Hello everyone, SleepyTime here. Some of you might recognize this novel from Wook’s Teahouse before the whole site was taken down, and yes, I’m the original translator who uploaded this novel there. At first, I’m just going to let this novel gather dust in my drive since I don’t have the time to upload 90++ chapters, but due to some of my readers that still wanted to read this novel, I decided to post it in SoR. Hope you all enjoy it, thank you.
Chapter 8
by SleepyTime“Ugh… I don’t feel so good…”
Haon looked around to calm his churning stomach. Since it was a familiar place, Haon quickly realized his situation and sighed deeply.
Haon was standing in front of the jet gate. The unfolding events had changed. It was time to enter the gate, ride the jet, and land in Yeongdeungpo-gu, where monsters, including Werewolves, were wreaking havoc. All of this alongside Cha Yugeon.
Participating in the mission itself wasn’t terrifying or undesirable. Haon had been on numerous missions before. He probably already faced Werewolves at least ten times already.
Honestly, when he heard the mission broadcast, his entire body was filled with excitement. It was exhilarating, and after a long time, he felt the thrill of going on a mission. Even though it was his first time going as a guide, it felt like he had become a useful presence again.
As his rank dropped, Haon gradually got excluded from missions. Even the last mission he went on after a long time, ended with him not fulfilling his part and causing trouble. If he could, he wanted to redeem that mistake in this mission, even if it meant going with Cha Yugeon.
“Please proceed inside.”
“Director Han. I really, truly, sincerely don’t want to go—”
“Mr. Park Haon, we don’t have time.”
“Of course…”
In response to the serious words of the Director, Haon weakly replied and entered the jet. Haon, who had participated in missions with a determined attitude many times, understood the meaning behind “no time.” It meant they had to rectify the situation before the monster-induced damage became even greater.
Haon also didn’t want the damage to escalate. So, whether he liked it or not, there was no time to waste.
Once inside the gate, the jet was right in front of them. Haon, with a stern face, boarded the jet, and he sees Cha Yugeon looking out the window with a displeased expression. Haon didn’t hesitate and took the seat farthest from Cha Yugeon, and fastening his seatbelt.
― Mr. Cha Yugeon, Mr. Park Haon.
“Yes…”
“What is it”
In response to the Director’s radio, Haon extended his words as if he was dying of disgust, and Cha Yugeon, as always, responded with a dismisively polite response.
―The two of you are scheduled to depart to the area near Dangsan Station, a major monster emergence zone. The vanguard has already left. Mr. Park Haon, as this is your first mission as a guide, there are a few guidelines. Unfortunately, you had to become the rear guard due to unavoidable circumstances. However, once you arrive, please focus on exterminating the monsters.
“Understood.”
“Tsk.”
The sound of Cha Yugeon clicking his tongue sharply pierced Haon’s ears. Grinding his teeth, Haon glared at Cha Yugeon. Whether Cha Yugeon felt Haon’s fiery gaze or not, he shifted his gaze from the window towards Haon.
For a moment, the gazes of the two clashed in mid-air. However, Cha Yugeon didn’t keep his gaze on Haon for long. Quickly, he turned his head back to the window. It seemed like he really detested going on a mission with Haon.
Haon also hated the situation, but regardless, he tried to be relatively cooperative. After all, what was the point of expressing his displeasure while on the jet heading a mission? Unfortunately, Cha Yugeon seemed to have no consideration whatsoever.
‘That worthless jerk.’
Haon swore at the back of Cha Yugeon’s unfortunate head and quietly raised his middle finger.
“I can see you.”
“Whatever.”
“Stop it.”
Perhaps Cha Yugeon saw Haon reflected in the window, he grunted. Haon lowered his middle finger quitely while muttering about a ‘wretched guy’. After all, he didn’t want to be burned to death.
―Mr. Park Haon, please focus on the monitor screen. An instruction on how to guide an esper is written there.
At that moment, the voice of the Director penetrated their eardrums. Haon shifted his gaze to the monitor as instructed.
<Guiding Method>
① Make contact with the esper physically.
② Concentrate on transferring guide energy to the esper.
③ Finish guiding.
※ Physical contact and guide energy activation are proportional. ※
“Director, is this all there is?”
