What happens inside the gate? What kinds of monsters are there, and how do Espers deal with them? How difficult is it for Espers?
Lim Haeyul had never considered these questions before, as dealing with such matters was seen as a natural duty for Espers. However, these thoughts suddenly occupied his mind.
After Cha Jae-woo entered the car, the guiding session lasted for an entire hour. Lim Haeyul barely endured it, and as soon as his mana was completely depleted, he lost consciousness. He had just woken up in his own bed.
‘Cha Jae-woo…’
Lim Haeyul’s first thought upon waking was not about his own exhaustion but about Cha Jae-woo. Despite having fainted and regained consciousness, the memory of Cha Jae-woo’s intense, fluctuating energy remained vivid.
Although Cha Jae-woo’s voice and expression seemed normal, Lim Haeyul could not ignore the fact that Cha Jae-woo was not in a good state. Cha Jae-woo appeared outwardly calm, but Lim Haeyul was certain that he was suffering. The intensity of Cha Jae-woo’s energy and the state of the Black Mass they encountered during the guiding session confirmed this.
Lim Haeyul had always believed that his guiding was very effective for Cha Jae-woo and assumed that Cha Jae-woo’s condition was stable. Perhaps Cha Jae-woo thought the same, having lived with this condition for so long that he considered it normal.
However, Lim Haeyul now realized that this was not the case. An Esper whose abilities could easily spiral out of control could not be considered stable. Something needed to be done. This thought drove Lim Haeyul to overcome his fear and stand before Cha Jae-woo’s door. Although he hesitated, Cha Jae-woo invited him in before he could change his mind.
“Um… Are you feeling alright?” Lim Haeyul asked.
He expected to find Cha Jae-woo resting in bed, but instead, Cha Jae-woo had just finished showering. Despite the size of the Black Mass they had encountered earlier, Cha Jae-woo was not resting.
Lim Haeyul’s concern was overshadowed by Cha Jae-woo’s question, “What about you?”
Lim Haeyul was taken aback. He felt a mix of emotions—surprise that Cha Jae-woo was concerned about him, and a slight disappointment that it was probably more about his role as a Guide than personal worry.
“I’m fine.” Lim Haeyul replied, though Cha Jae-woo showed no particular reaction. Cha Jae-woo turned away, toweling his wet hair.
Lim Haeyul’s mind wandered briefly, imagining what might have happened if he had arrived earlier. He quickly shook off the thought, feeling embarrassed.
“Why are you here?” Cha Jae-woo asked, sitting down. His gaze barely lingered on Lim Haeyul.
The atmosphere was awkward. Lim Haeyul considered leaving but decided to stay and say what he needed to. He had come this far and didn’t want to leave without expressing his thoughts.
“I have something to tell you,” Lim Haeyul said.
“Go ahead,” Cha Jae-woo replied.
“First, I have a request. Cha Jae-woo, can I hold your hand for a moment…?” Lim Haeyul asked.
Cha Jae-woo raised an eyebrow, and Lim Haeyul quickly clarified, “It’s not what you think! I want to check your condition…”
“Will that show you anything?” Cha Jae-woo asked.
“That’s the point. I haven’t tried this before, so I want to see if it works…” Lim Haeyul explained.
Lim Haeyul’s voice, which had risen slightly, immediately subsided. Cha Jae-woo’s expression, no matter how generously he tried to view it, did not appear warm, making Lim Haeyul feel increasingly intimidated. Cha Jae-woo’s piercing black eyes seemed to consume him, causing his legs to tremble with fear. By now, this elevated heart rate felt almost normal.
“Can’t I…?” Lim Haeyul asked tentatively.
“What will knowing do for you?” Cha Jae-woo replied, his voice cold.
“It might be useful somehow,” Lim Haeyul insisted.
Cha Jae-woo remained silent, his expression unreadable.
“You know, knowing your enemy is half the battle won. I thought it would be good to understand your current state,” Lim Haeyul explained, his words tumbling out nervously. “And, um, since you don’t seem to know much about the Black Mass either, I thought maybe we could figure out its limits together…”
Cha Jae-woo finally spoke, “Come here.”
Lim Haeyul quickly approached Cha Jae-woo, who extended his hand. Although he hesitated for a moment, seeking permission with his eyes, Cha Jae-woo’s curt response was, “Do as you like.”
Lim Haeyul took Cha Jae-woo’s hand, feeling its warmth. Despite the guiding block preventing him from using his mana, he focused on sensing the Black Mass within Cha Jae-woo. It was difficult, and he wasn’t sure if he was imagining it, but he felt a faint presence.
He concentrated harder, determined to grasp this elusive sensation. The darkness seemed to mock him, flickering in and out of his perception. Suddenly, he saw it—a writhing, inky mass, not as large as before but still formidable. It seemed to taunt him, its movements clear and deliberate.
“You bastards…” Lim Haeyul muttered, reaching out as if to grasp the mass.
“Stop,” Cha Jae-woo commanded, and the vision shattered instantly.
Lim Haeyul opened his eyes to find Cha Jae-woo’s face inches from his own. Following Cha Jae-woo’s gaze downward, he was shocked to discover his hand inside Cha Jae-woo’s shirt, dangerously close to his waistband.
“Ah, ah—!” Lim Haeyul stammered, yanking his hand back as if burned. His face flushed with embarrassment. “I—I don’t know how—”
“You were moving on your own,” Cha Jae-woo said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“But why didn’t you stop me—?”
“You seemed so focused,” Cha Jae-woo replied, leaving Lim Haeyul mortified and speechless.
Despite the awkwardness, Lim Haeyul couldn’t believe that Cha Jae-woo had simply allowed him to grope his body without any reaction. The realization that he had nearly grabbed Cha Jae-woo’s intimate area sent a chill down his spine. He clamped his mouth shut, letting out a nervous cough. His heart raced as if it might burst, and he wondered if something was genuinely wrong with him.
The sensation of Cha Jae-woo’s firm muscles lingered on his fingertips, even though he hadn’t been aware of his actions at the time. His face flushed with embarrassment, and he could feel the heat rising within him. Meanwhile, Cha Jae-woo remained impassive, as if nothing had happened.
“I’m so… so sorry,” Lim Haeyul stammered, bowing his head repeatedly as he backed away. The more he thought about the situation, the more mortified he felt. He clenched and unclenched his fist, trying to shake off the lingering sensation of Cha Jae-woo’s muscles. Unable to find the right words, he eventually fled to his room without even a proper goodbye.
He had intended to discuss managing his mana with Cha Jae-woo, but all his plans were ruined. The only silver lining was that Cha Jae-woo hadn’t stopped him, as the humiliation might have been unbearable.
Lim Haeyul spent the rest of the day locked in his room, too embarrassed to face Cha Jae-woo and too flustered to calm his racing heart. He couldn’t understand why the memory of touching another man’s body lingered so vividly or why his heart continued to pound. He wondered if it was jealousy over Cha Jae-woo’s physique, but he couldn’t find a satisfying explanation.
In the early hours of the morning, Lim Haeyul woke up in a state of shock. He had dreamt of touching Cha Jae-woo’s body again, a dream so vivid that it left him bewildered. Now, he was silently washing his underwear, something he had never done before, afraid that Cha Jae-woo might hear him.
He knew something was happening to him, but he couldn’t understand why it was happening now, after dreaming about Cha Jae-woo. He had no one to ask for advice, especially not Cha Jae-woo himself. The situation was confusing and frightening, and he stared at his wet underwear, feeling a mix of bewilderment and fear. Something was clearly wrong, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
