PARADOX 14

“Yeo Hanseo, are you alright?”

The instructor, who had returned just in time, asked Hanseo with a worried look. Hanseo managed his expression and nodded toward the instructor.

“Ah, I was a bit startled, but I’m okay.”

“You don’t look okay. Your face is pale. Let’s call it a day; go on home and get some rest.”

“Yes, thank you.”

There was no reason to refuse an offer to be sent home. Hanseo readily accepted the suggestion. Perhaps because he had been recalling unpleasant memories in succession, his head was beginning to ache.

In times like this, one must eat something delicious.

‘What should I eat on the way? Bossam? Samgyeopsal? Dak-galbi would be good too.’

Hanseo was about to turn on his phone to search for nearby restaurants—if only a voice hadn’t called out to him from behind.

“Yeo Hanseo.”

Turning around, he saw the instructor standing there. It seemed he had followed Hanseo out.

When their eyes met, the instructor gave a slightly awkward smile.

“I have something to say regarding what just happened. Shall we head down to the first floor together?”

“Ah, yes.”

The elevator arrived just then.

With a ding, the doors opened to an empty elevator.

Once they were alone, the instructor spoke up.

“Yeo Hanseo, you probably didn’t fully understand the situation. Esper Park Jintae’s reaction earlier was a bit strange, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, a little…”

“Right, how should I put this? I’m not an Esper, so I can’t say for certain, but I did mention in class how important guiding is to an Esper.”

When Hanseo nodded, the instructor fell silent for a moment, as if choosing his words.

“As I’ve said several times, for an Esper, guiding is something that can never be separated from their life. That’s why Espers instinctively obsess over Guides. It’s a sort of survival instinct. No Esper can live without a Guide.”

It seemed the instructor wanted to make excuses for Park Jintae’s behavior on his behalf. Hanseo hid his indifferent feelings and nodded as if listening intently.

However, the conversation began to flow in a different direction than he had expected.

“But unlike Espers, Guides are actually ordinary people with no special abilities. This gap has caused countless accidents. There’s a reason why the Guide Protection Act was created in this country.”

“…”

Was he not trying to make excuses for the Esper?

“Even though Yeo Hanseo is still in training, since Esper Park Jintae requested it, you’ll soon be undergoing a matching rate test. I was worried about that and wanted to tell you. To be honest, that man has caused incidents regarding Guides before.”

Hanseo recalled the glistening eyes that had been staring at him.

‘He’s a guy with a track record.’

More than that, they brought a guy like that in as a guide training partner?

As if reading Hanseo’s thoughts, the instructor answered immediately.

“Actually, we tried to exclude him from this training as well, but since Esper Park Jintae is one of the few A-classes and seems to have connections within the Center…”

The instructor explained that because Espers are fundamentally very interested in Guides, most of them volunteer to be guiding practice partners. It was a point that showed Park Jintae’s status, having beaten out numerous other Espers for that position, was no ordinary thing.

“So, be careful of Esper Park Jintae. If he tries to do anything, report it immediately.”

The instructor gave Hanseo an awkward smile.

“I’m sorry this is all I can tell you.”

“…No, thank you.”

Since an incident hadn’t actually occurred yet, it was natural that, as an instructor, all he could do was tell him to be careful.

Hanseo was about to step out of the elevator when he suddenly asked.

“About the incident that Esper caused before. What happened with that?”

“Ah.”

The instructor wore a cynical expression.

“I heard he received a light disciplinary action, something along the lines of community service.”

The elevator doors closed.

“Hmm…”

Lost in thought for a moment, Hanseo took out his phone and continued what he had been doing.

Meaning, he started searching for restaurants.

‘Let’s go with Dak-galbi after all.’

Worrying wouldn’t solve the Park Jintae issue, but hunger was something he could resolve right now.

If he were an ordinary Guide, as the instructor said, he might have been scared, but Hanseo was an Esper as well as a Guide. With his abilities, he could create an opening even if his opponent was an A-class Esper. In his past life, he had used that method to escape from those chasing him.

Above all, once you’ve experienced being chased by an angry Gu Jeyi, other Espers tended to feel like no big deal.

