Chapter 23: Please Act Normal

It had only been two years since Lee Eun-ru was able to walk and run on his own two feet.

After being hospitalized in a coma ten years ago, he had woken up three years later, and for the following five years, he had devoted himself entirely to rehabilitation.

The man adjusted his stance, preparing to use his abilities again.

Even knowing it wouldn’t break, he had to try, again and again.

Just then, the sound of sirens could be heard in the distance.

“CEO-nim, from the Management Department…”

“They’re quick.”

Not that their arrival would change anything anyway.

With the screech of tires and the sound of car doors opening, the man clenched his fist again, gathering the wind at its tip.

At that moment, a crack suddenly appeared over the gate.

With a ripping, tearing sound, something burst out.

With a startled face, the man dispersed the ability gathered in his fist and swiftly grabbed the shoulder of the person who stumbled towards him.

“Esper Cha Jin-yeop?”

“…CEO Lee Ah-sung-nim?”

Why was the CEO of Baekdu, Lee Ah-sung, here?

Jin-yeop looked up at him with a bewildered face.

The gate that had briefly opened vanished without a trace, and Jin-yeop blinked at the crowd of people and cars densely gathered before him.

Everyone was staring at Jin-yeop with somewhat dazed expressions.

Lee Ah-sung grabbed Jin-yeop’s shoulders and quickly scanned him for injuries.

“Esper Cha Jin-yeop, are you injured?

I know it’s overwhelming, but what happened inside…”

“Senior!”

Just as Ah-sung was calmly about to ask about the dungeon re-awakening, Eun-ru, who had been standing frozen at a slight distance, rushed over almost running and grabbed Jin-yeop’s wrist, pulling him.

Jin-yeop, pulled suddenly, ended up almost buried in Eun-ru’s embrace.

He was held so tightly, as if his body might be crushed, that it was hard to breathe.

Jin-yeop struggled, trying to push Eun-ru away, but realizing his body was trembling violently, he gave up on escaping.

Soon, as Jin-yeop calmly raised his hand and lightly patted Eun-ru’s broad back, a voice like sobbing could be heard.

“Hyung, Senior…

Jin-yeop-ssi…”

Eun-ru was calling him by all sorts of different titles.

“…Guide Lee Eun-ru.

I’m okay, so let go.”

“…..”

“At this rate, my ribs will break.”

Well, it was a bit hard to breathe, but it didn’t feel bad.

As soon as they touched, guiding began, and like a refreshing wind blowing through him, the unpleasant sensations inside his body disappeared without a trace.

It probably wasn’t a pleasant experience for him.

Having been suddenly ejected from the dungeon, he must have been so worried outside, unable to re-enter.

If he had died on the first day of training, it might have left a huge trauma for Eun-ru.

Although it wasn’t his fault, Jin-yeop felt a strange sense of indebtedness and comforted him.

“Nothing happened, so it’s okay… huh?”

Jin-yeop was soothing Eun-ru with his eyes closed when he suddenly snapped back to his senses.

‘How did I get out?’

It had suddenly re-awakened into an A-class dungeon, and a dungeon boss named Alice had appeared.

He remembered that clearly, but strangely, everything after that was hazy.

He had the feeling they had some sort of conversation, but his mind was blank as to exactly what they talked about.

“Ahem!”

Just then, Ah-sung, who had been quietly watching Jin-yeop and Eun-ru locked in an embrace, cleared his throat loudly.

Only then did Jin-yeop push Eun-ru away strongly, breaking free.

There were many people around.

Everyone knew about Jin-yeop’s divorce situation right now, so this wasn’t a good scene.

Jin-yeop quickly spoke, aware of the focused attention.

“Ah, it seems Guide Lee Eun-ru was very worried about me.

Lee Eun-ru-ssi is a new Guide affiliated with Vibes, and this was his first time entering a dungeon.”

“…..”

“The unprecedented dungeon re-awakening happened suddenly, and having to leave me behind and go call for help must have been a huge psychological burden.

He’s also young.”

Jin-yeop poured out words towards Ah-sung as if making an excuse.

Raising his voice as much as possible as if to let the others behind hear too, he slightly turned his head to look at Eun-ru.

Eun-ru was looking at him with reddened eyes, like a puppy caught in the rain.

It was a pitiful sight, but this wasn’t a situation where he could hold him close or comfort him with kind words.

Anyway, Jin-yeop had returned in one piece; nothing so serious had happened that warranted life-or-death drama.

‘Well, even if something did, I might not remember it.’

Jin-yeop muttered inwardly.

But since it wasn’t in his memory, he couldn’t explain it properly either.

“Leaving a comrade in danger to escape a dungeon is a shocking experience.

The new Guide must have been very flustered.”

Fortunately, Ah-sung naturally supported Jin-yeop’s explanation.

The people who had gathered on Eun-ru’s call for help probably understood the gist of the situation, and the conversation between Jin-yeop and Ah-sung would have somewhat clarified things.

