Chapter 111
Regardless of matching rates, having a C-class Guide take full responsibility for an S-class Esper was something that only Lee Su-hyeon would suffer from. Above all, Jeon Hyeon-wook trusted Kim Kwang-in at least in this matter. No matter how opportunistic and materialistic he might be—or rather, precisely because he was that type of person—there was no reason for him to encourage something that brought him no benefit.
‘Even if Team Leader demands something unreasonable later using this as leverage, I’ll have to endure it. Thanks to him, I have a chance to save Su-hyeon from danger.’
Although the thought of attacking Lee Su-hyeon with his own hands felt like it would tear his heart apart, it was necessary for the greater good. He simply couldn’t stand by and watch him being overworked unfairly or used like a disposable item and then discarded.
If Lee Su-hyeon were injured and his guiding became compromised, the heartless Song Ji-hyeok would criticize him and immediately seek out Choi Young-sun as his Guide. If that happened repeatedly…
‘That’s when your opportunity will come, Hyeon-wook. When their Pair bond breaks, I can actively recommend you as Lee Su-hyeon’s new Pair Esper. People should naturally be with others of their own level. Don’t you agree?’
Kim Kwang-in’s cunningly persuasive words echoed in his head throughout the battle like an auditory hallucination. In the end that day, Jeon Hyeon-wook concentrated energy into his right hand—aimed not at a monster deserving death, but at Lee Su-hyeon’s back.
The result was completely different from what Jeon Hyeon-wook had expected. That evening, news came that Lee Su-hyeon had been teleported away.
Befitting a dungeon teeming with A-class monsters, it was hard to find an Esper who participated in the attack without injury, and even with minor wounds it was difficult to get into the infirmary. In this situation, leaving the scene by teleport meant one thing: either he had sustained injuries too severe to be treated on-site, or his life was in imminent danger.
After that, there was no more news about Lee Su-hyeon, and in the final battle, Jeon Hyeon-wook suffered a crushing injury to his right leg. In a situation where survival was uncertain even with full concentration, momentarily being distracted despite having a monster right in front of him—it was miraculous he was only injured to that extent.
The battle ended not long after. The final elite strike force finally put an end to the boss mob, and the Awakeners who participated returned bearing their damned scars of glory.
Despite receiving special leave, Jeon Hyeon-wook reported to the guild the very next day after leaving the operating room. This was because he learned that Lee Su-hyeon was in the guild’s inpatient ward.
However, he couldn’t bring himself to visit Lee Su-hyeon. The fact remained that he was responsible for his injury, so he didn’t have the face to see him yet.
There was another reason why Jeon Hyeon-wook insisted on showing up at the guild office even with crutches. It was much easier to gather information just by being present.
Thankfully, Lee Su-hyeon had awakened and returned to work, but rumors quickly spread that there were issues with him guiding Song Ji-hyeok.
When this news reached his ears, Jeon Hyeon-wook felt both sorry and glad. He knew the weight of his crime. Deliberately harming a fellow Esper was a serious offense deserving not only legal punishment but also lifelong condemnation.
But thinking about the reward that would help him overcome this, Jeon Hyeon-wook desperately steadied his mind and endured. Not much time remained until he achieved his goal. Once the Pair contract with the despicable Song Ji-hyeok was terminated, he planned to comfort and soothe Lee Su-hyeon’s wounded heart, and politely confess his desire for them to become Pairs.
But… what he had just heard in the elevator threatened to collapse everything.
“Hey, did you hear the news? FARI sent a love call to Lee Su-hyeon.”
“Pari? Paris, France?”
“Damn, stop showing your ignorance. The Federal Awakener Research Institute contacted Lee Su-hyeon.”
“Insane. Is this a dream?”
“It’s true, you punk. Look at this.”
“…What? It’s real?”
“I heard it on the radio on my way to work and searched it—turned out to be true. Does that guy have a guardian angel or something? He’s so damn lucky.”
“So what? He’s all flash and no substance. I bet 100 won he won’t last a year in America before getting kicked out.”
After the Espers who were chattering vulgarly with snickers got off first, Jeon Hyeon-wook got off at the next floor. Without even thinking to step aside, he immediately took out his phone and searched for Lee Su-hyeon’s name.
