This S-Class Esper is Not an Obsessive Maniac

20.

Park Woo-jun and Lee Han-seo left Korea for good. Well, even if the expression “for good” might be slightly inaccurate, it was certain that they wouldn’t set foot on Korean soil for at least the next four or five years.

At this point, as Choi Jae-won was crossing the threshold from twenty to twenty-one, the world was steadily falling apart.

Indeed. Despite the tireless efforts of ability users and world leaders working day and night, high-level dungeons suddenly poured out just when things seemed to be getting familiar. Like an untimely flood. Natural disasters aren’t called disasters for nothing. They’re disasters because they can’t be prevented no matter how well you prepare.

Now, S-grade dungeons that burst open two or three times a month were something that would only happen once every ten or twenty years just a few years ago. Still, South Korea was in a much better situation due to its small land area and the government’s thorough tracking of all citizens, which allowed for smooth recruitment of ability users.

In countries with larger areas and difficulties in recruiting Espers and Guides, it had been a long time since they reorganized living areas around major cities and all but gave up on smaller regions. They severely lacked the manpower to tackle the generated gates.

It was no longer shocking news worldwide when monsters from dungeons squeezed out through gates that had exceeded their limits, and the method of the military building barriers and Espers carefully entering to slowly deal with the monsters over time was gradually becoming widespread. Meanwhile, the sacrifice of many civilians who couldn’t evacuate in time was, sadly, buried in everyone’s minds and passed by.

After going through such precarious times, an incredibly powerful dungeon finally burst open. They say the energy wave level exceeded the average of previous S-grade dungeons by several times. It was a scale that couldn’t possibly be controlled by a single country’s power.

The International Ability Users Association finally officialized the establishment of a U(Ultimate) grade level above the S(Special) grade dungeons and ordered the mandatory dispatch of U-grade dedicated teams from countries with two or more S-grade Espers. South Korea, with three S-grade Espers including Kim Jun-young, Park Woo-jun, and Ryu Ho-yeon, couldn’t be exempt from this dispatch order.

Park Woo-jun and Lee Han-seo were selected as the dispatch targets. In return for sending valuable combat power, South Korea was given the right to receive priority assignment of the dedicated team if a U-grade dungeon were to occur simultaneously with other countries. If the other country had the same rights, the priority would be determined based on how much combat performance the ability users from that country showed in the dedicated team.

In conclusion, while Ryu Ho-yeon and Choi Jae-won were returning to the center after dealing with an A-grade dungeon that occurred in Ilsan, Lee Han-seo and Park Woo-jun were soundly sleeping at the International Ability Users Association in Berlin, with an eight-hour time difference.

Ryu Ho-yeon, who had to send his friend to a foreign land just after finally breaking the ice in their conversation and easing the awkwardness after 5 years, seemed somewhat dejected since Lee Han-seo left Korea. Honestly, even Choi Jae-won, who had felt relieved when he heard Lee Han-seo was leaving, was starting to feel a bit of regret.

Replace Lee Han-seo’s position? To Ryu Ho-yeon, of all people?

He didn’t dare to think about it, nor did he want to. Choi Jae-won’s ambitious goal wasn’t aimed at being just a single close friend.

If it really came to that, he was prepared to do whatever it took, but if he had to compare, he’d rather properly occupy the position of a lover, even if just one among many, than be the only close friend.

The problem was that Ryu Ho-yeon seemed like the type of person who wouldn’t have any romantic relationships at all, but if he could just exist under the title of a lover, even as one among many, outmaneuvering the other competitors wouldn’t be an issue at all. After all, Choi Jae-won had never once doubted that he was born under the blessing of victory and dominance.

“Oh, Ryu Ho-yeon. Just coming in?”

“Yeah. You guys too?”

“Yeah. I’m dying, really. Phew… Ah, Jae-won, it’s been a while.”

“Hello.”

Since their guiding state wasn’t bad, they came to give a report first rather than going to the lodging. Just as they finished giving a rough verbal report and were coming out, they ran into Kim Jun-young and Lee Jung-hyuk, with perfect timing.

Overhearing their conversation with Ryu Ho-yeon, it seemed the two had gone all the way to Geoje Island. Kim Jun-young, being a physical enhancement type, complained that he was dying because S-grade dungeons occurring by the sea didn’t match well with him at all. It was just an exaggeration; until now, the Kim Jun-young and Lee Jung-hyuk pair had never failed a single raid they entered together.

