IDESGI Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Yushin shook his head. He was only checking because something in his gut nagged at him—he didn’t actually believe Yeoul’s words.

“Let’s head back.”

On the way to the hospital room, Ihan happened to come out.

“Ihan…”

Seeing Ihan’s twisted expression, Yushin closed his mouth. He could already guess the kind of conversation that had passed between him and Yeoul.

Ihan leaned against the wall, eyes closed. Yushin bought a can of cold coffee from the vending machine opposite him and pressed it against his cheek.

“Drink.”

Ihan naturally took the can from him and downed it in one go. The empty can crumpled in his hand. It felt like the thing crushed wasn’t just the can.

“How’s Guide Han Yeoul?”

“Said he wanted to rest, told me to leave.”

“I see.”

“Yushin.”

The tired voice slipped quietly through his teeth.

“Where did it go wrong?”

He probably wasn’t asking for an answer. Ihan was simply the type who couldn’t help but ask, What did I do wrong? What should I do now?

The low question sounded almost like a plea to be saved, and Yushin’s throat tightened. He didn’t dislike Guide Han Yeoul. But not disliking someone was far from cherishing them.

For Yushin, Zone 1 was precious, and Yoo Ihan was an irreplaceable part of it.

It wasn’t just because they needed his ability. Yushin and the other Zone 1 Espers respected and recognized the justice Ihan had built. They had watched everything he’d done from the start.

“Remember that time I almost died?”

“You’ve almost died more than once because you zoned out like an idiot.”

“Yeah. Every time… I’ve been grateful.”

“Did you poison the drink? What’s with you?”

“Cyanide. 0.0001%.”

“Then you’d just smell it.”

Yushin snickered and ruffled Ihan’s hair roughly. Ihan frowned and glared.

“What the hell? You’ve lost it?”

“You’re the crazy one. What makes you keep charging in to save people?”

“Then you lot should get stronger. You’re all weak as hell. Don’t slack off on training just because I’m not around. Weak ones die first.”

“And yet you’ve been the one saving us every time. What, embarrassed to admit it now?”

“Did you eat something bad?”

Yushin chuckled faintly and leaned against the wall like Ihan.

“I just wanted to say it. Thanks for saving me.”

Just then, ding—the sound of a message notification. Yushin tried to keep his hands steady as he checked the screen.

Gwanggyo Lake, A-Class Gate / Ilsan KINTEX, B-Class Gate. Simultaneous, 4/26, 12:17 a.m.

After reading the report, Yushin’s expression froze somewhere between despair and resolve. The unfair scales had tipped hard to one side.

So it was true.

The realization struck like a blow to the back of the head. The answer had already been decided before he fully understood everything. Yushin pressed the button to turn off the screen, his dazed smile reflected in the small black display.

Ihan glanced at him.

“What?”

“Nothing. Baek Yeo-jung’s just telling me to hurry back.”

Yushin gave Ihan a light pat on the back and grabbed the hospital room door handle.

“Let’s go in. You should be by Guide Han Yeoul’s side.”

Ihan hesitated for a moment before following behind him. Inside, Yeoul looked straight at Yushin. Yushin gave him a small signal with his eyes, then glanced at Ihan. Seeing the desperate look in Ihan’s eyes directed toward Yeoul, Yushin let out a bitter smile.

To him, Yoo Ihan was both the friend he could trade pointless jokes with and the precious comrade who had shared life and death with him.

So it was obvious who Yushin would choose.
“Ihan.”
At the quiet call, Ihan turned to look at him. Yushin let out a cowardly apology.
“I’m sorry.”
In an instant, Yushin teleported to Yeoul’s side, grabbed his arm, and vanished into the air before Ihan could blink.
The look in Ihan’s eyes at that last moment was something he knew he would never forget.
* * *

The place Yushin brought Yeoul to was, unexpectedly, near Jamsil. In choosing somewhere that wouldn’t draw attention and was far enough away that Ihan couldn’t immediately catch up, this was the best option.

More than that, his own limits were close—he couldn’t go any farther. The overdrive level was so high his head throbbed like it would split open. Gritting his teeth through the pain, Yushin said,

“I’ve used too much power. I can’t go beyond this.”

“This is enough.”

Yeoul held out his hand.

“Give me your hand. I’ll guide you.”

He couldn’t afford to refuse, so he took it immediately. A gentle warmth enveloped his body, calming the rampaging energy just a little. Once the waves settled somewhat, Yushin released Yeoul’s hand.

“That’s enough. Save your strength.”

“You’re right. I’ll need energy to keep running.”

