# Chapter 153
The sound of a pounding heart echoed in Lee Hwan’s ears. He carefully examined Taesung’s appearance.
He didn’t look sick. His complexion wasn’t good, but there were no visible injuries, and he wasn’t sweating.
Lee Hwan placed his hand on Taesung’s forehead to check for fever, feeling the tepid, smooth skin against his palm. As he slowly moved his fingers down to press against Taesung’s temple, he could distinctly feel a somewhat rapid pulse.
Thump. Thump. Thump. At least the rhythm was steady, which was somewhat normal. Lee Hwan brushed back Taesung’s drooping hair and let out a long sigh.
He had worried that something might be seriously wrong, but thankfully at least Taesung’s physical condition seemed okay. The shock had almost made Lee Hwan’s heart jump out of his chest.
“Why are you out here instead of sleeping in bed?”
He tossed the question out as if talking to himself, but naturally, there was no answer. Lee Hwan bit his lower lip firmly as he quietly gazed at Taesung’s sleeping face.
Features sculpted without a single flaw. A nose that was delicate yet gave off a strong impression, a firm and smooth jawline, and thick eyelashes adorning eyes that occasionally twitched in sleep.
How fortunate that there were no deep wounds or scratches marring his face. Still, Lee Hwan couldn’t help but worry about Taesung’s pale complexion dimly visible under the moonlight. He never imagined he would see Taesung like this.
“Why can’t you sleep properly? Poor thing.”
Remembering how he himself had woken up crying the previous night made his nose tingle with emotion. This guy must have had similar thoughts. Recalling the painful past and trembling from the aftereffects.
But unlike Lee Hwan, who had felt relieved and gone back to sleep, Taesung was troubled enough to walk out to the living room in the middle of the night. That realization pained Lee Hwan’s heart.
“Kang Taesung.”
When he called the name again, Taesung’s fingers seemed to twitch slightly. Unlike usual, Taesung’s hand was tepid, and Lee Hwan took it, pressing firmly with his thumb.
“Let’s go back inside. Don’t stay out here like this.”
To think he had pretended to be fine when he was in such a state. But then again, Taesung had always been like that. Even before the regression, always pretending to be less tired, less hungry, and acting as if a few wounds were nothing.
The world on the brink of destruction had left too great a scar on both of them. Just as Taesung was wandering about unable to find his place, Lee Hwan too would have nightmares not infrequently over many nights to come.
That’s why they needed to eat better. Rest more and support each other as pillars. If they endured together, things would get better, so neither of them could afford to collapse first.
“Come here.”
When he pulled the hand he was holding, legs that had been stiff as a statue began to move. Lee Hwan grabbed Taesung’s waist and gently pulled him closer.
“Follow me well, you idiot.”
As he spoke, he squeezed Taesung’s hand, and very slowly, Taesung began to follow where Lee Hwan led.
“Why are you walking around in the middle of your sleep? Trying to break things?”
He moved better when he heard Lee Hwan’s voice. Like an automaton responding to sound, he walked toward Lee Hwan when his hand was held and coaxed.
Lee Hwan rambled on about random things, carefully guiding Taesung to ensure he wouldn’t stumble on anything.
Just before they reached the bedroom, Taesung’s knees suddenly buckled. Lee Hwan quickly caught his falling body and supported it against himself. Despite the heart-dropping moment, Taesung’s breathing remained even.
Unlike his cold hands, his body was quite warm. His pale appearance had been concerning, as if all warmth had been drained from him. Only now did Lee Hwan feel his own tense body beginning to relax.
Lee Hwan held him in an embrace-like support and closed his eyes momentarily. Taesung’s body temperature, scent, and breathing were all unmistakably clear.
During battles, when they would take turns sleeping, Lee Hwan would always check these things. So now he was just doing the same. Checking if he was safe, if he was still alive.
“Now you’re all I have left.”
Lee Hwan muttered with a bitter expression as he supported Taesung’s limp body with one hand and headed back to the room where Taesung had been staying.
Was he actually using the bed to sleep? The room was still spotlessly clean without a single item out of place. It felt devoid of human presence, as if no one had ever settled there.
Thud.
A somewhat comical sound echoed as the heavy body fell onto the soft bed. Lee Hwan carefully pulled out the blanket trapped beneath Taesung, making sure not to tear it, then bundled it up and placed it over Taesung’s body.
“Should I tie you down?”
What if he walked out like a ghost again? Lee Hwan found an armchair in the corner of the room, dragged it to the bedside, and plopped down on it.
Then, as if keeping watch, or perhaps in admiration, he gazed at Taesung for a long time until he fell into a deep sleep.
Lee Hwan couldn’t leave the bedside for quite a while. His mind was too complicated with many thoughts surfacing.
The way Taesung had been unable to wake up properly despite sensing someone’s presence, and how he had walked in the direction Lee Hwan pulled him—it was all so unlike Taesung that it felt disconcerting.
Yet, it was still reassuringly him in how he had responded to Lee Hwan’s voice. Lee Hwan spread the blanket over Taesung, who was sleeping as if he had fainted, and let out a troubled sigh.
