3.2

However, all this knowledge was secondhand, gathered from reports and accounts.

The team leaders gathered, discussing strategies. The most pressing problem was that none of the Espers present had firsthand experience with an ant nest.

Of the seven team leaders, not one had dealt with such a dungeon before. Their only reference was reports and documentation.

Ant nests were already rare, and the last recorded occurrence was nine years ago, making it nearly impossible to find someone with direct experience.

The leaders exchanged details about ant nests as best they could recall, continuing their discussion.

"So, what do we do?" one asked.

"If we want to play it safe, we should eliminate the clusters of monsters in the larger chambers as we go. But the gate has already been open for a week. We need to take out the boss before the wave begins."

In dungeon-type gates, if the boss wasn't killed within a certain time frame, the dungeon would enter a "wave state." This meant the gate's entrance would open, releasing all the monsters inside.

Once the gate opened, every monster within the dungeon would instinctively head for the exit, ignoring any Espers or Guides still inside. Their sole focus would be escaping.

Once outside, the monsters would naturally begin attacking humans.

This scenario was far more dangerous than a wave-type gate, as the number of monsters in a dungeon ranged from hundreds to thousands, depending on its size.

Imagine hundreds or thousands of monsters rushing out all at once—an utter nightmare.

"I agree," one leader said.

"We should prioritize locating the boss. If possible, we can split the team to clear out the larger chambers near the exit and regroup afterward."

"Agreed. But who will take the lead?"

A brief silence fell over the team leaders.

The position of the vanguard—a role burdened with encountering monsters without prior knowledge—was a difficult one. Especially in ant-nest dungeons, ambushes often came without warning.

Of course, no position was truly safe. Monsters could appear from paths they had already cleared or launch attacks from behind.

However, monsters within a dungeon rarely strayed far from their designated areas unless a significant disturbance occurred nearby. As a result, the vanguard typically faced the most frequent encounters with monsters.

Unless their efforts yielded noteworthy results, like taking down the boss, the vanguard position often felt thankless—a role that demanded effort without the reward. For that reason, most teams avoided it.

The team leaders quietly exchanged glances, gauging one another's reactions. None were eager to speak first, prolonging the uncomfortable silence. But in a situation where time was critical, hesitation only wasted precious moments.

Breaking the silence, the leader of Team E spoke up to push the discussion forward.

"I recommend Team C. They have a detection-type Esper, don't they? We need to find the boss as quickly as possible, so putting a detection-type at the front seems logical."

The leader of Team C immediately scowled and glared at the speaker.

"I oppose. Are you trying to get the detection-type killed? Who in their right mind would put a detection-type Esper at the vanguard in a dungeon like this? You're obviously new to being a team leader. If you don't know better, keep your mouth shut. I recommend Team B, the one with the strongest combat power."

"Shouldn't the strongest combat team conserve their strength for the boss fight?" argued another leader. "I suggest Team D instead. Besides, Team D has that Esper, don't they?"

"What Esper are you talking about?" asked the leader of Team G, from the Jeju branch.

The leader who proposed Team D clarified, "The A-rank Esper with regeneration abilities."

At this, the leader of Team C nodded in agreement.

"Oh, that Esper? They'd do fine as the vanguard. I'm in favor."

A few Espers from the Jeju branch raised an eyebrow. An A-rank with regeneration? So what? Still, as long as their own team wasn't chosen, they voiced no objections and nodded in agreement.

"I'm in favor too."

"I second that."

"I oppose!"

Amid the rising consensus, the leader of Team D abruptly shouted their objection.

"That Esper isn't suited for raw combat. Their abilities specialize in precision and surprise attacks! Sending them to the front is no different from using them as a meat shield. I recommend Team B again! And this talk about conserving strength before the boss fight? Isn't that just a ploy for Team B to hog all the credit?"

The leader of Team B frowned, retorting, "What a misunderstanding. Aren't we in a hurry to take down the boss? There's no time to argue about credit. And as for using a meat shield—what's the harm? It's not like they'd actually die. I've heard rumors that they don't even die if their head gets blown off. With that in mind, I'll reaffirm my vote for Team D."

"I agree."

"Me too."

"By majority vote, Team D will take the lead. Everyone, return to your positions. We depart in five minutes."

With that declaration from Team A's leader, further objections were dismissed. The leader of Team D let out a string of curses under their breath, unable to contain their frustration.

Returning to their team, the leader of Team D addressed their group in a voice heavy with guilt.

#3.2

"It's been decided that we'll prioritize eliminating the boss as quickly as possible. And… we've been assigned to lead the vanguard. Kang I-won, it seems you'll need to take point. Can you handle it?"

The question was merely a formality; the decision had already been made. Even if Kang I-won refused, someone else in Team D would take his place as the vanguard—and inevitably end up acting as a shield for the team.

There was really only one answer he could give. With a pale face, Kang I-won nodded without resistance.

"Yes."

As expected, Team 5, Kang I-won's team, was placed at the front. Once they were ready, they moved toward the central entrance among the five openings leading into the ant nest. While the other teams adjusted their positions, Team 5 whispered among themselves in low voices.

"Ugh, leading the vanguard, what a pain."

"Sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"Soo-bin's right. I-won, you don't need to apologize for this."

"Is it really that bad being the vanguard?"

The inexperienced Kim Young-ho, who had never been in such a position, asked curiously. Choi Soo-bin, already looking exhausted, answered with an irritated expression.

"You'll find out soon enough."

A little over five minutes passed, and Team 5 began advancing into the narrow passageway of the ant nest.

The interior resembled a cave.

From the narrow ceiling hung stalactites formed by dissolved limestone. A cold breeze blew from deep within, despite there being no visible connection to the outside world. It was unclear where the wind came from.

The winding pathway stretched out ahead, uneven and rough. Walking on the bumpy floor unnecessarily drained their stamina.

Before long, Team 5's steps halted.

They had reached the first fork in the path.

A voice came through Kang I-won's communication device, connected via radio.

"Take the right path. The left leads to a chamber with significant activity nearby—it's close enough that it'll need to be cleared."

The speaker was a detection-type Esper from Team C. Since detection-types lacked the ability to protect themselves, they stayed in safe positions while guiding others through communication devices.

"Two teams should be enough to—"

"So, which teams—"

Voices continued over the radio, but they weren't relevant to Team 5's task. Ignoring the chatter, Kang I-won led his team down the right path.

As they proceeded, they frequently passed smaller passages branching off on either side. Most were dead ends or led to chambers filled with monsters.

Right, straight, second right, straight again—guided by the detection-type Esper, Team 5 kept moving forward. Occasionally, other teams split off to clear out monsters in nearby chambers.

"This is Team 8 from Team C," came a sudden report. "We've encountered plant-type monsters. There are thirty of them. They're vines… no, mushrooms. They're vine mushrooms."

Choi Soo-bin grumbled in annoyance.

"Ugh, plant-types are a pain."

"Well, to be fair, isn't every type troublesome in its own way?"

"Why is it so quiet? This is making me even more uneasy. No matter how much they're plant-type monsters, it's strange to be this silent," Choi Soo-bin muttered.

They had ventured quite far in, yet not a single monster had appeared. Kang I-won silently agreed. The stillness was unnerving.

Typically, in areas inhabited by plant-type monsters, the dominant predators weren't the plants themselves but creatures that preyed on them.

'What kind of monsters eat vine mushrooms in ant nests?' Kang I-won kept his thoughts active, staying tense as he cautiously advanced step by step.

Meanwhile, the team continued to split up due to the frequent discovery of chambers nearby.

"This is Team 13 from Team E," came another report. "We've also encountered plant-type monsters—ten vine mushrooms. No notable activity from other monsters. We'll handle them quickly and return."

"This is supposed to be tough? There's nothing here," Kim Young-ho said with a mix of disappointment and curiosity.

