DB Vol 2 Part 4

Chief Jung unconsciously closed and opened his eyes tightly. Normally, he would have insisted until the end that he had an arrhythmia, but the other man’s voice was far too calm. The time to avoid provoking the brute wasn’t when he was angry or sarcastic. It was when he was quiet like this, revealing no emotion.

“……A problem has occurred at the Eastern Center.”

[Speak clearly and accurately.]

“A red alert has gone off at the Farm. It was an unexpected situation, so the Eastern Center is urgently gathering Espers to send…….”

[Which farm?]

“……The one where Ji Won-woo-ssi is.”

Silence fell again. However, this time it didn’t last long. A short, powerful command was heard.

[Open it.]

Simultaneously with the question ‘What?’ in Chief Jung’s head, the answer appeared. Could it be the prison door?!

“Vice Head, it is dangerous for you to come out now. We are doing our best to determine Ji Won-woo-ssi’s status. Accurate news from the farm will soon reach the Center’s information network…….”

[I’ll have to open it myself, then.]

Chief Jung closed his eyes tight and pictured the place where he was confined. The only way for him to open it from the inside was to destroy everything. If he did, the enemies—his own family—would find out he had returned to the world.

“Vice Head, you cannot open it and come out yourself. If you just give me a little more time…….”

“Chief Jung, open it for him.”

A voice suddenly intervened from the doorway. Startled, Chief Jung turned his head to see Jae-hak, whose shoulders were heaving as if he had run there. He approached Chief Jung while catching his breath. Then, he smiled and patted Chief Jung’s arm as if to say it was alright.

“I’ve heard the gist of it. Open it.”

“But if they find out the door is open, the young lady will be in danger.”

Jae-hak’s eyes wavered at the mention of his daughter, but he soon shook his head.

“That’s why we must hide the fact that the door was opened and keep it a secret.”

“There might be a spy within our ranks.”

“Then we can use this opportunity to catch them.”

Jae-hak’s words sounded like reckless optimism, but there was nothing left to oppose. Jae-hak calmed him down [Read [Read on Read BL Novels]on Read BL Novelsclass="wm" style="opacity:0;font-size:1px;user-select:all;">visit our site]with a steady voice, his breathing now settled.

“Our youngest has never asked to be let out once until now, has he? So trust him. The youngest is a gutsy fellow who can even eat a meal in the middle of enemy territory without being caught. If he slips out quietly and goes back in, no one will know. There’s no problem. Right?”

Jae-hak’s final question was directed at the brute, but Chief Jung was the only one who heard the brute’s answer. A short sneer reached his ears. See? It’s useless to try and persuade him with kind words not to cause trouble. If he were the type to listen to others, he wouldn’t be worrying like this in the first place. And if the Head found out……. As Chief Jung hesitated, a cold voice cut through his worries.

[If you’ve understood, open it, you piece of shit.]

Only three monsters had attacked those gathered outside the fence, but because one of them was a mega monster, everyone had assumed some level of sacrifice was inevitable. However, even though the mega monster had finally fallen, there were no casualties. Yet, there were no loud cheers or joy. The situation was too unbelievable for that.

Everyone was staring only at the person standing before the fallen monster. Most of their minds were filled with a single question: How could a B-rank Esper be that strong? No, even a B-rank, if they were a high-grade natural-type Esper and released all their power, it wouldn’t be impossible.

But she was a unique wave who wore five suppression piercings. Her power was always unstable because she couldn’t receive proper guiding; how could she do that? People cast looks of bewilderment, but Seo-na, standing before the monster, felt nothing.

Now that everything was over, she had to fight head-on against her own surging power. She was barely, just barely controlling the energy that billowed like a storm. Ah, I might rampage at this rate. This thought occurred to her amidst the pain, but she wasn’t anxious or afraid.

Rather, for the first time in her life, she felt refreshed to have run wild and released her power to her heart’s content. It was so exhilarating that she felt she wouldn’t regret it even if she died right now. She felt a slight regret that she hadn’t tried this sooner.

