Approximal Guide

“What is it? Why?”“If you’re here to work, look at the documents. What are you looking at?”What is this… Another weird kind of argument, leaving me feeling deflated. For a moment, it seemed like the attention of the two espers shifted toward me, so I waved my hand in a gesture to continue. Han Jaemin pressed the laser pointer again and pointed at the next slide.The personal information that appeared on the screen was mine. Underneath my name, in bold letters, was the guide level I had achieved after rising from the one held by Sergeant Kang Hajung before I woke up in this body.“The person who should infiltrate the factory is probably Sergeant Kang…”“No, you can’t.”Kim Moohyuk interrupted Han Jaemin’s words, decisively and as if it was absurd. Han Jaemin grinned and asked Moohyuk.“Why not? We’re both espers, we’re infiltrating a guiding factory.”“No.”Kim Moohyuk said firmly, as though there was no room for argument. I was dumbfounded. Even if he opposed it, shouldn’t I be the one to do it? I’m actually in third year, class 2. Wait, no, it’s been five years, so maybe third year, class 7 now. Anyway, the mission was definitely not my first assignment.“No, Captain. I can do that…”“I’ll do the infiltration.”Kim Moohyuk cut off my words and said. …What? Are you crazy? You’re clearly an esper. You’re a giant, sitting among the small-sized guides, and if you crouch and say “I’ve been kidnapped,” who would believe that? I stared at him in disbelief, and Han Jaemin sighed before responding.“…Alright, let’s say that’s the case. But what about the guiding?”“We’ll just blame it on bad condition.”…What? Is this a joke? What mercenary group would let a kidnapped guide say, “Ah, my condition is not great today. How about I drink some Swiss water and eat some organic beef steak before guiding?”However, Kim Moohyuk, seemingly uninterested in our surprised reactions, stared at the space beneath his nails, then finally glanced at both of us and said.“It’s over. Dismissed.”…That was an absurd response.Han Jaemin looked like he couldn’t believe it but didn’t say anything to Kim Moohyuk.“When that guy makes up his mind, he doesn’t change. He’s stubborn.”I agreed with that. I wondered how he was going to convince anyone that he was a guide with that size and esper level, but I didn’t even want to ask twice.In the end, I couldn’t persuade him and returned to the accommodation. The mission was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Han Jaemin and I had to familiarize ourselves with the operation plan that the operations department had prepared by the time we returned from tomorrow’s mission.Not having the best opinion of the operations department, I doubted the files they sent as I read through them.“Can we really trust this…?”“Trust half of it. The rest, we’ll adjust on site.”Kim Moohyuk, hearing my muttering, casually spoke while reading the documents. Now that I thought about it, he’d probably been on so many missions by now. I was both amused and a bit sorry for him, wondering how he was going to go without a guide. His straightforward personality seemed absurd, so I asked him.“Captain, what do you think about going on missions with guides?”“We’re not talking about guides. It’s just you and me.”Though it sounded a bit embarrassing, with how Moohyuk had acted so far, that was practically the truth. He probably meant that he had no interest in other guides.But I wanted to act like an older brother, asking about my younger sibling’s love life.“No, but really, answer me. You’ve never gone on a mission with other guides, right?”Kim Moohyuk glanced at me, then gave me a look like, “Here we go again.”“What answer are you hoping for?”“Were you never seeing anyone?”“Yeah, I was promiscuous, meeting 300 people a year.”“Oh, so that means for 65 days, you were doing nothing?”“Public holidays.”What the hell? His straight-faced answer was so ridiculous that I laughed out loud. Holding my belly from laughing, Moohyuk glanced at me, shaking his head. It was as though he was saying, “This is not funny.”But older men always like to ask younger ones if they have a girlfriend, right? After a long time, I couldn’t stop laughing at the topic. Kim Moohyuk pushed my forehead with his palm.“Stop laughing. You’re getting on my nerves.”“Okay, okay. But how are you going to disguise yourself as a guide?”“I’ll knock out anyone who doubts me.”When I found another way to tease him, Kim Moohyuk, who had been fixated on his documents the entire time, finally turned his head to look at me.By then, I had been laughing for a while. I had always shared a similar sense of humor with him, so it reminded me of past times. But when I felt like he was staring at me too intensely, something felt off.“Why are you looking at me like that…?”“…”Kim Moohyuk didn’t answer. He just kept staring at me intensely, then reached out his arm toward me. I froze in surprise. The shadow he cast over me made me blink in confusion, almost feeling like his body was leaning toward me. Without realizing it, I held my breath. As he passed by me, he grabbed the remote from the sofa backrest.I exhaled the breath I had been holding. He glanced at me, then smirked as if he had made fun of me.“If you’re not going to watch the TV, turn it off. It’s too noisy.”“Yes, I’ll do that.”I was irritated by the sudden remark about the TV being on, as it seemed like he was just teasing me.“What were you expecting?”