# Chapter 10
Before dawn broke, the Espers, including Suhyun, disappeared into the dungeon.
Several hours later.
The sun, which had been hiding, rose between the mountains and was now brightly illuminating everywhere.
Jiwon came out of the tent and looked at the dungeon exit. Since it was early and the dungeon had formed on a secluded mountainside, there was no crowd to worry about.
‘Guiding can’t possibly be without limitations, right?’
Last night, Jiwon briefly explained to Suhyun about Espers’ wavelengths and how guiding affects Guides.
Guides were ability users just like Espers. Using abilities came with corresponding costs. Though weaker than for Espers, guiding that exceeded one’s abilities damaged a Guide’s health.
‘I didn’t know.’
This was such common knowledge to Jiwon that he had assumed Suhyun knew it too. That he knew but just didn’t care.
But Suhyun had looked bewildered, as if hearing this for the first time.
‘Ah, I see…’
For a moment, Jiwon wanted to ask what Suhyun thought was the reason for restricting Guides to only perform guiding for Espers they had dedicated contracts with.
But his body wasn’t feeling great, and he wasn’t in the mood to debate over unnecessary topics. He suddenly felt deflated.
He knew that people don’t think deeply about Guides. He knew that Espers, who are stronger and directly risk danger by entering dungeons, naturally draw more attention.
Espers are treated like heroes, but most people don’t know much about Guides. Even though without Guides, Espers couldn’t exist.
“Tsk…”
Maybe it’s because a Guide’s death isn’t as glamorous as an Esper’s.
But guiding beyond one’s capabilities naturally took a toll on Guides. Having witnessed firsthand what happened to Guides who pushed themselves too hard, he knew better than anyone.
That’s partly why he didn’t rashly attempt to raise Suhyun’s stability to 100. The backlash would hit Jiwon directly.
‘Since he never asked why I stop at around 70, I thought he already knew.’
Since he showed no complaints about not receiving guiding until he was perfectly stable. Jiwon had assumed by himself that Suhyun understood this was the appropriate level that wouldn’t harm Jiwon’s body.
From the beginning, Suhyun didn’t care how much guiding he received. Thinking back, that’s how it was.
Well, he might not have known. Whatever the case, at least he knows now. Jiwon tried to shake off the uncomfortable feeling. It was greedy to hope that Suhyun would understand his condition. He’d be fortunate if Suhyun just didn’t push him away.
“Aigo! My bones!”
As if telling him to stop his pointless thoughts, a loud voice was heard. The owner of the voice, too energetic to be genuinely complaining about aching bones, was unmistakably Won Jungyeom.
After Espers entered the dungeon about four hours ago, it seemed the subjugation had finally ended.
“What’s with the exaggeration?”
Jiwon teased Jungyeom with his arms crossed. Jungyeom exaggeratedly crumpled his face.
“Exaggeration! Yo… I’m getting old too, you know? Yo… Every time I return from a dungeon, I’m bedridden for a whole week! Yo…”
“…And what’s with this speech pattern?”
“Ah, I’m just not used to it yet, yo.”
Jiwon laughed in disbelief. It was admirable that he tried to use formal speech even while joking around. At the center, they spoke casually when alone, but there were too many people watching in the field. Basically, ability users were supposed to use formal speech with each other.
Though the majority didn’t follow that basic rule.
“Go get your guiding.”
Jiwon gestured kindly towards Jungyeom’s Guide. He’d heard the dungeon difficulty was B-class, but for that level, Jungyeom’s wavelength seemed more tangled than usual.
Jungyeom shrugged his shoulders.
“I should… yo. Ah, but was there something wrong with Esper Seo Suhyun… yo?”
“Esper Seo Suhyun-nim?”
Jiwon’s eyes widened.
“Why? Did something happen?”
Jiwon returned Jungyeom’s question. He must be asking because something had happened inside the dungeon.
Usually, when Espers went into dungeons with Suhyun, their wavelengths remained intact as if they hadn’t used any power, but today Jungyeom’s wavelength was somewhat sharp. That meant despite Suhyun’s presence, he had struggled a bit inside…
“What happened?”
Did something happen to Suhyun?
Anxiety quickly set in. Unfamiliar situations easily made people anxious.
“No, no! Nothing happened. That’s not it…!”
Realizing Jiwon was alarmed, Jungyeom quickly waved his hands. He even dropped the formal speech he’d been struggling to maintain.
“Today, Esper Suhyun was holding back in the dungeon. I don’t mean he was running away, but… Usually he charges ahead and destroys everything first, but today he didn’t take the lead and seemed to be holding back. Since he’s not usually like that but suddenly changed, I wondered if he was sick or something…”
“…He held back?”
