NOVEL WEB Chapter 1 - The Future
“Yuseong, Nakyoo Seong. Wake up!”
A desperate voice echoed persistently. As he clutched his throbbing head and pushed himself up, Nakyoo Seong saw Ji Seon Woo beside him, letting out a relieved sigh.
“Are you okay?”
Ji Seon Woo checked his condition once more. Should he call it typical of a guide, or just typical of Ji Seon Woo? With a vague nod, Nakyoo Seong returned the gesture, taking a moment to assess Ji Seon Woo’s condition as well.
“Who’s worrying about who here?”
The words slipped out before he could stop them. But he couldn’t help it. Looking at Ji Seon Woo, with those wide eyes filled with concern, was frustrating. His disheveled hair and the small scratches littering his pale skin made it clear—he was far from fine. Especially considering how fragile he already was, like a glass doll.
Noticing his gaze, Ji Seon Woo gave a sheepish smile.
“You were holding onto me, so I was better off. That’s why I woke up before you did.”
“How many times do I have to tell you? Worrying about me is pointless.”
An esper and a guide were not the same. Suppressing the surge of frustration, Nakyoo Seong gently ran his fingers over Ji Seon Woo’s pale cheek. A familiar wave of guilt settled in his stomach. The feeling of being a failure for not protecting his guide properly was always the worst.
Seeing the grim expression on Nakyoo Seong’s face, Ji Seon Woo tried to lighten the mood, flashing a determined smile as if to say, Don’t underestimate a battle-tested soldier.
“More importantly, do you have any idea where we are?”
Ji Seon Woo asked, his expression puzzled.
“My watch isn’t working.”
He clicked the wristwatch strapped to his arm, but nothing happened. His words made Nakyoo Seong finally take in their surroundings.
Rows of decayed, corroded buildings stretched as far as the eye could see, making the place look like a ghost town. It was eerily similar to those urban legends from the media—the ones about abandoned cities filled with strange anomalies. To make things even more unsettling, a vast plain surrounded them.
Had a place like this ever existed in Korea? If not, had they been transported to another country? If this was the result of being caught up in another esper’s ability, that would certainly explain a lot.
Just as Ji Seon Woo had said, Nakyoo Seong’s watch was completely unresponsive, and his phone had no signal. Where the hell are we?
He sharpened his senses. Right now, the only thing he could rely on was the keen intuition unique to espers.
Then, he heard it—a faint rustling sound.
“Is there anyone else here? I’ve never seen a portal like that before. Ugh… We need to contact the association before anyone else gets caught up in this—”
“Ji Seon Woo.”
Nakyoo Seong cut him off abruptly. Ji Seon Woo looked up at him, his clear eyes blinking in confusion.
“Huh?”
The moment he spoke, Nakyoo Seong swiftly pulled him behind him. A familiar sense of unease settled in, making his throat tighten and his fingertips tingle. Even he could tell—he was on high alert.
The primal, predatory energy approaching them was as sharp as a well-honed blade.
“…An esper.”
From a distance, the air itself seemed to ripple and distort as an overwhelming presence clashed with his own sharpened aura. Whoever it was, they were already baring their fangs, like a beast ready to devour its prey.
Sensing the shift in Nakyoo Seong’s expression, Ji Seon Woo tensed beside him.
A deep hum resonated through the air. “That bastard’s provoking me.”
Nakyoo Seong let out a short, dry laugh. He had no interest in childish power struggles, but that didn’t mean he’d bow down to some arrogant rookie.
Slowly, he hunched his back, allowing the instinct he had been suppressing to rise to the surface.
“…Yuseong.”
Perhaps recognizing the telltale signs of him about to activate his ability, Ji Seon Woo cautiously tugged on his sleeve. Even this small action was a guide’s instinct—completely different from an esper’s desire to overpower others.
A guide’s purpose was to protect and support their partner. Even with minimal physical contact, they could stabilize an esper’s energy, lessen the strain of ability use, and amplify their esper’s power. In other words, a guide ensured their esper could overpower any opponent in a direct confrontation.
This was especially true when the esper and guide were bonded through imprinting, like Ji Seon Woo and Nakyoo Seong.
“If it’s an esper, maybe they’re from the association? We should try talking first instead of fighting. Okay?”
“You already know what a fight between espers means—it’s the equivalent of a war between nations.”
Nakyoo Seong exhaled sharply before continuing.
“If they’re still picking a fight despite that, then there are only two possibilities. They’re either insane—”
“Or an unregistered esper.”
Ji Seon Woo muttered anxiously.
“Still…”
“Don’t worry. As long as they don’t cross the line, I won’t make a move.”
Nakyoo Seong reassured him as he kept his focus on the approaching presence.
And then—
[Huh? They’re just kids.]
[Are you sure that energy was coming from them?]
[We don’t know who they are yet. Don’t get too close.]
A gust of dry, dusty wind blew past as three figures, draped in deep blue robes, emerged from the distance.
What language is that?
