# Chapter 81
‘He says he’s worried about me…’
As the misunderstanding about Jo Wooyeon deepened, Jiwon felt pathetic for blushing just because he was worried about him.
Jiwon rubbed his face hard to bring himself back to his senses.
It might look that way to Suhyun. The claim that receiving guiding from only one person causes rejection reaction is flimsy.
Even adding the condition that the two ability users are in love with each other doesn’t change that. Are there really no ability users who fulfill both conditions and still live perfectly fine?
But the fact remains that when both conditions are met, such problems can occur.
“……”
The problem is that he can’t give this detailed explanation.
If he were to say that the possibility is greater when ability users are in a loving relationship, it was obvious he’d just hear that there’s even less of a problem.
“…Director Jo Wooyeon isn’t a twisted person. I’ve seen him up close for 10 years. So I hope you won’t misunderstand him too much. Trust me.”
Thinking that supporting Jo Wooyeon’s argument would only fuel suspicion, Jiwon decided to just defend Jo Wooyeon as a person.
“Maybe… all this time, due to anxiety about possibly not having a Guide with a high matching rate, he never thought about guiding rejection reactions.”
“……”
“Only when a new Guide appeared did he realize such dangers exist. At least that’s how it is for me. I think Director Jo Wooyeon feels the same way.”
Jo Wooyeon might have suddenly started trying hard in various ways to find a Guide.
But Suhyun’s thought that it was to terminate the dedicated contract and bring him to the Association to exploit him was wrong. He must have noticed that Jiwon’s contact for guiding had become more intimate. At the same time, he must have felt a sense of crisis.
After the battle with the American Espers, Jo Wooyeon looked at Jiwon and Suhyun with a peculiar gaze when they returned after finishing guiding.
In the Riska dungeon, where survival was the priority, it could be accepted that the intensity of guiding might increase somewhat.
But that day, although his wavelength had dropped due to continuous guiding during battle, it wasn’t life-threatening. To begin with, even Jiwon hadn’t thought he would kiss Suhyun…
Anyway, Jo Wooyeon must have been anxious seeing their disheveled appearance. Jiwon, who had stubbornly adhered to just one method of guiding for a full 10 years, had crossed the line. That meant Jiwon’s heart had crossed over as well.
“Anyway, I understand what you’re thinking, Esper-nim. There’s enough room for doubt, and above all, it’s sudden. For now, let’s postpone guiding with that Guide.”
Fearing that defending too enthusiastically would cause resistance, Jiwon concluded his words at an appropriate point.
“Oh, right. Esper Won Jungyeom contacted me…”
Then, instead of continuing with a topic that would only be uncomfortable, he brought up something else. It seemed better to talk about the assistant Guide slowly later.
After all, he needed to prepare himself mentally to accept a new Guide. It seemed like he had been hasty out of reluctance to do so.
Rushing things often prevents them from happening. Jiwon judged it better to first firmly prepare his own mind.
“He said he wants to participate in the Riska dungeon again. Looks like he heard the results of the recent meeting.”
Won Jungyeom had completely recovered from the injuries he sustained in the previous Riska dungeon due to Suhyun.
In fact, his body had healed in just one day with the help of Espers who had recovery abilities. However, he had to stay in the research institute until very recently. Additional examinations were needed.
The problem was that he had been strongly under Riska’s mind control. He was almost confined to the research institute to check if any traces of Riska remained.
And just two days ago, it was confirmed that there was no influence of Riska left in him.
Immediately, Won Jungyeom declared that he would participate in the Riska dungeon again.
“Seems like he doesn’t get tired of it. If it were me, I’d want to rest a bit.”
“……”
“What do you think, Esper-nim?”
He was completely controlled, and, by inference, his memories were read. Riska mimicked Won Jungyeom’s way of speaking, his expressions, and even used his abilities identically.
That alone was creepy, but because of it, he had to endure annoying examinations for weeks.
