DB Vol 2 Part 21

That’s the question he should be asking. The man not only didn’t answer properly but was staring at Won-woo rudely. Won-woo, wary of him for evoking the past, stared back without backing down.

“Did you by any chance leave Director Hwang’s communicator in my room too?”

“I wonder.”

“Is that the only answer you know?”

Won-woo had never been emotional towards anyone from the start, even enemies, but strangely, he was irritated by this person. It was partly because he evoked the past, but also because not knowing his identity was quite annoying. At Won-woo’s reaction, amusement flashed in Gye Yoon’s eyes. Then he muttered as if to himself.

“How strange.”

“What is?”

“That I’m standing face to face with you.”

“You seem to know who I am?”

The amusement vanished from Gye Yoon’s eyes in an instant. Without the smile, his eyes were chillingly cold. So Won-woo belatedly realized the name he uttered.

“Ji Geun-oh’s son, Ji Won-woo.”

For a moment, he thought, Ah. Could he be one of the many people with a grudge against Ji Geun-oh? Is that why Sang-cheon apologized to him so much? As these questions arose in Won-woo’s mind, the low voice asked.

“Aren’t you curious who I am?”

Of course he was curious. He’s an Esper I know nothing about. It’s hard to kill an Esper without information, so of course I’m curious. But he couldn’t confess that to Sang-cheon’s acquaintance. Instead, he shrugged and answered lightly.

“Not really. I heard the guiding is only once, so there’s no need to know.”

For a moment, Gye Yoon raised one eyebrow as if surprised and asked back.

“…Guiding?”

“Yes. Guiding. Didn’t you know?”

There was no answer, but his expression clearly showed he didn’t know. At that moment, with a creaking sound, the rusty iron door of the office opened and Sang-cheon poked his head out. As soon as he saw Gye Yoon, he flinched in surprise and half pulled his head back.

“Ah, y-you’re here?”

“Director Hwang, it seems your acquaintance didn’t know about receiving guiding.”

As Won-woo said with a smile, Sang-cheon glanced at Gye Yoon with surprised eyes.

“Ah, well…”

“Guiding?”

When Gye Yoon asked again in a fierce voice, Sang-cheon retreated inside as if escaping.

“L-let’s come in and do something first!”

Chief Jung, that moron. He said Alpha Seed without even knowing properly. Sitting across from Won-woo, Gye Yoon’s face was expressionless, but inside he was viciously tearing apart Chief Jung. And with that same gaze, he looked at Sang-cheon. He was sitting far away, but under Gye Yoon’s gaze, he swallowed hard and avoided eye contact. Still, he didn’t forget what he had to say.

“A-As you’ve heard, we signed a contract. This is a one-time thing, absolutely secret, and after receiving guiding, there will be absolutely, absolutely no more demands or obsession.”

Gye Yoon’s irritation grew because while he had heard about the contract, he didn’t know it was about guiding. He thought it was strange that the word “obsession” was included for a contract about Alpha Seeds. Being a D-rank guide, the wavelength might match, but guiding shouldn’t be possible. And to face him with someone from the Ji family for just that.

“That’s what they say.”

At Won-woo’s calm voice, the displeasure in Gye Yoon’s eyes disappeared instantly. Looking straight at Won-woo’s face, he announced,

“If I become obsessed, it won’t be because of the guiding.”

“Looks aren’t allowed either.”

When Sang-cheon interjected from afar, Gye Yoon’s cold eyes turned to him again. Sang-cheon moved behind Won-woo as if hiding and added another condition.

“Becoming obsessed after falling for his personality isn’t allowed either.”

“Can you just sh… be quiet.”

Gye Yoon barely suppressed his anger, then his body stiffened at the feeling of something touching his hand. Turning his gaze, he saw Won-woo looking down at his hand with serious eyes.

“You’re not in good condition. Let’s finish this quickly.”

Quickly, huh. Being a D-rank guide, it might take three or four months. A dejected question arose inside, but on the other hand, he thought it might not be bad to be together for so long. No, it might even be interesting. Then, realizing his own expectations, he immediately became displeased. Damn it, what good would come from being with Ji Geun-oh’s son?

Scolding himself, he decided to end this unfunny situation quickly. So he extended his hand without expectation. Even until the moment Won-woo took his hand, Gye Yoon truly harbored no hope. He believed there would never be a day when this terrible pain would quietly subside like falling asleep.

And now, he was too busy fighting his incomprehensible emotions to pay attention to the guiding. Strangely, it was hard to take his eyes off Won-woo, who was reaching out his hand from across to hold him. This moment facing him seemed to split into countless instants, clicking like taking photos.

