# Chapter 53
‘There are many civilians too. Perhaps even more than Espers.’
As Hajin, it was incomprehensible why ordinary people would choose to side with the anti-government faction to the extent of hiding underground like this.
However, what mattered now wasn’t understanding them, but the fact that escape had become more difficult because of them.
‘I guess this is the only way after all.’
After pondering, Hajin finally decided to use Choi Jihyung again.
Regardless of Seo Jihan or whatever, among the Espers around Hajin right now, the easiest one to manipulate was only Choi Jihyung, so he had to use him.
‘For that, I need to get closer to him somehow.’
Choi Jihyung’s disturbing reactions became an issue that had to be set aside for now.
Since all of this needed to be finished before Seo Jihan returned from his mission, Hajin began laying the groundwork starting now.
As Hajin looked around, he pretended to have something to ask and moved closer to Choi Jihyung, bringing his head near.
“There are more people than I expected, but are there no indoor walking paths or gardens? It seems like they would be necessary with so many people here.”
Choi Jihyung felt his entire body heating up and couldn’t answer despite hearing Hajin’s words. More precisely, his lips wouldn’t move.
The low, smooth voice that was nothing short of pleasant reached his ears, and as their arms, which had been barely brushing against each other, stuck together, transmitting his warmth, it felt like his brain had broken.
His face flushed bright red, and as if not wanting to show that flushed face to Hajin, he turned his head the opposite way.
But with that awkward posture, he couldn’t escape Hajin’s eyes.
Hajin wasn’t surprised, as this was the reaction he had anticipated. Rather, it felt like he was teasing a timid young man, which made him feel a little sorry.
“Mr. Choi Jihyung?”
But feeling sorry didn’t mean he would stop. Hajin decided to push just a little more.
With an innocent face, he looked at Choi Jihyung who had turned his gaze away and tilted his head quizzically.
It was embarrassing to act cute like a child at thirty-two, but for the sake of escape, he could do this much easily.
“W-w-well…!”
As expected, Choi Jihyung’s reaction was as anticipated. He was flustered like a prim young master being harassed by street thugs in an alley.
Of course, Hajin had only looked up at him from a slightly closer distance while tilting his head, without actually touching his body.
‘Maybe I should back off now.’
It wasn’t good to push too hard either. Confirming the reddened face that was about to burst, Hajin detached himself and stepped away.
“Hmm, seems I asked a troublesome question. I’m sorry.”
“N-no, it’s not like that…”
Choi Jihyung couldn’t hide his disappointment at the retreating warmth and Hajin’s scent.
His fingers twitched, then as if holding something back, he clenched both hands and kept checking Hajin’s expression. He looked like he was trying to gauge if he had done something wrong.
“No, it’s fine.”
Despite that, Hajin didn’t bother to continue speaking just to reassure him.
The timid Choi Jihyung misunderstood, thinking Hajin was disappointed in him.
Disappointment? Even just imagining it now, tears were about to leak out. That couldn’t happen.
After all the effort it took to get this time with Hajin, he couldn’t let it end with Hajin being disappointed in him.
‘I’ll be scolded if I give too much information… but I’ll be by his side.’
Recalling that while Hajin could move freely within the provided living space, he always needed someone to accompany him when going out, Choi Jihyung rationalized his decision.
He hated being scolded, but the thought that Hajin might be disappointed in him and not seek him out anymore was even more unpleasant and frightening.
Choi Jihyung couldn’t forget the moment he first experienced Hajin’s Guiding. They say you hear bells when you fall in love, and the moment Hajin’s Guiding touched him, he heard those bells.
He had fallen in love. It was only natural that he wanted to grant everything Hajin wished for.
He exclaimed to Hajin:
“W-we have one!”
“Excuse me?”
“An indoor garden, we have one.”
Hajin responded with a surprised face.
“Really? Could I possibly visit it? To be honest, walking only in the corridors is quite stifling. Especially since there are no windows here.”
Hajin lightly grasped Choi Jihyung’s sleeve. Then, looking up at him as if acting cute, he continued:
“I promise I’ll only go with Mr. Choi Jihyung. Would that be alright?”
“Urk!”
‘What’s with that “urk”? I’m the one who should be saying that.’
Hajin struggled to swallow his lament about having to act cute to a grown man who was considerably younger than him.
Choi Jihyung floundered like someone caught off guard. Yet, the sleeve that Hajin held remained still.
He showed the peculiar behavior of keeping that one arm perfectly still while the rest of his body trembled busily.
