SOFTIE 4

It’s not that I’m resentful. It was thanks to awakening as an Esper inside a Gate that I was able to kill the magic beasts and survive. Otherwise, I would have died back then. It’s just… sad.

If I awakened as an Esper, couldn’t they at least give me one Guide who actually matches me? Honestly, haven’t I endured a lot?

“If I go to heaven and meet the one called God, I’m going to kill him…”

He muttered blankly, but he was serious. Park Geonwoo flinched at the chilling voice, but seeing Yeonwoo move, he quickly spread out the combat gear rolling on the floor so it would be easier for him to put on.

“What about the others?”

“Everyone is just waiting for the Captain to arrive!”

“Contamination status?”

“It’s green!”

“…Right, that’s a relief.”

Yeonwoo put on his combat suit. On his chest, the medals—rewards for saving countless citizens and clearing Gates—shone brightly.

He had returned to his role as the strongest weapon the Seoul Branch Association boasted, and the leader of Seoul Branch Team 1, responsible for the safety of this nation.

Just then, the sound of a dry cough drifted through the gap of the open door.

“Is this really my house? There sure are a lot of uninvited guests.”

“A-hem. Ye-Yeonwoo, are you feeling okay?”

A middle-aged man poked his head in, cautiously reading the room. To others, he was the respected President of the Esper Association, but in front of Yeonwoo, he became infinitely small. It was because of guilt.

“I said I was going. Why did you come?”

“Oh, no… I was just worried about you… You haven’t had a proper rest yet. Is your condition alright?”

“Well, it’s within the ‘okay’ range.”

However, Ma Seongtae’s expression showed no signs of relaxing. The “okay” level Yeonwoo spoke of was a disaster to anyone else. And his face grew even darker upon seeing the contamination level. He had already received the report, so he knew.

“80%…”

His eyes trembled. It was a bad level. But was Yeonwoo lying? Not at all. For Yeonwoo, this was normal.

“…Is it still like that even after taking medicine?”

“I told you I developed a tolerance. Even so, it’s only at this level because I down a whole bottle every night before bed.”

Yeonwoo swallowed a bitter smile. This man had also suffered a lot. He had taken an innocent child who knew nothing and taught him how to adjust his power, how to control it, and how to live.

“Our team has S-class experience so we’re fine, but there are many Espers in other teams who don’t, right?”

“…Yeah. Since many Espers died three years ago. Still, there are many newly awakened Espers. There’s Geonwoo, too. Won’t he be useful?”

“T-that’s right! S-class is scary, but… I will do my best.”

Yeonwoo glanced briefly at Park Geonwoo. He was an A-class Esper, but his ability was excellent, so he would be a help. However, it was a bit insufficient for clearing an S-class Gate. Inevitably, Yeonwoo would have to step up.

If that happened, he would have to use his powers, and he wouldn’t be able to stop the rampage. He had that intuition.

“I’m going to rampage today. No, I’ll end up doing it. For the team leader position, Mister Minjae would be fine, and Yusung would do well too. Thinking about the future, Yusung would be better. He’s S-class and has a good family background. Even without me, the team will run well. Hana should be able to reach S-class within three years. Geonwoo, you… you just became an Esper, so don’t overdo it. There are many Espers who die because they step forward saying they can do it. You have to look after your own life. Do you understand?”

“…Ca-Captain!”

As he spoke calmly as if to confirm this was the end, Park Geonwoo’s expression distorted. It was the same for Ma Seongtae.

“Yeonwoo-ya!”

“You knew the end was approaching, didn’t you? Rather, it’s a miracle I’ve held out this long. Isn’t that right?”

Yeonwoo replied playfully with the corners of his mouth turned up. He didn’t particularly have lingering attachments to life. Ignoring the words of the two who were shouting at him not to give up on life, he headed toward the situation room where the team members were gathered. Yeonwoo opened the door.

Everyone from Team 1 was gathered, but their expressions weren’t very good. It was obvious who would suffer the most in an S-class Gate.

“I’m going to rampage today. So if I do, leave me and run away. Once I rampage, I’ll clear at least one S-class Gate before I die, so don’t worry.”

