#048

The guide in the adjacent bed seemed to know Jang Gi-jun. How did he know he was at the center?

Ha-gyeom knew how long the guide had hesitated before speaking. However, Ha-gyeom couldn’t easily open his mouth. Revealing an ability user’s identity carelessly could disrupt inter-territorial relations or make them a target for crime.

“Who?”

When Ha-gyeom asked again, the adjacent bed guide whispered even more quietly.

“Jang Gi-jun.”

Though not as close as with Seok Ji-ho, Ha-gyeom knew well that Jang Gi-jun had joined the center at a relatively late age. He was quiet and rarely showed emotion, so he didn’t get along well with his colleagues. Nevertheless, they had trained together for years, and he had even participated in the mission to come here.

“Never heard of him.”

Ha-gyeom had to swallow several times to keep his voice steady.

“I heard he went to the center. Do you really not know?”

“Never heard of him.”

The fact that the guide had spoken up because he was being sent on a mission he might not return from was a cruel irony. Ha-gyeom asked, watching the guide who couldn’t hide his trembling even in the dark.

“Who is he to you?”

Looking around nervously as if a guard might be nearby, the guide finally answered.

“…My brother.”

For a moment, Ha-gyeom felt his heart drop.

It was extremely rare for siblings to both manifest abilities. However, it was common for families to be sacrificed or torn apart in the process of territories fighting over ability users. Since Jang Gi-jun was one of those rescued from the center, if they had been separated then, it would have been years since he could confirm his brother’s fate.

To think that Jang Gi-jun’s brother was here in Zone 0. Ha-gyeom asked the question he should have asked from the start.

“What’s your name?”

Surprisingly, the adjacent bed guide answered without hesitation.

“Jang Young-jun.”

It was an ordinary name that would have meant nothing if Ha-gyeom hadn’t known the connection to Jang Gi-jun.

“…If you don’t know, never mind.”

Despite having some confidence, the guide let out a disappointed sigh when he didn’t get the answer he wanted. It felt awful to have to lie to someone who seemed to have no friends here and had gathered the courage to ask.

‘Damn it.’

This wasn’t right. As Ha-gyeom cursed inwardly, he impulsively grabbed the guide’s arm.

Creak—

Unlike usual, the door opened with an eerie sound. The guides, who were ready and waiting, were startled by even that small noise due to the quiet atmosphere.

The guide pulled away from Ha-gyeom and returned to his bed, eyes gleaming in the dark as he watched the entrance. The intruders, who entered in step without turning on the lights, were five mercenaries. Ha-gyeom swallowed nervously and watched the situation unfold.

“Line up.”

Hearing the firm command, the guides got down from their beds and lined up in the aisle between them.

Unfortunately, it seemed there was no miraculous change or cancellation of the mission. This meant that the adjacent bed guide might not return.

Seeing Tae-seong’s face among the mercenaries, Ha-gyeom suddenly sat up as if sleepwalking. At that moment, Tae-seong seemed like a rock to lean on. Familiarity could be useful in showing confidence.

“…I need to pee.”

Pretending to be half-asleep, Ha-gyeom staggered into the aisle, holding his groin and moving like a zombie. Tae-seong, seemingly unable to believe what he was seeing, let out a disdainful sigh.

“…Ugh! What the hell.”

Pretending not to see well, Ha-gyeom deliberately bumped into the guide standing at the back, grabbing his groin again and whispering in his ear.

“…Jang Gi-jun is fine, so don’t worry.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he coughed, and a thick, toad-like hand grabbed the back of his neck.

“What the hell is this?”

As Tae-seong dragged Ha-gyeom away, he caught a glimpse of the guide’s pale face in the dark. Before he could process any emotions, he was roughly shoved back into line by the mercenaries.

It was good that he told the truth. The repercussions would fall on Jang Gi-jun, not him, so he didn’t want to think about it anymore.

“Ugh! Take it easy! Is needing to pee a crime?”

