HLSEBT - 2

After returning from the brink of extinction, humanity built an ark. It was constructed to educate those with superpowers, enhance their abilities, and use their powers to save people.

The name of the new international organization tasked with this responsibility was ARK.

The first person to introduce this unfamiliar organization to Korean society was Professor Yoon Jeong-hoon, an authority in brain science research.

A few months after the birth of the new international organization, he returned to his homeland and held a press conference broadcast live nationwide under the cooperation of the government and ARK.

It was a conference aimed at informing the public about the basic concept of these unfamiliar beings.

“…We have decided to call them Espers. Espers are individuals who manifest extraordinary powers. These mysterious abilities are not artificially created through education or tools but are innate from birth.”

“If what you say is true, Doctor, aren’t Espers also a threat to ordinary people like us?”

“Do you admit that the power of Espers is unstable?”

The reporters bombarded him with sharp questions. Although Professor Yoon looked weary, he calmly answered each one.

“I admit it. According to our investigations, Espers suffer immense pain as a backlash from using their powers—pain beyond what we can imagine. This is why many of them struggle to control their abilities.”

“Some civic groups claim that all Espers are cursed. What do you think about that?”

Professor Yoon stared intently at the reporter who mentioned curses. But the reporter did not retract the question.

“They are not cursed. They are simply broken while trying to use their powers to save others.”

“But isn’t the existence of these so-called Espers too dangerous? Aren’t they similar to monsters in the sense that they are uncontrollable variables?”

This time, Professor Yoon responded with more conviction.

“It’s inappropriate to equate them with monsters because there are Guides.”

People furrowed their brows at this new term.

“Guides are also a type of Esper, but their offensive capabilities are nearly zero. Based on our observations, they are a kind of healer—let’s say, dedicated healers for Espers.”

The sudden mention of this seemingly holy profession made the reporters frown. Many thought the old man had gone senile after being locked away for years.

But Professor Yoon continued speaking indifferently. Whether they liked it or not, the world would have to adapt to this new order.

“Espers who use physical superpowers have a handicap. The more they use their abilities, the weaker their nerves become, and their bodies begin to collapse from within. In simple terms, the human body cannot withstand such immense power and eventually breaks down.”

“Are you saying that Guides help regulate that?”

“Yes. Without Guides, Espers cannot wield their powers stably. To be clearer, Espers without Guides cannot live healthy, long lives.”

An eerie silence filled the room.

What Yoon Jeong-hoon was saying was something even ordinary people had heard whispers about. But having the government officially acknowledge these facts was another matter entirely.

After giving the crowd enough time to digest the weight of his words, Professor Yoon continued.

“Imagine there is a massive dam. A dam holding too much water becomes sensitive to external stimuli—wind, landslides, torrential rain. Dangerous factors lurk everywhere.”

Various incidents flashed through the minds of those present.

“Perhaps the pressure might become too great, and the dam could crack. But we can’t abandon the dam. We need it to survive.”

The runaway accidents of Awakened individuals. The cries of those who lost loved ones. Riots. Human hunts. Swarms of monsters.

“But what if…”

Yoon Jeong-hoon locked eyes with a man standing behind the cameras. The man, dressed entirely in black, nodded. A blue badge was pinned to his chest.

“If there were beings capable of plugging the holes in that dam, what would you think?”

What if they could not only repair the dam but also maintain it for long-term use?

“Perhaps we might be able to coexist with them.”

He said the Ark would become a new paradise.

* * *

In the early days of the Rift, the first generation revered Espers as saviors. They were the only defense against the monsters pouring out of the Rift.

By the second generation, Espers were treated like ticking time bombs—no one knew when they might explode.

While weapons capable of killing monsters had been developed, no drug capable of replacing Guides had yet been created. People fiercely debated whether Espers should be considered part of the “human” domain.

Now, in the third generation, the situation has shifted slightly.

Drugs capable of replacing Guides have been commercialized, and banners advocating for Esper rights have begun to wave.

