Chapter 7: Exclusive Guide

Bodam still remembered.

It was before Han Seung Ho became the team leader of Attack Team 3, and back in his young, uniformed school days, when Bodam was not yet a guide himself.

He could not forget when he first heard the news of Korea’s first healing ability user’s emergence, which had dominated real-time search rankings.

Not only had the son of a high-ranking Ministry of National Defense official awakened before even reaching adulthood, but it was also a sensation as the very first healing-type Esper awakening.

Moreover, he was a dual-ability user who could even utilize barriers.

Bodam, who had no interest in the news, even sat side-by-side with his sister—with whom he usually didn’t even share meals—to watch the evening news every day.

He read not only the news but also every internet article and street newspaper, taking an interest in the rare ability user’s news.

It was his first time fangirling.

Korea’s first.
A rare ability user who garnered public attention.
With unusually rapid growth from an early age, his height at the time of high school enrollment was a staggering 185 cm.

It was a news article title that couldn’t help but elicit exclamations of admiration.

Bodam, who was particularly sensitive about height, even clapped upon hearing the current rumors about his physique reaching over 190 cm.

These were records Bodam could never even dream of achieving in his lifetime.

In his young mind, believing that all Espers grew that tall, he wrote ‘Esper’ in the future aspirations section, which led to a consultation with his homeroom teacher.

Apparently, children who harbored violent tendencies wanted to become Espers.

Thanks to Yoon the Pig’s internet surfing information skills, honed from fangirling over idols, he learned the name of the healing-type Esper: ‘Han Seung Ho’.

Good heavens, even his name was cool.

From his three-character name, he exuded the mature and storied aura of a tall man.

In contrast, his own name looked so childish that it was irritating.

He once asked his sister if his name would look cooler as Yoon Dam instead, only to be told, ‘Do you think your name is the problem?’

Dejected in the face of Han Seung Ho’s life, who was only three years older, Bodam couldn’t even retort.

More than anything, Bodam envied his ability.

Seeing his own body flutter even from a single punch by his sister, Bodam, who believed he would never awaken as an Esper, had no great interest in ability users.

He had lived with no interest in superpowers he could never possess anyway.

But the healing ability.
He truly wanted it.

Thus, his longing for the healing ability grew into fervent interest and affection for an Esper whose face he didn’t even know.

He read the articles related to Esper Han Seung Ho that accumulated in his phone album until they were worn out, imagining.

He imagined a mature and reliable physique and way of speaking, befitting a soldier’s son, the composure of someone with a rare ability, and even the pure white attire that came to mind when thinking of healing types.

Even when he was judged to be B-class, not even A-class, and public interest and overseas love calls faded, Bodam cheered him on alone.

When Bodam, upon becoming an adult, suddenly awakened as an A-class guide, half the reason he applied for a job at the notoriously tough Center Headquarters was because of Han Seung Ho.

He hoped that if they were both part of the same headquarters, he might be able to see him just once.

The thrilling feeling of being part of the same company as the famous person he fangirled over lasted exactly until his first week of employment.

‘The day before yesterday, when Gate Sector 2 broke out, I saw Han Seung Ho in real life.
Wow, his personality is truly something.
He just passed by people who were dying, you know.’

‘Is it just once or twice?
He’s famous for not using his healing ability unless it’s for the top brass.
It’s fine because he’s handsome.’

Bodam, who habitually perked up his ears at the familiar name, realized the true nature of Han Seung Ho as a person, a reality unknown to the outside world.

This is why he thought fangirling should just remain fangirling.

His excited heart at the thought of seeing him vanished in an instant.

The disappointment at that time was beyond words.

At that time, it was the year Attack Team 3 was formed, comprised of S-class Esper Lee Tae Hwan, who had just joined the Center like Bodam, and A-class Esper Min Ji Oh, who was nothing but a rich troublemaker.

Han Seung Ho took on the team leader position to lead Lee Tae Hwan, who was said to have quite a temper, much like Min Ji Oh, whose personality controversies were ceaseless.

Within the Center, it was expected that since such difficult personalities were gathered together, they would fight amongst themselves and inevitably lead to trouble.

However, they surprisingly got along well.

Because of that, Bodam ended up in the vacant guide position for Attack Team 3, which had maintained its members for six years without any changes.

How great it would have been if just one of them had caused a big accident and been caught and taken away.

“Min Ji Oh, your shoes.”

As soon as he entered the waiting room, Han Seung Ho, who had checked the number of shoes, opened his mouth.

His voice felt chilly even in the room, which was set to 38 degrees Celsius.

Team Leader Han, who entered the kitchen with a precisely squared gait, brewed coffee before sitting at the table.

While the coffee machine was grinding beans, Ji Oh, who had procrastinated taking off his shoes, threw them towards the entrance floor.

Thwack.

The roughly thrown, glossy shoes neatly landed at the entrance.

Simultaneously, slippers bearing the logo of his mother’s own brand flew to Ji Oh’s feet.

Tae Hwan’s psychokinesis, which freely moved and controlled objects, was always at his hyungs’ disposal.

A fragrant coffee aroma lingered around the table.

As Seung Ho, holding a plain, clean coffee cup, sat at the head of the table, both the minute and second hands pointed to exactly nine o’clock.

It was the time for their regular Friday morning meeting to begin.