Kang I-won and Choi Soo-bin murmured almost simultaneously:

"Something feels off…"

"Exactly. There's no way it should be this empty."

Despite the unease, they had no choice but to continue forward. The team leaders gave no new orders, leaving the vanguard team to proceed deeper into the ant nest under the guidance of the detection-type Esper.

Eventually, they reached another fork—this time, with three paths.

"Hold on," the detection-type Esper said through the device. "The area's too wide for a quick scan. Give me a moment."

The team took this brief pause as an opportunity to rest.

Kim Young-ho, who had been tense earlier, scoffed dismissively. "What's the big deal? This isn't hard at all."

"You keep letting your guard down, and you'll regret it," Choi Soo-bin warned.

"Fine, fine. I'm not letting my guard down," Kim Young-ho grumbled.

'This is exactly how ambushes—'

Before Choi Soo-bin could finish her thought, her words seemed to come true.

Kang I-won suddenly felt a strong presence beneath his feet. There wasn't even time to shout a warning. Trusting his instincts, he leaped aside and grabbed onto a protrusion on the wall, clinging to it.

At that exact moment, something shot up from the ground where he had just stood.

"Ahh!" Kim Young-ho screamed in shock.

Someone, upon seeing the creature, shouted in alarm, "What the hell? A ground wasp?!"

"Why are wasps here?!"

Creatures mixed with wasps typically appeared in open, grassland-like environments, not cramped spaces like these.

But the unexpected was routine in dungeons, and this was yet another anomaly in a long list of them.

Confusion and frustration erupted around them as the team scrambled to comprehend the situation.

The creature that ambushed Kang I-won was a grotesque hybrid. Its upper body resembled that of a wasp, while its lower half, abruptly severed at the middle, was that of a centipede.

Dozens of legs on the centipede's torso wriggled in a horrifying display.

Still clinging to the wall, Kang I-won calmly relayed the situation through his device.

"This is the vanguard. A monster has appeared. Codename: Ground Wasp."

Codename: Ground Wasp.

The name wasn't derived from its resemblance to an actual wasp, but rather from its behavior of burrowing into the ground combined with its wasp-like features.

"Ahh! Gross! So damn gross!"

Kim Young-ho screamed as he unleashed a burst of electricity at the creature. His actions caused the surrounding Espers to flinch and quickly step back.

The electrified creature convulsed violently, its body twitching with spasms. Even Kim Young-ho, disgusted by the grotesque sight, shuddered as weak sparks crackled from his hand.

"Ugh!"

"Do you have to electrocute everyone?!"

"Argh!"

Before he could discharge another attack, Choi Soo-bin delivered a swift kick to Kim Young-ho, sending him stumbling with a short yelp. With a gust of wind, she slashed at the creature.

The convulsing monster, weakened by the electricity, was sliced apart by her blade-like wind. Its gooey green fluid sprayed as its body was reduced to chunks, collapsing over the hole it had emerged from.

Despite its body being in pieces, the leftover nerves and residual electricity kept some of its many legs twitching incessantly.

Then, as if writhing to life, the mass of green ichor and severed parts shifted. Emerging from the remains was another Ground Wasp, identical to the one Choi Soo-bin had just killed.

Ground Wasps are known as the scourge of underground environments.

Individually, they weren't particularly strong. But the title "scourge" wasn't without reason.

Ground Wasps travel in swarms.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-

The ground trembled violently, the vibrations like the surface of a turbulent sea. The tightly grouped team scattered instantly, preparing for combat.

Because of the narrow space, Espers with wide-area abilities, who could cause significant collateral damage, moved into branching pathways to find more open areas.

Those at the forefront sprinted forward. The group was split by the forked paths ahead, and then divided further as more branching paths followed.

The quaking ground grew increasingly chaotic, the undulations resembling wild, crashing waves. Each step had to be taken with the utmost care.

Kang I-won grabbed Kim Young-ho's arm just as he was about to stumble. Kim Young-ho muttered a brief thanks and refocused on the unstable ground beneath him as they continued forward.

The Ground Wasps' offensive power and durability were weak. No matter how many there were, dealing with them individually wasn't particularly challenging.

But the ant nest changed the equation.

To defeat these monsters, abilities had to be used. In such a confined space, however, using abilities risked harming one's allies, especially with so many unfamiliar Espers from other teams around. The chances of being caught in friendly fire were dangerously high.

That's why, before the swarm fully descended, the Espers spread out into the branching paths, trying to secure spaces where they could safely use their abilities.

"What a headache," Choi Soo-bin muttered, irritation lacing her voice.

Kang I-won frowned deeply and muttered under his breath.

The best way to deal with Ground Wasps—fragile in their exoskeletons but overwhelming in numbers—was to burn them all at once. However, in the narrow, winding passages of an ant nest, setting anything alight would likely result in suffocation from the smoke.

That left them with only one option: to eliminate them one by one.

Gripping the hilt of the dagger at his waist tightly, Kang I-won drove it forcefully into the ground. As if triggered by the impact, a Ground Wasp's head burst out of the earth, only for his dagger to pierce through it, slicing the creature in half.

That was just the beginning.

Dudududududu—!

The sound was deafening, like the rapid fire of a machine gun, as monsters began erupting from the ground en masse.

"Argh! Damn it! Why are there so many bugs?!"

"Kim Young-ho! Stay calm!"

"Y-Yes! Yes, sir!"

Han Kang-jin, standing nearby, tried to soothe the panicked Kim Young-ho. Though his voice trembled, Kim Young-ho fought to regain his composure, while Choi Soo-bin swung her blade-like winds, decapitating the Ground Wasps creeping toward them.

Kang I-won, gripping a dagger in each hand, exhaled briefly and charged straight into the writhing swarm of Ground Wasps.

One dagger cleaved the head of a Ground Wasp clutching at someone's clothing, while the other stabbed into the ground to stop a creature trying to emerge. As he yanked his blade free, a string of viscous fluid dripped from the monster's body.

Ahead, Kang I-won saw someone unable to properly defend themselves, being overrun by a Ground Wasp. Without hesitation, he hurled his dagger.

Shwack!

The thrown blade struck the back of the wasp's head, killing it instantly as its body crumpled to the ground. Kang I-won quickly retrieved his weapon, reversing the grip on the handle, and slashed through the torso of another wasp charging at him. Sticky green fluid burst from its split body, coating him in the process.

He wiped the fluid off his cheek roughly with his forearm and swung his dagger at the next approaching Ground Wasp.

The monsters surged like an unrelenting tidal wave.

* * *

Time passed—how much, they weren't sure. By the time the number of Ground Wasps they had slain reached triple digits, the attack finally eased into a lull.

"Ugh… there were so many of them."

Choi Soo-bin muttered with a weary expression as she shredded the last remaining Ground Wasp with her blade-like wind. The sticky monster fluids that clung to her everywhere made her grimace.

Kim Young-ho, a short distance away, lay on the ground gagging.

"Ugh, blegh, I feel like I've seen every bug in the world today…"

"First dungeon-type gate and it's an ant nest full of wasp monsters? You really are unlucky," Han Kang-jin remarked, clicking his tongue as he patted Kim Young-ho's back to help soothe him.

Behind them, the path they had carved was littered with Ground Wasp corpses and smeared with their viscous green fluids. The team members themselves were no better off—coated head to toe in the same sticky substance.

"Any injured or missing members?"

The leader of Team D, visibly exhausted, glanced around as he asked. No one responded. Though the grueling battle had left them worn out, thankfully there were no injuries or missing personnel.

"Good. Take a brief rest, and then we'll regroup with the nearest team and—"

"This is Team F. We've found a monster we believe to be the boss. Please respond. Team F, over. We've found the boss," a hushed voice came through the device.

