Chapter 4
Steam rose from the meal prepared by the housekeeper who worked at Ji Yeohoon’s house.
When I asked why the mealtime was so early, I was told it was to allow the staff to leave earlier. It seemed like a considerate household that cared for its employees.
Since Yeohoon’s parents were an Esper and Guide couple with strong yet gentle personalities, Yeohoon appeared to be growing up the same way.
His behavior was polite, and the words he chose when speaking were often considerate.
Since young children typically imitate adults’ speech patterns, I could tell that Yeohoon had learned this way of speaking from those around him.
So why did he become like that 16 years later?
“I’m fine with these hyungs, Auntie. Don’t you need to go home? It’s Wednesday, so hyung doesn’t have academy classes today.”
“That won’t do. The Esper and Guide said they’ll be back soon, so young master, please eat your dinner.”
The driver, and this person called Auntie, both naturally used formal speech with him.
When I, possessing the body of a child, asked Yeohoon why adults spoke formally to him, he said it was a condition set by his parents.
Since both parents were high-level personnel with limited time to spend with their son, this condition was established to prevent issues with his character development. I almost blurted out, “If you grew up in a household like this, what on earth happened to make you turn out that way later?”
“Is the food alright for you two? I’m worried it might not suit your taste.”
“It’s delicious. I wish my house served food like this.”
“Me too.”
Yoon Cheong must have enjoyed it too, as he was scraping his almost-empty rice bowl with his spoon.
When asked if we wanted more rice, both Cheong and I nodded, and she took our bowls away with a smile.
On the table, there were meat side dishes, rolled egg omelets beautifully arranged on plates, and soup that looked mild enough for children’s palates.
Having grown-up memories, I naturally used chopsticks skillfully, but the other two picked up chopsticks following my lead, then put them down and stabbed the side dishes with forks.
“Suyoung hyung really seems good at everything.”
“Yeah. Seems like it. I want to find something he can’t do.”
“Let me know if you find anything.”
Why is the conversation going in that direction, you little brats?
Just as I was looking at them in disbelief, a bowl with less rice than before was placed in front of me.
I’d already finished one bowl, and I was told that too much would upset my stomach, so I should eat a smaller portion and ask for more if needed.
As I looked at Yeohoon with a complicated expression, wondering how someone could grow up so twisted among such nice people, the front door opened.
“Looks like Mom and Dad are home.”
No sooner had the housekeeper finished speaking than Yeohoon, still practically a baby, quickly climbed down from his chair and ran to the entrance.
“Dad, Mom! Welcome ho—”
“Our Yeohoon, did you run here after finishing your meal properly?”
“Ah…”
At his mother’s firm words, Yeohoon, who was about to throw himself into her arms, hesitated, then dashed back to the table.
Still, we should greet them. As I got down from my chair, Yoon Cheong looked back and forth between me and the adults before getting up as well.
“Hello.”
We bowed together and raised our heads.
I thought I should make a good impression since it was our first meeting… but when I raised my head and saw the Esper and Guide, my expression couldn’t help but freeze.
Why are these two appearing here again?
“Oh? Looks like they recognize our faces. What are your names, children?”
“They’re a bit taller than Yeohoon. Son, you need to grow a bit more.”
“I’m Yoon Cheong, and this is Moon Soo-young.”
“H-hello…”
Yoon Cheong was giving the reverse of the explanation I had given to Yeohoon.
Of course I would know them. Yeohoon’s parents were a famous couple.
Partly because they were a marriage between a B-class famous Esper and an S-class Guide, partly because they were well-known individuals, and moreover, the father who was a Guide had been a singer in his late teens. Above all, he was the most talked-about Guide since receiving his Guide classification.
To think these people were Yeohoon’s parents.
My prejudice was so strong that I never considered Yeohoon might have taken his mother’s surname rather than his father’s.
“I’m Ji Seon-young. This is Guide Oh Chan-seok.”
“Is it okay to explain like that to the children?”
“Is that so? Since we’re Yeohoon’s mom and dad, you can just call us mister and missus. Cheong and Soo-young, nice to meet you, and please visit often.”
“Yes.”
Yoon Cheong immediately nodded and sat down. I also sat in my chair, but I was confused.
S-class Guide Oh Chan-seok and B-class Esper Ji Seon-young.
Though married, knowing his own strong abilities, Oh Chan-seok didn’t become the imprinted Guide of his wife, B-class Esper Ji Seon-young, but instead helped any Esper in urgent situations, earning the title “Guide of Guides.” And Ji Seon-young, a unique healing-type Esper among our country’s predominantly attack-type Espers.
