"Yeonsu."

When the mock battle team assignments were all announced, Park Geonwoo came over to me.

"We’re in the same team."

"Yes."

"Shall we go?"

"Yes."

As Team 1, we were the first to begin training.

On the way to the First Gate Hall, an awkward silence stretched between us. I’d always walked this path alone with Joo Seunghyuk, and I’d expected to again this semester. It had seemed so natural that I hadn’t realized how much it meant.

In fact, I’d struggled to get away from being alone with him, hating it so much back then. Seunghyuk must have sensed it, too.

I felt sorry for him now. If I got to walk this path with him again, I’d take his hand first. I would never let things go the way they had before.

That day will come again, won’t it? Seunghyuk will clear his name and be released soon... right?

The thought chilled my fingertips.

"Yeonsu."

As soon as we reached the First Gate Hall, Park Geonwoo finally spoke after that long silence—but at the same moment, a bright chime rang out and the entrance doors slid open.

"...Let’s talk after training."

"Okay."

Inside, we were met with a holographic projection perfectly replicating a real Gate.

Geonwoo scanned the interior of the hall, taking everything in. It was his first time doing the Academy’s mock battle training, but he didn’t seem particularly impressed—only methodical as he checked today’s objectives.

He’d been specially trained at the Center since childhood. They had similar facilities there; no wonder he was used to it.

"Yeonsu, you look tired. Stay here and rest. I’ll be quick."

"Yes, sunbae."

I nodded. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to walk the hall with him or that I was reluctant to guide—it was simply that I really didn’t feel well.

"Are you going to keep calling me that? Not going to call me hyung anymore?"

"..."

It was the Inspection Division’s job to investigate crimes committed by ability users, so I didn’t blame Park Geonwoo for not telling me anything about the investigation into Seunghyuk.

But I couldn’t forgive him for making petty, underhanded remarks about Seunghyuk’s unrelated past. And since yesterday, articles praising Park Geonwoo had flooded in alongside unverified rumors about Seunghyuk.

The media had always liked comparing the two of them, but even so, something about the coverage was off. It didn’t feel like reporters had come up with it on their own—it felt like they’d all copy-pasted from the same PR sheet.

There was a good chance Geonwoo’s side had used Seunghyuk for media play—or that he’d been the one to feed information to the reporters in the first place. In a situation like this, there was no way I could address him the way I once had.

"I’ll be back."

"...Okay."

I watched him walk into the holographic Gate, then sat down on a nearby boulder.

Before long, the sound of him striking virtual monsters reached me. His mana was much calmer than Seunghyuk’s.

If Seunghyuk were here instead... would they have raced to finish the mock battle?

No. If Seunghyuk were here, the mock battle wouldn’t have even started. The moment the team assignments were announced, there would have been chaos.

He would have stopped me from guiding anyone else at all costs—maybe even staged a full-blown insubordination scene at Professor Jeon for putting us in this team.

What was he doing right now? Had he eaten? Slept?

If only I’d realized my feelings one day sooner... I would have told him I loved him.

"Ah..."

Suddenly, my vision swayed.

I’d hardly eaten since yesterday, and after staying up all night, my head spun and my stomach churned.

I’d felt tired since morning, but my body was sinking heavier and heavier.

And what was that smell? Had they put some new air freshener in the Gate Hall? A strange, hard-to-describe stench clawed at my nose.

I tried covering it, but the odor didn’t go away. It wasn’t strong, but it was unbearable.

I wanted to go home immediately—but if I left like this, people would talk.

They’d say I was avoiding it because of awkwardness with my ex, or they’d claim it was a side effect of the matching-rate drugs.

With my eyes closed, I rested my head against the wall until I heard Geonwoo’s footsteps approach.

I slowly opened my eyes.

"Yeonsu, were you asleep?"

"No. Just a little tired..."

"You’re not sick?"

"I’m fine. Did you finish the mock battle?"

"Yeah. The monsters are cleared. How do you want to do the guiding? Should we go to the guiding room?"

"Yes."

We headed to the KR Hall’s guiding rooms. It seemed we’d finished our training first, because the rooms were empty.

"This way."

