Chapter 6: The Unseen Truth

Irregulars, once discovered by the state, were immediately designated as special subjects and monitored for life.

They were considered unstable beings, threats to the world, and consequently, imprisoned indefinitely under the pretext of requiring treatment.

Eventually, they would disappear from the world, their demise officially recorded as a mysterious death or an accident, devoid of further explanation.

Sa-yoon, however, knew the true fate of those Irregulars who had so mysteriously vanished.

Every Irregular was sent to state-run laboratories, where they were subjected to unconscionable, unethical experiments, conducted under a veil of secrecy.

Despite this horrifying truth, not a single Esper who became aware of it ever raised an ethical objection.

Irregulars were seen as nothing short of monsters.

The public, desperate for a safer, more peaceful world, believed these experiments were a necessary evil.

Shockingly, some Espers, privy to the truth, even volunteered to become Irregular Hunters themselves.

Jin Sa-yoon was one of these Irregulars, a being branded a monster.

He was a Multi-Esper, a rare individual where the powers of both a Guide and an Esper coexisted within a single body.

At thirteen, Sa-yoon first manifested as a C-rank Guide, only to undergo a secondary manifestation as an S-rank Esper a few years later.

Under normal circumstances, he would have been brutally dissected in a laboratory, all under the cruel guise of ‘treatment’.

Among all Irregulars, Multi-Espers like Jin Sa-yoon were exceptionally rare.

They were Espers who needed no Guide, embodying both the unwavering stability of a Guide and the formidable strength of an Esper.

Multi-Espers were, in essence, the most perfect beings, capable of wielding their powers without any drawbacks whatsoever.

It was precisely for this reason that Multi-Espers faced the most savage and inhumane dissections among all Irregulars.

They were forcibly exposed to countless drugs, stripped naked, and strapped to experimental tables, their very organs laid bare.

Sa-yoon’s true identity was a secret that absolutely had to remain hidden.

Clutching the golden crown of an S-rank Esper, Jin Sa-yoon was forced to conceal every facet of his being to hide the wretched, tattered body beneath.

“The device appears to be in order,”

“I always tell you this, but never take it off in front of anyone else. And you must keep receiving regular guiding.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll be mindful,”

The ring Sa-yoon always wore was a specialized device designed to suppress his Guide abilities.

Fortunately, the C-rank Guide level Jin Sa-yoon had initially awakened to proved relatively easy to mask.

With Jung Hyun-woo’s crucial assistance, Sa-yoon had successfully kept his true identity a secret until this very day.

As soon as the inspection concluded, Sa-yoon’s first action was to retrieve his gloves.

They were the piece of clothing he always prioritized, even over his other garments.

He slid the smooth gloves over his ring, then pulled on his trousers, before finally shrugging into his shirt.

“Oh, and just in case, I made an extra one for emergencies this time.”

“You really didn’t have to.”

“I just have a bad feeling, that’s all. Please, come back safely.”

Sa-yoon tucked the spare ring Jung Hyun-woo tossed him securely into his chest pocket.

He meticulously adjusted his collar and cuffs, as if safeguarding the profound secret hidden deep within his chest, before finally stepping outside.

The crimson letters ‘D-day’ blazed across the screen of his wrist device.

Today marked the date of the predicted terror attack, a detail they had uncovered from Kang Geun-mu’s phone.

With the mission’s entry time fast approaching, Sa-yoon completed his final preparations.

Beside him, Han Do-hoon meticulously checked his own equipment.

It struck Sa-yoon that this was the first time he had seen Han Do-hoon since their brief encounter at the training center.

Even now, the man still appeared perfectly composed and outwardly normal.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“I was merely wondering if you’d finally greet me after breaking my record.”

At that, Han Do-hoon’s lips curved into a slight smile as he responded.

“Then, is it permissible to greet you now? I do believe I emerged victorious.”

“…”

To Sa-yoon’s vexation, Han Do-hoon’s final score before the mission was indeed higher.

He had, rather slyly, booked the very last training room slot at 8 PM the previous evening, thus surpassing Sa-yoon’s record.

Though Sa-yoon rushed to the center that morning, he was met only with a notice that the training room was closed today due to the mission.

“You truly are quite petty.”

“I am, indeed.”

Such a straightforward admission left Sa-yoon with no room to argue.

As he regarded Han Do-hoon with a curious expression, the Chief Director suddenly appeared from the opposite direction, his face beaming with enthusiasm.

“Ah, my heroes! My fixers! Did you both sleep well?”

With arms spread wide, the Chief Director clapped both their backs with equal enthusiasm.

“With two handsome men like you standing here, the whole area seems to light up. And with your exceptional abilities, I feel utterly reassured just looking at you.”

“Those Airain bastards, daring to target Seoul! I sincerely hope we can uproot them completely this time.”

Jin Sa-yoon, who had much on his mind, immediately presented the revised mission plan he had received that morning, the moment the Chief Director approached.

“Chief Director, are we truly going in with just the two of us?”

“Haven’t you read the report?”

“I did, which is precisely why I’m asking this.”

Initially, the underground infiltration team comprised four individuals: Jin Sa-yoon, Han Do-hoon, and two auxiliary Espers.

However, the plan had been altered this very morning.

Owing to the unexpectedly deep location and constricted passages, it was now decided that only Han Do-hoon and Jin Sa-yoon would infiltrate to conduct the internal scan.

“Seriously? Only the two of us? For a counter-terrorism mission?”

