Chapter 60
“Be careful!”
Hearing the loud shout, Yeonwoo turned around and reached out to catch the mana ball. The speed at which it was flying was unusual, making his palm sting. Yeonwoo lightly turned his hand and used his ability toward the Esper who was running toward him. The Esper who caught the mana ball falling into his hands apologized, but Yeonwoo didn’t have the energy to reply that it was fine.
Glaring at his bracelet, Yeonwoo rubbed near his heart. Every time he used his ability, one side of his heart felt sore. The dragon had said he would get used to it over time, but it was still uncomfortable even after a week. It felt like the mana core he had since he was 12 years old wasn’t his anymore.
Seated, Yeonwoo held the training tool and used his ability. The pattern drawn on the floor became clearer, but the accuracy was subtly decreasing. It felt different from when his ability was unstable. Before, it felt like losing strength in his fingers and unknowingly dropping things, but now it felt like moving objects with a child’s hands.
It felt like going back to when he first awakened. As Yeonwoo was training, lost in memories, a familiar mana approached.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
It was Park Seohyun. Before Yeonwoo could nod, Park Seohyun pointed to the seat next to him. When she asked if she could sit, he made space, and she crouched down beside him, fiddling with his training tool.
“Did you have a good trip?”
After ignoring him for a week, her tone was nonchalant as if nothing had ever happened between them. Though his insides were boiling, Yeonwoo also smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.
“Yes, I did. Have you been well?”
“Hahaha, someone might think you’ve been gone for days. We’ve been fine too. Our team Guide hasn’t been coming to work, but… well, it makes no difference whether she’s here or not.”
Come to think of it… Looking around, Yeonwoo only now noticed Jo Heeseo’s absence. She followed Bae Jaeyoung Esper. After informing him of Heeseo’s whereabouts, Park Seohyun spoke with her eyes fixed on the training ground entrance.
“I heard you’re scheduled for an ability test.”
“Thanks to Jo Heeseo Guide and Jung Eunyoung Esper.”
Jo Heeseo started it by saying she didn’t want to provide Guiding to an Esper whose ability was unstable, and Jung Eunyoung was spreading the word everywhere, asking if an Esper with unstable abilities should be allowed in the virtual dungeon and if this wasn’t favoritism.
People who heard these rumors wanted to check for themselves whether Yeonwoo’s ability was unstable. What happened earlier, with someone throwing a mana ball to subtly check, was relatively decent. People who tried various methods to check Yeonwoo’s ability seemed unsatisfied and spread rumors that his ability was too pathetic and that he must have received benefits because of his sister.
He wanted to argue that if he wanted to ride on Yeonhwa’s coattails, he would have joined Round Guild—why would he be crazy enough to join the Center? But there was no point in telling the truth to ears that only hear what they want; it would only hurt his mouth. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard such things. These were people who would pretend they never said such things as time passed. Just like Park Seohyun sitting right next to him.
But the training director couldn’t tolerate the unsettled atmosphere and recommended that Yeonwoo take an ability test.
“He shouldn’t need to take it.”
Park Seohyun openly showed her displeasure.
“Han Yeonwoo Esper’s ability is fine. I don’t understand why they’re making such a big deal.”
At Park Seohyun’s consolation, Yeonwoo looked down at his palm. While he appreciated the support, honestly, his ability wasn’t completely fine. He wasn’t particularly ashamed of taking the ability test as it was something he had been prepared for all along.
[By contracting with me, you can escape causality.]
At that moment, the dragon’s voice flashed through his mind. But Yeonwoo shook his head without hesitation. Apart from his desire to protect the dragon, he didn’t trust it. Being a high-ranking magical beast, the dragon might have stimulated Yeonwoo’s protective instincts through brainwashing.
While the dragon seemed to have full trust in Yeonwoo, the feeling wasn’t mutual. If he hastily made a contract and had his mana core stolen by the dragon, he would die with resentment. Just this morning, he had ignored the dragon who was complaining about side dishes and then suddenly squawking about making a contract.
