#090
To summarize, it was as if my power’s pathway had been narrowed as much as possible, as if telling me not to use more power even if I tried. And even part of my power was leaking out.
Now, with no one to receive it, it was just dissipating into thin air, but what if Kim Sehyun had been nearby?
Could he have somehow sucked up and used my power? Like needing to combine part of my power to use the power he had stolen…
‘Is it like being a portable battery?’
As soon as I thought that, my body shivered. Although I had been thinking that Kim Sehyun had stolen my power, now that some evidence had actually emerged through the examination, it felt horrifying.
“Honestly, Guide Lee Jaeha is in a really strange situation. His potential is much higher than his current E grade, but his power is empty, and I’ve never seen a power pathway this strange before. I don’t know if this is related to frequently encountering dungeon anomalies. Honestly, I was curious about that, but unexpectedly we found a problem related to his grade. Other than this, everything else is perfectly normal.”
The research director saying this looked slightly disappointed. In fact, I had expected this because I didn’t think the author targeting me would be physically marked on my body like a brand.
However, I hadn’t expected to hear a scientific explanation of how Kim Sehyun had used my power, so it felt like something heavy was sitting in my stomach.
As I slumped, lost in thought, Hyun Dowoon quickly finished his conversation with the research director and saw her out.
“Are you alright, Jaeha? It seems to have been harder than expected.”
“Your fingertips are cold. Your face has turned pale too. Are you okay?”
Thanks to Hyun Dowoon’s gentle concern and Shin Haejun massaging my fingertips, I came to my senses a bit. I bit my lip hard and shook my head.
“No, I don’t think I’m okay…”
When I spoke weakly, the two exchanged glances.
Now that I knew how Kim Sehyun had stolen my power, I should be happy that I could fully understand if I just learned about the ‘other half’ that Nine had mentioned.
I don’t know why I just feel tired. Is it because I’m even more disgusted with Kim Sehyun for committing such an act with a nonchalant face? Like being shocked and tired after seeing something ugly, I felt like my fatigue level had suddenly spiked.
Shin Haejun, who had been carefully observing my face, spoke to Hyun Dowoon with a reluctant expression.
“I’ll bring the car to the fourth basement floor. When I contact you, bring Jaeha out right away.”
“That would certainly be best. Regrettably, I still have some work left.”
The two spoke efficiently, and Shin Haejun immediately stood up. After he left, Hyun Dowoon moved to sit beside me and gently pulled my head to rest on his shoulder.
“Does your head hurt?”
“A bit… yeah.”
“I think I know what you’re thinking about… You’re caught up on the fact that your power is leaking, right?”
I nodded at Hyun Dowoon’s words.
“Let’s think positively. If we know how it was lost, it’s easier to think about how to get it back.”
“I guess so?”
It certainly wasn’t wrong. Even without Nine’s quest, I wondered if there might be a way to get it back, but clearly, if we keep tracking like this, we might be able to recover it without Nine’s help.
“For now, let’s not think about anything. You’ve used a lot of energy too, Jaeha. Thinking when you’re tired is poison.”
Hyun Dowoon whispered, patting my back. I followed his words and tried to clear my thoughts, closing my eyes.
In what felt like just a moment of dozing off, Hyun Dowoon gently shook my body. I got up in a half-asleep state and was led outside by his hand. After that, I remember taking the elevator, letting go of Hyun Dowoon, holding Shin Haejun’s hand, and getting into the car, but after that, my memory cuts off.
***
I felt my body sinking into a soft bed like wet cotton. Low voices whispering softly could be heard, bringing my consciousness hazily back.
“…So I’m asking you to find out if it’s possible. You saw this person’s condition today. Research whether someone can use that leaked power.”
Hyun Dowoon was on the phone with someone.
“Isn’t it a problem in itself that there’s a way to use someone else’s power unfairly? It means there’s a possibility-. Director. This is the most important issue for me. This person is my person. Have you ever heard me make such a request in the seven years we’ve known each other?”
Is he talking to the research director? I stirred slightly. Hyun Dowoon promptly stopped talking. Soon, I felt his gaze on my skin, examining me.
“Let’s end here. I trust you’ll handle it well.”
And Hyun Dowoon hung up the phone. There was a light sound of slippers brushing against the floor.
“Are you awake?”
“It’s cool…”
A cool hand touched my forehead. When I spoke almost whining because of it, he cupped my cheek with his hand.
“There’s no fever.”
“…When did you come? What time is it now? Where’s Haejun?”
I asked, lifting my heavy eyelids. Hyun Dowoon wrinkled his nose and smiled.
“I haven’t been here long, it’s about 9:30 in the evening now. Esper Shin Haejun left after receiving a call from his family. He said there’s a high chance he won’t be able to come back tonight.”
“I see…”
“It’s just the two of us in this house.”
