2

Two weeks had passed since Kang I-won's first meeting with Heo Do-gyeong.

As scheduled, Kang I-won returned for his biweekly Guiding session and took the seat opposite Heo Do-gyeong. With practiced ease, Heo Do-gyeong extended his gloved hand, and Kang I-won clasped it without hesitation.

For a while, they sat silently, the Guiding proceeding without interruption. Then, Heo Do-gyeong spoke.

"Considering the last Guiding session was your only one, your resonance is remarkably stable. According to the records, you've been on quite a few deployments recently."

His words carried an undertone of sarcasm that wasn't hard to miss. Kang I-won had spent the past two weeks wondering why Heo Do-gyeong acted so unpleasantly toward him, and now he understood—it was a misunderstanding.

A familiar one, at that.

The reputation of Espers with regeneration abilities like Kang I-won's was, to put it bluntly, terrible. This stigma had persisted for years, rooted in a long history of prejudice and misconceptions.

Espers like Kang I-won—those who fought recklessly, hurling themselves into danger to face monsters—weren't unheard of.

But almost all of them met the same end: they perished after sustaining injuries beyond their regenerative capabilities. The survivors? Those who avoided danger, prioritizing their own safety over others.

As a result, the image of regeneration Espers became synonymous with cowardice and selfishness. This perception, paired with the widespread belief that regeneration was useless in combat, became an unshakable stigma.

That lingering prejudice, combined with Kang I-won's unusually stable resonance despite going two weeks without Guiding, had clearly led to Heo Do-gyeong's assumption.

If Kang I-won hadn't gone on deployments at all, it might have been less suspicious. But the records showed frequent field activity, which conflicted with the stability of his resonance.

Resonance wasn't affected solely by an Esper's ability usage; every physical action influenced it to some degree. Simply engaging in significant physical activity could cause fluctuations in resonance.

Stable resonance, then, implied minimal activity—or none at all.

Heo Do-gyeong had likely concluded that Kang I-won's stability was the result of shirking his responsibilities, relying on his regenerative ability to avoid exerting himself in combat.

Given the records and the resonance stability, it was an understandable misunderstanding.

To clarify things, Kang I-won would need to admit to using Guiding supplements to stabilize his resonance.

But was there any real need to explain? It might be easier to let the misunderstanding persist. Explaining would only be tiresome, and in the end, Heo Do-gyeong was just a temporary Guide who would leave soon enough.

Besides, compared to the Guide Kang I-won had dealt with before, Heo Do-gyeong was far better.

The previous Guide had outright refused to provide Guiding, even when it was urgently needed. Instead, they falsely recorded that Kang I-won had received Guiding. Their reasoning? "A regeneration Esper wouldn't need to use their ability often," and, "I don't want to waste my energy on something unnecessary."

At least Heo Do-gyeong wasn't that kind of Guide. So, there wasn't much motivation for Kang I-won to clear up the misunderstanding.

Still, it wasn't pleasant to let someone form their own biased judgments about him. It left a bitter taste.

What bothered him more, however, was his body's eager reaction to even the half-hearted Guiding sessions. Despite how perfunctory the Guiding was, his body instinctively craved the soothing effect it provided.

This time was no different. The minimal effort Guiding was over quickly, leaving no need for adjustments to his already stable resonance. As soon as the session ended, their hands separated immediately.

Kang I-won clenched his fists tightly, resisting the reflexive urge to reach out again. Masking his frustration, he kept his tone steady as he spoke.

"Thank you for your time today."

"Yes. You may leave now," Heo Do-gyeong replied indifferently, his voice devoid of warmth.

Without lingering, Kang I-won stood and exited the Guiding room.

Before the door fully closed behind him, a faint sound reached his ears—thud.

He didn't need to turn around to see what it was. He already knew.

The gloves.

Discarded once again into the trash.

* * *

There are three main types of Gates.

First, the Summoning Type, which produces a minimum of one and a maximum of ten monsters before disappearing. Second, the Wave Type, which spawns at least dozens of monsters at regular intervals. Lastly, the Dungeon Type, where one must enter the Gate and defeat the boss inside to close it.

Among these, the most challenging by far is the Wave Type. It unleashes groups of at least dozens of monsters at once, with more following in waves until the Gate disappears.

However, even the troublesome Wave Type has its advantages over the Summoning or Dungeon Types. Unlike the Summoning Type or Dungeon Type, which are hard to predict, the Wave Type forms when massive energy gathers at one point. This phenomenon is visible to the naked eye, allowing quick detection and preparation if noticed in time.

Late in the afternoon, the detection team promptly identified a forming Gate and summoned the Espers. The location was in a residential alleyway. Given the area, a delayed discovery could have resulted in devastating casualties.

Soon, five teams arrived on the scene, swiftly evacuating the residents and surrounding the Gate in formation. Since nothing could stop the Gate's creation process, all they could do was wait until it fully formed.

"I… this is my first time dealing with a Wave-Type Gate. Do you think I can handle it?"

Kim Young-ho, the youngest member of Team 5, couldn't hide his nervousness as he spoke hesitantly. Han Kang-jin, their team leader, patted him on the shoulder and offered reassurance.

"A Wave Type is no different from a Summoning Type, really. The only difference is the numbers. Don't worry."

"Team Leader's right. Just think of it as a tougher day at the office. Plus, it's a good chance to work with other teams and improve coordination. These experiences pile up, and they're what keep you alive and kicking for a long career."

"Wow… Soo-bin, you sounded like a total boomer just now."

"What? You little—"

Choi Soo-bin playfully pretended to strangle Kim Young-ho, her light grip making him let out a small, exaggerated scream of protest. As she laughed at his antics, she turned to Kang I-won, who was silently staring at the forming Gate, and poked his cheek repeatedly.

"Kang I-won, don't you have anything to say to your junior?"

Caught off guard by her question, Kang I-won wore a slightly perplexed expression.

What could he say? Worrying was fine, but overdoing it wouldn't help. Most of the people gathered here were seasoned veterans, so the situation wasn't likely to become too dangerous. Even if things went wrong, at least Kim Young-ho wouldn't die.

Despite these thoughts, all that came out of his mouth was a short word of encouragement.

"Do your best."

After witnessing countless situations where words ultimately proved useless, that was the only thing he could say. Ignoring Kim Young-ho's incredulous look, Kang I-won scratched his side awkwardly, while Choi Soo-bin sighed exaggeratedly.

"Wow, how underwhelming."

"What were you expecting from me?"

"Right? I guess I was expecting too much from Kang I-won. My mistake."

As they exchanged their lighthearted banter, the forming Gate began to take on a reddish hue. The chatting Espers fell silent and turned their full attention to the Gate.

Gates were categorized by their color. The closer the Gate was to red, the higher its rank; conversely, the closer to black, the lower its rank.

The energy radiating from the Gate stung their skin. Staring at the swirling red hues, Kang I-won murmured to himself.

"This feels like a B-, maybe a C+ rank."

"Yeah? If that's the case, we should have enough people here."

"Still, don't let your guard down."

"Did you hear that, Young-ho?"

"I'm not letting my guard down!"

Just as Kim Young-ho raised his voice in protest, monsters began pouring out of the Gate like a tidal wave. Han Kang-jin charged forward with his shield raised, with Kang I-won following closely behind.

The Gate, which spawned 26 monsters every three hours, was classified as a C+ rank. While the monsters themselves weren't particularly difficult to deal with, the short intervals between waves required reinforcements.

