The building itself was vast, towering, and systematically structured, with high-speed elevators installed throughout. The moment the elevator button was pressed, the doors opened instantly, and as soon as he stepped inside, it shot up to his designated floor in the blink of an eye. Even in such minor details, the emphasis on efficiency was evident.
The destination was the physical examination room on the third floor.
Several precision instruments were lined up in a row, and in front of the machines stood a group of people in white lab coats. They were likely researchers affiliated with the Research and Development Division.
The researchers were engaged in conversation amongst themselves, but the moment Kwon Jae-jin stepped into the examination room, they all fell silent as if on cue.
“……”
“……”
An unsettling silence filled the air.
Every single one of them fixated their gaze on Kwon Jae-jin, their expressions anything but ordinary. Their eyes scrutinized him from head to toe, like they were observing a particularly intriguing lab specimen.
“Ha… Of course.”
Seo Eui-woo muttered coldly under his breath and stepped forward, blocking Kwon Jae-jin’s path. He didn’t even attempt to hide his displeasure—it was blatant, outright.
A sharp surge of psychic energy flared around Seo Eui-woo, instantly overwhelming the researchers. The invisible force pressed down on them, causing their shoulders to jolt as they instinctively averted their gazes. It wasn’t voluntary. Their heads were forcibly bowed, necks stiffly bent downward toward the floor.
The researchers, frozen in place, turned deathly pale. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads.
“Captain Seo…! What do you think you’re doing?”
Lieutenant Colonel Jang Tae-san, his expression darkening at the unexpected situation, immediately intervened to restrain Seo Eui-woo.
Inside the center, openly displaying hostility toward researchers—especially right before a ranking assessment—was unacceptable. Using psychic abilities so blatantly was a serious disciplinary offense. There was no way Seo Eui-woo was unaware of this.
“You are to withdraw your power immediately. That’s an order.”
Lieutenant Colonel Jang reiterated his command. However, Seo Eui-woo merely smiled—calm, composed, with an icy expression. He made no attempt to retract his oppressive force.
Seeing him so brazenly defying orders, Jang Tae-san’s face twisted completely.
Unable to watch any longer, Kwon Jae-jin sighed and finally spoke up.
“…Seo Eui-woo, let’s stop this. The ranking assessment comes first.”
Still, since Seo Eui-woo hadn’t pressed down hard enough to make them kneel, he must have been controlling his strength to some extent.
He wasn’t trying to kill them—just issuing a warning.
In reality, none of the researchers had collapsed; they were all still standing on their own two feet. If it was only to this degree, there was probably no need for concern.
‘Wait… What the hell? Since when did I get so used to Seo Eui-woo’s antics?’
Even though the researchers were visibly sweating and struggling right in front of him, he was evaluating the situation as “not that bad.” Feeling startled by his own shifting perspective, Kwon Jae-jin quickly changed the subject.
“Uh, so… How do I take this test? I don’t know the process, so could you explain it to me, Seo Eui-woo?”
“Ah. Yes, Jae-jin. First, you need to change into the examination attire.”
Seo Eui-woo swept his cold, unreadable gaze over the researchers once more before responding lazily. He still hadn’t withdrawn his psychic pressure. The air felt thick and heavy, as if gravity had suddenly quadrupled.
Suppressing a sigh, Jae-jin grabbed Seo Eui-woo’s elbow and tugged him forward.
“So, is the changing room over there?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Let’s go. Hurry.”
“Sure.”
Only then did Seo Eui-woo finally disperse his power as he guided Kwon Jae-jin toward the changing room. The door shut with a firm thud, and the freed researchers exhaled shakily, gasping for breath.
Lieutenant Colonel Jang Tae-san moved to follow them into the changing room, but the moment he reached the door, he was met with strong resistance.
“Ugh.”
A telekinetic force pushed against him, preventing him from even grasping the door handle. No matter how much he stretched his arm forward, the repelling force overpowered him, making entry completely impossible.
Inside, Kwon Jae-jin was oblivious to what was happening outside, unaware that Seo Eui-woo had completely sealed the door with his ability. Instead, he simply changed into the examination attire as instructed.
“There are three types of tests for Awakened individuals,” Seo Eui-woo explained casually, as if nothing had just happened. His dark, chilling gaze had already returned to being calm and gentle.
“The first one is something you already know—it’s the test that differentiates Awakened from non-Awakened individuals.”
“Are you referring to the mandatory Awakening test?”
“Yes. The mandatory Awakening test that every citizen undergoes at birth. It detects the presence or absence of a core inside the chest, near the heart. If a core is present, you’re classified as Awakened. If not, you’re non-Awakened.”
Ah, so that’s how it worked. The principle behind the mandatory Awakening test was based on that.
Since the general public wasn’t aware of the core’s existence, they also had no way of knowing the exact process used to distinguish Awakened individuals from non-Awakened ones. But if it was simply about detecting the presence of a core, it made perfect sense that it would be a straightforward classification.