“What was I expecting, what?”I glared at him, and he hid his mouth with a document, rolling his eyes and looking at me. I wanted to ask, “Hey, drop your hand. Are you laughing at me?” But of course, I couldn’t say anything in response. All I could do was bite my lip and frown. Then, he covered his entire face with the document.“…Are you laughing right now?”“No.”His voice sounded normal, so I couldn’t tell if he was really laughing, but somehow it felt off. I stared at him suspiciously, but nothing seemed to show on his face. I sighed and shook my head, thinking it was better to just leave. I was planning to wash up and go to bed.At that moment, he grabbed my wrist. I turned in surprise.“…What is it?”“Where are you going?”His tone was oddly friendly, which didn’t quite match the relationship we’d had until now. Maybe that’s why I felt a warmth rising in my wrist. I didn’t know why, but I bit my lip again and looked down at Kim Moohyuk.With his impassive eyes and unreadable expression, he eventually released my wrist and spoke casually.“Brush your teeth and go to bed. You had candy earlier.”I quickly turned and went into my room, feeling the heat rise in my ears and the tips of my ears turning red.“I’m not a kid!”I immediately entered my room. My heart was racing unusually fast.“…What is this… why is my heart pounding so fast?”Was I having arrhythmia? I tilted my head in confusion, unsure of my body’s reaction. I hadn’t even sweated, but I felt like I should take another shower before going to bed.In the bathroom mirror, I tried to ignore the sight of a young man blushing as I desperately tried to avoid looking at myself.* * *I had a certain pre-mission routine. It wasn’t anything special, just going to a famous stir-fried squid place in Ippsae-dong. There was no particular reason, I just liked mixing the spicy stir-fried squid with somen noodles. It was a habit that had stuck with me since the days when I paired up with Ha Seonghan.Today was going to be the same. After quickly handling my morning duties at the shared guiding room, I planned to have lunch and then go over the mission again.It had been quite a while since I worked on a mission that involved other people, not just with a partner Esper, so I was feeling a bit nervous. Occasionally, other people had been involved, but that was just for cooperation. It was rare for three people to carry out a mission together. But now, as I was about to go out on a mission, there was one thing that bothered me. I didn’t know much about Han Jaemin, but it was clear that he was a secretive figure, which made me uneasy.He wasn’t just a soldier; he had one foot in the National Intelligence Service, being a former spy. Espers tend to have independent personalities, which make them well-suited to spy roles. But they also enjoy having their achievements recognized, so they rarely work as spies. In that sense, Han Jaemin was quite a unique individual.His appearance was impressive, and at his age, he had advanced to a position of lieutenant in a special forces unit, which meant he must have exceptional abilities. But why did he end up joining the National Intelligence Service? I was also curious about how he and Kim Moohyuk met. It seemed like they had no common ground. As I headed out of the shared guiding room toward the restaurant, my mind wandered with these thoughts.“I’m going to eat stir-fried squid… should I take a cart?”But soon, I was filled with excitement about the stir-fried squid. Just thinking about mixing it with somen made me hum a song. With a grin on my face, I walked toward the cart stop.“Where are you going?”“…Oh, Lieutenant?”Just as I was thinking about Han Jaemin, I unexpectedly ran into him. I had heard that there was a mission today, so I was puzzled when I saw him leaning against his car.“Didn’t you say you were going on a mission?”“That’s right. It ended quickly. Thanks to you.”What did I have to do with that? I stared blankly at him, and his slightly suspicious smile made me even more wary. Even though I was looking at him with clear suspicion, Han Jaemin didn’t say anything and spoke again.“Where were you headed? Ippsae-dong?”…How did he know? My suspicion deepened. Was he writing down that I was going to eat stir-fried squid? Han Jaemin looked at my expression and, with a small laugh, said, “I heard you singing earlier.”Singing…? I had no idea what he was talking about. Suddenly, my face turned red. How did he appear without me hearing the sound of his car? It was strange because his car had been running, but I hadn’t noticed. I wasn’t the type to sing proudly in front of others.Trying to hide my embarrassment, I stood there awkwardly, and Han Jaemin asked, “Do you want a ride?”“No, it’s fine. What are you doing here?”I shook my head. Last time, I had taken his car because I was in a hurry, but I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling I had about him. When I refused, Han Jaemin just looked at me quietly before speaking.“…I came to see if I could get a guiding session. Tomorrow’s the mission day.”He smiled faintly, but it seemed a little too sly. I’d been a guide for years, so I could easily spot when an Esper was trying to charm me. Many young Espers tried this trick, and many inexperienced or rookie guides, out of sympathy, would overexert themselves during a guiding session. Some even passed out from the strain as their guiding energy drained away.My condition wasn’t that bad, but I still hesitated before starting a radiation-guiding session. I had seen how messed up Han Jaemin’s guiding stats were last time. Han Jaemin grinned as he said, “Looks like you don’t like contact guiding much.”