Chapter 111:
Baek Joo-won was surprised by her words.
“You said you didn’t care if I didn’t choose you, that I could go wherever I wanted if I had somewhere to go.”
“That was then, this is now. And you left your home and came here to see me. Since I was your reason from the beginning, stay by my side.”
Baek Joo-won chuckled, dumbfounded by her shameless words.
But then, a deep sense of satisfaction spread across his face.
He was pleased, no matter what she said. He couldn’t help but be happy, hearing her demand he stay by her side, even though she had seemed indifferent before, despite wanting him.
His efforts to make her comfortable with his energy had paid off.
Just as he had become obsessed with her, Seo Jae-yi would soon find him irresistible.
He couldn’t wait for that day to come.
Seo Jae-yi informed the Association staff guarding the gate that the boss monster had been subjugated.
With the job done, there was no reason to stay any longer, so they headed back to the airport after telling them to ask Joo Seon-min for the details.
Seo Jae-yi took a shower and changed into clean clothes in the shower room at the Awakened individuals only lounge at the airport before boarding the plane back to Seoul.
“These facilities are quite nice.”
Baek Joo-won had been satisfying his hunger with the food provided in the lounge.
He had heard during his Guide training that all airports had such facilities, but this was his first time seeing them in person.
“Don’t people complain about Awakened individuals having exclusive access to these places?”
Seo Jae-yi, who had dried her hair instantly with her heat ability, shook her head.
“It’s fine because only Awakened individuals returning from dungeon subjugations can use them.”
Unlike S-ranks who traveled by private jets, other Espers took commercial flights with ordinary passengers.
Who would want to share a cramped plane with people covered in bodily fluids?
That was why non-Awakened individuals welcomed the shower facilities the most.
They boarded the plane to Seoul Airport as soon as it was ready. But there was one more passenger.
He had black hair and eyes, a pale complexion that could rival a corpse, and dark circles under his eyes.
Seo Jae-yi recognized him. It would be strange if she didn’t.
“What? Why is the Vice President here?”
Jeong Joo-hyung, the Vice President of the Korea Esper Management Association.
He was also one of the eight S-rank Espers in Korea.
It had been a long time since Seo Jae-yi had seen Jeong Joo-hyung. Unlike the Association Head, who occasionally appeared at official events, Jeong Joo-hyung was practically a shut-in at the Association.
“I wonder… Why am I even here?”
Jeong Joo-hyung, who had been on the plane first, grimaced at her words.
He didn’t seem to be here willingly. Then there was only one reason.
“The Association Head must have sent you. Our little shut-in, unable to refuse orders.”
Contrary to popular belief, Jeong Joo-hyung was a shut-in because he was obsessed with games. That was why the S-ranks called him a “basement dweller.”
The Association Head was practically the only one handling the Association’s affairs, and Jeong Joo-hyung was a Vice President in name only.
He was only able to hold that position because he was an S-rank and obediently followed the Association Head’s orders.
“This is all your fault.”
Seo Jae-yi felt wronged by Jeong Joo-hyung’s grumbling.
“My fault? I have nothing to do with the Association, unlike the Center.”
“The Association Head asked me to relay a message to you.”
Huh, that was unexpected.
Kang Sung-yeon, the Esper Association Head.
He was a powerful Esper, one of the S-ranks.
He had an imposing presence befitting an S-rank Esper, a cold, calculating mind, and an arrogance that bowed to no one.
He was a perfect fit for the position of Association Head.
But his most notable characteristic was that he was a loyal subordinate of Center Head Kwon Yi-soo.
After becoming the Center Head, Kwon Yi-soo had removed the previous Association Head and appointed Kang Sung-yeon as the new one.
But that didn’t mean Kang Sung-yeon acted arrogantly, using Kwon Yi-soo’s influence. He did provide some benefits for Espers, as the Association Head representing them. He was the one who had established Awakened individuals only facilities at airports.
However, he prioritized Center Head Kwon Yi-soo’s orders over everything else when necessary.
Kang Sung-yeon didn’t care about anyone else.
Seo Jae-yi was just another Esper to him, so they weren’t close.
And yet, he had something important enough to say that he had to send the “basement dweller”?
“The Center and the Association are being monitored.”
Oh… That was surprising.
“Monitored? By the government?”
“Probably.”
“Isn’t it a gamble for the government to target the Association and the Center? A gamble they’re guaranteed to lose.”
“It’s not that serious. They’re just monitoring their movements, not interfering.”
“Ah, so it’s just annoying enough for them to complain, but not enough to take action?”
“That’s why he sent me. It’s such a pain.”
