# Chapter 58
Jaeyoon was surprised by Yumaro’s sharp voice, as he hadn’t expected this reaction.
Yumaro, an A-rank telekinetic ability user, was an Esper with high levels of pretentiousness and need for recognition.Â
He usually ignored most people who tried to talk to him, but if they praised him, he would briefly stop to respond or act like it was only natural. Since he was arrogant but weak to compliments, Jaeyoon thought it would be easy to become friendly with him.
‘Yumaro is a bit arrogant, but surprisingly easy to handle.’
Jaeyoon had planned to compliment him when he appeared to make a good first impression. But now he couldn’t understand why Yumaro was glaring at him as if he wanted to kill him.
The sarcastic comment “Being B-rank suits this kind of work” had a strange amount of hostility mixed in, beyond just looking down on someone of a lower rank. It was almost passionate, like looking at a rival.
Since they couldn’t just keep facing off, Jaeyoon put on a smile and carried out his plan.
“Hello, Esper Yumaro. Congratulations on becoming an A-rank Esper. Looking at how little time it took, you’re clearly a person with exceptional abilities beyond question.”
Since Jaeyoon hadn’t seen Yumaro’s abilities yet, he couldn’t pretend to know about them. He thought praising his revealed rank would be enough to make him quite pleased. However, the response was still sharp.
“Now I see you got your position by running your mouth. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
This was excessive hostility. But this was the first time Jaeyoon had met Yumaro after his regression.
‘Could this guy have regressed too?’
Even if Yumaro was a regression returner, Jaeyoon didn’t have a bad relationship with him.
Only after Jaeyoon had worked hard enough to nearly die and barely made it to B-rank did they occasionally cross paths. Thanks to matching, despite being B-rank, Jaeyoon sometimes entered the same gate as A-rank Yumaro. He was still arrogant then, but it was natural for powerful people to show off their power, so it wasn’t particularly problematic.
Yumaro didn’t particularly look down on or mock those of lower ranks than himself. If anything, he was rather indifferent.
“Look at this. The Association’s pretty face is being insulted, and nobody is stepping up.”
At Yumaro’s words, both the guards and staff hesitated. The staff didn’t step up because they feared an A-rank’s power, and the guards because they didn’t want to get on the bad side of an A-rank.
If Jaeyoon responded, they might intervene, but since the person involved was quietly listening, the waiting people just watched with excited eyes.
Actually, Jaeyoon wasn’t affected at all and focused on the term “pretty face.” Despite putting Kwon Haeil at the forefront, it seemed the impact was still weak. He regretted not showing Haeil pushing back the Tarantula at the Han River Gate with his firepower.
If only it hadn’t been a double gate, it might have been possible. While Jaeyoon was silently making these calculations, Yumaro became more excited, thinking his assumptions were correct.
“Nobody’s defending you, are they? Numbers don’t lie, after all.”
“Th-that’s a bit harsh… isn’t it?”
One of the waiting people who had been pestering Jaeyoon with questions timidly took his side, but then glanced at the display board and his voice trailed off. Jaeyoon slightly bowed his head to indicate it was okay, then approached Yumaro.
“If there’s something about me that makes you uncomfortable, I can arrange a separate place for us to talk.”
“If you feel wronged, show me your ability.”
Yumaro immediately started drawing up his power. It was useless because of the mana suppressor, but if forced, an A-rank’s mana quantity could show some effect.
“You shouldn’t do this here.”
“Why not? You used your power outside, didn’t you? If you can’t do it here, let’s go outside.”
When Yumaro headed toward the entrance, people made way for him. Seeing people immediately respond to his actions seemed to please him, as his furrowed brow slightly relaxed. But when he noticed no footsteps following him, he stopped at the entrance and turned around.
“Can’t do it? Did you use up all your power just by throwing one car?”
“Esper Yumaro, please come inside.”
Since they were in a place where reporters waiting outside might see them, Jaeyoon invited him inside for the sake of his image.
But Yumaro was twisted inside at the thought of a mere B-rank trying to control him.
“Seo Jaeyoon, I heard your mana rank is C. How pathetic.”
As he blurted this out as if it were a weakness, the waiting people became confused.
“Wasn’t he B-rank?”
“Rank combines ability and mana rank. Still, C-rank mana is too low.”
“More importantly, is it okay to expose someone else’s information like that?”
Everyone was surprised that an Esper’s detailed rank information had been revealed by someone else. The shocked faces of the Esper guards especially gave Yumaro satisfaction. But despite the murmuring of people, Jaeyoon remained calm.
“Yes, that’s correct. There was a rank adjustment based on how I use my ability.”
“How do we know that’s not manipulation? Prove it. Or fight me.”
The Yumaro in his memory didn’t seem like the type to compare himself with others, but he was strangely persistent. It seemed better to fight him once as he wanted and then spend some time praising him.
“Alright. Outside would be dangerous for others, so let’s move to the training room…”
Clap, clap, clap.