“Yeah, well, even after distancing myself, personal hygiene should be taken care of by the individual.”Jaemin Han laughed again at my words. What’s with him? Laughing at everything I say—it’s so fox-like. His easygoing, handsome face reminded me of Ha Seonghan. That’s because Ha Seonghan also had a naturally likable appearance.Unlike Kim Moohyuk, who gave off a stoic impression, Jaemin’s approachable vibe made it easy for people to warm up to him. Perhaps that’s why he was able to carry on his undercover activities so smoothly. I was lost in thought when someone suddenly grabbed my wrist from behind and pulled me into their arms.“What the—? Jeez, that scared me!”The moment their hand touched my wrist, I realized it was Kim Moohyuk. Still, it didn’t stop me from being startled.“Scared of what?”Moohyuk raised a single eyebrow, staring down at me as I yelped in his arms. I forced an awkward laugh.“Why do you always sneak up from behind like that? You nearly gave me a heart attack!”Ignoring me, Moohyuk shifted his gaze to Jaemin and spoke.“It felt like someone was trying to freeload on my pair guide’s services.”Wasn’t that a bit harsh? I thought they seemed friendly. Surprised, I looked up at Moohyuk. Tilting my head back, the back of my head bumped against his chest. Jaemin replied nonchalantly.“You’re working in the shared guiding room, right? That means even unfortunate Espers like me, without a regular guide, can get guidance from Sergeant Kang.”He shrugged as he spoke. Moohyuk squinted one eye and then smirked in a way that was worse than not smiling at all.“Buddy, go take your meds and stop drooling over someone else’s guide.”By “meds,” he probably meant guiding supplements. I slipped out of Moohyuk’s arms, startled, and said,“Hey! That’s uncalled for. Even if he doesn’t seem like the friendly type, he’s still a decent person! Sure, Lieutenant Han might have parked suspiciously in front of the guiding room and eavesdropped on my mutterings, but still! You two should get along if you’re friends.”Jaemin scratched his head awkwardly and protested, “You’re making me sound like a stalker.” But Moohyuk didn’t seem to care. Instead, he turned back to Jaemin and asked,“You didn’t say you were coming back. Why are you here so soon?”“What, you want me to drop dead or something?”Jaemin countered, matching Moohyuk’s sharp tone. This might actually turn into a fight. Sighing, I grabbed Moohyuk’s wrist. I could feel his gaze drop to where I held him, but I was too busy warning Jaemin.“Lieutenant Han, it’s true you came unannounced. Captain Kim might not seem kind, but he’s surprisingly respectful toward guides. Please let him know next time before you show up.”Jaemin smiled but didn’t answer. Instead, I noticed the ESP waves rippling around him, probing for the guiding waves lingering near me.“What do you think you’re doing?” Moohyuk’s voice dropped dangerously as his own Esper waves radiated, heavy and threatening. He looked ready to attack at any moment.Startled, I quickly intervened. “Stop it! As long as I’m assigned to the shared guiding room, I can’t refuse guiding requests without a specific reason. So please, calm down!”I dragged him away to physically separate the two, thinking that was the safest option.“We’ll be leaving now, Lieutenant. I’ll see you tomorrow.”Jaemin waved with a grin that still didn’t seem entirely trustworthy. Moohyuk continued glaring at him, so I grabbed his wrist and pulled him along.“You guys aren’t really friends, are you? Why’s it so tense?”Though I asked in disbelief, Moohyuk didn’t answer. At least he followed me quietly, which was a relief. In a few steps, we reached his Jeep. Without a word, I climbed in first.Moohyuk followed, slower, and got into the driver’s seat. Through the window, I saw Jaemin watching us from afar before finally getting into his own car. Moohyuk’s eyes stayed fixed on Jaemin’s car as it drove away.“Second time, huh?” he asked suddenly, still staring ahead.He must’ve meant how often Jaemin had sought my guidance. I nodded.“Yeah, but it was just radiating guidance like today. Anyway, are you two actually friends? The atmosphere back there was awful.”“…”Once again, Moohyuk stayed silent. He was so used to ignoring me that I gave up and stayed put. After a while, he seemed to calm down, so I opened the door to leave.“Where are you going?”“Huh? Oh, it’s lunchtime, so I was going to grab something to eat…”“I’ll buy you lunch. Stay.”“What? No way. You always make me eat stuff I don’t even like!”I half-opened the door to make my escape, but Moohyuk reached out, his long arm easily shutting it with a firm click. Still leaning toward me, he stared directly at my face.“There’s a place that makes stir-fried squid. You like that, don’t you?”…Okay, yes, I do. But wasn’t it suspicious that he picked that menu? It made me wonder if he’d developed a habit of eating it with me back when I was under Colonel Kang Hajung. Caught off guard, I nodded. Only then did Moohyuk lean back, finally satisfied.