After three days of continuous shifts with five additional teams joining the fight—making a total of eight teams rotating in and out—Kim Young-ho lay sprawled on the ground during his rest break, groaning dramatically.

"Ugh, I feel like I'm actually going to die…."

Kang I-won, who was also sitting on the ground, responded in a calm voice.

"People don't die that easily."

"Senior, not you too…?"

Kim Young-ho looked at Kang I-won with wide eyes, betrayal written all over his face. Choi Soo-bin, who was gulping down water, burst into laughter and smacked Kang I-won on the back.

"He's right, though. People don't die as easily as you'd think. Even when it feels like you're on the brink, you somehow survive. Especially if you're an Esper like us."

"But why are you hitting my back?"

"Because it's right there?"

As Kang I-won and Choi Soo-bin bickered, Kim Young-ho watched them with curious eyes before turning his gaze to an Esper from Team 9, who was being guided by their dedicated Guide. He looked at them enviously and then asked Han Kang-jin.

"Team Leader, when are we getting our own dedicated Guide?"

"I keep putting in requests to the higher-ups…"

Han Kang-jin grimaced before continuing.

"…but who knows when that'll happen. There's a shortage of Guides everywhere. At least we've got Heo Do-gyeong filling in temporarily, so we're managing for now, aren't we?"

At the mention of Heo Do-gyeong, Kim Young-ho's expression turned complicated. From the very first meeting, Heo Do-gyeong's demeanor had been consistent: minimal conversation, contact only through gloved hands, and a guiding process that was quick and precise.

He was polite, with a faint smile and an air of professionalism, but somehow distant and hard to approach. Any attempts to strike up a conversation would inevitably be met with curt replies, and continuing a dialogue felt nearly impossible—like trying to break through an invisible wall.

Kim Young-ho groaned.

"Of course, Guide Heo Do-gyeong-nim is great. Way better than the last temporary one we had. But he's just so hard to deal with. I get that he's a germophobe and doesn't like Espers, but every time I try to make small talk or get closer, he just gives me one-word answers. And even though he's smiling, it feels cold—like icy, frosty cold."

"…And annoying?"

"Exactly, he's so annoy—! No, that's not what I meant!"

Kim Young-ho's true feelings slipped out thanks to Choi Soo-bin's interruption. Startled, he quickly sat up to deny it, but then lay back down with a groan, his voice teetering on the verge of tears.

"Honestly, I liked Eun-young noona a lot more. She was so much kinder, always responded warmly when I talked to her, and the atmosphere during Guiding sessions was so cheerful and friendly…."

Han Kang-jin scolded him with a firm tone.

"Kim Young-ho, a Guide isn't a customer service worker. As long as they guide you properly, that's enough."

Kim Young-ho rolled his eyes and added defensively, "Of course, but my matching rate with Eun-young noona was way higher too…."

"True, you were close to 80% with Eun-young, right? Or did it pass that?"

At Choi Soo-bin's question, Kim Young-ho answered immediately.

"Not quite. It was 79%."

"And with Heo Do-gyeong?"

"61%." He sighed deeply before continuing. "Honestly, with Guides, matching rates matter way more than their grade, you know? Even though Guide Heo Do-gyeong-nim is S-rank, the low matching rate makes a difference. To me, Eun-young noona's Guiding felt way better."

With another heavy sigh, Kim Young-ho lamented further.

"Plus, Eun-young noona would occasionally even allow hugs. But Guide Heo Do-gyeong-nim? Forget hugs; he shakes hands with gloves on. Even after a Guiding session, I never feel satisfied. It's like something's always missing. Just when I start to feel like it's getting better, it's abruptly cut off, and I'm left feeling unsettled. How do I even describe it?"

"Like going to the bathroom and not wiping properly?"

"Seriously, of all the analogies…."

Kim Young-ho looked horrified at Choi Soo-bin's comparison.

"Why? Do you have a better one?" she teased.

"Uh, um… It's like drinking a beverage with pulp, but only finishing the liquid while the pulp gets left behind. You know, you tap the can, but the last few bits just won't come out. It's so frustrating because it would feel complete if you could eat those last pieces, but no matter how much you tap, they're stuck, and you end up feeling unsettled…."

"Doesn't that feel a bit different, though?"

"Isn't it kind of the same?"

"Just stick with the 'not wiping properly' analogy. It's short and straightforward. Anyway, that's not the point. For me, the matching rates with Eun-young and Heo Do-gyeong are about the same, so I do think Heo Do-gyeong's Guiding feels slightly better. But since physical contact is limited, I don't notice a huge difference."

Choi Soo-bin jabbed Kang I-won in the arm with her finger.

"Hey, Kang I-won. What about you? With your high matching rate, it must've felt great, huh?"

Kang I-won gave a small nod.

It went without saying. Heo Do-gyeong's Guiding felt exceptional—so much so that it was incomparable to any other Guiding he'd received. For the first time, he could understand why so many Espers were obsessed with having their Guide or forming an imprint.

"See? Matching rate is way more important than rank. I wish I could get Guiding from someone with a high matching rate too," Choi Soo-bin sighed.

Most Espers assumed that a Guide's rank determined the quality of Guiding. However, when the ranks weren't vastly different, the matching rate became the more crucial factor.

To put it another way, imagine Espers as machines and Guides as repair technicians. The state of an Esper's wavelength reflects how "broken" the machine is.

Guiding, in this analogy, is the act of "repair." The moment a Guide manifests their abilities, they instinctively understand how to repair any machine.

But just knowing the repair methods doesn't guarantee perfection. Machines vary widely, with countless different models, and each technician has varying degrees of proficiency with different types.

This proficiency is what's called the matching rate. The higher the rate, the better the repair quality.

A technician with high proficiency can restore a machine to near-perfect condition, while one with low proficiency can only patch it up enough to maintain basic functionality.

No matter how many times the same technician works on a machine, their proficiency doesn't change.

So, in such cases, wouldn't anyone seek out the more skilled technician to fix their machine? This is exactly why Espers are so desperate for Guides with high matching rates.

A Guide with a high matching rate can restore an Esper's disrupted state to its original form, creating an unconscious sense of stability and comfort.

This might lead to the question: does a Guide's rank hold any significance at all? The answer, however, is more nuanced.

A Guide's rank indicates how many machines they can repair and how advanced their tools are.

The better the tools, the higher the quality of the repair. Even with the same level of proficiency, repairing a complex machine with just a screwdriver versus a full toolset yields vastly different results.

In this analogy, the tools represent the unique energy that Guides possess, which determines their rank.

So, while the matching rate is crucial, the Guide's rank is equally important. In the end, both factors play an essential role.

As the conversation about Guides and Guiding continued, it inevitably shifted. The more they talked about Guides, the more the absence of their dedicated Guide felt glaring.

While taking a break, Kim Young-ho asked, "Team Leader, how long do we have to hold this thing off?"

"Didn't they teach you this in training?"

"Oh, come on, who remembers that? That was ages ago! I've been doing this for six whole months, you know?"

The young Esper puffed up with pride, chirping like a freshly hatched chick. For a new recruit, surviving their first deployment—when many perish early on—was a point of pride. It was still that stage for him.

Han Kang-jin humored him with a response.

"I don't know either."

"…Huh? What do you mean, you don't know?"

"Who could know? With Wave-Type Gates, you just hold out until it disappears."

"…What? Really? Senior I-won, is that true?"

