# Chapter 54
Seeing an employee running from a distance at the loud noise, Han Jiwoo responded to the Esper while hunching his body.
“I’m struggling too. For weeks, I’ve been handling all the Association’s S-rank Espers by myself. Can’t I even take this much rest?”
“What’s going on here? First, Esper Ju Seongwon, I’d appreciate it if you could step back a bit.”
Used to being treated like a dangerous element and a ticking time bomb, Ju Seongwon frowned but wordlessly stepped back several paces from the two people.
But refusing Guiding was another matter, so even as he backed away, he didn’t stop protesting to the employee.
“My outburst levels are like this, but he says he can’t perform Guiding.”
The employee checked the numbers displayed on the wrist Ju Seongwon held out, grimaced slightly, and asked Han Jiwoo.
“The levels are critical. Would Guiding be difficult?”
It was a much softer tone than the one used with Ju Seongwon. Though he understood the importance of Guides, Ju Seongwon couldn’t help but click his tongue at the obvious difference in treatment right before his eyes.
Despite the employee’s careful request, Han Jiwoo shook his head with a regretful expression.
“I know the levels are dangerous. But I’m too exhausted. Is it so wrong to ask for a little rest because I’m tired from performing too much Guiding?”
Ju Seongwon was dumbfounded. Han Jiwoo had indeed said the same thing earlier. But his attitude when speaking to him versus in front of the Association employee was different.
His complexion might have been a bit pale, but the person who had been demanding rest with a shameless face suddenly changed, making it sound as if Ju Seongwon had forcibly demanded Guiding. He couldn’t help feeling wronged.
However, since Han Jiwoo had said the same thing to him earlier, he couldn’t even argue.
Attitude? That would just be dismissed as Ju Seongwon’s subjective perspective.
Besides, the Association, which openly favored S-rank Guides, was unlikely to listen to him anyway.
“Well, if Guiding is difficult for you, it can’t be helped.”
As expected, the Association employee paid more attention to Han Jiwoo’s words. The discriminatory treatment between Espers and Guides had continued for so long that it wasn’t even particularly unfair anymore.
The employee accepted Han Jiwoo’s explanation and handed something to Ju Seongwon.
“For now, let’s wait until Guide Han Jiwoo’s strength returns.”
It was medicine. Ju Seongwon frowned. All S-rank Espers were familiar with this drug, but they disliked it just as much.
Though they had to take it because it had the effect of lowering outburst levels, even if slightly, they disliked how it made them feel afterward.
After taking the medicine, it felt as if their joints were in pain, like forcibly reducing a height that had already grown.
That’s why Espers had to enter a bunker when lowering their levels with medicine. It was because some occasionally couldn’t endure the pain and released their abilities.
‘I thought I wouldn’t have to take this medicine anymore…’
Ju Seongwon applied pressure to his hand holding the pill, but released tension in his fingertips to avoid crushing the tablet into powder.
He’d thought that with a Guide, he wouldn’t need to take medicine anymore, but that wasn’t the case. The Association was always ready to hand them medicine.
He knew there was no use getting upset. Besides, Han Jiwoo had said he would perform Guiding after taking a few days of rest.
Meanwhile, he’d never even seen this S-rank Guide named Lee Hajin, who was apparently busy managing only the prestigious Alpha Team.
“…Sigh, I’ll wait exactly three days.”
At those words, the employee turned to look at Han Jiwoo. Though he didn’t ask aloud, his eyes were questioning whether three days would be enough.
“Three days… that’s fine.”
Despite the attitude that seemed like Han Jiwoo was doing him a favor, Ju Seongwon couldn’t say anything. He sighed and turned to head to the isolation room.
Both the medicine in his hand and the path to the isolation room were familiar, but somehow the bitterness wouldn’t fade.
‘Hmph. Such a nobody.’
Han Jiwoo inwardly sneered as he watched Ju Seongwon’s retreating figure. This was just the beginning.
Han Jiwoo wasn’t satisfied with merely intimidating one person like Ju Seongwon.
‘I should use this opportunity to properly show them who’s in charge.’
It was to make himself indispensable, but it seemed they thought S-rank Guides weren’t a big deal since he performed Guiding without complaint whenever asked.
‘If only Guiding had remained normal, I wouldn’t have to do these annoying things. Damn Seo Juan. Hope you get caught and die.’
Thinking that if Guiding hadn’t been corrupted, someone like Ju Seongwon wouldn’t have dared to raise his voice, his already bad mood sank even lower.
“Guide Han Jiwoo, your complexion doesn’t look good. How about getting an examination?”
His pale face was helpful in this moment at least. It was just a failure in managing his expression, but the employee misunderstood it as him being sick.
“I’m fine. I’ll be better after resting for a few days.”
