The Espers Who Regretted Losing Me Chapter 7

But maybe espers really do feel the difference, because Yeon Do-gyeong covered his mouth with his free hand and bowed his head deeply.

Through his brightly dyed yellow hair, the tip of his ear—just barely visible—was burning red.

Before I could even finish my sigh of relief, Jung Ha-ram spoke from behind me in a voice full of mock sympathy.

“That’s a shame. If Hyeya hadn’t been here, Do-gyeong would’ve gotten chewed out pretty badly.”

“……”

Doesn’t it ever cross his mind that I would’ve gotten chewed out too? People with zero empathy really are something else.

Since we were still in contact, my irritation must’ve carried over to Do-gyeong as well.

Noticing my negative feelings toward Jung Ha-ram, Do-gyeong smiled with far more ease.

“Yeah, Ha-ram. You can try all you want with your ugly jealousy and pathetic provocations, but Yoon Hyeya is our guide. You’ll never even get the chance to hold her hand in your lifetime, so wake up from the dream—and be careful not to get your throat slit by me if we meet inside a Gate. Got it?”

He even drew his index finger across his throat, his rotten personality shining through loud and clear.

Honestly, he’s always been this childish.

He loved drawing lines—us versus them.

Thanks to that, my mood lightened almost instantly, but the one who’d taken that killing intent head-on, Jung Ha-ram, merely shrugged calmly.

“Do-gyeong really talks like he’s got a knife in his mouth. But what can you do? We’ll be moving together today.”

“…What?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“…?”

Yeon Do-gyeong and Lee Shin-ra asked at the same time.

I widened my eyes too, thinking the exact same thing.

While we stared at him warily, Cha Eun-hwi teleported over to our side.

The meeting had ended faster than usual, and Eun-hwi’s expression was noticeably more rigid than normal.

Jung Ha-ram smiled sweetly and waved.

“Hi, Eun-hwi. Looking forward to working with you today.”

“Eun-hwi hyung, explain.”

“Why is he acting together with us?”

“…Haa.”

A crease formed between Cha Eun-hwi’s brows as he ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

“Geumgang First Unit hasn’t returned from their mission yet. So Esper Jung Ha-ram has temporarily joined our unit. And Guide Yoon Hyeya was informed of this and provided guiding accordingly—”

“That’s bullshit. If First Unit went out on a mission, why is Jung Ha-ram the only one still at headquarters?”

“Mm, well, you see. One of our guides dropped out recently, right? So I decided to sit this one out too. Taerin can’t handle everyone by herself.”

Since Taerin unni was still there, the guide who’d imprinted with another unit’s esper must’ve been Eunbin.

Neither of them were particularly close to me—just the kind of relationship where you exchange knowing looks when you pass each other in the hallway.

Still, hearing Jung Ha-ram casually say her name left a bad taste in my mouth.

Espers throw around hyung for people one or two years older without blinking, yet he called someone four years older than him like that?

It really showed how he viewed guides in general.

At least Shin-ra always calls me “noona,” no matter what.

Anyway, since there wasn’t much to argue with, Do-gyeong clicked his tongue in displeasure.

He looked like he was planning to use Jung Ha-ram as a shield if things went south—and honestly, I approved.

As the noise settled, Cha Eun-hwi began explaining the Gate with a weary expression.

“The Gate will fully connect in twenty-eight minutes. Fortunately, it matches the wavelength of a previously occurred Gate, so we already have full data on the internal ecosystem.”

“We’re going in first?”

“No. The Cheonggeum Unit will enter first. We go in after.”

So it was a repeat location. That must’ve been why the meeting ended so quickly.

Inside every Gate, there’s a ruler of that space.

They’re called Named Monsters. Once you defeat them, the Gate disappears.

But the location itself doesn’t.

So after some time, an identical Gate can reappear in the same place.

Sometimes the Named Monster is present again. Sometimes it isn’t.

According to research, this is because time flows differently inside the Gate compared to the real world.

When a Gate is open, time inside and outside flows the same—but once the rift closes, it becomes an entirely separate world.

Yes. A completely separate world.

Which meant one minute inside could equal an hour outside—or vice versa.

Still, even with distorted time, the environment itself doesn’t change completely, so Gates with existing data are much faster to clear.

That’s why first-time Gates require thorough investigation and reporting—but the fact that this A-rank Gate had already been cleared once was a huge stroke of luck.

Last year’s newly appeared A-rank Gate had lightning strikes raining down at fixed intervals.

The Named Monster was a Giant Snail.

There were no deaths, but plenty of people were injured badly enough that it wouldn’t have been surprising if they’d died.

The memory made me shudder unconsciously, and Cha Eun-hwi—who had been alternating his gaze between Do-gyeong, Shin-ra, and Ha-ram—fixed his eyes on me.

Ah. I messed up.

Cha Eun-hwi hated inattentiveness during missions more than anything.

A single mistake could cost lives, after all.

Even if the Gate had been cleared before, it didn’t mean it was safe—and getting caught spacing out would normally earn me a scolding.

This one was my fault, so I was about to apologize immediately.

But Cha Eun-hwi merely narrowed his eyes and said,

“This isn’t a location dangerous enough to be afraid of before we even enter.”

That was all. He turned his gaze away.

I was the one left stunned.

Normally, he’d start sniping the moment I looked away for even a second.

He’d just chewed me out earlier for grabbing a hand a little too late, after all.

Is he feeling unwell…? Or is this because of Jung Ha-ram?

Even from a distance, Cha Eun-hwi must’ve heard everything the three of us were saying.

The talk about bad relationships. About me being the only suitable guide.

Maybe that had gotten to him.

Either way, being overly tense isn’t good—but letting your guard down is worse.

I pulled a hair tie from my pocket and tightly tied my hair up.

As Cha Eun-hwi continued explaining, Jung Ha-ram leaned closer and whispered softly,

“Did you know, Hyeya? Apparently, when a woman ties her hair in front of a man, it means she’s interested.”

“Who the hell came up with that insane nonsense…?”

I glared at him seriously and immediately let my hair down again, making Jung Ha-ram chuckle.

“Did that surprise you? You and Do-gyeong are really cute when you react like that. I can’t wait for us to be in the same unit. I’ll take good care of you.”

I was going to lose my mind. If the units merged, I could already see my future clearly.

I couldn’t bring myself to curse him out, so I just scrunched up my face and stared straight ahead.

That’s when sharp gazes finally flew my way.

Not just Cha Eun-hwi—Do-gyeong and Shin-ra too.

It felt like I was sitting on a bed of nails for no reason.

Lee Shin-ra grabbed my hand roughly and complained,

“Come over here, noona. Why are you standing next to Hyung Ha-ram?”

“It’s not like I wanted to be here—”

He came over on his own!

I almost snapped, then barely swallowed the rest of my words.

Either way, standing next to Shin-ra was far better than standing next to Jung Ha-ram.

I let myself be pulled away, only to hear Yeon Do-gyeong sneer with killing intent practically pouring off his face.

“Ha-ram. Unless you want to die inside the Gate without anyone ever knowing, stop wagging your tail at our Yoon Hyeya and shut your mouth.”

Even I flinched at how blatantly vicious it was—and I knew his temper well.

Despite the murderous threat, Jung Ha-ram just clicked his tongue playfully.

“So scary. Do-gyeong really looks like he’d do it too. Makes me afraid to even watch his back.”

“I really would. People who die inside don’t get recovered, you know. I could turn you into ashes and no one would ever find out.”