Seeing that Choi Jihyung still wasn’t giving a clear answer despite going this far, Hajin decided to poke him a bit more.
“I guess it’s difficult after all.”
“No! L-let’s go together!”
Choi Jihyung shook his head vigorously. He was already planning to take Hajin to the garden. But when Hajin pleaded with him, he momentarily forgot to speak.
As soon as Hajin released his sleeve, Choi Jihyung grabbed his hand, as if his nerves were connected to his clothing.
It was a larger hand than expected. Hajin’s eyes widened at the large hand that completely enveloped his own.
Although several weeks had passed since he arrived here, they had been consciously avoiding physical contact with Hajin. Especially after Hajin had used radiative Guiding as a preemptive measure.
‘No, I should think positively.’
The fact that they, who had been so cautious about touching him for fear that Hajin might use Guiding to suppress and manipulate them, were now touching him like this meant they had opened up to him to some extent.
“I’d be grateful if you would.”
“G-grateful…”
Choi Jihyung, who had been grinning happily, suddenly realized he was holding Hajin’s hand and startledly let go.
“Ahh, I-I’m sorry!”
Hajin smiled slightly at that and shook his head. His attitude, which had been either businesslike or wary until now, had changed.
Choi Jihyung pressed his chest firmly, feeling his heart beating too hard at the realization that he had caused this change.
‘It’s faster than I thought, but not bad.’
It wasn’t that the thought of using Guiding on him right there hadn’t crossed his mind. After all, contact Guiding was more effective than radiative Guiding.
If he had used Guiding then, Choi Jihyung would have been putty in his hands.
‘But that would have given me away immediately.’
An Esper’s affection for a Guide couldn’t be hidden, so the news that Choi Jihyung had completely fallen would have been known within a day.
It was just a guess, but he was convinced they were underground. If they were above ground or in the air, they would have simply shown him through windows that he couldn’t easily escape.
He would have preferred that. Then, relying on an Esper’s sturdy physique, he would have grabbed anyone and attempted to escape.
‘Whether above ground or below, escape seems impossible unless through a constructed exit.’
Unless an Esper could withstand the pressure for him, escape had to be extremely cautious.
Seeing Choi Jihyung still flustered even as he was lost in thought, Hajin responded as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“That’s fine. Shall we head back for today? If it’s alright with you, I’d like to visit that garden tomorrow.”
Choi Jihyung stuck close to Hajin as he turned to leave. His face flushed intensely at what sounded almost like a date invitation.
“S-sure.”
* * *
Han Jiwoo was living a busy life. Everyone, everywhere, sought him out, and day by day he became an indispensable presence at the Association.
Even the Espers who had been indifferent now diligently sought out Han Jiwoo, unlike their past reactions.
“Give me some Guiding.”
‘Acting all arrogant when they’d end up coming to me like this anyway.’
Despite speaking nonchalantly, as if his runaway index was on the edge, weariness was evident in his voice.
Glancing at the device attached to his wrist to check the index, Han Jiwoo saw that the numbers, while precarious, suggested the Esper could hold out for another day or so.
‘Hmm, maybe I should establish some authority here.’
It irritated Han Jiwoo to see the Esper holding his head up stiffly and demanding Guiding, showing no gratitude for receiving S-rank Guiding.
‘Does he think I’m still A-rank?’
It seemed like the Esper remembered the old Han Jiwoo who trembled while providing Guiding, so he decided to implant a new memory.
Han Jiwoo feigned an apologetic expression to the Esper who had sat down and extended his hand without even waiting for permission.
“What can I do? I’m sorry, but I’ve been providing too much Guiding these past few days, and I’m feeling dizzy, so it would be difficult for me to provide Guiding right now.”
Indeed, his complexion was paler than usual. Even Han Jiwoo didn’t know why. His body felt fine, but looking in the mirror, his complexion wasn’t good, as if he were somewhat ill.
“What? Can’t you see my index? I’m about to go into runaway!”
As if he hadn’t expected Han Jiwoo to refuse, the Esper became flustered and thrust his wrist, displaying the index, in front of Han Jiwoo’s face.
While it was understandable to be anxious when one had become a time bomb about to explode, Han Jiwoo was not one to overlook such attitude.
“I’m truly sorry, but I’m too exhausted. In this state, the Guiding won’t be effective either, so please wait a few days.”
“A few days? Are you crazy? What if I go into runaway?!”
The Esper burst out in anger at being told to hold on for a few more days while embracing a bomb whose fuse was already lit.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