—That’s correct.
“Did you ask me to concentrate on this right now…?”
You conscienceless bastard from the center. Is this all there is to it? Is this all? Haon swallowed the words that reached the edge of his lips, making an effort to check every detail on the monitor, just in case he missed anything.
—Still, it will be more helpful than not reading it at all.
“Well… Of course, that’s how it should be, right?”
Haon usually didn’t want to engage in conversation, but for now, he had no choice. Whether the Director understood Haon’s feelings or deliberately ignored them, he continued without any disturbance.
—Physical contact can range from holding hands to hugging, kissing, and se—
“I won’t do it. I won’t. Even if a knife is held to my neck, I won’t do it. Besides, we’re heading to Dangsan Station. I’m not crazy enough to do that in the middle of Dangsan Station. So, don’t say anything.”
Even without saying it, Haon knew what would come after the word kissing. He expressed his rejection like pouring out poison. Of course, the Director was unperturbed by it.
—Yes, understood. In any case, please keep in mind that the deeper the physical contact, the more activated the guide energy becomes.
“I’ve no need to be guided by a guy like him, so don’t say creepy things like that.”
Cha Yugeon, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly intervened in the conversation between Haon and the Director. Haon glared at Cha Yugeon, who seemed to have no consideration of Haon’s feelings.
“Good. I have no intention of guiding a guy like you either.”
Haon made a sincere promise. Rather than guiding that guy, he would prefer to get rid of it.
* * *
[Auwuuuu, uuuuuu―]
Not long after, the jet landed at Dangsan Station. As soon as the door opened, Haon frowned at the echoing cries of monsters. Among the numerous cries, the voice of the Werewolf had a particularly strong presence.
“Don’t get in my way and just hide in a corner.”
Cha Yugeon, after making a scratching remark, used his telekinetic ability to send himself flying towards the Werewolf pack. Watching Cha Yugeon quickly move away, Haon silently prayed for that guy to become a freshly delivered lunch for the Werewolves.
[Kieeek! Kieeeeek!]
As the flames surged and covered the Werewolves, the smell of burning meat filled the air. Along with it, the Werewolf’s scream pierced through the air.
“A long-lived bastard… No, I should stop cursing. They say you live longer if you get cursed. What if that lives longer because I always curse at him?”
Haon, without realizing it, was about to let out a string of curses when he hastily covered his mouth. When he turned to the sizzling sound, there were people who seemed to be the vanguard. They looked exhausted.
“Phew, It’s Esper Cha Yugeon!”
“Who’s next to him? Oh, it’s Esper Park Haon,!”
“Alright, we’re saved now.”
They seemed relieved and pleased to see Cha Yugeon and Haon. Seeing them, Haon felt a heaviness in his heart. Clearly, they didn’t know that Haon had become a guide.
His mouth felt dry, as if chewing on sand. Haon made an effort to conceal his discomfort and took out a dagger from his thigh harness. Then, at the end of his handle, he inserted his middle finger into the round hole and twirled the dagger.
Even though his main mission was to protect the guide and civilians using the invisibility skill, he had enough combat experience to not be helpless in the battlefield.
Haon bent his upper body to avoid the werewolf’s ferocious fangs that rushed at him just in time, and plunged the dagger between the werewolf’s strong ribs.
[“Kieeek!”]
Haon screamed, agilely avoiding the large body that leaned forward, and skillfully twisted and pulled the dagger that was embedded in the creature. Then, a splash of bright red blood spurted into the air.
[“Kekkekkekkek.”]
Starting with one Werewolf, Haon rushed towards a Goblin that makes a strange laughing sounds. However, before Haon could attack the Goblin, it was engulfed in bright red flames.
” I told you to just stay in the corner.”
“To me, this is the corner. Got it?”
Haon responded to Cha Yugeon’s nagging with a straightforward reply and then forcefully threw the dagger at Cha Yugeon. The dagger, flying in a straight line, narrowly avoided Cha Yugeon’s face, hitting the forehead of a Goblin that was coming from behind him.
“Oh my, I missed. I almost hit the mark.”
“Haha…”
Haon tried to hold back the smile that spread as he watched Cha Yugeon burst into laughter at his soulless apology.