* * *
“You don’t need to break your back trying to Guide an Esper who doesn’t even want it. No one’s going to blame you for that.”
“But… it’s my duty…”
“It’s only your duty if the other party wants it. And you’ve got enough on your plate with the team already, don’t you?”
“Well… that’s true.”
Hamin’s gloomy face slowly brightened.
Raon smiled and gave his shoulder a light pat.
“As your Team Leader, I have high hopes for you, Hamin.”
“R-Really?”
“Of course. Keep up the good work.”
“Yes, Team Leader!”
Raon managed to send Hamin off, but his own mind was a mess.
Once again, the thought that he’d ruined the original story nagged at him.
After all, Hamin’s biggest role was to support Dojin.
No matter Dojin’s personality or attitude, it was undeniable he was the strongest Esper right now.
Without Hamin’s Guiding, Dojin’s abilities would inevitably weaken.
With countless Gate threats ahead, they couldn’t afford to lose strength.
“Sigh…”
Raon shook his head and left the meeting room.
On his way to the cafeteria, he suddenly stopped.
“Been a while, huh?”
Taegeon tilted his head with an annoyed smirk, glaring at Raon.
Raon casually nodded.
“Yeah, it’s been a while.”
“Got promoted while I wasn’t looking… Should I be calling you Team Leader Raon now?”
“Obviously.”
When Raon responded nonchalantly, Taegeon’s face twisted in irritation.
Raon stared back, expression unreadable.
“Tch, fuck…”
This was Raon’s first time seeing Taegeon since the Irregular Gate suppression mission.
Before the team reorganization, Raon had been forced into deep Guiding with Siwoo.
As soon as he recovered, the team was reshuffled, leaving no chance to run into Taegeon.
Taegeon looked thinner than before.
After that brutal battle with the Gate’s final boss monster, his body probably burned through a lot of energy, delaying his recovery.
His face looked pale too.
‘Well, that’s not my problem.’
Sure, proper Guiding would speed up his recovery, but Raon had no intention of forcing himself on someone who didn’t want it.
It wasn’t like they were in an emergency.
“If you’re just here to chit-chat, step aside. I’m going to eat.”
“…Wait.”
“…?”
As Raon tried to walk past, Taegeon’s low voice stopped him.
Raon frowned, turning back.
“What?”
“Why him and not me? Why Song Minjae?”
“Huh?”
Raon paused, trying to remember who Song Minjae was.
Then it clicked—the C-rank psychic Esper in the current Guide team.
Raon let out a small laugh.
“Wait… You want to join the Guide team?”
“Fuck, who said that?”
“Then why bring it up?”
“Tch…”
When Raon asked playfully, Taegeon sighed, clearly frustrated.
His face practically screamed pissed off.
“It’s pissing me off, alright? What does Song Minjae have that I don’t? Huh?”
Taegeon burst out angrily.
Raon shook his head, watching him act like a sulky kid.
“You’re part of the combat team. You should use your abilities to fight monsters. The Guide team’s all grunt work anyway.”
“Still pisses me the fuck off.”
“Then deal with your own damn feelings.”
Raon waved his hand and turned away.
That’s when an irritated voice stabbed into his ears.
“Hey, Han Raon!”
“…!”
Taegeon’s hand grabbed Raon’s wrist.
Even though Raon was a Mental Esper, he didn’t even sense Taegeon approaching—he was an S-Rank Esper, after all.
Raon looked at him with startled eyes.
“Ugh!”
“…?”
Surprisingly, Taegeon flinched and let go of Raon’s wrist.
His reaction was bizarre, like someone who’d just been electrocuted.
Raon couldn’t help but feel confused at the sight.
What the hell is with him now?
It was annoying enough that Taegeon grabbed him, but acting like he touched something filthy when he was the one who grabbed Raon?
That was just ridiculous.
Rubbing his sore wrist, Raon shot him an incredulous glare.
‘Hmm?’
That’s when Raon noticed something strange about Taegeon.
He was rubbing the wrist that had touched Raon, biting his lower lip.
But something about the expression… felt off.
At first, Raon thought maybe Taegeon just hated physical contact with him, but the atmosphere didn’t seem like that.
Raon, quick to read people, recalled guiding Taegeon inside the Gate and smirked.
“What? You want me to guide you again?”
“F*ck off! When did I ever—”
“Come on, admit it. S-Rank Guides feel good to be around, don’t they?”
