Chapter 8: Team 7
Curious gazes were directed straight at the tall Jo Hyun standing timidly behind me. I took a small step forward to block those slightly oppressive looks and began explaining Jo Hyun's appearance.
On the sofa, Zero slightly turned his body when he heard that a high school student had awakened inside a rift. The clear-colored eyes beneath his silver mask stared intently at Jo Hyun.
"Just like back then?"
He was asking me.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose. I knew Zero had already guessed that I was soft-hearted toward this handsome teenager whose circumstances were exactly like his own.
"Ah… actually, Jo Hyun awoke the moment he entered the rift, and he even managed to take down the rift's Boss with support from the rescue teams that arrived afterward."
Zero nodded slightly and looked at Jo Hyun without hiding his intimidating pressure at all.
"I am Zero, the captain of Team 7. If Jo Hyun becomes a member of the team, then I will be your captain."
Perhaps Zero's presence was a bit too frightening. Jo Hyun, standing behind me like a startled small animal, stepped forward and stared straight at Zero without yielding.
The atmosphere grew excessively tense. Perhaps because they were both S-rank Espers, they each had very strong egos and were unwilling to give way to the other.
"All right, everyone will be teammates from now on, so there is no need to be so hostile!"
I walked over and gave a light smack to the back of Jo Hyun's head. He immediately dropped that hedgehog-like stance.
"This is Min Seok, the vice-captain of Team 7. He is someone you can really rely on."
I pointed toward the muscular man sitting beside Lee Do Yeon.
Min Seok was the younger brother of that troublesome Min Ha Dong, but his personality and character were completely opposite. Unable to accept Min Ha Dong's way of living, Min Seok had joined Team 7 under my management.
Jo Hyun was very obedient. He politely lowered his head slightly toward Min Seok.
Min Seok laughed heartily and patted Jo Hyun on the shoulder.
Min Seok said, "Jo Hyun, you are still young, so just rely on me. I will teach you everything you need to become a powerful Esper!"
At this moment, someone entered the room, with a delicate, handsome face and gentle eyes.
"Lee Do Ha? Did you not take leave today because you were sick?"
I asked in surprise.
Lee Do Yeon immediately ran over and hugged Lee Do Ha tightly. They were twin brothers, but one was an Esper, while the other was a Guide.
Lee Do Yeon said, "Hyung, this is the new member of our team. I heard he is very strong, but he is not even eighteen yet!"
Lee Do Ha looked at Jo Hyun and nodded slightly.
"Hello, I am the Guide of Team 7, Lee Do Ha."
Lee Do Ha was a B-rank Guide, but his Guiding ability was quite good. He was one of the rare individuals with nearly 30 percent compatibility with Zero, so I had specifically recruited him into Team 7 to support Zero whenever I was busy handling Guiding requests from headquarters.
As an S-rank Guide, there were times when my work required me to travel to support headquarters in other regions. Without Lee Do Ha's assistance, Zero would not be able to carry out missions independently of me.
"Hello, Hyung Lee Do Ha. I am Jo Hyun."
Jo Hyun spoke softly.
"If you need urgent Guiding when I am not around, just go find Do Ha. He is a very capable Guide."
And more diligent than me, I guiltily added in my heart.
But the stubborn child only pressed his lips together and shook his head. Then he looked straight at me with sad eyes.
Jo Hyun said, "Hyung, do you hate me? Hyung always wants someone else to Guide me, but clearly only Hyung is the best!"
I felt a bit embarrassed, not daring to tell Jo Hyun the truth, which was that I often tried to shirk work.
Lee Do Ha and Lee Do Yeon covered their mouths and laughed quietly, while Zero simply sighed and shook his head.
It was obvious that I had brought back a large mobile source of trouble. I could only blame myself.
Jo Hyun moved closer to my side again and stared at me intently, forcing me to meet his gaze with nowhere to escape.
"All right, this is just an exception for you!"
I complained gloomily.
Ah, my lazy, work-avoiding life.
"That is great. Hyung is the best!"
Jo Hyun clung to my arm in a spoiled manner.
"But in emergencies, you must accept Guiding from others. If you explode and die because you blow yourself apart, there is nothing I can do."
"Hyung…"
I shook my head. Matters of life and death were not negotiable. I was not a babysitter who could stay by his side twenty-four seven for his entire life.
Jo Hyun probably understood that stubbornly insisting on this point would not be accepted. He could only agree dejectedly.
"So gross!"
Lee Do Yeon suddenly blurted out.
I turned and glared at him.
"Do Yeon, the kid is still young."
Lee Do Yeon looked at me as if I were some kind of weirdo, then turned to whisper to Lee Do Ha.
Lee Do Yeon said, "As expected, you are always lenient toward pretty faces."
Zero, sitting on the sofa, also nodded, expressing agreement with Lee Do Yeon's remark.
I could not say that this was wrong. I also felt that I kept letting this kid trample over my boundaries again and again.
But if anyone were stared at pleadingly by that utterly beautiful face, they would soften too, would they not?
Embarrassed and irritated, I glared at Min Seok and asked,
"How did the mission go?"