It felt like his mind was suddenly covered with thousands of photos. The strangest was the moment their hands touched. His heart pounded so hard it felt like it made a sound. Gye Yoon barely suppressed the urge to grip the other’s hand tightly. He was partly irritated at himself for being so conscious of Ji Geun-oh’s son.

So he was contemplating whether to pull his hand away even before receiving guiding. Suddenly, the energy raging inside his body began to drain away all at once. At the same time, the monstrous pain vanished as if it had never been there.

***

Ji Dong-hyeon received that report from Director Shin late at night while he was still working in the office. Currently, the Ji family was in a difficult financial situation due to pressure from the Gye family while unable to unlock the Alpha Seeds. His father, Ji Geun-oh, believed that the only way to overcome this crisis was to seize power.

He believed they needed to enter the Women Association, the country’s highest decision-making body. If they could enter the Women Association as a Guide representative, which only Espers could join, they could have power even without Alpha Seeds. Because of this, all the Ji family members were lobbying the Women Association Espers intensively.

Meanwhile, the financial situation had worsened, and now truly the only solution was for Ji Geun-oh to become a Women Association member. They were almost there. How many Alpha Seeds had they distributed to the Women Association Espers so far?

Thanks to paying an enormous price, a resolution to give voting rights to Guides for the Women Association had been proposed. A vote was scheduled soon in the Women Association, and if passed, one Guide representative elected by Guides’ votes could enter the Women Association.

They had already secured almost enough numbers needed for passage. They planned to use Guides to play tricks and shake up the problematic Gye family even more. No matter how much the Gye family tried to push back the Ji family with money, Espers without Guides were time bombs that could die at any moment. It might not be bad if they exploded at this opportunity. So Director Shin’s first report only made him laugh.

“The Gye family says it was an accidental death, but the timing of Guide Park’s death is suspicious. It was when he said he would make demands to the Gye family following our orders.”

“The demand for the northern farm?”

Yes, Director Shin nodded.

“He even promised to demand the farm from the Gye family and secure it for sure. I think he might have been killed because of that.”

“The Gye family still hasn’t come to their senses. What use is that farm if they die without guides? Ha, do they hate giving it to us so much they’d rather die?”

Ji Dong-hyeon mocked the Gye family and downed the glass of alcohol on the table.

“Squeeze out a lot of compensation money as per the contract. And make it clear there are no other Guides.”

He had no intention of giving out Guides even if the Gye family head got on his knees before the entire nation now. Not much time was left. If they managed the yes votes well and the bill passed, this thin ice would end. So the urgent task was to block the sudden variable that had emerged.

“What happened to Hong Eun-tae? Did you suppress the rumors about the Alpha Seed?”

“Hong Eun-tae seems to be still alive. The Hong family’s doctor went in at dawn and hasn’t come out yet. If she had died, there would be no reason to stay. The rumors about the Alpha Seed are still dangerous. We’re suppressing public opinion by creating other issues, but anxiety about the Alpha Seed is still flowing in the Esper community.”

Cowardly and stupid Esper bastards. Ji Dong-hyeon cursed the Espers and exploded in anger.

“How the hell did Hong Eun-tae end up like that?! Weren’t there many witnesses at the scene? You should have collected all the testimonies. Didn’t anything come up?”

“Most say similar things. There’s still a witness we haven’t taken testimony from, but, well, I think it might be similar.”

“Who told you to do the job like that?”

Ji Dong-hyeon rebuked Director Shin in a fierce tone and glared.

“Didn’t I tell you to hear every single testimony without exception?”

“But one person couldn’t be contacted.”

“One person? Who?”

“Ji Won-woo, your younger brother.”

Ji Dong-hyeon’s brow furrowed instantly. That bastard is involved again? First the Esper rampage incident, and now Won-woo is present when an Esper gets hurt. Something felt off, but on the other hand, it seemed unavoidable since Head Team 3 was involved. But of all people, why that bastard Won-woo…

Come to think of it, no family member had met Won-woo since he nearly died at the farm. Didn’t they say he wasn’t even coming to get his medicine? Ji Dong-hyeon didn’t ignore his bad feeling and picked up his phone. While doing so, he ordered Director Shin,

“Tell that bastard Seong-hyeon. Go find Won-woo again and make sure to give him the drug injection this time.”

While saying this, he searched through his contacts and dialed someone’s number. He had to check what was bothering him. Especially if it involved Won-woo.

People often compared Esper powers to waves, but for Gye Yoon, his power was truly an ocean. The endless power, with unknowable width and depth, was too vast. He had never drawn out even half of this power in his entire life. Because his ocean always had house-sized waves surging with raging typhoons. The waves, like a beast’s fangs, were always trying to swallow him.

