Chapter 65
Do Jiwon, an A-rank combat Esper and a member of the Center’s subjugation team, observed the two opposing teams. Despite monsters springing up from all directions, both the attack team and subjugation team were just standing by, watching. Even when the swarming monsters grabbed and pulled at their training uniforms, they couldn’t attack. This was because an attack team member had nearly been seriously injured right after passing through the gate.
The attack team had targeted the subjugation team due to unfamiliar mana, and the subjugation team had done the same. They had trained for situations like this, but the rookie Espers who had been too busy harassing Chahun to properly focus on training were seriously injured. Choi Yurim, the attack team leader, checked their remaining healing potions before making a request to Lee Sangwon.
“Let’s go ahead first.”
It made no sense for the subjugation team and attack team to move together. At Choi Yurim’s request, Lee Sangwon gestured with his eyes toward Kang Chahun, who was standing apart from the others. The subjugation team members, including Do Jiwon, let out irritated groans at Sangwon’s glance. Chahun would occasionally get distracted and disappear somewhere, only to reappear being led by Sangwon’s hand. If Chahun were to get hurt, it was obvious who would face all the blame. Even though Chahun was the one being careless.
“Esper Kang Chahun joined as part of the attack team, so I’ll take responsibility for him.”
“He’s trained with us longer, so we’ll take him.”
As the standoff between Choi Yurim and Lee Sangwon continued, the monsters that had been cautiously bouncing around rushed toward the awakened ones. Do Jiwon used his dagger to remove a monster that was chewing on a training uniform. Since it was a monster that needed moisture to attack, a water-type Esper should have taken the lead, but no one could use their abilities for fear someone might get hurt.
“I’ll watch over him too, so don’t worry too much.”
Bae Jaeyoung stepped forward and grabbed Chahun. As Chahun tried to shake off her hand, she whispered something with just her lips. At her words, Chahun frowned deeply before quietly nodding. Standing next to Chahun, Bae Jaeyoung tried to persuade Lee Sangwon. She argued that they had trained together before, and since they both had ice abilities, there was less risk of injury. Choi Yurim nodded in agreement.
“Fine, but if anything happens, Esper Choi Yurim will be responsible.”
Bae Jaeyoung, with her team members, surrounded Kang Chahun at Sangwon’s permission. Lee Sangwon, without turning his gaze from Chahun, signaled to a spatial-type Esper. As a wide pattern appeared beneath the spatial Esper’s feet, Do Jiwon stepped onto the pattern.
As soon as the familiar nausea faded, Do Jiwon swung his dagger. He stabbed the rushing monster’s neck with his dagger, sent electricity through it, and stepped back. When he cut open the fallen monster’s stomach amid the acrid burning smell, a magic stone was revealed. Only after removing the stone from its heart did it finally feel real that they had entered a dungeon.
Do Jiwon stepped back as soon as he finished his quota. His earlobe felt hot—clearly burned. We get it, you’re skilled, but couldn’t you think about people around you when using your ability? Lee Sangwon was holding a reddish-glowing weapon, setting fire to everything around him. It was fortunate that this was a lake-type dungeon. Do Jiwon retreated to the lakeside and watched Sangwon swing his sword with flashy movements.
Lee Sangwon had no reservations about using his abilities. Because of this, his team members frequently got burned despite wearing resistance items. While Do Jiwon was washing the blistered area and applying healing potion, Lee Sangwon finished off the last fleeing monster.
“Is something bothering you?”
When their team guide asked, Sangwon rubbed his wrist. Sangwon looked down at his bracelet with irritated eyes before shaking his head, saying it was nothing. Yeah, right. Ever since Chahun personally came to give him the bracelet, Sangwon hadn’t hidden his discomfort. It seemed his obsessive dislike of using items others had touched extended to this one too. Just as Do Jiwon was exchanging glances with a colleague and pressing his lips together, it happened.
“Just now…”
“Seon Seungji!”
At Sangwon’s shout, the spatial Esper rushed over and used his ability, revealing a strange scene before their eyes. Snow was falling in the lake-type dungeon, which was supposed to be green year-round. Do Jiwon raised his hand to protect his face from the snow-laden wind while looking around.
“Isn’t that Esper Kang Chahun?”
At his colleague’s question, Do Jiwon nodded. The person standing at the center of the raging snowstorm was unmistakably Kang Chahun.
“What happened?”
Sangwon grabbed Choi Yurim, who was creating a barrier, and asked. Sangwon’s eyebrows were deeply furrowed as if troubled, but his lips couldn’t hide his excitement. They were pointing upward as if ready to pierce the sky. Covering his mouth with his hand at the guide’s reproach, Sangwon heaved an exaggerated sigh.
“You asked me to leave him in your care… How will you take responsibility for this?”
At Sangwon’s words, Choi Yurim bit her lip. She couldn’t understand why a perfectly fine Esper was suddenly showing signs of going berserk, but since she had given her word, she had to take responsibility for Chahun. But how?
“Keep him restrained until I return.”
Clicking his tongue, Sangwon took the subjugation team and rushed toward the boss. As Do Jiwon inserted electricity into the cuts Sangwon had made with his sword, he said to a colleague who was putting up a barrier:
“Congratulations. Looks like you won’t be the newest member anymore.”
