After discussing the leader of Black, the two of them had gone to see the Association President. They suspected there might be some kind of hidden connection between him and the leader of Black.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The Association President was more shameless than they had expected. He maintained a picture-perfect smile the entire time they explained their suspicions.
Yu Je-hyun, having lost all composure, tried to lunge at the Association President, but Kang Min overpowered him with force. In a situation like this, internal conflict would only benefit the leader of Black the most.
Even if there was a stench of corruption coming from the Association President, taking him down without solid evidence would be like cutting off one’s own limbs.
Yu Je-hyun was overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness he had never experienced before. Ever since awakening as an S-rank Esper, his life had been simple.
He’d always lived however he pleased, and once he gained power that no one dared to challenge, life had become smooth sailing.
But after realizing his feelings for Lee Haru, nothing had come easily.
Winning Haru’s heart, protecting him—none of it.
He hadn’t even properly confessed yet. What had happened just moments ago felt like a dream. The heat that had gradually melted into pleasure in his arms was still vivid, and yet he couldn’t believe there was no way to save him.
“…Where is Ji Yeon-woo right now?”
“What are you thinking?”
Sensing something off, Kang Min stepped in front of Yu Je-hyun. Yu Je-hyun met his gaze without flinching and let out a dry chuckle.
“We need to catch the leader of Black, but we still haven’t figured out where he is. So we have to make him come to us. Ji Yeon-woo is his Guide, right? Before it’s too late, we need to use him. That bastard wouldn’t want to lose his Guide either.”
“You…”
He tried to stop him, but Yu Je-hyun’s eyes were already deranged. Honestly, considering his temperament, it was impressive that he had held it together this long.
Whether or not Lee Haru had truly appeared before him, one thing was certain: Yu Je-hyun’s mental state was dangerously unstable.
And Kang Min had to admit it. Without using Ji Yeon-woo, there was no way to break through this situation.
“Besides, Ji Yeon-woo said himself that he wanted to help. So don’t try to stop me. I seriously feel like I’m going to lose my mind.”
Yu Je-hyun’s grip on Kang Min’s shoulder tightened. It was clear he would not hesitate to fight if he kept trying to stop him.
Kang Min let out a deep sigh. He turned his back and left the room first. The two of them had returned to the mansion briefly for some rest.
It was Kang Min who had forced Yu Je-hyun into a room, saying rest was necessary—even though Yu Je-hyun had insisted on continuing the search for Lee Haru.
Hong Seong-jun was also moving independently, but since he wasn’t pushing himself to the point of harm like Yu Je-hyun, Kang Min had let him be.
They had brought Ji Yeon-woo along on their way to the mansion. When Kang Min had gone to check on him, Ji Yeon-woo had desperately asked to be taken with them.
He had seemed so cornered, emotionally, that Kang Min couldn’t bring himself to say no. Ji Yeon-woo was now in a room on the first floor.
He knocked on the door, and after a faint sound of movement from within, it soon opened.
“Guide Ji Yeon-woo, I have something to ask of you.”
Kang Min spoke first before Yu Je-hyun could open his mouth. He figured it was better for him to explain rather than to let Yu Je-hyun, who had lost his grip on reason, do the talking.
Ji Yeon-woo met Kang Min’s eyes and gave a small nod.
“If it’s something that can help Haru hyung, I’ll do anything.”
Ji Yeon-woo had already guessed, to some extent, what Kang Min would ask of him. The idea of facing Zero again was terrifying, but doing nothing and waiting in agony felt like hell.
“We think we need to use you to lure out the leader of Black.”
“I figured as much.”
Despite the Association mobilizing all its forces, Lee Haru’s whereabouts were still completely unknown.
Ji Yeon-woo didn’t believe the leader of Black had given up on him either. What he still didn’t understand was why that man hadn’t taken him that day—and had taken Lee Haru instead.
Then he recalled how their Guiding efficiency had been steadily declining lately.
In the past, even an hour of Guiding was enough to stabilize him. But over time, the duration needed had kept increasing.
During the last Guiding session, just before Lee Haru had been taken, there hadn’t even been any noticeable effect.