Nodding slightly, Kwon Jae-jin removed his coat and sweater one by one. Seo Eui-woo accepted his clothes, neatly hanging them up as he assisted him.
“The second test is the one that differentiates Espers from Guides. It involves a detailed examination of the core’s resonance waves to determine which type they align with. This one won’t apply to you, but if someone is classified as an Esper during this test, they must undergo an additional in-depth evaluation to determine the specific type of ability they possess.”
“So only Espers need additional testing. Guides don’t have to go through that process.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Kwon Jae-jin, now fully undressed down to his lower garments, slipped his arms into the sleeves of the white examination gown. Seo Eui-woo, noticing how a few strands of Jae-jin’s hair had risen from static electricity after removing his sweater, gently pressed them down with his hand.
“The last one, the third test, is the ranking assessment. It determines an Awakened individual’s rank by conducting a precise analysis of their core’s energy waves to measure its output. As you already know, the ranks are divided into four main categories—A, B, C, and F.”
If S-rank were included, that would make five, but so far, Seo Eui-woo was the only recorded S-rank, and the testing machines weren’t designed to register that classification. As a result, when an S-rank was assessed, the machine simply displayed “unable to measure.”
To add further context, Awakened individuals ranked A to C were assigned to combat divisions and took on combat roles, while F-rank Awakened were placed in the Support Division, effectively making them reservists.
F-ranks still underwent formal education and training, but after completing their programs, they were rarely assigned to direct combat missions. Instead, they were responsible for various support roles within the special residential districts. For example, like the driver they had seen earlier. F-ranks typically handled maintenance, construction, transportation, cooking, and communications.
However, if an F-rank chose to apply to the Research Division during their training period and passed the necessary exams, they could become researchers under the R&D Department. Some of the researchers they had just encountered were F-rank Awakened.
“In the past, the ranking assessment was done manually. An Awakened individual would have to make direct physical contact with each candidate’s core to sense its resonance one by one. But now, the process has been automated, and special machines have been developed for the tests.”
“You mean they used to determine rank through direct contact…?”
“Yes. When two Awakened individuals touch near the heart, they can feel their cores resonating with each other.”
“Ah… That’s something that doesn’t apply to me.”
Since a mutant’s core was incomplete, it had no energy waves or resonance. At this point, Jae-jin found himself genuinely curious about what resonance actually felt like.
Seo Eui-woo’s lips curled into a slow, knowing smile as he carefully fastened Jae-jin’s examination gown. He straightened the collar, making sure the fabric lay neatly, then tightly secured the side ties so that the gown wouldn’t open.
He tied it so forcefully that Jae-jin could feel the fabric pulling at his waist. But even then, Seo Eui-woo didn’t seem satisfied with how the V-shaped neckline of the gown sat. Frowning slightly, he pulled the ties even tighter, as if determined to close the gap completely.
“Ugh—Eui-woo, I can’t breathe.”
Jae-jin protested in a roundabout way, but Seo Eui-woo ignored him, staring intently at the small portion of his exposed collarbone. Then, as if talking to himself, he murmured,
“We’re resonating right now.”
“…What?”
“You and me. Even now, we’re resonating.”
“……”
“We always have.”
Seo Eui-woo’s gray eyes gleamed dangerously as he spoke. His pupils, tinted with a peculiar radiance, seemed almost otherworldly.
Jae-jin thought, despite the fact that Eui-woo must have been up all night without a wink of sleep, how could his gaze still burn so fiercely, like a comet streaking across the sky? His presence felt like an overwhelming tidal wave, swallowing Jae-jin whole.
Jae-jin’s lips parted slightly. He hesitated for a moment, lingering on the words before lowering his voice to a whisper.
“…But still, what if—just maybe—what if we’re wrong?”
“What do you mean, wrong?”
“If I receive a rank other than S today… then what?”
Kwon Jae-jin’s expression tensed slightly.
If he wasn’t an S-rank, then he wouldn’t be able to match with Seo Eui-woo.
Officially, he wouldn’t be recognized as Seo Eui-woo’s Guide, and the agreement he had negotiated with Supreme Commander Choi Yul might fall apart.
Everything would collapse, spiraling out of control.
Of course, given the way Seo Eui-woo had been raising hell all this time, it seemed highly likely that Jae-jin was an S-rank Guide. Otherwise, nothing would make sense. Jae-jin had been able to suppress Seo Eui-woo’s instability, and it was only through his Guiding that Seo Eui-woo had regained access to his true abilities.
But the problem was… Jae-jin himself had no way to confirm it.
He couldn’t directly sense his own core. He couldn’t feel resonance. His Guiding—well, that was something he just assumed was working because Seo Eui-woo insisted it felt good.
He had never actually felt anything himself.
So, sometimes… just sometimes, a nagging, unsettling thought crept into his mind.
What if… maybe… just maybe… he wasn’t?