Power that can’t be controlled is useless. It only brings pain. Even after receiving guiding for long hours as a child, this ocean had never completely calmed. Even after guiding, it always flowed and rippled, stabbing Gye Yoon’s insides and mind with tingling pain.

So Gye Yoon was always on edge and spoke to people like sharp thorns. But he didn’t know that this stinging pain of his childhood was actually the most peaceful period of his life.

After his parents passed away like that, only pain remained in Gye Yoon’s life. So when he suddenly felt dizzy and his strength drained away, he didn’t immediately realize the pain had disappeared.

He just tried to come to his senses in this unbelievable situation he was experiencing for the first time. Because his strength was draining away. So he resisted with his whole body to keep his power, but he couldn’t stop the power from flowing out. He must have gritted his teeth to try not to panic.

But soon his body realized first. Breathing became easier. He also realized that while his power was draining, it wasn’t fast enough to be alarming. Moreover, it wasn’t being taken away. It was just a feeling, but this power seemed like it would eventually return to him.

And the most important thing, the pain. The pain that had tormented him his whole life was disappearing along with the draining power. It was a natural result as the power that always raged, threatening to overwhelm him, drained away. So he even thought it might be okay to stay like this, without power. He had never once cared about the S rank that humans had assigned like a ranking.

When the vast ocean was completely emptied and only the solid glacier hidden beneath was revealed, his dizziness subsided. For a moment, Gye Yoon was entranced by the empty stillness.

Then he felt the power slowly returning. All his life, his power had been like water that couldn’t be grasped, but the power now filling him inside was different.

Still soft, but it started piling up in a solid form like jelly that could be held if carefully grasped.

For the first time in his life, Gye Yoon realized how satisfying his power could be. He felt elated to the point of madness, wanting to use this enormous power filling him without pain. This was similar to euphoria, making his heart race. He never dreamed that power without pain could be so breathtakingly satisfying. Gye Yoon opened his eyes, not knowing when he had closed them.

He saw the hand holding him. A hand smaller than his but with visible tendons and firmness. It wasn’t white or beautiful, but he couldn’t take his eyes off it.

His completely clear mind picked up the surrounding sounds distinctly even without using his power. He heard breathing. It was Won-woo’s slightly quickened breath, perhaps concentrating on firmly building up power inside Gye Yoon’s body.

That breath filled Gye Yoon’s insides as if it were the whole world. It was the first time he had ever felt so overwhelmed by someone’s breath, so desperate to hear it. Gye Yoon slowly raised his eyes and looked at the owner of the breath. Won-woo was expressionlessly looking down at his hand. Only then did a question follow.

“This isn’t guiding, is it?”

Won-woo glanced up as Gye Yoon’s low voice echoed. There was no emotion in the eyes that met his. Again, he couldn’t understand it, but Gye Yoon felt disappointed by his reaction. As he wondered why he was feeling this way, he heard a nonchalant voice.

“It’s not over. Keep your mouth shut.”

Won-woo’s gaze went back to their hands, but now Gye Yoon didn’t take his eyes off his face. One corner of Gye Yoon’s mouth twisted up without him realizing.

***

Despite Won-woo’s advice, Geon-young had no intention of accepting Han Seona as a team member. Regardless of whether her abilities were good or bad, he felt uncomfortable. No, her good abilities were the problem. A B-rank Esper being so skilled seemed like mocking Geon-young.

As if proving there was no need to use an Alpha Seed to become A-rank. So Geon-young couldn’t help but get angry at Seung-wook, even though they were close friends.

“Damn it, Hong Seung-wook, are you crazy?! Didn’t you say personnel authority is for HR and there’s no reason to interfere? You clearly said that before. So why did you talk about Han Seona to the higher-ups? And to our department at that?”

He confronted Seung-wook as soon as he saw him at the club they frequented. Seung-wook got up calmly despite Geon-young’s sudden appearance. Instead, he took Geon-young to a quieter place.

“I didn’t interfere. HR asked for an opinion, so I just talked. Did Han Seona go to your department?”

“Yeah, damn it, oh shit, I’m pissed off!”

As Geon-young threw a tantrum like a child, Seung-wook frowned.

“Why do you hate Han Seona so much? She’d be a good talent if the guiding issue is resolved.”

“If she’s such a good talent, why don’t you take her?”

“I wanted to. But I was rejected.”

Surprised by this, Geon-young turned to look at his friend.

“Why?”

“No matter how good her abilities are, they said they can’t put a mixed-blood in the main, let alone the core team.”

“Ha! But Head Team is fine? Damn, we’re working our asses off, but the Center treats Head Team like shit!”