Chapter 78: An Ominous Premonition

Actually, Jaeyul’s reaction itself was more unexpected.

To be honest, I thought Jaeyul would react a bit more emotionally.

After all, this was clearly a case of a team member crossing the line.

But the way he warned of the mistake in a rather mature, yet moderately pride-bruising manner was not what I had expected.

I had been watching him while working together at the Center, but now I had no choice but to admit it.

That Jaeyul was no longer a child under my care.

That he had become a fine adult while we were apart.

Especially Jaeyul, standing in such an official setting, seemed to have acquired many things I hadn’t taught him, exuding an unfamiliar aura.

“Let’s start the meeting. The first mission for our special team will be at a gate presumed to be S-rank.”

The meeting began without giving the somewhat subdued atmosphere a chance to recover.

The video Jaeyul had prepared appeared on the front screen, along with general information about the gate.

Even then, I could feel Ri-hyun’s sharp gaze glancing at me, but I did my best to ignore it.

He wouldn’t attack me in the middle of a meeting, would he?

He’s not a madman.

…No, he is a madman.

I should be careful.

“…Why is it presumed? Was the advance team unable to investigate?”

A question from the experienced Park Bomyung followed.

The detailed matters were not directly related to me, but I focused on the briefing.

“That’s right. The advance team went in… but no one came out by the time limit.

That’s why it’s presumed to be S-rank. To make matters worse, it was discovered late, so if we don’t deal with it quickly, it could lead to a Gate Break. We’ll be departing right away at dawn in a little while.”

It was a rather sudden dispatch order.

Although it was a common occurrence, an S-rank gate was a place that required considerable manpower and equipment to enter.

It was truly a rare case for a single team to enter so hastily.

Yet, no team member pointed that out.

“As you all know, a lot of eyes are on our special team. We have to handle it for sure, so prepare thoroughly to avoid any mistakes.

Before departure, everyone should get pre-guiding from Agent Jin Sehyeon. …It will be tough for Agent Jin Sehyeon, but I’m asking you to guide everyone thoroughly.”

“Understood. You can come in for a generous 30 minutes each.”

“No time. 20 minutes.”

“…Yes, 20 minutes.”

This kid is tough on me too.

It’s a little tight, but what can I do.

Seon Jaeyul is the team leader.

I have to finish it somehow.

“Then everyone, change into your combat suits, pack your things, and let’s meet again in three hours.”

Still, the guys gathered here don’t seem to be completely useless.

As soon as work-related matters came up, most of their playful attitudes disappeared.

Furthermore, since it was an important mission, the first dispatch, a sense of gravity could be read from them, as if they all understood that there should be absolutely no mistakes.

Seeing that none of the faces of the guys who seemed to have a bad connection with me in the past were visible, should I call this a somewhat successful team combination?

…Except for Ri-hyun, that person of interest.

***

“I don’t like you.”

“Ah, yes. I thought so. But I don’t really dislike you.”

This esper, Park Bomyung, who spat out his impression of me as soon as he plopped down on the therapeutic recliner.

As befitting a physical enhancement type, he was a guy who boasted a foolishly large build.

I had intentionally prepared a large chair, but I was worried it would break when Park Bomyung lay down.

Judging by the way he bluntly confesses that he dislikes me, he seems to be the type who doesn’t care about others’ opinions at all, just like his appearance.

It’s just a superstition, but the physical types tend to have that trait.

“What. Why don’t you dislike me? I said I dislike you, didn’t I?”

“I got it, so just give me your wrist. Do you want me to ask why you dislike me?”

How many people had disliked me?

At first, I was curious about the reasons, but not anymore.

There’s no particular reason for disliking someone.

Sometimes you just don’t like the way they drink water, or the way they walk.

I replied nonchalantly and grabbed Park Bomyung’s wrist, starting the guiding.

As befitting an A-rank esper, he had a foolishly large amount of mana.

But it was quite unstably tangled.

He probably hadn’t met a guide with a high matching rate.

He was only in a state where he could barely engage in combat.

“What’s your relationship with Seonggyu hyung?”

“Who is Seonggyu hyung?”

What is he talking about.

How do you expect me to know a hyung you know, asking so familiarly like that.

“…Team Leader Oh Seonggyu, you don’t know him?”

“Ah…! I know him. But we’re not that close, so I don’t really know what to call our relationship. We just know each other by face.”

I wondered who it was, since he just called him by his first name familiarly.

How could I not know Oh Seonggyu, to whom I had entrusted Jaeyul?

“That can’t be. There’s no way Team Leader Oh would dote on you like that if you’re nothing to him.”

“…He dotes on me…? Me?”

It was the first time I had heard that.

Trying to have a conversation while continuing the guiding, I couldn’t concentrate on the story at all.

Why would that mister dote on me?

“Aren’t you in a relationship like that? Otherwise, there’s no way he would send both me and Eden to this team, right?”

What on earth do these crappy bastards think of guides?

