Oh Yeon displayed the teacher’s photos and history from before and after the disappearance on the large monitor. The center director involuntarily flinched at the sudden appearance of the teacher’s real face.

The slightly sunken cheeks and the narrow, slit-like eyes somehow gave the impression of a cold-blooded animal. It reminded her of the shadow in her nightmares, the one who had smiled at her and committed cruel acts from twenty years ago, right before the teacher had gone missing.

The teacher. Whenever something related to the teacher came up, she kept shrinking back and becoming tense. It felt like going back to when she had been a new researcher 20 years ago.

Kwon Dahee couldn’t help but think of Choi Taehun every time her reason was suppressed by fear like this. The guide, with no real power at all, had been trembling so visibly, but still managed to keep talking until the end.

Now, by her side, there are countless Espers who have been clinging to the teacher’s secret with minimal sleep and rest.

None of them are hostages of the teacher.

But none of them express dissatisfaction with the situation. Knowing what the death of a guide means to them, they just become more desperate. Kwon Dahee clenched her fist.

It’s time to wake up from the nightmare that’s been going on for 20 years.

“Unless we uncover the almost unknown personal secret of the ‘teacher,’ it seems difficult to solve the current situation,” Oh Yeon said.

“The teacher was just ‘the teacher’ when they first came to the center. They didn’t disclose any personal information, and immediately locked themselves in the lab,” the center director continued, as though reminiscing.

Her words suddenly stopped, and she simply stared intently at the screen that Oh Yeon had displayed. Oh Yeon looked confused. However, the center director’s strange behavior continued.

“…Who does that face and voice belong to?”

“Pardon?”

“Who is this?”

Kwon Dahee’s hand reached for the current image of the teacher. Unlike before, the face of a middle-aged man with a warm expression and soft demeanor appeared. Oh Yeon calmly responded to her question.

“There’s an identity from when they entered the center. Actually, I suspected it might have been fabricated, but this person was real. They had been counseling guides primarily in military units for a long time. According to those around them, they have been missing for three years.”

“Display the profile.”

The person who the teacher had stolen their face from was, as Oh Yeon had said, an ordinary middle-aged man who had led an uneventful life. Kwon Dahee skimmed through the man’s history that appeared on the screen and asked.

“Is this person also a guide?”

“Yes. There were no pairing Espers. There were a few occasions, but all of those pairings were completed. The reason was either the Esper found a guide with a higher match rate or the guide had an accident.”

The center director seemed to be thinking, then narrowed her eyes slightly, before clapping her hands a few times to draw the attention of the entire central lab.

“Everyone, stop what you’re doing for now and collect all the information on this person. Especially from when the teacher first appeared at the center to just before their disappearance. Do whatever it takes to get the details.”

Oh Yeon once again studied the calm face on the monitor. That was the face of the person who had brought such horrible times to everyone here, as well as the face the teacher had stolen.

Meanwhile, at the center director’s command, one of the Espers in the lab raised their hand slightly and spoke.

“Director, the teacher is already in the criminal database, so getting information on them isn’t difficult. But this person is a completely civilian.”

“……”

“Since he frequently visited the military units, we have to secretly approach that side as well…”

Ji Gwanyeong, before losing his memory, had mocked the fact that these many researchers could not beat the teacher, who was called the greatest intellect. However, despite that sharp expression, if you separate the teacher from everything, there truly is no one who can toy with them.

Even if it were a place that independently had its own Espers, it would be impossible to stand above the researchers, who were at the peak of their ability manifestation.

Returning to his seat, Oh Yeon casually tilted his head. A slightly arrogant smile also appeared on the center director’s face. Oh Yeon’s rough, hoarse voice, which seemed a bit lower, answered for the center director.

“If we don’t get caught, it’s fine, isn’t it?”

The feeling of helplessness and humiliation, caused by the teacher, was more than enough to surpass what was needed. The researchers quickly began using their abilities at high speed, displaying multiple screens.

It was then. A low signal tone began to ring from one corner of the central lab. It was strong enough to stop the researchers, who had been moving their fingers even in this busy situation.

That notification even caught the attention of the center director, who had been buried in searching for traces of the teacher. The center director swallowed dryly.

That small notification sound… surely…

The center director turned to Oh Yeon, whose face had stiffened.

“Oh researcher. For emergencies, please have Oh Jinwoo stand by near Choi Taehun’s official residence.”

