Approximal Guide Vol. 5 Chapter 3

“Thanks to you, Hajung has essentially become a ticking time bomb. I hold the remote for the chip, and the moment I give the command to stop the heartbeat, it’ll obediently comply. Did you really think I’d set this up without any insurance while giving Hajung a body?”

“……”

Kim Moohyuk lunged at Ha Seonghan without hesitation. The veins on his neck bulged with a blue tinge. His dilated pupils and frenzied charge toward Ha Seonghan made it seem as if he was experiencing ischemic symptoms—or perhaps, entering a state of guiding depletion, though he wasn’t actually lacking guidance.

It’s unclear when Sergeant Kang’s body had a chip implanted. Ha Seonghan had acted strangely familiar with me back when he pretended to be Han Jaemin. I thought it was because he recognized my resonance, but… the thought that it might not be true made my heart start racing erratically again. Every time I felt it beating out of sync, all I could do was silently curse. Moohyuk drove his fist into Ha Seonghan’s jaw with a loud expletive.

“You sick bastard, what the hell is your problem, tormenting people like this?”

Ha Seonghan dodged, crouching low, and let out a small chuckle.

“Don’t look it, but your mouth’s pretty filthy.”

“Is that a jab at my looks, senior?”

Kim Moohyuk’s tone was playful, but his expression remained stoic as waves of resonance rippled around him. The two Espers clashed relentlessly. It looked like Moohyuk was trying to snatch the remote from Ha Seonghan’s hand, but it wasn’t easy. Each time Moohyuk hesitated at Ha Seonghan’s feigned thumb-pressing motion, the latter exploited the opening to return whatever blows he received.

But it didn’t last long. This time, Ha Seonghan raised his arm with a grin, as if genuinely intending to press the remote. The rapid retreat of Moohyuk’s ESP resonance was visible. I exhaled the breath I’d been holding, having hidden how much the resonance’s proximity was tormenting me—afraid that if Moohyuk realized, he wouldn’t be able to fight properly.

“……”

Kim Moohyuk glared at Ha Seonghan, his chest heaving. Despite the murderous intent burning in his gaze, Ha Seonghan stared back, his grin wiped clean.

Moohyuk narrowed his eyes and asked Ha Seonghan, “Can you do it? Are you even capable of pressing that?”

His tone betrayed disbelief. Only then did I understand why Moohyuk had charged at Ha Seonghan despite the remote in his hand. Kim Moohyuk didn’t believe Ha Seonghan could press the button. Because the Kim Moohyuk I knew would never do something like that. But Ha Seonghan was not like him.

He caressed the small remote in his hand and sneered, “Why not? I can just bring him back.”

Moohyuk stared at him silently for a moment, a vein pulsing on his forehead. Then, he tilted his head and ran his tongue across his lower lip, raising one corner of his mouth as he spoke.

“Oh, so that’s why you were abandoned?”

Ha Seonghan’s perpetually smug expression crumbled in an instant.

“……What?”

“I always wondered why someone who takes in strays would abandon this one. Even took in trash like me, after all.”

My vision blurred as dizziness took over, but the guiding siphon from me to Ssuan didn’t stop. Pain coursed through every fiber of my body. Ha Seonghan smirked as he replied, though the vein bulging on his forehead betrayed his composure.

“The chip is tethered to Hajung’s heart via spatial ESP. In other words, I can extract it the same way.”

Moohyuk responded with a sharp laugh, “So, what? You want to stick the chip in my heart instead?”

“Exactly.”

I managed to whisper through trembling lips, “Don’t….”

Don’t. What are you even saying? Why would you transfer it to your heart? That makes no sense. But the only sound that escaped my mouth was a rattling gasp. The Espers, with their heightened hearing, must have caught even that faint sound. Yet, they ignored it, glaring at each other as if they hadn’t heard a thing.

The rustle of startled birds taking flight from the surrounding tension barely registered in my ears. Moohyuk asked in an even voice, “Even if you move the chip to my heart, how will you prove it was ever in the Instructor’s heart?”

“Simple. I’ll show you with your own eyes. Ssuan?”

At that moment, Ha Seonghan called for Ssuan.

“Is it my turn now? I even ate a lot of guiding to prepare for this. Just wait.”

With that, he grabbed the back of my neck and yanked me upright. With a gasp, my head, which had been buried in the ground, was lifted. Dust fell from my face, which had been half-embedded in the earth, making it impossible to fully open one eye.

“Time to start cooking.”

Suan said with a grin before thrusting his hand deep into my sternum.

“Gasp…”

I couldn’t feel anything, yet it felt as though half his forearm was buried inside my chest. All I could do was gasp for air. Even as I struggled for breath, I looked toward Kim Moohyuk. His lips moved as he mouthed words to me: “It’s okay.” Just one sentence. Even with his expression marred by anguish, he was trying to reassure me. I nodded faintly. I wanted him to know that I was calm, so he too could find peace.

I witnessed my ribs flatten and split into two dimensions as if they were a sheet of paper. Each breath I took made my lungs visibly compress and expand, a grotesque sight.

“See this here?”

Suan chuckled as he spoke to Kim Moohyuk, who stared at me with a twisted expression. Or rather, he was staring at something lodged beside my heart.

“I’m going to transfer this to your heart.”

Suan pointed at Kim Moohyuk’s left chest as he spoke. I shook my head.

“No.”

“What do you mean, ‘no’?”

Kim Moohyuk chuckled faintly, avoiding my gaze, and motioned to Suan with his chin.

“Just get it over with, you freaks.”

Suan raised an eyebrow before making a sharp clicking noise. I felt a sickening sensation, as though I could hear my own heartbeat from the outside. He moved something and then withdrew his hand from my chest. With a motion as smooth as folding paper, he sealed the split sternum shut.

“There you go. Off to Oppa over there.”

