Chapter 103: The Price of Hope

“……”

[Did you rest enough?]

“White Elder.”

Sa-yoon gently stroked the soft fur of the White Elder, who held him in a comforting embrace. The gentle texture against his palm soothed his troubled heart.

[Kang Tae-han pleaded for your life before he left. You should comfort him later.]

Sa-yoon had lost consciousness after burying Han Do-hoon in the desolate battlefield. Judging by the quiet of the village, it seemed everyone had successfully evaded their pursuers and reached safety.

Stretching out his stiff body, Sa-yoon let out a long yawn. A faint bloodstain still marred his chest, suggesting he might have coughed up blood after collapsing.

[You overexerted yourself this time. Don’t forget, 70% of your body is still Rain’s cells. Tsk. Of course, using your abilities will accelerate your recovery, but it will also worsen the conflict within you. You need to find a proper balance.]

“Yes, I’ll remember that.”

Sa-yoon nodded earnestly at the familiar scolding he’d heard countless times. This time, it was undeniably his mistake; he had pushed his abilities too far and collapsed.

Yet, he felt no regret.

“You know, Elder, I think I understand what my ability is. I used it definitively this time.”

White thread-like lines moved along his fingertips, allowing him to manipulate and move objects at will. This was Sa-yoon’s power. He clenched and unclenched his hand, surprised by how much more useful it was than he had anticipated.

“No one ever told me.”

He knew it was all for his own good. While he understood they withheld the information to prevent him from overusing his ability, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated deep down.

“Did the White Elder know what my ability was?”

[Indeed.]

“Then do you also know why I’m an Irregular?”

Sa-yoon had been told he entered Airain because he was an Irregular, shunned by the outside world. However, even among Irregulars, the reasons for their classification varied. Sa-yoon was curious about why he had been labeled one.

[You are a Multi-Esper.]

Without hesitation, the White Elder revealed the truth.

“Oh, aren’t you telling me a bit too easily? Isn’t this supposed to be a secret?”

[Because it’s something you’ll soon discover anyway.]

Sa-yoon’s fundamental strength was greater than anyone’s. Even after most of his body had been replaced by Airain’s cells, he was steadily recovering.

As the owner of those cells, the White Elder knew for certain. Once Sa-yoon’s abilities began to activate, his lost memories would also return. There was no reason to conceal something he would soon learn.

“A Multi-Esper means a Guide and an Esper coexist, right?”

[That’s correct.]

“That’s truly wonderful.”

Sa-yoon fully sat up and looked at the White Elder.

“Then, would it be possible for me to Guide others?”

Guides were the most precious commodity in Airain. While there were many Espers and Irregulars who had fled external persecution, finding a Guide, who were typically protected by the outside world, was an almost impossible feat.

Consequently, they often had to hide their identities as Airain residents, secretly infiltrating villages to receive Guiding.

[That would be difficult. The proportion of Guide cells in your body was never large to begin with. The part that was a Guide has not yet activated. It will likely be the very last to recover.]

Sa-yoon’s shoulders slumped, his earlier anticipation dashed. He had hoped to help people by acting as a Guide if he had to restrict his ability usage due to his body, and the realization that this too was difficult left him disappointed.

[Now, you should return.]

“Pardon?”

[Someone will come to meet you soon.]

The White Elder raised their head, pointing a horn toward the village. Sa-yoon also sensed a presence approaching. Kang Tae-han, having heard of Sa-yoon’s awakening, was rapidly drawing near.

“You really went through a lot. You saved us.”

Returning to the village under Kang Tae-han’s overprotective gaze, Sa-yoon found himself surrounded by people. With bright faces, they gathered closely, patting him on the back.

“They say you did something extraordinary this time.”

“You worked hard.”

When Sa-yoon looked puzzled by the excessive welcome, Kang Tae-han grinned and explained the situation.

“Thanks to you subduing Han Do-hoon this time, we were able to evacuate safely without any casualties. It’s the first time this has happened while escaping a refuge.”

The refuge was the frontline against the outside world. If the refuge was discovered, it would lead to damage to the village, so in the worst-case scenario, they had to choose to protect the village, even if it meant being annihilated.

They had expected the same fate this time, especially since it was an emergency situation with Han Do-hoon personally leading the charge. If the group escaping the refuge had been pursued by outsiders, they would have chosen to perish on the battlefield.

