Churu for the Angry Guide

55

In Area A13, intensively managed by the Baekya Guild, a busy atmosphere prevailed even though it wasn’t a time when many monsters usually appeared.

“Don’t crowd in the corners!”

“Reinforce the barrier over the barracks!”

Today again, the Espers of Area A13 were frantically running around, focusing not on monsters but on their carcasses. Heavy monster corpses spraying blood were falling like shells from all directions.

“Stay alert and avoid them!”

The monsters were dying instantly as soon as they emerged from the gate, without even having a chance to scream. Even dangerous monsters became crumpled masses upon appearing due to Geonho’s vast psychokinetic power.

He killed every visible monster without exception. And he did it very brutally. This was Geonho’s way of relieving stress.

Just when things seemed to have calmed down for a while, he came to the field after a long time and inevitably created a bloodbath. With Geonho’s appearance, the Espers had to stay extremely alert to avoid getting caught up in his terrifying SS-class psychokinesis.

“Esper Geonho! You need to rest after 5 more minutes!”

They were relieved, however, that the Baekya Guild’s secretary was present today. With the youngest, Seojun, also there, things shouldn’t get too out of hand.

While most beastkin Espers had been withdrawn from the field, Baekya Guild was an exception. Geonho and Seojun were continuing their field missions freely within the time designated by their leader, Taebeom.

No one raised any objections about this. There were no complaints about why they could roam the field freely while other beastkin Espers were restricted.

This was because everyone knew that Geonho and Seojun were firmly under the leader’s control. As long as the leader was there, they would never go berserk. Everyone believed this. Even they themselves did.

“Time’s up! Come down and rest!”

At the secretary’s loud shout, Geonho let out a rough curse. A giant monster rushing towards him flattened like a burst tomato, scattering torn flesh everywhere. Espers caught in the shower of blood let out cries of despair from various locations.

“Please go easy. I can hear the corpse disposal team crying out all the way from here.”

The secretary handed Geonho a wet towel as he returned to the barracks, saying this. Geonho snatched the towel roughly and slumped into a chair.

Following the leader’s orders, he had to rest after using a certain amount of power. This was a recent measure due to Geonho’s excessive rampages.

“Would you like some water?”

“No.”

Geonho sprawled in the chair, almost lying down, and slapped the cool towel over his face. Being naturally hot-blooded, he sweated more in summer. Especially around the gate, where the heat from monsters accumulated, making it much hotter than outside.

Despite this, Seojun diligently wore all his protective gear. Even while dripping with sweat, he didn’t show any signs of discomfort.

“It’s fucking hot, damn it!”

Geonho suddenly yelled and roughly tore the sleeve of his intact combat uniform. Seojun was secretly impressed, while the secretary inwardly clicked his tongue. If he was so hot, he should use his power moderately. Knowing it was pointless to say anything, he just added another wet towel.

“You’ve been eating well lately, right?”

The secretary placed a chair under Geonho’s feet so he could stretch his legs comfortably. Though he didn’t look particularly thin, the secretary was curious about how he was living since he was never seen around.

“Are you really not coming back to the accommodation?”

At this casual question, Geonho clicked his tongue and kicked away the chair that had been thoughtfully placed for his feet. Seojun, who was cooling off, quietly picked up the fallen chair and put it back in place.

The secretary put his hands on his hips and frowned at this violent behavior. Concerned that Geonho might act like this in front of Guide Han Siwoo, he couldn’t let it slide.

“Esper Kang Geonho.”

“Hey, kid. Send the secretary away.”

As the secretary tried to start a conversation, Geonho gestured towards Seojun. Seojun hesitated, looking back and forth between the secretary and Geonho. The secretary signaled to Seojun that he would handle it.

“I’m asking because Guide Han Siwoo is very worried about you. Even yesterday, he asked me if Esper Geonho was doing well.”

Though he expected at least some reaction, it didn’t work at all. Geonho just pushed the secretary away with his psychokinesis. Pushed out of the barracks entrance, the secretary came rushing back, panting.

“Please give us a chance to talk, even just once! We need to talk to apologize and clear up misunderstandings!”

Geonho threw the wet towel on the ground. He wiped the moisture from his face and stared coldly at the secretary.

“Did I try to stop him from joining the guild?”

His sharp voice was mixed with a sigh. Geonho approached the secretary and gritted his teeth.

“Did I make a fuss about kicking him out, huh?”

The secretary watched Geonho’s mood but didn’t back away. Another Esper might have trembled without a word, but he had built up an immunity from assisting Taebeom. This level of intimidation was familiar to him.