The Team D leader steadied his voice and asked, "What type of creature is it?"

"This is Team F. The boss appears to be a brood queen wasp."

A brood queen wasp—an endlessly spawning queen capable of continually producing soldiers. A troublesome opponent. The Team D leader let out a low sigh.

It was the boss they had anticipated since the first Ground Wasps appeared. Yet he had hoped, against all odds, for something different this time. Unfortunately, such hopes were never rewarded in situations like this.

"This is Team D. We can join immediately. Please share your location."

"This is Team B. We'll join soon. Do not engage the boss until we arrive."

"This is Team A. We cannot join immediately. We'll resolve our current situation and head over as soon as possible."

"This is Team G. We've received the shared map. We're nearby and will head over immediately."

"This is—oh, I'll take it! This is Team C. We'll take some time to join—ah, crap! Hey, hey, HEY! What the hell is—!"

"This is Team E. Due to missing personnel, we'll take some time to regroup before joining."

The teams quickly relayed their statuses. Half were delayed, while the other half could join immediately.

The Team D leader took a moment to assess the situation before speaking decisively.

"The boss has been located. Quickly prepare for departure," the Team D leader commanded.

The Espers, who had been taking a brief rest while seated on the ground, immediately sprang into action, methodically preparing themselves. They brushed off the sticky fluids coating their bodies, wiped down their weapon blades, and those requiring guidance either quickly received it or injected guiding medication.

Once ready, the Team D leader glanced at the display on his device and took the lead. Since speed was essential, Team 3, which included the leader of Team D, moved to the vanguard.

The devices worn by the Espers were equipped with various functions, but in dungeons like this, the map-sharing and GPS features proved the most invaluable.

Attached to their wrists, the devices tracked the paths the Espers had taken, creating a record that could be shared with others. These combined records formed an intricate and highly detailed map.

Additionally, as long as the GPS function remained active, the locations of all device users were displayed on the map.

The shared map now depicted a labyrinth-like network of paths, with nearly a hundred blinking points marking the current positions of Espers and Guides.

The sheer number of blinking dots made it clear how widely and intricately the teams had spread out.

The Team D leader quickly identified Team F's position on the map. While the distance wasn't far, the winding pathways meant they would have to take a circuitous route, causing some delay.

"Let's move out," the leader announced.

With preparations complete, Team D set off at a brisk pace toward the boss's location.

* * *

A massive hollow chamber stretched endlessly above, with an impossibly high ceiling. At its center hung a colossal hive.

Within the hexagonal cells, larvae squirmed and devoured the food brought by worker wasps, growing rapidly with each bite.

Fully developed larvae, maturing into worker or Ground Wasps, spilled from their hexagonal cells along with viscous fluid, splattering onto the floor with wet, squelching sounds. The newly emerged wasps trembled their wings to shake off the fluid clinging to their bodies before scurrying into the ant nest's labyrinthine passages.

The once-empty hive quickly filled with pale, wriggling shapes—larvae.

Beyond the endlessly spawning worker and Ground Wasps lay the enormous queen, curled against the wall, her immense body pressed into the jagged stone.

The queen's head, resembling a grotesque hybrid of insect and wasp, was adorned with four long, sharp antennae. These antennae, capable of moving with frightening precision according to the queen's will, ended in needle-like tips coated in lethal venom. Though slender, the antennae were the most durable part of the queen's body and her primary defense.

Her back sprouted eight legs resembling those of a spider, replacing the now-useless wings of her species. Her body, instead of being covered in soft fur, was densely packed with quills resembling those of a porcupine.

Around the queen were scattered the corpses of various wasps, their forms twisted and fused with other insects. These were drones, their lives expended in filling the queen's storage sacs before succumbing to death.

Nearby, a towering pile of rancid meat served as the queen's food source. The foul stench of decay filled the air.

Driven by gnawing hunger, the queen stretched out two long legs, grasped a chunk of rotting flesh, and began chewing it with audible smacks before spitting it out in disgust.

A sweet, tantalizing aroma wafted from beyond the chamber. It had been so long since she had smelled fresh prey. To have such a feast so close, yet be forced to eat this putrid flesh—it was maddening.

Yet the queen exercised restraint. She remained still, fearful that the delectable prey just beyond her sight might flee. Besides, leaving it untouched seemed to draw more prey toward her lair.

The queen was greedy. She couldn't allow even a single morsel to escape.

Her glossy, black, compound eyes—capable of perceiving thousands of individual images—fixated on the figures hiding beyond the chamber, awaiting reinforcements.

* * *

As they advanced toward the boss, Kim Young-ho asked, "What kind of monster is the Brood Queen Wasp?"

"Hmm, I've only read about it in reports. Kang I-won, you've faced one before, right?" Choi Soo-bin turned to him.

Kang I-won nodded and began to explain. "The Brood Queen Wasp itself isn't particularly strong for its rank. The real issue is the soldiers it spawns."

Codename: Brood Queen Wasp. Its most notable feature was its ability to continuously lay eggs in response to threats, producing soldiers to defend itself endlessly.

The soldiers emerged fully formed, encased in soft eggs. From the moment they tore through their shells, they were complete beings—skilled fighters dedicated to protecting their queen.

"The first priority is destroying the storage sac. Without the sperm stored in it, the queen can't produce soldiers," Kang I-won continued.

However, destroying the storage sac was easier said than done. The queen was surrounded by swarms of worker and Ground Wasps, and the soldiers she spawned were formidable foes in their own right.

"Ugh, I really hate bugs…" Kim Young-ho muttered, his voice filled with dread and frustration.

Despite their complaints, Team D pressed forward at a quick pace. As they neared their destination, a voice came through the device.

"This is Team B. It seems the queen has noticed us. Four teams are currently present, so we're engaging now. Please join as soon as you arrive."

At this, Team D quickened their steps.

By the time they reached the chamber, the battle was already well underway. Someone who caught sight of the queen let out a groan.

The queen was massive, so large they had to crane their necks to take in her entire form. Her size rivaled that of the entire gate they had entered.

Kang I-won quickly assessed the situation. The teams had split into three groups:

Team E was fighting the workers and Ground Wasps.

Teams F and G were handling the soldiers spawned by the queen.

Team B was directly engaging the queen herself.

All teams had arrived except for the delayed Teams A and C.

Under the command of the Team D leader, Team D split into two groups to support the ongoing battle. Two teams assisted with the workers and Ground Wasps, while the other two joined those fighting the soldiers.

Kang I-won's Team 5 joined the group fighting the soldiers. They worked to efficiently eliminate the soldiers, taking down two or three at a time.

But for every soldier they killed, another emerged. The queen, agitated by the Espers, laid eggs at an alarming rate. No matter how many soldiers they dispatched, the numbers didn't seem to dwindle.

The stalemate dragged on, the tide of battle stagnating. Eventually, Teams A and C arrived to join the fight. Team A focused on the queen, while Team C joined the effort against the soldiers.

Even with the additional manpower, the situation barely improved.

It wasn't just the queen's spawning that posed a problem. The hive hanging from the ceiling continuously produced workers and Ground Wasps. The creatures would fall to the ground, fully formed, and no matter how many were killed, more would take their place.

Frustration and shouts erupted from all corners of the chamber.

"Can't you finish this already?! Why is everything so sloppy?"

"If you're so frustrated, at least deal with the small fry properly! We can't even get close to the queen because of them!"

"Damn it, I knew this would happen the moment Seoul said they couldn't send reinforcements!"

"Did you just say that?!"

Someone yelled, pointing at the viscous liquid dripping from above.

"Watch out over there!"

"Ugh! That almost hit me! Can't we just do something about that hive? Burn it down!"

"Do you think that liquid is honey just because it's coming from the hive? It's not! It's flammable! If you burn it, we'll all go up in flames! Stop showing off how ignorant you are and maybe try studying next time!"

