# Chapter 42
Even though his schedule seemed quite free, Jaeha was strangely short on time.
All kinds of tests and playing with Dorim. With just these two activities, the day quickly passed by.
Despite Jaeha’s efforts, when he was reaching his limit in caring for Dorim, fortunately, a children’s facility was set up inside the dormitory.
<Daesung Esper Center Additional Facilities Guide>
After receiving a not very readable guide, Jaeha had to ask again.
“There’s a daycare center in the Esper Center?”
“Yes, I’m told preparations were completed yesterday.”
With many awakened people’s families staying at the dormitory, convenience facilities were continuously being added. However, Jaeha wasn’t very keen on taking Dorim to a suddenly established facility. Noticing Jaeha’s anxiety, Cheonoh explained:
“I heard they scouted certified childcare teachers with good reputations. They’re also running various programs, so I think Miss Joo Dorim could have diverse experiences.”
“Ah… I guess she has been getting bored playing just with me lately.”
Dorim needed various experiences and play activities.
Jaeha only headed to the daycare center inside the facility with Dorim after asking Dojoon and Jaeyoon and receiving their approval. They had to take a dedicated elevator and use a specific key card before they could reach the floor.
“It really is a daycare center…”
The facility looked like a daycare center from the entrance, decorated colorfully. The area that functioned as a yard was visible from the outside, but it was blocked by transparent walls, preventing just anyone from entering. Several children were already playing together in the playground-like space inside. Seeing how much fun they were having, Dorim, who had been holding Jaeha’s hand tightly until just now, quickly let go and ran to the door.
“I want to play there too.”
“Dorim, if you get tired or want to come back to the room, tell the teacher right away. Oppa will come immediately.”
“Okay!”
Dorim answered energetically and ran to the childcare teacher who welcomed her inside, showing no shyness.
Although it was a bit disappointing, Jaeha had been increasingly worried about Dorim as he was frequently called to the examination room. Looking around, he could see guards stationed both inside and outside. It showed how much care the center gave to the families of Espers.
Though he didn’t feel like leaving Dorim behind, seeing her already joining a group and holding hands with peers made him proud.
Now, putting aside his worries about Dorim, he had to prepare himself for that guiding thing.
After the first day, they hadn’t particularly forced him, but when he visited for tests while Dojoon was away, they subtly pressured him. Today too, as he entered the examination room as scheduled, a researcher tried to persuade him again.
“This should be enough general guiding data with Esper Joo Dojoon.”
“So I don’t need to do tests anymore?”
“No. We need data from more diverse situations than now.”
The researcher’s voice was kind, but they spoke without hesitation about things that made Jaeha uncomfortable.
“As I explained, we expect that there are stages in guiding. We lack data on close guiding, which is more intimate contact than general guiding.”
“I won’t kiss. I’ve already done hand-holding and even hugging on the back of my hand because you said hand-holding wasn’t enough.”
“Ah, yes. You proved that it had a bit more effect. So I wanted to test a faster method, but…”
Seeing Jaeha’s firm head shaking, the researcher calmly flipped through the marked test contents.
“If we can’t improve the quality, we have no choice but to increase the number of samples. Esper Joo Dojoon opposed, but guiding is the ability of Guide Seo Jaeha… I mean, Mr. Seo Jaeha.”
The researcher corrected themselves immediately after calling Jaeha a guide. This was because there were instructions not to use classification methods that hadn’t been officially established yet. It was just a difference in title, but given the vivid memory of Kwon Haeil who had rushed over as soon as he received the report to caution them, and Seo Jaeyoon who didn’t hide his fierce demeanor behind him, it was better to be careful.
“The number of Espers in the dormitory has increased quite a bit in the past few days. If Mr. Seo Jaeha agrees, we would like to proceed with general guiding tests with other Espers.”
The Jaeha the researcher had observed was an extremely ordinary person.
He still considered his Esper friend as just a neighborhood friend, felt awkward holding hands, and adamantly refused more intimate contact. The researcher found this unchanging ordinary person in a suddenly changed world merely troublesome.
Despite daily media announcements about how the world had changed due to the great cataclysm, he seemed to still not properly recognize the importance of Espers.
“You want me to hold hands with strangers? For two or three hours each?”
“No. This time it’s for diversity data, so we’ll proceed with as many Espers as possible for 30 minutes each.”
“Ugh, 30 minutes…”
Even though it was 30 minutes and not two or three hours, Jaeha’s hesitation was exactly the reaction a young man his age would show. As the researcher was about to hand over the prepared list of Espers, Jaeha looked up as if remembering something.
“Ah, I know some people too.”
