# Chapter 37
“They say the shop owner used to be a pastry chef at a famous hotel.”
“Why would someone like that come all the way here to open a shop?”
This was something Hajin had been curious about. Even if this was where all of Korea’s Espers and Guides lived, the population couldn’t compare to that of a major city.
How could so many shops survive despite the lack of customers?
Jiwoo resolved Hajin’s question.
“The Association provides a lot of financial support. Espers and Guides do spend their own money to eat out, but the Association gives an incomparably larger sum every month. That’s why many people are eager to open shops in this neighborhood, making the competition fierce.”
Hajin hadn’t known things worked that way. It certainly explained why the standards of the shops were so high if such competition existed.
“Does that mean all the shops here are good?”
“Ah.”
Jiwoo closed his mouth at Hajin’s question. After gauging Hajin’s reaction, he cautiously opened his mouth again.
“I’m sorry… I just wanted to become closer to you somehow…”
“It’s fine. It’s not like you had bad intentions.”
Hajin wasn’t particularly angry since he hadn’t suffered any harm from Jiwoo’s little lie, and he had only done it to become friendly.
Jiwoo’s expression brightened again, seemingly relieved by Hajin’s nonchalant response.
“Hehe, that’s a relief.”
After finishing their meal, the two left the shop and walked a bit before parting ways.
“I’ll head this way then. Thank you for treating me to something delicious today, hyung.”
“Sure. See you next time.”
As Hajin nodded slightly and turned away, Jiwoo’s gaze lingered on his back for just a moment.
* * *
Returning to his quarters, Jiwoo clenched his fist tightly to control his excitement. With the thought that he was so close to his goal, he needed to calm the rush of impatience and excitement.
‘Don’t be hasty. You need to be careful until the very end.’
“Hoo…”
Despite his continuous deep breathing to calm himself, his fingertips still trembled with excitement at the fact that he was just one step away from his goal.
How could he not be excited? Just a little more of this act and it would all be over.
Jiwoo gritted his teeth. What had happened as soon as Hajin appeared and rumors about his abilities spread?
He couldn’t forget how those who had clung to him before gradually distanced themselves, treating him like a kite with a broken string, and even subtly dismissing him.
Only because Hajin was reluctant to interact with others, Jiwoo had seen multiple times how those who used to hover around him, trying to get into his good graces, now did the same around Hajin.
Not only that, when Jiwoo had deliberately isolated himself to deceive Hajin and everyone else at the Association, hadn’t they mocked and ridiculed his newfound docility?
But now, even that was coming to an end.
Jiwoo took out the vial he had never let out of his possession. He opened the lid—which he hadn’t touched except when first receiving it for verification—and took out the pill.
This small pill, looking no different from ordinary medication, would enable Jiwoo to achieve what he wanted.
Jiwoo closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. An 80 percent success rate. A high probability, but perhaps low when betting one’s life on it.
Nevertheless, Jiwoo staked everything on that probability. Rather than living like this, he preferred to take the risk. Jiwoo’s pupils glinted with a strange desire.
Without hesitation, Jiwoo swallowed the pill with water and lay down on the bed, ignoring his loudly pounding heart.
According to Juan, taking the drug would cause pain.
“Ugh…! Kku, ugh! Urgh!”
As soon as the thought finished, pain struck, causing Jiwoo to gasp and choke with his mouth open. It was so excruciating that he could barely even scream.
Would it hurt this much if every bone in his body was breaking? Jiwoo writhed in agony, feeling as if every joint in his body was shattering.
Even amidst this, thinking he shouldn’t be discovered, he pulled the blanket over and stuffed it into his mouth, despite being barely conscious.
The belated scream was muffled by the blanket. Despite it being broad daylight, a faint, beast-like groan of pain echoed in the dark room.
How long did he suffer like this?
After what felt like an eternity to Jiwoo, the pain subsided. However, he still twitched and suffered from the phantom pain that remained.
“Kheuk, you bastard…”
Juan’s voice, saying it would hurt a bit, buzzed in Jiwoo’s ear. How could this be considered just “a bit” painful?
Those who died from taking the drug probably didn’t die from its toxicity but from the shock of the unbearable pain.
Jiwoo slowly got up as the pain diminished. Looking at the time, he couldn’t believe only ten minutes had passed.
Drenched in cold sweat during that short period, Jiwoo ignored his spinning vision and tried to move his Guiding.