"Did you just say that?!"

"Yeah, I said it! What are you gonna do about it?!"

"You crazy idiots! Is this the time to be arguing?! Focus!"

Frustration boiled over, and complaints and arguments erupted all around the chaotic battlefield.

Meanwhile, the Espers facing the queen had their own mounting challenges. Over five Espers had already succumbed to her venom.

"Be careful of those antennae! If they so much as brush against you, you're done for!"

"Wasn't there someone who could detoxify? Where are they?!"

"They dropped out before the fight because of stomach problems!"

"What the hell?! Whose team were they on? They've lost their damn mind! I swear, I'll get to the bottom of this when we're out of here!"

The queen's venom had made the Espers overly cautious, and their hesitance frustrated the teams tasked with handling her soldiers.

"If you can't deal with the core, at least destroy the storage sac first, you useless bastards!"

"We're trying to get to the core because we can't destroy the sac, you dumbass!"

It was absolute chaos—a complete disaster.

For those fighting the queen, her four antennae were the most dangerous aspect. Moving with terrifying precision, the venom-coated tips of the antennae posed a life-threatening danger to any who let their guard down.

And that wasn't all.

Whenever someone managed to approach the queen, her soldiers would swarm in to block the way. Even if they somehow reached her again, she would fiercely resist with her eight spider-like legs and four antennae, while dozens of worker wasps flapped their wings to assist her.

As the workers obstructed the Espers, the queen rapidly laid eggs, and newly hatched soldiers quickly joined the fray, creating an endless cycle that prevented any progress.

Meanwhile, monsters that had been scattered throughout the cavern began converging toward the queen, drawn by her cries.

No matter how many they killed, their numbers only seemed to grow, making the battle feel utterly hopeless.

Time dragged on, and the Espers' stamina dwindled. Though countless bodies of slain monsters piled up, just as many soldiers were born to replace them. There was no end in sight.

A few Espers, too exhausted or seriously injured, retreated to receive guidance and temporary treatment. Yet, nothing was resolved, and the fight continued to stagnate.

Kang I-won glanced toward the queen. Even from afar, the core embedded in the center of her head glowed vividly, a clear target.

"Hey, don't even think about it," Choi Soo-bin said sharply.

She was always quick to catch on.

Feigning ignorance, Kang I-won replied, "Think about what?"

"Whatever it is you're thinking of right now."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb. If you wait, they'll take care of it. You know they're stronger than you, right?"

"I know."

Of course, Kang I-won was aware. How could his regeneration ability compare to the diverse and potent powers of his peers?

But they couldn't even get close to the queen because of her venom. And without an Esper capable of neutralizing the poison, those who could act were frozen in place.

The few who had dared to charge earlier had already been poisoned and forced to retreat.

Without destroying the core, defeating the queen was nearly impossible. Her endless stream of soldiers and the worker wasps flying out of the hive above were constant obstacles.

Burning the hive wasn't a viable option either. The flammable liquid dripping from the hive coated the ground, and one stray spark would set the entire cavern ablaze—along with every Esper, all soaked in the monsters' sticky fluids.

At this rate, the Espers would collapse from exhaustion before they could finish the battle. Many were already nearing their limits.

This wasn't a fight that could drag on into a war of attrition.

"…"

Kang I-won's gaze returned to the queen.

The reason Kang I-won was recognized as an A-rank Esper despite only having a regeneration ability was simple—he acted without hesitation in moments like this.

Each of those moments had built up his track record, elevating him to A-rank.

And the most important thing about Kang I-won? He never listened to anyone's advice—not even Choi Soo-bin's.

"Just block the stingers for me," he said calmly.

"Ha… why did I even bother trying to stop him? I knew this would happen. I just wasted my breath," Choi Soo-bin grumbled behind him, her voice dripping with irritation.

Even as she complained, she knew she would help him, and Kang I-won, unfazed, dashed toward the queen.

He weaved through the Espers fighting the queen and scaled the wall, stepping onto the heap of rotting meat piled nearby. Without hesitation, he sprinted across the putrid, squelching mound. The sensation was like running through thick mud.

The highest part of the pile reached the queen's chest. Kang I-won planned to use the stench of the rotting food to mask his approach while the other Espers distracted her.

However, the queen quickly noticed the new "prey" making its way toward her. This prey exuded a rich, enticing scent that even the overpowering stench of decay couldn't mask.

Displeased but intrigued, the queen waved one of her antennae, aiming to swat away the bold intruder daring to tread on her feast. Kang I-won twisted his body just in time to dodge the attack.

While it would have been ideal to reach the top unnoticed, Kang I-won had never expected the queen to ignore him completely. Dodging the venomous stinger, he seized the base of the antenna brushing past him and gripped it tightly.

The queen recoiled in irritation as her antenna was grabbed, instinctively lifting it, causing Kang I-won to be hoisted into the air. At the same time, her remaining three antennae whipped toward him, aiming to strike.

Ting!

Before they could reach him, Choi Soo-bin's sharp gusts of wind intercepted the incoming antennae, knocking them off course.

"Who is that? Are they trying to get themselves killed?!" a sharp voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.

Kang I-won ignored it completely.

Using the thick antenna like a rope, he climbed rapidly toward the queen's head. He had to reach her core before she fully realized what was happening.

As he drew closer, the queen, now aware of the threat clinging to her antenna, began shaking it violently in an attempt to dislodge him.

Undeterred, Kang I-won held on tightly. In frustration, the queen extended three of her spider-like legs to grab him, her movements quick and precise.

As the legs closed in, Kang I-won let go of the antenna and, in one fluid motion, landed on one of the legs reaching for him. Using it as a springboard, he leapt high into the air. His movements were swift and light, defying the queen's attempts to catch him.

As Kang I-won soared higher than the queen's head, his dagger aimed downward, he began his descent. A shadow fell over the queen's face, and she smirked faintly.

The queen opened her mouth and released a spray of paralytic venom.

Damn it. The unexpected move forced Kang I-won to bite back a curse. The venom stiffened his muscles, and the grip on his dagger weakened involuntarily.

Gritting his teeth, Kang I-won tightened his hold on the dagger and plunged it downward with all his remaining strength. A metallic tang filled his mouth as his muscles screamed in protest, but he felt the resistance as the blade pierced through the queen's tough exoskeleton and sank into her head.

"Gah!"

Kang I-won spat blood suddenly, something sharp having stabbed through his back and into his chest. A wave of searing pain spread through his body, draining his strength completely. His limbs went limp against his will.

His vision blurred, and the world tilted. Through the haze, he saw the queen's venom-coated stinger, slick with his blood, protruding from his chest.

Kang I-won raised his eyes. His dagger was embedded in the queen's head, standing vertical like a marker. He needed to grab it and extract the core, but—

The thought didn't finish. Warm blood trickled from his nose. The sensation in his skull was horrifying, as if his brain was melting. He couldn't tell if the liquid streaming from his nostrils was blood or something worse.

His mind spiraled into darkness, his body completely limp. Fading into unconsciousness, Kang I-won plummeted.

But before he hit the ground, something caught him mid-air. His lifeless form was pulled upward, rising again toward the queen's head.

"Kiieeeek!!"

The queen screeched, her shrill cry echoing throughout the chamber.

She was enraged. How dare mere prey threaten her source of power?

The object lodged in her head irritated her greatly, but it was in such a precarious position that removing it recklessly wasn't an option. Though the stabbing sensation was maddening, it wasn't unbearable—at least not yet.

The queen decided to leave it alone until the chaos subsided.

Despite her mounting frustration and the throbbing pain, she couldn't suppress a sense of excitement. The most tantalizing prey, the source of the intoxicatingly sweet aroma, was now firmly in her grasp.

