An Unexpected Connection

The lecture proved to be quite engaging, feeling less like a formal address and more like an extensive Q&A session. Awakened individuals were naturally figures of admiration for civilians, and given the unique abilities of each Esper, the audience’s curiosity was palpable. Questions, particularly those directed at Han Gureum, Korea’s sole light-attribute Esper, flowed endlessly.

The majority of inquiries centered on their abilities, to which the Espers of the Herbivore Guild responded with utmost sincerity and dedication.

“I’m curious about the rift at Sadang Station! Even though it was a C-class dungeon, there were civilians present, yet only five of you entered. How do you manage to fight in such situations? You have to protect the civilians while also eliminating the monsters!”

“In such instances, either Lee Beomgyu, the healing-type Esper, or Guide Park Hayoon accompanies the civilians. This time, Guide Park Hayoon was present, and the citizens proved incredibly cooperative, enabling a safe extraction.”

It was Kim Ajun who provided the answer. As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on a single point, not the questioner, but rather a man clad in a black hat and mask.

Seo Dowoon, however, casually dismissed Kim Ajun’s pointed stare amidst the multitude, his eyes solely fixed on Han Gureum.

“Are you still not considering bringing on a supporter? So many people are disappointed that the Herbivore Guild is the only one without one! I know I am!”

“I appreciate the thought, but I’ll humbly accept only your good intentions.”

Even as the questions persisted, Seo Dowoon’s gaze remained unwavering, fixed entirely on Han Gureum.

“I’ve heard Esper Han Gureum is quite fond of food. If you had a supporter, they could even send you snacks. Is it truly out of the question?”

“While it’s true I enjoy them, I can only accept your kind thoughts. It’s a guild policy.”

It was, without a doubt, the same melodious voice he had heard in the dungeon. Seo Dowoon felt his heart quicken its pace, beating faster than he remembered. He had felt this same sensation the last time he encountered Han Gureum, and now it was even more pronounced.

Encountering him again today, Seo Dowoon found himself wanting to know more about the enigma that was Han Gureum.

****

That evening, Han Gureum persistently occupied Seo Dowoon’s thoughts, causing him to toss and turn restlessly in bed for a considerable time. He ran his palm over the robe, which by now carried his own scent, feeling the distinct embroidery of the large, green dinosaur, Kio, against his skin.

Despite his efforts to banish the thoughts, the scent he had encountered earlier continued to tantalize his nostrils. Though it had long since dissipated, an imagined fragrance seemed to undulate around him, refusing to fade.

‘Han Gureum.’

‘What on earth is it about Han Gureum? Why does he linger so stubbornly in my mind? Why am I so intrigued by him? This sensation was entirely new, awkward, and profoundly unfamiliar.’

Seo Dowoon ceased his restless movements, rose, and settled at his desk, powering on his laptop. A quick search for ‘Han Gureum Esper’ on a portal site immediately yielded a trove of information. The related search terms – ’19-year Seoul Great Dungeon Break,’ ‘Light Attribute Esper,’ ‘Herbivore Guild’ – were all details he was already familiar with.

Photos of Han Gureum online were scarce. There were images of him entering and exiting rifts, and perhaps a few combat shots from when dungeon breaks occurred. However, not a single picture depicting his daily life could be found. Or so he had initially believed.

“…Is this his only outfit?”

Every single photo showed him in the Herbivore Guild uniform. The robe, a mandatory piece, was always draped over him, even if he didn’t button it completely. While other guild members might be seen in casual attire, Han Gureum never was. It wasn’t that there were no pictures of his daily life; it was that he wore his guild uniform every single day, leaving no opportunity for photos in civilian clothes.

Seo Dowoon let out a wry chuckle, then proceeded to meticulously gather every piece of information related to Han Gureum that he could find online.

During the lecture, when asked about recruiting new guild members, Baek Heeseong had unequivocally stated ‘no,’ adding that they intended to maintain their current structure for the foreseeable future. While Seo Dowoon, being a civilian, couldn’t join the guild himself, he surmised that establishing some form of connection with the Herbivore Guild would be beneficial if he wished to grow even slightly closer to Han Gureum.

‘Is returning the robe truly my only option? …But I don’t want to give it back.’

For several days, Seo Dowoon racked his brain, searching for an alternative way to encounter Han Gureum without simply returning the robe. It was then that his aunt called. She was the one who had looked after him tirelessly, concerned for his well-being after his adoptive parents’ passing. Given their frequent calls, he assumed this conversation would be another routine check-in.

“That building?”

– Yes. I don’t think I can manage it much longer. Junhyeon keeps telling me not to stay in Korea alone and to come join him. I was hesitant to leave because of you, but seeing you as an adult, doing so well, I feel comfortable enough to go.

“Of course. You should go.”

– Hearing you say that, Dowoon, has truly put my mind at ease. So, if you have some time this week, come by and take a look at the building. Just give me a call before you come, and I’ll meet you there.

“I don’t have any lectures tomorrow. Shall I go then?”