At that, Taegeon clamped his mouth shut as if words had died on his tongue.
His dumbfounded expression only made Raon chuckle more.
‘Tch, typical Espers…’
After all that talk of hating Guides and spewing insults, they always crumble after one proper guiding session.
Maybe they should realize how much they rely on Guides before looking down on them.
Thinking of Dojin and how he treated Hamin, Raon’s mood soured further.
Raising his hand slightly, Raon teasingly waved it toward Taegeon.
“Want me to guide you right now?”
“F*ck off!”
“Fine, your loss.”
“…Ugh.”
Raon quickly lowered his hand and spun around.
As he walked toward the cafeteria, he heard Taegeon’s flustered voice behind him.
But Raon ignored it and kept moving.
That ship had sailed long ago—Raon had zero interest in Taegeon.
Humming a tune to himself, Raon entered the cafeteria.
“Hyung, you’re here?”
“Yeah.”
The moment he stepped inside, he saw Siwoo waiting.
Raon looked at him, surprised.
“You didn’t eat yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Why? You waiting for me?”
“Yeah.”
‘Hmm…’
Raon let out a small hum at Siwoo’s answer.
He didn’t expect him to actually wait without eating.
A little flustered, Raon smiled and spoke.
“You should’ve eaten first.”
“I just… wanted to eat with you, hyung.”
“Really?”
Hearing Siwoo’s soft, obedient reply lifted Raon’s mood.
Running into Taegeon earlier had already soured his energy.
“Let’s eat quickly, they’ll close the cafeteria soon.”
“Okay.”
Training had run late, and Raon had a meeting with Hamin, so time had slipped away.
Raon hurried Siwoo along to grab their trays.
“What did you talk about with Guide Hamin?”
“Oh, that…”
As soon as they sat down, Siwoo asked.
Raon paused with his utensils in hand.
It wasn’t a big deal, but still, it felt awkward to mention a private meeting with Hamin.
Raon fumbled for words.
“Just… I think he’s having a hard time with training.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, so I encouraged him a bit.”
Well, that part wasn’t a lie.
Raon forced an awkward smile.
“You shouldn’t overwork yourself either, hyung.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Still… You shouldn’t get hurt before going into the Gate.”
“True, good point.”
Raon narrowed his eyes. It was almost time for the next Gate to open.
He couldn’t remember the exact date, but before his regression, right after they barely cleaned up the Irregular Gate, another Gate appeared as if mocking humanity.
This time, thanks to a smooth takedown of the Irregular Gate, there was no panic.
Training was progressing decently.
If everything went to plan, they could handle the next Gate with minimal issues.
“Hyung, are you even listening?”
“Huh?”
Lost in thought, Raon missed what Siwoo said.
He laughed awkwardly.
“Ah, sorry. What did you say?”
“You weren’t even listening…”
“Sorry, sorry. I was thinking about something.”
Siwoo frowned, clearly displeased.
Raon barely held back another laugh and asked:
“So, what did you say earlier?”
“Tomorrow’s training. I think we can ease up on Lee Yeo-jun.”
“Oh yeah?”
Siwoo had been coaching Yeo-jun separately because of his fear of heights.
Lately, Raon hadn’t heard those familiar screams, so maybe, like Hamin mentioned, the bungee jump exposure therapy helped.
“Let’s mix in shooting practice and start joint drills.”
“Got it.”
“You checked the materials I sent earlier, right?”
“Yeah, I reviewed everything.”
Raon nodded, feeling reassured.
Siwoo was quick—teach him one thing, and he picked up ten.
Despite his young age, he practically acted as Raon’s deputy leader.
His numbers were steadily improving, and if he kept building achievements during Gate operations, he could rank up fast.
Maybe even break Dojin’s record as the youngest colonel.
‘Though… that’s assuming the system doesn’t come back online.’
Imagining a future where Siwoo confidently led the team, Raon’s smile faded as the looming presence of the system crept back into his thoughts.
It always popped up when he least wanted to remember it.
“You done eating? Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
Still feeling uneasy, Raon stood after confirming Siwoo had emptied his tray.
Naturally, Raon planned to guide Siwoo.
Their talk with Hamin ran late again, so they couldn’t visit the guiding room—his dorm would have to do.
“Siwoo, let’s—”
“Hyung, I’m not getting guided today.”
“…What?”
Raon frowned at the unexpected reply.
* * *
