DB Vol 6 Part 6

The world had turned upside down overnight. No matter how many big incidents had happened in sequence, nothing had shocked people as much as what happened this night.

“The Hong Family Head is dead?”

Yang Cheon-hyo asked the same question several times in disbelief. Yoon-im also gave the same expressionless answer.

“Yes. He was found half-buried in a pile of dirt, covered in blood.”

“And all our Yang family Espers are dead too?”

“Yes. There must have been a fierce battle, and the vice head must have delivered the final blow…”

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

Yang Cheon-hyo shouted as if throwing a tantrum and stood up. Then he paced back and forth rapidly around the room, biting his nails.

“My brother could never defeat the Hong Family Head. An A-rank can never eliminate an S-rank. He must have died for some other reason. Someone else, someone who could kill the Hong Family Head…”

Abruptly. Yang Cheon-hyo stopped in his tracks and hissed a name through his teeth.

“Gye Yoon.”

Yang Cheon-hyo’s hands trembled uncontrollably with anger.

“That bastard must have come.”

His voice shook with rage. Then he turned his venom-filled eyes to Yoon-im.

“Head Family Oh definitely saw it, right? Gye Yoon teleporting, I mean.”

Though Yang Cheon-hyo’s question was heard, Yoon-im kept her gaze lowered and didn’t open her mouth. She was momentarily lost in thought. Perhaps because the angry Yang Cheon-hyo couldn’t keep his hands still, her gaze kept going to his hands. Before coming here, she had tried contacting Head Family Oh’s phone that Won-woo had, but only got a message saying the number didn’t exist.

That guy had hung up first as if he had no lingering attachment after spouting such nonsense to her. So Yoon-im shouldn’t pay any more attention to Won-woo’s words. But knowing she had been brainwashed, she couldn’t help it. Since such important information had turned out to be true, wouldn’t Won-woo’s other words be true as well? Won-woo had given her a piece of advice before hanging up.

‘Yang Cheon-hyo has a startup motion he does every time he uses his power. But like other mental espers, he’s made it into a habit he does often normally to hide when he’s using his power. So watch carefully when you meet him. Especially his hands.’

Hands. At the ends of hands as white and well-groomed as his appearance were long nails. Yoon-im’s eyes went to the nails decorated with vibrant colors. And it immediately came to mind. Yang Cheon-hyo’s habit was clicking those nail tips together.

“Not going to answer?”

At the sharp voice, Yoon-im opened her mouth while still keeping her gaze on the floor. To Yang Cheon-hyo looking down at her, it was the perfect posture of submission.

“When I checked with Head Family Oh again afterwards, he said it was unclear. He said his vision wasn’t clear and the other person had their hood pulled down low, so he might have been mistaken.”

The lie flowed easily from Yoon-im’s mouth. Yang Cheon-hyo’s face instantly turned cold.

“You, if you’re spouting nonsense in front of me…”

He approached Yoon-im, reaching out a hand towards her. Yoon-im immediately realized he was going to grab her head to make her tell the truth. Still, she bowed her head even lower.

“I have nothing to gain by lying to you, Chairman. Besides, there’s a more important issue right now.”

As Yoon-im changed the subject, Yang Cheon-hyo stopped in his tracks.

“What important issue?”

“Hong Eun-tae is going North, they say.”

“…”

As Yoon-im had expected, this seemed to be quite terrible news for Yang Cheon-hyo. Honestly, no one would care whether Hong Eun-tae, who now had no power, went North or not. The Hong family felt the same.

“The Hong family is handing over Hong Eun-tae?”

“They say they requested help from the Gye family in preparation for this fight. The Gye family promised full support if they granted just one thing.”

“And that one thing is… Hong Eun-tae?”

Yes. Yoon-im answered and waited a moment for Yang Cheon-hyo’s reaction. They say the Hong family accepted that request immediately without any hesitation. Even though she was a direct descendant, an Esper who had lost her ability was a useless existence, so they were rather grateful to have the trash taken out.

But Yang Cheon-hyo, who had no connection to the Hong family, was pale with gritted teeth. The careful dismantling of the Gye family over 9 years was reversing like dominoes being rewound. It felt like everything was returning to its original state, now reaching the starting point from 9 years ago.

“Fuck, those Gye family bastards. It’s always those bastards that are the problem. If only they hadn’t taken Purifier’s side, there wouldn’t have been any issue… Fuck.”

Yang Cheon-hyo spat out incomprehensible words and curses, pacing around the room frantically as if at a loss. Then, as if suddenly struck by a question, he whirled around to face Yoon-im.

“What fight is the Hong family preparing for?”

Yoon-im raised her gaze, looking puzzled as if to ask if he really didn’t know. Does he really not know and is asking? The Yang Cheon-hyo that Yoon-im had come to know was meticulous, paying attention even to small details due to his suspicious nature. It seemed that in unexpected situations, that meticulousness became a poison instead.

Faced with a situation he hadn’t prepared for, he was floundering, unable to see the big picture. Yoon-im lowered her head again to hide her contempt. And she informed Yang Cheon-hyo.

“The Hong family has declared war on the Yang family, citing the death of their family head.”

*

When Won-woo voiced his opinion, he naturally expected opposition. After all, what Won-woo wanted was the condition that he would fight alongside them. But he hadn’t anticipated the number of people who would oppose.

“No.”

Gye Yoon was the first to firmly object. Following him, Jae-hak quickly nodded his head.

“That’s right. They say the Hong and Yang families are going to war, you absolutely can’t go to such a dangerous place.”

Won-woo wanted to tell them. That he had fought in that war for quite a long time, so it wasn’t dangerous. However, someone else’s objection was heard first.

“That’s right. Mr. Won-woo is a very important person who mustn’t be absent from here now. If any problem were to occur, it could escalate into a crisis for the entire Gye family.”

At Chief Jung’s words, Won-woo mentioned the news he had heard before coming here.

“I heard that since Guide One has practically disbanded, the number of Guides wanting to come North has increased. Is that not true?”