He gestured toward the innermost guiding room. Clearly, he had something private to say.

"Okay."

I followed without complaint.

Inside, I sat in the Guide’s chair. Geonwoo closed the door firmly before taking the Esper’s seat. He fixed his eyes on me.

"Yeonsu, I didn’t think you were this reckless."

"What do you mean?"

"It’s only a matter of time before what Joo Seunghyuk did is proven. When that happens, the backlash will hit you too for defending him."

"I’m already getting backlash now."

Even if it came out that Seunghyuk had stopped an S-rank Gate Break, public opinion wouldn’t suddenly change.

They’d just say that was speculation and keep attacking with other rumors. People who’d been gleefully calling him a mass murderer would be annoyed at having their fun ruined, and they’d take that annoyance out on me.

What would they say?

Birds of a feather. Were you defending a criminal because you liked the chaebol money? I didn’t know you were that greedy—what a disappointment.

Something obvious like that.

"You’re saying this knowing it?"

"Am I supposed to hide the truth because I’m afraid of criticism?"

"You’re a victim who was deceived by Seunghyuk. You don’t need to voluntarily cover yourself in filth."

"I’m not a victim. I’m his lover. And don’t worry—truth will come out soon, and the people who framed him will be punished."

I believed in Seunghyuk. He would clear his name. And if I could help him in any way, I wanted to.

Geonwoo stared at me for a moment, then sighed deeply.

"Haa... Seunghyuk’s really brainwashed you."

"That’s not it."

"It is."

He took out his phone, tapped the screen, and showed me a video.

"I’m Joo Junghan, Executive Director of Seonghan Guild."

In what looked like a press conference, Seunghyuk’s cousin—and family register elder brother—Joo Junghan sat in front of microphones.

"And I’m Joo Taehan."

Sitting beside him was Joo Taehan. When had he returned from Texas?

His appearance hadn’t changed much from when he was young, but his sharp, twisted gaze gave him an ominous air.

Back then he’d just looked like a low-grade thug. Now he seemed hollowed-out, dangerous.

"What is this?"

"Seunghyuk’s brothers held a press conference today."

The phone kept playing as we spoke.

"My younger brother Joo Seunghyuk has committed unforgivable crimes. As his elder brother, I offer my sincere apologies to Esper Park Geonwoo, Guide Lee Yeonsu, and to the people of this nation."

I stared at the screen in shock. Geonwoo’s voice cut in, cold.

"Even his own brother has admitted everything."

"Our father was deeply shocked by this incident as well."

"From now on, Seonghan Guild will be led by Esper Joo Taehan."

"There’s no need to worry about his abilities. He has reawakened as an S-rank. He is more than qualified to lead the guild."

Reawakened as S-rank?

The lower third captioned a reporter’s question, followed by Junghan’s reply. It wasn’t a live feed—it was an edited highlights video.

When had they even held the press conference?

I pulled out my own phone and searched the news.

Junghan and Taehan had held an emergency press conference forty minutes ago. They admitted to all of Seunghyuk’s alleged crimes and said Chairman Joo would step down from the guild master position, taking responsibility. They declared that S-rank reawakened Joo Taehan would take over as the new guild master.

My hands went cold as I read the headlines.

"Yeonsu, Seunghyuk deceived you. I know you’re confused, but it’s time to face the truth. When training’s over, let’s get you to a hospital right away. You might be showing ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) side effects from Red Lotus Flame—you need to be tested immediately."

"If it was that urgent, why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

"I wasn’t sure before. But now there’s proof—his family admitted it."

"...Sunbae."

"Yeah?"

"How did you know they held a press conference?"

Forty minutes ago was right when the teams were announced and we were walking to the First Gate Hall.

On the way from the auditorium to the Gate Hall, Geonwoo hadn’t looked at his phone once.

We’d been apart briefly while he did his training, but even if it was only a holographic Gate, training was still training. He didn’t seem like the type to be checking his phone mid-exercise.

After finishing, we’d been together again, heading straight to the guiding room—still without him checking his phone.

For at least forty minutes, Geonwoo hadn’t touched his phone or spoken to anyone else.

And yet he already knew that Junghan and Taehan had held an emergency press conference.