# Chapter 36
So if Suhyun’s wavelength exceeds 90, that would be perfect. No, at this point, it would surely exceed 90 and then some.
“Right now, the wavelength is quite stable…”
“We should try it when it’s stable. Experiments should be done in advance when things are stable. Don’t you agree?”
Jiwon cut off Suhyun’s refusal at the source and held him even tighter. He might not be able to overpower him physically, but it meant he wasn’t going to let go anyway.
“…Is confirmation really necessary?”
Jiwon nodded. Given the situation, it was fortunate that Suhyun didn’t flatly reject the proposal like before, perhaps thinking that being stable would be better.
“Both I and Esper-nim need to have our own countermeasures.”
Hopefully, there would be no need to use these countermeasures, but you never know what might happen.
Jiwon rationalized his urgent desire for confirmation in this way.
“……”
Suhyun remained silent for a while. Jiwon’s lips moved several times, but he said nothing. He thought it better to give him time to think rather than pushing him.
“…Will you be alright?”
After a short while, a question came from Suhyun. Jiwon hesitated for a moment. While he was concerned that Suhyun might refuse, he hadn’t expected him to ask if Jiwon would be okay.
Soon, Jiwon released the arm that had been holding Suhyun and raised his head. Suhyun was looking straight at him.
“Um… yes. Well… I’m a Guide, so that much is…”
No problem.
That’s what he intended to say, but he couldn’t finish the sentence. He wondered when this kind of guiding had become acceptable.
“……”
Suhyun just silently looked at Jiwon. His expression was enigmatic.
“Of course, with other Espers, I’ve always guided just with my hands. I’ve only kissed Esper-nim Suhyun.”
As soon as he saw that expression, the confusion disappeared, and an irresistible impulse to avoid misunderstanding arose, leading Jiwon to immediately make excuses.
As soon as the words ended, he realized it was unnecessary information that might even burden Suhyun.
“So, do you want to do it or not? I think we should.”
Jiwon asked pressingly, trying to hide his embarrassment. The time he had given for consideration was sufficient.
“Did I ever have a choice?”
Suhyun asked sarcastically. Jiwon raised the corner of his mouth. The fact that Suhyun, who would firmly say no if unwilling, kept asking questions was actually a positive sign.
“I thought you did, but I guess not.”
Strike while the iron is hot. Jiwon cupped Suhyun’s cheeks with both hands. His hands were soft, but his face was even softer.
Just a moment ago, everything was fine, but as soon as he touched his cheeks, tension surged. Jiwon tried to ease the tension by breathing slowly.
This time, he would really do it. It was just because it was the first time; later, it would truly be okay. For each other’s sake, this kind of guiding needed to be experienced again…
“Hey, close your eyes.”
Jiwon, who had been approaching Suhyun’s lips while justifying the current situation with all sorts of reasons, stopped moving and spoke. Black pupils were staring directly at him.
“You’re staring too much… it’s embarrassing and I can’t do it.”
At this point, he understood better how flustered he had been in that dungeon. Back then, he had clung to him without thinking, but now he was conscious of everything.
Especially burdensome was Suhyun staring at him. It felt like he was scrutinizing every aspect of his face and movements.
“……”
Fortunately, Suhyun behaved obediently. The pupils that had been making Jiwon nervous were covered by black eyelashes. Jiwon wrinkled his nose bridge and then tightened his lips. His face felt itchy as if Suhyun’s eyelashes had touched it.
Thump, thump.
Meanwhile, his heartbeat was getting louder. It was loud enough to be heard directly in his ears.
‘It’s guiding. Just guiding.’
He repeated the same words to calm himself, but it was of no use.
Jiwon squeezed his eyes shut. Then he slowly moved closer toward his lips.
Beep───────!
“Ahhh!”
Unfortunately, Jiwon’s lips couldn’t reach Suhyun this time either. He had been so tense that he screamed at the emergency signal, which wouldn’t normally have startled him, and pulled away abruptly.
