Chapter 4

“Why are you doing this, are you insane?!”

Haon tried to push away Cha Yugeon’s arm with his trembling hands.

However, due to the electric shock, his hands were weakened, and it didn’t go as planned.

In the meantime, Cha Yugeon exerted more force, twisting Haon’s collar.

That’s it! What’s wrong with this guy!?

“What’s wrong with you? Let go of me you…?”

The momentary confusion was short-lived.

The pain from the electric current had reached its limit. Helplessly, Haon groaned and staggered in front of Cha Yugeon, who tightened his grip.

If Cha Yugeon hadn’t firmly held him, he might have collapsed.

Haon’s vision repeatedly turned white and then black. When he felt his consciousness fading away, Cha Yugeon made a sarcastic remark.

“This bastard really know how to act innocence ~”

However, his words were cut off by the medical staff.

“Get out of the way!”

Haon could hear their conversation, yet they sounded distant.

Unable to endure any longer, Haon completely lost his consciousness.

* * *

Haon slowly opened his eyes. The first thing that caught his eye was the white ceiling. The distinctive smell of the hospital tickled his nose. Haon slowly turned his head and looked around him, while trying to piece together what happened.

“Director Han…?”

Haon found a familiar figure and cautiously called him out. He was sitting at the table at his feet, looking at documents. He was just confused as to why Director hans was here.

“Have you woken up?”

“Yes… Why am I here…?”

“I heard you fainted due to overcurrent during the guide’s power frequency test.”

“Overcurrent?”

Haon was surprised and asked. The medical staff had only mentioned a slight tingling, but he had fainted due to such a strong overcurrent. It was confusing. He tilted his head, thinking it might be an accident due to machine malfunctions or something,

“The frequency test can cause a temporary strong current if the matching rate between the esper and the guide is high. Of course, even if the matching rate theoretically reaches its maximum, the current should not be strong enough to cause that much pain for the guide. However…”

Haon couldn’t say anything in response to Director Han’s words. He felt like he knew the vague meaning behind the unfinished words.

If what he said was true, it meant that the matching rate between him and the other esper exceeded the theoretical maximum. Even though he understood the words, it was hard to accept.

While trying to comprehend it, Haon cautiously opened his mouth.

“Was the matching rate very high…?”

“Theoretically, 100% IS the maximum. But in your case, the matching rate went beyond that.”

“…Is that even possible?”

“We’ve never seen a case like this before, but for now, it’s certain that Mr. Park Haon’s matching rate exceeded the standard.”

Silence filled the hospital room. The theoretical explanation was simple, but the content went beyond his head. The expression “exceeded the standard matching rate” raised more questions than answers. However, a bigger question loomed.

Haon licked his dry lips and looked at Director Han with an anxious expression.

“So, who is the other person…?”

“That’s…”

Haon’s expression darkened as Director Han trailed off at the end of his sentence. Unexplainable anxiety overwhelmed him. Chewing his tender cheeks, he trembled inside,

“Please tell me. Who is the other person?”

“The esper who has the same matching rate as Mr. Park Haon is-”

The director’s words were drowned out by an untimely commotion. Haon unconsciously turned his gaze towards the door amidst the noisy sounds. In that moment, the door suddenly swung open.

“You can’t come in! The patient is still…”

The urgent voice of the medical staff was interrupted as the most unwelcome person entered without hesitation.

Haon’s expression crumpled at the sight of him.

“Take it back quickly.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You…! …Made it invisible.”

Cha Yugeon yelled loudly, but when he noticed Director Han’s gaze, he quickly lowered his voice.

Haon still wondered what he was talking about as he scrutinized Cha Yugeon. The fact that he had been grabbed by that jerk before fainting made the already displeasing guy even more unlikable.

Moreover, with his incomprehensible words, it was impossible to think positively about him. Of course, to be honest, he didn’t have the inclination to think positively.

“What are you talking about? If you’re going to talk nonsense, just go away. We were in the middle of an important conversation.”

“It’s not nonsense! You made it invisible! Who else could do that other than you?!”

“Oh, what on earth…?”

Haon’s words faltered as a sudden memory surfaced.