“Yes. Fortunately, among them are Guides whose wavelengths partially match Miss Hwan’s, so we decided to bring them immediately. However, since the wavelengths don’t match completely…”

“Of course, I’ll come North anytime for Hwan’s guiding. I’ll definitely do Hwan’s guiding.”

At Won-woo’s promise, Jae-hak seemed moved, wrinkling his nose and turning his head. On the other hand, Hwan’s uncle tilted his head skeptically.

“There’s no need to do it yourself. We’ve found Guides, after all.”

“The wavelengths only partially match, so Hwan might be in pain.”

“She’s old enough to know about the world now.”

The uncle, unwilling to share his Guide, was acting more childish than a 3-year-old. Fortunately, before his enraged sister could step in, his natural enemy in this room retorted.

“Our Hwan doesn’t need to know yet, okay? Honestly, Yoon, you’re this old and still haven’t grown up, so you don’t know even a bit about the world.”

“Fuck, what don’t I know?”

“You definitely don’t know Kkokko’s heart.”

At the name Kkokko, which had become a sore spot, Gye Yoon immediately gritted his teeth.

“I’m definitely going to get rid of that chicken somewhere it can’t be seen.”

And so, a brief commotion erupted over Kkokko’s adoption issue, and as Won-woo watched the useless argument with a smile, Gye Min’s voice was heard.

“Go ahead.”

A pause. Not just Won-woo, but everyone turned to look at her. Gye Min expressionlessly looked at Won-woo and confirmed once more to the surprised man.

“Go and fight as you wish. I’ll make sure you don’t die or get hurt by watching over you.”

Gye Yoon frowned in disapproval but didn’t refuse Gye Min’s order directed at him.

“You stick to Ji Won-woo 24 hours a day and protect him no matter what. That’s your only job.”

“I was going to stick to him even without you telling me.”

Gye Yoon spat out discontentedly and turned to look at Won-woo. He still seemed displeased about Won-woo going, but he didn’t object any further. Rather, Won-woo asked Gye Min curiously.

“Are you sure it’s okay to send me?”

He thought she’d want to keep him here just for Hwan’s guiding, but Min replied nonchalantly.

“You’ll come back, won’t you?”

Being asked this question, Won-woo felt strange. When he first met her here, she had been suspicious of him because of his surname Ji. Won-woo looked at her quietly for a moment before slowly smiling.

“Yes. I have to come back.”

For several days, the Dong Center was quite chaotic. They were already short on Espers due to the previous monster incident, and now suddenly they were going to war with the Yang family. The Hong family had sent a request with a deadline to the Yang family, declaring that if the deadline passed, they would immediately invade and punish the Yang family.

Hong Seung-wook had been called to the Hong family for several days to hear various things, so he was late to the center again today. As soon as he arrived, he went to the training ground assigned to the team. And there were his friend who had been absorbed due to lack of team members and his team members.

“Yoo Geon-young.”

When Seung-wook called his friend’s name, Geon-young, who had been training until his whole body was soaked in sweat, approached while breathing heavily. He was burning with revenge against the Yang family for losing his father in this incident.

“What did the Hong family say? When are they attacking?”

“You know. They agreed to give time to the Yang family.”

“Fuck, what’s the point of giving those bastards time?! Isn’t it just giving them time to prepare for the fight?”

Yoo Geon-young was anxious because there was no way to recover his father’s body on Yang family territory. Seung-wook understood his friend’s feelings, but he couldn’t persuade the Hong family for that reason.

“Wait a little. It’s a war with the Yang family. We need time to prepare for the fight too.”

“Damn it.”

Geon-young cursed and threw the towel in his hand to the floor.

“So you came to the center at this time to train too?”

“No. To greet guests.”

Guests? To the puzzled Geon-young, Seung-wook twisted his mouth as if bitter.

“You know reinforcements are coming from the North, right? I’m in charge of one of those teams.”

“Ah… Espers are coming from the Gye family.”

Geon-young muttered as if talking to himself, frowning.

“Fuck, to think we’d be fighting mixed in the same team with those Gye family bastards.”

“We’re not on the same team.”

“What?”

“Precisely, I’m just a guide. No, our entire team’s role is to assist them.”

Geon-young’s face frowned even more, but Seung-wook patted his friend’s shoulder and urged him.

“Bring everyone out. They’ll arrive soon.”

How many Espers are they sending from the North that we have to go out to greet them? Geon-young changed his clothes and headed to the team room first. This was the main team 2 led by Seung-wook, but somehow it had become a gathering of survivors. So Geon-young didn’t complain even though he was suddenly pushed to the position of deputy team leader.

Of course, at first, it hurt his pride to have to take orders under his friend, but after his father’s death, he didn’t care about anything anymore. As long as he could get revenge on the Yang family. But it seems his pride wasn’t completely dead. To receive help from the Gye family.

How much had they despised and mocked them until now? The fact that those guys were now in a position where they had to go out to greet them as reinforcements made his insides twist. Of course, if the Gye family cooperated, there was enough chance of winning even if the Hong family was pushed back. So it was understandable that the Hong family had asked them to pay attention to the reinforcements from the North.

But still, it was the Gye family. The long-ingrained perception didn’t change easily. It seems it wasn’t just Geon-young. In the team room, those gathered by Seung-wook’s order were complaining.

“How great of an Esper are they sending that we have to go greet them? Well, unless it’s the Gye brute coming.”

“Hey, why would the Gye brute come here? Haven’t you heard the rumors? They say the Gye brute found a Guide, but it’s a five or six year old kid. The Gye brute can never leave the North.”

Seung-wook had heard similar talk from his team members before. There were rumors that monsters had also appeared in the North, but they had handled it much better than the Hong family, and Gye Yoon’s contribution had been significant. That meant he had finally found a guide. Even when he first heard the news, and even now after time had passed, it somehow made him feel bitter. He disliked the situation where Gye Yoon could properly use his power.

