# Chapter 69
“Still, we need to set things up this way now. We need to prepare in advance for when dungeons appear in the future. The same goes for training. Right now, it’s too haphazard. We need to prepare countermeasures for gate-spawning dungeons in advance, and we also need training on how to best tackle each monster that comes out of dungeons. With systematic training, the number of people getting injured or dying in dungeons will be greatly reduced. Everyone knows that the previous Center Director and executives weren’t suitable for this kind of work.”
I spoke with the intention of encouraging everyone since we had already decided to do this, and the S-class Espers looked at me with admiring eyes, going “Ooooh.”
Especially Shim Woo-jin, who even gave a thumbs up and praised me for being amazing.
“That’s true. Unresolved issues were covered up as if they were all over when they just temporarily stopped. But they’ll eventually come back.”
Kyun In said and looked at me.
“Seo Eunwoo. Instead of taking on the Information Team Leader position or whatever, how about handling the Esper training? Then I’ll be the Center Director.”
“Why are you adding conditions to it?”
I said that, but I was quite drawn to the idea.
The person who liked it the most was Ha-min.
“Yeah, Eunwoo. That really suits you well. You’re the one who made me who I am today. You’d do a great job. I guarantee it.”
Well, I am good at it.
I couldn’t deny that, so I nodded, and Kyun In laughed as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Esper Seo Eunwoo. Try being a bit more modest.”
“When you look like me, it’s not easy to be modest.”
“I get it. I can’t say I wouldn’t be the same if I were you.”
In the end, it was decided that Byun Tae-young and Shim Woo-jin wouldn’t take on separate positions but would assist Kyun In.
We all agreed that there was no need to maintain the organizational structure as it had been, and once the decision was made, things progressed quickly from then on.
***
A strong wind swept through the Center.
The Center Director and most of the department heads were removed, and their corruption was exposed.
It was revealed that the Center Director had been using Guides to provide sexual favors to figures in politics and business, and other department heads had shared in the benefits received this way.
The Espers finally seemed to understand why the Center Director had remained so powerlessly silent when Origin split off.
Measures regarding Origin Central were also announced.
Origin Central would be reincorporated into the original Central, and we would no longer be called Beta Central, it was declared.
All Espers and Guides were to return to the main Central, and it was announced that conquering dungeons appearing in Origin Central would be a lower priority.
Cha Yoon returned like a triumphant general, standing at the forefront.
I had thought that if I took the Information Team Leader position, I should probably meet with Cha Yoon once, but Kyun In and the S-class Espers asked me if it would be alright to make Cha Yoon the Information Team Leader.
I didn’t particularly care about that.
I was in charge of Esper training, and that alone felt like my head might explode, so I had no capacity to think about anything more.
Cha Yoon wanted Yoon I-jae as his dedicated Guide, but the S-class Espers refused, laughing.
Cha Yoon didn’t seem particularly affected, as if he had expected this.
I was wondering why he had asked in the first place if he had expected that response, when Cha Yoon came to find me.
“I know you have negative feelings toward me, but I wanted to apologize first. You don’t have to accept the apology, and I know you might not want to forgive me, but I thought I should apologize anyway.”
“If you’re really sorry, just don’t appear in front of me. Even if we end up in the same place, don’t come over and act familiar.”
I spoke firmly, but Cha Yoon continued what he had to say.
“Guide Yoon I-jae is connected to many people. He’s skilled at using what he has to get what he needs. If opportunities to naturally meet Yoon I-jae are created, it could be more advantageous than running an entire information team, so could you help make things work out?”
He then told me what he had discovered through Yoon I-jae.
It wasn’t difficult to tell the Espers about it, so I agreed, and when I did, Cha Yoon looked at me and smiled.
“I’m allowing this only because I think it’s necessary for the Center. From now on, don’t approach me or speak to me.”
“How long until you forgive me?”
This crazy bastard.
Does he actually think he’s sorry?
“I’ve been beaten that much by you, shouldn’t you humanely forgive me now?”
Hearing those words, I momentarily felt like agreeing, but I held firm for now.
“Esper Seo Eunwoo. There’s something I want to ask. Can you tell me?”
