Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: A Subtle Sensation
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His outward condition looked perfectly fine too, so he probably wasn't in any sensitive state like rampage.
Yet somehow he'd noticed what even Yang Hyun-woo, who outranked him, hadn't—and figured out that I was a Guide. No clue how.
Maybe because he's attack-type? Yang Hyun-woo was support-type, so it made a certain kind of sense.
"How's it feeling now? Can you sense the guiding?"
I had Ju Yeon-woo sit on the sofa while standing myself, then took his hand in mine. As usual, I dialed my output down to the minimum before asking. He furrowed his brow ever so slightly.
"......I can barely feel it. But there's this slightly...... odd sensation."
"What kind of sensation?"
"If normal guiding feels like being submerged up to your head in deep water, this is like it's only up to your ankles. Still...... it feels good."
"......Pardon?"
Submerged in water wouldn't that make it hard to breathe? How could it feel good? I'd never experienced guiding myself and wasn't likely to in the future, so who knew.
It felt almost nonexistent, just as I'd intended, but maybe the unfamiliarity had tipped him off?
Then why hadn't Yang Hyun-woo noticed? Was it the difference in matching rate?
One question led to another, leaving me standing there lost in silent thought.
Deep in contemplation, I suddenly felt something slip between my fingers.
My hand, which had been lightly holding his like gripping a cup, was now tightly interlaced with his.
I stared at it blankly, and Ju Yeon-woo glanced up at me as if gauging my reaction.
"......I thought this might give more accurate results for the experiment."
A faint pressure settled into our clasped hands.
It was a proven fact that guiding efficiency increased with greater contact area.
That made sense. I nodded, and his fingers wove even deeper between mine.
How many minutes passed like that?
Figuring this was enough, I lightly tapped the back of his hand with my free one, signaling to let go.
It didn't take long for our hands to part. Maybe because we'd held on so long, the sudden emptiness felt oddly hollow.
"How was it?"
"Not much different from before."
"Did the guiding fill up at all?"
"No, it just—"
Ju Yeon-woo hesitated mid-sentence.
While he paused, I pondered intently.
Even at minimum guiding levels, unlike Yang Hyun-woo who felt nothing, Ju Yeon-woo had noticed the anomaly.
......Why?
Was there some difference between attack-type and support-type Espers?
But it didn't seem to actually recharge his guiding or anything.
"It just...... feels nice."
"Could you describe that 'nice' feeling in more detail?"
"......You know that saying? Espers naturally develop a fondness for Guides who match them well. They feel more lenient, or relax without realizing it."
Ju Yeon-woo answered with a soft crinkle around his eyes. He whispered so quietly it was almost inaudible, yet clearly meant for me.
"Feels like that's really true."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "......That's scary. For a second there, I thought it was that flow from him."
Awakener relationships were no different from curses. I tore open a vinyl pack, recalling yesterday's events.
As he'd said, it was natural for Espers to feel fondness toward compatible Guides.
Fondness scaled with matching rate too, so Ju Yeon-woo—presumed to have a high one with me—feeling that way was inevitable, really.
Otherwise, no matter how much he wanted to repay a favor, he wouldn't go this far out of his way. I'd even felt subconsciously reassured by it.
"Cough, what?"
"The Esper feeling fondness for a compatible Guide. It's a bit much."
Slap. I stuck a fever patch to Han Se-young's forehead.
I was currently at Han Se-young's place, nursing her.
More precisely, she'd suddenly called saying she was dying of sickness and begging to be saved. Freaked out, I'd rushed over to find her collapsed at the entrance, mask on.
Diagnosis: a cold. She'd even gotten meds from the clinic a few days ago but worsened it by working without resting.
And she'd hidden that from both me and Yang Hyun-woo, going to the buffet with me yesterday like nothing was wrong.
Her boyfriend was working, so she couldn't reach him—that was her excuse when I asked why she'd called me.
She knew I had an afternoon shift, so it'd be fine. How does she know my schedule inside out?
"Why, cough."
"Think about it. They develop fondness regardless of their own will. Plenty mistake it for love."