Thrown back onto his bed by Tae-seong, Ha-gyeom grumbled. Tae-seong grabbed his collar and leaned in, whispering with fierce eyes.

“Shut up. I won’t warn you twice.”

Despite the threat, Ha-gyeom stayed silent, knowing that Baek Sa would deal with him later. Pulling the blanket up to his nose, he watched the mercenaries lead the guides away.

Soon, the sound of footsteps faded, and the door closed firmly. In the quiet, he could hear the sound of someone quietly sobbing. It was clear that no one had fallen asleep, so it wasn’t the result of a nightmare.

Realizing that everyone around him had been holding their breath, Ha-gyeom felt the lingering pain as if a storm had passed.

Time seemed to slow to a halt. Afraid that his own buried misfortune might resurface, Ha-gyeom quickly closed his eyes.

---

A few days later, the chaotic atmosphere naturally subsided. It was as if everyone had silently agreed not to bring up the classified mission. Apart from energy extraction, all the schedules were focused on survival.

Eat well, wash well, sleep well, avoid unnecessary rebellion, and faithfully fulfill your duties as a guide.

After receiving the list from Dr. Cha, there had been no orders to guide anyone other than Baek Sa. Given his poor matching rates with others and his status as Baek Sa’s exclusive guide, this was a relief.

Unlike other guides in the camp, Ha-gyeom constantly thought about Jang Young-jun. He didn’t regret telling him about Jang Gi-jun’s well-being, but he felt guilty for not knowing that Jang Young-jun was his brother until now.

Would he be able to return safely?

Would Jang Gi-jun and Jang Young-jun ever know each other’s fate?

Ha-gyeom wasn’t sure. In a world where someone might lose one wing or both, it was no surprise. He envied the fact that they had family to reunite with since his own family could never come back.

Yet, he didn’t expect to see them joyfully reunited.

No one had ever found a lost family member from the center.

---

Friday came around again, and Ha-gyeom was preparing for guiding with Baek Sa. With the collection mission set for the next day, it was the last chance to maximize energy efficiency.

He knew exactly what he had to do with Baek Sa. It wasn’t his first time, and the results were sure to be good, but the thought of the intimate contact with Baek Sa made his whole body tingle with tension.

‘If you can’t handle this much, how will you control your energy in the future?’

Even after hearing such arrogant words, Ha-gyeom couldn’t bring himself to retort. Whether it was Baek Sa or Baek Seung-woo, he could never remain calm in front of him. Ha-gyeom couldn’t forget or ignore his presence within his own wavelength.

Furthermore, during these stressful days, Ha-gyeom was plagued by an inexplicable feeling of unease.

Was it just a hunch? As he pondered seriously, a name suddenly popped into his mind.

“Ah, Myeong-yi…!”

Come to think of it, Myeong-yi, who should have been visiting the camp as an attendant, hadn’t shown up for three days. Instead, another boy with a similarly shaven head had taken over his duties.

Ha-gyeom turned to the guide opposite the now-empty adjacent bed.

“Do you know why Myeong-yi isn’t coming?”

“Who’s Myeong-yi?”

He didn’t even know the name of the boy who washed his underwear. This place was really strange. Ha-gyeom shook his head, losing the will to explain further.

‘Weird. He took medicine, so his wound should have healed. What if his fever hasn’t gone down…?’

He was also anxious because Baek Sa seemed to know he had gone to the left wing without any trouble. He tried to ask around, but no one in the camp seemed to care about Myeong-yi’s whereabouts. If Myeong-yi was still sick, he would have to coax Dr. Cha into admitting him.

There was still time until the appointed hour at midnight.

As soon as lights out came, Ha-gyeom slipped out the door. The hallway, shrouded in darkness, was quiet. Ha-gyeom stood alone in the middle for a while, unable to shake the feeling of phantom presences around him.

For some reason, he felt Baek Sa’s presence behind him. It was as if he knew his every move without being physically there. Ha-gyeom found the thought of that presence more unsettling than the poorly functioning CCTV or the pitch-black end of the hallway, so he quickly moved on.