SOFTIE 7

“Hey, don’t move. You haven’t healed yet, you know? Ah, but… isn’t this coming back? It’s not like someone took a bite out of you. What is this…”

A section of the slime was gouged out, as if someone had taken a bite out of a piece of soft glutinous rice cake. His heart ached at the sight. The slime suddenly approached the fallen monster.

“What are you trying to do…”

The slime’s body spread wide, and then it swallowed the monster whole. It was devouring the monster, digesting it bit by bit. Yeonwoo watched the scene in silence.

“…A monster is a monster, after all.”

The fact that the slime was indeed a monster hit home once again.

It looked cute and harmless on the outside, but a monster was a dangerous entity. The more it digested, the more new flesh sprouted. Having returned to its perfectly intact form, the slime approached Yeonwoo again. Then, it hopped toward his chest.

The impact caused Yeonwoo to tumble backward. Startled, the slime moved off of him and scurried around the vicinity.

“Kkyu? Kkyu-it?”

It was a cry that sounded as if it were asking if he was hurt. Yeonwoo let out a short, airy chuckle.

To be receiving concern from a monster. It was ridiculous, yet he couldn’t move his body.

“…They’re swarming.”

Was it because of the fight just now? Monsters began to gather.

Could he face them? Only his contamination level had dropped. His strength hadn’t returned yet. No, it was impossible.

“I’m really going to die this time.”

Shall I ask one last time? Yeonwoo reached his hand out toward the slime.

“Can you really not guide?”

The slime tilted its head to the side. Its innocent appearance brought a smile to his face.

“Right, there’s no way it’s possible. Was it all just my delusion?”

Swallowing a sigh, he stared blankly into the air. He couldn’t deny the feeling of having received guiding, but since it couldn’t be found, he questioned whether a Guide had even existed. Or perhaps they had truly died.

“At least you survive. But… don’t hurt humans. You wouldn’t do that, would you? You seem to like people. Still, people might try to kill you if they see you, so avoid them. Got it?”

He was supposed to kill all monsters, but he felt it would be sad if this little one died.

Did it even understand what I said?

Yeonwoo simply watched the still slime. Then, the slime hesitated and drew closer.

Approaching the side of his face, the slime extended a tentacle and touched Yeonwoo’s cheek. It cried out as if worried about a tiny scratch that even Yeonwoo hadn’t noticed.

“Ah, the wound… this is nothing. No need to worry. More importantly, get out of here quickly. Multiple monsters will be storming in soon. You struggled that much just to take down one. You can’t handle them. Go, quickly.”

He pushed the slime away with his hand, but it only clung to him as if refusing to leave. The problem was that he didn’t entirely dislike it.

It was then. As a sense of refreshment filled his body, Yeonwoo’s eyes snapped open. Unknowingly, he reached out his arms and pulled the slime into a tight embrace.

‘This is…’

Yeonwoo stared at the slime with wide eyes. His strength was returning little by little. A sensation of comfort that went beyond mere pleasure.

The slime doesn’t know. Only Yeonwoo, who is receiving the guiding, can tell. The slime was simply happy just because Yeonwoo was hugging it.

The corners of Yeonwoo’s mouth relaxed. This was instinct. This little one was indeed the Guide he had been searching for for years. His depleted energy was returning bit by bit.

“It’s you. It was you. You kept letting me know, but I didn’t realize it.”

Yeonwoo rubbed his face against the slime’s face to feel that sensation even more.

A Guide. My Guide.

He was certain now. He wasn’t afraid of the approaching monsters nearby. On the contrary, he wanted to tear apart and kill the monsters interfering with this moment right this second.

And he remembered the slime that had fought the monster.

How much must it have suffered here alone? His past days, spent resenting why a Guide wouldn’t appear for him, were foolish.

My Guide had been waiting here all along. It was only me, who failed to find my Guide sooner, who was foolish.

“Let’s go.”

It wasn’t a question. Nevertheless, he was certain his Guide would take his hand. Yeonwoo stared at the slime for a long time.

“Come with me.”