Of course, others openly expressed their dislike. S-rank Espers were objects of awe, but hadn’t the Gye family been ridiculed for a long time? Perhaps that’s why everyone carelessly called the Gye family’s vice head a maniac and mocked him.

But a firm voice warned the team members.

“Everyone, watch your words.”

Seung-wook was suddenly standing at the doorway. He looked around at the team members with furrowed brows.

“If anyone calls the Gye vice head that in front of the reinforcements from the North, I’ll punish them immediately.”

However, only one or two of the ten or so espers inside responded. The rest all kept their mouths shut with displeased looks. Geon-young was naturally among the displeased ones.

“Why are you being so harsh? It’s not like we’ve only been calling Gye Yoon a brute for a year or two.”

“Whether it’s been a year or a hundred years, from now on they’re reinforcements we need help from. There’s nothing to gain by irritating them.”

“Sigh, to think the day would come when we can’t call a brute a brute.”

As Geon-young clicked his tongue, Idan, who had followed Seung-wook, asked cautiously.

“So Gye Yoon isn’t coming?”

“It’s hard for him to receive guiding. There’s no way he’d come.”

Seung-wook nodded in agreement with Geon-young’s words.

“Even if it’s not about guiding, he won’t move easily because he’s S-rank.”

S-rank… Idan muttered the rank inside his mouth and tilted his head curiously.

“Even Seung-wook hyung has vast energy, how much greater would S-rank be?”

“They say it’s like the sea.”

Geon-young answered and shrugged at the two people’s looks asking ‘How do you know?’

“When I was young, the Yang family head’s Guide came to our house once. I was curious about what S-rank was like, so I asked that person. They said S-rank is exactly like the sea itself. And when the sea’s typhoon rages, even they have nearly been swept away and killed several times. And that Guide was A-rank. I’ve heard that the Yang family head’s Guide changed often, and I immediately understood why. Even an A-rank guide found it so overwhelming.”

Idan, an A-rank guide, opened his mouth slightly as if unable to imagine it.

“An A-rank guide nearly dying… Then there’s a high chance that the kid guiding Gye Yoon is S-rank too?”

Idan’s question came out innocently, but the expressions of Seung-wook and Geon-young who heard it changed subtly. They both seemed to think ‘Huh?’ The two exchanged glances for a moment, and as if understanding each other, Geon-young muttered.

“What are the chances of such an incredible Guide appearing? And of all places, in the North, matching the Gye family’s wavelength?”

“It’s close to impossible.”

“Maybe it’s not actually a kid.”

“Yeah. The kid story could be a smokescreen.”

Seung-wook nodded and agreed. Then he glanced at his watch. Geon-young, seemingly displeased by this, asked.

“Didn’t you say it was time for them to arrive? But does our whole team really need to go out?”

“I told you. We’re in charge of one of the teams coming from there.”

“Even so, it’s not like a king is visiting. The whole team going out? Just you and I should be enough.”

At Geon-young’s complaint, Seung-wook looked around and lowered his voice.

“It’s an order from the main family. They said to welcome them as much as possible to uphold the Gye family’s dignity.”

“They should uphold their own dignity, why are we making such a fuss? If they wanted to ask for help, they should have offered proper compensation from the start.”

Ordinary people didn’t know, but among Espers, word was spreading about what compensation the Hong family had offered. But since it was just a rumor and not confirmed fact, Geon-young looked at Seung-wook’s reaction after speaking. However, his response was nonchalant.

“That’s all the Gye family wanted.”

“So they really only sent Hong Eun-tae? That’s it? Even if she lost her ability, she’s still their sister…”

Geon-young shook his head, thinking of the vice head currently leading the Hong family. Idan, who had been listening quietly beside them, shuddered as if getting goosebumps at the idea of family being cast out like that.

“Poor Director Hong.”

Immediately, the two threw incredulous looks at Idan. They thought Idan might be the only one in the world who would feel sorry for Hong Eun-tae.

Of course, it was a pitiful situation to suddenly lose his ability like a disaster and be abandoned by the Hong family. But because she had such a notorious reputation before, none of her former colleagues sympathized. Geon-young murmured, recalling when Hong Eun-tae was injured.

“Come to think of it, Hong Eun-tae was the beginning.”

“Of what?”

“Strange things happening. Incidents kept occurring since then.”

At that time. Seung-wook also recalled that moment, but there was someone who came to mind more vividly than Hong Eun-tae. It was when Hong Eun-tae collapsed and a strong wind swept through as if a powerful force had exploded.

Everyone lowered their bodies and crouched down, but there was someone who stood calmly. Ji Won-woo. There was another person standing behind him, but Seung-wook couldn’t take his eyes off Ji Won-woo’s expressionless face at the time.

In front, Geon-young and Idan continued talking about something, but Seung-wook anxiously checked the time again. When he heard reinforcements were coming from the North, Seung-wook saw it as an opportunity. If he played his cards right, he might hear news of Ji Won-woo from them.

Seung-wook still believed Ji Won-woo was alive. Maybe the person who had slipped through his grasp that night while defeating monsters was Ji Won-woo. For some reason, he still couldn’t shake the thought that it was Ji Won-woo. Just then, an alert came on Seung-wook’s phone.

‘The Northern reinforcements have entered the center. Please gather.’

In the center of Dong Center was a monument for espers who had sacrificed themselves fighting monsters. A wide plaza spread out around this white monument. Most of the people visiting the plaza were tourists coming to see the center, as those working at Dong Center used the back entrance. Or in cases like now, when the center was specially welcoming guests.

A considerable number of Espers affiliated with Dong Center had already gathered in front of the monument. The Hong family must have felt a more desperate need for Northern help now that they were actually going to war with the Yang family, as even the Dong Center director had come out to the monument.

It looked like they were warmly welcoming the North, so there seemed to be nothing to find fault with. However, just as Seung-wook’s team arrived at the central plaza, an unexpected problem had arisen.

“This is… all? This is all you’ve got?”

The excited voice of the Dong Center director echoed loudly across the plaza. Seung-wook and Geon-young looked at each other, thinking ‘What’s going on?’ As they pushed through the crowd to move forward, the director’s voice was heard again.

