Chapter 32: Back To Home

As expected, rumors spread quickly and widely.

The spark of a rumor that began at Gate 1 was reaching beyond the main building to the external dispatch teams.

Rumors, by their very nature, came with the aesthetic of exaggeration and distortion as a default option.

“Hyung. Did you hear the rumor?”

Jo Yeon, whose face scrunched up at Yeon Yeok’s familiar question, gave him a flick on the forehead.

Thwack.

Judging by the sound hitting his forehead, it was a flick that spared no guide.

Ugh!

Yeon Yeok groaned, falling backward and rolling.

It was punishment for checking his guiding call 30 minutes late.

“Ah, let’s not put hands on each other! My fragile guide’s forehead will burst!”

“If you’re late one more time, you’re out.”

“30 minutes isn’t a warning yet! Mr. Jin Beom, look at me. My forehead burst, right? How many weeks will it take to heal? Can you be a witness?”

Yeon Yeok, showing his forehead to Esper Park Jin Beom, who was standing beside Jo Yeon, complained loudly.

Esper Ga Bi, the Teleport Esper who picked up Yeon Yeok, chuckled at Yeon Yeok, who was pushing his forehead forward, even pulling back his bangs, and asked.

“You’re talking about that, right? They say Attack Team 3 got completely smashed.”

“Wow. They’re not ordinary, are they? I thought it was about our Yoon Bodam Guide.”

Esper Ga Bi, the Teleport Esper who picked up Yeon Yeok, clapped and joined the conversation.

She was the oldest member and matriarch of Jo Yeon’s Attack Team.

In the past, when Bodam was their dedicated guide, she enjoyed tormenting him by playfully pulling at his dumpling-like cheeks.

She would tease him relentlessly, saying his chubby baby fat was no match for her three-year-old son’s.

He missed those perfectly chewy cheeks, good for biting.

“I didn’t hear the details. Tell me.”

Woo Na Woon, the Invisibility ability user resting under the waiting tent, also joined the conversation.

Jin Beom, Ga Bi, and Na Woon were all Jo Yeon’s team members.

They all showed interest in the story of Bodam, a guide who remained unusually memorable.

Part of it was his deep affection for others, but Bodam, who was both cute and funny, was truly a rare guide.

More than anything, he was exceptionally good at his job.

“I’ll tell you!”

Yeon Yeok, removing his hand from his throbbing forehead and raising it, continued the conversation.

He was someone who spoke quicker than anyone when there was big news.

“Stop chatting. Let’s move.”

Jo Yeon, who made a V-sign with both hands and cut off their conversation like scissors, gathered their attention.

It was almost time for the Gate to open.

Because Attack Team 3, which was at the center of Gate management, had halted their mission, all attack units were ordered to be present at the site as full teams.

“We’re going to move while receiving guiding? I hate it so much.”

“Shut up and let’s go.”

Groups of team members, gathered from various places, began to move one by one to handle their assigned Gates.

Few teams had a dedicated guide accompanying them like Yeon Yeok, who followed along.

Yeon Yeok, who had prepared for sports college entrance exams before his awakening as a guide, utilized his well-trained physique to become one of the fastest new recruits to start field work.

He actively participated in Gate infiltration missions without exception.

Jo Yeon’s team members, who had been sad to send Bodam to Attack Team 3, quickly took to the cheerful Yeon Yeok.

Jo Yeon, who decided to move while receiving guiding to save time, took Yeon Yeok’s hand.

Yeon Yeok, disgusted by the situation of having to hold hands and walk like lovers, showed an honest reaction.

“Ugh.”

“Ugh to you too, you bastard.”

Yeon Yeok held Jo Yeon’s hand with clear reluctance but still conscientiously performed guiding.

He showed passion for guiding work to an extent that reminded one of Bodam, the icon of diligence.

“Please don’t get hurt or overdo it today, Cousin Hyung. Please.”

