# Chapter 41
The next day, Jaehee, Geonwoo, and Taeyun were together in the examination room again.
Jaehee felt eyes following him endlessly throughout the day. The owner of that gaze was Taeyun. He had been constantly watching Jaehee’s reactions. He had no choice.
‘Just because he heard about the method doesn’t guarantee he’ll continue Geonwoo’s treatment, so he must be anxious.’
That feeling was clearly evident in his subtle expressions.
But Jaehee deliberately pretended not to notice that gaze. He simply gripped Taeyun’s hand more tightly.
However, perhaps misunderstanding this action,
“Are you tired? Should we rest a bit before continuing?”
Taeyun asked Jaehee with a concerned tone. His voice was twice as gentle as usual. Watching Jaehee’s reactions carefully, his smile was also more intense than usual.
“I’m fine. I can still do more.”
Jaehee said, and poured the remaining Guiding energy from his body, scraping it to the bottom, into Taeyun’s hand that he was holding.
“If there were a few more high-ranking Espers, you wouldn’t have to receive this much Guiding. I’m worried you might be pushing yourself too hard.”
To Taeyun’s words, Jaehee responded as if it was fine.
“What can we do? Guiding is absolutely necessary for Esper Choi Geonwoo’s treatment.”
That was true. Guiding was needed for Geonwoo’s treatment. But Jaehee had one more reason. Through their clasped hands, Jaehee thoroughly examined inside Taeyun’s body. Taeyun’s body was blocked by numerous walls, almost like only tiny passages remained. It was like that because of the one-sided Bond.
But the Bond wasn’t complete.
‘Though the matching rate is low, the fact that Guiding works means he hasn’t completely formed a one-sided Bond yet.’
A one-sided Bond could only be 100% complete after manifesting as an Esper. During the pre-manifestation period, there was a slight limitation, preventing a complete one-sided Bond. That’s why everyone tries to erase a one-sided Bond during the pre-manifestation period. Because once fully manifested as an Esper and the one-sided Bond is complete, the Bond can no longer be erased.
‘In Cheon Taeyun’s case, he probably deliberately didn’t make the one-sided Bond complete, leaving a bit undone. If it were complete, the matching rate with all Guides would be 0%. And they probably don’t have the power to handle that situation right now.’
That became an opportunity for Jaehee.
All this time, Jaehee had been continuously pouring above-threshold Guiding energy into Cheon Taeyun. Even when his body showed warning signs from consuming too much Guiding energy, which is the life source for Guides, he didn’t stop Guiding. So that even the tiniest seed could bloom inside his body.
“If you feel unwell or anything, please tell me immediately. We can proceed with the treatment slowly.”
But Taeyun, unaware of Jaehee’s thoughts, was simply reassured by what he saw from Jaehee. Seeing Jaehee seemingly not giving up on Geonwoo’s treatment, he relaxed his furrowed brow and smiled faintly at the thought that he could keep Jaehee. Not knowing what Jaehee was actually thinking.
How much time had passed like that? Around when it started getting a bit dark outside the window, Taeyun said to Jaehee.
“It’s getting late, shall we stop here for today?”
Taeyun pretended to be considerate of Jaehee as he said that. Conversely, Jaehee was about to suggest they continue a bit more.
But just then, buzz buzz, a small vibration was felt from his chest. Jaehee took out his phone from his pocket.
Seeing Jaehee do this, Taeyun stood up. He thought the call came at a perfect timing. Just yesterday, Jaehee had said he was tired and wanted to stop. Taeyun didn’t want to push him too hard. If he ran away again saying he was tired, it would become a headache.
“Then I’ll come at the same time tomorrow.”
Taeyun said that and left the examination room. After watching him for a moment, Jaehee looked at his phone screen again. The caller was Dr. Yoon.
‘There’s no way the results could be out already…’
The investigation of the drug couldn’t happen that quickly. Moreover, if it was a drug secretly used by upper management, it would be something not widely known, so analyzing it would require even more time.
But why?
Jaehee pressed the call button.
“Yes, Dr. Yoon.”
Jaehee called out to the other person with the phone to his ear.
-Haah, Guide Lee Jaehee.
But as soon as he answered the call, a sigh-mixed call was heard. Dr. Yoon spoke in a much lower voice.
-Where did this come from? Upon analysis, this drug forcibly changes the properties of Guiding energy.
