After changing all his clothes, he carefully knocked on the examination room door across the way. Hyeseong, who had been waiting at the entrance to the examination room, followed behind Yeoul like a bodyguard.
“Wow…”
The moment he stepped into the examination room, Yeoul unconsciously shrank his shoulders a little.
It was a space that naturally commanded a sense of intimidation. The interior of the examination room had a structure divided into several sections, and the walls were made of glass so you could see clearly inside. In each divided room, there was one large, cold-looking metal examination machine, making it look more like a giant science lab than an examination room.
But, what are those things hanging on the walls in each examination room…? Aren’t those the restraint suits you only see in movies featuring ability users…? Why on earth are there chains, and why are there weapons like billy clubs…?
Yeoul’s eyes began to shake wildly as he gulped down dry saliva. Clearly, his heart had been pleasantly pounding until he changed clothes, but at some point, all the excitement had completely disappeared, leaving only fear.
“Haha. The atmosphere is a bit… cyborg-like, isn’t it? It’s okay. It just looks like that.”
The examiner quickly made a joke when she saw Yeoul’s pale face. Seeing her laugh as if she was used to it, it seemed many people got nervous, not just him.
“Haha, ha… I see…”
Yeoul laughed along, but he couldn’t help his lips trembling. Seeing things like those chains, is the examination very painful…? If it hurts too much, will they stop…? But what if they won’t let go no matter how much I beg them to… He was momentarily consumed by all sorts of thoughts.
“That has nothing to do with you, Yeoul, so you don’t need to be nervous.”
Kang Hyeseong’s voice suddenly cut in.
“Those are things worn by Espers with a high risk of rampage. If something goes wrong, the examiner or Guide could get hurt, and the Esper themselves could be in danger too. Guides, especially you, Yeoul, who hasn’t even registered yet, won’t have any pain at all during the examination, so rest assured.”
“…Ah. Okay, I got it.”
After hearing the kind and detailed explanation, his mind was completely at ease. At the same time, he felt a bit dazed. How did he know I was scared looking at those things…? At times like this, Kang Hyeseong seemed like someone who could read his mind. Even though he’s not a psychic-type Esper.
Yeoul briefly grabbed Hyeseong’s hand and let go, avoiding the examiner’s eyes, filled with gratitude. Earlier, he’d nastily told him not to be overprotective or anything like that… but now he had to quietly admit it. The fact that having Hyeseong by his side was reassuring.
“Um… Captain Kang explained it so well, I don’t have anything more to explain…?”
The examiner blinked with a bewildered face, then soon clapped her palms together lightly.
“Now then, shall we prepare for the examination?”
“Yes.”
Yeoul, who had quickly recovered his courage, answered vigorously. Following her instructions, he entered one of the glass examination rooms and lay down obediently on the bed. Then electrodes were attached to various parts of his body. One each on both ankles and wrists, three on his head, and one had to be attached to his heart.
“Now, if you could just roll up your examination gown a little bit…”
“I’ll attach this one.”
Before Yeoul could even roll up his top, Hyeseong naturally took the electrode patch from the examiner’s hand as if it were flowing water. Soon after, Hyeseong’s large hand burrowed inside Yeoul’s shirt.
“…!”
Startled, Yeoul’s eyes widened and his waist trembled. His breathing became completely tangled. His face heated up as if it would explode, and his heart pounded frighteningly.
However, Hyeseong’s touch was extremely businesslike. The hand that went up past his flat stomach skillfully attached the patch above his heart. The cool palm that had finished its job withdrew from the shirt without hesitation.
‘That startled me… Kang Hyeseong. Are you really trying to make someone faint…’
Yeoul glared at the indifferent profile of Kang Hyeseong with a flushed face. The gratitude he’d felt just moments ago had completely disappeared as if washed away, and he just found him annoying for startling him on his own.
“Then, I’ll start the examination.”
“…Yep.”
Yeoul lay on the bed nervously, looking up at the ceiling. The examiner, who had turned off all the lights, sat in front of a machine in the corner and began operating the computer. Whirr-. The sound of the machine running echoed in his ears.
His clammy hand instantly became cold. Yeoul just chewed on his innocent lips while repeatedly taking deep breaths and exhaling as the examiner instructed. After completing about three deep breaths, she said he could just be comfortable as usual.
“Don’t be nervous.”
Hyeseong bent down and whispered in his ear.
“Hyung is right here beside you.”
He quietly stroked his hair. Yeoul nodded as if entranced. In the dim examination room, Yeoul endlessly gazed at Kang Hyeseong’s face illuminated by the bluish light emanating from the machine. He could feel his wildly pounding heart gradually stabilizing.
She said the examination would take about 20 minutes. During that entire time, Kang Hyeseong gently touched Yeoul’s hair. Following the instructions not to speak or move, Yeoul faithfully just blinked his eyes while receiving his touch. Doing so, the 20 minutes felt exactly like 2 hours.
“Examination complete.”
Whirr, the noisy machine sound stopped. The examiner, who had turned on the lights, pulled out the examination paper and stood up from her seat. Hyeseong took Yeoul’s hand to help him up from the bed.
As soon as all three left the examination room and sat in the consultation room, the examiner handed over the examination paper with a pleased face.
“Congratulations, Kim Yeoul. You’ve awakened as a Guide. It’s 100% confirmed.”
“Ah…”
“You see this graph here? This is what we call a Guide’s wavelength, and it’s extending out very vigorously and regularly. Seeing such a strong wavelength, you’ll probably receive a high grade rating.”
The examiner smiled brightly and clapped for him. She added that he would come back for an official “grade evaluation” after completing four weeks of training, saying they’d see each other again then. Yeoul looked back and forth between the examination paper and the examiner’s face with a bewildered yet happy heart.
