He could understand why the Espers reacted the way they did. He just had no intention of answering any of their questions.
The last thing he wanted was for Lee Haru to become the center of attention again. All he cared about was getting Haru—who had collapsed trying to Guide him—somewhere safe.
His own blood had soaked into Haru, leaving Haru’s body stained red as well.
Just thinking about changing him into clean clothes and staying by his side until he woke up made his heart flutter with a quiet thrill.
But the moment he saw Kang Min standing there, expressionless as ever, that warmth cooled off considerably.
“Why are you standing there like some Confucian statue, Team Leader?”
Still cradling Lee Haru in his arms, Yu Je-hyun approached Kang Min. Kang Min’s gaze flicked from Yu Je-hyun’s face to the faintly visible features of the unconscious Haru.
So it hadn’t been a misunderstanding.
Yu Je-hyun’s brow twitched slightly. Something was off with Kang Min.
True, Kang Min’s demeanor toward Haru had started shifting a while ago, but it had always seemed like basic courtesy—a Guide offering Guiding deserved respect.
But now, his eyes had changed. The feeling wasn’t as strong as his own, but there was no denying it—Kang Min had taken an interest in Haru.
He could tell just from the way the man’s gaze lingered on his arms wrapped tightly around Haru, as if it bothered him.
It was something only someone with the same feelings could pick up on. Everyone else standing around gawking like it was some kind of show probably still thought Kang Min was acting like usual.
That thought stirred a flicker of unease in Yu Je-hyun. Not anymore, but in the past, Haru had definitely held special feelings for Kang Min.
Anyone who had spent a long time near Haru would have picked up on it, even just vaguely.
Yu Je-hyun had been with both Haru and Kang Min more than anyone, so he’d caught on quickly.
Back then, it had only annoyed him—he couldn’t understand how Haru could cling to him while still liking Kang Min.
But once his own feelings changed, Kang Min became someone he couldn’t afford to ignore.
If Kang Min kept drawing the same hard lines like he always had, fine. But if he ever started recognizing his emotions and treating Haru with kindness… there was every chance Haru’s heart could waver.
The urge to get out of here grew stronger. The stares from all directions, like people watching animals at the zoo, grated on him. If he stayed much longer, he might end up saying things to Kang Min he would regret.
“I’m heading to the hospital first. You handle things here for me, Team Leader.”
The once peaceful park where Seoul’s citizens had gone about their daily lives now looked like a wasteland. More than half the trees had been ripped up by the roots or snapped in two.
It was all a result of the battle between Yu Je-hyun, Black’s leader, and Hong Seong-jun.
“…Oh, right.”
The moment Hong Seong-jun came to mind, Yu Je-hyun remembered why he’d been on the brink of death. The memory had slipped his mind, distracted as he was by Haru kissing him the moment he regained consciousness.
He let out a long sigh. This wasn’t something he could talk about with just anyone. The only person he could trust and talk to right now was Kang Min.
“Forget the cleanup. Come with me. Let’s talk in the car. You don’t even know why I ended up like this.”
There wasn’t much left to do here anyway—just keep civilians away and collect any remaining traces.
They needed those traces to track down Black’s leader, who had already vanished. Even without Kang Min, there were at least three people within view who were more than capable of handling it.
“…Alright.”
Kang Min agreed and turned to walk toward the next most senior Esper on the scene.
They also needed to keep the others quiet. Yu Je-hyun planned to report Haru’s sudden appearance here directly to the higher-ups and would ask everyone else to avoid spreading rumors.
While Kang Min handled that, Yu Je-hyun approached one of the parked vehicles. The staff member in the driver’s seat stepped out immediately upon seeing him.
“Good afternoon, Esper Yu Je-hyun! I’m with Field Support Team One…”
“No need for the formalities. I’m in a hurry. I’m taking this car. Team Leader Kang Min and Guide Lee Haru are coming with me. Kang Min will be driving.”
“Ah, understood.”