A drug that changes Guiding properties. Cheon Taeyun had said the same thing.
‘So that part is correct.’
Thinking that, Jaehee quietly listened to Dr. Yoon’s continued words.
-It doesn’t matter to ordinary people, but for ability users, it’s practically a deadly poison. Even though Espers, being receivers of Guiding, are less affected, it’s fatal to Guides.
That much was also expected by Jaehee. Forcibly changing the properties of Guiding energy couldn’t possibly be safe.
“So, if someone takes this, will symptoms of Guiding rejection decrease?”
-That’s right. Since the properties of Guiding energy keep changing, making it hard to distinguish what’s real, it would be confusing for the receiver as well. They might even get confused with other Guides’ Guiding energy.
“Then, if we use this drug along with the method I asked about before, is there a higher chance of not dying when erasing a one-sided Bond?”
-I can’t guarantee 100%, but the probability would be extremely high.
At those words, Jaehee let out a small sigh of relief.
-But what’s the use? It’s a particularly potent poison among poisons, so it can’t be used.
However, Dr. Yoon, unaware of what Jaehee was thinking, just continued with sighing words.
-More importantly, where did this really come from?
Jaehee contemplated how to respond. But Dr. Yoon was quicker.
-Did Esper Kang Dohyun bring it from somewhere again?
But an unexpected figure appeared from Dr. Yoon’s mouth.
“What do you mean?”
In that moment, Jaehee’s eyes widened slightly.
“Why would Esper Kang Dohyun have this…?”
A very surprised voice burst from Jaehee’s mouth.
-Before…
The words he heard next were shocking.
“You’re saying that when he was young, Esper Kang Dohyun brought this to you?”
Dohyun had asked Dr. Yoon to investigate this drug, just like him? That’s why the analysis was so quick, he said. Because there were already materials from previous investigations.
More than that…
‘Why Dohyun?’
Something was strange.
‘Why did Dohyun have this when he was so young?’
It was when he thought that far. Suddenly, a very faint scene flashed through his mind.
‘…A dark red liquid with a strange scent…’
Jaehee clung to the memory, trying to recall it more vividly.
‘And… Kang Dohyun…’
The scene that flashed through his mind became clearer.
‘…Ah!’
And then a very old memory surfaced.
It was a story from when he was 13 years old.
‘Lee Jaehee, what are you eating?’
Young Jaehee was sitting on the bed with a sulky expression, holding a large cup with both hands. Dohyun was standing and looking at Jaehee with a “what are you doing” expression.
‘I need to drink this but… it’s too bitter…’
Because of that, even though it had been over 30 minutes since Jaehee received the medicine, he had only taken a single sip. The cup was still full of medicine. It didn’t taste good, had a strange smell, and the color was a light dark-red that somehow made it look unappetizing.
Jaehee tried to challenge himself again, bringing the cup to his lips, but the strong scent that stung his nose made him put it back down, slightly furrowing his fine brow.
Then, Dohyun approached Jaehee more and asked.
‘What kind of medicine is that?’
To that question, Jaehee told Dohyun exactly what he had heard.
‘This? They said it stabilizes psychic abilities.’
But soon Jaehee regretted saying that. Because after hearing those words, Dohyun approached unhesitatingly, pinched Jaehee’s nose, and made him drink it all at once.
‘Mmph…!’
‘Drink it in one go! That way it won’t be as bitter!’
Perhaps because Jaehee would whimper in pain every time Guiding energy came out of his body, Dohyun’s hand that fed the medicine was unrestrained. It was merciless to the point of being ruthless. Dohyun didn’t let go of Jaehee until he had drunk everything in the cup, not leaving a single drop.
‘Ugh… bitter…’
As Jaehee sat with a tearful expression from the fishy taste spreading throughout his mouth, Dohyun stood in front of him, holding candy and unwrapping it. Then, putting the candy in Jaehee’s mouth, he said something terribly frightening.
‘Tell me if you think you can’t drink it again. I’ll keep helping you.’
At those words, Jaehee’s pupils shook greatly.
And not long after, the Center staff who had given him the medicine came, checked the empty cup, and took it away.
Such days continued for several days. Receiving medicine, being forced to drink it by Dohyun’s hand, and failing when trying to drink it alone. How many times did they repeat this.
‘Lee Jaehee?’
‘…Yes?’
Jaehee’s condition had deteriorated.
