By Zephyria 
“Superpowers! It’s the Earth Defense Force!”
The squad leader’s cry spread far and wide, echoing, ‘Earth Defense Force… Earth Defense Force……’
Hae-jun hung his head in shame. He really didn’t think he could ever get used to that name.
After leaving the training camp, Hae-jun and the two boys were assigned to their units. They moved to a unit composed solely of Espers and Guides.
While most units were located at the front lines, the Esper-Guide unit was hidden in a secluded valley in Gangwon Province. They wore uniforms instead of military uniforms and called each other Esper-nim and Guide-nim instead of Private, Private First Class, and Corporal.
Although classified as soldiers to impose the duty of national defense in times of war, they were, in effect, closer to special mercenaries.
The first impression of the Esper-Guide unit was that of a dormitory academy built in a mountain valley. Behind the parade ground and the low, wide-spreading unit, stood dormitories that looked like tofu cut into chunks.
“The left is the dormitory where the Guides stay, and the right is where the Espers stay. Currently, there are about a thousand Espers and three hundred Guides.”
The man in charge of guiding Hae-jun and the boys was excessively affable and kind for a soldier. He even held their hands to escort the three Guides out of the car.
“There are fewer Espers than I thought?”
“All the Espers here are B-grade or higher. C-grades are returned to defense duty after completing five weeks of military training, and D-grades and below are not managed separately.”
Ah, so that’s why.
Hae-jun finally understood the postings on the bulletin board. It was difficult for C-grades and below to meet a Guide.
“Then how do people below C-grade receive assistance?”
“Well.”
The man, whom he had thought was excessively kind, shrugged indifferently. As if to say, that’s none of my business.
Well, even if only A and B grades were gathered, there would be about a thousand people. In comparison, the number of Guides was about three hundred. The number of Guides was insufficient even to take care of only A and B grades. It was inevitable for the nation as well.
“Do we have to live in the dormitory? Can’t we get separate housing?”
Jo Eun-gyu asked. Then, the man in charge of the guidance slightly lifted his hat to expose his face and suddenly answered in a meltingly soft voice.
“Once an Esper and a Guide form a partnership, they can go down to the village and live there. Commuting from there is possible.”
“That’s allowed?”
“Yes. Not only that, but once a partnership is formed, a lease deposit loan is also available, and freedom of residence is guaranteed after one year of partnership. In the third year, the state sends you on a free trip. The third year is Southeast Asia, and the fifth year is Europe.”
“Ah. Yes.”
“There are many other benefits given when an Esper-Guide partnership is formed. The benefits given in the third year are comparable to those for newlywed special housing. Special housing is also provided to partners who are not in good circumstances.”
“Ah… hahaha.”
Jo Eun-gyu pulled his neck in like a turtle. The man continued to explain enthusiastically.
“Those beautiful partners who cherish and love each other for a long time are also provided with opportunities for overseas study. There is only one legendary pair in our unit who have seized that opportunity. They will come to give a special lecture later, so be sure to listen to their good words.”
“Yes… thank…….”
“My name is Kim Ju-chan. I’m an A-grade Esper and still unmarried… no, a free agent without a partner.”
Kim Ju-chan Esper aggressively approached Jo Eun-gyu. Jo Eun-gyu, who had been caught off guard by asking just one question, didn’t know what to do with his face flushed.
“There is also a system in place where you can try living together before entering into a partnership. With just one application form stating that you want to be together, the state will support your cohabitation.”
Hae-jun was amazed by Kim Ju-chan’s explanation. Since when was Korea such an open country to homosexuality? He was embarrassed.
As the three Guides exchanged glances in silence, Kim Ju-chan cleared his throat and took a step back.
“Um, you only need to receive theoretical education in the first week. There’s nothing difficult, so don’t worry. All you have to do is watch the videos and write your impressions. This is Building 1. It’s the Guide-only dormitory. I can’t go any further from here. Organize your luggage and come. I’ll see you here again in 30 minutes.”
Kim Ju-chan slyly glanced at Jo Eun-gyu. Jo Eun-gyu trembled and hid behind Hae-jun as he entered the dormitory.
Since two people sharing a room was the norm, the two boys shared a room, and Hae-jun was alone. One bunk bed and two desks. And a small closet and bathroom were all that was in the room.