Public service advertisements featuring tall, handsome male and female models in uniform saluting appeared everywhere. Of course, both were Espers.

[Together, our joined hands create safety.]

Campaigns to improve public perception of Espers were launched, with young people dressed in sharp uniforms instead of handcuffs and restraints leading the way.

Espers are not monsters who suddenly develop an obsession with you one day. They are simply individuals living with a condition that requires lifelong management—like my arthritis. Haha.

People with “Doctor” printed on their business cards appeared in the media, endlessly talking.

It didn’t take long for objects of fear to become objects of curiosity.

The industry of dealing with monsters emerging from the Rift rapidly rose in prominence, and Espers were indispensable components of that system.

Moreover, curiosity about hidden powers is timeless. Superpowered individuals like those seen in comics or movies? The popularity of Espers soared.

And the public’s curiosity began to focus on the strongest and rarest among them: the S-Class Espers.

In the third generation, Espers became weapons, shields, and even celebrities.

[SaveUs] [Issues/Information] [Q&A]

▶ I heard China just revealed a new S-Class Esper. Any updates on new discoveries in Korea?

⌟Still the same old faces doing all the work: Princess Chanyeol and Lee Haegyeong.

Yoon Taeha was now sitting in the man’s office after riding the elevator up. Instead of looking nervous, she sat across from the Center Director with her arms crossed in a defensive posture.

“I didn’t kill him.”

Her abrupt self-defense made Lee Haegyeong smile gently, like an adult humoring a child.

“I know. I watched everything in real-time. I already knew he wouldn’t die.”

“…Then why are you staring at me like that? It’s creepy.”

“I’m proud of you. You’ve really grown up.”

Yoon Taeha frowned at his tone, which sounded like he was praising someone much younger. The age gap between them wasn’t even ten years.

“That man could teleport.”

“I figured as much. What kind of idiot would barge in here with a gun if he didn’t have some kind of ace up his sleeve?”

“So… you really weren’t hit by the bullet?”

The person who had performed the stunt widened his eyes in surprise. Was he really going to reveal trade secrets just like that?

“Boss… you’re surprisingly pure-hearted, huh?”

She slapped a flattened piece of metal onto the desk with a sharp sound. It was the bullet the blackmailer had fired at her.

“I drained its energy before it could reach me with telekinesis. It was a bit tricky since it was fired from such close range.”

Lee Haegyeong picked up the fragment with a serious expression, as if appraising a precious gemstone.

“Your skills have improved.”

“When you spend a year fighting an octopus with eighteen tentacles over the Pacific Ocean, you can’t help but get better.”

“That must’ve made for thousands of plates of sliced octopus sashimi,” he quipped. His lips curled slightly at her blunt evaluation.

“I heard your evaluations from headquarters were good. They said you got along well with others.”

“If I acted antisocial, it’d reflect poorly on you, Director. So I made sure to be mindful.”

“I’ll reward you. You’ve worked hard.”

“Really?”

“How does a 200% bonus sound?”

Her boss was handsome, and he gave great bonuses. The subordinate employee’s face bloomed into a radiant smile, like spring flowers in full bloom.

“Give me some vacation time too.”

Seizing the moment while her boss was in a good mood, she began round two of negotiations.

“I believe you’ve already used up most of your official vacation days in Hawaii.”

“…It’s a bit unfair to count that against my official leave. I was getting my blood drawn once a day by the lab people and was completely drained.”

Yoon Taeha shuddered at the memory. Being forced onto a cold bed multiple times a day like a lab frog was anything but pleasant.

She was the Esper at the very top of the Esper ranking system, which ranged from E to S.

An undisclosed S-Class Esper. Though only two modifiers preceded her title, those within the Esper community could easily read between the lines.

Strong and dangerous. That was the gist.

As a result, she had grown up surrounded by countless researchers. She was the first to swallow new drugs developed by ARK, and she was always the one sent into the Rifts where no ordinary person could safely venture.

Even under such conditions, she didn’t die easily.

This business trip had been assigned under the same context.