“What about the second group? Is there no second group?”

Second group? How many people came for them to ask about a second group? The two who had been moving forward stopped in their tracks as soon as they stepped into the open center. Facing off against the numerous Espers of Dong Center were only about ten people. Is that all? However, this wasn’t even surprising to the two of them.

“Currently, there is no set second group. Though we do have one team member who hasn’t arrived yet.”

The voice of the Northern representative speaking to the Dong Center director was quite businesslike. And it was very familiar to the two of them. Especially Geon-young, who stepped forward half a step as if in disbelief. The face of the person hidden by the Dong Center director was indeed familiar. No, it was a face they knew too well.

“Han Seona?”

When Geon-young called out to her, Seona cast an indifferent glance. Geon-young was dumbfounded. Why had that B-rank who was clearly under him until recently suddenly appeared as Northern reinforcements?

“Why are you here? Don’t tell me you’re the Esper who came from the North?”

Seona stared at Geon-young for a moment before turning to the Dong Center director and asking.

“As I mentioned, I am the main team leader at the North Center and am in overall charge of the practical work for these reinforcements. You can discuss all matters related to this operation with me. However.”

She introduced herself and then glanced at Geon-young once more.

“If people we’re supposed to work with together speak carelessly to me as if I’m their subordinate, it will be difficult to cooperate further.”

“Speak carelessly? Ha, have you really gone crazy? Do you think we’ll be scared if you say you won’t cooperate?”

As Geon-young expressed his exasperation with an incredulous laugh, Seona still answered the Dong Center director, not him.

“If you don’t need the North’s support, we’ll return. And I’ll report this welcome from Dong Center accurately to the Gye family head.”

At the mention of ‘Gye family head’, the Dong Center director’s face froze. He turned to Geon-young with a sharp look, making him step back, then forced a smile at Seona.

“I assure you that this friend won’t say or do anything to offend Team Leader Han Seona from now on. So you don’t need to report such trivial matters to the Gye family head. There’s no good in creating problems for each other, right?”

The director’s last words came out forcefully, but Seona replied without batting an eye.

“No. I believe that if problems arise, they should all be revealed and resolved.”

“Sigh, look here, Team Leader Han Seona…”

“Of course, I don’t think the nonsense of a mere deputy team leader represents Dong Center.”

“Yes, yes. You thought well…”

“However.”

The director’s expression kept changing like a flipped hotteok at Seona’s words. Seona continued speaking slowly with an expressionless face, regardless of the other’s reaction.

“The Gye family head gave special instructions.”

“What did the family head say?”

“That if there’s even the slightest lack in hospitality, it’s evidence that the Gye family’s help isn’t needed, so we should withdraw without hesitation.”

The Dong Center director looked back at the reinforcements in front of him, straining to control his contorting face. Just ten people. Are they worth entertaining? His mind raced quickly, but he thought this might be a test from the Gye family head.

Sending only a part to see how the Hong family would treat them. Well, it didn’t make sense to help just for receiving Hong Eun-tae alone. The Dong Center director forced a smile and nodded to Seona.

“How could we be negligent in our hospitality when you’ve come like this to help the Hong family?”

Geon-young looked at him with irritated eyes as even his speech changed to honorifics, but he didn’t open his mouth. Instead, he was about to vent his frustration to his friend standing next to him, but Seung-wook’s face looked strange. His face was frozen, staring intently at one spot. Moreover, his eyes were trembling slightly.

What are you looking at like that? Geon-young turned his eyes to where Seung-wook was looking. At the very end of the reinforcements from the North, there was a person hidden by others. Because they were wearing a hood pulled low, their face wasn’t clearly visible, so Geon-young tilted his head to the side and then froze like ice.

The hooded person seemed uninterested in whatever was happening in front, looking around at the Dong Center building. Then, as if feeling the gaze, they turned their head towards Seung-wook and Geon-young. Their gaze brushed past briefly, but the two could clearly see their face.

Ji Won-woo. The name that came to mind hit them like a meteorite falling from the sky. Unlike the two who stopped breathing in surprise, Won-woo indifferently turned his eyes away again.

“If you need anything, just tell me directly. I’ll prepare whatever you need right away.”

The Dong Center director, having finished a short conversation, patted Seona’s arm one last time. Seona answered perfunctorily while her gaze turned to his side. Hong Seung-wook and Yoo Geon-young were frozen in shock, their mouths hanging open without realizing it.

It was obvious who they had seen. They must have managed to see Won-woo even though he was placed at the very back and wearing his hood low. They sure know how to use their eyes at times like this. Seona threw a sharp glance at the two, but their dumbfounded expressions didn’t change. Since she was here as the North Center’s representative, Seona couldn’t cause problems, so she clicked her tongue inwardly. Tsk, Won-woo-nim will be worn out.

“Well then, you’ll need to rest first, so I’ll guide you to your accommodations. We’ve prepared lodgings near the center. The guide will be…”

As soon as the Dong Center director turned around, two people stepped forward simultaneously.

“I’ll do it.”

“I’ll guide them…”

It was Seung-wook and Geon-young. While the Dong Center director blinked in confusion, Seona’s gaze grew colder. These idiots are at it again.

“No. We don’t need a guide. I know the structure of this place very well.”

Seona once again ignored the two and conveyed her refusal only to the Dong Center director. Then, as if to prove her words, she decisively chose a direction, and those who came with her followed her like chicks.

“Wait. Hold on.”

Seung-wook stepped forward to stop them, but Geon-young grabbed his arm from the side to stop him. Then he glanced at the Dong Center director’s expression. He was looking at them with furrowed brows as if to say, ‘What’s wrong with you guys?’

“Later. We’ll have plenty of time to see them from now on.”

At Geon-young’s words, Seung-wook stepped back, but he couldn’t take his eyes off one person following Seona. And he just silently watched them disappear.

