# Chapter 16
Age was private information, so there was no need to know it. That’s why he didn’t ask and only vaguely thought that Haegang must be older than him.
Dohyun stared at Haegang’s back as he walked ahead. His appearance made it difficult to determine his age.
First of all, Haegang was very tall. Dohyun, who was just over 170cm, had to look up to meet Haegang’s eyes. Plus, his physique was enormous. Unlike Dohyun, who didn’t gain weight no matter how much he ate, Haegang had a body that was not just firm but impressively sculpted. His build was clearly visible even in a suit. It seemed like it would take years of exercise to achieve such a body, so thinking about it that way, he probably wasn’t too young.
But the biggest reason Dohyun found it difficult to pinpoint Haegang’s age was his face. Objectively speaking, Haegang had looks that would make anyone say, “That person is handsome.” But his eyes were sharp, and he rarely smiled. Occasionally he would pretend to be friendly, but Dohyun had never seen those sharp eyes actually smile.
“What are you doing?”
Haegang, who had been walking ahead, stopped and frowned at Dohyun. His tone and attitude were always so stiff that it made his age even harder to determine. Still, Dohyun couldn’t bring himself to ask. It would be impolite to ask such a personal question. Dohyun kept his mouth shut and followed him in.
There was an affiliated bank branch inside the Association. From the outside, it looked like any ordinary bank you might see elsewhere, but being an Association branch, there were many unfamiliar contents on the posted notices.
“Esper Dream Regular Savings Account – Easy Preferential Treatment for Espers”
“Only Youth Guide Savings Account for Minor Guides”
“Building Funds Isn’t Difficult for Awakened Ones! E·G Power Savings”
Aside from consulting and deciding on products, the bank didn’t seem much different from regular banks, except that it catered to a different clientele.
“Esper Baek Dohyun. Do you have ID?”
“Yes.”
Haegang strode over and took a number, placed it in Dohyun’s hand, and then turned around.
“Um, are you leaving…?”
At Dohyun’s question, Haegang nodded as if it were obvious.
“I’m not your guardian, so there’s no need for me to stay, is there?”
No, but you’re the one who insisted on bringing me here. Dohyun frowned at Haegang, who seemed ready to leave as if his job was done.
Well, after opening an account, he would receive payment for today’s raid, and he knew his own way home. Explaining things to Dohyun and bringing him here was already quite helpful.
Dohyun nodded obediently and sat in the waiting area with his number. He watched Haegang leave before turning away. He was used to doing things alone, so he’d be fine by himself.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Customer?”
At the employee’s call, Dohyun slowly lifted his gaze from the bankbook spread out on the desk.
“So, um…”
“I see you participated in an F-class gate raid~. What you’ve received now is the raid allowance that the government provides according to gate class, and the actual settlement amount will be calculated according to your contribution to the raid and paid by the guild. After the gate byproducts from that gate are sold, a portion of the sales revenue will be added as well.”
Am I… rich now? Though it was barely enough to cover the deposit for a monthly rental room, let alone buy a house, Dohyun blinked at the largest amount of money he’d ever earned. And there was more money coming?
“As you continue to participate in gate raids in the future, you’ll generate even more income~.”
But I won’t. Dohyun couldn’t bring himself to say it and just lowered his head.
“Among the savings products our bank has prepared, there’s a savings product that Esper Baek Dohyun can join since you haven’t passed your 20th birthday yet…”
“No, that’s fine.”
“Oh, I see. Understood. Is there anything else you’d like to inquire about?”
Dohyun, who had been quietly opening his account all this time, immediately recognized the employee’s sales pitch and firmly declined. After all, a regular savings plan would be unrealistic since he wasn’t an Esper who could enter gates. He bowed and headed out.
After exiting through the glass doors, Dohyun opened his bankbook again. They said it wasn’t an account that could only receive gate raid rewards. So he could transfer money earned from part-time jobs here as well. Just as Dohyun was putting the bankbook deep in his pocket and pondering whether to take a taxi or bus…
“Are you finished?”
Startled by the sudden low voice, Dohyun nearly fell backward. I thought my heart would drop. Turning his head, pale with fright, he saw Haegang bowing his head.
“…What did I do to startle you like that?”
“Didn’t you, go, home?”
“I said I’d wait outside.”
“When?”
“When Esper Baek Dohyun asked if I was leaving.”
That was… I was asking if you were going home? With a dumbfounded expression, Dohyun looked at him before bowing.
“I’ll be going now. Thank you for bringing me here today.”
At those words, Haegang’s brow furrowed even more.
“I have a car, so why would you take something else?”
Dohyun looked back and forth between Haegang and his car. He was puzzled by the clear look that was telling him to get back in the car. If he meant to drive him home…
“…Isn’t it out of your way to go all the way to my house?”
“There’s usually no reason needed to drive someone home.”
“I’ve been getting around fine on my own all this time. It’s okay…”
“And since I’m the one who brought Esper Baek Dohyun here, I should show that to as many people as possible.”
