Chapter 1
- Everyone is living life for the first time. Me, and you too. But why does it feel like I’m the only one getting tangled up?
Baek Dohyun. Nineteen years old, not yet an adult.
The boy thought of himself as an ordinary person. It was hard to say he was sociable. He wasn’t the type to get along with everyone, and he didn’t feel the need to either. He preferred minimal and quiet relationships and didn’t go out of his way to reach out and form connections with others.
Dohyun’s peace was built within his limited human relationships. He didn’t care how his classmates whispered about him.
‘Bbakdo. You’re really going to spend your life alone if we’re not around. What are you trying to do? Do you know how often people call you rude?’
Doesn’t matter, does it? Unlike him, thanks to a few friends who were surrounded by people, a quiet daily life had long been out of reach. Just having such extremely extroverted friends seemed enough to prevent him from becoming a complete recluse.
After entering elementary school, his first physical examination recorded that he was scheduled to manifest as an Esper. Since they said his expected manifestation grade would be high, at least A~B grade or higher, it caused even more of a commotion.
Young Dohyun, who didn’t want to stand out, instead hid himself. There was absolutely no way that being extraordinary could be good.
Did his genes notice Dohyun’s desire to live quietly? Fortunately, the Esper genes, which typically manifested in the early to mid-teens, remained dormant. He thought if they never manifested, he could live as a small cog in society’s wheel.
If only they wouldn’t manifest. No, even if they did, if the prediction was wrong and he became a low-grade Esper, couldn’t he live a truly ordinary life?
“What?”
“Congratulations.”
While everyone around him offered congratulations, Dohyun just blinked. He couldn’t understand what people were saying.
Why? No, isn’t the test wrong? He wanted to ask, but everyone’s expressions were too bright. I’m the one who manifested, so why do you all look happier than me?
Tears welled up in Dohyun’s eyes from the emptiness of knowing his ordinary life had slipped away. The Association employee who was discussing his future handed him a neatly folded handkerchief with an “Oh my.”
“It’s a joyous occasion. I understand. How you must have been anxious all this time with no manifestation…”
No. You really don’t understand my feelings at all. I’m not crying from happiness…
It sounds like life is getting tangled up.
❖ ❖ ❖
He opened his eyes with a flash. Yesterday’s events at the Association had been shocking, making even his dreams restless. A dream of being chased by a huge bear? Feeling uneasy, Dohyun got up sluggishly and opened the small refrigerator in his studio apartment.
“Ah…”
The fridge temperature must not have been set properly. Dohyun sighed deeply at the sight of the completely frozen water bottle. Everything had been a mess since he manifested.
Somehow, the cold that usually visited him every winter seemed to be running late this time. He didn’t feel particularly tired when waking up in the morning, and he felt like he’d grown a bit taller recently, so he thought his stamina had improved…
“So all of this is because I manifested.”
Despite usually being sensitive to cold, he didn’t feel particularly chilly. He thought winter might be coming later this year, but it was actually because his body had changed.
Is this how I drift further away from being ordinary? Dohyun stared at the frozen water bottle in his hand with lifeless eyes. He understood it was cold, but his hands didn’t feel numb. That’s nice, at least.
Sa Gongchan:
“bbakdobbakdo. your bestie’s going first lol not waking you up lol come on your own”
Who’s a bestie? The biggest idiot. In response to Chan’s message wishing to be his best friend, Dohyun sent a single character and got ready for school.
“ㅗ” (middle finger)
Sa Gongchan:
“? why are you being a prick so early in the morning? no manners???”
Not “being a prick” but “raising a prick,” not “no manners” but “no manners,” right? Knowing it was deliberately meant to annoy him, Dohyun ignored it and put his cracked-screen phone in his uniform pocket.
The ramen he’d been having for breakfast was now all gone. He’d planned to just hold out until graduation when finding a part-time job would be easier as an adult, but after manifesting as an Esper, his thinking changed. Seeing how his stamina had improved, wouldn’t even physically demanding jobs like package loading and unloading feel easy now? It would be financially much better than convenience store or flyer distribution jobs.
He put the watch that had been neatly placed on his desk around his right wrist. If he left now, the timing would be perfect. Dohyun turned off the lights and left home.
“What the hell.”
“What.”
“Why are you coming out now.”
Chan, who was just about to knock on the door, grumbled as soon as he encountered Dohyun.