But it wasn’t just the two of them who fell silent. The numerous Dong Center Espers gathered here stared at Seona’s group with displeasure and irritation. Only after the Dong Center director ordered them to disperse did someone among them burst out with a curse.

“Fuck, they send this pathetic bunch as reinforcements?”

The accommodation prepared by Dong Center was quite large. They had given them an entire building that could house 100 people, so everyone could choose the room they wanted. The room Won-woo chose was the end room on the top floor. After putting down his luggage, he habitually peered out through the gap in the closed curtains.

Although he had returned to Dong Center, he felt no particular emotion. Rather, he missed the North where he had stayed briefly. To the point where he wished he could return soon. The large mansion with its desolate feel, the few people he had conversations with. And that small child.

Won-woo felt a bit regretful that he couldn’t say goodbye to Hwan. Since Hwan collected animal dolls, should he buy one as a gift later? Preferably an animal she didn’t have. What, what did Hwan have again? It seemed like she had most common animals? As he was thinking hard, he abruptly stopped his thoughts.

Someone was approaching Won-woo’s accommodation. Though far away, he could recognize who it was at a glance. Hong Seung-wook. But before he could get close to the building, he was stopped by someone who caught up from behind and grabbed his arm. The short man who stopped him was panting as if he had been running.

Was his name Idan? The two exchanged some words and Seung-wook turned back with Idan as if he had no choice. However, he didn’t forget to turn his head and look at the accommodation where Won-woo was staying.

Watching him, Won-woo thought it was truly fortunate that he had decided to use the strategy Seona had mentioned when coming here. It was just yesterday, when they had gathered at Sang-cheon’s house, that the conversation came up.

“You’re going to show your face as it is? Isn’t that dangerous?”

Sang-cheon expressed his worry first, looking at Won-woo. After all, he had initially fled to the North looking for a safe place.

“Guide One, which would chase Mr. Won-woo, has completely collapsed now. At least in Hong family territory.”

So there’s no one to chase him, Seona explained, but Sang-cheon couldn’t shake off his unease.

“But it caused quite a problem back then. The Ji family used media play to make Mr. Won-woo look like a bad guy. Even now, videos of Mr. Won-woo hitting Espers are circulating. People will remember, won’t they?”

“Even if they remember, no one will make an issue of it. The Ji family has become the enemy now.”

Is that so. Sang-cheon tilted his head but didn’t stop worrying.

“Still, won’t many people find it strange if Mr. Won-woo suddenly goes to the East? Since he can’t reveal his identity, everyone will think he’s a D-rank Guide, so they’ll be suspicious of why he’s included in the reinforcements. What if someone picks a fight or tries to harm him?”

Won-woo seemed to have no particular answer to this problem and just shrugged his shoulders.

“Um, I was planning to say I came to provide information since I know a lot about the Ji family. So don’t worry. I’ll go and come back quietly, as if I’m not there.”

“No, that’s impossible.”

Gye Yoon, who was leaning his hips against the windowsill and standing crookedly, interjected. What do you mean, people looked at him, and he opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.

“As long as you’re Ji Geun-oh’s son, Won-woo-ssi, you’ll inevitably be a spectacle wherever you go. If you really want to stay quiet, as if you’re not there, you need to use another method.”

“What method is that?”

Sang-cheon quickly asked on behalf of Won-woo, but Gye Yoon stared only at Won-woo as he answered.

“Don’t go.”

Whether Won-woo looked at him with incredulous eyes or not, Gye Yoon faced him with a shameless face.

“There’s no absolute need for you to go, right?”

“I have to go. I want to settle things with the Ji family with my own hands. And there are some things I want to know too.”

Won-woo trailed off vaguely on the last part and turned his gaze away. Gye Yoon was about to object again with a face that still showed displeasure at Won-woo going, but Seona interrupted.

“If it’s difficult to go quietly, why not go loudly? Just go.”

What’s the problem? Seona shrugged as if she didn’t understand the conversation between these three people. Then, despite Gye Yoon’s murderous gaze, she continued.

“There’s a way to shut the mouths of people who are suspicious about why Mr. Won-woo came and eliminate all risk factors at once.”

“How?”

This time too, Sang-cheon the question fairy asked. Seona looked around at the three with a ‘why don’t you know?’ expression.

“Just say he’s receiving the love of a Gye family power holder.”

The three simultaneously had blank expressions. Seona kindly explained to them.

“Who would dare to touch someone the Gye family brute likes? And with that reason, it would explain why Mr. Won-woo went to the North, and why he came along with these reinforcements. You can excuse it by saying the Gye family brute wants to keep him by his side. Everyone will understand, saying it’s the brute doing maniac things.”

Seona had witnessed all sorts of privileges and corruption in her social life. So, having experienced how dirty and petty the world is, this was too easy a problem for Seona. And the three realized that it would be hard to find a reason that fit better than this.

However, Sang-cheon had an unsatisfied expression, and Won-woo was a bit flustered for a different reason. Is it okay to openly call him a brute? He glanced at Gye Yoon, but he was looking at Seona as if she was the most reliable person in the world, regardless of being called a brute or not. He seemed to trust her even more than his own sister at a glance.

“That’s good.”

Gye Yoon turned to Won-woo, unable to hide his rising smile.

“It’s the truth, so there’s no need to act.”

Yes, it’s the truth. But Won-woo couldn’t easily respond. Instead, he looked at the other two who were feeling awkward and changed the subject.

“We leave tomorrow, right?”

“Why are you changing the subject?”

“Who’s changing the subject? It’s just, there’s no need to continue this conversation.”

Won-woo put strength in his eyes saying to stop talking, but Gye Yoon rather smiled slightly.

“Are you afraid to hear the truth?”

“Hey.”

Won-woo called him sharply and glanced at the two who were flustered beside him.

“Let’s talk later.”

But Gye Yoon rather stared at Won-woo and smiled more deeply. And with eyes that weren’t smiling, he firmly captured Won-woo’s gaze and opened his mouth. As if using his ability, his voice rang like stereo in everyone’s ears.

“I love you. You’re all I think about.”

