Chapter 8

“Exactly, what else?”

“And why is that? What was the problem this time?”

Director Kang slammed her desk, unable to contain her frustration. Even as her voice rang through the room, Kwon Suho didn’t so much as flinch.

Sitting on the couch, the man stretched out his long legs, crossing his ankles as if the lecture bored him. Arms folded, he even shut his eyes, looking like he might doze off any moment.

Team Leader Ahn Itaeh, sensing the growing tension, quickly stepped in to explain.

“It seems their compatibility wasn’t great. You know how sensitive Suho can be, Director. And to be fair, the guide wasn’t very skilled in combat.”

“They were completely clumsy. Honestly, why are people like that even stepping into rift zones?”

Instead of staying silent, Suho added to the critique with an indifferent tone. Unbuttoning his collar and brushing back his jet-black bangs, he revealed a face marked by exhaustion. Dark circles hung heavily beneath his eyes, their stark contrast against his pale skin giving him a strangely decadent air.

“Would it kill you to compromise just a little? Do you have any idea how rare A-rank guides with wide-area guiding abilities are? Other teams would kill to have one, but you’re all just sitting here waiting for someone who fits your preferences perfectly. I’m sick and tired of trying to match guides to your team!”

Director Kang’s voice trembled with exasperation. The Delta Team, her pride as the elite squad of Zone 1, was also her biggest headache.

Their unmatched skills were undeniable, but the persistent issue was their lack of a dedicated guide.

Every time they went into combat, she assigned them a guide, only for the team to reject them for one reason or another. They were notoriously picky, refusing to commit to anyone as their permanent guide.

However, forcing an administrative order wasn’t an option. Since a guide’s role directly impacted the team’s survival, the selection required unanimous consent from all team members.

What she had assumed would be a quick resolution had dragged on for nearly a year. Now, even the pool of eligible A-rank guides was running dry.

Initially, many guides volunteered, enchanted by Kwon Suho’s striking appearance. But after facing his cold, prickly demeanor, nearly all left feeling hurt, their enthusiasm crushed. Word quickly spread, and now most guides avoided Delta Team altogether.

“Just give us a little more time. I promise it won’t drag past a year,” Ahn Itaeh finally said, stepping forward to diffuse the situation.

“Really? Can you back that up, Team Leader Ahn?”

“Yes, no matter what, we’ll finalize our team guide by then.”

At his bold declaration, even the Delta Team members turned their heads, startled by the unexpected statement. Though their unease was evident, Ahn Itaeh kept his gaze steady and focused.

“Fine. I’ll hold you to that, Team Leader Ahn.”

Director Kang’s expression softened somewhat as she flipped through a stack of documents on her desk, skimming the guide roster.

“There are new recruits joining soon. I’ll do my best to assign you someone promising. Who knows? Maybe the perfect guide you’ve been waiting for has just awakened.”

Suho scoffed audibly.

The thought of dealing with yet another clueless, unskilled rookie irritated him. The faint smile lingering on his lips vanished, replaced by his usual cold, stoic expression. His long, prominent fingers pressed against his tired eyelids, attempting to alleviate the lingering fatigue from the recent battle.

The exhaustion weighed on him heavily, and the thought of another mismatched guide only added to his frustration.

* * *

[Welcome to the Guide Training Academy for New Trainees!]

The banner at the entrance fluttered in the wind.

People heading inside paused beneath it to take commemorative photos, their faces lit with excitement. One after another, they posed with beaming smiles.

Today marked the first day of training for new guide recruits.

The Guide Training Academy held sessions twice a year, gathering newly awakened guides for a three-week program. Completing this course was mandatory to obtain an official guide certification.

Due to the rarity and value of guides, the government fully funded the training costs. The academy boasted top-tier facilities, including private hotel-style rooms, three hearty meals a day, a cafeteria, an auditorium, a gym, and even a shooting range.

What made it even more appealing was the promise of a salary comparable to that of corporate employees once certified. Given how rare the opportunity was, many likened awakening as a guide to winning the lottery.

Of course, such comparisons were often made by those who had no grasp of the actual reality.

Baek Eu-jin stepped into the lecture hall and glanced around before quietly settling in a corner. Although many had arrived early, the air was tense—it was, after all, the first day.

It was said that about 24 guides from across the country were participating in this session. From a quick glance, Eu-jin appeared to be the oldest in the group.