Sa Gongchan was a friend who always annoyed Dohyun. He expanded Dohyun’s network of contacts at will, despite Dohyun wanting limited relationships. He liked paying attention to people around him and nagged a lot, with Dohyun being his primary target of concern.
Chan would say he wasn’t coming, then attack when Dohyun had his guard down. It was his daily routine to bang on the door as if he would break it after pretending he’d gone to school first.
After three years of this treatment, Dohyun knew better, and besides, since manifesting as an Esper, he’d become more sensitive to the presence of others. He sensed Chan’s presence outside his home and came out just in time, but Chan, unaware of this, pouted.
“Did you eat breakfast?”
Dohyun just nodded vaguely and walked ahead. Living in a studio apartment near school, the commute was quick.
Chan stuck to his side and pressed him.
“You didn’t eat again, did you?”
“I told you I did.”
“You’re lying. You didn’t eat, did you? Confess.”
Nagging pest. Seeing Dohyun’s crumpled face showing annoyance, Chan lunged at him.
“Ah, seriously! Let go!”
“You crazy bastard. When hyung takes care of you, at least eat properly!”
“I said let go, you lunatic!”
Despite his protests, Dohyun couldn’t push Chan away like he usually would.
‘I don’t know how much stronger I’ve gotten now!’
What if Chan got hurt if he moved wrong? While he was anxiously hesitating, Chan, who had been applying force, released his arms.
That’s weird. Usually, he would only let go after extracting a promise to eat breakfast tomorrow. Chan stared blankly at Dohyun and asked.
“Bbakdo.”
“What.”
“Are you transferring schools?”
Awakeners were supposed to transfer to specialized schools after manifesting. He had heard that for Guides below D-grade, it was optional, but that didn’t apply to Dohyun. He wasn’t a low-grade and was an Esper, which made the transfer mandatory.
“No. With graduation so close, I don’t have to… Wait, how did you know?”
Dohyun, who had been answering casually, asked in surprise. He had just manifested yesterday and hadn’t told Chan about it yet…
“Well, you would fall under the exception since it’s the last week of December.”
Without answering the question, Chan changed the subject while snickering, and before Dohyun could say anything, he opened the classroom door with a loud bang.
“The great me has arrived!”
“You crazy bastard. Stop talking nonsense early in the morning and sit down.”
“Oh wow, you’re here too? Close the door and get out.”
“Hmm, I didn’t even do anything and I’m getting beaten down first thing in the morning, hmm.”
Ignoring Chan who was under attack from all sides so early in the morning, Dohyun quietly went to his seat and sat down.
The classroom, full of idle high school seniors right before winter break, was chaotic. After the college entrance exam that had required careful attention to even passing leaves, all they had left was gathering to watch movies, skipping classes that teachers didn’t even come to, going to the school store, or preparing for college interviews or practical exams. Dohyun, who had nothing to do with any of these, turned to Chan who was placing his bag on the seat behind him.
“How did you really know?”
“How did I know what? The rumor’s all over the guilds. Aren’t you getting a big signing bonus too?”
Bbakdo, treat us. Chan slapped Dohyun’s back repeatedly, but it didn’t hurt. Just a few days ago, that touch would have stung enough to make him flinch, but today all he felt was a slight slapping sound, nothing more.
“What’s this? Is that all the reaction I get? You’re really no fun at all. Doesn’t this hurt anymore?”
“If you know, why ask?”
“But, wow… I’m jealous.”
Of what? That it doesn’t hurt when I hit you? Dohyun shook his head at his friend who envied the strangest things. Chan shook Dohyun’s shoulders and sang teasingly.
“Treat~ Treat~”
“Ugh… Be quiet, will you?”
They say hearing improves when you manifest as an Esper, but that apparently didn’t mean immunity to loud noises.
Dohyun lay his head on the desk. He wasn’t particularly happy with his friend’s response of jealousy and demands for treats.
He’d heard that a certain Esper who manifested recently had been offered hundreds of billions as a signing bonus from a guild as soon as his abilities were confirmed, and someone else had a really rare ability that made gate conquests easy, instantly making them rich.
But those were all other people’s stories. Who would contract with him? Dohyun hadn’t heard the slightest mention of a contract.