Still, it was true that they looked a bit tired. Now they had to handle S-grade dungeons alone, which they used to share with Park Woo-jun, and the Esper general team leader duties, which were practically vacant due to Park Woo-jun’s departure, also fell to Kim Jun-young. When Ryu Ho-yeon started taking charge of A-grade dungeons, he looked so relaxed and leisurely that it irritated those who saw him. These days, every time they meet, it’s written all over his forehead: “I’m dying of exhaustion.” The same goes for Lee Jung-hyuk beside him.

“They say you can’t tell when someone’s in a seat, but you can tell when it’s empty. How can it get this busy just because Park Woo-jun is gone? Is this right?”

“Why? I don’t see much difference. Maybe you’re just getting old, hyung?”

Pfft. He should have held it in… Choi Jae-won inadvertently let out a laugh. Ryu Ho-yeon’s way of speaking, mercilessly stabbing the other person with a blank look and no sense of tact, was always amusing when watching from the side, rather than being on the receiving end. Kim Jun-young grabbed the back of his neck, saying “Oh my, oh my,” while his pair, Lee Jung-hyuk, burst into laughter just like Choi Jae-won.

“Jung-hyuk. Did you hear? This little one has grown up and now he’s bullying his hyung…”

“He didn’t say anything wrong, why are you acting like that?”

“Jun-young hyung. That’s why you should stop being so greedy by yourself.”

“Huh? What did you say? Greedy? Ryu Ho-yeon, say that again!”

Kim Jun-young pretended to be angry and brought his middle finger and thumb close to Ryu Ho-yeon’s forehead as if he was going to give him a flick.

Even though they were both Espers, Ryu Ho-yeon was a special type with no physical differences from ordinary people, while Kim Jun-young was undoubtedly the strongest S-grade physical enhancement Esper in the country. Even a playful flick wouldn’t be painless.

Sensing the crisis, Ryu Ho-yeon flinched and quickly hid behind Choi Jae-won’s back. It was just that, but the twenty-, no, now twenty-one-year-old suffering from the fever of unrequited first love felt his whole chest trembling again.

“I’m going to report you.”

Peeking out only his eyes from behind his Guide’s shoulder, Ryu Ho-yeon warned firmly. It was a bit lacking that the one receiving the warning just snorted.

“For what?”

“Esper assault.”

“Assault? Assaaault?”

“You know. When I say I’ll do it, I really do.”

“Fine, do it! If I get disciplined for being sued, I might at least get a break from this tiresome work!!”

“Ugh…”

At Kim Jun-young’s exasperated cry, Ryu Ho-yeon unconsciously let out a groan and shrank back. If Kim Jun-young were to really be disciplined and removed from his position as acting team leader… It was too obvious who would have to take over as the next acting team leader.

Unlike the Guide general position, where administrative processing ability was considered more important than guiding scores in selecting a team leader, the Esper general position was originally a place where the Esper’s powerful ability and grade were most important. This was because it was essential to have a direct superior who could instantly overpower and subdue an Esper if they acted up and disobeyed orders from above. (The Esper general department wasn’t always like this, but when Kim Jun-young first took on the role of general team leader years ago, he easily subdued and led the Espers below him, and this organizational management method proved to be particularly effective among Espers, becoming firmly established until now.)

In fact, even just being the S-grade Esper part leader was overwhelming for Ryu Ho-yeon. He dumped all the administrative work on Choi Jae-won, who somehow managed it well despite not knowing what he did outside, but even with just that small position, he found himself having to show his face here and there and sign things more often. Although the center had a high proportion of ability users among its employees, it was still a government office world full of empty formalities and armchair theories.

“A-Anyway…”

His voice, which had sounded even brazen, lost its momentum as if just imagining it was unpleasant. Ryu Ho-yeon mumbled in a voice smaller than a mosquito’s buzz, seemingly embarrassed. Choi Jae-won could barely hear it. It wouldn’t matter much since it would be clearly audible to Kim Jun-young, who was designated as the listener.

“If it’s that hard, stop monopolizing the S-grade alone… Stop being so greedy for achievements…”

Kim Jun-young was already the Esper general team leader and center director, having reached the peak in every way. What kind of achievement greed could he possibly have now? Also, did Ryu Ho-yeon truly not understand this? It was Ryu Ho-yeon’s own way of being considerate, saying don’t try to carry the burden alone even though he knew he was lacking compared to Park Woo-jun.

“Wow, our Ho-yeon has really grown up.”

Not having the confidence to face Kim Jun-young’s voice mixed with laughter anymore, Ryu Ho-yeon grabbed Choi Jae-won’s wrist and dashed away as if escaping. His expressions of emotion, though clumsy, were dazzlingly diverse towards those who had entered his inner circle. Choi Jae-won, moved by having his wrist grabbed, couldn’t help but wonder. Was he, himself, inside Ryu Ho-yeon’s inner circle?