Chapter 5: A Royal Grudge and a Doctor’s Concern

Han Do-hoon chuckled softly, watching Sa-yoon spout such obvious sophistry. Even though it was clear Sa-yoon was overtly trying to avoid him, Han Do-hoon nodded without a hint of discomfort.

“I see. Then I’ll greet you again next time.”

Han Do-hoon replied with a voice tinged with a strange cordiality, then readily withdrew, a reaction that surprisingly left Sa-yoon taken aback. Only after Han Do-hoon and his follower had moved out of earshot did Sa-yoon remove the hand he’d used to cover Chae-jun’s mouth. Chae-jun, who had been gasping for air in the interim, immediately protested.

“Why were you like that to Team Leader Han Do-hoon?”

Sa-yoon found himself struggling to explain. It was awkward to admit he was avoiding him because he’d discovered his perverted nature. After a moment’s contemplation, Sa-yoon grinned brazenly, reverting to his usual demeanor.

“Just felt like it today?”

“Oh, come on. Our Team Leader Sa-yoon’s capriciousness isn’t exactly a new thing, is it?”

Accustomed to Sa-yoon’s frequent whims, Chae-jun fetched a fresh towel and placed it on Sa-yoon’s head. Although he hadn’t sweated much, the soft, dry towel made him feel better.

“Anyway, that guy’s really bland, isn’t he? Did he actually leave?”

Even though Sa-yoon had offered an absurd excuse, he felt almost wronged that Han Do-hoon had given up so easily, wondering if he’d worried for nothing. ‘Or perhaps he’s the type who pretends to be decent when others are watching?’ It was completely different from the scoundrel-like figure he’d been in front of the dorms.

“Most people are like that. Our Team Leader, who openly says he doesn’t want to greet someone, is truly exceptional.”

“Chae-jun. I still have enough stamina left for a spar.”

“…That’s Team Leader Sa-yoon’s charm.”

Sa-yoon’s thought that perhaps he wasn’t such a bad guy, merely possessing slightly different inclinations than others, vanished the very next morning, shattered along with his record.

Chewing rhythmically on a piece of dried squid, Sa-yoon listened to the steady, mechanical thrum of a heartbeat monitor. Beside him, Jung Hyun-woo, clad in a fluttering white lab coat, busily recorded signals and let out a sigh.

“Hey, are you raiding my snacks again?”

“This squid is delicious. Is it from Gangwon-do?”

“…You always know how to pick out the expensive stuff. It was hard to get.”

Jung Hyun-woo, the owner of the medical office where Sa-yoon sat, was the unit’s regular health examiner and Sa-yoon’s long-time attending physician. As a heavy drinker, Jung Hyun-woo always kept alcohol and snacks stocked somewhere in the medical office, and Sa-yoon, whenever he visited, invariably sought out and devoured only the best and most expensive among them.

Jung Hyun-woo, sighing at the disappearing precious snack and having been engrossed in paperwork for a while, called out to Sa-yoon.

“Sa-yoon. Come to think of it, you and Team Leader Han Do-hoon seem to get along better than I expected.”

“What?”

Sa-yoon nearly spat out the cider he was holding. Jin Sa-yoon glared at Jung Hyun-woo, as if asking what kind of nonsense that was. Yet, Jung Hyun-woo, despite Sa-yoon’s sharp gaze, calmly continued to look at his documents.

“They say you two have been taking turns changing the training room rankings. The system’s maximum achievable score is supposed to be a million points, but you two keep breaking past it… I don’t know much about combat, but you’re both incredible.”

The training room score Sa-yoon had proudly updated was immediately snatched away by Han Do-hoon the very next day. And the day after, Sa-yoon took it back. Then Han Do-hoon took it again. Onlookers, witnessing this, freely speculated that a rivalry for the ages was being forged.

“We don’t get along. People are just making things up.”

“Oh, really?”

“There’s no need to care about our relationship. After all, there’s a high chance I’ll be sent overseas again once this mission is over.”

“That’s a relief, at least.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded at Sa-yoon’s dismissive words. The fewer variables, the better. To Jung Hyun-woo, who worried more about Sa-yoon than Sa-yoon did himself, a new person was an ominous sign.

Dismissing Jung Hyun-woo’s concerns, Sa-yoon’s thoughts drifted back to Han Do-hoon, whom he’d met at the training center. ‘I didn’t think so, but that guy also holds quite a grudge.’ Even Jin Sa-yoon, who was second to none when it came to holding grudges, had to admit defeat.

‘He glares at me every single time I break a record…’

Whether it was Sa-yoon’s imagination or not, every time a record was broken, Han Do-hoon would look in Sa-yoon’s direction. Even with a gaze that seemed to ask, ‘Can I greet you now?’ It was such pettiness that it instantly changed Sa-yoon’s earlier thought that he might be blander than expected. Not just petty, but utterly, royally petty.

Grumbling inwardly, Sa-yoon generously dipped a squid leg into a sauce mixed with gochujang and mayonnaise, then took a bite. A savory and sweet umami flavor spread through his mouth.