Last night, he encountered Cha Yugeon, when he was pitifully drunk. Normally, he wouldn’t have had such thoughts, but under the influence of alcohol, he wasn’t in his right mind. Moreover, Cha Yugeon’s constant teasing and poking at his nerves had heightened his irritation.

So…

“What the hell? Has your thing down there turn invisible?”

“Can’t you keep it down?!”

“I was right? BUAHAHAHA~!”

Cha Yugeon keeps glancing at Director Han while threaten Haon’s with his eyes. And when Haon’s understand the situations, he burst into laughter like crazy.

The idea of his ‘it’ becoming invisible was hilarious. It was even funnier because it was none other than Cha Yugeon, who was trying to flirt with a woman at a club last night.

“Turn it back before I kill you.”

Cha Yugeon gritted his teeth.

Although Haon wanted nothing more than to ignore his words, doing so might end up with him actually dying at Cha Yugeon’s hands.

It seemed like he had already suffered enough embarrassment. He hadn’t witnessed the scene himself, but not being able to see it was a bit of a relief. However, it seemed satisfying enough to think that Cha Yugeon’s wouldn’t arrogantly act towards him like that in the future.

“It looks good on you. So why are you making such a fuss, huh?”

Haon teased while laughing. At the same time, he focused on Cha Yugeon’s pants, trying to revert his ability…

“Uh, huh…?”

“What’s wrong?”

Cha Yugeon frowned at Haon’s confused voice. However, Haon didn’t pay him any mind. Because he just remembered something.

He was now just an FF-class esper, not even an F-class, he was equivalent to an ordinary person. Although she he check Cha Yugeon’s pants, he felt no indication of his ability being active.

Haon looked at Director Han with a bewildered expression.

“Director Han, Director Han. I… Can’t I use esper abilities now?”

“…I can’t assert that you can’t use them at all, but it will be challenging for you to use your abilities freely as before. In reality, your esper power has been completely depleted…”

“Huh…”

“What the hell?!”

In response to Director Han’s words, Haon’s voice faltered in confusion. On the other hand, Cha Yugeon raised his voice in anger. He approached Haon with a threatening momentum, as if he were about to burn him immediately. In response, Haon unknowingly retreated with a jump, avoiding the imminent danger.

“Ugh!”

“Mr. Cha Yugeon!”

Cha Yugeon forcibly grabbed Haon’s collar and lifted him up. The strong force made him struggle for breath. Haon grimaced in pain and grabbed Cha Yugeon’s hand on his collar.

“W-what?”

Cha Yugeon looked alternately at Haon’s hand and face, appearing somewhat confused. With the momentarily weakened grip, Haon quickly freed himself from Cha Yugeon’s hand. He didn’t forget to glare at him with sharp eyes, even while coughing violently.

“It’s not like it’s completely gone, it’s just invisible. What’s the problem? Just live with it.”

Haon did his best to taunt Cha Yugeon. The brief moment of guilt and confusion about the fact that his esper power was completely depleted and he couldn’t revert his ‘thing’ back to normal disappeared with the grip on his collar.

“This bastard… I’ll kill you.”

Cha Yugeon spat out harsh curses. The temperature around them seemed to rise ominously, as if he were standing in front of a blazing fire. It felt like having a fireball placed right in front of his noses.

“Stop it, Mr. Cha Yugeon.”

“Move. I’m going to kill him.”

“That’s why I’m telling you to stop.”

“Why should I stop? Wouldn’t it benefit the Center If one FF-class esper disappears?”

‘FF-class esper.’ Cha Yugeon’s words painfully stabbed Haon. He gritted his teeth, trying not to show that his words had touched a nerve.

“Mr. Park Haon is no longer just an FF-class esper. He’s an S-class guide.”

“…What?”

Cha Yugeon muttered in a bewildered voice. However, no matter how surprised he was, it couldn’t match Haon’s surprise. Haon looked at Director Han with astonished eyes.

Then, Director Han calmly delivered the next shocking news.

“The S-class guide, Mr. Park Haon, has been appointed as the guide for the S-class guide, Mr. Cha Yugeon.”