“Get lost.”
“Were you possessed in a game world?”
Cha Yoon spoke to my back as I was turning away.
“…!”
I tried not to respond, but I felt my shoulders rise involuntarily.
‘Did he see? But how did that bastard know? Could it be from that cabin? Did I blurt everything out?’
I stared blankly into space for a moment before continuing to walk.
“Is this a novel your sister wrote?”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Is it? It is.”
“Cha Yoon. You haven’t been beaten enough? Don’t loiter around me. I still haven’t forgiven you. And your punishment hasn’t been decided yet. What would you do if I get permission from the S-class Espers to deal with you personally?”
At that, Cha Yoon made a gesture of zipping his lips.
I really just want to land one good hit on him.
“But you haven’t told others about that story? Not even Ha-min? Why? You two seem to have an especially close relationship. If I had such a secret, I think I would tell. Wouldn’t he feel betrayed if he finds out later?”
Finally, I turned around and approached him with large strides, but Cha Yoon smiled brightly as if believing I wouldn’t hit him.
Even as he was hit by my fist, fell down, and rolled on the floor, that smile remained on his face.
“When someone.”
*Thud*
“Is talking.”
*Thud*
“Listen, you bastard!”
*Thud, thud, thud*!!!!
The kicking and punching only stopped when Special Task Force members who were passing by intervened.
Still, it was somewhat comforting that Cha Yoon could no longer smile.
I really don’t like him.
***
Ha-min seemed to be doing it deliberately.
He claimed it couldn’t be helped because he was training the Special Task Force members, but by now, he should know his own capabilities, how much power he could use before reaching his limit, and what threshold would cause his ripples to reach dangerous levels.
Others, once they know this, adjust and stop before reaching dangerous levels.
But this guy seemed determined to use his abilities in a way that would deliberately push toward danger.
Even the Special Task Force members sensed this and worried whenever Ha-min trained them, but the guy finally reached dangerous levels and came to find me.
I was in the middle of creating a curriculum for training Espers.
In truth, there wasn’t much to the curriculum, and I was planning to just do the same things I had done with Ha-min.
Still, since it was a new responsibility, I was racking my brain to make it look more impressive when Ha-min entered my new office.
“I think I’m sick.”
He said it with such pride and satisfaction.
“Really? Where?”
“My whole body feels that way.”
What should I do with this guy?
‘Are you really saying that?’
I decided that if I gave in to Guiding him easily this time, he would keep showing up like this in the future, so I was determined not to yield easily this time.
He seemed to already know what I was thinking.
The problem was that he didn’t look nervous at all.
It was frustrating, as if he knew that regardless of how I felt waiting for him, in just a little while, I would want him more desperately than he wanted me.
“Why do you keep smiling, Ha-min?”
I needlessly picked a fight, and his smile became even brighter.
“I can’t help it, Eunwoo. I’m just so happy being with you.”
Ha-min was always like that.
Even when I picked a fight, he would lose so absurdly that I would lose my will to fight.
“Ha-min. You really shouldn’t do this. I told you before, but it seems like you didn’t really listen.”
The advice to prepare for times when I couldn’t Guide him.
Even then, Ha-min seemed to have listened half-heartedly, and now here he was again.
“You don’t need to Guide me this time. It’s not like I’ve used that much power, and I can calm these ripples on my own. I was a Guide too, you know.”
He probably wasn’t just saying it.
But how could I just watch him endure it alone?
He must have known I couldn’t do that, but it didn’t seem like he was trying to exploit those feelings either.
Ha-min was always difficult to understand.
And that’s what I liked about him.
The fact that no matter how much I got to know him, there was still so much more to learn.
“Come here.”
When I extended my hand, an irresistible smile formed on his face.
Does Ha-min know?
What his smile does to me?
Can this guy even imagine that it makes me unable to move, making my breath short and panting as if it might stop?
Do you know?
How much I…
***
It had been like this for some time.
When he realized he had used his abilities too much, expectations would arise.
The thought that if he used his abilities a little more, he would need Guiding, and having a legitimate reason to meet Eunwoo felt good.
Ha-min didn’t realize that he kept smiling.
Even though everyone around him knew.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
