# Chapter 46
Guiding could be done forcibly regardless of the other person’s mood or intimacy level. That’s why I deliberately inserted unnecessary words. Making it known from the beginning that the reason guides should be treated carefully was for efficiency was a minimal defense line.
Although it was a short interview, there was heated discussion online about the existence of guides.
Espers, not omnipotent.
⤷ Is it like a lighter that’s run out of gas?
⤷ Started watching in the middle, why do they keep looking for a guide? Are Espers going on a group tour?
⤷⤷ Not a tour guide, watch the replay.
⤷⤷⤷ Guides seem to be like fuel for Espers.
⤷ My housemate says they feel disgusted whenever they see me, am I a guide?
⤷⤷ Watch the broadcast again.
⤷ Another blessed two-shot today
⤷⤷ Please include that church oppa too
⤷⤷⤷ Joo Dojoon! The barrier ability user!
⤷ Kwon Haeil☆Seo Jaeyoon☆Joo Dojoon joint fan cafe ☞
People weren’t as confused as when Espers first appeared. Interest in guides was light, and soon the conversation burned with talk about Espers, saying today’s uniform fit was the best again.
Since this matter was like revealing Espers’ weaknesses, the Association expressed dissatisfaction, but it had already happened.
The plan was to gradually build awareness among the public by mentioning guides in every interview like this.
‘Then it will be easier to find guides than before.’
I tried my best not to receive guiding from my brother.
After awakening, I had been careful not to touch my brother and accidentally receive guiding. It was better not to see him due to busy schedules.
However, I was somewhat disappointed that my brother’s existence was revealed faster than expected.
I hadn’t given Joo Dojoon special warning, thinking he would hide the fact that my brother was a guide. I believed I could buy time by trusting an Esper’s desire for exclusivity.
It was a foolish thought. Dojoon, who hadn’t lost his sister Dorim, chose well-being over possessiveness. Far from hiding that he could use power because of my brother, he shared it with the research lab. He had been openly revealing my brother’s existence as a guide while receiving guiding tests for several days already.
‘I put him in the center dormitory for safety, but he’s going around guiding other guys.’
Trying to control the possessiveness that suddenly raised its head, Jaeyoon composed himself. My brother needed Espers anyway. If they were rational and capable enough to protect him, it was better to build a relationship through guiding. Knowing this, the fact that my brother had almost been in danger made my nerves raw.
The guard, noticing that Jaeyoon was in a sensitive state, carefully announced the schedule.
“Thank you for your hard work, Esper Seo Jaeyoon. The schedule is running a bit late, so we’ll skip lunch and head to the next demonstration site… huh?”
The guard following Jaeyoon was surprised by the communicator alarm. They had set it so that alarms wouldn’t sound unless it was a specific situation, as they were busy following various events and broadcasts.
Sure enough, after checking the communicator, the guard was greatly surprised.
“What’s the matter?”
“The Han River gate has burst open.”
“It couldn’t possibly burst open at this time…”
Could I say that? Everything was already happening faster than Jaeyoon had known.
* * *
The area was sealed off immediately after the scene of an Esper tearing down a helicopter hanging in mid-air was broadcast. After several days of investigation by the survey team dispatched from Daesung, it was declared an inactive gate and the control was lifted. They must have taken quicker measures, being sensitive to the inconvenience of citizens.
As the controlled area marking changed to a caution sign, people’s vigilance faded. After that, with the spectacular demonstration scenes of Espers broadcast daily, people thought of the easily accessible Han River. Because of this, the Han River area was busier than usual with people.
Fortunately, some structures had been removed for gate investigation, making it easy to estimate the position from the bridge railing. Most people were flying paper airplanes or throwing coins from the bridge toward the Han River.
“Please don’t litter!”
A few volunteers went around cautioning people, but it was useless. People who witnessed thrown objects getting caught in mid-air were taking verification photos, and it was becoming a kind of tourist attraction.
Streamers who wouldn’t miss such hot content also visited the Han River, each with their own concept.
Kang Gwang, a 20-year-old who had only recently become a streamer, didn’t miss this opportunity either. With red-dyed hair and a hat pressed firmly down, Kang Gwang continued to communicate with viewers in real-time, smiling playfully.
“My Gwang-Gwang brothers, sisters, and babies, Running Kang-Kang is here~!”
As Kang Gwang headed toward where people were gathering, constantly greeting his phone, those who recognized he was recording made way appropriately. Thanks to this, Kang Gwang, who ended up standing closest to the invisible gate, extended his phone forward to show the coins and paper airplanes floating in mid-air.
“Wow, look at that. Coins and paper airplanes floating in mid-air… oh, someone seems to have thrown bread. Cream bread? Custard bread? Which side are my Gwang-Gwang family on?”
While mixing in useless jokes and alternately showing the empty space and his face, Kang Gwang suddenly tied his shoelaces. As he even did jumping jacks and fixed his phone to his chest pocket, people around him moved aside with expectant eyes, though thinking “surely not.”
“I can’t see the chat now, my Gwang-Gwang family. Save your donations for when I succeed.”
