# Chapter 86
The employees panicked at the sudden appearance of Hajin and Alpha Team, who had arrived without prior notice. Questions about why they were visiting and why they hadn’t called ahead if they needed something came out simultaneously.
“S-so what brings you here?”
Deputy Manager Ha Sungjin, who had been disciplined and reassigned to the reception desk for failing to immediately report Han Jiwoo’s abnormal condition (thus escalating the situation), stepped forward while nervously swallowing.
He hadn’t volunteered for this. Though his position had been lowered due to the disciplinary action, he would return to his deputy manager role once it ended, which made handling Hajin his responsibility.
‘Damn, I’m only a deputy manager at times like this!’
Ha Sungjin inwardly cursed his junior colleagues who had passed Hajin to him as if it were natural, forcing a smile onto his face.
“You’re smiling?”
“…I apologize.”
It seemed the saying “you can’t spit on a smiling face” no longer applied, as Han Seungho raised an eyebrow and stared intently at Ha Sungjin’s upturned lips.
‘Damn, so I can’t even smile now? Am I just everyone’s punching bag?’
Ha Sungjin silently exploded with complaints while maintaining his smile, but that was all he could do. What else could he do? It was his own fault. He quickly dropped his smile and bowed his head with a guilt-ridden expression.
“Han Seungho-ssi.”
“What? These guys who’ve done nothing are smirking at us.”
Han Seungho pouted at Hajin who was trying to stop him. Of course, Hajin didn’t find these people likable either, but there was nothing to gain from openly showing hostility.
People tend to develop resistance when criticized or scolded, even if they know they’re in the wrong. Even perpetrators can feel this way.
‘Might as well aim for a bigger prize.’
Hajin had a plan for the bigger picture.
“What wrong could these people have done? Besides, isn’t there someone else we should be discussing this with?”
At Hajin’s words, the employees who had been cowering under Alpha Team’s pressure brightened up as if they’d met a savior. Hajin discreetly noted their expressions.
‘This should shift public opinion within the Association in my favor.’
No matter how powerful the Association Chairman was, the damage caused wasn’t small. If public opinion tilted in Hajin’s favor at this point, the Chairman wouldn’t be able to refuse even if Hajin made somewhat unreasonable demands.
“I came to have my Espers examined. Is that possible right away?”
“Of course! For something like that, you don’t even need to call ahead. I’ll guide you immediately. This way.”
Following Ha Sungjin’s lead to the medical ward, the medical staff also hurried out to greet Hajin and Alpha Team. Deputy Manager Ha Sungjin returned to his post, feeling relieved as if he’d passed on a bomb.
However, no one paid attention to his departure. The medical staff had no time for other concerns with Hajin’s appearance, and Alpha Team had never cared about him to begin with.
“Guide Lee Hajin! W-what brings you here?”
The doctor who stepped forward as representative was flustered by their sudden appearance but secretly harbored hope. With Hajin’s safe return, the most urgent issue now was the Espers who couldn’t control their resonance.
The medical staff’s eyes darted around. Seeing that he had brought Espers, it was clearly for his or their examination, but Hajin and Alpha Team had already completed all tests on the day they returned.
That meant it was for a follow-up examination after the treatment through Guiding that had been mentioned then. As they expected, Hajin requested an examination for Alpha Team.
“They’ve already received Guiding, so please check their condition.”
“Yes, yes! Of course. Alpha Team Espers, please follow me this way.”
However, only two people moved at the doctor’s guidance.
Since this was news to Hajin as well, he turned to look at Baek Jaan and Cha Jinwoo who remained beside him, and received an explanation.
“We can’t all leave Hajin-ssi’s side, so we’re planning to be examined two at a time.”
The latter part was directed at the medical staff. It implied they no longer trusted the Association, but this didn’t greatly impact the medical staff who, though Association-affiliated, were primarily medical professionals.
What was important and urgent to them was whether Hajin’s Guiding could eliminate the unidentified drug.
“Yes, that’s fine. The examination takes some time, so please have a seat for now.”
A D-grade Esper guarding the medical ward guided the remaining three people. Originally, the principle was to have B-grade or higher Espers on security duty in the ward due to its importance.
However, currently, all higher-grade Espers who had received Guiding from Han Jiwoo were confined to isolation rooms.
As a result, lower-grade Espers who hadn’t received Han Jiwoo’s attention at the time were now guarding the Association.
