HLSEBT - 15

15. Hapjeong Station Gate 4  

Seo Dojin, who had rushed over after receiving updates from Yanghwa Bridge, wore an unusually anxious expression. The Espers from the Protection Bureau, sensing his foul mood, quietly slipped away one by one. 

He was speaking to the Anchor in a slightly irritated tone. 

“Why did you let her go in alone?” 

- Yoon Taeha isn’t a child. Our judgment was to focus the remaining manpower on cleaning up the city. 

“Anchor—no, Seung-won.” 

As if anyone didn’t know that. 

It had only been a few minutes since Yoon Taeha entered Hapjeong Station. There was no chance she’d be injured. Even if dozens of queens attacked at once, she wouldn’t come back with so much as a scratch on her finger. 

“Going into the darkness won’t do her any good.” 

- Should I switch you to the Center Director? He’s the one who approved the operation via communication. 

“You’re already seasoned enough to suppress me with hierarchy, huh? You’ve completely shed your rookie status.” 

The issue with Yoon Taeha wasn’t external injuries—it was internal wounds. Wounds festering inside. Various illnesses caused by not receiving quality guiding. And her unique personality only hastened her own demise. 

“If she can do it, why doesn’t she just do it?” 

That phrase she often repeated—and the one Seo Dojin hated the most. 

There was a reason higher-ups were obsessed with Yoon Taeha and Lee Hakyung. 

Both were relentless action-takers who never pushed their burdens onto others, even if it killed them. Add to that their sharp instincts and drive, and it was only natural that the pile of missions assigned to Yoon Taeha kept growing. 

She might claim indifference, but she couldn’t hide her true feelings from Seo Dojin. 

He knew that beneath her willingness to take on tough tasks lay an aversion to seeing other Espers get hurt. 

“Tell her to take it easy.” 

Whenever Seo Dojin said something like that, Yoon Taeha would respond with her characteristic old-soul smile. 

“It’s faster if I do it myself.” 

As if he didn’t know that. He had told her countless times that living like that would send her to an early grave before even reaching the average Esper lifespan. 

In the end, her refusal to listen to advice had backed her into a corner—typical Yoon Taeha. 

Just twenty-three, acting like she’s lived through everything life has to offer. 

“If she doesn’t come out in one more minute, I’m going in.” 

- If you interfere, all hell will break loose. 

“I don’t care. Since when have I been someone who gets treated with kid gloves?” 

He secretly hoped she wouldn’t come out within a minute. That way, he could rush in, handle the situation himself, and leave quickly. 

Lost in thoughts she’d undoubtedly scold him for if she heard, Seo Dojin was interrupted by a shout from one of the Protection Bureau Espers. 

“People are coming out!” 

The medical team waiting outside took the boy from Cheon Geon-young’s arms. Though the boy’s cheeks were pale, his face wasn’t one of terror. 

Yoon Taeha maintained eye contact with him until he boarded the ambulance. While killing the queen and exiting the platform, she had continuously praised Song Joon-tae for how brave and strong he had been. 

Even the slightest blink of his eyes was met with exaggerated praise about how incredible his actions were. 

Cheon Geon-young, standing beside her, chimed in at just the right moments. 

“Can I visit you in the hospital?” 

The boy, wrapped in Cheon Geon-young’s jacket like a cape, nodded. It was right after he asked if the man would visit him in the hospital. His clear eyes now sparkled with curiosity and fondness rather than fear. 

“Then I’ll definitely come. Do you have a favorite snack? I’ll bring it. Cake? Cookies? Yokan?” 

“Chocolate.” 

“Chocolate? Any kind, as long as it tastes like chocolate?” 

“Yes.” 

While they spoke, the medical staff examined the boy’s ankle. A faint white web-like pattern remained imprinted on his tender flesh. 

He was a victim of the monster—the next queen’s connection. How he had survived until now didn’t matter. 

From this point forward, he would live a life different from others. It likely wouldn’t be smooth sailing. 

“I’ll bring the most delicious chocolate I can find. Promise.” 

Knowing this, Yoon Taeha extended her pinky finger first. The boy grasped it tightly with his small hand. 

“You need to listen to the doctors, okay?” 

“Will Oppa come too?” 

Hmm. This is a tricky question to answer. Yoon Taeha glanced subtly at Cheon Geon-young, not wanting to burden him. 

“He’ll probably come if he has time. Oppa is busier than me.” 

Song Joon-tae puffed up his cheeks and pressed again. 

“Will Oppa and Noona come together?”

Are we supposed to go together? 

Yoon Taeha frowned and glanced at Cheon Geon-young. He had loosely wrapped the handkerchief she had given him around his injured hand and now sat beside her. 

The sight of two tall adults crouching in front of a small child was rather amusing. 

“If you invite us, of course we’ll come.” 

“Thank you too, Hyung.” 

Cheon Geon-young gently brushed the boy’s hair back with a tender gesture. 

“You did well.” 

The boy’s puffed-up face softened into a proud smile. Then, with a meaningful glint in his eyes, he alternated his gaze between the two adults. 

Unaware of what he meant, Yoon Taeha and Cheon Geon-young simply blinked in unison. 

“Earlier, it was so cool! Sparks like a galaxy were flowing out of Hyung’s hands!” 