It wasn’t even funny. To think it would complain that it was tired of fruit and throw a tantrum, asking to be fed Magic Stones or mana cores. When Yeonwoo asked how to get a mana core—Magic Stones might be one thing—the dragon, which was biting into a tangerine, answered with sparkling bean-like eyes. It’s the same as Magic Stones. Kill someone and it comes out.
This crazy bastard. Trying to turn me into a murderer. Glaring at the bracelet, Yeonwoo twisted it.
“They’re here.”
Park Seohyun jumped up and headed to the training ground entrance. As the door opened, the late team members who had gone for weapon supplies rushed in. The Espers, tightly holding their weapons with both hands for fear of losing them, ran toward Yeonwoo when they saw him.
“Han Yeonwoo Esper!”
“What was the virtual dungeon like?”
“Is the virtual dungeon very different from training?”
Surrounded by Espers, Yeonwoo smiled with a calm face. Unless it was publicly disclosed training, any training with Espers from other zones should be kept confidential for security. They should know this, so asking deliberately meant they weren’t after information sharing but showing off. It was obvious they wanted to distinguish themselves, who were selected for the late team, from those who hadn’t received any missions.
After thinking for a moment, Yeonwoo raised his hand and pointed to Park Seohyun.
“Well, I just did what Park Seohyun Esper told me to do.”
By emphasizing that although she wasn’t selected for the late team this time, she was someone who had gone back and forth to dungeons several times in the past, the attention naturally shifted from Yeonwoo to Park Seohyun.
Since Park Seohyun was someone who enjoyed recognition, if Yeonwoo redirected attention to her every time, their relationship would likely improve.
While watching an excited Park Seohyun, Yeonwoo looked at Choi Dongwon, who was standing awkwardly to one side. Well, time would take care of that one.
As for Jo Heeseo… he wasn’t sure. Yeonwoo sighed and looked at Jo Heeseo, who was sticking closely to Bae Jaeyoung, who was checking weapons. Even though Bae Jaeyoung was avoiding eye contact, Jo Heeseo kept talking to her from the side.
Now that I’ve seen her face, I should return the ring.
As Yeonwoo rummaged through his auxiliary bag, a light blue ice crystal clung to his finger. Chahun had asked him to keep it since it was his first creation, but it seemed he had no intention of coming to get it back. Carefully storing it in his bag, Yeonwoo took out the ring.
“Bae Jaeyoung Esper.”
“Yes. I have time.”
“Pardon?”
Bae Jaeyoung, who had grabbed Yeonwoo, glanced at Jo Heeseo with a pleading look. Catching the signal, Yeonwoo took Bae Jaeyoung to a corner. Left alone, Jo Heeseo firmly stayed in her spot despite Park Seohyun calling her over.
“Did you have a good trip? How was it?”
Yeonwoo’s lips curved into a smile at Bae Jaeyoung’s bright voice. He replied that he had a good trip, thanks to her, and was about to return the ring, but Bae Jaeyoung panicked and stopped him.
“Please return that a little later. Instead, can you stall until the training director arrives? She keeps asking me to take her along, but I have no authority, and I’m dying…”
Bae Jaeyoung started listing complaints about Jo Heeseo but suddenly covered her mouth. Perhaps she felt guilty for badmouthing the team Guide in front of Yeonwoo. But she hadn’t done anything wrong and didn’t need to be concerned. Shrugging his shoulders, Yeonwoo moved to shield Bae Jaeyoung from Jo Heeseo’s view.
“You’re saving me. Someone might think Jo Heeseo Guide and I are imprinted on each other.”
Sighing deeply, Bae Jaeyoung tapped her toe with a displeased expression. She complained to Yeonwoo about how surprised she was when Jo Heeseo showed up in the common area without a word. Then, as if remembering something, she pointed to the ring with her finger.
“Don’t you need this again? Since it’s not urgently needed, I can return it to you next time.”
“Again?”
Bae Jaeyoung blinked at Yeonwoo’s question.
“You don’t know? Kang Chahun Esper is participating in the attack team this time. I thought Han Yeonwoo Esper would be going together…”
“What?”