Suan blew on the tiny chip, smaller than a fingernail, that rested on his palm. It floated like a piece of paper and passed straight through Kim Moohyuk’s chest.

“No—!”

I shouted just as Kim Moohyuk clutched his chest, as if trying to rip it open, and collapsed, slamming his palm onto the ground.

Boom! BOOOOM!

A massive explosion echoed. Trees were uprooted and toppled over, and rocks cracked and split apart with a deafening noise.

“Damn it, you bastard!”

Suan cursed, folding the space around him and attempting to bury himself underground to avoid the shockwaves that rippled like an earthquake. Ha Seonghan had been flung to the mountaintop by Kim Moohyuk’s sudden attack.

I felt a familiar ESP wave enveloping me. But it wasn’t Ha Seonghan’s. This was…

“Why do you look so worried? Didn’t I tell you it’d be okay?”

Kim Moohyuk smirked faintly, pulling me into his arms. He leapt off the mountain, the force of his ability lifting us into the air. His waves wrapped around me warmly, almost joyfully.

But a foreboding feeling crept over me.

“No, Moohyuk….”

No… Before my plea could even form a proper sound, I turned my head while flying in his arms. Ha Seonghan hovered midair, looking our way.

He grinned, holding up a remote. His lips moved silently.

“Boom.”

And then, he pressed the button. My eyes widened in shock.

“Urgh…!”

“Kim Moohyuk!”

We plummeted to the ground together. Moohyuk held my head firmly, tucking me tightly into his embrace. I couldn’t stop him; I wasn’t as strong as an Esper. I couldn’t protect him, nor could I stop him from shielding me as we fell.

“Ugh—!”

Crash! Thud! Branches snapped as we hit them on the way down. Kim Moohyuk and I rolled down the mountainside. Even then, he kept me wrapped tightly in his arms.

“Agh, hng… Urgh!”

Despite his protection, I still hit my back on rocks and got branches lodged in my arms. The descent didn’t slow. We tumbled for what felt like ages before landing on flat ground, somewhere near the woods behind Garam-dong.

“Kim… Moohyuk—! Ah…”

I tried to pull myself out of his embrace to check on him, but I wasn’t in great shape either. Blood streamed down my arm, and a cut above my eyebrow bled profusely, clouding my vision. I had to wipe my eyes repeatedly with the back of my hand.

The ease with which his arms released me sent chills down my spine. Kim Moohyuk, even when we slept in the same bed, never let go of me easily—not even before his body changed. Even if I struggled, I couldn’t escape his hold until he woke.

But now, he let me go far too easily. Something was wrong. Trembling, I grabbed his shoulders and shook him.

“Moohyuk… Kim Moohyuk.”

There was no response. For a moment, I thought I saw a faint tremor in his eyelids, but it was only wishful thinking.

Kim Moohyuk… wasn’t breathing.

It didn’t make sense. I couldn’t believe it. I pressed my fingers under his nose, checked his carotid artery. No pulse. No breath.

“No…”

I muttered faintly, shaking my head. Immediately, I placed my hands on his chest and began CPR. The solid plane of his chest pressed beneath my palms as I knelt on the ground, desperately pushing down. Again and again. But Kim Moohyuk didn’t stir.

“…Please.”

Tilting his head slightly to open his airway, I continued to breathe life into him while compressing his chest without pause. Someone, someone please help, I beg you…

“Gasp, gasp—”

The continuous compressions left me gasping for air myself. This can’t be happening. Kim Moohyuk wouldn’t leave me behind. I wanted to yell, to tell him to stop messing around and wake up.

“I was going to tell you to imprint on me. I submitted the paperwork to get approval first, and apparently, it went up pretty high in the chain of command.”

His tone was flat, as if he were recounting a mundane detail of his day. Ha Seonghan, who had come down at some point, now stood beside the collapsed Kim Moohyuk. Through my blurry vision, still focused on Moohyuk, I saw Seonghan’s boots—laces tied in that unique way he’d always done since his army days.

“The central department didn’t want to let you go, Hajung. It seemed they didn’t want to tie you to just one Esper.”

“…Huff… Huff…”

Only ragged breaths escaped my lips. I had no interest in Ha Seonghan’s reasons. No, I couldn’t even hear him properly. All my focus was on giving everything I had to CPR. Kim Moohyuk, wake up, please. There’s so much I haven’t said to you. What am I supposed to do with all of it? I tried to infuse guiding energy as I pressed, but it came back to me as if I were guiding an inanimate object. It was maddening. He still wasn’t breathing, and his heart showed no sign of beating. Droplets of sweat from my forehead dripped onto his chest, and the weakness in my arms felt almost like betrayal.

“The central department planned to turn you into a tool, Hajung. They wanted to confine you, let multiple people come through daily to siphon your guiding energy. Should I have just stood by and let that happen?”

Ha Seonghan crouched down, meeting my eyes. His hand briefly tilted my chin upward, but my focus remained solely on Kim Moohyuk. I needed to get him to a healing Esper immediately, but I couldn’t even carry him and run. My knees, my body—everything felt utterly useless.

“Before it got to that point, I was planning to imprint on you somehow, even if by force. Better for you to resent one bastard like me than deal with a whole world of them.”

I kept channeling guiding energy, desperate for any sign of life. Please, anything. But Kim Moohyuk lay still, his eyes serenely shut.

“But Kim Dongjin figured it out.”

“…”

Only then did I stop my frantic pumping on Moohyuk’s sternum. I turned my gaze toward him for the first time, and Ha Seonghan muttered, “Finally, you’re looking at me,” before letting out a faint laugh.

“So I killed him. If he noticed, others would have soon, and I had to be more thorough. That’s when I started building Accent.”

“…”

I could only stare at Ha Seonghan, dumbfounded, unable to say a word. He gave a soft chuckle, stood, and walked past me.

