“- Gu-gu, I noticed that was only your second post, but posting uncertain information so confidently might confuse newer members. Good thing I happened to check in; otherwise, imagine if the wrong information had spread even further.”
“Oh… I apologize. I wasn’t aware and made a mistake. You seem very knowledgeable, Blood, so I’d love to ask you a few things, if that’s alright?”
“Hm-hm, of course. It’s better to ask me than to spread rumors from unreliable sources. Let me tell you, I’m Blood King, a Cremon of five years. I’m up to date on every rumor about us Cremons.”
Even over the phone, Blood King’s tone had an irritating smugness to it. Being a five-year Cremon meant he’d been around for a shorter time than I had… Still, I needed information, so I kept my tone as respectful as possible.
“I was hoping you could clarify some details about that missing researcher. You mentioned they’re in Region C, not D, and that they’re a mental Esper rather than a physical one. You seem very well-informed—do you have a direct connection with the missing researcher?”
“Not directly, no…”
Blood King hesitated, his tone dropping.
“It’s just something I heard from others, like most rumors among Cremons. But I’d say it’s reliable. When Cremons attacked guides during that guiding assault incident, they brought them to Region C. And honestly, if they’re using an out-of-control Cremon as a puppet, only a mental Esper could manage that.”
“What…? Why are you bringing up the guiding assault incident…?”
A chill ran down my spine. The topics we’d discussed were limited to the antibiotic and the whereabouts of the missing researcher.
But now he was tying in the assault incident, as if he knew I’d survived that day. And was he implying that the missing researcher was somehow behind it?
“Oh, you didn’t know? There’s a rumor that the researcher started the trend of attacking guides.”
“What?”
“After that, other Cremons began following suit, drinking guides’ blood. It’s said to make their cores smaller, so it’s been trending. Among Cremons, this rumor is pretty common knowledge. You didn’t know?”
This was news to me. The researcher working on antibiotics was also the one who attacked me? Struggling to keep my composure, I replied as calmly as possible.
“Oh… I’m still pretty new to being a Cremon.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I’m really glad to have met someone as knowledgeable as you, Blood King. Could you share more details about the assault incident?”
Blood King cleared his throat, his voice a bit higher, revealing he was pleased with the flattery. He seemed the type who thrived on praise.
“Certainly. There are two kinds of assault incidents. Usually, they’ll consume the guide’s blood on-site. But that person suspected of being the researcher uses out-of-control Cremons to kidnap them instead.”
“So in the first case, they just drink the blood themselves, on the spot?”
“Exactly. Why bother moving the body? It’s better to drink up and leave quickly.”
“…”
From the way he talked, it sounded like Blood King himself might have a history of attacking guides.
“If you’re interested, Gu-gu, let me know. I have friends who are high-level Cremons and frequently work as mercenaries.”
“Haha… No, thank you. I’m a bit too scared for that.”
“No worries, you’re always welcome. Since you were recommended by ‘B Region Boozer,’ it’s the least I can do.”
“Wait, how did you know that?”
“B Region Boozer” was Emily’s ID in this community, a supposedly harmless food review forum designed to evade government detection. Membership required a referral, and naturally, Emily had vouched for me.
“Well, I’m the admin of the community, after all. You’re friends with Emily, aren’t you?”
Blood King even knew Emily’s real name.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’m close with Emily, too. Feel free to message me if you have more questions. I need to end the call now, but you could also ask Emily; she’d probably know as much as I do.”
The line cut off with a beep, leaving me standing still, the phone dangling at my side.
‘Emily knows this, too?’
Emily had only told me the researcher might be in Region C and that they’d since gone off the grid. I hadn’t known until today that the researcher was likely the same person who’d attacked me.
‘Did she know and keep it from me?’
Emily was a Cremon with the rare ability to communicate with animals—a skill that made her an invaluable ‘Animal Communicator’ in the center, especially in gathering information. Her lack of progress over the last six months had raised my suspicions, but to think she might have withheld this on purpose…
Thoughts swirled in my head. I considered calling Emily right away to confirm things, but I decided against it. This wasn’t something that could be easily resolved with a quick call.
I’d see her on Friday anyway, on my next scheduled feeding day. It’d be better to discuss it face-to-face.
* * *
“I’m an Esper with far-sight abilities. You know what that is, right? Far-sight, because I can see things a thousand li away.”
“Yes.”
