Zero Point

#016

Choi Hanseo arrived at the Guiding room an hour and a half past his scheduled time again. He sat on the sofa as if it were natural and extended his hand. At this point, Eunseok reasonably suspected that he was deliberately late to receive contact Guiding.

The numbers that had been brought down from orange to yellow just yesterday were back to orange. As Eunseok took his hand, Choi Hanseo intertwined their fingers deeply as if it were expected. Though Eunseok’s hands weren’t small, Choi Hanseo’s were so large that the size difference in their clasped hands was noticeable.

“What do you think of the 1st Combat Team members?” Choi Hanseo asked, loosening his tie slightly.

“A tanker, two close-range damage dealers, one long-range damage dealer, and a healer. The position balance is very well maintained,” Eunseok replied.

“Have you gotten used to wide-area Guiding?”

“I think it’ll be sufficient for actual combat.”

“Seems like you’re eager to start practical training.”

“You understand well.”

Eunseok responded briefly to Choi Hanseo’s words while focusing on Guiding. Accustomed to perfectly clearing missions, Eunseok felt a surge of determination to bring this man’s numbers down to zero as well.

“Now that I’ve coordinated Guiding with the 1st Combat Team, can I assume we’ll start combat coordination tomorrow?” Eunseok asked.

Choi Hanseo chuckled. “Are you that impatient?”

“Sitting around idly doesn’t suit my personality.”

Eunseok paused briefly before asking, “I heard the 1st Combat Team only enters A-class gates and above. Is five people enough?”

“To be precise, the 1st Combat Team doesn’t enter alone. They go in first to start clearing, then the 4th or 5th Combat Teams waiting follow to collect gate byproducts,” Choi Hanseo explained.

Surprised by this unexpected information, Eunseok looked up at Choi Hanseo’s face.

“The 4th and 5th Combat Teams are also proper teams composed of hunters. Are they assigned such simple tasks?”

Gate byproducts were highly diverse, including monster blood, skin, bones, and flesh; mana stones used as alternative energy sources; various minerals and wood used as materials for weapons and tools; and various natural collectibles with proven effects.

Current humanity thoroughly researches and analyzes all gate byproducts for resource utilization. Eunseok had heard that the value of byproducts from just one C-class gate was easily worth hundreds of millions, so the value of an A-class or higher gate must be astronomical.

However, regardless of their value, collecting byproducts was simple work. Wasn’t it a waste of manpower to assign this to combat teams?

“While they’re labeled as combat teams, the 4th and 5th teams are more like work units composed of lower-rank hunters,” Choi Hanseo explained. “Ordinary human bodies can’t pass through gates, so that’s not even worth discussing. Even though the preceding teams clear out monsters, there are occasional attacks from remaining monsters, so lower-rank hunters who can protect themselves do this job. Byproduct collection itself isn’t easy either.”

“Ah,” Eunseok nodded, easily understanding the unexpectedly kind explanation.

“They’re also high-salary employees. They receive a portion of the income from collected gate byproducts. Of course, they’re also deployed when lower-rank gates open.”

High salaries plus dividends from byproduct income – these were quite good conditions for hunters without significant combat power. Hunters would likely find these terms very attractive.

“I see why White Tiger Guild is considered the top guild in the country. With such treatment, it’s no wonder hunters want to join,” Eunseok genuinely admired. Knowing the circumstances of ordinary soldiers who do all sorts of odd jobs for meager pay, he couldn’t help but be impressed.

“Are you pleased?” Choi Hanseo asked, omitting the subject.

Eunseok felt Choi Hanseo’s interlocked fingers subtly rubbing the back of his hand and gave him an unfriendly look. But Choi Hanseo just smiled slightly, as if asking why Eunseok was looking at him that way.

This guy has a sly side, Eunseok thought to himself before answering, “Yes. At least so far, I’m pleased.”

“That’s good.”

“So, when do we start combat coordination?” Eunseok asked, returning to the main point. He was itching to move, feeling restless just sitting at a desk. He had lived a life of constant struggle and hoped to continue doing so. That’s why he had accepted Choi Hanseo’s offer.

Amused by Eunseok’s persistence, Choi Hanseo smiled faintly.

“Are you free after work today?”

“Why?”

“You said you’re hungry for combat. No matter how skilled you are in special martial arts, you can’t face monsters barehanded. Don’t you need a weapon that suits you?”

