# Chapter 75
It was a name Hajin had momentarily forgotten after meeting Alpha Team.
‘Surely he’s not dead?’
Hajin briefly had an ominous thought but quickly concluded it couldn’t be true. Just because Seo Jihan had helped at the end didn’t mean Hajin thought well of him.
However, he couldn’t forget the look in his eyes before he turned away for the last time.
They weren’t close enough for such a pitiful gaze, and Seo Jihan himself had gone to great lengths to avoid Hajin. So why did he look at him as if he were seeing a lover for the last time?
Hajin inwardly clicked his tongue at the gaze that remained etched in his mind like a photograph. Then he nodded to Cha Jinwoo, who was waiting for his answer.
“Yes. I know him.”
Cha Jinwoo, upon hearing the response, signaled Alpha Team to continue running. Once again, the sound of wind filled Hajin’s ears. Through that sound came Cha Jinwoo’s voice.
“Before receiving the message that Hajin-ssi had been rescued, we encountered Seo Jihan. Somehow, he was less aggressive in battle than usual. It even seemed like he was subtly helping us.”
He slightly turned his head to look at Hajin.
“Perhaps you and Seo Jihan…”
As Cha Jinwoo trailed off, Hajin finally realized that this sequence of events might seem suspicious.
However, he didn’t feel anxious about them doubting him. Because of this, Hajin could calmly explain what had happened.
“Before you all arrived, I was captured by two anti-government Espers. My Guiding was blocked, and I was almost dragged away when Seo Jihan-ssi rescued me.”
The listeners couldn’t gather their thoughts at this bombshell statement.
“W-wait a minute. So your current poor condition is because of those bastards?”
“Yes.”
If Choi Jihyung hadn’t tied his limbs so crudely, if Puppy hadn’t ignored his request for help. Hajin would have met Alpha Team in a much healthier state.
“…What are those bastards’ names?”
Baek Jaan asked in a calm voice, but he was more unhinged than anyone else.
If Hajin had seen his expression, he might have hesitated to reveal the names, but currently, he was in Cha Jinwoo’s arms.
Hajin could barely open his eyes due to the wind rushing against his face. So, unaware of Alpha Team’s ominous atmosphere, he calmly revealed their names.
“Choi Jihyung and Puppy.”
Alpha Team’s intensity momentarily subsided at the unfamiliar names.
“I’ve never heard of them…? Team Leader, have you?”
Lee Doyoon asked, but Cha Jinwoo could only shake his head. Alpha Team’s reaction was understandable.
Puppy was embarrassed by his name and introduced himself to others as Black Dog. And Choi Jihyung was someone whose very existence had to be kept secret due to his ability, so both names would be unfamiliar to Alpha Team.
“What does it matter? We’re going to kill them anyway.”
Han Seungho said indifferently. The expression often used by those steeped in bravado carried a heavy weight when used by someone who actually had the power to back it up.
Hajin unconsciously stiffened.
Noticing this brief change, Cha Jinwoo held Hajin more firmly and said:
“But first, we need to return to the Association and check Hajin-ssi’s condition. Don’t forget our priorities.”
“Of course. Team Leader, can’t you run any faster? Are you already that old?”
Han Seungho nodded in agreement before sneering. The atmosphere was completely different from when Hajin had been kidnapped.
Of course, no one had been in a good mood then, but that’s precisely why they knew what that mood had been like.
“Don’t be cheeky. I could easily handle someone like you even while carrying Hajin-ssi.”
That’s why Cha Jinwoo engaged a bit more, when normally he would have just said “don’t be cheeky” and left it at that. Han Seungho took the bait of Cha Jinwoo’s dismissive provocation.
“Oh? You shouldn’t be so overconfident. After all, Team Leader, you’re getting older like me.”
Despite the continued age attacks, Cha Jinwoo just snorted.
“You should take that back.”
Cha Jinwoo had shown his own version of kindness, but Han Seungho, perhaps thinking he had gained the upper hand against him for the first time, snorted even louder.
“Why is your tongue so loose today, unlike your usual Team Leader self?”
Han Seungho’s shoulders rose high with triumph. Due to his hot-tempered nature, he usually lost verbal battles, so he seemed quite pleased to win for the first time.
But that feeling was shattered by Hajin’s voice that immediately followed.
“Age… I suppose that’s true.”
“Huh…?”
Han Seungho quickly turned his head toward Hajin.
Although his face wasn’t clearly visible as he had buried his head against Cha Jinwoo’s chest, the small voice that escaped was clearly weak.
Han Seungho finally realized what he had missed and why Cha Jinwoo had spoken that way. He turned his head in the opposite direction to look at Baek Jaan and Lee Doyoon.