Ah, he needs to maintain his image. Hesitating, Dohyun eventually stepped back into the expensive car. He wanted to refuse, but there was no real reason to.
He felt intimidated by the expensive-looking car again. To avoid getting any dirt on it, he diligently cleaned his shoes before getting in.
“It’ll get dirty anyway. Just get in.”
Though he was told he was doing something useless, he didn’t feel too bad about it. After all, thanks to Haegang, he was saving on transportation costs.
❖ ❖ ❖
After Dohyun gave Haegang his home address, he departed without saying much.
Thinking about the bankbook in his pocket made Dohyun feel automatically full. The largest amount of money he’d ever had was now in his account. And more additional funds would be deposited. Now he wouldn’t have to settle for cheap convenience store lunchboxes or triangular kimbap.
Since becoming an Esper and working long hours at the logistics center part-time job, he’d gained a bit of financial leeway, but he’d been managing his meals on a minimal living expense budget in case of unexpected events. Still, after graduating from school and no longer receiving free school meals, food expenses were higher than when he was in school, which made him anxious.
Could he eat ham once a week from now on? And eggs too, right?
“Is this… the right way?”
Lost in fantasies about his plump pocket and future plans, Dohyun looked out the window at Haegang’s words. They had already arrived at the entrance to the alley leading to Dohyun’s home.
Cars were parked in the narrow alleyway like pieces of a puzzle, and people were frantically moving around between them. Dohyun stared blankly at the scene without answering. Strangely, it seemed more chaotic than usual.
Sometimes, Dohyun would be enveloped by an odd feeling. It was a sensation he often experienced before something bad happened. On days when good things kept happening, or days like today that seemed happy enough.
“It looks like I can’t drive all the way in.”
“…I’ll get out and walk from here.”
Sure. Haegang stopped the car as if he didn’t mind. Dohyun got out of the car, bowed to Haegang, and closed the door. As he turned and headed toward his home, an unpleasant sensation kept bothering him.
‘Surely not…’
On such days, even while thinking, “Could anything bad happen?” his hands would strangely tremble. Even trying hard to control his emotions, his heart would pound. It was never a bad feeling per se, but it always happened like this. Just like today.
Today his first gate raid—though he didn’t actually participate in the raid—ended well, and despite the awkward atmosphere, he saved on transportation by riding in Haegang’s car. He had normal conversations with Haegang, the gate raid participation allowance was properly deposited, and yet… his heart was strangely pounding. That heartbeat reached its peak when he arrived home.
“Student Dohyun!”
“Ah, auntie…”
“Oh my goodness, what should we do about this…! If I had known, I would have gotten your phone number!”
Dohyun pressed his lips together. They say accidents happen without any warning signs. That’s why they’re called accidents.
It was just a humble studio apartment. The building was so old that people had warned it was dangerous. But for Dohyun, who had no options, it was like rain in a drought. A place to rest his tired body. A place where no one paid attention to Dohyun. That precious haven was crumbling before his eyes.
“Oh, Student Dohyun. Were you using a lot of electricity in your room?”
“That’s not…”
“But someone said the fire suddenly started from the room where Student Dohyun lives…”
He couldn’t gather his thoughts at the auntie’s words—she lived in a nearby building. He couldn’t enter the pouring flames either. Firefighters standing nearby were frantically working to extinguish the fire. Dohyun could only stare blankly, too stunned to do anything.
“Did you have fire insurance or something? I’m asking because the building owner isn’t here right now.”
“That, that kind of thing…”
“Oh dear, what now? In cases like this, they’ll demand compensation from the person living where the fire started…”
He needed to come to his senses, but he couldn’t figure out what to deal with first. Where should he even begin?
‘Baek Dohyun. Class 1-5, Baek Dohyun. Please come to the faculty office.’
It was just like that time.
‘So we’ll proceed with the funeral arrangements like this, right?’
‘Chief mourner. For the deceased’s final journey…’
‘You, as the chief mourner, should wear these clothes…’
No one to help, no one even trying to help. No one to tell him what to do in situations like this. With the feeling of being thrown into a bitterly cold place, his rising feelings hardened. Unable to reach out to anyone, Dohyun lowered his head.
‘If I had some ability back then, would it have been okay?’
Because he’s an Esper now. Now that he’s an Esper, would it be okay? Without realizing it, Dohyun hesitantly approached the flames. The building was mostly empty anyway, but there might still be people inside. Though his meager belongings consisted of only old furniture, there might be important items he had forgotten. He couldn’t… couldn’t just let everything be consumed by the fire so futilely.
Dohyun stared, entranced, at the bright red flames, unable to tear his eyes away. The fire approached closer. It wasn’t him approaching, but the fire coming toward him. The flames opened their mouth and spoke to Dohyun.
“What are you doing!”
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed Dohyun’s arm. Haegang appeared in his dazed vision.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
