Chapter 16: Three Days Without Him

It had been three days since Tae-woo failed to return home.

The room, which had once seemed like it would never finish being cleaned, had been in perfect order for quite some time now.

So-won spent his days in monotonous routine.

He ate the meals prepared by the person who came at fixed times, sat for long stretches staring out into the yard to fend off boredom, and when the sun went down, he filled the bathtub and rested.

Lying sprawled on the sofa on the first floor, doing nothing at all, So-won jolted upright when the phone rang and scrambled for his smartphone.

But when the name on the screen wasn’t Tae-woo’s—someone else entirely—disappointment hit him hard.

In the first place, Tae-woo had never once called him in eight years.

Knowing that, yet still having hoped, made So-won feel pathetic.

“Yeah… Mom…”

– Why does your voice sound so bad?

So-won, something really happened, didn’t it?

“No.

I just had a nightmare.”

So-won was still having nightmares.

Since coming to Tae-woo’s house, the only night he hadn’t dreamed of one was the very first—when he’d fallen asleep beside Tae-woo.

Once Tae-woo disappeared, the nightmares came back to claim him.

Every night without fail, fear gripped So-won.

The moment he closed his eyes, he saw Tae-woo dying, over and over again.

Alone in the empty house, So-won hid beneath his blanket, trembling in terror all night.

– Are you sure nothing happened?

You’re worrying me.

Why didn’t you call?

“Really, nothing happened.

And anyway… Tae-woo doesn’t come home much to begin with.”

Staring at the empty house, So-won answered self-mockingly.

Eight years ago, Tae-woo rarely came home either.

He’d expected that Tae-woo wouldn’t be around often this time as well, but the fact that he hadn’t shown his face—or even contacted him once—left So-won unsettled.

He even found himself wondering whether Tae-woo might have come back sooner if only So-won hadn’t been afraid of him.

So-won reflected on his own behavior.

Even though he’d regressed, nothing had truly changed from eight years ago.

He’d praised himself for not shaking uncontrollably when he saw Tae-woo, for greeting him first and seeking him out—but every time, he was still afraid.

What must Tae-woo have thought, seeing his Guide tremble in front of him?

So-won had tried, in his own way, not to see Tae-woo as a monster—but to Tae-woo’s eyes, So-won must have looked no different from anyone else.

Someone who saw him as one.

It was only natural that Tae-woo didn’t come home.

Sensing the gloom creeping into So-won’s voice, his mother asked worriedly,

– Why don’t you just come back home?

Can’t you just pretend you lived there?

“No, Mom.

I’m really okay.”

– Honestly… At least get in touch with your dad, too.

And if anything happens, you have to tell us.

After enduring a long lecture laced with concern, So-won ended the call and slumped back onto the sofa.

His face was gaunt, worn down by another night of nightmares.

The house itself had begun to feel frightening in its stillness, so he’d turned on the TV just to break the silence with human voices.

A few hours ago, he was sure he’d put on a lively program—but now, the screen had switched to the news.

A neatly dressed anchor sat at the desk, reporting the latest incidents.

So-won had wanted noise and commotion and almost changed the channel, but listening to the calm voice with barely any inflection didn’t seem so bad after all, so he left it on.

Lying on the sofa, So-won stared up at the high ceiling and blinked slowly.

Having gone days without proper sleep, his mind felt hazy.

If it were night, he would’ve been trembling in fear even through the haze—but with the sun still up, all he felt was drowsy and lethargic.

Even so, sleeping now would only bring another nightmare, so he couldn’t bring himself to lie down.

He was afraid of the night that would soon come.

[…Yesterday… Kang Tae-woo…]

Treating the anchor’s voice as little more than white noise, So-won’s ears somehow caught Tae-woo’s name.

“Tae-woo?”

He shot upright.

Blood rushed downward all at once, and his vision swam.

Clenching his eyes shut, So-won staggered for a moment—then, once his sight cleared, hurriedly turned back to the TV.

But it was already too late.

The brief mention of Tae-woo had passed in an instant, and the news had moved on to another topic.

So-won quickly grabbed his phone.

When he searched Tae-woo’s name, dozens of new articles had appeared.

Trying to find one without the word monster attached, So-won eventually gave up—every headline used it.

