SOG Ch 161

That way, he could also prepare for Go Woo-jin. Seon Eun-soo planned to use their aunt as bait to manipulate Seon Jae-chan into rejecting Go Woo-jin. There was nothing more that pretentious bastard could do if his brother directly said he didn’t want him.

‘I did consider choosing between mother and aunt.’

Mother, despite having rested for a long time, was still a level above him as a psychic-type Esper, making her tricky. Since he still couldn’t precisely time the arrival of the Windless zone, choosing Mother would have meant taking a risk.

Thus, the aunt was designated as the target. He didn’t care what happened to his now useless mother. Even his father, Seon Min-yeol, was in no position to order him around anymore, so what was there to fear?

Anyway, initially he had planned to kidnap his aunt from the research building as soon as the Center takeover began. But then his aunt suddenly left work early.

He clicked his tongue, thinking it could have been a disaster if he hadn’t kept her under surveillance, and was pondering how to get his aunt outside the Center where there were many eyes watching. Fortunately, his aunt returned to the lab. So around 6:30, when simultaneous terrorist attacks broke out across the Center, Seon Eun-soo executed his plan as previously arranged. He just had to wait leisurely in front of room 410, then silently point his gun at his aunt’s panicked face as she rushed out.

Of course, he also encountered unexpected situations. Due to the military deploying GPS jammers too quickly, he was incredibly anxious that his brother might not even know about Gu Ji-eun’s absence.

Just when he was thinking he might have to postpone his plans, a response was detected on the thermal camera he had installed just in case.

It truly was a perfect plan from start to finish. Seon Eun-soo smiled contentedly as he took in the sight of his soon-to-be prize.

“…”

Meanwhile, Seon Jae-chan observing him became a bit calmer.

His aunt might still be alive.

Just the clearer possibility made relief well up deep in his chest. Of course, Jae-chan didn’t know what that lunatic would do if he caught him, but it was a much better position than not even knowing if his aunt was alive or dead.

More importantly, there was one problem.

It was Chae Seong-hwan. An A-class Esper belonging to the Esper Special Forces, who had given the terrorists trouble by engaging them in combat before finding him. He would be executed immediately upon discovery. So then…

“Ack!”

Suddenly, Seon Eun-soo let out a scream.

It was because Seon Jae-chan had rammed into him. When Jae-chan suddenly charged at him, Seon Eun-soo took a stance to protect his vital points, but Jae-chan ignored all that and just barreled into him like a bull.

Jae-chan shoved Seon Eun-soo aside and fled. While it might have been possible if Seon Eun-soo was off guard, it was difficult to subdue a fully prepared Seon Eun-soo in close combat in one go. Plus, his accomplices were outside.

He had to act as bait to secure an escape route for Chae Seong-hwan.

Meanwhile, Seon Eun-soo, who had fallen onto the hard floor, felt irritation rising. Though he had used a falling technique, his knee hurt terribly, as if he had hit it wrong.

Damn it, why is he so quick? Just because he’s an Esper too…

Seon Eun-soo clicked his tongue. Since childhood, his brother had always been small and soft like pudding. He kept forgetting that this weak existence he had always easily held and kneaded in his hands had awakened as an Esper, and thus had physical abilities superior to ordinary people. If only he had his ability, he could have captured him with mental control the moment their eyes met.

Since it’s come to this, should he play along for a bit?

There were temporary allies from the terrorists outside anyway. Seon Jae-chan probably couldn’t go far because he was worried about their aunt. But the next moment, Seon Eun-soo, who had been getting up leisurely while suppressing a laugh, was shocked.

His brother, whom he thought had fled outside, was brazenly hiding right in front of the door. “Hey! Ambush!” he yelled, but it was already too late. His allies, who had come running at the commotion, were entering with their rifle muzzles raised.

As Seon Jae-chan boldly grabbed the barrel cover of the first intruder, bang! A bullet was fired into the floor.

Ah, shit! Seon Eun-soo hurriedly threw himself to the ground. It was to avoid being hit by a stray bullet. Shit! Don’t shoot! Don’t take your finger off the trigger! He shouted while quickly taking cover behind a partition, then slowly got up when the situation had settled.

The bald guy who had his gun taken was lying with his eyes rolled back, and the other guy who was attacked next was also sprawled on the floor. As if trying to retaliate against Seon Jae-chan, he was clumsily aiming his rifle from a lying position.

“Don’t shoot, damn it! I said don’t shoot!”

Seon Eun-soo rushed out in a panic. But the crazy bastard was already loading. He was a vanguard who couldn’t even shoot properly. What if he accidentally killed him!