“I’m talking about Espers, not ordinary people.”
“I do know some. My brother and Gilma Hyung, I mean, Jaeyoon and Haeil Hyung.”
The names of Espers who had a relationship with Jaeha popped up. Including Joo Dojoon, Jaeha, who was under the protection of high-grade Espers, mentioned them without hesitation. The researcher maintained a composed appearance and answered to these names that came out naturally without any hint of showing off.
“Both of them are so busy they barely have time to stop by the center.”
“That’s true. Ugh… holding hands with strangers. I really don’t want to.”
Jaeha, who actually didn’t know what kind of protection he was receiving, pondered at the researcher’s persuasion. The researcher also didn’t want to indirectly force someone who was this uncomfortable unless it was for meaningful data. However, in a situation where the Association Chairman was directly pressuring them, if they couldn’t produce results, another researcher who would force it could be assigned next.
The junior researcher of the Esper Research Team was genuinely concerned. It was obvious what would happen if another researcher who didn’t know the scariness of Espers and only thought about pleasing the Association Chairman’s eyes took over Jaeha. Having their research results stolen would be frustrating, but disturbing the Espers’ mood was even more frightening.
“Mr. Seo Jaeha, then 10 minutes each…”
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Alarms went off from various places simultaneously. It wasn’t the center’s alarm but one that rang only for the researchers, and someone urgently raised their voice.
“An Esper at risk of going berserk has been brought to the center.”
“What? There were no Espers with dangerous readings when we checked this morning.”
The condition due to Espers’ ability usage was divided into risk levels by grade. Though Kwon Haeil and Seo Jaeyoon were demonstrating their abilities daily for positive promotion of Espers, they would never reach the dangerous level.
Until this morning, the mana status of most Espers excluding those two was stable. There was no way an ability user who suddenly exceeded the limit would emerge. The researchers had been very careful about this point, so they had checked thoroughly even for daily routines.
“It’s an A-grade Esper but with B-grade mana quantity, so it seems they misunderstood and overused their ability.”
“How can a B-grade be registered as an A-grade Esper?”
“Well, since they’re a spatial movement ability user, looking just at their ability, they could be considered A-grade or higher.”
Jaeha, who had been quietly watching in the urgent atmosphere, heard something he couldn’t ignore.
“Wait. Did you say spatial movement ability user?”
“It’s none of your business… Ah, since you’re from the same university, you might know each other.”
“Is it Kyun Jiho?”
“Yes. A-grade spatial movement ability user, Kyun Jiho is correct.”
“Oh no. They’re saying they’ll close Section C. Looks like we’re about to lose a valuable talent.”
At the researcher’s genuinely regretful attitude, Jaeha recalled what he had learned about Espers.
Risk of going berserk. Mana deficiency due to ability overuse. Or shock due to impurities. Either way, going berserk meant a dangerous state that could plunge an Esper into hellish pain and eventually lead to death.
As everyone remained silent as if in mourning, Jaeha’s eyes met the researcher who was looking at him. Unlike the others, the researcher seemed ready to clutch the data in hand to their chest and run out.
“Researcher, there is a way, right?”
“Yes, if Mr. Seo Jaeha helps, persuasion might be possible.”
“Ugh, if it’s dangerous, Jaeyoon will be extremely angry.”
Even while saying this, Jaeha had already started following the researcher. Seeing Jaeha’s kind and pure actions, the researcher made a promise first.
“The section closure would have been implemented as a preventive measure. If it’s actually at dangerous levels, I’ll be the first to take Mr. Seo Jaeha and run far away.”
This was the researcher who had been steadily trying to persuade him to extract even a little data. When such a researcher prioritized his safety, Jaeha felt a bit embarrassed for always trying to avoid it until now. At the same time, he was worried about Kyun Jiho, who was in such a dangerous state.
* * *
Section C was in a different building from the dormitory.
The researcher and Jaeha had a brief argument at the entrance over access issues for Jaeha, an ordinary person, but they barely managed to get inside.
Entering the control room with dozens of monitors installed, they could see various graphs along with a screen showing Kyun Jiho. He was restrained by his arms and legs, twisting his body and crying out in pain.
Unlike Jaeha who was shocked, other people were busy with their respective tasks.
When the researcher showed a report they had brought to the control room supervisor and said something, the person listening quickly made a phone call somewhere.
Jaeha approached the monitor closely and alternately looked at Jiho trembling in pain and the fluctuating graphs. He could understand what the wildly fluctuating graph, which he had never seen during guiding tests with Dojoon, meant.
That Jiho inside was suffering much more than Dojoon ever had.
“I’ll go see him.”
It was an impulsive statement, if anything.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
