Game? At first, Ho-eun thought it was absurd to mention a game in this situation. But then he remembered— Oh, right. They’d been playing a card game.
“Th-That’s impressive.”
Do In-ho nodded like a proud puppy being praised.
Meanwhile, Choi Seon-yul, who had finally realized the “dokkaebi fire” wasn’t dangerous, lit up the darkened room with a blast of light. It was bright—like someone had flipped on ten overhead bulbs at once.
“The upper level’s still at a standoff. Looks like multiple people have been brainwashed by Wonsin.”
“Which means…”
There were civilian hostages upstairs. Ho-eun glanced quietly toward the warehouse entrance.
“They probably can’t all come down.”
“That’s fine. It’s not like we need more—just the two of us are enough, right?”
Ho-eun picked up a wooden stick lying on the ground. It was fairly long, similar to the training swords they used at the facility.
It wasn’t an Ability Product or anything special—just an ordinary stick. But it was still better than bare hands.
“Seriously, both of you act like this is some game. Playing with people like they’re toys?”
Realizing he’d been tricked, Choi Seon-yul twisted his face into a grotesque sneer—smiling, but visibly enraged. Just as Ho-eun had expected.
Honestly, it wasn’t the dokkaebi fire that deserved its name—it was Seon-yul himself, with a face like a full-on night demon.
“I haven’t even started playing yet.”
Ho-eun swung the stick through the air.
“Ha! What are you gonna do with that dumb stick?”
“‘That dumb stick,’ huh…”
Ho-eun slipped a ring off his thumb.
The moment it came off, the suppressed Broadcast Guiding exploded outward, filling the warehouse in an instant.
“A Guide?”
Seon-yul flinched as he felt the wave of Guiding, startled by its sudden presence. Ho-eun brought the stick forward like a sword.
Yes, it was just a regular wooden stick. But that was about to change.
“In-ho.”
At Ho-eun’s call, Do In-ho swept his palm along the stick. Instantly, it was engulfed in blue flames.
It was no longer just a wooden stick. Wrapped in Blue Flame, it had become a weapon capable of holding its own against Espers.
“So it actually works.”
Ho-eun felt the sensation of Guiding flowing out through his palm.
There was no Dia Main—the essential material for creating Ability Products—so technically, this stick didn’t hold any real power.
Do In-ho was merely continuously releasing his Esper ability around the stick, and Ho-eun was sustaining it with his Guiding, allowing the phenomenon to persist.
It was a method they’d wanted to test before deploying Do In-ho in the field—and now they knew it worked.
“Then let’s really start playing, shall we?”
The Blue Flame dancing around the stick flared wildly, like it was eager to be used.
Do In-ho grabbed Ho-eun by the shoulder, stopping him just as he looked ready to charge at Seon-yul without fear.
“First, we should gather the hostages in one place. When I give the signal, untie them and help them escape outside.”
Do In-ho scanned the warehouse. His gaze flicked from corner to corner, clearly searching for something—or someone.
“His brother hasn’t arrived yet?”
“He went to get Han Yeo-ul. But based on Paul’s transmission, I think we’ve already got Yeo-ul with us.”
“Then what’s left here is the Light Esper and the Mind Control Esper…”
Ho-eun told him about what had just happened.
“For some reason… Wonsin’s ability doesn’t seem to work on me.”
Just as Do In-ho was about to respond— A laser beam grazed Ho-eun’s cheek.
“You think this is some anime or something?! Like I’d give you time for a strategy meeting right in front of me!”
“Damn, that stings more than I expected.”
It felt like a burn. The wound throbbed with heat. He’d let his guard down. Just as Seon-yul said—they’d gotten too relaxed in front of the enemy.
“……”
A single drop of blood rolled down Ho-eun’s cheek and dropped from his jawline.
Do In-ho blinked slowly.
As his lashes lifted, his golden eyes had darkened—like lava boiling beneath the surface.
“Wait—!”
Ho-eun reached out, sensing something was wrong—but it was already too late. Heat surged forward—and suddenly, Do In-ho was gone from view.
—BOOM!!!
Do In-ho charged straight into Seon-yul, smashing a fist into his face.
Seon-yul barely managed to block it, raising his hands in time—but the wall behind him caved in a massive, circular dent.
No point in trying to stop him now.
The scene before him was like something out of a CGI-filled superpower movie—flashes of light and bursts of flame everywhere.
At this rate, the warehouse might collapse.
Ho-eun glanced sideways at Wonsin, who was still just sitting there calmly, munching on chocolate as he watched the chaos like it was a show.
Taking advantage of the moment, Ho-eun made his way toward Han Yeo-ul’s parents.
Let’s cut those ropes first.
Just as Do In-ho had judged, if there were hostages upstairs, it made sense for Yeo-ul’s parents to regroup with them.
Fwoosh.
Flames from the stick rippled as he moved. It was frustrating that he couldn’t land a hit on Seon-yul himself—but rescuing the hostages and then subduing Wonsin came first.
The kid could use his ability at any time and manipulate the civilians above.
Ho-eun swung the stick at the woman. The fire instantly seared through the rope. He shook her gently and she opened her tear-stained eyes, blinking awake.
With trembling hands, she peeled off the duct tape from her mouth.
Her face was a mess from crying—smudged, streaked, completely wrecked.