He intertwined his fingers and poured guiding, fearing a situation where he might have to provide intense guiding to his hyung.

At this, Jo Yeon, unable to release the disgusting man-child’s intertwined fingers, grudgingly received guiding and shifted his gaze to his phone.

“Say hello for me.”

Yeon Yeok, glancing at Jo Yeon’s phone, said.

He said it looking at the name at the top of the messenger.

Jo Yeon, focused on the message, didn’t even pretend to listen.

He had no intention of conveying it.

“Go in first.”

“Alright!”

As soon as guiding ended, the two wiped their hands on their pants as if on cue.

Because there was no barrier user on their team, a barrier user linked from outside was waiting for Yeon Yeok.

“Jo Yeon Yeok, don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“Ugh, sh*t. Yes, yes.”

Jo Yeon pinched Yeon Yeok’s nape and gave him a warning.

The problem was that the kid had loved people too much since he was young.

He needed to rein him in before his strength became a weakness.

He watched his team members entering the small-scale Gate, one by one, which reached up to their shoulders, and made a call.

The signal was not long.

“Brother Bodam~”

Happiness brimmed on Jo Yeon’s lips, filled with mischief.

***

“Alright. My dear brother.”

Bodam answered the call the moment Jo Yeon’s name appeared on his phone.

He had just texted Jo Yeon that he was almost home.

Bodam busily moved his eyes, observing the familiar roads and consistent building facades.

The car carrying Bodam, who had shed all his burdens and restraints, was nearing his real home where his family was.

Beside Bodam was his reliable bodyguard, Barrier Esper Team Leader Kim.

Since they couldn’t use abilities recklessly in civilian areas, they traveled by car, not by teleportation.

– Have you had your meal yet?

“Not yet. When I arrive at my palace, I shall eat until my belly bursts.”

– What were you doing instead of eating? No, what were you doing?

Bodam chuckled at Jo Yeon’s tone, which briefly broke character.

They had been playing like this ever since they started texting yesterday.

It was a conversation that even Team Leader Kim, who was naturally eavesdropping, couldn’t help but chuckle at.

The two of them played very well, drumming, janggu-ing, and even singing.

– How do you feel?

Jo Yeon asked, reluctantly ending the playful tone as he couldn’t talk for long.

“Oh, just. Like I won the lottery?”

– You, you. Watch your mouth, Bodam. If people around you find out, it’ll be big trouble. I’ve been telling you since yesterday,

“Alright. Alright. Worries confiscated.”

Jo Yeon, who had worked the night shift all night, worried about Bodam by reading countless lottery winning stories whenever he had time.

He would even get furious as if it were his own problem when reading cases of lottery winners betrayed by family, saying blood is thicker than water.

He thought, ‘What if something like this happens to Bodam?’

“Jo Yeon.”

Bodam, who was well aware of his only friend’s fervent worry, mimicked a heavy voice.

“Do you not trust me?”

Indeed.

Bodam was definitely someone who would never let money he received be taken away.

Jo Yeon, who was on the same team, couldn’t possibly not know Bodam’s surprisingly solid charm, despite his gentle appearance.

– So cool, our Bodam.

“Exactly. Like friend, like friend.”

– Your friend must be lucky. To have a friend like you.

“Ah. I’m the one who’s grateful.”

Team Leader Kim, who could hear everything on the call due to his unnecessarily excellent hearing, naturally pretended to scratch his chin, covering his lower face, and smiled.

These two really play well.

They finished the call after exchanging such sweet, almost bitter, conversation, boosting each other’s spirits.

– I have to go now. Text me when you get home. You’re with the Barrier Team, right?

“Yeah. Don’t get hurt. Good work.”

– Your voice sounds bad, so make sure to take your medicine. If you get caught in the rain again, I’ll confiscate your bankbook.

“How dare you.”

Bodam, who coughed and ended the call, then let out the coughs he had been holding back.