Twelve years from now, both would be the first to respond to an Esper rampage incident but would die after getting caught in the already-initiated rampage. Unfortunately, the scale was enormous as it was an A-class Esper’s rampage.
Later, it was announced that the rampaging Esper wasn’t A-class but possessed S-class power, causing another uproar.
To make matters worse, the rampaging Esper was Yoon Cheong, whose classification had been gradually revised from B to A to S. One of Yeohoon’s statements finally made sense:
“My reasons include you, Yoon Cheong.”
What month was that rampage? I couldn’t remember well except that I was 20 years old at the time. Since Yoon Cheong would have had a Guide from his guild then but still went on a rampage, I only vaguely heard that the cause was unknown.
So Yeohoon was getting revenge for his parents’ deaths.
Now I could somewhat understand the source of Yeohoon’s hostility toward Yoon Cheong.
While the continually echoing recording made my situation increasingly serious, everyone except me was extremely peaceful.
“Yeohoon, do you like these hyungs? You look like you had a lot of fun today.”
“I played computer games with the hyungs and watched them do their homework.”
“Oh~ Son, you watched the hyungs do homework~ You previewed school lessons~”
“What’s previewing?”
“It’s studying in advance. Since you saw what the hyungs were doing, you’ll be able to do homework like them later, right?”
“Yes.”
As Yeohoon chattered away and Yoon Cheong looked proud for showing the homework scene, Yeohoon’s parents, who had been looking at them adoringly, seemed concerned about my quiet demeanor and asked Yeohoon:
“Then what about Soo-young hyung?”
“Soo-young hyung is a genius!”
Why is that statement coming up again there, you brat?
I looked at him in surprise, and Yoon Cheong’s eyes were sparkling as he spoke excitedly.
“Like, earlier while playing Car Rider, he was beating people at higher levels in speed races!”
“He doesn’t get any of the teacher’s questions wrong. He got everything right on the dictation and taught me too.”
“He even read Mom’s award that was written in English for me!”
No, I clearly said I only knew how to read it but didn’t know what it meant, and you’re explaining it like I’m a real genius, you idiots!
I shook my head vigorously and waved my hands, but Yeohoon’s parents just smiled at me.
After studying my face for a while, they blinked with expressions that said, “Oh, could it be?”
“He’s handsome, isn’t he? The little one has quite a charming face.”
“Then I think it’s right… Soo-young, have you ever had a physical examination at kindergarten or school?”
“N-no…”
“I see… Then would you let me give you my number, and could you contact me when it’s time for your physical examination? Do you have a cell phone number?”
“No…? I don’t have one.”
“Then… Son, when you have your physical examination at school, will you call Dad right after it’s finished?”
“Yes!”
Since I attended a regular kindergarten rather than one affiliated with an elementary school, I hadn’t been included in the mandatory ability manifestation tests conducted at schools.
If you were identified as a potential Esper or Guide from an early age, you had to report to the government and undergo tests ranging from annually to weekly, depending on the student’s situation. I heard that during kindergarten, the manifestation genes weren’t easily detectable, so testing was done in elementary school when confirmation became possible. Whether this was due to adult circumstances or actual scientific limitations, I wasn’t sure.
Still, affiliated kindergartens conducted manifestation tests along with their elementary schools, so parents curious about their children’s status would deliberately enroll them there. This was how potential candidates were initially screened and continuously monitored. There were surprisingly many cases where children showed no signs during kindergarten but were identified as potential manifestations during elementary school tests.
Judging by Yeohoon’s parents’ reactions, it seemed Yeohoon had already been diagnosed as a potential Esper even before entering elementary school.
“It’s rare for Yeohoon to take to someone like this, so I wondered… Since it seems that way to Seon-young too, I think we’re right.”
“This Cheong here seems to match as well…”
“Especially seeing our son’s reaction.”
Yoon Cheong and Yeohoon looked up questioningly, but the adults just smiled and patted their heads.
Having roughly figured out the situation, I was the only one feeling awkward, rolling my eyes. Yeohoon’s parents gave me a knowing look and stared directly into my eyes.
“W-what is it…?”
“Please take care of him, Soo-young.”
“Our son, I mean. And look after this friend too.”
“Why me…? They’re doing fine on their own…”
It’s really hard to pretend not to know in front of adults who’ve already figured it out—or rather, it seems I’ve already been caught—but I tried anyway, and they nodded.
“Still, be sure to tell us when you have your physical examination. There’s something we need to tell the school.”
God, it looks like I’ve been branded as their designated Guide just because I understand these Esper kids.
Shit… They’re high-class, and I can’t even tell them I’m only expected to manifest as D-class…
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
