Chapter 65
‘What’s going on?’
Seoyul suddenly realized that it was noisy outside. Until now, only Manager Kim had been coming in and out of this place, so the surroundings were always shrouded in silence.
But now, the sound of multiple footsteps bustling about confused his ears.
‘Could it be that Esper came to rescue me?’
Seoyul’s heart began to pound with anticipation. Hope that it might be Dowoon blossomed within him, and he anxiously waited for him at the door.
But the person who entered wasn’t Dowoon.
“Tie him up quickly so he can’t escape.”
Manager Kim coldly ordered two burly organization members. Taking advantage of Seoyul’s confusion, they quickly restrained him. They tied his arms tightly behind his back and covered his eyes and mouth to prevent him from moving easily.
“Mmph, mph!”
He struggled and resisted, but it was useless. It was difficult for an ordinary Guide to overcome the brute strength of these men.
Seoyul realized that the time had finally come.
“Will you quietly follow us while you still can? I won’t be lenient if you keep resisting.”
Manager Kim quietly threatened. The threat worked well on Seoyul, who had accumulated fear for a long time. His body habitually stiffened, and his mind became saturated with terror. The learned fear made it impossible for him to move his body even in this urgent situation.
“That’s right. Now you’re acting like Seoyul. Let’s go.”
Was this how his life would end?
Seoyul realized that today was the day they would sell him to Han Sejun. Dowoon hadn’t come, but that day had arrived first.
‘Don’t cry. Don’t cry yet.’
There might still be hope. He might be able to escape when they let their guard down. This situation was still better than being in the tightly locked room, so there might still be a way out.
‘Right. Think calmly. Don’t give up yet.’
Seoyul didn’t let go of the thread of hope and kept his ears alert. Since his vision was blocked, hearing was all he could rely on.
But they quickly led Seoyul to a car. They placed the burly organization members on both sides of him to block his escape route.
‘What… what should I do?’
There was no opening. He couldn’t escape in this state. Unable to use his hands, unable to see ahead, and with his escape route blocked.
Seoyul gritted his teeth, feeling his own helplessness. He tried to find another opportunity somehow, but they didn’t let their guard down.
That vigilance continued even after the car stopped. The organization members grabbed both of Seoyul’s arms and came out. Thinking this might be his last chance, Seoyul tried to break free.
But it was futile. Instead, it resulted in him getting punched in the stomach for not staying still.
‘Ugh…’
His brain froze at the pain that came after so long, and he sank into a distant agony. Seoyul was gradually losing the will to resist as he collapsed helplessly.
“You’ve come early.”
Manager Kim’s voice echoed.
From the smell of accumulated dust and the sensation of cold air, he could guess that this place was a large abandoned factory made of concrete.
That meant there was no door to escape from except the entrance they had just come through. That was definitely not good news for Seoyul.
“I had to come quickly since I heard it’s a precious one.”
An unfamiliar voice was heard from a distance. Seoyul instinctively realized.
‘Han Sejun.’
The unique pressure of an S-grade Esper began to fill the building. Seoyul couldn’t move. Fear spread throughout his body, his mind grew cold, and his body began to tremble.
Seoyul struggled to calm his shivering body somehow. But…
‘Can I really escape?’
Seoyul realized that he had been harboring an absurd hope. If he was going to escape, he should have done so somehow before coming here.
If Han Sejun hadn’t been here, there might have been some hope…
‘No. Even now…’
Seoyul didn’t stop thinking. If he gave up, the possibility would be zero. So, promising not to give up, he endured the pressure emanating from the S-grade Esper.
Thud, thud.
The sound of Han Sejun’s footsteps began to get closer. Seoyul felt a sensation of suffocation as he heard those steps.
It seemed to be the same for Manager Kim and the organization members, as small groans could be heard from beside him.
“Ugh…”
“Damn it.”
It was a warning that he would kill them if they did anything foolish. Since these kinds of transactions didn’t always go according to plan, Han Sejun was taking the initiative.
And that warning applied to Seoyul as well. Don’t do anything foolish.
“Is this the one?”
The man who had come close asked in what seemed like a pleased voice.
“Yes. Due to the situation, I couldn’t measure properly, but he’s at least A-grade, possibly even S-grade.”
“You know what happens if you’re lying, right?”
