# Chapter 46
His voice was so normal that it was hard to believe he’d been keeping his mouth shut for over a week when he questioned Han Seungho.
“I know too. That there’s something about that bastard. That we shouldn’t receive his guiding.”
Baek Jaan, who was so associated with Hajin that he lived with the modifier “psycho,” was acting like a madman.
But at this moment, Baek Jaan looked more normal than anyone. Rather, Han Seungho could tell that he had completely lost his mind.
“But if we don’t, we can’t go look for Hyung Hajin. I don’t care. Even if I die after receiving his guiding, I’ll take it if it means I can lower my runaway value and go look for Hyung Hajin again.”
At those words, Han Seungho’s shoulders slumped as if his strength had left him. Baek Jaan was right. In the end, they had no choice. He was just throwing a tantrum because he didn’t want to accept that fact.
Lee Doyoon also roughly shook his head but didn’t voice any further objections. They continued walking without saying anything more. Their steps were heavy.
As they headed to the place the Association Chairman had mentioned, Han Jiwoo, who had been waiting, greeted them with a gentle smile.
When no one returned his greeting, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly for a moment, but he didn’t give up and continued to speak.
“Um, I look forward to working with you.”
But when even that was ignored, Han Jiwoo stopped talking and quietly closed his mouth.
When he heard people watching from around them whispering that the Alpha Team was being too harsh, Han Jiwoo lowered his head. He was afraid he might end up smiling otherwise.
‘Being S-class really is good after all.’
Though he knew the atmosphere was turning favorable toward him, Cha Jinwoo didn’t show any particular attitude. He, along with everyone else, just wanted to receive the guiding and go look for Hajin rather than waste time on pointless conflict.
“Since we don’t have time, let’s start right away.”
“Wait a moment.”
It was Han Seungho. Had he not accepted it after all? When he received Cha Jinwoo’s gaze, Han Seungho shook his head as if to say that wasn’t the case.
“You’ve confirmed there are no problems with the guiding, right?”
Surely they could at least check if it was safe before proceeding with the guiding.
One of the researchers stationed around them answered Han Seungho’s question.
“Of course. We’ve actually confirmed that the guiding efficiency has increased, so you can rest assured.”
Even with confirmation, the strange uneasiness didn’t disappear. But since he had already decided to receive the guiding, there was no need to hesitate.
Han Seungho, who had shown suspicion, was the first to extend his hand.
When Han Jiwoo took his hand, for a moment Han Seungho felt an impulse to pull away, but he endured, thinking of Hajin. The guiding flowed in from where their hands met.
Alpha Team, including Han Seungho, hadn’t sought out Han Jiwoo even before meeting Hajin.
It was because they didn’t feel the need to receive guiding that wasn’t particularly effective for other S-class Espers either.
They had sought him out just once when Han Jiwoo said he could guide S-class Espers.
But after experiencing guiding that was no different from dropping water with an eyedropper onto parched earth, they had removed Han Jiwoo as an option.
Rather than regularly visiting the Association to receive guiding with minimal effect, it was better to manage with medication.
But the guiding from Han Jiwoo, now an S-class, was different from before. It showed clear effects worthy of the S-class name. Han Seungho could visibly see his heightened senses calming down and his runaway value decreasing.
But that was it.
There was none of the feeling he had when receiving guiding from Hajin. There was no pleasure like his body being gently enveloped, like a burning thirst being quenched.
Just, the value went down. That was the extent of his impression.
Was Hajin special, or was Han Jiwoo lacking? A small question formed in Han Seungho’s mind, but soon he thought it didn’t matter either way. What did it have to do with him?
Once Han Seungho confirmed his value had decreased, he released Han Jiwoo’s hand without any lingering attachment.
The remaining three people who followed also released Han Jiwoo’s hand as soon as their values decreased, without any particular impression or reluctance.
‘Why are they reacting like that?’
Han Jiwoo couldn’t help but be bewildered. The reaction he had expected didn’t appear.
He already knew well how Espers react when they receive guiding that matches their wavelength well.
‘Judging by how quickly the values are decreasing, the matching rate isn’t low, so why…?’
Han Jiwoo was confused by their reactions, as if they had merely shaken hands with a stranger, but he tried to comfort himself. Although the expected reaction didn’t appear, as long as Hajin didn’t return, the future he envisioned wouldn’t change.
Without Hajin, Han Jiwoo would be the only S-class Guide in the Association, and eventually, even those who were now stiff-necked would have no choice but to bow their heads to him.