As Yoon Taeha listened silently, her expression grew increasingly rigid. A galaxy? Light from his hands? Did he just witness the guiding with his own eyes? 

This kind of ability was something she had never heard of before. 

“Is Hyung Noona’s fairy godmother?” 

At the innocent question, Yoon Taeha paused for a moment. Cheon Geon-young smoothly answered without shattering the child’s imagination. 

“Maybe. I guess I’m the fairy godmother.” 

“Wow!” 

The child gasped in admiration at the whispered explanation. 

While the two adults were distracted, the medical staff administered a small injection to Song Joon-tae. The boy winced slightly at the pinch but sniffled once and endured it bravely. 

“Master!” 

At the familiar title, Cheon Geon-young turned his head. However, the secretary who came rushing over was addressing someone much smaller and younger. 

“Master, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?” 

The secretary bowed deeply in front of Song Joon-tae, inspecting him anxiously. The boy shook his head maturely. 

One of the rescue workers asked, “What’s your relationship with him? His father?” 

“No, but I am Song Joon-tae’s legal guardian.” 

The secretary hastily pulled out a business card and handed it to the rescue worker. 

Introducing himself as the secretary of a certain congressman, he confirmed that he was currently the boy’s guardian. 

Cheon Geon-young stood up first, and Yoon Taeha followed suit. Wanting to avoid unnecessary entanglements with politicians, she lowered her head, letting her hair obscure her face. Noticing this, Cheon Geon-young stepped forward slightly to block her from the secretary’s view. 

A rescue worker, exhausted after hours of sweating through the operation, spoke matter-of-factly: 

“For now, there are no serious injuries. These two saved him.” 

“This man?” 

“Yes. And the woman behind him.” 

Yoon Taeha still didn’t want to reveal herself and quietly stood behind Cheon Geon-young. Fortunately, the secretary’s attention was elsewhere. Staring at Cheon Geon-young’s face illuminated by the sporadic streetlights, the secretary furrowed his brows, as if trying to recall something. 

“So Joon-tae is the son of Congressman Song Ji-seok. My name is Cheon Geon-young.” 

Having already scanned the business card, Cheon Geon-young casually dropped the name to avoid any awkward situations. 

“My goodness!” 

Recognizing the thoughtful gesture, the congressman’s secretary expressed gratitude. 

“It’s Chairman Cheon’s grandson! I’m so sorry, I wasn’t thinking straight…” 

Flustered, he bowed repeatedly to express his thanks. He also offered a half-curious, half-grateful nod toward Yoon Taeha, but she only gave a vague nod in response. 

“Our congressman will be extremely grateful. We’ve already received so much help from Chairman Cheon, and now this personal favor as well…” 

“I’ll contact the congressman personally. I’m sure he’d want to hear about his son.” 

“That would put him at great ease.” 

The blatant display of power dynamics made Yoon Taeha acutely aware once again of the status the Cheon family held in Korea. 

Not even the chairman himself, nor the current influential vice-chairman, but someone merely listed as an executive was being treated with such deference. 

“If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me. This is my personal number.” 

The secretary handed his business card to Cheon Geon-young and boarded the ambulance.

The ambulance disappeared with a loud siren. 

No sooner had it left than Seo Dojin arrived, looking like a homeroom teacher who had come to rein in a wayward student. 

“Did our field agent finish everything?” 

Recognizing someone she could rely on, Yoon Taeha greeted him warmly. 

“Captain!” 

“You went in alone?” 

Aware of the eyes around them, she deliberately used formal speech. 

“Let’s not nitpick about D-rank threats. The hallucination level was higher than expected. If another Esper had come in, my job would’ve doubled.” 

“Aren’t you an Esper?” 

Yoon Taeha lightly tapped Seo Dojin’s arm. Not in front of others. Reading her glance, Seo Dojin naturally turned toward Cheon Geon-young. 

The two men, both imposing enough to intimidate ordinary people with their presence alone, faced each other. 

“The guide who was inside with you?” 

“Yes. I’m Cheon Geon-young.” 

“I heard you’re with our company? The Anchor mentioned it. But why am I meeting you for the first time? I’ve never heard your name before.” 

Yoon Taeha quickly interjected. Seo Dojin still didn’t know that Cheon Geon-young was a potential guide candidate for her. 

“He just joined recently, Mr. Cheon.” 

Seo Dojin spoke to Cheon Geon-young with surprising politeness. 

“Thank you for your help. You must’ve been startled too.” 

“I only did what needed to be done.” 

“Do you want to get your hand treated first?” 

“I’ll report the situation first.” 

“Then let’s do that… Team Leader Choi from the Protection Bureau is glaring at us pretty hard. Let’s go for now.” 

Cheon Geon-young and Seo Dojin walked off, discussing the details of the incident. 

“You got sucked into the rift at Yanghwa Bridge?” 

“Yes. It happened after the second siren went off…” 

Yoon Taeha stared blankly at their retreating backs and exhaled a deep sigh from the pit of her stomach. 

People wearing armbands identifying them as part of the recovery team began appearing on the streets. Soldiers took a brief moment to catch their breath before rolling up their sleeves again to restore the roads to normalcy. 

Everyone was moving, finding their tasks and getting to work.