"Yeah."

Kang I-won's blunt confirmation left no room for doubt, much to Kim Young-ho's dismay.

Kang I-won nodded silently.

Wave-Type Gates typically disappeared after three or four days, but this wasn't always the case.

Some vanished within a day, while others lasted a week—or even two weeks. The most extreme case occurred in the U.S., where a Wave-Type Gate persisted for an incredible 97 days. In short, the duration of a Gate was entirely unpredictable.

In light of this, Han Kang-jin launched into a brief lecture for Kim Young-ho, who was clearly lacking in basic knowledge. Though Kim Young-ho groaned in despair at the impromptu lesson, the rest of Team 5 ignored him entirely.

The lecture ended soon enough, with Han Kang-jin clapping his hands.

"Alright, time to get up. It's our turn again."

"Ugh… I'm seriously going to die," Kim Young-ho grumbled as he dragged himself to his feet.

Kang I-won sighed quietly as he stood up as well. The wind seeped through the countless tears in his battle-worn clothes, making him shiver. The accumulated pain in his body screamed faintly as the cold brushed against his skin.

He clenched and unclenched his trembling hands a few times, trying to steady them. The lack of proper Guiding was beginning to take its toll. Following Han Kang-jin's lead, he rose to his feet. Rest time was over.

On the fifth day after the Gate had appeared, the last remaining monster was finally slain. The Gate swirled inward, condensing into a single point before vanishing. Though there were numerous injuries, there were thankfully no fatalities.

Half the Espers collapsed to the ground, while the other half lay sprawled out. A select few stood stiffly, stretching out their weary bodies.

Two on-site Guides, who had arrived earlier, hurriedly moved among the dozens of Espers, prioritizing those who raised their hands for help.

Kang I-won, lying flat on the ground, pulled out a vial of Guiding medication from his jacket with trembling hands. Despite the chaos of battle, the vial had survived unscathed. As he tore open the packaging, Choi Soo-bin, still sitting on the ground, grimaced at him.

"Hey, I told you not to use that stuff. Is Heo Do-gyeong on a holiday or something? Just ask one of the on-site Guides over there for help instead."

"I don't have time."

Without hesitation, Kang I-won removed the cap from the syringe and injected it into his thigh. The movements were practiced and methodical, a routine he'd clearly gone through many times before.

The medication began spreading from his thigh muscles, its effects quickly coursing through his entire body.

The sensation after using a Guiding drug was akin to being in sleep paralysis. While his mind was clear, his body refused to move no matter how hard he tried. Worse still, the side effects varied from person to person but often occurred with alarming frequency.

For Kang I-won, the side effects usually manifested as difficulty breathing. It felt as if a metal bar weighing hundreds of grams was pressing down on his chest, or as though an invisible hand was tightly squeezing his throat.

Despite the suffocating sensation, his chaotic wavelengths gradually began to calm. The previously erratic energy was now suppressed, its wild leaps muted into a faint hum.

After about three minutes, the suppression finally subsided. Though his body could move again, breathing still felt laborious.

From her spot on the ground, Choi Soo-bin, who had been watching him closely, asked.

"Why do you still use that stuff when we've got a perfectly capable temporary Guide around?"

"Just a habit."

"Then break that habit already," Choi Soo-bin snapped, turning her head in frustration.

Kang I-won, unfazed, calmly replaced the cap on the syringe needle and tucked the empty syringe into his pocket.

It had been about a year and a half since Kang I-won was transferred to the Southern Gyeonggi Third Branch. Here, he at least received regular Guiding sessions every two weeks, something he couldn't even imagine before.

Tl/N: Southern Gyeonggi refers to the southern region of Gyeonggi Province (경기도), a province surrounding Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Gyeonggi Province is known for its large population and diverse mix of urban and rural areas, serving as a significant hub for industry, culture, and suburban living.

Before his assignment to Southern Gyeonggi, Kang I-won was often dispatched to places no one wanted to go. These areas were dangerous, exceptionally grueling, or located in remote, inaccessible regions.

Such assignments typically went to people without families to support or those who lacked connections—someone without a "safety net." Kang I-won fell into both categories, making him the perfect candidate for such posts.

These remote locations were notorious for monsters spilling out of undiscovered Wave- or Dungeon-Type Gates, roaming the streets, or hiding in mountains and forests, threatening the lives of nearby residents.

Even the safety of Esper Centers in these areas was not guaranteed. Monsters, driven by their hunger, often prowled near centers and attacked, occasionally leading to tragic deaths among the powerless civilian staff.

Guides were severely lacking in these high-risk zones.

While there were a few Guides driven by duty who willingly risked their lives to work in such perilous conditions, they were exceedingly rare. Most came solely for the financial incentives—the danger pay was decent, albeit insufficient.

In these places, a single Guide often had to manage dozens of Espers, an impossible task even in theory.

As a result, most Espers had no choice but to rely on Guiding medication. The law requiring at least one Guiding session every two weeks was practically meaningless in such regions. With no available Guides, how could the law be enforced?

Because of this, Kang I-won lived on Guiding medication and only received proper Guiding when he was on the brink of losing control.

Not everyone in those areas was like Kang I-won. Most Espers desperately sought out Guides, trying to take advantage of any opportunity to receive proper Guiding.

However, Kang I-won, stubbornly refusing to depend on a Guide, relied heavily on the medication. Over time, this dependence turned into a habit—whenever he needed immediate relief, he instinctively reached for the medication instead of a Guide.

This habit persisted even after he was transferred to the Southern Gyeonggi Third Branch, where Guides were more readily available. He still prioritized Guiding medication and minimized his sessions with Guides.

Of course, there was a reason behind this stubborn habit.

When an Esper suffers from insufficient Guiding, the symptoms vary. For some, the effects are primarily mental, while for others, they are physical. Naturally, many experience both.

In Kang I-won's case, insufficient Guiding impacted him in both ways.

Mentally, he only experienced mild bouts of melancholy. Physically, however, he dealt with mild headaches, nausea, and a dull ache throughout his body—similar to the feeling of being sick with a mild fever. His body felt strangely heavy and sluggish, though this occasionally created the illusion that injuries hurt less than they actually did.

Kang I-won was always in pain. He had merely grown adept at enduring it; the pain itself never became familiar.

When the pain grew unbearable, he resorted to chewing on the painkillers he always carried with him.

It would have been better to take them preemptively, but strong painkillers dulled his mind, slowing his ability to think and react. As a result, he could only take them after battles, never during or before.

Of course, even if his dulled mind caused a mistake, Kang I-won himself would not die. His regenerative ability ensured that.

But his companions weren't so lucky. A mistake on his part could cost the lives of those fighting alongside him.

Pain was something he could endure, but surviving alone while his comrades perished was a reality he could never grow accustomed to.

For this reason, Kang I-won always maintained a state of guiding deficiency. He needed the pain to keep himself sharp and decisive. To achieve this, Guiding medication was more effective than receiving direct guiding.

But who could he possibly explain this to? Kang I-won let out a deep sigh.

After a brief rest, he slowly rose, his body feeling somewhat steadier. At the same time, an intense hunger surged through him. He searched his pockets but found only empty wrappers. The realization made him sigh deeply, disappointment welling up within him.

* * *

Even in a world where Gates appear without warning and monsters emerge to threaten lives, the days still pretended to roll along as if nothing were wrong.

On an early weekday afternoon, the streets were noticeably quieter than the bustling weekends, giving off an oddly empty vibe.