“Hajung, think about it. How far do you think he can protect you?”

Ha Seonghan’s laughter echoed as he left. I could only stare at Kim Moohyuk’s face, as peaceful as if he were sleeping.

“Before I go, let me leave you a gift. Think carefully about what I just said.”

Ha Seonghan smirked and blew something into the air, a motion eerily similar to when he’d sent the chip toward Moohyuk earlier. The small object fluttered like a butterfly, rising into the sky before exploding like fireworks. What had been tiny in his palm expanded into something so large it cast a shadow on the ground below. The fabric-like material billowed in the clear sky, bearing my face on it.

The banner swayed briefly before vanishing into thin air.

Kim Moohyuk fell into a coma, his awakening uncertain.

“Half of his heart was destroyed. The guiding energy probably kept him alive, but… even then, it’ll be a while before it functions properly. He’s barely hanging on right now. Even an Esper can’t regenerate a damaged heart or brain on their own.”

The healing Esper, a military doctor, sighed as he removed his surgical cap. His face showed the exhaustion of hours in the operating room. I stood there in a daze. Han Byeongeun, speaking to the junior military doctor, thanked him and asked again.

“Is cellular regeneration… too difficult in his case?”

“Fortunately, some progress is being made. I don’t know if you’d call it a miracle, though…”

The military doctor sighed again. I turned my head toward the surgery room, where the light indicating an ongoing operation had just gone out.

…In other news, a mysterious loud noise was reported around Bongdae Mountain, a restricted military zone, at approximately 2 p.m. today. Residents in the area were startled and evacuated in panic. Military authorities have attributed the incident to an unannounced military exercise.

…It didn’t sound like cannon fire. We all thought a war had broken out and fled…

The faint sound of a news broadcast played in the waiting area at the end of the corridor.

Kim Inhak ordered a cleanup within the center and quickly organized a pursuit team, but tracking down Ha Seonghan, who had fled with a Spacer, was no easy task.

Accent’s attack began with an explosion in Ipse-dong, followed by the destruction of the research wing, and culminated in targeting the guiding ward. The center suffered an unprecedented loss, with 73 guides hospitalized there killed.

Among them were about 19 guides who had been imprinted with Espers. Those Espers were now being held in the underground bunker where Kim Moohyuk had been confined, to prevent them from losing control and going berserk.

The explosion in Ipse-dong posed a particularly severe problem due to the high number of civilian casualties. Many of the civilians who worked there were family members of Espers and guides affiliated with the center. The blast prompted those with loved ones in Ipse-dong to rush to the site.

However, as secondary collapses were still occurring, entry was prohibited, leading to confrontations between those attempting to enter and the center’s defense team.

The subsequent explosion in the medical ward sent all available Espers and their imprinted guides there.

The center was in chaos. Amid this turmoil, I carried Kim Moohyuk to the Esper ward, binding his arm around my neck with strips torn from my own shirt. Despite my weakened body, the distance from Garam-dong to the ward didn’t matter. I poured guiding energy into him the entire way, recalling the days at the academy when I marched with a 45-kilogram vest as my vision began to blur yellow.

But this time, the urgency was different. I couldn’t let Kim Moohyuk go like this. Even his confident smile made me angry. I felt like I needed to confront him and ask what he was thinking, acting like that in front of me.

Then I realized. The reason he wanted to implant the chip in his heart instead of mine was the same as when I took the stone to the chest and died in front of Kim Moohyuk.

“…Is this how you take revenge…?”

I swallowed hard. Han Byeongeun, who was next to me, looked at me and asked,

“What did you say, Sergeant Kang?”

“…Nothing.”

In front of others, the hierarchy between Han Byeongeun and me had changed. The military doctor looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if asking why my face was in the sky above the center after the bombing. Even though I understood the meaning, I had nothing to say.

“…Anyway, it will take a considerable amount of time for him to regain consciousness. In the meantime, you’ll need to keep providing guiding continuously. Can you handle that, Sergeant Kang?”

I nodded and replied firmly, “Yes. I can.” Han Byeongeun looked at me with a worried expression.

It had only been a few hours since the attack, but the way people at the center looked at me had clearly changed. I understood why, but it was still frustrating. The explosion at the guide ward and Ipse-dong was severe. Rescue operations were still ongoing. Patients were immediately transferred to the esper ward, turning it into chaos.

Usually, espers are not allowed in the guide ward. While it’s fine to provide guiding freely under normal circumstances, taking guiding from an unhealthy guide can harm the patient’s health.

Despite this, many guides were transferred to the esper ward due to severe injuries from the explosion. It wasn’t just the guides; medical staff and other personnel in the ward were also affected. Despite the shortage of personnel, the center prioritized Kim Moohyuk. He was the only S++-class esper capable of countering Accent. As a result, some guides’ treatments were delayed.

Those who were injured had also been in the military for a long time, so they wouldn’t blame us too much. After all, Kim Moohyuk needed to survive to have the strength to avenge them.

However, dissatisfaction was growing. The reason for their reaction was likely because of me rather than Kim Moohyuk. They said a large tent with my photo printed on it had appeared above the guide ward where the explosion occurred. While no one would completely associate me with Accent just because of that, the meaning of the photo was ambiguous. …It seemed to convey the message, “This happened because of Kang Hajung.”

That’s why I understood the medical officer’s attitude towards me. The surroundings were still a living hell, and rescue operations were ongoing at the guide ward and Ipse-dong, so they needed someone to blame. Even I wanted to blame myself.

“Anyway, he’s been moved to the intensive care unit, so come for guiding soon. Make sure to eat well. You’ll need a lot of energy.”

The military doctor didn’t bother hiding his cold attitude. I understood. Or rather, I didn’t have the luxury to care about it.