Having roughly aligned his schedule with Yoon Changwoo, who persistently championed the theory that four days of classes a week were more than enough, Seo Dowoon’s Thursdays had become entirely free.

Concluding the call, Seo Dowoon’s thoughts drifted to the building he had momentarily forgotten. Its address was unequivocally in Dongjak-gu. As Dongjak-gu fell within the Herbivore Guild’s designated territory, Han Gureum naturally sprung to mind.

‘I thought their old office address was nearby…’

He had even searched for the Herbivore Guild’s office, but only an address from five years prior remained online; no recent location could be found, no matter how diligently he searched. He had assumed that, like many guilds nowadays that discreetly forewent a permanent office, the Herbivore Guild had adopted a similar approach.

****

Thursday.

Seo Dowoon, timing his departure to bypass the morning rush, made his way toward a building he had visited only once during his middle school years.

– Where are you?

“I’m almost there.”

– It’s a two-story building with a bookstore on the first floor. I’ll be in the bookstore, so come directly inside.

“Okay.”

Being merely a small, two-story structure, he hadn’t given it much thought. While having more money was always preferable, this particular building held no special appeal for him, and he fully intended to sell it off as soon as his aunt departed overseas.

Seo Dowoon, who had been quietly observing the building, raised an eyebrow. The structure undeniably appeared more dilapidated than it had in the street view images. While a market was situated nearby, its distance from the building meant there weren’t many passersby.

Just then, his aunt, who had been inside the bookstore, caught sight of Seo Dowoon and promptly stepped outside.

“Dowoon!”

“Aunt, how are you doing?”

Seo Dowoon offered a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Why is it that seeing your face is harder than plucking a star from the sky?”

“I’ve been swamped with school assignments. I apologize.”

His aunt gently patted Seo Dowoon’s back with her palm, reassuring him that it was fine. While he wasn’t a nephew who called frequently, she knew he managed perfectly well on his own, so her worries were minimal.

“Is that your nephew who attends Dongjak University?”

“Oh, no! He’s not just attending; he was admitted as the top student! He got in on a scholarship, I tell you!”

“He’s tall and handsome, and intelligent to boot?”

“My nephew is quite the looker! It’s such a relief he doesn’t take after his father.”

“Ahaha! You’re absolutely right. If he resembled *that* one, he certainly wouldn’t be this handsome!”

The lively banter between the bookstore owner and his aunt continued unabated until Seo Dowoon finally cleared his throat. It wasn’t that he found their conversation unpleasant, but their voices, echoing boisterously down the alley, had drawn curious glances from every corner.

Seo Dowoon surveyed his surroundings, then glanced upwards, only to see a familiar face peering down from an open window.

‘Baek Heeseong? …Why is he there?’

As Seo Dowoon blinked in surprise, his aunt’s hand shot up, gesturing toward the second floor, signaling for someone to come down.

“Young man from the second floor! You’re here today? Come down quickly!”

“Yes! I’ll be right down!”

The window remained open, but Baek Heeseong slipped back inside. The next face to appear was Kim Ajun’s. Seeing the two of them, Seo Dowoon immediately realized who occupied the second floor.

‘The Herbivore Guild’s office was on the second floor here?’

As his aunt had solely managed the building, Seo Dowoon knew absolutely nothing about its tenants. He had merely been told that the first floor housed a bookstore and the second was leased as an office. With the rent deposited directly into his aunt’s account, he hadn’t even known the identity of the leaseholder.

‘I searched everywhere and couldn’t find it… so they must have intentionally kept it hidden. What a small world.’

He had harbored the wish to meet Han Gureum again, but he had never imagined such an opportunity would present itself so swiftly. This was truly an unforeseen development, feeling akin to receiving a delightful surprise gift.

A wave of delight washed over Seo Dowoon, and he greeted Baek Heeseong, who was descending the stairs, with a warm smile.

“This is the nephew I mentioned to you last time. And this is our tenant from the second floor. You’ve been here about half a year, right?”

“Yes, precisely half a year. Well, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, sir.”

Baek Heeseong, dressed in casual clothes, extended a hand with an amiable expression. Seo Dowoon, maintaining a light smile, took it.

“Landlord?”

“Aren’t you the building owner? I look forward to working with you.”

“Ah… yes, I look forward to working with you as well.”

Not long after, Kim Ajun also descended the stairs.

“Wow, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. We meet again here? They say three times is destiny. Are we destined, then?”

“Oh my? Young men, do you know my nephew?”

“We’ve met twice already. Today marks our third encounter. Quite a connection, wouldn’t you say?”

“Oh, it is! Three times truly is a connection!”

His aunt laughed heartily at Kim Ajun’s easygoing charm. Seo Dowoon, however, seemed uninterested. He glanced at the second-floor window and the stairs, wondering if anyone else was there, but no one was visible.

‘Is Han Gureum not here?’

Even if he didn’t see him today, as long as the Herbivore Guild’s office remained here, he would surely have another chance to see him again. But if possible, he wanted to see him today.