Yet how could he think of participating in the Riska dungeon again?
“…If the goal of the experiment is to confirm the Guide-nim’s power, I think it’s fine for the same Esper to participate in the experiment.”
After keeping his mouth tightly shut for a moment, Suhyun answered with a brief sigh.
He seemed displeased that Jiwon had changed the topic to Won Jungyeom to divert the conversation, but it felt like he just took a step back.
“But if Esper Won Jungyeom is mind-controlled in the same way this time, then another Esper…”
“……”
“……”
Suhyun’s words suddenly cut off. Jiwon, who had been waiting for the rest, looked at him with confusion, and saw Suhyun’s face had become serious, his eyebrows twitching as if deep in thought.
“What’s wrong?”
Jiwon, whose face had also hardened in response to Suhyun’s troubled look, asked. Suhyun blinked several times, returned to his usual expression, and shook his head lightly.
“It’s nothing.”
That wasn’t a face that said it was nothing.
“It would be better if Esper Won Jungyeom continues to participate.”
Just as Jiwon was about to ask if something was bothering him, Suhyun spoke firmly first.
‘He definitely mentioned another Esper.’
Contextually, anyone would see he was about to say that if Won Jungyeom were to be mind-controlled again, another Esper should be allowed to participate.
But why change his words? Is there a reason it shouldn’t be done? What was bothering him?
“Why?”
It didn’t matter if Won Jungyeom participated. Jiwon thought the same as Suhyun. Since it was to test his ability, it was better to have the same Esper.
But if Won Jungyeom were to be affected in the same way again, they would have to place their hopes on another Esper. Or acknowledge that he had no power and give up.
What was bothering Suhyun at this point? What was the reason for his sudden discomfort and change in words?
Jiwon couldn’t help but be curious.
“…It’s more comfortable.”
“……”
But Suhyun offered a rather empty excuse. Jiwon didn’t respond to the nonsensical statement.
This is a lie.
Of course, he knew that Suhyun was somewhat more comfortable with Won Jungyeom than with other Espers.
However, Suhyun wasn’t the type to make judgments on important issues like the Riska dungeon based on personal feelings.
There must be another reason…
“Hmm…”
Jiwon pondered how to discover Suhyun’s true intentions. What question should he ask to get the real reason?
“I need guiding.”
If he continued to press, would Suhyun eventually confess?
Jiwon’s thoughts came to a halt at Suhyun’s single statement.
“Oh, guiding.”
It was because the words “I need guiding” had come from Suhyun’s mouth.
Suhyun was the one who said he was fine even with a messed-up wavelength. For such a Suhyun to directly ask for guiding.
He could visually confirm that Suhyun’s wavelength was stable. But the moment he directly said he needed guiding, Jiwon couldn’t help but check the newly issued watch in surprise.
“……”
Jiwon’s brow twitched.
Stability 76.
It wasn’t particularly high by his standards, but it wasn’t low enough for Suhyun to ask for guiding either.
If anything, it was just an average level.
“…Are you not going to do it?”
However, Suhyun asked urgently, as if he needed it right away. Suppressing his bewilderment, Jiwon finally took his eyes off the watch, looked at Suhyun, and nodded slowly.
“…I should.”
“Yes.”
Suhyun sprang up from his seat. It was to go to the living room sofa, which was essentially the designated spot for guiding.
Following him, Jiwon checked the stability level again. The number hadn’t changed. Jiwon swallowed a sigh, pressing his lips tightly.
‘He changed the topic to guiding.’
Just as he had shifted the topic from difficult-to-persuade matters like assistant Guides or guiding rejection reactions to Won Jungyeom, Suhyun too had diverted the conversation from the Riska dungeon to guiding.
‘I’m really curious now.’
What exactly was he thinking?
Jiwon was genuinely curious, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak up.
“……”
No matter how curious, he couldn’t push it.
Since Suhyun had taken a step back, it was now his turn to do the same.
