Regressed to Become an S-Class Hidden Guide 69

Chapter 69

“If you’re done, hurry up with the Guiding and get out.”

Yujin’s last schedule was Dowoon’s Guiding.

“Ha! You’re receiving help and yet your words are so harsh?”

Yujin clicked his tongue in disbelief and grabbed Dowoon’s hand. Even though they only held hands, a feeling of repulsion, as if pushing each other away, captured their entire bodies.

It was the same for Dowoon, so he replied without backing down.

“You’re also accepting it because there’s something in it for you.”

When Dowoon squeezed his hand and began a battle of wills, Yujin, feeling provoked, responded with equal force.

Of course, it was true that he had agreed to this because there was a benefit, but seeing this confident face made him feel like his insides were turning.

‘Ah, really. He makes me want to quit right away.’

Yujin had accepted this job because he had a goal to achieve. But the thought that maybe this wasn’t necessary began to creep up on him.

‘No. There’s no reason to avoid the quickest path.’

Besides, he was looking forward to Dowoon’s reaction when he found out about his plan.

Imagining that day, which would surely be satisfying, Yujin began to Guide Dowoon.

Then, with the feeling of being thrown into a filthy sewer, pain that pierced his entire body from his fingertips began to flood in.

It seemed to be the same for Dowoon, as the face before him began to rot. Finding that face very pleasing, Yujin poured out even more energy and said,

“Now I feel a bit relieved. If it’s hard to endure, should we just do a moderate amount today and go?”

“What are you talking about? That’s what I should be saying.”

The two of them firmly held each other’s hands and began a proper battle of wills. Both were filled with determination not to lose to the other. During the 10 minutes they had to Guide, neither spoke first and just glared at each other.

After those 10 minutes passed, the two of them shook off their hands as if they had touched something dirty and simultaneously thought the same thing.

‘Tough bastard.’

The two of them turned their heads away in complete unison.

* * *

Seoyul’s life changed significantly.

After hearing the voice saying they would come to rescue him, he began to move his body little by little and started eating food and drinking water.

Because he hadn’t eaten for so long, he gradually increased the amount, restoring his weakened body.

Though it meant having to see Han Sejun’s satisfied smile.

‘So you didn’t want to die after all.’

He seemed to think that Seoyul had changed his mind because he didn’t want to die. Of course, it didn’t matter what he thought, so Seoyul quietly kept his mouth shut.

Fortunately, he didn’t ask deeply nor did he demand Guiding right away. He only left with words to recover quickly.

‘I’ve bought time.’

Damaging his body was actually working in his favor. If what he heard wasn’t a hallucination, he needed to stall for as much time as possible inside. That would be the only way to create an advantageous situation.

Seoyul deliberately ate food little by little, slowing his recovery. He also made sure to spend time lying down, giving the impression that he was merely extending his life.

How many days had passed like that?

Seoyul was still sleeping with worry and anxiety. But because his sleep was very light, he began to gradually wake up upon hearing a voice from somewhere.

—Guide Seoyul.

It was a voice he had heard somewhere before. But he couldn’t quite remember whose voice it was.

‘Who… is it?’

As he tried to connect thoughts in his drowsy state, the voice came again.

—Guide Seoyul.

The voice became clearer and clearer, and his mind began to wake up more and more. Realizing who the owner of the voice was, Seoyul opened his eyes. And then.

“Wake up.”

Yujin was in front of his eyes.

* * *

The place Han Sejun had established as his base was a nameless uninhabited island. It wasn’t on maps and didn’t appear in satellite photos.

‘No wonder they couldn’t find it.’

It seemed he had thoroughly blocked the entire island with his ability. Thanks to that, they had trouble planning an infiltration operation, but fortunately, there wasn’t a major problem.

Han Sejun’s barrier ability that blocked everything. It seemed he had been using this ability to hide his base and infiltrate enemy territory to extract information, but now that they knew the secret of his ability, it was a problem they could adequately prepare for.

The operation team was particularly careful with security and handled everything with utmost secrecy as they proceeded with the operation. As they steadily moved through the stages, the long-awaited D-day finally arrived.

“Let me emphasize once more, just follow the operation plan. Got it?”

Yujin reminded Dowoon again, nagging him. How many times was he planning to say that?

Dowoon felt like a callus was forming in his ears. But he didn’t argue. Because he realized how impulsive a person he was as time got closer.

So he stuffed even the words he didn’t want to hear into his head.

It was all for Seoyul. But that didn’t mean his words could come out nicely, so he scowled and shouted.

“I got it! You just do well yourself!”

Dowoon’s mission was to divert Han Sejun’s attention from Seoyul. Frustratingly, it was Yujin who would rescue Seoyul.

“I always do well, so no problem. How many times do you think I’ve done this kind of thing?!”

The reason Yujin was famous was not only because of his excellent Guiding ability but also because, unlike other Guides, he specialized in these types of missions.

Espers were strong, and so they were especially well-prepared to defend against abilities. This was particularly true for cases like Han Sejun who was good at evading government eyes.

This operation was no exception. There was no one better than Yujin for sneaking past various Esper defense facilities. He was a talented individual with not only Guiding but also excellent combat skills.

And that wasn’t all.