While there was no set age for awakening as a guide, statistical trends showed that it most frequently occurred around the late teens to early twenties. For minors, training was deferred until they came of age. As a result, most participants looked quite young. Those who had just turned adults were easy to spot, their faces brimming with enthusiasm and nervous energy.

“Hello! My name is Kim Gyu-tae, and I’m one of the new recruits this session…”

A bright voice broke the initial silence, signaling the beginning of introductions. The room’s atmosphere started to lighten as other trainees joined in, and Eu-jin quietly observed from his seat, his expression unreadable.

The sound of a chair scraping broke the room’s murmuring, and a young man seated in front turned around to speak. His initial cheerful expression froze the moment he laid eyes on Baek Eu-jin.

“Uh, uh… a foreigner?”

“……”

The young man quickly turned back around, clearly flustered. He had likely mistaken Eu-jin for a foreigner or a mixed-race individual because of his piercing blue eyes. Eu-jin didn’t bother to correct the assumption—it was a misunderstanding he’d dealt with countless times before.

Most people instinctively avoided him when startled, and he found that easier to deal with. He had long developed the habit of letting such comments slide unless directly asked.

As expected, the guides glanced at Eu-jin occasionally but whispered among themselves instead of engaging him. Their stares carried a mix of curiosity and discomfort, with some murmuring that he seemed oddly familiar.

Eu-jin, uninterested, simply folded his arms and stared down at the well-worn corner of his desk.

Not long after, the buzz in the lecture hall died down as a group of officials, neatly dressed in suits, entered. The guides immediately straightened in their seats, their focus sharpening.

“Hello, trainees. I’m Lim Bit-na, the head instructor for this 61st training session,” a woman with long hair introduced herself from the podium.

As soon as Eu-jin saw her, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Of all people… it had to be someone I know.

“For the next three weeks, you’ll learn the fundamental knowledge and techniques needed to be a guide. The classes won’t be too difficult, but if you don’t pass the final test, you won’t be certified. I hope everyone works hard and completes the program without anyone falling behind.”

Her clear, concise introduction was met with enthusiastic applause. Smiling warmly, Lim Bit-na began outlining the training schedule.

“Well then, let’s start with something simple for our first day—introductions!”

She gestured toward the trainee seated at the far left, who hesitantly stood up.

“Hello, I’m Yoon Sun-joo, 21 years old. I’m currently a university student.”

After a polite bow, scattered applause followed. One by one, the introductions continued down the row.

It wasn’t long before it was Eu-jin’s turn. As he stood and adjusted his chair, all eyes fell on him. Even Lim Bit-na’s gaze sharpened with interest.

“I’m Baek Eu-jin. I’m 28 years old, and I used to work… at a company.”

His introduction was met with a mix of surprise and murmurs, with someone even remarking, “Wow, his Korean is so good!” His age clearly caught the others off guard, as Eu-jin was easily the oldest in the room.

After the introductions, printed materials, textbooks, uniforms, and name tags were distributed. Once everyone collected their items and settled at their assigned desks, they were given a 15-minute break to reorganize.

Leaving his things behind, Eu-jin stepped out of the lecture hall to clear his head. The atmosphere already felt stifling, enough to make him crave a cigarette he didn’t even smoke.

“Baek Eu-jin, the former office worker.”

A voice laced with amusement called out, and Eu-jin didn’t need to look to know it was Lim Bit-na. He leaned out the window, letting out a deep sigh.

She sidled up next to him, resting her hands on the windowsill. Her long hair danced in the breeze as her keen gaze studied Eu-jin’s troubled side profile.

“When I saw your application, I thought it couldn’t be you. But here you are. What are you even doing here? Didn’t you retire? Or… are you some kind of rogue Esper now?”

“…I became a guide,” he admitted flatly.

“Seriously?”

“……”

“Really?!”

Her disbelief was evident, but when she saw the gloomy slump of his shoulders, she realized he was serious.

“How in the world…,” she began before bursting into laughter.

Lim Bit-na doubled over, clutching her face as her narrow shoulders shook uncontrollably. Watching her struggle to suppress her laughter, Eu-jin let out another heavy sigh.

“It’s not funny. I’m on the verge of losing my mind here.”

“Ah, sorry, sorry.”

She said, wiping her tears and trying to compose herself. Her face was still slightly flushed, but her usual no-nonsense expression returned. She nudged Eu-jin with her elbow, glancing around before whispering,

“You’ll just have to adapt now that you’re here. I assume you’re keeping your past as an Esper a secret. Don’t worry—I won’t let on either.”

