Goal: Removing the First Obstacle (14)
Sa Hae-geon was left speechless at the devastating scene that was almost unbearable to witness. He had privately thought that eliminating illegal organizations would be easier than facing monsters, but he was mistaken. Humans were more cruel and heartless than monsters. To think they would try to dispose of their own allies so easily.
Although they were enemies who needed to be dealt with, the Espers who had been abandoned by Shin Woo-jun and faced death appeared pitiful to Sa Hae-geon. However, it seemed Hwang Ji-hyun saw things differently.
“They brought it on themselves. They chose to be on the same boat knowing what kind of jerk he was.”
The Espers who were backed almost against the wall after frantically running from the fire closed their mouths tightly at Hwang Ji-hyun’s scathing criticism. They glanced at Shin Woo-jun, who was looking at them as if they were insects, and clenched their fists tightly. They already knew that Shin Woo-jun’s methods were incredibly cruel, but to mercilessly try to kill his own allies just because they hindered his plans…
Despite being from the Center, Shin Woo-jun had been someone who understood the hardships and unfairness experienced by unaffiliated Espers. His behavior seemed slightly at odds with rumors about him being tyrannical and selfish, so they had believed him when he claimed he had been unjustly imprisoned because of his paired Guide. But to backstab his allies like this just for his own sake…
Filled with a sense of betrayal, several Espers glared at Shin Woo-jun. Standing nonchalantly despite their stares, Shin Woo-jun soon warned them in an irritated voice.
“This is fucking annoying, so stop looking at me with those eyes.”
The Espers flinched and gripped their fists at Shin Woo-jun’s fierce expression. Hwang Ji-hyun frowned in frustration as they still couldn’t muster courage even though the situation had escalated this far. However, she didn’t bother to add anything.
An Jong-hyeok took advantage of Shin Woo-jun’s attention being diverted elsewhere and created a large flame behind him. Shin Woo-jun burst into a hollow laugh and remarked in admiration.
“Ha, fuck… Well. Look at our Team Leader An’s manners. No, wait. Is this what makes him a team leader? The team leader really is different. Is this why they say not to be complacent with the present?”
Shin Woo-jun sneered as he said this and threw the flame An Jong-hyeok had created toward the wall behind him. The flame that met the concrete wall seemed to flare up momentarily before it was instantly extinguished by An Jong-hyeok. It was obvious what would have happened to the wall made of concrete and rebar if the flames had not disappeared.
Shin Woo-jun shrugged as he looked at An Jong-hyeok who, unlike before, was maintaining his composure well despite having reason to be anxious about not giving away any openings. In truth, it was Shin Woo-jun who was becoming more anxious as time passed. This was because he had been forced to use more power than expected.
Normally, to achieve maximum efficiency with minimal force, he would make the wind’s range very small and throw it like a shuriken. But An Jong-hyeok had always sent large fireballs, too big for something like shurikens to be effective, which inevitably forced Shin Woo-jun to make widespread attacks.
If this continued, he might lose control of his reason and go berserk. Even the Guides who had served their purpose seemed to have sided with An Jong-hyeok. Those bat-like bastards. He couldn’t understand why Guides were always like that. Did they enjoy weighing options between Espers that much? Just look at Jeon Ju-hwan. If that bastard had been straightforward and stayed by his side, it wouldn’t have come to this.
It seemed best to leave the building when he got the chance. Although he’d talked about finishing this, even An Jong-hyeok wouldn’t want their final confrontation to be in a shabby abandoned building like this.
Shin Woo-jun glanced at the earthen wall covering the open window and spoke.
“But Team Leader An’s attacks are predictable and boring. No improvement at all?”
As he said this, Shin Woo-jun was getting closer to the window. Pretending not to notice everyone’s gaze on him, he continued speaking.
“And dying because you’re not capable enough is a common thing in this field, isn’t it? I don’t understand why these bastards who’ve seen it all are whining at me.”
When Shin Woo-jun’s cold gaze turned toward the Espers, the assault team, sensing danger, twitched as if about to leap forward at any moment. Shin Woo-jun was planning to use exactly that. He deliberately shot a sharply honed wind toward the two Guides being protected by Lee Cheol-min and the allied Espers who were watching him.
Lee Cheol-min frowned and deployed a large shield in response. Shin Woo-jun tried to use that opportunity to escape through the window, but the quick-witted Sa Hae-geon blocked the exit by launching a tightly woven net made of water streams.
Shin Woo-jun’s brow furrowed mercilessly as his plan was thwarted in an instant. He turned his head to glare at Sa Hae-geon who had stopped him. He was even more enraged because he hadn’t expected the rookie to display such resourcefulness. But he couldn’t rashly use his power either.
