IDESGI Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The weekend they had agreed on—
Of course, Yeoul didn’t go home.

Just throw them away.

Now that I think about it, I don’t need any of that stuff.

After sending the text, Yeoul tossed his phone onto the table.

He had left his apartment early in the morning, heading to a café—

One thirty minutes away by bus from his place.

Just in case Ihan came looking for him.

“How the hell do I make him lose interest in me?”

Yeoul clutched his head, letting out a long sigh.

His skull throbbed.

Winning Ihan’s love had been absurdly easy.

But making him hate him?

That was impossibly hard.

‘Should I actually cheat on him?’

That might work—

But no.

Even as kind and naive as Ihan was,

He wouldn’t let that other person walk away alive.

Espers were infamously possessive of their Guides.

It would only result in an innocent Esper getting hurt.

At that moment,

A certain face flashed through Yeoul’s mind.

‘If it were another S-class Esper…’

No.

What the hell was he thinking?

Yeoul shook his head, forcing the thought out of his mind.

“I need to find another way.”

He opened his laptop and pulled up his browser.

As he hovered his mouse over the search bar,

His recent search history appeared in a list.

📍 How to break up with your lover

📍 Ways to make someone lose feelings for you

📍 What to do when you want to end a relationship

📍 How to die painlessly

📍 How to forget someone you still want to see

---

At that moment, the center director was glaring at Ihan as if he wanted to kill him. Then, he switched his endlessly vibrating phone to silent mode and threw it onto the desk with irritation. Ihan glanced at him indifferently.

“Your phone is ringing. You should answer it.”

The director’s face turned red with rising blood pressure. He pointed a finger at Ihan and shouted.

“Hey, you bastard! I told you to only cause trouble that I can clean up! You hit a Guide? An Esper did that?”

“I didn’t use my strength. If I had, he’d be dead.”

“Do you think that makes it any better? Because of you, I have to carry high blood pressure medication everywhere!”

“How is that my fault? You should exercise more. Tsk tsk, they say abdominal obesity is the root of all diseases.”

“You little—!”

The director clutched the back of his head as if his temples were throbbing, while Ihan ignored him and casually propped his long legs up on the table. Someone should take that guy away already! Though, if Ihan really left Zone 1, the one who’d regret it the most would be the director himself. Right now, however, Ihan felt like his worst enemy.

“The Guide Team leader is officially filing a complaint with headquarters. No matter how much they try to cover for you, this time, you’ve crossed the line! If you were going to hit someone, at least do it where no one can see! Why would you do it in public—!”

“I shouldn’t be the one saying this, but Director, you really have a terrible personality. You’re telling an Esper to beat up a Guide.”

“If you weren’t an S-class, I swear—!”

The director was fuming, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he was also taken aback. So that bastard does have some self-awareness? He was seeing Ihan in a new light.

“This time, even our center can’t protect you. Do you know how much the Esper Team leader is begging me? He said he’d dedicate his entire life to work if we could just send you to another district.”

Ihan smirked and lazily swung his foot.

“Even if you had a whole truckload of Esper Team leaders, they wouldn’t be able to handle me.”

That bastard had an excellent sense of self-awareness, which only made him more infuriating. The director took a deep breath to calm himself and sank into the sofa across from Ihan.

“This time, we really can’t let it slide. You’re getting disciplinary action. Even if the headquarters director himself comes, it won’t change anything.”

“Oh, speaking of which, isn’t that headquarters director doing his job properly? Why is Yeoul still avoiding me? I told him to persuade him properly.”

The director, unable to hold it in any longer, snapped.

“You bastard! Do you even realize that you’re one of only three S-class Espers in the country? That’s the only reason headquarters sent the director himself! Does it make sense that an executive-level director is getting involved because of your pathetic love life?”

“Get your facts straight. Why do you keep saying there are three S-class Espers? One of them retired because he’s too old for the frontlines. And as for the other one—”

Ihan’s eyebrow twitched.

Seeing the sudden change in his expression, the center director instinctively leaned back.

Ihan muttered, his words practically venomous.

“I don’t know why that bastard hasn’t died yet.”

“You! Don’t you dare lay a hand on Yoon Geon, Esper! Because of your ridiculous stubbornness, Yoon Geon and headquarters nearly had a falling out!”

The director rubbed his temples, feeling a headache flare up just from remembering the mess that Ihan had caused back then.

“Haa… You just had to steal Yoon Geon’s Guide, didn’t you? If a higher-matching Guide hadn’t appeared for Yoon Geon at the last minute, it would’ve turned into a full-blown fight. Do you even realize that?”

“Exactly. The moment that bastard found a Guide with a better match rate, he tossed Yeoul aside. No sense of loyalty whatsoever. Espers really are all the same—completely obsessed with Guiding. The second they find a slightly better match, they lose their damn minds.”

“You’re an Esper too, you bastard!”

