The Reason the Main Character of That Book Became a Seme 67

Chapter 67

“Hyung. Ah.”

“Ah?”

As Yeonwoo pressed the buttons on the controller and opened his mouth, something was suddenly pushed in. What is this? Yeonwoo slowly moved his jaw while keeping his eyes fixed on the TV.

“Is it kimbap?”

“Yes.”

I see. Yeonwoo chewed the kimbap while staring at the back of the character’s head on the TV. Once he got out of this cave, he’d reach the next stage. Yeonwoo operated the buttons while even pausing his chewing. Watching the screen as if he might get sucked in, Yeonwoo pressed the button forcefully, but the character fell with a scream.

Yeonwoo’s eyebrows drooped at the ending music that had become tiresome from hearing it repeatedly. He was so close… Why did the character fall? Should he press the button a bit earlier? Yeonwoo formulated a new strategy as he pressed restart. If he could just get past this stage, he’d stop. Just one more game, and—

“That’s enough now.”

Yeonwoo, who had been staring at his empty hands, looked up. Chahun was organizing the controller’s cord. Though Yeonwoo’s eyes narrowed sharply, Chahun didn’t stop and even disconnected the game console.

“Let’s eat.”

“I already had bread earlier.”

“What do you mean ‘earlier’? It’s eight o’clock now.”

What? Yeonwoo’s eyes widened as he looked at the clock. He thought Chahun was lying, but it really was eight o’clock. Didn’t it just be three o’clock? Seeing Yeonwoo’s reaction, Chahun laughed, saying he’d expected this. As Chahun urged Yeonwoo to get up quickly before disappearing into the kitchen, Yeonwoo moved in a daze. He was certain he’d only meant to play one more game and then sleep… Yeonwoo stared at the character on the TV with his mouth slightly open. He wasn’t even hungry, so couldn’t he play just a little more? As he leaned back, he felt the sofa against his back. Something felt off. It hadn’t felt like this before… It had been more cozy and warm…

“What are you doing?”

Yeonwoo, who had been feeling the sofa, was grabbed by Chahun and stood up. Being half-dragged to the dining table, Yeonwoo turned his head to look up at Chahun. So it wasn’t the sofa, it was you.

At dawn, though the dragon was wailing for blueberry jam on his bread, Yeonwoo couldn’t resist the temptation and grabbed the game console. When Yeonwoo sat down next to him, Chahun explained how to play. Answering that he understood, Yeonwoo moved the controller. With each movement of his hands, the character on the screen began to move vigorously. Chahun kept making sounds like “ah,” “hmm,” and “uh,” irritating Yeonwoo. Unable to stand it, Chahun covered Yeonwoo’s hands and operated the controller. Watching the character successfully collect a gold coin after a jump, Yeonwoo smiled faintly. Chahun, observing with satisfaction, pressed closer, saying he would help with the timing.

After Yeonwoo cleared a stage with Chahun’s help and expressed his joy, Chahun opened his arms, suggesting they play together, and Yeonwoo burrowed into Chahun’s embrace without hesitation.

After that, he was too engrossed in the game to notice, but it seemed Chahun had been supporting him the whole time. Yeonwoo tried to offer Chahun some kimbap with an apologetic look, but Chahun firmly shook his head.

“You eat it all.”

Yeonwoo bit his tongue as he saw his gesture of goodwill being returned. From now on, he shouldn’t express gratitude with food. Having made that resolution, Yeonwoo stuffed the kimbap into his mouth. Though his jaw ached and he was full, Chahun kept pushing more food his way, claiming Yeonwoo was getting thinner. Even when Yeonwoo refused, saying he was fine and that Chahun should eat, Chahun insisted they could always order more. Food seemed to spring up from the dining table connected to the restaurant like a magical gourd.

“Ah, they said they’ll send a guide from the Center later. To check on the ‘berserk anomaly’ or ‘progress’ or something like that. Can’t you just do it for me, hyung?”

“I can’t do that.”

Yeonwoo, struggling to chew a bulgogi burrito, looked at Chahun.

“Why not?”

“They’re not making you go to the Center, but coming here?”

“They said to stay here since they don’t know what might happen.”

