# Chapter 56
## 18. The New Recruit’s Spirit Is Concerning
The feedback from Espers who received guiding was consistent.
Starting with expected comments like it felt good or their body felt lighter, they also revealed crude thoughts without any filter, saying things like “holding hands felt better than doing it with a woman” or “I got hard.”
They didn’t understand how precious the one providing guiding was, and didn’t even try to hide their true feelings toward someone weaker than themselves. Despite how much pressure Jaeyoon had put on them, they wrote whatever they wanted on the survey since they knew only researchers would see it.
“I’m truly disgusted.”
If only the great catastrophe hadn’t happened so early, he would have wanted to hide his brother somewhere.
It was his own fault for not thinking things through from the beginning. Later, he’d been so focused on the future that he ended up putting his brother in danger.
Now he would protect him directly. However, there was one problem: Jaeha had developed something like a sense of duty about guiding. The sight of his brother sympathetically extending his hand to Espers who currently had no substitute for him made Jaeyoon anxious.
‘But it’s okay now.’
Awakening test applications were pouring in, more than could be processed in a day. The Association Chairman, not wanting to miss this opportunity, quickly opened the Awakening Center to the public. Soon applicants would flood in, and they might find one or two Guides among them. They had even installed an ability detector at the entrance for this purpose.
‘Once the burden is shared, my brother will stop pitying the Espers.’
* * *
“Hyung, go stay with Joo Dojoon.”
Busy from early morning, Jaeyoon immediately gave his request to Jaeha, who had just woken up.
“Huh? Yesterday you wouldn’t let me meet Dojoon, but today you’re telling me to go to him?”
“Yesterday I stopped him from coming here because you were trying to invite him. Today I’ll be gone, so you need someone to protect you.”
He could have asked Dojoon to come if he just didn’t want to meet him. Jaeyoon’s words meant he didn’t want Dojoon entering his space. He still disliked Dojoon but didn’t hesitate to entrust his brother’s safety to him. Embarrassed by Jaeyoon’s uncompromising attitude about his safety, Jaeha changed the subject.
“Where are you going without even having breakfast?”
When Jaeha tried to turn on the induction stove with sleepy eyes, Jaeyoon placed a cup of water in his hand and buttoned his well-pressed uniform up to his neck.
“Today there’s a second awakening test for civilian applicants. It’s been heavily promoted, so it will be extremely busy.”
Jaeha’s sleepy eyes opened wider. When Jaeyoon gently pushed the cup that Jaeha was still just holding, he finally took a sip. He then remembered this was something he used to do for his younger brother.
Feeling awkward about how their roles had reversed, Jaeha smiled uncomfortably, and Jaeyoon returned an apologetic smile.
“To control energetic awakened people, Espers need to stand at attention. So I’ll be running around busy today.”
“Then I can just stay here alone. Dojoon must be busy too.”
“I’d rather let the center become a marketplace than leave you alone. And I’ve already told Joo Dojoon.”
No matter how many monitors there were or how strict the controls, there would always be someone slippery. If some awakened person with mindlessly strong power entered the dormitory and made contact with his brother… Jaeyoon didn’t even want to imagine the consequences.
“Alright, alright. I wanted to prepare some side dishes for him anyway, so that works out.”
“Tell him to pick you up instead of you going there.”
“And not let him into the room?”
“…That would be nice.”
Jaeha burst out laughing at Jaeyoon, who acted mature but showed his narrow-mindedness. He said okay with a laugh and saw Jaeyoon off.
“Will you be back for lunch?”
“No. I might be late even at night. I’ll find you if you’re with Joo Dojoon.”
“Our brother is working hard all day. Take care.”
Suppressing a yawn, Jaeha patted Jaeyoon’s shoulders and smiled with a sleepy face. When Jaeyoon told him to close the door, he said he would sleep more and went inside.
Jaeyoon wanted to protect his brother who looked so carefree. That was also why, despite his promise, he didn’t bring up regression or guiding-related topics when they returned to the room.
Just remembering the pre-regression situation made his anger toward Joo Dojoon boil up easily. Nevertheless, when it came to protecting people, Dojoon was the best option.
As an S-class Esper, Dojoon had the highest mana tolerance. In an emergency, he could raise his mana to levels that the center’s suppressors couldn’t handle. He was a valuable asset in emergencies. Though Jaeyoon still didn’t want to face him, he had to acknowledge Dojoon’s abilities.
“It would help if Cheonoh awakens today too.”
The fiercely loyal Cheonoh was perfect as a guard, but being a regular person was his fatal flaw. Just awakening would double his physical strength, so Jaeyoon hoped he could make good use of today’s awakening test and subsequent awakening course.
Additionally, there was a familiar name on the applicant list that made him both tense and expectant.
“This is going to be a very long day.”
The corridor, usually empty, now had staff coming and going, foretelling a busy day.
Unlike the busy Jaeyoon, Jaeha slept for another hour or two before getting up. As soon as he opened his eyes, he prepared a less spicy kimchi stew with meat that Dorim could eat, packed up the side dishes he had prepared the day before, and called Dojoon.
“Jaeha, I’m here.”
“Thank you, thank you. Here, take this. And this too.”
As soon as Dojoon arrived, Jaeha handed him the side dishes he had placed by the entrance.
“I don’t have airtight containers since I’m not at home. I’ve put them in these dishes, so let’s each carry one.”
