#089
“First, we plan to do a comprehensive physical examination.”
“A physical examination?”
When I tilted my head in confusion at Hyun Dowoon’s sudden suggestion of a physical exam, the research director interjected.
“Since you’ve been in contact with many anomalies, we want to check if there have been any physical changes. We’re wondering if there’s a reason why you’re being targeted more.”
“Ah… I see.”
I don’t think they’ll find anything special. The reason I’m being targeted is actually quite simple. But since Hyun Dowoon knows about this, I figured there must be a reason for requesting it.
“Also, we have a device that measures dungeon creation. Originally, it can’t be taken out except by Dungeon Management Department staff, but the center director earnestly requested it. I called you here to assess whether it can be released.”
“A measuring device…?”
“Using the device, we can tell whether a dungeon will form within a 5km radius. It measures using dungeon creation energy. We can’t pinpoint the exact location, but by analyzing the energy condensation process, we can determine when a dungeon will open and its approximate level.”
The research director explained with a faster and more energetic voice, seemingly excited about her field.
Anyway, I understood why Hyun Dowoon wanted to take out the measuring device. It seemed he wanted to check if dungeons were forming around me. There might still be anomalous dungeons that appear suddenly, bypassing even this, but at least the majority could be predicted in advance.
“Then how will the assessment be conducted?”
“Well… it’s not much. Could you write a report about the anomaly where monsters appeared outside the dungeon?”
“A report?”
“You see, that’s currently the hottest topic in our research institute. It’s the first such phenomenon discovered worldwide. I’m helping the center director because I want to investigate this.”
It made sense in its own way. It’s natural for a researcher to want to study a newly discovered phenomenon.
I asked what I should include and promised to write and send the report.
“Great, then I’ll send the measuring device to the center director right after receiving the report. Well, shall we go for the physical examination now!”
The research director stood up abruptly. I reflexively stood up too and looked at Hyun Dowoon and Shin Haejun. I saw them looking at me with worried faces.
“Why… Oh, come on, you’re a guide, so it won’t be that hard. Don’t worry, you two.”
“What do you mean…?”
As I tilted my head, feeling uneasy, Hyun Dowoon, who was standing behind me, sighed.
“It won’t be much different from a general health checkup. But the last part might be… a bit tough. However, we need to check if there’s anything unusual with Jaeha. Director, you promise not to be too harsh, right?”
“Hahaha, of course.”
Somehow, this really feels ominous…
I looked at the two of them, feeling like I was being dragged away by a monster. However, they both just waved at me, not intending to take any other action.
“Oh my, those two really seem to like Guide Lee Jaeha.”
After leaving the conference room with the research director and walking a bit, she suddenly spoke to me.
Flushing with embarrassment, I asked, “Pardon?”
“Why, they were making such a fuss the whole time, as if they couldn’t bear it? If Guide Lee Jaeha gets even a little tired during the physical examination, those two look like they might cause a scene, so don’t get tired and hang in there.”
“Ah… yes!”
I thought she wasn’t interested, so I didn’t think much of it, but apparently she had noticed everything. Feeling suddenly very embarrassed, I lowered my head and trotted after the research director.
The place we arrived at was very large. There were researchers in white gowns bustling about busily.
“Ah, don’t worry, whatever results come out, we’ll keep the examination results confidential. This place lives on security, so everyone has signed non-disclosure agreements.”
“Yes… thank you.”
I nodded and somehow found myself changing into a gown in the changing room before coming out.
After that, I went through various tests just like a regular health checkup, from blood tests to MRI, and was completely drained.
‘Will anything even come out of this?’
It’s probably not like they’ll discover a disease I didn’t have…
“Hmm… this is quite strange, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. Can such results even be possible?”
While I was slumped in a chair, exhausted, two researchers were whispering to each other, holding papers nearby.
It seems they’re talking about my results… What could it be? Contrary to my expectations, it seems something is going oddly.
While I was trembling with anxiety, another researcher approached and told me it was time for the next examination. Filled with unease, I followed the researcher to a large machine.
“Just lie down comfortably in here.”
“Excuse me, what is this?”
