By Zephyria 
For now, it would be best to go inside. That way, I can accurately grasp the current situation and mentally prepare myself for what comes next.
Whether by luck or misfortune, no more lethal attacks were flying around. It should be safe to enter that thick fog now.
“Esper Vasily-nim…”
While I was looking around for a place to change my clothes, I heard someone shouting.
Did Vasily come?
Reflexively turning my head, I saw Vasily slowly walking out from beyond the dense fog.
He looked like a mess, as if he had fought a grueling battle. His suit, which was always kept pristine, was covered in dust, and there were soot marks on his skin. His silver hair, always neatly groomed, was completely disheveled.
…I think this is the first time I’ve seen Vasily look so undone.
Just then, my eyes met Vasily’s. Upon spotting me, Vasily didn’t look away; he stared straight at me as he approached.
I was preparing to unleash a torrent of nagging on him, but as Vasily drew closer, his face was devoid of any trace of a smile, unlike usual. His cold, sunken gaze was so menacing that for a moment, I almost had the illusion that I was the one who had committed a crime.
The ground froze wherever Vasily stepped. He usually does that when he’s in a bad mood or not feeling well, and it was likely the latter.
People were glancing at Vasily, clearly wanting to ask about the situation, but no one dared to approach him, hesitating due to the murderous atmosphere.
Having arrived in front of me without any interference, Vasily finally spoke.
“I believe I told you not to come to the scene.”
He makes the situation this disastrous and the first thing he says upon seeing me is that?
The audacity is unbelievable. I shouted back indignantly at his absurd remark.
“Wasn’t I summoned because of you, Esper-nim?!”
“Summoned? Who dared to without my permission…”
Seeing his chilling gaze begin to wander toward the surroundings, I gasped and blocked his path. That was definitely a look intended to kill someone.
To divert his attention, I decided to check the most important matter. I asked in a quiet voice, audible only to him.
“Did you kill him?”
“I wonder. I intended to, but I couldn’t confirm it personally.”
Hearing Vasily’s calm response, my thoughts leaned toward the possibility that Huai Yan might actually be dead.
In the past, I would have thought, ‘This crazy bastard is at it again,’ and wouldn’t have even asked for a reason. But not anymore.
“Esper Vasily-nim, what happened?”
“…….”
“I believe you must have had a reason.”
No matter how crazy Vasily was, he wasn’t the type to attack another S-Class for no reason. Furthermore, his final attack was clearly a sincere attempt to kill his opponent. I looked at him, believing there must have been a valid reason.
“…….”
Vasily’s lips parted as if he were about to say something, but he suddenly grimaced and looked behind him. I also turned my head in the direction of his gaze, and I saw Huai Yan walking out in the distance, looking like a rag.
Vasily was a wreck, but the other man’s condition was even worse. His changpao was torn to shreds in several places, and he was bleeding from his head. The staggering was likely due to that final attack.
While Vasily ended up with some soot, the other was in worse shape, scratched and cut by ice. There were even shards of ice still clinging to the hem of his clothes.
“Guide Kwon Gi-dam, go back immediately.”
Vasily suddenly tried to send me away. Feeling anxious, I grabbed him and asked.
“Are you planning to fight again?!”
“I should finish it properly this time.”
“Wa-wait…”
Feeling the surrounding air rapidly turn cold, I hurriedly blocked Vasily. If they started fighting again here, the area would instantly turn into a living hell. There were residential areas behind us, so the citizens would undoubtedly be in danger.
While I was blocking Vasily, an association employee who had approached to check on Huai Yan’s condition exchanged some words with him and then walked toward us. Stopping a short distance away as if afraid of Vasily, he cautiously relayed Huai Yan’s words.
“Huai Yan-nim says there was a small misunderstanding. He says it is his responsibility for making the situation like this, so he will take charge of the Gate conquest himself. Also, he says it is fine for Esper Vasily-nim to leave…”
“……?”
He was attacked out of nowhere, and Vasily sincerely tried to kill him, yet he’s just letting him go like this?
Baffled, I looked at Huai Yan and our eyes met. I saw Huai Yan smiling brightly and waving his hand toward me as if greeting me.
While I was debating whether I should greet him back, a broad back cast a shadow over me, blocking my view. Looking up, I saw Vasily standing in front of me.
Fearing that Vasily would attack Huai Yan again if left alone, I hurriedly took Vasily and left the scene.
I had come here in an association vehicle, but on the way back, I got into Vasily’s car. I tried to drive, but Vasily insisted on taking the wheel.
I quietly glanced at Vasily to check his condition. I wanted to take him to the Attending Physician to get treatment first, but he would surely want to go home. Perhaps I should buy some burn ointment and apply it for him once we arrive.
On the way home, I looked out the window. Local residents had come out into the streets, buzzing as they looked at the towering ice structure in the distance.
Since it was near a residential area, there must be many witnesses. It wasn’t at a level that could be brushed off as mere training, but I looked away, trusting that the association would handle it well.
“Exactly what happened?”
“…….”
Vasily remained silent. However, I didn’t give up and continued my questioning.
“I don’t think you did that without a reason, Esper Vasily-nim.”
Looking back, there was always a reason for his madness. The reason he followed me with such obsession after the regression and couldn’t give up on me despite the low matching rate was that he could only receive guiding from me. Therefore, there must have been a reason for his attack on Huai Yan today.
Still, no answer came. Just as I was half-giving up, thinking it would be difficult to get an answer, Vasily, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke.
“…He was looking for Guide Kwon Gi-dam.”
He spoke as if muttering. Because the answer came so late, I realized a step too late that this was the response to my question.
However, hearing his answer only raised more questions.
“Huh? Why me…”
“Who knows. He might be coveting Guide Kwon Gi-dam.”
“……?”
“I’m warning you in advance, it would be best not to have useless curiosity.”
As Vasily spoke, the temperature inside the car dropped further.
Could it be that he’s acting like this because he thinks Huai Yan might have taken an interest in me—someone he first saw in a conference room and whose matching rate he doesn’t even know?
I became certain after hearing Vasily’s subsequent words. He had attacked Huai Yan because he was afraid I would leave him for another Esper.
Knowing the reason, I let out a hollow laugh. As I chuckled in disbelief, Vasily frowned as if asking why I was laughing.
“Did you do that because you were anxious that I might leave you, Esper Vasily-nim?”
“Didn’t Guide Kwon Gi-dam once try to flee abroad? You seemed poised to follow another Esper overseas the moment an opportunity arose.”
It was a situation where Vasily could have misunderstood, but there was absolutely no reason for me to follow Huai Yan.
I simply didn’t want to be entangled with a crazy person. And among the S-Classes, there wasn’t a single sane person to be found even if I scrubbed my eyes. Vasily was an equally crazy bastard, but with the contract in place, he was manageable. Why on earth would I follow an Esper I barely know, not knowing what kind of hardship I’d face?
Vasily, who didn’t know I had regressed, couldn’t possibly understand my thoughts. Unlike me, whose heart felt lighter now that I knew the reason, Vasily seemed to remain depressed at the thought that I might still run away.