I never expected to meet the main male lead this soon.
“You must’ve been really shocked. Just try to stay calm.”
“……”
“You’re so shaken you can’t even speak…”
KUOOO!!!
“Damn…”
The monster, clearly agitated after losing its prey, stomped its feet and charged straight at us.
“It’s alright. I’ll take care of it in no time. Just close your eyes for ten seconds, okay? Can you do that for me?”
His voice was gentle—exactly the kind of kindness you’d expect from the male lead. I nodded weakly, just enough to satisfy him, but there was no way I was actually closing my eyes.
Why would I shut them now, when there’s such a perfect show unfolding right in front of me?
This was the ideal chance to see how someone actually handles a monster.
Kim Seong-gyeong gave me a wink, flashed a soft smile, then sprang to his feet and rushed toward the charging beast.
He’s fast.
That must be the ability mentioned in the book—high-speed movement.
In a blur, he closed the distance and landed a clean, powerful kick straight into the monster’s stomach. Even with my enhanced perception, I had to focus hard just to catch the faintest trace of his movement. That’s how fast he was.
Watching him fight sent a chill down my spine.
If I had been the one he was aiming at… would I have survived?
Not a chance. I would’ve been dead the moment he moved.
Esper abilities were way beyond anything I’d ever imagined.
Now I understood why, in the novel, people called Espers superheroes if they were feeling generous, or monsters if they weren’t. If the government hadn’t imposed strict control through the Guide system, these people could’ve easily taken over the country.
I swallowed hard and slipped the gun I’d been holding back into my pocket.
Right now, playing the role of a helpless victim was the best move. According to the novel, the male lead was known for being exceptionally kind and protective toward the weak.
Which, of course, meant he was absolutely ruthless toward his enemies.
KUOOO!!!
The monster lunged again, but with one thunderous roar and another swift kick from Kim Seong-gyeong, it went flying, crashing straight into the side of a distant building and crumpling on impact.
“It’s over now. Are you hurt anywhere?”
After confirming the monster was down, Kim Seong-gyeong returned in an instant and scanned me from head to toe.
Just like the book described—he was annoyingly kind.
“I’m fine.”
“That’s a relief. I’m Kim Seong-gyeong, an S-Rank Esper.”
“Ah, yes…”
“Please wait here for a moment. I’ll go help the others.”
I nodded again, letting that be my answer. He gave me another of those signature eye-smiles, then vanished in a flash.
Running into Kim Seong-gyeong this early was pure luck. As long as I stuck close to him, I’d be safe for a while.
The real problem is…
The seventh day.
Kim Seong-gyeong was an Esper.
Not just any Esper—an S-Rank who constantly suffered from a lack of Guiding.
For now, he seemed stable. But he was basically a walking time bomb.
If he kept overusing his powers like this to save people, he’d eventually hit his limit. And once that happened, he’d go berserk—and the damage would be catastrophic.
The novel never detailed the exact consequences of an Esper’s rampage.
It only described the moment when the S-Rank Esper lost control—and the dramatic entrance of the S-Rank Guide, the true protagonist.
Just to be safe, I should stay away on the last day.
What was certain was this: the only one who could calm Kim Seong-gyeong down in that state was the S-Rank Guide.
In the novel, the two met during a crisis, fell in love at first sight, and that was the real beginning of the story.
I watched from a distance as Kim Seong-gyeong kept using his powers to save people, one after another.
…Can I really survive a full week of this?
The future suddenly felt a lot more uncertain.
***
“Are you alright? You’re not hurt, are you?”
“W-where… where am I…?”
“You must’ve been terrified. Come this way.”
Around thirty survivors followed Kim Seong-gyeong’s lead.
Most of them were children, the elderly, or women. Since it was still early evening, there weren’t many adult men around—and no one looked capable of helping him.
“By now, the search teams should’ve started moving. Reinforcements from other Espers will arrive soon. Until then, we need to stick together and stay strong.”
Kim Seong-gyeong comforted them, reassured them, and gave them hope.
They were people who’d barely managed to survive. Their homes had collapsed without warning, and before they could even grasp what was happening, monsters had swarmed them. Just when death seemed inevitable, Kim Seong-gyeong appeared and pulled them back from the brink.
He knew all of this. That’s why he couldn’t stop using his powers. He kept going, pushing himself past the limit, trying to protect everyone.
And me? I stood among them, arms crossed, silently watching it all unfold.
“Let’s use this spot as a temporary shelter,” he said.
Using chunks of debris, Kim Seong-gyeong built a rough barricade around the survivors.
No monsters were in sight for now, but who knew when the next wave would come? The book had made it clear—inside a dungeon, the future was unpredictable.
I studied his expression.
This isn’t good.
His face had gone completely pale. He looked like he was barely holding it together.
Please… just hold on for one more week. That’s all I ask. Just one week…
***
One day passed inside the dungeon.
Five people died.
On the second day, another seven were lost.
Day three… Day four…
Monsters attacked without warning, over and over. People kept getting injured. More kept dying.
And Kim Seong-gyeong… he was starting to break.
The cheers that had once followed him turned into complaints and blame. And when food began to run low, tensions reached a boiling point. It was unrealistic to think we could survive a full week on what little food we’d scrounged up.
By the fifth day, we had nothing left to eat.
“There’s no food left… We’re stuck in here… What kind of Esper is this?!”
“If you’re going to protect us, then do it properly! If I die, will you take responsibility?!”
