HLSEBT - 1

There were things that money couldn’t solve. Evading the government’s tight net designed to track down Espers was one of those things. 

Cheon Geon-young was the grandson of Chairman Cheon, the wealthiest man in South Korea, and as a result, his bank account grew just by breathing. 

But even for a third-generation chaebol heir, being classified as an Esper during a health examination meant there was no escape. 

“Mr. Cheon Geon-young, here is your new ID.” 

The government official handed him an ID card with a faint bluish hue. Next to his name, a small box contained the letter “G,” allowing even foreigners to recognize him as someone with healing abilities. 

The official, accustomed to the surprised reactions of people receiving their new IDs, flipped through documents disinterestedly while speaking. 

“You tested positive as a Guide in the second round of examinations, and you decided to forgo the third round, correct?” 

“Yes.” 

“You made the right choice. These days, government tests are highly precise. Trust me, taking that test isn’t a pleasant experience.” 

“Are there cases where someone becomes a Guide this late in life?” 

“It happens occasionally, though rarely.” 

The official didn’t even look up as he responded. 

“With Espers, it’s easier to detect them. We get reports all the time: ‘My kid suddenly levitated something in the air,’ or ‘My kid lit my cigarette on fire.’” 

Unconsciously, Cheon Geon-young imagined a man whose bangs were singed by a child who had accidentally lit his cigarette on fire. 

“But Guides are different, aren’t they? Unless there’s an Esper in the household, some people live their entire lives without realizing they’re Guides. Especially in cases of late-onset manifestation.” 

If it weren’t for the mandatory health check required for his overseas assignment, he too would have remained unaware of his status as a Guide. 

But the damage was done, and it seemed the government had already identified a way to exploit his genes. In a world where genetic information was scrutinized more rigorously than taxes, there was no escaping their watchful eye. 

Decades ago, humanity faced extinction. The skies split apart from the earth, and monsters poured out from the rift. 

A giant serpent rose from the coast, and goblins—once dismissed as laughable minions from RPG games—emerged from subway tunnels, tearing people apart. 

Faced with sturdy bones, tough skin, and sharp claws, humans were fragile beings. 

If not for a handful of individuals who awakened extraordinary powers, humanity would have walked straight into extinction. 

These individuals, who awakened superhuman abilities suited to this irrational world, were called Awakened Ones. 

After ten years of desperate struggle to avoid extinction, humanity—true to its nature as a curious species—began researching the Awakened Ones. They discovered there were two types. 

The first type possessed physical superpowers but suffered from chronic pain caused by their abilities. 

The second type lacked physical superpowers but could heal and alleviate the suffering of the former group. 

People began referring to the first type as Espers and the second type as Guides. 

And Cheon Geon-young was a Guide—one capable of rescuing pitiful Espers tormented by pain. 

【You are someone’s savior.】 

As he flipped through the stack of guide manuals on the desk, he paused upon encountering that sentence. 

Wasn’t it overly grandiose to call himself a “savior”? It seemed humanity had grown more sentimental after enduring the brink of extinction. 

“Don’t worry too much,” the official said, glancing briefly at the quiet civilian before him. 

“These days, most Espers can manage their abilities well if they take their medication properly. No outbursts or anything like that.” 

“That’s reassuring.” 

“Of course. Public service ads about it run all the time. Meeting an ordinary Esper won’t ruin your life.”

“What happens if you meet someone who isn’t ordinary?” 

“In case of that, this is what we have.” 

The government official handed him a small booklet containing a list of authorized gun sellers. 

“If you put a bullet in an Esper’s head, they’ll die too. Consider buying one.” 

Unaware that Cheon Geon-young’s grandfather owned the largest arms manufacturing company in Korea, the official pointed to a suitable pistol with his finger. Cheon Geon-young thanked him for the advice. 

Once the tedious process was over, Cheon Geon-young stepped out of the building with a steady gait, carrying various guide manuals. 

Kang, his secretary who had been waiting outside, greeted him. 

“Did everything go well?” 

Cheon Geon-young nodded. 