Even though regression was no ordinary event, how could someone change so much in just a day or two?
Lee Hwan had also regressed, but he hadn’t changed much compared to before. That made sense because he had simply opened his eyes to find himself seven years in the past. There wasn’t really a “regression process.”
It hadn’t taken time, nor had he used any power. It felt as if he had been wandering through ruins just two days ago and was suddenly thrown into a peaceful world.
‘Maybe the tension is finally releasing now.’
That seemed plausible. Since he rarely showed signs of strain before, perhaps he was now crumbling under the accumulated tension and stress.
Whatever he did, however he appeared, he was still Taesung after all. Their relationship, which had shared life and death, couldn’t change. If only he would talk about his troubles.
Lee Hwan had been constantly making his own guesses. That made him feel frustrated and hurt. He hadn’t even realized Taesung was seriously injured until right before the regression. How could he be sure something like that wouldn’t happen again?
“You better not do that again this time, you jerk.”
Still, there was no response. As Lee Hwan leaned back against the chair and closed his mouth, a silence so dense it made his mind numb settled in the room.
* * *
Daytime Taesung was so normal that the early morning incident felt like a dream. Lee Hwan kept glancing at him while stuffing toast they had bought together into his mouth.
His complexion was fine, and he didn’t look sick anywhere. He seemed to be eating well too, which was a relief for now.
Taesung asked while drinking coffee he had brewed himself.
“Shall we go register as awakened people today?”
Day 3 after the regression. It was welcome news. To adapt to this returned world, becoming legal citizens was the first step.
“Don’t we need to apply in advance for that?”
“I already did. Yesterday.”
He had been away from home for half a day, apparently taking care of this as well. Normally, they would have to wait a few days after applying, but Kang Taesung’s name carried weight. Registration in just one day was impressive.
As they finished their meal and started moving, Lee Hwan repeatedly examined his skill window.
‘It’s still there.’
Obviously, but the two skills that had appeared mysteriously were still there intact. He hadn’t had a chance to use them yet—would it be alright to take the registration exam like this?
‘Well, they could pass as abilities included in Spatial Control…’
If it was revealed that someone not even registered as an awakened person had two skills, he might end up wearing restraints and walking straight into a cell.
Fortunately, skills weren’t distinguishable from abilities in metrics unless specifically revealed, so it would be better to try hiding them as best as possible.
When they arrived at the ability assessment center, Lee Hwan once again witnessed Taesung’s influence.
Two civil servants had been following them since the parking lot. The expectant looks he received just because Taesung had brought him were no joke, and he even spotted someone in the distance who looked like a paparazzo.
It was surprising that they were guided to someone’s office rather than a general waiting room, and even more surprising when a person who seemed to hold some position came out to personally serve them tea while they filled out paperwork.
When Lee Hwan had gone alone before the regression, he had just registered documents and received a grape-flavored drink.
“Your ability is… Spatial Control.”
“Yes. I control and adjust designated space. That’s the full explanation.”
“Have you used it before?”
“Uh… yes. I was curious after first awakening, so I tried it a few times at home. I know that using unregistered abilities is prohibited by rule… but I was too curious.”
He’d laid the groundwork. After all, no one would awaken, not use their ability even once, and then wait several days before rushing to the assessment center. Plus, if he seemed too proficient with his ability from the start, it might raise suspicions.
“Then I’ll give you some guidance, and we can proceed right away.”
The procedure that followed this meaningful remark was remarkably quick and simplified.
Normally, one would fill out documents, wait a bit, have a chip attached to their head, demonstrate their ability, and after confirming that the awakening claim wasn’t false, only then would they be given an afternoon schedule.
But now they were moving again right after submitting the documents. Lee Hwan wore a puzzled expression as he stood next to Taesung, heading to the assessment center with a high-ranking civil servant.
The admiring gazes directed at Taesung and the greetings aimed at the civil servant suddenly splashed over to Lee Hwan as well, making him unsure of how to carry himself.
“Your written explanation says you ‘control and adjust space’… Here, you can demonstrate the designated range, control intensity, and adjustment stages. Everyone stumbles at first, so don’t be nervous. Just show us freely until you succeed.”
People in white coats explained as they moved to safe positions with charts. Lee Hwan was momentarily alarmed by their attire, but quickly regained his composure when he saw Taesung standing dignifiedly beside him.
If his ability hadn’t decreased due to the regression, at maximum expansion, he could envelop this entire spacious assessment center and more. However, the moment he placed any restrictions, the penalty burden would intensify.
Still, he planned to exert as much power as possible during the test. It wasn’t a battle situation, and his physical condition wasn’t what it used to be.
The muscles that had once been firmly embedded throughout his body had mostly disappeared, leaving him considerably smoother and softer than before. With reduced stamina, he wouldn’t be able to endure for long.
He might have gained new skills, but with this weakened body, his limit would probably be showing ability comparable to right before the regression.
“We’ll begin now.”
A clear voice announced the preparation, and in the midst of everyone’s expectations, light brown eyes gradually began to glow.
