A Small Boat on the Sea (12)
And so we headed to the training ground where the mock battle would take place. Looking at Sa Hae-geon walking beside me with an expressionless face gave me a strange feeling. Unlike him, who seemed completely unbothered, I was overwhelmed with worry.
How could they arrange a mock battle after just a few days of training? He wouldn’t even be able to use his abilities freely since he didn’t have a Guide with matching wavelengths, so he’d be inexperienced in many ways.
Honestly, I’d consider it fortunate if he didn’t get seriously injured. He even looked somewhat pitiful to me. I patted Hae-geon’s back and spoke softly to him.
“You don’t need to win, so don’t push yourself too hard. There are things like compatibility and differences in experience, you know?”
“Are you telling me to win or to lose?”
“No, of course I’d be happy if you win. But I’m saying it’s okay if you lose. So don’t overdo it. You’ve only just started proper training at the Center, so you might lose. Just take it easy.”
“You might not understand, but hearing talk like that only makes me want to win more.”
“What? You’re being contrarian… Anyway, don’t get hurt. I’m telling you to be careful. Got it?”
“Yes. I won’t get hurt. I promise.”
Sa Hae-geon nodded with a slight smile at my concerned instructions. Although it was just a mock battle, there were many variables that could lead to injury, but he didn’t seem to care. Though I was worried, all I could do now was trust him.
The training ground was packed with not only our team but also Field Team 2 personnel gathered to watch the mock battle. I thought only a few people would come, but there were more than expected. It seemed like there were easily over twenty people.
“Why are so many people here? Is this some big spectacle?”
“Team 1 versus Team 2, of course we have to come watch!”
“No, what I mean is, Team 1 is going to win anyway, so why does Team 2 need to be here watching? It’s not that much of a spectacle.”
“Ha, listen to you bragging. Hey, our team’s strength isn’t anything to scoff at!”
As Lee Cheol-min Esper’s provocation caused a commotion in the training ground, Jong-hyeok’s brow furrowed.
“Everyone, quiet. This is a training ground, not a marketplace.”
At Jong-hyeok’s rebuke, the noisy training ground instantly fell silent. Just then, the door opened and an unfamiliar figure walked in.
“Hello. I see many new faces. Are you Field Team 1?”
The friendly-looking man surveyed the training ground curiously before standing in front of us. Then he abruptly extended his hand to Jong-hyeok, requesting a handshake.
“I’m Esper Yoon Seon-hoo, newly assigned to Central Center Field Team 2. You must be Team Leader An Jong-hyeok? I’ve heard so much about you being someone with a lot to learn from. I look forward to working with you!”
Jong-hyeok quietly observed Field Team 2’s new Esper Yoon Seon-hoo who had extended his hand, then nodded. He shook Seon-hoo’s hand with his own massive palm.
“Right. Let’s work well together. So, is Esper Yoon Seon-hoo participating in today’s mock battle?”
“Ah… unfortunately, I’m a mental-type Esper, so proper combat would be difficult for me.”
“I see.”
“Hey, instead of Yoon Seon-hoo, our team’s youngest will participate. Aren’t you also sending out your youngest? Let’s have the rookies face each other to check their skills and assess our strengths.”
Jong-hyeok nodded at Field Team 2 Esper Team Leader’s suggestion. It was fortunate that Hae-geon wouldn’t be facing the mental-type Esper Yoon Seon-hoo, but the youngest from Field Team 2? Could they be referring to the 24-year-old physical enhancement-type Esper who was three years older than Hae-geon?
“Who was your team’s youngest again? Kim Gyu-hwan?”
“Oh, you remember? That’s right, Gyu-hwan.”
Talk about jinxing it…
Kim Gyu-hwan, whom Field Team 2 called their youngest, was an A-class physical enhancement-type Esper who had been active in the field since he was twenty. Naturally, compared to Hae-geon, he would be far superior in combat experience and ability to precisely control his powers.
No matter how high-ranked or quick-learning Hae-geon might be, this was… Feeling anxious, I glanced at Hae-geon, whose face remained as composed as before. Did he really have confidence?
“Then everyone except Team 1’s new Esper and Gyu-hwan, please clear the area.”
At Field Team 2 Esper Team Leader’s words, everyone in the training ground began moving in unison.