His tone was plain, not at all like someone planning to die. That only meant he had steeled himself for this for a long time. Bowing his head, Yushin offered a sincere apology.

“I’m sorry, Guide Han Yeoul. But still… I want Ihan to live.”

Yeoul patted his shoulder and spoke kindly.

“I’m the one who should thank you. For helping me.”

“What will you do now?”

Looking past the ruined city skyline, Yeoul murmured,

“Run far away.”

He turned his gaze back and asked Yushin,

“Can you get me a car right now? There’s somewhere I want to go.”

“I can just take you myself, especially after getting guiding.”

“No. Esper Han Hyunho is in Zone 5. What if Ihan uses his power to force you to talk? No one can know where I’m going.”

After a pause, Yushin gave a heavy nod.

“Wait here.”

It was barely three minutes before Yushin returned with a car. Yeoul, slightly surprised, joked,

“You’re back before a cup of instant noodles could even cook.”

It was an attempt to lighten the mood, but Yushin only gave a bitter smile and stayed silent.

When he tried to hand over the car keys, they slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground. They both bent down at the same time, but Yeoul’s movement was faster. He gripped the keys tightly and stood, while Yushin remained with his head bowed. His voice trembled.

“I’m sorry. And… thank you.”

“I’m doing this because I want to. Don’t feel guilty.”

“I really have nothing to say to Guide Han Yeoul.”

“Then… can I ask one favor?”

“Anything.”

“Tell Ihan there’s a reply in the light blue envelope.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s enough.”

Without hesitation, Yeoul got in the car. They didn’t bother with polite farewells like “drive safe” or “see you again.” This was the end for them.

Driving along the cracked roads, the SUV handled the bumps well. Feeling stifled, Yeoul rolled down the window, letting the lukewarm wind brush his cheek. The farther Jamsil faded into the distance, the black hole-like Gate became no more than a speck.

I used to die at Gates every time.

He had never told anyone, but there was a Gate that didn’t release monsters—located in a cave atop a mountain not far from Zone 1. He’d found it by accident while looking for a place to die.

At first, he hadn’t realized it was a Gate. No monsters emerged, and the silence was absolute.

Here, I could die quietly and alone.

Dragging his exhausted body inside, he remembered…

The only thing that came to mind was the sensation of his body being ripped apart and the agony of being swallowed by darkness. It wasn’t until the brink of death that he realized it wasn’t an ordinary cave, but a Gate.

In his second life, he had never returned there during his repeated suicide attempts, fearing that the Gate might have been the cause of his regression. The last thing he wanted after dying was for the cycle to repeat again.

But then it happened once more, and he sought out the Gate again.

He hoped this would be the last time. Twice was already more than enough to experience the feeling of being chewed up and torn apart. He was far too tired to endure it a third time.

So he drove in the opposite direction of the Gate—toward the abandoned West Sea.

At any time, monsters could appear. Out here beyond the zones, there would be no Esper to protect him, and the chances of dying along the way were high.

If, by some luck, he reached the West Sea alive, he planned to throw himself into the water. Drowning would be less painful than being torn apart.

But the world never left Yeoul alone.

Suddenly, the ground shook, and a sinkhole opened in the middle of the road. From the hole, a monster crawled out—not huge, but not small either.

A serpent-type monster.

Its body was about the size of a five-story building. Thankfully, there seemed to be no others besides this one.

C-Class? Maybe D-Class?

Either way, both were equally dangerous. A Guide’s physical abilities were no better than an ordinary human’s. Just as he thought he might die here, one thought crossed his mind.

But snakes digest their prey slowly.

Enduring stomach acid for days? That sounded unbearable. Decision made, he jumped from the car and hid behind the rubble of broken concrete.

The monster lifted the car with its long tongue and swallowed it whole. Unsatisfied, it began slithering across the ground in search of more prey.

Yeoul stayed hidden behind the wall, holding his breath, but the monster seemed to catch his scent and slithered quickly toward him. He tried to run, but it seemed he had twisted his ankle when jumping from the car—he couldn’t run properly.

Ah… I should have brought a rope. Or even a tie, anything. Strangulation would’ve been better than being eaten.

That was the only kind of useless regret he had time for. The snake monster easily found him and opened its jaws wide—

A bolt of lightning struck it from above.

The monster writhed violently in pain before turning black and collapsing to the ground. Dust exploded into the air as its massive body hit the earth.

Through the haze in his vision, he saw a figure approaching from afar.

“Were you planning to die, you little shit? Why just stand there like an idiot?”

A long shadow fell over the man’s face as he stood with the sun at his back.

Even without seeing clearly, Yeoul knew—

This man was dangerous.