# Chapter 18
The black sedan took them not to a hospital but to a luxury resort owned by Daesung Group.
To be exact, it was a newly constructed building near the resort. From the outside, it looked busy. However, once inside, there were no guests except for the staff. Unlike the confused Jaeha, Jaeyoon showed no particular reaction.
“What? You said we were coming for a test, but this is a hotel, not a hospital?”
“Hyung, this is a medical center. Since Espers aren’t officially acknowledged yet, it’s disguised.”
“Ah, Espers. Right, yes.”
At Jaeyoon’s answer, Jaeha’s expression soured as he looked around. Seeing the lavish interior decorations in the lobby, Jaeha unconsciously muttered:
“Wow, if they had brought me here first, I would have believed anything they told me.”
Just a few seconds ago, Jaeha had been looking at Jaeyoon with skeptical eyes when he mentioned “Espers.” Seeing how Jaeha wouldn’t believe without seeing, yet could be so simple at times like this, Haeil smiled lightly and led him inside.
As the three entered, the staff greeted them respectfully.
“Welcome. We will make your stay comfortable.”
“Ah, hello.”
“Seo Jaeyoon needs an emergency examination, so please prepare it as top priority.”
“Yes, we will escort him to the examination room immediately.”
Unlike Jaeha, who awkwardly returned the greeting to the uniformed staff, Haeil and Jaeyoon comfortably followed the guidance and moved forward. It was understandable for Haeil, but Jaeha felt left out when even Jaeyoon showed no discomfort, causing him to slow his pace slightly. Quickly noticing this, Haeil slowed down and gently patted Jaeha’s back.
“While we proceed with Seo Jaeyoon’s necessary examinations, Jaeha can enjoy the amenities.”
Haeil’s reassuring smile and words had depth and weight, naturally creating trust. Trust that, as he said, whatever tests Jaeyoon would take, he could just pass the time and have fun.
“But leaving my brother alone doesn’t feel right…”
Jaeyoon, walking ahead, caught Jaeha’s quiet mumbling and turned around.
“Hyung, these tests will take some time.”
“How would you know that?”
To Jaeha’s question, Jaeyoon whispered softly:
“Because I’ve done it before.”
After seeing the wall-passing trick, Jaeha had somewhat decided to believe the talk about dungeons and monsters, but regression was still hard to accept. Moreover, it was confusing why Jaeyoon, who was comfortable entering dungeons with Haeil, would whisper about the regression fact as if trying to hide it.
‘Doesn’t the guild master hyung know everything already? Or is this a secret? Or is regression just a joke after all?’
With the situation being ambiguous, Jaeha kept his mouth shut for now.
“I don’t like Daesung, but their facilities are top-notch. Have fun, Hyung.”
“What am I supposed to do for fun?”
“Anything. Just make sure to stay close to that person.”
“Guild master hyung?”
“Yes. Kwon Haeil… If you stay with Haeil hyung, you’ll be safe.”
Unlike how Jaeyoon had been with people around Jaeha until now, he openly showed trust. Jaeyoon, who had told Jaeha to enjoy himself lightly, was different when looking at Haeil.
“Don’t take your eyes off my brother for even a moment.”
Jaeyoon’s tone changed completely. It became heavy and firm, automatically making one focus.
“Never leave him alone. You protect him, don’t let anyone touch him.”
“I will.”
Jaeyoon entrusted Jaeha to Haeil, almost excessively. He warned several times never to take eyes off him or get distracted.
Haeil knew Jaeyoon’s warning was sincere. If another Esper happened to make contact with Jaeha, what would follow couldn’t be guaranteed. Jaeha’s ability was special enough to make even Haeil, who was accustomed to patience, desire it. It was this powerful even before awakening, making the future frightening. It was obvious what would happen if another Esper got to touch Jaeha.
Haeil was certain that Jaeyoon was worried about this and had tried to protect Jaeha by not coming to the center.
“I won’t let anyone approach him.”
“Good. I’ll trust you.”
Finally reassured, Jaeyoon approached Jaeha before heading inside with the staff.
“Hyung, just this once, please listen to me.”
“Oh, okay.”
“I’ll be back. Please wait just one day, Hyung.”
“Y-yeah. Come back quickly.”
Jaeha’s hands flailed in the air as Jaeyoon hugged him with not just affection but desperation.
“Hey, hey, stop it. It’s embarrassing.”
He was already cringing and feeling awkward as Jaeyoon and Haeil seriously discussed his safety.
Jaeyoon reluctantly released Jaeha slowly, but his gaze didn’t leave until the end as he went inside with the staff. Not knowing what kind of test it was, Jaeha began to feel slightly anxious too.
“This can’t all be a joke.”
It was unlikely that Haeil and Jaeyoon were conspiring just to deceive him. He doubted it momentarily, but they wouldn’t go as far as renting a hotel for a prank.
