* * *

“If you want to come with me, then come.”

“Can I? I’ll just be a burden to you. You’ll be worried… No, it’s fine. I’ll just stay somewhere safe.”

Was he agreeing with me?

Eunsoo didn’t answer right away.

But then, with a faint smile, he tightened his grip on my hand.

“No, let’s go together. You’re a guide too. Help me out.”

‘Help me out.’

Eunsoo had never said those words to me before.

…Why did hearing him ask for help fill my chest with such joy?

“Yeah. I’ll go.”

---

On the way, Eunsoo handed me his phone and asked me to check the site control manual.

‘Isn’t this something the site control team should handle?’

It felt odd, but I went ahead and looked through it.

When we arrived at the scene, the sight was far from what I had imagined.

I thought the site control team would’ve arrived first and secured the area, but everything looked unexpectedly ordinary.

People were calmly lining up and moving to nearby shelters under the guidance of safety officers.

I glanced back and forth between Eunsoo and the surroundings, uncertain if this was right.

Eunsoo, appearing unfazed, rummaged through the bag he had brought.

“Take this with you. You know how to use it, right? You’ve used it before.”

“Oh, yeah. I know.”

What Eunsoo handed me was emergency equipment: a portable shield, bait to lure monsters, a baton for directing civilians, emergency medicine, and a flashlight, among other things.

“But there’s no site control team here.”

“There’s been a manpower shortage lately. For manageable situations, they don’t enforce full control. But they’ll come soon; they’ll need to clean up once it’s over.”

“…I see.”

But wasn’t this gate supposed to be dangerous because its scale was uncertain?

While I tilted my head in confusion, Eunsoo handed me something else.

“Also, just in case, keep this with you. Knowing your personality, you won’t just stand by if others are in danger. It’ll be easier to manage the situation if you act as a guide instead of a civilian.”

It was a guide ID card.

A shiny S-class guide ID card.

“Can I really take this? Won’t you get in trouble?”

“You’re a guide too, aren’t you?”

“Well, yeah, but… If I take this, what about you?”

“I’ll use this.”

Eunsoo pinned a golden badge to his chest—a badge that identified him as an Esper.

My eyes widened.

Of course, Eunsoo’s physical abilities were strong enough to rival an Esper, making him an exceptional guide capable of confronting monsters.

But to carry an Esper badge…

“Step back, hyung. I’ll leave the people to you. Just follow the manual.”

We were in a massive shopping mall with an open ceiling, revealing the floors below.

The eerie vibrations of the air resonated like a scream.

In the center of the open space, a long crack formed.

Panic began to ripple through the people who had been moving in an orderly fashion.

Their steps quickened, and shouts to hurry filled the air.

People started pushing, trying to get ahead, some even falling.

The safety officers’ calls to avoid running or shoving went unheard.

I quickly raised the guide ID card above my head and projected my voice.

“This is the Esper Management Bureau. It’s okay! A crack doesn’t immediately mean monsters will pour out. We will ensure everyone exits the building safely, so please remain calm and move in an orderly fashion.”

The Esper badge gleaming on Eunsoo’s chest and the S-class guide ID card in my hand had immense authority.

Slowly, the panicked crowd began to regain their composure.

They followed the safety officers’ directions, lining up once more and walking in step.

Relieved, I let out a sigh, only to feel Eunsoo lightly pat my shoulder.

“Well done. Take care of the aftermath too.”

“…Be careful.”

“I’ll be fine. This won’t take long. Trust me.”

There weren’t even large-caliber weapons for monsters here since the site control team hadn’t arrived.

How could he be so confident?

But worrying wouldn’t change anything.

I prepared to deploy the shield at a moment’s notice as I guided the evacuees to safety.

Before I could seek out the person in charge, a safety officer approached from the end of the evacuation line.

“Thank you. Because of you, we were able to prevent an accident.”

“No, I was just doing my job. Are all the people inside accounted for?”

“Yes! That’s correct! We sounded the alarm and checked the cameras multiple times.”

