# Chapter 70
Hajin hadn’t been hoping for a normal father-son conversation. In this situation, it was impossible to have a proper dialogue anyway.
But the way his father had treated him as a dangerous individual rather than family from the beginning until this moment made him feel upset.
‘Is this really the father I knew?’
Even now, if someone were to say that this man merely resembled his father but was actually someone else, Hajin would readily believe it. That’s how great the disconnect was between the father Hajin had known and the current Lee Hoseung.
Was the affectionate father who cherished his family just a facade? Or had something happened during that long period that Hajin knew nothing about?
There was nothing he could know for certain. Even if Lee Hoseung were to explain, Hajin couldn’t trust his words right now.
Although Hajin had never avoided problems before, in the current situation, even he wanted to escape from all the questions and issues.
The headache that had briefly subsided began to torment Hajin again. It felt as if his heart had been ripped out and placed inside his head. It wouldn’t be strange if his head burst at this rate.
Hajin grabbed his father’s wrist, which was holding him and refusing to let go.
“Please, let me go…”
Lee Hoseung was also an Esper, so Hajin could easily escape if he used guiding. However, Hajin’s physical condition was poor, and he couldn’t control his guiding at will.
Perhaps it was partly because this was his father that he couldn’t perform guiding. Hajin panted lightly due to his intense emotions.
“Let go…!”
He had tried to speak firmly, but what came out was a weak, trembling voice.
Even if they were strangers, seeing someone in such distress should evoke sympathy. Yet Lee Hoseung maintained an expressionless face despite the fact that the man before him was his son.
“So you’re determined to leave?”
It sounded like a gentle question at first. The tone was light, as if he would say “Well, if that’s the case” and let him go if Hajin just answered affirmatively. However, what followed was anything but gentle.
“Then I have no choice but to kill you right here.”
“What…?”
Before Hajin’s brain could process those words, a large hand approached his face. Once, in the distant past, he had held this hand while walking. It was a large and rough hand, but it had been warm.
But now that hand was approaching to kill Hajin. Hajin didn’t even think about dodging. He couldn’t even interpret what he had just heard.
‘Am I dreaming?’
It sounds foolish, but Hajin wished this was just a dream. He would rather be back in that place when he opened his eyes than face his father in front of him.
Why wouldn’t he feel that way? No matter how long they had been separated, his father was someone with whom he’d shared good memories.
How many people could remain calm when someone like that said they were going to kill them? Hajin certainly couldn’t.
“It’s regrettable that you made this choice.”
Watching Lee Hoseung’s approaching hand, Hajin decided to close his eyes.
“Fuck! Get your hands off him!”
This was another voice Hajin hadn’t heard for a long time. He unconsciously turned his head.
“…Han Seungho-ssi!”
Something hot welled up in his chest, his nose stung, and tears filled his eyes. Finally, in this place where he had no allies, he had found someone he could trust.
A complete ally who would never betray him no matter what happened. Not family, not a friend. Certainly not a lover.
Esper and Guide. Compared to the relationships mentioned above, it seemed like an incredibly shallow connection, yet Hajin felt the most secure in it.
It wasn’t simply because he was an Esper. It was because he was part of Alpha Team that Hajin could feel at ease. Lee Hoseung also paused at Han Seungho’s appearance. He looked at Hajin, who was experiencing this dramatic reunion.
“I suppose that’s your Esper.”
Then he gazed at Han Seungho dispassionately, as if evaluating him. Han Seungho was bewildered by the striking resemblance between the two. He had thought Hajin had no family left, so what was this identical face?
“To feel safe with someone of that level.”
But there was no time to leisurely satisfy his curiosity. Lee Hoseung was once again reaching his hand toward Hajin.
With his hand moving unhesitatingly toward Hajin’s nape, Han Seungho’s reason finally snapped.
“You’re begging to be killed.”
Too enraged to even shout, Han Seungho moved like lightning toward Lee Hoseung. However, as if anticipating this, Lee Hoseung pulled Hajin in front of him like a shield.
“Ugh!”
Han Seungho forcibly changed the trajectory of his outstretched fist. Being so close to Hajin, he had to bend his wrist and elbow excessively, causing pain in his arm despite not hitting anything.
Han Seungho landed at a position where he could reach Hajin with just an outstretched hand. However, he was cautious about moving even a fingertip.
‘That movement isn’t from an ordinary person.’
