Ha-jun took Se-ho from Do In-ho’s arms. Since the boy had just come out of the water and was trembling, Ha-jun carried him over to the firewood to help raise his body temperature.
Ha-jun fell into deep thought. Should he help rescue Ho-eun from the water, or assist Do In-ho in fighting the anti-government Esper? The decision had him paralyzed. But no matter how he weighed it, he couldn’t see himself being any real help in either case. Ha-jun groaned, raking his hands through his hair in frustration.
“Stop.”
Seeing Ha-jun flounder, Do In-ho’s voice dropped to a menacing low.
“Hmm? Stop what?”
“Your ability. I said stop it.”
If the ability didn’t stop, then he’d just have to kill the user. With that in mind, Do In-ho conjured multiple blue flames the size of baseballs and hurled them at the anti-government Esper.
“Whoa, no introduction? Just straight to fireballs?”
The masked woman dodged the flames with a playful grace, fluttering around like a butterfly.
“Is it really okay to throw your ability around like that? I’ve got your Guide right here, you know.”
The bombardment halted immediately. Do In-ho had no choice but to stop.
“That’s right. You better play nice. Whether or not I let go of your Guide depends on how polite you are. So, let’s introduce ourselves, shall we? I’m Wolrang.”
“……”
“And today, I came hunting because I sensed a Guide’s energy. This area’s part of my turf.”
Ahaha. With Wolrang’s laughter, the river began to rumble. Waves from beneath the surface swelled until they whipped into a tornado.
The whirlwind moved with the wave of her hand. Do In-ho’s gaze remained locked onto it, realizing that Ho-eun was still trapped inside the vortex.
How long can a normal person hold their breath?
Do In-ho’s anxiety flared, and so did his flames.
“Don’t you think it’s unfair?” she said casually. “I’m an Esper too, but the government hoards all the Guides. How’s that fair?”
Wolrang ducked around Do In-ho and approached Ha-jun instead.
“They say you have to be affiliated with the Esper Corporation to get Guiding. But look at this—using my powers not for myself, but to save some grubby little kid?”
Ha-jun glared at her, shielding the children behind his back.
“Wow, you really are weak. Not even using your ability, huh?”
Though Wolrang’s face was hidden behind a traditional mask, Ha-jun could almost see her twisted smirk—contemptuous and mocking.
He clenched his fists.
I am weak. The Guide’s underwater, and Esper Do In-ho can’t move freely for fear of hurting the Guide. I have to do something. But all I can manage… is protecting these kids.
“Don’t tell me my taxes are paying your salary.”
Wolrang, despite being anti-government, still found time to rant about taxes as she daintily walked over the surface of the water.
“So, to make things even—this one’s mine.”
Cough, cough!
With a flick of her fingers, the whirlpool released Ho-eun, spitting him from the river and straight into Wolrang’s arms—princess-carry style.
Puhah… haah…
“Whoa… you’re a guy?”
Wolrang’s eyes met Ho-eun’s, and her cheeks instantly flushed bright red. As if realizing for the first time that she was holding him, she raised both hands to cover her mouth. Ho-eun immediately dropped from her grip and plummeted.
“Ah! Team Lead!”
Ho-eun quickly located Ha-jun and Do In-ho, then shouted Ha-jun’s name.
“Ho-eun!”
Just as Ho-eun was about to fall back into the stream, he floated safely in midair—thanks to Ha-jun’s telekinesis, activated at the perfect moment. Do In-ho stood frozen, stunned that Ho-eun hadn’t called his name.
“Worried I’ll steal him?”
Wolrang snapped out of her daze and raised her bow, drawing it taut. At that moment, Do In-ho, previously spiraling in self-loathing, incinerated the arrow with a surge of fire.
“Don’t interfere.”
“You were the one who interfered first.”
While Do In-ho and Wolrang faced off, Ha-jun’s face began to pale. Five seconds—Ho-eun had been suspended midair for nearly five seconds. With Do In-ho locked in a standoff, he couldn’t leave his post to catch Ho-eun.
Ha-jun’s arms trembled. A memory surged through his mind.
It was from when he’d been promoted to Team Lead.
“I passed the Team Lead promotion test?”
“Yes.”
“Something feels off. Can I see the grading results?”
“You didn’t technically meet the passing score, but due to special circumstances, you were promoted.”
“Special circumstances?”
“It seems the recent kidnapping incident has leaked to the public. It’s been reported as a simple child abduction by a trafficking group.”
“And?”
“They needed a hero to go along with the narrative.”
He suddenly remembered the journalist who’d taken his picture for an article. An HR rep handed him a newspaper. No one really read physical newspapers anymore, but Ha-jun accepted it in silence.
[Korea’s Proud Hero! Risking His Life to Protect the Children!]
The lead article featured a photo of Ha-jun.
“But this was all Esper Do In-ho’s doing. Why me?”
“Do In-ho is a Crystal Implant Esper. He could become a problem later. We need a registered Esper as the public face of heroism.”
“But without Do In-ho, those kids—and I—we all would’ve died.”
“Why are you complaining? You got promoted. Just repay the favor someday, as Team Lead.”
The HR rep’s tone had been cold, utterly heartless. Repay him? Me, someone barely deserving of the title Esper? Ha-jun had crumpled the newspaper in guilt. He’d already felt ashamed for deceiving the children. Now, he’d deceived the whole nation.
BOOM!
A clash of wind and fire snapped him back to the present.
This is no time for regrets!
Ha-jun collapsed to his knees under the strain of his ability. His entire body felt like a lead weight. Anyone could see he was at his limit.