Of course, the ongoing rebellion of the "bugs"—the Espers—meant she couldn't enjoy her meal at leisure. Ideally, she'd clean up the mess before savoring the prey slowly.

But circumstances forced her to abandon the idea of savoring. Having already used her venom, a drawn-out feast was no longer feasible.

If she hadn't resorted to venom, she could have captured all the bugs and relished the freshest prey. A shame, but unavoidable.

The queen adored fresh prey, especially those that struggled and twitched in her grasp. To preserve the freshness to the last bite, she always started eating from the bottom. Beginning from the top would cause the treasured freshness to fade too quickly.

Her mandibles twitched in anticipation as she prepared to indulge in her unexpected prize.

The queen opened her mouth.

Crunch, crunch.

The chilling sound of something being crushed echoed through the chamber. With the screams of humans below serving as background music, the queen savored the sweet flavor spreading across her mouth.

Crunch, crunch.

Crunch—

The grotesque sound, paired with the unbearable pain, snapped Kang I-won back to consciousness. Though his brain remained sluggish from the venom, he found he could think again.

His eyes slowly moved, taking in the scene.

The dagger he had embedded in the center of the queen's head was still lodged there, untouched. The queen, completely engrossed in gnawing on Kang I-won's body, didn't seem to notice he had regained awareness.

His regeneration ability had begun repairing his damaged brain, restoring his mental faculties little by little. The fog clouding his mind lifted, and his thoughts started to race. Unfortunately, so did the clarity of the pain coursing through his body. Kang I-won grimaced as the agony became sharper.

Pain could wait. Right now, survival was the priority.

Kang I-won forced himself to assess his condition.

The venom had ravaged not only his brain but his entire body. The paralytic venom sprayed by the queen had dulled his movements, but the lethal venom from her stinger made even the slightest motion excruciating.

Still, Kang I-won pushed himself to move. His fingers twitched slightly. The sensation was sluggish, and the pain that followed was almost unbearable, but it wasn't impossible to force himself to act.

What's more, his position wasn't bad. If he could raise his upper body just a little, he'd be close enough to grab the hilt of the dagger he had driven into the queen's head.

The queen, utterly focused on her meal, remained oblivious to his actions.

It was the perfect opportunity to target the core.

But there was a problem—did he have the strength to twist the dagger and destroy the core?

In his current state, poisoned and weakened, merely moving was a monumental task. Exerting the force needed to remove the core seemed impossible.

Kang I-won's sluggish eyes flicked around the battlefield, searching for a buff-type Esper. If someone could augment his strength, there might still be a chance.

A buff-type Esper had the ability to temporarily enhance the physical abilities of others. Knowing he couldn't do this alone, Kang I-won sought to borrow someone else's strength.

His gaze locked with an Esper watching him from a distance, wide-eyed in shock. Kang I-won opened his mouth wide, wordlessly demanding a physical enhancement. The Esper hesitated, clearly flustered, but Kang I-won kept repeating the same demand until the Esper finally seemed to understand. Muttering something under their breath, the Esper activated their ability, and strength began surging into Kang I-won's weakened body.

The queen remained focused on tearing into Kang I-won's lower half. This was his one and only chance.

Ignoring the pain that racked his entire body, Kang I-won forced his limp torso upright. He stretched out his hands, clutching the hilt of the dagger embedded in the queen's head, and twisted with all his might.

Crack.

The sound echoed as the core shifted slightly. Kang I-won didn't stop there—he dragged the blade across the queen's tough exoskeleton, carving out a piece of her flesh along with the core.

Finally, the core came loose, along with a chunk of the queen's head. As it fell through the air, the leader of Team A darted forward and snatched it up.

"Kiieeeeeek!!"

The queen let out a deafening, anguished screech, her body writhing violently. The force of her thrashing flung Kang I-won into the air.

He plummeted toward the ground, his legs severed below the knees. Before he could hit the ground, Han Kang-jin, who had been battling soldiers below, caught him mid-fall.

"I-won! Are you okay?" Han Kang-jin asked, alarmed.

He wasn't okay. The venom, the severed legs, and the strain from his reckless actions all took their toll. Regeneration would take time, and his overexertion had triggered severe backlash, leaving him utterly drained.

Kang I-won couldn't even move a finger. His limp body lay motionless, save for his faint, labored breaths.

Han Kang-jin sighed heavily. "You've done enough. Let the rest of us handle this. Just rest."

"Hey, are you alive? You're not dead, right?!"

Choi Soo-bin appeared beside him, shaking Kang I-won's limp body.

"Captain, is he dead? He's not answering!"

"Soo-bin, how is he supposed to answer if you keep shaking him like that?"

"Come on, say something! Are you alive?"

"…Yeah," Kang I-won muttered faintly, barely audible.

Despite the weak response, Choi Soo-bin let out a sigh of relief. "Good, you're still alive."

Han Kang-jin carried Kang I-won to the rear of the battlefield and laid him down. A Guide, who had never seen Kang I-won's condition before, approached, visibly panicked.

"Should I—treat him? Or… how do I—"

"No need to treat him. He'll heal on his own. Just provide guiding," Han Kang-jin instructed before returning to the frontlines.

The Guide hesitated but eventually attempted to provide guidance. However, the low compatibility made it far from effective.

The Guide's eyes flickered toward Kang I-won's severed legs, which were slowly regenerating, flesh writhing as they grew back. The grotesque sight made the Guide grimace and turn away.

Kang I-won, accustomed to such reactions, remained indifferent.

Once the Guide left to assist another Esper, Kang I-won pulled out a tin case from his inner pocket. Normally, two pills would suffice, but today he needed more. He poured the contents into his hand and swallowed several at once.

The bitter taste spread across his tongue as the pills dissolved, but the pain in his body dulled significantly. He felt almost nothing—his senses were so numbed it was even difficult to move his fingers.

Lying flat on the ground, Kang I-won turned his head to observe the battlefield.

Thanks to his efforts, the queen had lost her core, and her antennae—the most potent weapons—were quickly severed by the Espers. Without her primary means of attack, the queen's resistance waned.

But even weakened, she wasn't defenseless. Abandoning all attempts to fight, she scrambled up the walls with her eight legs, focusing on spawning more soldiers.

Plop. Plop.

Eggs filled with soldiers began falling from the hive. Though the core's removal had slowed her spawning rate, the soldiers that hatched were still formidable.

Fortunately, the Espers now outpaced the rate of spawning. With every soldier defeated, the tide of battle began to shift, and the number of enemies visibly dwindled.

Several Espers who had been focused on defeating the soldiers shifted their efforts to assist in dislodging the queen from the wall.

With their combined attacks, the queen finally fell from the ceiling, crashing heavily to the ground. Her eight legs flailed in pain, but the Espers wasted no time. They swarmed her and successfully destroyed her storage sac.

No more soldiers would be spawned.

The team leaders quickly shared their assessments through their devices.

The queen's core and storage sac had been destroyed, and her ability to produce soldiers was nullified. Though the chamber was still teeming with worker and Ground Wasps, their low individual strength posed no significant threat. The queen's death was now within reach.

After a brief exchange, the team leaders reached a consensus:

1. Injured Espers, Guides, and those unable to contribute further would leave for the dungeon's entrance immediately. A few Espers who still had energy to spare would accompany them to provide protection and clear any remaining monsters on the way.

2. Messages were sent to locate and direct any lost personnel still wandering the ant nest to the entrance.

3. The remaining teams would block the multiple exits to minimize pursuit by the worker and Ground Wasps, kill the queen, and escape before the dungeon collapsed.

Execution of the plan was swift. Kang I-won's team, Team 5, was among those heading for the entrance. Since Kang I-won's legs were still regenerating, Han Kang-jin carried him on his back.