“Are you hungry perhaps?”
“Hmm. I’m okay for now.”
Only after Jaeyoon completely disappeared from sight did Haeil lead Jaeha in another direction.
“Do you like alcohol? The lounge here has quite a nice night view.”
“Can we go to such places? Jaeyoon told me not to meet people.”
“There’s no one except staff. If they make you uncomfortable, I’ll send them all away.”
“Ah, no. Not that. Um… since this is a hotel, can I just rest in a room?”
“Of course.”
After all, Jaeha didn’t feel like enjoying the resort while Jaeyoon was sent to some unknown examination room.
Throughout the journey to the room, Haeil informed him about available facilities like the swimming pool or gym, but Jaeha seemed lost in thought and didn’t respond.
“You can stay here.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The room Haeil guided him to was a suite room, something Jaeha had never experienced before. It was spacious and pleasant, but strangely, his heart wasn’t excited. Noticing Jaeha’s gloominess, Haeil led him to a nearby sofa, and he followed obediently.
“Jaeha, if there’s anything bothering you, please tell me.”
Familiar with Haeil’s serious voice often heard during their hunts in the game, Jaeha naturally shared his thoughts.
“Well, I thought my brother’s words were half jokes.”
“I see.”
“Or maybe he had really fallen into some cult. He’s a bit blunt, but he has an innocent side to him.”
It seemed to Haeil that Jaeha was the kind and innocent one, but he agreed with this rose-colored statement of “my kid is kind.”
“I can understand that thinking.”
“Right? But seeing the current situation, it doesn’t seem like a cult. And I don’t think guild master hyung would join my brother in the crazy act of renting a hotel suite for a joke. Above all, I’m really curious about how you two know each other.”
Haeil nodded as if empathizing with Jaeha’s words.
“How did you really pass through the wall? I thought the fire in your hands was magic. When we came out of the wall again, there was so much heat from your body. And my brother came rolling out with some sword. Is this dangerous? Should I go to Jaeyoon right now?”
Jaeha’s voice, which had been depressed, gradually quickened before he stood up, unable to contain his excitement. Haeil naturally grabbed Jaeha’s hand and sat him back down on the sofa.
“It’s okay, Jaeha. I’ll answer anything I know, so you can speak slowly.”
Held by Haeil’s reassuring smile and firm hands, Jaeha automatically focused on his words.
“Would you like to tell me what you’re most curious about right now?”
“I’m worried about Jaeyoon.”
Until now, there had been no sense of reality, and he had just bumbled his way here. The image of Jaeyoon worrying only about him until the moment they parted made his excited feelings sink in an instant. His depression was due to concern for his brother.
Swallowing the desire to focus on the refreshing energy coming from the hand he was holding, Haeil spoke to alleviate Jaeha’s anxiety.
“Jaeha, as I already mentioned, this place is a center disguised as a resort. As proof, look over there.”
As Jaeha looked in the direction Haeil was pointing, he saw a CCTV camera plainly installed.
“…Is it okay to have that in a hotel?”
“This isn’t a hotel. There are cameras not just here but in the bedroom and bathroom too. Ah, of course, the bathroom is recorded, but unless there’s an emergency, the footage isn’t viewed and is discarded.”
“Um, that’s a bit creepy.”
“They’re everywhere in the center. However, access permissions differ. For example…”
Saying this, Haeil pulled out a pad from under the table. After going through several procedures, he showed Jaeha a screen displaying Jaeyoon lying on a bed.
“Huh? Is this real-time?”
“Yes, they’re checking if there are different wavelengths compared to ordinary people using these electrodes. It can end in as little as 10 minutes, but depending on the situation, it can take more than an hour. Sometimes people even fall asleep during it.”
“Has guild master hyung done this too?”
“Of course. Since they need research samples, I come quarterly to cooperate, so I’m familiar with it.”
“It’s not painful or anything, right?”
“Not at all. It’s similar to a regular medical checkup.”
With Haeil answering smoothly and Jaeyoon looking relaxed on the bed, Jaeha’s tense face finally eased.
“What the heck. Why was he acting so serious and dramatic if it was just this?”
Jaeyoon’s seriousness came from having to leave Jaeha behind, but not knowing this, Jaeha grumbled while still caring and worrying about his brother.
The relationship between the brothers wasn’t one-sided. Their strong bond was good to see, but Haeil was anxious that the person closest to Jaeha, who might be the only being for Espers, was another Esper.
Even if the brothers were inevitable, he had to be the second closest. Currently, Jaeha’s liking for Haeil was due to their relationship in the game.
“Jaeha, should we play the game? I was trying to get some healer items, and I’ll give them to you.”
“What? Suddenly?”
Haeil became embarrassed by his own words, and his ears turned red instantly. He felt ashamed of the sudden words he had blurted out to gain favor.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
