Chapter 28: Barrier

In episode 18 of the popular drama ‘The Esper’s Obsession,’ there was a scene where a guide, hurt by conflict with their paired Esper, tried to terminate their exclusive contract.

The viewers, who cried ‘Finally!’, responded with ‘That crazy bastard!’ and simultaneously recorded the highest viewership ratings.

The video clip of the Esper using force to subdue the guide and make him withdraw the contract termination surpassed 8 million views.

The comment section of that video was filled with viewers’ anger, demanding the guarantee of guides’ human rights.

The guide’s resigned expression and the development of him being trapped in the Center in the next episode inevitably provoked public outrage.

Among the countless viewers who searched for the scriptwriter’s home address, many were ordinary people with real Esper family members.

Geun Young was, of course, included.

As soon as the drama ended, Geun Young called her son and asked Bodam what he would do if Espers tried to hold him back when he tried to quit.

To Geun Young, whose emotions were still raw, Bodam laughed and emphasized that a drama was just a drama.

However, hearing from others that the main character guide and Bodam were so similar, Geun Young’s anxiety did not subside.

Bodam, who had to bear the worries of both his mother and relatives, was finally able to reassure them only after reciting clauses from his employment contract.

The next concern was that he shouldn’t give in if an Esper treated him well.

To this, he had loudly retorted, ‘Do I look that easy to fool?’ and hung up with words of love.

How could he give in?

He had years of experience as a guide.

“It’s been 6 years, hasn’t it?”

Team Leader Kim, who was in charge of Bodam’s personal protection, asked.

At Bodam’s request to get some fresh air, they were outside in the outdoor smoking area on the 18th floor.

The guide, who had just finished writing his resignation papers at the HR department and completed the resignation process, was silent.

His pale face, looking up at the cloudy sky that seemed ready to rain at any moment, looked deep in thought.

His small head, mixed with various emotions, slowly nodded, answering for him.

Six years.

Wow, he really did this job for six years.

Bodam, who had finished his call with Min Ji Oh and walked to the HR department, rubbing his exhausted legs, was stunned by the swift resignation process.

He felt a sense of exhilaration that the end of his long period of endurance could be resolved with just a ballpoint pen, but what he felt more was a sense of emptiness.

The six years he had spent since applying for the job with a small piece of paper ended just as easily with the same piece of paper.

Something so easy.

And I.

‘I endured well….’

There were certainly memories where laughter was endless, just as there were tears shed during that not-so-short time.

He truly learned through his first social experience how wounds caused by people could be healed by people again.

He had gone through countless Espers, and now he had Jo Yeon, whose absence he couldn’t even imagine.

Passing through the misfortune of being in Attack Team 3, which had given him experiences he didn’t want to keep a single ounce of, he also gained the lottery, a luck he would never have again.

‘Yes, f*ck, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.’

“No.”

Bodam opened his mouth.

His voice, which came after a considerable amount of thought, was heavy like rain clouds holding moisture.

“Five years. I’ll only remember five years.”

“Pardon?”

“The last six months don’t exist for me.”

Team Leader Kim didn’t question the guide, who spoke calmly, as if engraving his resolve with ambiguous words.

Half a year in Attack Team 3.

Even though he was an Esper who had never lived as a guide, Team Leader Kim could gauge the feelings of that small, delicate guide.

As an A-class Barrier Esper, he had come from the position of former Team Leader of Barrier Team 3.

Approaching thirty, he had left the restrictive team life and was receiving bodyguard requests as a freelancer.

“Please take it easy. I will protect you well.”

He was a rare individual among barrier Espers who had completed formal combat training.

Despite his gentle impression, he was not someone to be trifled with, having led the representative team.

He was an Esper who garnered attention at the Center just for being one of the few multi-ability users.

He didn’t take just any job; he chose only those where personal protection seemed serious.

“Except for one guy, I’m not too worried.”

“Who is that person? I will pay special attention.”

Team Leader Kim recalled the characteristics of Attack Team 3 members one by one in his mind.

First, he excluded Han Seung Ho from the list of suspicious individuals.

Team Leader Kim, who was in his ‘unlucky’ ninth year, was the same age as Han Seung Ho and had been training partners at the same combat training center.

They were individuals who had built similar careers and taken on representative positions early in their careers, utilizing their respective ability characteristics at the same time.

Having closely observed Han Seung Ho in his early twenties, he knew a lot about him.

“There’s a crazy dog named Kang Yi Jun.”

