# Chapter 24
“I seriously thought that both Guide Jiwon and Esper Suhyun were going to die.”
Won Jungyeom had become noticeably gaunt since Jiwon last saw him. According to him, he hadn’t slept a wink because he was so worried about Jiwon.
Jiwon didn’t believe him. Just watching TV provided plenty of information. News was circulating that monsters had finally escaped from the dungeon and were destroying the city.
This meant that while Jiwon was lying in the hospital, the dungeon in the city center had been left uncleared, and Espers were struggling to stop the monsters that had emerged.
In other words, he hadn’t slept because he was working, not because he was worried about Jiwon.
“You must be having a hard time. Is the civilian damage severe?”
Jiwon asked casually. Having been caught despite his efforts to act, Won Jungyeom smiled awkwardly.
“Hey, I just didn’t tell you so you could rest comfortably.”
“You should have blocked the news that’s been broadcasting all day.”
“Ah, I didn’t think of that.”
Won Jungyeom answered glibly. Jiwon laughed briefly.
“Buildings have collapsed and it’s chaos, so there is damage. Saving lives isn’t everything.”
“At least no one has died, right?”
“Espers are focusing on evacuating civilians from every corner.”
He didn’t seem too pleased with the situation of having to catch monsters outside the dungeon.
“But going into the dungeon is dangerous.”
If Jiwon hadn’t experienced it firsthand, he would have thought the same thing. He would have believed they couldn’t allow such massive civilian casualties.
But Jiwon had seen how Suhyun’s wavelength had changed in an instant. Thinking about that, he couldn’t bring himself to say they should enter the dungeon.
“What could be the cause…?”
Espers are drawn to the center of the dungeon. Not all of them, though. There were Espers like Won Jungyeom who had stayed in place after forgetting the Association’s orders and sending Suhyun in alone.
Espers drawn to the center lose their senses without realizing their wavelength is being distorted and unleash attacks. Those attacks are less accurate than usual, causing their wavelength stability to drop further.
Jiwon had already conveyed what he’d learned that day to Jo Wooyeon, and Won Jungyeom standing before him knew it too. He let out a deep sigh.
“I still don’t understand what’s going on.”
“That’s understandable.”
It was fortunate that Suhyun had regained his senses. Otherwise, Suhyun and Jiwon would have died on the spot. And Espers including Won Jungyeom would have been tormented by the fact that they had sent only the two of them. Or they might have died too.
“The verification should be completed soon.”
“…Verification? What verification?”
“Huh? Haven’t you heard? Esper Suhyun said there was something noticeably strange that day. So there’s an order prohibiting all Espers from entering the dungeon until they verify the content and make an announcement.”
“……”
“It was on the news too. You didn’t watch carefully, I guess?”
With monsters that should be inside the dungeon running rampant outside giving him a headache, he had only watched briefly before turning it off. He hadn’t known about this.
“Hasn’t Esper Suhyun told you?”
His assigned Esper hadn’t given him any hint either…
“Far from telling me anything, I haven’t even seen his face.”
Was it such a mistake to ask if that was his first kiss? How much meaning did he attach to his first kiss? Of course, it might be a bit awkward that he had his first kiss, and such a passionate one at that, with Jiwon.
But that’s no reason to not even come for guiding.
“What about guiding?”
“His wavelength is fine, so I can’t even ask him to come.”
Jiwon was waiting to press the call button as soon as his wavelength dropped, but Suhyun’s wavelength was still at 78. That meant he wasn’t using his ability at all.
At that level, it was like he had received good guiding, so Jiwon couldn’t insist that he come.
Well… honestly, Jiwon would probably feel a bit embarrassed if they actually met face to face, so it was like they were giving each other some time.
But wasn’t this much time enough?
“That makes sense. The only person who can guide him is you, Guide Jiwon, but you’re in a hospital bed. Didn’t they say that if you push yourself with excessive guiding, the damage can’t be repaired?”
Jiwon was nodding casually when he frowned slightly.
He had an unsettling feeling. Surely Suhyun wasn’t planning to avoid him again because of the excessive guiding…?
“You need to take care of yourself first. Esper Suhyun was very worried.”
“Haha… really?”
Jiwon laughed out loud. Being told that Suhyun was worried about him made him feel more uneasy. Maybe it wasn’t because of embarrassment, but because Suhyun wasn’t coming to see him to avoid telling him anything?
“You said that Esper Suhyun saw something?”
Jiwon asked, recalling their conversation. Won Jungyeom nodded.
“They said he saw something and left. I don’t know the details either… Huh? What are you doing?”
