Chapter 15: The Absurd Escape and the Unveiling Anomaly

He had claimed he would simply draw attention, but was he now trying to blow up their surroundings? Jungwon turned to Seokjoo, a question etched on their face, only for him to smile nonchalantly and whisper.

‘It was merely a loud disturbance,’ he whispered, ‘nothing to worry about.’

With no immediate means to verify his words, Jungwon had no choice but to trust him.

Regardless, two Espers, startled by the sudden boom, exchanged wary glances. Then, precisely as Seokjoo had predicted, only one of them rose and cautiously moved towards the sound’s origin.

Following Seokjoo’s subtle nod, Jungwon moved towards the lone remaining individual.

Jungwon expected them to sense their approach and turn, but whether due to distraction or some unseen intervention from Seokjoo, there was no reaction even when Jungwon stood directly behind them.

Only when Jungwon’s hand closed around their neck did the Esper finally stir, attempting to turn.

Jungwon’s guiding, however, proved far swifter.

Before they could even register Jungwon’s face, the Esper succumbed to sleep. The minimal energy drain, despite Jungwon’s swift burst of power, suggested this Esper was, at best, a C-rank.

Confirming the Esper was sound asleep, Jungwon and Seokjoo, with hushed movements, stepped over the boundary.

They needed to swiftly assess the area before the other Esper’s return.

A quick glance revealed geometric patterns etched into the ground. These were the unmistakable traces left in the wake of a supernatural phenomenon.

Jungwon silently captured images of the patterns with a camera app. Meanwhile, Seokjoo crouched, his gaze fixed intently on a fissure in the ground.

As a Guide, Jungwon had no insight into what Seokjoo was scrutinizing with such intensity.

Perhaps only an Esper could truly comprehend the nature of what was termed a ‘supernatural phenomenon.’

Should anyone inquire about a supernatural phenomenon, Jungwon would liken it to a volcanic eruption.

Just as magma forms under specific conditions, then erupts through the surface once it surpasses a critical threshold, the genesis of a supernatural phenomenon followed a remarkably similar principle.

When energy capable of inducing a supernatural phenomenon accumulates in a specific location for unknown reasons, it eventually detonates, unleashing an anomalous event.

This phenomenon might manifest as monstrous creatures, or at other times, bear a striking resemblance to natural disasters.

Unlike conventional natural disasters, however, supernatural phenomena leave behind ‘patterns’ that are not naturally occurring. This made it easy to differentiate them from natural events that predated the emergence of Espers.

Research into supernatural phenomena had, to this day, yielded no substantial breakthroughs.

Among the meager insights gained, the most striking fact was that the energy fueling these phenomena precisely matched the innate power Espers were born with.

Consequently, there existed Espers capable of artificially triggering these phenomena, and even groups that flagrantly abused this power to commit acts of terror.

In such a complex situation, it stood to reason that only an Esper would possess certain knowledge.

Thus, Jungwon had waited patiently for Seokjoo, but as the minutes ticked by, they felt an undeniable urge to press him.

“Is there anything else to examine? I fear we’re running out of time.”

Indeed, the distinct presence of someone returning was already palpable.

After a brief hesitation, Seokjoo rose and nodded towards Jungwon. He then strode forward, seized Jungwon, and began to run, much like a dramatic scene from a B-grade film.

They navigated the winding, labyrinthine alleys, finally coming to an abrupt halt.

Jungwon, whose wrist had been firmly clasped throughout the sprint, finally bent at the knees, gasping for breath.

“Was it truly necessary to flee so far…?”

“There are quite a few interesting shops to browse around here.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s a tourist destination, you see. There are many shops worth visiting nearby.”

An utterly unexpected reply met Jungwon’s breathless question.

Jungwon hadn’t failed to understand; they were simply flabbergasted and had asked again. Seokjoo, with surprising courtesy, even elaborated on his earlier words.

‘So… what exactly is the plan?’

‘Are we going sightseeing at a tourist attraction?’

And this absurd suspicion, Jungwon soon realized, was entirely true.

Seokjoo led Jungwon to an antique-looking souvenir shop.

The souvenirs, unlike anything Jungwon had ever encountered, possessed such an antique charm they seemed more akin to curios than mere mementos.

Someone with a fondness for such items would undoubtedly have been thrilled just by stepping inside.

Jungwon, however, was certainly not one of them.

Even inside the shop, instead of browsing the souvenirs, Jungwon simply watched Seokjoo’s back with a look of utter bewilderment.

‘What is he thinking? He’s utterly unfathomable.’

‘Since the situation isn’t resolving swiftly, is he intending to leisurely sightsee and waste time?’

