Chapter 10
Even with just a brief moment of Guiding, the bleeding stopped and the headache subsided. Haegang, looking somewhat tired, released his hand and went outside the meeting room, saying he needed some fresh air.
Dohyun bowed his head and looked at his hand. He felt something transferring through his hand. But strangely enough, the image of his body being submerged in deep water came more intensely. The energy transfer was felt through his hand, but the imagery touched his entire body—a peculiar sensation. As if yesterday’s brief hand contact was merely child’s play.
He knew he had received a very small amount of Guiding yesterday. But it hadn’t felt this strong. Feeling somewhat entranced, Dohyun spoke to Chan with a slightly subdued voice.
“Earlier… what was that about?”
Dohyun found the situation difficult to understand. The two had clearly exchanged sharp words. Though Dohyun didn’t understand the content, afterward, Haegang quietly provided Guiding. He couldn’t see the correlation between the energy accumulated in his body and Haegang’s pained expression.
“That’s also a custom. You’re an Esper and that person is a Guide, right?”
“I… guess?”
“Normally, after confirming the matching rate, if it’s not dangerous, they provide Guiding to show what kind of Guiding vigor they have. Since Espers basically live with pain, it’s to help them feel a little more comfortable. It’s like a brief greeting from a Guide to an Esper. Especially since your matching rate was very high, right? Then, since the probability of a dedicated contract is high, they should have done more. They need to show their image.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s right. But seeing how you didn’t properly receive Guiding, it means they only sent the minimal vigor needed for the matching rate test. When you suddenly receive Guiding after not having any for a while, your body will feel unwell. If you hadn’t received any at all, it might be different, but because you received a little yesterday, there’s a higher chance that the pain rushed in like a dam breaking.”
Different Guides have different vigor characteristics. That’s why when receiving Guiding, Espers might feel like wind is blowing, or experience a tingling sensation like electricity, or a cool image like ice.
Dohyun reflected on Haegang’s recent Guiding. Haegang’s image was water. It wasn’t like dipping feet in a stream or soaking in a bathtub, but like a deep, wide, massive amount of water completely enveloping the body. It wasn’t cold water, nor was it hot. Neither warm nor lukewarm… As Dohyun continued his thoughts, he found himself wanting to experience that refreshing sensation of vigor again. It was unexpectedly comfortable and reassuring, to the point where it was almost uncomfortable.
“It’s like a sort of marketing. He’s a freelance Guide, after all. ‘I can provide this much Guiding, and you can feel this comfortable, so let’s make a contract.’ That kind of thing. But the Association already informed us. Despite the high matching rate, judging from the lack of movement in the gauge when receiving Guiding, it seems Esper Baek Dohyun didn’t properly receive Guiding.”
“Ah…”
“But he still came to make a Guiding contract. Of course, there’s the fact that you made a mistake because you weren’t part of a guild and didn’t know the circumstances, but not providing proper Guiding despite a high matching rate is too much.”
Chan grumbled.
“Not knowing that, I thought it was fortunate that a Guide had come. Our guild is also in a situation where assigning a Guide to you is being delayed for various reasons. The higher the class of Esper, the more energy they need, so if Guiding is delayed once, the fatigue doubles. For both Espers and Guides. That’s why both the Association and we thought it would be better to establish a contract quickly.”
He said that because Haegang was a freelance Guide, he was already aware of this situation. In other words, he was also at fault. It wasn’t just Dohyun who had made a mistake.
“But for such a situation, wasn’t he speaking too harshly? What would he have done if I said I didn’t want to contract with him, after he spoke like that…”
“That wouldn’t be possible, would it?”
Dohyun looked puzzled as Chan shook his head. Why not?
“I told you earlier. From what I’ve heard, if he doesn’t make a dedicated Guiding contract, he’ll be in a disadvantageous situation for various reasons.”
“Why?”
“Somyeong is truly remarkable, I see.”
Haegang’s low voice resonated. Though Dohyun had tried his best not to be conscious of Haegang’s pressure, he couldn’t help but be startled when suddenly hearing his voice without any prior indication. Cold sweat formed, and his clenched fist tightened. The coldly piercing low voice was actually a bit frightening.
“So that’s what it means to be Korea’s number one guild?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t mean anything. I’m just surprised that a mere employee of the guild knows all about a freelance Guide’s circumstances. I suppose that means the guild manages information well.”