I decided to watch the upcoming mock battle from the Guiding space inside the training ground. Before the starting signal sounded, Hae-geon’s gaze briefly met mine. He smiled faintly, then faced forward, and soon the mock battle began.
As soon as the battle started, Hae-geon drew water from deep within the ground and surrounded his body with it, while Esper Kim Gyu-hwan used his ability to make his body as hard as minerals. After a moment of silence, Esper Kim Gyu-hwan rushed toward Hae-geon at high speed.
Esper Kim Gyu-hwan swung his fist to penetrate the water surrounding Hae-geon’s body, which was essentially like armor. However, merely swinging his fist wouldn’t cause direct damage to Hae-geon who was inside the water.
Moreover, Hae-geon was a dual Esper who could also control electricity. One wrong touch to the water could result in electrocution. Esper Kim Gyu-hwan stopped in place to catch his breath briefly, then charged forward again.
This time, not toward Hae-geon, but at the ground beneath him. Gyu-hwan’s fist, hardened and weighted by his ability, plunged straight into the ground. Hae-geon had already distanced himself as soon as he saw Kim Gyu-hwan leaping, and as a result…
The ground where Hae-geon had been standing cracked, creating an artificial fissure. Esper Kim Gyu-hwan didn’t stop there but continued to widen the crack.
“What is he doing?”
“Aren’t more cracks advantageous to Team 1’s rookie? This is… like he’s just creating paths for water to flow.”
“Exactly. What’s he thinking?”
Field Team 2’s Espers muttered in bewilderment. I was curious about that too, and it seemed even those who had worked with Kim Gyu-hwan were confused by his current actions.
Just then, Esper Kim Gyu-hwan, who had been focusing on the ground, stamped his foot forcefully while catching his breath. He put so much force into it that I could feel the ground shake even where I was standing.
The powerful force shaking the ground caused the interior of the training ground to vibrate. The same was true where Hae-geon stood. Each time Kim Gyu-hwan stamped his foot, broken soil fragments rose into the air before falling back down repeatedly.
The force shaking the ground grew stronger. Hae-geon’s body was also slightly trembling. When Esper Kim Gyu-hwan stamped with a force incomparably stronger than before, Hae-geon’s body wobbled slightly.
Kim Gyu-hwan didn’t miss this opportunity and rushed toward Hae-geon. Hae-geon, who had belatedly regained his balance, tried to use the water surrounding his body to block Kim Gyu-hwan’s advance, but Gyu-hwan threw hard soil chunks scattered on the floor to obstruct the water’s path.
Seeing Hae-geon flustered by this unfamiliar battle style made me anxious as well. I had expected Hae-geon to struggle, but actually witnessing it upset me. I was worried about him.
While I was completely focused on Hae-geon’s battle with my nerves on edge, someone approached and spoke to me.
“Are you Guide Chae Do-min?”
When I turned to look, I saw Esper Yoon Seon-hoo’s face. He smiled brightly and extended his hand to me.
“I wanted to greet you earlier but couldn’t properly talk. I’m Yoon Seon-hoo, assigned to Field Team 2. I look forward to working with you.”
I stared blankly at the hand Esper Yoon Seon-hoo offered, then smiled awkwardly. Since awakening as a Guide, I had been reluctant to make contact with others. Whether in a Guiding situation or not, touching others made me uncomfortable, which is why I had avoided contact Guiding until now.
And that included handshakes or light hugs.
“Ah, I don’t really like shaking hands. Nice to meet you.”
I felt sorry for making Esper Yoon Seon-hoo uncomfortable, but I bowed my head in greeting instead of shaking hands.
“…I see. That’s a bit disappointing. Is even a simple handshake difficult for you? I’m not usually the type to ask repeatedly when someone refuses, but really…”
Seeing Esper Yoon Seon-hoo smiling awkwardly gave me a strange feeling. When had we ever met for him to act disappointed like this? A handshake isn’t that important. We weren’t close, nor were we meeting after a long time to feel particularly happy about it, and he wasn’t in such a high position that I couldn’t refuse a handshake.
Of course, even if I had to shake hands with someone in a high position, I would still refuse… Anyway, it had been a long time since I’d met someone like this, and I felt perplexed.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
