They were enjoying a relaxed meal, chatting over various topics, when Sung Ji-yeol entered the restaurant with two Association Espers. Spotting Yoon Do-jae, he greeted him as though they were acquaintances.
“Oh? Fancy seeing you here?”
Min Yu-hyun, Lee Jun-hyung, and Kang Chi-yu exchanged looks, silently asking who this man was, while Sung Ji-yeol smiled at Do-jae. Do-jae, however, was visibly puzzled. They were not on the kind of terms that warranted such familiarity, yet Sung Ji-yeol approached him without hesitation.
Still, unlike Hyun Tae-oh, who would’ve flatly ignored the greeting, Do-jae gave a reluctant nod and replied.
“Yes, hello.”
“Wow, the whole cast is here? This is actually my first time seeing Esper Hyun Tae-oh in person…!”
In an instant, a wall of shadows formed around everyone at the table except Yoon Do-jae.
A towering black barrier materialized, leaving Sung Ji-yeol and his two Association Espers with a clear view of only Do-jae, while the others were completely shut out.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Inside the barrier, Chi-yu turned to Tae-oh, utterly baffled.
“I’m giving them space to talk.”
“You call this consideration? Don’t make me laugh.”
“I left Yoon Do-jae out, didn’t I?”
“…Ha.”
Chi-yu shook his head in disbelief, while Jun-hyung, wearing a face that all but said typical Hyun Tae-oh, pulled out his phone and started gaming.
Beom Do-il pressed his palms to the Shadow wall, muttering “Ohhh, wow” in amazement. Yu-hyun, having often seen Tae-oh wall people off in public, wasn’t surprised in the least.
Still, he did notice something different. In the past, Tae-oh would’ve hidden himself alone in the shadows, but now he made sure to include his companions. Progress, if only a little.
“Uh… well…”
Caught off guard, Sung Ji-yeol faltered, unable to keep his composure.
Do-jae let out a brief sigh and addressed him.
“I don’t think we’re on the kind of terms where a greeting would feel appropriate. As you can see, one of my companions is extremely averse to interacting with others. It’s uncomfortable.”
“Ah… I—I just thought it’d be nice to say hello…”
“Of course. Please enjoy your evening.”
With that, Do-jae swept the Shadow wall away in an instant using his Wind attribute, then turned a sharp look toward Tae-oh.
Tae-oh met his gaze with a look that said, What? Do-jae sighed again, then asked why he had been excluded.
“Why do you think? That guy clearly came here for you.”
“He didn’t. I’ve got nothing to do with him.”
“Then why the hell was he acting like you’re buddies?”
“It was just a greeting. Normally when you see someone you recognize, you say hello—”
“Bullshit. Then why do you greet me?”
“Because whether it’s the Association or the Central Bureau, there’s no Ability User you don’t know. It’s only natural people acknowledge you.”
“So just because they know me, I have to accept it?”
“Isn’t it normal to greet someone you recognize?”
“I’ve never seen him in my life. Why the fuck should I return it?”
“That’s not what I—”
Leaving Sung Ji-yeol standing awkwardly in the middle, Tae-oh and Do-jae argued back and forth about whether his greeting made any sense.
Sung Ji-yeol’s expression slipped again, while the Association Espers with him stared wide-eyed at the heated exchange.
Jun-hyung kept tapping away at his game, while Do-il leaned over to watch his screen.
Yu-hyun clicked his tongue at Do-il and turned his gaze out the window. Chi-yu, trying to calm Tae-oh down, accidentally locked eyes with Sung Ji-yeol.
Though rattled, Sung Ji-yeol didn’t miss his chance. He dipped his head politely, and Chi-yu, caught off guard, nodded back before asking,
“You’re with the Association?”
“Yes. I originally applied to Central Bureau’s 1st Division, but by circumstance I ended up with the Association.”
“Ah, I see.”
“You’re Guide Kang Chi-yu, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Sung Ji-yeol, also a Guide—S-rank.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Most non–S-rank Guides, upon hearing that, would reach for a handshake or look at him with obvious envy.
But Chi-yu didn’t react at all. He wore a calm, unreadable expression that left Sung Ji-yeol awkward for even bringing it up.
That alone was unsettling, but Tae-oh and Do-jae’s next words knocked him completely off balance.
“The fuck? Why would anyone greet someone they don’t even know?”
“There’s no real need for greetings here.”
The two spoke almost in unison, both looking straight at Chi-yu.
Tae-oh behaving like that was nothing new—but Do-jae? He wasn’t the type to act this way in public. Even Yu-hyun, Jun-hyung, and Do-il were caught off guard.
Forcing a trembling smile, Sung Ji-yeol told Chi-yu perhaps they could have tea together sometime, then turned away.
As he walked off with his two Espers, Tae-oh’s voice rang out behind him.
“The fuck? Why’s he asking my boyfriend out for tea? Does he have a death wish?”
“Oh, stop it already…!”
Chi-yu’s quiet voice followed, trying to rein him in.
Strangely enough, Sung Ji-yeol found himself more irritated at Chi-yu for trying to calm Tae-oh than at Tae-oh himself.