“Should’ve buckled your seatbelt for you too, huh?” he muttered, smirking faintly.Used to his gruffness by now, I sighed and buckled up. Soon, the Jeep was heading toward Ipse-dong, and before long, we arrived at our usual spot. Smiling faintly at the unchanged owner, I ordered a large portion of stir-fried squid with extra noodles.The portions of food were so generous that I couldn’t help but worry if the restaurant owner was making any profit. Of course, Kim Moohyuk ended up finishing every last bite.When we left the restaurant, I mentioned wanting to grab a waffle, but Kim Moohyuk firmly objected, saying I had already consumed too many carbs. Left with no choice, I gave up on the idea. In the afternoon, I wrapped up my work at the communal guiding office early, planning to prepare further for the operation, but I was curious about what Kim Moohyuk would do next.“So, Captain, what are you planning to do now?”Without answering, he ushered me into his car and drove straight to the headquarters building. Then, to my utter surprise, he took me to his office there. My jaw practically hit the floor.“Wow, Captain, you even have an office here? You’re practically treated like a general!”“Shut it.”Inside the headquarters building, as soon as we reached the floor where his office was located, I couldn’t stop marveling at everything. Kim Moohyuk cast an exasperated glance my way before swiping his ID card on the office keypad to unlock the door. He stepped inside, and I quickly followed before the door could shut.His office was fairly standard, just a regular workspace, though the meticulous neatness reflected his habit of keeping everything spotless. As I plopped down onto the guest sofa, I admired the dust-free space and let out a whistle of amazement. Kim Moohyuk glanced at me without changing his expression and let out a dry, scoffing sound.“Didn’t even tell you to sit. Bold of you.”“What, were you planning to leave me standing? I’ll file a workplace harassment report!”Ignoring my retort, he walked over to a small office fridge, pulled out a drink, and handed it to me. Though I knew he rarely indulged in sweets, he had a stock of drinks in the fridge—likely gifts he hadn’t yet finished. Well, no complaints from me. I opened the can—or at least tried to. My short nails made it tricky, and after several failed attempts that resulted in nothing but faint clicking sounds, Kim Moohyuk sighed.Holding his phone between his shoulder and ear as he placed a call, he casually took the can from me. With practiced ease, he opened it, poured the drink into a cup, and handed it back to me before crushing the can and tossing it into the trash in one smooth motion. Such a neat freak.I sipped the drink, giving him a thumbs-up in appreciation. He glanced at me briefly before speaking into the phone.“Yes, as I said, it’s Lieutenant Han Jaemin.”The mention of a familiar name piqued my curiosity, and I looked at Kim Moohyuk inquisitively, wondering who he was talking to and about what. But he simply turned his back on me, quietly listening to the person on the other end. He didn’t say another word during the call, eventually hanging up without further comment.“What was that call about? Why were you so quiet?”Craning my neck, I asked, but his response was curt as usual.“You teaching phone etiquette now?”Ah, there he goes again with his snippy attitude. It was clear the call wasn’t something he wanted to share with me, so I dropped the subject. Though my curiosity lingered, I figured it wasn’t critical at the moment.We spent the rest of the time discussing every detail of the operation: the location of the guiding facility, its layout, and contingency plans if his infiltration failed. But Kim Moohyuk exuded his usual confidence.“Infiltration will succeed, of course.”“…But guides are typically small-framed,” I pointed out.His eyes left the documents in front of him and fixed on me.“Not all of them.”That comment hit home. I couldn’t help but flinch, remembering that as Colonel Kang Hajung, I was the poster child for “not all guides.” Among guides, who were generally slim and petite regardless of gender, I had stood out with my tall stature. People often mistook me for an Esper when I was younger.So, when Kim Moohyuk mentioned “not all,” he probably meant someone like my former self. I wondered for a moment why he brought it up but decided against overthinking it.“….”Was he onto something? His words made me pause, but he didn’t elaborate. He simply turned back to the documents and began explaining operational guidelines again.“I’ll infiltrate the facility while you stay in the control tower vehicle. Meanwhile, Han Jaemin will be inside the guiding facility.”“And what should I be doing while waiting?”“Monitor the situation. You expect me to dive into enemy territory with no backup?”“No, of course not…”I started to protest, only to realize his complaint was his version of a joke. I shot him a glare.“Even if it’s mid-operation, let me know if Han Jaemin requests a guiding session,” he added.“Why? What’s the reason behind this? You’ve been acting strange about him all day.”My curiosity got the better of me, but as usual, Kim Moohyuk left my question unanswered. Fine, fine. You’re the captain. I’ll listen, even if it means working in the dark. Still, it annoyed me to no end, and I found myself glaring at him in frustration. Feeling my gaze, he looked up and smirked faintly.“What, sulking?”