* * *
Park Jaerim narrowed his eyes at Kang Taewon, who was acting even more volatile than usual.
Kang Taewon was already infamous for his terrible temper, but today, it seemed worse.
Something’s definitely up with him.
Exchanging a glance with Seok Kiwoo, Park Jaerim unconsciously scanned their surroundings—and that’s when he noticed.
“Huh?”
Amid the crowd of awakened individuals stood a man who gave off a peculiar vibe.
With average height and unremarkable features, the brown-haired man appeared to belong to a civilian organization.
There was nothing particularly striking about him—except perhaps his unusually pale complexion.
…Why do I keep noticing him?
Wondering if he was the only one feeling this way, Park Jaerim turned his head and saw Seok Kiwoo staring at the same man.
“Weird. He’s bothering me for some reason.”
At Seok Kiwoo’s muttering, Park Jaerim nodded.
“Definitely not an esper. Maybe a D-class guide?”
“Hard to say. Could be around the same rank as Koo Seojin…”
As Seok Kiwoo trailed off uncertainly, Park Jaerim absentmindedly rubbed his chin—a habit when deep in thought.
If he’s a low-class guide, there’s no harm in greeting him, right?
It’s not like my own guide is anything but a pain in the ass.
Having made up his mind, Park Jaerim took a step forward.
At the same time, Seok Kiwoo moved as well—seemingly thinking the same thing.
But as Park Jaerim walked, a sudden, scorching heat at the back of his skull made him wince.
“Seriously, why the hell is Kang Taewon still glaring like that? Hey, Kiwoo. Any idea what his problem is?”
“No clue. Just ignore him.”
Seok Kiwoo, indifferent, quickened his pace ahead of Park Jaerim.
Though he didn’t voice it, the seemingly ordinary brown-haired man was nagging at his nerves too.
Finally standing before the man, Park Jaerim spoke first.
“Hey, there. Don’t think I’ve seen you before—you’re a guide from a civilian organization, right?”
“……”
The man stared back without answering, prompting Park Jaerim to deliberately curl his lips higher.
Among S-class espers, he prided himself on being one of the friendlier ones.
Maybe he’s too shocked to respond.
But just as Park Jaerim thought that—
“What’s it to you? Mind your own business.”
The sharp reply made Park Jaerim blink in surprise.
With his downturned eyes and soft features, he had assumed the man would be quiet and meek—but this was unexpected.
Who’d have thought such a gentle-looking face hid that kind of attitude?
It should’ve been off-putting, yet Park Jaerim found the man’s brusqueness oddly… cute?
What the hell?
Why does this feel amusing instead of annoying?
Before he could dwell on it, Seok Kiwoo stepped closer and asked,
“You a C-class guide?”
“Why the hell should I tell you?”
“Guess that’s a yes.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions.”
“Then D-class?”
“I said back off. You deaf?”
The man showed no intimidation despite facing S-class espers—an intriguing sight.
What’s his deal?
Swallowing his curiosity, Seok Kiwoo scrutinized him.
Despite having a face that was neither ugly, handsome, nor pretty—just utterly plain—Seok Kiwoo couldn’t look away.
Even the man’s skin, too pale and smooth for his ordinary features, stood out.
“What’s your name?”
“Ugh…”
Sighing in irritation at the relentless questions, the man turned to leave.
Without thinking, Seok Kiwoo grabbed his shoulder—
And immediately flinched at the faint, ticklish guiding energy that brushed against his palm.
As expected, the man’s rank seemed similar to his own guide, Koo Seojin.
Yeah, definitely weak guiding energy… but why does it feel so oddly dense?
Just as Seok Kiwoo tilted his head at the strange sensation—
“Let go.”
The man jerked his shoulder free, glaring at Seok Kiwoo before turning away.
And Park Jaerim and Seok Kiwoo watched him go, their eyes lingering until he disappeared from sight.
I subtly adjusted one of the items I was wearing—all of them were under an invisibility effect, so nothing was visible from the outside.
From what I’d heard, they couldn’t even be felt by anyone but the wearer.
Lee Dohoon had fussed over me, equipping me with so many items that I hadn’t even bothered counting.
Just the ones I could feel now numbered five.
Since the assembly wasn’t over yet, the area around the gate entrance was still chaotic.
As I moved, the gazes surveilling me stubbornly followed.
I stopped in front of a nearby artificial fountain, peering into the water.
It was clear enough to vaguely reflect my face.
Still so ordinary. Nothing stands out.
It was fascinating how well the items worked.
They truly were useful—completely altering my appearance without a trace.
Even my guiding energy, which usually overflowed, now trickled out like a gentle stream.
Lee Dohoon had fastened some kind of suppression item around my neck, claiming it would help.
At first, it felt like my body was being crushed under a boulder, but soon, the weight faded.
Seems my own energy suppressed the item’s effects.
Despite my changed appearance, Lee Dohoon hadn’t been satisfied—he’d also equipped me with a perception-dampening device.
He’s really pulling out all the stops to keep my identity hidden.
It wasn’t just because we were entering an S-class gate with unpredictable variables.
The real issue was two of the espers summoned this time—both S-classers who had just returned from overseas assignments.
Deceiving espers of the same rank?
No wonder he’s on edge.
‘Honestly, it’s convenient how I keep seeing future events in my dreams right when I need to.’
Just like last time, I’d already known about today’s gate incident beforehand.
Days ago, I’d seen it in a dream—just like the vision of the Red Gate before it appeared.
‘Park Jaerim and Seok Kiwoo look even better in person.’
I’d seen them in the recordings, but seeing them up close was different.
The two of them stood out to me in a way the other four espers around me didn’t.
If Gu Hyukjoon and Lee Hyunjae were side dishes, these two felt like the main course.
Maybe it’s because I’m destined to get tangled up with them even deeper.
Currently, these two had no idea that Koo Hyukjun had essentially driven their original Guide to his death by stealing him away.
Though the Guide had taken his own life, it was no different from Koo Hyukjun pushing him over the edge.
Even this body of mine now had barely endured before being deemed a failure and released.
If it had taken any longer to be labeled a failure, the original Go Yeonwoo would have likely ended his own life, just like that Guide.
The human experiments endured by both the real Guide and Go Yeonwoo were beyond what any ordinary person could withstand.
Even I, who had only seen the footage, was horrified enough to click my tongue in disbelief.
It wasn’t just about being tormented like some sexual plaything.
They were subjected to all kinds of drug injections and unspeakably inhumane experiments.
This was the kind of cruelty that wouldn’t even be fully repaid if Koo Hyukjun were captured alive and subjected to the same experiments.
The fact that the original Go Yeonwoo endured until he could personally kill Woo Jiyoo was nothing short of a miracle.
And I knew that Lee Dohoon had played a significant role in helping him endure.
To be precise, it was the feelings the original Go Yeonwoo had harbored for Lee Dohoon.
As I glanced at Lee Dohoon standing not far away, our eyes met.
Ever since arriving here, all of them had been discreetly keeping an eye on me, making this moment possible.
* * *