He clicked on one at random.

The article reported that Tae-woo had cleared a B-rank Gate that opened in Gangwon Province.

While So-won had been suffering through nightmares because Tae-woo hadn’t come home, it seemed Tae-woo had been deployed to a Gate.

A petty sulk crept over So-won.

Normally, when an Esper was sent to a Gate, they shared their schedule with their Guide.

Depending on the Gate’s rank, Guides were sometimes required to stand by nearby to support them.

Even when that wasn’t the case, Espers might urgently call for guiding afterward.

Of course, Tae-woo had never told So-won about his Gate deployments in the past either—but still, So-won felt inexplicably hurt.

He read a few more articles, but found nothing useful.

They all said the same thing.

Monster Kang Tae-woo clears B-rank Gate in Gangwon Province; returns late last night.

None of them mentioned his condition after exiting the Gate.

So-won sifted through his memories.

The only time Tae-woo had been injured was on the last day—the day he died—after returning from the Incheon Gate.

So-won was certain that this time, too, Tae-woo had come out unscathed.

Even so, using his abilities meant he would need guiding afterward.

So-won sat still, deep in thought.

The fact that the Esper Association hadn’t contacted him suggested Tae-woo’s condition wasn’t serious.

If So-won waited, Tae-woo would eventually return home as usual, stoic as ever.

But for So-won, this Gate held special meaning—it was the first Gate Tae-woo had been deployed to since the future where he died eight years later.

He knew Tae-woo wouldn’t die today.

Still, he couldn’t stop feeling anxious.

So-won curled in on himself, agonizing for a long while.

In the end, he decided to contact Tae-woo and ask whether he needed guiding.

Summoning his courage, he made the call.

– ……

The ringing went on for a long time before switching to voicemail.

So-won lowered his gaze.

His expression darkened.

[ I saw on the news that you went to a Gate.

If you need guiding, please contact me. ]

Like an old lover unable to let go, So-won rewrote the message several times before finally sending it.

After that, he did nothing but stare at his phone for a long while.

It was quiet.

Despite his long wait, no reply came from Tae-woo.

Only after the blazing sun disappeared and a pale moon rose did So-won finally put his phone down.

Was it because he didn’t need guiding—or was he deliberately ignoring him?

All kinds of thoughts swirled in his head.

With no appetite, So-won skipped dinner.

The thought of spending yet another night trapped in nightmares made his hands tremble.

In the end, So-won decided to go find Tae-woo.

Sitting still and waiting for a message that might never come would only leave him with horrifying dreams.

Tae-woo might not welcome him—but he didn’t think Tae-woo would chase him away when he’d come all the way to the Association to guide him.

So-won stood up.

After getting ready to go out, he checked the time.

The bus—whose schedule was abysmal—had already run its last service, even though it wasn’t that late at night.

So-won opened a taxi app.

The design felt clunky, very much like something from eight years ago, but it was usable.

After struggling for quite some time to find a ride, he finally managed to catch a taxi passing nearby.

Relief bloomed across his face.

As soon as he stepped outside, a car approached from the distance.

Unlike the humid heat outside, the inside of the taxi was cool.

The ride wasn’t comfortable—but without a car of his own, So-won had no choice but to endure it.

“Please take me to the Esper Association headquarters.”

So-won was certain Tae-woo would be there.

Whether he’d gone to a Gate or not, Tae-woo usually stayed in a private room at the Association whenever he wasn’t at home.

Even recently, when he hadn’t come home at all, he must have been there.

Today would be no different.

The scenery rushed by.

The closer they got to the Association, the more vibrant the view outside the window became.

Cars began to appear on the road that had once felt empty and desolate.

After spending so long alone, seeing people on the streets eased So-won’s loneliness a little.

His fear faded with it.

And then, slowly, doubts began to creep in.

Was this a mistake…?

Tae-woo probably wouldn’t welcome a Guide who feared him just like everyone else.

Showing up out of nowhere and offering to guide him might only irritate him.

If Tae-woo so much as furrowed his brow, So-won would grow scared again, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

That would only make So-won look even worse.

Imagining Tae-woo frowning at the sight of him in his private room, So-won began to regret leaving the house without thinking.