The sound of dress shoes echoed throughout the room. All eyes were drawn to the man striding confidently into the meeting hall with long, commanding steps. As if it were only natural, he met their gazes and took a seat in one of the empty chairs.
“I’ve already spoken with the President. We will not be complying with Tiger’s demands.”
His short silver hair and eyes as deep and blue as the sea flicked toward Hosoo—followed by a playful wink.
Guide Corporation Chairman, Baek Woo-gyeong.
Until now, every chairman of the Guide Corporation had been either a guide or an ordinary civilian.
Baek Woo-gyeong was the first Esper ever to become the chairman since the founding of the Korean Guide Corporation.
Appearing to be in his early thirties, his affable expression made it easy for others to warm up to him. But anyone who truly knew him all said the same thing: He’s like a snake. Hosoo frowned the moment Baek Woo-gyeong entered the room.
“I was late to the meeting because something this critical couldn’t be handled here. As soon as I confirmed Tiger’s threat, I contacted the Presidential Office and reported the situation. Korea will not give in to anti-government demands.”
“That sounds like you’re willing to go to war with Espers. And if we abandon the hostages at 63 Square, public backlash will be severe.”
The Esper Association President immediately pushed back on Baek Woo-gyeong’s declaration.
“We’ve already prepared a way to avoid war and rescue the hostages.”
A researcher who had entered with Baek Woo-gyeong moved to the back of the room and connected a USB to a laptop, projecting materials onto the screen.
“This is a Guide Ability Enhancer. It’s still in the development phase, but clinical trials show it can increase a guide’s guiding capacity by over three times. Side effects include delayed recovery from the physical toll of using that much guiding since the drug doesn’t enhance the body’s endurance. We also expect other potential side effects.”
“…And this is supposed to be a solution?”
“We plan to send the number of guides that Tiger demanded—but only in terms of quantity. We’ll use B- and C-rank guides, administer the enhancer, and deceive them with inflated readings.”
“But just sending guides won’t save the hostages.”
Hosoo, who had been quietly listening, cut in with a biting remark. The researcher flinched at his sharp tone, but Baek Woo-gyeong gestured for him to continue. That calm, unfazed demeanor—completely unbothered by criticism—made Hosoo click his tongue in disdain.
The researcher, clearly rattled, gulped down a sip of water before continuing.
“The team will also include Espers. When an Esper takes the Guide Enhancer, they can emit Guidance for one hour—just like a guide. The plan is to fill the C-rank slots with Espers and have them carry out the rescue. That way, we can infiltrate without sending an S-class guide.”
“I’ll take it from here.”
Baek Woo-gyeong, who had been silently holding a file folder since entering the meeting room, now opened it and distributed its contents to everyone. It appeared that the personnel had already been chosen when this plan was drafted: ten profiles, a mix of guides and Espers.
Hosoo flipped through the profiles—then froze when he saw Do In-ho’s name.
“You’re sending Do In-ho?”
“Of course. Tools are meant to be used in times like this.”
Hosoo let out a dry laugh, staring coldly at Baek Woo-gyeong. So it was you. The one who had been interfering with Do In-ho’s normal overload process. Baek Woo-gyeong met Hosoo’s gaze with a cheerful smile, as if he knew exactly what he was thinking.
Why now—just two weeks before the overload window? What’s his angle? Hosoo looked over at the Esper Association President, wondering if Sa-wol’s information had been accurate. But the president offered no comments on the matter. Without his support, Hosoo had no grounds to intervene.
He bit down on his lip, eyes fixed on Do In-ho’s profile for a long moment. He flipped to the next page, checking the other guide ranks—but none of them seemed capable of handling Do In-ho.
***
The mood at the chicken place had soured after the anti-government broadcast. The intern employees had all left, but Ho-eun lingered, wandering the complex without going back to the dormitory.
The atmosphere was unusually tense. Though the interns hadn’t received any notices, it seemed that other employees were being assigned duties related to the anti-government incident.
Ho-eun hovered nearby, eavesdropping on passing conversations.
“Yes! I’m not on the list!”
He quietly approached a group wearing blue employee badges, who were all looking at their phones. From what he overheard, a special team of ten people had been formed to go on-site tomorrow.
Unable to hold back his curiosity, Ho-eun approached the guides.
“Excuse me… would it be okay if I take a look too?”
They eyed his yellow intern badge curiously.
“If you’re an intern, this mission shouldn’t involve you.”
“I just want to see if I know anyone.”
“Eh, sure. Here.”
Though Ho-eun had an account on the company’s internal site, some posts were restricted from intern-level access. He took the guide’s phone and scrolled through the list.
“Thank you.”
After handing the phone back, Ho-eun stood in place. The group of guides gave him odd looks, then quickly left.
He had recognized a name.
Do In-ho.
The moment he saw it, his heart started pounding wildly. Thump. Thump. An unfamiliar anxiety gripped him. It was just a field deployment—so why did it feel so ominous? Like the time he saw a puddle of blood in the hallway, his body wouldn’t move.
