44 – TDG 44

As ​if ​they ​had ​been waiting, calls ​began ​to ​ring ​from ​the afternoon.

We were dispatched ​after ​receiving a report ​that a gate ​had ​opened ​inside ​a ​six-story ​corporate building.

By a ​stroke ​of ​luck, most of ​the employees had been ​gathered on ​the first ​floor for ​a company ​event, ​allowing ​for a quick ​evacuation without ​significant casualties. The mission ​was to rescue a ​few people who hadn’t ​made it ​out ​and to wipe out the monsters ​that had taken over ​the ​building.

After ​arriving ​on ​site and receiving ​a report ​on ​the situation, Song ​Hyun-ho ​looked back at Heo Jo-yoon.

“Jo-yoon.”

“Yes.”

Heo ​Jo-yoon took ​off ​his sunglasses and ​frowned ​slightly ​as ​he ​looked through ​the ​interior of ​the building.

“Two in the east restroom on ​the 3rd floor, ​seven in the ​west office, and four ​in the ​executive office on ​the ​6th floor. Monsters ​are swarming every ​floor, so ​just ​handle them ​as ​you see ​fit.”

“Hmm, ​Seo-ah, prioritize ​the ​rescue ​of civilians.”

“Okay.”

“Finally, Je-geon-ssi ​will ​go in ​and ​give ​the ​signal.”

“Yep. I’ll be waiting.”

Park Je-geon’s skill was ‘Blockade,’ which allowed him to trap or bind anything he desired within a barrier. While the range was considerably wide, the duration was only ten minutes, so it couldn’t be used recklessly and was typically reserved for the climax. In today’s case, it was to prevent monsters from escaping through windows or walls.

“Entering.”

At Song Hyun-ho’s command, Han Ji-hyuk and Lee Seo-ah followed behind.

I wished them luck as I watched the three of them enter the building. The reason I was more motivated than usual was that Jung Ah-yoon was sitting next to me. Today, she had come to the field with me as Song Hyun-ho’s guiding partner. This is why people talk about networking. Once I established a connection with the Team leader of Esper Team 1, everything proceeded smoothly.

Just being on a dispatch together didn’t make them a couple, but it achieved my primary goal of getting Jung Ah-yoon noticed by Han Ji-hyuk.

“How is it, being at a site for the first time?”

With a slightly flushed face, Jung Ah-yoon answered calmly.

“I’m a bit nervous. But can those three really catch all the monsters stationed in the building?”

“Three are more than enough.”

They weren’t just any three; they were an A-rank avatar user, an S-rank physical combat-type Esper, and finally, Han Ji-hyuk, who was close to L-rank. Together, they could easily put out the firepower of two average Esper teams.

It might be a cliché, but wouldn’t there be a development where she falls in love at first sight after seeing Ji-hyuk’s cool performance? I mean, it happens so easily in other novels or comics…

Not long after they entered the building, Lee Seo-ah, using her avatar ability, jumped through a window carrying the rescuees. The rescue operation, carried out at incredible speed, was soon nearing completion.

• Rescue of targets complete!

The work was handled with the speed of a rapid-current course. See that? At my glance, she nodded as if impressed.

Following that, Park Je-geon deployed a translucent membrane that surrounded the entire building.

“Ten-minute countdown starts now.”

From that moment, the full-scale extermination operation began. Now that the people were out, all that remained was a war of attrition, pouring in firepower without holding back.

Boom— Kwaang! Loud explosions that felt like they would shake the building’s Read on Read BL Novelsexterior unauthorized copywalls erupted one after another. With the Blockade skill active, Song Hyun-ho was probably smashing everything [stolen content]again. The shadows of flames surging through the glass windows were likely Ji-hyuk’s.

After a long period of noise, just as the commotion began to settle, a radio call came from Song Hyun-ho.

• 6th floor. Monster extermination complete. Je-geon-ssi, you can release the blockade.

Park Je-geon gave a thumbs-up and deactivated the skill. At that moment, Heo Jo-yoon’s expression turned serious.

“Wait, there’s one more!”

“What do you mean?”

He quickly shouted into his watch.

“Team leader, there’s one more big one on the 3rd floor! It’s stealth! It’s been hiding and blending in with the surroundings until now, and it just popped out!”

As soon as Heo Jo-yoon finished speaking, the building’s exterior wall was breached. A monster the size of a freight truck burst through the wall.

“Aaaagh!”

“Stop it!!”

However, the combat forces capable of immediate response were both inside the building. Furthermore, Park Je-geon’s skill was [visit our site]on cooldown and could not be recast. The monster, having fallen to the ground with its Read on Read BL Novelsmassive body, wiggled two antennae above its head and snapped its head toward us.

Despite its mountain-like size, its charge was unbelievably fast. People scattered in panic, and I too looked for Jung Ah-yoon to flee, but she had vanished, and only one of her shoes remained in her empty spot.

“Kyaaaah!”

The monster’s tentacle flew like lightning and snatched Jung Ah-yoon. Without a moment to escape, her body was lifted into the air.

“Ah-yoon-ssi!!”

I desperately chased after her and reached out, but it was far beyond my reach.

