# Chapter 14
## 4. Magic Show of Making Fire and Passing Through Walls
Haeil agreed without hesitation.
“I have no reason to refuse. If it’s okay, may I ask a few questions?”
“Briefly, please.”
“How many years into the future do you know?”
“About 5 years or so.”
Five years was a considerable period. The casual way Jaeyoon revealed such valuable information seemed almost too light.
“If we change the present, can you see the changed future?”
“No, I cannot see it.”
“Then what you know is just fixed knowledge of the next 5 years. Can you see everyone’s future?”
“No.”
After Jaeyoon’s straightforward answers, a careful question followed.
“Then whose future… Ah, I’m not sure if it’s okay to ask this.”
“I should tell you to make this a fair deal. If we’re going to work together, I’ll need many favors in the future.”
The word “deal” actually made this more believable. Since the information was exchanged out of necessity, Haeil’s expression became more relaxed.
“If it’s a deal, I’d like to hear it.”
“The future I know is only related to me, and only what I’ve heard and seen.”
“What kind of relationship do you have with my father that gives you this information?”
“Since Espers don’t sell potions, people come to buy them at high prices – wouldn’t word get around? Actually, many important people started showing addiction symptoms after trying monster meat, and it eventually made the news.”
Jaeyoon answered honestly about how he learned this. Thanks to this, Haeil could reach a conclusion close to what he suspected.
That Jaeyoon had experienced the future. Whatever form it took, Haeil was convinced that he was a pre-awakened person with at least 5 years more experience than others.
“I’d like to leave now.”
“Alright. I’ll help with whatever I can.”
It was an almost naive level of trust. Watching Haeil trust information without evidence and without doubt, Jaeyoon simply nodded without making a big deal of it.
“Well, let’s get moving then.”
While walking to the entrance carrying the mantis head, Haeil kept asking about the future, and Jaeyoon answered only some questions. Even that was enough to strengthen Haeil’s trust. As Haeil focused on their conversation, he noticed a new message appear on Jaeyoon’s phone that he was holding.
“Um, Seo Jaeyoon. I think you need to check your phone.”
Having learned that Jaeyoon was sensitive about communications with Jaeha, Haeil handed over the phone. After checking it, Haeil threw the mantis head he was holding onto the floor.
“Damn. Shit.”
The news of Lee Youngwoo’s visit that Jaeha had sent made his blood boil.
Jaeyoon’s demeanor, which had remained calm even in front of monsters, changed instantly. Haeil was impressed that just checking a phone could make Jaeyoon emit such killing intent. His aura was so intense it was hard to believe he was an ordinary person.
Even so, he couldn’t leave Jaeyoon in a state where he looked ready to murder someone. Haeil tried to calm him down, recalling their conversation about the future during their long walk.
“Even if terrible Espers appear in the future, it hasn’t happened yet. There’s no need to get so excited right now.”
Despite his cursing and killing intent, Jaeyoon suddenly noticed Haeil who was calmly trying to persuade and observe him.
“Huff… I really wish my brother would believe me like you do.”
“I believe you because I’m an awakened person. After becoming an Esper, I saw a world different from what I knew before, and you told me things others wouldn’t know.”
Haeil had guessed the fact about Jaeyoon’s regression that Jaeyoon hadn’t directly mentioned.
Jaeyoon took another look at Haeil, whose personality was much more gentle than his intelligent appearance suggested.
Kwon Haeil, an Esper who would be active publicly in the future. He was always kind to guides even when they weren’t efficient, and after getting an official guide, he always did his best to protect them even from small threats. He contributed to the rapid improvement of guide treatment.
If someone had to be a guide, this person would definitely be the best choice.
‘My brother will awaken as a guide anyway. If that’s the case, this person is perfect.’
Having reached this conclusion, Jaeyoon faced Haeil who was still focused on him.
“If you could use your power freely outside dungeons, if you met someone who made that possible, what would you do?”
Since guides weren’t publicly known yet, Jaeyoon had to explain. After thinking for a moment, Haeil spoke.
“I would protect them as something precious above all else.”
“Think carefully. Wouldn’t you want to lock them up and keep them just for yourself?”
This question came from how other Espers treated their guides.
Though Jaeyoon knew Haeil’s future, he still watched carefully for his reaction.
“Hmm, wouldn’t that make the other person suffer?”
“I sometimes feel that urge. What if I locked them up so no one could hurt them?”
This time Jaeyoon was expressing his feelings about seeing Jaeha behaving recklessly. The atmosphere around Jaeyoon changed as his true feelings showed. It wasn’t a dramatic shift like killing intent or anger.
Haeil, who had been focusing on Jaeyoon, subtly created distance when he sensed the heavy emotion that felt almost like obsession.
Jaeyoon tilted his head at the sense of distance that matched their emotional separation. Seeing Jaeyoon’s seemingly innocent expression as if he didn’t understand why, Haeil responded with emotion removed from his voice.
