# Chapter 89
[Riska Dungeon Reappears, Will Evacuations Repeat Again…]
[Evacuation Orders Since Dawn… How Long Must We Live Like This]
Jiwon clicked his tongue and turned off his phone screen.
The Riska dungeon had been quiet for a while. He’d heard that the frequency had significantly decreased in other countries as well.
Because of that, people seemed to believe that Riska might have naturally disappeared. That must be why countless articles like these were popping up as soon as a Riska dungeon appeared.
“I’m more curious about how long we have to live like this myself.”
Jiwon grumbled, letting out a deep sigh. The surroundings were gradually brightening as the sun was about to rise.
“Did you see the articles?”
Suhyun, who had somehow appeared beside Jiwon, asked.
“Looks like you saw them too, Esper-nim.”
Suhyun nodded slightly.
“They’re making too much noise.”
That’s true. These kinds of articles were plastered all over every portal site. There’s no way Suhyun wouldn’t have seen them.
“It’s amazing how transparent everyone is.”
Jiwon smirked.
Honestly, he knew. That people didn’t really hope that the Riska dungeon had naturally disappeared.
The articles were malicious attacks. If asked who was responsible, he could point to several people, starting with the former Association Chairman.
Even if they had been expelled from the Association, their social influence hadn’t completely disappeared.
Moreover, Jiwon’s kidnapping incident had not been disclosed to the public. They thought only ability users needed to know about it.
“We should have just revealed everything.”
“It’s not too late even now.”
“…Are you serious?”
“I never wanted to hide it.”
Jiwon, who had lost words to respond to such a calm statement, moved his lips silently for a while.
“…Haha. But we can’t do that.”
He eventually gave a somewhat delayed response. If they informed the public, the details of the incident would spread globally.
In that case, the agreement with the United States would become meaningless. After all, they wanted to hide the fact that their country’s Espers had gone to Korea to kidnap a Guide.
“It would be troublesome if other countries start doing the same thing, thinking it’s okay, wouldn’t it?”
If the United States did it, why can’t we?
Is there really something special about that Guide?
Let’s just grab him and find out.
Nobody could guarantee that this kind of thinking wouldn’t emerge.
“…”
Suhyun nodded with a displeased look.
It was fascinating how his emotions were now perceptible, even though his expression wasn’t much different from before when Jiwon couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“You were expressing everything all along.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, nothing. But Esper Jungyeom is late.”
“…”
This Riska dungeon had occurred near Seoul. It was quiet all around because not only ordinary people but also Espers who could be affected by Riska had all evacuated.
The two were waiting for Jungyeom at a location somewhat farther from what was presumed to be the Riska’s area of influence. They intended to go to the front of the dungeon together with him.
“For this dungeon…”
“Speak of the devil…”
Suhyun and Jiwon spoke simultaneously. Jungyeom was approaching from a distance, waving his hand grandly. Jiwon abruptly turned his head to Suhyun, as if Jungyeom wasn’t even worth his attention.
“For this dungeon, what?”
Due to the timing overlap, he ended up interrupting Suhyun. Since Jungyeom was already late, couldn’t he have been a bit later? Jiwon’s irritation was unfairly directed at him.
“Nothing.”
Suhyun responded briefly, giving a slight bow to Jungyeom. Indeed, Jungyeom should have arrived a bit later.
“You both got here early?”
“It’s Esper Jungyeom who’s late.”
“Oh… Is Guide Jiwon cranky from waking up at dawn? Your expression is quite prickly.”
Jungyeom chuckled, noticing how Jiwon’s inner thoughts were completely visible on his face.
“No, I’m not.”
While he might be a bit irritable, it wasn’t because he had to wake up at dawn, so it wasn’t a lie.
“Or did I come at a bad time?”
“…”
“Am I right?”
“…Are you psychic?”
“Hahahaha.”
He had an uncannily good sense for these things. Jiwon shook his head in disgust. Even if Jungyeom hadn’t seen him much lately, Jiwon felt like he would have quickly discovered his feelings for Suhyun.
“We should head to the front of the dungeon now.”
Suhyun’s calm voice separated the two who were engaged in unnecessary conversation.
Jungyeom let out a long sigh, “Phew…”
“I’m so nervous. What should I do?”
“What’s with the sudden fuss?”
“I’m just telling the truth. I’m scared to death.”
Jungyeom, who was repeatedly thumping the area near his heart and pacing back and forth as if anxious, looked strangely peculiar to Jiwon.