Bang! Seon Eun-soo grabbed the man’s wrist, practically throwing himself. Once again, a uselessly fired bullet pierced through a hanging sign that read “Quiet” in the corridor and lodged in the ceiling.

“Fvck, if you shoot it, you’re dead! If that thing gets a hole in it, asshole, your mouth’s gonna blow off too!”

After shouting a warning from a distance close enough that their noses touch, a reluctant grumble came back. Clicking his tongue in irritation at the ignorant terrorist, Seon Eun-soo stood up.

“Ah, hitting is fine. Hitting is okay.”

His younger brother became prettier when hit. Thinking of his eyes squeezing shut, his lips pouting, and his skin bruising red and purple with each infliction of pain, even as he pretended to be fine, a smirk escaped.

Seeing Seon Eun-soo suddenly grinning after his outburst of anger, the terrorist’s face paled a bit. Though he wasn’t normal himself, the person before him was different. He was a twisted madman pretending to be a normal person. What a psychotic bastard.

Regardless, Seon Eun-soo leisurely stepped into the dark hallway with his military boots.

His aunt was still in his grasp. Whatever his brother’s thoughts were in fleeing, he would have no choice but to return.

Perhaps because he had monopolized their parents’ affection until manifesting as a Guide and then was abandoned overnight, his younger brother was unknowingly starved for affection.

His nature of craving belonging didn’t change even after leaving home. He tried to belong somewhere, to gain others’ approval somehow and insisted on entering a dormitory to live with someone.

So when his younger brother suddenly cut ties with his family two summers ago, Seon Eun-soo thought it was strange. It shouldn’t be possible. His younger brother shouldn’t be able to let go of his obsession with family.

Seon Eun-soo realized his brother hadn’t changed when he heard news from his father.

‘These days, Jae-chan seems to be getting along well with your aunt. The Esper Gu Ji-eun, I mean.’

Only then did Seon Eun-soo understand his brother’s change in attitude.

Ah, so he had found someone else to attach himself to.

It was so laughable. It was obvious. His aunt probably didn’t think much of it. His brother was probably struggling alone, giving meaning to his aunt as family and trying to be in the same fence. And with an aunt who had wanderlust, at that.

Even an orphan wouldn’t act so ridiculously.

“Hey. Lower your gun.”

Seon Eun-soo, having regained his composure, instructed his following colleague. The colleague objected.

“The target took a gun.”

“It’s fine. There’s always a way.”

Seon Eun-soo reassured his colleague and then led the way into the central hall connected to the corridor. He made a show of threatening the large, cave-like space.

“Jae-chan, for every hit your hyung and his friend take, your aunt will take two.”

Understand? You can’t shoot, okay? Imitating a gentle voice as if talking to an infant, Seon Eun-soo cackled, pleased with himself.

Meanwhile, Seon Jae-chan, who had been hiding tightly against the side of a vending machine in the right corner, wasn’t listening at all.

“……”

I guess I’ll get caught around here. That was all Jae-chan had been thinking about. The most important thing now was to confirm his aunt’s safety. Having lured Seon Eun-soo’s group this far to secure Chae Seong-hwan’s escape route, he should now pretend to resist a bit and then go with them.

He should get caught naturally. Unlike the first floor with its large information desk, the fourth-floor hall had no suitable cover. Jae-chan calmly surveyed the large areca palm pot, water purifier, and five tables set up like a cafeteria for employees’ breaks.

“The sooner you come, the less angry Hyung will be.”

Huh? Seon Eun-soo’s voice drew closer. Jae-chan first threw himself quietly behind a table to hide.

Of course, with the space below quite open, it was little more than a pretense of cover. Seon Eun-soo, with his enhanced Esper vision and hearing, immediately detected his brother’s location. Seon Jae-chan, Seon Eun-soo, and his three colleagues began to slowly circle around the tables and chairs set up like a cafeteria.

“Your hyung won’t kill you. You know that.”

“……”

“If you come to your hyung, you can see your aunt, and you won’t have to worry about dying. How nice.”

Then someone everyone had forgotten appeared. The bald man who had briefly passed out after being hit by Seon Jae-chan came tumbling into the hall.

“You fvcking piece of sh1t!”

In his hand was a pistol drawn from its holster. Seon Eun-soo’s mouth opened slowly. Seon Jae-chan also recognized the gun barrel aimed at him. The only cover was the thin table legs. Bang! A bullet was fired. Simultaneously, bang! Another gunshot split the research building corridor.