# Chapter 5
Dungeons continuously emerge, but people’s safety is maintained thanks to the efforts of ability users.
Humanity leads relatively peaceful lives because of them. They trust these ability users, or more specifically, Espers.
The sense of security that comes from the mere existence of an S-class Esper is indescribable.
This is because of the belief that as long as an S-class Esper enters, any dungeon can be cleared. But if an S-class Esper suddenly died in a dungeon? It was obvious that chaos would ensue.
That’s why countries around the world seemed to have collectively agreed to keep silent about this news.
Korea was no exception. The Korean Ability User Association had determined that protecting S-class Esper Seo Suhyun was the highest priority. That’s why they had forcefully pushed for a dedicated contract despite Suhyun’s reluctance.
Since they couldn’t completely prevent him from entering dungeons, they took the minimum measure of assigning him a dedicated Guide.
Jiwon needed to bring Suhyun’s wavelength to a perfectly stable state. That was the minimal safety measure the Association could provide to Suhyun in the current situation.
‘How did he end up being S-class anyway.’
Jiwon thought the Association’s judgment was a superficial protective measure that was neither here nor there. But since he didn’t have a clear countermeasure himself, he was just doing as he was told.
“You just need to follow what’s written in the dedicated contract.”
Suhyun still didn’t know anything. The Association had kept quiet for fear that Espers might refuse to participate in dungeons if they knew.
Jiwon also wondered why this information had been shared with him in the first place. No other ability user knew about this content except him. Was it to make him form a dedicated contract with Suhyun? Were they afraid he might throw a tantrum and refuse otherwise?
Well, it was something he couldn’t understand. Anyway, he had been ordered, so all he could do was follow through.
“Just go to dungeons with me, and receive guiding until I say it’s enough. It’s not difficult, right?”
“It is difficult.”
The curt reply came quickly. It was almost unfair, considering he had been feeling sorry for Suhyun’s situation, thinking he might face a serious incident in a dungeon without knowing anything.
Maybe he should ask for incentives. Appeasing a sulky Esper should also be part of his job.
“Try to hang in there.”
Well… since he had no intention of appeasing, it would be hard to count it as work.
“What can we do? You’re picky, so there’s no other Guide.”
While S-class Espers from other countries had at least three Guides, Suhyun was unusually picky.
‘He doesn’t seem like he’ll avoid any dungeons either.’
Jiwon thought calmly. The Association’s worry was unnecessary. Because Suhyun didn’t seem like he would avoid dungeons. Though Jiwon didn’t know him well, he had a feeling that was close to certainty.
So Jiwon had to be even more thorough with guiding. Just because Suhyun was prickly toward him didn’t mean he should be left to potentially die.
It would be good if there were proper measures… but since there was no known cause yet, no specific measures could be taken.
All they could do was focus on guiding, even if it was superficial.
“Unless another Guide suddenly drops from the sky, our dedicated contract will continue. Try talking to your picky wavelength.”
“Haah…”
Suhyun sighed and turned his head away at Jiwon’s words, which carried a hint of humor. Just as he had eventually accepted the dedicated contract when the Association stepped in, he would probably accept Jiwon’s presence in his house if it was the Association’s will.
Well… from the Association’s perspective, he was an easy Esper to manage.
The same would be true for other Espers.
Jiwon had been curious before. Why did it seem like Suhyun was unusually frequent in his dungeon visits? Was the Association assigning more work to him because he was an S-class Esper?
That couldn’t be. Not to an Esper without a dedicated Guide. Then, Suhyun’s frequent dungeon entries could only mean that he was doing the work of other Espers too.
Whether it was troublesome, dangerous, or time-consuming.
Jiwon knew that many Espers wanted to choose more comfortable dungeons since they received substantial money, called a life allowance, just for entering dungeons.
So the probability that Suhyun, who was agreeable to everyone except Jiwon, had become their prey…
“By what criteria do you judge if the condition is satisfactory?”
“I wonder.”
It was very high.
Moreover, didn’t Suhyun have an exceptionally strong sense of justice, or responsibility? His ability to firmly hold onto his sanity during his awakening must be an extension of that emotion.
Plus, being the only S-class Esper in the country. He would feel a sense of duty too.
Just like Jiwon did a long time ago.
“First, I’d like you to decide which room I’ll be using. I can’t use the living room. Surely, there isn’t no room? Like we’d have to share a room…”
“That won’t happen.”
Jiwon chuckled as Suhyun’s face contorted.
‘So that’s what was bothering him.’
Ten years ago, Jiwon was a bit similar to Suhyun.
“Haha…”
No matter how hard you try, nothing comes back. People quite easily take others’ sacrifices for granted.
Suhyun would get the same result as Jiwon did. No matter how hard he works, it will just be considered the natural duty of an S-class ability user.
And if he stops because it becomes too much…
‘I can’t stand to see that.’
This was separate from Suhyun’s unpleasant behavior. Initially, Jiwon had planned to only care about guiding, but now the story had changed a bit.
‘I need to manage the surroundings.’
There was no need for his Esper to repeat the dog-like experience that he had gone through.
