"Sector 3 reporting. Everyone's vitals are stabilized. Situation clear."
Contrary to Sua Lee's calm report, her surroundings were in absolute chaos.
Smoke billowed from the rubble of collapsed buildings, and flames danced within the cracks of the shattered asphalt. Yet, the very spot where Sua stood remained eerily peaceful.
"Wow… Miss Sua, you’re insane! You actually managed that?"
"To pull off contactless multi-guiding in a situation like that…!"
"They did say you were an S-rank freelancer… You're incredible."
Despite the other espers' awe, Sua just stared apathetically at her wristwatch.
"I'm a bit expensive, you know. I have to earn my keep."
"Still, I know how tough it is to guide as a freelancer. In fact, the guild really wants to recruit you this time—"
"Team leader." Sua cut him off by tapping her watch. "As you know, my rates are billed by the minute. When should I clock out? Because another minute just passed."
"A-Ah, right now!"
"Very well. Team leader, please confirm the following details for the record."
Sua took a deep breath and began.
"You utilized the emergency relief guiding service, and wavelength stabilization is now complete. There were seven users in total, billed per person. The total service duration was 47 minutes. Since today is a holiday, a 1.5x holiday surcharge is applied, along with a 2x hazard pay multiplier for field deployment. If there are no objections, the invoice will be issued to the Cheonggye Guild as stated, and the billing details will be final. Do you have any objections?"
"…No."
As Sua recited the final bill with mechanical coldness, the team leader and his squad could only exchange weary glances. They couldn't help but shake their heads at how thorough she was.
"Wow, they weren't kidding when they said she couldn't stay in a guild because she's too money-hungry. Guess the rumors were true."
"Quiet down. We're moving to Sector 5! Miss Sua, we'll see you again. Preferably only if there's another absolute emergency."
"Thank you for your business, customers! Please do your best not to die, no matter the danger. I look forward to your next call!"
Sua waved enthusiastically with a radiant smile until their backs disappeared from view.
The surroundings instantly fell silent.
I should head home too.
She was turning to leave, rubbing her stiff shoulders, when—
THUD.
The ground shuddered with a heavy impact. A violent gust of wind tore through the area, sending dust and debris exploding in all directions.
"Cough—what the—?"
Sua squinted into the swirling dust, then froze.
Right in the middle of the dust cloud stood a man.
Pitch-black hair fluttered in the wind, and not a single speck of dust clung to his pristine suit.
Junhyuk Yoon?
She had spent her entire career actively avoiding S-rank espers because they were nothing but a massive headache.
Why is he here now?
Panicked, Sua instinctively took a step back.
At the same time, Junhyuk slowly raised his head.
When their eyes met, a red warning window popped up in her vision.
[WARNING! 5:00 until overload]
I have to run.
Just as Sua was about to turn tail and bolt, a low, heavy voice fell upon her ears.
"…Are you a guide?"
He was definitely asking her.
Realizing that making a run for it was a lost cause, Sua took a deep breath.
Then, plastering her best customer service smile on her face, she turned to look at him.
"I'm a freelancer, and I've ceased operations for the time being. Everyone else went to Sector 5. Please direct your request there."
"No."
Junhyuk spat the words out in a low growl.
"There’s no time to move. The western line has been breached. All of Sector 8 is about to be wiped out."
Sua flinched.
"Sector 8 is…"
"Full of civilians."
Sua clenched her fists. She could have turned a blind eye if she didn't know, but now that she did, running was no longer an option.
Dammit.
Resigning herself to her fate, Sua sighed and ripped off her gloves. Looking at Junhyuk’s state, she knew that simple contactless guiding wasn't going to cut it.
I absolutely despise contact guiding.
She hated the sticky press of sweat against skin—but that was nothing compared to the cold wrongness of an esper's wavelength moving directly through her.
However, she couldn't afford to be picky while standing in front of a ticking time bomb.
It can't be helped. Just a little. Just enough for him to regain his sanity.
Frowning, Sua reached out a hand to him.
"I’m running on fumes, so I will stabilize the overload and remove my hands immediately. Nothing more. Do you understand?"
"……"
"I’ll take that as consent."
The moment she finished speaking, Sua grabbed his hand and opened up her wavelength. A sweet yet refreshing scent spread through the air.
But before she could react, Junhyuk’s hand shot out and snatched her wrist.
His grip was terrifyingly strong, jerking her off balance and slamming her against his chest.
"Sorry, I'm in a rush. I'll reward you later."
Along with his words, the energy within Sua's body began draining away violently and rapidly, as if he were sucking it through a straw.
[WARNING! Energy depleted! Disconnect immediately!]
"Ugh… Hey, stop…"
A blood-red warning window blocked her vision.
But Junhyuk didn't stop.
Sua was already running low after three back-to-back jobs since dawn. Yet, Junhyuk was ruthlessly wringing out the very last drop of her energy.
"How useful. You saved my life."
Useful? Do I look like a battery to you?
Sua wanted to tear him apart, but her lips wouldn't part. She didn't even have the strength left to lift a finger.
"Stay put. I'll send a rescue team soon."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Junhyuk discarded her hand like trash.
Without his support, Sua collapsed to the ground, watching Junhyuk launch himself into the sky and vanish in an instant.
She let out an incredulous scoff.
A rescue team. Wow, should I be grateful? A lawsuit isn't enough. I'm going to leak everything online and bury you socially!
Just as she was vowing exactly how she'd ruin that bastard once she was rescued…
BEEEEEEEP!!!
A piercing, mechanical screech slammed into her brain.
[WARNING! High-density energy signature detected!]
[WARNING! Evacuate immediately!]
Red status windows flooded in, obscuring her vision entirely.
When Sua lifted her head, the empty space where Junhyuk had leaped from was distorting. The air twisted like rippling water before a crack violently spiderwebbed across it.
A gate was ripping open right in front of her.
I need to run.
But she still couldn't move.
This is pissing me off.
She had lived fiercely, grinding away in the field while others rested, motivated solely by the sight of her bank account steadily growing.
She never expected her grand finale would be getting tossed aside like a used battery.
No revenge.
Not even one punch.
That was what really killed her.
As her vision faded, she gritted her teeth.
Junhyuk Yoon, you son of a…!
Just then, the gate before her fully tore open.
The dark red vortex swallowed her whole.
Faint text appeared before her eyes.
[Sy█tem Err▓r]
[Att▓mpt▒ng to reb░░t…]
[R░try▒ng…]
* * *
"JUNHYUK YOON, YOU SON OF A …!"
Ariel shot up from her bed, gasping for air. Cold sweat trickled down her spine.
"Haa…"
It’s that dream again.
It had already been a year since she woke up in this world, yet just when she thought she had forgotten everything, the memory of that day would vividly resurface. And every time, a particular name came to mind.
Junhyuk Yoon.
The savings account she had spent her entire life building.
Her brilliant future as an S-rank guide.
All of it, wiped out in an instant by that bastard.
"I should've at least punched him in my dream."
Ariel irritably brushed her hair back. Golden locks cascaded down her shoulders.
Sua Lee died that day, and when she opened her eyes, she was the saintess, Ariel. Whether it was reincarnation or transmigration, she didn't know, nor did it matter. Just being alive was something to be thankful for.
The bigger problem was…
Ariel's gaze drifted toward the translucent window floating in midair.
[Name: Ariel]
[Ability: Purification (D-rank, Lowest Rank)]
"Dammit."
Once an S-rank, now D.
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