I watched the military doctor leave without even a greeting, then asked Han Byeongeun,

“…The director…”

My voice was hoarse. Han Byeongeun, who had been watching me closely, hesitated before answering.

“…The director has requested additional medical personnel from other centers. It should get better once esper healers arrive. He’s also requested telekinetic espers to help with the rescue operations, so don’t worry too much…”

Even if they weren’t as strong as Kim Moohyuk, there would be some telekinetic espers in other centers. I sighed in relief. After a brief moment of deep despair, I tried to lift my spirits. This wasn’t the time to be dazed. I had to do something. All these crazy events were my fault, but I could dig a hole and hide after resolving everything.

I asked Han Byeongeun to get me something to eat. Then I washed my hands and face thoroughly and sterilized them before entering the intensive care unit. I covered my respiratory system with a mask, put on an antibacterial suit, and headed there.

Kim Moohyuk lay there, looking paler than usual. I approached him blankly.

“…Are you an idiot?”

I asked abruptly. Even though I knew he couldn’t answer, I had to ask. Of course, there was no response from Kim Moohyuk.

I didn’t expect an answer, but my heart sank, and I had no choice but to start guiding immediately. Since I couldn’t touch him, I used radiating guiding to send the highest purity waves possible. I focused all my energy on him to deliver more guiding.

This was more important than any immediate problem. Kim Moohyuk, I had to save you. You, who foolishly took the chip into your heart and risked exploding instead of me, I had to save you. Otherwise, I would go insane this time. This guiding was purely for my sake.

How much time had passed like that? From outside, there was a knock at the door. Han Byeongeun was there. I stopped the guiding, went out, and ate the meal he brought. I was eating so hurriedly that I didn’t even hear what Han Byeongeun was saying and ended up choking.

“Please eat slowly…”

With a sigh, Byeongeun handed me a water bottle. I drank it and went back to stuffing food into my mouth. I couldn’t even discern what kind of food Han Byeongeun had brought. I ate only because I needed to keep functioning. After finishing the meal, I brushed my teeth with the kit he provided, washed my hands again, and put on the sterile suit before stepping back into the healing room. The person inside still lay there as if dead.

“You idiot.”

The curse slipped out again, though this time it was aimed at myself. I couldn’t help but scold myself. Holding back the grimace forming on my face, I resumed guiding.

After several hours of relentless guiding, I suddenly felt something cold and jolted awake. At some point, I had fallen from the chair and was lying face down on the floor.

I didn’t think I had fallen asleep—more like I briefly lost consciousness. My nose stung, possibly from hitting the ground. Though I had dried blood from a nosebleed, the faint throbbing indicated no bones were broken. Lacking the strength to get up, I sat on the floor and started guiding again.

I kept at it until I lost consciousness once more. If I were to estimate the total amount of guiding I’d done, it would be equivalent to guiding 300 A-class Espers simultaneously.

Fortunately, the person’s complexion seemed to have improved slightly. It could have been wishful thinking, but that’s how it appeared. Just as I continued pouring in guidance, someone shook my shoulder, startling me. It was a nurse officer frowning at me.

“Why are you sleeping here?”

“Ah…”

I couldn’t reply. My head was spinning violently. The sudden dizziness left my entire body feeling heavy, like soaked cotton. My vision blurred and darkened, only to rapidly clear up again. The military doctor standing within my restored vision was frowning, though now with a different expression. He seemed surprised.

“…You have a nosebleed,” he said, handing me a roll of gauze.

Feeling embarrassed, I nodded slightly, stuffed the gauze into my nose, and resumed guiding immediately. The nurse officer appeared to have come to disinfect Kim Moohyuk’s surgical incision. I quietly observed him like a humidifier silently dispensing mist.

Specifically, I watched the unhealed area of his chest.

“…”

For an Esper like Kim Moohyuk, even a surgical incision should have shown signs of recovery. While it wouldn’t have fully healed, the stitched areas should at least have fused together. Despite all the guidance I’d poured in, the wound showed no sign of healing, as if something was still missing.

I stared blankly at the wound and bit my lower lip. The sight was too painful to bear, but I couldn’t look away. The incision looked far too raw. A quick glance from the nurse officer, who then left the healing room without a word, brought my attention back to the quietness that pervaded the room. A day had passed already, yet unlike other areas, the healing room remained eerily still.

As I continued guiding, someone knocked on the door again. It was Han Byeongeun. Only then did I realize that I hadn’t eaten anything the entire day. When I stepped outside, Han Byeongeun frowned at the sight of my face.

“What happened to you in just one day?”

“You brought food. Thanks.”

I quietly expressed my gratitude, but Han Byeongeun clicked his tongue, still frowning. Though I knew he was worried, I could only focus on what I had to do. Even with no appetite, I forced myself to chew. I washed down the food with water, pushing it down my throat, knowing I needed the energy to continue guiding Kim Moohyuk.

As I finished eating, Han Byeongeun began reporting the events of the past day.

“The central unit is stirring. It seems like they’re planning to hold the Center Director accountable. They’re calling it negligence of management… But honestly, who benefits if the Center Director is ousted? They’re not even focusing on dealing with the Accent incident. They just seem intent on taking down the Director first and worrying about the rest later.”

“…”

Though I didn’t reply, I agreed with Han Byeongeun. It was obvious what the central unit was after. They wanted to use this opportunity to unseat Kim Inhak and take over the strongest Esper center in Seogyeong.

“…Something feels off,” I murmured unconsciously. It struck me as strange. This kind of rapid action wasn’t like the central unit. Their usual approach was to spread rumors of Kim Inhak’s liability across all centers first, then gradually attack from the outside.

“They’re moving too fast.”

“I think so too. It’s not like them,” Han Byeongeun said with a nod.

Ultimately, there wasn’t much we could do about it now. Instead, I gave him instructions.