The slime pounced onto Yeonwoo’s face. It wasn’t unpleasant at all. His muddled head cleared, and the noise grew distant. Only laughter came out.

And joy—the emotions of the Guide—were transmitted to him.

“Kkyuu! Kkyu!”

“Are you happy?”

Drowsiness flooded in like a tide. He saw the contamination level displayed on his measuring device drop.

With a beep, it reached 80% and slowly dropped to 79%. There could be no evidence more certain than this.

He didn’t know how long it had been. Since he had seen the number 7. The fact that it was a monster was a concern, but what did that matter? The Guide he met right before his rampage. My Guide who brightened the world.

This is fate. Even if that existence is a monster.

The Seoul Esper Association headquarters was filled with nothing but silence. After Yeonwoo’s rampage began, everyone had returned, leaving him behind alone. No one knew whether the rampage had ended or not.

The signal from his gear had long since been cut off. However, the Gate had not yet closed.

The TV was broadcasting the S-class Gate, revealing its ominous entrance.

“Whew… those at the top don’t seem to have any intention of moving.”

But the higher-ups show no sign of taking action. Their plan is to monopolize the byproducts coming out of the S-class Gate. Yeonwoo, who has fallen into a state of rampage. There is no time to mourn his death.

If that Gate didn’t close, another Esper had to be deployed. That was the problem. There was no Esper yet to replace him.

‘Yoosung still lacks experience…!’

When an Esper ranked among the best in the world emerged from that prestigious family, they openly tried to push him forward, but Yeonwoo was an obstacle.

Therefore, for Shin Ui-taek, this situation must be a golden opportunity.

What if a new team is formed and they still fail to clear the Gate? One can’t help but think about the aftermath.

“Even at a moment like this, I am…”

Yeonwoo would comfort him. He’d say it’s a natural thought, that it’s a Mister’s job. Ma Seong-tae steadied his aching heart.

He had placed a heavy burden on him at a young age, but he had performed his role sufficiently. Team 1 had an extraordinary success rate in clearing Gates and excellent results in subjugating monsters. At the center of it all was Yeonwoo.

However, Yeonwoo’s life was by no means smooth.

He had awakened as an S-class Esper and was far superior even among S-classes due to his outstanding abilities. But he had no Guide. When his contamination level rose, he had to forcibly restrict his abilities.

Despite that, the levels continued to rise, and he suffered from the side effects. The higher-ups pushed Yeonwoo, who was in an unstable state without receiving guiding, to the brink.

He had to give up everything he should have enjoyed at a young age to focus on training. He put his life on the line to clear Gates. Sometimes, he was caught up in the fights of adults.

“Rather… it’s amazing that he held out until now. Since he threw himself into clearing the Gate until the very end.”

“Yes. It’s more than enough. Yeonwoo worked hard.”

Choi Minjae replied while smoking a cigarette at the bitter reality. The hearts of the team members who had to leave Yeonwoo behind were also heavy. Because they all knew Yeonwoo’s hard work until now, and because they knew he had reached his limit, they simply resigned themselves.

It has been four days since they escaped, leaving the rampaging Yeonwoo behind. The Gate still shows no signs of closing.

“…Is he dead?”

“Hey! Don’t say such ominous things!”

Kang Hana said, huffing. However, she also inwardly thought he might be dead. Unable to contain her anger, she kicked a nearby piece of furniture.

Shin Yoosung glanced at her and then stared at the TV. On the TV, the entrance of the Gate was shown, along with the people still waiting for Yeonwoo’s return.

[Let us all… cheer him on. In the hopes that he can clear this Gate and return safely!]

It showed the people praying for him to return after clearing the Gate, just like always. However, those involved know.

The end of an Esper’s rampage. Once a rampage begins, even a Guide finds it difficult to approach. Even if he does come out, he will only become a time bomb that might explode at any moment.

“Should I try talking to my father?”

“Forget it. Would the Minister even pretend to listen? Ah, I’m not blaming you.”

“I know. Chairman, will my end be like that too?”

“We will do our best to make sure it doesn’t turn out like that.”