Having been drenched in rain earlier that day, he could already feel a cold coming on.

In the past, he would have scoffed at his weak body and clicked his tongue in self-pity, but now, Bodam just laughed it off.

What if he gets a bad cold and has to lie down?

He didn’t even have to go to work tomorrow.

“Guide. What are you going to do now?”

Team Leader Kim asked Bodam, who was putting his phone in his pocket and beaming.

It was an excellent question. It was the topic that had filled Bodam’s mind all the way home. Bodam’s first plan after quitting his job and returning to his sweet home was,

“I think I’ll be very busy.”

It was to rest strictly and eat diligently.

Just thinking about it, the list was overflowing, which was a big problem.

Team Leader Kim also smiled, following Bodam, who answered with a smile so wide his slightly flushed cheeks rose roundly.

Since he had quit his job at a young age, he must have a lot on his mind.

“Don’t work right away, rest well and travel. You should play a lot when you’re young. Date too. Try living like ordinary people do. As you get older, your stamina drops, so you can’t play even if you want to.”

“Aren’t you in your twenties too, Team Leader?”

Bodam asked with a smile to Team Leader Kim, who was giving advice like someone much older.

He had felt it from their gentle first impression, but he was an Esper whose heart opened up more the more he was with him.

Perhaps thanks to his skill as a barrier user, whose wavelength was barely felt, it even felt like he was with a fellow guide.

“As I approach the next decade, I feel like I’ve aged ten more years. Why, did I sound like an old man?”

Bodam, who vigorously shook his head and coughed, couldn’t stop laughing.

Seeing that he was feeling a bit chilly even with the heater on, it seemed a cold was truly coming.

Even that felt good.

His warm heartbeat was excitedly thumping, forgetting its usual pace.

He had punched Lee Tae Hwan’s jaw, cursed Min Ji Oh, thoroughly kicked Kang Yi Jun’s stomach, and even threw his resignation letter at Han Seung Ho’s handsome face.

“Wow….”

Bodam’s lips, which had unconsciously made a sound, closed with a smile.

Putting it all together, he wondered if he had really done all that.

From the moment he thought it was his last, he spoke and moved as if possessed.

‘If I get a taste of this, it’ll be big trouble.’

Bodam chuckled and placed a hand on his thumping chest.

A sense of pride and an inexpressible thrill welled up endlessly.

Ah, it was just f*cking great.

“Does your chest hurt?”

Team Leader Kim asked Bodam, who was taking a long, deep breath and patting his chest.

Bodam shook his head and replied with heartfelt sincerity.

“No. I’m just so happy.”

Team Leader Kim, seeing how truly happy he looked, didn’t ask further and only smiled.

He looked like he wanted to pop a congratulatory champagne bottle instead.

‘What kind of expression would Team Leader Han have?’

He deeply regretted not seeing his old colleague’s final expression, hidden by the resignation letter.

It was a rare sight he would never see again, so he should have watched.

He thought that if he ever got to see him again, he would tease him mercilessly, and then switched back to work mode.

“I’ll be on standby for a week. After that, I’ll rotate with the Barrier Team every other week. Don’t worry, I’ll also be tracking Attack Team 3’s movements. Contact me immediately if anything happens.”

Bodam accepted the water bottle Team Leader Kim offered and replied,

“Yes, sir.”

His trust in Team Leader Kim, who had effortlessly defended against Kang Yi Jun’s monster show, was at an all-time high.

Just his presence, as reliable as his voice, made worries disappear.

He looked out the window with a smile that seemed deeply etched onto his pale face.

The sky after the rain poured down was more beautiful than ever.

Even though it was the same sky he always saw, it felt unusually vast.

“Oh…”

As they were almost at the entrance of the old apartment, his gaze, which had been admiring the sky while leaning against the cool window, dropped downwards.

Bodam’s hand instinctively reached for the door handle, and he asked the car to stop.