* * *

“You’re insane.”

“There’s a limit to fearlessness. How can you even think of handling things this way?”

“I already got approval from the higher-ups. Isn’t that enough?”

“Only because you strong-armed them into agreeing!”

Well, that was true.

The Bureau had been reluctant to use Ye Eunsoo as bait. He wasn’t just any S-rank Guide—he was the only one capable of guiding three S-rank espers simultaneously. If something happened to him, the already heightened gate occurrence rate might spiral out of control.

Still, the Bureau ultimately approved the plan, knowing full well they had no choice but to yield to his unrelenting stubbornness.

Eunsoo was well aware of this. But what could he do? If they didn’t like it, they could try overturning his decision.

Eunsoo smiled faintly.

“Regardless, the approval is official.”

Seeing him smile—something rare since losing Yang Heewoon—was an unsettling sight. Most of the time, it was either to suppress his killing intent or to toy with the three espers.

This was clearly the latter. A testament to his malice.

The three, well aware of his intent, were left speechless. How could they convince someone who detested them so thoroughly?

“If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll take my leave.”

“Ah. Wait, Ye Eunsoo.”

As Eunsoo turned, Rex blocked his path.

Eunsoo’s smile faded. His sharp blue eyes chilled, radiating a deadly intent that promised he’d act if Rex didn’t step aside.

But Rex Hamilton didn’t back down. His dark red brows furrowed, not from discomfort but determination.

“I’m sorry. I have no excuse for what happened to Heewoon because of us. I know you don’t want to see our faces.”

“…”

“But think of Heewoon. He cared about you so much that if he heard something happened to you, he’d… he’d rise from his—no, wait. Sorry. That came out wrong.”

Rex scratched his head in frustration, clearly regretting his slip. He shook his head before continuing.

“Anyway, can’t you reconsider? I swear I’ll stay out of sight—hide in some corner under the stairs if I have to. Just let us protect you.”

“If Heewoon…”

“…Huh?”

“If I get hurt… do you think he’d be worried?”

The words that came out of Ye Eunsoo, who had been standing expressionless the entire time, were unexpected.

Ye Eunsoo, staring at the wrist he once considered injuring to gain Yang Heewoon’s attention, looked over at the Espers.

“What do you think Yang Heewoon would dislike more? You dying, or me getting hurt?”

“Isn’t that… a bit unbalanced?” Elliot asked, bewildered.

Regardless of Elliot’s reaction, Ye Eunsoo was lost in thought, deeply serious.

Seeing him clearly locked in his own world, Rex was left speechless.

It was as if everything said up to now hadn’t even reached his ears.

At that moment, Cha Junseong, who had been quietly observing the situation, finally spoke.

“Ye Eunsoo, Yang Heewoon is dead.”

It was a subject the group of four rarely broached, as though it were a taboo.

The fact that such words came from Cha Junseong’s mouth was enough to draw Ye Eunsoo’s attention, despite how he had previously regarded the three Espers as barely visible.

When those blue eyes turned toward him, Cha Junseong lowered his gaze, as if to avoid them.

The voice that escaped his lips, trembling like a sigh, was a lump of raw, festering emotion that he could no longer contain.

“Maybe… maybe he hid away because he didn’t want you to see him like that. But I’ll find him. I’ll find him, give him a proper burial, apologize to him… and let him rest in a warm place.”

The lack of expression on his face wasn’t because he felt no emotions.

On the contrary, he felt so much that he couldn’t determine which emotion should surface.

His hand, clutching his head as though to contain the chaos within, trembled, bearing witness to the confusion and pain Cha Junseong felt.

With his head bowed deeply like a sinner before Ye Eunsoo, Cha Junseong continued.

“I’m sorry… I’ll beg if I have to. I’ll kneel if you want me to. So please, I’m begging you.”

“…”

“I just want to protect you. If something happens to you… I won’t be able to face him…”

Standing silently before such a desperate Cha Junseong, Ye Eunsoo glanced at the faces of the three Espers.

