# Chapter 18
Right now, Ha-min was wearing equipment made from monster by-products on his legs.
He had similar equipment on his arms, and each piece was quite heavy. If he wore them regularly and then took them off before fighting in dungeons, his body would feel like it was flying.
“I rushed here thinking you’d be waiting, but did you oversleep too, Eunwoo?”
“Yeah. That’s good.”
As we were heading to the cafeteria, I suggested going to the store for kimbap instead, and Ha-min happily agreed, so we changed direction.
Ha-min seemed to sense from the atmosphere that I had something private to tell him.
After buying kimbap and sandwiches, we went to the forest entrance. When I quietly explained my plan, Ha-min’s eyes widened.
“Will they really listen to me, Eunwoo?”
“Yes. If you ask, they’ll listen.”
“Why? They’ve never listened to me before…”
“No, that’s because you don’t know. You’ve never asked the S-class Espers for anything before.”
“That’s true.”
“See? That’s why. Just try asking. They’ll listen.”
Ha-min looked like he couldn’t believe what I was saying.
His expression suggested that even though he’d never tried asking, there were some things you just knew without trying. But I was confident.
“Ha-min. Have confidence. Many people like you. If you ask, they’ll listen.”
“I hope it goes well, but I don’t think it will…”
“Then I’ll find another way if that happens.”
“Can you do that? Okay, I’ll ask. Eunwoo, they’ll listen if you ask.”
Ah… that’s not what I meant.
I meant that if Ha-min asked and they didn’t listen, I would threaten them, but Ha-min seemed to have understood differently.
If saying it that way made him feel better, I had no problem agreeing.
“From now on, we need to plan carefully. For the time being, be nice to the S-class Espers. We have no choice until we get what we want. Understand, Ha-min?”
“Yes…!!”
Ha-min looked determined, and I felt motivated too.
And so it began.
***
When we went to the S-class Espers’ dining hall, the three Espers eating there looked at us as if something strange was happening.
They exchanged glances, as if wondering who had invited us.
As soon as we entered the dining hall, the scent of high quality food filled the air, but I focused on more important matters.
“Oh, welcome, Esper Seo Eunwoo. What brings you here? You never liked eating here. I was thinking about coming to see you, but it seemed your meal time was over, so I was aiming for dinner. We just got back from a dungeon. You know, the one where the gate appeared. We’re going in and out diligently before it disappears, trying to learn something.”
Kyun In talked as if he had completely forgotten about mentioning the guild to me, acting like nothing had happened between us.
The other two Espers also seemed genuinely pleased that we had come.
I nudged Ha-min in the side, and he smiled as planned.
“Hahahahaha. Hello, Espers. How are you today?”
That’s right, Ha-min.
These people will be completely smitten when you smile.
You’re doing well.
But the Espers’ expressions were strange as they looked at Ha-min.
They glanced at him with faces that seemed to wonder what he had eaten to act this way, then turned away.
“Seo Eunwoo. Have you eaten? If not, should I ask the chef to make something? Even if you’ve eaten, have more. You probably didn’t get enough.”
Byun Tae-young said this and looked at Shim Woo-jin.
Shim Woo-jin could have asked why he was being sent, but he quietly got up and seemed to be speaking to the chef.
“They say we need to wait 12 minutes. I haven’t started eating yet either, so let’s wait and eat together.”
At Shim Woo-jin’s words, the other Espers also stopped eating.
There was no need to go that far.
Seeing their usual behavior, this was truly unexpected.
“You can eat first…”
Ha-min said apologetically, but no one responded.
“But really, what brings you two here? People who never come even when we beg. Did you come because you missed us? No, that can’t be it. These guys wouldn’t miss us. So did you come because you missed me? Esper Seo Eunwoo, tell me honestly.”
At Kyun In’s words, Byun Tae-young looked at me.
“Did you come because you have something to tell me? Should I leave then?”
Byun Tae-young seemed to think that must be it, as he even started to get up.
“No, no. We just came because we were worried since you haven’t been seen around the Center. We thought we might see you if we came to the dining hall. To see if you’re safe… Of course you’re safe. Right, Ha-min?”