“Did Esper Yoon Do-jae get corrupted hanging around Esper Hyun Tae-oh?”
Yu-hyun muttered as he looked at Do-jae.
Jun-hyung, Do-il, and Chi-yu all shared the thought that Do-jae’s behavior had been uncharacteristic, staring at him.
Do-jae, noticing their stares, gave a dry cough and said,
“I don’t think he’s anyone who’d be of help to Guide Kang Chi-yu.”
“And who exactly is he?”
Jun-hyung asked, confused. Do-jae looked troubled. He couldn’t very well reveal that Sung Ji-yeol was the operator of the Anti Club.
“What does it matter who he is? Have tea with me instead. If I’m not around, I’ll send Jun-hyung or Do-il with you.”
Tae-oh cut in.
Jun-hyung gave him a look of disbelief.
“What are we, some kind of standby squad?”
Tae-oh responded with a look that said obviously.
“You’re Chi-yu’s comrades, aren’t you?”
Jun-hyung thought bitterly, This bastard doesn’t even know what the word ‘comrade’ means.
***
At a table further away, conversation was centered on Hyun Tae-oh and Yoon Do-jae.
The two Espers whispered about the rudeness of the infamous SS-rank Esper and the Central Bureau’s so-called FM, making sure not to let their voices carry toward Tae-oh’s group.
The way they held back only made Sung Ji-yeol feel more repulsed. Why are Association Espers all such pathetic cowards?
“Well, you can’t deny he’s ridiculously handsome. No wonder the Association Guides have been obsessed with Hyun Tae-oh for years.”
“He hasn’t even been on TV that long. It’s just hype. With that shitty personality, his popularity won’t last.”
“I’ve heard plenty of rumors about his mysophobia, but it’s worse than I expected. Throwing up a Shadow wall just because someone said hello?”
Both Espers glanced at Sung Ji-yeol. His lips curled bitterly.
“Well, that’s just the kind of person he is.”
“By the way, Guide Min Yu-hyun is really dazzling, isn’t he? He practically glows.”
“Right? He’s even more beautiful in person.”
“Having a Guide like that would make Guiding worthwhile. Ah, but of course, we’ve got Guide Sung Ji-yeol, so we’re not jealous.”
The Esper who had just praised Yu-hyun quickly backpedaled when Sung Ji-yeol’s eyes met his.
Forcing a polite smile, Sung Ji-yeol replied,
“Guide Min Yu-hyun’s looks are something everyone acknowledges.”
“But that B-rank Guide is intriguing too.”
One of the Espers suddenly mentioned Kang Chi-yu. The other nodded immediately.
“Yeah, Guide Kang Chi-yu—the one getting popular lately. I heard people say he was cute, and he really is.”
“Honestly, I think he’s more on the pretty side. Cute and pretty, both.”
“Even standing next to Min Yu-hyun, his looks held their own. It’s just a shame he’s only B-rank.”
The two went back and forth as if they were rating products.
Sung Ji-yeol forced himself to maintain his composure, suppressing the irritation boiling inside.
Up close, Chi-yu was even more striking than he appeared on screen.
Different in aura and presence from Min Yu-hyun—who was famous as the most beautiful among Guides—but still belonging in the same category of rare beauty.
Sung Ji-yeol began to think seriously about how to get closer to him.
The obstacle, of course, would be Hyun Tae-oh.
Maybe approaching this way wasn’t the right idea. Perhaps he should wait for a Guide Support Assignment.
During those, Tae-oh wouldn’t be around, which would make it much easier to build a connection.
But since joint Guide Support Assignments between Central Bureau and the Association were rare, he couldn’t afford to wait forever.
The best chance was now, here in Q-Zone.
Despite his reputation for mysophobia, Tae-oh seemed close with Chi-yu’s known friends Lee Jun-hyung and Beom Do-il, and he’d formed ties with Min Yu-hyun and Yoon Do-jae through the program despite past scandals. Clearly, he didn’t reject everyone outright.
If he could win over Chi-yu, Tae-oh would naturally ease up as well.
Sung Ji-yeol decided that befriending Kang Chi-yu was a goal he absolutely had to achieve.
***
What should’ve been a quiet evening of rest quickly spiraled out of control thanks to Beom Do-il and Min Yu-hyun’s competitiveness.
A casual remark about who could drink more turned into a bet, and since the room Tae-oh and Chi-yu had booked was the biggest, the drinking party landed there.
Tae-oh’s objections crumbled with just one line from Chi-yu.
“Let the others use the big room. We’ll take a walk along the night sea.”
And just like that, Tae-oh willingly gave up the room he had reserved to share with Chi-yu alone. Without a moment’s hesitation, he whisked Chi-yu away, teleporting them straight to the beach.
Resting a hand lightly on Chi-yu’s shoulder, Tae-oh matched his stride as they walked.
The night sea shimmered under the glow of radiant Ridunes, breathtakingly beautiful.
It was ironic—this stunning place had been a mutant beast habitat not long ago, yet the same glowing Ridunes now painted it with splendor.
“The cool air feels nice.”
The breeze brushed against his face, leaving a refreshing chill that seeped into his lungs and lifted his mood.