‘No, it can’t be. It can’t be true. Those people must have misunderstood something…’
Surely that must be the case. No, it had to be. He had betrayed his duty as an Esper to remove Song Ji-hyeok, who was only consuming him, and be by his side instead. If Lee Su-hyeon were to go to America, it would be as if he had pushed him away with his own hands.
‘This can’t be happening. This can’t be. This can’t be happening.’
His eyes reddened from the shock. Since this involved Lee Su-hyeon, various thoughts quickly flashed through his mind.
After terminating the Pair contract with Song Ji-hyeok, would he form a new Pair contract with himself, or would he leave for the Federal Awakener Research Institute that welcomed Dual Awakeners?
There wasn’t much to consider. It was obvious that not only Lee Su-hyeon but all Awakeners worldwide would choose the latter.
‘Then what about all my efforts? If Su-hyeon leaves for America, I… I…’
Won’t even be able to see his face up close like now.
When that thought hit him, his heart sank. Standing there with his vision darkened from shock, he barely managed to think of someone.
‘I need to see Team Leader.’
Though he himself had no power, it was different with Team Leader Kim Kwang-in. Even he knew the widespread rumors that Kim was engaged in an invisible competition with the Team 3 leader for the next Guild Master position. This meant his position within the guild was solid and his authority substantial. He might be able to prevent Lee Su-hyeon from leaving the guild by attaching some reason or citing certain clauses.
Soon, Jeon Hyeon-wook frantically took out his device. With trembling hands, he called his team leader—someone he never thought he would contact first in his life, someone whose mere incoming calls made him freeze with tension.
At the same time, Kim Kwang-in was enjoying a rare leisurely tea time. Though his shoulder, deeply cut by a monster’s attack, still throbbed, his mind was so peaceful that even that pain felt pleasant.
On the table in front of him lay a paper newspaper. A small article on the bottom of a page several turns in—so small it might have been overlooked—had excited him.
‘Even a grub has its own talent for rolling.’
The face that came to mind was Lee Su-hyeon’s. Apart from being slightly impertinent, he had no particular grudge against him, but if someone stood in his way, it was right to uproot them completely, even if they were just insignificant weeds.
‘He should have known his place and never become Song Ji-hyeok’s Pair. Tsk.’
If he had stepped aside, allowing Song Ji-hyeok and Choi Young-sun to become a Pair and join his team, Lee Su-hyeon’s value would have remained less than floating dust, as it had been until now. He had thought a half-witted Dual Awakener was useless even if given away for free—who would have expected FARI to show interest?
‘Is there something to these Duals?’
The thought crossed his mind briefly, but he didn’t show deep interest. Knowing full well that Lee Su-hyeon had barely fulfilled his role as a C-class Awakener for the past few years, it was unlikely his abilities would suddenly soar to S-class or A-class. Far from it—when he heard that his Guide grade had dropped to D-class, even he clicked his tongue. Of course, this wasn’t based on sympathy or pity, but rather a feeling of “what rotten luck.”
Anyway, this was actually a good thing for Kim Kwang-in. Lee Su-hyeon and Song Ji-hyeok’s relationship had seemed to deepen more than expected, becoming a thorn in his side, but if Lee Su-hyeon left completely this time, the situation would likely unfold much more favorably for him. This was because he was already on the verge of grasping a new card key: Ham Seo-ryul.
Though both guilds tried to keep it quiet, it was widely known that Ham Seo-ryul had provided guiding to Song Ji-hyeok toward the end of the joint battle. As soon as Kim Kwang-in learned that the two had continued contact recently, he launched bold behind-the-scenes operations.
Although people with abilities are collectively called “Awakeners,” their individual ideologies and values vary greatly. For Kim Kwang-in, personal advancement and success were more important than contributing to the world with his abilities. From his perspective, he had a hunch that the Guide Ham Seo-ryul was similar to himself in nature.
Indeed, when he secretly approached him and offered to “provide support,” Ham Seo-ryul left while pretending to be troubled but leaving room for consideration. What Kim Kwang-in wanted in return was clear: to recruit the two into Team 6 and use them as a foundation for future moves. If that happened, he could pull the temporarily distant position of the next Guild Master closer to himself.
‘I wish Lee Su-hyeon would disappear as soon as tomorrow. Should I perform a ritual?’
Just as he was wearing a base smile, his quiet device rang loudly. After checking the screen, he raised one eyebrow with a quickly changed expression.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