“I’m not sulking.”I wasn’t sulking. I wasn’t that petty. I just didn’t feel like talking to him at the moment. He’d been holding back on something since earlier, and I didn’t appreciate it. It made me nostalgic for the kind of partnership where Esper and guide trusted each other wholeheartedly.While I didn’t expect Kim Moohyuk to bare his soul, I did wish for mutual trust. Was that too much to ask? Yet, he never explained himself, and the night passed uneventfully.Thus, the day of “Breaking the Nest” dawned.It wasn’t hard to see why Kim Moohyuk was so confident about infiltrating.“‘Good Mom Services’…?”Apparently, the cover company set up by the villains kidnapping Espers and guides in the north. Sitting in the designated control tower vehicle, I looked back at Kim Moohyuk. He was dressed in construction worker attire—complete with gaiters over his trim ankles and sturdy work boots.“Where did you even get those clothes? You’re seriously decked out.”“Do I have to answer that?”The man responded in a detached tone. Intrigued, I nodded quickly, but Moohyuk didn’t bother answering and simply stepped out of the car. He crossed the street and headed straight for the building housing the agency office.“Oh, a soldier jaywalking? So much for maintaining dignity.”Since the operation started early in the morning, I’d expected to skip breakfast. However, at some point, Kim Moohyuk had woken up and packed a sandwich for me, which I now unwrapped and began eating as I watched his retreating figure.It was still before dawn, the sky dark and quiet. The workers, starting their day early, were huddled in small groups in front of the office, stamping their feet against the cold. Like Moohyuk, they were all clad in work boots and uniforms.At that moment, a figure who appeared to be the foreman emerged from the office. Broad-shouldered and towering, he seemed as tall as Moohyuk. I quickly put on my earpiece. The audio transmitted through the communication device attached to Moohyuk’s clothes reached me clearly.— Two for the cardboard factory. Only women for this one, so the rest of you don’t even bother.— Hey, Mr. Hwang, what’s with you? Always giving the cushy jobs to women!A man protested at the foreman’s words, but Hwang—the foreman—scowled, his expression turning menacing.— It’s not cushy work; it’s meticulous work. Women are just better at it. When I send men in, all I get is complaints. You know how much flak I catch?Faced with Hwang’s sharp tone, the man who had spoken up shrank back. I immediately sensed that Hwang was likely an Esper. There was an unmistakable harsh energy radiating from him, one unique to Espers.Tall female Espers over 190 cm weren’t rare, but his robust build was uncommon. Perhaps he’d never registered as an Esper, even after awakening. To be sure, I extended a thin Guiding Net toward him. Though he didn’t detect it like Moohyuk could, the faint vibrations revealed he was undoubtedly a high-grade Esper.— Next, five laborers for the construction site.Most of the gathered people raised their hands, Moohyuk included. Hwang glanced at him briefly before pointing him out.— You in the black jacket. Get in the van first.— What? We were here before him!— Shut it. What do you think this is, a first-come, first-served gig? You bigger than him? More built? If I send in some scrawny guy and they complain, who do you think they’ll blame? Not happening on my watch.Hwang’s fierce retort silenced the grumbling men. Honestly, he was intimidating. Though his Esper energy didn’t visibly flare, I guessed he was skilled in combat, too.…Moohyuk, I hope you’ve been keeping up with your martial arts training because beating this guy won’t be easy. Yet Moohyuk remained utterly indifferent, yawning lazily as if nothing around him mattered. When the van arrived, he climbed in without hesitation.His nonchalance made the others panic; they quickly raised their hands again. Hwang picked a few decent-looking men, then climbed into the van herself. The vehicle tilted slightly under her weight.“Whoa… she must be pure muscle,” I muttered, startled.The van, battered and rusty with scratches along the bumper, sped off into the early morning streets. I followed discreetly, maintaining a gap with a truck as a buffer between us.Through the earpiece, I could hear faint noises—mostly the hum of the moving vehicle. Then, unexpectedly, voices.— Where’re you from, man? Don’t think I’ve seen you before.Hwang was speaking to Moohyuk, who replied in his usual deadpan tone.— Home.I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. Oh, this guy. When someone asks where you’re from, you don’t just say “home.” But apparently, Hwang didn’t mind his answer.— That so? You’ve got a good face. Drop by often. Lots of decent jobs here.— Hwang, you hitting on him now?A man nearby teased.— Who wouldn’t like a good-looking guy? Handsome men are rare and precious.While they chatted, the van left the city and entered an industrial zone. After some time, it pulled into what looked like an abandoned factory site, and two people stepped out.“What the… only two?” I muttered, watching intently. Suddenly, the van’s doors slammed shut, and it took off at full speed. Alarmed, I stepped on the gas, my car lurching forward. Had they noticed the tail?Through the earpiece, only ambient noise came through—no sign of struggle or commotion. It felt off.The van stopped abruptly at a construction site, and I quickly parked along the roadside, pretending to be another parked car. Then, I heard scuffling noises over the earpiece.— Get out, asshole. Where exactly is your home?