It was south-facing with good sunlight, and everything was satisfactory except for the fact that it was on the third floor of a building without an elevator.
Thirty minutes later, the three met Kim Ju-chan again and toured the inside of the Esper-Guide unit. There were Espers everywhere they went. They rushed to the new Guides and tried to say anything to them.
“How old are you? You just graduated from high school? No wonder your skin is so good, it’s because you’re a baby?”
“Guide-nim, please look at me. Hello? I’m an A-grade Esper.”
“Let’s be friends.”
“I have a lot of money.”
“I used to be an idol trainee. I’m handsome, right? How about me? Want to exchange numbers?”
“Guide-nim. Guide-nim.”
As much as he had expected, the Espers’ courtship of the Guides was truly amazing. It felt like becoming a celebrity. The Espers were eager to make eye contact with the Guides and shouted loudly about what grade they were and what advantages they had.
Kim Ju-chan growled at the Espers and tried to hide Jo Eun-gyu behind him. Jo Eun-gyu, who had never been treated like this before in his life, was at a loss because of Kim Ju-chan, who was protecting him like a lady from the old days. In short, Kim Ju-chan had his eye on Jo Eun-gyu right now.
The unit was largely divided into a science building, a research building, a training building, a welfare center, and a gymnasium. Doctors and researchers stayed in the science and research buildings, and most of the Espers trained their superpowers in the training building. In the welfare center, you could watch movies, play billiards and bowling, and go down to the basement for health training.
The gymnasium was a huge auditorium, and it was also teeming with Espers. Among them were female Espers, as rare as beans sprouting in a drought. Hae-jun kept an eye on them.
“What do the Guides do and where?”
“Most of them are in the science building. I heard that they are currently working with researchers there to materialize Guiding energy.”
“Is that possible?”
“Well, pills have come out, but it seems that the effects are still minimal. Okay, this way.”
Kim Ju-chan opened the door to the media video room. In the middle of the dark space, a projector was turned on, and nothing was yet visible on the white screen.
Hae-jun and the two boys sat in the front row and waited for the video to play. Soon, Kim Ju-chan turned on the video, and a narration with a majestic voice echoed.
[In ancient Greece, homosexuality was considered the fruit of true love.]
“…….”
Hae-jun’s expression quietly and quickly soured. He rubbed his forehead and cursed quietly. Shit.
[Plato said: If there were an army made up only of lovers, there could be none better, and if soldiers fought together as lovers, they could conquer the world. That’s right. The Greeks knew that soldiers could fight more bravely when they were with their lovers. In fact, their battles were so brave that even the hegemonic state of Sparta was completely defeated by them. For this reason, the act of men forming couples should be an example for the military.]
“Oh, really?”
Heo Seon-woo muttered. Hae-jun flinched. He was laughing, thinking that this kind of video wouldn’t work to get the Guides to accept the Espers, but when he looked to the side, it was working perfectly.
The 90-minute video constantly talked about the friendship and love between men. The beautiful camaraderie that is only possible between real men. I love you, my comrade. My comrade is the best. Our sweet friendship.
After listening to and watching such stories for 90 minutes, even Hae-jun’s mind became slightly muddled. Hae-jun shook his head roughly. He had to be careful. He almost got brainwashed just now.
The last part of the video dealt with sex, and a person who claimed to be a doctor came out and explained that men’s bodies are well known by other men, and therefore sex between men is the best sex.
Heo Seon-woo and Jo Eun-gyu seemed interested in the explanation that men have a prostate that can be stimulated to feel a dry orgasm. The ideological education was working wonderfully on the two young high schoolers.
“Did you enjoy the video? How was it?”
When they came out of the media video room, Kim Ju-chan was standing there holding flowers. He suddenly handed a bouquet of flowers to Jo Eun-gyu, who came out third.
When Jo Eun-gyu hesitated and accepted the bouquet, Kim Ju-chan smiled as he took off his hat. He was a fairly handsome man with a height of over 180 centimeters.
“Eun-gyu Guide-nim, would you like to take off your glasses?”
Kim Ju-chan stuck close to Jo Eun-gyu and spoke to him. Jo Eun-gyu was flustered and asked back with a red face.
“Why, why?”
“I’m curious about Eun-gyu-nim’s bare face.”