“I really thought I was gonna die…”
“For it to be this bad from the start… think we’ll be okay?”
“Well, the deeper we go, the fewer monsters there’ll be, right? So it should get better.”
After the first battle, the Espers, utterly drained, returned one by one to receive guiding.
They had entered with a decent level of tension, but the actual start had been far more intense than expected.
Even though the raid team was composed mainly of S-rank and A-rank members, the fight had felt like a boss battle right out the gate. That alone made it clear how brutal the journey ahead would be.
“Still, I’m glad we’re all together. If even one of us had been missing, seriously… whew.”
“Especially if it hadn’t been for Rion-sunbae, we would’ve been screwed. I really thought I was gonna die.”
“That’s not something to brag about. Get your head in the game.”
“And you? Lee Joo-chan, I saw you about to cry earlier, don’t even try to deny it.”
“What are you talking about?!”
Seo-ha and Joo-chan started bickering again, unclear whether their lack of thought was a blessing or a curse.
“Do they ever get tired?”
“Having at least one person acting like normal is kind of comforting. Just let them be.”
But the expressions of the others watching were different from usual. They were all likely thinking the same thing.
It wasn’t unbearable yet, but the closer they got to the boss, the stronger the monsters were bound to get.
And the fact that it was only just the beginning—and they already felt this worn out—made it impossible not to worry about what tomorrow would bring.
If there was one comforting thing, it was that they had Rion. He alone pulled more than his share and had a wide area of coverage.
“Once guiding’s done, I’ll scout the perimeter. If I go too deep, I might provoke the monsters, so I’ll just check the outer zone.”
“You sure you can go alone?”
“Yeah. I’ll fly—it’s faster that way.”
Rion spoke to Hyeon-seo while receiving guiding from Yu-won. A visible look of relief crossed her face.
“Okay. Just don’t push yourself too hard. If you feel even a little off, come back right away. You looked a bit dizzy earlier.”
“I’m good now, after the guiding.”
“You think guiding is like a full battery recharge or something? It’s not a system reset.”
Yu-won spoke in a quiet voice. And he wasn’t wrong.
Guiding had its limits. No matter how much of it you received, if you didn’t get proper rest, the fatigue would pile up, and your stamina would continue to drain.
“Hey, hey. Cut it out. I really don’t want to argue with you out here. Say one more word and I’m going to Jin-ha for guiding instead.”
Rion raised a hand—his non-guided one—to gesture for Yu-won to zip it, and Yu-won finally held his tongue.
As frustrating as it was to see Rion constantly pushing himself, Yu-won knew there wasn’t much of a choice this time.
“Then be careful out there.”
“…Huh?”
Did I hear that right? Rion blinked, doubting his ears. Between yesterday’s interview and this—Yu-won was saying things completely out of character.
Maybe it’s because this is an S-rank Gate, and even he doesn’t want to be out here fighting.
Rion eyed Yu-won suspiciously. Yu-won, clearly aware that his words didn’t suit him, kept his expression neutral but couldn’t quite meet Rion’s gaze.
“Yeah. Be careful. And if anything happens, don’t try to handle it alone—come straight back.”
“I’ll be quick.”
Still, there was no time to dig into every little thing Yu-won did. Rion pushed aside his complicated thoughts for later and left for the scout mission.
***
“I really think I’m gonna die…”
And just like that, time passed. By the following evening—barely a day and a half later—fatigue was plastered all over the team’s faces.
The Espers had poured even more strength into this battle than the last, and the toll it took was visible. Some even looked like they were spiraling into self-doubt.
“I mean, I’m still technically an A-rank Esper and never really got in the way… but I’ve never felt this useless in my life.”
“Same. Normally, the monsters you see in the early stages go down in one hit, but these keep getting up unless you finish them off multiple times. It’s nerve-wracking.”
Everyone had gone in agreeing not to be pessimistic, but barely two days in, that resolve had already crumbled.
The only ones who still seemed mentally stable were Tae-hwan and Rion.
“Hey, you still did fine. When I was active, things were even more of a mess than this.”
“Sunbae…”
Joo-chan looked up at Tae-hwan, eyes glossy like he might cry.
“I think I’m falling for you.”
“I’m a married man, kid. Rein it in.”