“The texture of the ID feels nice. Want to touch it? They said it’s made with special materials, so getting a replacement costs 100,000 won.” 

“…Is this really the time to show off your ID?” 

“It’s fascinating, isn’t it?” 

Cheon Geon-young grinned mischievously. Reluctantly, Kang took the new ID. “A Guide, huh…” he muttered under his breath, handing it back with a worried expression. 

On the other hand, Cheon Geon-young remained completely unfazed. 

“Now that I’ve got the ID, I should start filling out job applications. Should we do some mock interviews too?” 

Knowing full well that the place Cheon Geon-young intended to work wasn’t his grandfather’s company, Kang lowered his voice. 

“Are you really going to work as a Guide there?” 

“I heard Yeouido has the highest average salary for Guides.” 

“People will criticize you if they hear about this.” 

“Our family’s always been greedy anyway.” 

Realizing he wouldn’t budge, Kang let out a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart. 

With a death sentence worth 100,000 won in his hand, Cheon Geon-young was more than ready to change the course of his life. 

“The woman I’m looking for is there too.” 

His destination was Yeouido. 

--- 

At the same time, in Yeouido. Yoon Tae-ha walked into the building of Ark, the nationwide Esper-Guide management organization. 

She had just returned from completing a long-term mission and had come straight here after getting off the plane, so her appearance was quite a sight. 

A Hawaiian-style floral shirt, white shorts, and slippers that dragged along the floor—her outfit suited a sandy beach more than downtown Seoul, drawing curious glances from passersby. 

But she didn’t care. Yoon Tae-ha was busy enjoying the subtle aroma of essential oils and the cool air conditioning in the lobby. Around her neck hung a temporary fake ID issued for Guides. 

Cities are the best, she thought. Artificial scents from diffusers were far better than the real smell of grass. Praising modern civilization, she continued on her way when suddenly— 

“Everyone, get down!” 

Bang! A gunshot rang out right behind her. At the same time, someone roughly grabbed her arm. 

“If you want to save this woman, everyone get down!” 

“Aaaah!” A clichéd scream echoed through the lobby. Employees returning from lunch froze, dropping their coffee cups and flattening themselves on the ground. 

The armed assailant stood in the middle of the lobby, aiming the gun at the hostage’s head. 

In an instant, the lazy afternoon turned into chaos. 

“What’s wrong with those who haven’t gotten down yet?! You think it’s fine if someone dies?!”

Yoon Tae-ha, who had suddenly become a hostage, discreetly checked the type of gun pressed against her temple. A German-made 9mm pistol—more than enough to kill someone. 

“Bring me the drugs! You people have plenty of good ones, right? Bring me one box each of the purple-label painkillers and sleeping pills—the expensive ones, now!” 

The security guards swarmed in like ants, surrounding the assailant. But with a hostage in the mix, they couldn’t approach recklessly. 

“If you come any closer, I’ll kill her! I’m an Esper—I’ve killed before!” 

How could this guy not realize that the hostage he was holding was the Grim Reaper herself? Yoon Tae-ha (23 years old, S-class Esper) pondered for a moment. 

Should I just take care of him now? 

But then her eyes met with a kindergarten student sitting cross-legged in a yellow uniform near the elevator lobby. The first plan was immediately scrapped. 

It seemed a nearby kindergarten had brought the kids for a field trip. A teacher, looking incredibly young herself, was desperately pulling the children close, like a mother hen protecting her chicks. She needed to be careful in front of the kids. Rather than a quick resolution, she chose to protect their innocence. 

“I said bring the drugs now! Unless you want to see someone die!” 

Of course, she agreed this scene should come with an age restriction. 

The assailant reeked of alcohol as he shouted, waving the gun around—pressing it against her temple, then her collarbone, putting on quite the show. 

With every hot, damp breath hitting her ear, her patience was wearing thin at an alarming rate. Fortunately, before things escalated further, a familiar face arrived. 

“I’m Seo Do-jin, head of the Ark Security Division. Release the hostage first.” 

While the head of security negotiated with the assailant, his team quietly moved to shield the civilians with protective barriers. 

