The Espers Who Regretted Losing Me – Chapter 54

Author: Asternkm

“Of course…!”

“Anyone can make promises with words. I want something more solid—”

“I’ll leave it in writing.”

“…!”

I almost screamed at the sudden voice behind me.

When I flinched and turned around, Cha Eunhwi was standing there.
His face looked tired but clean, now covered in black soot.

“W-Weren’t you expelled too?”

“Only Dogyeong was expelled. While being pulled into the rift, he kept asking me to make sure you got out safely, Hyeya.”

That made sense.
Yeon Dogyeong was the only one who had attacked the snake.

Careful as Eunhwi was, he wouldn’t have touched it even by accident.

Still startled but quickly calming down, I replied coldly,

“Even if you leave a document, you could just pretend later that you don’t remember, right?”

What I wanted was a contract with legal force.
One written completely in my favor.

Cha Eunhwi was smart.
If I threw out even a small hint, he’d understand.

The desperate ones here aren’t me—it’s them.

Just like I thought, Eunhwi answered right away, without hesitation.

“Among espers, there are abilities related to torture and curses. Just like Dogyeong’s flames, Shinra’s barriers, or my teleportation.”

The answer felt completely out of nowhere.

“T-Torture and curses…?”

I wasn’t interested in espers, but I had never heard of abilities like that.

Cha Eunhwi nodded seriously.

“Yes. They’re not abilities that look good in public, so they’re an open secret. If certain conditions are met, they can be placed on people as well. If someone breaks a promise, the curse can cause terrible pain.”

He took a breath.

“…Or it can completely prevent someone from approaching you, Hyeya.”

He added quietly.

Honestly, I was shaken.
“Surprised” didn’t even come close to what I felt.

Once again—Cha Eunhwi was smart.
He knew he didn’t have to go this far. So why?

Is he crazy? Or… lying?

As I blinked awkwardly, Eunhwi gave a bitter smile.

“I won’t tell lies that are easily exposed. What matters is your peace of mind, Hyeya—and building trust.”

“…Even if you’re fine with it, what about Shinra? Or the others outside?”

“I-I’m totally fine!” Lee Shinra answered right away.

“Dogyeong will agree too. Like I said earlier, even while being dragged into the rift, he kept staring only at Hyeya. He’s probably crying right now, asking when you’ll come out.”

“……”

“If you agree, we’ll request permission to use abilities the moment we leave. The document will include everything you want. However… there is just one thing I’d like to ask your understanding for.”

His gentle, polite voice kept giving me goosebumps.

Fidgeting with my fingers, I frowned.

“What is it?”

“As I said earlier, you and we were in the same unit. However, Geumgang Second Unit has officially been disbanded. As I explained, due to sudden monster behavior, many guides died or left headquarters.”

At the word died, Eunhwi’s eyebrows twitched.

He rubbed his face roughly, moved his lips several times, and finally spoke.

“At the time, you wanted to transfer units or become an independent guide, but it was repeatedly rejected by higher-ups. …To be honest, a large part of that was because we refused to let you go.”

“…So?”

“When we get out, they will definitely run multiple tests to check your health and whether you can guide properly. And… you won’t have the right to refuse.”

He looked apologetic, but this was expected.

Anyone who survived inside a gate wouldn’t avoid inspections.

Still, I knew this wasn’t the real point.

I pretended not to notice.

“So that’s what you wanted me to understand?”

“No. That’s not it. What I mean is… your guiding ability is completely normal. After brief training, you’ll be sent back on missions. However, since we failed to protect you—and since you kept wanting to leave Geumgang Second Unit—headquarters will likely let you work as an independent guide or transfer to another unit. Of course, your wishes matter most. So… what I’m asking is—”

“You want me to say I want to be in the same unit as you.”

Cha Eunhwi nodded slowly.

His unusually weak attitude only made me more confused.

I couldn’t tell if “your wishes matter most” was just his opinion, or headquarters’ stance.

Are they being careful because there are fewer guides now?
But if I go to another unit, there’s no point in leaving the gate at all.

I had a clear goal.
To pay them back properly for years of resentment.

And maybe—just a little—to become so unpleasant that we’d end up worse than strangers.

For that, I had to go back to Geumgang Second Unit.

Otherwise, there was no reason to leave.

Honestly, it wasn’t even a question worth thinking deeply about.

Glancing at the rift that had shrunk to half its size, I answered,

“I’ll do it. Everyone else doesn’t remember me either, so it’s better to be with you than strangers.”

I felt bad for the other espers—but not nearly as much as for these three.

Just wait, you future doormats. I’ll show you exactly how difficult I can be.

At my answer, Cha Eunhwi and Lee Shinra’s faces brightened. I quickly added,

“But keep what you promised earlier. No pain, no curses. That’s unnecessary. It would make me feel like the bad guy. Just don’t force guiding, don’t pressure me, don’t mock me….”

I wanted to add don’t fight other espers either, but stopped myself.

Right now, I wasn’t supposed to know that yet.

“I’ll ask for the rest after we get out and see the situation. That’s fine, right?”

“Of course…!”

Cha Eunhwi smiled brightly, like a flower blooming. Shinra looked deeply moved, his emotions spilling over.

Maybe I should settle how we address each other too.

Again, this wasn’t about getting close.

Since I’d decided to act like a menace anyway, I wanted to go all the way.

“You said we’re the same age, right? Then I’ll speak casually. But you keep using honorifics. If you don’t, it’ll feel uncomfortable.”

Even I thought I sounded incredibly annoying.

If someone talked to me like this, I’d think they were insane.

It felt awkward since I wasn’t used to treating people this way—but at the same time, it was strangely refreshing.