“Lie down and release your power as if you’re guiding. We’re measuring your guiding power.”
This looks completely different from the machine they used to measure before… Back then, they just measured while I stayed still.
“Don’t worry, we’ve set it up to be not too difficult, since you’re not an Esper.”
This still feels ominous…
I closed my eyes tightly and sat inside the machine.
– Release your power.
I released my power a few times as instructed by the machine’s voice. Then a researcher outside spoke in a cool voice.
“Draw out a bit more power. You should be able to.”
I’m already squeezing out as much as I can, why do they think I can do more?
“I, I can’t!”
“No, you can. From what I can see, you definitely can. Use more power.”
At the harsh words, I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to draw out a bit more power.
Then I felt something burst inside, and my body felt warm.
“That’s it! You can come out now!”
I heard the researcher outside cheering.
I staggered out of the machine. I wanted to protest about being forced, but I was startled by the intensity of the researchers surrounding me like I was some rare animal, and I kept my mouth shut.
“It looks like we need to do some additional tests.”
“What’s going on?”
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad. We just found something a little, very little bit strange.”
The research director smiled and pushed my back. I rolled my eyes trying to gauge the atmosphere, but had no choice but to go back into the machine.
– Release your power.
I released my power once again. But instead of being told I could come out, I was told to release my power several more times, and ended up having to use my power about 10 more times.
“Alright, you can come out now.”
The research director said while I was panting from exhaustion. I staggered up and came out of the machine again. As I was slumping my body, I felt hands grabbing my arms on both sides.
When I looked up, I saw Hyun Dowoon and Shin Haejun with serious expressions.
“We’ll let you know the results right away, so let’s go back to the conference room!”
The research director said cheerfully, holding a stack of papers. Unlike the serious Hyun Dowoon and Shin Haejun, and the exhausted me, she looked very happy.
We followed her back to the conference room. Somehow, everyone’s reactions seemed unusual, which made me a bit worried.
‘They haven’t discovered cancer… or some terrible disease, have they?’
They said it wasn’t anything bad, so it probably isn’t that. Even as I thought this, I felt uneasy. I had just resolved to start living properly, and I didn’t want to die right away.
“First of all, guides and espers are people who handle special powers, right? So after manifestation, their cerebrum swells. There’s a theory that the pain felt during manifestation is due to the brain expanding and adjusting its position with the skull. It’s generally accepted that since it’s a power beyond the sixth sense, it must be related to the brain.”
“Yes… and?”
“The size usually correlates with the grade. Of course, we can’t be certain. Sometimes there are exceptions. That’s why this isn’t used in grade assessments.”
It was like a biology lesson, but the sudden mention of grade assessment made me very alert.
“However, when we checked Guide Lee Jaeha’s brain, it was extremely large. Much like… an awakened person of a higher grade.”
Suddenly, Shin Haejun, sitting on my right, gripped my hand tightly. His hand was a bit damp.
“Your grade suddenly increased recently, right? Actually, I think it might be able to increase even more. It’s not just because of the brain size, but because of the energy test we conducted afterwards. We precisely checked the energy of each awakened person, in your case, guiding power.”
“Was there… a reason for conducting it twice?”
“Yes. During the energy test, we don’t just look at power, but also check things like control, so we monitor how brainwaves and guiding power move. But in Guide Lee Jaeha’s case… how should I explain this.”
She got up from her seat and brought paper and a pen from a drawer on one side. Then she drew something that looked like a tube with the pen.
“Let’s think of this as the pathway of power. Usually, it’s wide open like this. But in Guide Lee Jaeha’s case, it’s like this. Um, like arteriosclerosis? The pathway was abnormally narrow. Didn’t you feel like something cleared up when you used power beyond your limit earlier?”
“Ah… yes! That’s right!”
I stared blankly at the scribbled tube on the paper. It was strange that it had been abnormally narrow.
“What’s also strange is that part of this power just… dissipated outside like this. It means the power flew into the air. Instead of moving straight in a line normally. As if the tube had split into two.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that until now, Guide Lee Jaeha hasn’t been able to properly use the power he has.”
When I heard that, what came to mind was Kim Sehyun, who was affected by my power when he was close.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