It’s because of me.
When he realized that Lee Haru had been taken in his place because his own Guiding wasn’t effective anymore, he cried more than he ever had.
It felt like his misfortune had spread to someone who’d been doing just fine. He had pleaded to be allowed to help somehow, but his voice had always been ignored.
But now, finally, Kang Min was asking him for help. Seeing the hardened resolve in Ji Yeon-woo’s eyes, Kang Min felt some of his worry ease.
“What are you waiting for? If you’ve made up your mind, then move.”
The most desperate of the three was Yu Je-hyun. His urgent tone made it clear he feared either Kang Min or Ji Yeon-woo might change their minds.
“What do I need to do?”
Ji Yeon-woo stepped forward. With the resolve he had now, there was nothing he couldn’t do.
***
“It’s a tracker in pill form. It can last inside your body for at least a week.”
Ji Yeon-woo lifted his right hand and rubbed near the pit of his stomach. The pill Kang Min had given him, containing the tracker, looked just like any regular medication.
Once it went down his throat, he barely felt a thing. It was strange, knowing there was a tracker floating around inside his stomach.
“You could be in danger if you stay outside too long.”
“…Just a little longer. I’ve been stuck inside all day, and it’s too suffocating.”
Ji Yeon-woo was currently walking along a trail within the Association Headquarters grounds. Kang Min and Yu Je-hyun were carrying out a search operation elsewhere.
Since the presence of S-rank Espers near Ji Yeon-woo would lower the chances of the leader of Black showing up, Kang Min had used him to set a trap.
The Association President and the Esper Center Director were also inside the Association building, but following Kang Min’s advice, Ji Yeon-woo had used the excuse of needing air to deliberately move toward the outer perimeter.
Three A-rank Espers were assigned to escort him. The Association President and the Esper Center Director had deemed that sufficient. They were confident that even if the leader of Black did appear, they would be able to stop him.
They had determined that as long as the escort team triggered an emergency alert, it would be enough time for the others to act.
Is he not showing up today…?
It had already been two hours since he started walking. Ji Yeon-woo discreetly wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, the dull ache in his legs throbbing. His forehead was drenched in cold sweat.
Thankfully, the Espers were following him at a slight distance.
This operation was known only to Ji Yeon-woo, Kang Min, and Yu Je-hyun. They had made the call knowing full well that if the Association President found out, he would never approve.
Haru hyung, just hang on a little longer.
Ji Yeon-woo firmly believed that Lee Haru was still alive. He had no intention of giving up hope unless he saw the body with his own eyes.
If Haru were an Esper, maybe it would be different, but since he was a Guide, the leader of Black would definitely keep him alive.
Thud—
The disruption came out of nowhere. A sound like something dropping made Ji Yeon-woo turn his head.
A pitch-black cloth blocked his view. A familiar scent brushed past his nose, and Ji Yeon-woo immediately realized the operation had succeeded.
“Take a nap.”
His eyes flew open at the voice, but the drowsiness that flooded him gave him no time to resist. How long had he been out?
Ji Yeon-woo jolted awake, a chilling sensation prickling across his skin.
“Haru hyung…!”
His voice echoed hollowly around the room. Realizing he was lying on a massive bed, Ji Yeon-woo threw off the blanket.
He was wearing the same clothes as before he passed out. Only his shoes had vanished, nowhere to be seen.
He climbed off the bed and scanned the room. There were two doors inside. He went for the closer one first and opened it.
A wave of humid air flowed out. It was just a space with a shower booth, a sink, and a toilet. He quickly shut the door.
Only one door remained. He headed straight for it and turned the handle. But it just rattled—locked tight.
“Haru hyung! Are you in there?!”
He banged on the door, desperately calling out to Lee Haru. Had it been a mistake to assume he would be brought to the same place as Haru?
The moment he woke alone in that spacious room, a sense of foreboding overwhelmed him.
Something was wrong. Even as he pounded the door until his hand swelled and kept calling Haru’s name, nothing but silence came from the other side. His heart pounded faster and faster.
“Hyung, please…”
If they were in separate places, then his role as bait would have meant nothing.
