Chapter 51: The Irregular Hunter

Sa-yoon’s routine at Han Do-hoon’s lodging was entirely predictable.

He would wash, lie down, and simply laze about. Then, he would rise, eat a sandwich, and depart. This comprised the entirety of Sa-yoon’s activities at Han Do-hoon’s place.

“…”

“…”

Today, however, they weren’t lounging on a soft bed; instead, the two men sat facing each other across a thick, expansive table.

“I suppose I should be the one to explain the situation first, shouldn’t I?”

“Yes.”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I said I was just exploring headquarters out of boredom and stumbled upon it purely by accident, would you?”

“No.”

Sa-yoon sighed as his subtle attempt at humor fell completely flat. It would have been easier to react if Han Do-hoon had gotten angry or scolded him, but with his terse, one-word answers, Sa-yoon couldn’t discern his thoughts.

It was as if Han Do-hoon was weighing whether to report Sa-yoon after hearing his explanation. ‘Can he really be this cold to someone he likes?’ Sa-yoon wondered, even though he knew he was partly at fault, the atmosphere was simply too bleak.

Forgetting his own transgression, a sense of injustice swelled within Sa-yoon. He bit his lip before finally speaking.

“I just went because I was curious. You’ve never restricted access when a dispatched unit returns before. I was simply curious about that. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to be managed so strictly.”

He had never imagined that Han Do-hoon, of all people, would be assigned to security duty. It was undeniably Sa-yoon’s mistake, and upon reflection, it remained his mistake. If this reached the higher-ups, it wouldn’t end with a mere pay cut. It was a blunder that warranted weeks in the brig.

“Are you going to report it to the higher-ups?”

“If I were going to, I would have reported it the moment I found you.”

That was a small mercy amidst the misfortune. Han Do-hoon continued to gaze at Sa-yoon with a grave expression, as if expecting to hear more.

Sa-yoon vaguely understood what kind of words he was waiting for.

“…Well. I genuinely didn’t go with any other intentions. And I didn’t see anything particularly special there anyway. It just seemed like Levian was finishing his return report.”

“So you did see it, after all. What Levian brought back, I mean.”

“Not in detail, just a little?”

Han Do-hoon pressed a hand to his forehead. There was no point in trying to dissemble. Han Do-hoon was also an S-class Esper, and he knew better than anyone how much Sa-yoon could observe from that distance. Furthermore, Sa-yoon’s spatial abilities were unparalleled.

“But who was the person Levian captured? They seemed quite injured.”

“They are a collaborator with Airaen.”

A collaborator with a terrorist organization. A major criminal, indeed. Even if they stood trial, it would likely be life imprisonment or the death penalty. The sight of them, beaten to a pulp and carried in a sack, was somewhat understandable. While it wasn’t the standard method of arrest outlined in regulations, there were times when the severity of the crime necessitated bending the rules.

“Then it can’t be helped. They committed a capital offense, after all. People really should live good lives.”

Sa-yoon nodded in agreement, simultaneously observing Han Do-hoon’s reaction.

While this sounded logical, it wasn’t the complete truth. They wouldn’t have sealed off the main gate and brought in a criminal merely because of their poor condition; there was clearly another reason. However, Sa-yoon wasn’t foolish enough to inquire further.

“Indeed, if they didn’t want to get hurt, they shouldn’t have gotten involved with a terrorist organization. For now, shall we stop this conversation here?”

It was time to subtly extricate himself. Han Do-hoon had already overlooked his transgression once. Pushing further would be crossing a line.

“Don’t you have any more questions?”

It was Han Do-hoon who stopped Sa-yoon from backing away. Sa-yoon scrutinized Han Do-hoon with suspicious eyes. It was already odd that he’d covered for Sa-yoon, but now he seemed to be implying he would offer even more information.

Why was Han Do-hoon acting this way? Surely, he wasn’t so deeply enamored with Sa-yoon that he’d offer his heart and soul. He couldn’t possibly be setting a trap to definitively apprehend Sa-yoon, could he?

“Well, if there’s anything I’m curious about… perhaps why Mr. Han Do-hoon was on security duty there? But that’s related to a personal mission, so it feels awkward to ask. Hahaha.”

He laughed awkwardly, trying to change the subject, but Han Do-hoon’s gaze remained serious. There was no sign he intended to end the conversation. He had asked Sa-yoon to question him, yet offered no answers, nor any indication of letting him go. Sa-yoon steadied himself, taking a gulp of cold water.

“You have something you want to tell me, don’t you, Mr. Han Do-hoon?”

“Do not get involved with Levian. You shouldn’t even take an interest in him.”

