# Chapter 74
People’s expectations for the Association grew as much as their interest in Espers. Everyone was extremely busy with daily visits and inquiries about awakening tests.
People flooded into the Association, more fascinated by the abilities the Espers had shown than afraid of the magical beasts. Even after hiring additional civilian security guards and staff, they were overwhelmed by the daily influx of visitors.
Kwon Haesung, not one to miss a period of nationwide attention and goodwill, began promoting the second-generation secondary awakening tests on a large scale. News of Yumaro’s injury naturally faded into the background.
Even during this busy period, Jaeyoon conducted the scheduled guard aptitude tests.
The guards who saw the questions about personality, ideology, and aptitude thought the obvious test was a waste of time, but still wrote answers they thought the company would want. Among them was Cheonoh, Jaeha’s personal guard.
While the test was conducted as a warning for others, Jaeyoon personally checked Cheonoh’s test paper.
“As expected.”
Unlike the stereotypical standard answers, Cheonoh’s responses contained many that were unsuitable for an Esper guard.
In sample questions about situations where both the guard’s subject and ordinary people were in danger simultaneously, most people gave standard answers about saving the side with more people or the weaker party. However, Cheonoh stubbornly insisted on the duty a guard should fulfill. Whether it was his true feeling or not, it was just like Cheonoh to be so honest with his real thoughts on a test that supervisors could see.
His focus on protecting his subject was almost blind, even when it meant making morally questionable decisions.
‘That’s how he’s different from Kwon Haeil.’
That’s why he was suitable as his brother’s guard. Rather than judging by rational or moral standards, he would protect his designated subject with his life once assigned.
Jaeyoon immediately scheduled Cheonoh for an awakening test. Fortunately, Cheonoh succeeded in awakening during this test. It was worth having Cheonoh take the awakening test even during a busy time when preparations for the second-generation secondary awakening tests were underway.
“This is strange…”
Jaeyoon had expected Cheonoh’s rank to be D-class, with a physical enhancement ability. However, the registered level was E-class. The ability was only recorded as increased strength. Feeling suspicious, Jaeyoon sought out Cheonoh despite his busy schedule.
Among the many guards training in the training room, Cheonoh stood out. Being more diligent than anyone else and pushing himself to his limits, he didn’t know when to rest. Though Jaeyoon’s appearance drew attention, he ignored it and went straight to Cheonoh.
“Guard Cheonoh. No, I should call you Esper now.”
“I’m embarrassed. Guard is enough, Esper Seo Jaeyoon.”
“I came because your test results seem strange. I’d like to conduct additional tests if you have time?”
“I have time, but… I don’t think it will change.”
Cheonoh had done his best during the test, as he always did. Even at E-class, his physical strength and power had doubled from before, which could help with his guard duties. Jaeyoon wanted to retest even more after seeing Cheonoh’s honest response, satisfied just with having awakened.
At Jaeyoon’s suggestion, Cheonoh visited the training room. The training room could use VR and holograms. Since it could recreate situations close to reality, they conducted additional tests there.
“Esper Cheonoh, please treat this as a real situation.”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s begin.”
Jaeyoon skillfully operated the program to create a real evacuation training scenario.
Overlaying holograms of magical beasts on dummies and wearing VR equipment made it quite realistic. It was designed to make one draw out their abilities to respond appropriately to given situations.
Cheonoh did his best, but the ability he showed was merely increased strength. Only his destructive power increased, showing a different quality from the physical enhancement he should have possessed.
“Now let’s try protecting civilians.”
When Jaeyoon directly inputted character data, civilians were overlaid onto other dummies. Cheonoh skillfully and respectfully moved them to a safe place. As he was rescuing several people, an unexpected figure appeared before him.
It was a hologram of Seo Jaeha, a character that Cheonoh would definitely react to.
The data implementation was so excellent that even Jaeyoon, who had inputted the data, paused momentarily. The image of Jaeha sitting on the floor wearing a loose sweatshirt was so realistic that even Jaeyoon’s fingertips twitched.
Cheonoh approached Jaeha without hesitation this time as well, trying to help him up. Jaeyoon hesitated briefly before calling up magical beast data. Even when a Red Mantis suddenly appeared in the alley-like setting, Cheonoh stood in front of Jaeha.
“Please get away.”
Focused on the situation, Cheonoh attempted to talk to the dummy that would obviously not respond. That’s how concentrated he was.
Cheonoh’s graph fluctuated noticeably as he blocked the blade-like forelegs of the Red Mantis. Jaeha didn’t move. Cheonoh recognized that the sitting Jaeha was in an injured state.
Although knowing this wasn’t reality, Cheonoh desperately blocked the attack since it was training for real situations. Without any weapons, he tried to help Jaeha up while blocking the mantis until his arms were in tatters. He didn’t back down even though he would feel the impact, although he wouldn’t actually be injured.