Nineteen years old. Late December, just before turning twenty. Compared to the average manifestation age of around ten, Dohyun had manifested extremely late, and he absolutely did not want to become a famous Esper appearing on TV and making headlines. Preferably, he’d like to be a non-awakener, but if he had to be an awakener, he’d prefer something minor that could just supplement his living expenses. That was the wish of Dohyun, who wanted to live an ordinary life forever.
But this wasn’t the situation he had in mind.
When Dohyun didn’t respond to the congratulations and just slumped down, Chan dropped his playful smile.
“Bbakdo. Hey, Bbakdo?”
Dohyun was usually very quiet. Once you got to know him, you could tell his mood from the subtle changes in his expression, but he rarely showed emotion, let alone initiating conversation or barely responding to others’ words. For such a Dohyun to look visibly depressed…
Chan poked Dohyun’s shoulder, whose expression was quite dark. Dohyun, who had been lying on his desk motionless, spoke with slight irritation.
“Stop poking…”
“Hey, Baek Dohyun. Didn’t you say last time you wished you’d manifest soon?”
He did. Recently, he thought it might be okay if he manifested and could at least receive a guild signing bonus. Since he was destined to manifest as an Esper anyway, if he couldn’t live a completely ordinary life, at least some money to help with everyday living would be nice.
“I congratulated you for manifesting, so why do you look like you’re dying? Didn’t it come out as high as expected? The rumors didn’t seem to suggest that.”
“No… the grade is fine.”
“Then why do you look half-dead?”
“Don’t ask… I feel pathetic enough already…”
“Huh? What’s pathetic? I don’t know what it is, but tell this hyung.”
Dohyun considered just running away from Chan who kept poking him, but then changed his mind. He couldn’t tell anyone else, but maybe this guy would be okay? After thinking for a moment, Dohyun raised his head. Chan stopped poking Dohyun.
“Let’s go outside.”
“The school store? Want me to buy you a snack?”
“The store is crowded with kids.”
“Then the playground.”
As soon as Chan finished speaking, Dohyun got up and left the classroom. Before reaching the empty playground, Chan slipped into the school store and grabbed a banana milk, placing it in Dohyun’s hand.
With the banana milk in hand, Dohyun carefully chose his words, wondering where to begin. As Dohyun’s silence lengthened, Chan took the banana milk back.
“I already knew it, but you really are a terrible person…”
“Thought you weren’t going to eat it.”
“Give it back.”
Please do your whining in your room alone. At Dohyun’s grimaced expression, Chan chuckled and handed the banana milk back.
“You still want to eat in the middle of this crisis?”
It’s because I didn’t eat enough growing up, you jerk. Dohyun’s inner thoughts were clearly visible on his face. As Dohyun opened the milk and brought it directly to his mouth, Chan playfully mussed his hair. Dohyun glared back with an annoyed expression but couldn’t bring himself to swat the hand away.
“Your glares aren’t scary at all.”
“Is there anything about me that scares you?”
“Nope~. So what is it really? Tell me. Is the grade lower than you thought? You thought you’d get an A-grade but got a B, something like that? From what I heard, a high-grade Esper appeared, so it can’t be C-grade. It must be at least B or higher, right?”
“It’s not that… I got S-grade.”
At Dohyun’s words, Chan clapped his hands with an “Oooh-” It was definitely something to celebrate. Even if he had manifested as an F-grade, the accepted theory was that once you become an awakener, you wouldn’t starve to death. And now it’s S-grade? He just had money to rake in now.
He’d have to enter dangerous gates, but in the last 15 years, the death rate of awakeners in gates was lower than the rate of airplane accident deaths.
“Did you get a Guide introduction? You don’t have a guild, right?”
“That’s what’s annoying me. The Association says I have to go through a lot of tests to check compatibility rates with freelance Guides.”
“…? Then go do it.”
“…I don’t want to. Why should I receive Guiding from someone I don’t even know?”
“…”
After a moment of silence, Chan burst out with a forced laugh.
“What’s wrong with your social skills, seriously? But well, putting Guiding aside, being S-grade means you’re one of the top ten in Korea~ You’ll be raking in money. But what’s the problem?”
When Chan showed his lack of understanding, Dohyun hesitated. Objectively, it was undoubtedly a good situation. After considering, Dohyun rubbed his face with both hands.
‘This guy will probably think about it with me… Though he has no manners…’
After mentally assessing Chan, Dohyun awkwardly opened his mouth.
“I… I don’t know what my ability is.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
