Chapter 78
What were the two of them talking about? A guide? It felt like he’d heard it somewhere before, but also like he hadn’t. Frowning at the ambiguity, it suddenly came to him like a revelation.
The other name for those with the special ability to awaken guardians.
He’d been told that while they were called pursuers at Yeongdeungpo Station, they were called pathfinders or guides at Gangnam Station. That meant Jody also had the same ability as Baek Rak. So that’s how he realized Seo Won was a guardian?
Seo Won looked at Jody with relief that it wasn’t his mistake.
He stopped five steps away, glanced at Baek Rak once, then turned his gaze back to Seo Won and slowly continued speaking.
“That’s right, I was a guide. Not anymore though.”
“…Not anymore?”
“A guide can only awaken one guardian. Once the job is done, the ability naturally disappears.”
Seo Won unconsciously looked at Baek Rak.
So he was Baek Rak’s first and last… guardian? Learning this fact made him feel strange somehow. Perhaps this kind of relationship was also a first for Baek Rak.
‘No, but he seemed skilled for that to be the case?’
He stared intently at Baek Rak, uncertain. Even while feeling his gaze, Baek Rak didn’t take his eyes off Jody. Only then did he realize this wasn’t the time for such concerns and turned his head back.
Jody looked between him and Baek Rak alternately and smiled lightly.
“Seems too late to offer advice.”
“What advice?”
“Something like mindset?”
He was explaining, but it didn’t make sense. When Seo Won looked puzzled, Jody plopped down on the bench and said.
“There are various ways to awaken a guardian.”
“…Various ways?”
“There’s a method of awakening them while they’re turning into a turncoat by feeding them creature flesh, and there’s also a method of awakening them simply by having relations once. When a guide sees someone who will become a guardian, the method automatically comes to mind. The problem is that the method is different every time.”
Did something scary just flow out casually? Seo Won stared blankly at Jody.
“Mine was simpler than expected. Though it took some time.”
“……”
“Aren’t you going to ask?”
At Jody’s prompting, he opened his mouth as if bewitched.
“…What kind was it?”
“I had to transfer my energy to the guardian for ten hours a day for one year.”
“Every day?”
“Every day.”
Ten hours a day for 365 days – it was harder work than expected.
But thinking differently, awakening over a long period with a safe method might be safer than awakening instantly with a dangerous method. Unlike him and Baek Rak having to search for hunters, it would be resolved with time.
“It’s been about two months since I finished the awakening that way…? So we’re not in a situation where we need a guardian right now. So you don’t need to be on guard.”
Jody earnestly expressed that he was harmless. Even while sharing confidential information about Gangnam Station Shelter. However, it was of no use to Baek Rak. His eyes still held coldness.
Jody sighed as if he couldn’t help it and changed the subject.
“From what I can see, you need another hunter’s ability, right?”
“……”
“Either fire ability or the rare ability of protective barriers. It’s one of the two. That’s why you came to our shelter.”
That was beyond being perceptive – it was no different from seeing right through people. Seo Won muttered in dismay.
“You knew everything…”
“When you had that argument with our supervisor, I only suspected, but I became certain when I saw the protective device around you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You had to be protected, and what needed to be found had to be found. So when he left your side, he installed a protective device. A pretty dangerous one. If you left your spot, an alarm would go off, and if someone moved with you, that person would be attacked. If it had been an ordinary person, they probably would have just died?”
During Jody’s explanation, Seo Won looked at Baek Rak in bewilderment. He had installed such a thing without explaining it to him?
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
“I would have done the same in the same situation. Rather than just leaving the guys approaching alone, it’s better to kill them cleanly.”
“What kind of thing to say…”
“What’s as important as a guardian? Looking at you, you have a surprisingly soft side.”
Though it was unfair, he couldn’t really say no, so he quietly shut his mouth. Even Jody, who he thought was gentle, was saying such things. He really did seem to be soft.
‘…Really not to be taken lightly.’
Seo Won pressed his forehead and swallowed dryly.
