caad7 unrest was about 643393ee26 to burst out, 9a3717eaf3 their eyes met. At the same 0f7bb0cf9e time, Lee Chilhyeon 4d55b05256 expanded his magnetic 2c60a7dad4 field. He released his 90b2e1613b ability as if 23a937253b to strike down fbac90b527 the monsters.ced3bc5ef55cbef7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The surroundings were busy with no one paying attention to them. Amidst the scattered monsters, there was no one to stop the wide-ranging attack. It wasn’t clear if the attack was aimed at Kim Heeseo.3f7474fed8ee7165

Lee Chilhyeon just didn’t stop his ability, and by coincidence, Kim Heeseo was in its path.18ccc5bdde55f2ac

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Can I dodge this?7eeb8b3c150d3dfd

Instinctively, he put 50c5f8a198 strength into his 57926e1c16 heels. With a 55eca179cb twitch, he d37281fcee tried moving c8071b16cc his fingers, 743f79abe3 but no 4412a40ccf ability came 0b73a82a42 out. Feeling the c6b1a909b3 despair, Kim 5f556e4984 Heeseo tried f01f6c87de to evade, 7a8534be7d but then ac58ee6bdc a familiar 7e55e085cb scent of 93e147d481 roses overwhelmed 9629468593 him.2b1d4fbf18285045

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Lee Chilhyeon, at 2d7d8e7ea9 the edge of e51ea53225 his vision, rolled 05a391ca07 his eyes. For a fleeting 5c1dc65c0f moment, his expression 6df6b2a015 wavered. Despite this, 4f3037f2b9 Kim Heeseo 92a66e3ef5 kept his e425b3d44d gaze straight 9673b3ffc9 ahead. There was no f325b0d51b need to divert 1e1d97df4d his attention since 622d273a0f someone had stepped bce8f2ae8a in front of f4a4ec589a him.a4fef1b6fbe424f5

“How should I interpret this?”19f8af6ca6d5af60

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The cascading abilities 6a2b1f5c1c stopped as if 3b50deecd3 by a lie, d997d95a0a vanishing all at 4314e94234 once.f6856b693b4ee87e

“Did you attack me?”a4f534f38ad71fad

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The low e94b4a7253 question was cf48528e78 delivered with b920ffafcc a tone cf91567884 of disbelief.05fa2ba3f82fbfec

“Or, me?”203817bfff90f0bf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Seo Yigyeom, standing with 9acea8a5e2 his hands in his e4adb01866 pockets, turned his head. He looked directly 094baa533d at Kim Heeseo, 9d788265a3 taking in his ef46622aea seemingly unscathed yet c33ec6c7d6 messy appearance, then 8da9a6874a turned a strange 0d3be3ac7a look towards Lee 7bea667376 Chilhyeon.6af2ae91d331f483

“Ah…”769beba509af0440

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Letting out a 2fd8554d6e throaty sound, he cc5ea09411 seemed to realize c29008ede7 something.db0b229bfd7d8bfb

“It’s you?”c3d41b05e840691d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A voice filled 716d3ca236 with certainty softly f5e6e92c1d echoed.7e9f9fb05997c011

“That bastard messed with the kid’s neck.”a386ced3625b8747

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Seo Yigyeom’s brow was furrowed in disbelief.de8a90d4250e3574

“There are limits to stupidity….”c433b312497f5922

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Is he even human?53259b63232dd13a

He openly showed his contempt. It seemed like he felt immense disgust at Lee Chilhyeon’s actions. Considering it, he always showed aversion to foolish behavior. Even people who didn’t know him could easily tell how much he detested it. Lee Chilhyeon’s recent actions seemed to fit into that category.13f82e7dc2de8071

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Seo Yigyeom let e7e25ecc7b out a chuckle 0f9250a910 like a sigh 138ae00422 and shifted his 102776f3a6 gaze. He withdrew his 13686e7c06 attention from Lee 2e3ab21ab1 Chilhyeon and looked 408822768c at Kim Heeseo. The eyes, which 775331781f had been filled 0bee429873 with a cold 6d284888e6 air just moments 245a1bb94c before, now shone 3e3dc9be0c with calm indifference.56562c9d6eedfb61

