# Chapter 13
[Wavelength Stability 79]
Jiwon frowned slightly as he looked at the number on the watch.
How many days had it been stuck at 79? No matter how hard he tried, he kept hitting this wall, making him wonder if the watch was broken.
It seemed like he could push past 80 if he endured a little more… But then headaches, dizziness, and nausea would rush in all at once, making it unbearable.
‘That’s disappointing….’
He was already at his limit. He needed to be satisfied with this and let go. But the feeling of disappointment wouldn’t fade.
Despite Suhyun paying attention to his wavelength as promised, he still couldn’t achieve more. What’s worse, there were some bastards who had started gossiping that Suhyun had grown lazy because he wasn’t taking the initiative like before.
‘Would it work better if we pressed our palms together?’
Jiwon’s hand fidgeted above the back of Suhyun’s hand.
The effect of Guiding changes depending on the method or level of contact. The quickest and most certain method is exchanging saliva.
But Jiwon had always stuck to this level of Guiding. He didn’t want to indulge Espers who would demand more if given an inch.
“…Guiding is finished.”
Suhyun seems different from them. So Jiwon was tempted to try. The only reason he didn’t was the high possibility that Suhyun would recoil in horror and avoid him.
“Hmm, good work.”
As soon as the Guiding was over, Suhyun sprang up from his seat and headed to the kitchen. There was no response to the words of appreciation directed at his back.
Lately, Jiwon was aware that his psychological distance with Suhyun had become unilaterally much closer. That’s why he was obsessing over raising the number above what he’d previously considered satisfactory at around 70.
That wasn’t all. Before, he found it irritating how Suhyun was curt only with him, but now he sometimes found it cute.
He must be going crazy.
“What are you going to do now?”
Jiwon spoke to Suhyun as he came out of the kitchen after drinking water.
Due to the rapid increase in his internal sense of closeness, Jiwon had been initiating conversations with Suhyun more often than before. Most of it was pointless talk.
“……”
Suhyun’s response was consistent.
A gaze that seemed to ask why he cared swept over Jiwon.
“You’re not going to a dungeon today either. It’s a holiday, so I was just wondering what you do on days like this.”
There was still no answer to the additional comment made while half-sprawled on the sofa. But this time, it seemed like Suhyun was thinking about what to say.
Well, though it might seem a bit foolish, his one-sided increase in internal closeness had some benefits. He’d realized that not all of Suhyun’s actions were negative, and each had different reasons behind them.
“I’m not sure.”
Well, that was a brief answer considering how long he’d thought about it.
Jiwon carefully chose his words. He’d never found it difficult to deal with people, but the current Suhyun was somewhat challenging. It seemed he didn’t want to create another situation where Suhyun suddenly distanced himself like before.
It would be easier if he knew what mistake he’d made….
Before, he’d felt unjustly treated by Suhyun’s attitude, but now that he thought he might be the cause, he didn’t feel that way. After living together for some time, he’d gradually concluded that Suhyun wouldn’t distance himself from people without reason.
“Do you like horror movies? I usually watch movies when I’m resting. Would you like to watch together if that’s okay?”
“I don’t like them because they’re noisy.”
“Ah, that makes sense….”
Was his own insensitivity the problem? Looking back, that could have been an issue.
Just look at him recommending horror movies filled with screams to an Esper with heightened senses.
‘Good thing we haven’t watched any until now.’
Watching violent movies while munching on popcorn was his kind of hobby, but fortunately, he hadn’t tried it in this house yet.
It would have been an irritating noise for Suhyun.
“Then please rest.”
Jiwon didn’t press Suhyun further to do anything together. There was a need to be cautious now. He hadn’t figured out where the line Suhyun had drawn was, and Jiwon didn’t want to cross that line.
At least Suhyun’s cold treatment towards him wasn’t as unpleasant as before. However, he didn’t want things to stay the same going forward. Is wanting to get a bit closer an excessive desire?
‘When should I ask?’
For that, it seemed quickest to ask what he’d done wrong and apologize….
“…What is it?”
Belatedly realizing that Suhyun hadn’t gone to his room yet, Jiwon, who had been lost in his trailing thoughts, asked. The gaze that was staring at him seemed to have something to say.
“Um… is the Guiding insufficient?”
Is he also bothered that the Guiding can’t exceed a certain level?
Since Guiding was the only topic of conversation between them, Jiwon’s inference was reasonable.
But this was difficult for Jiwon to address. Either he would have to push himself harder or increase the intensity of physical contact—one of the two options.
Suhyun wouldn’t want either method. Neither would he.
“No, it’s not.”
“Then what is it?”
If not Guiding, why hasn’t he gone to his room?
Looking at Jiwon’s face filled with genuine curiosity, Suhyun turned his head and answered.
“…I was just lost in thought.”
The tall figure that had been standing blankly disappeared from sight.
Jiwon smiled wryly.
‘I thought he might want to watch a movie with me.’
I had hoped, but no way that would happen.
***
Jiwon came out of his room wearing workout clothes. When Suhyun didn’t go to a dungeon, it was also his day off. Jiwon planned to spend that day productively by exercising.