This sounded incredibly familiar. Sa-yoon, momentarily forgetting the gravity of the situation, tilted his head. The first time he met Levian, Levian had also warned him to be wary of Han Do-hoon and to keep his distance. How could they both say the exact same thing, as if they had conspired?

“I have no intention of getting involved either. This time, it wasn’t because it was Levian that I secretly watched; it just happened that the situation was unusual.”

“The official crime for the person Levian captured is ‘terrorist collaborator’.”

“You already told me that earlier… Wait, ‘official’?”

That implied there was another, unofficial reason.

“Jeon Woo-yeon. Thirty-five years old. A special-type Esper specializing in biological control. And a natural-type Esper of all attributes.”

A person with two specialties simultaneously. Han Do-hoon confirmed Sa-yoon’s face stiffen before speaking again.

“The arrested individual is an Irregular, manifesting both special and natural types simultaneously.”

An Irregular. Sa-yoon’s breath hitched at the unexpected word. He forgot how to inhale, stiffening like a statue and clenching his fists. Even as he told himself not to show excessive agitation, lest Han Do-hoon find it strange, his heart plummeted to his toes and then surged back up.

“Are you very surprised?”

“Ah, well, a little, I suppose. It’s my first time seeing an Irregular in person.”

His voice wavered at the end. He coughed, pretending his throat was blocked. Han Do-hoon refilled his empty cup with water. As Sa-yoon gripped the cup, the calm surface of the water rippled subtly.

“So that’s why they were restrained… no, arrested using such coercive methods.”

“That is Levian’s nature. His methods are often cruel, always resulting in more damage than others.”

Han Do-hoon’s words were somewhat peculiar. It was as if he was implying that Levian frequently undertook such arrest missions. Why would Levian, who was on the battlefield, have so many occasions to apprehend criminals? Han Do-hoon met Sa-yoon’s gaze and gave a small nod.

“Levian Christine is an Irregular Hunter. He entered Korea specifically to capture Irregulars.”

The cup in Sa-yoon’s hand slipped and clattered to the floor.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll clean it up.”

“Remain still.”

As Sa-yoon hastily rose to wipe the water, Han Do-hoon bent down first to pick up the glass shards. After seating Sa-yoon again, Han Do-hoon cleared the small fragments and wiped the water. Meanwhile, Sa-yoon clasped his hands tightly, rubbing the ring on one of his fingers.

An Irregular. An anomalous, abnormal Esper who undergoes an unconventional awakening.

The dictionary definition of an Irregular was merely a single, brief sentence. Ordinary people, unrelated to Espers, were completely unaware of the existence of Irregulars. Even if they happened to hear about them, they would casually dismiss them as just a slightly unusual Esper.

The few who knew of Irregulars never spoke their name lightly. They knew, without needing to be told, what became of them.

And the group that hunted such Irregulars was called Irregular Hunters. Irregular Hunters were not an official organization. They operated within their respective units, undertaking personal missions, so even their closest comrades were often unaware that they were Irregular Hunters.

How did Han Do-hoon know that Levian was an Irregular Hunter? Now that he thought about it, Han Do-hoon’s adoptive father was the current Supreme Commander of the Esper Alliance. Could someone in such a position easily obtain this kind of information?

Sa-yoon subtly pressed his palm against his stiffening lips, burying his face.

“You seem quite surprised.”

Han Do-hoon, having finished tidying up, approached with a thick ceramic cup filled with ice water.

“Thank you. My hand just slipped, somehow. I guess I’m a bit tired from using my abilities so much today.”

“That could be. As long as you’re not hurt.”

Normally, Sa-yoon might have retorted, ‘What Esper gets hurt by glass shards?’ but he had no such composure left. Rubbing the increasingly cold surface of the cup, Sa-yoon asked,

“About what you said earlier. If that’s truly the case, should you really be telling me such critical information so freely?”

“I thought if I simply told you to avoid Levian, you might take it lightly. Given your personality, I thought you might even forget my warning to be careful.”

“That’s probably true.”

Indeed, when Levian had warned Sa-yoon to be wary of Han Do-hoon before, Sa-yoon had simply dismissed it. While the weight of Levian’s words and Han Do-hoon’s words differed, Han Do-hoon’s prediction was likely correct; Sa-yoon might have largely ignored it.

“That’s why I told you. You know that Irregular Hunters don’t just hunt Irregulars, don’t you?”

The notorious reputation of Irregular Hunters stemmed from their tendency to immediately report anyone suspected, even a comrade, to the higher-ups. From the Espers’ perspective, they were seen almost as double agents. Sometimes, reports were even made out of personal grudges. And since the accuser remained anonymous, victims often suffered unjustly.

Of course, Sa-yoon’s reason for needing to avoid Irregular Hunters was different.