Kang Gwang’s voice, which had been constantly making jokes, became quietly serious.
“Now focus on Running Kang-Kang.”
After delivering this embarrassingly serious line, Kang Gwang stepped back. People’s attention was all focused on his action of measuring distance. Taking the signal of a volunteer running over in surprise from far away, Kang Gwang dashed forward. He would surely have to pay a fine, but this would definitely raise his recognition. Without hesitation, he ran exactly as he had calculated in advance.
“Running Kang-Kang! Subscribe to the channel!”
“H-He’s really jumping!”
“Kyaaa!”
Amid the screams and exclamations of some surprised people, Kang Gwang jumped off the railing. As his flailing, stretched-out body landed as if rolling in mid-air, exclamations burst out from everywhere.
“Wow, he jumps over that?”
“Is he a long jump athlete or something?”
Over people’s whispering, Kang Gwang’s cheerful voice spread out.
“Mission accomplished! Now, you all know it’s time to hit that like button, right?”
Thinking it would be amateurish to get excited here, Kang Gwang carefully took out his phone from his chest pocket.
“Oh no, I stepped on the cream bread. I’ll give it to our pigeon friends.”
The screen must have shaken violently while running, giving plenty of realism, so he immediately mounted his phone on a gimbal.
“From now on, those of my Gwang-Gwang family with acrophobia should close their eyes~ Ta-da~”
Kang Gwang showed the Han River flowing far below and made a fuss playfully.
“Woah~ You know what’s really weird about this? There’s something under my feet, but what I see is just empty space. This is really strange.”
Only after showing the surroundings in various angles did Kang Gwang reach out his hand into the empty space.
Knock.
“Oh, there’s really something here. The feeling is very strange.”
When he spread his palm to rub it and tapped it with his fist, a dull sound echoed.
“It’s very solid but seems empty inside. Or is it? Maybe it’s filled? Can my Gwang-Gwang family tell?”
As he held his phone close and let people hear the sound, the chat window exploded. Kang Gwang couldn’t hide his smile at the number of viewers that suddenly flocked in, even though he tried to pretend otherwise. Leaning his back against the empty space with a relaxed appearance, he recited what he had searched for on the way to kill time.
“They talked about invisible gates on the broadcast before. So I looked up what a gate is in the dictionary…”
⤷ Mr. Kang-Kang, behind you!
⤷ Look behind you, behind!!!
⤷ Behind!!!!!
“Come on, my Gwang-Gwang people. Don’t try outdated ghost jokes. It’s not even night time.”
⤷ You crazy bastard, look behind you!!
A forbidden word in Kang Gwang’s channel popped up. Since it was usually a well-mannered ID, Kang Gwang hid his irritation and showed a smile.
“Wow, I love my Gwang-Gwang people so I’ll pretend to fall for it. If I look behind, it will be…”
As Kang Gwang turned around with an exaggerated motion, he froze at the bright yellow sphere that had appeared in what should have been empty space. What looked like thin lines inside the yellow sphere reminded him of something.
“Huh. This. It looks just like snake eyes…”
Before Kang Gwang could finish speaking, the yellow sphere disappeared and a pink substance of unknown identity shot out. Despite reflexively ducking, the heaviness that hit above his head made his head ring.
“W-What is this?”
⤷ What is that?!
⤷ Run away!
⤷ Was this a lizard channel?
“Lizard? Urgh!”
Kang Gwang, who was habitually checking the chat, fell down due to something strongly hitting his shin. Screams could be heard from around as he was suddenly pulled away.
After being dragged helplessly for a moment, he was able to stop as he got caught on a wall. Though the force pulling his wrapped shin into the gap in empty space was strong, the space was too narrow to pull in an adult male.
It was fortunate in a way, but this was a situation where a space that didn’t exist until just now had appeared in mid-air. Not knowing when it might get bigger, Kang Gwang became genuinely afraid.
“Um, my Gwang-Gwang people, isn’t there a number to report this kind of thing?”
⤷ I did it!
⤷ Couldn’t connect so I sent a text report!
⤷ Isn’t that a lizard tongue?
⤷ The eyeball that appeared earlier was as big as a human head.
⤷ Then how big is it?
“E-Everyone, my mental state is really shaken right now, so please don’t make scary guesses and just help me report this.”
It was only because the pulling force from inside was barely manageable; if it had been a little stronger, his shin would have been broken and he would have been dragged in.
While Kang Gwang continued his live broadcast, the police as well as other media outlets rushed to the scene. Among them was Jaeyoon, who had already assessed the situation by watching the video.
Having arrived quickly by vehicle since they happened to be nearby, when Jaeyoon and Haeil stepped onto the bridge, people who recognized them cheered.
“It’s Kwon Haeil!”
“Seo Jaeyoon is with him too.”
“My goodness, to see them in person!”
“Oppa, please look over here!”
Despite the situation where a monster was about to stick its head out, people’s reactions were only carefree. They had hoped to bring goodwill toward Espers, but they never imagined people would be this lacking in crisis awareness.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