‘Jungwon had briefly considered that he might have come here with some hidden, work-related motive. Yet, watching him laugh boisterously and engage in what appeared to be utterly trivial conversation with the shopkeeper, he seemed like a man entirely devoid of ulterior motives.’

“What do you think of this?”

At that moment, Seokjoo held up a peculiar ceramic doll and posed the question to Jungwon.

It was, quite literally, a strangely sculpted doll.

Its squashed face was unidentifiable as any animal, and its short body and tail were both bizarre and utterly insignificant.

‘Surely he doesn’t genuinely like that and is showing it to me in earnest.’

‘If that were the case, then despite possessing a face that perfectly met aesthetic standards, his discernment for art appeared to be severely lacking.’

‘Or perhaps he was merely trying to play a trick.’

Jungwon responded with a face utterly devoid of sincerity.

“It’s quite magnificent. The tail, in particular, is rather striking.”

“Really?”

Seokjoo, his voice bright, exchanged a few more words with the shop owner, then actually purchased the peculiar doll.

As Jungwon watched the scene unfold with a bewildered gaze, the grotesque doll was soon placed into their arms.

“…Are you expecting me to carry this?”

“It’s a gift! I thought you seemed to like it, Jungwon.”

‘So, he was just playing a prank after all.’

‘To endure such a pointless expense merely to tease someone…’

Jungwon sharply raised their head, prepared to lecture him on not indulging in such wasteful habits, even for a wealthy S-rank Esper.

Yet, Seokjoo’s expression was one of genuine pride, as if he were truly delighted to have given a wonderful gift.

‘It doesn’t seem like an act… Is he actually serious?’

Ultimately, Jungwon offered a thank you in a thoroughly unenthusiastic voice, then cradled the peculiar doll in their arms.

‘This man… did he truly come here just to sightsee?’

Jungwon had believed that a trusted S-rank Esper wouldn’t act so thoughtlessly. That was the very reason they had followed him without resistance this far.

However, seeing him continue to shop without a single explanation left Jungwon feeling increasingly uncertain. By the time they entered the fourth store, Jungwon’s patience finally snapped, and they asked him directly.

“How much longer must we do this? Are these shops truly so captivating?”

He responded with a bewildering non sequitur. Jungwon paused for a moment. They weren’t so oblivious as to demand what he meant or to insist he answer their question directly. After a brief consideration, a cautious answer emerged.

“That would depend on the method used.”

“Then, what do you think is the fastest method?”

“Hmm… Perhaps scaring them. We could make an announcement, but that would take too long. If someone shouts ‘Fire!’ everyone would panic and try to leave, so that would be the quickest.”

Jungwon offered their answer first, then belatedly posed their own question.

“Is this some kind of riddle? Is there a reason why this is important right now?”

They had answered diligently, just in case, but if he had asked for a frivolous reason, Jungwon knew they would be even more irritated. However, Seokjoo, instead of explaining, simply stated his intention bluntly.

“Then I’ll start the fire; Jungwon, you shout ‘Fire!’”

“What?”

The problem was the highly dangerous nature of his statement. There was no time to stop him. Seokjoo stretched his body, then stomped his foot hard. Jungwon quickly looked around, wondering if he had used an ability. No immediate visible changes appeared, but as a result, Jungwon didn’t need to shout ‘Fire!’ Even without their cry, screams were already echoing from various places.

“Fire!”

“Explosion!”

“It won’t go out! Run!”

It was clear what he had done. People seemed to be trying to extinguish the sudden fire and explosions in surprise. However, fire created by an Esper’s ability cannot be put out by anything other than another Esper’s ability. Jungwon watched everyone flee in utter disarray, then turned to Seokjoo, a look of reproach on their face. He immediately offered an explanation as soon as their eyes met.

“Don’t worry, it’s not a fire that will harm anyone.”

“I know that. That’s not the problem.”

Surely he wouldn’t have set a lethal fire here; it had to be a threat. Jungwon glared at Seokjoo, who was offering such an obvious statement as an explanation.

“Then what is the problem?”

“You should have explained it!”

Jungwon’s voice, uncharacteristically, rose in volume. Despite their impromptu argument, most people had already cleared out of the shopping area. The bustling square instantly became deserted.

Seokjoo subtly averted his gaze from Jungwon and remarked nonchalantly.

“We’re right on time.”

“Right on…”

At that moment, the ground split open.

Jungwon, who had been muttering in confusion, fell silent. This wasn’t Kang Seokjoo’s doing. They knew it instinctively.

With a tense heart, Jungwon watched the ground crack. A black mass writhed and rose from beneath the earth. It was a grotesque creature, long and bizarre, like a dragon. Jungwon had seen countless monsters before, but even so, this one…

A shiver ran down their spine. Jungwon turned to Seokjoo, their face pale with dread.

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