Han Seo immediately headed to the address Pyo Myeongho had given him. Fortunately, it was close to the café, so he arrived quickly after running.
Pyo Myeongho, who was waiting at the main entrance of the center's headquarters, looked surprised when he saw Hanseo.
"Whoa, you got here so fast!"
Hanseo paused briefly when he saw Pyo Myeongho wearing a white lab coat, but he quickly composed himself before the other man could notice his reaction.
"I was nearby for an appointment. Um, where's Esper Gu Jei?"
"Hmm."
At the mention of Gu Jei's name, Pyo Myeongho cautiously glanced around before gesturing for Hanseo to follow.
"Come this way."
He led Hanseo not to the main headquarters building, but to the research wing located behind it.
Guards stood watch at the entrance to the research wing.
"May I see your access card, please?"
Pyo Myeongho handed over his access card, and the guard meticulously scanned it with his device. Despite likely recognizing Pyo Myeongho's face, the guard followed the thorough verification procedure, demonstrating the high level of security at this facility.
Soon, the guard nodded, indicating the verification was complete.
"Director Pyo, you may proceed. And the other person...?"
"He's my guest. I'll vouch for his identity."
"Confirmed. However, you must accompany your guest at all times within the research building."
After issuing this brief warning, the guard allowed them to enter. They passed through a door that opened only with an access card scan and boarded the staff elevator.
Pyo Myeongho pressed the basement button, sighed, and turned to Hanseo with an awkward smile.
"I know this must be awkward, but thank you for coming all the way here. Come to think of it, this is the first time we've met in person since the wedding. How have you been?"
Though they didn't meet in person, Hanseo and Pyo Myeongho occasionally exchanged messages after the wedding. Having seen Pyo Myeongho more often than the groom during the wedding preparations, Hanseo now felt quite familiar with him. This was likely due in part to Pyo Myeongho's approachable demeanor.
'Even if it's a fake marriage, the documents are real. You're my nephew's husband, Hanseo. So, let's drop the formalities from now on!'
While Gu Jei was away, it was Pyo Myeongho who looked after Hanseo. He was the one who warned Hanseo that reporters were swarming the neighborhood and advised him to be careful. He also taught Hanseo how to use delivery apps and even installed a TV, saying he might get bored.
No matter how hard I look, I can't see any resemblance to Gu Jei.
Unlike a certain S-Class Esper with striking features that made him instantly recognizable even in crowds, Pyo Myeongho was just an ordinary-looking man with a pleasant demeanor.
Hanseo's thoughts naturally drifted to Gu Jei's parents, whom he had met at the wedding. While both subtly resembled Gu Jei, their overall impression was different. They seemed much more ordinary than he had imagined. Considering they were the parents of Gu Jei, he had expected them to possess some extraordinary quality, so this was surprising.
And at the wedding, both of them looked miserable. Well, it's understandable, considering their brilliant son suddenly announced he was marrying some skinny nobody.
Hanseo couldn't be sure how much they knew about him, but he was certain his appearance was a billion light-years away from the kind of spouse they'd envisioned for their son. High education? Wealth? He had nothing—a complete pauper, and not even a woman, but a man.
Did Gu Jei share the secret of their marriage with them? Whether they knew the truth or not, as parents, they would undoubtedly be furious that their proud son had to marry someone like him.
He'd seen similar conflicts play out countless times in daily dramas. The only reason he hadn't been splashed with water or called a vixen by Gu Jei's parents was likely because he was his sole Guide.
"Hmm, Hanseo?"
Pyo Myeongho's voice cut through his drifting thoughts.
Damn, after a week of seclusion, I've already gotten used to getting lost in my own thoughts again.
Han Seo quickly offered a plausible excuse to avoid upsetting Pyo Myeongho.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I was just worried about Esper Gu Jei... I've been doing fine."
"Hanseo, you're too much. At times like this, you can be honest and say you haven't been doing well."
"......?"
"Jei went into the Gate on the very first day as newlyweds. How could you possibly be at ease? It's obvious you've been tossing and turning all night with worry."