The strain was obvious on Kim Seong-gyeong’s face. Even the faint smile he’d forced for days had finally disappeared.
And still, I did nothing. I just watched.
I already knew help was coming in two days. The Espers—and the protagonist—would arrive. That moment of desperation, when the main character and Kim Seong-gyeong locked eyes for the first time, was the real start of the story.
It’s not that I didn’t feel bad. I did. He was doing everything he could, and all he got in return was bitterness.
“Esper-nim, can’t you find us something to eat?”
“Oppa, I’m hungry… So hungry…”
“At this rate, we’re gonna starve to death before a monster even gets us.”
“Ugh… I’d kill for a sip of water…”
Surrounded by grumbling, Kim Seong-gyeong pushed himself to his feet with clear effort.
“I’ll try to find something…”
“What, and leave us behind?! Hey, lady! Why don’t you go instead?!”
“Excuse me?!”
“We don’t know when the monsters will attack again! If the only Esper we have goes looking for food, who’s going to protect us?!”
Just like the book. Selfish, entitled cowards—always the same, fiction or reality.
Honestly, anyone else would’ve snapped by now. But even then, Kim Seong-gyeong forced a smile.
“It’s okay. I’ll be quick. I mean, we can’t just sit here and starve to death.”
I let out a sigh.
No one—not one person—was worried about him collapsing from exhaustion.
All they cared about was staying alive. To them, an Esper was just a tool, nothing more.
I couldn’t stand by any longer. I’d played the passive observer long enough.
Just one more day. That’s all that was left. And I was starving too. I was hitting my limit.
“I’ll go with you. Let me help.”
“…What? But it could be dangerous…”
While everyone else sat around complaining, I stepped forward—and Kim Seong-gyeong looked genuinely surprised.
“Then who’s going to protect us?!” snapped a grumpy old man in his sixties, his face twisted with irritation.
“…Then what, we just sit here and starve to death?”
“Wh-what?”
“If that’s what you want, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”
“N-no, I didn’t mean that…”
“You don’t want this, you don’t want that—so what do you want? At this point, all you’re doing is dragging everyone down. We should be thinking clearly right now. How long do you plan to rely on him to do everything?!”
“But he’s the Esper, and we’re just…”
“Just what? Helpless? Don’t you see he’s the only one actually doing anything? This isn’t about who has powers. This is about surviving.”
I scanned the terrified faces around me, my voice firm and unwavering.
“You want to live? Then act like it.”
“All men, find anything you can use as a weapon and take turns standing guard. We won’t be gone long, but at the very least, protect yourselves while we’re away.”
You idiots… That Esper you’re all counting on could be the one to kill you tomorrow.
I hadn’t planned to speak up. I’d been doing my best to stay under the radar. But the thought that today might be my last day alive loosened my tongue.
Holding something—anything—was better than standing around empty-handed. It was the least I could do to help them survive.
“Did you hear me?”
“…Yes.”
Thankfully, one woman understood immediately. Then a teenager who looked like a high schooler spoke up, and slowly, the others began to move, picking up rocks, sticks—whatever could serve as a makeshift weapon.
The grumbling old man looked sour about it but didn’t say another word, just shifted awkwardly, glancing around.
Once I saw the group getting into motion, I grabbed Kim Seong-gyeong’s arm.
“Let’s go. Us too.”
“…Huh? Oh—yeah!”
He blinked, caught off guard by how quickly the mood had changed, then gave a quick nod.
As I held his arm, I subtly checked his condition without him noticing.
My expression darkened.
…Can he even make it until the protagonist shows up?
He was in terrible shape—far worse than I expected. Honestly, it wouldn’t be surprising if he lost control right this second.
Even when I’d first met Kang Biso, it hadn’t been this bad. It was a miracle Kim Seong-gyeong was still pretending to be okay, still moving like nothing was wrong.
If he snapped now?
We’d all die. Simple as that.
The only one who could bring a rampaging S-Rank Esper back to sanity was an S-Rank Guide. The protagonist wasn’t supposed to arrive for two more days. Just one more day—we just had to get through tomorrow.
That’s how it went in the book.
But now… there was me. A variable that wasn’t part of the original story. I’d tried to stay quiet, to avoid interfering, but what if my presence had already thrown things off?
For now, I had no choice but to rely on Kim Seong-gyeong’s self-control—and pray he held it together.
“Ah…”
While I was holding his arm, a soft moan slipped out of him. Worried something was wrong, I looked up—and froze.
His eyes were dazed, his expression dreamy. A faint blush had bloomed under his eyes, and his lips were parted slightly, trembling.
Shit.
I realized my mistake too late—and immediately regretted it.
I’d accidentally started Guiding him while checking his condition.
Dehydrated from days without Guiding, Kim Seong-gyeong was absorbing it like a man dying of thirst who’d stumbled on a hidden spring. His body was practically begging for more.
I moved to pull my hand away—but he was faster.
He gripped my hand tightly, interlacing our fingers, and stepped in close, pressing his body right up against mine.
His cheek brushed against my shoulder. His breath was hot and ragged, falling right against my ear.
“Ah… ahh… Y-you… are you…?”
His eyes were unfocused, voice breathy. I saw where this was going—fast—and slapped a hand over his mouth before things got worse.
“We’ll be back soon.”
I pulled him away without looking back, completely ignoring the confused stares behind us as we disappeared from the group, practically glued together.