— Why’re you so curious? Interested in me?Following that quip from Moohyuk, there was a loud thud. No way… was he getting beaten up? My jaw dropped. That guy wasn’t one to take a hit lying down.Moments later, the van doors opened, and Moohyuk, hands tied behind his back, was unceremoniously tossed to the ground. He rolled a few times before coming to a stop. I watched, dumbfounded. Was I supposed to jump in and save him?Hwang stepped out, grabbed him by the ankle, and began dragging him away like a sack of flour. Meanwhile, the other men exited the van and scattered, seemingly on lookout. From the earpiece, I could hear the gritty sound of Moohyuk being dragged along the dirt.Letting out a resigned sigh, I quickly reconnected with Lieutenant Han Jaemin over the communication channel.“Yes, Lieutenant Han?”— So, Moohyuk’s made it inside?“…If you can call that making it inside.”— That’s already impressive infiltration work. I’ll start moving in soon too.Han Jaemin was currently waiting in front of the Guiding Factory belonging to Accent. I glanced back at the monitors installed in the rear seats of the van I was in. Two red dots were blinking on the screen—one for Kim Moohyuk and one for Han Jaemin. As I’d suspected earlier, this place seemed to be near the Guiding Factory. That must be how Han Jaemin spotted Kim Moohyuk being dragged inside. Just to be sure, I asked.“Can you see this location from where you are, Lieutenant Han?”— Yes, it’s clear. I even saw Moohyuk rolling on the ground.I knew it. Nodding, I wished Han Jaemin good luck.“Alright, take care out there, Lieutenant.”— …There was no response from the other side for a while. Thinking it strange, I checked the monitor, which still showed the communication as active. I was about to call out to him again when his voice broke the silence.— It’s been a while since someone said that to me.With that, he ended the call. How underwhelming. I shrugged and moved to the rear section of the van.The rear was modified to hold several monitors. Taking a seat on a stool, I immediately searched for the mission data to pull up the layout of the Guiding Factory. The building Moohyuk was dragged into was right next to it. They might even be connected.There wasn’t much information on Accent’s members, but someone as conspicuous as the boss should have been on record. It was odd there was nothing. I revisited the information I’d reviewed on Accent’s top brass before the mission:— One

De facto leader of AccentAge: UnknownGender: UnknownAbility: Unknown— Dva

Head of financeAge: Mid-30sGender: UnknownAbility: Unknown— San

Chief commanderAge: UnknownGender: MaleAbility: FusionTwo of the three top leaders didn’t even have their genders listed. It struck me that one of them could be the foreman I’d seen earlier.“Could she actually be this ‘One’ character? With her high level, it wouldn’t be surprising.”The names “One,” “Dva,” and “San” were simple enough—meaning one, two, and three in English, Russian, and Chinese, respectively. It was a curious naming convention, suggesting a rigidly hierarchical organization.As I mulled this over, I kept an eye on the blinking red dots for Kim Moohyuk and Han Jaemin. Soon, sounds came through from Moohyuk’s side.— This guy seems suspicious. Could he be an Esper?— No resonance waves detected, so probably not. By the way, didn’t some of the captives try to escape and get killed?— Wrap them in plastic. We’ll incinerate everything later.The casual cruelty of their conversation was infuriating. I frowned, listening closely. As the sound of their footsteps faded, I decided to check on Moohyuk.“Are you okay?”There was no response from his end. Should I just charge in? Then, through faint static, I heard his voice.— Tell Han Jaemin to come here first instead of searching the factory.“Oh, you’re alive!” I replied, relieved, and immediately patched into Han Jaemin’s comms to relay the message.“Lieutenant Han, Captain Kim says to head his way instead of the factory.”— I was almost there. Even stray dogs don’t get trained this harshly.Despite his words, Han Jaemin didn’t seem bothered and adjusted his direction. Watching the monitor, I saw the red dot representing him change course and move toward Moohyuk.Turning back to Moohyuk, I asked, “Lieutenant Han is on his way. But are you sure you’re alright?”— Annoying. Over and out.Once again, the line abruptly cut off.As I suspected, this sneaky guy must’ve been selectively cutting off parts of the audio feed to control what I could hear.What’s up with him? Suspicious as hell. I felt a pang of regret for not insisting on going in myself. It was hard to make sense of the situation from inside the van. If I’d trained more in close combat, I could’ve been better prepared for infiltration.Back in my old body, my physical condition allowed me to hold my own even against Espers, but now, a single hit could probably take me out. I sighed, resolving to head straight to the training room when this mission was over.As I polished off the sandwich Moohyuk had packed for me, Han Jaemin’s voice came through the comms.— Sergeant Kang!“Yes, Lieutenant?”— You’d better come over. Moohyuk might need Guiding. It looks like he’s been hit by an unidentified ability.His tone was urgent. I quickly checked the monitor. The red dots for Moohyuk and Han Jaemin were close together, their movements erratic.I tried multiple times to reach Moohyuk, but he didn’t respond. Before the mission, he had explicitly told us not to provide Guiding unless absolutely necessary. But if Han Jaemin was requesting it for him, surely it was justified.