The Espers Who Regretted Losing Me Chapter 21

The straight line suddenly warped, the balls that had been rolling at the same speed scattered in different directions, and the evenly spaced intervals felt as if they were stretching farther apart—or snapping closer together.

What on earth did they talk about to mess him up this badly?

Even when I poured my power out freely, it was rare for someone to become this unstable.

If I focused harder, I could stabilize him—but that would mean holding his hand for much longer.

In that case, it was better to finish it in one go.

With no other choice, I pulled Yeon Dogyeong into an embrace and gently stroked his back.

As the area of contact widened, his condition thankfully began to improve. The problem was that even when I wanted to stop, Dogyeong wouldn’t let go.

Damn it—if I’d known this would happen, I should’ve just held his hand!

In the end, the hug continued right up until Lee Shinra arrived just before ten o’clock and snapped irritably,

“You said not to discriminate.”

Unfortunately, that meant I had to hug Shinra next as well……

After the brief guiding session ended, Shinra—who usually arrived a full ten minutes early—explained why he’d been late.

“Hyungs. On the way to the ops room, I ran into the Director. Apparently a gate just appeared in a neighboring city. It’s in the mountains—some hikers found it. Since it’s on our route anyway, he said not to bother coming back to report and to head straight there.”

“Oh, come on. First gates, now hiking too?”

“Huh? Dogyeong-hyung, you’re always trying to make Eunhwi-hyung do everything—why are you suddenly so eager to walk today?”

Good point.
Wouldn’t teleporting be faster anyway?

I was thinking the exact same thing when Dogyeong looked at Cha Eunhwi.

“Our captain’s not in great condition today. And since he has to drive too, using his ability would be rough.”

“Ah, then yeah. No choice.”

“The problem is Yoon Hyeya. She’s got garbage stamina.”

Hey. That’s not wrong, but I don’t want you saying it.

Is it because his personality’s garbage too?

While I was trying to smooth out my displeased expression, Dogyeong shrugged and added casually,

“If it comes to it, I’ll just carry her.”

A smug grin spread across his annoyingly handsome face.

After we reached the destination—long story short—I naturally refused to be carried by Yeon Dogyeong.

And no, it wasn’t because I was worried about him. If he got hurt, that was his problem. If he got tired, also his problem.

I just didn’t want to feel like a burden.

But now, climbing this mountain, I was starting to think that might’ve been the wrong decision.

“Hah—huff—hah……!”

“Hyea-noona, hurry up already. How long have we even been walking for you to be this wiped out?”

“W-wait—just a second…… Water. Water, please……”

If I’d known it’d be this bad, I should’ve just let someone carry me.

My throat burned with thirst, sweat poured down my back, and the climb only made it worse.

Shinra had already taken my bag halfway up, but my body still felt like it weighed a ton.

As I clung to the railing along the mountain steps, gasping for breath, Shinra—who’d been following behind—clicked his tongue and handed me a 500ml bottle of water.

Every breath made a wheezing sound in my throat, so I nodded my thanks instead of speaking and quickly twisted the cap open.

Up ahead, Dogyeong and Eunhwi stopped and turned around.

Dogyeong looked at me like I was pathetic and snapped,

“What exactly were you relying on to be this stubborn? Just get on my back already.”

Honestly, I’d been waiting for him to say that.
What took him so long?

The stairs stretched endlessly upward, and I clearly wasn’t going to make it at this rate. I couldn’t even answer—just nodded.

But before Dogyeong could come down, Shinra suddenly scooped me up.

A full-on bridal carry.

Wait—no. I hate being carried like this!

I reflexively struggled, and Shinra tightened his grip.

I was about to say I’d walk on my own when Dogyeong’s sharp voice cut in.

“……What are you doing, Lee Shinra?”

“We’re already behind. Let’s finish the gate first. You can carry her on the way down.”

What are you talking about? I’m walking down too!

But before I could even get out the “I’ll go by myself—” part, Shinra started walking.

And in the same blunt tone Dogyeong had used earlier, he said,

“If she walks, she’ll get there way later. And then she won’t even be in shape to enter the gate right away—just a waste of time. I don’t want to sleep inside the gate, so behave.”

…That was also true.

I’d packed for emergencies, but if I could avoid sleeping inside a gate, I absolutely wanted to.

Fine. Whether it’s this way or that way, it’s not like I’m walking anyway.

I was so exhausted my mind had gone blank, so I just accepted it.

Sometimes, you have to sell your soul to the devil to survive……

Dogyeong had called my stamina garbage, and honestly? He wasn’t wrong.

If I had to make excuses, it’d be this: unlike espers, guides didn’t have specialized physical training programs.

Even during training, it only covered the basics.

They claimed it was for budget reasons, or that guides couldn’t keep up with espers anyway—but the real reason was simple.

Inside a gate, anyone who wasn’t an esper was at the very bottom of the food chain.

So rather than wasting time on something pointless, it was better to train espers.

Of course, we weren’t completely neglected—my stamina was better than an average civilian’s—but I hadn’t slept properly either, so this was hell.

Still… I can breathe again.

When I fully relaxed my body, Shinra adjusted his hold and continued climbing.

At more than twice the speed I’d been moving at earlier.

Dogyeong and Eunhwi caught up quickly and kept moving upward in silence.

The staircase that had seemed endless was cleared faster than expected.

If I’d walked, it would’ve taken several times longer.

As soon as Shinra set me down, I immediately tried to thank him.

“Th—”

“Take your bag. Eunhwi-hyung, it’s over there.”

Correction. I didn’t get to.

After handing me my backpack, Shinra pointed somewhere without even turning around.

I looked reflexively—and saw a small crack forming beside a stone monument engraved with elegant poetic lines.

While Eunhwi, Dogyeong, and Shinra walked ahead, I stuffed the empty bottle into my bag and hurried after them.

“That thing’s tiny. You don’t know where it leads until you enter, right?”

“Yeah. But it doesn’t feel like an A-rank gate. The aura isn’t ominous.”

“True… but still. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

“You too? Honestly, I don’t like it either.”

I stiffened at the words exchanged between Dogyeong and Shinra.

Espers with heightened senses had strong intuition—but those two rarely voiced uncertainty, thanks to their confidence in their abilities.

Just a few days ago, before the Barometz Nest, they didn’t care whether it was A-rank or C-rank.

So hearing both of them say their gut felt wrong in front of an irregular gate made my anxiety spike.

I looked at Cha Eunhwi. His expression was grim too, as if he sensed something off.

After a brief pause, he spoke.

“It might be another integrated gate. None have appeared since last time, but if anything feels off, we request support immediately. For now, since we don’t know the internal environment, Shinra, enter with your barrier deployed.”

“Yes.”

“And Dogyeong—stay alert and ready to counterattack, but don’t initiate combat even if monsters appear.”

“Got it.”

“Guide Yoon Hyeya, stay as close as possible. And just to be safe—can you guide properly in your current condition?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“…Think carefully before you answer.”