#109
“My memory is quite good. Besides, 15 years ago was also the year I was re-evaluated as S-class.”
The year Oh-yul turned 15 and rose to S-class, many Espers underwent grade re-evaluations. Many Espers who had barely remained in lower grades rose one level, and Baek Sang-jin was one of them. He had benefited from Oh-yul, in a sense.
“Just barely made it. It’s far from your level.”
“That’s certainly true.”
Usually, modesty is met with modesty, but Oh-yul didn’t show any humility. He was genuinely far weaker compared to Oh-yul.
Instead, Ho-woo nudged his side, hinting at him to watch his words. Oh-yul gladly accepted Ho-woo’s rebuke.
“You must have been close to Yul.”
“Not close enough to engage in pointless chatter.”
The powerful alpha Esper of the group raised one corner of his mouth crookedly. They certainly weren’t close. It was a predator-prey relationship, and that hadn’t changed at all.
“It’s disappointing to hear you say that. I was sad that you left without a word.”
Oh-yul spoke softly, lowering his eyes as if genuinely regretful.
“Regret, you say.”
“Aren’t you the only surviving member of the team that came to fetch me? It’s worth feeling regretful about.”
“Ha ha ha, is that so? Are they all dead?”
“They’re dead.”
“I see. So it ended up that way after all.”
“Yes, that’s how it ended up. An Esper’s life is unpredictable, isn’t it? So I hope nothing happens to you during your stay in my city.”
“Nothing will happen.”
In short, it was a warning to keep his mouth shut and stay quiet during his visit. Baek Sang-jin laughed at Oh-yul’s warning. It was a laugh tinged with a bit of resignation, as if to say, “Of course, where would that personality go?” Baek Sang-jin wanted to applaud how well Oh-yul was hiding his creepy side, having aged a bit.
“You must be tired, but we need to proceed to the appointment ceremony right away.”
Oh-yul called over Han Seong-won, who was standing a little distance away, with his characteristically unapologetic face.
“Esper Han Seong-won.”
“Yes, boss!”
“Please take care of our guests. They’re important people, so pay special attention.”
“But I’m not a secretary…”
Han Seong-won grumbled quietly but quickly changed his expression when he saw Oh-yul staring at him.
“Oh my! Of course. Who am I? Of course I should take care of them! I’ll attend to them from now until they leave the city.”
He quickly ran over and stuck close to Baek Sang-jin. It was called help, but in the end, it was surveillance, which Oh-yul, Han Seong-won, and Baek Sang-jin all knew.
“Thank you.”
“See you in a bit.”
Yet they parted with laughter, not showing their true feelings. They would see each other right away at the ceremony venue anyway, but it was an expression of their wish to not see each other’s faces.
“Shall we move too?”
Oh-yul lifted Ho-woo up. Although Ho-woo seemed quite displeased with this mode of transportation, he ignored it cleanly. They were planning to make a very dramatic entrance.
He might hate it if he knew in advance.
He thought a bit cheerfully and immediately lifted off into the sky.
***
“Hurry up there! They’re about to arrive, so do the final rehearsal!”
The preparation team Esper was frantic. Any worries about whether he should be in charge of such an important event had long since disappeared. They had to create the most splendid, grand, and overwhelming appointment ceremony possible.
Espers assigned positions according to their abilities sweated as they practiced their coordination. An Esper of the same water element, playing Oh-yul’s role, walked briskly on the red carpet while floating round water droplets around him. Around him, light-manipulating ability users floated small sparkling lights. This created an effect as if a halo was shining behind the stand-in.
The person in charge smiled with satisfaction.
The era of oppression and persecution against them was over.
Now, like the Southern City, they would be the masters of this city. Under the rule of the strongest Esper, they would prosper and become free.
That’s why this appointment ceremony was special. Every Esper in the city had been counting the days for this. Their alpha had been lying low for a very long time. Some left or betrayed him, unable to understand, but he steadfastly waited for the pack’s leader.
Those like him were here now. The person in charge surveyed the Espers standing on the wall. Every one of them was itching to break down this high wall right away. It would be the same at the training center.