Ho-eun sat on a park bench nearby, lost in thought.
Tomorrow, he had planned to spend the day with Do In-ho in Seoul. They were going to have kimchi stew at the Incheon airport in the morning, grab some deli pastries on the way to the train, visit an arcade in the city, eat tteokbokki and snacks at a street stall, and ride the amusement park rollercoasters until they were dizzy. In the evening, they’d have steak in a high-rise with a view of the Seoul skyline. Ho-eun wanted to show Do In-ho just how boring his own life had been.
But Do In-ho wouldn’t be going to any of those places.
Wait—actually, they were supposed to go to the 63 Square Aquarium… so maybe, in a twisted way, he still would.
“You saw the list, huh?”
“…Team Leader.”
Startled, Ho-eun looked up to see Hosoo standing above him, his face weary. He took a seat beside Ho-eun on the bench.
“I wanted to save Do In-ho. But if it’s the anti-government group, he’s definitely going to overload tomorrow.”
“You paired us for the practicum to prevent that… didn’t you?”
Hosoo pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth. It was a non-smoking area, so he didn’t light it—just chewed on the filter. Ho-eun’s words brought the earlier meeting to mind.
“I’ll explain the operation. First, we’ll rescue the hostages. Then, we must prevent the anti-government alliance from attacking Korea. This contract was made from the crystal of someone with a Pact-type ability.”
Baek Woo-gyeong had waved a blank sheet of paper, smacking his lips.
“The contract states that from the moment it’s signed, Tiger agrees not to order the anti-government alliance to attack Korea. If they violate it, the signer’s heart will stop. This should suffice, right?”
Hosoo clenched his fists. The plan was something neither the Guide Corporation nor the Esper Association could deny. Baek Woo-gyeong’s proposal had been approved.
Returning to the present, Hosoo spoke in a drained voice.
“A skilled guide can choose who to save. But Do In-ho isn’t one of those options. Saving someone that close to overload… is the same as saying you’re willing to die.”
“You don’t know that unless you try.”
“Is he your family? Whether he dies or not on that mission—it has nothing to do with you. You two don’t even share that kind of bond.”
“…”
Ho-eun couldn’t reply. Everything Hosoo said was true. Yet for some reason, he just couldn’t let go of Do In-ho.
“Do you know this? Heroes… they save people. Even if they’re not family. Even if there’s no bond. If someone needs help and it’s within their reach… they help.”
“What, are you saying you’re a hero?”
“I’m just saying… I’ve figured out what I can do. Back when I was unemployed, I lived like crap. I didn’t know how to live, so I didn’t want to do anything at all.”
“…”
“But now I know. I know what I’m capable of.”
Ho-eun’s voice sliced through the air with clarity. His eyes gleamed under the light. Hosoo pressed a palm down on his head and stood up.
“Was it 2 a.m. in front of the lab…?”
Speaking barely loud enough for Ho-eun to hear, as if to himself, Hosoo walked away. Ho-eun mentally braced himself to be mocked—but no scoffing voice followed.
“…Thank you.”
Even if Hosoo couldn’t hear him, Ho-eun gave thanks and checked his guide watch.
Do In-ho’s GPS location showed somewhere unfamiliar. It was within the Incheon branch, but not a place Ho-eun had ever visited—probably a space designated exclusively for Espers, just as there were areas just for guides.
Back in the dorm, Ho-eun washed up and changed clothes. Instead of pajamas, he wore casual attire. He placed his dress shoes back in the cabinet and pulled out comfortable sneakers. Then he sat on the sofa and closed his eyes.
This was the time he usually went to sleep—so just closing his eyes should’ve brought on drowsiness. But tonight, sleep wouldn’t come. His body remained tense, as if he’d drunk too much caffeine.
He didn’t know how much time had passed with his eyes closed, but it felt like the Grim Reaper was standing behind him, holding a giant scythe, whispering that he’d follow the moment he left the house. A cold chill ran down his spine. Ho-eun opened his eyes and looked around. No Reaper.
1:40 a.m.
He did some light stretching and put on his sneakers. His body felt lighter than when he’d been sitting still.
Do In-ho still hadn’t returned to the dorm. Ho-eun quietly made his way toward the research lab, careful not to be seen.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps behind him—someone brushed past, bumping his shoulder. A fluttering raincoat.
“…That person…”
Ho-eun cautiously followed behind Leo.
“Baby, don’t go… There are plenty of other guides. Why you? Shouldn’t marked guides be excluded from missions like this?!”
Down the forested path near the lab, Leo was holding someone’s hand.
“Why’d you come all the way here like a child? It’s just a simple mission.”
“Simple?! Are you stupid? Do In-ho is going to be there! If he starts using his ability and overloads, how’s a guide supposed to survive that?!”
The moment he heard Do In-ho’s name, Ho-eun perked up his ears.