Soon, he’d be entering a dungeon, so he needed to manage his physical condition as a precautionary measure. Of course, his exercise probably wouldn’t be of much help, but he couldn’t just sit still doing nothing.
This wasn’t a casual outing. Jiwon had a duty to thoroughly examine the inside of the dungeon. And as a Guide, he needed to figure out in advance how to act to avoid danger.
That way, if the hypothesis that dungeons disrupt Espers’ wavelengths was proven correct, he could provide helpful information when not only himself but other Guides entered the dungeons.
There were countless Espers who frequented dungeons, but their perspective differed from that of Guides.
Espers inherently have the ability to protect themselves. But since Guides’ bodies and abilities are no different from ordinary people, they require even more caution.
Something that isn’t a risk factor for Espers could potentially kill a Guide. That’s why he couldn’t complacently assume he’d be protected.
He didn’t think exercise would be of much help with that. But it was the best he could do to shake off the occasional rising anxiety.
Drrrrr….
About to move towards the entrance after halting his thoughts, Jiwon stopped abruptly at the sound of vibration.
Team Leader Jo Wooyeon was calling.
“Yes, Team Leader.”
─Are you busy?
“No, I’m fine.”
Just then, Suhyun’s door opened. Suhyun looked Jiwon up and down as if puzzled by his attire. He seemed to find it odd that Jiwon was going out.
It made sense, since Jiwon had never gone outside except to dungeons. But surely he didn’t think this was a date?
Thinking of Suhyun, who until recently had been urging him to go out, Jiwon stood there for now. It seemed necessary to clearly state that he was going to exercise before leaving.
─You’re not sick or anything?
“Did you call to check on me?”
Jiwon, who had been about to put on his shoes, chuckled. He meant to get to the point since the caller wasn’t the type to call just to check on someone’s well-being.
─I’m checking on you, among other things.
“Among other things?”
Recognizing the obvious intent in his words, Jo Wooyeon’s voice carried a hint of laughter. But it was brief.
─Since it seems like you’ll be going to a dungeon soon, before that….
“Ah.”
Jiwon sighed briefly. It was indeed a call to check on his well-being. It seemed he was worried about Jiwon’s decision to enter a dungeon.
Although now he’s a superior who barely even gives vacations, Jo Wooyeon used to be someone who cared for Jiwon more than anyone else.
Concerned that Jiwon, who awakened at 16, might be taken advantage of somewhere. He even used to keep Jiwon behind him for protection. Jiwon naturally had no choice but to rely on him.
Whenever conflicts arose between Guides and Espers, Jo Wooyeon always fought on behalf of the Guides. About 80 percent of the reason why Jiwon looked after and cared for Guides was because of Jo Wooyeon. Having seen and learned from him, he did the same.
“Let’s talk about that when we meet. I’m at home right now.”
While he appreciated the concern, unfortunately, the timing wasn’t good. Even if he lowered the call volume, Suhyun could hear everything if he wanted to.
Information about that dungeon was still confidential.
─You said you’re coming to the Association tomorrow, right?
Jo Wooyeon seemed to understand his intent and calmly changed the subject.
“Yes. I want to redo the matching rate test, and while I’m at it, check if there’s any physical damage.”
─Then I’ll see you tomorrow.
“Sounds good. But you’ll come down, right? If you’re asking me to come to the Guide Team, I don’t want to meet.”
─Ha, I find it uncomfortable here too. I’ll come down, so don’t worry.
“How can the Team Leader be uncomfortable with his team members?”
─What do you mean, how? I’ll have to resign.
The nonsensical joke made him laugh. Despite saying that, there was no way Jo Wooyeon would resign.
The Guide Team consists of few Guides, a small number of Espers, and a majority of ordinary people. That’s why it earned the disgraceful reputation of being a Guide Team that doesn’t support Guides.
It’s barely functioning because the team leader is Jo Wooyeon. If he were to resign, the position would be filled by an ordinary person who knows nothing about Guides.
Jo Wooyeon knew this better than anyone.
“Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
─Alright.
It was also why he occasionally suggested to Jiwon that he should secure a position within the Association. But if he were to sit in an Association office, the position of an S-class Guide would be left vacant.
At worst, he might end up doing both Association administrative work and Guide work simultaneously, so Jiwon politely declined. He preferred not to increase his workload.
“Haaa….”
After the brief call ended, Jiwon looked at Suhyun. He was still standing quietly in the kitchen. He seemed lost in thought.
He seems particularly distracted today. Maybe he’s bored because he’s not going to a dungeon.
Making a plausible guess, Jiwon said:
“That was the Team Leader.”
“I didn’t ask.”
Suhyun responded immediately as if to say, why are you telling me this?
“Ah, you looked curious.”
“Not really….”
“And I was just about to go exercise.”
“…I didn’t ask that either.”
“Similarly, you looked curious.”
Assuming he already knew it was the Team Leader. It seemed like he was curious about where Jiwon was going now.
Making a rough estimate of Suhyun’s thoughts, Jiwon finally put on his sneakers.
“It’ll take about two hours. Since it’s been a while since you’ve had time to yourself, enjoy it to the fullest.”
By now, he was used to not hearing a response.