“I may be in a bad state because I can’t receive Guiding, but do you think I’d struggle against a rookie like you? Team Leader An’s strategies are always predictable. Well, I like that about them though.”
Shin Woo-jun surveyed An Jong-hyeok’s expression, which seemed to be waiting for him to reach his limit. He couldn’t fail to notice the look in his eyes that wished for his downfall and rampage, despite pretending otherwise. He twisted up one corner of his mouth. Thinking that he would absolutely not go berserk in front of him, and that he would be the final victor.
A barrier of fire began to form around Shin Woo-jun like a fence. He couldn’t hold back his mocking laughter as he watched An Jong-hyeok safely using his ability from inside Lee Cheol-min’s shield.
“Ha! What a cowardly sight.”
It was truly laughable. When he should be confronting him head-on, he was hiding behind protection like a rat. Shin Woo-jun looked with lowered eyes at the high flames surrounding him like a cage, then clenched his fist. Although it would have been better to reduce his ability usage from now on, he wanted to somehow land a blow on An Jong-hyeok, who was engaging in such nonsense.
Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to deal with all of them with one overwhelming attack? It suited his temperament better to clear away obstacles with a decisive attack rather than conserving power while looking for a chance to escape.
The wind began to blow gently around Shin Woo-jun. He raised a strong gust to push back the flames that completely blocked his vision to the opposite side. With a sound that could tear one’s ears, the flames retreated rapidly and soon approached right in front of Lee Cheol-min’s shield.
An Jong-hyeok immediately extinguished the flames that hit the shield, but he couldn’t do anything about the wind controlled by Shin Woo-jun. The same was true for Lee Seong-rok, who could use the same ability. Lee Seong-rok, who had stepped forward to try to make Shin Woo-jun’s wind his own and stop it, was frustrated as he keenly felt the difference between A-rank and S-rank.
Even without proper Guiding, Shin Woo-jun was an S-rank Esper. That also meant that an A-rank Esper’s power couldn’t do anything about Shin Woo-jun’s wind. He had attempted it thinking the control might shift to him due to the unstable wavelength, but he had failed miserably.
The sharp wind whirled as if it would cut through Lee Cheol-min’s shield at any moment. Lee Cheol-min, who had deployed the shield, could vaguely sense it. The fact that Shin Woo-jun wasn’t drawing out all his power right now.
If the wind became just a little stronger here, the shield would waver. Lee Cheol-min gritted his teeth and struggled to maintain the shield. And at that moment, a shield made of water created by Sa Hae-geon spread out as if drawn over Lee Cheol-min’s shield.
Seeing this sight, Shin Woo-jun’s pupils dilated slightly. Soon, Shin Woo-jun let out a hollow laugh and muttered.
“…Ha, the situation is turning out quite interesting.”
* * *
[458519] Hmm, are Espers fighting in my neighborhood? [12]
Author: Anonymous &
There are a lot of abandoned buildings in my neighborhood that have been neglected for a long time. It’s a place where they stopped building apartments due to bankruptcy.
Anyway, it’s been a bit noisy for a while now, so I just thought kids were sneaking there to smoke.
But today it was pretty bad… It was really loud, and when I looked, there were large walls made of earth(?) appearing, and I could hear fighting sounds really loudly.
I think Espers are fighting there, but should I report it to the police…? I’m scared they might harm me later, so I’m worried…
[12 Comments]
Anonymous &. 1 – Why bother? Just leave them be. If they’re Espers, they’ll resolve it themselves.
⤷ Author – I guess you’re right…?
⤷ Anonymous &. 1 – Yeah, what’s the point of calling the police? The police can’t stop Espers.
⤷ Author – Oh, I hadn’t thought of that… But if I later hear someone died because of this, I’ll feel guilty…
⤷ Anonymous &. 1 – Then just report it to the Ability Department. Though they’re really busy with S-rank dungeons these days, so I don’t know if they’ll resolve it, but at least make the call.
⤷ Author – I’ll do that… I’m too anxious. Thanks for the comment!
Anonymous &. 2 – Is it resolved? I saw your post late… I’m curious, please update later.
⤷ Author – Um… can I really say it’s resolved?… They said they’re from the Center!
⤷ Anonymous &. 2 – ?? The Center?? Don’t tell me your neighborhood is Jaeshim-dong????
⤷ Author – Wow, how did you know?
⤷ Anonymous &. 2 – Don’t you watch the news..? That’s where S[hin] Woo-jun made his hideout…
⤷ Author – Hmm…? Such a thing happened in my neighborhood…? I’ve been working overtime so much that I don’t even know what’s going on in the world… Thanks for the comment…
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
