# Chapter 87
Of course, Hajin knew well that they could die if he didn’t do it. The problem was that while his head understood, his heart couldn’t keep up.
No matter how poor their relationship was, it wouldn’t be to the point of wishing they’d die from going out of control. Even Beta Team, who growled whenever they met, wouldn’t go that far.
But when he thought about how they would discover how soft Hajin’s lips were, how ecstatic the moment when his tongue touched theirs and Guiding spread through them, he wanted to beg Hajin not to do it.
Hajin interpreted these sticky, gloomy feelings as simple jealousy. Even for Hajin, no matter how accustomed he had become, how could he feel good about taking turns kissing people whose faces he barely knew?
“There’s no other way, is there? We’re talking about people dying…”
But Hajin had already delayed too long. Moreover, if there were another solution, it would be different, but when he was the only one who could solve this, it wasn’t in his nature to avoid it.
Despite this persuasion, Han Seungho still hung his head low with a face that said he didn’t like it. And the other three were the same, unable to easily nod in agreement with Hajin’s decision.
Seeing this, Hajin let out a small sigh. However, the meaning of the sigh was about how to explain so that they would accept it, and definitely not because he was angry. But Alpha Team, thinking Hajin was upset, hurriedly changed their tone to accommodate his mood.
“No, please do as you wish, Hajin.”
“I’m sorry, hyung…”
Although Baek Jaan and Han Seungho still didn’t open their mouths, they were also watching Hajin’s reaction.
“Huh? No, wait.”
Sensing that a misunderstanding had occurred, Hajin moved to clear it up.
“I’m not angry. I was just wondering how to persuade you all.”
“Really…?”
Lee Doyoon asked, looking up pitifully like a frightened child. Hajin nodded firmly.
“Of course.”
After answering resolutely, Hajin continued with a slightly embarrassed tone.
“So, could you please just let it go this time…? It’s nothing more than artificial respiration without any emotion attached…”
At the hesitant voice, Lee Doyoon asked with wide, round eyes.
“Does that… mean we can assume there are emotions with us?”
To be honest, even as he asked this, Lee Doyoon thought Hajin would just show a surprised reaction. No matter how much Hajin cared for them, the weight of emotions couldn’t be the same.
So he thought those words came out unconsciously, and if that was the case, it meant they were in his subconscious, which was fine either way. But Hajin’s reaction was different from what he had expected.
As soon as the question ended, not only Hajin’s face but also his neck quickly turned red, and he covered his face with one hand as if to say, “Don’t look at me.”
“Huh? What?”
At this reaction, not only Lee Doyoon but all those watching were taken aback. Hajin opened his mouth while still covering his face.
“…Isn’t it natural that there are emotions?”
Witnessing a scene that proved Hajin cared about them more than they had thought, everyone was at a loss for words.
Even if the genie of the lamp appeared and handed them the rarest treasure in the world, it wouldn’t feel as good as this.
With their brains seemingly frozen from the shock, Alpha Team remained silent, while Hajin, feeling like he might die from embarrassment, urged them to answer.
“So, will you let it go this time or not?”
Though he grumbled out of shyness, his tone didn’t matter.
“Hajin, ahem, do as you wish, Hajin.”
Cha Jinwoo was the first to come to his senses, but even he stumbled over his words for a moment. Though embarrassed from revealing his honest feelings, Hajin had at least managed to get Alpha Team’s consent.
“Then I’ll start Guiding as early as tomorrow.”
As Hajin, whose face was still red, tried to return to his room immediately, Han Seungho urgently grabbed him.
“Wait! But go with us.”
Though they had agreed to the Guiding matter, they couldn’t send Hajin alone to Espers who would be full of ulterior motives.
As Han Seungho bulged his eyes as if he absolutely wouldn’t back down, the other three also nodded in agreement.
“That’s fine. We’d be uneasy sending Hajin alone.”
Hajin understood their feelings. Even he didn’t trust himself, so why would they be any different? But what concerned him was whether they could calmly watch him Guiding other Espers.
Though their relationship wasn’t defined as lovers, he knew well that their affection surpassed that relationship. So Hajin wasn’t comfortable either.
“…Will that be okay?”
There was no need to ask what would be okay; they could all understand. They nodded with faces that were not at all okay.
“It’s better than hyung going alone.”
“If it makes you feel comfortable, that’s fine, but let’s just have one person go with you.”
Then, just after they had unanimously given their opinion, they immediately changed their stance and began claiming they should be the one to go. In the face of the heated argument with no concessions, Hajin finally suggested rock-paper-scissors, and a winner was determined.
Lee Doyoon, who held up his clenched fist towards the sky, fluttered over to Hajin’s side.
Those who missed the opportunity looked displeased, but since Hajin was the one who suggested the method, they had to quietly accept it.
“Hyung! I won!”
“Congratulations.”
As Hajin gave a light round of applause, Lee Doyoon’s smile brightened even more. This made Hajin think, “He’s still such a kid.”
With the accompanying person decided, Hajin tried to move quickly. The others were looking at him with faces that seemed as if they had been abandoned, so it seemed better to quickly get it over with and return.
“Then we’ll be going.”
“…You’ll come back, right?”
Baek Jaan anxiously held onto Hajin’s sleeve. Hajin smiled slightly, as if hearing the oddest thing.
“With Mr. Lee Doyoon coming along, what is there to worry about?”
“I wanted to go with you…”
Only then did Baek Jaan release the sleeve he had been holding, feeling regretful. Though Baek Jaan’s handprint remained, Hajin didn’t bother to fix it. Instead, he was busy leaving words of instruction for Baek Jaan, who had skipped meals because of him.