Especially Joo Si-yeo, her bright yellow eyes glowing fiercely, was tense all over as if about to jump out at any moment.
“5 minutes until arrival!”
The person in charge swallowed dry as he seated the guests from other cities who had arrived with Han Seong-won in their designated seats. He checked the cameras aimed at the platform, and a silent countdown began.
5… 4… 3… 2…
And before the last number could pass, their alpha descended gently from the sky onto the platform. Small pieces of light scattered behind him as practiced.
However, rather than a halo, it made Oh-yul’s figure appear shadowy, like a backlight. In the huge black shadow, blue eyes gleaming like a beast’s stared at them, glistening.
All of this was being broadcast to the entire city.
The face of the person in overall charge turned pale.
This looks too much like a terrifying dictator!
***
Dozens of cameras were focused on them. A chilling silence hung among the gathered people. It was a very brief moment, but that silence felt as long as eternity.
The face of the person standing below the platform turned pale. Ho-woo caught sight of him mouthing words.
‘It’s a broadcast accident!’
As if something had gone against the plan, the light that had unnecessarily dazzled their eyes disappeared cleanly.
This looks like big trouble.
Ho-woo rolled his eyes, but Oh-yul calmly set Ho-woo down on the ground and asked kindly.
“Are you alright?”
His voice boomed through the installed microphones.
By this point, Ho-woo realized that this was definitely a broadcast accident. Their image was being shown on a large screen visible in the distance. Ho-woo wisely chose to keep his mouth shut.
When Ho-woo didn’t answer, Oh-yul’s low laughter spread through the microphone again.
The man who seemed to be in charge below the platform, his face white, was vigorously waving a large piece of paper in his hand. Seeing him desperately waving the paper that said ‘On Air’, Ho-woo felt a bit sorry for him.
He must have prepared hard.
Oh-yul looked at Ho-woo as if finding him cute, then took his hand and approached the installed stand microphone. He looked at the audience for a moment, and only after the commotion settled did he slowly open his mouth.
“After a long time, I have now reached the conclusion.”
His gaze was directed straight ahead, but Ho-woo knew he was nervous. The hand holding his was trembling slightly.
Thinking that nervousness really didn’t suit Oh-yul, Ho-woo squeezed his hand firmly. Responding to that small force, Oh-yul also intertwined their hands tightly.
“I don’t know if the choices I’ve made in my life were the right ones. But I don’t regret them. The results are also just the endings I created. Since regret doesn’t undo everything, I’m just hoping for slightly better results.”
Oh-yul paused for a moment and looked at Ho-woo. It was heavy content for an inaugural speech, but no one objected. Ho-woo returned a straight gaze. Trust and faith sparkled in his eyes.
“What kind of ending will we face?”
Though it was an inaugural speech, it felt like he was talking to himself. Ho-woo envisioned the future. What would become of him? What ending would this choice lead to?
The first thing that came to mind was one thing.
Resign.
It was something he had prepared for. He didn’t know his face would be exposed so publicly, but he thought he might feel uncomfortable continuing to work at the company afterwards.
In fact, it was already quite inconvenient. How many days had he missed? If it weren’t for Yul, wouldn’t he have been fired long ago…?
Ho-woo had a blank face for a moment before coming to his senses at the sound of thunderous applause. This wasn’t the time for such thoughts. He was attending the most important moment of his lover’s life, wasn’t he?
“Ho-woo, wave your hand over there.”
Yul leaned in to whisper and chuckled. Thunderous applause was pouring towards them.
“Ah…”
“How do you feel now that you’ve officially become my guide?”
How do I feel?
Ho-woo was dazed. Just… just stunned. Even though he had prepared for it, actually facing it felt surreal, which made it worse.
“It’s all thanks to you, Ho-woo.”
The Esper whispered. His eyes were wide and curved, snake-like and cunning.
“All their joy is what you’ve given them.”
The space mixed with cheering Espers and seemingly tense people was chaotic. The hands of journalists expecting the city’s new start moved busily.
At the same time, Joo Si-yeo, who had been waiting only for this moment, burst into loud laughter. The laughter was so loud it could be heard clearly even from a distance, naturally turning Ho-woo’s head in that direction.
