Chapter 13: Turns Out You Are Just Like Me Too, Hyung
Area A is a zone where the concentration of rift intrusion is extremely deep. Because of that, the Espers permanently stationed there are a whole level stronger than those in our Area D, and there is a rare SS-rank Esper there who is always in an unstable state. That is Jae Sin, the older brother of Jae Hyo.
I have gone to Area A countless times solely to save this Esper, so I simply cannot bring myself to like him at all.
Jae Sin is the complete opposite of the cautious and intelligent Jae Hyo. He can go insane while remaining calm, harming both himself and everyone around him, and even thinks that doing so is cool.
I truly cannot understand how someone as composed and kind as Jae Hyo, who is always trying to save the world, could have such a crazy older brother.
"Kim Jun Hyung, you have met the SS-rank Esper Jae Sin a few times before, right?"
Cha Cha, sitting beside me, seemed very interested in this famous Esper. She was a typical Guide who always wanted to connect with powerful and well-known Espers, especially since her compatibility index, although not particularly high, was also never too low with the majority of Espers.
I thought for a moment, then spoke my description to Cha Cha.
"He is like an active volcano."
Cha Cha said, "A volcano? What is that, Hyung?"
An active volcano is always on the verge of erupting with lava, and Jae Sin is the same way.
"You will never know what he is going to go crazy over next. He is the type of Esper who has been affected by the power he possesses."
"Power?"
Jo Hyun, sitting on the other side, seemed interested in this.
"Hyung, what kind of power does that SS-rank Esper have? Is it very strong?"
"Yes."
I recalled the terrifying scene I once witnessed when I had the chance in the past to follow Jae Sin and Jae Hyo into an S-plus level rift to provide Guiding support for combat.
There was once an analogy that said wherever Jae Hyo went, only silence would remain, while wherever Jae Sin went, all that was left were piles of destructive ruins.
"The power of explosions. His body is like a bomb. As long as he touches something, he can destroy everything completely. It is an extremely powerful type of close combat super ability. The most important thing is to never let him touch you. Unless you are an Esper of the same rank, your physical body would not be able to withstand those explosions."
Jo Hyun's eyes were filled with excitement.
I knew that the restless nature of these kids was troublesome, so I warned Jo Hyun not to cause trouble.
Jo Hyun said, "I know, Hyung. But if he starts trouble with me, I would not mind testing myself against an SS-rank Esper a bit. Min Seok Hyung said that right now I am only lacking a bit of real combat experience. My ability to use flames is already not inferior to other Espers!"
He leaned against my shoulder in a spoiled manner. His large body pressing close made me feel very hot, yet I could not bear to push this big teenager away.
Cha Cha, sitting beside us, was probably amused by the scene. She kept glancing at us and then revealed a discreet smile.
Guide Lee Do Ha in the front passenger seat also smiled.
Lee Do Ha said, "It is fine, Guide Cha Cha. This kind of scene is an everyday occurrence in our Team 7."
I glared fiercely at Lee Do Ha.
What was wrong with a pretty and well behaved kid leaning in and resting his head on your shoulder anyway? It would only be a problem if that kid were Min Ha Dong or that gigantic Geon Do.
Cha Cha said, "But I heard that Esper Jae Hyo was your high school classmate, Kim Jun Hyung. What kind of person is he? I have only seen Esper Jae Hyo in photos. He has an outstanding appearance that does not lose to Hyung or Zero Hyung at all. Just looking at him makes my heart flutter!"
Cha Cha spoke with admiration. She was someone who loved handsome men, so she blindly followed after Zero.
Because at the Area D headquarters, everyone knew that I liked men, while Zero did not reveal his own preferences at all. Men or women alike were terrifying monsters to him.
"Yes, we were classmates with a fairly good relationship, and we awakened at the same time inside a sudden rift that attacked our school."
I looked toward Jo Hyun, who was frozen beside me, and only then did I realize that this was probably the first time he had heard that the cause of my awakening was almost identical to his own experience. Jo Hyun being shocked was only natural.
"Did it scare you, Jo Hyun?"
Hearing my question, Jo Hyun pressed his lips together tightly and shook his head slightly.
"Hyung, how old were you when you awakened?"
Jo Hyun asked.
I stiffened at his question, and I did not intend to hide it from him.
"I was just a bit young. Fifteen years old. I have been doing this job for more than ten years now, Jo Hyun. A lot of things have happened, but fortunately, in the end, everything turned out fine."
Losing many things and gaining many things, that was the life I had lived under the name Guide Kim Jun. I ran away from responsibility together with Jae Hyo, but I did not regret dedicating myself fully during the early period when I first became a Guide.
"So Hyung is just like me. I am really happy."
Jo Hyun buried his face into my arm and murmured like a child asking for candy, making me laugh helplessly.
"That is right, so you must not become like me. Do not let yourself be taken advantage of by bad adults!"
We joked and laughed along the long journey, resting in the safe zones along the way, until the driver sent by Jena safely delivered us to the Area A headquarters.
"What is this…"
I clicked my tongue as I looked at the devastated scene before my eyes. There was no need to guess who the culprit was.