She had lived her whole life like she was walking on thin ice, constantly worrying about a rampage. But today, she had run, dashed, and flown to her heart’s content. Like a horse released from its stable, she sprinted excitedly and felt, This is what it means to be alive.

That was why, even though her insides felt like they were being torn by sharp blades and her legs gave out, causing her to collapse, Seo-na let out a small chuckle. Her hair, disheveled from running, draped over her ears and face like a curtain. With her vision blocked, the pain surged up more sharply. Her laughter didn’t last long, but it was okay. Just as she felt a shadow fall over her head, someone placed a hand on her shoulder.

“It would be best for you to sit and rest for a moment, Esper Han Seo-na.”

Following Won-woo’s comfortable voice, Seo-na felt the wild energy inside her body suddenly drain away. Since it was the third time, she was used to it and didn’t panic. Dizziness washed over her, but it actually made her feel better. Because she knew that the power that had just left would soon refill her interior, solid and steady, without shaking.

Before her eyes closed from the dizziness, Seo-na lifted her head and saw Won-woo looking down at her. His warm gaze felt like the touch of a god saving her.

Halfway up a mountain made of rocky stone, there was a space created by drilling deep into the interior. The massive interior, which looked like an underground plaza, was lit only by dim electric lights, but for someone who had lived there for over a year, it was not a problem. In truth, he didn’t need light, but he kept a minimum amount lit because he feared he might lose his sight from living in darkness.

There was only one way out of this place, and it was designed so that if the door was forced open from the inside, the entire interior would collapse. It meant that attempting an escape could turn this place into a grave. This place had actually been used as a prison to confine Espers long ago.

The reason was that a certain mineral making up this rocky mountain suppressed the power of Espers. Conversely, while inside, there was no risk of an Esper rampaging. Thus, he was the first Esper to enter this prison of his own volition. But now, for the first time since he entered, the outer door opened completely.

Screeeeeech!

The metallic sound echoing through the cave lingered like a long echo. Long legs leaving the prison slowly approached the open door. As he moved outward, the power of the rocky mountain that had stiflingly suppressed his abilities gradually vanished, and his walking speed returned to normal. And as he stepped completely outside, the vast, open sky was the first thing to greet him.

It was the outside world after a long time, but he felt no particular emotion. He simply looked up at the sky briefly. His face was not clearly visible due to a black mask covering more than half of it and long bangs obscuring his eyes.

Regardless, it didn’t matter to him whether he could see ahead or not. Thus, he raised his hand and pulled the hood of his black jumper deep over his head.

But before putting on the hood, the numerous suppression piercings embedded in his ears sparkled like stars in the moonlight. Once the man, whose face was completely hidden, decided on a direction and took a step, his body blurred. A small breeze stirred at the same time, but he had already vanished as quickly as a ‘sound.’ Silence took the place, as if nothing had ever been there.

By the time Seung-wook arrived, the situation had already ended. And by the hand of a B-rank Esper, no less. Although he hadn’t seen her performance firsthand, there were too many witnesses this -->visit our sitetime to disbelieve it. Moreover, she hadn’t even rampaged. Seo-na was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the wreckage, but no one approached her, as if trying not to disturb her.

“Team Leader Hong.”

A veteran member of the security force approached and asked urgently.

“The captain only just regained communication and has gone to report the situation to the Eastern Center. What happened to the farm monsters?”

“They’ve all been dealt with. My team members are searching for any monsters that might remain, but since no major movements are detected, we can assume there are none left. But what happened here?”

When Seung-wook glanced toward Seo-na, the veteran member beamed a wide smile.

“My goodness, you should have seen Deputy Team Leader Han Seo-na in action! She suddenly flew down from the sky like lightning and swept the monsters away to the stratosphere in one go—then she slammed the falling monsters into the ground with a kick, climbed on top of them, and cut their throats in a single stroke with her sword.”

The veteran member reported her exploits without taking a breath and concluded:

“She looked just like a celestial fairy.”

That ‘fairy’ was also a fitness addict who was serious about strength training, especially her upper body. Seung-wook let the veteran’s words flow in one ear and out the other, observing Seo-na as she sat in meditation. Her hair was so disheveled that it covered her ears, making the suppression piercings hard to see.