After five grueling days of work, Kang I-won found himself in the city alone on his day off. The reason? A sale event at a nearby supermarket.

Having postponed shopping for weeks, he had run out of essential items. Out of toilet paper and with a sale underway, he finally made the trip to the city.

The supermarket was a sizable two-story building with a ground floor and basement. Its exterior walls were plastered with sale signs. Luckily, the toilet paper he needed was one of the discounted items.

Grabbing a cart at the entrance, Kang I-won headed down to the basement. The first thing he added to his cart was ramen. Since he always cooked it in bulk, no matter how much he bought, it never seemed to last.

As always, he picked the cheapest brand of ramen. With the sale, it was even cheaper than usual, so he added a few more packs than planned, filling the cart with ramen.

"Toothpaste… and shampoo too," Kang I-won muttered softly to himself, recalling the other essentials he was running low on. It had been a while since his last visit to the supermarket, and there was plenty to buy.

After adding toothpaste and shampoo to his cart, Kang I-won started heading toward the ground floor. But he stopped abruptly, sensing something ominous.

His gaze snapped toward the source of the uneasy energy. Though there was nothing visible, the finely honed instincts he'd developed over the past decade as an Esper screamed at him to evacuate immediately.

And those instincts were rarely wrong.

Kang I-won shouted loudly, something he seldom did.

"Evacuate immediately!"

People, conditioned by countless past disasters, didn't stop to confirm the presence of a Gate. Abandoning their carts, they fled toward the ground floor in a panic.

"Evacuate immediately!"

The shouts of those who had fled to the first floor were loud enough to echo all the way down to the basement. Staying calm, Kang I-won used his device to issue an emergency call to nearby Espers. The reason: Gate emergence. The alert would have reached both the Center and every Esper in the vicinity.

His next priority was to evacuate the remaining citizens, some of whom were still staring at him in confusion.

One of the stragglers, a man with a swagger in his step, looked around before approaching Kang I-won with an irritated expression.

"Evacuate? There's nothing here. Hey, are you a YouTuber or something? Is this a prank? Damn, you really live up to your creepy look," the man sneered.

"Please evacuate immediately. A Gate will appear soon," Kang I-won said firmly.

The man stepped closer, invading Kang I-won's personal space, and jabbed his forehead with his finger while spouting insults.

"Bullshit. Evacuate for what? There's nothing here. Quit the crap. You're just some attention-seeking loser, aren't you? You damn clowns are always pulling stunts for a little fame. You think it's funny to mess with people like this? Does it make you feel good, huh?"

"You need to evacuate now," Kang I-won repeated calmly.

"Evacuayaaaashun my ass! You're just spouting garbage, you idiot," the man mocked, mimicking his tone in a high-pitched, mocking voice.

Kang I-won sighed softly, glancing at the man and the small group of onlookers who were watching the scene with morbid curiosity.

"I am Kang I-won, an Esper from the Southern Gyeonggi Third Branch of the Monster Response Center. I can sense ominous energy in this area, so please evacuate immediately—"

He didn't get to finish his sentence.

With a dreadful tearing sound, the air itself began to rip apart as though it were paper. A black dot formed in the void and began swirling rapidly, giving birth to a Gate.

"Holy shit!"

The man who had been poking Kang I-won's forehead froze for a second, then bolted in terror, leading the charge up the stairs. The bystanders who had been enjoying the spectacle panicked and rushed to follow.

"It's a Gate! A Gate has appeared!"

The man's panicked shouts echoed loudly as he fled.

Meanwhile, in the basement of the supermarket, where everyone else had evacuated, Kang I-won stood alone, calmly observing the Gate. Judging by the lack of clear precursors, it was likely either a Summoning Type or a Dungeon Type. He silently hoped for the latter.

He wasn't confident his current condition could handle what was about to come.

It was his day off after five grueling days of work. Though he had used Guiding medication to recover from overusing his abilities, his body still felt far from normal. If he had known this would happen, he would have followed Choi Soo-bin's advice yesterday and sought out one of the on-site Guides for proper Guiding.

But regrets, no matter how immediate, always come too late. There was nothing he could do now but hope the emerging Gate was a Dungeon Type—or at least that the monsters it spawned were low-ranked.

The Gate rapidly expanded, consuming a quarter of the ceiling, before finally ceasing its growth. Soon, a red hue began to envelop it.

The Gate, now tinged with crimson, flickered ominously. Kang I-won frowned. At that level, the monsters would be somewhere between B- and B rank, a range he'd struggle to handle alone.

"…Ha."

He let out a quiet sigh. Neither of his prayers had been granted. Clearly, there was no such thing as divine intervention.

From the dark red Gate, a pair of thick, segmented hind legs covered in tough green exoskeleton began to emerge. Of all things, it had to be an insect-type.

Insect-types were notoriously troublesome. Even if their heads were severed, they could continue moving for a significant amount of time. To truly kill them, one had to split their body open and spill out their internal organs. But their exoskeletons were absurdly tough, making them incredibly difficult to deal with.

If it had been an external-type creature, it might have been easier to manage. Unfortunately, most insect-types tended to be internal-types, meaning their organs were well-protected within their hard shells.

As he watched the monster's hind legs twitch and struggle, Kang I-won made one last desperate wish.

Please, at least don't let it fly.

The monster struggled and pulled its torso out of the gate. As expected, the gods ignored Kang I-won's wish.

It was a monster with a body resembling a praying mantis. It had a pair of wings on its back, and its front legs were equipped with thick pincers, resembling saw blades.

Kang I-won clicked his tongue as he looked at the strangely furry wings attached to the mantis-like insect monster's body.

Flying-type monsters were troublesome. If the situation turned even slightly unfavorable, they would immediately escape into the sky, often flying quickly to recover energy before launching surprise attacks on humans. Often, these cunning creatures would engage in hit-and-run tactics, draining the Espers' energy.

Since it was a flying-type monster, there was no way it could be allowed to leave this place. It was fortunate that it appeared in the underground area with the ceiling tightly sealed.

The monster was the only one. The gate that had spewed out the single monster vanished as though it had completed its task.

An insect-type monster, about B-rank level, flying-type. It was an awful match for Kang I-won. It didn't even have any weapons.

Kang I-won couldn't hold back and let out a deep sigh. Even so, with just one, he should be able to endure until the others arrived. No, he had to endure.

"Ki-iiiiiiiick!"

The gigantic praying mantis monster, about 3 meters in length, roared with frustration and irritation at the ceiling, which was slightly higher than its body. The wings, which had been tightly folded against its back, quivered and attempted to take flight. It was trying to break through the ceiling.

Unable to just watch, Kang I-won grabbed a can of tuna nearby and threw it toward the monster's wings. The tuna can hit its fluttering wings.

The monster, its wingbeats interrupted, turned its head toward Kang I-won.

"Ki-ruk!! Ki-reuk!!"

Only then did the monster, having finally noticed Kang I-won, shake its jaw with pleasure.

It had just emerged from the gate and was extremely hungry. Although it was a shame that there was only one, it thought it would catch the human, fill its belly with him, and use that energy to break out of here and hunt down more humans.

The praying mantis monster used its sharp forelegs, like weapons, to swipe away anything that obstructed its path. Wherever its sharp legs brushed past, it sliced through as easily as cutting tofu. The cutting power was immense.

