I Wish They’d Just Leave Me Alone 80

Chapter 80

At first, I thought I might be remembering incorrectly.

But that couldn’t be right—if Yoon Cheong had stopped at B-class, how could he possibly have been able to stop Ji Yeohoon, who was S-class?

Ji Yeohoon was steadily growing stronger.

“They say A-class is confirmed.”

“Really?”

I already knew from overhearing the researchers just now, but I didn’t want to dampen Ji Yeohoon’s excitement, so I just listened quietly.

Ability users had to undergo regular examinations at their guilds.

The examinations at school were approximate assessments, roughly equivalent to the physical examinations at regular schools.

Guilds conducted thorough examinations not only for their own members but also for ability users who weren’t affiliated but could help with Gate raids, under the pretext of accurately identifying them.

“They said if I keep progressing like this, S-class might be possible. It’s a bit unstable, but they said not to worry because it’s just from the upward progression.”

Ji Yeohoon, who quickly grabbed the clothes I offered and slipped his hands into the sleeves, didn’t seem much different from before the examination.

“Congratulations. You’re becoming an S-class Esper, which is rare even in Korea.”

I should congratulate where congratulations are due. I congratulated Ji Yeohoon while struggling to maintain a nonchalant expression for Yoon Cheong.

Meanwhile, they said Yoon Cheong’s abilities, even if they improved significantly from now, would fall slightly short of A-class…

I was extremely confused that Yoon Cheong’s ability level, which was becoming stable, was different from what I remembered. Could there be such a big difference?

“It’s not confirmed yet, right? It could go up more.”

“Yeah. Or it could stop here. The numbers are good, but still a bit disappointing.”

“That you’re B-class?”

“Yeah.”

“Telekinesis is incredibly powerful even at B-class. A-class and above telekinesis users are rare even internationally. And there are no S-class ones.”

Ji Yeohoon, who had been listening to my conversation with Yoon Cheong, admonished him with a face that said he was worrying about nothing.

The numerical rating wasn’t an absolute measure of strength.

Espers could contribute in Gates even at D-class, and C-class or higher could participate in higher-level Gate raids.

But since it represented how long one could use their ability, similar to a Guide’s bigar, it was understandable why Yoon Cheong felt disappointed.

As the rank increased, Espers had better stamina and speed compared to lower ranks.

That’s why Espers who directly confronted or attacked monsters inside Gates were often chosen from the highest ranks possible.

Buff-type or healing-type Espers were always welcomed because there weren’t many of them. Since Ji Yeohoon really seemed like he would rise to S-class, everyone in the laboratory applauded him.

As Ji Yeohoon had mentioned, there were no S-class telekinesis users. They say the stronger the ability, the harder it is to use it delicately.

Espers’ bodies would hurt the longer they used their abilities, so for telekinesis users who are rated higher for being more delicate, it was naturally more difficult.

However, since telekinesis itself is more powerful than other Espers’ abilities and can be used in various ways, unlike other ability users, even E-class telekinesis users sometimes participated in Gate raids.

“Hyung, there, there.”

“Speak properly. Pointing and saying ‘there’ doesn’t tell me anything.”

“If you don’t understand, that’s your problem.”

“Don’t fight over a raised shirt collar… Do you two really fight over such things?”

Remembering Yoon Cheong, who was known as the only S-class telekinesis user before the regression, gave me mixed feelings.

Yoon Cheong, who had made a name for himself with precise control despite being S-class.

Was this happening because of something I changed?

Or was something wrong somewhere that was preventing Yoon Cheong from gaining greater power?

I thought the guys had become this close because of how I changed the future, but on the other hand, I felt frustrated thinking that Yoon Cheong might be worse off because of me.

The more things change the better, but not in this direction…

“Why the expression?”

Yoon Cheong, who had been fixing his top, approached and raised his hand.

He placed his hand on my forehead, tapping it lightly with a puzzled expression.

“You’re not sick. No fever either.”

“Sooyoung hyung, are you feeling unwell? Why do you look so troubled?”

Ji Yeohoon also approached and grabbed my cheeks with both hands.

Your concern is nice, but it’s excessive, you guys.

“Both of you, let go…”

“No way. You’re too cute.”

“Oh, come on!”

I turned my head back and forth, and the two laughed and removed their hands.

I glared, thinking they were making fun of me for being smaller than them, but the two actually looked happy, saying my expression had returned to normal.

No, I’m annoyed, so my expression shouldn’t be improving.

“It’s okay to be angry or irritated. Just be like that.”

“I prefer when hyung smiles. Don’t listen to Yoon Cheong hyung, listen to me, hyung.”

“Hah… Ji Yeohoon, you crazy bastard.”