Ihan locked eyes with the director.

His gaze was so unwavering, so resolute, that the director’s fingers twitched involuntarily.

“I don’t see Yeoul because of Guiding.”

“I see him because I love him.”

The center director had worked in this field for thirty years.

Ihan wasn’t the first Esper to say something like that.

But none of them had ever been able to keep their word.

Because Espers were simply built that way.

They had no choice but to fall in love with their Guide—to survive.

It sounded romantic on the surface.

But in reality, it just meant that if a better survival option appeared, they’d move on without hesitation.

“Do you really think you’d be any different?”

“If a higher-ranked Guide with a better match rate appeared, you wouldn’t bat an eye?”

“I’ll bet anything—you’d be just like the rest of them.”

“Everyone says that.”

“That was the most common thing I heard when I wanted to imprint with Yeoul.”

“What are you going to do if a better-matching Guide appears later?”

Ihan scoffed.

His lips curled, twisting into something between a smirk and a sneer.

His eyes darkened, sharp with displeasure.

“The funny thing is—”

“I’ve never even considered receiving Guiding from anyone else.”

The director fell silent.

“And look where that got you.”

“Han Yeoul wants to quit as your exclusive Guide.”

“If a Guide refuses to do their job, even the government can only protect them for so long.”

“If this keeps up, he could be exiled outside the district.”

Ihan’s light brown eyes briefly flickered with a golden hue, narrowing slightly.

“You think I’d let that happen?”

The center director knew that when it came to Yeoul, Ihan never joked. That lunatic was fully capable of storming headquarters and flipping everything upside down just to keep his word.

“Haa… Then try convincing him properly. At first, Han Yeoul pushed you away and said he didn’t like you, but in the end, you managed to win him over. They say even the toughest tree will fall if you strike it enough times—wasn’t that the case with Han Yeoul too? Just try ten more times. Make him fall for you again.”

“Do you think Yeoul is a tree? How could I strike such a delicate and fragile person? That would hurt him.”

“So, are you going to give up?”

Ihan scoffed and slowly lowered his feet to the floor.

“As if.”

He raised a hand to his lips, a crooked smile peeking through his fingers.

“If I can’t strike Yeoul, I’ll have to strike myself instead.”

He leaned forward slightly, his posture coiling like a snake preparing to strike.

“Yeoul can’t stand seeing me in pain.”

A chill ran down the director’s spine, and cold sweat trickled down his back. Ihan leaned back against the sofa, his gaze settling on the director.

“You have to discipline me this time, right? Send me to Zone 3.”

“I’ve seen plenty of people punished before, but I’ve never seen someone decide their own punishment.”

“If I clear out the monsters in Zone 3, wouldn’t that benefit headquarters too?”

“Well, that’s true… but do you think Han Yeoul will go? He was ready to quit being your exclusive Guide.”

Ihan’s expression hardened.

“What are you talking about? Why would I take Yeoul to such a dangerous place? Maybe after I’ve cleared everything out, but not before.”

The director was startled and immediately tried to dissuade him.

“You’re planning to go to Zone 3 without a Guide? Even for you, that’s dangerous. The gates keep opening back-to-back, and monsters are swarming everywhere.”

“That’s exactly why I have to go.”

Ihan’s lips curled slightly.

“To strike myself.”

---

[Notice] Disciplinary Action for Rule Violation

Due to the assault of a Guide by an Esper, the following Esper will be subject to disciplinary action.

Subject of Disciplinary Action: Yoo Ihan
Details of Disciplinary Action: Six months of docked pay and deployment to Zone 3
Disciplinary Period: March 8, 2305 – April 8, 2305
However, the deployment may end early if gate damage is quickly restored.

Yeoul almost spat out his coffee while reading the Zone 1 intranet site.

“What the hell is this?”

He rubbed his eyes and read it again, but the contents remained unchanged.

“Guide assault?”

Yoo Ihan assaulted a Guide?

That had to be a misunderstanding.

There was no way. That kind, gentle Ihan—who looked like he couldn’t even hurt a bug—committing assault?

Yeoul had completely forgotten that Ihan was an Esper capable of tearing monsters into four pieces and instead convinced himself of something utterly ridiculous.

“There must be some mistake. Someone must have seen what happened or knows the details.”

Yeoul glanced around.

But it had been weeks since he distanced himself from the members of Guide Team 3, so there was no one to ask.

He had intentionally kept his distance, thinking there was no point in getting close to others when he was going to die soon anyway.

But now, that decision was coming back to bite him.

Biting his nails anxiously, Yeoul used the mirror on his desk to check his surroundings, then gave up.

“Forget it. What’s the point now?”

He had ignored everyone first, so suddenly acting friendly just to get information felt too shameless.

In the end, he gave up and placed his hands on the keyboard to continue working.

At that moment, a hand lightly tapped his shoulder.

When he turned around, Kim Jimin, Guide, was standing there.