“My rank’s not the highest, but I’m recognized for my skills and am part of Bravo Team. Our team captain even praised how much I’ve strengthened the defense since joining.”
“Yes.”
I’d expected this. When I heard that the Bravo Team captain couldn’t make it to the session and was sending another Esper in their place, I figured I was in for it.
The substitute Esper had started promoting himself the moment he arrived, like he was interviewing for a job at a major company.
“They even checked my energy density in diagnostics and mentioned I might have a chance at a second awakening. If that happens, I’d rank even higher than I do now, don’t you think?”
“Yes.”
“I might even make it to Alpha Team, especially since I hear they’re looking to add to their defense squad.”
“Yes.”
“What would you think about pairing up if I make it to Alpha?”
“Yes.”
“Guide Gu Sa-weol?”
His face suddenly popped into my line of sight, snapping me out of my inattentive nodding routine.
What was he talking about again?
“Your shoulder doesn’t hurt anymore, does it?”
“Oh. You’re right, it doesn’t.”
I guessed he wasn’t saying anything particularly important, so I diverted the conversation. Noticing his shoulder, he moved it around in amazement, his eyes wide as if he’d discovered something extraordinary.
“In future guiding sessions, focus about three finger widths away from the wrist. And try to use your left leg evenly with your right.”
“How’d you know I favor my right leg?”
“Guiding’s complete. You’re good to go.”
“Wait a second.”
Just as I moved to leave the capsule, he grabbed my wrist. I shot him a glare, and he quickly released his grip, startled.
“Oh, I’m sorry. But you still haven’t answered me.”
“About what?”
“I was asking if we could pair up when I join Alpha—”
“I don’t do pairs.”
Some awakened individuals didn’t believe in pairings. While I’d usually brush people off with a polite excuse, this time, I didn’t even bother to sugarcoat it.
“But didn’t you pair up with Esper Baek Yu-geon recently?”
Apparently, I couldn’t use the excuse that I wasn’t interested in pairing now that I’d already partnered with Yu-geon. Internally sighing at his persistence, I just went with the first thing that came to mind.
“I tried it, but it wasn’t a great experience.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I don’t plan on doing it again.”
“So the rumors were true, then?”
He gave up on the idea but added a strange comment.
“Guess it makes sense. You broke it off after only a month, so I get it.”
“What rumors?”
“Well… they say Esper Baek Yu-geon isn’t quite… uh…”
The Esper trailed off, his eyes darting nervously. His face turned red as he mumbled.
“…that he’s, uh, not well-equipped in that area?”
“Oh.”
I sighed, exasperated. It was nothing new. Every time a guide canceled a pairing within the adjustment period, rumors like this circulated, usually targeting male awakened ones.
‘I never thought I’d end up dealing with it myself.’
Hearing it about others had been just a passing joke, but in my own case, it was genuinely awkward.
If I denied it, people might think we’d gone as far as stage three. If I said nothing, it would only reinforce the idea that something was wrong with him.
“I canceled the pairing because of issues on my end. Esper Baek Yu-geon… has no problems as an Esper.”
“Oh. Of course, Guide Gu Sa-weol, it’s your issue… wait, what?”
“The flaw was with me.”
I spoke in a calm tone to the bewildered Esper. Although Yu-geon wasn’t entirely blameless, I knew that the real problem was that I was a Cremon, inherently different.
Yu-geon knew this going into the pairing, so he couldn’t complain about the pain he’d endured—it was his own choice.
At the same time, a tinge of guilt surfaced, realizing how much anger and frustration I’d shown him. Despite everything, he’d tried to understand me, awkward as it had been. Until the very end, he hadn’t wanted to let go.
That day in the elevator, his behavior had completely blindsided me, leaving me too shocked to say anything as he walked away.
“I hope knowing that puts you a bit more at ease. I won’t cause you trouble anymore. I should have handled things like this from the start…”
“A bit of distance would be good.”
His offer to support me from a comfortable distance was something I still couldn’t fully grasp. When I thought of Yu-geon, I still pictured his cheerful, carefree face, but now it was mixed with the image of his faint smile as he spoke of keeping a “distance.”
His gaze was transparent, solid, unwavering. For a moment, I couldn’t look away from that face.
“For both you and me.”
And beneath it all, I could see a faint shadow of sadness that hadn’t been there before. It was the first time I’d seen him so restrained, as if he deeply regretted something.
Though his words were vague, I could sense he was saying that he no longer welcomed his own feelings toward me and wouldn’t pursue me any further.