“I was going to prepare a meal, but it looks like I’ll be late. I’ll do it next time, so please don’t think about going hungry and make sure to eat.”
Baek Jaan, who had planned to wait without eating until Hajin returned, slumped his shoulders even more at those words. Though he looked at Hajin pitifully, Hajin was firm. How long did he think it would take for him to wait?
“You must eat. Not just Mr. Baek Jaan, but everyone else too.”
“Understood.”
As Hajin heard Cha Jinwoo answer on behalf of everyone, he approached Deputy Manager Ha Sungjin, who was running towards them as if his feet were on fire.
“Please tell me who the most urgent cases are.”
* * *
“The Research Department has hastily created a new suppressant, but it essentially only prevents the ability from manifesting; it’s virtually the same as a state of going out of control. So it’s best to first calm the Esper with Radiative Guiding, then proceed with Mucosal Guiding.”
After arriving where the out-of-control Esper was, Deputy Manager Ha Sungjin continued to recite precautions without stopping, even as he led Hajin to where the isolation cells were located. Hajin etched these precautions into his mind.
“Huff, this is it. When you open the door, you won’t immediately be there; you’ll need to walk through a corridor to reach the isolation cell.”
Ha Sungjin handed over a bag he had been carrying all along.
“Inside are a wavelength measurement device and a blood collection device jointly created by the Research and Medical Departments. If you prick your fingertip to draw blood and test it, you can determine whether there are any drugs remaining in the body. Of course, detailed examinations will be needed later.”
“I understand.”
After quickly and concisely learning how to use them, Hajin took the bag and placed his hand on the large doorknob. As Hajin forcefully opened it and entered, Ha Sungjin’s caution was heard from behind.
“The safety of Guide Lee Hajin is the top priority above all else. Please be careful and don’t let your guard down even after completing the Guiding.”
“Can I finally say hello too?”
Lee Doyoon’s face was displeased as Ha Sungjin had said all the cautionary words he had planned to say.
As Lee Doyoon interjected, Ha Sungjin slightly moved aside and distanced himself. Lee Doyoon, without anyone’s interference, took Hajin’s hand and embraced him freely as he cautioned:
“If the bastard inside tries to pounce on you, put him to sleep with Guiding and tell me. I’ll kill—I mean, I’ll deal with him.”
‘As if “dealing with” is any different from what you almost said, and you’re proud of the change?’
However, instead of scolding him, Hajin patted Lee Doyoon’s head gently and opened the door.
Boom—
As Hajin entered, the thick iron door closed with a heavy sound. Hajin walked along the narrow passage where only one person could pass. Walking towards the isolation cell designed for those potentially going out of control, he wondered how the Espers felt when walking through this corridor.
If he dared to guess, they must have felt very lonely.
Alpha Team before meeting Hajin would have walked this corridor too. Since they said they hadn’t had a matching Guide until then, this path would have been familiar to them.
‘I won’t let them enter such a place again.’
Hajin moved quickly. The corridor was quite long. Standing at the door that he finally reached, looking back, the entrance he had come through was no longer visible.
“…”
Looking forward again, Hajin opened the closed door without hesitation. And simultaneously, he quickly spread Radiative Guiding. Fully enough to fill the space, but adjusting the concentration so the Esper wouldn’t fall asleep.
At that, the Esper who had been curled up in a corner, moaning like a beast in agony, grew quiet.
The movement stopped, and the Esper, face down on the floor, breathed heavily like someone who had just completed a marathon at full speed.
“Huff, G-Guide…?”
It was pitiful to see him struggling to look towards where Hajin was, unable to open his eyes properly and having a hard time. Hajin took out the wavelength measurement device and didn’t stop the Radiative Guiding until the readings dropped to a certain level.
When the wavelength stabilized somewhat and the Esper was also able to raise his body, Hajin spoke.
“You’ve been through a lot. I’m going to perform Guiding now, so please stay still.”
After confirming that the Esper nodded, Hajin approached him with large strides. Casually holding the Esper’s cheeks, which were damp with cold sweat, Hajin didn’t hesitate to move in and kiss him.
Though he was sorry to the Esper who had expectations, Hajin needed to finish the Guiding and return as quickly as possible, so he parted the lips and pushed his tongue in.
“Huff!”
As their tongues touched slightly and Guiding of a completely different quality from Radiative Guiding entered, the Esper momentarily became excited and embraced Hajin.
However, Hajin, who had anticipated such a reaction, forcefully pushed in his Guiding, and the Esper who had been holding him tightly fell asleep instantly.
After carefully laying down the heavy weight on the floor, Hajin stood up with a sigh. Since he couldn’t drag the sleeping person, he had to go outside and tell someone to take care of the Esper.
‘This is less efficient than I thought.’
Hajin casually thought something that would make others faint if they heard it. But he was serious. There were at least 15 S-rank Espers left who needed treatment, excluding Alpha Team and the one he had just treated.
Moreover, since there were also those among the A-rank who had received Guiding from Han Jiwoo, he didn’t know how many more remained.
‘…I’ll first find the most urgent cases.’
He would have liked to gather them all in one space, put them to sleep with Radiative Guiding, and then treat them like giving artificial respiration, but that would be impossible for those who had begun showing signs of going out of control or were already in that state.
Hajin quickened his steps slightly. When he opened the door to the outside, walking as if running, it was already crowded with staff who had arrived.
He had needed someone to take care of the sleeping Esper, so this was fortunate. Without stopping his steps to move to another location, Hajin instructed a nearby staff member.
“The Guiding went smoothly, and he’s asleep now, so please take him away.”
“Yes!”
Staff members went inside with a stretcher. Hajin nodded to Ha Sungjin. Lee Doyoon had already stuck close to Hajin long before he could even be gathered.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