No one paid attention to the empty seat of the youngest, Yi Jun, the professional absentee.

After taking a sip of coffee, Seung Ho began the meeting as usual.

His head remained fixed only in the direction where Tae Hwan and Ji Oh were sitting.

He thoroughly put up a wall, as if there was no one sitting on the right side of the table.

Bodam only casually wiped his nose at the Team Leader’s familiar treatment of him as if he were air.

Strangely enough, whenever he was sick, old thoughts he had forgotten would creep out.

Every time people mocked that Korea’s first healing ability user was B-class, he recalled his own dark history of earnestly defending Han Seung Ho.

He should have just let him get cursed at.

That Han Seung Ho, whom he had imagined would have angel wings, would turn out to be a psychopath—.

“Cough.”

At Bodam’s cough, Seung Ho’s words, as he was delivering a notice regarding the expansion of Attack Team 3’s jurisdiction, were cut off.

Sharp gazes flew from Tae Hwan, who was slouched with his chin propped up, and Ji Oh, who sat askew with his arms crossed.

Bodam immediately covered his mouth and bowed his head, gauging Team Leader Han’s mood.

Perhaps due to the hot and dry indoor air, his dry cough was getting worse.

“Sor—ahem.
Rry, sniff.”

Bodam, who tried to suppress his cough but only made stranger and louder noises, completely clamped his mouth shut.

Bodam, whose hands were also turning reddish, instantly ripened like a fruit.

Tae Hwan, who witnessed this directly from the opposite seat, scrunched up his face.

“Why is he like that, really.”

“Hey.
Get him out.
Because of that f*cker, the meeting can’t proceed.”

Min Ji Oh’s absurd criticism followed Tae Hwan’s.

Anyone would think he had been coughing throughout the entire meeting.

Bodam, who had only made a single cough, felt wronged.

Even that had burst out after he had endured and endured it.

Bodam, who covered his entire face with his small hand, glared with his eyes from within his palm.

“As for your guiding.”

Seung Ho, who didn’t even glance at the guide who was turning into a ripe red apple, perfect for eating, asked.

“I will receive it.”

Tae Hwan quickly replied.

The guiding order for the team’s dedicated guide was decided on a first-come, first-served basis, unless it was an emergency.

“Then send him to your room.”

“No.”

Bodam hurriedly opened his mouth at the Team Leader’s words, which sounded like he was ordering a package delivery.

He didn’t want to be moved by Tae Hwan’s psychokinesis.

He truly felt like he was becoming a package, being moved around without any will of his own.

“I, will.
Go.”

Bodam, who put a lot of strength into his throat to speak clearly, stood up from his seat.

To avoid stumbling, he fixed his gaze straight towards the room hallway and walked.

He didn’t want to show any wobbly movements in front of the Espers who considered him a crybaby, a worthless weakling, and a weak guide.

He couldn’t really refute it, which hurt his pride even more.

Even though he had only walked from the table to the hallway, Bodam was out of breath.

It was definitely not because he was weak; the problem was that they had unnecessarily made the waiting room, used by four people, too wide.

He wondered if the fever that had slightly gone down during his rest was rising again.

His body kept trying to lean to one side.

Tae Hwan, who clicked his tongue, tried to lift Bodam, who was stumbling with his eco-bag and thermos held to his chest, with psychokinesis.

Before that, Seung Ho wrapped an invisible barrier around Bodam.

It meant not to use psychokinesis.

“Just leave him.”

Seung Ho, who blocked Tae Hwan’s psychokinesis, said.

His cold gaze landed on the chair and mug that Bodam hadn’t managed to tidy up before leaving.

“He’ll develop bad habits.”

Simultaneously with Seung Ho’s brief words, Bodam’s footsteps stopped.

Even though he was still far from reaching Tae Hwan’s door, Bodam just stood still.

Seung Ho, who had clearly heard the footsteps stop, continued the meeting with an unchanging poker face.

He continued speaking as if there had been no interruption.

“You can either increase Gate area management as we are now.
Or expand into civilian areas to help apprehend unregistered individuals.
The higher-ups want to reduce the management scope of Sector 2 and share the 1st Team’s workload.
You all choose individually.
You won’t be moving as a team.
Kang Yi Jun will continue what he was doing.”

Seung Ho, who had made the youngest’s decision for him, waited for Tae Hwan and Ji Oh’s answers.

Tae Hwan, whose body was slightly inclined towards the hallway, asked, resting his arm on the back of his chair.

“If we split it with Team 1, which area would it be?”

“Seoul or Busan.
Anyway, Team 1’s support request will come in, so I’ll be there.”

“Ah, this is f*cking annoying.”

Ji Oh, who had been sitting haughtily with his legs crossed and arms folded, suddenly slammed the table.

And then he yelled towards the hallway where Bodam was standing with his back turned.

“Hey!
Did you die on the way?”

He wished that were the case, but it wasn’t.

Unfortunately, Bodam, who was still breathing, briefly raised his head and looked at the ceiling.

A long, parched sigh entered the Esper’s ears.

“Team Leader.”

Bodam’s voice was so cracked it had become hoarse.

He called out to him, who had uttered nonsense like ‘he’ll develop bad habits’ and so on, to himself who was just quietly going his own way.

“If you have something to say, come forward.”

Seung Ho, who had just swallowed warm coffee, replied to the call.