Chapter 22
“Did you know I’d be here?”
Was this the result of their diligent mana ball training? With his eyes closed, Yeonwoo tried to sense Chahun’s mana. Whether it was because he was S-class or because Chahun couldn’t properly control his mana, Chahun’s mana always felt opaque. Considering that Yeonhwa’s mana felt similar, it seemed that S-class mana generally felt this way.
Even so, it was still clearer than Jo Heeseo’s mana. Yeonwoo let out a faint smile and opened his eyes.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Just fascinated.”
It was both fascinating and amusing that an S-class Esper from Section A’s mana felt more familiar than his own teammate’s. A sigh escaped him. I get that she has pride in her abilities, but how long is she going to keep being so distant? The team would fall apart before he could get used to Heeseo’s mana.
While checking if there were any more fallen paper scraps, the training end bell rang. At the monotonous music sound, Yeonwoo placed his hand on his chest to check his mana core. Though he hadn’t been able to rest, his mana core had stabilized, so he decided to let the small commotion pass.
It’s not like those people would quit even if he complained. Since he’d already refused once, they probably wouldn’t bother him for a few days.
“Where are you going?”
“To the cafeteria.”
At Yeonwoo’s answer, Chahun naturally followed alongside him. Shouldn’t you go to your own section to eat? Yeonwoo was about to ask, but instead carefully observed Chahun.
Noticing Yeonwoo’s gaze, Chahun instinctively tried to hide the blood on his training uniform.
I think hyung is afraid of blood. The image of Yeonwoo’s face turning pale at the sight of blood trickling down Chahun’s cheek was an unforgettable scene.
Though he tried to avoid seeing blood, as Chahun became more accustomed to handling his abilities, the training intensity grew fiercer. The Espers in charge of Chahun’s training would unleash even stronger attacks whenever Chahun successfully blocked one. “Wow, you blocked that?” they would smile and say, “Try blocking this too,” as they attacked from all directions.
No matter how quickly he built ice walls, he couldn’t block the coordinated attacks. Eventually, he got a wound below his eye. Avoiding the healers who approached to perform torture disguised as treatment, Chahun headed to the Section C treatment room. While loitering around hoping to see Yeonwoo, he discovered him surrounded by employees carrying stacks of documents.
“Follow me.”
Yeonwoo gestured to him, his face not pale with fear like before. Chahun had impulsively offered to accompany him, thinking that after being ostracized under the guise of training, he probably hadn’t received proper training or decent meals. Judging by how he’d previously asked where the cafeteria was, he clearly didn’t know its location.
“Where’s that place?”
Throughout the walk to the cafeteria, Chahun kept looking around curiously. Not long ago he was wary, asking where I was taking him, and now he’s sticking close, asking what’s here and there. He’s so simple. I’m worried he might get his organs harvested somewhere at this rate.
“But do I have any reason not to trust you, hyung?”
Recalling Chahun’s voice saying he trusted him, Yeonwoo smiled bitterly. There are plenty of reasons not to trust me. People shouldn’t just trust anyone who treats them kindly. Most people will sweetly lure you in to get what they want, then ultimately stab you in the back.
“Esper Han Yeonwoo.”
At the call, Yeonwoo quickened his pace. His teammates were waiting in front of the cafeteria. No, Jo Heeseo was waiting for Bae Jaeyoung. In one corner of the cafeteria, Espers from the common area were gathered. They were discussing whether to eat among themselves or with their newly assigned teammates.
Lee Subin, who had been discussing this, waved at Yeonwoo in recognition. After checking the situation, Subin mouthed “later” to him. Yeonwoo, who had waved back, read her lips and nodded. Beside her, Seo Yujin awkwardly gave an eye greeting. After confirming Bae Jaeyoung as well, Yeonwoo shifted his gaze away from Yujin.
It was because of an intense stare directed at him.
“What is it? Do you know that person?”
Wondering if he was being overly sensitive, Yeonwoo noticed that Chahun was also glaring back at the source of the stare with a displeased expression. Following Chahun’s gaze, Yeonwoo checked the blue lanyard on the ID card.
B-class, Auxiliary, Jung Eunyoung.
Someone I don’t know. Tilting his head in confusion, Yeonwoo made eye contact with Eunyoung. As Eunyoung glared at him as if demanding what he was looking at, Yeonwoo briefly observed her before raising his chin. When Yeonwoo responded with a sneer, Eunyoung flinched as if about to charge at him, but after noticing the surrounding gazes, she pressed her lips together.
Around Yeonwoo, there were many who showed inexplicable goodwill, but also many who radiated inexplicable hostility. In the latter case, most were people who had tried to change the future using Yeonhwa’s ability and ended up being hit by the boomerang of causality. Seeing that her limbs appeared intact and her ID card was properly hanging around her neck, she hadn’t lost her ability either. So she must be a family member or an acquaintance of someone who had been hit by the boomerang.
Give me a break. Anyone would think Yeonhwa had forced them to change the future. They’re the ones who chose to meddle with the future, so why take it out on innocent bystanders? Yeonwoo flashed a bright smile at Eunyoung before entering the cafeteria. Soon it would be time for Section B to return to the center. Rather than standing around waiting for a seat, it was better for someone to go in first and secure a place.
“You can scan your ID card here and choose your menu.”
At Yeonwoo’s words, Chahun took out his ID card from the purple lanyard and scanned it with lightning speed. Unlike Chahun, Yeonwoo leisurely scanned his ID, chose kimbap, and sat down. As soon as he grabbed the kimbap that slid smoothly onto the table, Choi Dongwon sat down across from him with a visibly tired expression.
