Chapter 1: The Genesis of Espers and Guides

The emergence of ‘them’ coincided with the aftermath of a protracted war. Indeed, they might have even surfaced amidst the conflict itself. We remain uncertain of their precise arrival, merely surmising that these beings were a mutation born from the century-long war.

Initially, ‘they’ possessed powers that defied human comprehension. They could peer into people’s minds, manipulate objects without any discernible force, and inflict harm upon humans without so much as a blink.

Neither man nor beast could rein them in. Even when a lord’s entire military force assailed them, a single one of ‘them’ proved impossible to subdue.

We branded ‘them’ a curse upon heretics, a byproduct of the prolonged conflict, a phenomenon afflicting those who remained unbaptized. Inquisitors vehemently declared their extermination righteous. Yet, some speculated that their transformations were a consequence of the gunpowder employed during the war.

Regardless of their origin, one crucial fact remained: they were undeniably dangerous.

During that era, discovering one of ‘them’ meant an immediate, justifiable execution, irrespective of circumstances. This grim reality persisted for an entire generation. Upon encountering ‘them,’ people would unite, striving desperately to bring about their demise.

Lords proclaimed that anyone who successfully slew one of ‘them’ would be granted farmland and livestock. While most impoverished peasants eagerly embraced this decree, neutralizing ‘them’ was far from simple. Paradoxically, in certain regions, their eradication evolved into a brutal form of sport.

Occasionally, both ordinary and exceptional individuals were tragically mistaken for ‘them’ and killed. As these desperate souls fled, attempting to prove their humanity, crowds would hurl stones and loose arrows, cheering wildly.

Once a target fell, their feet were severed, arms torn off, and noses cut away as proof of the deed. The reward for such brutal killings and desecrations was a mere week’s worth of food, yet even that meager provision was desperately sought in those trying times.

Ultimately, we chose to name ‘them’ ‘Espers’—individuals possessing abilities beyond human comprehension, powers that transcended ordinary senses.

The Pope, however, unequivocally declared them cursed beings.

Around that time, a new calamity descended upon us. This disaster differed profoundly from the Espers. Unlike Espers, who retained human appearances, these new threats were monstrous in form. Some bore multiple arms, while others emitted eerie, unnatural sounds that defied any earthly origin. Typically, these creatures boasted bodies more than twice the size of an adult man, and communication with them was utterly impossible.

To fell a single one of these calamities, an entire army had to be mobilized. Consequently, whenever one appeared, people swiftly abandoned their villages. As night fell, it became impossible to halt the exodus of families, packing their belongings and carrying their children to safety.

Areas that had once thrived with bustling communities quickly turned into desolate ruins. These ruins multiplied, eventually leading to entire provinces being utterly laid to waste.

These were the most trying times. Fleeing from one calamity often meant encountering Espers, while regions devoid of Espers were frequently overrun by the monstrous threats. The Church, however, prohibited referring to these beings as ‘calamities,’ vehemently denying that they were ‘a divine plague upon humanity’ or even creations of God.

Thus, the calamities were once again designated as ‘monsters.’

Refugees from monster-ravaged villages converged on places rumored to be safe. Yet, these overcrowded settlements soon succumbed to ruin themselves, forcing people to consume anything imaginable for survival. During this period, widespread plagues claimed countless more lives.

It was the most harrowing period after the war, a time historians would later dub the Dark Ages.

Then, one fateful day, we discovered a method to control the Espers—though ‘discovered’ hardly seemed the appropriate term.

These particular beings simply emerged one day. Perhaps they had always existed alongside us, even when Espers first manifested. However, we had been unable to discern them, for unlike the supernaturally gifted Espers, these individuals displayed no outward signs of their unique nature.

They possessed an uncanny ability to ‘control’ Espers with absolute precision. The exact mechanism remained a mystery; simply being in the same vicinity as these beings brought Espers a profound sense of calm. Driven by perilous curiosity, several scholars conducted repeated experiments on weaker Espers. It was observed that the more Espers interacted and empathized with these enigmatic individuals, the more rapidly they stabilized.

Consequently, we decided to name these crucial individuals ‘Guides.’

With a means of control now established, Espers readily integrated into human society. Rulers quickly learned to harness and control them, simultaneously discovering how to deploy them as formidable military assets. Although the Church persistently refused to acknowledge the existence of Espers and Guides, kings and lords deftly and intelligently maintained a delicate balance between ecclesiastical authority and the burgeoning power of the Espers.

This collective of superhumans, though denied recognition and even the rite of baptism by the Church, possessed a military value so immense that the Church’s influence waned significantly in comparison.

The Church maintained its own Holy Knights, an order composed of chosen individuals imbued with sacred abilities. This formidable group operated exclusively in service to the Church and the Pope.

Kings, however, perpetually required military forces to counterbalance the Church’s power. In this regard, Espers proved to be the perfect solution, fulfilling a critical need.

Ultimately, all Espers and Guides were seamlessly integrated, either under the direct control of the empire or as specialized weaponry. Unlike ordinary soldiers, Espers possessed the unique capability to defeat the monstrous threats. Consequently, the monster population gradually began to dwindle.

By the time a century had passed, few remained who cared about the origins of Espers, Guides, or even the monsters themselves. The Pope’s once-formidable sanctions had long since become a mere formality, and both Espers and Guides had, by then, fully assimilated into human society.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Heemin’s One-Sided Love

AdultBoys LoveDrama

Read Now →
Not interested