The Espers Who Regretted Losing Me Chapter 75

On the way to report to the Director, Yeon Dogyeong and Lee Shinra walked beside me, glaring at everyone like cats hissing to protect their territory.

I looked at the two of them like they were hopeless and whispered,

“Don’t do that. You’re just making us stand out more.”

“We can’t. We have to stay on guard.”

“……On guard against what?”

“You don’t know how scary espers without guides are, Yoon Hyeya. Right, kid?”

“Uh? Ah, um… y-yes……”

At this point, shouldn’t this count as an illness?

I wanted to snap back at them, but no matter what I said, they looked like they’d just reply with Yeah, yeah, sure, so I decided to save it for later.

Is training with me really that great?

They looked like they were being careful, yet clearly excited at the same time.

I could even feel bits of happiness coming from Lee Shinra. I seriously didn’t get it. Weird guys. Why were they happy after getting scolded?

Anyway, maybe because of Yeon Dogyeong’s nonsense, Cha Eunhwi led us through areas with as few people as possible on the way to the Director’s office.

The moment we arrived and opened the door, the Director—who had been seated—stood up and widened his eyes when he saw us.

Then he nodded with a pleased smile.

Maybe because the four of us—me, Yeon Dogyeong, Lee Shinra, and Cha Eunhwi—entered standing unusually close together.

But he didn’t just look.

“You seem to have grown much closer in just one day.”

“Does it really look that way to you too?”

“How does this look like we’re close?”

Yeon Dogyeong and I spoke at the same time.

Our meanings were completely opposite, though.

Yeon Dogyeong flinched and looked at me, but this wasn’t us getting closer.

This was just me treating him roughly!

……Though depending on how you look at it, we might seem closer than before. But going back to polite speech would feel weird too…

I wasn’t worried about hurting his feelings. I just didn’t like myself.

Honestly, speaking casually made it easier to talk harshly.

Still, I really hate that we look close…

While I was lost in thought, Cha Eunhwi steadily gave his report to the Director.

I heard every word.

What happened inside the gate was brief. The explanation about my changes was long.

As expected, what caught the Director’s attention most was the guiding.

“……Hyeya used physical attacks, and guiding still happened?”

“Yes. A calm energy spread out, like radial guiding. It was weak at first, but it stacked the more Hyeya struck the monsters. It didn’t last long, but while guiding that way, monsters didn’t recognize Hyeya as an enemy. Also, Hyeya’s physical abilities have improved greatly—almost on par with ours.”

“Physical abilities… on your level? Hyeya’s? ……Hyeya’s?”

That reaction made sense.

I always ranked low in physical tests. Almost rock bottom.

So hearing that I suddenly matched espers overnight would obviously shock him.

Still, it felt unfair. It wasn’t just me—most guides had weak stamina.

Cha Eunhwi continued,

“So we’d like to test Hyeya’s physical abilities. Could you prepare that?”

“Ah, of course. But it’ll be difficult until next week. This week is fully booked—not even ten minutes free. Today, you could use the training grounds of Geumgang First—no, the Geumgang Squad.”

“Nope. I refuse.”

“I agree. Regardless of what I owe them, I don’t really want to get involved.”

“Lee Shinra refuses too. And Yoon Hyeya refuses.”

“Why are you deciding my answer for me? Stop messing around.”

“Ah—then you can answer yourself……”

“I’ll just wait a week.”

“…….”

Why did it feel weird?

I’d only refused because I didn’t want anything to do with the Geumgang Squad, but the Director’s gaze was strange.

It felt like when Yeon Dogyeong and I were reported for eating peaches and orcs before—like he was thinking, What kind of creatures are these?

……Don’t tell me he’s putting me and Dogyeong in the same category again?

I had nothing to say, so I just clenched and loosened my sleeve.

The Director looked at each of us in turn and spoke.

“Don’t dislike it so much. The Geumgang Squad puts the most effort into protecting guides.”

I almost let out a loud What?

Protecting guides? Geumgang Squad? That was hard to believe.

Yeon Dogyeong asked,

“Sir. Do they know about Yoon Hyeya’s situation?”

“I only told them she lost her memories. The spaces will be separated anyway, so there’s no need to worry. As I said, if not today, it’ll have to be next week…”

I personally didn’t mind waiting a week.

But Yeon Dogyeong and Cha Eunhwi—who had rejected it without hesitation earlier—said,

“It can’t be helped. Understood.”

“There might be something wrong with Hyeya’s body……”

“Yeah. We should be careful.”

They scheduled evening training on their own, saying they were worried about my condition.

Just as I was about to snap, Lee Shinra gently tugged at the hem of my clothes.

“S-sis.”

He didn’t stutter, but he was painfully awkward.

When I nodded without speaking, he hesitated before saying,

“I’m worried…… I just want to check quickly. Please…….”

He couldn’t even look me in the eyes.

Hearing his shaky voice made me sigh.

Let’s just check quickly and be done with it.

Thinking that, I nodded halfheartedly.

After that, we waited in the operations room and then headed to the training grounds together.

I didn’t show it, but I was pretty nervous.

The moment we entered, Jeong Haram came running over, waving his arms.

“Wow, it’s Hyeya!”

“Haram, get lost.”

As always, Yeon Dogyeong blocked him before he could get close.

Starting with Haram, other Geumgang espers slowly approached us.

“Wow… Guide Yoon Hyeya…… she’s really alive……”

Kwon Dojun muttered with a face like he’d seen a ghost.

Even though we were still far enough that I shouldn’t have heard him.

When they got closer, Kang Jei grinned and acted friendly.

“Hey, sweetheart, don’t you remember me?”

Ugh. He hadn’t changed at all.

I shot him an annoyed look and replied,

“I don’t remember. Were we friends?”

“……Huh? Uh, well. Not friends exactly……”

He answered awkwardly at my sudden casual tone.

It clearly wasn’t what he expected.

I had no intention of chatting, so I ignored him.

Captain Baek Iden of the Geumgang Squad slowly looked us over and spoke.

“I heard the situation from the Director. We cleared some space over there, so use it comfortably.”

Right after he finished—

“Guide Yoon Hyeya! I was so shocked when I saw the notice. I’m really glad you’re okay!”

Unnie Taerin walked over with a bright smile and greeted me.

We weren’t super close, but we knew each other, greeted each other, and recognized each other’s faces.

To be exact, we just never had time to get close.

Still, we were close enough for me to call her unnie.

I wanted to greet her warmly too, but I held back and asked,

“Yes, hello. But… who are you……?”

“Oh! I’m Han Taerin. I’m a guide in the Geumgang Squad. We weren’t close, but we used to greet each other when passing by. With that in mind, may I hold your hand?”

I gladly offered my hand. She shook it firmly, up and down.

Then she smiled brightly and said in a loud voice,

“If those espers ever bully Guide Yoon Hyeya like before, report them directly to the Director anytime!”

At her bold words, everyone turned to look at her.

But Han Taerin didn’t care at all.