"Mistake?"
Even in her sick haze, Han Se-young shot me a cold look.
"Love—what is it, really? Do you need some grand reason to feel fondness? It can spark from a pretty face or a bit of kindness. Cough. Isn't that fondness?"
"Now that you mention it, yeah......"
"You always seem to have this idealistic standard for love."
Did I? I nodded vaguely, then shook my head vigorously at her follow-up.
"Cough. Even with Ham Si-hyeok, you kept saying he'd change if you just stayed by his side. That he was just lonely. I told you he wouldn't—not that guy!"
"Yeah, no. No illusions left about him now. He's dead to me. These days, I believe people don't change unless they're on their deathbed."
"Liar."
"Believe me, please."
I didn't mind misunderstandings on other things, but not that one—I apologized desperately.
Talking too much must've worn her out; she hacked like she was about to pass out.
I rushed her some meds first, then realized she hadn't eaten a thing.
Time to roll up my sleeves and make porridge. Han Se-young mumbled in her raspy voice.
"But Yu-jeong-ah...... I want jelly."
"Jelly? No jelly. I'll make porridge, so eat that."
"Just once...... buy some? I have no appetite."
"Eat anyway. Gotta eat well with a cold."
"But...... I puked up everything yesterday."
Jelly. Her throat sounded rough too—was cold stuff okay? Warm ginger or citrus tea seemed better.
Still, anything was better than nothing.
"Jeliieee......"
Han Se-young whispered "jelly" like a patient eyeing their last leaf of greens.
......Stuff her mouth with jelly.
I quietly stood up.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A-rank Esper Seo Yun-ho. Lately, his mood had hit rock bottom—worst in ages.
As always, Yeon Woo-jin was the culprit.
The gate he'd been eyeing got cleared first by that detestable Messiah Guild. Then the illegal drug deal he'd targeted next? Yeon Woo-jin swooped in out of nowhere and snatched it too.
The guy who only cleared high-level gates and dungeons nonstop—since when did he care about some sleazy motel drug bust? And he had the nerve to show up and block his path.
One casualty already, and Yeon Woo-jin had looked at him like you couldn't even stop that? Pitiful.
"Fucking bastard...... Gets me pissed just thinking about it."
He raked a hand through his red hair, scowling.
Even setting aside personal grudges, there was nothing likable about the guy.
Using informal speech despite being younger. Getting everything he wanted yet never looking satisfied.
Born with the perfect talents to lord it over everyone.
Bam!
"Stuff all the cash you have into this bag right now!!"
And the robbers he ran into in that state? Just as infuriating.
Three thugs in black masks waved guns at the mart customers—but on closer look, total fakes.
"Hey, you there, kid! You fill it."
"Try anything funny and it'll get ugly!!"
Threatening people with powers, claiming to be Espers, yet acting like total idiots.
Rob a bank if you're gonna do it—why a mart? Dragging his already foul mood even lower.
And right by the oil display, no less.
Two attack-types. No cell signal means one support-type?
A civilian charged one robber yelling, only to crumple from an invisible blow to the solar plexus.
The others, terrified, dropped to the floor trembling as ordered.
He'd just come for chocolate to fix low blood sugar, and this happened.
Seo Yun-ho scowled darkly, ripping open his basket chocolate and popping it in his mouth.
No way to pay normally here—he'd settle up later.
Halfway through the chocolate, he slowly rose from his crouch.
Sugar fixed; time to deal with these clowns and head home for rest.
That's when it happened.
Amid the fearful crowd came an angry mutter.
"Fuck, did those assholes come shopping too......"
Under a nearby checkout counter, a woman crouched, peeling a jelly.
Not her first—empty jelly cups littered the floor by her feet.
......What the hell?
Robbers rampaging, and she's hiding behind the counter munching jelly? Seo Yun-ho frowned.
He'd totally forgotten he'd been scarfing chocolate himself moments ago.
Clutched in her arms besides jellies: a long metal rod, scavenged from a toppled shelf nearby.
She hugged it tight, peering out from the counter.