There had never been a situation where both the vanguard and the retreating team survived as they had this time. The vanguard, who had clashed with the outsiders prepared to die, and their families sincerely thanked Sa-yoon, greeting him repeatedly.

Sa-yoon scratched his neck with a bewildered expression at the torrent of praise. He felt as though he was being excessively lauded for simply doing what was necessary.

“Now that Seol-won has regained his strength, there’s nothing to worry about. Everything will work out well from now on.”

“Indeed, indeed. Now, no matter who comes, we won’t be afraid.”

One person shouted with a hopeful voice. Others around them nodded, their eyes sparkling.

Good feelings spread contagiously among the people. Watching the scene quietly, Kang Tae-han clapped his hands.

“Alright, I understand you’re excited, but calm down. Seol-won’s participation in the operation is just for this one time. He’s still recovering.”

“But he’s strong enough even now…”

“You all saw Seol-won cough up a handful of blood after using his ability. Let’s not burden someone who’s sick. And there are still many things to pack, so everyone, please disperse.”

As Kang Tae-han waved his hand, the people reluctantly stepped back. Still, their gazes remained fixed on Sa-yoon. Sa-yoon felt awkward being the center of attention but regarded the desperate eyes of the people with a profound understanding.

“What do you want to eat? You’ve slept for a long time, so you should eat something delicious. Should I grill some meat?”

This seemed like the perfect moment to convey the decision he had been contemplating.

“Tae-han hyung.”

He knew that others cared for him to an unusual degree. He could feel their gentle demeanor toward him, accompanied by a certain expectation in their eyes. At first, he wondered if it was because of his past injuries or his amnesia, but after rediscovering his abilities, he began to vaguely understand.

“I want to participate in the action squad from now on.”

“Not yet.”

“I think I’ve rested enough. The White Elder even said that moderate activity is good for recovery. And…”

The people were looking to him with hope, believing that Sa-yoon would one day play a significant role for Airain. They watched him with such gazes.

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what they expected of him. However, his recent encounter with Han Do-hoon had made it clear: before he lost his memories, Sa-yoon’s abilities must have been extraordinary, and he had likely been a beacon of hope for these people.

“Isn’t it something I’m meant to do eventually? Am I wrong?”

Surprised by his words, Kang Tae-han looked at Sa-yoon.

“Have you remembered something?”

Sa-yoon shook his head. The voice he heard in his dreams, the scenes that evoked a sense of longing, merely wavered like hazy smoke. Not a single memory of his past had returned. Yet, one thing was certain.

These people, living in hiding within the village, were exhausted, and they desperately yearned for new hope. And that hope rested on Sa-yoon, who knew nothing of it. That was why they cherished this amnesiac Esper more than family, eagerly awaiting the return of his strength.

To remain protected and simply observe felt like too heavy a burden on his shoulders. Sa-yoon wished to be of help to them. He resolved to repay the care he had received.

Sa-yoon wanted to become the hero they desired, to hand them the hope they so desperately craved.

Despite his repeated objections, Kang Tae-han eventually succumbed to Sa-yoon’s stubbornness. Though he granted permission with a displeased expression, he impressed upon Sa-yoon several rules.

He emphasized that Sa-yoon must never remove his mask, must always flee if he encountered Han Do-hoon, and must immediately tell him if even the smallest memory returned. These three rules, he stressed, were absolutely essential.

“Seol-won hyung. How’s the right side?”

“There’s no danger. But it’s too open a space; it’ll be hard to hide.”

Sa-yoon read the coordinates, gazing across the vast expanse.

Several weeks had passed since he had officially begun working with the action squad. For some reason, the Esper Alliance had adopted a more defensive stance than before. There had been a few minor skirmishes, but fortunately, they hadn’t encountered Han Do-hoon.

He heard that Han Do-hoon was not in good condition and moved erratically. Kang Tae-han kept muttering, ‘He’s a corpse, that’s why,’ and ‘He’s moving a dead body, that’s why.’ While Sa-yoon didn’t understand what it meant to call a walking person a corpse, it was a positive development for him.

“Wow, it’s really convenient with you joining us, hyung. Thinking about all the effort we put into digging and investigating on our own, it almost brings tears to my eyes. Does your head still hurt when you use your abilities?”

“It’s fine as long as I don’t overdo it. Still, moving coordinates feels a bit awkward.”

“This alone is more than enough. You wouldn’t believe how happy everyone is that you’re here.”

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