Since Sangwon had decided to recruit Chahun, Chahun would soon join the subjugation team. Although attack team leader Choi Yurim also had her eye on Chahun, he had gone berserk under her watch, and Sangwon had witnessed it—she would have to give up on that desire.
The monster that lost its wings to the subjugation team’s attack eventually met its death at Sangwon’s hands.
“Let’s head back to the Center for now.”
As Lee Sangwon activated the gate in front of Chahun, Choi Yurim clenched her fist in empty air with a troubled expression. The invisible hand that had seized Chahun started going berserk as soon as they passed through the gate with Yurim. Auxiliary Espers rushed over to surround Chahun and used their abilities to prevent harm to civilians.
Do Jiwon purified the surrounding area contaminated by dungeon mana flowing from the gate. Only after confirming that the gate had completely disappeared could he move to the Center. When Do Jiwon finally arrived at the Center, he blinked in disbelief at the incredible sight before him.
“Did Esper Han Yeonwoo just calm down Esper Kang Chahun?”
“That can’t be…”
Even as his colleague denied it, he couldn’t take his eyes off Chahun’s back as he burrowed into Yeonwoo’s arms.
* * *
“Suddenly that person said they wanted to hang out with me, so I said no. But then, that jerk threatened me saying they’d tell everything to hyung!”
Chahun complained that Bae Jaeyoung had been uncooperative and un-Esper-like, and threatened to tell Yeonwoo everything. Still upset, Chahun huffed as he dumped chocolate chip cookies into his mouth. Just looking at them made Yeonwoo feel his mouth getting sweet, so he put down the almond cookie he had been nibbling on.
“After we put some distance between us and the subjugation team, we decided to move. We were each taking a break, and during that time, I was trying to meet with the Round Guild Master, but…”
Chahun trailed off, scratching his eyebrow. But what? At Yeonwoo’s prodding, Chahun, who had been keeping his mouth shut, opened it with a dejected expression.
“I don’t remember anything after that.”
Chahun looked down at his hand and used his ability. After watching the ice flower bloom according to his will, Chahun wore a serious expression.
“I clearly remember what I was trying to do, but when I opened my eyes, you were there, hyung.”
Chahun drew the ice flower back and subtly pressed closer to Yeonwoo. When Yeonwoo showed no sign of rejection, Chahun spread Yeonwoo’s fingers and pushed his own fingers between them. The widely spread fingers felt stiff, but not unbearably so.
Yeonwoo’s eyelids grew heavier from the waves felt through their connected palms. Nearly falling asleep, he forced his eyes wide open to drive away the sleepiness. Yeonwoo mulled over Chahun’s words and felt around Chahun’s training uniform.
“Hyung? Wait, hyung? I’m still, hyung?”
“Take it off. Do you remember anyone you had contact with before entering the dungeon?”
“Hyung, please. I’ll take it off. I probably had contact with almost everyone. Before you came, I greeted the attack team members while exchanging mana, and most of the subjugation team too…”
Yeonwoo carefully examined the training uniform Chahun had taken off. At Yeonwoo’s gesture to take off the rest, Chahun awkwardly headed to his room. After Chahun changed into comfortable clothes and handed over the rest of his uniform, Yeonwoo’s inspection still didn’t reveal the item he was looking for.
“What’s wrong?”
After checking the uniform once more, Yeonwoo answered with a sigh.
“There’s a type of plant-like monster that clings to clothes and disrupts abilities. I thought maybe one of those had attached itself.”
But there was no sign of any monster on the uniform. If not that, then it could be symptoms of wearing a mana control device… Biting his tongue, Yeonwoo slowly examined Chahun. Even if Chahun claimed he didn’t know anything, he should have recognized the sensation of wearing a mana control device.
“Are you feeling alright?”
At Yeonwoo’s concern, Chahun smiled pleasantly and leaned into him. Yeonwoo pushed back against Chahun, who kept pressing closer, to create some space. He had always been clingy, but he’d never so openly sought an embrace, which was a bit bewildering.
“Are you really okay? Don’t you need guiding?”
“Do it for me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Chahun once again slipped his fingers between Yeonwoo’s and interlaced them. Asking for guiding? It was truly a startling request. He could grant most other requests, but guiding? It was like asking him to breathe underwater. Yeonwoo was neither a water-type Esper nor a guide. When Yeonwoo pushed him away with an unpleasant expression, Chahun pressed closer, asking him to just hold his hand.
“What are you going to do now?”
“The plan remains the same. I’m going to leave the Center and create a guild.”
Yeonwoo, who had been listening to Chahun’s words with his eyes closed, opened them.
“What? You’re creating a guild?”
Chahun nodded with a nonchalant expression. He said he would let Yeonwoo know once it was established, as he’d be embarrassed if he failed. Yeonwoo swallowed the question of whether the Center Director would let him go, especially after he had returned on his own after trying to escape.
Yeonwoo organized his thoughts while watching Chahun’s fingers rubbing the back of his hand. The most suspicious thing was the Center Director. The way he immediately pushed Yeonwoo to be a guide as soon as Chahun went berserk seemed calculated. Not to mention the impossible matching rate.
…Surely all of this couldn’t be a show to persuade Chahun?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
