IDESGI Chapter 11

Chapter 11

“So I won’t do it, family.”

As soon as the low voice finished speaking, Ihan lowered one hand and clenched his fingertips tightly. Heat swirled in his palm as if flames were about to burst forth at any moment.

“What did you just say?”

Likewise, Geon released a chill, cooling the surrounding air. With one eyebrow furrowed, he coldly retorted.

“You always ask again even when you’ve already heard it clearly.”

“Then and now, I don’t count bullshit as human speech.”

The clash of fire and ice distorted the air, shaking it violently. Just before power met power, Yeoul squeezed his eyes shut and shouted.

“Stop! Stop it!”

Shoving Ihan away with all his strength, Yeoul glared at him fiercely.

“Stop it, Yoo Ihan.”

“…Yeoul.”

“Stop it.”

Seeing Yeoul’s sharp gaze, filled with anger, Ihan clenched his jaw, forcing down his rage as he turned his head away. The heat in his palm cooled instantly, and at the same time, the cold air that had spread throughout the space dissipated.

Watching the tense standoff, Yushin cautiously stepped in.

“Ahem, alright, let’s not do this here! Guide Han Yeoul, why don’t you come with me back to Zone 1? I’ll take you there.”

“No. Since I’m already here, I’ll stay.”

“Yeoul, go ahead first.”

Without even looking at Yushin, Yeoul refused. Ihan muttered in a tightly controlled voice, trying to suppress his anger. Glaring at Ihan, Yeoul snapped.

“Why? Are you planning to pick a fight with Geon hyung as soon as I leave for Zone 1?”

“I’m not. I won’t.”

“You’re nice and kind to everyone else, but why are you like this only to Geon hyung?”

At those words, both Geon and Yushin’s expressions turned strange.

Yoo Ihan is nice and kind?

Just how much of an act had he put on for Yeoul to believe something so ridiculous? Had he been brainwashed or something?

But Yeoul, completely unaware of their thoughts, remained cold as he addressed Ihan.

“I have something to say to Geon hyung. Don’t interfere and leave.”

“Yeoul, are you really saying, right in front of me, that you’re going to him?”

Ihan grabbed Yeoul’s wrist with suppressed strength. Even in his grip, the hold was gentle.

How sweet of him.

Yeoul turned his face away, trying to hide the bitterness swelling inside him.

“No. I’m not letting you go to that bastard.”

“If you don’t let go now,” Yeoul gripped Ihan’s wrist in return, emphasizing each word,

“I will never see you again.”

At the firm ultimatum, Ihan let out a bitter laugh and released Yeoul’s shirt. At the same time, Yeoul’s hand also fell away.

“Yeoul, you say things like that so easily.”

Lowering his gaze to the ground, Ihan murmured quietly.

“One word from you, and it feels like the ground is crumbling beneath my feet.”

Ihan turned his back and left. Yushin hesitated, glancing at Yeoul before following after him, leaving only Yeoul and Geon in the hallway.

Yeoul clenched his clothes tightly, staring painfully at Ihan’s retreating figure until he disappeared into the distance.

“Yeoul, so what is it you wanted to say?”

Geon turned Yeoul by the shoulders, making him face him. As their eyes met, Yeoul instinctively averted his gaze from Geon’s piercing black eyes.

“Do you remember what I asked you last time? About bringing Esper Han Hyunho here?”

“Yeah. I brought him with me. But why Hyunho?”

“I want to see him first. We’ll talk after that.”

“…Alright. Follow me. He’s resting at the dorm right now.”

Despite his curiosity, Geon didn’t press for answers and simply complied with Yeoul’s request. Feeling grateful, Yeoul followed him.

---

“Hello! I’m Han Hyunho!”

Hyunho looked even younger than expected. He couldn’t have been more than nineteen—his youthful appearance still carried a hint of boyishness, making him seem quite endearing.

“I’m Han Yeoul. I’m a Guide.”

Yeoul let out a small laugh when he noticed the duck-shaped badge attached to Hyunho’s harness.

“You’re still playing along with this prank. Hyunho, you got that badge from Senior Jeonghan, didn’t you?”

Hyunho’s eyes widened as he nodded eagerly.

“Yeah! How did you know? He told me this is something Guides only give to the most popular Espers!”

“That was just a prank. Jeonghan hyung loves messing with rookie Espers like that. Saying things like ‘most popular’ and whatnot… He was lying, so you don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to.”

“What? Really?”

Hyunho’s shoulders slumped, looking dejected.

“I thought the Guides were actually interested in me….”

“Jeonghan hyung can be a bit mischievous sometimes.”

But just as quickly as he had sulked, Hyunho perked up again, his eyes shining with curiosity.

“But how do you know all this so well?”

“I used to be part of Zone 5 until a few years ago. I transferred to Zone 1.”

“You transferred? That’s pretty rare. People don’t usually switch zones. Why did you move to Zone 1?”

“Ah… well.”

Yeoul hesitated for a moment. Seeing this, Geon stepped in and drew a firm boundary.

“Don’t ask unnecessary questions, Han Hyunho.”

“It’s okay. I was going to have to explain it anyway to ask for his help.”

Taking a deep breath, Yeoul made up his mind and finally spoke.

“I’m Yoo Ihan’s exclusive Guide. I followed him to Zone 1.”

“What? Yoo Ihan? Are you talking about the Jamsil Gate Hero?”

“Yeah. That Yoo Ihan.”

Hyunho couldn’t contain his excitement, his face lighting up with exhilaration.

“No way! I’m a huge fan of Yoo Ihan! Wow, I heard rumors that he imprinted, but I had no idea his Guide was you!”

“Yeah… So, about that. Hyunho, I have a favor to ask.”

Hyunho pounded his chest confidently.

“Yes! Just say the word!”