Kang I-won kicked a cart and pushed it toward the approaching mantis monster. As before, the mantis monster used its sharp forelegs to strike it away. The cart, sliced in half by the fierce cutting power, rolled across the floor.

"Tch."

No matter how he looked at it, the matchup was absolutely awful. If the distance closed at all, Kang I-won's body would undoubtedly be cut to pieces by those sharp forelegs, like a sheet of paper.

Kang I-won maintained a dangerously close distance that kept him just out of reach of the mantis monster's strikes while buying time. Thanks to this, shelves were knocked over, goods scattered across the floor, and the contents burst open, releasing the smells of various foods into the air.

"Ki-iiiii-!!!"

Seeing that Kang I-won was so close to being caught but still evading, the mantis monster threw a tantrum, raising its long arm to scratch the ceiling. The fluorescent lights shattered where its foreleg passed, and the light flickered out.

Many Espers would rather wish this reality were a game. Monsters don't have intelligence; they follow set patterns, and if you understand those patterns, you could defeat them easily.

If this were a game, the mantis monster that had drawn Kang I-won's aggro would continue focusing on him. But unfortunately, this wasn't a game—it was reality, and monsters did have intelligence. There were even studies suggesting that smart monsters had an intelligence level similar to that of a kindergartner.

The mantis monster grew increasingly frustrated as it failed to catch the human, who kept eluding its grasp. However, despite its frustration, the mantis monster decided to abandon the hunt for this troublesome human for now.

It would go elsewhere, consume another human to regain energy, and then return to tear this annoying human apart. With that thought, the mantis monster began to scratch at the ceiling. The ceiling crumbled easily, as if it were made of dried, hard clay.

"Damn it."

For a monster, it lacked persistence. Kang I-won sighed softly and moved closer to the mantis monster, throwing a nearby cart at it. The mantis monster ignored the cart that collided with its body and continued to focus on digging into the ceiling.

The ceiling was quickly pierced.

"Ki-rik! Ki-rrr-rrr!"

The mantis monster let out a joyful cry at the sight of light leaking through the hole in the ceiling.

As it widened the hole to make it easier for itself to pass through, Kang I-won took action. In his hand, he held a long stick, a piece of a display rack that had been sliced by the mantis monster earlier.

The display rack, which had toppled over earlier, was leaning slightly due to its base being supported. Kang I-won used the five-tiered rack like a staircase, quickly climbing to the top, where he leaped and swung the stick toward the mantis monster's eyes.

Kang I-won often aimed for the eyes. No matter the monster, the eyes were the weakest and most vulnerable area, and targeting them could easily attract the monster's attention.

But the attack failed. Before the end of the stick could reach the monster's eyes, its thick pincers struck Kang I-won's torso. Without any armor, Kang I-won took the full brunt of the blow and was immediately slammed into the wall.

"Ugh…!"

There was no time to lose consciousness. Kang I-won quickly raised the stick and blocked the pincers that came crashing toward him. The shock was so immense that his arms rang painfully, but there was no time to focus on the pain. Kang I-won threw himself to the side.

At the same time, the mantis monster's forelegs slammed down onto the spot where Kang I-won had been. The legs embedded into the wall, and Kang I-won didn't miss the brief opportunity.

He immediately struck the joint of the mantis monster's foreleg, which was now pinned against the wall, but unless he had a weapon specifically designed to kill monsters, it was difficult to inflict significant damage.

"Ki-aaaaaaaaack-!!!"

Although there was no direct hit, the pain was undeniable. The mantis monster's cry of fury echoed through the air.

The mantis monster glared at the human who dared to cause it pain. Rage surged to the top of its head. It seemed as though only by tearing the human apart, piece by piece, and devouring every last bit of flesh would its anger be quelled.

The chase resumed. Fueled by rage, the mantis monster's movements were faster and sharper than before. Unlike earlier, when it barely maintained a safe distance, its forelegs now continuously brushed against Kang I-won's body.

The edges of its saw-like forelegs harshly tore through Kang I-won's clothes, leaving shallow gashes that appeared and disappeared in rapid succession. The blood stains left behind marked the spots where the wounds had been.

During this dangerous chase, a display rack that Kang I-won had been using for cover finally toppled, blocking his view. In that fleeting moment, one of the mantis monster's forelegs, resembling a pincer, shot through the debris and grabbed Kang I-won's thigh. The jagged inside edge of the leg dug cruelly into his flesh.

Kang I-won's body crumpled as he was dragged away by the mantis monster.

"Ki-ruk, Ki-ruk!!"

Finally catching its elusive prey, the mantis monster expressed its joy and lifted the captured human in its pincer. Kang I-won's body spun upside down, dangling in mid-air.

Thankfully, his thigh wasn't completely severed, but the pincer's cutting power was so immense that it dug deep into his flesh, scraping against the bone. The pain was so intense that he almost lost consciousness.

The mantis monster, eager to enjoy its victory, used its other pincer to seize Kang I-won's upper body and twist him around. The most delicious part of a human was the head, and the mantis monster was the type that always ate the best parts first.

Holding Kang I-won's thigh with one leg and his upper body with the other, the mantis monster moved to bring his head to its mouth.

Just as the monster's jaws parted, preparing to bite down on Kang I-won's head, he swung his free arm—the only part not caught by the pincers—and thrust it toward the monster's eyes, stabbing and scrambling. He felt a soft, mushy sensation in his hand.

"Ki-eeeee!!!"

The mantis monster, writhing in pain from the sensation in its eyes, instinctively tightened its pincers, causing Kang I-won to break free in an unexpected way.

"…!"

The sudden wave of pain was so intense that Kang I-won couldn't even scream. His body, now reduced to a ragged mess, fell to the ground and rolled.

Barely able to breathe, his mouth open as he gasped for air, Kang I-won stretched out his trembling arm to steady himself. Using only one arm and one leg, he began to crawl across the floor, trying to escape from the monster's relentless assault.

A trail of blood followed the slow path he crawled.

As the monster thrashed in agony, Kang I-won managed to put a bit of distance between them, exhaling a shaky breath. His body shuddered with exhaustion. The energy drained from him completely. He couldn't understand what kind of hell he was enduring on his supposed day off.

Even moving a single finger had become an immense challenge. Yet, he gathered his remaining strength and searched his chest for any relief.

But there was nothing. No painkillers, no guiding drugs. Feeling utterly defeated, Kang I-won let the strength drain from his body. His chest, along with his severed arm, was regenerating, but it was happening at a painfully slow rate.

He couldn't buy any more time with this battered body. If he were caught now, being eaten was the only way out. Kang I-won half-accepted this fate, letting go of his remaining strength.

Fortunately, before the monster could devour him, the 5th and 9th teams, who had been called to the scene, arrived faster.

Choi Soo-bin, upon seeing Kang I-won's horrific condition, asked in a voice that seemed to scream in horror.

"Is he dead?!"

"..."

"Is he dead or not? You damn bastard!"

Choi Soo-bin's voice buzzed in his ears. Even opening his mouth was a struggle, yet she insisted on forcing him to respond like that. Kang I-won barely managed to open his mouth and answer.

"I'm alive, but…"

His head was spinning. It felt like he was on the verge of death, though his abilities prevented it from happening.

Choi Soo-bin, standing some distance away, sent a sharp gust of wind toward the monster and moved closer to Kang I-won. Upon seeing his condition up close, her face involuntarily twisted in disgust.

