Chapter 12

By then, the surroundings had become increasingly dark. It was summer, but the sky was already cloudy from the typhoon’s aftermath. The area’s electricity was also turned off at the command of team leader Lim, so it was expected to be dark for a long time. Self-generators, flashlights, and the Esper’s superior vision in the dark will be used for relief work.

‘It must have been easier for Kim Geun-won to be killed in this environment.’

It’s ironic that it was Kim Geun-won who requested the power cut. There must have been a similar telephone pole accident in the past, and Kim Geun-won would have actively asked the team leader like before.

Following Kim Geun-won walking with the youngest member of Team 5, Jae-chan recalled the circumstances of ‘Kim Geun-won’s death.’

If the past does not change in the future, neither will the future.

Kim Geun-won’s body was to be discovered in the trunk of an old car.

Speaking of him, Jae-chan had to go over one more incident first. ‘Guide kidnapping case’. It was the event that led to Kim Geun-won’s death.

The outline of the incident was as follows. A man succeeds in kidnapping a Guide at this site today.

The criminal committed the crime using special drugs, firearms, and his own vehicle, and there were witnesses at the time. A witness who noticed something suspicious approached the car to help the colleague but was fatally shot by the perpetrator who noticed the witness. The criminal placed the witness’s body in the trunk and flees the scene. The criminal had no idea the witness’ Handycam, which had recorded the entire process prior to and after the incident, had fallen to the ground.

The killed witness was Kim Geun-won.

“Youngest. People shouldn’t be too focused on one thing. If you are unlucky, a telephone pole may collapse or you may get shot on the road.”

Kim Geun-won, who was walking alongside the youngest team 5, said loudly. It was a voice telling Seon Jae-chan to look and listen, but it wasn’t even funny to Jae-chan because it seemed to be about Kim Geun-won himself. Furthermore… It made him uneasy to see someone who had died come back alive.

Jae-chan followed them and looked at his wristwatch. 18:32. Since he didn’t know the exact time of the crime, he had to keep a close eye on Kim Geun-won. Only then will he be able to be saved.

Thoughts related to the incident continued. Ironically, the abducted Guide who caused Kim Geun-won’s death returns intact the next day. In a word, it was an incident with no casualties or damage except for Kim Geun-won. Jae-chan just needs to stop Kim Geun-won from meddling.

‘Who is the Guide who gets kidnapped?’

He had to figure that out too. The culprit was a man, and he heard that it was a love affair at first glance. Seon Jae-chan set his eyes on the youngest member of Team 5, whom he had been keeping an eye on for a while. Her long hair rustled behind her light steps as if she felt comfortable with Kim Geun-won. She was the only young woman on the team.

The three of them arrived at a remote vacant lot surrounded by a wall. It was a temporary hideout that Go Woo-jin and Kim Geun-won found. The sidewalk block, which hadn’t been maintained for a long time, was covered with weeds. The sound of grass insects echoes through the still humid air.

“Woo-jin! My youngest team member is a fan of yours! Say hello.”

Go Woo-jin, who had been training while sitting comfortably with his long legs stretched out and both hands creating a thread-like wind, raised his head.

“Uhm. Esper Go Woo-jin. Hello.”

The youngest member of the team gave a sad voice. Seon Jae-chan thought, ‘Ah. It wasn’t because she was comfortable with Kim Geun-won, but because she was going to see Go Woo-jin.’ He realized it with a sudden blank stare.

“Hello.”

Go Woo-jin politely took off his hat and said hello. The youngest member of Team 5 seemed to be out of her mind. Especially… he had straight hair today! He didn’t even do his hair! The thick hair, which had never been parted and was always blowing in all directions, was so gently disheveled. Even the slightly curled hair appeared natural. Looking back, it appeared that the hairstyle was not the issue and that the face did all of the work.

“Haa. Esper Go Woo-jin. Uhm. It’s really an honor to meet you. I’m so nervous. Ehm. Still, handshake…”

The youngest member of Team 5 held out her trembling hand. He assumed Go Woo-jin couldn’t understand because she stutters so much, but he smiled and shook her hand. The youngest member appeared to be suffocating. His expression was clear even in the dim light of the laptop lights.

His eyebrows and the bridge of his nose. Warm. She couldn’t bear to make eye contact anymore and lowered her trembling head.

His big hands clenched tightly, shook her hand, and then let go. It was light but warm. He was very strong. The youngest member of Team 5 hurriedly covered her nose with her left hand because she was about to make a noise. Kim Geun-won, who was delightedly watching, approached.

