Chapter 36

Cha Yugeon seemed to have gone mad. Or lost his mind. Or his sanity had slipped away. Anyway, something was wrong with his head. Otherwise, Cha Yugeon, that Cha Yugeon, would never say such things.

Haon was so baffled that he didn’t know how to react. Cha Yugeon, feeling embarrassed, brushed the bridge of his nose and started walking ahead. Haon, stunned, watched Cha Yugeon’s receding back for a moment before snapping out of it and hurriedly followed him. As perplexing as it was, he had to move along.

Cha Yugeon kept a slight distance from Baek Chan-kyung and his group. Consequently, Haon, being his guide, had no choice but to keep his distance from them as well.

“Where could the rift core be?”

Park Inhyung looked around anxiously. Come to think of it, Haon hadn’t heard much about Park Inhyung. Kim Jeongwon had been a senior guide at the Center for quite some time. So, although they weren’t exactly friends, Haon had seen him around several times and recognized him. However, Park Inhyung was someone Haon was meeting for the first time today. It seemed he hadn’t been at the center for very long.

“Although the location varies with each gate, usually the rift core is on the opposite side of the gate entrance. If we’re lucky, it might take only about an hour to spot it, but in the worst case, it might take half a day.”

“I see… It’s worrying because we can’t communicate with the outside world here.”

Drawing from his limited experience, Haon provided an answer. Then, Park Inhyung sighed deeply, expressing his feelings. Haon could fully understand his feelings, having experienced similar emotions when he first entered the interior of a gate.

“Don’t worry too much. It’ll be fine.”

“That’s if everyone does their part.”

Kim Jeongwon’s prickly response took Haon aback. The tone felt hostile. His gaze coldly scanned Haon from top to bottom. Then, Kim Jeongwon turned away and walked ahead, as if he couldn’t bear to face Haon for even a second more. Haon felt embarrassingly hot in the face at his attitude.

“What’s that about? Why speak like that?”

Cha Yugeon blocked Kim Jeongwon’s path with a frosty remark. Then, Kim Jeongwon, seemingly intimidated, shrank back but raised his voice as if driven by anger.

“Did I say anything wrong? Last time, because Park Haon couldn’t properly use invisibility, we were nearly attacked. That’s why I said it, what’s wrong with that?”

Haon then realized why Kim Jeongwon was so hostile towards him. On the day Cha Yugeon fought the Hydra, the day Haon went on his last mission as an Esper, Haon failed using his ability and couldn’t protect the guides. Of course, since Cha Yugeon managed to defeat the Hydra, Haon only suffered a broken leg, and nothing more serious happened.

But from Kim Jeongwon’s perspective, it must have been a terrifying experience. Thus, it was natural for him to harbor hostility towards Haon. It was ultimately due to Haon’s lack of ability. Haon thought this way and tried to soothe his complex feelings.

“…I’m sorry. That time…”

“Whatever, if Mr. Cha Yugeon hadn’t protected me then, I might have died. What’s the point of apologizing now?”

Even Haon’s attempt to apologize did not seem to ease Kim Jeongwon’s feelings. He coldly responded. It was a valid point; if Cha Yugeon hadn’t timely blocked the Hydra’s attack and killed it, it could have been disastrous. Recognizing the truth in those words, Haon tried to ignore the stinging sensation inside.

“Ah, Ahhh!”

That was when it happened. Kim Jeongwon was suddenly lifted into the air. Haon, alarmed, looked around, thinking it was a monster attack. However, there was no monster holding Kim Jeongwon, nor were there any other monsters around. Instead, Cha Yugeon was staring coldly at Kim Jeongwon.

“Let me down! M-Mr. Cha, Cha Yugeon, what are you…!”

“What would happen if I smashed you into the ground right now?”

“Cha Yugeon!”

Haon urgently called out Cha Yugeon’s name at his icy question. However, Cha Yugeon seemed not to hear Haon’s voice. Haon was perplexed. In fact, Kim Jeongwon had been Cha Yugeon’s temporary guide once. So, even though the two weren’t close, Haon thought there would be at least some basic camaraderie between them.

“This, this isn’t right, we’re on the same side…”

“Who said you and I are on the same side?”