“What exactly is his condition? His morning Guiding levels were stable.”Han Jaemin promptly replied, “His pupils are dilated. It’s not full-blown overload, but it looks dangerous.”Damn it. At those words, I quickly grabbed my Tokarev and stood up. Jumping out of the vehicle, I moved close to the wall, making my way in with the rising sun at my back. While in the vehicle, I could communicate with both Kim Moohyuk and Han Jaemin, but now, wearing the in-ear device myself, two-way communication was impossible. Unless Moohyuk decided to turn his switch back on, I had no choice but to rely on Han Jaemin.“Lieutenant Han, I’m entering now.”— Come inside. Don’t use the north entrance; use the west door instead.Following his advice, I ignored the open north door and kept low, moving forward until I found the west door. However, it was closed. Unable to enter, I lingered nearby, scanning the area. Hearing footsteps, I hid behind the wall, holding my breath. A man emerged, casually lighting a cigarette as he stared at the rising sun. Seizing the opportunity while he was distracted, I slipped through the closing door.“Pant… Did that actually work?”Though successful, my heart pounded in disbelief at how lax the security was. Hold on, Moohyuk. Hyung’s coming to save you. As I moved swiftly, I spoke into the in-ear.“Lieutenant, I’ve infiltrated—”Just then, I came to a T-shaped intersection in the hallway. Unsure of which direction to take, I hesitated before veering right. After only a few steps, I froze in shock.“…What the…?”Inside a cylindrical tank, a bizarre creature with gills was swimming. It wasn’t just marine life; a human navel was clearly visible on its body. My mouth hung open in astonishment. What is that…? The creature, blind with a milky-white membrane over its eyes, swam aimlessly in the darkness, confined to the narrow tank like a person pacing endlessly in a tiny room. Overwhelmed by the grotesque sight, I realized this place wasn’t just a guiding factory—it was far more sinister.Turning back, I ran to the end of the hallway, where a door labeled “Lab 3” stood. Inside, rather than a laboratory for experiments, the space resembled a library for reviewing academic theories. Something compelled me to search here. Among the papers scattered on the desk, one title caught my eye:“Association Study of Biological Chimera and Physical Action.”Chimera? The word immediately brought to mind the mythical Greek monster with a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a serpent’s tail. I thought back to the strange creature I had just seen in the tank—neither fully human nor fish. A chill ran down my spine.“…Gasp.”I stifled a gasp, covering my mouth. This wasn’t just a factory—it was a massive research facility. I was sure now that the abducted North Korean soldiers and the missing Espers and Guides were being subjected to horrific experiments here. My trembling hands flipped to the author’s name: PhD. Hwang. Naturally, I thought of Director Hwang. This confirmed my suspicion that she was one of Accent’s leaders.I quickly tore out the abstract and results sections of the paper and stuffed them into my jacket before leaving the room. There might be more clues elsewhere. Just as I stepped out, Han Jaemin’s voice came through the in-ear.— Sergeant Kang, where are you now?“…”I couldn’t respond immediately, biting my lip before managing a shaky reply.“I’m… almost there…”My voice cracked, betraying my shaken state. Thankfully, the poor connection seemed to mask my tone.— This is the eastern annex. If you entered through the west door, just keep going straight.“Understood.”With that, I dashed forward as instructed. My knee throbbed, but that was the least of my concerns. What mattered now was exposing Accent’s horrifying deeds to the Center.And then—“Stop right there!”Damn it. They’d spotted me. Someone was chasing me, and the loud footsteps told me it wasn’t just one person. I didn’t dare look back and kept running. The echo of boots in the narrow hallway made it hard to judge their distance. My spine tingled with fear at the thought of being caught. My knee ached again, the pain unnervingly familiar. Why didn’t I get this checked earlier?I took a sharp turn into a side passage. The footsteps were still alarmingly close—or maybe they weren’t? I turned another corner, finding a small door embedded in the wall. I slipped inside, hoping the pursuers hadn’t seen me.Inside the dark room, a faint beam of light from the door revealed countless eyes staring back at me.“…!”I froze, holding my breath. The room was a small prison with iron bars. Over ten people stood crammed together, unable to sit, staring at me with ghostly pale eyes. Their skeletal frames and sunken temples made them look more like corpses than living beings. They didn’t make a sound, simply observing me as if sizing me up.Raising a finger to my lips, I signaled for silence and closed the door.The sound of running outside gradually faded. They hadn’t found me. Relief washed over me as I exhaled softly. I shone my flashlight at the ceiling, casting a dim glow across the room. The prisoners, clad only in sleeveless shirts, continued to stand silently. Their hollow eyes glinted eerily in the faint light, following my every movement.