The group encountered several straggling monsters along the way but dispatched them quickly, thanks to the remaining capable Espers. Before long, they reached the entrance.

After reporting their arrival, they waited briefly. A few embarrassed-looking Espers from Team E, who had gotten lost, eventually arrived at the entrance. A little more time passed, and the gate began to hum and shift—the signal that the queen was dead.

"All right, let's head out. Injured personnel will exit first!"

The injured Espers were escorted out of the dungeon to receive treatment. Among them was Kang I-won, still slung over Han Kang-jin's back.

While his legs would regenerate on their own, the venom coursing through his body required external assistance for faster recovery.

The gate opened to reveal bright daylight, where a large group of personnel waited for the returning teams. Among them was Team 5's temporary Guide, Heo Do-gyeong.

Heo Do-gyeong's usual indifferent expression faltered as his eyes landed on Kang I-won, carried out by Han Kang-jin.

Kang I-won was drenched in blood and an unidentifiable viscous fluid. His limp body sagged heavily against Han Kang-jin, showing no signs of movement.

His skin had taken on a sickly bluish tint, drained of any vitality. The stark contrast between his ghostly pale complexion and the long black bangs hanging over his face made him look eerily like a corpse.

His legs—or what was left of them—were grotesque. Only his ankles remained, dangling pitifully, while his torn pants revealed the absence of flesh and bone below his knees.

Heo Do-gyeong's stomach churned at the sight. It was as if all the air had been sucked from his lungs.

Among the injured emerging from the gate, Kang I-won appeared to be in the worst condition. What on earth had he been doing on his own?

Heo Do-gyeong approached the pair, his voice trembling as he asked, "…He's not dead, is he?"

"Alive and well. Why are you trying to kill someone who's perfectly fine?" Kang I-won replied nonchalantly, still slung over Han Kang-jin's back.

His voice, calm and steady, stood in stark contrast to his corpse-like appearance. While he sounded weaker than usual, it was clear he was alive.

Realizing he wasn't dead, Heo Do-gyeong unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

But just being alive didn't mean much when Kang I-won's condition was this dire.

The pungent metallic stench of blood was far worse than when Heo Do-gyeong had encountered Kang I-won at the emergency stairwell. How much blood did he have to lose for the smell to be this overpowering?

To make matters worse, Kang I-won's pallor was so severe that it wouldn't have been surprising if he closed his eyes and never reopened them. The sight was unnerving, and Heo Do-gyeong couldn't hide his rising anxiety.

"That he's alive is honestly more shocking," Heo Do-gyeong muttered, his tone betraying his unease.

Noticing his rare display of distress, Han Kang-jin chuckled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Guide Heo. As rough as he looks, Kang I-won has a pretty decent ability. He'll regenerate soon enough."

Heo Do-gyeong's face twisted into an expression of disbelief. "…You're calling that fine? How can you say something like that after looking at him? Does that look okay to you? No, it's not okay! Not at all!"

He raised his voice, almost yelling, which startled both Han Kang-jin and Kang I-won.

After biting his lip and running a hand roughly through his hair, Heo Do-gyeong added, "I'm sorry for raising my voice."

"It's fine. You're just worried about I-won, aren't you?" Han Kang-jin said with a placating smile.

Still draped over Han Kang-jin's shoulders, Kang I-won spoke in an unexpectedly gentle tone, sensing Heo Do-gyeong's unfamiliar agitation. "Guide Heo, I really am fine. You don't have to worry."

"Fine? How can you call that… Hah. Fine. I get it. Just go get treated already. I'm in the way here," Heo Do-gyeong replied, pressing his fingers firmly against the bridge of his nose before stepping back.

As he walked away, Han Kang-jin frowned slightly and asked, "Why's Guide Heo acting like that all of a sudden?"

"…I don't know either," Kang I-won replied, still visibly puzzled. It was strange enough that a Guide, who should've been safely stationed at the center, was even waiting out here at the gate.

And just like that, Heo Do-gyeong disappeared, leaving only questions in his wake.

* * *

As Han Kang-jin and Kang I-won exited the gate, Kim Young-ho, still waiting behind, suddenly asked as if a thought had just struck him,

"Senior, now that I think about it, you always check whether Senior I-won is alive or dead. Why do you do that? He doesn't die anyway."

"Oh… that? Why?"

"I'm just curious. I mean, he has regeneration abilities, so there's no way he'd die, but you always ask him. You never ask me or the team leader."

"Aw, are you upset that I don't ask you?"

"No, it's not that…"

Kim Young-ho trailed off, looking flustered as he tried to deny it, though his face betrayed some lingering dissatisfaction. Choi Soo-bin, who had been watching him silently, hesitated before speaking.

"Young-ho, you know Kang I-won's still human, right?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"And he gets hurt way more than most people."

"Yeah… that's true."

"Just because he's a regeneration Esper doesn't mean he can't die."

"But Senior I-won is different, isn't he?" Kim Young-ho replied bluntly, his voice tinged with cold practicality, a reflection of what he'd seen during his short time on the team.

"…"

Seeing that reasoning wouldn't get through to him, Choi Soo-bin fell silent, her thoughts drifting inward.

Kang I-won had been her classmate at the training center—and for a fleeting moment, her first love.

Back then, he had been everyone's first love. Among the rough, black-feathered crows of the center, he was the sole white crane, standing out in his elegance and purity. Who could have resisted being drawn to him?

When they graduated from the training center and were assigned to different branches, she'd eventually assumed he was dead, like many of their peers. By the time they reunited, any lingering feelings from those days had completely evaporated. All she felt was warmth and affection for a long-lost comrade.

After all, by the time they'd reached their thirties, most of their classmates from the training center had already been reduced to ashes, placed in columbariums.

Perhaps that was why she felt so protective of Kang I-won—he was one of the few left. She wanted him to survive, at least for a long time.

At the same time, she had always assumed that, thanks to his abilities, he'd outlive her. That thought, a small comfort, had kept her from worrying too much—until now.

One day, Choi Soo-bin noticed Kang I-won smiling faintly, almost relieved, when he was at the brink of death. That was when she realized:

Ah, he's someone who wishes for death.

The moment she understood that, a chilling thought crept into her mind—Kang I-won, who constantly drove himself into situations that courted death, might one day die quietly, alone, without anyone noticing.

He might be gone before anyone could realize it, leaving behind nothing but silence. That thought lodged itself deep within her, refusing to leave.

But instead of voicing her concerns, Choi Soo-bin masked them with a lighthearted tone.

"Why do I ask? Well… I'm just curious."

"Why are you curious about that?" Kim Young-ho replied nonchalantly. "Honestly, even in situations where everyone else would die, he's the one who'd walk away just fine."

At the bluntness of his remark, Choi Soo-bin's face hardened in an instant.

"Don't ever say that in front of him," she said coldly.

"Come on, I'm not a kid. I know what I can and can't say," Kim Young-ho mumbled, trying to deflect.

"If you know not to say it to him, then maybe you shouldn't say it to me either. Don't you think so, Young-ho?"

Kim Young-ho froze at her sharp tone, his face flushing red with embarrassment. He quickly ducked his head and muttered, "…I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize to me. Just make sure you don't say things like that in the future."

"Yes, I'll be more careful," Kim Young-ho replied meekly.

Choi Soo-bin understood why he'd said it. Kang I-won had endured injuries that would have crippled others long ago, surviving fatal wounds that should have claimed his life without so much as flinching.

But there were things that could be let slide and things that couldn't. Kim Young-ho's remark fell firmly into the latter category.

Even if Choi Soo-bin didn't know Kang I-won's full history, she knew enough to understand how deeply those words could wound him.

After all, Kang I-won had survived multiple disasters, often as the sole survivor.

This was also why she kept her distance from Kim Young-ho. He lacked both tact and thoughtfulness. While she treated him well enough to avoid awkwardness within the team, that was as far as it went.