Just as the captured Jung Ah-yoon was about to be dragged into the monster’s maw, two men leaped out, smashing through the 6th-floor windows. Song Hyun-ho, falling from the building, spun in a circle, adding centrifugal force to his acceleration to pierce and tear straight through the monster’s body, while Han Ji-hyuk skillfully caught the falling Jung Ah-yoon.

“Wow—!”

At the exquisite combo play, Heo Jo-yoon, who had fled a distance away, let out a powerful exclamation and raised his fist in triumph.

Han Ji-hyuk landed on the ground with light movements, avoiding the dead monster’s carcass. He set Jung Ah-yoon down nearby, but her legs gave out, and she staggered, unable to stand properly. As Jung Ah-yoon began to collapse helplessly, Ji-hyuk held her up firmly once more. Caught in his arms, Jung Ah-yoon looked up at Han Ji-hyuk with a pale face.

“Th-thank… you…”

The two of them, embracing and looking at each other. It was the scene I had longed for. I wanted to clench my fist like Heo Jo-yoon and let out a cheer of joy, but strangely, my body wouldn’t move. Betraying the rational will to cheer, what beat inside my heart was an ominous and sluggish throb.

Like a perfectly fitted puzzle, there was a completeness between those two that could not be filled by anyone else. The final piece conceived by the original work. It was something not permitted for a mere extra like me. I felt as if Ji-hyuk, who had been by my side until a moment ago, had drifted to a place beyond my reach.

“…”

I crumpled my cheeks into something resembling a smile. It was because I suddenly felt ridiculous. Why am I acting like this now? Didn’t I expect all of this? It seems I just felt a greater sense of loss at the fact that I had to let Ji-hyuk go than I thought I would.

Even a stray animal on the street becomes dear if you see it for a few days, and this guy is someone I’ve poured all my strength and heart into caring for since his first awakening. But now, I must send him to his true partner. I have to make him happy until the very end.

I shook off the distracting thoughts and ran toward the two of them.

“Ah-yoon-ssi, are you okay?”

“Yes… because Esper Han Ji-hyuk saved me…”

I quickly placed the shoe I had picked up at her feet. You didn’t have to do this… Jung Ah-yoon, having stepped down from Han Ji-hyuk’s arms, looked slightly embarrassed as she carefully slipped her foot into the shoe. I gently patted her shoulder.

“That was close. You must have been very surprised.”

Unlike someone who had almost died moments ago, she smiled serenely.

“Just as you said, Seonbae, the field is truly spectacular.”

The smile spreading across her lips was pure and dazzling. A sturdy courage in a slender body. Indeed, she was someone Han Ji-hyuk could fall for at first sight.

“Ji-hyuk, you worked hard to—”

As I looked up with a satisfied smile, my eyes met Ji-hyuk’s. His face was frozen hard like stone. His usual gentle expression was nowhere to be found; instead, cold, chilled eyes glared straight at me. While I hesitated, intimidated by a side of him I had never seen before, he turned around and walked away without a word.

“Ji-hyuk…?”

The interior of the port-car on the way back was silent, without so much as a breath. Ji-hyuk, sitting in the window seat in the back, kept his mouth tightly shut and stared only out the window, not even glancing my way. In the air, tightened by an unknown chill and tension, I simply fidgeted, not knowing why.

‘Why is he suddenly acting like this?’

There had to be a reason for his sudden cold attitude, as if he were a different person. It was my job to figure that out, but I couldn’t even guess what the cause might be. Until we were dispatched to the site, there had been no problems between us. That meant the trigger for Ji-hyuk’s bad mood was something that happened after that.

‘But what on earth was it?’

What did I do? I’d rather he just get angry openly so I could apologize, but since he’s keeping his mouth shut like a clam, it’s driving me crazy with frustration. I want to ask why he’s angry, and the words are on the tip of my tongue. But if… if I speak to him and get ignored, then what do I do?

I slumped my shoulders, feeling discouraged.

Upon arriving at the Center, Ji-hyuk opened the door and got out first, walking away with long strides.

“Ji-hyuk, wait a second!”

I hurried after him, but his stride was so wide and his pace so fast that I quickly lost him. I knew his destination, but seeing his back distance itself in an instant without a single look back, I didn’t have the courage to chase him further.

More than anything, I was worried since I couldn’t provide guiding. Someone of Han Ji-hyuk’s level could probably pass without it given today’s activity, but still…

I felt like I was sitting on a bed of needles all day, and as clock-out time approached, I went to the office of Esper Team 1. However, Ji-hyuk was nowhere to be seen.

“Huh? Guide Seo Joo-won? What brings you to our office?”

Lee Seo-ah raised her hand in a casual greeting.

“Hello, where did Ji-hyuk go?”

“What? He didn’t go with you? That guy left a long time ago.”

He left a long time ago? Without telling me?

“Han Ji-hyuk left Guide Seo Joo-won behind?”

Following a bewildered Park Je-geon, Heo Jo-yoon tilted his head and added.

“He’s been in a low mood ever since he returned from the mission. He doesn’t even answer when asked. Did something happen…?”

That… I’m asking because I don’t know either…

After sending a message asking where he was, I looked around everywhere, but I couldn’t find any trace of Ji-hyuk. I checked my phone as I trudged down to the parking lot, but there was no reply. It didn’t even seem like he had read it. Did he really go home alone?