“Getting discharged.”
Jiwon answered nonchalantly. He was preparing to take off his patient gown and put on regular clothes.
“Suddenly?”
“I need to know what that something is too.”
“Come on, won’t Esper Suhyun be here soon? Why not ask him then?”
Jiwon grinned. It was obvious Won Jungyeom didn’t know Suhyun well.
Well, he probably wouldn’t try to keep them apart simply because he disliked Jiwon like before. However, he might be troubled by the fact that he almost killed Jiwon, his Guide, while he was out of his mind.
Seo Suhyun was the type who would rush in believing he could control himself, even knowing he was dangerous without Jiwon.
“I’m too curious to wait. I want to move before the city turns to ruins.”
Won Jungyeom seemed a bit perplexed but didn’t actively try to stop Jiwon. He was probably frustrated with just waiting like this too.
Since Jiwon didn’t have any particular belongings, his discharge preparations ended with changing clothes. The Association would take care of the paperwork, so there was no need to waste time.
“I’ll take you. Where are you going?”
“Hmm. I don’t think that will be necessary.”
Smiling, Jiwon declined Won Jungyeom’s offer and gestured toward the corridor. As luck would have it, he spotted Suhyun at the end of it.
“See? I told you he’d come if we waited.”
Jiwon shrugged. Rather than the timing being right… it seemed like he had been watching.
Well, it wasn’t a certainty, and whatever the case, Jiwon didn’t care much.
“It’s always good to be prepared.”
“Haha, that’s true.”
Jiwon walked toward Suhyun. Behind him, Won Jungyeom laughed heartily.
“Esper Seo Suhyun… your body is, well, okay, right?”
He then asked Suhyun. At his question, Suhyun’s complexion changed slightly. Just as Jiwon thought it was strange how his face changed strangely when someone was concerned about his health…
“You must have learned your lesson this time, but be more careful in the future. Hmm? No matter how good it feels, if you keep smooching like that, Guide Jiwon will…”
“…?”
“…! …!”
Won Jungyeom poured out a stream of playful words. But only for a moment. Suddenly, Won Jungyeom’s voice disappeared.
When Jiwon looked back in surprise, he saw Won Jungyeom’s mouth moving without sound.
“What did you do?”
A thick barrier had been erected in front of Won Jungyeom. It was obviously Suhyun’s ability. Suhyun had just used his power on Won Jungyeom.
“Are you crazy?”
He had attacked another Esper, not even in a dungeon.
A chill ran down Jiwon’s spine as bewilderment swept over him. He had never imagined Suhyun would suddenly target another Esper like this.
“Esper Jungyeom. Are you okay…”
“…!”
Jiwon moved closer to Won Jungyeom. He wanted to check if he was okay and what he should do to help him.
“What the…?”
But something was strange. Won Jungyeom, who had been attacked, was absolutely howling with laughter.
While no sound could be heard, the tears welling up in his eyes were clearly visible. He seemed to find the situation extremely amusing.
“What, why are you doing this?”
Since Won Jungyeom’s voice couldn’t be heard and communication was impossible, Jiwon asked Suhyun. Believing there was no issue with Won Jungyeom, his voice had softened considerably compared to earlier.
“It will wear off in five minutes.”
“…!”
Won Jungyeom responded with something, but again, it couldn’t be heard. Knowing this, he stopped moving his mouth and gave an OK sign with his fingers.
Jiwon looked at both of them with a puzzled expression.
“I’ll go ahead.”
Another OK sign appeared. Only Jiwon didn’t understand the communication happening between the two of them.
“No, wait…”
Suhyun quickly grabbed Jiwon’s wrist. Without a chance to say anything, Jiwon was dragged outside the hospital by Suhyun.
He was so confused he didn’t know what to address first. Just then, his phone vibrated.
“Esper Suhyun.”
Jiwon checked his phone and called out to Suhyun, who was walking ahead, but he remained unresponsive. Jiwon said with a mischievous face:
“You can’t talk, but you can send messages, I see.”
Only then did Suhyun turn around abruptly, and Jiwon showed him his phone. His wavering eyes were plainly visible. He turned his head away again, but unfortunately, Suhyun’s earlobes had turned bright red. Jiwon finally burst into laughter.
[The moment we came to our senses that day, I rushed to where you two were, and guess what? Esper Suhyun was practically tearing off Guide Jiwon’s lips? He blocked my mouth to prevent me from speaking about it lolol He panics just at the mention of what happened that day. He has a surprisingly cute side.]
Well… it seems they only kissed for sure.
