The state, aware of the dungeon’s appearance, was about to dispatch Espers to this location. But no matter how quickly they sent them, it would take time for them to arrive.
I quickly surveyed the surroundings. When I arrived here after 4 o’clock, I was alone, but now as the time approached evening, several people who had come to the riverside walkway for exercise were visible. The general public was still unaware that a dungeon had appeared here.
I could leave without anyone holding me responsible, but if by chance a civilian got caught up in the dungeon, it might not end with just minor injuries.
“No choice.”
I clicked my tongue lightly and turned my body toward the river water that was starting to swirl. Since my main ability was flame, I was at a complete disadvantage against water-attribute monsters. In other words, they were more troublesome compared to others. But that’s just it—troublesome, not difficult. Except for the SS-class dungeon where I went berserk, I had never failed any mission given to me.
‘Since time isn’t on my side, I’ll finish this as quickly as possible.’
I had planned to be careful since this was my first time using my ability after regressing, but I kept thinking about the Guide who would come to contract with me at 6 o’clock.
‘For a B-class dungeon, one hit should be enough.’
Without even entering the dungeon, I decided to launch the biggest attack I could manage toward the gate that was currently opening. It was like burning down the house to kill one flea, but it was better than being late for my appointment.
Without hesitation, I immediately pushed off the ground and jumped up. In mid-air, I channeled energy and fired it precisely at the point where the gate was opening. The blazing heat warmed the air, and the surroundings temporarily brightened. The booming sound as it hit the water surface drew the attention of civilians who had been completely unaware of the situation. Through the whitish water vapor and between the gaps, someone recognized me and shouted, “S-class Esper Woo Jeongjae!”
Even before my regression, I had witnessed people recognizing me at scenes, but I was still a novice Esper who hadn’t even taken on my first mission. It was honestly surprising that people recognized me before I had even started my official activities. Avoiding people trying to film me with their phones, I quickly left the riverside and returned to the center.
I hadn’t noticed it while flying to the center to avoid public attention, but when I arrived at my private room, I realized I wasn’t in great condition.
‘I used more ability than I thought.’
I had anticipated it, but taking out a dungeon with one hit consumed more energy than expected. This was something only an S-class Esper could conceive of; other Espers couldn’t even imagine doing such a thing.
I exhaled a stifled breath as my body grew increasingly hot—a side effect of using my ability. I regretted using my ability without a plan, but the water was already spilled.
‘I’ll have to ask for guiding as soon as we meet.’
Looking at the clock, I had about 30 minutes to spare.
‘I should at least get a bit of rest.’
There’s no effective solution for unstable energy waves caused by twisted wavelengths other than receiving guiding, but sleeping could provide some emotional stability. I set an alarm to wake up 10 minutes before the appointment time and climbed onto the bed. I thought I wouldn’t fall asleep easily, but my body sank like a waterlogged cotton ball, pulling my consciousness down, and at some point, I slipped into sleep.
＊ ＊ ＊
I was running frantically. On the wall, a large black shadow was chasing me, opening its huge maw as if to swallow my shadow. Gripped by fear, I was mindlessly running without knowing the identity of the shadow behind me. Too powerless to even think of using my ability, I was busy gasping for breath that reached up to my chin.
“Ah…”
It was a dead end.
My footsteps, which had been running without rest, gradually slowed down until I stopped in front of the wall. A large shadow fell over my head. Without turning around, I could tell that the shadow’s identity was whatever had been pursuing me all along. As my fear reached its peak, chills ran from head to toe, making my teeth chatter. I didn’t know what was making me so afraid, but not just that—my whole body was trembling like an aspen tree.
I lacked the courage to turn and face it, so I squeezed my eyes shut.
The moment I closed my eyes, it swallowed me. My entire body from head to toe was gulped down in one bite. Thousands of teeth pierced through my whole body, and I was losing all form while only my consciousness remained. The blood flowing from me tinted my vision red, and the feeling of my entire body being torn to shreds was as painful as being burned alive. I wanted to lose my mind to this terrible sensation, but somewhere in the depths of my consciousness, my last memories were being replayed.
—Berserk… S-class… executing.
—Currently combat-ready… 5 S-class…
—…00:00… execution complete.
As the voice, unclear whether male or female due to the dirty noise, continued, I was sinking deeper and deeper into an abyss.
It was the moment I gave up everything in despair and fear, believing that no one could save me and that I would die again like this.