While Sa-yoon ate, Jung Hyun-woo, who had been diligently working alone, pulled out and unfolded Sa-yoon’s chart. Upon checking the last consultation date, his eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“Oh dear…”

At the unusual tone of voice, Sa-yoon furtively glanced at Jung Hyun-woo.

“I thought it had been a while, but it’s already two months since your last check-up. You’re truly incredible, you are. Next time, I suppose I’ll be seeing you in your grave.”

As the scolding began to pour out, Sa-yoon quickly chewed and swallowed the squid in his mouth, then meekly set down his cider cup. Knowing that when the usually gentle Jung Hyun-woo started nagging with such an expression, he’d have to listen for at least an hour, Sa-yoon blinked and demurely clasped his hands together.

“Hehe. Hyung-nim—”

“Don’t try to charm me. Is it so hard to get guiding regularly and undergo periodic examinations? Huh? Am I telling you to exercise? To diet? I’m just telling you to get checked.”

“Sometimes people just forget things, you know?”

“You… sigh. Just lift your shirt.”

Jung Hyun-woo, who had been about to unleash a torrent of scolding, instead let out a sigh at Sa-yoon’s actions, who was smiling and leaning his face in. Then, with both hands, he untangled the coiled wires and carefully spread them out. He generously spread cold gel over Sa-yoon’s upper body, then attached electrode pads to his forehead and torso.

“Ah, that’s cold.”

“That’s why you should come more often.”

“The gel doesn’t get warmer just because I come more often.”

The hand attaching the patches to his chest became sharper. It was a clear indication to simply shut up. Sa-yoon, guilty of consistently evading his regular check-ups, merely rolled his eyes.

“I hear you’re being dispatched for this counter-terrorism mission too.”

“It seems so. It looks like all the Espers from headquarters will be deployed this time.”

“There will be a lot of new people, and you’ll be dispatched with Han Do-hoon on this mission, won’t you?”

Sa-yoon nodded at Jung Hyun-woo’s question. ‘Not just dispatched together, but more than that.’ According to the mission plan he’d received recently, Sa-yoon and Han Do-hoon were to operate as part of the same team. The likely location of the terrorist attack was deep underground, necessitating a small, elite team, and both Han Do-hoon and Jin Sa-yoon were among its members.

“…It’ll be alright, won’t it?”

Jung Hyun-woo worried about Sa-yoon with a somber expression. It wasn’t merely a concern about whether he would get along with new teammates. His words held a hidden apprehension.

“Nothing significant will happen.”

“Still, he’s an S-class. What if he notices something strange?”

Dr. Jung, his complexion darkening, murmured while gazing at the stable instrument panel. Then, he removed the ring Sa-yoon always wore.

BEEEEEP—

The previously calm instrument panel began to fluctuate wildly. Dr. Jung switched off the warning speaker and, without much fuss, slipped a new ring onto Sa-yoon’s finger. The flickering instrument panel returned to normal as if nothing had happened.

“Even S-class Espers are still human. How would they know, really?”

“Still, he’ll definitely be different from the Espers you’ve worked with so far. Be careful.”

Sa-yoon twirled the newly placed ring on his finger. The nausea and headache he felt every time he changed it were difficult to get used to, no matter how often it happened. This ring was Sa-yoon’s lifeline, something that absolutely could not be discovered by others.

“This time, I made it ring-shaped as you requested. Don’t you ever think about trying something else next time? Like an earring or a necklace. It would lessen the side effects if it were as close to your brain as possible.”

“A ring is the most natural. Wearing something on my face would draw too much attention.”

Among hot-blooded Espers who challenged anyone they made eye contact with, wearing an unfamiliar accessory would obviously attract attention. Of course, if anyone picked a fight, he’d thoroughly flatten them. Still, rather than attracting attention, the ring he always wore was better. It was also easy to conceal with a glove.

“If being close to the brain is better, it would be convenient to just embed it in your body.”

“There you go again. We don’t know what side effects might arise, and I can’t just cut open your flesh every time the device needs checking.”

“That much is fine. It’ll heal quickly even if you cut it out.”

“Sa-yoon…”

Jung Hyun-woo’s voice dropped. Though he rubbed his tired eyelids, his face held an unconcealed pity.

“Take care of your body. No matter how difficult things get, it’s still your body.”

“Hahahaha.”

Sa-yoon laughed aloud. He faced Jung Hyun-woo with his usual playful smile, yet he couldn’t bring himself to utter the empty promise of taking care of his body. No matter how much he thought about it, Sa-yoon hated his own body.

Typically, around the age of fifteen, children established a new identity. Children were divided into three categories: Espers, Guides, and Unawakened. However, there existed people who, with a very low probability, deviated from these rules. There were those who used psychic abilities like Espers despite no change in hormone levels, or Espers who exhibited adverse reactions to guiding, or individuals who simply fell outside the norm. The nation referred to them as Irregulars.