“Yeah. Ah, I’m not saying it’s bad that Suhyun held back. As you know, I think it’s better for Espers to rely on each other and advance together. Actually, when I go to dungeons with Suhyun, my body felt comfortable but my mind was uncomfortable… Today was actually better. But I was worried in case he might be sick.”
Jiwon nodded and then rubbed the back of his neck.
“…yo.”
“…I see.”
Whether Jungyeom added an awkward formal speech ending or not, Jiwon lowered his head deeply. It was to hide the corners of his mouth that had unconsciously turned up.
‘Did he take my words to heart?’
There was only one reason that came to mind for Suhyun’s sudden change in attitude. He wouldn’t have forgotten what happened just a few hours ago.
Jiwon had explained things out of exasperation that Suhyun didn’t even know the basics, but he hadn’t expected him to listen and be considerate. Jiwon had thought today’s guiding would be no different from before.
“Ha…”
“What is it? Why are you smiling so mischievously… yo?”
Eventually, a laugh escaped through Jiwon’s teeth. Jungyeom, who didn’t miss it, asked.
“Please stop using that weird speech pattern and go get your guiding. I need to take care of Esper Seo Suhyun too.”
“Hmm…”
Just then, Seo Suhyun appeared outside the dungeon. Jiwon gave a silent bow to Jungyeom and immediately started walking. He pretended not to notice his peculiar gaze.
“…How sweet.”
As soon as he saw Suhyun coming out of the dungeon, Jiwon checked his wavelength with his watch.
58.
Considering that it usually fell below 50 when he returned, this was a very high figure. Jiwon’s cheek twitched. Even to the naked eye, Suhyun’s wavelength wasn’t as sharp as usual.
As Jungyeom said, he had ‘held back.’
After hearing Jiwon’s words.
“Did you have a good time?”
Jiwon, who was now standing in front of Suhyun, asked with a smile. Jiwon had been in a bad mood until Suhyun entered the dungeon, but now he seemed to be floating on air.
Suhyun must have noticed Jiwon’s mood had dramatically improved. He might act perversely again out of spite, but Jiwon didn’t want to hide his mood.
“Let’s go.”
Suhyun, who completely ignored the greeting, turned around abruptly. Jiwon smiled at his back and matched his pace.
The fact that his trudging steps had slowed down wasn’t because of his mood.
***
Guiding began from inside the car on the way home. Usually, Espers would receive guiding immediately in the tent set up in front of the dungeon, but since Suhyun never seemed to think of stopping there and always headed for the car, this had become the routine at some point.
“…Haa. It’s done.”
Today’s dungeon was quite far from home. Thanks to that, guiding was completed right there in the car.
Ah, how light.
Jiwon stretched out his body and smiled. He had thought it was normal for his whole body to feel like a ton of bricks after guiding Suhyun, but today proved that wasn’t the case at all. At this level, it was almost like he hadn’t done any guiding.
“It looks like it will be just about mealtime when we get home. Want to eat together?”
Is that why he felt somewhat excited?
Jiwon asked something he normally wouldn’t. The answer… was pretty obvious, of course.
“No, thank you.”
But Jiwon was in a good mood today, and he wanted to do something for Suhyun, who, despite pretending otherwise, had listened to him.
A reward of sorts. Even if the recipient didn’t particularly want it.
“I’ll cook something delicious. Do you have any favorites?”
“I don’t want to eat together.”
Look at how he talks.
Jiwon smiled slightly and peeled his back off the seat. The car was already approaching the house.
“Shall we have meat? Grilling is the most convenient.”
“I told you I’m not eating.”
“Actually, I prefer boiled meat myself. But that takes a bit more time.”
“……”
Suhyun looked Jiwon up and down. He seemed displeased that Jiwon wasn’t listening to him at all.
Jiwon shrugged and smiled. It felt quite pleasant to give back exactly what he usually received.
“I don’t like eating alone.”
That’s a lie.
Jiwon enjoyed eating quietly by himself.
He wondered if he really needed to lie just to cook a meal, but Jiwon didn’t stop talking. The car had already reached the house.
Suhyun got out first, as if he’d been waiting, and Jiwon followed right behind him.
“From what I’ve seen, you don’t seem like the type to eat properly. The house is stocked with instant food. And it looks like you barely eat even that. How are you supposed to have energy?”
In fact, Espers… can eat anything. As long as they receive good guiding, they can stay healthy without even catching a cold. Because they’re beings that transcend human limitations.
But still, there’s a feeling that comes with eating well.
“I’ll prepare for two, assuming we’re eating together, okay?”
Before Suhyun could answer, Jiwon quickly disappeared into the house. A heavy sigh escaped from between Suhyun’s teeth as he was left standing alone.
