* * *

As I went downstairs for breakfast, I checked the news and stumbled upon a shocking headline.

“They caught Seo Shinwoo? Already?”

Seo Shinwoo was one of the major villains in “The Genius Guide’s Melancholy”.

His gang was massive, to say the least.

While his episodes didn’t take center stage until the later parts of the story, there were consistent breadcrumbs of information about him leading up to it.

And now he’d been caught.

At this point in the original, we hadn’t even entered the second volume.

Flustered, I double-checked to see if it was the same Seo Shinwoo I knew.

Comparing the article’s photos and descriptions with the novel, I concluded it was almost certainly him.

“This… is this okay?”

Our Eunsoo had been working tirelessly, resolving incidents at a much faster pace than the original timeline.

But catching someone two years ahead of schedule?

That seemed excessive.

Not to mention the handling was brutal.

They’d beaten him to a pulp.

Granted, Seo Shinwoo deserved every bit of it for his crimes, but the problem was the aftermath.

Given how early this happened, his gang’s other factions probably hadn’t been fully revealed yet.

“Of course, Eunsoo will handle any crisis perfectly…”

He’s a capable kid.

I believe in him.

I have no doubt he’ll resolve this.

But still, I can’t help worrying about him like a parent frets over their child.

In the original, the resolution relied heavily on emotions between characters that had been built up over time.

But here, with no time for such emotions to develop, how would Eunsoo navigate this?

“What if he struggles to connect with the Special A Team Espers?”

From photos and interviews, it seemed clear: Eunsoo kept his distance, despite their friendly overtures.

In the original, he was cold, but the bonds they formed eventually softened him.

Without that connection…

“I mean, I don’t want him rushing into anything intimate either…”

He’s only twenty, just a fledgling chick.

Meanwhile, the youngest of the love interests, Elliot, is twenty-four—the same age as Yang Heewoon.

In the original, fast-tracked intimacy felt natural for the guide-Esper world, but now that Eunsoo feels like my child, it makes me uneasy.

He still calls me “Uncle,” which suggests he feels a psychological distance from people my age.

It’d be nice if he took it slow, starting with a fresh, innocent romance…

“Ugh. Why are these people so critical of a kid who’s working his butt off?”

As I scrolled through the comments, my already complex emotions grew messier.

“Why’d he even go there when he’s not a regular member? Isn’t the bureau spoiling him too much? That kid’s already drunk on power,” they sneered.

It’s impossible to please everyone, especially when you’re in the public eye.

Still, seeing attacks on my kid made my blood boil.

“These keyboard warriors don’t know anything and yet…”

“Heewoon, watch your language!”

“…Ugh.”

Maria Polwel’s sharp voice cut through my muttering.

Standing at the dining room entrance, she glared at me with narrowed eyes.

Espers are terrifying.

How did she hear me from that distance?

“If you keep grumbling during breakfast, you’ll get indigestion. Hand it over.”

“…Ah!”

She snatched my phone—the only way I could check on Eunsoo. My heart sank.

I put on my best puppy-dog eyes and silently begged her to return it, but Maria didn’t budge.

“Finish your meal, and I’ll give it back. Eat everything.”

She promptly piled my plate with food: buttery omelets, crispy bacon, cheesy tomato salad.

A resigned sigh escaped me.

“I won’t finish this…”

Though it had been nearly six months since I left Korea, I still wasn’t used to the dietary changes.

At least my digestion had improved since the past.

Back then, even eating hurt.

“I miss Eunsoo’s doenjang jjigae…”

Despite my displeasure at the heaping plate, I knew better than to argue.

I was merely a guest in Polwel’s home.

“When Heewoon posted a comment just now, someone replied! Let’s see…”

“W-wait! Don’t read that!”

“Why? You’re using my account. Don’t I have a right to know?”

A silent scream echoed in my head.

But yes, it was true.

The phone I was using had been activated under Maria’s name since I couldn’t use my own.

If my activities ever led to being traced, it wouldn’t be me in trouble but him.

It’s embarrassing to expose this part of my dark past, but I couldn’t flat-out deny it either.

At least, the one saving grace was that this wasn’t the first time I’d faced such a situation.

Shame has a way of dulling when you go through it enough times.

Sadly, that’s the reality.

While Maria fiddled with my phone, I covered my face with one hand and stuffed food into my mouth with the other.

Greasy.

I wasn’t particularly into spicy food, but after eating oily meals every day, I found myself craving something spicy.

I need to suggest a trip to a Korean grocery store soon…

“Heewoon, do you know your ID has become quite famous? Even Ellie knows about it.”

“Oh… Really?”

Apparently, nearly half a year of consistent activity had garnered some unexpected recognition.

Recently, it had gotten so out of hand that people not only recognized me but seemed to actively seek me out after hearing about me somewhere.

Though I’d prepared myself for this, it still felt unnerving to have reached this point.

Damn.

It’s so embarrassing.

At least they don’t know it’s me.

They can’t know.

I’ll have to be more cautious with my words from now on.

“Your account went viral on social media, apparently. People are saying you’re like an overly eager middle-aged fan with no tact.”

“….”

…It might be an innocent remark, but that somehow makes it hurt even more.

I wish he’d stop and hand me back my phone already.

There were so many news stories I wanted to save, complete with photos, after resolving a major incident…

But Maria seemed far too entertained and couldn’t tear his eyes away from my phone.

“They’re curious about who you are. They even tried to dig into your personal info but couldn’t find anything, so now they’re even more intrigued.”

“…Some people really have too much free time.”

I’m just… a keyboard warrior who occasionally couldn’t resist responding to hate comments while reading about Eunsoo.

Why go so far as to try and dig into my identity?

Although… I’ll admit, my passion does tend to stand out.

“I’ve been meaning to ask… Why do people call you ‘Eunsoo’s Dad’?”

“Oh, that…”

It all started about a month ago.

By then, people were beginning to recognize me as someone who’d been commenting on news articles for three months straight.

When a keyboard warrior becomes a notable figure… trouble is bound to follow.

“Every time I showed up, people started teasing me, saying things like, ‘Oh, is Eunsoo’s Mom here?’”

The internet is a place where countless people hide behind anonymity to spout nonsense.

I figured engaging would only escalate things, so I tried to ignore it.

But, unfortunately, it just kept escalating.

The more I ignored them, the more emboldened the trolls became.

Eventually, they started dragging Eunsoo into it, mocking him for being an orphan.

That crossed the line. I was so furious that, in the heat of the moment, I lashed out.

‘I’m not his mom—I’m his dad!’

‘If my kid’s an orphan, so what? I’ll be his internet dad, so unless you’re stepping up, just shut it!’

…To put it politely, that was the gist of what I said.

Hearing the backstory, Maria’s expression turned rather peculiar.

“So… that’s why…”

“Yes… that’s why.”

Someone must have screenshot my comment and spread it around online because my popularity skyrocketed after that.

Since everyone recognized me by just the first part of my username anyway, I joined fan clubs and communities under the name ‘Eunsoo’s Dad.’

It’s over-the-top and blatantly obvious, but it’s not exactly inaccurate either.

For half a year, I’ve played the role of his dad—at least, online.

So, I decided to embrace it.

After all, hiding in plain sight with such an outrageous nickname seemed like the perfect cover.

At least… I hope so.

“Hmm… Heewoon.”

“…Yes?”

“If you’re going to spend all day thinking about Ye Eunsoo, why not just contact him? Let him know you’re alive and doing well.”

* * *