“Yes.”

Ji Gwanyeong arrived at Choi Taehun’s official residence.

Ji Gwanyeong does not answer calls from unknown numbers.

But on this day, strangely, from the early morning, an unfamiliar number popped up on his phone. Ji Gwanyeong glanced at it and immediately pressed the block button. However, the call was persistent.

During a break in filming, an unfamiliar number once again irritated him. Two times was enough. Ji Gwanyeong added that number to the block list. If it were something urgent, it would come through the agency or the manager, he thought. Otherwise, it wasn’t worth answering.

The grueling drama filming was ending today.

It had been a few months of stressful schedules, not just for the staff but for the broadcast personnel as well. Of course, the reason for that was one person.

“Really, thank you for all your hard work.”

“Oh, no, Ji Gwanyeong, only you could do it.”

“Haha.”

The relaxed smile on his face as he closed his eyes looked even better than the one in the drama. For this past week, Ji Gwanyeong had focused solely on filming, without any summons from the center or his personal schedule.

For those worried about lacking footage and needing to prepare special videos, it was a huge relief.

“The afterparty is the day after tomorrow. Today, we were thinking of getting together with those who have time. Ji Gwanyeong, do you have time?”

“Sorry, today might be tough for me.”

It was a soft refusal typical of Ji Gwanyeong.

The atmosphere, which had been blaming the man who had disrupted the filming schedule and caused difficulties for many, had softened, thanks to his distinctive voice and attitude. It must have been difficult to suddenly manifest as an Esper, but in an urgent situation like this, it was hard to consider such personal matters for each person.

Naturally, there had been complaints here and there. “Isn’t the lead actor going too far?” But such disgruntled words disappeared every time Ji Gwanyeong returned to the filming set. With his face, with its drawn eyebrows and quiet apologetic look, there was no way to resist.

However, the man loved by everyone turned around, entered the van, and as soon as he sat down, wiped the smile off his face. Even though his manager had seen countless changes in the actor, there were still times when a cold feeling lingered in his heart.

“Should we go straight home?”

The manager carefully asked, and Ji Gwanyeong, who had been lazily looking out the window, glanced over at him. When Ji Gwanyeong’s face was expressionless, it was truly hard to gauge what he was thinking or how he was feeling.

The Esper’s mouth slowly opened.

“…No. Today, I am going to the center’s guide residence. Do you know the way?”

“Yes, yes. Of course.”

The manager’s eyes, reflected in the rearview mirror, widened in surprise. For nearly a week, Ji Gwanyeong had avoided the Guide’s residence, a place he had previously frequented almost every day. It had even gotten to the point where there were more days he was picked up from the Guide’s residence than from his home in Seongbuk-dong. Concerned about this sudden change, the manager fumbled to start the car.

The last time, it seemed the two had argued. The way Ji Gwanyeong had been glued to his phone, always trying to catch a moment with the other, had disappeared, likely due to their falling out.

The manager then felt an odd sense of unease.
“No matter how much they fought, it feels like he’s cutting off everything too abruptly.”

The manager, in fact, liked Choi Taehun. Despite being the partner of Ji Gwanyeong, who was known for his impeccable image, Taehun had spoken to the manager with surprising politeness. It was a stark contrast to how others had acted when they saw Ji Gwanyeong with him.

The manager silently hoped they could reconcile today. However, unfortunately, there was no chance for reconciliation at the moment. The one-month experiment had reached its seventh day, and Ji Gwanyeong had firmly kept his distance from Choi Taehun when he appeared at the filming site.

“I’ll come find you after the drama’s done. Until then, don’t bother me. I have my own questions, so we’ll talk then.”

Choi Taehun had tried to say something in response but was completely ignored by Ji Gwanyeong. The one-month deadline didn’t concern him.

Filming had been delayed due to the disruptions caused by the constant visits to the Center. Complaints had been rising everywhere, but Ji Gwanyeong’s priority was to resolve the situation. Solving that issue was more important than anything else, even if it meant disregarding the need for a guide.

A few more days passed, and finally, the day arrived.

Ji Gwanyeong got out of the car in front of a massive barricade and raised an eyebrow. He had imagined the Guide’s residence would be a normal apartment, but it turned out to be the size of a fortress. After telling his manager to come back in two hours, he closed the van door and walked toward the complex.