Before the employee could insist further, Han Jiwoo excused himself, saying he would go rest. Heading to his new private quarters provided by the Association, he thought.
Han Jiwoo didn’t know why his complexion was pale either, especially since there was nothing wrong with him apart from that.
In the past, as someone who treasured his body, he would have requested an examination even before the employee mentioned it, but now he couldn’t.
‘They said the drug components would be fully absorbed by the body in a week, but I can’t trust that bastard’s words anymore.’
If the components were detected during an examination, everything would be ruined. That couldn’t happen. After all he’d done to reach this position…
If the truth came to light, it wouldn’t end with just disciplinary action or punishment.
‘The deal with Seo Juan would also be revealed…’
That wasn’t all. Alpha Team, which still maintained high loyalty to Hajin possibly from not receiving Guiding a few times, would surely try to kill him.
If they just killed him outright, that would be fortunate. There was a greater possibility they’d make him wish he were dead.
‘That absolutely cannot happen…’
Han Jiwoo swallowed dryly. In case he was discovered, he needed to somehow draw the obsession that the Espers, especially Alpha Team, had towards himself, but that wasn’t easy.
Other Espers frequently used Han Jiwoo’s Guiding, almost to the point of annoyance.
In contrast, Alpha Team, once they received Guiding, tried their best to conserve it, only seeking out Han Jiwoo when absolutely necessary.
As a result, the number of times Alpha Team received Guiding from Han Jiwoo was only about one-fifth compared to other Espers.
‘Damn, if they’d just come to me, I could do something, but these bastards neither give up nor come around.’
Even though he deliberately poured high-quality, large amounts of Guiding into Alpha Team, their attitude didn’t change.
‘Should I just give up on those guys?’
Rather than putting effort into the unmovable Alpha Team, it might be better to use the remaining Guiding to win over other S-rank Espers.
Then, even if Han Jiwoo’s secret was revealed, the Espers would try to protect him.
Alpha Team would try to kill him by any means, but by then, the Association, having assessed the situation, would protect Han Jiwoo.
‘If they charge in ignoring that, they’ll be cast aside. If they comply, it’s welcome for me, so I have nothing to lose.’
Having eliminated the faint remaining anxiety, Han Jiwoo entered his quarters with a much more relaxed attitude.
All that was left was to rest comfortably for three days. After resting for a few days without performing any Guiding, his complexion would return to normal.
That’s what Han Jiwoo thought.
* * *
During his rest, Han Jiwoo did nothing as he had promised himself. He spent his days in complete contrast to how he had previously been the first to arrive and the last to leave work.
“Yaaawn. Expensive things really are better.”
The mattress, incomparably softer and more comfortable than the one in the Guide quarters, had given him such a deep sleep that he hadn’t even dreamed.
Han Jiwoo stretched his arms and headed to the kitchen. He had slept so long that he’d become hungry.
He took out the side dishes that were replenished weekly, scooped some rice, and began what should now be called lunch rather than breakfast.
After finishing, he carelessly put the dishes in the sink and practically lay down on the sofa, mindlessly flipping through channels. He would stop when something looked interesting and just laugh away.
Eating when hungry, sleeping when tired—living such a lazy life that any office worker would envy—his once-pale complexion had somewhat returned to normal.
“I guess I really was tired.”
Since his complexion had improved after resting, if he used the excuse of being tired to rest again, nobody would complain.
Han Jiwoo was satisfied that he could use this excuse a bit more.
Even after becoming the S-rank he had desired, Han Jiwoo couldn’t relax. The response from Espers who received his Guiding was different from what he had expected.
The reaction from Espers, who should have been begging and clinging to him for Guiding, was lukewarm, so he kept pushing himself to solidify his position.
‘But now that I plan to put them in their place, things should get better.’
Though it was out of necessity, Han Jiwoo grumbled about pretending to be nice as he lay on the sofa.
“I just need to rest well for the remaining day.”
If more people sought him out during this time, that would be welcome for him.
It was a moment of pleasant contemplation about how to spend the remaining day when the doorbell rang with a “ding dong.”
Checking the intercom, he saw a familiar Association employee standing anxiously. Something had clearly happened in the past two days.
Han Jiwoo clicked his tongue at his three-day vacation ending after just two days, but he went to his room, satisfied that someone had urgently come looking for him.
Even as he changed into casual clothes, the Association employee kept ringing the doorbell, searching for Han Jiwoo.
“Guide Han Jiwoo! Are you there? It’s an emergency!” As they were about to force the door open, Han Jiwoo had no choice but to open it.
“I’m sorry. I was just changing clothes. What’s the matter?”
“It’s an emergency. Esper Ju Seongwon is on the verge of an outburst. We need to go now.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
