Approximal Guide

— Colonel, are you performing an exorcism?! Are you trying to curse the entire metropolitan area? Why aren’t you guiding him right now? Are you taking an exam? Why are you hesitating when it doesn’t suit you at all!Han Byeongeun was extremely irritated. …No, I was about to do it, too. Getting berated by a subordinate for being incompetent the day before discharge—how frustrating. Turning my head in annoyance, something caught my eye. It was the record card attached to his bed.“Oh, kid, you’re not 18—you’re 19.”“Ugh, ah…”Even though I was giving him some guidance, he was in such pain that his eyes would sometimes roll back, showing only the whites. A painkiller was supposed to be flowing in through the IV needle on his hand, but it didn’t seem to be helping. A body like that of an Esper wouldn’t respond to morphine-based painkillers, after all. I figured I’d better relieve his pain quickly.Luckily, the card read “M/19.” It meant he was a 19-year-old male. The military doctor must have been referring to his international age when he said he was 18. He didn’t seem fated to die yet, fortunately. I felt a bit relieved. The kid, writhing in pain on the bed, seemed to catch my words, looking at me with confused eyes despite his pain.It was as if he were saying, “You’re asking my age while I’m in agony? First come, first served, but not first to go?” This kid has more spunk than I expected. I smirked a little. Without saying much in response to his quietly intense gaze, I glanced at my watch, then reached out to wipe the cold sweat off his forehead.“You held up well. I’ll get you feeling better soon.”With that determination, the guiding energy within me surged. I could feel the intense flow of guiding energy circulating vigorously, unable to escape my skin. It seemed that the resonance between my guiding wavelength and his Esper wavelength was remarkably compatible. It had been a long time since I felt like this—since Seonghan had left. The rare feeling lifted my spirits a bit, so I spoke cheerfully.“You know how to count, right?”“…What?”“Three, two, what comes next?”“…One…?”“Good job.”I shifted my gaze from my watch’s second hand and leaned down toward him. To kiss him. A faint ringing echoed in my ears. The moment he said “one,” the second hand passed exactly over the number twelve. At the count of three, he had turned twenty.With a smile still on my face, I pressed my lips to his. As guiding energy transferred through the contact of our lips, his eyes widened. His complexion visibly changed, likely feeling his first experience of physical contact guiding. His hand, reaching toward me, was probably filled with the same desperation as a drowning person who’s spotted a lifeline. Gently, I lowered the hand reaching for the back of my neck, smiling slightly as I said:“Happy New Year, soldier. Congratulations on joining the Special Esper-Guide Corps.”“…”Then, I kissed the newly twenty-year-old recruit again. Once the signs of his imminent outburst subsided after this kiss, he would become an incredibly powerful Esper. I couldn’t bring myself to welcome him to this hellish place, so I settled for a New Year’s greeting instead.I could feel his eyes widen and then soften. Through our connected lips, I felt them tremble slightly. As a courtesy from one senior soldier to another, I closed my eyes too.It was the first kiss of the new year.It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but it felt like a refreshing way to mark my discharge. Despite all that had happened at the Center, as my departure neared, only the memories worth savoring kept replaying in my mind. Even though it was a memorable day, I hadn’t really made any fuss about it this morning—unlike Han Byeongeun.As I was about to quickly fix my hair after a wash, Byeongeun’s relentless nagging at the crack of dawn forced me to go all the way to Ipae-dong, the Center’s commercial district, to get a haircut. Byeongeun even pleaded with me to please look decent today. What a ridiculous guy. How did he know I was planning on just splashing some water on my face and showing up to the discharge ceremony?“Colonel, you were going to just go like that again, weren’t you? It’s so obvious. Aren’t you embarrassed for your juniors to see you like that? Wear your dress uniform properly, too. And don’t show up with that clip-on tie you wore to the funeral last time because you lost your regular one.”The lecture was long and intense. I nodded half-heartedly, feeling a bit irked that I had to listen to this on my last day. But Byeongeun was relentless, treating me more like an acquaintance than a superior on the verge of discharge.“Once your haircut’s done, call me immediately. I’ll come pick you up. And ask them to shave you, too. Right now, you look like a bandit, Colonel.”…A bandit? Was I really that rugged-looking? The more he said it, the less I wanted to shave. But without a word, Byeongeun packed me into his military Humvee, dropped me off at some barber shop, and sped off.“This man here is none other than Colonel Kang Hajung, the first pillar and great Guide of the Special Forces. It’s his discharge day, so please take good care of him.”“Of course. I’m Kim Woonyong. I’ve been a military barber for almost sixty years now. I’ll let my experience do the talking.”I was dumbfounded. Why all this dramatic talk just to cut some hair? Even the barber’s response was unusual. Sixty years? This guy didn’t look a day over a sergeant. If he’d really served that long, he’d have fought in the Vietnam War. This place was a circus. All I wanted was a quiet discharge, but it seemed no one was going to let that happen.Anyway, the supposed sixty-year veteran barber cut the back and sides short with a clipper, buzzing close to the scalp. I figured he’d trim the front the same way, but he left it long enough to slick back with gel.Polishing a pumpkin doesn’t make it a watermelon. Actually, it’s the other way around. Anyway, whether it’s a melon or a pumpkin, it’s still just a squash. No amount of styling would turn my battered face into anything remotely handsome. I was tall enough for a man, but my face was plain—not bad for a soldier. It was nondescript enough to blend in, making it perfect for infiltration.Guys like Ha Seonghan or that baby recruit I guided yesterday might be handsome enough to deserve that compliment. If their faces are truly faces, then mine is just a “crater.” It’s still a work in progress, you could say. With that silly thought, I went to the laundry shop in Ipae-dong to pick up my dress uniform. The shop owner was busy, wielding a steam iron behind the old “CLEANING” sticker, pressing someone’s uniform pants.“Boss, I’m here.”“Colonel, long time no see!”Not wanting the shop owner, who’d seen me limp for years, to notice, I moved slowly and nodded.“How have you been? Come on in.”“Doing well, I hope?”“Of course! What brings you to pick up your uniform today?”Hesitating at his friendly question, I responded with a sheepish grin.“…I’ve got to wear it for something.”“Don’t tell me—the Central Command called you in?”The Central Command, also known as the control tower of the Esper-Guide Corps, either called someone in for an honor or punishment.I was usually only called in for reprimands, given that I was a so-called war hero in title only. It was likely that he was worried it might be something like that again since he’d known me and Seonghan since we were trainees. Seeing his face, softened with years of kindness, I wanted to ease his worries.“Maybe they just called me to admire my good looks.”“Colonel Kang, you’re too funny!”“Boss, I’m being serious right now.”The shop owner laughed, clutching his steaming iron. But I really was serious…My discharge was a secret within the Center. I had gone so far as to tell the Center Director to keep quiet about it. Since I planned to leave quietly, I’d personally come to retrieve my uniform instead of sending a private from the Colonel’s office. But once I saw the shop owner, I couldn’t bring myself to say much, so I just took the uniform and left without another word.“Colonel, have a great new year.”“…Yes, you too, Boss.”His warm goodbye, wishing me luck and reminding me to eat well, weighed heavily on my shoulders. He’d always treated us like his own children. That he cared for me like this, even after I returned alone, leaving Seonghan behind, made my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I managed to tell him to take care, stay healthy, and cut back on his drinks before I left.As I limped slowly to hide my injury, I realized I had left my phone in Byeongeun’s car and didn’t usually carry a pager. But something was beeping continuously from the device attached to my waist, flashing nonstop. Annoyed, I realized it was from the Medical Wing.“Looks like I’ll be doing volunteer work on my discharge day. Tsk.”One advantage of getting older is that you can grumble to yourself. Muttering to myself, I then realized I could barely walk ten steps on this knee, so I had no choice but to take a cart that ran along the rail back to the Medical Wing. When I boarded the cart, usually used by young guide cadets or female guides, my ears burned with embarrassment.I bit my lip as I sat among the giggling guides, feeling my fingers tingle with awkwardness. Any other day, I would have jumped right out, but running on my barely-there knee cartilage would be risking an earful from Byeongeun.Reluctantly seated on the cursed yellow cart, I closed my eyes and folded my arms, pretending to sleep, wishing for this miserable thing to spit me out in front of the Medical Wing as soon as possible.“Colonel, you’ve arrived? This way, please.”I thought things had settled, but it seemed like another issue had popped up. The military doctor I saw yesterday was waiting anxiously. Limping over with my dress uniform covered in plastic, I handed it over without a word as he quickly took it from me. Normally, I would’ve refused any help with carrying my stuff, but I had no choice; my knee ached so badly I could barely walk after getting off the cart. If only Han Byeongeun were here, he’d have had a wheelchair ready.Though my knee’s condition was bad enough to justify a medical discharge, it wasn’t severe enough for anyone to know the details. I was afraid using a wheelchair might give the wrong impression, so I just walked slowly. The military doctor kept glancing back, clearly annoyed by my slow pace.“Why are you here with your dress uniform, sir?”“Came to sleep in it, obviously. …No, seriously, why did you call me here?”Not many knew about my discharge ceremony, and since there wasn’t any military event, it probably seemed odd to the doctor that I’d come for my uniform. I responded curtly, feeling an uncomfortable twinge in my knee. Maybe it was a sign of snow coming; I’d rather have snow than rain, which makes me more emotionally vulnerable. Still, the changing air pressure was hard on my knee.I wanted to quickly change into my dress uniform, get through whatever ceremony awaited, and then put a hot pack on my knee or hit the sauna and rest. From tomorrow, I’d finally be able to leave as a civilian. I was annoyed at being summoned last-minute like this. I mean, even if I swore loyalty to the state, did it have to extend to a day like today? The usually easygoing superior’s uncharacteristically sharp tone puzzled the doctor, who began glancing at me nervously.Instead of just staring, he could bring me a cane or crutch, but his quick steps showed no intention of showing any courtesy to a soon-to-be former superior officer. Gritting my teeth, I ignored the painful grinding in my knee ligaments and tried to keep up. Finally, noticing my efforts, the doctor hesitated before speaking.“Colonel, actually…”“Stop beating around the bush and say it. Do I have to ask a hundred times? What’s with this back-and-forth—is this some kind of flirting? Am I missing that we’re dating now?”“No, no, sir. I was just instructed not to say anything. The center director wants to explain in person.”“What? The center director?”I abruptly stopped walking, which made my knee screech with pain as my femur slightly twisted. It hurt to the point of tears, but the news of the director’s unexpected presence concerned me even more. Why would he come here? I was only here because there was supposedly an Esper in a critical situation…The director’s sudden appearance was suspicious, and I felt an urge to leave right away. My instincts told me that if I ran into him, I’d get dragged into something massively inconvenient.“I just remembered something urgent, so I have to go. Pretty sure I left the gas on at home.”“Sir? But… don’t the guide accommodations use induction cooktops? They turn off automatically when they reach the set temperature.”Ignoring his puzzled expression, I turned and started limping away. My knee was throbbing in protest, but that wasn’t the priority. I needed to leave here before the director spotted me.“Colonel! Where are you going?” the doctor called, but I paid no mind, heading for the main entrance.“Colonel Kang!”Oh, hell. That familiar voice made me freeze. I’d been caught.“Colonel Kang, leaving without even saying hi?”“Hello, sir,” I sighed, turning to salute. The director, standing at the top of the central staircase, waved cheerfully at me.The suspiciously friendly grin on his face only heightened my wariness. Why so cheerful, sir? That smile had never led to anything good in my life.“At ease. Where were you off to? Didn’t you hear me calling?”“No, sir, I didn’t.”I replied with a deadpan stare, but the director raised his eyebrows as if surprised.“I called pretty loud. Didn’t you hear, too?” He asked the doctor, gripping my arm and glancing at him. The doctor seemed torn, unsure if he should confirm or deny hearing the call.I could choose to hold my discharge ceremony either with my home unit or at the central headquarters on Mt. Geumak. With my knee condition, I couldn’t handle a climb to the summit, and I got aches all over at high altitudes, so I’d opted for my home unit. Being under the jurisdiction of the Seoul-Gyeonggi Esper-Guide Corps, the director couldn’t avoid attending my discharge, even if it was a low-key affair.That meant he’d have to be at the event himself, so summoning me to the ward on the day of my discharge… could only mean something troublesome had come up. It was infuriating.The director must have feared I’d try to escape, as he held firmly to my arm while walking down the hallway. I didn’t even want to know where we were going. When he pressed the elevator button going up, I figured we were headed to the Esper ward.The second I asked “Why are we going there?” or “What’s going on?” I’d be roped into whatever annoying task he had planned. My knee was aching, and I was mentally preparing to make a break for it when a lack of exit options crushed the idea. Besides, I was stuck with the creaky knee of an old man.Should’ve taken Han Byeongeun’s advice and gone through with the surgery when I had the chance. I could’ve rehabbed properly and been ready to make a quick exit in situations like this… Regret crept in. Seeing my thoughts and emotions likely written on my face, the director clicked his tongue.“Colonel Kang, why the face? Get some proper food; you look so pale.”…And whose fault is that, exactly? But I kept my mouth shut, as talking back to a superior who was expressing concern would only make me look like a brat. Then I remembered—after today, he’d just be a random guy. Could I sass him a little? Just as I was mustering the courage, the elevator chimed, and the doors opened.Inside stood a boy, about ten centimeters shorter than me, with a strikingly delicate face that seemed familiar. A face like his was hard to forget, but I couldn’t quite place him. His youthful appearance would soon mature into striking handsomeness with age.Thick, dark eyebrows, a sharp, high nose, and understated but serious eyes beneath thin double eyelids. Even though I was immune to good-looking guys, given Ha Seonghan’s stunning face, this kid’s looks caught me off guard. If the director hadn’t spoken, I might never have recognized him. And then the director dropped a bombshell.“Oh, perfect timing. Colonel Kang, this is Esper Kim Moohyuk, your new temporary pair.”“What did you say, you bastard?” It was probably the second most outrageous thing I’d heard in my life.“No, Sunbae. Think about it… What should I do then? Just tell that kid to die? Throw him out? Let his guiding powers dry up until all of Seoul blows up into the sky or something, huh?”“Shut up.”“Yes, sir.”Director Kim Inhak was a junior from the military academy, one class below both me and Ha Seonghan, but he was a privileged kid who climbed the ranks fast. He was ambitious and skilled enough to take on the director position at a relatively young age. I wasn’t bothered by the fact that a junior classmate was promoted faster, mainly because he was quite dedicated to his work. He was skilled at all the political games in the organization, making him a perfect fit for the role.Seonghan and I used to joke that we couldn’t do that kind of work, even if they asked us. The three of us used to hang out often. The problem was that this ungrateful junior didn’t even consider letting me go, even after Seonghan died. And now, he was trying to block a Sunbae’s path to retirement once again. I didn’t want to make a scene in front of others, so I held in my anger until I reached his office. But it still wouldn’t subside.Watching him drag me into this ridiculous situation and act like he knew nothing made me realize Kim Inhak was a soldier through and through. He was a model of the military spirit, pushing things through once a decision was made. Honestly, he was suited for the director position.I couldn’t hold back anymore and snapped.“Hey, Brigadier Kim. Did you forget today is my retirement ceremony?”“As if I wouldn’t know that.”It was funny that he, who usually spoke casually to me in front of others, now switched to formal speech when it was just the two of us. Trying to act all respectful now, after planning to keep me around to guide that young brat? When it was he who insisted on a retirement ceremony? I felt like I’d been slapped in the face.“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not doing it. You do it yourself.”“How can I guide him? I’m an Esper. Just go easy on him, would you? The kid’s pitiful. He’s young, and you know how easily they could die if they overdo it. He’s practically a walking time bomb right now.”“Are you out of your mind? Today’s my retirement!”Frustrated, I yelled. Yeah, he’s pitiful. But shouldn’t that be the problem of those who are still active? Why am I the one being told this? I’m a civilian now! My face contorted automatically.“Stop making me repeat myself. Just approve my retirement already. I don’t need a ceremony. I’ll pack my things and leave. I swear, I won’t come near this place again.”“Oh, come on, Sunbae. How can the cornerstone of the Special Forces not have a retirement ceremony? I’ll be summoned to HQ, Sunbae.”“Are you kidding me? Did you ever see me care about that kind of stuff? I only agreed to the ceremony because you wouldn’t stop pestering me. And now what? You want me to guide some kid who’s barely come into the world?”“But… he’s going to die for real if we don’t….”“That’s for you to handle. You’re the director, remember?”I wanted to kick the couch in his office but restrained myself for the sake of my knees. Usually, I’m easygoing, rarely angry, but today, I was boiling over. It’s not like I wanted to retire either. Since I was fourteen, attending the training academy, I’d never considered being anything but a soldier. Serving alongside Ha Seonghan, protecting our country — that was natural to me. I imagined growing a little older, climbing the ranks, and eventually retiring at an appropriate age, spending my final days proud of a lifetime of service. But that wasn’t possible anymore. The guy who was like a brother to me died — right in front of me, so there was no way I could deny it.Since then, I’d been barely surviving. Physical injuries could be treated with surgery or rehab, as Han Byeongeun said, but the real problem was my PTSD, which showed no signs of improvement. Retirement was inevitable; I had to save myself first. Staying here would only worsen my memories, pushing me closer to depression. And yet, knowing all that, he dares to say something like that? I almost regretted ever going easy on him.I stormed out of Kim Inhak’s office without looking back. I didn’t know who might be waiting outside.“…”“…You.”And outside the director’s office stood Kim Moohyuk.Kim Moohyuk. The young kid who extended his life as an Esper by receiving all the guiding I could offer. He must have overheard everything, right through the door. With his level of Esper powers, his hearing was bound to be sharp. Even though the room was soundproofed, someone of his caliber would have heard everything as if he was right there. He stared at me blankly, making it impossible to read his thoughts. I suddenly felt annoyed.“…Is eavesdropping on superiors’ conversations your first assignment?”“Ah…”I looked down at him, his face showing disbelief at my words, then walked past him. Considering what the director said, it seemed safe to assume the retirement ceremony was canceled. I could protest privately, but it didn’t look like my retirement would go through anytime soon. The guiding I’d given this young Esper on the day before my supposed retirement, full of concern for his uncertain future, was now holding me back.I was irritated and made no effort to hide it, not even in front of this Esper who’d just turned twenty. I didn’t care if it made me seem undignified. After all, he was the reason my plans were ruined. I needed to leave to survive. I didn’t care if people thought I was petty or cold. I had to survive, just like he was desperate when he reached out for my help.“…”“…”In Kim Moohyuk’s eyes, I could see my hardened face, reflecting the face of a flawed adult. I avoided his gaze. Why was he staring at me like that? Forget it; I decided I’d pack my things and leave.I’ll desert. No one’s going to want to advertise that the so-called cornerstone of the Special Forces deserted on his retirement day. They’ll process my retirement somehow. I don’t care. I’ll give up my pension and just live off what I saved until I die. The bleak future of a life I’d just abandoned flashed before my eyes.I wanted to pass through the center, and even this young Esper in my way, without another glance. But just then, my knees gave out, and the joints in my knees popped, throwing me off balance. If only my good knee had kept its stability, I could have managed, but both were in bad shape, and my upper body tilted forward uncontrollably. Wow, what a day. If I smashed my nose, it would be an undeniable medical discharge. I think that’s what I had in mind — until someone pulled me back by my chest.“…Colonel.”“…”The arms of the guy shorter than me were unexpectedly sturdy. With an unreadable expression, he held me tight, giving me enough support so that I wouldn’t fall. His chest, which seemed firmer up close than it looked from afar, hurt a bit as I fell into it abruptly. I couldn’t believe I was leaning on a guy who was barely a private. It wasn’t embarrassing exactly, but I felt pathetic.“Let go. Why are you grabbing me like that? Don’t you know that if an Esper makes physical contact with a Guide without permission, it’s grounds for serious disciplinary action?”“…I didn’t know.”As I complained and pushed Kim Moohyuk’s shoulder, he slid away easily without resistance. With his strength as an Esper, he could have easily held his ground, but he allowed himself to be pushed back. It annoyed me even more, seeing this young guy trying to act all considerate toward a Guide.Espers possess superior physical abilities in all aspects compared to Guides. Guides are pretty much like regular people, except for their guiding abilities, but Espers are more than human. As a result, Espers are typically careful to cherish and protect their Guides, who bring them stability. There are, of course, those who use their power to oppress and control their Guides. But either way, all Espers annoy me. They’re entitled beings who only ever ask and demand guiding, regardless of their Guide’s circumstances.Ha Seonghan was like that initially. He thought of my guiding as his and couldn’t tolerate me guiding any other Esper. Thanks to him, I rarely ever guided anyone else. After he left, I focused entirely on teaching Guides as an instructor, which made Kim Moohyuk the first Esper I had guided in a long while.Even Ha Seonghan, who was practically like a brother, couldn’t hide his possessiveness. So how much worse would it be for Kim Moohyuk, who had just received his first guiding? He might be young, but an Esper is still an Esper. How else could he maintain such resonating ESP waves even after hearing those words? The waves that emanated from him, wanting to reach me, felt eerily similar to Ha Seonghan’s intense energy.“You probably overheard, so you know today was supposed to be my discharge day, and even if it wasn’t, I have no intention of providing you with continuous guiding.”“…”Kim Moohyuk just looked at me in silence with those unreadable eyes. Why should I care about the feelings of this rookie Esper anyway? Ignoring him, I turned and walked away. He didn’t try to stop me. My knee still throbbed, but this time, I couldn’t let myself stop.This rotten world. It’s hell for those left behind.In the end, my discharge was postponed indefinitely. Inhaek, the rogue, tried to defend himself.“I really did want to let you go, senior. But somehow, Central Command found out about Kim Moohyuk. So what could I do? The discharge request I submitted on your behalf got denied and sent back.”He seemed to be telling the truth; he looked slightly irritated himself. It’s one thing for Central Command to deny an approved discharge request – that’s problematic.Because of this, Inhaek, now annoyed with Central Command, stood with his hands on his hips, clearly displeased. Of course. Central Command always wanted to manipulate the Seoul-Gyeonggi Center, and Inhaek’s grandfather, a known anti-central figure, had always resisted. Even after his retirement, he retained enough influence to place his grandson as the center chief, keeping a check on Central Command.The old man laid the groundwork for the Esper-Guide Corps, taking in me and Ha Seonghan as disciples and turning us into war heroes, so it’s not as though he lacked political influence in the military. Despite that, he made every effort to ensure Inhaek was appointed center chief. When the appointment of central personnel as center chiefs started, his grandfather wanted an anti-central figure to anchor the Seoul-Gyeonggi Center, the main hub. And no one fit the bill better than Inhaek. Inhaek, who carried his grandfather’s expectations, was managing well enough. The fact that even he failed meant that my discharge had truly become distant.“Maybe it’s better to just drop dead. Just stop breathing and die right here.”With such a grim thought, I rested my head on my desk. Why rest my head there? Because the peace I’d kept with medication started to crumble at the thought of my discharge slipping away. My mind seemed to be torn, with mania eating away at me from one side and depression battling for dominance on the other.It wouldn’t be any better, no matter which one won. Even now, I’m showing signs of self-destruction. Glancing at the packed bags I’d readied for leaving, I felt a surge of unbearable thoughts. I feared letting them go unchecked would lead to something serious. The only way to stop it was to press my head against the desk and try to halt my thoughts.“Damn it—. Life sucks so bad I can’t stand it.”I know, of course, that this isn’t a healthy solution. But during times like this, knowledge and action are worlds apart. I planned to barricade myself in my room, staging a silent protest against the damned military and those bastards at Central Command who canceled my discharge, but I had no choice but to go to Plan B.Plan B was simple: drop everything and head to the medical ward for more mood stabilizers. The morning sun rising near the dorm district shone brilliantly, and that brightness helped boost my serotonin levels. If there’s any mercy left in the serotonin squeezing its way through my system, maybe it’ll let me live a bit longer. Grabbing the cane strewn somewhere in my room, I left Garam-dong, where my dorm was located.“Colonel, would you like a ride on the cart?”“…No, I’m good.”A Guide on a cart waved me over, but I just shook my head. Sure, I could take the cart partway, but imagine an old man like me squeezing in with those young Guides who are all happily chattering away. With my big frame and the depressed look on my face, I’d probably end up sparking complaints to the administration department.In the end, I decided to walk, but Garam-dong is near the north gate, while the medical ward is near the east gate, which is quite a distance. A situation that made me sigh in frustration. Just as I took a step, determined to go on foot, I heard a voice.“Colonel.”The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place it immediately. I turned around, wondering who it was, and found myself looking at Kim Moohyuk. My first thought was, “Am I seeing things now?” Then, “Why is he in the Guide-only dorm area?” My thoughts kept cutting off, probably because my serotonin was still not kicking in.The only thing I could clearly register was Kim Moohyuk’s appearance. He was striking enough to capture the attention of even someone with mood swings. He stood there quietly, half his face in the morning light, making his rather thin nose appear sharper. I wondered if his lips, which formed a gentle curve, would look even better with a sharper line. His brow remained strong, and his dark eyes held that unknowable calm. I clicked my tongue softly.“You… are aware this is the Guide-only dorm area, right?”“Yes, but…”“If you stay here, you’ll be reported for harassment. Espers aren’t allowed in Guide-only dorms.”“…”He looked utterly flustered, like a child standing on the water’s edge. A sigh rose within me. This guy needs to understand that I’m in no position to take care of someone right now.“Come on. If we run into anyone, I’ll say I called you out.”I grabbed Kim Moohyuk’s wrist and pulled him along. The entrance to the dorm had sensors that detected Esper wavelengths, so it shouldn’t have been easy for him to get in here. What was going on?There are quite a few crazies among Espers. Some of them are so obsessed with Guides that they even track down the Guide dorms like this. If an Esper and Guide are officially paired or part of the same team, they’re assigned a team dorm, but unattached Guides and Espers have their own designated dorms.Anyone can come and go from the Esper dorms, but Espers aren’t allowed in the Guide dorms. They may be physically healthy and capable of using abilities, so they could technically force their way in, but sensors that detect Esper wavelengths would set off the siren, alerting everyone that yet another unhinged Esper couldn’t let go of their obsession with a Guide. But hadn’t this morning been quieter than usual? A glance at the siren showed it was silent, not even a light flickering.That meant he hadn’t come in through the main entrance, so how did he get in? Surely he hadn’t come over the mountains behind Garam-dong. Landmines, remnants of the Korean War and disguised by flood runoff, were scattered all over there. These mines served as hidden defense, guarding the Seoul-Gyeonggi Special Forces Center for Espers and Guides against civilians, hunters, hikers, or any terrorist groups. So it’s unlikely he snuck in through the hills either.Clicking my tongue, I prodded my reluctant knees into movement, creaking as I walked to the main gate before finally turning to check on whether he was Kim Moohyuk or Kim Yoohyuk. But instead of meeting my gaze, he looked down at my knee.“Colonel, your leg…”“Yes, it’s practically dead from trying to hurry because of you. How on earth did you get in here?”