This was precisely why the entire Association was placing their hopes on Hajin. If anti-government forces or anti-Esper groups were to attack now, the Association would surely crumble like a sandcastle before the waves.
The medical staff conducted the examinations more seriously than ever before. From blood tests to resonance examinations and ability control experiments—all routine procedures, but they performed them meticulously, taking more than twice the usual time.
After over an hour, the first group returned from their examinations, and the second pair had already been in for more than an hour as well. Nearly three hours had passed in total.
Having only had coffee and light snacks, Hajin suddenly realized that Baek Jaan hadn’t eaten all day. Filled with remorse, he asked Baek Jaan:
“Aren’t you hungry? Should I ask them to get you something?”
When Hajin apologized, saying he hadn’t expected it would take this long, Baek Jaan shook his head.
“I want to eat what hyung makes for me after we hear the results and go home.”
Baek Jaan complained with a hint of aegyo that it was unfair Hajin had cooked while he was asleep.
“You heard about that?”
“The team leader told me.”
At those words, Hajin’s impression of Cha Jinwoo shifted slightly. When he glanced at him, Cha Jinwoo smiled faintly. Hajin had thought he was just a mature person, but he had a somewhat childish side too. And a sly side as well.
“Then let’s go grocery shopping on our way back. Is there anything you’d like to eat?”
At Hajin’s question, Baek Jaan couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Just having this conversation made him happy.
“I’ll like anything hyung makes for me.”
While it sounded sweet, “anything” was actually the most difficult answer for the person doing the cooking.
Hajin asked about Baek Jaan’s taste preferences, dislikes, and food allergies to better accommodate him.
In the end, Baek Jaan was simply happy to have a lengthy conversation with Hajin. Despite his otherworldly appearance, Baek Jaan had very traditional taste in food. Rather than anything fancy, he wanted home-cooked meals prepared by Hajin.
Though Hajin wasn’t sure if it would suit his taste, the preparation itself would be easy. He just needed to cook the way he usually did for himself.
“Hyuuung!”
While Hajin was contemplating what food to make, Han Seungho and Lee Doyoon returned from their examinations. Han Seungho pulled Baek Jaan away from where he was clinging closely to Hajin, and Lee Doyoon took advantage of the gap to slide in, whining about how difficult the examination was while acting cute.
“There were so many tests, it was exhausting.”
“Still, it’s directly related to your health, so they need to be thorough. When did they say the results would be available?”
“They said to wait a little longer.”
Han Seungho answered while not forgetting to pull Lee Doyoon away from Hajin as well. After waiting about five minutes, an elderly doctor approached them.
“So you’re here.”
Hajin stood up abruptly. It felt like a scene from a drama where family members hear about the condition of an ill protagonist.
“How are the results?”
Though he had been fine earlier, seeing the doctor’s flushed face suddenly made him tense. What could the results be to cause such an expression?
Contrary to his worries, the doctor was flushed for a positive reason.
“The examination shows no abnormalities. The drug that couldn’t be eliminated by any means has disappeared due to Guide Lee Hajin’s Guiding!”
The doctor became so excited that Hajin worried he might collapse.
“That’s not all! All of Alpha Team’s unstable resonances have stabilized, and their ability control has improved.”
“I thought it seemed easier to deploy my ability after receiving Guiding from Hajin hyung.”
Han Seungho nodded and muttered to himself. He had felt this sensation since the first time he received Guiding through a kiss with Hajin.
However, he wasn’t particularly happy about it. Or rather, he didn’t like that someone else had discovered this fact.
Especially the Association—wouldn’t they now try to pair Hajin with other Espers? From their perspective, the more powerful Espers, the better.
“With Guide Lee Hajin, we could save all the Espers currently on the verge of rampage.”
While Alpha Team frowned at the doctor’s words, Hajin remained calm. He had already planned to provide Guiding to them regardless. If anything, he felt sorry that they had become innocent victims caught in the crossfire of his resentment.
“I’ll go provide Guiding.”
The doctor’s face brightened at those words.
“I’ll call for people!”
As the doctor eagerly made contact, Han Seungho called out to Hajin as if screaming.
“Hyung!”
It wasn’t just Han Seungho. Alpha Team couldn’t believe it. Mucosal contact Guiding would be necessary, yet Hajin hadn’t refused.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