“Team Lead, I’m okay.”
Ho-eun reassured him, taking a deep breath. He must’ve anticipated falling in the water again. He never once blamed Ha-jun. That only deepened Ha-jun’s shame.
The anger at his own pathetic weakness as an Esper wrapped around his body. “Wow, you’re weak.” Wolrang’s voice echoed in his ears.
“Yeah. I’m so weak that if I use my ability for more than five seconds, it feels like my blood vessels are gonna burst. I can’t even keep my body upright.”
Muttering to himself, Ha-jun slammed both hands on the rocky ground.
“Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!!!”
The jagged rocks tore at his palms, but the wounds healed and reopened repeatedly.
KRAKABOOM!
Do In-ho and Wolrang were still battling fiercely. Ha-jun was the only one who could save Ho-eun.
“This is pathetic…”
I know I’m weak. I’ve always known. Real heroes don’t need tights on the office wall, flashy Ability Products, or some secret move. Was I just playing hero all along? Have I ever lived as a real Esper?
Ha-jun gritted his teeth. It was shameful to look like this in front of the man he owed his life to. Just like before, he was playing the same helpless role, needing Do In-ho to save him. He hadn’t even saved the kids—he wasn’t saving Ho-eun either.
“Why did someone like me become an Esper…”
Ha-jun squeezed his eyes shut, exhaling ragged breaths. His strength was slipping. Normal people need Espers, Ho-eun’s words rang in his mind—of all times, now.
Ha-jun wanted to ask him—was someone like this really needed?
But no. If he didn’t do something, if he didn’t change—
He’d live the rest of his life like this.
“No way. I’m done with that.”
He refused to be a fake hero forever.
“F… Fly High!”
Ha-jun thrust out his hand. Blood poured from every pore—he was well past his limit.
“Ugh—cough!”
Just before Ho-eun touched the water, he hovered again in midair. Crossing the churning river, Ha-jun gently set him down on the gravel shore and released his power.
“Team Lead! Are you okay?!”
Ho-eun rushed over, grabbing his hand. The moment he did, Guiding energy flowed in. Even after pushing past his limits, Ha-jun was still alive. He’d thought using his ability for more than five seconds would destroy him, erase him—but he was still here.
As his eyelids began to droop, Ha-jun turned his gaze toward Do In-ho.
Having confirmed Ho-eun was safe, Do In-ho no longer held back. With blinding speed, he lunged at Wolrang. For a split second, his face betrayed relief. The dry, detached man from years ago was gone.
“You’ve changed.”
From a man who followed orders without emotion—to someone who could no longer contain them. Ha-jun swallowed the rest of the words as he lost consciousness.
Wolrang could barely dodge Do In-ho’s relentless attacks.
He’s not even giving me time to shoot.
Her flowing robe flapped wildly in the wind. She raised her hands skyward, spinning them clockwise before bringing them together. Just before unleashing her power, she murmured cryptically:
“It’s just like Romeo and Juliet. We know it’s fate, but we still have to part.”
“What?”
“His name’s Ho-eun, right? I have to bring him into our ranks.”
“Then I really do have to kill you.”
Do In-ho’s deadly words didn’t faze the love-struck Wolrang in the slightest. As her hands traced a circle in the air, a faint breeze exploded into a storm.
The raging wind made it impossible to even open one’s eyes. While Do In-ho waited for the storm to settle, Wolrang had already used it to flee.
“Shit.”
Do In-ho clicked his tongue, watching her retreat. Next time I see her, I’ll kill her. With that oath, he rushed to Ho-eun, who was still soaked and likely freezing.
“Hyung, are you okay?”
Using his ability at a safe level, Do In-ho dried Ho-eun’s wet clothes and asked in a worried tone.
“I’m fine… but Team Lead…”
“He hit his limit with that ability.”
Do In-ho slung Ha-jun over his shoulder and entrusted the children to Ho-eun. He gently calmed the wide-eyed, shaken kids.
“Whoa. Are you guys Espers?!”
Contrary to expectations, the children weren’t scared. They were mesmerized—seeing Espers for the first time.
“They’re heroes! Heroes!”
“Team Lead would’ve loved to hear that.”
Ho-eun looked down at Ha-jun, knowing those were the words he’d wanted to hear most.
***
Wolrang strolled toward a hidden portal deep in the mountains.
“My heart’s still racing!”
She lifted her traditional mask to the top of her head, her cheeks still flushed red. Stepping through the portal, it shimmered with crimson light.
“Wolrang, hi.”
The portal led to the anti-government HQ—on the outside, just an abandoned construction site. Inside, she pushed open the door to the command room, where a woman seated in a chair greeted her.
“What’s with your face?”
Noticing Wolrang’s still-blazing cheeks, the woman tilted her head.
“I think… I might’ve fallen for someone! And he’s a Guide, too. Talk about fate!”
“Ugh. What the hell are you saying?”
“Gross.”
Upon hearing her, Seon Yul and Ak Yul, sprawled on the couch playing games, made gagging noises.
“No, really. He’s so handsome. I think his name was Ho-eun?”
“Ho-eun?”
At the long bar-style table, their boss, who’d been watching food videos on her phone, suddenly approached.
“Whoa, what?”
“Was his full name Kwon Ho-eun?”
“I didn’t catch the surname. Why? You know him, Boss?”
“Ho-eun, huh…”
—Today, I’m trying something a bit different. It’s a daily life vlog! Ha-ha. It’s awkward, but I hope you enjoy it.
A familiar voice played from the phone sitting on the table.