“Yoon Cheong’s being an ass to me again.”

“What the hell, you punk?”

“Your language is getting intense. Stop fighting.”

The researchers are here. Noticing my dead expression, the guys’ voices abruptly stopped.

I wanted to run away immediately from the researchers who looked interested, as if watching a comedy.

“Have you three always gotten along well since you were young?”

“I’ll acknowledge it with Moon Soo-young, but not with him.”

“I’ll acknowledge it with Soo-young hyung, but not with Yoon Cheong.”

“…”

Why are they both using me as an excuse?

I had long noticed that the guys had become more talkative.

I also knew they were pretending to bicker on purpose.

Probably because of my expression.

Though their actions were transparent to me, I was grateful.

They were fighting more in front of me, being noisier, and talking to me more to keep me from thinking about other things.

Still, I wouldn’t say thank you.

After spending so much time together and going through so much raising you two, do I have to thank you for every little thing?

…Actually, I decided not to say it because I was a bit embarrassed by how much comfort I was drawing from them.

* * *

After leaving the guild, we headed to Ji Yeohoon’s house.

Tomorrow was Yu-min’s first birthday party.

I could have gone home, but mom would be busy.

After arriving at Ji Yeohoon’s house and finishing dinner, things were as usual.

Not like our usual at school, but no different from before we entered the dormitory.

Unable to give up gaming, the two were pounding on their keyboards in front of the computer while I rolled around on the bed with my phone.

“Fog. Did you hear that?”

“I heard it. Sounds like something big is coming. Can’t see it on the map. Watch your back.”

“OK.”

The guys, who seemed to have been playing Legend League for a while, were now playing a different game.

After reaching Master rank and above, they kept meeting the same people each time they played, so they switched to a different game.

Why aren’t they playing that shooting game they seemed to enjoy so much…?

Ji Yeohoon asked if I wanted to try, but even though it looked fun, I shook my head because the rapidly rotating view made me dizzy.

Anyway, I had something to ask my parents, so I sent them a message and was just fooling around on my phone.

I quickly touched an alert that appeared on my phone screen, then almost threw the phone.

No, that won’t do. Even if I’ve made some money lately, I shouldn’t break it.

I hurriedly made a call and held the phone to my ear.

“Mom! Can’t we change the hanbok?”

At my urgent voice, the two who were focused on their game turned their heads.

“I don’t care about the color, but not that pink hanbok…”

– Why~ It’s cute. My son has fair skin, so it suits you well!

“No, but it has too many floral patterns!”

The first birthday party is for Yu-min, not for me, right?

I was taken aback by the vibrant floral pink hanbok.

Mom, this is really not it! You might think your son looks pretty, but others will think it’s ridiculous!

Mom laughed for a long time at my horrified voice.

She even started coughing, so I briefly hung up to tell her to drink some water.

– That’s a children’s hanbok. If you look closely, the arms are short.

“Ah…”

I had fallen for my mom’s bait.

“Then what am I wearing tomorrow?”

– A skirt?

“Stop joking…”

– I’m serious. It’s a pretty skirt, so look forward to it.

At my sigh, mom consoled me, saying, “Okay, okay. I’ll stop teasing you.”

“That’s not what I was calling about…”

– Then what did you call for, son?

“The first birthday party is tomorrow evening, right? But you messaged me to come directly at 10 am, so I called because I was curious.”

– We need to change clothes, take snap photos, get an explanation about the first birthday party… It will be tight. We have to get dressed up. Do your hair, and Soo-young, you need a bit of makeup too.

“Yu-min is the main character. Do I really need to wear makeup?”

– My son is the main character’s big brother, aren’t you?

That’s true, but I wondered what the point was of me getting dressed up. However, mom was firm.

– Dad is doing it too, so you just do it.

“Dad is too?”

– These are photos that will last a lifetime~ How nice would it be if we look pretty. We’ll be filming videos throughout the party too. It’s so important. Mom, Dad, and your little sibling will all look pretty—how can you be the only one not done up?

I was persuaded by mom’s words.

I suppose for my only little sister’s once-in-a-lifetime first birthday party, the photos should come out well.

When I nodded obediently and replied, mom hung up with a smile.

I feel like I’ve been tricked a bit, but it was already water under the bridge.

Perhaps because they weren’t concentrating while listening to my call, the word “LOSE” appeared on both of their monitors.

“You guys lost?”

“Makeup?”

“She says I have to.”

“Wearing a pink hanbok with flower patterns?”

“That’s not mine.”

“Hyung will look pretty though, right?”

Stop teasing me. I gave an eye-curse to the guys sitting in their chairs, looking at me and laughing.