TDG Ch 18

The wind stirred up by the flames rampaging in every direction carried a sweltering heat all the way here, even though it wasn’t that close.

I finally understood what Song Hyunho meant when he said Jihyuk hadn’t been going all out.

This is insane. It feels like the provocation backfired like a counter. What should I do now?

Before long, flames stretched out long from Han Jihyuk’s hand.

The surging blaze gradually took the elegant shape of a sword, and I couldn’t help but be surprised. When had he learned something like that? His remarkable growth left me in awe.

It wasn’t just me; Song Hyunho’s face also burned with a mix of elation and fighting spirit.

Of course. He really is a lunatic, that bastard.

“Here I come.”

With a firm declaration, Song Hyunho’s figure vanished.

Scanning in all directions, I spotted him above Han Jihyuk’s head. He was cloaked in his exclusive skill—a translucent yellow aura that enveloped his entire body. They said that when Song Hyunho went all out, no one could follow his movements. It seemed this was one of those moments.

With a single leap, Song Hyunho shot up nearly two meters, then kicked off the ceiling as if it were solid ground, driving himself downward like a missile.

Boom!

A violent shockwave exploded from the clash between the two, rippling in all directions. Tremors shook through the floor and walls, rippling across the entire building.

For the collision of man against man to produce a blast like an explosion defied common sense. I had to cover my ears before my eardrums burst. Dirt and debris pelted my face, stinging sharply.

Han Jihyuk was flung into the opposite wall. He hit so hard that a round crater formed at the point of impact, spiderweb cracks spreading from it in dozens of directions. The sight made me involuntarily leap to my feet, holding my breath. I knew that even a serious hit wouldn’t leave a scratch on Jihyuk’s body, but the reaction came instinctively.

Song Hyunho, who had thrown Jihyuk with one hand, spoke lightly, clearly in a good mood.

“The hostage worked better than expected. Even if you’re worried about Guide Seo Juwon, you can’t afford to let your guard down.”

From amid the heap of rubble, Jihyuk staggered to rise, then casually walked out as if nothing had happened.

But before I could even breathe a sigh of relief, Song Hyunho charged again, this time driving his knee into Jihyuk’s shoulder. Jihyuk was pushed back a few steps, but didn’t go flying or collapse like before. Instead, he grabbed onto the knee that struck his shoulder, keeping it from pulling away.

At that moment, the flaming sword behind Jihyuk arced sideways in a sweeping curve. Song Hyunho leaned back just in time to narrowly avoid it, but the sword transformed like a tiger’s gaping maw, ready to swallow him whole.

It was a fierce exchange of attacks.

At a glance, it looked even, but on closer inspection, it was clear that Song Hyunho was dominating Jihyuk. He repeatedly broke through Jihyuk’s flames and bore down with overwhelming momentum.

If Jihyuk couldn’t break through that damned aura of his, the longer this went on, the more disadvantageous it would become.

I couldn’t help but stomp anxiously in place as Jihyuk continued to get pushed back, barely managing to block each blow.

Come on, give him a break! Isn’t it too much to go all-out against someone who just awakened as an S-rank?

Perhaps sensing my desperation, Jihyuk glanced at me briefly.

No! What are you looking at! Focus on your opponent!

I almost shouted in panic, afraid he’d take a massive hit any second now, but strangely, none of Song Hyunho’s attacks were landing cleanly.

…What was going on?

My confusion lasted only a moment before a dazed exclamation escaped me.

I had completely misunderstood everything.

The moment I realized Jihyuk’s hidden intent, the fierce clash between the two began to appear in an entirely different light.

Song Hyunho’s threatening barrage of punches, which seemed unstoppable at first glance, was really just a frantic struggle failing to land a single hit. And Jihyuk, who appeared to be on the retreat and under pressure, was in fact luring Song Hyunho away from me as much as possible. If the fight happened too close, I might get caught up in it and get hurt.

From the beginning, Han Jihyuk hadn’t even considered Song Hyunho worth his attention. That brief glance just now was the proof. It wasn’t the desperate look of someone cornered; it was the gaze of someone checking to see if I was okay.

“……”

Unbelievable. He’s toying with a veteran like Song Hyunho. Who would look at that and think he’s just a rookie who awakened two months ago?

I realized then that it wasn’t Song Hyunho who didn’t understand Jihyuk—it was me. I hadn’t trusted the abilities of my partner Esper, treating him like a child about to wander into danger, unsure of himself. I was ashamed.

Jihyuk’s plan to lure Song Hyunho away had worked perfectly. Once the enemy boss had moved a certain distance away, the sealed-off hostage zone opened up. Just like how a prisoner might get a chance to escape when the guard walks away.

Self-reflection could come later; first, I had to escape. Once I was safe, Jihyuk would probably start his counterattack. I shifted my gaze toward the door and was just starting to rise when, out of nowhere, a massive explosion went off behind me.

The shockwave sent my body flying. I didn’t even have time to scream before my consciousness was torn away.

* * *

Beep—beep—beep.

When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a pale ceiling with dark ash-gray moldings. A place I’d never seen before. A strange chill crept over me the moment I woke up, and I gave a slight shiver. Just like when I first possessed this body, the sensation in my limbs felt dull and far away. My vision was blurry for quite some time.