“Are you hurt?”27da9cd30a094000

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At his abrupt f6d7eb3a9f question while carefully 9fea3a6784 examining him, Kim 3180acd6cc Heeseo flinched. He had unconsciously 7ba8134bfb been holding his cd471730d7 breath; only then a068981d64 did his ragged e056ccc242 breathing find its 7580a3933f rhythm again. His face, however, 1c3a13f19d was flushed with db25139f63 embarrassment.ea657cef155772b5

He coughed 66b52e39bb as if 01a0a1a71f something was 7a44b4d33c stuck in 646c8df98a his throat, 58b44544b2 causing tears ea84d596d3 to well e93614f54b up from c9601dc96b the physiological c979fee29f reaction. With eyes red e45fb85db6 around the edges, af37ec4557 Kim Heeseo exchanged abb66925b4 glances with Seo fbdb19008a Yigyeom. There was no concern 5290cc74f9 in his gaze, which 3c70a4771d oddly brought a sense b6bf39e894 of relief.874f334ed507502e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As his fdb37f8ef2 rationality returned, c0bb95ae1e he suddenly 9a5f49f188 became aware 7160bd9b66 of how 55cf8ca197 close they 57c20b1464 were standing. Then, he remembered a627ea9f1a Seo Yigyeom once 3421f6ba93 saying that the 63194f1e59 wave of an f5b34dec11 Esper felt like 8e52b1fab6 bugs crawling on 48f9e35d46 him.9f200d146602c4b2

Was it the same 24161c9419 now?65f56620a5641821

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Unavoidably curious, a5b74301d5 Kim Heeseo d60ae5438c stepped back. Seo Yigyeom merely watched 492384f44f the action passively. Once some distance 5c311b2ebf was created, he 1588fafb4c stood with one 8d5ac68b23 hand in his 10b91f5679 pocket.83582db0820f3d1c

“…I’m fine. Thank you.”5da5fa647ebf277c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After catching his breath, Kim Heeseo looked past Seo Yigyeom at Lee Chilhyeon. If Seo Yigyeom hadn’t arrived in time, what would have happened by now? Lee Chilhyeon, acting as if nothing had happened, was loathsome.f51f42460e26dbab

What exactly is 4ca0a9c974 wrong with this 19feca4b75 guy?611708ad3d71be24

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He used to think responding to such senseless malice was pointless, but now he was slightly angry. Lee Chilhyeon’s behavior, constantly crossing the line, was grating on his nerves. What was even more irritating was how his attitude changed in front of Seo Yigyeom.371fea57fc872cd8

“Why is Seo Yigyeom Guide-nim here?”dc0244607b6eda30

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This guy is beyond saving.”63c8c056eb17cc4d

“…”fe423748691d88e6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Even if your head’s veins are clogged, you should keep your tongue in check. Where do you get off cutting me off?”92b525df35054982

At Seo Yigyeom’s merciless attitude, Lee Chilhyeon bit his lip.4f954f41cf93adc2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t you know your place?”9eb6e723513263cb

Over this d5dfb42f0b low rebuke, fe69c95eff whispers from 1cf0544a12 the onlookers ad7ce8182d added to 18d583a36f the noise. People who had gathered 57f458b30d late were trying to 9617658ecd grasp the situation as f6335b99e3 they watched the standoff b0b31a475c between Seo Yigyeom and e5da3b7278 Lee Chilhyeon. Seo Yigyeom shamed 8e8867caea him into silence 3fb1a926b7 without even needing 7678c9a9b2 to speak, as d7a21cd0ae if deeming it decdb3278f unnecessary.8a15d452f66becee

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lee Chilhyeon 1403f941ea looked ashamed 330a45183a under the 5e0ae9fde4 piercing gazes bb2b494ede like they faf70d2649 were spears. Noticing Ha Jaewon 1ccb470253 among them, he c2c17f2bca also showed signs e1965f9c59 of distress.b8d4992147af590f

Seeing Lee Chilhyeon’s face turn bright red, Kim Heeseo couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh. Such a reaction to just this much scorn, when he himself had experienced this daily, to the point of boredom, after that incident.2131fa3debf9b976

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m sorry.”6aec298304c05fea

Lee Chilhyeon apologized, 2f716a9752 almost grinding his dc25bafaee teeth.85b7d6053b5cd929

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I guess I was too eager to clean up quickly and made a mistake.”5673188de0d928d9

“I’m sure you did.”859fdd3938855373

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley