The Esper Who Loves Me

Seo Jiwoo was openly offering to guide him, a rare occurrence for a Guide to initiate. His usually pale face was flushed with a faint blush.

Moon Seungwon sighed and firmly removed Jiwoo’s hand from his sleeve. Jiwoo’s shoulders slumped visibly at the clear rejection.

“You don’t need to worry about me, Seo Jiwoo.”

“But it will only take a moment. You must be tired. You don’t have to do anything… I’ll, I’ll take care of it!”

Jiwoo’s pleading tone, clinging to Moon Seungwon like a small animal seeking affection, was almost pitiful.

“I guess not all Espers are obsessed with their Team Guide,” Eunseok thought.

They didn’t know the exact compatibility rate between the two, but A-rank Guides typically had a rate of at least 50%, so it shouldn’t be bad.

Objectively, the cute and bubbly Seo Jiwoo and the cool, elegant Moon Seungwon didn’t seem like a good match.

“Maybe it’s a matter of preference? Even I can see that Jiwoo isn’t Seungwon’s type. He seems like the type to dislike clingy, affectionate people,” Eunseok mused.

“A month without guiding? Does he have a Guide lover outside the team? Well, with his looks, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had multiple Guides,” they thought, finding the situation oddly entertaining. They should have excused themselves, but they couldn’t help but watch.

Their eyes met Moon Seungwon’s.

“…”

His gaze was piercing.

Caught staring, Eunseok couldn’t look away. Their eyes darted nervously, their head turning slightly, but his gaze remained fixed on them, making them squirm.

“Guide Seo Jiwoo,” he said, his voice cold, almost hostile.

“Y-yes,” Jiwoo stammered, his eyes welling up.

“As I said before, you don’t need to concern yourself with my guiding.”

“But I’m the Team Guide! It’s my duty to guide you!”

“I won’t say it again. Leave it alone.”

Their exchange sounded like a scene from a drama. Jiwoo finally broke down in tears, while Moon Seungwon, indifferent, turned and walked towards the front door.

Eunseok was left standing there, awkwardly.

“Wait! You can’t just leave me here like this! What about me?” they thought desperately.

As if hearing their plea, he turned back.

“Cha Eunseok.”

“Y-yes!” Their voice cracked. Moon Seungwon paused at the half-open door, tilting his head.

“What are you waiting for? Come on.”

⊹ ࣪ ˖

The basement garage resembled a car showroom.

Sleek supercars and rare classic cars lined the walls. Eunseok gaped at the impressive collection as they followed Moon Seungwon.

He stopped in front of an SUV, surprisingly.

He pressed a button on his key fob, and the headlights of a classic military-style German SUV flashed. It must have been the car he’d arrived in earlier, as the engine was still warm.

“I didn’t expect him to drive an SUV,” Eunseok thought, admiring the matte aluminum body. The sound of a car door closing snapped them out of their reverie.

Moon Seungwon was already in the driver’s seat, starting the engine.

They hurried to get in, fastening their seatbelt. He pulled out of the garage.

He seemed to be a skilled driver, handling the large vehicle with ease, navigating the congested streets with one hand on the wheel, his left arm resting on the door trim. It looked effortlessly cool.

Although he hadn’t mentioned their destination, they seemed to be heading towards the Esper Management Center.

The car ride was silent. No music, no radio, not even the sound of GPS navigation. The silence was broken only by the occasional sound of Eunseok swallowing nervously. Just as they were starting to feel parched, Moon Seungwon spoke.

“We’re going to the Center.”

“Are we switching to informal speech now?”

“Does it matter?”

“Not really,” Eunseok replied nonchalantly.

He glanced at them at a red light, and they shrugged. He turned his attention back to the road, flexing his fingers on the steering wheel.

He hadn’t expected Cha Eunseok to witness the earlier exchange. He had no intention of explaining his aversion to guiding, but they didn’t seem particularly curious, indifferent as always.

“Training starts today. Secretary Kim will explain the schedule when we arrive.”

“Okay.”

“Remember what I said?”

“Which part?”

The drive to the Center was short, only ten minutes. He parked the car expertly in the designated spot.

Turning off the engine, he grabbed his jacket from the back seat.

“Let’s go. Time for some hard work.”

⊹ ࣪ ˖

Secretary Kim was waiting for them outside, as if expecting their arrival. He greeted Eunseok warmly, then approached Moon Seungwon, presenting him with a tablet.

Secretary Kim’s fingers flew across the screen as Moon Seungwon scanned the information.

“Everything you requested is ready. You can accompany Mr. Jongwoo for your 11 a.m. appointment, and it should be finished before 3 p.m., as you instructed.”

“…”

“Even if you don’t like it, please try to be patient with Mr. Jongwoo. He’s a temporary employee, and if he quits because you’re too harsh, you’ll be the one scrambling for a replacement. I’m the only one who can tolerate your demands…”

“Quiet, and take care of them.”

Eunseok blinked at being referred to as “them.” Secretary Kim grinned and gave them a reassuring hug, giving them a thumbs-up.

Moon Seungwon ignored him, turning and walking towards the Center entrance. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, bowing respectfully.

Watching him go, Secretary Kim patted Eunseok on the back.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“No, have you eaten, Secretary Kim?”

“I have, but you haven’t? That won’t do! You need to eat three meals a day from now on. Let’s grab some sandwiches and talk.”

The master of social skills effortlessly steered them towards the cafeteria.

The schedule was packed, every hour accounted for.

Sitting at a table, they discussed the training regime. Eunseok’s eyes widened as they took in the densely filled schedule, their spirits sinking despite the sweet coffee Secretary Kim had urged them to drink.

“Team Leader Moon created this himself,” Secretary Kim explained, pointing to each item on the list.

“Mornings will focus on physical conditioning. Afternoons will be divided into firearms and combat training. He emphasized the importance of close-quarters combat for mental Espers. This schedule covers the essential basics.”

As a mental Esper with no offensive abilities, close-quarters combat skills were crucial for self-defense. It was essential for survival, as Secretary Kim had said.

“How much can I improve in a month?”

“Well, the standard combat Esper training program is a year long… but with this schedule, you should be able to master everything within a month.”

“…What?”

A year’s worth of training in a month…?

Eunseok looked up, bewildered. Secretary Kim tapped the schedule.

“The hand-to-hand combat training.”

“…”

“Team Leader Moon will be training you personally. That’s why his schedule is clear after 3 p.m.”

“…”

“So, it’s definitely possible in a month. I mean, if he said so, it must be true,” Secretary Kim said, adding in a hushed voice, “He won’t kill you… probably. Good luck.”

⊹ ࣪ ˖

It had been a while since Eunseok had visited the Center’s main building. Just once at 17 for registration, and then a few times a month for mandatory training. They hadn’t been back since becoming an adult, so it had been almost three years.

The massive skyscraper was familiar territory for combat Espers, but Eunseok felt out of place. Secretary Kim gave them an access pass, patting them on the shoulder encouragingly.

The smooth acrylic case held an ID card with their picture.

[Special Team 1 | ESPER | Cha Eunseok]

Seeing “Special Team 1” printed next to their name still felt unreal. They rubbed their thumb over it, as if to confirm it was real.

The 20-year-old Cha Eunseok in the ID photo looked so carefree, unaware of what the future held. The lightweight access card suddenly felt heavy, but Eunseok accepted its weight.

[Morning Training 1]

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Personal Fitness Training

Their first stop was the training room.

Smaller than a typical gym, it was still well-equipped for individual training, with padded floors and an array of smaller equipment like kettlebells, wooden rings, and a pull-up bar.

The morning was dedicated to physical conditioning.

The only exercise Eunseok had gotten recently was walking to and from work. They hadn’t even run since their last desperate dash to catch a bus. They’d always disliked strenuous activities, even in school.

They were naturally slender, but their stamina was abysmal. “Time to get in shape,” they thought, mustering some resolve.

“Welcome! I’m Jason, your personal trainer!”

The trainer, who introduced himself with an English name, was short, barely reaching 170cm, but incredibly muscular. Despite his intimidating physique, his face was gentle and friendly.

He praised Eunseok’s physical proportions and assured them they’d see results quickly if they followed his instructions.

They started with a basic fitness assessment: heart rate monitoring, running, stretching with resistance bands, pull-ups.

Jason’s expression grew increasingly perplexed, then concerned, as the assessment progressed. Eunseok was in worse shape than he’d anticipated.

“You’re an Esper, right?”

“Ha… ha… yes… why?”

“Why are you so weak?”

“What’s wrong with my body?” Eunseok asked, their hand trembling as they reached for their water bottle. Their arms were already sore from the pull-ups. The assessment alone had drained them.

“Your physical condition isn’t bad. Good agility and flexibility. But your strength and endurance are terrible. Ideally, we’d need three months, but I was told you’re on a tight schedule. I’ll create a routine to get you in shape within a month. Just trust me!”

Jason scribbled furiously on his clipboard.

“Please stop writing…” Eunseok thought.

“Mandatory piercing (personal restraint) during training.”

Jason reviewed the note on the chart. Cha Eunseok was currently wearing their piercing. “Is that the reason? But still…” he thought.

An Esper with suppressed abilities was no different from an ordinary person. Combined with Eunseok’s poor fitness, they had a long way to go. He continued writing, the training plan spilling onto a second page.

[Afternoon Training 1]

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Firearms

Firearms training was surprisingly enjoyable.

Handling various guns they’d only seen in movies was exciting. They learned to disassemble and reassemble a pistol, practiced gripping and aiming techniques.

The instructor, a 50-year-old former SAS operative, wasn’t affiliated with the Center but had been personally requested by Moon Seungwon. He seemed enthusiastic, claiming he hadn’t taught in a while.

They even got to shoot on their first day, not at traditional targets, but in a mock combat scenario against the instructor. The guns were realistic replicas, with the same design, weight, grip, and even recoil. The only difference was the ammunition – paint-filled rubber bullets, which still stung.

The instructor showed no mercy, displaying incredible marksmanship, hitting Eunseok with every shot, mostly headshots.

Covered in yellow paint, Eunseok finished their first firearms training session.

They showered and changed into the fresh clothes provided by Secretary Kim. As they pulled the t-shirt over their head, a chocolate was popped into their mouth.

Secretary Kim fussed over them, asking if they were comfortable, if they were thirsty, attentive as a parent of a high school senior facing their college entrance exams.

Eunseok let the sweet chocolate melt in their mouth, the rich dark chocolate coating their tongue. They dried their hair, their body heavy with exhaustion. They didn’t usually have a sweet tooth, but their body craved the sugar, a clear sign of their depleted energy.

“How was it?”

“Okay, so far.”

It wasn’t as brutal as Moon Seungwon had made it out to be. They were tired, but it was manageable, and they figured they’d adapt.

They tossed the towel into the laundry basket and stood up. The clock on the wall read 3:05 p.m. They grinned at Secretary Kim. “Time for the next training session!”

[Afternoon Training 2]

3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Hand-to-Hand Combat

They arrived at the Esper training facility, a separate, bunker-like structure, ten minutes late. Designed for Espers to use their abilities freely, it was massive and equipped with state-of-the-art safety measures. According to Secretary Kim, it could withstand a nuclear explosion, a missile strike, even an Esper surge.

They entered through a high-security door, requiring both an access card and fingerprint scan.

The training area was vast, like a baseball stadium, with high ceilings and white walls, floor, and ceiling, giving it a surreal, almost heavenly atmosphere.

Moon Seungwon was waiting for them, perched on a windowsill, eyes closed. The late afternoon sun illuminated his long, lean frame. His left arm, stretched out behind him for support, revealed toned skin beneath his rolled-up sleeve. His tie was loose, giving him a relaxed air, unlike his earlier formality.

He opened his eyes as they entered.

“You’re late.”

“We need to factor in transition time between training sessions. I underestimated the travel time,” Secretary Kim explained.

“Do that.”

Moon Seungwon seemed unconcerned about their tardiness. He dismissed Secretary Kim with a nod and turned his gaze towards Eunseok.

Eunseok bowed belatedly.

“How was the earlier training?”

“Fine.”

They’d been asked this before. While not as gentle as Secretary Kim’s inquiry, it was still unexpected. They replied confidently.

“Good,” he said, hopping off the windowsill and stretching his neck. He removed his watch and walked towards the center of the training area, his shoes clicking against the polished epoxy floor. Despite his more relaxed appearance, he was still in his suit, not exactly ideal for combat training.

As if reading their mind, he beckoned them forward. They stood facing each other, and the training began.

He was teaching them MCMAP, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.

A hybrid combat system combining elements of various martial arts like Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Boxing, Muay Thai, knife fighting, and firearms techniques, it was highly effective in real-world combat, especially in close quarters.

He demonstrated one defensive and two offensive techniques, then instructed them to practice through sparring. While this sounded like a standard lesson, the sparring was anything but.

“Aagh!”

Eunseok screamed in pain as their arm was twisted at an unnatural angle. Moon Seungwon released them, and an Esper who had been waiting on a nearby bench rushed to their side.

“Focus. I told you not to lead with your arm.”

As the healing Esper’s hand grasped Eunseok’s arm, the twisted forearm bones snapped back into place. The pain vanished like magic, but the memory of it lingered. Eunseok, pale-faced and lips tightly pressed together, struggled to his feet.

“Again.”

Moon Seungwon, flicking his fingers, remained relaxed. Not a hair was out of place, nor a drop of sweat on his brow. His right hand was even bound and unusable.

“Where did I say you could strike with your knee?”

“Abdomen, solar plexus, flanks. And the face, sir.”

“When striking from the side, aim for the ribs. From the front, always the solar plexus. Especially the solar plexus, it’s a vital point. Right here.”

He pressed gently on the hollow between Eunseok’s chest and stomach. The simple pressure of a few fingers on his solar plexus made Eunseok feel as though his breath had been stolen.

“A hit there will almost always result in unconsciousness, so in close combat, a direct hit to this area is the most effective. Don’t think about aiming the kick, train your body so that it naturally goes there.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Show me.”

Eunseok tried various approaches to land a kick to the vital point. But each attack was blocked, and with each block, Moon Seungwon’s counterattack followed in the same manner. This defensive technique was also part of today’s lesson. He used only the techniques he had taught to counter and attack Cha Eunseok. They were repeating this until it became second nature.

Despite the handicap of his bound right hand, the fundamental difference in their abilities meant that Eunseok was still on the receiving end of a one-sided beating. He was barely able to dodge, let alone counterattack.

Every failed attack resulted in a terrifyingly powerful counterattack that Eunseok had to desperately avoid to survive. Honestly, was avoiding even possible? He had no way to dodge the lightning-fast strikes.

With every exchange, a leg would break, ribs would crack, or some part of his body would be pulverized. The fact that they had three healing Espers on standby for this was a testament to Moon Seungwon’s meticulous nature.

It would be hellishly difficult.

He would be forced to catch up to a year’s worth of training in a month.

All of those warnings had pointed to this.

He had to learn by getting beaten. To survive, he had to defend and attack.

His body flew in a straight line from the force of a kick, crashing against the wall and tumbling to the floor. Eunseok curled up on the ground. This time, he seemed to have taken a direct hit to the solar plexus. It hurt so much that he couldn’t even groan. Honestly, it was a miracle he hadn’t passed out.

He lay on his side for a moment, enduring the pain. Hot, ragged breaths and unswollowed saliva dripped from his mouth. Clenching his fists, he managed to sit up.

Eunseok wiped his warm, bloody nose with the back of his hand. His philtrum was wet, suggesting a broken nose.

“When are you actually going to use the defensive techniques you learned?”

The reproachful voice carried the implication of “Why can’t you do something this simple?” Eunseok gritted his teeth. He was furious. I want to dodge too! I want to land a hit just once!!

This time, the injury was severe enough that two Espers rushed over. One lifted Eunseok’s shirt to examine his stomach, while the other checked his face. They didn’t speak during the healing, but their expressions clearly conveyed their disbelief at the brutal scene.

This cycle of being beaten, healed, and beaten again continued. The onlookers worried they might be attending a funeral soon, but Moon Seungwon skillfully avoided inflicting any truly fatal blows. That, too, was a skill if anything.

At 6 PM, the first day of combat training ended without any particular achievement. No, the only achievement was Cha Eunseok’s sharpened determination.

The healing Espers left the training ground to receive their own guiding, leaving only Seungwon and Eunseok.

Eunseok sat with his face covered in blood, looking dazed.

Moon Seungwon, calmly checking his watch and fastening it to his wrist, smoothed down his shirt and quietly asked, “Still up for it?”

Eunseok, lacking the energy to speak, simply nodded. Moon Seungwon turned away without a word. He seemed to smile faintly.

Just then, Secretary Kim burst through the door with damp, steaming towels.

“Oh dear, Mr. Eunseok….”

Hearing his name called in such a worried tone, Eunseok forced a smile at Secretary Kim. The sight was so pitiful that Secretary Kim teared up as he gently wiped Eunseok’s face with a warm towel.

As the soft, warm towel caressed his cheek, Eunseok’s eyes closed involuntarily.

Was he sleepy? Tired? He just wanted to close his eyes for a moment, but before he knew it, Eunseok lost consciousness. Moon Seungwon caught him as he slumped forward.

“Do you really have to go this far?”

Secretary Kim, who was carefully cleaning Cha Eunseok’s face, began to scold him in a sharp voice. Even if the training had been agreed upon, this was too harsh. Seeing it in person was even worse.

Moon Seungwon looked down at Cha Eunseok’s face, now clean of blood. His relaxed, sleeping expression betrayed no awareness of their conversation.

“Cha Eunseok is tougher than we think.”

“The most relentless one is you, Team Leader.”

“Perhaps.”

He smiled in agreement. Secretary Kim, looking disgruntled at the rare, genuine smile, stood up.

“So, are you done for today? I’ll help Mr. Eunseok. I can accompany you to the parking lot….”

“Why would you do that?”

Moon Seungwon gave him a sidelong glance as if he was talking nonsense and hoisted the limp body onto his shoulder. The bloodstains on Eunseok’s shirt smeared onto his white shirt, but he didn’t seem to mind.

Even though Eunseok was quite tall, he was easily carried on the man’s shoulder. It looked as though Moon Seungwon was carrying a long body pillow. Secretary Kim followed in shock as Moon Seungwon walked through the automatic doors of the training ground.

“Team Leader! Team Leadeerr!!”

Despite the desperate calls, he didn’t look back.

Just like on his morning commute, people in the center made way and greeted Moon Seungwon as he passed. And each one of them turned around to stare and whisper in astonishment.

“That crazy bastard is doing this on purpose….”

Secretary Kim thought it was fortunate that Cha Eunseok was unconscious and couldn’t see this.

⊹ ࣪ ˖

Eunseok’s eyes snapped open at the sound of the alarm. He jerked his head up with a gasp and saw the clock pointing to 7 AM.

Morning already? Really…? No way.

He had only closed his eyes for a moment, but the day had already dawned. He must have fallen asleep as soon as he returned to his quarters and lay down on the bed without even changing his clothes.

As he reached for the nightstand to turn off the annoying alarm, a sharp pain shot through his arm with the slightest movement. Eunseok buried his face in the blanket with a muffled cry.

It was already the fifth day of training, and the muscle aches that were supposed to disappear naturally were still tormenting him.

He was getting used to the training.

Every morning, he rode in Moon Seungwon’s car to the center, and the day would pass by as he trained according to the set schedule. At 6 PM, he was driven back to his quarters and collapsed into sleep, too exhausted for leisure.

Complaining about the hardship was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

After the first day, Secretary Kim had refined the schedule to be even more detailed and meticulous.

Training time, shower time, rest, meal times, snack times, even walking time between locations were meticulously planned. The timetable was packed, leaving no room for error, and Secretary Kim was extremely satisfied whenever the minutes aligned perfectly.

He was definitely Moon Seungwon’s dedicated secretary.

Unable to stay in bed any longer, Eunseok sat up. Every movement elicited a groan. It took a long time for him to move from the bed to the bathroom with sloth-like slowness, and even longer to shower.

He roughly dried his wet body with a towel and put on his underwear, pants, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. It was already 8 AM.

With his hair still wet, Eunseok opened the door and walked out. Thus began another day.

⊹ ࣪ ˖

Morning exercise traded muscle soreness for energy.

The stiffness subsided, replaced by a trembling weakness in his limbs.

Jason, as promised, had devised a brutal workout routine. It began with a 10-minute interval run, followed by squats, lunges, weight training with kettlebells and pull-up bars, then 20 minutes on the rowing machine, a 5-minute break, and then a repeat of the set.

By the end of the workout, Eunseok felt like he’d been through a thresher, his soul utterly drained. He lacked the energy to even sit up and would just lie there like a wet rag until Secretary Kim prodded him to his feet.

The schedule fanatic wouldn’t let him rest outside of designated break times. Dragged by Secretary Kim, he would shower and then be herded to the cafeteria for an early lunch, another item on Cha Eunseok’s demanding schedule.

At first, even eating was a struggle.

His arms were powerless, and when he forced them up, they trembled uncontrollably as if he had a tremor. Using chopsticks was out of the question; even scooping food with a spoon resulted in a messy, food-splattered table.

A sausage he’d carefully lifted with his spoon tumbled to the floor just before reaching his mouth. His lips, which had been open in anticipation, twitched in disappointment.

Was it the hunger pangs combined with the inability to eat that brought on the surge of emotion? Eunseok, who had stoically endured Moon Seungwon’s beatings, suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

Secretary Kim, witnessing the silent tears streaming down Eunseok’s face, was understandably shocked.

He immediately rushed out of the center, returning with a variety of hamburger sets that could be eaten by hand, which he then fed to Cha Eunseok. The next day, he brought a silicone bib and an all-in-one fork-spoon with cartoon characters.

Judging by the cute waterproof sticker that read, “Moonbeam Class, Junho Kim,” it seemed to be his son’s. Eunseok politely declined the bib but gratefully accepted the adorable fork-spoon. It proved quite useful, allowing him to eat comfortably.

After lunch, he napped for about an hour to recover. Searching for a quiet, empty space, he found a lounge within the center.

Soft carpet covered the floor, and the sofas were plush and inviting. The complimentary cafeteria facilities were surprisingly well-equipped, and soothing classical music played softly in the background. It felt more like a VIP lounge than a simple break room.

With such excellent facilities, one would expect it to be crowded, but strangely, whenever Cha Eunseok appeared, people would gradually disappear, leaving him alone.

He felt like they were intentionally avoiding him, but… getting some extra sleep was more beneficial than worrying about things he didn’t care about.

The empty lounge was the perfect place to sleep. He rested his head on the armrest of a sofa, which was just the right height, and instantly drifted off.

“Mr. Eunseok, are you awake?”

Secretary Kim went to the lounge just in time for the afternoon training session.

Cha Eunseok, seemingly just awakened, was slowly sitting up. His face, puffy from his post-lunch nap, looked endearing, and Secretary Kim chuckled softly.

He handed Eunseok a bottle of water and, as he tidied up the surrounding area, noticed something piled up on the coffee table.

“What’s this?”

Hearing his puzzled murmur, Eunseok turned his head.

On the table, which had been empty when he lay down, were canned drinks and energy drinks, each with a small note attached.

“Oh, are these the legendary confession notes?”

Secretary Kim picked one up curiously. A yellow sticky note was attached to a still-warm can of coffee.

“Fighting! Cheer up. Esper Grievance Hotline: 111, Counseling: 010—4xxx—xxxx.”

“…….”

“I really admire your hard work. You’re my ideal type, so I’m cautiously taking a chance. Wow, Mr. Eunseok, you’re quite popular…. Wait a minute, I know this number.”

Secretary Kim peeled off the note and read it aloud. Most of the notes had similar content.

When did they leave all of these…? He was a light sleeper, but he hadn’t sensed anyone’s presence. Eunseok, seemingly uninterested, stretched his stiff limbs. In contrast to Secretary Kim’s excitement, he reacted with indifference, as if it were someone else’s affair.

“Huh, what’s with this nonchalant attitude? Have you received a lot of these before?”

“Yes, quite often.”

“Wow… this reaction is genuine. So, you knew you were handsome?”

“…I have eyes, don’t I?”

Despite his self-imposed, unavoidable three-year hiatus, Eunseok had always been popular. He was used to strangers asking for his number or receiving notes like these.

He was well aware of his own appearance and wasn’t naive enough to miss others’ admiration. Cha Eunseok had a realistic self-image.

Secretary Kim, glancing between Eunseok casually stretching and the pile of notes, covered his mouth in bewilderment. This was… happening faster than expected.

A few days ago, after Team Leader Moon carried Eunseok out of the training ground, rumors had spread like wildfire throughout the center.

The center’s online community buzzed with speculation, starting with posts like “Moon S.W. finally killed someone,” followed by “He’s one of the suspects they brought in; they’re torturing him, healing him, and torturing him again,” and “The Espers who were with him were healers.” These posts blended rumors and eyewitness accounts into plausible conjectures.

Then, when someone suggested that Eunseok might be the mind-control Esper who had recently caused an uproar in the center, everyone agreed. After Cha Eunseok’s ID photo was leaked, interest peaked. He became a hot topic, practically a household name within the center.

Questions flooded the forums: “Does anyone know the mind-control Esper’s name?”, “Where can I see him?”, “I saw him; he’s quite tall,” “What happened to his face?”, “If M.S.W. is with him, is he part of Special Team 1?”

About 10 minutes after the photo appeared, the server crashed. When it came back online, all related posts had been deleted.

A single post, formatted like an official memo, appeared.

Title: Request for Cooperation: Restricted Access for Esper Safety

Although the memo contained no specific information about Cha Eunseok, everyone knew who the “high-risk Esper” was.

It was a warning, written in bureaucratic language: “Touch him, and you’ll face the consequences.”

The next day, the center was quiet, as if nothing had happened. The atmosphere around Cha Eunseok was as calm as the still sea.

No one paid him any attention, no curious glances followed him, even as he freely roamed inside and outside the center.

Secretary Kim had been relieved by the quiet, so this incident after five days was unexpected. Moreover, he hadn’t anticipated this kind of attention…

He had only worried about someone picking a fight or Eunseok becoming a spectacle. Now, he was at a loss for how to handle this new form of interest.

“Do you want to drink those?”

Eunseok asked cautiously as Secretary Kim stood lost in thought, clutching the can of coffee. He gathered all the drinks and snacks from the table and placed them in Secretary Kim’s arms.

“I don’t drink these anyway, so please take them, Secretary Kim. You can share them with others. Could you also shred these notes? They have personal information, so it would be better if you burned them.”

He handed Secretary Kim the notes separately.

“Aren’t you interested? If you want to meet them… I can keep these and give them to you in a month.”

“I’m not interested. I don’t even know who they are.”

“Alright then….”

Secretary Kim carefully tucked the notes into his pocket. He’d have to check the CCTV footage later.

Before being shredded, the notes would make a detour to the “person in charge.”

“He dodged it!”

The observing healing Esper clapped his hands and shouted. The other Espers watching alongside him also exclaimed in unison. Despite their cheers, Eunseok, thrown to the ground, rolled to the side, dodging a flying fist.

A kick aimed for his dodging face was blocked at the last second by his forearm.

Did desperation truly breed miracles?