The real problem was that it wasn't just Young-ho. Even the team leader, Han Kang-jin, wasn't much better.

Though he pretended to care with his scolding, it was all surface-level. Han Kang-jin only spoke up when Kang I-won needlessly put himself in danger. Otherwise, he subtly pressured Kang I-won to sacrifice himself for the team, masking it as praise or gratitude for his efforts.

With a team leader and teammates like this, how could she possibly leave Kang I-won to fend for himself?

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Choi Soo-bin suddenly recognized what had been holding her back all this time.

It was the thought of Kang I-won, left alone after she was gone, that had weighed down her steps and anchored her in place.

#3.3

The return to base was postponed until the next day, given the injuries and fatigue of the Espers and Guides who had fought at the gate.

The Jeju Branch didn't have many Espers and Guides, so when situations like this dungeon gate arose, requiring a large team, personnel were often dispatched from Seoul. These deployments were frequent enough that temporary accommodations had been prepared for them. The facility was large enough to provide each person with their own room.

After his detoxification was complete, Kang I-won waited for his legs to finish regenerating before taking a quick shower in the attached bathroom. Once clean, he threw on his usual training clothes. Other than his slightly pale complexion, he looked perfectly fine—his earlier battered state now completely unrecognizable.

After a moment of hesitation, Kang I-won picked up his phone and texted Heo Do-gyeong.

[Me: Are you available for guiding right now?]

Although he needed guiding, it wasn't urgent. He could wait until he returned to the Southern Region Branch. However, the image of Heo Do-gyeong's earlier distressed expression lingered in his mind, prompting him to make the request.

[Heo Do-gyeong Guide: Yes.]

The reply came almost immediately.

While the temporary accommodations included individual rooms, there weren't designated guiding rooms. As a result, it was typical for the Esper to go to the Guide's room.

Kang I-won started typing to ask which room he should go to but received another message before he could send it.

[Heo Do-gyeong Guide: I'll come to you instead. Just send me your room number.]

"Hmm," Kang I-won murmured, a bit surprised. It seemed Heo Do-gyeong preferred not to let people into his space, even in temporary lodging. Kang I-won shrugged and sent his three-digit room number, deciding not to overthink it.

With no other plans while waiting, he opened a bag of snacks and started munching. As wrappers piled up on the table, he briefly regretted not eating a proper meal first.

Just as he stuffed the last piece into his mouth, there was a knock at the door. Quickly swallowing, Kang I-won swept the trash into the bin before opening the door to greet Heo Do-gyeong.

The Guide's eyes immediately dropped to the floor. Kang I-won instinctively wiggled his toes, feeling self-conscious.

It seemed like Heo Do-gyeong was fixated on the fact that his feet, now fully regenerated, were moving as if nothing had happened. Understandable—Espers like Kang I-won weren't something a Seoul-based Guide would see every day.

After staring for a moment, Heo Do-gyeong changed into the slippers placed near the entrance and stepped inside.

The room's layout was simple: a single bed in one corner, a small table with two chairs beside it, a wall-mounted TV, and a compact clothing rack.

Heo Do-gyeong and Kang I-won sat across from each other at the table. The Guide spoke first.

"How's your body holding up?"

"As you can see, I'm fine," Kang I-won replied casually.

The detoxification process was complete, and his legs were fully regenerated. While his energy waves were fluctuating erratically due to the excessive use of his abilities, it wasn't unbearable. The overuse of painkillers had left him slightly nauseous, but even that would subside with time.

Heo Do-gyeong studied him for a long moment, scanning him from head to toe before speaking slowly.

"You certainly look fine… so much so that it makes me feel like what I saw earlier was just a hallucination."

Muttering as if to himself, he added, "Now I understand why you said to just see for myself."

Kang I-won raised an eyebrow at the cryptic remark, unsure whether to feel amused or concerned.

"Esper Kang I-won, I have a few questions. May I ask them?"

"Sure."

"I understand that even with regenerative abilities, you still feel pain like anyone else."

"That's correct."

Pain is universal.

For regeneration Espers, the duration of their suffering might be shorter, but the intensity isn't lessened. In fact, the process of regeneration sometimes brought an even greater degree of pain.

"With injuries as severe as yours, it couldn't have been easy. The pain must have been substantial."

"I'm fine."

Of course, it had been excruciatingly painful, but after downing several painkillers, Kang I-won hadn't felt much of anything once the drugs kicked in. Even now, the lingering effects of the medication left his body feeling slightly sluggish.

After a brief pause, Heo Do-gyeong cautiously asked, "…Is this sort of thing normal for you?"

Kang I-won shook his head.

"Not at all."

Though cuts and punctures were frequent, injuries severe enough to cause the loss of limbs were rare, even for him.

"Then why are you so calm? I mean, you lost your feet—"

"I'm fine," Kang I-won interrupted flatly, showing no intention of elaborating.

His indifferent demeanor left Heo Do-gyeong swallowing the rest of his questions. With a soft sigh, the Guide extended his hand.

"…Let's just start the guiding."

Kang I-won clasped the outstretched hand. His grip was unusually firm.

The guiding began, and despite the strength of Kang I-won's grip, the energy that flowed into him was gentle. Heo Do-gyeong's energy worked meticulously, soothing Kang I-won's erratic waves with precision.

Kang I-won's toes wiggled involuntarily, a reaction he couldn't help. He bit down on his tongue, irritated. Normally, guiding was quick and efficient, but today Heo Do-gyeong seemed intent on taking his time.

The calming warmth of the guiding brought a deep sense of peace, so comforting that it felt like he could surrender himself entirely and drift into blissful sleep.

But Kang I-won didn't want that.

He struggled to keep his focus, forcing his defenses back up even as they crumbled and were rebuilt over and over again.

Yet Heo Do-gyeong's energy was relentless, clinging stubbornly to Kang I-won's waves, soothing and stabilizing them without retreating.

Then, without realizing it, Heo Do-gyeong's energy slipped deeper, reaching the core of Kang I-won's being.

Unaware of what had occurred, Heo Do-gyeong didn't notice any change.

But Kang I-won did.

The instant that energy made contact with his core, his entire body flinched violently, reacting to the unintentional intrusion.

It was brief but unmistakable—Heo Do-gyeong's energy had forced its way deep into Kang I-won's core.

His neglected and long-untended core, starved of proper guiding, reacted violently to the unfamiliar energy, stirring up an indescribable storm of emotions.

Kang I-won felt nauseous and itchy, as if he wanted to claw at his insides. Panicked by the strange sensation, he tried to pull his hand away, but Heo Do-gyeong tightened their clasp, lacing their fingers together.

"W-wait…," Kang I-won stammered, flustered.

The relentless invasion of Heo Do-gyeong's energy, breaking down the barriers he had so carefully constructed, left him unsure of how to react. Instinctively, Kang I-won pushed back against the intrusion.

If he didn't stop this now, if he let Heo Do-gyeong's energy completely envelop him, he feared he would lose himself. He could already imagine the degrading image of himself begging at Heo Do-gyeong's feet, pleading desperately for more guiding.

The thought was horrifying. A cold shiver ran down his spine, snapping him back to his senses for a moment.

Yet, even as he resisted, another voice within him whispered seductively: Why are you refusing? Let it in.

The temptation was maddeningly sweet, urging him to give in, to let Heo Do-gyeong's energy soothe and consume him.

But he didn't want that.

Clinging desperately to his wavering consciousness, Kang I-won summoned what strength he had to reject the energy's pull.

"T-that's enough," he said, his voice trembling as he tried to push Heo Do-gyeong away.

But Heo Do-gyeong, fully immersed in the guiding, didn't hear him. Instead, his grip tightened, and his brow furrowed slightly as he tried to channel even more energy into Kang I-won.

