“If you’ve seen enough, let’s get going. It’s starting to get boring.”
As Rohan gently brushed Banteon’s cheek with the back of his hand, a chill rippled through the skin where they touched.
“Get away from him!”
Baiheron, who had been rushing over from behind, suddenly froze as if his ankles were glued to the ground. Judging by the look of surprise on his face as he glanced down, it wasn’t something he intended. Rohan had restrained him with telekinesis. The fabric of Baiheron’s pants crumpled and tightened around his legs as if gripped by invisible hands. Was it even possible to so effortlessly block the actions of an S-Rank Esper? Banteon swallowed hard at the precise, graceful control used just to immobilize his feet, without even a hint of strain.
Realizing once again that Rohan might not even be human sent another shiver down his spine. He resisted the urge to back away, choosing instead to stand firm. Seeing that, the sly curl of Rohan’s lips deepened.
“That’s more like it. It wouldn’t be any fun if you ran.”
They had believed themselves thoroughly prepared. Every capable Esper had been mobilized, and within a week, devices to defend against brainwashing had been developed and distributed. As expected, Rohan’s mind control had no effect, and others were able to see him normally.
The problem wasn’t a lack of preparation—it was that Rohan’s power far exceeded their expectations. Even if Delroz had been there, the outcome would’ve been uncertain. How many beings in this world could subdue a squad including S-Rank Espers by sheer presence alone?
Banteon clenched his jaw, his face drained of all color.
“You’ll like it too. It’s a quiet, comfortable place.”
When Rohan tugged on his arm, Banteon couldn’t resist. Even though he wasn’t being controlled, his stiffened body moved as Rohan led. He tried to summon strength as Rohan slowly lifted him into an embrace, but his limbs refused to cooperate.
Where was he being taken? If he let himself be dragged away by someone who had just tried to kidnap him for Guiding, what would happen to him next? The unfamiliar sense of helplessness tightened around his throat like a noose.
His hands turned cold from the terror of being left alone with someone—something—that might not even be human, someone completely impervious to attack. He tried to push Rohan away with his pallid fingers, but all he managed was a feeble, trembling resistance.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you. Not yet, anyway.”
Rohan’s advancing hand suddenly stopped. It hovered in midair as if suspended in an invisible net, and Banteon alone could see the thin red aura coiling around it like tangled threads. Following those threads, his eyes landed on a familiar figure standing silently in the distance.
Taller than most by a head, the lean form began to approach. Beyond the glare, Banteon saw short black hair swaying gently amid the red aura like it was dancing in the wind.
It had only been a few days, but under the intense lighting and moonlit sky, the person’s features were cloaked in shadow, making it hard to discern his expression. His jaw, sharper than before, moved slowly, and then he turned his head.
“Funny, there was no intel about this. Since I’m already here, should I say hello? First time we’re seeing each other properly, isn’t it?”
Rohan casually twisted his immobilized wrist to free it and greeted Delroz like an old friend. Despite the easy tone, Delroz—who had been walking forward with a dark expression—furrowed his brow.
“I don’t think this is a welcome reunion.”
Rohan just smiled at Delroz’s cold attitude, unbothered.
“We both knew we’d clash eventually. After all, we’re after the same thing.”
At those words, Delroz’s already shadowed aura turned even more violent. Without replying, he raised both hands. His forearms rotated with a cracking sound, fists clenched as if ready to leap at Rohan at any second.
Banteon, barely freed from the choking tension, stared at Delroz with his pale face. Delroz cast him a brief glance, expression unreadable, before turning his attention away again.
Their eyes had only met for a moment, but in that fleeting second, Delroz’s gaze was as sunken and colorless as Banteon’s own. Gone was the familiar depth with which he usually looked at Banteon, and gone too was the fierce, accusing glare he’d given him the last time they were together. Banteon clenched his fist at the sight of those unreadable eyes.
Petern, panting as he finally caught up, stepped in front of Banteon and bowed hastily.
“Stay behind me.”
“Please go easy. Just… a little. If everything gets destroyed, I’ll be in real trouble too.”
Delroz didn’t bother responding. He simply rolled up his sleeves and walked forward. The moment Rohan’s smile disappeared and his expression turned grim, the ground erupted with a thunderous boom—and both figures vanished from Banteon’s sight.
The grass where they had been standing moments ago was now a deep crater of blackened earth. Nearby trees had been uprooted, their leaves shooting into the sky.
“I said go easy. Aish… This way, please.”
As Petern gestured, Banteon followed, and Baiheron—now freed from his restraint—hurried over.