Eunseok’s eyes sparkled at Choi Hanseo’s words. Seeing this immediate reaction, Choi Hanseo smiled lightly again. His small smile conveyed a look that found Eunseok cute, like a child anticipating a new toy.

“Of course I’m free,” Eunseok answered happily, glancing at the clock. Only about three minutes remained, and Choi Hanseo’s watch color was green. It was impossible to bring his numbers down to blue in the remaining time.

Is this all the efficiency I can achieve with over 90% matching rate and the same S-class rank? Eunseok felt a bit wounded in his pride. His competitiveness kicked in, and he poured in the maximum amount of Guiding energy through their joined hands. He saw Choi Hanseo’s eyes twitch slightly.

No matter how calm and composed he appears, he still reacts to Guiding. I guess an Esper is still an Esper, Eunseok thought, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction at eliciting even a small reaction from Choi Hanseo. There was a certain fun in provoking him.

Beep-beep-beep. Beep-beep-beep. Beep-beep-beep.

The time-up alert sounded. Eunseok confirmed that Choi Hanseo’s watch showed a light green color before withdrawing his hand.

“Guiding’s over, let’s go quickly,” Eunseok urged, standing up and taking off his gown. As a soldier naturally drawn to weapons, he was eager to see and touch new ones.

“…Cute,” Choi Hanseo muttered softly as he stood up. Eunseok felt a flash of irritation but deliberately pretended not to hear.

***

Unlike Eunseok’s expectation of something similar to a military armory, the space inside the guild building had an atmosphere more like a museum showcasing various weapons.

The weapons, sparsely displayed on red velvet, were diverse in both type and appearance. Even for a soldier, these weapons – longswords, broadswords, and peculiarly shaped implements that seemed more like movie props – evoked a feeling of viewing ancient artifacts.

“Welcome, Guild Master. And this person is…?” A young man, presumably an employee, approached and greeted them. His neat appearance and suit gave off an air similar to a luxury department store employee.

“Lee Eunseok,” Eunseok introduced himself briefly. A flash of admiration crossed the employee’s face.

“Guide Lee Eunseok. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Feeling no need for further conversation, Eunseok nodded lightly. He glanced at Choi Hanseo before picking up weapons one by one, flicking them with his fingers and swinging them around. Regardless of type, they all had excellent balance. These were clearly well-crafted weapons.

“All the weapons here are made from gate byproducts. Naturally, their strength is far superior to Earth minerals, making them sufficient for facing monsters,” the employee explained.

At this explanation, Eunseok observed the longsword in his hand with renewed interest. Knowing it was made from gate minerals and byproducts made it feel exotic and fascinating.

As Eunseok wandered around the weapon display room, handling various items, something caught his eye. Unlike the movie prop-like weapons, he discovered a corner displaying short, practical daggers and knives. Familiar with various firearms and military knives, Eunseok was drawn to them as if entranced.

His mood immediately improved as he surveyed the neatly displayed weapons. Eunseok picked them up one by one, checking their balance, weight, and feel when swung. Each dagger and knife was well-crafted, and with each test, his desire grew.

After picking up and putting down several, he found a knife that felt particularly good in his hand. It had a nice weight and length similar to a military knife. As he threw it in the air, caught it as it spun down, he felt certain: this was the one.

A soft chuckle came from beside him. Turning his head, he saw Choi Hanseo staring at him, his eyes filled with amusement. Realizing that Choi Hanseo had been watching him enthusiastically swinging the knife around, Eunseok felt a bit embarrassed.

Unable to put the knife back, Eunseok looked at the space below where it had been displayed.

Fifty million won.

Made from gate byproducts, indeed – the price was astronomical.

Eunseok’s mind briefly froze. But then he remembered the enormous annual salary written in his contract. With that kind of income, buying this knife wouldn’t be a big deal. Even if it was somewhat burdensome, a weapon was essential for entering gates.

“Is an advance or credit possible?” Eunseok asked Choi Hanseo. Despite the huge salary he would receive, his bank balance was minuscule as he was only on his second day of work.

Choi Hanseo laughed out loud as if he had heard something extremely amusing. His eyes were full of mirth.

“Consider it a gift to commemorate your exclusive contract. Choose whatever you like today,” Choi Hanseo said, still smiling.

Eunseok raised an eyebrow slightly. Saying to choose freely as a gift implied that multiple items were possible.

“Once taken, never returned,” Eunseok immediately declared.

Choi Hanseo nodded, smiling, and gestured to one side. Looking in that direction, Eunseok was surprised to see firearms on display.