Whatever his relationship with Hajin, this Esper would certainly notice even the slightest movement from Han Seungho.
There was no way Han Seungho could watch idly if Hajin got hurt due to his rash actions.
A silence so profound that their breathing could be heard ensued. After maintaining a standoff without movement, Han Seungho, unable to bear the prolonged situation, spoke up.
“What do you want?”
This was something that should never happen. Negotiating with anti-government rebels.
While others might waver, Han Seungho was firmly against any compromise with them. Even in unfavorable situations where he was more likely to get hurt, Han Seungho didn’t back down.
But with Hajin at risk, Han Seungho could no longer act boldly. If he could save Hajin by putting himself in danger, he wouldn’t hesitate, but the reality was the opposite.
“What I want?”
Lee Hoseung tilted his head as if he’d heard something unexpected. That slight head movement was something Hajin often did. It made the already similar men look even more alike.
Lee Hoseung answered without even pretending to think.
“To eliminate Hajin right here. It’s best to remove potential obstacles as quickly as possible.”
“Fuck! Just try moving a finger. I’ll tear you apart before you can lay a hand on Hajin-hyung.”
As Lee Hoseung’s fingertips drew even closer to Hajin’s neck, Han Seungho spat out curses and growled like he was having a fit. It felt like his heart had dropped.
He had boasted that he would bring Hajin back and had escaped first, but now he felt pathetic for not being able to do anything.
“I’m sorry, but I have no reason to listen to you.”
Despite Han Seungho’s warning, Lee Hoseung didn’t stop.
“You son of a—!”
Finding it a waste of time to even finish the curse, Han Seungho gritted his teeth and was about to lunge. But Hajin, who had been quiet until now, spoke first.
“Father’s resolve remains unchanged, I see.”
“Father…?”
Han Seungho’s eyes widened in surprise, but Hajin continued with a composed face.
“Even if I asked for a reason, you wouldn’t tell me, would you?”
“You know me well, despite being separated for so long.”
At those words, Hajin looked like he might cry, but only for a moment. He closed his eyes to calm himself, then opened them again.
“Then I should treat you accordingly.”
Even as Han Seungho was confused and unable to grasp the situation, Lee Hoseung understood what Hajin meant. But by then, it was already too late.
‘Even in that condition, such guiding…’
It was clearly visible to Lee Hoseung. He could see that Hajin’s guiding was flowing out uncontrollably, like water leaking from a broken vessel that couldn’t be contained.
That’s why he had been able to approach Hajin, the Guide. He thought that since Hajin couldn’t properly control his guiding, he couldn’t use that ability to put him to sleep.
“Ugh…”
Unable to continue his thoughts, Lee Hoseung collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Despite tumbling roughly down the stairs, Lee Hoseung’s eyes remained closed.
Since Hajin had deliberately performed guiding, even a nuclear bomb exploding right in front of him wouldn’t wake Lee Hoseung up. Hajin looked down at his fallen father from high above for a long time.
Though his expression was blank, Han Seungho felt that Hajin looked sadder than ever before. For a long time, Hajin stared down at his father, his thoughts unreadable.
“…Hyung. Let’s go back now.”
“Just a moment.”
Though Han Seungho couldn’t understand the circumstances, he clearly understood that the man Hajin called father had tried to kill him.
Considering the pain Hajin must have felt, he wanted to quickly escape from this situation. But when Hajin refused, he couldn’t force him.
Hajin descended the stairs at a pace neither fast nor slow. Han Seungho couldn’t see Hajin’s face as he turned away. After gazing down at Lee Hoseung for a moment, Hajin slowly bent his knee.
“Ugh…”
His physical condition was still terrible, so he staggered even with that simple movement, but Hajin mounted Lee Hoseung’s body.
“Hyung…?”
Han Seungho couldn’t understand what Hajin was trying to do. But that curiosity was soon resolved. Hajin’s hands were moving toward Lee Hoseung’s neck. The situation was now reversed from moments ago.
“Hyung!”
Han Seungho called out in shock, but Hajin shook his head.
“As you’ve probably noticed, this is my father. And… he’s likely in a key position within the anti-government forces. If we let him live, he’ll become a major threat later. So, therefore…”
This was the opportunity. That’s what Hajin was saying. But Han Seungho didn’t hear those words. All he could see was Hajin, pitiful and trembling.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
