“Yes, tell me. I’ll do anything for you. Really, anything.”
Having finished packing, Seo Eui-woo lowered Kwon Jae-jin from midair, adjusting his ability so that Jae-jin landed directly in his embrace.
With a smile, Eui-woo wrapped his arms around him and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, kissed him on the lips. Jae-jin returned the kiss briefly, then pulled away and spoke in a calm, firm tone.
“Teach me how to shoot.”
His dark, unwavering eyes, hardened by recent crises, were already looking ahead to what came next.
“I need to practice shooting. Just in case.”
As they left the secluded mansion, the two completely destroyed the site to prevent any possible tracking. Eui-woo split the ground itself, triggering a landslide that buried every trace of the structure under heaps of dirt and rock.
***
The Central Command Headquarters, located on the topmost floor of the Center’s main building.
It was a top-secret facility with restricted access—only generals, those who wore stars on their shoulders, were permitted entry. Every week, the classified strategic meetings held here were attended exclusively by officers of general rank and above.
It might be difficult to grasp just how far removed the rank of general was from the lower tiers.
Non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks included corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant, and master sergeant—essentially, trainees undergoing formal military education.
Company-grade officer ranks—second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain—were the equivalent of special forces unit operatives. Seo Eui-woo, as a captain, fell into this category.
Field-grade officers, which included major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel, were the command ranks within special operations forces. Major Mateo and Lieutenant Colonel Jang Tae-san belonged to this tier.
Above them were the generals—brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, and full general—who held command positions across the army, navy, and air force.
At the general level, there was a mix of Awakeners and non-Awakened civilians. However, all of them had one thing in common: they had clawed their way through the depths of hell to ascend to the highest echelons of national leadership.
A small handful of supreme commanders holding absolute authority.
The survival and governance of the nation hinged on their decisions and orders.
And so, it was impossible for Major Mateo to remain unaffected when he was summoned to this den of monsters—the Central Command Headquarters’ main hall.
An S-Class Mutant Guide.
Just reporting its existence had been enough to get him called up here.
Faced with an unprecedented situation, Major Mateo meticulously adjusted his dress uniform and made his way to the top floor of the Central Command.
This area was in a separate sector, requiring access via a specially isolated elevator. Before that, identity verification through an Awakener ID scan, personal authentication, and full-body security screening had to be completed.
After passing the heavily guarded checkpoints, Major Mateo took a deep breath before stepping into the headquarters.
The sheer scale of the conference room made him momentarily freeze.
At the front, the flag of the new government was prominently displayed. The ceiling and walls were adorned with the emblems of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, representing each branch’s authority. Instead of real windows, artificial glass panels controlled the lighting inside—likely an added security measure to prevent any external exposure.
A massive U-shaped table dominated the center of the room, every seat from the head to the lowest-ranked occupied.
Despite dedicating his entire life to military service as a formally recognized Awakener in the Special Task Force, this was the first time Mateo had come face-to-face with some of these high-ranking generals.
Starting from the lower seats, brigadier-level officers lined up—Operations Commander, Defense Commander, Special Forces Commander, Aviation Commander, Logistics Commander, Training Commander, and Fleet Commander. Above them, the lieutenant generals—the Army Commander, Navy Commander, and Air Force Commander—occupied the higher seats. At the very top sat the highest-ranking major generals, the Central Military Commander and the Deputy Central Military Commander.
The highest position, that of the General of the Central Military, was currently vacant. But at this point, that hardly mattered.
The fact that Major Mateo managed to stand before this assembly of battle-hardened warlords, unshaken, and salute with proper military decorum was an achievement in itself.
“Major Mateo, Deputy Commander of the 7th Special Task Force, reporting.”
“Hm. I read the report that came in. A mutant, you say? In the northwest?”
“Yes, sir. That is correct.”
“You’re certain it was an S-rank Guide?”
“Yes, without a doubt. The difference from other Guides was immediately apparent upon contact.”
“Well, shit. What a goddamn headache.”
Brigadier General Oh, the Army Operations Commander, clicked his tongue. He twirled the pen in his hand, speaking in a casual yet weighty tone.