Seeing Jaeha unable to move, Cheonoh threw himself forward to push back the mantis. In that short moment, the graph showing Cheonoh’s mana waves fluctuated greatly, and his level visibly increased.
“So this was the key to Cheonoh’s reawakening.”
Cheonoh was surprised when the dummy he had been struggling against suddenly flew back as he drew his power to the limit.
Although it was a late awakening, Jaeyoon was satisfied because it had happened as he wanted.
* * *
Flipping through TV channels like playing hot potato became boring after just one day. Being alone in the dormitory, his embarrassment faded and boredom set in.
It was strange that the Espers, who wouldn’t normally leave him alone, weren’t coming to the dormitory, but just watching TV gave him an idea of how busy they must be. In a situation where most reactions were favorable, there were also absurd claims that someone should be held responsible.
“Those people just talk carelessly from their safe corners, really.”
He wanted to encourage them not to worry, but it was awkward to contact them when everyone was busy. Opening the door in frustration, he found Cheonoh bowing his head, having been standing guard for who knows how long.
“Hello.”
“Oh? Mr. Cheonoh?”
Jaeha was glad to see Cheonoh, who somehow seemed like he hadn’t seen him for a long time. The presence of guards had become meaningless with Espers coming and going alternately. Seeing Cheonoh guarding the door again after naturally stepping back made Jaeha feel reassured beyond just his usefulness.
Cheonoh, whom Jaeha met again after a few days, somehow looked more solid. When Jaeha tilted his head and rolled his eyes, the usually expressionless Cheonoh showed an awkward smile.
“Why… are you looking at me like that?”
“Have you been working out? Your body seems much more solid.”
Though he hadn’t particularly been examining a man’s body, it looked noticeably different, so he asked. Cheonoh lowered his head with a shy smile.
“Thank you for noticing. I’ve awakened as a D-class physical enhancement type.”
“Really? Wow, congratulations.”
“No. It’s all thanks to you, Mr. Seo Jaeha.”
“What did I do? It’s all your ability.”
When Jaeha lightly replied, thinking Cheonoh was just being polite, a serious response came back.
“No. I became stronger to protect you.”
As he had always been, Cheonoh was blindly focused on protecting Jaeha. Unaware of his guilt and sense of responsibility toward Jaeha, whom he couldn’t protect on the day of the great catastrophe, Cheonoh still maintained his earnestness.
At Cheonoh’s heavy words, Jaeha rolled his eyes and lightly clapped his hands.
“Oh, then shouldn’t you be going for education? Being an Esper is better than being a guard, right?”
Having studied a bit, Jaeha felt it was a waste for someone of his rank to be just a guard. But Cheonoh waved his hands as if it wasn’t even worth considering.
“No. I prefer protecting you, Mr. Seo Jaeha.”
Seeing something that somehow resembled Haeil’s seriousness, Jaeha didn’t ask further. He had experienced many times that this type of person wouldn’t back down once they made up their mind.
“Then would you like to have a meal together? It will take some time since I need to start cooking now.”
“No. I’ll guard you from here. Please continue as usual.”
“Oh… okay.”
It was an awkward relationship with Cheonoh, who cared for him but didn’t get any closer.
Back in his room, Jaeha fell into thought again. After performing secondary guiding, facing Jaeyoon would be embarrassing, but he still wanted to make sure he ate.
Since he had to make something anyway, Jaeha started raiding the refrigerator. He made fried rice with leftover rice and vegetables, and used frozen seafood to create something similar to jjamppong broth. Having habitually made more than five servings, Jaeha set aside one portion each and sent a text message.
Thinking that daily life would return to normal soon, Jaeha didn’t resist the drowsiness that came over him.
Initially, it was Jaeha who avoided his brother out of embarrassment. But when his brother didn’t actually appear, he felt confused. Hiding in his room after cooking meals could only be done once or twice, but because Jaeyoon never showed up, Jaeha now waited confidently in the living room, but his brother still never appeared.
“I save a drowning man, and now he avoids me?”
Wanting to accuse him, Jaeha rolled up his sleeves. He took out kimchi brought from the employee cafeteria and stored canned tuna, letting the aroma spread.
“Wow… I can’t just leave with this delicious smell, Sunbae.”
When he boiled kimchi stew until it bubbled, letting the aroma waft gently, Kyun Jiho was enticed.
“Sunbae, you’re really skilled. I usually don’t eat breakfast, but you’ve lured me in like this.”
“No, I didn’t make this to catch you.”
As he was about to serve a bowl, Jiho came up behind him and hugged him from behind. When skin touched his neck or arms, naturally continuing the guiding, Jiho pulled him even more strongly.
“Ugh, why are you being so clingy?”
“I feel disappointed.”
“About what?”
“I wanted to have Sunbae’s first kiss.”
It was a statement that made Jaeha want to hit that shameless face with the ladle in his hand.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
