# Chapter 15
National Esper Control Center, abbreviated as NECC.
The NECC could be considered the most veiled institution among government agencies. No one knew where it was located or how large it was. The only information that had been officially disclosed was that it was the sole institution where Espers and Guides could operate, and that the director of the agency was “Kim Hyungjin.”
Apart from Director Kim Hyungjin, the personal information of those with abilities was not made public. Even Kim Hyungjin, whose identity was disclosed to the outside world, only communicated through video media. For this reason, some conspiracy theorists claimed that Director Kim Hyungjin himself was a fictional entity created using deepfake technology.
In any case, since no information about the NECC was publicly available, ordinary people tended to perceive Espers and Guides as something like protagonists from “action hero movies.” The same had been true for me.
“What nonsense is this? If I’m a Guide, then I suppose Heerim is an Esper…”
I tried to brush off Heerim’s words as a joke but had to stop mid-sentence. The hair I casually glanced at on Heerim’s head had turned a shimmering silver color. It was an otherworldly yet beautiful shade that left me staring in awe.
“Don’t you remember? We’ve met before.”
Heerim smiled casually as he took my hand and placed it against his cheek. His soft, warm skin enveloped my palm. Simultaneously, another electric thrill ran through me. Only then did I realize that this strange sensation was occurring because of Heerim.
“I saved you when you were about to fall into the Rift. Don’t you remember? I’d really like you to remember this.”
Heerim spoke with a hint of bitterness. I swallowed hard, my face astonished.
The memories replayed in my mind: a large red moon, grotesque tentacles emerging from a black hole, and silvery hair shimmering in my hazy vision. Until now, no one had mentioned this incident, and it wasn’t recorded anywhere, so I had convinced myself I’d hallucinated it. But to learn that what happened that day was real, and that the man who saved me was Heerim—it was simply unbelievable.
“B-but Espers are supposed to work at the NECC. The Earth Peace Research Institute…”
“Has absolutely nothing to do with that facility.”
“Is that allowed? I don’t know much, but I’ve heard that the NECC strictly prohibits ability users from engaging in personal activities.”
“How should I know? It’s not a place that concerns me.”
Heerim’s expression turned quite displeased when the NECC was mentioned.
I couldn’t make sense of anything and just blankly stared at Heerim’s shimmering hair. Looking at him now, Heerim definitely didn’t appear to be an ordinary person. Then suddenly I realized that at that time, I had been looking at job postings for the Earth Peace Research Institute. I pulled my hand free from Heerim’s grip and looked up at him.
“Wait. Then was it you who submitted my part-time job application to the office?”
“……”
Heerim remained silent. Even without a response, I could tell it was an affirmation.
“Seriously? Did you know from the beginning that I was a Guide and that’s why you did it?”
“No! I didn’t know at all, not at all then.”
Heerim denied it vehemently, even shuddering. It didn’t seem like a lie, but I still felt uneasy.
“Then why did you…”
“Hyung. I think your phone is ringing.”
Heerim spotted my flashing phone and seized the opportunity to change the subject. The screen displayed Jaeyeon’s name, who was probably tearing into chicken at home. I answered with a suppressed sigh.
“Oppa. Where are you?”
“I’m right in front of our house…”
“What? Are you really meeting a girlfriend? Why aren’t you coming in?”
“What girlfriend? I’m about to come in now.”
“Then bring some ice cream when you come. Something refreshing. I need something to cleanse my palate after all that chicken.”
“…Okay.”
Jaeyeon said what she wanted and hung up. I glanced awkwardly at Heerim with an embarrassed smile. By now, his hair had returned to its original color.
“It’s getting late, so I’ll talk about this with the Director tomorrow. Heerim, you should go home now.”
“…Alright.”
I quickly left, afraid that Heerim might try to hold me back again. Only after putting some distance between us did I cautiously look back. Heerim had already disappeared from where he’d been standing.
The next day. I went to the Earth Peace Research Institute office as usual. Although I had decided to quit, there was something I wanted to ask about first.
“Good morning.”
Jeongmun bowed his head in greeting at my hello. I looked around as I sat at my desk. Heerim and the Director were nowhere to be seen.
A heavy silence hung over the office where only the two of us remained. Never having had a proper conversation with Jeongmun before, I idly fidgeted with my mouse in the suffocating awkwardness. Jeongmun was playing online Omok with a stoic expression.
“Where is everyone?”
How much time had passed? Unable to bear the awkwardness, I spoke first. Jeongmun scratched his cheek.