“Ihan… He’ll probably ask you for a favor soon. He’ll want you to use your ability on me.”

“Huh? My ability? On a Guide?”

The fists he had been thumping against his chest froze mid-air. He tilted his head in confusion.

“Espers aren’t supposed to use their abilities on Guides! There’s no way Yoo Ihan would ask me to do something like that, right?”

“He will. When he does, just pretend to hesitate, then accept.”

Hyunho blinked rapidly, startled.

“Why? I mean, I am a psychic Esper, so I could make you spill everything you’re thinking.”

“I know. That’s why I’m asking. Accept his request, but don’t actually use your ability on me—just pretend. I’ll play along.”

Baffled by the strange request, Hyunho glanced at Geon. When he saw Geon give him a small nod, he still felt uneasy but eventually agreed.

“Alright. Well… if Senior Yoon Geon is allowing this, I guess there’s a reason.”

“Thank you.”

Yeoul shifted his gaze from Hyunho to Geon. His dark eyes, as deep as the night sky, remained expressionless, but they hadn’t left Yeoul for a second.

Yeoul bit his lip and hesitated before speaking with difficulty.

“Hyung… If Ihan asks me anything… I’m going to tell him your name.”

“What are you saying?”

“…I told Ihan I wanted to break up with him.”

Geon’s usually impassive face, which rarely showed any emotion, wavered for a brief moment. Before he could say anything, Hyunho gasped in shock.

“You’re breaking up? Even though you’re imprinted?”

His lips parted and closed, as if he couldn’t process the words. Geon shot him a sharp, reprimanding glance.

“Han Hyunho.”

Sensing the cold warning in Geon’s tone, Hyunho quickly shut his mouth. Geon then turned his gaze back to Yeoul, signaling him to continue.

“So, you’re going to say my name?”

“Yes. I want to tell Ihan… that I like you.”

Hyunho immediately slapped his hands over his mouth, as if he might accidentally scream out loud.

Even Geon, who rarely showed surprise, had visible shock ripple through his dark eyes. Seeing his reaction, Yeoul quickly clarified.

“It’s not like I’m planning to do anything with you. Would it be okay if I just say it’s one-sided? I need someone believable for Ihan to accept the breakup. No matter what reason I give, he won’t believe me. But if it’s you, he won’t be able to act recklessly.”

The flicker of heat in Geon’s gaze settled back into his usual calm, though Yeoul failed to notice it. Still, he pressed on with his request.

“I know this will be unpleasant for Yeonoh. And for you too, hyung… I won’t say anything unnecessary. I’ll just call it a one-sided crush. I only need to borrow your name for a moment. Please—”

“Do you have to do this?”

Geon cut him off. His voice, usually composed and indifferent, carried an unusual urgency. Yeoul, startled by the unfamiliar tone, hesitated.

“Uh… um, Ihan won’t let go, so I need a good excuse. Is it not okay?”

“Han Yeoul.”

The way Geon said his name, low and commanding, sent a jolt of tension through Yeoul’s body.

“Y-yeah?”

“If you’re going to use me, then do it properly.”

Yeoul blinked, confused.

“What?”

“Let’s not make it one-sided. Let’s make it mutual.”

“What… what are you saying?”

Geon looked at him the way a deep-sea diver might stare upon finding a rare pearl—like he was ready to claim it. His voice was steady when he spoke again.

“Let’s have an affair.”

He said it so casually, as if he were suggesting grabbing a meal or a cup of coffee. Yeoul was so shocked he forgot to breathe for a moment.

“A-a-an affair? Hyung, even if it’s fake, if Yeonoh finds out, it’ll be a disaster—!”

“I don’t understand why you keep bringing up Seo Yeonoh.”

A faint wrinkle formed between Geon’s brows as his expression darkened.

“Seo Yeonoh isn’t my exclusive Guide. He’s not even my lover. He’s just a team Guide. So why should I care about his reaction?”

“But still, hyung—”

“Senior! Are you out of your mind? You don’t even have another proper Guide besides Yeonoh, and you’re saying this?!”

Unable to hold back any longer, Hyunho jumped into the conversation again. Geon, visibly irritated now, turned and shot him a glare.

“Shut up, Han Hyunho.”

“No! Let’s be real here! Senior, without Yeonoh-hyung, you’re screwed. You’ve said it yourself—Guiding from anyone else feels like being torn apart! The efficiency is garbage, too! Yeonoh-hyung is the only Guide with a high match rate and proper compatibility with you, so why are you acting like this?”

Yeoul was just as curious. What exactly was Geon thinking? He had no other options besides Yeonoh.

‘He told me to go my own way because he’d be imprinting with Seo Yeonoh… and now this?’

Even though Yeoul had fallen for Ihan at first sight, he had resisted for over three months—all because of Yoon Geon. Back then, Geon had no compatible Guides except for Han Yeoul.

For ten years since his Esper awakening at the age of fourteen, he had endured nothing but agonizing Guiding.

An unexplained Guiding rejection response.

He had never found a Guide with a match rate above 30%. Whenever he was forced to receive Guiding, it was excruciatingly painful. He had survived by relying on Guiding suppressants, enduring a miserable cycle of suffering—until he met Han Yeoul.

Even though Yeoul was only a C-Class Guide, their match rate was an astounding 89%.

For the first time, Guiding didn’t hurt. Instead, it spread a comforting, gentle warmth throughout his body. It felt good. It was the first painless Guiding he had ever experienced.

It was only natural that Geon cherished Yeoul. And Yeoul, in turn, treated Geon like an older brother. They had lived like family for five years.

Just as Yoo Ihan, with a staggering 99.8% match rate, had appeared for Han Yeoul, an A-Class Guide with a 92% match rate had finally appeared for Yoon Geon.