“Tell Kim Inhak that Kim Moohyuk is likely to wake up soon. Say it loudly, in front of others.”

“Yes? But… isn’t that for the medical officers to decide?”

“Guides can sense things too.”

Han Byeongeun looked shocked at my words.

“Co-Colonel, you don’t mean…”

“What, what, what?”

I responded nonchalantly to the stuttering Han Byeongeun. Seeing his dumbfounded face made me feel a bit ridiculous. Han Byeongeun continued to mumble in shock.

“Colonel, you didn’t… imprint with Kim Moohyuk, did you?!”

His voice was so loud that I quickly looked down both ends of the hallway and then smacked Han Byeongeun on the back. Imprinted guides can sense their esper’s condition in detail. That’s why Han Byeongeun was so surprised.

“Why don’t you just announce it to everyone? That’s not it. I want the central department to think that way. …Well, if you were fooled, they probably will be too.”

If I could fool a doctor with a PhD, the central department would be fooled too. That should be enough for now. If the rumor spread that I had imprinted with Kim Moohyuk, it would disrupt the central department’s plans to control the powerful esper. Imprinted espers usually stay with their guides. They might have planned to use him as a missile for individual combat, but realizing he’s a smart missile that only listens to one pilot would make them hesitate. They might try to persuade me, but that’s fine. I have no intention of falling for their persuasion.

Han Byeongeun nodded in confusion and then let out a loud “Ah.” Ignoring him, I got up to brush my teeth. It was time for guiding.

I continued guiding for a while longer. Kim Moohyuk still showed no signs of waking up, and I had to pass out several times. One day, someone kicked me, and I woke up on the floor to find a military doctor glaring at me.

“Are you sleeping? People are dying.”

His eyes were filled with anger. I instinctively knew he had a connection to someone injured or killed in the explosion.

I stood up. My body felt achy, like I was about to get sick, but I had to push through. I couldn’t collapse yet. I couldn’t leave Kim Moohyuk like this. I didn’t hold back.

“Why is that my fault?”

“…What?”

“Why is a terrorist attack by an armed group my fault?”

The military doctor’s face twisted. His eyes, filled with rage, glared at me. I started guiding Kim Moohyuk and spoke indifferently to him.

“I didn’t cause the attack, and my pair esper was injured too. Why should I be the only one blamed when we’re all suffering?”

“You… Do you think words are enough!?”

“Don’t shout. There are patients here.”

My warning made the military doctor tremble with anger, then he scoffed.

“You have no conscience, do you? Rumor has it you’re in league with Accent. I guess you were too busy guiding a dead esper to notice.”

His words made my ears ring. It wasn’t the accusation against me that angered me. It was the blatant insult to Kim Moohyuk.

“…Take that back.”

“I won’t. And don’t speak informally to me. Don’t you know the chain of command?!”

“I don’t care, you bastard.”

I lunged at him. The military doctor, an esper with healing abilities, grabbed my collar and spread his waves. But I was faster. My experience with combat guiding gave me an edge over a non-combat esper with healing abilities. No matter how strong an esper’s physical abilities were, I had the means to kill an esper.

I spread my waves thin and precise, immediately taking the guiding from the military doctor. I was already exhausted from pouring guiding into the bottomless pit that was Kim Moohyuk, so I welcomed the chance. The military doctor couldn’t hold out and fell to his knees.

“S-stop…”

I stopped taking his guiding. There was no reason to continue once he surrendered.

“Watch your words. You’re not the only one with loved ones.”

With that, I focused on guiding Kim Moohyuk again. I wasn’t upset about the insult to me. It was the insult to Kim Moohyuk that angered me.

The military doctor, stunned, cursed under his breath and left the healing room. Once he closed the door, I sighed. I didn’t know what treatment he had come for, but I thought he should have at least checked on Kim Moohyuk before leaving, instead of blaming others and neglecting his duties.

From that point on, it was a race against time. I kept pouring guiding into Kim Moohyuk, and he continuously absorbed it. I was grateful that he didn’t show any adverse reactions to the guiding.

That day, I fainted three times and got up four times to continue guiding. Feeling nauseous, I ran to the bathroom, threw up, and took off my antibacterial suit. As I washed my face and hands, I saw a man staring back at me in the mirror. He had dark circles under his eyes and sunken cheeks. It was funny how I looked like I hadn’t eaten in days.

“…Kim Moohyuk, hurry up. I’m going to die at this rate.”

I muttered, knowing that Kim Moohyuk, lying in the healing room, wouldn’t hear me. I stared blankly at the mirror before heading back to the healing room for Kim Moohyuk, who still hadn’t opened his eyes.

About three days had passed. Or was it four? I had lost track of time.

‘From today, I have to help the director. Please make sure to eat. If I don’t remind you, you won’t eat at all, will you?’

I didn’t answer, but Han Byeongeun seemed to already know my response. His sharp intuition was fitting for someone with a PhD.

‘Kim Moohyuk is important, but think about what he’ll say when he wakes up and sees your face, Colonel.’

He was right. I thought to myself that higher education made a difference, but I was too exhausted to respond.

‘From today, please eat at the temporary cafeteria. The esper ward cafeteria will be busy, so at least go to the temporary one set up in the ward yard.’

His nagging was filled with concern for me. I wasn’t so out of it that I couldn’t understand that, so I nodded weakly.

I had to eat something to continue guiding. I wondered why Han Byeongeun, with his scientific background, hadn’t developed a pill that could instantly fill me up and provide all the necessary nutrients. His hard-earned PhD should be confiscated.

“I’ll be back, so wait for me.”

The only good news was that Kim Moohyuk’s heart was starting to function properly. They said they might be able to remove the pacemaker soon.

‘…You’ve done well, but I can’t forgive you for what you did to our staff.’