It seemed the insurmountable gap between him and Moon Seungwon had narrowed, just slightly, very, very slightly.

At least he had dodged an attack. Counterattacking was still impossible, but his defense had improved significantly.

He still often got knocked down in one hit, but now he dodged once or twice out of ten attempts, and sometimes even managed to exchange blows. Like now.

Cha Eunseok, skillfully evading the relentless attacks, slipped his foot between Moon Seungwon’s legs. He grabbed Moon Seungwon’s left knee and pushed. Just as Moon Seungwon’s weight shifted and he began to fall backward, Eunseok’s vision flipped.

An Esper rushed towards Cha Eunseok as he rolled across the floor. Hearing him cough, the Esper checked his ribs and quickly returned to his spot.

Eunseok, still lying on the floor, breathed heavily and said, “Ah… that was so close….”

“Not even close,” Moon Seungwon retorted dismissively, having approached Eunseok’s feet. Despite his words, his chest, as seen from below, was heaving faster than usual.

Pleased by the sight, Cha Eunseok dusted himself off, stood up, and resumed his stance.

“Let’s try that one more time.”

⊹ ࣪ ˖

He opened the passenger door as if it were second nature.

Eunseok effortlessly climbed into the high vehicle. He calmly fastened his seatbelt, then opened the console box between the driver’s and passenger’s seats, taking out wet wipes. His movements were fluid and natural.

Moon Seungwon, leaning against the car window, watched him.

A fresh, almost grassy scent emanated from the newly showered Cha Eunseok. The body wash, likely provided by Secretary Kim, was probably the same brand that Seungwon used.

The scent of dewy grass and the deep, woody aroma of fig trees filled the car, previously dominated by Moon Seungwon’s cologne.

The passenger seat, which had never held another person, was now adjusted to accommodate Cha Eunseok’s leg length. The person sitting comfortably in that seat, the shared breath in the confined space – it all felt strangely familiar.

Seungwon, noticing these subtle changes, crossed his arms and masked his expression.

“Why are you sitting like that?”

Cha Eunseok sat with his back ramrod straight, his head and back not touching the seat. His eyes were wide open, focused. When asked about his uncomfortable, determined posture, Eunseok gripped the seatbelt across his chest and said, “I feel like I’ll fall asleep if I even rest my head. I’m trying my best to stay awake.”

His face, heavy with sleepiness, added, “Isn’t it rude to sleep in the passenger seat?”

Every time he yawned, he covered his mouth with his hand, but he couldn’t hide the physiological tears that welled up. Cha Eunseok discreetly wiped away the tears while maintaining his peacock-like posture.

Moon Seungwon’s car offered such a smooth ride that it was easy to fall asleep.

“I doubt your sleeping will make me sleepy.”

Seungwon spoke indifferently and pressed the accelerator. The car smoothly exited the parking lot and rounded the corner.

The center was so close that the drive to the quarters was short, as long as there was no traffic. When they were just a couple of traffic lights away, the car’s touchscreen lit up and a ringtone chimed.

[Secretary’s Office, Lee Jongwoo]

Moon Seungwon frowned upon seeing the caller’s name.

After ignoring the call for a while, he finally gave in and tapped the phone icon on the screen. A frantic voice called out to him.

“I’m driving right now. Esper Cha Eunseok is next to me. Speak.”

“I said I wouldn’t go on any field support missions for a month.”

Seungwon’s tone was nonchalant, as if he had expected this.

He had suspended all field operations involving his abilities for the duration of the training.

He had declared that he wouldn’t move unless the country was on the verge of collapse, and that there were plenty of other competent Espers who could handle the requests. It was the president who had approved this outrageous demand.

Nevertheless, requests for Moon Seungwon continued to pour in. Even cabinet ministers were pleading with him. Lee Jongwoo was diligently intercepting them, but he was, after all, just a powerless secretary.

Cha Eunseok, imagining the secretary’s struggles, sent him a silent message of sympathy.

“So what if a minister called?”

“If it’s that important, tell him to get approval from the VIP himself. Then I’ll go.”

Moon Seungwon ended the call without replying. Silence fell over the car, broken only by the rhythmic clicking of the turn signal.

After a long pause, Seungwon finally picked up his phone from the console. Unlocking it without looking, he tossed it to Cha Eunseok.

“Check your email. The most recent one.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Summarize it in three lines.”

Cha Eunseok quickly scanned the screen. The email, titled “[Urgent Request]”, described a critical situation unfolding on the ground. After speed-reading it, he summarized the content.

“Zero fatalities, multiple injuries. Suspects include at least four Craeders (illegal ability users) with A-rank abilities. Three special unit teams have failed to penetrate.”

“…….”