Pyo Myeongho gazed at Hanseo with a pitying look, as if he understood his heart completely. Meeting that gaze, Hanseo recalled his week-long seclusion, which could only be described as "idling around." He forced an awkward smile, as if he'd been caught red-handed. Since Pyo Myeongho was already misunderstanding the situation on his own, there was no need to offer any explanation.
Not stopping there, Hanseo clasped his hands tightly together and asked with a earnest expression, "You called me here... Is it because Esper Gu Jei has emerged from the Gate?"
"Yes, he just came out. It's been about an hour since he emerged. The official announcement will be released soon."
"Is he alright? Did he get injured anywhere...?"
Of course he's fine.
Gu Jei doesn't die in Gates. But Pyo Myeongho, hearing the tremor in Hanseo's voice, quickly reassured him, despite his own inner turmoil.
"Don't worry, he wasn't seriously injured. The truth is, everyone's been anxious because the recent Gate clear times have been unusually short. A week is actually average. There used to be Gates that took a year to clear. Compared to that, this is nothing."
Though his words were meant to reassure Hanseo, Pyo Myeongho's voice carried an undercurrent of unease.
And for good reason. Even if Gu Jei hadn't been injured in the Gate, the urgent call for Hanseo could only mean one thing.
"The problem is, he seems to have used up a lot of his power in the Gate. His condition isn't great, so he's in isolation for now."
"Isolation?"
"Don't make that face. He's perfectly fine thanks to your Guiding, Hanseo. Still, after what happened recently, it's better to be cautious."
The "what happened recently" Pyo Myeongho was referring to was likely the rampage that Hanseo had stopped. Anyway, it was a relief that nothing like that had happened... But suddenly, Hanseo wondered if he had been too complacent.
The future he already knew was beginning to change. By stopping Gu Jei's rampage, the center hadn't collapsed, and Gu Jei, who had gone into hiding after the collapse, was now clearing Gates as usual.
Come to think of it, he didn't enter this Gate in my past life.
Hanseo felt a cold sweat break out. Oblivious to his unease, Pyo Myeongho smiled warmly at him.
"Still, it's a relief you're here now, Hanseo. I'll be counting on you going forward."
As soon as Pyo Myeongho finished speaking, the elevator doors slid open silently, revealing a pristine white corridor.
"......"
"Ah, the atmosphere here is a bit intimidating, isn't it? But don't worry. This isn't a place to be afraid of—it's a place that exists to prevent scary things."
Pyo Myeongho reassured Hanseo, who hesitated to step out. Hanseo's hesitation wasn't simply due to the intimidating atmosphere, but it was better to let Pyo Myeongho misunderstand.
Han Seo grumbled inwardly.
Why do all research labs look so similar?
To shake off the lingering unpleasant memories of the past, Hanseo focused solely on following Pyo Myeongho.
The building appeared to be an ordinary research facility from the outside, but its purpose set it apart from other facilities, resulting in subtle differences in its design. For one, there was no one inside except for them. Instead, red CCTV cameras blinked incessantly from the ceiling, densely packed together. Given the nature of this place, it was likely managed by an automated system.
After a short walk, Pyo Myeongho stopped before a tightly sealed steel door.
Isolation Room
Instead of using the ID card hanging around his neck, Pyo Myeongho pulled a rectangular card from his lab coat pocket. Despite having undergone thorough verification by the security guard earlier, another card was required to open this door.
He tapped the card, and the steel door clanged open.
"Oh, right, You need to wear this before going in. It's probably not necessary, but it's standard procedure."
Pyo Myeongho handed Hanseo a crescent-shaped mask that covered the mouth and nose. Han Seo put it on and stepped inside.
It was a windowless, sealed room. In the center stood a simple cot, where a large man lay motionless.
"He's currently sedated and asleep," Pyo Myeongho explained.
The man lay perfectly still, as if he had been transported directly from the Gate, still wearing his combat uniform.
Hanseo's gaze drifted to the man's wrist.
86%.
He didn't know what had happened inside the gate over the past week, but the number had risen significantly. It wasn't that different from when he'd gone berserk.
Without further hesitation, Hanseo spoke.
"I'll begin Guiding now."
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