To regular staff, S-rank Espers were almost mythical figures—too distant to even speak to. The staffer had been excited for a chance to introduce himself, but his face fell in disappointment.
Still, he stepped back reluctantly, stealing a wistful glance as he left.
Yu Je-hyun opened the back door and slid into the seat, adjusting his posture to keep Haru comfortable in his arms.
By the time Haru’s breathing had steadied and his expression relaxed, the driver’s door opened.
Kang Min got in and adjusted the seat and pedals like he’d done it a hundred times before. As he started the engine, he looked at Yu Je-hyun through the rearview mirror.
“So, what is it you wanted to say?”
Yu Je-hyun didn’t look away as he began.
Even now, it felt surreal.
“When I first encountered Black’s leader, I had the upper hand. After what he did to you, there was no way he walked away unscathed.
The pheromones Zero emitted had been a hassle to deal with, but they had not made him impossible to fight. Even as he pretended to be fine, it was clear he had taken internal damage—his throat constricted several times.
At one point, blood even welled faintly at the corner of his lips. I finally had him pinned to the ground and was about to finish it.
Then, Kang Min suddenly appeared—”
“You actually believe that makes sense?”
Driving in silence until now, Kang Min finally spoke, casting a glance filled with disbelief. Yu Je-hyun nodded without resistance.
“I know. It’s hard to believe. I didn’t either. I was completely convinced it was really you.”
That illusion shattered the moment Kang Min’s fingers tore through his abdomen. Just as he was about to finish off Black’s leader, “Kang Min” had stepped in.
“Let me be the one to end this.”
His eyes, his gait, his voice—everything was perfectly Kang Min. Annoyed, Yu Je-hyun ignored him.
“You’re trying to keep this bastard alive. I’m not. If we let him live, he’s going to come after Haru again. Do you have any idea what it took to get him back? I won’t let him disappear again.”
That was when it happened. Those eyes, identical to Kang Min’s, suddenly darkened, turning cold and sinister—and before he could react, pain exploded across his gut.
It had to be now—after mowing down a horde of Black remnants, launching into a full-on battle with Black’s leader, and barely having time to breathe. He had just enough strength left for one final strike to the bastard’s throat.
The moment he sensed bloodlust, he tried to fall back—but he was too late. Four deep gashes ripped through his abdomen, and blood poured out in a flood.
The wounds were so deep that part of his organs spilled out.
Even when he clutched the wounds with both hands, the blood gushed between his fingers, and his legs gave out beneath him.
“Why… why would the Team Leader…”
They didn’t have any special bond, but they had worked together for a long time. His relationship with Hong Seong-jun was toxic at best, but Kang Min had always been relatively civil.
He was their team leader. And unlike Hong Seong-jun, he didn’t constantly try to provoke or aggravate him.
So why would Kang Min suddenly strike him down like this? The shock froze his mind completely.
“Since when did you care so much about Lee Haru?”
“…Hong Seong-jun?”
The voice had changed—and suddenly, Yu Je-hyun thought of Hong Seong-jun. The tone matched perfectly—the way he always picked a fight with him.
Hong Seong-jun’s ability was Physical Transformation.
Until now, he had only ever altered parts of his body—never his face. Even with that, his bones, blood, and flesh shifted so violently that Yu Je-hyun had never managed to overpower him in combat.
But if he had known Hong Seong-jun could copy someone’s entire appearance… he never would have let his guard down.
And maybe realizing he’d been found out, Hong Seong-jun’s face began to twist and unravel.
But once he returned to his real form, he looked… startled. For a moment, he stared at Black’s leader, visibly shaken.
“Stop wasting time. Kill him already. Your cover’s going to get blown any minute now. You’re out of time, kid.”
“You think I’m one of your flunkies, you piece of—ugh…!”
Yu Je-hyun didn’t know when Hong Seong-jun had started working with Zero, but one thing was clear—they weren’t exactly on good terms.
The moment Zero flicked his finger, Hong Seong-jun doubled over, vomiting up a lump of dark, clotted blood.