The process to enter the Guide’s residence was more complicated than he expected. A researcher in a white lab coat hurriedly approached, explaining the procedure one step at a time, as if it was a normal routine. Fingerprints, iris scans—it was all a hassle, but Ji Gwanyeong held back any complaints, simply raising an eyebrow in response.

‘The Guide’s residence.’

This place had piqued his curiosity. It had appeared many times in the spiderweb of his memories. After a long elevator ride, Ji Gwanyeong finally arrived at the residence he had only seen in files.

Choi Taehun was awkwardly standing near the entrance as if he had expected Ji Gwanyeong. His hair was still damp, and his face gave off the faint warmth of just having taken a shower.

The Guide hesitated before speaking to the Esper, who was silently staring at him.

“You’re here.”

“…”

“Uh… would you like some coffee? Or if you haven’t eaten, something to snack on… No, is there anything you need?”

“Coffee will be fine.”

Choi Taehun’s heart raced rapidly. With his hearing wide open, the beats were so loud that they overshadowed everything else, and Ji Gwanyeong inadvertently blocked his abilities.

It was then that Ji Gwanyeong noticed the subtle redness in Choi Taehun’s ears and neck. His loose clothing revealed the muscles in his back and shoulders. Taehun seemed to have lost a bit of weight in the past week.

The memories Ji Gwanyeong had carefully built over the past eight months seemed to have some intentional gaps, gaps that were easy to recognize because he was the one who had made them. The missing information was clear—it was a signal to confirm things directly with the one person he shared those memories with. Even though it was Ji Gwanyeong’s own doing, it felt arrogantly intrusive.

The Guide carefully set a mug of coffee down in front of Ji Gwanyeong. The aroma was pleasant, and after taking a sip, Ji Gwanyeong found he quite liked the Guide’s taste.

“Choi Taehun. I have a few questions.”

“Yes?”

“We first met at a book signing event at ○○ Bookstore, and then again at the Gangnam terror site. Is that correct?”

The guide’s eyes, which had been frozen with tension, widened in shock. The expression seemed to ask how he knew that.

“I didn’t come here to explain things to you. If you don’t have anything to say, I’ll leave now.”

“No, no! It’s correct. We first met at the book signing, and the second time was at the Gangnam terror scene.”

Now, without a doubt, the one leading the conversation was Ji Gwanyeong.

The esper gave a faint smile as he answered obediently, still looking nervous. When Taehun smiled that faint smile that Ji Gwanyeong liked so much, a sharp pain pricked at one side of his heart.

Everything in this space, from the fine man in front of him to that smile, seemed unchanged, but the fact that the man in front of him wasn’t his lover was hard to believe.

“What happened between you and me there?”

“…There was a terror attack caused by the rampaging esper. I was there… and Ji Gwanyeong saved me.”

“I saved you?”

“Yes. After we first met at the book signing, you said you had looked into me. That’s why you could find me at the Gangnam terror scene.”

Now, the “past Ji Gwanyeong” had left behind fragments of memory for his guide. Fortunately, Taehun was able to fit the puzzle pieces into the gaps in the empty spaces of memory. The esper raised an eyebrow, easily recalling the situation in his mind. Ji Gwanyeong had used his powers to save Taehun, and that was when the esper identity had been revealed.

Ji Gwanyeong continued his questions, unhurried.

“What’s the meaning of ‘151.2’? What is that number?”

The guide thought, “Ah, did Ji Gwanyeong write some kind of diary?” It was a guess, though not entirely wrong. The number mentioned by the esper had been the highest score in Ji Gwanyeong’s first matching test.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Taehun slowly responded.

“It’s the matching rate between Ji Gwanyeong and me. It was the result of the first matching test.”

“…Typically, a pairing matching rate is between 60 and 80 percent, right?”

“Yes. The highest score measured later even reached the 180s.”

“That’s really something.”

Oh Yeon had never shared the exact number with Ji Gwanyeong. He had only vaguely described it as “the highest matching rate in the center’s history.” Ji Gwanyeong had never undergone an official matching test, but he was aware of typical matching rates.

It was double the usual case! With this in mind, Ji Gwanyeong now understood the sensation he’d felt when the arrogant guide approached him.

“History’s highest matching rate.”