"Who the hell does he think he is, taking on that thing alone without any protection? Damn idiot. Really, what the hell were you thinking? You didn't even get any guiding yesterday. And now look at you. Do I have to nag you like Team Leader does, huh? Why can't you just take care of yourself?"

"Choi Soo-bin… Forget that, I need… that…"

Ignoring Choi Soo-bin's scolding, Kang I-won, with what little strength he had left, pointed to two dismembered chunks of flesh rolling on the floor.

With a voice so faint it seemed like it might fade away, Choi Soo-bin muttered curses under her breath. Still, she cautiously gathered up the pieces from the floor and carefully reconnected them at the severed edges.

Even when there were physical losses, if there was enough energy, the body could be restored. But on a day like today, when energy was in short supply, it was easier and faster to simply reattach the pieces. Of course, this method used less energy.

However, today, the regeneration was particularly slow. The fact that his powers weren't functioning properly meant that guiding was more urgent than ever.

With years of experience, Kang I-won knew his own limits better than any other Esper.

Kang I-won's current condition was akin to a water tank on the verge of overflowing, with the water gently splashing at the edge but not quite spilling over. He was in that precarious state, barely holding on.

His body was in an extremely unstable state. At this point, even guiding medication wouldn't help. In fact, it would be toxic, especially when the waves of energy were unstable.

This was the time when a Guide's guiding was crucial. Kang I-won suddenly wondered how Heo Do-gyeong would react if he saw him like this. Would he hate the sight of him in such a sorry state? Maybe, but it seemed like it might help clear up any misunderstandings.

He quickly brushed the thought aside. There was no need for that. Even though their matching rate was high, Heo Do-gyeong was only temporary, after all. A temporary presence who could leave at any moment.

Kang I-won closed his eyes, emptying his mind, and focused on regenerating his body. His condition made the process agonizingly slow, but he was steadily restoring himself.

The mantis monster that had reduced Kang I-won to a ragged mess was subdued by seven Espers.

Even after the monster was subdued, Kang I-won's body was still not fully restored. Choi Soo-bin, who returned after the monster's suppression, grimaced at the noticeably slower pace and spoke with concern.

"The other team's Guide came along. They'll handle the temporary guiding, so at least accept that for now."

"…He'll probably hate it."

Most Espers don't like their team's Guide working with another team's Esper. It's not uncommon for dedicated Guides to form bonds or even imprint with Espers from other teams, which makes things complicated.

When a Guide imprints with an Esper, they can only provide guiding to that specific Esper, and the Esper can only receive guiding from the Guide they've imprinted with.

Therefore, when a dedicated Guide imprints with an Esper from another team, it's as if they've lost their own Guide overnight. It's a catastrophe, as though a bolt from the blue had struck.

A typical example of this was Lee Eun-young, the former Guide of Team 5. She fell in love with an Esper from Team 7 and, in secret, became romantically involved with him. Unknowingly, they formed an imprint bond.

As a result, she could no longer guide other Espers, and, in an emergency, a C-rank Guide without a dedicated team was assigned to temporarily guide Team 5. And now, that role had been passed on to Heo Do-gyeong.

Though such events occur, it wasn't unusual for a Guide to provide guiding to an Esper from another team. It was better to provide guiding than to watch them spiral out of control. Choi Soo-bin said:

"No, the team leader from their side seems to like you. He'll probably help if you ask. Just wait a moment."

Choi Soo-bin immediately approached the Team 9 leader and explained the situation. The Team 9 leader then explained something to their dedicated Guide, who approached Kang I-won along with Choi Soo-bin. Upon seeing Kang I-won's condition, the Guide clicked his tongue.

"Goodness, Kang I-won… What happened to you…? Ugh, I'll provide guiding right away."

The Guide, who sat down next to Kang I-won, urgently attempted to provide guiding. Thankfully, the matching rate wasn't too low, and Kang I-won felt the chaotic energy waves slowly begin to stabilize. He could breathe again. The regeneration process, which had been painfully slow, started to speed up.

After a while, the 9th team Guide let go of Kang I-won's hand and wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

"Hmm… I'm sorry, but this is about all I can do. We need to guide our own team members, too…"

The 9th team Guide spoke with an apologetic tone, trailing off. Choi Soo-bin waved it off.

"Sorry? This is more than enough. Thank you so much. You've done a great job."

Choi Soo-bin expressed her gratitude on Kang I-won's behalf, as he was focused on his regeneration. The 9th team Guide nodded and returned to his team.

Although the regeneration speed had increased, a terrible hunger set in. Kang I-won muttered:

"I'm hungry."

"Eat this."

Choi Soo-bin peeled the skin off a hot dog lying nearby and placed it in Kang I-won's mouth. He silently chewed the hot dog. After giving him five in total, Choi Soo-bin stood up to help with the cleanup.

Even though the regeneration speed had increased, Kang I-won was still far from fully recovered. Thanks to that, he could leave the cleanup to others and focus on his rest while his body continued to heal.

After washing off the blood and changing his clothes, he appeared almost completely restored, as if he hadn't even been through the battle.

Kang I-won got to his feet. Choi Soo-bin, who had approached in the meantime, said:

"Heo Do-gyeong is at the center right now. If you go there, you can get guiding immediately."

"I figured you'd say that."

Kang I-won had received temporary guiding from the 9th team's Guide, which had calmed the waves somewhat, but his condition was still unstable. Especially after pushing himself to the limit like today, it was better to receive extra guiding to stabilize the waves, even if they were already somewhat under control.

Han Kang-jin, having nearly finished cleaning up the scene, approached Kang I-won.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"Good job. I know it's your day off, but you've had a tough time. I'll make sure to give you another day off soon, so just let me know when you want it."

"Okay."

"You're going to the center to receive guiding, right? We're almost done here, so just wait a bit. We can go together when you're ready…."

Beep-beep—beep-beep—

Han Kang-jin's words were cut off as his device loudly rang. Red light. An emergency call. Choi Soo-bin sighed as she checked the device.

"Damn it. Team Leader, this is nearby, so we'll have to go. There are seven summoned monsters."

"…I'll discuss it with Team 9 first. I was going to go with you, but you'll have to go back alone. Do you think you can manage?"

"Yeah. I've finished regenerating. I'm fine."

Kang I-won raised his trembling hand, clenched it into a fist, and lowered it again.

"…I'll be fine after I get some guiding."

"Good. Go ahead and get properly guided, and I'll talk with Team 9 first."

Han Kang-jin walked away to speak with Team 9's leader. Kang I-won, who had only just managed to sit up, lay back down to rest a little longer.

The deep wounds had already regenerated, leaving no trace behind. But the pain still lingered, casting a long shadow. Kang I-won closed his eyes briefly, letting the overwhelming exhaustion take over.

"…Food!"

Through his foggy mind, he heard a familiar voice. It felt like someone was shaking his body. Slowly, his consciousness, which had sunk into the floor, started to rise again.

"I-won, senior! If you're tired, you should go into the center and sleep!"

It was Kim Young-ho, the youngest member of Team 5. He must have dozed off for a moment. Kang I-won, his body numbed by pain, lifted himself and looked around. It seemed the other Espers had moved on to another location, leaving Kim Young-ho behind.

"Why didn't you leave?"

"I haven't received guiding yet either. I was supposed to get it after Team Leader finished, but then the emergency call came up. So I followed right away."

"You should have stayed and gotten it."

"Hey, you can't say that. Anyway, Team Leader says you should head back to the center first. They'll take the 9th team's vehicle, so you should just take a car."

"I'll drive."

