TGIC Ch 85

Chapter 85

I should probably head inside first. Only then could I properly grasp the current situation and mentally prepare myself for what lay ahead.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, no more deadly attacks were flying through the air. At this rate, it would be safe enough to step into that dense fog.

“Esper Vasily…!”

As I was looking around for a place to change clothes, someone’s shout reached my ears.

Had Vasily arrived?

Instinctively, I turned my head and caught sight of Vasily slowly emerging from beyond the thick fog.

He looked utterly wrecked, evidence of just how fierce the battle must have been. The immaculate suit he always wore was covered in dust; traces of soot marred his skin. His usually tidy silver hair was now completely disheveled.

…This might be the first time I’d ever seen Vasily so unkempt.

At that moment, our eyes met. Upon noticing me, Vasily didn’t look away but continued to stare as he walked toward me.

I had been ready to scold him, but as his face drew closer, I noticed something unusual: there was not a trace of his usual smile. His cold, sunken gaze was so chilling that for a moment, I almost felt like I was the one who had done something wrong.

Wherever Vasily stepped, the ground froze solid. He usually did that when he was upset or unwell—this time, it was surely the latter.

People nearby were glancing at him nervously, their eyes begging for an explanation, yet no one dared approach him through the oppressive atmosphere.

Finally, Vasily reached me without interruption and opened his mouth.

“I told you not to come to the scene.”

He caused all this chaos, and the first thing out of his mouth upon seeing me was that?

The audacity—utterly shameless. Outraged, I shouted back.

“I’m here because of you, Esper!”

“Because of me? And who gave you permission—”

When I saw his icy gaze beginning to sweep toward others, I panicked and blocked his path. That was definitely the look of someone about to kill.

To distract him and confirm the most pressing issue, I lowered my voice so only he could hear.

“Did you kill him?”

“Who knows? I was planning to, but I didn’t check.”

Hearing Vasily’s calm response, I couldn’t help but think Huaiyan might really be dead.

In the past, I would have simply thought, This lunatic’s at it again, without bothering to ask why. But not anymore.

“Esper Vasily, what happened?”

“…”

“I believe you must have had a reason for this.”

As crazy as Vasily was, he wasn’t the type to attack another S-rank esper without cause. And that last attack of his had clearly been a genuine attempt to kill. There had to be a reason, and I looked at him, holding onto that belief.

“…”

Vasily seemed about to speak, his lips twitching slightly—only for him to suddenly scowl and turn around. I followed his gaze instinctively.

From the distance, Huaiyan appeared, staggering out of the fog in tattered rags.

Though Vasily himself was in bad shape, Huaiyan’s condition was far worse. His changpao¹ was shredded in places, hanging in tatters, and blood streamed down from his head. His unsteady steps were likely due to that final attack.

Vasily had gotten away with only burns, but Huaiyan was slashed and torn up by ice—so much so that shards of frost still clung to his clothing.

“Guide Kwon Gidam, leave. Now.”

Vasily suddenly tried to send me away. Uneasy, I grabbed his arm and asked,

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to fight again?”

“This time, I’ll finish it properly.”

“W–Wait…!”

I felt the air rapidly drop in temperature and hurried to block Vasily. If they started fighting again here, the area would turn into hell in seconds. There were civilian homes behind us—innocent people would definitely get caught in the crossfire.

While I restrained Vasily, an Association staff member approached Huaiyan to check on his condition. After a brief exchange, the staffer cautiously returned to relay Huaiyan’s message.

“Mr. Huaiyan says there was a small misunderstanding. He admits responsibility for what happened and will personally handle the gate raid. He also says Esper Vasily is free to leave…”

“…?”

Attacked out of nowhere, nearly killed—and yet he was just going to let Vasily walk away?

Bewildered, I turned toward Huaiyan and found him smiling faintly, waving at me as if greeting an old friend.

I hesitated, wondering if I should wave back—only for a broad back to suddenly block my view. Looking up, I found Vasily standing in front of me.

If I left him alone, Vasily would surely attack Huaiyan again, so I quickly dragged him away from the scene.

We’d come here in an Association vehicle, but for the trip home, I ended up riding in Vasily’s car. I’d offered to drive, but he insisted on taking the wheel.

I quietly glanced at him, assessing his condition. I wanted to bring him straight to a physician, but knowing him, we were going home first. Maybe I should stop by and grab some burn ointment later.

On the way back, I looked out the window. Residents nearby had gathered in the streets, murmuring as they gazed at the towering ice structure in the distance.

There were bound to be countless witnesses in such a populated area. It wasn’t something the Association could simply pass off as “training,” but I trusted they’d handle the cover-up somehow and turned my attention away.

“What exactly happened back there?”

“…”

Vasily remained silent. But I didn’t give up, continuing to press him.

“I don’t believe you acted without a reason, Esper Vasily.”

Looking back, every one of his insane actions had always had some rationale behind it. Even after my regression, the way he obsessively clung to me and refused to give up despite our low matching rate—he’d only done that because he could only receive guiding from me. So there had to be a reason behind his attack on Huaiyan today.

Still, no response came. I was about to give up when Vasily finally broke his long silence.

“…He was looking for Guide Kwon Gidam.”

He muttered it so quietly that it took me a moment to realize it was an answer to my earlier question.

But his reply only deepened my confusion.

“Huh? Why me…?”

“Who knows. Maybe he wants you.”

“…?”

“Consider this a warning—don’t go poking your nose into this.”

As he spoke, the temperature in the car steadily dropped.

Could it be… Huaiyan had shown interest in me back in the conference room, despite not even knowing our matching rate?

Hearing Vasily’s next words, I became certain of it. He had attacked Huaiyan because he feared I might leave him for another esper.

Realizing this, I let out a laugh of disbelief. When I scoffed, Vasily frowned as if to ask what was so funny.

“Were you afraid I’d leave you, Esper Vasily?”

“Didn’t Guide Kwon Gidam once try to flee the country? You looked ready to jump ship and follow another esper overseas the first chance you got.”

Admittedly, the situation might have looked suspicious, but I had no reason whatsoever to follow Huaiyan.

I simply wanted nothing to do with lunatics. And among the S-ranks, not a single one could be considered normal. Vasily was crazy too, but with our contract in place, at least he was manageable. What kind of idiot would follow some other esper they barely knew and suffer for it?

Vasily, of course, had no way of knowing I’d regressed, so there was no way he could understand my reasoning. Unlike me, relieved now that I knew the cause of his actions, Vasily still seemed weighed down by the thought that I might run away.

¹ Changpao (長袍): A traditional Chinese long robe, historically worn by scholars or officials, and still sometimes used in modern fantasy or wuxia settings for martial artists or espers.