The next day.
With Hyun Tae-oh out of the house to meet Professor Myung Jun-su, Yoon Do-jae, Beom Do-il, Min Yu-hyun, and Lee Jun-hyung gathered at his home.
Beom Do-il and Yoon Do-jae went outside to scout for potential spies lurking nearby and to double-check that the Defensive Barrier was properly in place.
Meanwhile, Chi-yu shared with Yu-hyun and Jun-hyung the telepathic message he had received from the Bureau Chief the day before, asking them to keep it from Tae-oh.
Both men were stunned by what they heard.
“What, has that crazy old man gone senile!?”
Min Yu-hyun, in particular, was furious. He said it was disgusting—terrifying, even—that such reckless words could come from the mouth of the Central Bureau Chief.
What shocked them most was the Bureau Chief’s chilling perspective on Tae-oh’s “usefulness.”
Chi-yu had been equally horrified, so he understood completely.
“But… shouldn’t Tae-oh know about this?” Jun-hyung asked anxiously.
Chi-yu shook his head sharply.
“No. If he finds out, he’ll refuse the new drug for sure.”
“That’s just because he thinks he can handle it,” Jun-hyung countered.
“No. You don’t understand his condition. He could go into Rampage any day, any moment—he’s living like a ticking time bomb. What he needs most right now is the new drug. If he finds out the truth, he’ll reject it, and it’ll never reach him.”
Chi-yu’s voice trembled, his eyes glistening, leaving Yu-hyun and Jun-hyung unsettled. They quickly comforted him, assuring him they understood. As they calmed him, Yu-hyun suddenly perked up, as though struck by inspiration.
“What if we use PairBorn?”
“PairBorn…?” Jun-hyung frowned in confusion.
Chi-yu also looked puzzled at first, then realization dawned and his eyes went wide.
“You mean broadcast it!?”
Yu-hyun nodded.
***
The plan they devised was simple but daring:
- Chi-yu would agree to actively participate in the experiments in exchange for the new drug, easing the Bureau and lab’s suspicions.
- To keep Catdog safe—since it was the medium used to siphon Chi-yu’s ability—they would hide it away. This would buy them time and protect the creature, so it had to stay hidden as long as possible.
- Before the experiment began, Chi-yu would activate the recording beam and broadcast everything live on PairBorn.
- Yoon Do-jae and Beom Do-il would stay with the fan who had given Yu-hyun the recording beam. If it looked like Chi-yu was in danger during the broadcast, they would break in and rescue him.
When Yoon Do-jae and Beom Do-il heard the plan, they still thought that Tae-oh should be told. But Chi-yu was adamant: Tae-oh must never find out. If he did, Chi-yu wouldn’t even make it past the lab entrance.
The new drug was too important—he had to secure it.
Thanks to Tae-oh’s help, Professor Myung Jun-su was able to meet Yu-hyun’s fan and began working on coordinates that would allow teleportation directly into N Building.
Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—those coordinates required Tae-oh’s energy wavelength. As a result, Tae-oh spent much of his time at Jun-su’s lab.
As Chi-yu requested, Yoon Do-jae and Beom Do-il regularly updated Tae-oh, assuring him Chi-yu was safe. Relieved, Tae-oh focused all his effort on helping Jun-su’s research. Because of his daytime exhaustion, whenever Tae-oh returned home at night, he fell asleep almost immediately.
Chi-yu told him he wanted to temporarily leave Catdog with Yoon Do-jae. To cover his tracks, he added that Catdog had been acting strangely.
“Strangely?”
“Yeah. Maybe because it was created to drain my ability, but… lately it feels off.”
“In what way?”
“Just… a feeling. Honestly, it might just be me being paranoid. It’s not that I dislike Catdog. I love it—I really do. I just want to be apart for a little while.”
It was a lie, and it weighed heavily on him, but it was the only way to protect Catdog without Tae-oh realizing.
As expected, Tae-oh, eyes heavy with sleep, simply replied, “If you’re uneasy, it’s better to stay apart. I’ll tell Do-jae.”
“And… just in case, could you set a Defensive Barrier around Do-jae’s place too? The Bureau or lab might try to take Catdog…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect it.”
Chi-yu nodded, guilt tugging at him.
“Sorry… because of me, you’ve got twice as much to worry about.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? You come first, always. Whatever you want, I’ll do it.”
Moved, Chi-yu hugged him tightly around the neck. But the golden glow in Tae-oh’s eyes still haunted him. No matter how well he hid it, Tae-oh must have been in pain with every breath.
That agony had haunted him since childhood. With the new drug, he could finally be freed. His eyes would return to their original deep black. Chi-yu ached to get the drug and give him peace.
Oblivious, Tae-oh stroked his lover’s hair gently. Then, unexpectedly, a confession spilled from Chi-yu’s lips.
“I really, really like you.”
Tae-oh’s eyes curved into crescent moons.
“Just like?”
“I love you.”
At those words, Tae-oh held him tighter and answered in kind.
“I love you.”
“I truly love you.”
They clung to each other, exchanging breathless whispers of love, while Catdog yawned lazily beside them, curling up in contentment.
***
Everything seemed to be going according to plan.