Gye Yoon’s sudden confession rang in Won-woo’s ears as if he had just heard it. Even for Won-woo, who had experienced all sorts of things, he couldn’t help but be flustered by the confession received in front of Sang-cheon and Seona.

Sang-cheon cleared his throat and turned his head, and Seona frowned, but thankfully, both pretended not to have heard. So he could face Seona, who was now entering with a knock, with a somewhat normal expression.

“The Dong Center side has requested a list of this support team. For now, I’ve handed over the information of those who have entered the accommodation.”

Won-woo immediately understood why Seona was saying this. Now rumors of Won-woo’s arrival at Dong Center would spread everywhere.

“The person who took the list seemed to recognize Ji Won-woo’s name. So I thought about spreading the rumor as planned, that he’s receiving love from a power holder, but…”

But what? As Won-woo looked at her questioningly, Seona put strength in her eyes and turned towards the window. It wasn’t to look outside as it was closed with curtains, but she seemed to be recalling Dong Center where they had been just moments ago.

“I thought it might have a bigger impact on those two if we showed them directly.”

Won-woo vaguely thought that the ‘those two’ Seona was referring to might be Seung-wook and Geon-young, whom she had spoken to. It seemed to be a suggestion to directly show them that he and Gye Yoon were together.

“But what kind of impact?”

When Won-woo asked about the point he didn’t understand, Seona stared at him for a moment and suddenly patted his shoulder.

“It’s okay.”

“Pardon?”

“Honestly, the brute and the other guys are all the same, but those two are particularly more annoying, so I’ll defend you well.”

“Seona-ssi, I don’t know what you’re defending against, but my affairs are my own…”

“It’s okay.”

Seona patted Won-woo’s shoulder again and repeatedly comforted him that it was okay.

“Honestly, there’s someone who will make an even bigger fuss than me, so I don’t have to put in much effort.”

Won-woo’s eyes narrowed at the words that he still half-understood, but his expression immediately turned serious at Seona’s following question.

“But did Gye Yoon do well? Even if his teleportation ability is excellent, that’s Yang family territory.”

Seona mentioned Gye Yoon who didn’t come along, but it wasn’t out of worry. Rather, it was irritation at the possibility that he might not have done it properly. At her words, Won-woo recalled Gye Yoon who would be secretly doing one thing in Yang family territory. It was Won-woo who first said a strategy was needed.

Although it was said that the Yang and Hong families were going to war, both still had time left for negotiation. An element was needed to spark the war. To make sure they would definitely clash. For that, anger needed to spread from below, not from those making decisions. And Gye Yoon easily found the answer.

‘We just need to sow discord again.’

Gye Yoon had gone to light the spark of that fight. Won-woo checked the watch on his wrist and said assertively,

“He must have succeeded.”

How can you be so sure? To Seona’s question, Won-woo threw his gaze towards the window. Idan, who had been dragging Seung-wook away just now, had looked like someone coming to deliver urgent news.

“It seems the news has reached Dong Center.”

Although the Hong family had declared war on the Yang family, they had set a grace period. This was partly for final negotiations, but also because it was difficult to suddenly cut off routes between two areas that had been freely traversing. Instead, during this grace period, they warned Espers of the opposing side remaining in each area to return to their hometowns.

They announced that those who remained afterwards would be considered enemies and attacked, so everyone hurried back to where they belonged. However, some who had family remaining couldn’t leave easily and were planning to move after filling the full term. Either way, they thought it was fine as long as they left within the deadline. But a problem erupted in Yang family territory.

“This is a video uploaded just now by the family of one of our Espers. They say they barely escaped using a teleportation portal.”

In the conference room where deputy team leaders and above from Dong Center had gathered, the acting director played a video on the monitor. The video showed a young woman crying while holding a child’s hand. She announced that her husband had stayed behind trying to find a way to take the whole family, then testified that Yang family Espers were secretly killing remaining Hong family-affiliated Espers.

‘It’s not just my husband who died. Sob, I heard… they’re hunting down and killing all B-rank and above Dong Center Espers who remained here. They only pushed me and my child into the teleportation portal, and my husband… hic.’

The tear-stained face of the woman was the end of the video.

“The video is spreading rapidly. The dead Esper was a popular A-rank. So it’s being flooded with posts from angry people saying we should also kill Yang family Espers remaining here. But it hasn’t been properly confirmed whether the Yang family is really hunting our Espers as that bereaved family member said.”

“But it’s certain that her husband died, isn’t it?”

To someone’s question, the acting director nodded with a furrowed brow.

“Yes. That’s the problem. Since there’s a victim, we can’t just sit still.”

“But Dong Center can’t move just because people are agitated and angry.”

To another person’s words, the acting director nodded again.

“That’s also true. The problem is that among those agitated and angry are also elders of the Hong family.”

Instead of explaining further, he looked around at those gathered. He, who had temporarily sat as director in place of Hong Eun-tae, was somewhat old-fashioned but capable in practical affairs and a skilled A-rank Esper. But despite his ability, there was a reason he was excluded from promotion and still had the word ‘acting’ in front of his title.

He was not one to bow his head to the Hong family. However, when it came to protecting his hometown, he was also someone who would stand at the forefront more than anyone. Even in this monster incident, he had stood at the frontline to the point of being called sacrificial. So although he wasn’t keen on fighting with the Yang family, once he stepped up, he would be the one to fight at the very front.

“An order has come down to capture all Yang family Espers remaining in our territory.”

“Just capture them? Or hunt them?”

When someone asked jokingly, the acting director frowned sharply.

“Watch your words. They were people cooperating with us until recently.”

“But now they’re enemies we must kill.”

The person who retorted was Geon-young. Full of resentment towards the Yang family, he clenched his fist as if glad at the fact that he could do something right away. The acting director waved his hand with a sigh.

“Form teams immediately and start the pursuit.”

And he added an order that didn’t seem likely to be followed,

“Try to capture them all alive if possible.”