“Come here. Don’t be like that, and sit next to him.”

“What?! I had enough successful encounters… Esper-nim must be tired…? No, no need!”

“Woo-jin. Our youngest is also very interested in View Tube broadcasting. Can you sit down and teach her how to use the Handycam?”

Kim Geun-won forced the two to sit next to each other. He handed over the entire cross bag containing an extra camcorder to Woo-jin. He smiled and looked at Seon Jae-chan. This punk Guide has been unable to take his eyes off the youngest and Go Woo-jin for a while now.

‘Sure it is! Let’s see if you can survive this!’

He claimed to be following me, not Go Woo-jin. He wondered if the resolution would be the same if he put the pretty youngest member next to Go Woo-jin. He passed Seon Jae-chan and exited the alley with a relaxed attitude.

…However.

Seon Jae-chan really followed him.

“-You punk!”

Kim Geun-won eventually threw away the disrespectful words he had maintained even halfway through. Out of the back alley. On the dark, two-lane road, he came face to face with Seon Jae-chan.

“This concept is too much!”

It was time to demand that he stop. The dangling banded jaw stopped. The guy who met with his back against the cold ruins had unusual eyes.

“That way.”

It was a cold voice. His consistently relaxed words were colorless, and his voice had lost its laughter, but that didn’t mean his eyes had crumbled as Kim Geun-won had hoped.

“Don’t run around here and there just to test me, old man.”

He had a fierce look that made it difficult to believe he was only a twenty-something old kid. Kim Geun-won’s upper lip began to sweat immediately. He had the impression he had run into a thug with a knife in a back alley. And that’s with quite a bit of experience.

What’s wrong with his eyes?

Kim Geun-won slightly raised his mouth and covered his rough upper lip with his lower lip.

“Hoo. You’ve changed the way you call me? Are you angry that I put Woo-jin and the youngest together?”

“It’s because it’s a nuisance. You called Go Woo-jin so he couldn’t even rest, made him worry about you because you had already almost hurt yourself, and then you left the team’s youngest alone with him. Even if I was originally trash, how about you?”

In contrast to the sloppy content, the tone is so dry that it’s harsh.

“Hey. I’m not an old man. I’m only twenty five.”

Kim Geun-won, who had been hesitant, explained in an instant at the time. It was to correct the nickname that was belatedly intrusive. The hostile eyes grew round as if they were about to pass judgment on this side right away. Kim Geun-won let out a short sigh that he didn’t understand during the release of tension.

Seon Jae-chan, who had his mouth slightly open, uttered a quiet voice.

“… Beside… You always give me timely lessons… I thought you were a big senior.”

“Hah! There’s no use in being quiet now. You punk, now that I see it, aren’t you a pure double personality?”

Seon Jae-chan took over the criticism, staring blankly at his sunken eyes and the beard on his mouth. Twenty five. He is two years younger than himself, who was twenty-seven before regressing.

“Are you really twenty five?”

“You punk! I also know that I look older than my age!”

It may be so, but… Jae-chan sighed. He wondered if twenty-five is too young to die.

His mind was filled with negative thoughts. Go Woo-jin, who is kind to people other than him, has a small body and a slim face… The team’s 5 youngest member, who resembles the Guide Nam Hae-sol.

Jae-chan thought he had let go of his feelings for Go Woo-jin, but it seem he hadn’t. He cared enough to become irrationally angry at someone who might die today. As he gazed up at the desolate night sky, Jae-chan let out a hollow laugh. He approached Kim Geun-won with great strides after clearing his mind.

He crossed his arms.

“… What. What are you doing?”

Kwak. He grabbed Kim Geun-won’s arm tightly with his elbow as he was trying to escape.

“Hyung. Let’s go together. That’s right. I care about the youngest member and Go Woo-jin. But it’s true that I’ll follow hyung around, so let’s stay together.”

“Let go of this?”

Don’t even call me hyung! Bastard, are you showing your true colors now? I’m not going! I’m not going! You go alone and eat your fill of eyes with Woo-jin!

Kim Geun-won made a fuss, but he didn’t care.

“In order to have Go Woo-jin, I must also have hyung. So, why did you pair such a brave girl with Go Woo-jin?”

A kid who resembles Nam Hae-sol. Jae-chan clicked his tongue inwardly. Kim Geun-won was dragged helplessly at the moment. He was quite strong even though he was skinny. Was it due to his height? He looked suspiciously at the fair head, which was positioned similarly to him. “Okay, I got it!” he exclaimed, and barely pulled out my arm. He led the way disapprovingly.