Chapter 90: The Lunatic Who Declared War on Headquarters

A month had passed since Lee Chae vanished.

After confronting Kim Jung-mi, Haejin had tried every possible method to find him— connections, favors, threats, tracking, hacking headquarters records. Not a single hair.

Rage built daily until breathing hurt.

Yet battles never stopped. His mind screamed find Lee Chae, but he dragged himself to every fight— afraid the man he’d meet again would be disappointed if he didn’t.

“What’s so great about a guide who ditched me…”

The empty words dissolved like smoke. Every time, he remembered what Lee Chae did when he disappeared.

Face pale with fear, unable to eat or walk properly— still went to school, cleanup crew, comforted friends at Legion, even cared for Yong-yong.

Compared to that… Haejin gritted teeth, fought, ran Legion— all to not shame himself in Lee Chae’s eyes.

But without guiding, his overtaxed body deteriorated. Jin-woo and Jae-hyung sneaked guides for non-contact sessions while he slept— low compatibility, barely effective.

Haejin sat with splitting headache, writing the same words over and over on paper.

[Stay healthy. And I love you.]

Filled pages, obsessing over the final message. Then—a thought.

If he was forced to leave… what did he most want to say in his last moment?

If “I love you” meant it’s not because I hate you, then “stay healthy”…

He left… for my health?

The idea flashed— but didn’t make sense. D-rank or not, who had higher compatibility? Why leave over health?

Then—Kim Jung-mi’s words resurfaced.

“That boy doesn’t have it either, does he? Regeneration.”

Everything clicked. Puzzle pieces snapped into place.

“Ha… Jung Lee Chae, you idiot. Till the end—f*ck!”

His stupid guide had overthought a nonexistent problem. Wrapped in inferiority, blaming his “lacking” ability, rationalizing it as “for love.” Left a hint in the message so Hae-jin wouldn’t be too hurt.

“I’m the real idiot…”

He should’ve discussed it when she first mentioned regeneration. Told Lee Chae: Headquarters wants to separate us—but I don’t need it. Don’t overthink. Given certainty.

S-ranks had regeneration—but rarely used it; life-threatening for the guide too. That’s why even his father died untreated.

Too late for regrets.

Paper covered in Lee Chae’s last words stabbed like knives. Painful—but no time to hurt. Negotiation failed. Time for war.

Days later— Haejin returned from outside and gathered Legion espers. Face exhausted, eyes burning.

Room tense—everyone held breath, focused on him.

He paused, then spoke.

“I’m registering Legion as an official guild.”

Jaws dropped. Dead silence.

Official guild fit their anarchist identity— but carried massive risks.

Since the war and current party’s rule, focus had been growth policies. Battle spoils fattened politicians and corporations— not citizens or awakeners.

Furious awakeners struck; government appeased by recognizing commercial guilds— keep all earnings, pay taxes.

Current regime survived elections thanks to guilds and cleanup crews for low-ranks.

But most Legion members were still managed-university students. Openly forming a guild—huge burden despite anarchist leanings.

Obvious opposition expected— but no one spoke.

Haejin met each pair of eyes.

“No objections? I can register freely?”

While most hesitated, Jin-woo stepped up.

“If you put it like that—who’d dare oppose? Be honest. You already set it up and this is notification. You know the pressure forming a guild brings— you wouldn’t act without a plan.”

Haejin’s lips twisted into a smile.

“Can’t fool Sung Jin-woo.”

“I’m the idiot. What’s so great about the lunatic that we trust him blindly?”

Relief on his face despite words. Others relaxed too—Haejin had a plan.

“Yeah, captain always plans when it’s not civilian rescue.”

“True lunatic—but trustworthy lunatic.”

Haejin nodded like he’d expected it.

“Thanks for trusting me. Not jumping straight to official guild without reason…”

He paused, sighed.

“I plan full war with headquarters— but I won’t let Legion members get hurt. No disadvantages to grades or evaluations.”

“…Possible?”

Jae-hyung asked cautiously. Some students belonged to guilds—but leading one was different.

“That’s why I thought hard. How to maintain guild without harming you? Simple answer: we don’t stand in front.”

“?”

“I’ll be representative— but remove all your names from core officers.”

“Huh? Recruit new members for officer roles?”

“Disappointing plan. Angry at headquarters or not—this is too much.”

“Cha Hae-jin finally lost it. Crossed the line. Think again.”

Espers erupted—too far. Haejin listened calmly, nodded, then said,

“Who said anything about new members?”

Faces crumpled. Jin-woo spoke for them.

“Lost it for real? Remove us from officers without new ones—guild won’t even form. Minimum: one rep + five officers. You forget?”

“I know. That’s why I secretly met Frame guild executives yesterday— opposition politicians.”

Faces worsened—like waiting for the next bomb.

“I know. Same trash. Opposition full of geezers too. So I’ll just borrow their names.”

Collective exhale. Tension melted.

“Scared me—thought we’d run it with geezers.”

“Thought I’d have to leave Legion.”

“Good idea though. They agreed to lend names?”

Haejin smirked—only corner of mouth.

“At first they acted superior—thought I was easy prey because young. So I showed a bit of lunatic.”

Everyone—including Jin-woo—looked away. Familiar with Hae-jin’s lunatic acts.

“No one curious what I did?”

Jin-woo hurried.

“No need for details. Summary: we become official guild, no disadvantages, keep fighting but screw headquarters?”

“Our Jin-woo’s smart. Exactly. We never fought for money—but how much did we fatten headquarters? Never helped when we needed. Bastards.”

Everyone agreed.

“Official means proper finance team—transparent funds. Most important isn’t numbers—it’s ideology. Like always: Legion espers are thorough anarchists only. Understood? Questions or objections—speak freely. I’ll explain, persuade. If over half oppose…”

They waited curiously. Haejin smiled bitterly.

“…I’ll disband Legion.”

Silence— then explosion.

“No way!”

“Disband? Over our dead bodies!”

“We follow captain to the end!”

Haejin’s eyes softened.

“Thanks.”

He looked at each face.

“I won’t let you regret this.”

The lunatic had declared war— and Legion chose to burn with him.

No turning back.