Hearing the sarcastic tone mixed in his voice, Dohyun retraced the words. A mere employee of the guild, knowing information. Perhaps the hidden message was a questioning of ‘how dare you know and speak about my situation?’
Though he knew it would be better to stay quiet, he was tired of these situations constantly occurring. He just wanted to go back and rest. Dohyun pulled on Chan’s sleeve, who was about to say something, and shook his head. Noticing Dohyun’s intention not to care anymore, Chan sighed and gave a casual response.
“Yes, that’s how it turned out.”
As the argument that was about to unfold disappeared, Haegang also closed his mouth.
“You need to be sensitive to it too.”
“To what?”
“The pain.”
Espers determined the necessity of Guiding by the intensity of pain. Like ordinary people, Espers also couldn’t fully exert their original abilities when their bodies weren’t well. While the physical body itself might not hurt, if the accumulated power couldn’t smoothly flow out, the condition would worsen, leading to runaway and potentially death.
“Then, like when blood comes out again—”
“It’s too late to contact me at that point.”
Interrupting Dohyun’s words, Haegang, who was sitting in front, made an exasperated expression. Somehow feeling scolded, Dohyun pressed his lips together.
“There’s research indicating that an Esper’s pain maintains and grows in a stepped pattern. But energy accumulates steadily in the body. The more energy accumulates, the more time and amount of Guiding is needed. If bleeding has already started, it means it’s already quite late.”
“Ah…”
“Are you generally insensitive to pain?”
Dohyun couldn’t answer properly. Wasn’t that one of the main reasons his friends nagged him even before he manifested as an Esper?
‘Hey, hey, Bbakdo. If you’re going to collapse, don’t do it here—go to the nurse’s office or go home! I won’t carry you!’
‘You lunatic, do you want to spend the money you earned from part-time jobs after you’re dead? Should I bury it with you when you die? No, I’ll just bury you right now. That would be easier for me, for everyone else, and for the world.’
‘Wow… you’re stubborn, so stubborn. Write your will in advance. Write that you’ll give all your earned money to me. I’ll put about 1% of it in your coffin. If you find that wasteful, take care of your body, you stupid bastard.’
‘Bbakdo. You’re standing with one foot in the afterlife. If you lose your balance just a bit, you’ll die right away.’
Wasn’t that it? Or was it swearing disguised as nagging? I clearly remember them being concerned, but why do I only remember being cursed at? Dohyun’s eyes lost their light as he recalled his friends’ nagging.
“Even if you’re generally insensitive to pain, don’t you usually know when your body feels worse than usual…?”
Dohyun shifted his gaze at Haegang’s words. Even Chan, who was sitting beside him, couldn’t make excuses this time. Haegang’s words were cut off by their reactions. ‘Are you serious?’ It was as if Haegang’s inner voice was echoing in the quiet meeting room. Soon, he sighed and spoke.
“…I’ll just contact you several times. Please respond unless you’re busy.”
“Yes…”
“Esper Baek Dohyun probably doesn’t want to receive Guiding from an unwanted Guide either, which is unfortunate.”
While he himself hadn’t properly provided the customary Guiding, he was acting as if Dohyun was entirely at fault. Sulking, Dohyun replied.
“It’s not that I dislike it…”
“…Let’s say that’s true. Then I’ll see you at the guild tomorrow. Thank you for your time.”
While maintaining proper etiquette as if the confrontation had never happened, Haegang continued to be sarcastic until the end. It seemed like the future would be quite challenging. Someone who disliked him enough to ignore the “custom” would still be providing Guiding. Of course, Dohyun disliked him too. Anyway, the only option was to keep as much distance as possible.
As Haegang left, Chan frowned.
“Why did you stop me?”
“There’s nothing good that would come from fighting more.”
“Just yielding like that won’t benefit you either, man. Besides, that comment earlier was directed at me, and I was going to snap back.”
“Ah, sorry about that.”
“That’s fine. Save the number on the contract.”
“Okay.”
“Starting tomorrow, you’ll be receiving Guiding, so you’ll be coming and going from the guild. Really, you need to be more sensitive to your physical condition from now on. Don’t just casually overlook it.”
He couldn’t bring himself to say that he understood that.
‘Seonwoo, come here.’
Hadn’t taking care of oneself been difficult for quite a long time already?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