A senior military doctor had come down to say this directly. He conveniently left out the part where he tried to grab my collar, breaking the unspoken rule that espers shouldn’t assault guides, and just reported that I had beaten him up. I should have noticed his sinister expression outside the mask, but I didn’t expect him to be so despicable.

Anyway, Kim Moohyuk had been moved to a general ward. The intensive care unit needed to accommodate more severely injured patients. Fortunately, thanks to Kim Inhak’s arrangement, Kim Moohyuk had a private room despite the busy situation. It was a privilege, but it was better for continuous guiding than a shared room. I could focus better.

I stroked Kim Moohyuk’s hand and poured the last bit of guiding before standing up. I planned to eat quickly and return. As I stood, dizziness clouded my vision, but I shook my head to clear it and walked out. All I could think about was eating quickly and returning.

At the cafeteria, another unpleasant surprise awaited me.

“You have no conscience, do you?”

So this is what group bullying feels like? What I experienced before was nothing. As I watched the person who had taken my tray and dumped my food on my head laugh at me, I thought blankly.

“Do you even know how many people got hurt because of you?”

Another one saying the same thing. It was tiresome, just like the military doctor’s words. I understood they wanted to blame me, but I didn’t know why they were taking it out on me when I hadn’t directly ordered Ha Seonghan.

I stood up without responding. I didn’t have time to argue with these people. Kim Moohyuk still showed no signs of waking up, and watching him made me increasingly anxious.

As I stood, food scraps fell from my clothes. Suddenly, I felt a surge of anger. Why should I be so nice to people who barely knew how to read when I was commissioned? So I took the tray back and handed it to the guide who had picked a fight with me, vertically.

“Hey―!”

The guide’s face turned red with anger, and he yelled at me. Ignoring him, I walked away.

When he tried to grab me from behind, I started running. I didn’t care if my knees hurt. I had to head to Garam-dong since I couldn’t take a cart looking like a mess. Despite the wasted time, I walked.

I finally reached the dorm, washed my clothes, took a shower, and checked the time. It had been quite a while since I left Kim Moohyuk’s room.

“…”

Seeing that made me feel empty. Maybe it was because I had been running around for days, or maybe it was because Kim Moohyuk still hadn’t woken up. I was exhausted and worn out. But I had to go back. I packed my things and prepared to return to the esper ward. With my bag on my shoulder, I left the dorm and waited for the cart.

“Is that him?”

“Yeah, that’s what they said?”

It seemed like they were talking behind my back. The rumors about me must have been pretty bad. Just having my picture appear in the sky wouldn’t have been enough to fuel the fire. There must have been other rumors spreading, but I didn’t pay attention and got on the cart. The same thing happened on the way to the ward. Despite the glances and whispers directed at me, I just walked.

This is nothing. What really matters to me is Kim Moohyuk lying in that hospital bed. That’s why I sighed as soon as I entered his room. I wished he would wake up.

“…I’m here.”

“…”

I spoke to the unresponsive Kim Moohyuk, telling him about my day and what was happening outside. Then I had a thought.

“…What is Ha Seonghan’s goal?”

Kim Moohyuk didn’t respond, but I held his hand and started guiding, thinking about Ha Seonghan.

“Why did he put my picture in the sky?”

What benefit did he gain from it? I needed to think about that. I started with the central department. Their recent behavior had been strange.

The central department liked to apply pressure gradually from the outside. They knew that directly declaring an all-out war on Kim Inhak wouldn’t be easy because of his strong backing. So there must have been a reason for the central department to rush like this.

I had always found the central department suspicious. On the day I died, it was the central department that had sent Kim Moohyuk on a solo mission.

“Could the central department… have made a deal with Ha Seonghan or something…?”

I stopped myself there. It was something no one should hear. Instead, I gently stroked Kim Moohyuk’s cheek.

“…Ha Seonghan wants me isolated at the center. …Not killing you completely might be part of that plan…”

If Kim Moohyuk had died immediately, it would have been a bigger gain for Ha Seonghan. But he must have known that implanting a chip in an esper’s heart wouldn’t kill Kim Moohyuk right away. There must have been a reason he didn’t finish him off.

I was convinced that reason had to do with me. It didn’t make sense that Ha Seonghan came all this way just to leave Kim Moohyuk in a coma. He might have staged the explosion to cause power loss, but if that were the case, he would have launched a full-scale attack. The fact that it was still quiet made me curious about his true intentions. He must have wanted something else.

“What should I do?”

I muttered as if asking Kim Moohyuk, even though I knew the answer.

“…Can I go?”

In the end, I had to ask. I needed to find Ha Seonghan. I didn’t know what he was planning, but his goal was likely me. He might have isolated me at the center to make me come out on my own.

So approaching Ha Seonghan first might not be a bad idea. …The problem was Kim Moohyuk, who still hadn’t regained consciousness. He needed someone to keep guiding him until his heart functioned properly.

Just as I decided to think about it for another day or two, Kim Inhak called for me. He knew it was urgent, but I couldn’t leave Kim Moohyuk, so he came to me. We met in the room next to Kim Moohyuk’s, with the adjacent rooms empty.

“The central department…”

Kim Inhak, whom I hadn’t seen in days, looked thinner. He must have been through a lot. But I probably looked just as bad. I tried to focus on his words, which he spoke without any greeting.

“The central department wants to transfer you.”

“…Where to?”

It was somewhat expected. They would have pointed to the anxiety within the center caused by my picture suddenly appearing in the sky on the day of the attack. Kim Inhak answered with a troubled expression.

“To the Chungcheong center. They’re pushing for a quick transfer.”

“In exchange for what?”

There must have been a reason Kim Inhak couldn’t refuse the proposal and was discussing it with me. If it were something he could handle on his own, he wouldn’t have mentioned it. Inhak’s pained expression confirmed my suspicion as he answered.