“Does… your knee hurt a lot?”He ignored my question entirely. Who’s worrying about whom here? No matter how close to death I look, with my cursed, high-level designation and no Guide in sight, I’m still better off than him. But I didn’t bother pointing that out and replied indifferently.“If it didn’t hurt, would I be using a cane at my age? Anyway, I’m your superior, so answer my question. Did your courage get ahead of your brain because your conscription has been delayed?”“Colonel, if I carried you…”This kid ignored me again. Frustrated, I passed through the main gate. Maybe the gate’s sensor was out of order, or who knows what, but Kim Moohyuk walked right through without a sound. Usually, if an Esper passes through without a pass from administration, the siren blares. No idea what’s going on.At least, thanks to that, I managed to get this kid out of the dorms without being spotted. If we had been caught, it’d have been a hassle. A private Esper sneaking into the Guide dorms? He’d be straight to detention before his dog tags were even engraved. Only after moving about fifty paces away from the main gate did I let out a sigh and turn to look at him.Kim Moohyuk’s wrist was still in my grip, so I released it when he began staring intently at it, probably in pain.“…”“Now, talk. Why are you here?”“…”“Kid, ignoring your superior’s orders? Do you want to do drills right outside the Guide dorm at dawn? This is why people without military experience are a problem.”Even though I rattled on, he gave no response. Ugh, why bother. Ignoring him and moving on was the only way. Normally, I’d ask him why he came into the Guide dorms and give him some basic disciplinary warnings, but I suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion and didn’t care to bother.I couldn’t help thinking, Why am I doing this? The second I felt better from taking my meds, I’d desert. Escape overseas before a travel restriction hits. First, I need to gather some cash…“Ah, you startled me!”“Colonel.”Lost in thought and walking toward the infirmary, I suddenly felt Kim Moohyuk grab my arm. Startled, I let out a loud yelp, drawing glances from a few Guides waiting nearby for the transport cart. …A bit embarrassing.I covered my surprise and spoke gruffly.“What are you doing? I told you to leave.”“Colonel, I…”He kept calling me “Colonel” with an awkwardness that was painfully obvious. Probably because it was a word he’d never had to say out loud before. He’d only just turned twenty a few days ago; it made sense he’d struggle with it. Up until now, had he ever had to call anyone “Colonel” in his short life? Of course not.That thought made me feel a bit of pity. Guiding begins with a strange empathy and sympathy for others. Even though I didn’t have room for such feelings, I suddenly felt sorry for this kid. I sighed and finally turned to face Kim Moohyuk.“Fine, if you have something to say, go ahead. You came looking for me at the dorm, right?”“…”“I’ll wait, so if there’s something you want to say, just say it.”Right. The kid must be struggling too. People with latent Esper mutations are unaware of their abilities until their powers emerge, but they’re subtly brainwashed on a national level, unknowingly exposed to Espers and Guides to reduce their resistance.If I had an Esper mutation, I’d have been exposed to superpower-themed movies from a young age to familiarize me with the concept. The government may give movie tickets to parents, offer discounted study materials, or even send visiting teachers to educate children on math, language, and science while subtly exposing them to Espers and Guides.Parents, happy to get cheap tutoring, would think nothing of their kid’s fascination with superpowers and the short comics that appear in the back of those workbooks. When these kids’ powers emerge and they’re forcibly taken to the military, they feel less resistance since it’s a world they’re already familiar with.For them, it’s like, Wow, this is happening to me in real life.But Kim Moohyuk, who showed no signs of it until turning twenty, is an exceptionally rare case in which even blood tests couldn’t detect the mutation. This means that either he had a hidden mutation in his genes or he developed one due to an error during DNA replication, which caused him to manifest as an Esper. So to him, Espers and Guides must’ve always been just fantasy.And on top of that, Kim Moohyuk was raised in an orphanage. His powers emerged from his hatred of the director who embezzled the support funds. How shocking must that be? If he were just a regular A-class Esper, he might have reacted with, Oh, what’s this? I have powers? But Kim Moohyuk is an S++ rank. The S++ rank was created solely to define him; before him, S+ was the highest.