“I ordered, but I just wait for it?”
Chahun, who was pulling out a chair, watched with wide eyes as Dongwon reached out and grabbed the bulgogi. It was the same expression he’d had when seeing a mana ball for the first time.
Before Yeonwoo could answer, Chahun sat down with an excited expression and caught the udon that flew over. Chahun’s eyes widened and the corners of his mouth curved up into a broad smile. He continued to grab the ceramic pot, kimbap, and bibimbap that came flying one after another, excitedly reaching out his arms.
You’re going to eat all that?
Yeonwoo had estimated Chahun’s food intake based on the size of the lunchboxes the Deputy Director had packed for him, but… He really does eat a lot.
Remembering Yeonhwa, who would stuff something in her mouth whenever she got the chance, Yeonwoo nodded. I guess that’s how much most S-class people eat. While Yeonwoo came to this understanding, Dongwon was staring at Chahun, who was now grabbing a sandwich, with his mouth slightly open.
“What are you looking at?”
“No, um, well… What brings Esper Kang Chahun here…?”
At that question, Chahun looked down at Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo, who was picking rice grains from his kimbap, blinked. Why are you looking at me?
“He said he didn’t know where the cafeteria was, so…”
Came together? Brought him along? While trying to choose his words, Dongwon focused more on the amount of food spread out in front of Chahun than on Yeonwoo’s answer.
“Wow.”
Park Seohyun, who sat down next to Dongwon, had the same reaction. After grabbing a pork cutlet, Seohyun looked at the food spread across the table with a nauseated expression.
“Are you going to eat with the other S-class people?”
At that question, Chahun’s eyes, which had been taking a large spoonful of udon, contorted dramatically. He was about to put down his chopsticks as if his appetite had disappeared, but after a moment, he tightened his grip on them.
“No, I’m not.”
“Ah, then… you’re going to eat all this… by yourself…”
“Don’t people usually eat this much?”
At Dongwon’s mumbling, Chahun asked, looking at Yeonwoo. Normal people probably can’t eat that much. With his mouth full of kimbap, Yeonwoo could only mumble inwardly and gesture with his hand. Don’t worry about it, just eat.
At that gesture, Seohyun muttered, “So that’s how much they eat,” and picked up her spoon combatively.
“But hyung, is that enough for you to eat?”
Chahun pointed at the tiny kimbap in front of Yeonwoo. The kimbap, smaller than his index finger, had such a small portion that it could be eaten in one bite.
It might be an old-fashioned notion, but there’s a prejudice that those in the Auxiliary should have light bodies. Even aside from prejudice, Yeonwoo’s ability had limitations on weight, so he controlled his weight, and he naturally had a small appetite anyway.
“Do you want to try this? It’s delicious.”
Seeing the bubbling ceramic pot of bulgogi that Chahun offered, Yeonwoo instinctively pulled back.
“Mmm. Esper Han Yeonwoo can’t eat hot food.”
Yeonwoo, who had been deliberately ignoring the sizzling sound of the hot ceramic pot, nodded at Seohyun’s words. It had been a long time since he’d developed an aversion to warm food, so his teammates knew he couldn’t eat hot food. He was certain that until recently he had enjoyed drinking warm coffee, but now just imagining steam rising made his skin crawl.
“Hyung can’t eat hot food?”
As he was about to answer yes, a loud clatter rang out as a spoon fell and hit a soup bowl.
“Hyung?”
Jo Heeseo, who had sat down across from Chahun without anyone noticing, looked back and forth between Yeonwoo and Chahun with wide eyes. Choi Dongwon, who was mixing his bibimbap in the ceramic pot, likewise stared at Yeonwoo with wide eyes.
Why are they looking at me like that? Yeonwoo, who was slowly chewing his kimbap, looked at Chahun, who was taking a big spoonful from the ceramic pot, and nodded. I guess this is the first time he’s called me hyung in front of other people.
“What’s wrong?”
After swallowing his kimbap, Yeonwoo looked around. Not only Seohyun but also Espers sitting at other tables were fixating their gaze on him. If I tell the truth and say, “He suddenly started calling me hyung,” how many people here would believe me? Yeonwoo assessed internally, lowering his eyes and turning away his gaze.
“It’s nothing. Eat a lot.”
“So what kind of relationship do you have?”
As soon as they entered the training ground after finishing their meal, Seohyun rushed over. Dongwon also stood close to Yeonwoo with a face full of curiosity. What kind of relationship just because he called me hyung? Smiling faintly, Yeonwoo made an “umm” sound and rolled his eyes. Seeing him visibly choosing his words, Seohyun stamped her feet impatiently.
“We just ran into each other a few times during night training. When he asked what training tools I use, he called me hyung, probably because he didn’t know my name?”
“I guess I just look like a hyung to him.” At Yeonwoo’s answer, Dongwon’s expression became ambiguous. If it were Kang Chahun, he would have probably called him by name. It was clear that enough conversation had happened for them to estimate each other’s ages. Recalling the look in Chahun’s eyes when he gazed at Yeonwoo, Dongwon bit his lip. Seohyun also had a peculiar expression, clearly thinking something similar.
Just as they were about to ask if that was all—
“Is that all?”
That wasn’t me asking. From Dongwon’s expression, Seohyun also shook her head. Both naturally turned to look at Heeseo standing beside them. Under their gaze, Heeseo made a “what are you looking at” face and turned her head toward the entrance. Jung Eunyoung, leaning crookedly against the entrance, was sneering at Yeonwoo.
“You became close because you knew everything, right? Not because you were riding on your talented sister’s coattails?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
