Chapter 9
– This is the New Recruit Training Team. Are you available to guide Esper Song Ji-hyeok right now?
“Huh? Yes…”
– Then please do so immediately. He’ll arrive within 5 minutes.
The call ended abruptly. While wondering what this was about suddenly, my body moved almost automatically. I went down to the guiding room and only after sitting down could I continue my train of thought.
Training Room 2 off-limits. An urgent guiding request from the New Recruit Training Team.
There was only one immediate guess. Based on the schedule and everything else, it seemed Song Ji-hyeok had encountered some problem during skill training.
‘Then the notification about suspending use of the skill training room was…’
No, that couldn’t be.
Skill proficiency and power are proportional to the training period. Even if Song Ji-hyeok is an S-class Esper, it’s safe to say there’s little he can do as an absolute beginner who awakened less than ten days ago. Perhaps manifesting attribute energy in its simplest form and launching it?
‘Did he get injured or something?’
Not long after, there was a knock on the door. The one who entered was, of course, Song Ji-hyeok.
Today too, he was in an impressive combat uniform. But soon I noticed something was off. His handsome face was the same, but at a glance, his complexion didn’t look good.
Song Ji-hyeok approached and slumped onto the sofa opposite me. Up close, his face was definitely pale. I quickly examined his eyes, and fortunately, his pupils seemed normal.
Somewhat relieved, I asked him:
“You were doing skill training, right? What happened?”
“…They said I might have used too much power.”
Was it poor control?
“Give me your hand.”
I grabbed the right hand he placed on the cushion and immediately began checking his condition.
As expected. It was different from yesterday. If yesterday it was as small as a fingernail, today I could feel clumps of unfit energy gathered in various places, quite large in size. I continued to check his condition while strongly flowing my concentrated energy.
I could feel the transmitted energy finding its way to the right places, quickly diluting the unfit energy. Song Ji-hyeok must be feeling the same sensation.
The characteristic fluffy pleasure was a bonus. The more energy I flowed into Song Ji-hyeok, the faster the heat spreading through my body intensified.
‘The matching rate really is amazing. No wonder there are moans coming from the rooms on either side.’
To put it crudely, I’ve never experienced guiding that goes all the way. Maybe because I’m a half-baked guide, or because of the matching rate that’s average at best even when it’s good, or maybe both. During guiding, I’d get slightly excited but quickly cool down.
Even if Song Ji-hyeok’s condition is worse than yesterday, it’s literally just worse than yesterday. It’s not comparable to an Esper who’s been in actual combat, but perhaps due to the overwhelmingly high matching rate, I felt a much more intense sensation.
Song Ji-hyeok will be going into the field soon…
‘What if I lose control and pounce on him while guiding?’
Just as I unconsciously licked my lips, I felt the guiding was complete. Song Ji-hyeok must have felt the same.
There was no more justification, so I reluctantly let go of his hand.
“How do you feel?”
“…It’s fine.”
Song Ji-hyeok answered while looking down at his hand. Seeing him clench and unclench his fist, it seems he felt something today.
“Good job today.”
“You too.”
I hesitated for a moment at the unexpected form of address.
“Don’t do that in front of others. Just call me senior or brother comfortably.”
Song Ji-hyeok’s gaze was still on his own hand. After watching for a moment, I inwardly smirked.
‘That’s kind of cute, like a little kid trying to act tough.’
Of course, his actions aren’t cute at all.
“Here.”
I handed him an unwrapped chocolate bar, not forgetting today either. Song Ji-hyeok finally looked up and immediately took the candy and put it in his mouth. Unlike the first day, there was no hesitation or suspicion in his movement.
Good. Everything’s going according to plan.
“You got a device, right? If you feel off later, contact me right away.”
“…Okay.”
“Good work. See you tomorrow.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
As soon as Song Ji-hyeok got up and left, my device rang again. It was the New Recruit Training Team leader.
‘Are they monitoring or something?’
I glanced at the CCTV on the ceiling and answered the call. This time, I could state my name fully.
“Yes, this is Lee Su-hyeon.”
– This is Team Leader Joo. Did the guiding for Esper Song Ji-hyeok go well?