“Where the hell did he go?!”Outside, the pursuers were still shouting. My heart pounded. I hope they don’t give me away.As my pulse thundered in my ears, the scene shifted. Kim Moohyuk, squinting at the commotion, stood amidst fallen bodies—five Espers, including two who had dragged him here. Walking past their sprawled forms, he approached a desk piled high with reports and papers, picking them up one by one.“Catch that bastard—!”“Where did he go?!”A commotion was brewing outside, though its cause was unclear. Moohyuk furrowed his brows, sensing it couldn’t mean anything good. Since entering the facility, his communications device, connected to Kang Hajung’s earpiece, had gone dead.No matter how many times he tried, it wouldn’t respond. He regretted turning it off and on initially—it seemed to have completely malfunctioned from being dragged on the ground afterward. It was frustrating how flimsy such vital equipment was, revealing just how thoroughly the military’s R&D budget must have been skimmed.Still, Moohyuk had no intention of letting Kang Hajung hear the conversation he’d had with Director Hwang back in the van. Even if he’d known turning off the device would kill it entirely, he wouldn’t have hesitated.The moment the van stopped at the factory complex and two workers got out, Director Hwang turned to Moohyuk and said bluntly:“You’re an Esper, aren’t you?”“……”“Don’t bother denying it. People like you can’t hide it from me. Just look at me. I’m one myself.”She smiled proudly before driving her work boot into Moohyuk’s solar plexus. The unexpected blow made him double over, coughing. She smirked, revealing a gold tooth gleaming under the light.“Where are you from?”“I already told you—home. Didn’t I make myself clear?”Her face twisted with irritation, and she grabbed his hair, smashing her fist into his face. Judging by her strength, she was likely an Esper specializing in physical enhancement.“You’d better spill the truth. My patience isn’t exactly my strong suit.”“That’s obvious.”His sarcastic tone seemed to enrage her further, and she continued beating him. Even as she searched him and tied him up, she missed the tiny communication wire embedded in his jacket. Not that it mattered—it was as good as useless now.Afterward, they brought him to this narrow room. Confident in their precautions, they equipped him with a suppression bracelet. However, for someone like Moohyuk, such restraints were no more than an inconvenience—a mere twig barring his path. He snapped it with ease and slipped out of the room silently, steeling himself for the task ahead.Navigating the corridors, Moohyuk entered a laboratory. Before the guards could react, he incapacitated them, striking the base of their necks with calculated precision. As their bodies crumpled to the floor, he rummaged through the papers scattered on the desk.Finally, his eyes landed on what he was searching for.[On the Physical Implications of Body Transformation in Espers]SWITCH ESP. This was it. The document he had risked so much to find.Outside, footsteps thundered closer. Voices echoed through the halls:“Search that way—I’ll cover this side!”“Radio in immediately when you find anything! — wants an update!”Who was expecting the report? Was it Accent’s leader, Won? Or one of the others, Dva or San? Moohyuk’s thoughts were interrupted by the increasing noise outside.Meanwhile, inside the cell-like room, the imprisoned individuals continued staring silently at him. Their gaze felt heavy—like an unspoken judgment. He needed their cooperation but sensed mistrust in their eyes.“I’m here to get you out,” he whispered. “Stay quiet. I’ll come back with help.”“……”“……”There was no response, only blank stares. Moohyuk realized they might not understand Korean or simply didn’t trust him. Considering their circumstances—likely kidnapped while trying to cross borders and subjected to imprisonment by Accent—he couldn’t blame them.Just as he resolved to try speaking in English, a faint voice reached his ears.“Help… us…”The words were so soft he almost missed them. They carried a fragility that stung. He couldn’t pinpoint who had spoken, but the desperation in their voice spurred him to act.“Please, just wait. Stay quiet, and don’t let them know I was here.”He hesitated, then added, “But if they threaten you, protect yourselves first. Lie if you have to. I’ll be back—I promise.”Some of them nodded slightly, while others remained skeptical. It was enough for now.The sound of boots approached again, louder this time. Moohyuk scanned the cramped room for a hiding spot, but there was none. His heart sank. Was this the end? Would he die here without saving anyone?He cursed under his breath, fiddling with his earpiece. It was still dead. The irony of such crucial equipment failing him now was infuriating.The door handle turned with a metallic click. Moohyuk closed his eyes, steeling himself.When he opened them, it wasn’t an enemy standing before him.“Making friends, are we?”Kim Moohyuk stood in the doorway, his expression blank and his voice dripping with sarcasm. Relief and disbelief surged through Kang Hajung’s body.Before he could fully process it, another shout echoed from the hallway. Without hesitation, he yanked Moohyuk inside and closed the door behind him.“Shh, get in here,” he whispered.Once the door was shut, he pressed his ear to it, listening intently. The footsteps seemed to fade, heading down the opposite corridor. Finally, he let out a breath and turned to him, his voice low and accusatory.