“They agreed to let the Seogyeong center investigate and respond to this incident without central department interference.”

That was necessary. If the central department got involved in this terrorist attack, Kim Inhak would lose his authority, and even after Kim Moohyuk woke up, they would hold him back. I understood that, but I couldn’t help but ask in disbelief.

“…The funny thing is, if I’m a guide affiliated with the Seogyeong Center, shouldn’t the center protect me first, knowing that the photo in the sky means I’m being targeted?”

“…”

Kim Inhak couldn’t answer. I understood his position, but it was still bittersweet. I knew the burden he had to bear.

“…Alright, just tell them I agree.”

Kim Inhak looked surprised at my compliance. I cleared my throat and continued.

“I think the central department… might be in cahoots with Accent. Do you know anything about that?”

I was asking if he had any information. Kim Inhak sighed and answered slowly.

“Moohyuk told me not to tell you in detail. He said you’d probably run off immediately.”

Finding out this way didn’t feel great, even though I knew Kim Moohyuk was trying to protect me. But there was no point in blaming Kim Inhak now, so I changed the subject.

“There must be a reason the central department wants to transfer me to Chungcheong. Maybe there’s someone there who’s closer to Accent…”

Kim Inhak’s eyes widened, and he suddenly responded.

“Or maybe they’re planning to kidnap you during the transfer?”

I nodded. I had been suspecting that too. Kim Inhak frowned at my words. I continued slowly.

“So just tell them I’ll transfer. Delay the date as much as possible. In the meantime, I’ll take care of Ha Seonghan.”

“…How?”

“Team Mars.”

I answered simply. I had Kim Moohyuk’s esper team. They might not be as strong as Kim Moohyuk, but Team Mars should be able to reach Ha Seonghan.

“None of them are strong enough to face Ha Seonghan.”

Kim Inhak answered worriedly. I shook my head. It was true that no one in Team Mars could match Ha Seonghan. Even if there were many S-Class espers, none could strategically deploy their abilities in combat like Ha Seonghan.

But what if it wasn’t an esper? Kim Inhak looked at me and shook his head in shock.

“No, I oppose this. Absolutely not.”

I stared at him and said,

“Yes, I’ll do it.”

Ending Ha Seonghan. That’s something I have to do. No one else. A quiet flame ignited in my chest.

It seemed better to plan quickly before Kim Moohyuk woke up.

“I’m meeting Team Mars today. I’ll explain the plan and ask them to come with me…”

I said as I wiped Kim Moohyuk’s hand with a damp cloth. His calloused fingertips were covered in rough scars. They weren’t life-threatening injuries, so they healed slowly, only to get hurt again. I intertwined my fingers with his and guided him. I felt a slight squeeze, maybe just my imagination.

I quickly looked up at Kim Moohyuk, but he remained motionless. I sighed.

“…If it’s urgent, I might leave today. Take care.”

Time was of the essence, so I thought it best to persuade Team Mars and launch a surprise attack on Accent’s base, even if it meant leaving at dawn. I stood up without hesitation. The sun was still high, but I felt rushed. Kim Moohyuk still had his eyes closed. The rise and fall of his chest were the only signs he was alive.

“…”

I stared blankly at Moohyuk, then reached out and kissed his forehead.

“…I’ll be back.”

Then I turned and left the room. Time was running out. Despite Kim Inhak’s efforts, the central department’s attempts to take over the center were becoming more frequent.

‘They took the entire administrative hard drive. I don’t know what they plan to do with it, but it’s clear they want to take me down. If you’re going to act, now’s the time. I don’t think I can hold them off much longer.’

Kim Inhak had warned me. I intended to follow his advice. After leaving the esper ward, I took Kim Moohyuk’s jeep and headed to Mars’ office. Since only the team leader, Kim Moohyuk, had the authority to issue a summons, I had to steal his phone.

I entered the group chat and sent a message to the Mars team members, asking them to come to the office where I had previously gone with Kim Moohyuk. Then, I turned off the phone. When I arrived at the office and opened the door, the gathered espers eyed me suspiciously before relaxing.

“You scared us. When we got a message from the person lying in bed, we thought his phone had been stolen by the wrong people!”

Lieutenant Bang joked as soon as he saw my face. After returning the salutes of the espers who stood up, I lowered my hand. Despite his cheerful demeanor, Lieutenant Bang didn’t look well. It was understandable, as their team leader, Kim Moohyuk, was currently unconscious.

“We’re having a really tough time. If the captain hadn’t prepared a manual for such situations, there would be nothing we could do.”

Lieutenant Bang sighed as he spoke. Although Kim Moohyuk was meticulous, I hadn’t expected him to plan for this, and I was impressed. Even so, Mars must have struggled to understand the current situation. Losing Kim Moohyuk was like taking the best striker and defender out of a soccer team, and playing without a goalkeeper or coach. Kim Moohyuk was that important. That’s why Kim Inhak tried to dissuade me from going with Mars. But I was convinced that now was the only time to act.

Ha Seonghan wouldn’t back down easily. With Kim Moohyuk out of the way, he seemed to be trying to isolate me by pressuring the center externally and internally, incapacitating Kim Inhak, and making the center expel me so he could take me. This meant that if we didn’t act now, we wouldn’t be able to disrupt Ha Seonghan’s plan.

I explained my thoughts to the Mars espers. They listened carefully but soon looked worried.

“But… we can’t move the team without the captain.”

Lieutenant Bang looked troubled. They wouldn’t want to play without a striker, defender, goalkeeper, or coach. But they overlooked something. I could act as the coach and goalkeeper, even if I wasn’t an excellent striker.

After all, I had been the one to teach Kim Moohyuk tactics during missions. It was strange that he learned things from me that he should have learned from an esper instructor, but our strategies wouldn’t differ much. Our basic tactical tendencies were similar.

