* * *

Yang Heewoon was preoccupied with being reckless, playing with Espers as if his life had no value, and collapsing with his face pale as a corpse.

And every time, it was Eunsoo who worried.

That Yang Heewoon might love someone else.

That he might disappear.

That he might die.

Damn Yang Heewoon.

Irresponsible Yang Heewoon.

Selfish Yang Heewoon.

“….”

But… he loved him.

He loved the way Yang Heewoon gently called his name.

He loved the warmth of his hands that held his when Eunsoo reached out first.

He loved the soft touches that smoothed his hair, patted his back, and comforted him.

He loved how his heart fluttered in a pleasant, ticklish way whenever Yang Heewoon kissed his forehead or cheeks and whispered words of love, making Eunsoo want to share those feelings back.

He loved the joy and gratitude Yang Heewoon expressed whenever Eunsoo filled the gaps in his life, no matter how imperfectly.

He loved the clumsy but earnest way they shared their time together.

And when their lips met… it felt as if he had the whole world.

“Haa…”

He hated how Yang Heewoon consumed his every thought.

When Ye Eunsoo had been imprisoned by Jake Polwel, he had dreamed of doing so much once he got out.

He wanted a normal life, like any other person his age. He wanted to try things he had seen in movies.

He wanted peaceful solitude in a quiet place where no one told him what to do.

But now that he was free, all he could think about was Yang Heewoon.

At school, during his work as a Guide, whether Yang Heewoon was near or far, his thoughts revolved around him.

That man.

What was so special about him?

What was so great about him that he couldn’t let go?

If he was this much of a burden, Eunsoo should have just let him die—

“No…”

His thoughts cut off.

Daydreaming about impossibilities was a waste of time.

The memory of Yang Heewoon’s cold hands resurfaced, and Eunsoo clenched and unclenched his fists to drive away the terrible sensation.

“I’ll make him come back.”

Now that he knew Yang Heewoon’s ugly truth, he wouldn’t be betrayed again.

More importantly, Ye Eunsoo was no longer a minor.

He had wealth, ability, and social standing far beyond someone like Yang Heewoon.

He could rule over Yang Heewoon, who had nothing, and control him completely.

“How do I get him to come back…”

He knew where Yang Heewoon was hiding.

He could go and drag him back right away.

But that would hurt his pride.

What victim begs their perpetrator to return?

No, Yang Heewoon had to come back to him on his own.

He had to kneel, apologize for leaving, and swear never to do it again.

Only then could Eunsoo ensure this would never happen again.

As Ye Eunsoo stared blankly at the ceiling, his blue eyes wandered through the void.

“How…”

How could he see Yang Heewoon again, even a day sooner?

How could he make him his?

What would it take, to—

---

Malice.

“Is there still resistance left?”

When summoned to the office, it turned out to be yet another tiresome matter.

Ye Eunsoo massaged his temples.

Ever since he had abandoned the thought of fetching Yang Heewoon himself, he hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep.

The accumulating exhaustion left his voice sharp with irritation.

He just wanted to go home.

There was so much to do at home—figuring out how to bring Yang Heewoon back, what to do once he returned, preparing a space for him, choosing his clothes, deciding what to feed him.

“Does that even matter?”

---

“Right. It seems one of them had a special connection with Seo Shinwoo. So…”

Cha Junseong wore a grave expression. His brows knit tightly as he handed something to Ye Eunsoo.

“Ye Eunsoo, you’ve received a threat letter.”

“…What?”

At first, he thought it was some ridiculous nonsense. But it was real.

In the photo Cha Junseong handed over, there were images of animal carcasses, a bloodstained knife, and a mutilated picture of Ye Eunsoo. Alongside it was a letter smeared with dried, blackened blood, making its contents almost unreadable.

Eunsoo squinted, attempting to decipher the writing, but quickly gave up, finding the effort pointless. It was likely some clichéd message about wiping his neck and waiting for them.

He clicked his tongue in irritation.

“What a pathetic, old-school stunt…”

“This isn’t something to take lightly. Be cautious for a while.”