Catdog was safely hidden at Do-jae’s home, and soon after, the Bureau Chief summoned Chi-yu to the lab.
When told to bring Catdog, Chi-yu claimed that Tae-oh had hidden it somewhere impossible to find. The Bureau Chief looked troubled, but the lab director reassured him—there were plenty of specimens besides Number 39.
The Bureau Chief quickly agreed. As long as they had Kang Chi-yu, the rest was secondary.
After all, years of enormous funding and effort were about to pay off at last. Catdog might have been the most advanced subject, but Number 38 would do. The core body that could generate mutant beasts like the one Tae-oh had destroyed was already 90% complete, built with a vast reserve of Ridune. By tomorrow it would be finished. Everything was on track. Catdog’s absence hardly mattered.
What mattered most was bringing Chi-yu into the lab.
The Bureau Chief told him to come to the lab entrance on the agreed date, without Catdog if necessary.
Chi-yu agreed, waiting until the telepathic link cut off. Then a thought struck him.
Wait. How exactly are you giving the drug to me?
—The drug will be given directly to Esper Hyun Tae-oh. Don’t worry.
And if I go to the lab, what guarantee is there that he’ll actually get it?
—Why would you need a guarantee? I said I’ll give it to him.
And why should I believe you?
—What?
Give it to him first. Otherwise, I’m not going.
—Guide Kang Chi-yu, you seem to be mistaken…
If Tae-oh doesn’t get the drug, he’ll be in danger anyway. And if that happens, I have no reason or purpose to live. So whether the world burns or not—it won’t matter to me.
— ……
Give him the drug first.
—And why should I trust you? What if you take the drug and run?
Then let’s give it to a third party—someone we both trust.
—A third party?
Someone reliable, discreet, who’ll hand the drug straight to Tae-oh.
—And who would that be?
Guide Min Yu-hyun.
Chi-yu deliberately named Yu-hyun, not Do-jae or the others, because the Bureau Chief trusted him most. And he was right. At the mention of Yu-hyun, the Bureau Chief immediately agreed.
Yu-hyun wasn’t the type to betray secrets. His immense pride as a Guide meant he would never allow Espers and Guides to be treated as anything less than human.
—Fine. Bring Guide Min Yu-hyun with you. I’ll explain the details separately. Guide Kang Chi-yu, just make sure to hand the drug you get from him over to Esper Hyun Tae-oh.
And if the drug’s switched or worthless?
—Impossible. That’s the pride of the lab. If you’re still worried, bring an analyzer and test it at the entrance. I’ll also give you Tae-oh’s specific formula.
Understood. I’ll wait for the formula.
—I’ll contact you again in two hours.
The Bureau Chief cut the link abruptly.
Chi-yu exhaled deeply, dragging his hands down his face.
Telepathy drained both sender and receiver, and enduring the Bureau Chief’s calls always left him exhausted. But he was resolved: once he secured Tae-oh’s drug, he’d expose the Bureau and the lab live, making sure they could never carry out such atrocities again.
***
Together with Yu-hyun—who would receive the drug at the entrance—Chi-yu headed for the lab. In case the lab called, Chi-yu had told Tae-oh beforehand that he planned to nap, so his silence wouldn’t raise suspicion.
Since Tae-oh was in the habit of calling from Jun-su’s lab to check on him, Chi-yu needed a cover. Unable to teleport themselves, they traveled by car. Though teleportation accessories were an option, the Bureau Chief had forbidden them—too much traceable evidence.
It was also to prepare for the possibility that Tae-oh might erupt when he realized Chi-yu was gone.
The Bureau provided a car, and Yu-hyun, who could drive, took the wheel, following the navigation toward the lab. The directions were unusually detailed, leading them straight to the destination.
As they neared the end, Chi-yu’s unease grew. He had done all this for Tae-oh’s new drug, but there was no telling if he would survive. He regretted not telling Tae-oh more often how much he loved him. For a moment, he even considered calling, just to hear his voice. But knowing Tae-oh’s sharp instincts, he abandoned the idea.
He bitterly regretted falling asleep so quickly the night before, after two exhausting rounds, leaving no chance for words.
“Nervous?” Yu-hyun asked, glancing at him as he drove.
“…A little.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you die.”
Startled, Chi-yu turned to look at him. Yu-hyun kept his eyes fixed on the road, continuing evenly.
“If you died, that bastard would probably blow up the whole planet.”
Chi-yu let out a small laugh. He was grateful—Yu-hyun was clearly trying to lighten the mood.
“You’ve got the recording beam, right? Don’t forget—you must press it.”
Chi-yu nodded, reaching under his shirt to show the crystal orb recording beam hanging from a chain around his neck. It was a special device crafted by Yu-hyun’s uncle, able to record even through clothing.
Yu-hyun gave a curt nod and returned his eyes to the road. But the very next moment, something ahead made him slam on the brakes.
SCREECH—!!
The tires screamed, shrieking against the asphalt.
Startled, Chi-yu whipped his head forward—
—and his eyes widened in shock.
Standing in the middle of the road, glaring straight at him with a furious expression, was Hyun Tae-oh.
“Oh, hell. Why the hell is he here?” Yu-hyun muttered.