Jeong Joo-hyung was a Special Type Esper. He had an ability specialized in stealth, so sneaking past the surveillance and meeting her in secret was as easy as blowing his nose.
“What’s the message?”
“We didn’t do anything. We didn’t do anything, and we won’t do anything in the future. Since the Center doesn’t want it, we’ll stay out of it.”
…What kind of bullshit was this?
Seo Jae-yi’s expression was almost a curse.
“Are you insulting our Association Head?”
Jeong Joo-hyung glared at her.
Oh, right. Kang Sung-yeon was Kwon Yi-soo’s loyal subordinate, and Jeong Joo-hyung was the Association Head’s lapdog.
“Yes. Say something that makes sense if you want me to listen.”
But it didn’t matter to her anyway.
“You little…! I’m trying to help you!”
“The Association never did anything for me anyway. Nothing’s changed.”
“I’m talking about the government! You’re planning on fighting them, aren’t you?”
Seo Jae-yi blinked at Jeong Joo-hyung’s outburst.
How did he know? Did Kwon Yi-soo tell him?
“Ah, I see.”
Baek Joo-won, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
“Actually, some people who seemed like Espers were watching me after you entered the dungeon. I had a bad feeling, so I stayed among other people. They disappeared quickly.”
Seo Jae-yi gasped, realizing what Baek Joo-won meant.
The Association was sending a message through Jeong Joo-hyung that they wouldn’t be involved, no matter what the government or Park Jung-soo did.
“This is actually good for me. What’s gotten into the Association?”
“The relationship between the Center Head and the government has soured recently. And more importantly, they weighed the pros and cons of siding with you or the government. An S-rank Esper with an S-rank Guide? That’s scary.”
Jeong Joo-hyung and Kang Sung-yeon, both S-ranks, knew it well.
An S-rank Esper with a highly compatible S-rank Guide was just as terrifying as an S-rank Esper without a Guide.
They could both do anything if they were angry.
“The Association won’t get involved in this.”
It was unexpected that both Kwon Yi-soo and Kang Sung-yeon wouldn’t side with the government.
‘I thought they would be reluctant because the Center and the Association would inevitably be dragged into it if I exposed what the government did.’
Even though the experiments and corruption were committed by their predecessors, they would still have to take some responsibility, as they were currently in charge.
And yet, they were willing to stay out of it.
Seo Jae-yi remembered Kwon Yi-soo’s fury when he learned about what Park Jung-soo had done. And how he had been actively searching for him.
This was why she didn’t hate Kwon Yi-soo, even though everyone else did.
“Good. I feel empowered knowing they’re on our side. I think I can crush those government bastards now.”
Seo Jae-yi clenched her fists.
Even Jeong Joo-hyung, who wasn’t on good terms with her, looked at her warily.
‘To think they would target someone like her. It’s only natural for the Association to choose Seo Jae-yi over the government.’
The government had a tendency to disregard Seo Jae-yi, perhaps because they had confined her to a lab for seven years and controlled her.
They were fools who didn’t realize the difference, even though she now had an S-rank Guide with a 93% Matching Rate.
And Baek Joo-won, gently stroking Seo Jae-yi’s back as she yawned languidly in his arms, hadn’t taken his eyes off her for a single moment.
His every thought was focused on Seo Jae-yi, to the point where it wouldn’t be surprising if they got Imprinted soon.
To target an Esper with such a devoted Guide? It was like buying an express ticket to hell.
‘The entire country will be in chaos soon.’
Seo Jae-yi had already taken down Taesan Guild before.
What would happen if she set her sights on the government, the one she was truly determined to crush?
For the first time, Jeong Joo-hyung was more interested in the government’s future than his games.
Jeong Joo-hyung, arriving at the airport, used his ability to discreetly slip away from the plane.
And Seo Jae-yi and Baek Joo-won, returning to the flower shop, heard some news from Airok.
“Some crazy bastards tried to break into the shop. They seemed like Espers.”
This was probably why Jeong Joo-hyung had been sent to declare that the Association wouldn’t be involved.
“I was going to let them be, thinking they might be here to steal dungeon plants because they’re so popular now, but they might have been ordinary robbers, so I stomped on the ground and scared them away. They ran away when they heard the sound.”
Airok pointed to the floor near the entrance to the greenhouse. His small paw print was clearly visible.
Wow, that’s adorable. Should she make a mold of it and keep it?
“Robbers. It’s unsettling, considering the Association’s warning.”
It seemed too sloppy for the government to be behind it, but it was unsettling to think it was just a robbery.
Even if they checked all the CCTV footage, it would be difficult to find them if they were Espers.
There was no helping it. If they had a motive, they would appear again, so she would just have to wait.