“Yes, of course. That’s right.”
Ha-min spoke, but the three people’s gazes were still directed at me.
Did Shim Woo-jin say something?
Did they figure out that I was the one who eliminated the gate?
Still, hang in there, Ha-min. You can do it!
At my signal, Ha-min made small talk.
With a lovely face and an equally lovely expression, all that was left was for them to fall for it.
I thought our plan was quite successful.
The strategy was to win Ha-min over first, then approach them individually later.
During this time, the food arrived.
We ate leisurely, conversing with the S-class Espers.
They seemed to think we had ulterior motives, but we acted as naturally as possible.
I signaled to Ha-min several times, and each time Ha-min smiled.
That’s right. That’s it.
Who wouldn’t fall for Ha-min’s smile?
Even I would, so these obsessive maniacs would definitely be affected more.
After finishing our meal, I thought our plan had succeeded perfectly and gave Ha-min a meaningful look.
Ha-min was even sweating, as if he had barely completed a difficult mission.
“Well, we’ll be going now. Take care of yourselves. You Espers are the Center’s treasures.”
After essentially putting a gold coating on their faces, we completed our perfect mission and went outside, but they followed us as if they had planned it.
“…Why?”
I asked, wondering if they had something to say, but the three seemed to have nothing specific to say as they just stood there blankly.
“Where should we eat dinner?”
At Byun Tae-young’s words, Ha-min laughed.
“We just had lunch, and you’re already thinking about dinner…”
When Ha-min said this, Byun Tae-young stared at him.
Seeing that expression, I recalled how Byun Tae-young usually looked at low-level Espers and Guides.
It was exactly this expression.
But why is he like this with Ha-min?
He’s Lee Ha-min, the main character of this novel, isn’t he?
Ha-min seemed to think he had been too forward.
“How about doing whatever the Espers want?”
Ha-min immediately backed down, and the S-class Espers spoke without even consulting each other.
“Let’s eat here.”
“I’ll go to the low-level Espers’ dining hall.”
“How about eating at the store for dinner?”
These people don’t consult with each other at all…
“Ah. Let’s pack dinner boxes and eat outside. Ha-min, pick them up and come to the garden.”
Byun Tae-young said this and looked at Kyun In.
He seemed to be telling him to ask the chef to pack dinner boxes, and Kyun In followed his instruction.
I understand the hierarchy somewhat now.
Byun Tae-young is at the top, and I’m not sure about Kyun In and Shim Woo-jin yet.
Maybe the two of them are fiercely competing for second place.
Perhaps Kyun In is competitive while Shim Woo-jin doesn’t care?
“Then we’ll see you later.”
I said this and quickly walked away, pulling Ha-min along.
I was worried they might suddenly call us back, but that didn’t happen.
“I think we failed.”
Ha-min said, furrowing his brows.
That can’t be.
Someone who looks like Ha-min making a request—unless they have hearts of steel, they’d have to listen.
Though those guys might actually have hearts of steel, but still, it’s Ha-min.
Yeah, yeah, it’ll work out.
“Ha-min. Don’t worry. Trust yourself.”
They’re obsessive maniacs, you know?
They’re completely crazy about you. I guarantee it.
I could only regret not being able to tell him that.
Our stomachs were full, and we had successfully completed our mission.
While taking a walk in good spirits, a group of Espers approached us.
Their expressions didn’t look particularly good.
It wasn’t strange at all for them to have such expressions.
I could easily imagine how complicated their thoughts must be right now.
The fracturing of the Center.
Espers escaping from the Center.
They must have already detected this trend and would soon have to decide their own course of action.
People who thought there was no future for them at the Center because of the S-class Espers might leave to try to climb higher elsewhere.
Especially A-class Espers would think they could dream bigger without the S-class Espers around.
I thought they might have made up their minds to leave the Center.
Seeing the way they looked at Ha-min, I felt they might cross a line.
If they had no intention of staying at the Center, they had no need to be careful about their actions.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