“What is it?”

Yeoul deliberately spoke in a formal and stiff tone.

Kim Jimin and Yeoul were only one training cycle apart, but since she had manifested late, she was a full twelve years older than him.

Still, he had always followed her well, calling her “noona” without hesitation.

Now that he had suddenly started keeping his distance, he knew she must have felt hurt.

But Jimin had simply waited for him in silence.

Yeoul was grateful for that, but because of that very reason, he wanted to distance himself from her even more.

Because it would hurt if someone close to him died.

“Aren’t you curious why Yoo Ihan got disciplined?”

Jimin asked without warning.

Yeoul couldn’t immediately say no.

He was dying to know.

Jimin made a gesture as if raising a glass and said,

“Let’s grab a drink. I’ll tell you everything.”

Yeoul hesitated for a moment, but he couldn’t overcome his curiosity.

He nodded.

---

As they entered the bar, they were met with the loud chatter of people drinking and partying. The atmosphere was so lively and chaotic that Yeoul, feeling overwhelmed, squeezed through the narrow doorway and stepped inside.

“Ah, Yeoul! Over here.”

Jimin raised her hand and waved.

Yeoul made his way to her and sat down on a backless metal chair.

‘This place seems too noisy for a conversation.’

He had come to the address Jimin had given him, but the bar was too loud and crowded. Feeling uncomfortable, he pulled his chair closer to the table.

“This place is too noisy. Wouldn’t it be better to go somewhere else?”

“Yeah, I get it. But first, let’s have a drink.”

Jimin spun the cap off a green soju bottle and opened it.

Yeoul wasn’t in the mood for alcohol, but he needed to hear what Jimin had to say.

He held out his glass.

“Just one, then.”

---

“Noonaa, I’ll just have one more drink!”

“Yeoul, are you drunk?”

Yeoul tilted his head back and downed the empty glass, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve as if regretting that there wasn’t more. His half-lidded eyes were slightly unfocused as he looked at Jimin. When she swayed slightly from side to side, his vision spun dizzyingly.

“Noona, why do you keep moving? It’s making me dizzy.”

“It’s not me moving, it’s you. Since you’re drunk now, how about we play a little truth game?”

Jimin smirked mischievously. Yeoul, already tipsy and dazed, immediately nodded without a second thought. Seeing this, Jimin cheered inwardly.

She had always treated him like a little brother, but then he had suddenly started acting distant. She had waited patiently for him to tell her what was going on, but it had already been a month, and he still hadn’t said anything.

“But this little brat refuses to talk, huh.”

If he wouldn’t talk, she’d just have to make him.

Jimin knew that Yeoul tended to relax and let his guard down when drinking, especially in noisy places. That’s exactly why she had chosen such a crowded bar. As expected, Yeoul was properly drunk.

Now, it was time for a drunken confession.

“So, what did my dear Yeoul do that made him ignore his noona like this? You made me sad, you know.”

“That’s because… I didn’t want to make you sad…”

“Me? Why would I be sad?”

“Because I’m quitting being a Guide! I’m not going to be Yoo Ihan’s Guide anymore! I’m leaving Zone 1 too!”

Yeoul suddenly slammed his glass down on the table and shouted.

Jimin had already heard that he wanted to break up with Ihan, but leaving the entire district too? Surprised, she pressed him for more details.

“Why do you want to break up?”

Ihan had always been good to her since Yeoul was close to her. He was polite, gentle, and considerate—it was hard to dislike him. But at times, Jimin had gotten an eerie feeling from him.

Other Espers seemed reluctant to discuss Yoo Ihan around Guides, almost as if they were afraid of something. There was definitely something off about him.

But one thing was clear—Yoo Ihan loved Han Yeoul.

If what Ihan felt wasn’t love, then love didn’t exist in this world.

Even if it was the most intensely obsessive kind of love.

Jimin took advantage of Yeoul’s drunken state and casually asked,

“Yeoul, why do you want to break up with Yoo Ihan?”

“That’s becauuuse…”

Yeoul plopped his face down onto the metal table.

The cold surface felt good against his flushed, overheated cheek.

He grinned and muttered,

“It’s a secret. Hehe.”

“You’ve been looking really tired lately. Are you okay, Yeoul?”

Yeoul waved his hand dismissively, speaking in an exaggeratedly cheerful tone.

“I’m okay, I’m okay! I’m totally fine!”

His voice was loud, but his blinking was slow and heavy. Sleepiness was starting to take over.

“But that bastard… keeps saying I’m not okay. He keeps noticing how I really feel.”

Yeoul let out a small chuckle and murmured,

“That’s what I’m scared of, noona. That he’ll find out.”

His eyes drooped further, his words becoming more slurred.

“That he’ll find out… everything…”

Then, with a dull thud, his head dropped onto the table.

That was the last thing he said before he drifted off into a deep sleep.