What surprised Won-woo most when returning to Dong Center was the attitude of the North Center Espers who came with him. They were not just friendly, but polite to both him and Seona. While he could understand their attitude towards him due to the information about receiving Gye Yoon’s love, their attitude towards Seona was unexpected. There were Espers among them with superior abilities to Seona, after all.

No one objected when she took the position of team leader. It was the same now. They were asked to help pursue Yang family Espers at Dong Center’s request, and Seona divided the group in two. One team with her and Won-woo. The other team with everyone else. Yet no one questioned this strange team composition. They only asked one question.

‘Are you coming?’

Even though the subject was missing from the question, Seona understood and nodded immediately, and they turned away without hesitation. Left alone with Seona, Won-woo couldn’t help but ask,

“It seems you’ve gained recognition at North Center?”

Seona made an “Ah” sound and showed a troubled expression.

“Well, rather than recognition… it seems the treatment has changed since that day.”

“What day?”

“I fought briefly with the brute in the gym set up as a camp when catching Head Family Oh. It seems they’ve been looking at me differently since then.”

“You fought?”

When Won-woo asked in surprise, Seona hesitated. She wanted to tell on all the brute things Gye Yoon had done, but then she’d have to talk about her own petty actions too. Reluctantly, she forced a smile and shook her head.

“No, it was just a small disagreement. Anyway, everyone seems to think I’m quite amazing after that incident. I don’t know why though.”

As Seona tilted her head in confusion, Won-woo suddenly stopped walking. They had come out in the evening just as the sun was setting, responding to Dong Center’s request to participate in the operation. So except for weak streetlights, the area behind their lodgings was completely enveloped in darkness. Won-woo was looking across the narrow road. Several figures could be seen there. Two of them strode across the road towards them.

“Ji Won-woo.”

As Geon-young called out his name abruptly, Seona stood in front of Won-woo protectively.

“What is it?”

“You, step aside.”

“You step aside.”

At Seona’s retort, Geon-young’s face filled with exasperation.

“I don’t know how the hell you became a team leader in the North, but to me, you’re just an unremarkable B-rank Esper who used to roll under me, damn it.”

Seona looked at him coldly for a moment before addressing Seung-wook.

“Team Leader Hong. Don’t you see your team member coming here to pick a fight with a guest who came to help, swearing right off the bat?”

Seung-wook frowned but reluctantly grabbed his friend’s arm to make him step back.

“Yoo Geon-young, stop it.”

But even though he restrained his friend, he didn’t forget to address Won-woo, who was half-hidden behind Seona.

“Won-woo, let’s talk.”

“I have nothing to say.”

“I do.”

“Then send it through official channels.”

Seung-wook let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded, then seemed to make up his mind and approached with large steps.

“It’ll only take a moment. I need to confirm something with you…”

His body, which was reaching out, suddenly stiffened with a start. And his eyes, widened in surprise for a moment, trembled. As Seona, who was trying to stop him, looked puzzled, a sharp question was heard from Seung-wook.

“Who are you?”

Seung-wook’s question was directed at someone who suddenly appeared like a shadow behind Won-woo. Appearing without a sound as if rising from the ground, he wore a black hood pulled low so his face wasn’t clearly visible. But what made Seung-wook uncomfortable was his movement.

The man was not only sticking close to Won-woo’s back, but he had his arm wrapped around Won-woo’s body, pulling him towards himself. Yet Won-woo only glanced up at him without showing any movement to break away. When Seung-wook threw a ‘Why?’ look at Won-woo, a low, slow, monotone voice was clearly heard.

“What if you know who I am?”

The owner of the voice, captivating enough to make anyone turn around, pulled Won-woo even closer and removed his hood with one hand. More noticeable than his well-formed face were his ears. The suppression piercings in his ears glinted in the darkness. There were so many that it was difficult to count them immediately.

The original purpose of suppression piercings was to minimize the shock of rampages. Though they said minimize, it was actually meant to kill Espers before they rampaged, making it the most horrific method. So some Espers find it humiliating to wear suppression piercings at all.

However, there are always those who find “danger” to be an exciting charm. Especially among young Espers, some deliberately wore suppression piercings conspicuously. Though they were a minority, thanks to them, the once simple design of suppression piercings became as varied as accessories. But no matter how much they looked like ordinary piercings, there was one thing that never changed. The red color.

All suppression piercings included red-tinted jewels. So all those numerous piercings worn by the person hugging Won-woo from behind had to be suppression piercings. Even compared to Seona right next to them wearing 5 suppression piercings, she looked rather plain in comparison.

But who on earth would wear so many suppression piercings? Even the highest A-rank Espers didn’t need that many. Unless they were S-rank… Oh?! Could it be… The same person came to mind for both Seung-wook and Geon-young simultaneously. Fortunately, someone confirmed it for them.

“Vice Head.”

Seona bowed her head slightly towards him in a respectful tone. Seung-wook and Geon-young’s eyes sharpened as soon as they heard the title from her. It really is Gye Yoon. Only then did the two look closely at his face. Gye Yoon’s face was hardly known, but both remembered seeing him from afar.

Long ago, he had caused a big incident when he came to Dong Center. Of course, he was young then and had a youthful impression. But now, that expressionless face overlapped with the boy who had stared at people shamelessly even after causing such a big incident. The problem was why he suddenly appeared here, and why he was hugging Won-woo like that from behind.

“Are you Vice Head Gye?”

Seung-wook asked in a stiff voice, but Gye Yoon just glanced at him with dry eyes before lowering his gaze to Won-woo. Instead, Seona answered Seung-wook.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Why…”

Did you come? Seung-wook stopped before finishing the question he was about to ask. While they were disappointed that the Northern reinforcements were fewer than expected, if the Hong family knew an S-rank talent had come, they would throw a festival. He couldn’t ask “why” to that.

But again, a strong question mark of ‘why’ arose. Gye Yoon was now gently brushing Won-woo’s hair behind his ear in front of everyone’s eyes. He asked softly,

“Aren’t you tired?”

