Chapter 92: The Last Farewell

Multi-Espers functioned as if they were constantly channeling their power through guiding.

“Only I can stay here, keep the Rain at bay, and hold out until the airship escapes. This is the only way.”

Sa-yoon pushed Han Do-hoon away, but Han Do-hoon immediately stepped off the airship again, grabbing Sa-yoon.

“I cannot allow that. Rather than leaving you here, Sa-yoon, let us wait for the rescue team.”

‘…’

His judgment was remarkably foolish and inefficient. Even when Sa-yoon reminded him that he was an Irregular, Han Do-hoon refused to yield.

This choice, one that the usual Han Do-hoon would never make, spoke volumes about his current state of panic.

Just then, another shockwave rattled the area around the conference hall. This time, the protective wall directly beside the airship crumbled, narrowing the distance between them and the Rain. Inside the airship, desperate prayers to every deity imaginable erupted.

“If we delay any longer, we’ll all perish.”

Amidst the prayers and groans, the voice of the supreme commander, calling for their guide, could be heard. Time was rapidly running out; every delay worsened their predicament. Kim Chae-jun had to move alone, purifying the entire vicinity around the massive airship.

His estimate of one hour was likely the absolute maximum, meaning they probably had no more than thirty minutes left.

“Go on.”

“Absolutely not.”

Sa-yoon offered a bitter smile, gazing at Han Do-hoon’s steadfast refusal. It was an ironic situation: the person most concerned for Sa-yoon in this perilous moment was an Irregular Hunter.

Complex emotions swirled within Sa-yoon. Was Han Do-hoon’s concern genuine, or was he merely feigning it, afraid of losing the Irregular right before his eyes? The reality of having to entertain such worries in a desperate, life-or-death situation brought tears to his eyes, filled with profound sorrow.

And a maddening resentment.

Sa-yoon approached the unyielding Han Do-hoon, wrapping his arms wide around his neck and pulling him into a tight embrace. Han Do-hoon froze, stunned by the sudden action.

After a moment of rigid stillness, Han Do-hoon raised his hands and returned Sa-yoon’s embrace. His hands trembled slightly.

‘If anyone should be suffering, it should be me. Why is Han Do-hoon in agony?’ Sa-yoon thought. ‘I was the one deceived, manipulated, and strung along.’

He was utterly fed up with Han Do-hoon, who continued to shake him even in these final moments. It was sickening. He wanted it to end, to escape this convoluted reality of Rains, Irregulars, and Hunters.

“Han Do-hoon.”

Sa-yoon buried his face against Han Do-hoon’s ear, uttering the words he had kept buried deep within his heart.

“We were never meant to meet, were we? We should have lived our lives pretending not to know each other, but somehow, it ended up like this. Didn’t it?”

“What?”

“Irregular Hunter Han Do-hoon.”

Han Do-hoon’s body stiffened, his dark eyes flickering with a pallid tremor. ‘He’s a villain to the very end.’

“Save a kind mother instead of this mutant.”

“How could you know that…”

Still embracing Han Do-hoon’s neck, Sa-yoon pulled out a syringe he had prepared beforehand with one hand. He plunged it forcefully into the back of Han Do-hoon’s neck, who had let his guard down. The moment the needle pierced his skin, Han Do-hoon’s body convulsed. Sa-yoon bit his lip as he watched him slowly lose strength.

‘Was it fun playing with people all this time? Or is he regretting letting me go?’

A myriad of thoughts flashed through Sa-yoon’s mind, a jumble of resentment and hatred. After sifting through the countless accusations he wanted to hurl at Han Do-hoon, Sa-yoon simply smiled weakly. None of it mattered anymore.

“It was fun while it lasted. And I’ve thought about it, I won’t resent you anymore. You were just doing your job, Han Do-hoon.”

Instead of the resentment he had harbored for so long, Sa-yoon offered a calm farewell.

“But your methods were quite cruel… It hurt to be on the receiving end.”

Sa-yoon supported the crumbling Han Do-hoon with his arms.

“I have one last request. Please look after my mother in my stead. Make sure she can live comfortably.”

‘I know the families of Irregulars are all under surveillance, but considering our past, you can do this much for me, can’t you? Please, for the unfilial son who can’t even be there for her final moments.’ Sa-yoon whispered softly, stroking Han Do-hoon’s bowed head.

Han Do-hoon, who had desperately fought to maintain consciousness until the very last moment, finally closed his eyes. Sa-yoon gently lowered the unconscious, limp man to the ground.