“That’s not it, but you’re not accepting him. He’s our dedicated guide who we’ll be working with from now on.”

Geonho snorted at the word ‘our’ and rubbed the back of his neck hard. His thoughts were clearly visible. Distrust towards the guide could be felt throughout his body.

“No matter how much you jabber, I’m not interested.”

Geonho roughly pushed the secretary aside and left the barracks. The secretary, unable to stop him further, shouted that there was still rest time left.

Geonho floated high in the air without engaging the monsters. He was tired of dealing with the secretary. Right now, he just wanted to kill monsters to his heart’s content.

“Why make a fuss when I’m just staying put…”

He rubbed his face vigorously and let out a heavy sigh. He hadn’t opposed bringing in a dedicated guide and had said to do as they pleased, yet they were making such a fuss.

“Damn it, what do they want me to do?”

With such a low matching rate…

While Geonho was floating in the air, muttering to himself, Espers carrying boxes approached the barracks. They were in charge of distributing supplies.

“Excuse us. Are you running low on any items?”

They bowed to the secretary and Seojun, stopping in front of the barracks entrance. While the secretary was receiving the supplies, Seojun started preparing to leave. The forced rest time was coming to an end.

“Um, Esper Ha Seojun.”

An Esper organizing supplies cautiously approached Seojun.

“Can I ask you something?”

Seojun nodded while quenching his thirst with cool water. Encouraged by Seojun’s eye smile, the Esper moved closer. With a very careful attitude, he asked an unexpected question.

“Are you perhaps dating Guide Han Siwoo? I heard he’s a new guide.”

Seojun choked and spat out the water he was drinking. The startled Esper quickly pulled out tissues and offered them.

“I heard someone saw you two on a date in the cafeteria. If it’s not true, I’m sorry!”

Seojun wiped his mouth and looked at Geonho floating in the air. With his back to the barracks, he fortunately didn’t seem to have heard. He appeared to be focusing on a giant monster rushing towards him.

“The rumor has already spread throughout the guide dormitory. They’re saying Esper Ha Seojun is dating the new guide.”

“No, that’s not true. How could that be?”

“I heard you two were eating very affectionately. Feeding each other and all.”

Where did they hear such nonsense? Seojun felt the urge to cover the Esper’s mouth. Unable to do so, he just waved his hands frantically, when suddenly hot liquid splattered on his face.

“Huh?”

The Esper, who had been splashed with even more liquid than Seojun, touched his face in a daze.

“W-what is this…!”

What had fallen on their faces was dark red human blood. Not the sticky blood of monsters, but the thin blood of humans.

The Esper, who looked up a beat later than Seojun, turned pale.

“Esper Kang Geonho!”

The secretary, who came out of the barracks upon hearing the Esper’s shout, also looked shocked.

“W-what are you doing now!”

Murmurs of confusion gathered from all around. Everyone looked up at Geonho, whose shoulder had been bitten by a monster, with stunned expressions.

They all wore blank expressions, unable to accept the situation. The secretary and Seojun were no different.

It was hard to believe that he, who had been crushing monsters like clay just minutes ago, had been attacked. It would have been more believable if they were all hallucinating.

Crunch! At that moment, the giant monster bit down harder on Geonho’s shoulder. Unable to easily tear through the tough muscle, it gnawed rather than biting cleanly. With each gnaw, the sound of muscle tearing was accompanied by drops of red blood falling to the ground.

“Brother Geonho!”

Seojun, who was the first to leap into the air, slashed the monster’s neck with a knife. It was a movement too fast for the eye to follow.

Seojun stepped on the severed monster’s body and jumped again, pulling the monster’s face out of Geonho’s shoulder. Blood gushed like a fountain from the hole in his shoulder.

“Are you okay?”

Seojun clung to Geonho while pressing on his profusely bleeding shoulder. He had no choice since Geonho was floating in the air.

“Let’s go down quickly and get treatment. You’re losing a lot of blood.”

“You…”

At that moment, Geonho reached out and suddenly grabbed Seojun by the collar.

“You little bastard…!”

“No, brother. It’s not like that.”

Seojun, immediately grasping the situation, denied it first. However, it all bounced off Geonho, who had closed his ears. Seojun tried hard to explain that it wasn’t what he thought, but Geonho wouldn’t listen at all.

Geonho’s eyes were already rolled back. Ignoring the warning sound that his wavelength levels had risen, he just yelled at the top of his lungs.

He poured out fiery emotions without even knowing why he was angry. He was just furiously angry.