“As long as it’s not a crime, I have no prejudice, so don’t worry.”
“…That’s not what I meant. I meant I would protect them.”
“You don’t need to explain. I won’t misunderstand. I can’t support it, but I respect your preferences.”
“You’re already misunderstanding.”
Kwon Haeil had a very straightforward personality. This kind of response made him more trustworthy, and Jaeyoon felt a bit relieved.
When Jaeyoon tried to pick up the mantis head to take home, he hesitated seeing how crushed it was from being thrown. If he showed Jaeha this squashed bug head with liquid dripping out, he wouldn’t even know what it was. Plus, the head had burst open releasing an unpleasant smell, so he didn’t want to put it in his bag.
Noticing Jaeyoon’s hesitation, Haeil created fire in both hands to show him. Seeing this serious, handsome face like a top actor doing something that didn’t match his appearance, Jaeyoon felt his agitated feelings settling down.
“Good. Be my proof.”
“As much as you need. I’ll repay your trust.”
* * *
Jaeyoon rode Haeil’s bike at a speed that would probably earn countless speeding tickets before arriving home. Recognizing how anxious Jaeyoon was, Haeil followed him without complaint. Though Haeil expected Jaeyoon to head for the apartment entrance, he suddenly stopped halfway, grabbed the outer wall, and started climbing up.
“I thought you said you weren’t awakened…”
Haeil also quickly checked his surroundings before following Jaeyoon up the wall. It was nerve-wracking to climb so high without protective gear.
When he entered the floor where Jaeyoon had disappeared, he saw a wide open door and detected an acrid smell. He watched Jaeyoon standing still, looking inside. Haeil also focused on the same spot. Inside, three men were rushing around in confusion.
“Cough, cough. Dojoon, I told you to take care of Dorim.”
“I took her home and came back. More importantly, let me see your arm first.”
“I’m sorry you got hurt because of me, Jaeha.”
“I’m fine. The bigger problem is that the meat is burning.”
Dojoon was cleaning the floor while constantly worrying about Jaeha. Jaeha had an ice pack on his arm and was trying to send Dojoon away. Beside them, Youngwoo was fidgeting nervously, looking at Jaeha with admiration.
“Hyung.”
Jaeyoon’s voice was quiet amidst the commotion.
“Huh? You didn’t read my message but you’re already here?”
Jaeha, the only one who heard that small voice, quickly stood up. Despite the pain in his burned arm, Jaeha had been forcing a smile so Youngwoo wouldn’t worry, but now his face showed clear signs of panic. The timing of this return couldn’t be worse, and cold sweat ran down his back.
Jaeyoon’s expressionless face seemed even more frightening.
‘Why are you looking at me like that, little brother?’
Despite all of Jaeyoon’s warnings, Jaeha had ended up with these two people. Jaeha still didn’t sense any danger, but meeting Jaeyoon’s eyes made him feel awkward.
“Hyung, come out.”
Jaeyoon’s stiff tone, unlike his usual self, with emotions suppressed behind an expressionless face, made Jaeha’s heart race.
“No, you said it was okay. And I’m not alone with him.”
From Jaeha’s awkward excuses, it was clear he hadn’t completely ignored Jaeyoon’s words. Instead of getting angry, Jaeyoon calmly led Jaeha outside.
“I told you I had someone to introduce.”
“Huh?”
While watching Jaeyoon’s expression, Jaeha finally noticed the handsome man standing by the door. Even just standing there, he had such presence that he made the ordinary entrance look like a movie set.
“Um, who… are you?”
“You must be Seo Jaeyoon’s older brother?”
Haeil slightly tilted his head with a smile. Even the way his casually brushed hair fell slightly over his forehead was picturesque.
His masculine handsome face was enviable just to look at. As Jaeha was about to be captivated by his face, the voices of the three people behind him made him even more distracted.
“Sunbae, you need to open the outside balcony window too. Opening just the inside won’t ventilate properly.”
“The ventilation here seems poor. I can’t believe Jaeha lives in a place like this. I should definitely help him apply for a dormitory.”
“Would you both please stop worrying about someone else’s house and go home…?”
Jaeha wanted to turn around and tell them to be quiet, but he held back and spoke with a smiling face before looking forward again. Haeil was smiling as if he had been waiting, and the actor-like handsome man extended his hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Nice to meet you.”
Even as he unconsciously took Haeil’s outstretched hand, Jaeha was bewildered. He wanted to ask what kind of manners led to offering a handshake in this chaotic situation, but he had to hold back again.
“Ah, yes. But who are you to come with my brother…?”
“Seo Jaeyoon said he would introduce me to his brother, so I dropped everything and came running.”
A reliable smile can be creepy too.
Jaeha glared at Jaeyoon who had gone inside.
Was Kyun Jiho not enough that he had to become friends with another man? He wanted to ask his brother if he intended to act as a matchmaker by bringing this man whose physique alone was breathtaking.
‘If you’re going to do that, couldn’t you at least bring someone of the right gender?’
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