“That’s why they postponed all subjugation schedules. They said they were waiting for Kang Chahun Esper to pass the virtual dungeon.”
Yeonwoo frowned at the subsequent words, and Bae Jaeyoung covered her mouth, looking concerned.
“Um… Did I tell you something I shouldn’t have…?”
* * *
Ah, I shouldn’t have used my ability.
Rubbing his sore heart after landing, Yeonwoo stood in front of the Zone A portal. Perhaps because it was training time, there was no one coming in or out, so he couldn’t enter. He tried calling Seon Woogeon, but only heard a voice message asking him to leave a message as he was in training.
Since they parted at the porridge restaurant that day, Yeonwoo couldn’t see Chahun. He wanted to ask why Chahun thought Yeonwoo wasn’t interested in him, but he couldn’t ask because Chahun was nowhere to be seen. He thought Chahun wasn’t a child and would surely come back after calming down, but Chahun truly hadn’t shown his face at all.
He hated this situation where he had to leave a discomfort in one corner of his heart without even having fought. Despite lurking around Zone A several times to try to talk, he couldn’t meet Chahun. And since he didn’t know his phone number, he couldn’t call either. I should have exchanged contacts earlier. Because they always met in person, either Yeonwoo finding Chahun or Chahun finding Yeonwoo, they never felt the need to exchange contact information.
As he was glaring at the floor, a package popped out as the portal opened. Jeon Dohyun, holding the package with both hands as he came out of the portal, saw Yeonwoo and smiled brightly.
“You came to get this, right? They say we’re leaving soon.”
Jeon Dohyun handed over the package and pushed Yeonwoo’s back. At his suggestion to go say hello while he was on the errand, Yeonwoo’s face darkened as he headed to the square. He looked around the square and spotted Chahun’s face standing tall.
After delivering the package, Yeonwoo gave up trying to navigate through the crowd gathered in the square and folded space.
“Hyung?”
Feeling the familiar mana, Chahun reached out and grabbed Yeonwoo who had suddenly appeared. Heading to a corner in case someone might see, Chahun hid Yeonwoo with his body.
“What brings you here, hyung?”
What brings me here?
Numerous questions rushed through his mind. He was most curious about why Chahun was suddenly entering a dungeon when he had said he wouldn’t contract with the Center. He wanted to ask why Chahun hadn’t told him such important news when he usually said whatever came to his mind.
But he couldn’t. Chahun wasn’t an Esper who needed a guardian like Yeonhwa, nor was he a team member, so he didn’t need to report everything to Yeonwoo.
He was angry, but it was awkward to express it. He couldn’t even question why he had to hear Chahun’s news from others. Saying we’re close and all. With a churning feeling inside, Yeonwoo lowered his gaze, then looked up when Chahun asked him to look at him.
“Hyung, no, uh, that, I was going to tell you once the situation was sorted out…”
Swallowing his words due to many listening ears, Chahun grabbed Yeonwoo’s finger. After being confined to his quarters for over a week, meeting Yeonwoo made him feel like a weight was lifted.
A smile involuntarily appeared due to the sense of fullness. As soon as his lips curled up, seeing Yeonwoo’s eye corners sharpen, Chahun hurriedly clamped his lips shut.
If only thoughts could be transmitted without words.
After the virtual dungeon ended, Chahun demanded a diploma from the Center Director, but as expected, the Center Director refused to meet, making all sorts of excuses. On top of that, he even confined Chahun to his quarters, claiming there was a risk of going berserk since he had been to the dungeon without Guiding. If it weren’t for the Round Guild Master’s advice, he would have been unable to leave his quarters until he contracted with the Center.
Thinking about those days of confinement naturally made him sigh. He couldn’t count how many times he had grabbed the staff who brought his meals, asking if there had been any visitors.
If someone who stuck to me like that suddenly disappears, they should at least show some concern.
“Well, you’re not interested anyway, hyung.”
“Kang Chahun.”
At Yeonwoo’s voice, which he had never heard before, Chahun unconsciously clasped his hands together.
“Do you really think that?”
This bastard keeps pushing it.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