Sa-yoon called out to Kim Chae-jun and Kang Ah-jun, who were waiting a few steps away from the airship.

“Chae-jun.”

“Yes, yes! Team Leader.”

“Purify the air around the airship. It will be difficult as you’ll need to cover a wide area while moving, but you absolutely cannot fail.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Chae-jun’s voice was already thick with emotion. Sa-yoon ignored Chae-jun, who was trying to hold back tears and clenching his jaw, and called Kang Ah-jun.

“Ah-jun.”

“Yes…”

“Move the coordinates in odd numbers. If the calculations are too difficult, just focus on the odd numbers and proceed. It will be easier to find changes.”

“Understood, Team Leader.”

Sa-yoon handed the unconscious Han Do-hoon over to his tearful teammates and walked to the opposite side of the airship. Slowly, he removed his gloves. As he pulled off the flat silver ring on his right hand, the air that had bound Sa-yoon lightened. The coordinates that had enveloped him scattered like lotus petals, embedding themselves like a galaxy.

The airship door slowly closed. Through the window, he could see his teammates weeping.

“Don’t worry too much. My life is the most precious thing to me. Sublime sacrifice, justice – I detest all of it.”

This much was true. The heroic speeches in movies about sacrificing oneself for others were the worst; they were nothing more than self-gratification, a selfishness that disregarded those left behind.

And today, Sa-yoon would be selfish.

Sa-yoon watched Han Do-hoon being carried away through the window, imprinting his image in his mind one last time. Though he resented and hated him, he couldn’t completely erase him from his thoughts. That was simply the nature of unrequited love.

“Then, farewell.”

He bid farewell to the only, and painful, first love he had ever known.

With a gesture from Sa-yoon, an earthen wall rose from the ground, spreading in all directions to envelop him. This would block the mist. He had to finish before the clear air trapped inside dissipated. Sa-yoon closed his eyes, feeling the vibration of the motors turning.

As the airship took off, the massive Rains scattered in all directions felt the vibration. The dispersed Rains converged on the conference hall simultaneously. Amidst the tremendous shaking of the ground and the surging energy, Sa-yoon settled into a profound stillness. Now, he felt he understood the meaning of the prophecy.

[Go to the battlefield. And die there.]

Sa-yoon had to die here. Here, Esper Jin Sa-yoon had to end his tiresome journey.

From the immense earth, the ground surged, piercing a colossal Rain like a giant spear. The earth trembled under the struggling Rain. Once more, a thin mound of earth coalesced, tearing through the Rain’s body like a bullet.

The Rain, which had been reaching for the airship, collapsed to the ground.

Coincidentally, the massive Rain fell near the conference hall where Sa-yoon was hiding. Through the crumbling earthen mound, caused by the impact, the mist slowly began to seep in again.

Sa-yoon tore off his upper garment to plug the cracks. He didn’t have the luxury of distributing his power to minor areas right now. He also took off his watch and placed it on top of his fluttering clothes. Shedding everything cumbersome, he closed his eyes once more.

He had only stopped one, yet cold sweat streamed down his back. Rains were formidable opponents, moving until their last breath, even with multiple fatal wounds. Sa-yoon meticulously calculated the coordinates, giving his utmost to every attack. There were six remaining entities.

Once more, Sa-yoon’s body shook from the impact of a falling Rain near the conference hall. The earthen wall crumbled further. Through a gap the size of an adult man’s fist, the desolate surrounding landscape became visible. And then, his eyes met those of a Rain writhing on the ground.

The Rain, having spotted Sa-yoon, paused its movements and slowly turned to crawl towards him. The mountain-thick hand of the Rain began to move. Escape was impossible. Even if he left this spot, he would be enveloped by mist, and there wasn’t enough time to flee underground.

‘I hope the plan goes well.’

A colossal shadow fell over the earthen mound where Sa-yoon was hidden. As Sa-yoon read the coordinates, he detected an anomaly. A massive energy had suddenly opened beneath the previously calm coordinates. It was an accurate description: a wave of energy suddenly poured forth.

Crash!

A sudden, tremendous explosion rocked the area. It wasn’t in the direction of the Rain. The vast space beneath the ground where Sa-yoon was hiding strangely contracted. Dust billowed up like a volcano.

Before he could even comprehend what had happened, Sa-yoon was engulfed by a tearing, excruciating pain throughout his entire body. His vision turned crimson. Faintly, he thought he could hear Chae-jun’s voice, crying out his name.

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