Ji Gwanyeong thought deeply about that phrase. Given that he was the esper, there were only a few things that could come to mind when thinking of such a high matching rate. Ji Gwanyeong soon blurted out his thoughts aloud. That sentence was enough to freeze Taehun, who had already been nervous.

“Have you had sex with me, Taehun?”

Taehun was momentarily speechless, blinking in surprise.

Tilting his head slightly and resting his chin, Ji Gwanyeong’s gaze remained steady, with no sign of unease. The guide couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down his spine under the weight of that gaze.

Ji Gwanyeong didn’t like waiting. After a short pause, Taehun, stiff and struggling to speak, managed to answer.

“Yes.”

“Right. You’re a pair with an incredible matching rate.”

His eyes were sharp, though his gaze was soft, without the warmth one might expect. Taehun felt his throat tighten every time he saw that look from his lover. In fact, the guide’s deduction, though sharp, was fitting for someone who had been his original pair.

Ji Gwanyeong definitely had a wicked thought in mind.

He mocked the “past me,” who had caused so much trouble, recalling an unexpected action. It was like filling the entire mansion with that man and leaving behind an arrogant note at the end of those memories.

“How about now?”

“…”

“Would you be able to roll around with me?”

The guide’s face paled, and he bit his lip tightly.

Esper watched each of his expressions, not missing a single detail. He was curious to hear what the man who had been his partner and lover for eight months would say.

“…Yes.”

In a way, it was a surprising response. For some reason, Taehun seemed like the type to coldly dismiss such words, just like his sharp tone and clean appearance. Ji Gwanyeong began to walk the fine line of giving him shame while not abandoning the polite shell.

“With that face, you’re giving such an unexpected reaction. What’s the matter? Did we have good chemistry, or something?”

“It’s not… for that reason.”

“Not for that?”

His voice, which seemed to be struggling to respond, faded as it reached the end, as if he were deliberately squeezing it out. But fortunately, Ji Gwanyeong wasn’t bound by such limitations. After all, he was an esper.

In truth, Ji Gwanyeong knew very well that during the lost eight months, I had been quite infatuated with that man. He could tell just by following the memories that filled the mansion. The writing, which seemed hurried from the beginning, gradually became more sloppy as time ran out.

But what was truly amusing were the traces of effort to make sure that Taehun didn’t doubt him, even during all of that. It was quite an astonishing experience to see the evidence of that emotion carefully woven together, as if trying to prove how deeply he had fallen for the man.

In the latter part of the memories, Ji Gwanyeong saw a picture of me with the guide. I had been wearing a hat and a mask, but at some point, I seemed to have given up and was surrounded by people, showing my bare face.

It was a rather foolish sight.

But even in that picture, I was smiling faintly. Holding Taehun’s hand tightly, looking around at the crowd, it looked like an ordinary day for a couple if the person in the photo weren’t me.

The man in the small photo, lost in happiness, seemed unfamiliar.

It was a strange feeling that, even though the photo was of myself, I couldn’t share the happiness within it. The man in the photo, having lived through just those eight months, now wore a completely different expression than the one I had.

Taehun slowly opened his mouth.

“I… I…”

“…”

“I really like you, Ji Gwanyeong.”

His stiff shoulders and the delicate skin of his eyelids trembled with tension. Ji Gwanyeong looked directly into his dark brown eyes, which were faintly shaking.

“I really… like you a lot. I really like you, so…”

For a moment, his lips twitched, and his scarlet tongue was visible. Then, his neat white teeth came into view. The eyes of the man who continued to speak bravely seemed to momentarily soften.

The small lump in his throat moved slightly.

“I love you.”

The “Ji Gwanyeong” Taehun confessed his love to wasn’t the me of today.

It was a confession made to the shadow of the past, someone who didn’t even remember it anymore. The monster in front of him found his illusion amusing. It was a bit irritating too. A small, hollow laugh escaped the esper’s lips.

At the sound of that, Taehun, who had shrunk slightly, whispered to finish his sentence.

“…So, I can do it.”

Ji Gwanyeong looked at Taehun, who couldn’t even meet his gaze while talking about love. If only he had raised his head, trembling like before, maybe it would have made Ji Gwanyeong feel a little better. He deliberately leaned back against the sofa, pretending to relax. But the soft cushion, which should have been extremely comfortable, had long since become uncomfortable.

“Why don’t you take off your clothes, then?”