“Anyway, what ability do you need? If it’s a protective barrier, it’s impossible right now. The administrator hasn’t recovered yet.”
“If we said we needed the administrator’s ability, how would you help?”
Even with a fire-type hunter right in front of him, Baek Rak asked as if testing his goodwill.
“I’d have to visit when the administrator is sleeping. Our administrator thinks you came to meet a spy you planted here. Unlike me, he’s greedy, so if he finds out Yoon Seo Won is a guardian, he probably… won’t let you leave here.”
“Greed… Isn’t it natural for an administrator to be obsessed with guardians? Rather, your behavior like this is suspicious. You should know that better yourself.”
“Hmm… That’s true. But it can’t be helped. I have no lingering attachments to this world anymore.”
Seo Won, who had been quietly listening to Baek Rak and Jody’s conversation, suddenly poked his head out. No lingering attachments? He wasn’t thinking bad thoughts, was he?
Jody grinned looking at the flustered Seo Won.
“I mean I’ve finished everything I had to do. It’s not that I’m turning my back on the world. Since I’m alive, I have to keep living.”
“…What’s that supposed to mean.”
“Just, that’s how it is.”
Though he was giggling, nowhere in Jody’s appearance could any sign of joy be seen. It was as if something was lacking.
“What happened?”
“What happened? I finished my duty as a guide, and Gangnam Station became safe. Isn’t that perfect?”
“……”
Why wasn’t someone who said it was perfect feeling proud?
If Seo Won had been in the same situation as Jody, he would have been very happy and relieved at accomplishing such a big task. Because he would have been able to keep people safe.
However, he couldn’t feel that from Jody at all. While people’s dispositions differ so they couldn’t all be the same as him, at least some positive aspect should be visible.
“Why? Do I look strange to you?”
When Seo Won remained silent, Jody tilted his head. Looking at him staring with a face that truly didn’t understand, Seo Won sighed and slowly opened his mouth.
“…It’s not that, but you’re not happy at all. So what’s perfect about it?”
“Well…”
Jody trailed off as if some thought occurred to him. Then after rolling his eyes for a while, he looked between Baek Rak and Seo Won alternately. Then, seeing Baek Rak looking at him coldly, he smiled lightly and soon turned his gaze to Seo Won.
“I thought this: it would have been good if I hadn’t been a guide. Even now that I’ve finished my duty, that thought hasn’t changed. I thought I could control everything rationally, but I couldn’t.”
“What are you talking about?”
Looking at Seo Won frowning as if he couldn’t understand, Jody smiled faintly.
“Of course you wouldn’t know. Only ‘we’ can understand this.”
“We? People like you and Baek Rak?”
“Yeah. It differs depending on the awakening method, but somehow I feel like I’ll become the same type as that guy.”
Seo Won eventually gave up trying to understand and shook his head. Since it was something only they knew, even if he asked more, he’d obviously only hear puzzling words like now.
Looking at Baek Rak, his face had become scarier than before. As if he’d expected this reaction, Jody still had a smiling face.
“Relax your expression. You know to some extent too.”
“You sure spout a lot of nonsense.”
“Well, shouldn’t we wait and see about that?”
“Stop the useless talk and just hold out your hand.”
“Ah, what? You needed me, not the administrator? Then why did you test me? Was I that untrustworthy? That’s too much for someone who even told you secrets.”
Though Jody grumbled, he obediently held out his hand. Then Baek Rak strode over and grabbed Jody’s arm firmly.
When Jody, who had been forced to stand up, looked flustered, Baek Rak smiled coldly and said.
“That’s not my concern. I’m borrowing a room.”
“…Huh?”
“Because someone dislikes doing it outside.”
He then waved keys in front of Jody’s eyes. Belatedly realizing his keys had been stolen, Jody searched his pockets, but of course nothing was there. While he stood dazed, Yoon Seo Won pressed his forehead and muttered.
“That crazy bastard… saying all sorts of things.”
As soon as Baek Rak copied the fire ability, he mercilessly swatted away Jody’s arm. Then he immediately threw the keys to Seo Won.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