“It’d be even better if you pretended not to know me.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll treat you like any other trainee.”

Checking her watch, Lim Bit-na straightened up. Before heading back to the lecture hall, she gave Eu-jin a sympathetic look.

“To think someone with your experience is stuck training with rookies. Life really throws some curveballs, doesn’t it?”

“Tell me about it.”

Left alone, Eu-jin stared out the window with a bitter smile.

Ever since his awakening as an Esper at 17, his life had never once gone smoothly. Even the brief peace of retirement now felt like a fleeting dream.

* * *

The Guide Training Academy’s curriculum was impressively structured.

Since all trainees would be assigned to their respective zones as full-fledged guides after the program, the three-week course was designed to cover all the basics thoroughly.

Classes ran from 9 AM to 4 PM, combining theory and practice in a balanced schedule. By the time they finished following the timetable, an entire day seemed to pass in a blur.

“Yawn…”

Baek Eu-jin stifled a yawn, covering his mouth with his fist. It was 9:30 AM—too early to feel sleepy, yet the “Introduction to Guiding” class was boring enough to make anyone drowsy.

Though fundamental knowledge about guiding was undeniably important, it was anything but engaging.

While the rookies, still wide-eyed with excitement, hung onto every word the instructor said, Eu-jin let most of it pass through one ear and out the other, struggling to stay focused.

Spotting his disengagement, Lim Bit-na paused her lecture and casually issued a warning. While her eyes scanned the room, she avoided naming anyone in particular.

“As I mentioned on the first day, there will be a final test. If you don’t pass, you won’t receive your guide certification. So, pay attention and feel free to ask questions if anything is unclear.”

“Wait, if we fail, does that mean we can’t become guides at all?” someone asked.

Eu-jin, who had been half-asleep, perked up slightly at the question.

“No, you’ll be re-trained until you pass. You’re valuable resources, after all.”

Lim Bit-na smiled warmly as she assured them, her gaze settling momentarily on Eu-jin.

Well, that’s less of a relief and more of a headache, Eu-jin thought, propping his chin on his hand and idly scribbling in the corner of his “Introduction to Guiding” book.

The trainees were en route to their next class: shooting practice. Excitement buzzed through the group as they chattered like sparrows.

“Ugh, I’m so nervous about the shooting class! Real guns freak me out.”

“Yeah, but it’s going to be fun. When else would we get to do this?”

“I heard they issue us actual guns when we go into the field!”

The rookies’ lively banter continued until someone turned to Eu-jin with a cheeky grin.

“Eu-jin-oppa, you better not fall asleep this time!”

“…Got it.”

“Hyung, we’re in the same group today! Want to bet on who scores higher?”

Having warmed up to Eu-jin after realizing he wasn’t a foreigner but a native Korean, the rookies now clung to him like eager puppies. Their initial wariness had quickly turned to friendliness.

Many of them found shooting practice particularly challenging. Most had only ever handled guns in video games, never in real life. However, being able to wield a weapon to protect themselves was an essential skill for guides.

The shooting range was located underground. The spacious waiting room was already packed with trainees watching the instructor’s demonstration through glass panels.

Bang! Bang-bang! Bang!

Despite the soundproofing, the gunshots were loud and sharp. While others gawked at the instructor, Eu-jin silently fetched bulletproof vests and goggles for his group.

The instructor returned to the waiting room holding a paper target. The human-shaped silhouette had every bullet hole punched dead center—ten perfect 10s.

“Whoa!”

The trainees erupted in cheers and applause as the instructor proudly waved the target.

“This is already my fifth session today, so you all should be hitting your marks by now. Whoever gets the highest score will earn a bonus 10 points!”

The announcement set the room ablaze with excitement. Since guide certification relied on an accumulated point system, bonus points were a valuable prize. Determined expressions swept across the room.

“Hyung, seriously, want to bet on it?”

“What’d you score last time?”

“62! My personal best!”

The trainee paired with Eu-jin, a 21-year-old named Jaechan, beamed as he bragged about his score. A former FPS game enthusiast, he both loved and excelled at shooting practice.

“…Hmm.”

Eu-jin scratched his forehead, weighing his options. He needed to find a way to beat Jaechan without standing out too much himself.

“Fine. Lowest score does the laundry for a week.”

“Deal!”

The wager was set, and the competition was on.