All eyes turned to the artificial applause. The central door guarded by several guards opened, revealing a middle-aged man walking out as if to show off. He was the Association Chairman, Kwon Haesung, who appeared with several guards and staff.
“Wow, as expected, an A-rank awakener is fierce. This young man’s future activities are highly anticipated.”
Jaeyoon didn’t like the situation where Kwon Haesung, who usually maintained a heavy presence, came directly to the lobby.
‘Why did he come all the way down here?’
He thought an annoying opponent had appeared, since he couldn’t remember every detail.
Contrary to Jaeyoon’s concerns, the Chairman laughed heartily, showing the relaxed demeanor of a middle-aged businessman.
“Ha ha, well now. I rushed here when I heard the news of an A-rank awakener appearing on the first day.”
Kwon Haesung glanced at Seo Jaeyoon and then gave Yumaro a friendly smile.
“And here you are already burning with brotherhood with Esper Seo Jaeyoon. It’s wonderful to see.”
Seeing him cover up with such nonsense, there must be a reporter hiding inside.
If things wrapped up properly now, building a friendship with Yumaro could wait for another opportunity. Being friendly would make it good to utilize his abilities, but it wasn’t essential.
“Who’s this old fart?”
But Yumaro, unusually full of competitive spirit, didn’t seem to want to end things smoothly.
* * *
The employee cafeteria, where Jaeha and Dojoon had come for an early lunch, was buzzing with stories about Jaeyoon.
“Hey, an A-rank already appeared, and his personality seems crazy.”
“They say he’s picking a fight with Esper Seo Jaeyoon in the lobby right now.”
“Could this lead to trouble? Should we increase the output of the suppressor?”
“I’m going to watch.”
“I’ll go too.”
Seeing employees running off in the middle of their meals, Jaeha followed them. Luckily, the elevator had just arrived, and as he hurriedly got in, Dojoon, who had followed, patted his back.
“It’ll be fine. Your brother is mature.”
“Yeah, true. But they said A-rank. Jaeyoon is… weaker.”
Jaeha’s view of Espers wasn’t wrong, but Jaeyoon had to be seen differently. Dojoon knew this well.
“Your brother is weak? Jaeyoon is better than most A-ranks.”
“Really? Then will he be okay?”
“Yes, and I’m going with you too.”
This baseless confidence would have earned a fish-eyed stare at any other time, but the words from Dojoon, who had gained an ability, relieved Jaeha’s tension. Unlike Jaeha, the employees who had entered the elevator first could only watch the kind and caring attitude toward the S-rank Esper’s friend.
The lobby they arrived at after hearing the news was literally on the verge of chaos.
“What’s the use of just having brute strength? You need to know how to use it.”
“If it’s overwhelmingly strong, it works.”
“Oh my, such ignorant guys. To think I’m the same type of awakener as them.”
“Are you sure they’ve awakened? Looking at the line, they seem unawakened.”
“Stop pushing!”
“Forget it, just let us in on a first-come, first-served basis or hurry up!”
Amid everyone saying their own piece, Jaeha quickly found Jaeyoon. Despite the lobby being packed with what seemed like over a hundred people, there weren’t many particularly tall figures, and he couldn’t fail to recognize his brother.
‘Who’s picking a fight with my brother?’
Without even realizing he was getting involved in an Esper fight, Jaeha pushed through the crowded people. Dojoon seemed to be following, but the guards wouldn’t leave an S-rank Esper unattended.
“Esper Joo Dojoon, it’s crowded here.”
“If you tell us who you’re looking for, we’ll bring them to you.”
“It’s fine. We’ll go… Huh? Jaeha?”
Having lost sight of Jaeha due to the guards suddenly stepping in, Dojoon’s eyes quickly scanned through the people. Fortunately, the round back of Jaeha’s head, which he had seen for many years, was easy to find even among the crowd, but it soon disappeared among people of similar height.
In that brief moment, Dojoon was overcome with unbearable anxiety and tension. Soon, confident that Jaeha was heading toward Jaeyoon, he focused his gaze and could confirm his position from glimpses of him appearing occasionally.
‘There are really a lot of people today.’
Unaware of Dojoon’s worry, Jaeha pushed through the crowd. It was particularly difficult to approach Jaeyoon as there were even more people near him.
“Aren’t you giving too high a rank to an Esper who doesn’t qualify?”
“Esper Seo Jaeyoon’s rank was decided after careful examination.”
“That’s what corruption is, isn’t it?”
From a distance close enough to hear voices, someone was insulting his brother. Even though enough time had passed for this situation to reach the cafeteria, his brother was still being attacked, which made him sad, and anger rose at the person speaking as they pleased. Just as he was about to shout out, someone grabbed his wrist from behind.
Thinking it was someone following him to stop him from causing trouble, he swallowed his breath and turned around with an aggrieved face, only to find an unexpected face smiling at him.
“Hello. Have you been well?”
“Sun…bae?”
The eyes reflected under the glasses curved like crescent moons, as if pleased.
“I’ve finally caught you, Jaeha.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