“Threatening won’t get you anything. Mr. Kim Jin-seok, send the woman over here, and then we’ll talk.” 

“Not until you give me the drugs!” 

Yoon Tae-ha watched as the kindergarten students were safely evacuated with the help of the center’s staff. She exchanged a glance with the head of security. 

“I-I’m not letting the hostage go until I’m safe!” 

The man, referred to as Kim Jin-seok, showed no intention of backing down. He was a textbook example of an Esper on the verge of losing control. In this state, reasoning wouldn’t work. 

“All civilians have been evacuated.” 

So she waited. Waited for the center to prepare for any potential rampage. And then the head of security gave the signal. 

“Hey, hey! Don’t try anything funny!” 

Sensing something amiss, the assailant struggled desperately. To ensure his safety, he tried to pull the hostage closer to him. Or at least, he attempted to—but the woman stood firm like a tree rooted to the ground. 

“…” 

The assailant lowered his head and locked eyes with the hostage. 

Why wasn’t this woman afraid? Her pale face betrayed only a hint of amusement and curiosity. Suddenly, an icy chill ran up his spine, as if he were hugging a shard of an iceberg. 

“W-What is this?” 

Shaken by the eerie sensation, he shoved the hostage away. 

The woman stumbled backward limply. Danger. Every hair on the man’s body stood on end. The animalistic intuition of an Esper urged him on. 

Just kill her and run! 

Fumbling with the trigger, he impulsively pulled it. The gun was perfectly aimed at her forehead. Clenching his teeth, he fired. 

Bang! A second gunshot tore through the air of the lobby. 

But the head of security didn’t even blink. Astonishingly, the person who had been shot simply stood there, staring blankly at Kim Jin-seok. 

“Hiiiiik!”

Kim Jin-seok’s legs gave out when he saw the woman who should have died standing perfectly unharmed. Collapsing limply, he scanned the floor with hazy eyes. It was clean—no trace of the viscous red liquid that should have been flowing. 

He had definitely fired the shot. And it should have hit her. 

“D-Didn’t she die?” 

Yoon Tae-ha replied as if she found the situation somewhat disappointing. 

“Well, somehow, I’m still alive.” 

She picked up the now-ownerless gun. The way she handled the heavy weapon suggested she was quite familiar with it. 

With genuine curiosity in her tone, she said, “I wonder if the gun’s the problem… Should we test it again to see if it works properly?” 

Click. 

When the muzzle turned toward him, Kim Jin-seok let out a shrill scream, panic overtaking his face. His terror seemed greater for the mysterious power she possessed than for the gun itself. 

Taking advantage of the moment, the security team moved in from behind. They shoved Kim Jin-seok into restraints and injected a sedative into the nape of his neck. 

Well, he finally got the drugs he wanted. 

Yoon Tae-ha watched the kidnapper being carried away like a mummy, her expression skeptical. In the meantime, the sturdy-looking head of security approached. 

“Mr. Seo Do-jin.” 

Yoon Tae-ha called out his name cheerfully. Instead of checking if the hostage was injured, Seo Do-jin greeted her with a teasing remark. 

“Judging by your complexion, it seems you still haven’t found one.” 

“Is it really that obvious just by looking at my face?” 

“How is it that after spending a year in Hawaii, you’ve come back not only without a tan but even paler? You look like a vampire.” 

“Aww, it’s not that bad.” 

Seo Do-jin scanned Yoon Tae-ha, whose entire appearance screamed that she had just flown in from Hawaii, and frowned. 

“You crossed the Pacific Ocean to find a Guide…” 

“I need someone normal, you know. Is it really this hard to find a compassionate Guide with a heart full of humanity?” 

Her complaint, devoid of any sincerity, made him click his tongue in disapproval. 

“Before you go on about humanity, go meet the person who’s looking for you first.” 

Raising an eyebrow, she gestured for clarification. He pointed upward with his finger. 

“He’s waiting upstairs.” 

Following his instructions, Yoon Tae-ha headed toward the elevator, her fake ID swaying lightly in her hand.