“Mr. Woo Jeongjae.”
I heard a cool but clear voice.
“Wake up.”
The man’s calm voice settled in my ear, sweeping away the fear that had paralyzed my reason with whiteness. A cool yet warm energy spread across my closed eyes. Simultaneously, the pain that had spread throughout my body disappeared instantly. I opened my eyes, feeling as if my body, which had been torn apart beyond recognition, was lying in a soft flower bed.
“…!”
Instead of the familiar ceiling, a stranger’s face was the first thing I saw. Up to this point, it wasn’t particularly surprising as I had anticipated this situation before sleeping. But the problem was elsewhere. The person who appeared to be a Guide was straddling me and looking down at me.
“Who are you?”
It was a stupid question. At this hour, there was only one Guide who would be coming to see me.
“I’m Jeong Seyeon.”
The B-class Guide with a 60% matching rate with me, whom I was supposed to meet at 6 o’clock.
He answered my question impassively and continued to undo the buttons of my shirt. Only then did I realize he was in the process of undressing me. With the lighter clothing of spring, the speed of undressing was very quick. I grabbed Jeong Seyeon’s hand as he was unbuttoning the last button. His indifferent black eyes rested on his caught hand before turning to me.
“Isn’t this why you called me here?”
The monotone voice matched the one I had heard in my dream. The voice that had saved me from that unknown something.
But now that voice sounded dangerous instead. My heart was pounding, though for a different reason than in the dream.
“No, it isn’t.”
I answered calmly, clutching my shirt that had been almost completely removed by his hands.
“Please get off.”
At my request, the man raised one eyebrow, but that was all. He silently and cleanly got off of me. I inwardly sighed in relief as the heavy weight disappeared from my body. Outwardly, I acted as if nothing was wrong, rebuttoning my disheveled shirt and fixing my rumpled appearance, but my heart was still repeatedly pounding from the shock.
As evidence, I still hadn’t managed to get out of the bed.
“Where is the official?”
Feeling awkward being alone with him, I quickly scanned the room, but the official who was supposed to explain the contract and notarize it was nowhere to be seen.
“When I said I would do guiding, he went to the lounge, asking me to call him when we were done.”
‘Well, if he saw a Guide undressing someone on a bed and just stayed there, he wouldn’t be human.’
Jeong Seyeon’s explanation was perfectly understandable. If I were in his place, I would have fled immediately upon seeing a Guide and an Esper in such a position on a bed.
“I’ll contact him now.”
Thinking I was looking for the official because of the contract, Jeong Seyeon spoke in a businesslike tone before picking up his phone.
Due to Jeong Seyeon’s brief and to-the-point conversation, the call ended in less than 20 seconds, and within less than 2 minutes, the door opened and someone rushed in breathlessly.
“For the, huff, contract, right?”
The words spoken while panting like someone who had just sprinted 100 meters made me feel short of breath myself.
“Yes. Please prepare the documents.”
Despite the urgent situation where the official looked like he might die from shortness of breath, Jeong Seyeon’s face didn’t show the slightest disturbance. Normally, one would tell the person to rest a bit in such a situation, but he went straight to the point. It was suffocating just to watch.
“Please sit down here and catch your breath first.”
I offered a seat to the official. He was much better than when he first came in gasping, but he still seemed to need time to recover. The official momentarily glanced at Jeong Seyeon before sitting in the seat I offered and replenishing his lacking breath.
“Jeong Seyeon.”
Perhaps because it was the first time I was calling this name, it felt a bit awkward even after I said it. This awkwardness would probably be clearly visible on my face, but I gained courage looking at the mineral-like black eyes staring at me.
So I decided to be a bit shameless just this once.
“How do I look to you?”
After saying it, I thought it sounded like a pickup line from an older man.
Jeong Seyeon was originally 27, the same age as me, but currently, he was five years older than me. Even he seemed to have a hard time accepting my slimy line. For a split second, his meticulously constructed poker face wavered slightly.
“Are you asking me how you look?”
Looking at Jeong Seyeon’s face as he calmly asked back, I nodded slightly.
From his perspective as a temporary Guide, it occurred to me belatedly that it might be troublesome for me, not even his exclusive Esper, to ask such a question, but it was too late to take it back now.
I waited for his answer with slightly nervous eyes, unable to discern what thoughts were behind those black irises.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