“Sunbae…”
Ignoring Tae-hwan’s warning, Joo-chan clung to his leg. Tae-hwan looked annoyed but didn’t bother shaking him off.
“Look, if you go in thinking it’s hopeless, then of course it’s not gonna work out.”
“If Rion-sunbae hadn’t been here, I’d be flat on the ground somewhere. I bet he took out half of them today too.”
“I’m just doing what I can, that’s all.”
Rion casually clamped a hand over Joo-chan’s mouth before he could hype him up any more. Just like he said, Rion had once again acted as the pillar of the team, eliminating nearly half the monsters.
“You don’t even look tired. Seriously, you’re amazing.”
“You must not be that tired if you’re running your mouth this much. You’re on night watch duty tonight.”
“…!”
Joo-chan looked like his world had just collapsed as he stared at Rion. Rion ignored him and choked down the combat rations set aside for dinner.
“If you guys get anxious, the Guides get even more anxious.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m okay.”
“You only care about Su-jin-sunbae anyway…”
“Do not.”
Min-ho gave Joo-chan a light smack on the head. He was Su-jin’s pair and her boyfriend, so he was clearly worried, but still tried to wave it off.
“With Rion around, what’s there to worry about?”
“True. Su-jin-sunbae almost got hurt earlier too, but Rion-sunbae…”
“What?”
Min-ho cut Joo-chan off and bolted toward Su-jin. Joo-chan muttered sheepishly, watching him go.
“I was gonna say he saved her so she didn’t get hurt at all…”
“The thing about night watch—that was a joke. One Esper, one Guide. We’re doing it in pairs, remember? Who’s on Guide duty tonight?”
“Uh… probably Yu-won.”
Joo-chan looked toward the group of Guides chatting together. The night watch rotated every rest period, pairing one Guide with one Esper. Tonight, it seemed to be Yu-won’s turn.
“If anything happens, wake us immediately.”
“Got it.”
Joo-chan nodded. And so, the second night slowly came to an end.
***
“Yu-won-ssi… I’m so sleepy.”
A little while later, only the two on watch were awake, their voices echoing softly through the quiet forest.
Joo-chan, yawning nonstop and clearly struggling to stay awake, slumped forward and mumbled.
“If I take night watch today, I won’t have to do it again until we’re out, right…? Ah, wait, since there are fewer Guides, maybe it’ll come back around once more…”
“I’m fine. It’s not like I fought like the Espers did.”
“Still, just being in a place like this is exhausting. I saw Han Seo-ha crying in secret earlier. And honestly, I got it. I almost cried too, but I held it in ‘cause I was scared someone might hear.”
“…Everyone must be struggling a lot.”
“I mean, most of us would be considered core members on any regular Gate raid team, but here… just holding our own feels like a challenge. I screw up all the time anyway, so I guess I’m used to it, but it looks like the people who normally do well are taking it the hardest. Well—except for Rion-sunbae.”
Joo-chan mumbled, eyes half-closed.
“Sunbae’s still killing it here. Actually, with the setup, he seems to be soaring even higher than usual.”
“Really? Doesn’t seem like he’s come back hurt.”
“If anything, I think he’s even more impressive now, maybe because he doesn’t have to hold back as much. I’ve seen him fight in a Gate a few times and I swear, I almost fell for him.”
“You must really admire him.”
Joo-chan’s eyes were fully closed now, but his mouth was still going.
“Of course I do. Who at the Center doesn’t look up to Rion-sunbae? He’s incredible… But even with that kind of power, I don’t think I’d be able to live like he does. Maybe that’s why… sometimes, I kind of get what you’re saying, Yu-won-ssi…”
But his stamina must’ve finally run out—he couldn’t even finish the sentence before dozing off completely.
Yu-won softly called his name a few times, trying to wake him. Then, deciding to let him be for a bit, he went quiet, hoping nothing would happen.
Silence wrapped around Yu-won. Everyone was in deep sleep from exhaustion, their quiet breaths the only sound.
Sniff, hic…
Or so it had been—until someone started sniffling.
Yu-won wandered between tents, tracking the faint sound.
When he found the source, he hesitated in silence for a moment, then slowly unzipped the tent.
Hic, sob…
The crying was coming from the tent he shared with Rion.
And since Yu-won was currently on night watch—there could be only one person inside.