A cold silence descended on the situation room at Yeonwoo’s bombshell announcement, but soon Choi Minjae nodded calmly as if he had expected it.

Shin Yusung’s face hardened, and Kang Hana clicked her tongue. The only ones who couldn’t accept it were the rookie who just joined, Park Geonwoo, and the Guide, Min Haeyoon.

“I-I will do the guiding…!”

“It won’t get any better.”

“If only I had a little more strength…”

“It’s not that you lack strength. What am I supposed to do if the Guide who matches me best says that? It’s thanks to you that I lived this long.”

Min Haeyoon had been able to secure the position of Team 1’s Guide due to his matching rate with Yeonwoo, high rank, and total energy capacity.

“I-Is no one going to stop him? The Captain is saying he’s going to die!”

Park Geonwoo couldn’t accept it until the very end. He respected Yeonwoo. He couldn’t accept that the end for the man he respected like a hero would be a rampage.

Choi Minjae, who was sitting next to him, stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t be like that, when you know full well the state of an Esper who hasn’t received guiding.”

“…!”

Speechless, Park Geonwoo clenched both fists. As the atmosphere sank gloomily, Yeonwoo sighed and shouted.

“Alright, alright, let’s head out. Everyone will be waiting.”

A flashy spotlight and numerous Espers followed behind him. But the end was obvious.

In the end, he rampaged.

It was not even three hours after he started using his abilities. It had turned a deep red, like a bloodstain. Since his burden was heavier than the other Espers, it was only natural.

Because he had told them until it was drilled into their ears, everyone left as planned, leaving only Yeonwoo behind in his rampaging state. What is it like outside? It must be a mess, right? Everyone must be flustered and unable to accept it right now.

But soon, they’ll have no choice but to accept it. Because everyone must have known that Yeonwoo was at his limit and were just ignoring it.

People die eventually. Nothing lasts forever.

Yes, that’s how it was, but.

“Why am I alive…”

Yeonwoo was sprawled out on the ground. Has there ever been an instance where an Esper who entered a rampage state returned to their senses on their own?

I’ve never heard of such a case. Why are isolation measures taken just before a rampage? A rampaging Esper is like a magic beast. Simply a beast and a monster that destroys everything.

“My body feels refreshed though…? Did I feel relieved because I killed so many magic beasts…?”

Since he didn’t know, he just muttered nonsense.

Just then, a strange creature caught Yeonwoo’s eye. A single existence with a blue glow was hopping around nearby.

It was a magic beast. Yeonwoo’s eyes widened.

I didn’t notice that sound?

And the last strange memory flashed through Yeonwoo’s mind. The memory of something covering his face before he collapsed. The feeling of being held in a warm embrace.

As everything came back to him, he bolted upright.

“Kkyut, kkyuu!”

As Yeonwoo sat up, the magic beast nearby hopped over excitedly.

To anyone’s eyes, it looked like a puppy rushing toward its owner. If it had a tail, it definitely would have been wagging. The magic beast circled around Yeonwoo joyfully.

Its identity was a slime.

“A slime in an S-class Gate?”

A slime. It was a magic beast on the level of what’s commonly called a ‘trash mob’. But a magic beast is a magic beast. So why is it friendly toward a human? Is it planning to catch me off guard and attack?

Yeonwoo grew wary of the slime and tried to use his ability to kill it. However, he hesitated because of an unknown sense of reluctance.

In the meantime, the slime thrust something forward.

“…A flower?”

“Kkyu!”

The slime rubbed its body against Yeonwoo and handed him the flower. As if it were giving it to Yeonwoo.

Yeonwoo stared blankly at what the slime was doing. It had zero aggression and was even giving a gift? Yeonwoo was flustered. He stared at the pure white flower swaying before his eyes.

The moment he reflexively reached out his hand to take the flower, the contamination level indicated by the measuring device on his wrist caught his eye.

“…What is this.”

The measuring device that had been glowing red had turned orange.

He had been in a state where it exceeded 90% and hit 100% while rampaging. But it had come down to 87%.

“I returned to my senses from a rampage. After a single rampage… “