“Hyung, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine.”
“Thank god. It was a smart move keeping that guy hidden as a last resort, but come on—you didn’t even tell your only little brother? I thought something really terrible had happened!”
Baiheron was mistaken. Banteon hadn’t called for Delroz. When he first received the letter, his instinct had been to bring Delroz along—but it hadn’t been the right time to say so.
After all, he had pushed Delroz away, coldly labeling their bond a mere transaction. It had only been a few days since that, and he couldn’t shamelessly turn around and ask for help. He’d wanted to believe he could prepare for this on his own.
He’d been wrong.
With a bitter heart, Banteon looked toward the sky where the two figures clashed. Massive boulders shattered like glass, shards flying everywhere. Trees were uprooted and sent soaring.
“The Captain will take care of this. But for now, let’s get to a safer spot, shall we? If anything happens to you, Young Master, I’m as good as dead.”
Petern, stepping between them, pointed in the opposite direction. As they descended the hill, an explosion rang out from the other side, drawing their attention. Though the combatants themselves were invisible, the exploding dirt and rocks made it clear—they were in the heart of a battlefield.
The other Royal Esper Center agents scattered quickly to avoid the shockwave as they gathered the wounded. Every spot they left behind was gouged deep into the ground, and massive trees had been felled.
“Well, I don’t think we need to worry too much. For now… it looks like we’ve got the upper hand. They’re not coming this way.”
Baiheron shaded his eyes with a hand and looked into the distance.
“Can you see clearly?”
“Not really. I’m barely managing to follow along. This is a first for me—it’s kind of thrilling. Is he always this intense?”
At the mention that even with S-Rank Esper eyesight, Baiheron could only just keep track of their movements, Petern clicked his tongue in amazement beside him.
“He’s extremely pissed off this time. Didn’t say a single word the whole way here—I thought my spine was going to freeze and shatter.”
“When did you get here?”
“Ah…”
Petern glanced toward the battlefield where Delroz was fighting, then scratched the back of his head before answering.
“Technically, it was supposed to be a secret… but we were already on standby on the opposite side while the Espers stationed themselves underground.”
“And you’re just casually telling us that even though it was a secret?”
At Baiheron’s skeptical remark, Petern gave a sheepish grin, eyes curving with mock innocence.
“Come on, our Captain would die if the Young Master said so. Would telling you this really be a problem? Making the Young Master upset would be way more dangerous.”
“Oho~.”
Baiheron whistled at the embarrassing response.
“Hyung, you’re loved.”
“Can you please cut it out with the way you talk?”
Delroz, the one known for the roughest mouth in the entire Center, turning quiet was already strange—but the real problem was the younger brother right next to him. Banteon had always tried to be understanding, blaming Delroz’s nature on his upbringing, but how in the world had Baiheron—who had been so well-mannered as a child—ended up like this? Even now, he couldn’t make sense of it and rubbed his forehead in frustration.
He debated whether he should criticize Baiheron’s tone or the content of what he said, then made up his mind. No point in bringing it up a hundred times—he wasn’t the kind to change how he talked anyway.
“It’s not like that. You know how Espers tend to have a fondness for Guides they’re matched with. You’re an Esper too, you should know better than me.”
“I don’t.”
“Neither do I.”
Their curt responses came out in perfect unison.
“There’s no reason to dote on a temporary Guide who isn’t even an official match. Don’t you remember, hyung? Before I found my current Guide, I went through so many temp matches I’d need more than two hands to count them.”
“I’ve also already submitted a request to change mine. Just because the match rate is high doesn’t mean the Guide’s a good fit.”
Baiheron shook both hands in firm denial, his tone turning slightly aggrieved.
“Sure, Espers tend to be nicer to Guides than to other Espers, but no one bends over backward like that, not even close!”
“Exactly. You don’t know how foul our Captain’s personality is.”
Petern shamelessly joined in badmouthing his superior, but Banteon turned to his brother instead. He asked calmly, unmoved by Baiheron’s genuine frustration.
“And how exactly would you know whether Delroz is holding back his personality or not?”
“How could I not know? The way he looks at you is completely different from when he looks at me.”
Baiheron gave a little shiver and shook his head.
“Even from a distance, just watching him walk up gave me chills. I thought today was the anniversary of our dead parents or something. But then the moment his eyes landed on you, he just… softened.”
“……”
“I swear, it was so intense, I almost thought I was watching two star-crossed lovers being reunited after a forced separation. It gave me the jitters. You seriously didn’t feel anything?”
“Not really…”
“You’re so dense.”