“Ah, I’ll finally get to eat Jaeha’s cooking again. Dorim will really like it.”
Since Dojoon lived nearby, he was used to carrying dishes of food and handled the heavy dishes with ease. Jaeha carefully walked with the stew pot in both hands.
When they arrived at Dojoon’s dormitory, Dorim ran and hugged Jaeha.
“Oppa, where did you go!”
“Aaah! D-Dorim, have you been well?”
Even though it had only been two days, they had been living together for a while, so Dorim seemed very surprised. Jaeha carefully put down the pot that he had desperately protected from spilling when Dorim rushed at him.
As Jaeha reached out to pat Dorim, his heart pounded at the cute sight of her sniffing toward the pot on the floor.
“Oppa, did you make this?”
“Yes. I made it less spicy for you, Dorim.”
“It’s spicy! But I like it!”
Dorim’s excited voice kept getting louder. When they laid out the side dishes and stew on the coffee table, Dorim jumped around saying it was a party. The two immature brothers found her so cute that they just watched with smiles, not thinking to stop her.
“Let’s eat, Dorim.”
“Yes! Before eating, hands!”
“My goodness. You’ve only been going to daycare for a few days, and you’re already washing your hands by yourself?”
“That’s the power of education.”
Seeing how she sat quietly after washing her hands, picking up food one by one with a fork and chewing thoroughly, Jaeha’s trust in the center’s hastily set up daycare increased significantly.
After taking Dorim to daycare with Dojoon and returning to do guiding, there was nothing else to do. Dojoon, enjoying his rare break, sat on the sofa staring blankly at the TV.
Seeing them looking like himself and Jaeyoon yesterday, Jaeha thought that an Esper’s day off wasn’t much different, and felt almost sorry about keeping an S-class Esper so idle.
After watching two movies back-to-back, they got hungry and headed to the staff cafeteria. Their attire was extremely casual. Their hair was a mess from lying on the sofa. They looked like excellent unemployed people and snickered at each other.
While Jaeha was spending an excessively leisurely day, Jaeyoon was frantically busy.
At first, the atmosphere was very favorable.
They had already divided the registered people by time slots. From the outside, guidance was provided to help people stand in order, and although separate notifications were given to afternoon applicants, they hadn’t accounted for those who came with acquaintances or guardians.
Jaeyoon didn’t anticipate this situation because it had been a long time ago, and he had been preoccupied with Jaeha’s absence as his brother suddenly started living with high-ranked Espers. Additionally, if someone had the potential to awaken, being around others during the awakening period could increase the awakening probability with just a small trigger.
Since that was the Awakening Center’s job, they couldn’t turn away the companions of people who came saying they might have awakened.
“The test time may be delayed by one to three hours more than expected. Even if the scheduled test time ends, we will continue testing until tonight, so the afternoon team can come back later if they wish.”
Despite the staff’s persuasion, most people stayed put. With so many people holding their places, they worried their turn might never come.
No matter how much they re-announced the times, there were bound to be complaints. Lines became disorderly in various places, with people sitting on the ground or asking for drinks and whether there was a store.
The large open area in front of the center had fruit trees and large decorations, but they couldn’t provide shade for everyone. As the sun rose higher, people’s irritation only grew.
Seeing the need for a scapegoat, Jaeyoon stepped forward.
“Hello. I’m Esper Seo Jaeyoon, here to help with the second awakening test.”
“Oh! It’s Seo Jaeyoon!”
“Brother, can you really penetrate walls that are 1 meter thick?”
“He looks even more handsome in person!”
When Jaeyoon stepped forward, people called out to him from everywhere, and the atmosphere became excited. A middle-aged man who had come as a guardian because his children had begged him grumbled as his ears burned.
“Who is this young man that everyone’s making such a fuss about?”
“Dad, come on, it’s Seo Jaeyoon. One of the trio of Espers that Daesung is supporting.”
“Oh, the Kwon-Seo-Joo thing?”
“As expected, Dad’s memory is impressive.”
“Hmm, 30 years as a civil servant doesn’t accumulate for nothing.”
“Kwon-Seo-Joo” was a shortened term for Kwon Haeil, Seo Jaeyoon, and Joo Dojoon, taking the first character of their surnames. Fortunately, Kyun Jiho had not yet been officially revealed.
Though many people were saying different things, Jaeyoon could hear even the father and daughter’s whispered conversation. Thinking that Espers really weren’t like normal people, Jaeyoon added to the friendly atmosphere.
“We will be installing shade soon, and before that, staff will distribute bottled water.”
“Oh, you really know what you’re doing!”
“So handsome, Seo Jaeyoon!”
There were still some complaints after that, but since there were more people who came with family or friends than those who came alone, there was a mutual understanding. The Association’s quick response to minor issues also helped ease dissatisfaction.
Believing there wouldn’t be any problems until lunchtime in this atmosphere, Jaeyoon entered the lobby to take a breather. On the large electronic display prepared for today, text appeared with flashy effects.
<Yumaro> <Congratulations!>
The letter ‘A’ grew larger and smaller, asserting its presence, and the three characters of the name moved similarly.
“Wow, looks like an A-class appeared!”
“I wonder if my name will appear up there too?”
“I saw a C-class appear earlier too. Though the name was marked with asterisks.”
A-class Yumaro. Jaeyoon couldn’t help but smile at the name of the Esper he had most wanted to meet today.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