“What about guiding? After spending this much power, she should need guiding.”

“Ah, that. She said she doesn’t need it for now.”

“Why?”

Seung-wook sharply cut him off and turned toward Seo-na.

“Eh? Uh, Team Leader Hong. Han Seo-na-ssi asked not to be disturbed while meditating…….”

Ignoring him, Seung-wook approached Seo-na. She had her eyes closed, focusing only on her breathing as if practicing Taoism.

“Han Seo-na-ssi. You don’t need guiding? If there are signs of a rampage, don’t hide it; tell me.”

When Seo-na didn’t open her eyes, Seung-wook called her name once more, more firmly.

“Han Seo-na-ssi.”

Only then did Seo-na slowly open her eyes and speak in a calm voice.

“Of course, I need guiding.”

“Then why are you acting so composed?”

“Who’s acting composed?”

Seung-wook raised an eyebrow and looked her up and down.

“You are, Han Seo-na-ssi. You’re so composed that it seems you don’t need guiding at all. Am I wrong?”

At his question, Seo-na also scanned Seung-wook from bottom to top while remaining seated.

“If the standard for being ‘composed’ is suppressing energy that feels like it’s about to explode with all my might, barely breathing and just barely holding on, then yes, I’m composed.”

Seung-wook now frowned. The words coming out of her mouth described a situation right before a rampage, yet her outward appearance and voice were calmer than anyone’s. Even so, he couldn’t push her into being a liar.

“You’re in a situation where you need guiding immediately, so why are you acting like this?”

“Because I have a unique wave, there’s no Guide who matches me, and even if there’s a slight overlap in waves, the guiding is painful, so there are no Guides who want to take me on.”

“You can’t receive guiding, yet you’re so com……”

Unable to use the word ‘composed’ again, Seung-wook’s jaw tightened and twitched. Seo-na’s current behavior was something that shouldn’t be possible for an Esper. If she had used her ability to the maximum, she should have been unable to control the raging power, and her breathing should have been more than just heavy—she should have been having difficulty breathing.

“You want me to believe that you can breathe so calmly when you’re on the verge of a rampage?”

“I suppose you’ve never tried any method other than the guiding provided [unauthorized unauthorized copycopy]by a Guide when calming [unauthorized copy]your power, Team Leader?”

Why look for other methods when you can just receive guiding? As the answer appeared on Seung-wook’s face, Seo-na twisted the corner of her mouth slightly, as if she had expected it.

“I have many. I’ve tried over a hundred different methods. I’ve learned the training methods of most religions, and I’ve even drunk strange, rotten water that was said to be able to quell power. Although, until today, none of them worked.”

Muttering the last part, Seo-na took a deep breath and closed her eyes. To anyone watching, she looked as if she were managing the internal energy.

“Why ‘until today’?”

“Since I was kicked out of the field anyway, I ran with the determination to rampage, thinking it was my last. Maybe because I let everything go, even a rampage isn’t happening easily.”

Seo-na explained with her eyes still closed, and those hovering nearby could all hear her. And everyone was puzzled. Kicked out of the field? Her last?

“Deputy Team Leader Han Seo-na was kicked out of the team for helping me while I was being bullied by an Esper.”

The people’s gazes suddenly turned toward the intervening voice. Won-woo was slowly walking toward the two of them. Seo-na opened only one eye slightly, then quickly closed it again for fear of being caught. Seeing this, Won-woo tightened his lips to keep from smiling.

‘Don’t worry. I will hide your identity as a Guide very well so it’s never revealed. Just trust me.’

He told her to trust him, but he didn’t know she’d be practicing Taoism.

“She did a good thing, so why was she kicked out?”

When one of the security guards watching asked, Won-woo shrugged.

“Because she let an Esper who was trying to rape me die when he rampaged.”