Indeed, they too had heard Hajin’s voice and were meeting Han Seungho’s eyes with fierce expressions.
“Hyung! Th-that’s not what I meant!”
Han Seungho tried to somehow change what he had said, but every thought that came to mind could be countered with his own words.
“Urgh! Hyung! I’m sorry!”
Han Seungho, who wasn’t good at speaking to begin with, ultimately failed to pleasantly rephrase his words.
Jumping up to approach Hajin, he repeatedly apologized, unaware that the more he did so, the more irreparable the atmosphere became.
“Y-you idiot…!”
Finally, Lee Doyoon grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, pulled him away, and whispered something, only then did Han Seungho’s mouth close. His face had turned even paler.
The one who cleared the miserable atmosphere was Cha Jinwoo, the only one who was the same age as Hajin and older than the others.
“If Hajin-ssi reacts like that, it makes me feel even more embarrassed.”
“Ah…”
Swept up in Han Seungho’s fuss and momentarily solemn, Hajin finally raised his head. He realized that the more seriously he reacted, the more it embarrassed Cha Jinwoo, who was older than him.
Cha Jinwoo hadn’t been affected by Han Seungho’s words, but Hajin had been concerned.
He vowed to discipline Han Seungho after confirming Hajin was in good health, and pushed ahead harder.
Thanks to running without rest, they were able to arrive before sunset. Hajin marveled anew at the familiar building visible from afar.
Ironically, it was partly because the anti-government headquarters was located in a province not too far away, but he was amazed at how quickly people could run.
Hajin couldn’t stop being amazed at the travel time, which was similar to riding in a car. He had seen walls being broken and house-sized monsters being captured, but this felt more tangibly real.
Alpha Team continued to move quickly during this time.
“…But doesn’t the atmosphere seem a bit strange?”
Just as Lee Doyoon, who had been observing their surroundings, opened his mouth.
Almost simultaneously, those who spotted them—or more precisely, confirmed Hajin in their arms—greeted them as if screaming.
“It’s Guide Lee Hajin!”
When someone shouted, those who heard the voice simultaneously turned their heads toward Hajin. At this bizarre sight, Hajin trembled, and Baek Jaan and Han Seungho stepped in front to block the gazes.
“Huuuung! Guide Lee Hajin! You’ve returned safely!”
Han Seungho, sensing something wasn’t right, immediately became defensive.
“What’s going on? Why are you all greeting us like this?”
Han Seungho reacted sensitively to the reaction, which resembled how people would look for them after causing trouble, but the Association employee seemed half-crazed, not backing down even in the face of an S-rank Esper’s caution.
“You don’t know what’s been happening. Huung…”
Meanwhile, Hajin, who had gotten down from Cha Jinwoo’s arms, turned his head to assess the chaotic atmosphere. Without exception, everyone had haggard faces and wrinkled clothes.
‘Did they all work overtime?’
Some were even shedding tears. Hajin instinctively felt that this wasn’t simply celebrating his return, as they hadn’t seen him that often.
‘Somehow, it feels like I’ve gotten caught up in something troublesome as soon as I returned.’
And that prediction wasn’t wrong. When Cha Jinwoo demanded an explanation of the situation, a detailed and vast amount of information began to pour out of the employee’s mouth as if they had been waiting for this moment.
Hajin’s face darkened after hearing everything that had happened from the employee. It was horrifying to hear that everyone who had received Han Jiwoo’s Guiding couldn’t control their wavelengths.
It was as if a virus had been implanted in the Guiding.
Suddenly, Hajin raised his head. Hadn’t his Espers also received Guiding from Han Jiwoo? Hajin had suppressed the unstable wavelengths, but he was anxious as they hadn’t coordinated.
Hajin’s hand grabbed Cha Jinwoo’s arm beside him. His gaze naturally fell on Hajin.
“You all said you received Guiding. Let’s go get checked right away.”
“Hajin-ssi comes first.”
“I’m much better now.”
“Still, Hajin-ssi’s examination comes first.”
The argument between Hajin and Cha Jinwoo continued evenly. In reality, it wasn’t a one-on-one situation. There were four members of Alpha Team insisting that Hajin’s examination should come first.
But the opponent was Hajin. Whether Alpha Team had four or eight members, they couldn’t break Hajin’s stubbornness.
In the end, Alpha Team raised their hands in surrender only when Hajin played his trump card, saying he wouldn’t get examined either if they didn’t go first.
They had to undergo various examinations, led by Hajin’s hand. Alpha Team had never received such intensive examinations even when their berserk levels were precarious, so they were awkward throughout.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