The Association clearly wouldn’t care as long as Han Jiwoo could guide them.
‘Right. Nothing changes.’
Han Jiwoo clenched his fist to hide his slightly trembling fingertips.
* * *
It was boring.
He had been in the room for a week already. Even though Hajin was a homebody, it was frustrating to be confined to a single room against his will.
‘There comes a day when I don’t want to read books anymore.’
Even those books he loved so much, after reading them all week, he couldn’t bear to look at them anymore and let them drop from his hands.
He wanted to go out. But he didn’t want to face them and have conversations with them. However…
As if his self had split in two, Hajin was torn between two choices, but eventually, unable to bear the frustration, he opened the door himself and went out.
Sitting on the bed for too long had started to make his back hurt, which definitely helped him choose the latter option.
“Huh? Why? Do you need something?”
The puppy-like man who was watching TV in the living room spotted Hajin and scurried over.
During this time, Hajin had been holed up in his room, asking for necessities like water and meals to be placed in front of his door. The man now seemed quite accustomed to running errands for Hajin.
‘It’s like making a child run errands for me.’
Although they were actually kidnappers, when the man acted so guileless, Hajin couldn’t help feeling like he was being a mean adult.
‘This is why I didn’t want to see their faces.’
Hajin was wary of Stockholm syndrome. Even if he consciously knew they were criminals, becoming accustomed to them wasn’t something he could control.
Thinking he should call someone else instead of the puppy now, Hajin spoke.
“Where did everyone else go?”
“Looking for other guys when I’m right in front of you?”
‘Hmm. This guy isn’t normal either.’
Seeing the puppy rolling his bloodshot eyes at the sight of Hajin looking for others, Hajin lowered his guard somewhat against the Stockholm syndrome he had been worried about.
With a face that looked like one should avoid eye contact if passing by on the street, this behavior was nothing short of terrifying, but Hajin was no ordinary person.
‘Besides, as long as he’s an Esper and I’m a Guide, there’s nothing to fear…’
No, that wasn’t right. Espers could do unpredictable things when they lost control.
Of course, they wouldn’t hurt or hit Hajin, but those “unpredictable things” didn’t necessarily fall under the category of violence, so Hajin raised his guard again.
“If there’s no one else, you’ll do. I have something to ask.”
“Yes? What is it?”
At the words that he would do, the puppy’s eyes returned to normal, and his face became gentle again. Though his appearance wasn’t gentle at all.
Disgusted by this quick change in demeanor, Hajin hid his true feelings and asked.
“Would it be possible to go outside the house?”
“Outside?”
As the puppy frowned reflexively, Hajin continued.
“You wouldn’t let me go alone anyway, right? You can come along. I’m just bored being cooped up. I’d like to take a walk or something.”
“Hmm…”
Since Hajin wasn’t insisting on going alone, the puppy seemed to consider it, stroking his chin.
“It would be fine if you went with me, but… we still can’t go outside.”
“I see.”
It seems they don’t have an artificial compound like the Association.
Hajin picked up the information the puppy had let slip. He had thought this space itself was a house, but it seemed to be a space created within the anti-government forces’ headquarters.
‘I should look around first.’
He didn’t have any grand plans. But now that he was too bored to even sit still, if he was going out, it would be helpful to learn something.
“Then shall we go now?”
“Now? Would Seo Juan allow it?”
Hajin had said this without much thought, simply assuming Seo Juan seemed like the leader of this team, but it apparently scratched the puppy’s pride, as he yelled out.
“Why would I need that bastard’s permission?! I don’t need anything like that! You can just go out.”
Though Hajin was surprised by the puppy who had taken the bait without him even trying to set one, he didn’t refuse and got dressed.
Following behind the puppy who proudly opened the door, a more spacious interior spread out, as expected.
‘And there are more people than I thought.’
Even if he memorized all the routes, he realized it would be impossible to escape secretly. Without any lingering attachment, Hajin discarded his escape plan and looked around, ignoring the stares pouring his way.
‘The structure seems peculiar…’
It looked different from ordinary buildings. There were doors installed throughout the corridor, which resembled a single large tunnel.
He thought there might be spaces similar to where he had been staying. Then one thought occurred to him.
‘It’s like an ant colony.’
The fact that the outside wasn’t visible at all, and that there were doors everywhere stemming from one main passage, reminded him of an ant colony.
Hajin thought that he might be underground.
A wrinkle formed on his fine brow. Underground.
Though it wasn’t certain, if it was indeed underground, it would take more time than expected for Hajin to be rescued.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