“I’ll lower the protective barrier. Please ensure everyone exits the building together.”

“Understood! Th-thank you!”

The safety officer, clearly rattled by the situation, seemed slightly reassured when I handed him the directing baton.

With newfound courage, he lifted a child who had fallen behind and began cautiously leading the way.

It was a heartwarming sight, one that almost made me smile, but I quickly pulled myself together.

I had to lower the protective barrier.

Clank.

I found the lever and pulled it.

With a loud noise, the barrier descended.

I ran up the stationary escalator and worked to seal the crack with the barrier as much as possible.

Next, I headed to the control room.

I checked every monitor to ensure no one was left behind and confirmed that all evacuees had safely exited the building.

Relieved, I let out a deep breath.

“I hope Eunsoo’s okay…”

The manual I had been given instructed me to stay in the control room or evacuate if I feared the building might collapse.

In other words, there wasn’t much more I could do.

The crack continued to emit an eerie, shrill sound as it grew, tearing through the space.

Its scale was significant—too large for a guide to handle alone.

Yet, Eunsoo stood guard over the gate, looking completely unbothered.

He was empty-handed, without any weapon at all.

Kiieeeing.

I trusted that Eunsoo would handle it well, yet I couldn’t help the lingering worry in my heart.

With my hands clasped together, I stared at Eunsoo on the screen, when suddenly, a chilling sound erupted, and a crack tore through the air.

Eunsoo, who had been standing calmly, lowered his stance.

He clenched his right fist tightly, as if ready to attack with nothing but his bare hands.

And then, astonishingly, vivid red flames ignited around that fist.

— Boom!

The instant the monster emerged from the gate, Eunsoo’s blazing fist struck it with incredible force.

My jaw dropped.

‘No way… what on earth is this?’

Encasing his body in flames to create an explosive power—this was a familiar ability.

Though I’d only seen it a few times, it was undoubtedly Rex Hamilton’s.

Of course, Rex wasn’t the only fire-based ability user out there; they were relatively common.

But just as people’s imaginations differ, their abilities were never exactly the same.

Combining superhuman physical strength with a unique, explosive flame style of combat was a signature of Rex.

It couldn’t possibly belong to anyone else.

No, there was no doubt about it—this was Rex’s ability.

Even his stance was identical!

“Uh, b-but, isn’t the fire… a problem? We’re inside a building.”

I panicked, wondering if I should activate the sprinklers, but to my surprise, there wasn’t even a trace of a spark near Eunsoo.

At some point, a thin layer of what looked like pristine white snow had formed a protective barrier within the perimeter.

The monster, too, didn’t wreak havoc as I feared.

Instead of crashing into and destroying the surroundings, it was flung into the air, where it hovered briefly before letting out a cracking sound and being compressed into nothingness.

‘These abilities… could it be?’

They weren’t just any abilities; they were those of Special Team A.

Amid my confusion, I couldn’t take my eyes off Eunsoo.

His efficiency and skill in subduing the monsters while minimizing collateral damage were mesmerizing.

My chest swelled with pride, a shiver running through my entire body.

How could it not?

Right now, Eunsoo looked every bit the hero.

It wasn’t just that he had many strong abilities.

It was his composure, his care for his surroundings—his complete mastery of the situation.

In the past five years, maybe Eunsoo hadn’t just been searching for me.

Finally, I understood why his hands had grown so rough.

But my chance to safely watch Eunsoo’s battle didn’t last long.

At some point, the cameras inside the barrier stopped functioning, leaving only a blank screen.

Unable to bear the rising anxiety, I left the control room and rushed to the first barrier I’d lowered earlier, gripping a portable shield as I waited for Eunsoo.

How much time passed?

The thunderous sounds and the monsters’ dying cries gradually subsided.

— Screeech.

And then, effortlessly lifting the barrier, Eunsoo appeared.

“Hyung.”

He called out to me with a radiant smile.

That bright, carefree expression—if not for the splatters of monster fluid staining him here and there—I might have mistaken it for the look of someone casually returning from a short outing.

* * *