As the man disappeared as if melting away, the faint sound of footsteps grew increasingly clear. Soon, security guards in black suits flooded the corridor.
“Are you alright?”
“Where is the intruder?!”
The guards who rushed in paused as they saw Jae-woo lying on the floor. Some of the guards, who had not met him before, moved towards him with stern expressions.
Ah-young glanced at Han-gyeom and said, “The intruder escaped. This person is a family member of Han-gyeom, so please take good care of him.”
At Ah-young’s words, the guards relaxed their expressions. However, they wondered why Han-gyeom’s family member was with the intruder.
No one questioned it further. Ah-young was trusted among them as much as Du-hyuk, and the mention of Han-gyeom’s “family” was decisive. Everyone knew that Seo Won had been keeping Han-gyeom close, even sharing a room with him.
Some of the guards recognized Jae-woo and checked his condition. A large guard picked up the unconscious Jae-woo, and several others followed, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings. The Ability User guard had mentioned that the intruder was an Esper, so they remained vigilant against any potential threats.
“I’ll go with them,” Han-gyeom said, quickly following the guards carrying Jae-woo. Ah-young stepped in to stop him.
“We will take good care of Jae-woo. Han-gyeom should go inside and rest.”
“No, if I rest, I want to do it by Jae-woo’s side.”
“But Han-gyeom…” Ah-young’s voice trailed off with concern, but Han-gyeom resolutely followed the guards. After a moment’s hesitation, Ah-young joined him, walking down the corridor together.
Jae-woo was laid down in one of the empty rooms in the mansion. Two medical personnel, who were stationed at the mansion, rushed in to examine him. Fortunately, aside from a red mark on his solar plexus, there were no other external injuries, which allowed Han-gyeom to feel a bit relieved.
Ah-young, having sent the guards outside to avoid disturbing them, watched Han-gyeom as he gazed at Jae-woo.
“He will wake up soon, so don’t worry, Han-gyeom.”
“…Yes.”
Han-gyeom’s voice was filled with worry. Although his back was turned, it was clear that his face was etched with concern.
‘It’s understandable,’ Ah-young thought, looking at Jae-woo past Han-gyeom with a bitter expression.
From where he stood by the door, Han-gyeom could only see the side of Jae-woo’s face as he slept peacefully. His expression seemed as gentle and bright as ever, yet earlier, he had appeared almost like a different person—anxious and emotionally volatile. It was clear that something unusual had been happening to him.
Han-gyeom sat down on the edge of the mattress where Jae-woo lay. He placed a translucent ice apple on the side table next to the bedside lamp and leaned over Jae-woo. To the naked eye, Jae-woo seemed perfectly calm, just as the medical staff had said. However, Han-gyeom knew that appearances could be deceiving.
Han-gyeom had long suspected that terrorists might try to approach Jae-woo. Although he had hoped it wouldn’t happen, he knew that Jae-woo’s past as a guiding pal broker made him a cautious person, which Han-gyeom thought would make it difficult for anyone to make contact. Nevertheless, Han-gyeom had advised Jae-woo to cut off contact with his current guide, just in case.
Even though it seemed ironic for a guide to give such advice, Han-gyeom believed that guides, being ordinary people without abilities, were less of a threat compared to Espers with unusual powers. He thought that by avoiding the guide, Jae-woo would be safer. When they last met at the mansion, Jae-woo had assured Han-gyeom that he would end his relationship with the guide. In a note left afterward, Jae-woo mentioned he would change his contact information and residence to ensure his safety.
Han-gyeom trusted Jae-woo implicitly; he knew Jae-woo didn’t lie to him. Jae-woo’s honesty stemmed from his dislike for deceit and his deep trust in Han-gyeom. Believing that Jae-woo was following the plan, Han-gyeom had been confident in his safety, especially with the intricate barriers that could hide him from the terrorists.
However, contrary to Han-gyeom’s expectations, the terrorists had managed to use Jae-woo.
‘Bastards,’ Han-gyeom cursed silently, grasping Jae-woo’s hand. He intended to search for any traces of mental or brainwashing ESPs within Jae-woo, planning to analyze and block them if necessary. Even without Jae-woo’s consent, Han-gyeom was determined to protect him from any mind-controlling influences.
The ability to control someone’s mind was horrifying—dominating their thoughts and will, reducing a person to a mere puppet. Han-gyeom couldn’t imagine anything worse. The thought of such power being used on Jae-woo filled him with rage, but he remained calm, focusing on his task.
Han-gyeom’s eyes glowed red as a crimson aura flowed from his hand into Jae-woo’s. The energy seeped into Jae-woo, tracing the pathways of any ESPs within his body. As Han-gyeom sensed his GP flowing through Jae-woo, he furrowed his brow, concentrating on uncovering any hidden influences.
‘Even though I told him…’
Han-gyeom looked down at Jae-woo with a hint of resentment in his eyes. Jae-woo’s ESP pathways were flawless—smooth and unblemished, showing no signs of strain or irregularities. This was clear evidence that he had been receiving optimal guiding, even surpassing usual standards, right up until that day.
“Uhh…”
A small moan escaped from the unconscious Jae-woo’s lips. His brow was furrowed, and he kept twitching, while his hand, which Han-gyeom was holding, unconsciously tried to pull away.
Han-gyeom’s expression grew serious as he watched Jae-woo resist, even in his unconscious state, during the examination.
Initially, Han-gyeom had suspected that a mental Esper had manipulated Jae-woo with hypnosis or brainwashing related to the “Imprint.” However, upon closely examining Jae-woo’s body while he was unconscious, Han-gyeom found no trace of such mental ESP influence.
‘That can’t be,’ Han-gyeom thought, sending another wave of red energy through Jae-woo, meticulously checking every part of his body and mind. Despite his thorough search, he found no evidence of any foreign ESP—only Jae-woo’s own natural energy remained.
This meant that Jae-woo was not under the influence of any Esper ability, whether hypnosis, brainwashing, or anything else. He was fully capable of thinking, deciding, and expressing his own will. Jae-woo was, in fact, perfectly fine.
‘This doesn’t make sense,’ Han-gyeom thought, his eyes wide with disbelief as he bit his lip. The man’s earlier words seemed to be true.
“I’ll say it again. Come with us.”
“If someone used ESP to brainwash and control your brother, would you want to go with them? Just release what you’ve done to him, quickly.”
“Brainwash with ESP? We didn’t do that.”
“Don’t lie.”
“I’m not lying. If you’re suspicious, investigate it yourself.”
The man had been telling the truth. Jae-woo, in a sound state of mind, had genuinely asked Han-gyeom to come with him. His words reflected his true will, sincere intentions, and genuine emotions.
“I want you to never suffer again. Whether it’s your body or your mind, I want you to stop hurting and live in peace. So let’s leave this place together, okay?”
The sincerity in Jae-woo’s words was undeniable, but Han-gyeom knew that the Jae-woo he knew would never use his sincerity as bait. It felt as if someone was manipulating Jae-woo from the shadows.
At first, Han-gyeom had been certain that a mental Esper was behind this, but now he realized he needed to change his perspective. With no trace of foreign ESP in Jae-woo’s body, the direction of his investigation became clear: it wasn’t an Esper’s ability, but a guide’s guiding that was manipulating Jae-woo’s mind.
‘A ridiculous form known as a “fake Imprint.”’
Suddenly, a conversation flashed through Han-gyeom’s mind. It was a dialogue between two particularly talkative researchers at the Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility.