With his extraordinary mind, excellent leadership in leading a team, and above-average abilities, it wouldn’t be wrong to say there was no one who could replace him.

“Annoying bastard.”

Dowoon inadvertently revealed his true feelings and frowned. He knew that those words would sound like a compliment to Yujin.

“Oh? Thank you?”

Yujin answered with a satisfied smile and turned his gaze to look down at the island located below the helicopter.

The operation would begin after Espers broke the barrier set up there.

Dowoon and the Espers would create a flashy distraction, and Yujin would infiltrate after a time lag.

‘I don’t want to understand, but…’

He could fully understand Dowoon’s anxious feelings.

Having to entrust the rescue of a loved one to someone else’s hands. Moreover, to his hands, which could be called a bad connection.

It was enough to understand, making his thoughts complicated. But regardless of how bad their relationship was, he felt he should say what needed to be said, so he opened his mouth in a solemn voice.

“Guide Seoyul isn’t just important to you but also to me as a valuable team member. I’ll rescue him safely, so you just do your part properly.”

This was all Yujin could offer. Although his words weren’t gentle, Dowoon would have fully understood what he meant.

‘Anyway.’

Dowoon clicked his tongue and turned his head. They weren’t close enough to exchange heartfelt words, so he knew Yujin had deliberately spoken harshly.

What he really wanted to say was probably to trust him.

‘Maybe… I’ll trust him just this once.’

Dowoon too briefly thought while looking in the same direction as Yujin. But since he felt the same way as Yujin, he had no intention of voicing his inner thoughts.

He spoke harshly and jumped down toward the island.

“You just do well.”

Operation, start.

* * *

“Team Leader?”

Seoyul was completely surprised by the appearance of an unexpected person.

Even if someone came to rescue him, he thought it would be Dowoon or Dowoon’s fellow Espers, but he really hadn’t expected the Guide, Yujin, to come.

“Are you alright? Can you get up? I heard you’ve just been sleeping without eating.”

“Ah…”

It seemed that the source of the voice he thought might be a hallucination was indeed them.

‘Esper was… Esper was right.’

Welling up.

Something felt like it was about to pour out from his chest. It was a complex and enormous emotion that was indescribable. Was it relief from the thought that it was finally over? Or was it anxiety that still remained?

An emotion that couldn’t be named began to swirl inside Seoyul.

“Hic…”

Seoyul bit his lips tightly. If he didn’t, it felt like he would spill all these emotions. This wasn’t the right situation yet, and it would be a burden to Yujin who had come to rescue him. But Yujin, as if understanding Seoyul’s feelings, approached, embraced him, and said,

“You’ve… been through a lot.”

A warm temperature touched him. It was the familiar warmth of a person. But it wasn’t what Seoyul had been looking for.

“Hng…”

Seoyul could finally understand what this nameless emotion was.

‘Yes… this is…’

Longing.

The emotion Seoyul was feeling now was longing.

‘Esper… I miss Esper.’

He missed Dowoon terribly. Thinking that he could meet him soon made it even more so. He desperately missed that smile that would brighten when seeing him.

“Hic…”

Finally, tears poured down uncontrollably. The emotions that had been suppressed for so long exploded and fell endlessly.

“Ugh…”

In truth, he had been so scared. Scared that he might never meet him again. Scared that he might never see that smile again. He was so scared and afraid. He didn’t want to die. He wanted to live. He wanted to stay by Dowoon’s side for a long time.

Seoyul closed his eyes, silently shedding tears. Teardrops fell one by one from his eyes.

Yujin quietly comforted Seoyul, who was still trembling and couldn’t cry to his heart’s content.

“Don’t worry anymore. Let’s go… home.”

Home… Seoyul welled up again at the warmth that word gave. But he quickly suppressed his emotions again and raised his head.

‘Right. I can’t just keep crying.’

This wasn’t the time to be crying. Seoyul had more important things to do.

“Esper… is Esper alright?”

Seoyul carefully asked with a trembling heart. Was he injured anywhere? Since he couldn’t have received Guiding, was he struggling? All kinds of worries flooded in.

Yujin gently patted Seoyul’s head and said,

“You don’t have to worry about that. Among the people I’ve seen, the toughest one is that guy. He’s really stubborn, so you can rest assured.”

Their relationship was deeply embedded in those words. A feeling that they trusted each other while not getting along well.

‘So that… was really true…’

He recalled Dowoon’s appearance, shuddering whenever Yujin’s story came up. It wasn’t that he doubted those words, but seeing it confirmed with his own eyes gave him a strange feeling.

“Now, let’s go.”

Yujin extended his hand to Seoyul. Seoyul took that hand and stood up. But because he hadn’t fully recovered yet, his vision spun and he staggered.

“Whoa? Are you okay?”

Yujin, who steadied Seoyul as he was about to fall, asked in a worried tone.

“I’m sorry. I’m just dizzy for a moment.”

“I’ll support you. Right now, Cha Dowoon is buying us time, so we need to escape quickly.”

Time…?

Seoyul’s heart began to race as he heard those words. Han Sejun’s words that he would kill Dowoon quickly flashed through his mind.

‘Cha Dowoon… will die by my hands.’

Those prophetic words, spoken with certainty that it would happen.

If that ability to see the future was really true, could Han Sejun really have not seen this scene?

‘No.’