Chahun, who had pushed away his empty plate, pointed to various parts of the house. The accommodation, which the Muyeong Guild Master had provided, was equipped with devices to prevent berserking all over. He said they couldn’t calm a berserking Esper, but they could buy enough time for others to respond. Yeonwoo looked carefully around the house, noting the devices embedded with magic stones larger than a fist.

If this was the house provided by the Muyeong Guild Master, would Yeonhwa’s subspace, a gift from the Muyeong Guild, be like this too? He’d only imagined an empty white space, but if it was like this, he could understand why Yeonhwa stayed in her subspace all day.

Pushing the few remaining bites of burrito into his mouth, Yeonwoo searched for his phone. Since Chahun said he’d been confined for a week, Yeonwoo thought he might be confined for about the same time and wanted to at least send a message to Yeonhwa… But he hadn’t been able to contact Yeonhwa for several days. She must be worried. Yeonwoo swallowed the burrito he’d been chewing endlessly, along with a sigh.

“Enough. I’ve really eaten a lot.”

Refusing the waffle Chahun offered, Yeonwoo took only the ice cream, then abruptly asked:

“Who did they say is coming as the guide?”

“I don’t know.”

Chahun answered indifferently, as if bothered. Chahun told him not to worry and offered a waffle topped with ice cream. Reflexively opening his mouth to accept the waffle, Yeonwoo examined Chahun from head to toe.

“What’s wrong?”

Formal guiding, unlike the simple guiding done during training, was conducted in the guiding room at the Center to protect the vulnerable Esper. Other than that, it was done only in truly urgent situations or between those who had imprinted on each other. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Yeonwoo stood up from the table.

“Where are you going?”

“To shower.”

Chahun had changed into comfortable clothes, but Yeonwoo had been wearing his training uniform since yesterday. Not having showered, he felt unclean, which must have subconsciously made him uncomfortable. A refreshing shower would probably make him feel better.

[Wait, Yeonwoo! What about my bread? Yeonwoo, I want bread!]

“Hyung, just a minute.”

Despite the dragon’s whining and Chahun’s attempts to stop him, Yeonwoo headed straight for the bedroom. As soon as he entered the farthest room on the second floor, the dragon wailed:

[You said you’d give me some after just one game! I waited all night! I want blueberry jam too!]

Yeonwoo fed some fruit to the dragon, who had completely manifested and was flailing around, then checked the wardrobe, but of course, it was empty. Had he been told to pack his things in anticipation of this? While there were no clothes to change into, he still desperately wanted to shower. Where was the bathroom? As Yeonwoo headed for the door, he suddenly snatched up the dragon.

“Hyung.”

Along with a knock at the door, Chahun’s voice was heard. He was probably asking why Yeonwoo had left without finishing his meal, hopefully not bringing more food. Smoothing his bloated stomach, Yeonwoo opened the door to find Chahun offering some clothes.

“There’s no bathroom on the second floor, so you’ll have to shower downstairs. And let’s move you to a different room. This room is a bit strange.”

Muttering ominously, Chahun used his ice flowers to search all corners of the room. Reflexively hiding his wrist, Yeonwoo stepped outside, and Chahun pointed to a room on the first floor.

“Yesterday I chose the farthest room just in case, but seeing that you’re fine, I guess it’s all over.”

Chahun, telling him to feel free to choose any room, subtly approached and nodded toward the room next to his own. Instead of choosing a room, Yeonwoo lifted the clothes. They definitely weren’t Chahun’s size. Why would clothes like these be at Chahun’s house?

“Whose clothes are these?”

“They’re yours, hyung. I ordered them this morning along with breakfast… Why? Don’t you like them?”

At Chahun’s words, Yeonwoo’s initially sharp gaze softened. So they’re my clothes. Taking the clothes, Yeonwoo nodded. They were indeed his.

“No. They’re fine. Where do I shower?”

Following Chahun’s directions to the bathroom, Yeonwoo immediately sat down. He felt embarrassed for having misunderstood. Having seen too many young, newly awakened Espers who got into trouble with their guides during guiding, he had jumped to conclusions. Chahun, who disliked guiding, wouldn’t imprint so easily.