Is he scared because he’s experienced it once? But he didn’t seem like the type to be afraid of such things…
“Well, don’t worry. I’ll do my best to guide you so you don’t lose consciousness.”
Although it was somewhat unexpected, Jiwon accepted it as a possibility. Even someone who acts brave might get scared suddenly…
“Oh… uh, yeah…”
“…What’s with that reaction?”
“Huh? Nothing? I’m just grateful, that’s all. How thankful am I that you’ll do your best to guide me? It’s truly an honor, really.”
“…It seems like you don’t want to be guided?”
“Come on… How could that be?”
Jiwon eyed Jungyeom with a strange look.
“Let’s go now. We should do our best with what we can. Right, Esper Suhyun?”
Jungyeom, completely ignoring Jiwon, hurried Suhyun who had been standing quietly.
“…Yes.”
Suhyun nodded without protest. Jiwon, who detected a somewhat uncomfortable air in his expression, moved closer to Suhyun.
“Are you okay?”
He wanted to check his complexion.
“…”
Suhyun stared at Jiwon’s face, which had suddenly come very close. Then he suddenly turned his head and let out a long sigh.
“Yes, let’s go.”
There was no answer to Jiwon’s question. Suhyun just brushed past him and opened the driver’s side door.
“Let’s do that.”
Jungyeom, who answered immediately, opened the back seat door.
“…Why aren’t you getting in?”
While Jungyeom had already gotten into the car, Suhyun was just staring blankly at Jiwon. Jiwon asked curiously while also approaching to get in the car.
Jiwon’s hand grabbed the back seat handle.
“…I’m getting in.”
As the door opened, Suhyun answered in a low voice.
‘Does he feel like he’s playing chauffeur…?’
It was indeed awkward with Jungyeom and himself sitting in the back seat.
But there was no choice. They couldn’t guide comfortably with one sitting in the passenger seat and the other in the back.
“Give me your hand.”
Jiwon, who only closed the door after confirming that Suhyun had gotten in, extended his hand toward Jungyeom.
“Hmm.”
Perhaps because he’d been touching only delicate hands lately, Jungyeom’s hand on his palm felt somewhat rough.
“I’ve started guiding. You can start driving now.”
“…”
“Esper Suhyun. Drive, drive.”
“Ah, yes.”
Since it was unclear when Jungyeom might come under mental control, they had agreed to start guiding from the beginning this time.
For that, they needed to enter the Riska influence zone while guiding from outside, which made Suhyun’s role as a driver unavoidable.
“…”
But something felt off. For a moment, Jiwon’s eyes met Suhyun’s through the rearview mirror, and he smiled awkwardly.
‘The picture looks a bit strange too.’
Jiwon lowered his gaze slightly and looked at his hand holding Jungyeom’s. Someone who didn’t know they were in the middle of guiding might think he and Jungyeom were in some kind of relationship…
“Ugh.”
Jiwon shuddered in disgust.
“Eugh.”
Jungyeom’s strange sound and head shake happened almost simultaneously.
“Guide Jiwon.”
“What?”
“If there’s a next time…”
Jungyeom, after glancing at the front seat, whispered softly. Even though he knew that Suhyun would hear regardless.
“You should sit in the front.”
“…”
“When we were at the Center, it felt like meeting a doctor so I didn’t think much of it, but being like this here feels a bit…”
“What, you think I’m enjoying this?”
He thought Jungyeom was going to say something serious, but it was ridiculous. Jiwon’s face crumpled as he asked, and Jungyeom chuckled and shook his head.
“Hey, Guide-nim. No matter what, you’re probably not as uncomfortable as I am.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Seems like you have no sense for these things and don’t know anything…”
Jungyeom spoke in an even lower voice. But why was he speaking like this when Suhyun could hear everything anyway?
Unfortunately, not being an Esper and therefore not having particularly good hearing, Jiwon leaned in to hear Jungyeom’s words.
“Sit up straight.”
Suhyun’s rigid voice echoed through the car at that moment.
“Stop whispering.”
At his voice, which was cold and somewhat angry, Jiwon blinked blankly.
“Yes, sir!”
However, Jungyeom didn’t seem to care at all about Suhyun’s sudden strange attitude. Instead, he just giggled as if it was amusing.
‘…What’s going on?’
Jiwon tilted his head.
The atmosphere between the two was subtle. It felt like Jungyeom knew something about Suhyun that he didn’t.
“…”
Ah, that’s a bit infuriating.
