Chapter 22: Say Hello

‘A month at most. A week at the quickest.’

Han Seung Ho thought as he looked at Yoon Bodam, the new guide on Attack Team 3.

‘He won’t last long either.’

Shorter than his profile suggested, with a frail body and a soft, young face.

He was utterly unsuitable for a high-level team.

He looked like a soft rice cake, perfect for getting stuck on a sharp stone.

‘Did he think it would be easy, then?’

Seung Ho said indifferently to Guide Yoon Bodam, who complained of difficulty adapting just three days after joining Attack Team 3.

He wondered if it wasn’t a lack of conscience to complain about the difficulty of the work when receiving such a salary.

‘…….’

His face, which defiantly complained that frequent field calls would be too much for his body, clearly showed traces of tears.

A reddish tinge on his pale skin was particularly prominent on his round cheeks and sharp nose.

Like someone who had just been crying.

‘…I didn’t think it would be easy, but when there’s a Teleport Esper in the team, usually–’

‘Just do what you can.’

At Seung Ho’s heavy voice, which cut him off, the guide’s tense eyes relaxed.

If left alone, he seemed ready to smile brightly and express his gratitude.

Seung Ho thought, ‘He misunderstood.’

‘It means if it’s too hard, you should quit.’

‘Ah,’ the guide’s slightly parted lips drooped.

His face openly displayed his emotions.

‘I did think he wouldn’t last long.

Such a waste of his matching rate.’

Han Seung Ho muttered to himself, uncharacteristically.

It was a day when his nerves were sensitive from overusing his ability.

He had no time to listen to a guide’s complaints about work when he was supposed to be in the guiding room, neglecting his duties.

The guide just stared blankly, repeating his team leader’s words to himself.

Seung Ho, who wouldn’t wait for a brief silence, hammered in the final nail first.

It was better to cut off a bud that wouldn’t last from the start.

‘Don’t come in starting tomorrow.’

It would mean the inconvenience of using medication and machine guiding until a new guide arrived, but it was unavoidable.

Espers could not refuse guides, but guides had the option to refuse Espers.

Only guides had the authority to leave the Center, thinking they’d rather not earn money.

Of course, once they left, it wasn’t easy to get a job within the Center again.

“Team Leader.”

The voice that stopped Seung Ho as he was about to leave the guiding room was desperate.

The unexpected resolve that followed made Seung Ho raise one eyebrow.

“I will work hard, do my best, and do well from now on.”

“Why?”

He asked, genuinely curious.

He had said the work was hard, so he thought if he told him to quit, he would pack his bags and leave immediately, like other guides.

He knew that they were not ordinary people.

That’s why they were paid a lot.

That day, the guide, with a face full of curses, diligently performed guiding as he had promised.

After guiding frantically for a long time, he released his deeply intertwined lips and mumbled.

Dropping tears one by one, as was his habit.

‘I have to earn money….’

Judging by the added ‘f*ck’ at the end, he seemed to be out of his mind.

Heat rose from his body, crying soundlessly.

Han Seung Ho, watching the guide trying his best to keep his promise with an exhausted face, said.

‘If you ever want to quit,’

‘Just don’t come in.’

“…….”

Seung Ho, who woke up before his five A.M. alarm, lay in bed and just stared at the ceiling.

It was an uncharacteristic action for him.

As was checking his phone, which wasn’t vibrating.

***

Jo Yeon, who had uncurled his body from being hugged by Bodam, asked again.

“What became of it?”

Bodam, whose arms had naturally released Jo Yeon’s large body, replied.

“The lottery.”

Bodam carefully held up one index finger in front of Jo Yeon, who had leaned back.

He silently mouthed “First place” with a serious expression.

“Lottery?”

Jo Yeon also raised his index finger, mimicking the number one like Bodam.

Bodam’s infinitely serious white head nodded, suppressing his twitching lips.

He thought if he laughed here, Jo Yeon would think he was joking.

Two grown men sat facing each other on a secluded bench, speechless, holding up only their index fingers.

One would thrust his finger forward, and the other would repeat the action.

As if exchanging a silent conversation: “First place?”

“Yes, first place.”

“Bodam.”

Jo Yeon, breaking free from the mime, opened his mouth.

His face, with a furrowed brow, wore a bitter smile.

“It’s really hard, isn’t it?”

“I… I won the lottery, I tell you…?”

“Yes. I know. You’re having a hard time.”

“No, really–”

“I’ll give you my savings. Just quit. How can you endure another two years here? No. Don’t do it.”

“Jo Yeon! I won the lottery!”

“Yes. Yes. You’re a lottery to me.”

Jo Yeon, hugging Bodam and patting his back, felt his heart ache with pity.

Seeing Bodam, who usually said quite a lot of nonsense, skip work without permission and go on a sugar binge, it seemed serious.

Honestly, he just couldn’t believe it and could only think of comforting Bodam.

The lottery, he said. The lottery wasn’t just any random name.

Bodam, squirming and escaping Jo Yeon’s embrace, rummaged through his eco-bag.

After taking a long, deep breath, he gripped the stiff paper that made his heart pound just by touching it. It was the bankbook containing ‘that person.’

“Jo Yeon. I trust you.”

“…I trust you too.”

“That’s why I’m showing you. Don’t tell anyone.”

“…….”

The cool night air brushed against the back of Jo Yeon’s neck. It was chilling.

Jo Yeon’s Adam’s apple unconsciously bobbed as he swallowed.

Bodam’s round eyes, set within his round face, wore a supremely serious expression.

Bodam wasn’t the type to act with such expressions.

Which meant.

“Oh, wait a minute.”

Jo Yeon placed his hand on his right chest, wondering why his heart hurt, and fixed his gaze on the bankbook.

The stiff, new paper, showing no signs of use, was clearly opened today.

Which meant.

Bodam, whose eyes met Jo Yeon’s, suddenly grinned.

Had their Bodam ever been able to make such an extraordinary smile?

“Guess the winning amount.”

Bodam, thrilled by Jo Yeon’s already bewildered reaction, felt a mischievous urge.

“Ah, quickly.”

“Are you serious?”

“If you guess it right now, I’ll give you half.”

“300 million.”

“Okay, opportunity lost. Just guess.”

Bodam chuckled, wrinkling his nose like a child.

Jo Yeon, whose lips curved upwards along with Bodam’s, who was so amused he was squirming, straightened his posture and replied.

As if they were having a quiz show with a prize.

“A billion?”

Bodam snorted a laugh, lifting his chin.

He mimicked the expression actors would make when setting up a game in a Go-Stop movie and said.

“Multiply that by two.”

“Ha. Wait. Just a moment.”

Jo Yeon, unable to hit Bodam’s arm, slapped the back of the bench and clenched his fist.

With a face as flushed as Bodam’s sly, happy smile, he silently asked, “Two billion?”

It was a word that, just by hearing it, made blood circulate well.

Then Bodam crossed his arms and replied.

With a very cute expression as if the whole world was beneath his feet.

“Multiply it one more time.”

“…Hyung-nim.”

“And add six.”

“God….”

‘Right. 4.6 billion.’

Bodam, with the face of someone who had won the first-place lottery, held up the bankbook in front of a speechless Jo Yeon.

“Say hello. It’s going to support me from now on.”

Jo Yeon, who suddenly looked alternately at the extraordinary-looking bankbook cover and Bodam, placed both fists on his knees.

He respectfully faced the pristine paper and said in a low voice.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jo Yeon.”