“I looked into it. Apparently, one of them has been close to Seo Shinwoo for about 20 years. Since you beat Shinwoo to a pulp, there’s bound to be some deep-seated grudge. Even someone like you wouldn’t stand a chance if they ambushed you in a group or attacked from the shadows, so please, be careful.”

“Of course, we’ll assign security. If you agree, you can even stay inside the Bureau for the time being. We’ll ensure it’s as comfortable as possible.”

“I’m not interested.”

“…As expected.”

Cha Junseong let out a sigh.

Had Ye Eunsoo ever cooperated willingly?

Maybe it was because of his abundance of natural talent, or simply due to his personality, but he carried himself as though no one in the world could ever match him.

Just days ago, he had reduced six illegal espers to half-dead within moments, so he likely felt no sense of danger.

Even now, faced with an explicit death threat dripping with murderous intent, Ye Eunsoo remained utterly composed.

“The mansion Polwel used has a decent security system. There’s no need to bother with extra people.”

“These are illegal espers we’re talking about. Even Polwel hired additional security when he lived there. If that’s the norm, it’s even more critical to be cautious in a crisis.”

“…It’ll ruin the house.”

Ye Eunsoo frowned.

This was the house he had shared with Yang Heewoon—the only place bearing Heewoon’s traces.

He had painstakingly preserved it just as Heewoon had left it.

If dozens of guards started coming and going, the place would inevitably be damaged.

Leaving the house wasn’t an option either.

It wasn’t just any house—it was their house.

Entrusting it to others, who might be lax in their duties, could lead to something catastrophic, like arson.

“No one enters the house. If you insist on security, they can guard from outside. Let’s keep the staff away for now too. Is that enough?”

“…At least let a minimum number inside. Just five.”

“How is five the minimum?”

“It’s a large house. Five is hardly anything.”

“Hey, Ye Eunsoo. If you’re that uncomfortable with strangers, I can—”

“Don’t even think about stepping foot in my house.”

Before Rex could finish, Eunsoo shot him down coldly.

Rex’s jaw dropped at the icy rejection, delivered before he could even finish his offer.

“Wow, just ruthless.”

“See? That’s why I didn’t even bother bringing it up.”

“Come on, think about it! Isn’t it easier to have me instead of some awkward defense team? I know what you’re worried about, and I swear I’ll stay out of your way. Just one week…”

Tuning out Rex’s rambling, Eunsoo felt the whole situation becoming a hassle.

The Bureau forcing their hand because of those pests was irritating enough, but on reflection, this wasn’t the time to be so lax.

He needed to bring Yang Heewoon back.

For now, being alone meant it didn’t matter who threatened him.

But if Heewoon returned, he wouldn’t have this luxury.

Heewoon was weak and an easy target—and, by extension, a prime candidate for a vengeful act aimed at Eunsoo.

If those illegal espers were to abduct Guide Yang Heewoon…

Eunsoo’s calm face darkened with anxiety.

After a brief internal debate, he spoke decisively.

“Forget the security. Don’t bother.”

The statement was as shocking as it was unexpected.

Cha Junseong’s face clouded, his lips pressing into a thin line.

Even with his habit of envisioning the worst when it came to Eunsoo, the man always managed to exceed expectations.

And Junseong wasn’t alone in this thought.

Elliott let out a whistle, clapping his hands in exaggerated admiration.

“Man, you never fail to surprise.”

“…Care to explain the reasoning behind this one?”

“Hey! Is this because of me? Do you hate me that much? I swear I’ll be quiet as a mouse!”

“It’s not because of you.”

“W-what? Then why?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s a waste of time. How long are we supposed to sit around playing defense, not knowing when they’ll strike? It’s a waste of manpower and resources. It’s faster to eliminate the threat.”

“If it were that easy—”

“Luring them out isn’t hard. Use me as bait.”

“What?”

“You’ve got to be kidding…”

Amidst the collective groans of the three espers, Eunsoo remained calm.

“Let’s deal with them quickly and be done with it.”

* * *