Jin-yeop internally sighed with relief and repeatedly whispered to Eun-ru that it was okay.

Eun-ru, looking like he might cry at any moment, had eyes only for Jin-yeop, and Ah-sung found the sight rather absurd.

The mad dog who had looked ready to charge and bite someone’s neck was nowhere to be seen.

His nephew, Lee Eun-ru, was usually so stoic he seemed almost cold, rarely showing emotion.

No, honestly, this was the first time he had ever witnessed Lee Eun-ru showing worry or anxiety over someone.

Even as a very young child, Eun-ru had always been expressionless.

And now, Lee Eun-ru was looking at Jin-yeop with an expression that screamed he wanted to be held, and Jin-yeop, showing no sign of surprise, was calming him with a steady voice.

“…Glad you’re safe.”

After a brief silence, Ah-sung spoke first, and Jin-yeop nodded with a light smile at his words.

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“Thanks to me?

You opened the gate and came out on your own.”

“…..”

“I’m glad you came back alive.

I didn’t expect to meet Cha Jin-yeop-ssi like this.”

“Ah, I’m sorry for the late introduction.

I’m Cha Jin-yeop, Esper affiliated with Vibes.”

“Introductions are unnecessary.

Would I not know Vibes’ Cha Jin-yeop?”

“An honor, CEO-nim.”

“…..”

“More importantly, I know it’s overwhelming, but we need an explanation.

The Management Department has sent people, and Vibes seems to have arrived as well.”

As Ah-sung said this and turned his head, Director Im came running up with a pale face.

“Jin-yeop!”

Ah-sung stepped slightly aside as Director Im approached, and Director Im, rushing forward, quickly checked on Jin-yeop and Eun-ru’s safety.

“What happened?

Neither of you hurt?”

“Why is the Director the last one here?”

“You bastard, is that what you say right now!”

As Jin-yeop made a light joke, Director Im twisted his face and shouted.

But seeing him spouting nonsense, he seemed relieved that nothing too serious had happened, exhaling a deep sigh of relief.

He had heard there was a major incident at the dungeon.

What kind of major incident could happen at an F-class dungeon?

But upon hearing the unprecedented news that an F-class dungeon had re-awakened into A-class, he had rushed here.

Only after calming down somewhat did Director Im notice the surroundings.

“Oh, CEO Lee-nim.”

The moment he spotted Ah-sung, Director Im quickly greeted him.

But now that he saw him, he greeted him, but he had no idea why Baekdu was here.

“It’s been a while.

But how did you come to be here…”

“Ah, that is…”

Just as Ah-sung was about to naturally answer Director Im’s question, Eun-ru quickly cut in between them.

“Director-nim, I think Senior should go to the hospital first.”

At Eun-ru’s words, Director Im waved his hand in a fluster, and Vibes employees rushed over to support Jin-yeop.

Jin-yeop wasn’t injured to the point of needing help, but he figured if he said he was fine, no one would listen anyway, so he quietly accepted the support.

As Jin-yeop moved towards the Vibes vehicle, Director Im bowed to Ah-sung and followed after him.

Ah-sung watched this quietly for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

“Director Im.”

“Yes, yes?”

Director Im, who had been hurrying after Jin-yeop, turned with a startled face, and Ah-sung, with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, spoke.

“You owe me a drink.

A big one.”

“Huh?

Yes, of course.

Thank you for today.”

Although he wasn’t specifically referring to today’s events, Ah-sung didn’t elaborate.

What Director Im should be thankful for was the very existence of Lee Eun-ru, whose eyes had instantly turned sharp and were now fixed on him.

“Since I helped an S-class choose Vibes over Baekdu, I should at least get a drink.

Don’t you think?”

“Thinking of giving up the CEO position now?”

“Hmm?”

“The condition in the contract.”

“Ah, right.

I had agreed to step down if I revealed you were S-class to them.”

“Knowing that, are you messing with me?”

Eun-ru narrowed his brow and stepped closer to Ah-sung.

“Watch your mouth, Uncle.”

“It’s you who needs to watch out, Nephew.”

“…..”

“If I step down as CEO, who do you think it’ll go to?”

“Uncle.”

“You’re living pretending to be A-class publicly entirely thanks to me.

The moment I step down, the fact that you’re S-class will be made public.”

“…..”

“It would be good for me to pass it on to you.

It was originally your place anyway.”

Saying this, Ah-sung reached out and ruffled Eun-ru’s hair as if to mess it up.

Eun-ru irritably shook his hand off.

“Don’t treat me like a kid.”

“Who’s the one acting like a child?”

At that, Eun-ru bit his lower lip.

Seeing Eun-ru like this, Ah-sung let out a hearty laugh.

“Doesn’t seem like a very good method.”

“None of your business.”

“Acting pitiful and helpless, there’s a limit to how far that can get you.”

“…..”

“You need to first reveal who you really are.”