“B-But… if you do this, the, the Center won’t just stand by…….”

“Didn’t you hear? The communications don’t work here. And even if they did, it wouldn’t matter. You’re just an A-class guide, but I’m an S-class Esper. Even if there aren’t many A-class guides, they can’t compare to an S-class Esper. Even if I killed you, the Center couldn’t do anything to me. At most, they might dock my pay for a few months. That’s the value of your life, not even worth a few months of my salary.”

“M-Mr Baek, Mr. Baek Chan-kyung, help me!”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not involved in this.”

“W-What do you mean…! I’m your guide!”

“Is that so? Weren’t you just my temporary guide? Anyway, I don’t want to get involved.”

Baek Chan-kyung, who Haon had naturally assumed would help Kim Jeongwon, drew a cold line. Haon was quite shocked by Baek Chan-kyung’s attitude. He had always thought of Baek Chan-kyung as quite affectionate and courteous. But it seemed he was mistaken. Baek Chan-kyung simply stared at Kim Jeongwon with indifferent eyes, as if Kim Jeongwon’s safety didn’t matter to him at all.

Already feeling lost as it was his first time entering a gate, Park Inhyung was at a loss for what to do in the sudden internal conflict. Haon was the only one who could resolve this situation. Haon was well aware of this fact. He approached Cha Yugeon.

“Cha Yugeon, let him down.”

“No.”

“Quickly. What if he gets hurt like this?”

“I don’t intend to hurt him.”

“Then?”

“I intend to kill him.”

“Hey…!”

That’s a bigger problem, damn it!

Haon barely suppressed the urge to curse. He needed to stay calm. There was no use in provoking Cha Yugeon. If Cha Yugeon really killed Kim Jeongwon, it would all be because of him, and Haon couldn’t bear the thought.

“Why the hell are you doing this? Kim Jeongwon’s right, isn’t he? Because I couldn’t do my part……”

“Damn it, how is that your fault?!”

“That’s what you said before!”

In the end, the suppressed emotions burst out. Haon wanted to stay calm, he wanted to hold back, but things didn’t go as planned. Haon resented Cha Yugeon. Cha Yugeon had once criticized Haon more than anyone else. Of course, he had apologized, but the wounds from back then still haunted Haon.

It’s because he can’t do his part, because of his lack of ability.

There was no denying that the reason for the self-loathing that gripped Haon’s ankles was partly Cha Yugeon’s fault.

“Park Haon, that……”

“You said the same thing. Why send such a guy like me? You said there were more things to worry about because of me! You thought I couldn’t even do my part properly. And now, why, why now……!”

Haon’s voice trailed off amidst the choked sobs. There was nothing more embarrassing than crying in this situation. Haon forced back the rising tears, glaring at Cha Yugeon with moist eyes.

“…Enough, just quickly let him down.”

Haon barely managed to regain his composure and spoke. Cha Yugeon alternated his gaze between Kim Jeongwon and Haon, then clenched his fist.

“Damn it……”

Cha Yugeon muttered curses and let go of Kim Jeongwon. Kim Jeongwon seemed to have lost his strength and sat down where he was. Haon hoped he wouldn’t die, but he wasn’t kind enough to help Kim Jeongwon stand up. Haon pretended not to notice Kim Jeongwon wiping his tears and walked ahead without looking back.

“Park Haon, Park Haon!”

Cha Yugeon called out Haon’s name and followed him. Haon couldn’t take more than a few steps before Cha Yugeon caught up to him. He blocked Haon’s path.

“If you go like this, I’ll…”

Roarrr―!

Cha Yugeon’s words were drowned out by a loud noise. The ground trembled and vibrated. A huge figure appeared faintly in the darkness. Something immense was approaching. Haon swallowed dryly and tightened his grip on his blade.

“Damn it, of all times……”

Cha Yugeon muttered irritably and stepped forward. A huge pillar of fire illuminated the darkness. Along with it, the figure of the beast became visible.

It had an enormous size, with a long trunk like an elephant’s, and its body was thick like a bear’s. Its tail was long and slender. Every time the creature took a step, the ground sank and trembled as if an earthquake had struck.