The Espers Who Regretted Losing Me Chapter 20

I yawned lazily as I dragged my suitcase along.

It was something I’d bought with the grand dream of going on a trip someday after quitting my job.

Back then, I had no idea I’d be using it for an expedition raid…

Inside were spare clothes and supplies prepared for sleeping outdoors.

No matter how much they said we’d be staying in hotels, there was no guarantee we wouldn’t end up spending a few nights inside a gate.

The suitcase was the largest size available, so everything fit inside, but I still wore a backpack as well.

The backpack held the survival kit and emergency kit issued by headquarters, toiletries, and every last bit of remaining space was stuffed full of unfinished snacks.

I’d prepared diligently, but my mood was completely rotten.

Feeling like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse, I arrived at the operations room and opened the door with a sigh.

It looked like I was the first one there.

I rummaged through my bag, pulled out my phone, and checked the time.

Thirty minutes left.

And once those thirty minutes passed?

Hell would begin immediately.

“……”

Terrifying. I should rest at least until then.

I dragged my suitcase over and parked it near the wall, then plopped down on the sofa and yawned again.

My vision was blurry and itchy—if I got in a car like this, I’d definitely fall asleep.

I can already hear Cha Eunhwi scolding me…

Deciding to shut my eyes even for a moment before departure, I hugged my backpack to my chest and lay down on the sofa.

There was a bed inside the operations room, but if I lay there, I’d probably pass out completely.

I was half-dozing, blinking my heavy eyelids, when—

The door burst open roughly and slammed shut with a loud bang.

The shock snapped all the sleep right out of me.

Judging by the way the door was opened, it had to be Yeon Dogyeong. But why was he here so early?

He’s always the type to arrive at the last second…

Thinking my sleep was ruined anyway, I was about to sit up when—

“Don’t push it, Dogyeong. You’re not the only one holding things in.”

“Then what more am I supposed to hold back here?”

Two irritated voices pierced my ears.

…Wait. Are they fighting?

Not only were their voices sharp, but the air in the room changed instantly.

I lay back down and closed my eyes again.

They both looked clearly pissed off, and if I got involved for no reason, I’d definitely get chewed out until assembly time.

I didn’t know what they were fighting about, nor did I care—but I hoped they’d settle it before getting in the car.

Otherwise, I’d be the one suffering.

Normally, the two of them were sensitive to any presence, but maybe because their nerves were on edge, they didn’t seem to realize I was already here.

Then Cha Eunhwi replied with a tired sigh.

“Hyeya’s always been like that.”

…Like that.

Hyeya? …Me? Are they talking about me right now?

That was strange.
If they had complaints about me, they usually said it straight to my face. They weren’t the type to talk behind my back.

Before I could process it, Dogyeong snapped back harshly.

“Yeah. Yoon Hyeya’s always been like that. Pretending she doesn’t notice, pretending she doesn’t know, pretending she doesn’t understand… She thinks if she just keeps her mouth shut, everything will sort itself out. It drives people insane.”

Dogyeong’s emotions rippled chaotically through my skin.

What is this?

Sadness… and regret?

But right after that, irritation flared up again.

“I’d rather just—!”

“Dogyeong. Shh.”

Cha Eunhwi stopped him immediately before he could finish.

Holding my breath, I flinched instinctively.

Wait. I left my suitcase standing by the wall.

They must’ve noticed it and realized I was here.

The operations room fell completely silent.

Footsteps approached—slow, heavy—then stopped nearby.

“…Why is she sleeping here?”

“Don’t wake her. We still have thirty minutes. Let her sleep a bit more.”

“I wasn’t planning to wake her. What do you take me for?”

Let her sleep more? Wasn’t planning to wake me?!

I couldn’t believe those words came from Cha Eunhwi and Yeon Dogyeong.

Especially since one of the examples Cha Eunhwi had used yesterday—about not making excuses—was the B-rank gate raid on the 4th of last month, where he absolutely hadn’t acted like this.

When I woke up back then, I was slung over Cha Eunhwi’s back.

Because I’d slept through the night and hadn’t been able to guide, all three of them were in bad shape. When I timidly asked why they hadn’t woken me, he’d shaken me, called my name, and sarcastically told me that even with a named monster rampaging right next to me, I hadn’t woken up.

I knew I was a deep sleeper, but I did wake up when shaken, so I’d been genuinely confused.

Honestly, I’d wondered if they were just being passive-aggressive, but there was no reason for them to damage their own condition over that.

Anyway, right now, pretending to sleep was far better than opening my eyes and getting sniped with snarky remarks.

If they say something later, I’ll just say I vaguely heard things while half-asleep.

As I lay there, something suddenly settled over my body.

I cracked my eyes open just a little.

It was a blanket.

“There’s a bed inside, so why are you sleeping out here like this?”

The grumbling tone sent chills down my spine.

These guys… have lost their minds…

Why were they suddenly acting considerate?

They said people only start doing things they never used to when they’re about to die…

My body tensed, and all the sleep drained away.

I pressed my hair down and quickly sat up.

The quiet, careful conversation cut off instantly.

Turning around with the blanket in my hands, I saw Yeon Dogyeong and Cha Eunhwi staring at me.

“Ah—hello. Good mor—”

“Is the operations room your bedroom? You slept so soundly you didn’t even notice people coming in.”

“Yeah, right. Didn’t you say you can’t sleep if your pillow changes?”

Before I could even finish greeting them, Cha Eunhwi scolded me and Dogyeong chimed in.

I mentioned the pillow thing when he wasn’t around… did Cha Eunhwi tell him?

Their teamwork really was impressive.

So that’s what that was about.
Lowering their voices, covering me with a blanket—I should’ve known.

In my opinion… it was probably because they’d been cooped up their whole lives and were so excited about being allowed out legally that they were acting weirdly nice.

I said awkwardly,

“Ah, I woke up as soon as I heard the door. I heard you say not to wake m—”

Before I could finish saying heard, both Dogyeong’s and Cha Eunhwi’s faces flushed bright red at the same time.

Their emotions surged even more violently than before.

I flinched without realizing it. Cha Eunhwi quickly composed himself and spoke with clear irritation.

“Guide Yoon Hyeya, I didn’t realize you were such a sly person. Were you pretending to sleep last month as well?”

“S-sly? No, what are you talking about? I was really asleep then, and this time I didn’t mean to listen—”

“Y-you… how much did you hear?”

He’d always been like this, but lately, Dogyeong seemed to trail off mid-sentence more often than not.

Sighing at his flushed, snappish question, I answered honestly.

“I only heard you calling me an idiot and saying to let me sleep more.”

That really was all.

They’d murmured something after that, but I hadn’t caught it.

Judging by their reaction, they must’ve been talking about something I wasn’t supposed to hear.

I hurriedly added,

“I really didn’t hear anything else. You were too far away.”

“……”

“Yeon Dogyeong, Esper. I think we need to do some guiding.”

Cha Eunhwi recovered quickly, but Dogyeong was in genuinely bad shape. It reminded me of puberty, when his emotions swung wildly dozens of times a day.

Standing up from the sofa, I set the blanket aside and walked over to Dogyeong, taking his hand.

As always, I imagined a calm, stable image and began guiding.

But his condition was worse than I’d expected—and it affected me as well.

Which meant one thing.

The guiding wasn’t working properly.