If human voices could be converted to taste, this voice was undoubtedly sweet. Even Won-woo, held in his arms, flinched and turned his gaze to empty space.

“I’m fine, Vice Head.”

“Of course, because I’m here. Won-woo only needs me, right?”

Sweetness was added to the cloying tone. Not only those who needed to be deceived, but even Won-woo couldn’t adapt. It was so bad that even Seona’s eyes showed irritation. However, for a greater goal, she swallowed the nauseating feeling and fanned Gye Yoon’s flames.

“Vice Head, there’s no need to be so polite and act so properly just because it’s Hong family’s territory. Who would dare to object to the Vice Head of the Gye family, the greatest Esper?”

Perhaps because Gye Yoon stood at the opposite end of courtesy and propriety, the eyes of Won-woo, who was on the same side, flickered like a candle in the wind. Why are you doing this, Han Seona-ssi? He almost blurted out her full name. However, while Won-woo was the only one unable to adapt, the person behind him was as ready as Seona to pour all passion into this stage.

“You’re right, I was too proper.”

Gye Yoon curved his lips and lowered his head to Won-woo’s nape. For a moment, Won-woo startled, but Gye Yoon firmly wrapped his arms around him from behind and kissed deeply on his nape in front of everyone.

“What the… sh*t, what are you two doing?”

Yoo Geon-young, who was gaping in shock at the front, couldn’t hold back and burst out. Fortunately, he barely swallowed the curse midway, but all kinds of swear words appeared in his distorted eyes. Gye Yoon just slightly raised his eyes. As Geon-young hesitated at the coolness, Seona’s sarcastic voice was heard.

“And what are you doing?”

“What?”

As Geon-young turned his bewildered eyes, Seona asked back with force in her eyes.

“I’m asking what you’re doing.”

“What are you talking about, f*ck. Looking at that sight now…”

“That sight? What’s wrong with the Gye Vice Head greeting a reunion greeting as politely as possible?”

Seona looked at Geon-young with lowered eyes, raising her chin.

“It’s not like our Vice Head was kissing with spit flying everywhere, or tearing clothes and groping each other in a pseudo-sexual act. It’s just a slight brush of lips on Won-woo’s body, and you call that a sight? Your dirty mind is the real sight here. You should be ashamed.”

Geon-young’s shocked eyes could only be fixed on Seona now. What nonsense is this? Was this person always this crazy? Geon-young was confused. The Seona he knew was someone who would keep her mouth shut and say ‘yes, yes’ even when treated unfairly or scolded.

But there was a madwoman in front of him making him speechless. Of course, Won-woo, who was on the same team, was also at a loss for words. Fortunately, the other team member looked at Seona with eyes full of trust, as if ready to give her a share of their fortune for her passionate acting.

“That’s right. I’m just greeting my lover.”

At Gye Yoon’s cheerful words, Seung-wook and Geon-young’s eyes turned simultaneously. Lover. The word defining the relationship between Gye Yoon and Won-woo made Seung-wook frown immediately. He stared at Won-woo without saying anything, and Gye Yoon looked at him coldly. Won-woo, caught in between, was still unable to escape from the passionate performance of ‘Han Seona-ssi’.

“Hah, so Ji Won-woo… is dating Gye Yoon?”

As Geon-young blurted out in disbelief, Gye Yoon’s gaze slowly turned to him. Then he raised his hand to cover Won-woo’s eyes as if to shield him. While everyone was wondering what was going on, Gye Yoon spoke to Geon-young.

“I don’t recall giving you permission to call me by my name.”

Before the slow speech ended, suddenly Geon-young’s face contorted in shock and he bowed deeply. His mouth opened as if to scream, but no sound came out. Instead, in the blink of an eye, his body flew backwards. Literally flew. Seung-wook reached out to his friend in surprise but soon froze, flinching.

Geon-young’s body disappeared beyond the road at bullet-like speed in an instant. They could only see him properly after he crashed terribly into the wall of a building.

Geon-young, who hit so hard that the building’s exterior marble shattered and fell, crashed to the ground along with the marble debris. Only after rolling several times did his body finally stop. As befitting an A-rank Esper working in the field, he didn’t lose consciousness, but he couldn’t raise his head right away.

In fact, Seung-wook had tried to help his friend with wind. But before he could use his ability, Geon-young’s body moved as if disappearing in the blink of an eye. The problem wasn’t this fast speed. What made Seung-wook stop his helping hand was the sound.

There was no sound at all until Geon-young hit that wall and fell to the ground and rolled. As if the sound had been deleted only from Geon-young. Seung-wook then recalled that Gye Yoon’s ability was related to sound. And slowly turned his head again. It really is Gye Yoon. And the moment he met those emotionless eyes, strangely, a certain memory came to mind.

It was when he had poured water like rain with all his might to stop the monster. When he closed his eyes without being able to remove the monster completely, a voice he heard. He couldn’t remember exactly what was said, and the voice wasn’t clear. But seeing Gye Yoon now overlapped with that moment.

But that couldn’t be. Surely not, it can’t be. Why would Gye Yoon, the Vice Head of the North, try to save him? Seung-wook gritted his teeth, denying the thought that had occurred to him and lowered his gaze. Despite Gye Yoon’s sudden appearance, what was important to Seung-wook was the person he was holding.

“Won-woo.”

Won-woo was about to lower the large hand covering his eyes but stopped. Seung-wook quickly asked the question he wanted to ask before interference could come in.

“Are you there of your own will?”

A murderous intent rose on Gye Yoon’s expressionless face. But this time he couldn’t use his power. Won-woo firmly grasped the large hand as if to stop him and pulled it down. Won-woo with his face revealed, stared at Seung-wook expressionlessly.

“Mr. Hong Seung-wook, have you been thinking of me as an idiot who can’t move on my own will all this time?”

“What I mean is…”

“Well, considering how I was when I met you, you might have felt that way.”

Seung-wook’s eyes shook greatly. Won-woo looked at him indifferently and added.

“I’m living my life entirely by my own will now. Is that enough?”