“Heerim went to get scolded, and Noona Hanyoung went to scold Heerim.”
I let out a laugh at his straightforward, unembellished answer. I knew the relationship between the three employees was like family, but it seemed excessively informal. Just as I was wondering how this company had come into existence, I suddenly realized something odd about what Jeongmun had said.
“Wait. Noona? Is the Director older than you?”
“Huh? Oh, she’s four years older than me.”
“…!”
This was unbelievable. It was as shocking as learning that Heerim was an Esper last night. Though it’s rude to Jeongmun, judging by appearances alone, I had thought he was the eldest in the office. I tried not to show my surprise as I carefully opened my mouth.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how old… I mean, what’s your age?”
“Oh, I’m twenty-six this year.”
“…!”
An even greater shock hit the back of my head. I was so surprised that I almost accused him of lying. At twenty-six, he was only two years older than me. I was at a loss for words, having assumed Jeongmun was at least in his early to mid-thirties. What kind of hardships had he endured…
“……”
“……”
With nothing more to say, an even more awkward silence fell than before.
“I’ll just go to the bathroom for a moment.”
Just as I was about to get up, using the bathroom as an excuse because the silence was suffocating, the office door opened and Heerim and the Director, who had been absent for some time, entered. Heerim was wearing a pastel cardigan, but despite his fresh outfit, his expression was gloomy, whatever the scolding had entailed.
“Oh, Jaeo, you’re here? Come talk with me for a bit.”
The Director beckoned with her finger for me to follow. Since I had something to ask anyway, I followed her out of the office.
She took me to a small terrace at the end of the 10th-floor corridor. It was set up as a rest area with potted flowers in bloom and benches. In the corner, there was also an empty can filled with cigarette butts.
“Mind if I smoke?”
“…Sure.”
The Director took out a long cigarette and put it between her lips. I nervously glanced at her, rolling my eyes around. I had a feeling about what she wanted to discuss.
“You can speak comfortably to me.”
“Really? Well then.”
The smoke she exhaled scattered uneasily in the air. I sat in the chair opposite her, silently waiting for her to finish smoking.
“I heard Heerim told you. That he’s an Esper.”
The Director took out another cigarette, rubbing her temple as if she had a headache. I nodded slightly. As I thought, that’s what she wanted to talk about.
“Yes, Heerim is an Esper. An S-class one at that.”
I stared at her with wide eyes. I thought I’d heard all the surprising things yesterday, but more shocking facts kept emerging.
Though I didn’t know much about Espers, I was well aware of how exceptional S-class was. Espers were ranked according to the magnitude of their abilities, and S-class was the highest rank, with fewer than ten people worldwide.
And Heerim was S-class? Why on earth would an S-class Esper be working here?
“And you’ve also heard that you’re a Guide who can care for Heerim?”
“I heard about it yesterday, but I don’t understand. I’m… just ordinary.”
“Of course. Guides don’t awaken. Basically, they’re all ordinary people.”
The Director seemed to know a lot about Espers and Guides.
“Well, there are conditions to becoming a Guide. You need to have a large amount of innate Ki and must be ‘mentally compatible’ with an Esper. They call it ‘resonance.'”
“I see…”
I answered halfheartedly, feeling this wasn’t something to be particularly happy about. The Director continued speaking, aware that I wasn’t thrilled about this conversation.
“An Esper without a Guide is like a ticking time bomb. That’s exactly Heerim’s situation. Right now, he’s forcibly suppressing it, but that won’t last much longer. I heard he suddenly collapsed this time, even though he didn’t do much. Someday, he’ll end up going berserk.”
Only then did I understand what the Director had meant earlier by the “truck with broken brakes” metaphor. I still didn’t fully grasp why she specifically mentioned it “racing through a flower garden,” but I suspected it was a metaphor for Heerim’s mental state.
“Then wouldn’t it be better to ask the NECC for help?”
“No. That’s not an option.”
As soon as the NECC was mentioned, the Director’s expression crumpled. It was a similar reaction to Heerim’s yesterday.
“I’m sorry I can’t explain in detail. What I can tell you for certain is that Heerim needs you, Jaeo. If things continue as they are, not just Heerim but everyone could die.”
“……”
“Jaeo. This is literally about protecting the peace of the Earth.”
The Director’s expression was more serious than ever as she uttered the absurd and grandiose phrase “peace of the Earth,” and I felt perplexed. It felt like I had dared to step into something I couldn’t handle.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