Above my head, I noticed a cluster of IV bags hanging like a bunch of grapes. I frowned as I fought off the lingering, lukewarm discomfort in my extremities.

A hospital.

I barely managed to roll over onto my side. My whole body ached and throbbed as if I’d been beaten, and my head felt like it was stuffed with wet cotton instead of a brain. A groan escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Grumbling inwardly, I checked my body.

There were some bruises here and there, but my arms and legs were all intact. No casts, and all ten fingers and ten toes moved fine. So it was just contusions and lacerations. Considering I’d been tossed around like a basketball in the middle of a fight between two S-rank Espers, I’d gotten off easy.

I felt proud of myself for a brief second before a surge of frustration welled up.

Just looking at me now, you’d think I was the one who single-handedly brought down the world’s worst criminals. I wasn’t even out on a mission, just doing a Suitability Evaluation, and look at the state I ended up in. And that explosion at the end, what the hell was that?

Enduring the creeping dull pain, I forced myself upright. I looked around near the bed for my glasses and watch, but then the sound of the hospital room door opening made me turn my head.

“Hyung!”

Jihyuk had just stepped into the room. I raised a hand in greeting, about to call his name in relief, but before I could even get the words out, he was already in front of me like he’d teleported.

“Hyung, are you okay? Are you awake now? Are you hurt anywhere?”

He fired off questions like a machine gun and hugged me so tight I could barely breathe. Then he pulled back and examined my face closely with eyes glistening with anxiety and tears. His expression was so grave that I couldn’t even think about making a light joke.

“Of course I’m okay. Were you that worried about me?”

Did I go into cardiac arrest while I was unconscious or something?

Otherwise, how could his reaction brim with such raw relief and affection, as though seeing someone returned from the brink of death?

When I asked what had happened, he told me I’d been unconscious for an entire day.

“I was so anxious because no matter how long I waited, you just wouldn’t wake up. I kept asking again and again, but the doctor only kept repeating there was nothing wrong…”

Jihyuk clenched his fists, trailing off. Seeing me had calmed him down a little, but his face was still pale. I’d thought it was just fatigue, but there was something deeper behind it.

“Han Jihyuk, come here.”

Jihyuk was breaking out in cold sweat, his breathing rapid, and his pupils were half-dilated. His vitals were a mess.

I let out a silent sigh.

It’s the classic signs of guiding deficiency.

Well, what choice was there? I, his assigned Guide, had been lying unconscious this whole time. The higher-ups must have tried to assign someone else, but judging by his condition, Jihyuk had refused.

His blood pressure and body temperature were rising rapidly, completely outside the normal range. Alarmed, I hurriedly pulled off my patient gown top. At this point, holding hands wasn’t enough; we needed a wider area of contact.

“Han Jihyuk, take off your shirt.”

Despite my instructions, he didn’t move and just stared blankly at me. Why is he spacing out at a time like this?

“What are you doing, Han Jihyuk? Take your shirt off.”

When he still didn’t move, I reached out myself, intending to undress him, but this time, he even flinched his body away.

Huh?

It was the first time my touch had been refused, so I was a bit taken aback without meaning to be. Jihyuk hurried to explain, as if afraid I’d misunderstand.

“Ah, I can still endure it for now.”

I glared at him, completely dumbfounded by his utterly ridiculous statement.

“Don’t say stupid things. If you’re going to endure something, make sure it’s worth enduring. Take it off. Now!”

“But Hyung, you just woke up… You should rest a little more…”

At this rate it wasn’t rest he’d get, but an eternal rest in a coffin, you idiot.

I grabbed Jihyuk’s wrist, dragged him down onto the bed, and climbed on top of him, pinning him down. He could’ve easily dodged, but instead, he let himself be caught and held, pretending he had no choice. Clearly, he wasn’t completely unwilling.

“Hyung, really, we can do this later…”

Even as he kept pushing me away, his hands lacked any real strength.

“Oh? Put your hands down. I said, put them down. Who told you to worry about that right now? Look at your blood pressure. Do you really think this is the time for that kind of talk?!”

His face was pale, his eyes sunken, and his body trembling like an addict going through withdrawal. How could he possibly say he was fine? Without giving him room to argue, I scolded him sharply, and Jihyuk reluctantly lowered his resisting hands to his sides. That’s better. Finally cooperating.

I finished removing the rest of his clothes and placed both hands firmly on his bare chest. The moment my palms touched his skin, heat flared beneath them.

Yikes, hot! Look, he’s burning up!

If he weren’t superhuman, this level of fever would’ve already caused brain damage or worse in a normal person. The only reason he was still conscious was because of his Esper-level physical resilience.

I leaned over Jihyuk’s body, wrapped my arms tightly around his waist, and pressed my cheek to his chest. I made sure as much skin as possible was in contact, then closed my eyes and focused inward. I locked onto Jihyuk’s energy, which was spiking dangerously.

At last, as the guiding process began, the guy who had been stubbornly enduring suddenly couldn’t take it anymore. He abruptly flipped our positions, pushing me down onto the bed and clinging to me tightly, as if breathing through our skin.

His body, now responding to the guiding, began to relax. The nerves and muscles that had been coiled tight with heat and strain slowly loosened. The deep furrow between his brows gradually smoothed out.