[Puhahahahaha.]

The dragon, who had fallen onto the towel, couldn’t control its tail and burst into laughter. Yeonwoo grabbed the dragon, which was twisting its entire body in laughter, and made it open its mouth. Just as he was about to shove its tail in, the dragon stopped laughing and squirmed.

[I won’t laugh. I won’t laugh. I just want to wash too.]

The dragon, climbing onto the sink, pointed at the faucet. After glaring at the dragon for a moment, Yeonwoo turned on the water, and the dragon began to swim, floating gracefully on the water. Looking at the dragon, Yeonwoo swallowed the questions he wanted to ask. He didn’t want to confirm a hypothesis he didn’t even want to think about.

* * *

When Yeonwoo came out after showering, Chahun, sitting on the sofa, patted the spot next to him. Chahun, naturally drying Yeonwoo’s hair, asked what he wanted to eat for lunch. We just put down our spoons! As Chahun tried to soothe the shocked Yeonwoo while discussing lunch menus, the doorbell rang.

“Should we pretend we’re not here?”

Yeonwoo refused, saying not to be ridiculous. After whining a few more times, Chahun walked to the entrance with a disgruntled expression.

“Stay there.”

Warning the visitor not to enter, Chahun reluctantly extended his hand. Subsequently, a hand from the entrance grasped Chahun’s. After some time, Chahun roughly shook off the hand, saying they should leave now that the check was complete. Despite this dismissal, the guide didn’t budge and asked for Yeonwoo.

“Where is Esper Han Yeonwoo?”

At the familiar voice, tinged with exhaustion, Yeonwoo jumped to his feet. It was someone he knew. Rushing to the entrance, he found Do Minyoung standing there with dark circles extending down to his chin.

“Guide Do Minyoung.”

“Hello, Esper Han Yeonwoo. You need to be examined separately too. Being near a berserking Esper can sometimes affect others.”

Do Minyoung extended his hand and grabbed Yeonwoo’s. The mana that penetrated through their connected hands went straight to Yeonwoo’s mana core. Frowning at the indescribable discomfort, Yeonwoo noticed Do Minyoung looking down at his own hand before giving both Yeonwoo and Chahun a peculiar look.

“Could we talk alone for a moment?”

“No.”

Rejecting the request outright, Chahun gestured for him to leave. Yeonwoo restrained Chahun and agreed to Do Minyoung’s request. Despite Chahun’s protests about wanting to listen too, Yeonwoo managed to send him away and immediately read the text that appeared on Do Minyoung’s phone.

Please. No. As Yeonwoo vigorously shook his head, Do Minyoung rubbed between his eyebrows.

Do Minyoung observed Yeonwoo’s frantic reaction as he insisted that was impossible, then slowly moved his fingers.

After looking cautiously, Do Minyoung lowered his gaze to his phone. Shortly after, Do Minyoung extended the screen with new text toward Yeonwoo. Checking the screen, Yeonwoo swallowed hard.

At the word “guide,” Yeonwoo closed his eyes tightly. Why does everyone call me a guide… Holding his forehead, Yeonwoo looked down at his wrist.

Are you there? He asked, and a sleepy voice replied, Ah-ahh, no. Is your ability still the same? There was no answer to this question. Can’t you tell me? Again, there was no response. Whether his ability changed upon returning to the past, or if the price for changing the future was a transformation in his power, what was certain was that Yeonwoo’s mana core was showing characteristics of a guide.

Does this mean I have to live as a guide from now on…? With a complicated expression, Yeonwoo looked down at his hand and then typed on the phone keypad.

<It’s an instinctive sense that’s a bit difficult to explain, but I imagine scooping water from a lake and sharing it.>

Reading Do Minyoung’s explanation, Yeonwoo sighed. It would be good to know for whatever might come next. Yeonwoo closed his eyes and imagined putting his hand into a rippling lake. Just as he was about to fully visualize it—

[Yeonwoo!]

Along with the dragon’s scream-like cry, something fell to the ground with a “tuduk” sound. Instinctively covering his mouth, Yeonwoo’s mouth filled with a fishy scent.