“As I’ve said, I know my place clearly. If you’re still doubtful, I don’t mind if you pay later.”
Han Sejun seemed to swallow his words with a small groan, as if considering something. But soon, he continued in a casual tone.
“It’s fine. If it turns out you lied, I can just take it back.”
The omitted part of that statement must have been ‘and your life’. He was that kind of man, and he carried out everything he said.
“Money. Hand it over.”
“Yes, boss.”
The sound of those who appeared to be Han Sejun’s subordinates moving quickly could be heard. Seoyul began to grow increasingly anxious.
Time was really running out. If he fell into Han Sejun’s hands like this, it would be over.
‘There’s only one chance.’
The moment they handed him over to Han Sejun. That was the only opportunity to escape.
Seoyul gathered his wits and watched for the opportunity. Their hands momentarily left Seoyul to hand him over to Han Sejun. Taking advantage of that gap, he bent his body down and sprang forward.
But…
“Ugh!”
“How cute. Still thinking of escaping.”
Even his last attempt failed miserably, and he ended up being caught by Han Sejun. Seoyul struggled to break free, but the man pressed down on his bound hands and neck from behind and issued a warning in a chilling voice.
“Escape if you can.”
If you can, that is.
That omitted part seemed to be heard, and Seoyul became even more terrified.
The confident tone, the ability to carry out his words at any time.
It was clearly felt that this was a person who had everything.
‘It’s over. It’s really over.’
All hope had been shattered like this. Seoyul felt the tears he had been holding back burst forth. The cloth binding his eyes began to get wet with hot tears.
It was then.
-BOOM!!
A huge explosion echoed, and the ground shook. Seoyul’s body swayed with the vibration, but Han Sejun easily caught him and set him upright, muttering.
“So the prince has come to the rescue. Well… it won’t help.”
Huh…?
Hope began to rise again in Seoyul’s heart. That hope soon turned into certainty.
“Get your filthy hands off him.”
It was Dowoon. From far away, Dowoon’s frighteningly low and cold voice was heard.
‘Esper…!’
Seoyul wanted to call out to him loudly, but he couldn’t because his mouth was blocked. He wanted to say that he was okay, but that message couldn’t be conveyed.
But it was alright. Dowoon had come. He had come to save him. At the moment when he had given up everything, Dowoon had come to save him.
So thinking it was enough, joy and relief rushed in all at once. Just the thought of being with Dowoon again caused emotions of joy to overflow.
That’s why he didn’t realize it. Due to the anxiety he had suffered for a long time, the Guiding energy that had been quiet was leaking out.
“Ha! What’s this?”
Han Sejun’s voice was heard from behind. Seoyul was gripped with anxiety. He hoped it wasn’t the case, but an S-grade Esper wouldn’t have missed it.
“You… really are S-grade?”
It was the moment doubt turned into certainty. Greed toward Seoyul began to be felt from his entire body. Now that he knew, he was shouting that he wouldn’t let go.
“Then I absolutely can’t let you go.”
After whispering softly in Seoyul’s ear, he handed him over to someone else.
“Take him away quickly. I’ll deal with Cha Dowoon.”
“Yes, boss.”
No…!
A feeling that something was going wrong filled his mind. Dowoon’s voice was no longer heard.
Seoyul instinctively felt that this was truly his last chance. So he struggled desperately. But the organization member who took him over easily subdued Seoyul and gripped his head with a large hand.
At that moment.
‘Gasp!’
Thud!
With a loud ringing in his head, his vision began to blur. It was a different kind of dimness from not being able to see.
‘Ah…’
Consciousness was gradually drifting away. Just as consciousness was about to completely break, Dowoon’s voice was heard along with the sound of something exploding.
“SEOYUL!!!!!”
Only then did he realize what Han Sejun had done to Dowoon.
‘Esper…’
That’s why Dowoon’s voice had stopped being heard in the middle. The fact that it could be heard again now meant that he had escaped from Han Sejun’s power.
To defend against the power of an S-grade Esper so easily.
It suddenly hit home that Han Sejun was an S-grade Esper just like Dowoon.
Seoyul once again realized that he had been captured by a truly dangerous person, and worry for Dowoon began to flood in.
‘Esper…’
His mind grew increasingly distant. Seoyul let go of the thread of consciousness while repeating one thought.
‘Be careful.’
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
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