Although I ran an illegal guiding office for a long time, I didn’t do what they’re thinking.

Why do they all believe I’m that kind of low-class guide?

“Are you crazy? That scary-looking mister is definitely not my type, okay? We don’t have a special relationship, and I’ve only seen his face a few times.”

“…Is that so? That is strange. But why did he send Eden and me here.”

I can roughly guess the reason.

I don’t know Oh Seonggyu very well, but I have a grasp of his personality to some extent.

Oh Seonggyu, who seemed to particularly cherish Jaeyul at a glance.

He must have intentionally sent his trusted subordinates so that Jaeyul’s new team could establish itself properly.

Although his words were rough, he was a man who deeply cared for his team members.

Even though Jaeyul is in charge of a different team now, from his perspective, he probably looks at him like his own child.

It’s just a guess, so I can’t tell Park Bomyung.

“Guiding is over, so go and call the next person.”

“Already…? No… what is this. Are you sure you only did guiding? I feel like my body has become so much lighter for some reason.”

Park Bomyung, who had been lying down comfortably, sat up and flexed his already thick muscles.

Wow… what is that.

He really is a bastard who would smash a monster’s head with his bare fists.

I’ve never seen such huge muscles before.

“Well… you seem to have some skill. Still, I don’t like you, so just know that.”

“Ah, yes. Do as you please.”

Park Bomyung seemed quite satisfied with the guiding.

It was worth the extra effort since a battle was ahead.

It was when I was tidying up to receive the next agent.

Park Bomyung, who I thought had left, stood by the door and opened his mouth again.

“There’s a strange rumor going around about you. You’d better be careful. When you’re too good, you have many enemies.”

Before I could even ask what rumor, he left the guiding room.

I have no idea what he’s talking about.

But well… perhaps because I had been the subject of such gossip so often in the past, it didn’t seem serious.

***

“Everyone received guiding, right? Aren’t you tired, hyung?”

I’m tired.

Before Jaeyul came, it was Ri-hyun’s turn, and he was so annoying that I almost ended up attacking him by twisting his mana instead of guiding him.

The kid has a pretty face, but I don’t know why his mouth is so restless.

Still, perhaps because he was in a situation where he had to go into battle, he received the guiding quietly.

While showing his dislike quite openly.

“Yes, yes. I’m perfectly fine, so please have a seat, Team Leader-nim.”

Still, I didn’t show my fatigue to Jaeyul.

Guiding three A-rank and two B-rank espers at once was not as easy as I thought, but I still controlled my strength and left some for Jaeyul’s guiding.

“I’m fine without it. I just stopped by to see your face.”

Jaeyul was already changed into his combat suit.

It was an expensive combat suit made of special material, but I don’t know how helpful it would be against the monsters inside an S-rank gate.

Still, with Jaeyul’s skills, he should be able to prevent any major injuries.

“Still, sit down. There are so many cases where accidents happen in gates because people go in unprepared. You’re no exception.”

I forced Jaeyul to sit on the sofa.

The other team members were on the recliner, but there was no need to keep such a distance with Jaeyul.

I sat next to him, held his hand, and began guiding as I spoke.

“Jaeyul-ah. I still don’t know how much power you have. But… it might be troublesome if you use all of it, you know? Even if you’re SS-rank, it could be a problem if you show too overwhelming power.

Besides, the light attribute is a really rare trait, so you have to be moderate depending on the opponent. Of course, in an emergency, your safety is the top priority without looking back and forth. Got it?”

“I got it. You worry about everything. Do you get it now, hyung?”

“Get what?”

“Do you know that you’re doing even more than what I used to do, when you used to make a face like you were so annoyed with my nagging every time you went into a gate?”

“W-well, it’s because I’m worried! An S-rank gate is not just a little dangerous….”

“I was worried too. It’s the same now.”

Jaeyul held my hand with both of his and said.

It’s funny.

The kid who is going to do a more dangerous thing is worried about me, who is staying in a safe place.

Still, looking at Jaeyul’s face as he spoke to me, I felt a tickling sensation in a corner of my chest.

What if there had been just one person like this in my previous life?

Just one person who would ache for my small wounds and worry as if the world was ending over trivial matters.

If so, would my life back then have been a little less arduous?

“I have a feeling you won’t go home if I tell you to leave before the subjugation is over… so just rest comfortably in the office. I’ll finish up quickly and come back.”

“Promise me. That you’ll come back safe and sound, without getting hurt.”

Only now do I understand the true meaning of the nagging young Jaeyul used to give me, the heart that repeatedly urged me not to get hurt.

If… Jaeyul were to come back injured, I feel like I would be in much more pain.

“I promise. I’ll come back without a single scratch. It’s time. I’ll be back, so just wait a little.”

Jaeyul, who gave his farewell with a voice that didn’t waver in the slightest, left, and a heavy downpour accompanied by loud thunder and lightning began to fall outside the window.

The sound of thunder that shook the heavens and the earth, and the sound of rain.

Strangely… a sense of foreboding creeps in.