“Listen up. We dispatched a search team to the area, but not a single trace of that mutant was found—no body, no body parts, not even a strand of hair. If anything had been left behind, our Tracker Espers would’ve already pinpointed their location.”
The other generals stood back, hands clasped behind them, silent observers. It was clear they had already held their confidential discussions among themselves, and now Brigadier General Oh was simply relaying their conclusions to Mateo.
“A one-kilometer radius around the site was completely wiped out. Do you think this happened naturally, Major?”
“Negative, sir.”
“Can you determine what exactly transpired there?”
“Negative, sir.”
“Then it’s our job to find out. We need to confirm whether this mutant in the special residential sector is alive or dead, track their whereabouts, determine the cause of the abnormal explosion, identify the Awakener responsible for this illegal activity, and root out any other potential threats. That is the duty of those seated here today.”
“Yes, sir. I await your orders, Brigadier General.”
Mateo bowed his head in a disciplined, precise motion.
With not a single strand of hair out of place, his forehead fully exposed, this military dog was a man of strict rules, adherence to hierarchy, and an unwavering belief in absolute order.
However, he had been deeply shaken by the S-Class Guide’s guiding—so much so that he felt an irresistible craving and yearning as an Esper.
“Alright. Our first priority is to capture the S-Class mutant Guide, Kwon Jae-jin.”
“……”
“Once captured, we will identify and apprehend any criminals associated with him. Kwon Jae-jin himself will be transferred to the Research and Development Division for live experiments and anatomical study. If the results are promising, we may even find a way to artificially cultivate and train S-Class Guides in the future.”
“……”
“One more thing. If capturing him proves too difficult, eliminate him on the spot.”
“……”
“If there is any indication of another abnormal incident—another explosion or an anomaly like before—do not hesitate. Kill him immediately. If a secure capture isn’t possible, then the next best option is complete extermination. Do you understand?”
Major Mateo blinked silently at the weight of his superior’s command.
The seasoned Brigadier General did not miss that brief moment of hesitation.
“I see… You must be wondering why someone like you—a mere field officer—was called all the way here to receive these orders. Perhaps you’re also questioning why we would go as far as killing the first-ever S-Class Guide. After all, that guiding must have been extraordinary, wasn’t it? Am I right?”
“……Yes, General. If you would explain, I will commit it to memory.”
“Major Mateo. Tell me—why do you think we execute mutants on sight? What is the reason?”
“Because they are uncontrollable risks.”
“Exactly. But why? Is it because their cores are incomplete and undeveloped? No, that’s not the issue. Even if they don’t resonate with other cores, they can still use their abilities and perform guiding without major obstacles. If anything, the real problem is that their cores are fragile, making them more susceptible to death compared to regular Awakeners.”
“Then… Is it because they haven’t completed formal training? Like the other discarded, unqualified candidates?”
“That answer is half correct and half wrong. To put it simply, the real reason is cost.”
“……Cost, sir?”
“Yes. Cost.”
The Brigadier General tapped his pen against the table, the sharp sound echoing through the room. He crossed one leg over the other, leaned back in his chair, and twisted his body slightly—a far cry from his days as a mere field officer. Now, he was the embodiment of military authority, exuding an air of arrogance befitting his high rank.
“Men hunt. Women bear and raise children. Awakeners fight. Ordinary people reproduce. Simple, isn’t it? The human race is inherently primitive. Our culture, society, technology, and resources are all severely underdeveloped. Because of that, we are forced to divide roles in the most rudimentary way—because that’s the only way we survive. This system will remain in place until civilization stabilizes and flourishes. Until then, this is our best option.”
“……”
“Ordinary people know nothing about combat. They have no understanding of the immense burden shouldered by Awakeners. Teaching them from scratch—absorbing all the risks that come with it—is simply too costly.”
“……That S-Class mutant Guide seemed quite capable. He was quick to assess the situation and attempted to fire a gun, even in the midst of a crisis. He fought against five creatures without freezing up in fear. If he were properly trained, he could—”
“Hah. You’re still misunderstanding.”
“Then… what do you mean, sir?”
“Mutants, Major… cannot guide.”
“…What?”