"No, I'll drive. I haven't really done anything today."

"Alright."

Kang I-won nodded without rejecting the offer.

The two of them quickly left the store and got into the car parked on one side. As soon as Kang I-won sat in the passenger seat, the exhaustion hit him again. He rubbed the back of his neck and said,

"Young-ho, I'm sorry, but I'm going to rest my eyes for a bit. I'm really tired."

"Okay! I'll wake you up when we arrive."

"Thanks."

Kang I-won immediately closed his eyes. Kim Young-ho, sitting in the driver's seat, glanced at him briefly as he fell asleep.

His skin was so pale it almost seemed blue, and his body was covered in blood, with his clothes torn in several places. If anyone saw Kang I-won asleep like that, they'd surely mistake him for a corpse.

Kim Young-ho started the engine.

Kang I-won was truly an admirable senior. He had no abilities related to combat but still managed to become an A-rank Esper solely because of his regeneration powers. That in itself was worthy of respect.

Moreover, there was much to learn from him.

He had a deep understanding of monsters and gates, and yet he constantly studied newly updated information and kept up with grueling training routines that others would find exhausting. He was consistent in everything he did. In many ways, he was highly respectable.

But when he saw Kang I-won throw himself into battle, taking blows from monsters without hesitation, he often wondered if he was even human. There were times when he thought, "Does he really have to go that far?"

When he first saw him in that state, he was horrified. Even now, months later, he had yet to get used to it.

The sharp, bloody scent quickly filled the car. Kim Young-ho cracked the window slightly to air it out.

To Kim Young-ho, Kang I-won was a respectable senior, but at the same time, he felt like an enigmatic, unknowable creature. Seeing him, despite suffering a fatal wound, brush it off and get back on his feet with ease was almost chilling.

In many ways, he was a complicated and difficult person. Honestly, if they weren't on the same team, he wouldn't have wanted to interact with him much.

"I don't get why Soo-bin Senior hangs out with him…"

Kim Young-ho murmured in a small voice as the wheels of the car rolled smoothly.

After arriving at the center and parking the car, Kim Young-ho woke Kang I-won up. In the short time he'd been asleep, Kang I-won had fallen into a deep sleep, slowly rousing himself.

Kim Young-ho urged him to go ahead and get guiding, while he would stay behind to write a report. He headed inside first.

Left alone, Kang I-won used his device to request guiding. He attached a brief message: "Is 30 minutes possible?" After waiting for a moment, an automatic response message arrived.

[Guide Heo Do-gyeong has accepted the guiding request.]

After confirming the response message, Kang I-won immediately headed to the shower room, his body still caked with dried blood.

There was no way he could go into the guiding room looking like this. It would be a miracle if he wasn't kicked out.

He probably had a very high chance of being thrown out. Heo Do-gyeong hated anything dirty. Kang I-won recalled how the guide had always discarded his gloves after their sessions, even if it was just a small amount of dirt.

After taking a shower and changing clothes, Kang I-won looked almost the same as usual, aside from being a little paler than normal.

Having dried his hair and taken care of himself, Kang I-won left the shower room, his empty stomach temporarily soothed by some jelly, and made his way to the guiding room.

He opened the door to the guiding room and entered, where Heo Do-gyeong was sitting, as usual, impeccably dressed and crossing his legs, checking his pad. Kang I-won sat across from him. Heo Do-gyeong asked:

"Is Han Kang-jin still at the scene?"

"Yes."

"What about the others?"

"Yeah."

Kang I-won answered Heo Do-gyeong's question without much thought. Heo Do-gyeong then stared at him intently and asked in a relaxed tone,

"Did you come back from the scene alone? I saw Han Kang-jin running off to guide you when you made the emergency call."

"I came back with Young-ho. The others had another emergency call to deal with."

"Ah, I see."

Heo Do-gyeong uncrossed his legs and extended his hand, gloved in leather.

"Shall we proceed with the guiding quickly?"

Kang I-won immediately took his hand. Heo Do-gyeong let out a soft murmur, releasing some of his energy.

"I don't think you're quite ready for guiding yet."

Thanks to the efforts of the 9th team's Guide, Kang I-won had stabilized somewhat. If anyone looked closely, they would have noticed that his condition wasn't quite normal. However, Heo Do-gyeong, without noticing this, half-heartedly provided guiding, skimming over the surface.

Despite being half-hearted, Heo Do-gyeong was an S-rank Guide with a high matching rate. At this level, it was nearly impossible not to sense Kang I-won's condition, but Heo Do-gyeong didn't fully grasp it.

Of course, this wasn't just Heo Do-gyeong's problem.

Many Espers and Guides believed that guiding was a one-way process, but in reality, it was a two-way exchange. The Guide releases their energy, while the Esper exposes their weaknesses.

Even for an Esper, it wasn't easy to fully trust a Guide from the start. As a result, there were those who were sensitive to the guiding process.

These individuals instinctively guarded themselves against the Guide and unconsciously hid their core. The reason was to prevent the Guide from fully understanding their condition.

Even if the Esper hid their core, the Guide wouldn't notice. They wouldn't even be aware of its existence, so there was nothing to detect.

While an Esper's energy and core were distinct, the Guide could only feel the outer energy waves. The core of the Esper was like the inner core, wrapped by the energy waves that acted as the outer shell. Because the Guide could only perceive the outer surface, they couldn't sense the existence of the core.

Although the Guide couldn't directly sense the core, they still subconsciously registered its presence, which meant that both stabilizing the energy waves and restoring the core damaged by them happened simultaneously.

However, when the Esper hid their core, only the energy waves were stabilized. The core was hidden, and the Guide's unconscious mind didn't register it. As a result, the Guide's energy only affected the surface, stabilizing the waves, but not restoring the core.

With time, as trust built between the Guide and the Esper, the boundary would naturally break down. The Guide would then be able to fully understand the Esper's condition.

This often happened when long-term matches between Espers and Guides resulted in higher matching rates. In such cases, the Esper, who had been cautious and guarded, eventually let their guard down and trusted their Guide, fully exposing their weaknesses and entrusting themselves to the Guide's care.

Kang I-won didn't harbor a deep distrust of Guides.

However, to maintain a consistent state of minimal guiding, he had intentionally limited the amount of guiding he received, and due to his nature, he had gradually become instinctively inclined to hide his true condition.

One side of him concealed, while the other didn't even consider looking deeply into it, which made it completely natural that Heo Do-gyeong didn't notice Kang I-won's true state.

Nevertheless, despite this, Heo Do-gyeong's guiding was incredibly effective.

Even though Heo Do-gyeong couldn't perceive the core that Kang I-won held, the energy flowing into Kang I-won's body helped stabilize the chaotic energy waves, and in the process, the remaining energy naturally flowed inward, slowly restoring his battered core.

It wasn't a direct result, so it was like adding a few layers of bandages to a crumbling structure. Still, the high matching rate made even that much possible—if the matching rate had been low, it probably wouldn't have had any effect.

While Heo Do-gyeong was guiding him, Kang I-won asked, noticing the intense gaze directed at him.

"Is there something you want to say?"

"No, I was just reminded of someone I used to know."

Heo Do-gyeong seemed to be lost in thought for a moment before speaking again.

"No, thinking about it, I do have something I want to say to you, Kang I-won."

"Go ahead."

"You know I'm from Seoul, right? I've met all sorts of people there. Being an S-rank Guide, I had a lot of attention, of course."