Observing Sa-yoon’s incredulous, contorted expression, the Chief Director subtly averted his gaze.

“There’s no other choice, Sa-yoon. Their movements are proving faster than anticipated.”

“Our best option is to deploy our most elite quickly. It seems they are exploiting the underground passages precisely for this reason.”

“From our standpoint, we have no choice but to send down our two strongest. And don’t worry too much; another team is already making entry from the opposite side.”

“These bastards are annoyingly clever.”

Earlier this morning, a terrorist group’s infiltration was detected at a subway station connected to the underground passage entrance.

Though the Espers guarding the area were dispatched, they arrived too late, and the terrorists had already penetrated too deeply.

Indeed, collapsing the bunkers spread throughout Seoul would cause the ground above to utterly cave in, making surveillance nearly impossible.

It was, without a doubt, the most efficient strategy for a terrorist organization.

These crazed individuals, for all their twisted minds, were undeniably intelligent.

Having offered Sa-yoon a reassuring pat, the Chief Director then turned his attention to Han Do-hoon.

“Do-hoon, you brought your medicine, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What medicine are you referring to?”

Sa-yoon, who had been listening intently, interjected with a question.

This was the first time he had ever heard of Han Do-hoon taking any sort of medicine.

As a two-person infiltration team, they were supposed to be fully aware of each other’s unique conditions, yet the report contained no such mention.

“Well, it’s information that couldn’t be included in the documents, which is why I couldn’t mention it. Sa-yoon, perhaps…”

“I’ve taken good care of it, so there’s no need for you to concern yourself.”

Han Do-hoon abruptly cut off the Chief Director, who had begun to explain in a low voice.

His tone was uncharacteristically firm, a stark contrast to his usual docile demeanor.

The unusual inflection caused Sa-yoon’s face to harden with concern.

“What exactly is this medicine?”

“It’s merely a personal emergency medication I keep on hand. I’ve packed more than enough, so you needn’t concern yourself with the specifics.”

“Then at least hand over a spare. You’re aware this goes against regulations, aren’t you?”

Teams operating in pairs were strictly required to divide essential supplies between them, preparing for any potential loss or unforeseen circumstances.

It was a fundamental rule, especially for easily damaged or lost items like medicine, for both members to carry a portion.

“Well, Sa-yoon, this is a rather unique case. The medicine is purely for emergencies, so he rarely needs to take it.”

“It should be perfectly fine if Do-hoon alone carries it. Do-hoon, have you received sufficient guiding?”

“I’ve been ‘rolling around’ every day until yesterday, so you needn’t worry,”

“Yes, yes. Well done.”

Sa-yoon, who had been listening to the entire exchange in a daze, shook his head, wondering if his understanding of common sense was utterly flawed.

Han Do-hoon brazenly declaring he’d been ‘rolling around’ with a Guide every day, and the Chief Director actually praising him for it—it was truly baffling.

“And try experimenting with different suppressor combinations. The effects vary slightly depending on the Guide, so feel free to try various approaches.”

At the Chief Director’s next words, Sa-yoon’s eyes widened, and he scrutinized both men intently.

He found himself questioning if this was truly the same Chief Director who, at every single meeting, admonished them not to excessively interact with Guides or disturb public decorum.

“This situation feels incredibly strange right now. This isn’t a dream, is it?”

“Yes, Sa-yoon, I know exactly how you feel. I wish this were all a dream, too. A terrorist attack in the heart of Seoul—it’s truly dreadful, isn’t it?”

“No, that’s not what I meant at all…”

“Opening A-13 sewer access hatch shortly! Please prepare for entry!”

From a distance, the shouts of a team member echoed, signaling their readiness.

The Chief Director, with a gentle shove, urged the bewildered Sa-yoon toward the hatch.

Sa-yoon started to protest the Chief Director’s blatant secrecy, but the man merely shook his head when their eyes met.

“What if something happens? Won’t I be held responsible?”

“Don’t worry. The higher-ups are already aware of this, so there won’t be any problems.”

The Chief Director clapped both their shoulders once more, his expression resolute.

“Let’s focus on what needs to be done right now. I’ll explain everything once you return safely.”

Sa-yoon gazed at the brightly illuminated entrance to the underground passage.

Beyond it, a second, doubly sealed door was visible, leading into an unknown space thick with decades of moss and dust.

As the Chief Director had said, what importance did Han Do-hoon’s secret hold now? The imminent terror attack was the far greater concern.

“Contact us immediately if any problems arise. We’ll send a backup team right away, so don’t worry too much.”

“Understood.”

“Take care of yourselves. And make sure to eat your rations on time.”

Kim Sang-hoo, the Chief Director, spoke reassuringly, much like a grandmother from a hometown, as he urged them forward.

Finally, the reality of their infiltration set in. Sa-yoon pressed his wrist device to confirm the information.

“Esper Jin Sa-yoon, Esper Han Do-hoon, commencing entry now.”

“Entry time 11:36 AM. Point A-13. Total personnel: 2. Error rate: 0.2%.”

Han Do-hoon, beside him, checked and called out the additional information, to which the Chief Director nodded.

It was the signal for entry. As the second hatch opened, Sa-yoon pulled up his mask against the simultaneous rush of a briny, damp smell and the scent of moss.

Three, two, one.

Matching his steps to the countdown from the team member beside him, Sa-yoon plunged without hesitation into the lightless, dark abyss.