# Chapter 37
On our way, we encountered many people, and seeing how lower-ranked Espers treated S-class Espers and the condition of Guides, I realized once again how difficult life was for Guides in this place.
The S-class Espers themselves had never actually harassed Guides, but these were people whose safety was constantly threatened by the command department and other Espers.
“We could have made a difference if we had spoken up. We just didn’t pay attention because we thought it wasn’t our business and we had more urgent matters. I don’t think we can say we’re completely blameless…”
I didn’t immediately understand what Byun Tae-young was talking about, but Kyun In and Shim Woo-jin nodded at his words.
“You’re right. I did think the treatment of Guides was unfair.”
“Since we’re talking about it, should we go discuss this first? We don’t know how many Guides might be suffering while we keep putting this off.”
Shim Woo-jin spoke after Kyun In.
It seems they were talking about Guides.
I was genuinely surprised that they started thinking about this issue after I manifested as a Guide.
They turned around as if they didn’t need anyone else’s opinion.
When I looked at Lee Ha-min, he looked back at me with a surprised face.
There was no doubt he would join them.
You might wonder if I should join them for such an important conversation, especially when meeting such important people, but I decided to go with them.
As I walked with them, I thought our group of five might look quite intimidating to others.
Even without doing anything special, we naturally drew people’s attention.
As we went up to the higher levels, staff members who were working looked at us with surprised faces.
“What brings you here?”
When we finally reached the floor with the Center Director’s office, the secretaries all stood up, approached us, and asked.
They would wonder what was happening if just one S-class Esper showed up, but now all three S-class Espers had appeared, along with the promising new Lee Ha-min.
Honestly, they probably wondered why I was with them.
“We’d like to meet the Center Director.”
Byun Tae-young was the one speaking.
It wasn’t surprising that Byun Tae-young spoke as the representative when the three of them were together.
I thought their roles were established that way.
The Center Director’s secretaries moved quickly, and soon the Director came out.
He must have been curious about why the S-class Espers were suddenly moving together.
“What’s the matter?”
His expression looked very complicated.
It would be difficult for anyone to maintain a comfortable face when seeing all five of us at once.
“Let’s go inside first.”
I tried to guess what thoughts were going through his head.
Now that another Center had been established, his first worry might be whether we were planning collective action.
“This hasn’t happened before. What’s going on?”
Looking at him, I thought he was trying hard to appear calm.
The five of us sat together in front of him, and the Center Director called in a few people to join him.
Whatever was going to be discussed, he seemed to think he shouldn’t hear it alone.
“We’re here because we believe the treatment of Guides in the Center needs to be improved.”
Suspicion arose in the Center Director’s eyes at Kyun In’s words.
His eyes seemed to ask why this was any of our business.
“We want to hear a clear answer and future direction on this matter in this meeting.”
“What do you mean…”
The Center Director looked at the people with him.
His face asked if they understood, and they slowly shook their heads.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. What exactly do you want to talk about?”
The Center Director was treating Kyun In like a child.
It might be reasonable considering their age difference, but Kyun In wasn’t someone who should be treated that way here.
The same applied to everyone else except Kyun In.
I thought it would be better if Shim Woo-jin took the lead.
Since he had been the most mature in his actions, I thought his words would naturally carry more weight.
And as if my wish was granted, he spoke.
“Director. We’re not here to cause unnecessary conflict. But we want you to understand. Guides play an important role alongside Espers. Espers couldn’t exist without Guides. Yet until now, Guides have been treated very poorly.”
The Center Director laughed.
A disdainful laugh.
That must have been its meaning, without room for excuses.
The people with him also burst into similar laughter.
Did they think we were talking nonsense because life had become comfortable with only simple dungeons that were easy to clear?
“I don’t understand why you’re suddenly bringing this up. It’s strange to say it’s because of Esper Lee Ha-min… Esper Lee Ha-min will now work as an Esper, and isn’t that something everyone has understood and accepted?”
The Center Director spoke with remnants of a smile on his face, but gradually his expression faded.
Rather than him intentionally erasing it, it probably disappeared on its own.
His gaze slowly turned toward me.
It was a frightening insight.
Based solely on that timing, did he realize that the reason we were having this conversation now was because of me?
Though clues had been scattered constantly, did he somehow piece everything together in that moment to figure out that I was a Guide?
I thought that would be impossible, but looking at the Center Director’s eyes on me, I could soon be certain.
He knew.
“…Esper Seo Eunwoo?”
“…Yes.”
“Perhaps.”
Byun Tae-young interrupted his words.
“Just answer that, Director. If the Center doesn’t promise to improve the treatment of Guides, we will take collective action.”
Strong confusion appeared on the Center Director’s face.
He didn’t ask what collective action meant.
Perhaps it was too humiliating for him to ask and confirm that.
“For Espers to come all the way here to say such things…”
He seemed to be trying to persuade us somehow, but the words didn’t come easily.
He must have been bewildered.
What was all this about, so suddenly?
He paused to collect his thoughts.
He was a born eloquent speaker, and that fact was proven in this moment.
“Guides are very important to the Center. Since dungeons appeared and Espers emerged as a new human species, without Guides, Espers wouldn’t have been able to function properly. Many Espers would have died or been injured, and the average lifespan of Espers would be much shorter.”
That was something everyone knew without him having to repeat it.
From then on, he spoke as if trying to soothe us.
“Guides are rewards for Espers. A sweet reward for those who have ended brutal slaughter and returned alive from death. Guides are gifts given to Espers. Espers are forgiven for whatever they do to those Guides. Without such a reward, where could Espers possibly find peace? Guides are chosen ones. They take pride in the fact that they can bring joy to Espers, they do.”
Who?
Who says that?
“Isn’t that just your opinion, Director?”
It was Lee Ha-min’s voice.
Had I ever heard Lee Ha-min speak like that before?
I glanced at him quietly.
The other S-class Espers must have had the same thought, as they were looking at Lee Ha-min too.
If it had been the usual Lee Ha-min, he would have noticed our gazes directed at him and stopped even at that moment.
He would have shrunk back, thinking, “What did I just say?”
But now he seemed like a different person.
It felt like something that had been suppressed for a long time had exploded.
Even though he was no longer in the same situation as other Guides, Lee Ha-min seemed unable to contain his anger.
“Isn’t that just your opinion, Director? Who decides the fate of Guides in such a way? Without Guides, Espers couldn’t fight like this. Then Guides should be treated accordingly. Not oppressed and exploited like now!”
The Center Director looked at Lee Ha-min, seemingly surprised by his agitated tone.
But the emotions that followed must have been strong displeasure and anger.
“Esper Lee Ha-min. Although we’re treating you very specially because Esper Lee Ha-min is an extremely unique case, Esper Lee Ha-min is also an Esper belonging to the Center and must follow the Center’s rules.”
The Center’s rules.
He must have been referring to the rule that one must always obey the orders of the Center Director, who is the head of the Center.
I thought it had become practically a dead letter since it was rarely mentioned, but the Center Director himself didn’t seem to think so.
The Center Director seemed to think this would be enough to subdue the unruly Lee Ha-min, but that was his misjudgment.
Lee Ha-min looked at the Center Director with a crooked smile.
The Center Director must have been surprised, but the surprise I felt was no less significant.
It was because I could never have imagined Lee Ha-min showing such an expression.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