"Yes."

"Especially when the matching rate is even slightly higher, I've seen all sorts of advances… it's quite ridiculous how low it can go…"

Heo Do-gyeong's eyes narrowed, the shift in his expression unmistakable.

"Honestly, it's just disgusting to watch."

"..."

"I understand what they're hoping for, but I've never once responded to those advances. I don't plan on doing so either. They cling to you, talking about destiny or whatever, but frankly, it feels absolutely disgusting."

Kang I-won couldn't understand why Heo Do-gyeong was saying this to him. As he remained silent, listening attentively, Heo Do-gyeong continued without hesitation.

"Do you know that unwanted advances from an Esper are considered one-sided violence to a Guide? They talk about destiny, but from a Guide's perspective, it's just like being struck out of the blue."

This kind of situation was always problematic whenever a Guide and an Esper were involved.

The emotional dynamics between a Guide and an Esper were never equal. From the start, they couldn't be. An Esper can't survive without a Guide, but a Guide can live perfectly well without an Esper.

In fact, an Esper can even be seen as an obstacle in the Guide's life.

"Even though the Esper keeps talking about destiny and fate, it doesn't really resonate with the Guide. The way we feel about it is completely different."

"That's probably true."

An Esper feels a deep sense of stability from a Guide with a high matching rate. They latch onto that sense of security, and it quickly turns into affection. It's a survival instinct that every Esper has.

However, all the emotions an Esper feels are one-sided.

Many Espers deny the emotional gap and cling to the belief that the Guide must feel the same way they do. They impose their feelings and hope that the other shares the same sentiment.

Even though forcing it doesn't work, many Espers try to force an imprint.

The Guide has no way of protecting themselves from these Espers.

Thus, the Esper's one-sided advances are, to a Guide, no different from violence. Heo Do-gyeong twisted his lips into a wry smile.

"Why do they never seem to understand, even when I've said it a thousand times?"

Kang I-won didn't particularly want to make excuses for all of this, but from an Esper's perspective, he decided to add a word of defense.

"Well, I guess it's a matter of survival."

In exchange for their special abilities, an Esper becomes a half-being who cannot survive without a Guide. No Esper ever wanted that.

Every Esper lives with the risk of going berserk as long as they lack guiding. A berserker state is synonymous with death. How many people in the world wish for death? They cling to the Guide who can save them because they want to live.

A Guide is the lifeline of an Esper.

"Do you think that's an excuse?"

"Of course not."

It was impossible to justify oppressing others just to survive. Yet, there was nothing else to say.

A brief silence settled between the two. Heo Do-gyeong hid his distorted expression, and soon after, his hand withdrew, leaving his face looking as calm as usual.

"That wasn't what I intended to say… I got a bit emotional, and my words went off track. I apologize. I wasn't trying to lecture you, Kang I-won."

"It's fine."

"I'll probably be heading back to Seoul soon. It's more comfortable for me there."

Kang I-won had already guessed as much and nodded. Heo Do-gyeong continued.

"I hope there won't be any misunderstandings or awkwardness between us before that. After all, I've been demoted after making a mess, and I'd like to leave quietly while I'm here. You understand what I mean, right?"

"Yes."

Kang I-won recalled the rumors about Heo Do-gyeong. The Guide who had subdued an Esper. According to Soo-bin, the Esper, Woo Young-seon, who had been subdued by the Guide, had only recently managed to escape from the hospital ward.

Kang I-won nodded. He didn't know how Heo Do-gyeong had done it, but if something like that happened here, it would certainly cause quite a stir.

He was about to keep nodding when he suddenly paused. Why was he saying that to me? What did he mean by "no misunderstandings or awkwardness"? A brief question arose in Kang I-won's mind.

As these questions surfaced in his mind, Heo Do-gyeong seemed satisfied, nodding his head.

"I'm glad you're easy to talk to, Kang I-won."

With a smooth smile, Heo Do-gyeong concluded the guiding. At the same time, the warmth that had filled his palm slowly faded.

"Alright, you can go now."

Heo Do-gyeong pointed to the door with his gloved hand, signaling for Kang I-won to leave. At the firm tone, Kang I-won stood up without thinking and left the guiding room.

As the door closed behind him, Kang I-won stood in the hallway, suddenly struck by a realization and opening his mouth.

"…Wait, was he warning me not to make a move on him?"

The words about how Esper's unwanted advances were violence, how he had warned about not causing any emotional rifts, and not to make advances.

Thinking it over, it became clear that it was a warning.

Kang I-won stared at the now-closed guiding room door with a feeling of injustice. He swore he hadn't made any advances. He hadn't even thought about it. He had no idea what had led to that misunderstanding.

Should he clear things up now? Standing in the hallway, troubled, Kang I-won sighed deeply.

It wasn't worth making a fuss and possibly deepening the misunderstanding. As he had said, Heo Do-gyeong would be leaving soon anyway. There was no real need to clear things up.

Turning away, Kang I-won left the guiding room behind. His stomach, which had been barely satisfied with hot dogs and jelly, now once again growled with hunger. His feet, lacking a clear destination, led him toward the cafeteria.

* * *

"I'm sorry for the trouble, Guide Heo Do-gyeong."

"No, it's fine. It's an emergency, what else can we do? The priority is to deal with the monster first."

Heo Do-gyeong resumed the interrupted guiding. Perhaps because he had just used his abilities, the energy waves were now fluctuating more than before. After a long stretch of silence while receiving the guiding, Han Kang-jin cautiously asked,

"I didn't get a chance to check since I rushed in for the guiding … Did Kang I-won receive guiding?"

"Yes."

"Is that so? That's a relief."

Heo Do-gyeong glanced briefly at Han Kang-jin. Even though Heo Do-gyeong was often harsh with Espers, his evaluation of Han Kang-jin was generally quite favorable. He was a good person, took care of his team, and was straightforward.

Still, Heo Do-gyeong didn't understand why he would keep an eye on someone like Kang I-won. After a moment of thought, still holding a mistaken impression of Kang I-won, Heo Do-gyeong hesitated and added a few words after a brief silence.

"I checked, but he wasn't quite at a level to receive guiding yet."

At Heo Do-gyeong's words, Han Kang-jin responded nonchalantly.

"Ah, that? He probably received some guiding earlier."

"…Excuse me?"

Heo Do-gyeong's response was delayed by the unexpected comment.

Why would an Esper who uses a regenerative ability need guiding on the field? Heo Do-gyeong frowned as he tried to process the thought. Han Kang-jin, sensing Heo Do-gyeong's confusion, waved his free hand dismissively to correct his assumptions.

"Oh, don't misunderstand. I-won is different from other regenerating Espers. He doesn't know how to take care of himself. Today, he struggled trying to hold the monster alone. It was a flying-type, so it almost caused a real headache, but thanks to I-won, it got resolved smoothly without much trouble."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I know there are some real troublemakers among regenerative Espers. I've seen and heard about them. But I-won isn't one of those types, so I hope you won't misunderstand him."

"…Of course. I don't misunderstand."

Heo Do-gyeong, already having misunderstood for a while, responded with a polite smile.

After that, the guiding continued in silence. Once Han Kang-jin had left, Heo Do-gyeong remained alone in the guiding room, tapping his pad.

His expression was peculiar as he glanced at Kang I-won's records displayed on the screen.

Heo Do-gyeong continued to ponder, tapping his fingers on the pad for quite some time. His thoughts were tangled and complicated.