It was completely unfamiliar. Lowering his gaze, Nakyoo Seong exchanged a glance with Ji Seon Woo, who gave a small nod before stepping forward and addressing the strangers in English.
“Excuse me, but I have a question. We’re members of the Korea Esper Association. My name is Ji Seon Woo, and I’m a guide. I know this might sound strange, but… could you tell us where we are?”
As Ji Seon Woo spoke, Nakyoo Seong remained on high alert, sharpening his focus on the one still hiding in the shadows—a presence far more dangerous than the three standing before them.
An arrogant unregistered esper was provoking him, completely oblivious to his own limits.
The way this fool kept pushing boundaries made it obvious—he was itching for a fight. Perhaps it was time to teach him a lesson. A stray mutt should know better than to challenge a trained warhound.
[Huh? What are they even saying? Hey, Kaoru, these guys are weird.]
[Agreed. Their clothing is unlike anything I’ve seen before… and they’re clean.]
[If they were from the Eastern Capital, there’s no way they wouldn’t understand the common tongue. Just who are you?]
Ji Seon Woo let out a weary sigh. “Yeah… of course things wouldn’t be that easy. Yuseong, what now? I don’t think they understand English.”
“…….”
“Yuseong?”
Ji Seon Woo watched Nakyoo Seong, who stood protectively in front of him.
His breathing was slow and measured. His piercing gaze was fixed on a single point, utterly unshaken. A chill ran down Ji Seon Woo’s spine.
He’s reacting.
Who the hell managed to provoke an SS-rank esper?
It was rare for anyone to rile Nakyoo Seong up—the last time had been during a catastrophic monster outbreak in the heart of the city.
“Yuseong. Nakyoo Seong!”
A sharp inhale. A slow, cold exhale. Nakyoo Seong’s pupils contracted into vertical slits.
Oh, shit.
Ji Seon Woo’s throat went dry.
I need to tighten his leash. If he didn’t, things would spiral out of control.
Swallowing hard, Ji Seon Woo reached out, intending to make direct contact to steady him. But before he could, flames erupted around Nakyoo Seong—towering, scorching pillars of fire that twisted into the sky like a dragon’s ascent.
[Well, now…]
Through the shimmering heat, a figure emerged with an air of ease.
[I got a little carried away. Just meant to have some fun.]
Beneath the billowing robe, strands of vivid silver hair gleamed. A teasing voice. Long lashes framing eyes of cold, crystalline blue. Even from a distance, the man’s beauty was striking—unreal, almost ethereal.
Despite the tense situation, Ji Seon Woo couldn’t help but admire him.
What the hell? I’ve never seen someone more handsome than Yuseong.
[Didn’t mean to turn into roasted meat, though.]
The unfamiliar language rolled smoothly off the stranger’s tongue, almost melodic.
Even as Ji Seon Woo stole glances at the silver-haired man, his primary focus remained on Nakyoo Seong. Carefully, he placed a hand on his broad back, feeling the tension in his coiled muscles.
Calm down, please.
With careful, measured touches, he began guiding his esper, smoothing over the sharp edges of his energy, urging him to relax.
Slowly, Nakyoo Seong began to settle.
“Yuseong.”
Letting out a quiet breath of relief, Ji Seon Woo called his name.
What he didn’t expect was the response.
“Ji Seon—No. Hyung.”
Hyung?
Ji Seon Woo blinked in confusion. Nakyoo Seong never called him that.
Before he could ask, Nakyoo Seong spoke again, his voice steady and serious.
“I’ll clear a path. Run.”
“What?”
“Find any building and hide inside.”
“You expect me to leave you behind?”
“That bastard.”
“The silver-haired guy? Why?”
“He’s one rank below me.”
Nakyoo Seong didn’t joke about things like this.
Which meant… the unregistered esper was S-rank—and he wasn’t alone.
They were in serious danger.
“But—”
“Look at their clothes.”
Ji Seon Woo’s eyes flicked toward the three robed figures. They matched.
“They’re organized?”
“Possibly an anti-government terrorist group. So listen to me and run. If it were just those three, I wouldn’t care, but with silver-hair here, I can’t fight while protecting you.”
Nakyoo Seong’s voice was unwavering.
“Hide as far away as possible. I’ll find you.”
He gave a small, fleeting smile—a rare softness in the midst of chaos.
Dark eyes curved in a crescent moon shape, the faintest trace of his familiar scent lingering in the air. Strands of black hair swayed in the wind.
The strongest, most precious person in the world—my esper.
Something inside Ji Seon Woo clenched.
How much more do you plan to suffer alone?
His eyes burned red.
“No. I’m not leaving you.”
“Seon Woo-hyung.”
“Calling me that won’t change anything.”
“Ji Seon Woo, listen to me.”
“No. You don’t know what they’ll do to you!”
“This isn’t the time for stubbornness.”
It wasn’t just espers who felt possessive over their guides.
Guides had their own deep-seated instincts—to protect, to shelter, to care for their esper.
The small, vulnerable being that would burn up in its own power without them.
The one person they were meant to hold onto, no matter what.
“You’re my esper. I’m never leaving you alone.”