Chapter 11: Everyday Life
I returned to my rented home with a body that felt completely drained, exhausted both mentally and physically.
Jo Hyun was innocent and foolish to a frightening degree. Fortunately, he awakened in Area D. If he had awakened in a place with complex issues like Area A or even Area S, this child would surely have been exploited to the bone under the so-called obligation of "sacrificing for humanity."
Each area is divided based on geographic location and the frequency of high or low intensity rift appearances. Area D is actually a rather relaxed region, where high intensity rifts above S rank rarely appear. As a result, my workload is not heavy, and the money I earn is not much either.
But that is fine. I am satisfied with this life.
Area A and Area S are the two regions that gather the highest level Espers and Guides of Country K, with rifts appearing at extremely high frequencies such as SS rank or even SS plus rank.
Jae Hyo is an SS rank Esper belonging to the Area A headquarters.
Back then, when we awakened and escaped from the rift that had swallowed us, Jae Hyo and I were taken there. I was drained of all my strength in that place for five whole years. It was only after the law protecting the rights of Guides was passed that I was finally able to choose my own workplace.
That was when, with Director Jena's help, I fled to Area D.
I have already contributed enough to this crumbling world. Why can I not choose liberation for myself?
And Jo Hyun. I will not allow that child to fall into the same cycle as me.
"Beep!"
My phone suddenly lit up.
I picked it up. It was a message from Jae Hyo.
Jae Hyo: Jae Sin has gone missing. We are searching for him.
Jae Sin is missing?
I recalled that lunatic who always gave both Jae Hyo and me terrible headaches.
Jae Sin is Jae Hyo's biological older brother. He awakened a few months earlier than us and is also an SS rank Esper. His defining trait is his constant instability, always on the verge of exploding at any moment.
And Jae Sin has almost zero compatibility with any Guide. Even with me, it is only around 3 percent.
As I have said before, SS rank Espers all have problems with Guiding. Ordinary Guides almost always have bottom level compatibility with them, except for abnormal Espers like Jae Hyo who do not require much Guiding. Almost every other SS rank Esper suffers greatly in the search for a suitable Guide.
However, every SS rank Esper is the pinnacle of human power. No one wants to lose an SS rank Esper. That is why their priority level is extremely high.
As long as an SS rank Esper wishes it, they can obtain priority over any Guide, and that Guide practically has no right to refuse.
Jae Sin frequently falls into dangerous outburst states, and whenever that happens, high rank Guides are summoned to Area A headquarters to save his life.
Up until now, Jae Sin has still not found a Guide who can truly synchronize with him.
I muttered to myself. If Jae Sin has gone missing, something will probably happen in a few days. When that time comes, I will likely have to make a trip to Area A.
Coincidentally, it has been a long time since I last saw Jae Hyo. I could also take the opportunity to tell him about Jo Hyun. Asking Jae Hyo to provide protection for Jo Hyun before he reaches adulthood is not a bad idea.
At the very least, Jo Hyun starting his internship at the headquarters is proceeding on the right track.
Min Seok is a strict and highly experienced instructor, suitable for guiding new recruits. The relationship between Jo Hyun and the other members of Team 7 has also gradually improved.
Lee Do Yeon said softly to me, "As expected of an S rank Esper. His potential is surprisingly great. If he gets more real combat experience, he will mature quickly and be no worse than Captain Zero. But is this really fine? Our team already has an S rank Guide, an S rank Esper captain, and now an S rank intern with future potential. Other teams will be very dissatisfied with this power imbalance."
Apart from Team 2, where Cha Cha maintains a good relationship with Team 7, the other teams more or less have grievances toward Director Jena, hoping to take a high rank Esper away from our team.
"Just ignore them. If they dare cause trouble, Zero will beat them until they shut up."
I did not take this jealousy to heart. Zero cannot tolerate any Guide other than me touching him, and Jo Hyun refuses to leave no matter how much he is chased away. What am I supposed to do?
"Kim Jun Hyung is so fierce…"
Lee Do Yeon stuck out his tongue and exclaimed.
"Hyung…"
A timid yet heavy voice sounded. Jo Hyun's small head peeked out from outside my office door.
"It is Guiding time. It is time for my Guiding, Hyung…"
Jo Hyun stammered, his cheeks flushed red.
I stood up, pulled him into the lounge, and took Jo Hyun's hand, beginning to channel Guiding energy into his body.
"Hm, your condition is pretty good."
Surprisingly, Jo Hyun's body recovered very quickly. It has only been about one week since his first awakening and injury, yet his condition has almost returned to its peak.
I guessed that the compatibility between Jo Hyun and me must be extremely high. There is more than an 80 percent chance.
"But still… I still need Guiding, right?"
Jo Hyun sniffed and said.
Perhaps he was afraid that if his condition was too good, he would not receive Guiding from me.
"No need to worry. Every Esper needs to receive the minimum basic Guiding every day. According to the daily schedule, you can just come find me or Lee Do Ha."
I patted the back of Jo Hyun's hand, only for his hand to quickly tighten its grip around mine.
Jo Hyun said, "Of course. I will come find Hyung every day!"
Jo Hyun's ears automatically filtered out Lee Do Ha's name.
"Has the training been useful? Has Min Seok taught you the basic knowledge of being an Esper?"
Jo Hyun excitedly told me about his internship life and what he had learned inside the headquarters. His eyes sparkled as if he were imagining a future where he would become a powerful and famous hero as an Esper.
I simply sat there and listened, silently transmitting Guiding energy through Jo Hyun's hand.
The sky outside the window had gradually begun to turn into the color of dusk. I thought that this was truly the everyday life I longed for. Guiding a small number of Espers on the team, leisurely waiting for the workday to end.
But perhaps I said that a little too early.
A call from Director Jena cut through my wandering thoughts, bringing news that I had already anticipated.
Jae Sin returned from a rift and had fallen into a semi outburst state.