Jiwon decided to show genuine goodwill to Suhyun.
‘He’s still just a kid after all.’
There was no need for him to be hurt for the same reasons as Jiwon. Although there was only a four-year age difference, Jiwon, who had been in this field for 10 years, was certainly qualified to help this 2-year rookie.
***
“Good morning.”
Early morning.
Jiwon, who had woken up early perhaps due to the change in sleeping environment, greeted Suhyun as he walked in with heavy steps.
Suhyun froze as if he had forgotten Jiwon was there, then immediately frowned. What a warm morning greeting.
“Did you sleep well?”
Jiwon asked casually. With no expectations, there was nothing to be disappointed about.
“I slept well. It’s nice that the house is quiet. I had heard that Esper houses are well soundproofed because of their sensitive hearing, but I didn’t know it would be to this extent.”
It was unclear whether Suhyun was listening or not.
Without responding, Suhyun headed to the kitchen, avoiding Jiwon. It seemed natural for him to go straight to the coffee machine, as if he drank coffee immediately after waking up.
‘Such a youngster already ruining his stomach…’
Jiwon thought unconsciously, then shook his head. Perhaps because they had first met when Suhyun was twenty, Jiwon tended to see him as a child.
“I used your coffee machine. I have my own, but I didn’t think we needed to have two out. By the way, what kind of beans do you use? They smell good.”
Well, his actions were also childish. Ignoring people as if they were invisible was exactly what children do.
Yesterday he had responded precisely, but today he seemed to have changed his strategy to ignoring.
“What time is convenient for guiding?”
“……”
“Should we do it now and again in the afternoon? You can’t go to the dungeon you planned to visit in the afternoon anyway.”
“……”
“I can do it three times a day if needed.”
Regardless of which approach Jiwon took, it would be difficult for Suhyun to get what he wanted. Jiwon was quite skilled at being stubborn. He was quite persistent, so if it was a battle of winning and losing, he would not be satisfied until he won.
On top of that, last night, he had decided to properly act as a dedicated Guide since things had come to this.
“Should I take your silence as agreement? Should I stick with you all day if necessary? That wouldn’t be so bad either.”
“Are you insane?”
So it was very easy to make his Esper open his tightly closed mouth.
Jiwon grinned. It was amusing to see Suhyun immediately distance himself as Jiwon approached.
An S-class ability user shouldn’t be soft. Jiwon intended to make Suhyun treat everyone the way he treated Jiwon. Rather than being treated poorly for being soft, it was better to be difficult with everyone.
This decision wasn’t made because he felt unfair about being the only one treated this way.
“So just set a specific time. Why do you make me keep asking until my mouth hurts?”
Just as Jiwon had directly requested the Guiding Center and stopped going into the field 8 years ago, Suhyun also needed to recognize his own value and find a place where he was comfortable.
The first thing to do was for him to be selective about dungeons. Fortunately, Jiwon had the authority to choose dungeons. Since Suhyun couldn’t go to a dungeon without Jiwon’s permission.
Lower-grade Espers should handle lower-grade dungeons on their own. As an S-class Esper, Suhyun didn’t need to go out unless it was a dungeon that absolutely required him.
It’s okay to be criticized for losing his initial determination. Even such criticism would pass with time.
And then…
“I’ll do it later.”
Jiwon, who had been briefly organizing what to do next, paused. This was because Suhyun’s voice sounded as if he had no intention of receiving guiding at all.
“You’re not going to receive guiding? You need to receive it quickly to go to dungeons, right?”
There was no real need to go to dungeons quickly, but Jiwon said this thinking it might tempt Suhyun.
“You’ll do as you please anyway, Guide. You said you would determine when my condition is good.”
“…Oh.”
“Since there’s no clear numerical standard set, there’s no reason to hurry.”
Jiwon nodded slightly. To ensure Suhyun could only go to desired dungeons, they couldn’t set a fixed numerical standard. Had he seen through Jiwon’s intentions? It didn’t seem like it…
“…Doesn’t it hurt?”
Putting aside his idle thoughts, Jiwon asked. The fundamental reason why he couldn’t understand Suhyun’s refusal of guiding was that he knew it would only be painful to endure without receiving it.
“I’m fine.”
“Stability 45. It dropped 1 from yesterday? At this level, your body must definitely be in pain. Surely an Esper of 2 years wouldn’t say nonsense like ‘resting will improve the wavelength,’ right?”
Jiwon deliberately asked sharply. Suhyun, who had once endured without guiding because he believed resting would improve his wavelength, raised an eyebrow.
“…At the very least.”
Suhyun spoke in a voice that was almost a sigh as he looked at Jiwon.
“My mood would improve.”
“……”
“I’m going to rest.”
Suhyun swept past Jiwon. Having lost words to say, Jiwon couldn’t move from his spot until Suhyun went into his room.
“Wow…”
It seemed he definitely didn’t need to teach Suhyun how to be rude.
How could a person be so cold? Jiwon felt like his skin was being frozen by the coldness of Seo Suhyun, the same Esper whom everyone unanimously described as kind.