“You’re all going to pay for these crimes. But first, get out of this warehouse. Our people will keep you safe.”
“Wh-What the hell are you people…?”
She croaked out the words, voice cracked and hoarse. She looked genuinely lost, like she had no idea what kind of mess she’d been dragged into.
“I recommend checking out a rookie Guide’s vlog on YouTube. Don’t forget to like and subscribe.”
Ho-eun offered the joke while gently helping her to her feet by the shoulders.
She stared at him like he was speaking nonsense.
So much for lightening the mood.
“If you don’t run now, you’re gonna get caught again.”
Boom! Crash! BAM!
The woman turned toward the sounds of Do In-ho and Seon-yul’s clash. Forcing strength into her unsteady legs, she began hobbling carefully toward the warehouse exit.
“Hey. You too. Get up.”
Ho-eun addressed the man with the mangled hand. His purple-bruised fingers were clearly in bad shape—it was doubtful he’d ever regain full use, even with treatment.
He seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness from the pain, barely breathing.
Ho-eun had no choice but to lift him by the waist.
That’s when he noticed Wonsin watching them, an amused expression on his face.
“You’re saving him too? Why? He literally sold you out. Told us where you were.”
Ho-eun supported the man with one arm and covered his eyes with his hand.
“You don’t go to school, do you? Even if he tried to help kill me, that doesn’t mean it’s okay for me to kill him in return. Pretty sure even elementary kids know that.”
Ho-eun spoke slowly and clearly, enunciating like he was explaining to a child.
Wonsin’s age was estimated somewhere between 12 and 15. But to Ho-eun, he looked 12 at most—maybe 13.
“Really? Our boss says to repay things double. Someone steps on your foot? Cut off their leg. You should try it—it’s pretty satisfying.”
Wonsin’s eyes glowed violet.
“Kill that man.”
“No. I’m sending him out alive.”
“Tch. Still doesn’t work, huh?”
Wonsin tilted his head, puzzled. Even while making direct eye contact, his ability wasn’t working. And it didn’t seem like Ho-eun was wearing any Ability Products either.
“Ugh…”
The man in Ho-eun’s arms groaned in pain. Ho-eun debated whether to carry him out of the warehouse himself.
By then, the woman had already reached the edge of the warehouse door.
“Can you walk?”
The man nodded weakly. Still watching Wonsin, Ho-eun gently laid him down near the exit. The man’s knees buckled like he’d forgotten how to walk.
“Hm. Honestly, the spot under here might be better for him.”
Wonsin muttered something cryptic but didn’t stop them.
Just like I thought—he’s not attacking. Maybe he’s not such a bad guy after all?
Wonsin’s unreadable behavior only made Ho-eun more curious. Most Espers were physically enhanced and naturally aggressive—but Wonsin just sat back and observed.
“Why are you working with someone like Tiger, committing these kinds of crimes?”
Was he being kept around against his will because of his rare ability? Ho-eun really wanted to understand why Wonsin was affiliated with Tiger.
“You’re still a kid. If you grow up seeing only cruelty and violence, you’ll never become a decent adult. It’s not too late. If you leave Tiger now and join the Esper Corporation, you could have a safer—”
“No thanks. That just makes me a government mutt.”
Wonsin stuck out his tongue and made a gagging sound.
“I didn’t ask to be an Esper. So why should I have to join the government?”
“What? That’s… well…”
“If I join, I have to follow government orders for the rest of my life. Why would I do that?!”
Even in this serious conversation, Ho-eun’s stick was still burning brightly— which made it look like he was the bad guy, threatening a child. Feeling awkward, he quickly lowered the weapon.
“I mean, I get where you’re coming from. But look at what you’re doing. Controlling and using people who don’t want any part of this—that’s just wrong.”
“No, it’s justice! Those guys were garbage! Boss is a good person who cleans up trash like them. And he promised to get revenge for everything they did to us!”
They weren’t speaking the same language.
Wonsin sounded like someone brainwashed by a cult—so locked in his own beliefs that he refused to see reality.
“Han Yeo-ul would be better off with us too, not that Corporation. If she awakens as an Esper, they’ll take her freedom. She’ll live a miserable life forever.”
“……What?”
“The Esper Corporation is trash. Tiger is justice. You people who treat human lives like nothing—you’re the real villains!”
Listening to Wonsin talk about justice made Ho-eun’s chest tighten. He felt like a fool for thinking he could reason with him.
What the hell am I doing, trying to talk to someone like this?
Ho-eun looked for a chance to pull out the Esper Restraints he’d brought.
“You don’t believe me, huh? Can you really say with confidence that the Esper Corporation stands for justice?”
“……”
They were just the ramblings of a kid. Ho-eun knew that. He knew Wonsin was just trying to provoke him.
And yet… every word dug in deep. Doubt began to take root inside his heart.
“We’re the just ones. You’re the evil.”
Wonsin’s voice rang with conviction. And for once… Ho-eun couldn’t come up with a retort.
He hated villains more than anything. If he had to pick a side, he always wanted to stand on the side of justice. But the company he worked for was double-faced.
Espers and Guides who protected civilians and worked for the government… And the dark deeds carried out behind the scenes.
Like those damned ability crystals…
Could he really call this justice?
His thoughts grew hazy.