‘No matter what Park Jintae does, compared to the task of saving a world that’s doomed to fail in five years, it’s nothing.’

❖ ❖ ❖

Just as the instructor said, the next day, Hanseo ended up doing a matching rate test with Park Jintae.

“See, Hanseo! I told you we were destiny!”

Park Jintae shouted, ostentatiously unfolding the result sheet.

To avoid replying with something like ‘so what,’ Hanseo brought up something else.

“Normally, isn’t it when it exceeds 90% that they’re called fated partners?”

“It’s only a 3% difference; it’s basically the same thing!”

The matching rate with Park Jintae was 87%.

‘A bit low.’

That was by Hanseo’s standards, but Park Jintae’s thoughts seemed different.

“Hanseo, please become my exclusive Guide!”

To think he would come out like this right away.

Hanseo fell into a moment of skepticism.

‘How nice would it have been if Gu Jeyi was like this.’

If that were the case, everything would have gone smoothly.

He would be happy, Gu Jeyi would be happy, and everyone in the world would have become happy.

Hanseo glanced at the phone in his hand.

Still, no contact from Gu Jeyi. Only Pyo Myeongho, who had taken his number, occasionally left texts asking how he was doing.

Even 87% is acting like that, so why on earth is the 98% Gu Jeyi… with that kind of figure, wouldn’t it be normal to be acting all giddy and intoxicated by the guiding? Is his mental strength just that good?

“Hanseo?”

His thoughts were broken by a low call.

Park Jintae, who had been staring blankly at Hanseo with an expressionless face, smiled brightly again when their eyes met.

For some reason, it was a bit chilling.

“It seems you’re expecting a call from somewhere?”

“…No, it’s not that, I just thought I felt a vibration.”

“Ah, I thought so too!”

‘I thought so too?’

It was a strange answer. It was as if he were a person who already knew that Hanseo had no family or friends to contact him.

As if sensing Hanseo’s doubt, Park Jintae hurriedly explained.

“Ah! Actually, after we parted like that two days ago, I asked around about Hanseo, and someone told me. That Hanseo is a survivor of the Heuk-yeong-dong Gate.”

“…”

“But I’m sorry for asking others about Hanseo without permission. I was a bit excessive.”

He was excessive, but Park Jintae’s explanation was plausible enough.

Since he had claimed to be a Heuk-yeong-dong Gate survivor, it wasn’t strange for others to know about him.

…Of course, his face being known to this extent was unexpected.

‘At this rate, isn’t the research institute going to recognize me and come looking?’

Hanseo briefly imagined a horrific scenario before shaking his head.

The photos had only circulated on the internet for a short time, and now the data was completely deleted as part of victim protection measures. Even if they had seen the photos, they wouldn’t be able to be certain right away.

‘In any case, there are no records of me remaining at the research institute. …Because I burned them all down.’

Before escaping the research institute, Hanseo had manipulated a researcher to delete all records regarding himself. Not only that, but he had also burned down the research institute building. It was a modest revenge compared to what he had endured.

In the meantime, Park Jintae was still chattering away.

“So, as an apology, could I treat you to dinner tonight? There’s a fine dining restaurant I like. I’m sure Hanseo will like the scallop confit there too.”

“Scallop, what?”

“Ah, Hanseo, you don’t know. Confit is a French dish… well, anyway, you’ll know once you go and try it.”

He didn’t know exactly what it meant, but listening to the story, it sounded like he was offering to buy something delicious.

He wasn’t without interest, but…

“Ah, I’m fine! My stomach is a bit upset today.”

Hanseo refused flatly. He didn’t think anything would taste good in front of those glistening eyes that looked like they wanted to eat him rather than the meal.

Park Jintae repeated the same offer several times, but sensing that Hanseo wouldn’t change his mind, he changed his tune.

“Then I’ll give you a ride home. That much is okay, right?”

“No, it’s fine. I can take the bus.”

He intentionally refused firmly because he felt like Park Jintae would keep clinging if given any opening, but Park Jintae did not give up easily.

When Hanseo continued to shake his head, Park Jintae eventually began to gently push Hanseo’s back.

“Come on, I couldn’t even buy you a meal, at least let me do this much. Now, let’s go.”

‘This bastard?’