The degree of emotion each revealed varied according to their personalities, but their expressions were strikingly similar.

Grief over losing Yang Heewoon, guilt for his death, anger directed at themselves for driving him to such an end…

The corners of Ye Eunsoo’s lips quivered.

How ridiculous.

Yang Heewoon was alive and well.

He was even in Polwel, living a life of comfort and luxury.

Yet here they were, talking about his funeral.

Humans who sought to fulfill the last wishes of someone still living.

Ye Eunsoo’s curiosity was piqued.

How would they react when he returned?

Would they, like Ye Eunsoo, feel anger?

Or would they weep with joy?

After all, these people had been abandoned by Yang Heewoon too.

They’d even been burdened with the guilt of his supposed death.

Could they continue to love him?

As that thought crossed his mind, the faint smile on Ye Eunsoo’s lips disappeared.

The answer came far too easily.

“…I refuse.”

Yes. That’s exactly what they’d do.

Would you call it adult forgiveness?

Before Yang Heewoon even said he was sorry, they’d embrace all his flaws.

And Yang Heewoon, softened by their care, would give them both his body and heart once again.

Now that his frail body had recovered, this time, they might form an unbreakable bond that Ye Eunsoo could never intrude upon.

How disgusting.

“I’m an adult now, and officially a guide under the Esper Management Bureau. I’m an S-rank just like you, and I’m perfectly capable of protecting myself.”

He despised these fools.

Even after he’d saved Yang Heewoon from the death they had condemned him to, these people, who could snatch him away at any moment, were utterly loathsome.

Ye Eunsoo’s face twisted with bitterness.

“Don’t treat me like a child. And don’t use me as a tool to repay the debt you owe to the man you killed.”

While Ye Eunsoo constantly feared they’d take Yang Heewoon away from him, these people didn’t seem overly concerned, even with him living under the same roof.

How insignificant he must have seemed to them.

“Do you even consider me an equal colleague?”

The three Espers couldn’t respond to Ye Eunsoo’s question.

Without waiting for an answer, Ye Eunsoo turned and walked away.

His quick steps echoed down the hallway, and none of the three stopped him.

You can’t face Yang Heewoon if something happens to me?

He recalled the threatening letters sent to him.

At first, they were merely annoying. But now, they felt like an opportunity.

Ye Eunsoo muttered under his breath.

“What a delightful thing to hear.”

His crimson lips curved into a faint smile.

---

For now, Ye Eunsoo decided to take a break from his work as Elizabeth’s secretary.

Balancing his training with his job had made it difficult to achieve his goals, so he chose to focus entirely on getting stronger before returning to Korea.

Though his sudden decision came at a time when he’d just settled into his work, both Elizabeth and Maria readily agreed.

“As long as you keep me company at mealtimes, that’s enough for me.”

“You’ve already helped me so much. Now it’s my turn to help you.”

Not only did they understand, but they also went out of their way to support him, both emotionally and materially.

Maria, who had always been a great help, became even more proactive after seeing his determination.

Thanks to her, Ye Eunsoo unexpectedly experienced the elite training regimen of Polwel.

…It was hell.

It was an intensive two-week training program—neither too long nor too short.

But those two weeks felt like a descent into the underworld.

The training schedule was as regimented as that of professional athletes, down to the allotted meals, sleep, and recovery time.

Even breaks were strictly for resting or cleaning up.

Focused on training, he had to surrender his phone, cutting him off entirely from Ye Eunsoo and the three Espers.

By the end of it, he began to wonder whether he was human or just a bio-robot built for training.

But the results were remarkable.

To be honest, the timeframe was so short that he hadn’t expected much.

He’d only agreed out of desperation and urgency.

Yet, after the two weeks of intensive training, his progress was undeniable.

His stamina and strength had significantly improved, and his shooting accuracy and simulation results had reached an unprecedented level, scoring in the 80s.

Admittedly, his average scores barely scraped the passing 70s.

Still, seeing such rapid growth filled him with confidence.

And so, with renewed courage, he stood where he was now.

* * *