Jiwon, who had stepped back awkwardly, breathed heavily and checked the situation. He made eye contact with Suhyun, who had remained quietly in place like a doll.
‘I was just about to touch…’
Simultaneously, an emotion, whether regret or relief, passed through Jiwon.
***
Whether they absolutely had to go to the dungeon today. Despite all the back and forth, the two of them were now in front of the problematic dungeon.
“I’m sorry…”
The Association employee who had called them apologized, bowing his head. Jiwon waved his hand as if to say it was okay.
Who could have predicted this situation would unfold?
“What in the world…”
Jiwon looked at the dungeon with a face that showed he couldn’t understand at all.
This area was a remote mountain where people rarely set foot. Even if there had been people wandering around, they would have evacuated everyone when it was identified as a problematic dungeon.
Therefore, the area around this dungeon should actually be quiet. Even if all the Espers who were supposed to participate in this dungeon gathered, it wouldn’t be crowded.
But there were quite a few people gathered in front of the dungeon. Surprisingly, some of them had lost consciousness after being attacked, and some were lying down after being affected by sleep abilities.
The rest, who were still conscious…
“Look, I’m telling you I can do it. Why are you so afraid?”
Either they were insisting on entering the dungeon,
“No, you can’t!”
Or they were busy trying to stop them.
“…Why are they acting like that? Are they trying to enter the dungeon?”
“Yes, that’s right…”
Jiwon shook his head as if he couldn’t understand. This was a first. An Esper insisting on entering a dungeon without proper consideration. And not just one or two.
“At first, a C-class Esper came and said it was a D-class dungeon, so it would be fine, and he was confident and insisted on entering. Of course, we tried to stop him… but he wouldn’t listen, so he was eventually taken away by an Esper who had arrived early, but later that Esper insisted on entering alone…”
“……”
“When we stopped one person, others would come, and the Espers who were trying to stop them would suddenly insist on entering too… And that’s how we ended up in this situation.”
The Association employee was almost in tears over this bizarre phenomenon. Jiwon rubbed his brow while checking the disturbing scene.
“Have you reported this to higher-ups?”
“Yes. For now, they said to prevent anyone from entering. And if that’s not possible, to contact Esper Seo Suhyun…”
Jiwon frowned as if uneasy. Suhyun was currently stopping Espers who were trying to enter the dungeon. Looking at him, Jiwon asked.
“Are there any unusual circumstances?”
He was gradually becoming anxious. This wasn’t something to laugh off. The Association must have sought out Suhyun for that reason…
“Ah…! Yes, there are. Most of the Espers who suddenly appeared here are those who operate in Gangwon Province. Excluding the Espers who were deployed for safety reasons, they’re all people who were in the vicinity.”
Jiwon nodded.
“And not only the Espers who suddenly appeared, but even the deployed Espers suddenly became strange…”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“But is it really a good choice to have called Esper Seo Suhyun here?”
“…What?”
Jiwon bit his lip. They must have called him out of surprise at the unexpected situation, but it was a completely wrong judgment.
“The range is quite wide, but Espers in the vicinity are being drawn to enter the dungeon as if enchanted. Even the Espers who came to guard the dungeon entrance are clamoring to enter. It’s as if someone is controlling the Espers within this range.”
“Ah…”
“And now Esper Seo Suhyun has entered that range. If an S-class Esper decides to enter the dungeon, who, and how, will stop him?”
“…!”
The Association employee’s face hardened, as if he hadn’t thought of this. Who would easily think that something inside the dungeon could affect the outside? Nevertheless, they should have been cautious from the start.
“Esper Seo Suhyun!”
There was nothing more to say. Even if they continued to gather Espers of similar ranks and turned this area into complete chaos, Suhyun shouldn’t be here. If he made up his mind, no one could stop him.
“Esper-nim! We need to go back. We need to get away from here.”
Jiwon shouted urgently.