Hyun Dowoon said in a playful voice. However, his eyes were serious, so I realized he was somewhat serious.
Maybe it was because I had slept and my physical condition had improved. My senses were keenly alert, grasping the atmosphere. I realized that Hyun Dowoon was considering whether to seduce me in Shin Haejun’s absence. If I pretended not to notice, he would immediately return to his usual self and create a comfortable atmosphere.
‘I have to use the coin privilege anyway, don’t I?’
It was indeed the right time, as I couldn’t let Shin Haejun hear everything from outside while I was using it with Hyun Dowoon. I’d have to send Hyun Dowoon out tomorrow.
After a moment of consideration, I looked up at Hyun Dowoon.
“Then… today, that…”
“With no one to disturb us. Shall we do some guiding today?”
When I was about to suggest it hesitantly, Hyun Dowoon, who quickly caught on, asked with a low laugh. Somehow feeling shy, I nodded. But Hyun Dowoon, who I thought would pounce right away, moved his body a bit further away and made a regretful expression.
“Ah, but I have a duty to fill Jaeha’s stomach. Let’s eat first.”
“…Food?”
“You missed lunch with Esper Shin Haejun today, right? Your stomach must be empty now. You’ve used a lot of energy too, we can’t have you getting tired.”
“You’re talking about food at this timing?”
When I asked, blinking in surprise, Hyun Dowoon replied nonchalantly.
“We’re going to do close-contact guiding, aren’t we?”
“I… guess so?”
“So. We’re not going to just have a taste of guiding and end it quickly, are we?”
Hyun Dowoon’s face as he said this seemed terribly frightening. I wondered how long he was planning to do it.
“There’s no one else here anyway, and we have a bed. Slowly, long, as long as possible. I’ve prepared a meal as a gesture of goodwill for later.”
“How did you know I would say I wanted to do guiding?”
“If you hadn’t, I would have just prepared it hoping you’d look at me nicely.”
He was saying he would have fed me first no matter how I reacted. Feeling the tension release, I chuckled like a sigh and got off the bed.
Hyun Dowoon held my arm and escorted me to sit at the dining table. Then he took out the insulated lunchbox that was on one side of the table and set it out in front of me.
“Where did you get this from?”
“When I’m busy, I make do with sandwiches, but usually I eat from this lunchbox place. I brought it when I left work today, intending to eat together. It’s a lunchbox, but it’s from quite a famous restaurant.”
I nodded, saying “Ah, I see.”
Come to think of it, if the three of us live together, how should we handle meals? I’m not very good at preparing meals regularly, and I don’t think Shin Haejun is likely to cook either. Will we call someone in?
“I bought this today because we didn’t have time, but next time I’ll cook for you myself. Of course, the bought food will probably taste better.”
“You know how to cook?”
“Well… I hope it suits Jaeha’s taste.”
Hyun Dowoon smiled shyly. I’ve never seen someone who talks like that who actually can’t do it. I vaguely thought that Hyun Dowoon would probably be in charge of our meals as I wolfed down the lunchbox.
‘To get coins efficiently, I need to eat and build up my strength first.’
This was, if anything, like a level-up event. Just like staying up all night to level up, I had to be prepared to stay up almost all night to frantically collect coins.
As I ate the food aggressively, Hyun Dowoon looked slightly surprised and then said lightly, as if teasing:
“Do you want to do guiding that badly?”
“If it’s unavoidable anyway, we should do it efficiently, right?”
“Alright. Let’s do it efficiently and enjoyably.”
Hyun Dowoon grinned and matched my eating pace.
After finishing the meal, Hyun Dowoon muttered, “It’s good that it was a lunchbox.” It was as if he thought even the time to do dishes would be a waste.
“The bathroom is over there. I’ll wash up in the master bathroom.”
If we were going to get intimate, we needed to clean up first. It wasn’t like doing it urgently in a dungeon, and it’s much better to do guiding in a clean state.
I walked briskly into the master bathroom and then breathed heavily. Although I had spoken nonchalantly, now that we were actually about to do it at home, I felt like I was going crazy with nervousness.
I felt like my heart was pumping blood like mad, but my hands moved mechanically to wash my body thoroughly. After pressing the towel firmly to make sure no water dripped, a sudden thought struck me and I froze.
‘I’m about to… get undressed. Should I put on clothes or not?’
Should I wear clothes so he can lift them himself…? Wait, I didn’t bring any clothes in here…!
I stiffened and then slowly opened the door. I was planning to quickly grab any clothes from the drawer on one side of the bedroom.
“…Wow.”
As I was leaping across the bedroom like a flying squirrel, I suddenly heard an exclamation that shouldn’t have been heard. Slowly turning my head while covering myself with a towel, I saw Hyun Dowoon standing in front of the door. He was staring intently at my backside.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