“Yes. It just finished and he left.”
– I called after seeing him leave.
Wow. They really were monitoring.
I smoothly uncrossed my legs and straightened my back. I also quietly picked up the chocolate bar wrappers, which had now increased to five, and put them in the trash.
– Were there any side effects? Any abnormal symptoms?
“Nothing in particular, it seems.”
As I answered after reflection, I could hear a relieved voice even through the device.
– Thank you for your hard work. Ah, and can you come to the Skill Training Center for a moment now?
“Yes, I can, but…”
– Great. Then I’ll be waiting.
The call ended before I could answer. Geez, they’re in such a hurry. I shrugged my shoulders once and got up as well.
The Skill Training Center is located on a separate plot next to the guild building, like an annex. No matter how sturdy it was built, it’s a place where all kinds of skills used in actual combat are practiced freely, so it was a precautionary measure.
“Welcome.”
In the office I visited, it wasn’t just the New Recruit Training Team Leader. The Director of the Skill Training Center, whom I rarely see even if I go there several times a week, was also present. A sudden meeting with two such important figures was a bit burdensome.
I shook hands in turn and sat on the sofa. Team Leader Joo spoke first.
“How was the state of the unfit energy? The guiding went well, right?”
The omitted subject didn’t need to be asked. Feeling the persistent pressure from two pairs of eyes, I carefully answered.
“It was a bit high today, but that’s only relative to Esper Song Ji-hyeok’s usual condition. Objectively, it wasn’t particularly dangerous. The guiding was effective too.”
It was my turn to ask the repeatedly relieved Team Leader.
“Um… Did something happen today?”
The subject of my question was, of course, Song Ji-hyeok.
Everything has stages, and skill training is no exception. I don’t remember well because it was too long ago, but among the new recruit education programs, skill training is probably conducted most meticulously and carefully.
Newly manifested abilities are like double-edged swords. At first, it’s difficult to manifest any ability as intended, and many people get hurt trying clumsily. That’s why when someone is identified as an awakened, they must receive appropriate training from the Central Management Association or a contracted guild.
Moreover, I know that Team Leader Joo is a veteran who has been in charge of educating new awakened since the guild’s early days. Given that Song Ji-hyeok is the guild’s most promising rookie, he must be personally dedicating himself to guiding him, so I was curious about the sudden increase in unfit energy today.
Hearing my question, Team Leader Joo pushed up his glasses and rubbed his face. Maybe it was my imagination, but he looked a bit haggard.
“Nothing special happened. We started with condition checking as usual, and focused on control training. He quickly got the hang of it after a few tries and did well, so there was nothing to worry about. But then he suddenly acted as if he was going berserk, and you can’t imagine how surprised we were.”
The Training Center Director, who had been listening, chimed in:
“Was it a high-level skill or…”
“No. As I said earlier, it wasn’t even an advanced course, but a much easier finishing stage.”
“There must be some other reason…”
“That’s why I called Guide Lee Su-hyeon, to find out.”
Once again, two pairs of eyes turned to me. Team Leader Joo spoke:
“My heart sank when his condition suddenly worsened right after using the skill, but I’m so relieved there wasn’t any real problem. Hearing it directly from Guide Lee Su-hyeon puts me even more at ease.”
Now I understood why they called me here even though I said he seemed fine. It wasn’t enough to hear it over the phone; they wanted to see my face and hear it again to be sure.
Well, if an S-class Esper showed signs of going berserk while training with a program I designed, when we were alone, I’d probably lose half a year of my life expectancy too.
Thinking about it that way, the Team Leader, who seemed as unreachable as a tall tree, felt a little closer.
Team Leader Joo seemed to feel the same. With a much more relaxed face than a few minutes ago, he dished out some insincere praise:
“I’ve heard that Guide Lee Su-hyeon’s abilities as an Esper are also excellent. Whether in the field or anywhere else, I look forward to seeing you work perfectly in sync with Esper Song Ji-hyeok! We’ll do our best to support you.”
An instinctive feeling of ‘This is it!’ activated. I eagerly responded:
“Yes. I’ll work hard with the determination to dedicate my life to the guild.”
