# Chapter 71
“Citizens, look at this! The monster is so large that you can see the rooftops of nearby buildings below it. Without the quick response from the Daesung Esper Association, we can’t even imagine how much damage there could have been.”
An entertainment reporter who came to interview a rookie actor ended up filming the scene by chance. Though trying to report the situation seriously, both the reporter and cameraman instinctively captured only the most dramatic scenes. After filming the collapsed building and ambulances rushing in from all directions, they turned to the burning scene behind them.
“Can you see this heat that resembles a blast furnace? There’s no equipment visible here. This is pure Esper power, called ability. The flames are so hot it’s difficult to approach, yet our proud Espers are fighting hard to defeat the monster without backing down.”
The reporter continuously updated the situation and even requested interviews from second-generation Espers standing by. They looked almost relaxed as they focused on burning and striking just one area.
“Step back.”
But that moment didn’t last long. Jaeyoon, who had thrown off his gloves to release his power more easily, had fingers that had turned completely black.
Seeing this, Jaeha’s breath caught in his throat.
“It could be dangerous, so please move away on your own.”
When Jaeyoon stretched out his hand wearing a silver vine-like item that wrapped from his hand to his shoulder, the item glowed blue with a strange resonance.
KWAGAGGANG.
The spot that four Espers had been stabbing and hammering at began to visibly crack as Jaeyoon’s power poured down. Unlike the others, because he wore an item, blue light flickered throughout his ability use, adding a mysterious effect. When Haeil’s flames joined in, they created an atmosphere that seemed unapproachable.
Even the reporter, who had been talking non-stop until now, was momentarily speechless at how dazzling yet dangerous it looked.
“Wow…”
The second-generation Espers watched in awe. While admiration and envy for Jaeyoon mixed in the air, only Jaeha looked anxious.
When everyone was admiring the mysterious light and waves coming from the silver vines wrapped around Jaeyoon’s arm, Jaeha could only see the blackened skin. His brother, who had removed his bandages to wear the item, had darkened skin from his fingertips all the way up his arm.
‘He’s been using bandages and gloves for quite a while.’
Looking at Jaeyoon’s changed skin reminded Jaeha of an Esper who had collapsed with completely burned black arms. Jaeyoon’s appearance resembled an Esper who had entered a berserk state from mana overuse, which increased his anxiety.
‘Isn’t this dangerous? They said it’s a warning sign of going berserk.’
Among the bustling crowd, Jaeha said nothing, but he couldn’t stop the worry rising from within.
‘It wasn’t like this with Jiho. His skin was annoyingly smooth.’
If that was the case, maybe Jaeyoon’s condition was more serious. Though Jaeyoon looked fine on the outside, Jaeha was restless not knowing what was happening inside. However, with the curious gazes of Espers and cameras focused on them, Jaeha couldn’t say anything hasty. This wasn’t something to reveal right now, even if he was worried.
Jaeha took a deep breath to calm down. He had done many guidings so far. Though it was only three people, Jaeha could vaguely guess the energy they emitted.
‘It’ll be fine. Probably.’
He couldn’t sense anything from Jaeyoon. It might be because he had never done guiding with Jaeyoon, but considering he had somewhat sensed Yumaro’s berserk state, he could say he had become quite skilled.
The flashy ability display quickly wound down. Since Jaeyoon had used his power through the item and Haeil had spent too much mana, both needed rest.
“Change. Just keep the fluid from filling in the gaps.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Leave it to us, Esper Seo Jaeyoon.”
As Jaeyoon and Haeil moved away, the second-generation Espers rushed toward the broken shell.
“Won’t the fluid dry if we use wind?”
“If I freeze it, we can break and dig it out together.”
“Hey, hey, fluid is coming out. Hurry!”
Watching the second-generation Espers use their abilities without delay despite being clumsy, Jaeyoon took a breather. The light on the vines tightly wrapped around his arm was still blue. It was still usable. Thanks to Yumaro breaking the right spot first, the job was a bit easier. Maybe with good compatibility with the guide remaining at the association, they might return by evening.
Thinking about a more possible outcome rather than the worst case, Jaeyoon controlled his fluctuating emotions. Since emotions also affected mana usage, he tried to stay calm as he looked up and saw the scenery he wanted. His brother, doing guiding while holding Haeil’s hand among uniformed Espers and some civilians, was the ordinary guide he had always wished to be.
The two had light conversations, looked around, and sometimes smiled awkwardly. Though they seemed uncomfortable in front of strangers, the guiding itself was natural. It was never something to be despised or laughed at.
What he had always wanted had come true. Haeil, who had always looked dignified, gazed at Jaeha with unusually gentle eyes, drawing attention from those around. The cameras also captured this, circling around.