“Ah, Esper Kang Yi Jun is famous. A mind-type wouldn’t be a problem.”

Team Leader Kim, who considered S-class Esper Lee Tae Hwan the most difficult, replied confidently.

Mind-types were weak against barrier Espers.

No matter how rare a mind-type, they couldn’t break through a barrier of the same rank.

If he fought to the death, it would be a problem, but still.

He didn’t think they would be too obsessed with their dedicated guide.

Everyone at the Center knew how Attack Team 3 treated their guides.

Chirp.

A short vibration and a lit-up watch caused pain in Bodam’s wrist again.

It seemed to be cracked.

Team Leader Kim approached Bodam, who was biting his lower lip and bowing his head.

“Are you okay?”

Bodam, clutching his throbbing wrist, couldn’t lift his head, looking at the alert message on his watch screen.

His lips, which had been biting, remained open as he briefly lost his words.

Only exclamations and,

“Wow….”

A bright smile followed.

Exclusive Guide Connection Terminated.

It finally sank in.

“Haa….”

The emptiness that had been weighing heavily on his chest flew away with a long breath.

He didn’t need to feel negative emotions about the past.

It was the moment his eagerly awaited resignation came true.

Now, he was free.

Bodam is free.

“Take my arm.”

Team Leader Kim extended his hand to Bodam, who couldn’t control his overwhelming emotions and was looking for something to lean on.

A beautiful smile bloomed on the guide’s excessively pale face, as rumors had vaguely suggested.

His round eyes, looking as if they would cry at any moment with a supremely bright expression, looked up at the sky.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t clear.

Team Leader Kim felt a pang of regret that at this special moment for Guide Yoon Bodam, it wasn’t a clear sky but one with dark clouds floating.

It was a bright smile that didn’t match the dull background.

“It looks like it’s going to rain.”

Bodam, who wasn’t deterred by shadows, said with a smile towards the rain-bringing sky.

“Yes. It would have been nice if it were clear.”

“I like it.”

Team Leader Kim, whose lips curved into a smile at Bodam’s cheerful reaction, also looked up at the sky with him.

Bodam calmly took in the sky, which had nothing particular to see, as if appreciating a painting.

He wanted to remember every moment of this.

It was a reward for him.

“Team Leader Kim.”

Now was the time to give the biggest reward.

“Can I ask you one favor?”

***

Han Seung Ho, who had checked the rainfall in advance, came out of the barracks and walked into the rain.

The rain fell just enough not to obstruct his vision, as expected.

Inside the barracks, the faces of the new recruits, waiting before their field training, were filled with tension.

Team Leader Han, who was receiving the full attention of the fresh young recruits, walked around the Gate area, directly in the pouring rain.

In the adjacent Gate, which was blocked by Seung Ho’s barrier, monster extermination was in full swing.

Finely sliced monster carcasses flew everywhere.

Psychokinesis users were frantically swinging their limbs to subdue winged monsters.

Fire-type Espers, weak against rain, were busy evacuating, unable to avoid injuries.

At this, Seung Ho’s indifferent gaze, which had lost its worth in watching, shifted to the rain-pouring sky.
He liked rain.

“Will we get kicked out if we take a picture of Team Leader Han?”

“You try taking one.”

“Just take it in with your eyes. They say art should be taken in with your eyes.”

The young recruits watching Team Leader Han poked each other’s arms and whispered.

Their fresh eyes, untouched by rumors of Han Seung Ho, were full of curiosity.

Even while urging each other to take pictures, no one readily took out their phone.

Everyone was subdued by Team Leader Han’s chilling aura, which could be felt even without him speaking.

They couldn’t even comfortably exchange words, even those that would be somewhat muffled by the sound of the rain.

“Will he heal us if we get hurt?”

“You try getting hurt.”

“Why does he keep telling me to do things? Would he use that rare ability on us?”

The new recruits, whose mouths watered with itching curiosity, continued their fuss, meticulously scrutinizing the figure that was a feast for their eyes.

They lowered their voices significantly so as not to disturb Seung Ho, who was calming his intertwined wavelength in the rain.

Of course, the recruits lowered their voices to avoid disturbing Team Leader Han’s sensibilities, as he liked rain.

Barrier Espers were skilled at concealing their wavelengths.

“Oh, someone’s here.”

“Where?”

“Looks like a guide.”

The new recruits’ attention gathered on the man who arrived with a Teleport Esper.

Judging by his small stature, he didn’t seem to be an Esper.

Someone in the group squinted their eyes to see better and muttered.

“He’s really pale.”