I’m really a Guide….
“……”
It was when he looked to the side with a disbelieving face. He saw Hyeseong’s quietly sunken face. Unlike him, who was purely happy and swept up in elation, his face looked subtly complicated.
“…Haa.”
Kang Hyeseong, who even let out a sigh, soon roughly rubbed his face with one hand. Unlike the examiner and him, who were purely rejoicing, he looked exactly like someone who was angry.
Why is he like that…? The moment a question was about to bloom, the examiner’s cheerful voice scattered Yeoul’s thoughts.
“The examination ends here. You can go to the Personnel Management Department today to officially register as a Guide and then go home.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you, Examiner. You worked hard!”
Yeoul left the consultation room with an extremely excited face. Actually, while taking the examination, he’d thought all sorts of things. Like, what if the awakening pains he’d experienced were just a simple cold, and the examination result said he wasn’t a Guide… you know, those kinds of cases that would be embarrassing and awkward just to imagine.
“Hyung, did you hear? I’m really a Guide!”
That’s why he couldn’t help but be excited at the examiner’s diagnosis of 100% confirmation. He’d already somewhat solidified his resolve for a second life as an ability user. Now that he’d received a confirmed diagnosis too, all that remained was to move forward as both an ability user and a soldier.
“I was actually a bit worried. After making Mom, Dad, and Auntie worry so much, I thought what if I had to say now that I’m not. Well… actually, even if I weren’t a Guide, it wouldn’t be a big deal… Still, after making such a fuss, it would be embarrassing if I turned out not to be.”
“What’s embarrassing? Whether you’re a Guide or not, you’re still Kim Yeoul.”
Kang Hyeseong replied indifferently while walking forward and looking ahead. Even so, Yeoul smiled brightly at him habitually matching his speed to his walking pace.
“Still! Hehe, that’s a relief. By the way, hyung, did you hear? My wavelength is really strong. That’s probably why it hurt so much when I awakened.”
“……”
“Hyung, hyung. You know what? I saw in a hero movie with ability users.”
Yeoul’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Do real Espers feel a Guide’s wavelength pleasantly? What does it feel like? Like, is it like getting a massage, warm and… comfortable, that kind of feeling?”
“……”
“What about you, hyung? Can you feel my wavelength right now? Does it really feel good? I’m curious how you feel it….”
It was the moment when Yeoul, who had been chattering away, unconsciously grabbed Hyeseong’s arm. Hyeseong’s steps, which had been matching his pace, stopped.
“…Yeoul, you’re too excited right now. Just a moment.”
He appeased him in a calm tone and removed Yeoul’s hand. Yeoul stared at him quietly with wide eyes.
Something felt off. Normally, touching Kang Hyeseong’s forearm or lower back was as natural as breathing. But why, does it suddenly seem like he’s trying to avoid my touch….
“And Yeoul. I’m telling you in advance before you start practical work.”
“Uh…? Yeah.”
“Whatever you do, don’t ask other Espers questions like that.”
The dryly delivered order felt unfamiliar. This was the first time Kang Hyeseong had spoken to him like this. Kang Hyeseong’s suddenly businesslike attitude was extremely flustering to Yeoul.
An indescribable emotion washed over him. It felt distant, and honestly speaking, even sad.
“…I’m sorry, hyung. I… I didn’t know that kind of question was rude.”
However, Yeoul chose to apologize instead of expressing his hurt feelings. Yeoul spoke hesitantly while gently grasping the hem of his sleeve.
“I’ll be careful from now on. It’s because I didn’t know… So teach me well from now on, hyung.”
I guess I was too excited and chattering thoughtlessly. The Kang Hyeseong I know isn’t someone who would say something like this without good reason.
I guess asking Espers questions like that is extremely rude. It’s fortunate that Hyeseong pointed it out and taught me before I made a mistake in front of other people.
However, despite the sincere apology, Kang Hyeseong had no response. He, who had been quietly looking at Yeoul, suddenly let out a short sigh.
“…What should I do… with you. Really.”
He, who muttered that, showed an extremely complicated expression, though fleeting. He’s muttering something to the end… Yeoul pouted his lips a little. However, his heart melted away without conviction at Hyeseong’s touch slowly stroking his head.
“Let’s go register at the Personnel Department.”
“Okay!”
During the move from the Diagnostic Examination Building to the main building, his sunken mood quickly surged up again. The moment he entered the first-floor lobby of the main building, which was vast enough to be called magnificent, Yeoul couldn’t help but exclaim “Woooow…” without realizing it.
The main building had many more people as it was much larger than the Diagnostic Examination Building. Yeoul’s eyes moved busily here and there. He was admiring the interior in a daze when suddenly someone approached closely and saluted toward Hyeseong.
“Peace! Team Leader, sir, hello.”
The man who approached was tall and had an extremely solid build. His broad shoulders, the combat uniform that clung to his body, and his mischievous yet friendly-looking eyes were very familiar. Yeoul’s eyes widened as he immediately recognized who he was.
‘That’s Esper Seo Giwon…!’
He almost covered his mouth. A member of R1 and a flame-type Esper, he was the second most famous person in the country after Kang Hyeseong.
He was popular with his handsomely good-looking face and mischievous younger brother-like image. He was a face that frequently appeared on the morning news that Yeoul had watched every day to check on Kang Hyeseong’s well-being.
Seo Giwon, who had crisply saluted by placing his right hand beside his eyebrow and then removing it, looked cautiously yet with an expression full of curiosity, his eyes shining.
“Team Leader, sir. But, may I ask who the person beside you is…?”