Even reading it made Eunseok gulp.

Unable to comment on the situation, which seemed dire even to his untrained eye, he quietly observed Seungwon’s expression. He remained silent, his intentions unreadable.

Meanwhile, the car arrived at the quarters. It stopped at the gate instead of entering the garage, and Eunseok quickly got out.

“You’re going to the scene, right?”

“Don’t worry about unnecessary things and get some sleep.”

“Yes, sir! Be careful.”

Eunseok bowed, and the car immediately drove off, leaving him behind.

Hopefully, it’s nothing serious… But if Moon Seungwon is going, it should be resolved quickly.

Eunseok opened the gate and went inside. He wasn’t worried at all, despite his earlier words.

“Secretary Kim, how much medication is left?”

Moon Seungwon, having dropped off Cha Eunseok and turned towards Gongneung-dong, immediately called Secretary Kim. Already aware of the situation, Secretary Kim responded calmly without needing further explanation.

“Yes, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”

The call ended without further ado. Moon Seungwon pressed the accelerator, increasing his speed. His anxiety grew with the rising speed.

He had been trying to avoid using his abilities as much as possible, using the training as an excuse, but things weren’t going as planned. He glanced at the watch on his left wrist. The bezel glowed orange, displaying the number 56. His wavelength level was quite high. He planned to inject himself with the guide medication first upon arrival before using his abilities.

⊹ ࣪ ˖

A dark, quiet house welcomed Eunseok back.

He kicked off his canvas sneakers and slipped into the neatly arranged slippers at the entrance. His exhausted body moved mechanically, his eyes barely open.

Overwhelmed by the urge to collapse onto his bed, Eunseok failed to notice the unusual atmosphere in the house.

He grabbed the banister and started up the stairs.

As he slowly ascended the wooden staircase, he heard a strange, familiar moaning sound. Reaching the second floor, the sound became clearer, and its nature became unmistakable.

“Haaang!! Mmm! Haa!! Ang… hhht!!”

The second floor consisted of a narrow hallway with rooms facing each other.

Cha Eunseok’s room was at the very end. Startled by the moans echoing through the dark hallway, he hesitated to proceed. Dim light and the lewd sounds of flesh slapping against flesh leaked from Park Jae-min’s slightly open door.

Is he watching porn? No. This was definitely a live performance.

Come to think of it, the reason they lived together was for guiding. It was an environment where hooking up wouldn’t be out of the ordinary.

Even so, couldn’t they close the door? Where were their communal living manners!

He hesitated for a moment, then continued his slow trudge. Who cared if someone else was guiding or procreating…? He had exhausted not just his physical strength but his very essence today.

Not long ago, Eunseok himself had been eager to go out after work. He had succumbed to countless temptations. But now, the need for sleep outweighed any desire for sex. His libido had long since packed its bags and left.

Despite being a vigorous young man in his early twenties, he hadn’t even thought about masturbating. Every morning, he would greet his still-functioning penis with a tired “Oh, hey… you’re still alive, huh,” and that was the extent of it.

As he walked past with his haggard eyes, one of the closed doors suddenly flew open.

A head of yellow hair sprang out with ferocious energy. Kim Yohan, who had kicked the door open in apparent anger, flinched in surprise upon seeing Cha Eunseok standing in the hallway. Then, he scowled and snapped, “What the hell, you little shit!!”

“What the fuck is your problem?”

Exhausted, he had no patience for baseless provocations. Eunseok’s response was equally harsh.

Kim Yohan ran a hand through his hair and walked towards him menacingly.

Eunseok met his hostile gaze, straightening his shoulders and tilting his head defiantly. His suppressed anger flared.

The two, both around the same height, engaged in a silent battle of wills, looking ready to throw punches.

“Haaang, haaht! Euheung!”

The panting moans intensified. A high-pitched cry, seemingly reaching a climax, abruptly doused the tension between them.

Eunseok and Yohan simultaneously turned their heads towards the source of the sound.

The rhythmic sounds of wet flesh slapping together, combined with the moans, made Yohan curse and grimace.

The reason for his irritation was obvious. He had been deprived of his guide.

What a childish brat. Eunseok sighed deeply and took a step back. It was pathetic to even consider fighting someone with such an immature mindset.

Yohan, frustrated, kicked and punched the innocent wall. He fidgeted, unable to contain his anger, looking every bit like a child throwing a tantrum.

He’s only hurting himself…

Clicking his tongue at the pitiful sight, Eunseok walked past him. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him.

Wait a minute, he’s a healer, right? …Then maybe I can collect on the debt he owes me for saving his life?

Quickly calculating in his head, Cha Eunseok casually addressed Kim Yohan, who was still venting his frustration on the wall.