“Ha, haha.”
The total amount, which had never increased no matter what he tried, had doubled. This time, Jiwoo had to raise his hand to suppress uncontrollable laughter.
His body trembled with an exhilaration he had never experienced before.
Even without a formal test, he instinctively knew he had become S-class.
Now there was only one thing left to do.
Lifting his head from its bowed position where he had been suppressing his laughter, Jiwoo’s eyes gleamed dangerously.
* * *
Though he wanted to execute the plan immediately, he knew he couldn’t.
Jiwoo soothed his impatient heart. It would take three days for the drug’s effects to be completely eliminated from his body.
Just three days. He only needed to endure that time. Exhaling deeply, Jiwoo approached Hajin, who was visible from a distance.
Stretching his face, which wanted to scrunch up, Jiwoo greeted him, thinking Hajin looked foolish for smiling back.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Pardon?”
Jiwoo, who had been making small talk, twitched his eyebrow. Though he knew it was impossible for his condition to be detected, his heart sank momentarily, wondering if he had been discovered.
“Your face looks pale. Are you sick?”
Jiwoo tensed up as Hajin noticed his condition, which no one else had detected. Though there was no need to be nervous, perhaps because his goal was so close, his emotions were difficult to control.
“I’m, I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep well.”
“That’s good, if that’s all it is.”
Despite saying this, Hajin scrutinized Jiwoo’s face as if he didn’t quite believe him.
The observant gaze studying him with that immaculate face made Jiwoo’s stomach churn.
Fearing he might destroy everything he had built with his own hands, he averted his gaze and tried to leave.
“I’ll be on my way then.”
“Ah, yes. See you next time.”
Before Hajin could finish speaking, Jiwoo turned away and hurriedly headed towards a place with no people.
Leaning against a wall, he closed his eyes for a while, regulated his breathing, and wiped away his sweat with a deep exhale.
Even he was bewildered by the sudden emotional change. Was it a side effect of the drug?
He had taken it early, accounting for the time it would take for the drug’s effects to dissipate, but having difficulty controlling his emotions in front of Hajin was a problem.
“No. No. It’s okay. I can do this.”
Jiwoo reassured himself. Having come this far, he couldn’t let mere side effects ruin his plan.
Having already hidden Juan’s existence from the Association, he had made an irreversible choice.
Digging his half-grown nails forcefully into his palm, the sharp pain brought him back to his senses. Taking another deep breath, Jiwoo left the area with a clean face, as if nothing had happened.
For today, he decided not to meet Hajin again.
Since he had claimed to be unwell, he avoided Hajin as much as possible, walking around the training center and subtly imprinting his presence on the internal personnel.
His reputation had already undergone one transformation.
It was said that the fierce, greedy, and foul-tempered Jiwoo had been intimidated by Hajin’s presence. That he had changed his ways.
Those who had suffered under him mocked him, saying he had wielded power with his grade only to experience the same treatment, but the opinions of such low-grade Guides didn’t matter to him.
Their mockery didn’t even tickle him.
What mattered were the thoughts of the Association staff and Espers. They seemed bewildered by the sudden change at first, but soon welcomed the much more manageable Jiwoo.
Some even openly questioned his sudden change of heart.
In the past, he would have glared fiercely and snapped back, but now he calmly talked about his interactions with Hajin and spoke of reflection, causing people to be surprised but begin to believe in his transformation.
There was no reason not to believe it.
In reality, Jiwoo behaved meekly everywhere except his own quarters, where he was completely alone, and even in his quarters, he refrained from causing disturbances.
Moreover, since Jiwoo had been this docile for quite some time, suspicion towards him wouldn’t last long even if Hajin were to disappear now.
“Guide Han Jiwoo, do you have a moment? We urgently need Guiding for a C-class Esper…”
An Association staff member approached the solitary Jiwoo urgently. Knowing his temperament had significantly mellowed, the staff member still looked worried that Jiwoo might become angry as he used to.
“Of course. Let’s go quickly.”
If it had been the old Jiwoo, or if he could respond honestly, he would have snapped that if it was a C-class, they should find a C-class Guide.
“Thank you! Then let’s hurry.”
But imagining what he would gain after Hajin disappeared and he revealed his growth to S-class, he could maintain this act indefinitely.
Jiwoo moved along with a languid smile.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