Realizing his words weren't reaching the Guide, Kang I-won panicked. Summoning his last bit of resolve, he yanked his hand free, breaking their connection.

"That's enough," he repeated firmly.

Heo Do-gyeong blinked, his expression dazed as he slowly raised his head to look at Kang I-won. His heart pounded loudly in his chest, the sound echoing in his ears.

Kang I-won met his gaze, his voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside him.

"You've done enough."

"…I suppose the guiding was sufficient," Heo Do-gyeong murmured, glancing down at his gloved hands as if uncertain.

"It doesn't feel finished," he added softly.

"It's enough," Kang I-won replied curtly. "I have things to do, so I'll be going now."

His tone was sharp, leaving no room for argument. Without waiting for a response, he stood abruptly and fled his own room like it was a trap.

As he briskly walked down the hallway, Kang I-won brought a hand to his mouth, trying to stifle his growing embarrassment. Just the memory of Heo Do-gyeong's guiding made his face burn.

Why did he have to act like that?

His heart was pounding, and the warmth from earlier hadn't subsided. His usual pallor, so stark against his dark hair, had been replaced by an unusual flush that spread across his face, ears, and even down his neck.

Kang I-won quickened his pace, scowling as he silently prayed for one thing:

Please, let Heo Do-gyeong return to Seoul as soon as possible.

* * *

When Heo Do-gyeong was first assigned to the Southern Region's Third Branch, his initial impression of Kang I-won couldn't have been worse.

At first, he thought Kang I-won was just another one of the clingy fools who latched onto him because of their high matching rate, the type who turned into relentless leeches.

But he was wrong.

After realizing his misconception, Heo Do-gyeong discovered that the more he got to know Kang I-won, the stranger the man seemed.

One moment, Kang I-won would collapse but refuse to ask for help, lying on the cold ground as if it didn't bother him. Another time, he'd have access to a Guide but opt to use guiding medication instead. He avoided guiding altogether if he could, and even when he received it, he seemed reluctant, offering no clear explanation for his behavior.

Curiosity began to simmer within Heo Do-gyeong. What kind of person was Kang I-won? That bubbling intrigue lingered at the edge of his thoughts, though it hadn't grown strong enough to be consuming—yet.

"If you're curious about him, see for yourself with your own two eyes."

That simple remark from Choi Soo-bin had been enough to push Heo Do-gyeong to agree to the Jeju assignment.

But the trip brought him more than he'd bargained for—it was a series of shocks, each more unnerving than the last.

The most striking was the sight of Kang I-won, limp and corpse-like, slung over Han Kang-jin's back with both legs severed below the knees.

The image stuck with him. It gnawed at him.

The wounds were horrifying, yet Han Kang-jin's calm demeanor only deepened Heo Do-gyeong's confusion. How could anyone act so nonchalant in the face of such injuries?

Once they arrived at the Jeju Branch and were assigned their accommodations, Heo Do-gyeong found himself pacing his room like an anxious dog waiting for its owner to return home. His unease grew with every passing moment as he kept glancing at his device, hoping for a message from Kang I-won.

But the notifications that came were from others—never from the one person he was waiting for.

Heo Do-gyeong, unusually, ignored all other guiding requests that came his way, waiting solely for a message from Kang I-won.

When a text finally arrived, he felt an unexpected wave of relief. At least he's alive. He looked like a corpse earlier.

Still haunted by the image of Kang I-won's severed ankles, he decided to offer to go to him directly. The reply came swiftly.

[Esper Kang I-won: 317]

The message was blunt, just a three-digit number. Looking at the curt response, Heo Do-gyeong wasted no time preparing and immediately left his room.

Arriving at Room 317, he knocked, and when the door opened, his gaze instinctively dropped to Kang I-won's feet.

Bare feet.

They were flawless, with no scars or signs of damage. All ten toes wiggled slightly, as if to show they were in perfect working order.

From the intact toes, his gaze traveled upward.

Kang I-won's pale face was as composed as ever, no different from his usual appearance. He looked improbably fine.

But appearances could be deceiving. How could someone endure such severe injuries and emerge unscathed?

The question lingered in Heo Do-gyeong's mind. He remembered Choi Soo-bin's words: "If you're curious, see for yourself."

If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, he might have thought Choi Soo-bin was exaggerating or lying.

Now, standing face-to-face with Kang I-won, Heo Do-gyeong couldn't help but wonder: Who exactly is Kang I-won?

Even with the certainty of regeneration, he had lost both feet. How could he have remained so utterly unshaken by that fact?

The question gnawed at Heo Do-gyeong. What kind of person was Kang I-won? What thoughts allowed him to remain calm despite such devastating injuries? What kind of life had he lived to be this unaffected?

The more he thought about it, the more his curiosity grew, surging like waves, each stronger than the last.

But Kang I-won's dispassionate responses to his initial questions quickly discouraged him. Resigning himself, Heo Do-gyeong decided to focus on guiding instead, extending his hand to start the process.

As he did, his eyes caught on his gloves.

He always wore gloves during guiding—physical contact with others was something he found deeply unpleasant.

Today, though, the gloves felt unusually conspicuous. For a brief moment, he considered taking them off, but quickly shook the thought away. There was no need for that.

He pressed his gloved hand into Kang I-won's and began channeling his energy, his expression tightening immediately.

The state of Kang I-won's energy waves was worse than expected—chaotic, turbulent, and in complete disarray.

Unbidden, the image of Kang I-won's mangled ankles flashed in Heo Do-gyeong's mind. He wondered again what could have happened to leave his feet in such a state. Then he remembered the torn fabric below Kang I-won's knees earlier. If his regeneration ability had restored his feet, the entirety of the damage must have extended from his knees downward.

Heo Do-gyeong felt his stomach churn and forcefully redirected his thoughts, focusing entirely on the guiding. He approached the process with more care than usual, carefully smoothing the jagged energy waves.

Yet, as he worked, something unsettled him.

It wasn't the wild fluctuations of Kang I-won's energy—those were steadily stabilizing. It was something about the waves themselves. There was a peculiar quality to them, something inherently off.

Had they always been like this?

The guiding process was nearly complete, and the waves had mostly calmed, but that strange undercurrent lingered, nagging at him.

Unconsciously, he began pouring more of his energy into the connection, unable to stop himself from probing further.

Then, an odd image popped into his mind: an old, threadbare teddy bear. Its seams had burst, and tufts of stuffing poked out in every direction. Someone had attempted to stitch it back together, but the repair was clumsy, uneven, and incomplete.

The image was bizarrely vivid, yet Heo Do-gyeong felt compelled to examine it more closely.

He vaguely registered Kang I-won flinching, but dismissed it. Without realizing, he adjusted their grip, threading their fingers together to increase the physical contact.

Even so, the sensation was faint—muted by the gloves between them. It was maddeningly close, as if the answer was just out of reach.

If I could just go a little deeper…

A wave of unidentifiable urgency swept over him.

The thought pressed at the edges of his mind, urging him forward.

In an instant, the energy waves Heo Do-gyeong had been sensing vanished. The connection severed the moment physical contact was broken.

Heo Do-gyeong slowly raised his head to look at Kang I-won.

Kang I-won, his face slightly flushed, was breathing heavily as if he'd just escaped something overwhelming.

"…I think the guiding was sufficient," Kang I-won said, his tone curt.

"I don't think it was," Heo Do-gyeong replied, his gaze dropping to his gloves.

If I hadn't been wearing them… would I have been able to fully grasp that subtle something?

He thought about it as Kang I-won hastily left the room, practically fleeing. Left alone, Heo Do-gyeong sat quietly for a long time, staring at his hands.

The gloves, which had always been an essential barrier for him, now felt like an obstacle for the first time.

The thought unsettled him.