A sigh escaped from the older researchers who knew who ‘The Teacher’ referred to, while younger researchers, who didn’t understand the underlying meaning of the simple word, expressed puzzled questions. While the existence of the first unmeasurable Esper was something they were familiar with, his other name, ‘The Teacher,’ was completely unfamiliar to them.

Lee Miyeon unknowingly turned her gaze toward the center director. Though the director had not directly asked Oh Jinwoo a question, Miyeon could read the rare confusion in her wide-open eyes. Miyeon moistened her dry lips with her tongue before speaking up in her place.

“Wasn’t ‘The Teacher’ reported dead after disappearing during the incident ten years ago? …I heard that person personally killed their guide.”

Choi Taehun involuntarily muttered a quiet “Oh my,” as he recalled a question he had urgently asked the center director during the previous meeting.

“Then where is this person called ‘The Teacher’ now?”

But the center director only smiled vaguely without answering, leading Taehun to faintly suspect that ‘The Teacher’ might not be alive. He never imagined such a backstory—an Esper who killed their own guide!

Ji Gwanyeong, too, didn’t hide his frown at the statement and tilted his head slightly. Based on everything that had been said so far, it was clear that the reason Oh Jinwoo couldn’t break free from Lee Hansol was simple: Lee Hansol had been his one and only guide.

Judging from the immediate surrender after their pair broke, it was easy to imagine how much he must have resisted the relationship. The fact that they had been together for ten years, unable to break apart by any means, might demonstrate how powerless an Esper is against their guide.

Gwanyeong clicked his tongue, shaking his head slightly.

“I’ve seen Lee Hansol talking with ‘The Teacher’ several times. It’s clear that ‘The Teacher’ is alive. I believe the terrorist incident in Gangnam a few months ago involved an Esper he was experimenting on.”

At Oh Jinwoo’s words, Taehun’s grip tightened around his hand, and a deep fear seeped into his heart, leaving an indelible mark. As he watched, a small, hollow laugh escaped from Esper Ji Gwanyeong.

He gently loosened his guide’s hand and playfully stroked it, his demeanor showing a reassuring warmth. After giving a charming smile, Gwanyeong stood up from his chair.

Taehun, confused and anxious about Gwanyeong’s sudden action, let him go without protest. The eyes of everyone in the room shifted toward the man whose actions were so unpredictable.

Miyeon couldn’t draw a clear picture of why that unpredictable man was moving, but there was no one here who could guess or stop the meaning of his sudden action.

The Esper walked directly to the center of the hall where Oh Jinwoo was, then paused momentarily in front of a transparent prison set up by the center. Several researchers tried to warn him to step back.

But before any words could leave their mouths, Gwanyeong flicked his finger as if snapping it. In an instant, the layers of the prison designed to block ‘power’ disintegrated with a chilling sound, the particles turning into beads that rolled down to the ground. It was as effortless as crushing a sandcastle made by children.

A sound of exhaled breaths could be heard from somewhere.

They were realizing, with brutal clarity, just how powerless the most perfect prison they had created was against Gwanyeong—and against ‘those two Espers.’ If Gwanyeong could dismantle that prison, then Oh Jinwoo would have been able to do the same.

The second and third powers met side by side.

Gwanyeong, still wearing a loose smile, was the first to speak.

“It’s been a while.”

“…Yes.”

“When I heard that researcher over there was family, I was honestly quite shocked. When he suddenly grabbed Choi Taehun and started protesting, I wondered what kind of crazy person had appeared out of nowhere.”

The words, spoken in an endlessly warm and gentle tone, were laced with sharp thorns. The people from the center frowned, recalling the exhaustion from the day that had almost pushed them to their limits, and those unfamiliar with the word “brother” involuntarily flinched and looked away.

Of course, Choi Taehun let out a small sigh at the malicious word that his Esper must have deliberately chosen. But what surprised everyone came after that.

Ji Gwanyeong strode right up to Oh Jinwoo’s face.

A surprised voice, “Oh!” escaped from somewhere. Taehun also jumped to his feet. However, the Esper ignored everyone’s reaction and lightly shook the massive chains shackled to Oh Jinwoo’s hands and feet, then raised an eyebrow and asked, “What was the reason you came here, knowing this would end up looking ridiculous, without a guide?”

Ridiculous. To Ji Gwanyeong, Oh Jinwoo’s current state was exactly that, neither more nor less. Oh Jinwoo paused for a moment, as if choosing his words, then slowly spoke.

“…I came to make sure you don’t become Lee Hansol’s Esper.”

“……”

There was no one who could interrupt the conversation between the two Espers.

Ji Gwanyeong silently stared at Oh Jinwoo, and after a short while, his eyes narrowed faintly as he saw the words flashing on the sign behind him.

The first lie caused a stir among the Espers. However, Ji Gwanyeong didn’t seem at all displeased with what he had just confirmed. In fact, he looked slightly pleased, as though Oh Jinwoo had improved a little.

“You’re still as soft as ever.”

A mischievous hint about the truth of that day, which only Choi Taehun was unaware of, slipped out.

“You should probably start thinking about how to hold onto that person’s life.”

“……”

“If that guide, Lee Hansol, dies before finding a new Esper, doesn’t that mean the so-called second best will go mad and die as well?”

Oh Yeon clenched his fist tightly. The only one to notice this was his guide, Park Seungwon. The hall was now filled with perfect silence. In the stillness, Ji Gwanyeong let out another faint smile.

It’s almost unbelievable that the terrorist incident in Gangnam, which ultimately left a lasting trauma on my guide, was also their doing. Now, everything has become clear.

‘Guide Lee Hansol’ and ‘The Teacher,’ both Espers, are enemies who could harm my guide at any time. I’m even grateful for the danger I’ve now realized, which I hadn’t been aware of until Oh Jinwoo’s intrusion. How could I have been so foolish as to almost lose my guide, my ‘Choi Taehun,’ when he fell into my hands? Even now, thinking about it makes the blood in my body turn cold.

Therefore, it’s only right to show some kindness to the person who made me realize this truth. This is Ji Gwanyeong’s own form of consideration and gratitude. The Esper spoke, his eyes narrowing, his lips slowly forming a sentence that only he and Oh Jinwoo, face-to-face, could read.

-But this time, I have no intention of sparing ‘that’ one.

* * *

Right now, Ji Gwanyeong and Choi Taehun are having their second fight since becoming a pair, and their first as a couple.

“I can’t trust the center, not at all.”

“Still, this isn’t the way. Can’t I just stay in the car?”

“No.”

Choi Taehun sighed and let his head fall onto the seat of the van. However, Ji Gwanyeong, watching him, crossed his arms and threw his gaze out the window, as if showing that he would never compromise on this.

The manager sitting in the driver’s seat, observing through the rearview mirror, swallowed nervously, as if he had done something wrong. He had never seen the man he was responsible for speak like that, with such a tone and expression.

“Gwanyeong-ssi.”

“……”