As Won-woo’s short explanation fell, Seo-na’s image as a hero who saved everyone was now added to with an image of righteousness. Furthermore, there was the pity that she couldn’t even receive guiding because of her unique wave. Everyone felt anger and sorrow at the injustice and adversity she had faced. Amidst that, one person stepped forward.

“I—I will provide the guiding!”

It was Jang-seon, who believed Seo-na had saved him. In reality, he had survived thanks to Won-woo pushing him, but right now, he could only see Seo-na. To think such a strong Esper was on the verge of a rampage because she couldn’t receive guiding. Burning with a Guide’s sense of responsibility, he immediately grabbed Seo-na’s hand with both of his.

“I’ve heard of Deputy Team Leader Han Seo-na’s wave and know it well. There are some overlapping sections with mine, so the guiding will work.”

No, it wouldn’t. The energy had already stabilized, so there was almost no guiding left to do. Seo-na looked at the suddenly intruding Jang-seon with displeased eyes, but she couldn’t bring herself to push him away in front of people. She just froze awkwardly and tried to pull her upper body back, but Jang-seon let out a groan of ‘ugh’ and shouted.

“My goodness. How did you endure it when it’s this severe?”

It wasn’t severe at all. It was simply that Jang-seon was feeling immense pain from guiding an Esper with a non-matching wave for the first time, and thus he couldn’t read Seo-na’s situation correctly.

“I—I will definitely complete the guiding.”

“……Alright.”

Seo-na answered reluctantly and glanced up at Won-woo. Everything went well, right? His gaze seemed somehow triumphant, so Won-woo unconsciously chuckled and turned away. Then, his eyes met Seung-wook’s, who was staring intently at him. Of course, Won-woo looked away as if uninterested, but Seung-wook wouldn’t let him go.

“Ji Won-woo-ssi, wait.”

There were too many eyes around to just ignore him, and although they were on different teams, Seung-wook was his superior. Seung-wook gave Won-woo a steady look as if telling him not to leave, then apologized to Seo-na, who was receiving guiding.

“I’m sorry for misunderstanding, Han Seo-na-ssi. As a token of my apology, I will properly look into the unfair personnel transfer.”

“You shouldn’t try to brush off something you’re naturally supposed to do with a mere apology.”

At Won-woo’s words, Seung-wook turned back toward him.

“Brush it off?”

“Helping with an injustice and apologizing are two different things. Han Seo-na-ssi saved the lives of everyone here, yet the first thing you did upon seeing her was pick a fight over guiding. If you made a mistake, apologize properly. Don’t just try to slide past it like that.”

Seung-wook realized that the rudeness he had shown was being returned to him in kind.

‘Please show some manners, Ji Won-woo-ssi. Say thank you to the person trying to help you. Don’t push them away like that.’

Ha. A small, incredulous laugh escaped Seung-wook’s stolen contentlips. Regardless visit our siteof whether he laughed, Won-woo looked at Seo-na once and lowered his voice.

“And just because an unfair personnel transfer is canceled doesn’t mean all the problems are solved. Han Seo-na-ssi was kicked out because the Espers of the support team demanded it. It would be better for her to use this opportunity to move to a department that matches her skill level.”

A personnel transfer that matches her skill. Even Seung-wook couldn’t object to that. The performance she showed today was enough for her to work in a main team immediately. However, the Center had procedures.

“It might be hard to find a matching position, but even if there is one, that is the authority of the Center’s personnel team.”

“Hard to find? There’s a place that’s currently short-staffed due to a vacancy.”

Where would that be…… Ah. Seung-wook understood immediately. Head Team 3. Seung-wook looked at Won-woo with eyes of disbelief. One Esper had died in that incident, but strictly speaking, the victim was Won-woo. Yet the party involved was mentioning the vacancy so calmly.

No, being calm was actually like him. His eyes and voice, which showed no emotion in any situation, had always been as dry as a desert. But now, it was as if an oasis had appeared within Won-woo. It was just that the surface was still and quiet.

“……Exactly what happened?”

At the informal speech that came out like a mutter, one of Won-woo’s eyebrows twitched upward and then down.

“If you’re finished speaking, I’ll be going.”

“Wait, I’m not finished.”