As Jaeyoon was about to move first due to time constraints, he stopped when something hit his foot.
‘A bead?’
Fragments were scattered everywhere from destroying the turtle’s shell. But if it were a fragment, it wouldn’t look like a bead.
When he picked it up, it looked exactly like the bombs Lee Youngwoo used. Jaeyoon used his power on the black bead that had appeared from nowhere. Though he couldn’t move objects delicately like telekinesis, he could definitely knock them away. Just as Jaeyoon used his power to knock the bead far away and was about to feel relieved, black beads suddenly rained down from the sky.
“Ouch!”
“Huh? What’s this?”
As black beads fell among the people, Jaeyoon instinctively reached toward the sky. Through the gap of a portal that was closing, someone was disappearing. The fact that a portal, which should have been set up in advance, was here meant this whole situation was planned.
Without time to think, Jaeyoon immediately extended his item-equipped hand to attack the portal. With his current output, he could easily destroy even an intangible portal.
PAANG!
Everyone’s attention turned to the sound of air bursting.
“W-What?”
With a loud noise, the shot power destroyed the building roof on the other side, and Jaeyoon leaped forward, but the portal had already disappeared. Haeil, leaving Jaeha with the Espers, rushed over at Jaeyoon’s sudden action.
“Esper Seo Jaeyoon, what happened?”
“A portal was open.”
“What? But the detector didn’t show anything, so why…”
“Everyone gather here!”
There was no time for further explanation. At Jaeyoon’s direction, everyone gathered to one side despite their confusion. Without hesitation, Jaeyoon swept up all the remnants from the floor and threw them into the air. If the one who disappeared through the portal was Lee Youngwoo, those things would soon explode and then some.
Everyone watched tensely as Jaeyoon threw away the remnants. But the beads thrown onto an empty building remained quiet.
‘A trick?’
It was too risky to check. Moreover, Dojoon and Jiho had been gone for an unusually long time. The situation wasn’t getting better, but variables kept increasing.
“Now that it’s done, return to your positions. No, I’ll go first. Everyone be alert and report anything suspicious to me or Kwon Haeil.”
Having realized that the simultaneously appearing gates were artificial, there was no time to waste. Besides racing against time, they also had to deal with variables.
Jaeyoon’s complicated thoughts made his emotions unstable, affecting his ability usage. Haeil, watching Jaeyoon closely, became anxious.
“Mr. Seo Jaeyoon, shouldn’t you rest now?”
“Just a little more. The item’s lifespan is almost over, and if I stop now, it will break.”
As Jaeyoon said, the item that had been glowing blue was now emitting a red light. Jaeyoon, with a tired voice, asked Haeil, who was burning the fluid that had risen after a brief pause.
“We need to call even a first-generation Esper. Please also find out why Kyun Jiho and Joo Dojoon aren’t coming.”
“I will.”
“And please… whew… take my brother with you.”
Jaeyoon had already recognized he was at his limit. He would have collapsed if his brother wasn’t watching, as his fatigue had reached its peak. He endured it only because his brother was watching. However, despite Jaeyoon’s endurance, he helplessly collapsed when the item greedily sucking his mana scraped up the last bit.
“Ugh!”
Jaeyoon collapsed, bending his knees. The black mark that had stained his arm was now spreading past his shoulder to his neck. Seeing the obviously serious situation, Haeil became urgent.
“Mr. Seo Jaeyoon!”
“The item, right now…”
At the mention of the item, Haeil immediately grabbed and tore off the vines. The vines, which had been clinging to Jaeyoon’s arm as if to absorb more mana, stuck to Haeil’s hand when grabbed. Though surprised, Haeil quickly threw the vines to the ground after they completely detached from Jaeyoon and burned them.
“Everyone step back. Second-generation Espers, take care of the civilians.”
Haeil quickly gave orders in place of the fallen Jaeyoon. Everyone blocked the cameras, knowing it wouldn’t be good for a damaged Esper to be broadcast. The reporter who came up here with Daesung’s cooperation lowered the microphone reluctantly, though still looking for an opportunity.
“Mr. Seo Jaeyoon, can you hear me?”
“Kugh… ugh…”
Seeing Jaeyoon suffering without even opening his eyes, Haeil realized this couldn’t be resolved here. While alternately trying to contact the unresponsive association and Kyun Jiho, his only thought was to move Jaeyoon immediately.
A heavy silence followed as Jaeyoon, who had looked stronger than anyone, collapsed. However, that brief silence was broken by one person.
“Please move.”
“Guides aren’t any better than ordinary people. It’s dangerous, so stay away.”
“I don’t care.”
Jaeha had no reason to hold back anymore.
“I’ll protect my brother.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
