After the Universally Hated Guide Leaves the Team

The White Tower has a special unit hailed as the light of humanity, made up of four S-rank sentinels and one S-rank guide. They represent the Federation's greatest fighting force. They are invincible, unstoppable, and responsible for clearing the most dangerous contaminated zones. The Federation grants them lofty status, honor, and power. They are called the heroes of their era and history. Until the unit's only S-rank guide goes missing. The White Tower loses its most valuable strategic asset, and the unit nearly falls apart. After negotiations among all sides, the result is that the bottom, a B-rank guide with the highest overall evaluation in all the various safe zones, is transferred to the special unit. As a replacement, the bottom knows full well that he cannot match an S-rank guide. But he has always admired and looked up to the special unit. He will do everything he can not to hold them back, even if it means putting himself in an exceedingly humble position. Even if they never treat him like a teammate. Even if every mental guidance session leaves him so weak his nose bleeds, only for the next person to ignore it and roughly drag him into their mental landscape. Even if the sentinels always say coldly and with contempt, "A B-rank thinks he can replace him?" The bottom grows increasingly numb and withdrawn, but still mechanically does his share and takes care of his teammates. He must obey the White Tower's orders and keep these top fighters in good combat condition. Three years later. The missing S-rank guide returns to the White Tower. Not only has he miraculously returned unharmed, he's become even more beautiful and powerful. His former teammates have just finished clearing a contaminated zone. They all rush off to welcome his grand return. Alone in the recovery pod, the bottom silently types out his resignation from the unit with aching fingers. - When the four S-rank sentinels find the bottom again, their unsoothed agitation makes them pant heavily like dangerous beasts. They say they'll save him a place in the special unit, then impatiently and eagerly try to pull him into their mental landscapes... The bottom, who never refused them anything, turns down their mental link. He says, "I already have new teammates." * 1v1. The top is not a former teammate. Theme: Put yourself first, then others