* * *
Watching him, Haeyoung couldn’t help but think Juhoon really did seem like the mastermind pulling strings from behind the curtain.
Minjoon clicked his tongue in frustration, muttered a low curse, and shoved Haeyoung’s shoulder.
And just like that, Haeyoung found himself standing right at the entrance of the gate—looking every bit as dangerous as a massive black hole.
A staff member from the Center casually handed Haeyoung a small bag.
Before he could even ask what was inside, Minjoon gestured once—and Haeyoung was pulled right into the black hole.
He had never once in his life imagined what it would be like to dive headfirst into a gate sparking with static and emitting crackles like snap, crackle, pop.
“…This is insane…!”
Haeyoung squeezed his eyes shut.
As his body was sucked into somewhere unknown, his breath caught painfully in his chest.
Then—just like when he had teleported earlier—the noise vanished.
In its place came the soft sound of drip, drip—water falling somewhere nearby.
And he could feel it—the air around him had changed.
Everything was sharper than before.
His senses felt heightened, like he might even be able to hear sounds from far away.
He was in a cave.
It was his first time inside one.
Though it was fairly dark, even without a single speck of light, he could still make out the surroundings well enough.
No issue there.
Before he could get used to the cave’s atmosphere, a voice called out from behind him.
“What are you just standing there for like an idiot? You’ve got a job to do.”
It sounded like someone was talking to Haeyoung, so he turned around.
The chill that wrapped around his entire body, and the ominous energy emanating from deep within the gate’s cave made Haeyoung feel an overwhelming sense of reality.
It felt even more real than the world outside the gate.
As if this place was screaming that it wasn’t a dream.
That strangeness only made it more unsettling.
“Haeyoung. You’d better help us find the missing people. We lost more time today because you were so slow. Wouldn’t you feel guilty if they died because of that?”
“Ah…”
Haeyoung let out a small sigh at Choi Juhoon’s words.
He didn’t really think the others would die because of him.
But still, he did think they needed to find them.
Espers were supposed to do that kind of thing.
Haeyoung had just woken up in this body, so the idea of being an Esper didn’t feel real yet—but since he was here, he figured he should at least try.
“What do I need to do?”
He decided to think about everything else after they found the missing people and got out of the gate.
Inside, everyone probably had their own role to play.
Haeyoung tried to remember—what was Kang Haeyoung’s role in the novel?
But before the thought could surface, a sharp sound sliced through the air—like something piercing skin.
“What do you mean, what do you do? Why are you being so damn dumb today? Shit… Kang Haeyoung, what could you possibly do? You’re just bait. What, gonna try stealing someone’s power and use it to shoot something? Like anyone’s gonna just let you steal from them. Shut your mouth and play bait like you’re supposed to.”
Before Yoon Minjoon even finished his words, Haeyoung realized something had pierced through his abdomen.
Then, Lee Seungmin—standing next to Minjoon—clicked his tongue and grabbed the hem of Haeyoung’s shirt, using his ability without a word.
Unlike earlier, when he told Haeyoung to close his eyes, this time he said nothing at all.
The pain from his gut and the nauseating sensation that twisted his insides struck him at the same time.
He almost retched, but no one paid him the slightest attention.
They arrived in a massive open space so large that it felt impossible to believe it was part of a cave.
As soon as they entered, Lee Seungmin dropped Haeyoung right in the center.
The moment his butt hit the damp cave floor, a jolt of pain shot through him from his abdomen, making him furrow his brow.
Something hard—like a stone—was impaled through his stomach.
The difference was, unlike a stone, this thing was razor-sharp, as if deliberately carved.
“What the hell is this—!”
He turned to confront Lee Seungmin, but Seungmin had already moved far away.
And just then—a low, guttural growl echoed.
Growls. From all directions.
From within the pitch-black shadows, glowing eyes emerged—several pairs.
And Haeyoung realized… these weren’t just animals.
They were monsters.
“Ah…!”
Why hadn’t he remembered?
In this team, Kang Haeyoung’s role was—just like Minjoon said—bait.
A lure to draw the monsters inside the gate.
An Esper’s blood carried energy and wavelengths, making them the perfect attractant.
Monsters would eat normal people too, but what they craved most were Espers and Guides—those with powers.
The novel said that when monsters devoured them, not even a bone fragment was left behind.
“Hahh…!”
Haeyoung gasped for breath.
He couldn’t help it—dozens of grotesque, alien-looking monsters were clearly eyeing him.
His limbs shook.
But it didn’t feel like he was the one feeling that fear.
It was more like… Kang Haeyoung’s body was reacting on its own.
“Scared? Shit, you’re not gonna die. Why do you freak out every damn time? It’s pathetic.”
Boom! Crash!
Krrrghhh! Screeee! Skreeek!
At some point, Yoon Minjoon had moved farther away and now sneered at him.
Haeyoung glared back, his emotions boiling over—but Minjoon didn’t spare him a glance.
Like a child playing with a toy, he focused gleefully on firing his specially-made gun at the monsters.
Even amidst the chaos, the pain from Haeyoung’s bleeding abdomen made him wince.
Choi Juhoon and Lee Seungmin were nowhere to be seen.
Minjoon was handling the horde of monsters alone.
Haeyoung tried to pull out the sharp stone lodged in his abdomen.
His palms were shredded in the process, but it didn’t matter.
The stone wouldn’t budge—as if it had always been part of his body.
“Aaagh!”
A monster lunged at him.
Haeyoung screamed.
Minjoon responded with a casual, “Oops,” in a teasing tone.
Just as the monster opened its gaping maw to swallow him whole, a gunshot rang out.
Bang!
The monster shattered into pieces right in front of Haeyoung’s eyes.
Bits of its flesh rained down on him.
The stench was indescribable—so foul it nearly made him gag.
“Ugh. What a mess.”
Minjoon wrinkled his nose at the sight of Haeyoung, now drenched in monster guts.
Muttering something about how the stench might be masking the scent of blood, he walked over and sniffed him.
Haeyoung, still in a complete panic, couldn’t comprehend what he was doing.
Minjoon tilted his head, then flicked his finger.
“Aaagh! Agh, it hurts…!”
“Of course it does. But you’re not dying. You’ve done this fine before—why are you being such a baby today? You begged us to give you something to do, didn’t you? Then shut your mouth and take it. I don’t want to hear pig-screams. My ears are already ringing.”
Another sharp stone—about the same size—was now embedded in his left thigh.
Haeyoung groaned in pain as Minjoon frowned like he wanted nothing more than to sew his mouth shut.
Haeyoung tried to pull it out, but like the one in his gut, it wouldn’t budge.
Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring his vision—but the pain was crystal clear.
There was no way this was a dream.
He’d never had a dream that felt this real.
He’d never heard of a dream this vivid.
This wasn’t a dream. That much was certain.
He hadn’t wanted to learn the truth this way.
Groans of pain slipped out between his clenched teeth, beyond his control.
* * *
Such disgusting people.