The issue was the abilities of each esper. The success rate of the mission would vary greatly depending on how we utilized them. But the first thing I needed to do was make them acknowledge me.

“You’re aware that Captain Kim Moohyuk is unconscious.”

Goh Seunghwan looked at me as if wondering why I was stating the obvious. He had always been somewhat arrogant, but I let it slide because we were busy. I looked at Lieutenant Bang and said,

“As you know, now is the best time to strike Accent.”

“…”

Lieutenant Bang, who had been talking nonstop, fell silent and stared at me. It was as if he was waiting to hear what I had to say. I realized then that their polite treatment of me as a guest had ended.

“If we attack Accent now, the success rate is below 30%.”

“Isn’t that just admitting defeat?”

Goh Seunghwan interrupted, seemingly incredulous. I focused on Lieutenant Bang. It was more important to gain the deputy leader’s approval than the team member’s right now.

“If we don’t attack Accent now, the success rate drops below 5%.”

“…”

Lieutenant Bang still didn’t respond, but he didn’t argue either. He understood.

“You know that we need to launch a surprise attack on their base tonight, after midnight at the latest, to have any chance of success.”

Lieutenant Bang frowned and sighed.

“We’ve considered that too, but… you saw it. How can we challenge them without our key player? With the captain in this state, every team member is invaluable to us.”

“If we don’t act today, Kim Inhak won’t be able to protect this team. We’ll lose the opportunity. We don’t know when Kim Moohyuk will wake up. Today, we only have to deal with Accent, but starting tomorrow, we might have to face the entire center. The central department is targeting the Seogyeong Center.”

If Kim Inhak couldn’t hold out any longer, the central department would take control of the center. Mars would lose its opportunity. Lieutenant Bang, licking his lips, asked me again.

“…Do you have a plan in mind?”

“Show me the plan Kim Moohyuk prepared. We just need to build on it.”

“That sounds like you’re just copying someone else’s idea.”

Goh Seunghwan mocked me. I shrugged and nodded.

“That’s right. If Kim Moohyuk prepared the plan, it’s the best one we have. We just need to adjust the roles based on the current situation. Even with my experience, I can’t match Kim Moohyuk’s years of planning.”

Lieutenant Bang nodded at my words.

“Bring the file.”

“Deputy Leader!”

Goh Seunghwan called out as if to stop her. Lieutenant Bang narrowed her eyes and smirked.

“Why have you been acting so cocky? We don’t have time. Do you want to get punished? Stop messing around and bring the file.”

Goh Seunghwan frowned. He seemed to have a strong sense of loyalty to Kim Moohyuk.

“I don’t understand why you’re suddenly getting involved in our affairs. The captain planned the operations with Colonel, I mean Sergeant Kang, in mind, but I disagree.”

“Don’t you remember finding me first, Lieutenant Goh? Didn’t you say finding me was the key to defeating Accent?”

I asked nonchalantly. Goh Seunghwan’s face twisted slightly, and he clicked his tongue.

“I didn’t expect things to turn out like this. I just thought the captain needed a bigger battery.”

“Are you crazy?”

Lieutenant Bang intervened sharply. Calling a guide a “battery” was a near-insult, implying they were just there to provide power without any strength of their own. I could vaguely understand why Goh Seunghwan was antagonistic toward me. But I didn’t have time to convince him right now.

I stood up and approached Goh Seunghwan directly. He stiffened as I quickly reached him.

“…What are you doing?”

Without answering, I grabbed his wrist and immediately started guiding him.

“Let go, uh!”

He tried to shake me off and yelled in surprise. He struggled to free his wrist, but my guiding waves were faster. I took his guiding.

“Ugh―!”

He let out a strangled sound and looked at me with bloodshot eyes, shocked. I returned his guiding immediately.

“Is my reason for being part of this mission clear now?”

I asked him. His shoulders trembled as he clutched his wrist. I glanced at Lieutenant Bang, who had been watching silently, and Lieutenant Ham Jeongju, who seemed unsure what to think.

“We’re wasting time here. Hurry up and give me the outline of the plan Kim Moohyuk prepared.”

Lieutenant Bang looked at Ham Jeongju. Without a word, he handed me the file containing Kim Moohyuk’s plans. It was a comprehensive collection of strategies. I quickly sorted through them to find the one that fit the current situation.

“How about this one?”

I handed one to Lieutenant Bang. She frowned as she read the outline.

“This doesn’t fit our current situation.”

The plan was simple. Using Goh Seunghwan’s finder ability to locate Ha Seonghan and systematically eliminate his forces. It sounded easy in theory, but with our limited manpower, it wasn’t the best approach. However, I thought differently.

“You worry because Mars isn’t a large team. But we can succeed.”

“We need considerable forces to cover us while entering the base. Even if we cause an explosion around the base, there will be many obstacles before reaching Ha Seonghan.”

“We can neutralize the espers.”

Lieutenant Bang looked at me as if asking how. I answered nonchalantly.

“If radiating guiding is possible, so is radiating reverse guiding. If I can guide you without touching you, I can also take your guiding without contact.”

“That’s like saying a maglev train can theoretically run. It doesn’t make sense.”

Lieutenant Bang shook her head. I understood her concerns, but I realized I needed to demonstrate my capability, even if time was short.

Even after my body changed to Sergeant Kang’s, I continued training in guiding techniques. Sergeant Kang’s body had an immense amount of guiding, and I just needed to expand the wave’s range based on that. I immediately deployed radiating guiding, aiming to take Lieutenant Bang’s guiding within my wave’s reach.

“Wow, this really works…?”

Lieutenant Bang looked at me in surprise. I shrugged. I was just as amazed internally. At least they understood the strength needed to reach Ha Seonghan. Now we needed Accent’s base location. I turned to Goh Seunghwan.