DG Ch 9.1

09. Winter Joint Training Camp: Hallucinations

The Duodeca Field Team undergoes two months of intensive group training each year. This period focuses on team cohesion, practical application of skills, and physical conditioning. It’s a busy time for the Team Guides, as they’re constantly on call to support the team’s activities.

A total of 182 Team Guides participated in the Winter Joint Training Camp. Team Z alone had seven guides, including Taegyeong. The dedicated guide, Go Takjun, and the other Team Guides were significantly older than Taegyeong and possessed extensive field experience.

Despite this, they resented Taegyeong, a fresh-faced rookie, for monopolizing all the Guiding requests from the Espers. Their irritation stemmed from the fear of losing their own share of work and the possibility of Taegyeong usurping the dedicated guide position. The flood of Guiding calls made them seethe with resentment. The most significant grievance was that the Espers they were responsible for had started refusing their guidance ever since Taegyeong’s arrival.

“Taegyeong-ssi, could you help me clean the kitchen? Once you’re done, I’ll have you tidy up the bathroom and the shower.”

Go Takjun, the dedicated guide for Field Team Z, had been assigning Taegyeong all the chores since morning. While the other guides lounged in the living room watching TV, taking naps in massage chairs, or hogging the computers in the break room, Taegyeong was left with a scrub brush.

‘I’ll just do it. I don’t have anything else to do anyway.’

Taegyeong didn’t mind, even though he could sense they were subtly trying to isolate him.

He diligently cleaned the grimy sink, scrubbed the gas stove with a grating sound, and organized the messy refrigerator until everything was spotless.

Just as he was nearly finished cleaning, two Team Guides entered and started taking snacks out of the refrigerator one by one. Thanks to them, breadcrumbs scattered across the floor, and spilled milk soaked into the tablecloth and the fabric chairs.

“Oh no, we spilled it all. Taegyeong-ssi?”

“Yes, I’ll clean it up.”

Taegyeong soaked a rag in water and wrung it out thoroughly. In fact, he had been holding the rag since they spilled the milk.

Just as he finished neatly wiping up the white milk with the rag, orange juice began streaming down the back of his hand. The two immature Team Guides snickered and quickly retreated.

That was tolerable, but the public shower room, which even the Espers avoided, was left in such a mess it looked like someone had deliberately trashed it.

They’re going too far…

Taegyeong sat on the edge of the bathtub and let out a deep sigh. He didn’t mind doing chores, but seeing them huddled together, whispering among themselves, inevitably made him feel resentful.

Later that afternoon, the cleaner arrived. She cleaned the hallway, empty rooms, and bathrooms daily. Taegyeong only realized this after a week, which made him feel even more miserable. As usual, only the Esper could lift his spirits.

Espers returned to the dormitory before dinner. Half of them went straight to the showers, while three or four others sprawled out in the living room, claiming they hated crowds.

Seo Wooyeol approached Taegyeong, wiping sweat from his brow.

“What did you do today? Didn’t you get bored?”

“I cleaned the showers…”

“…Cleaned? Why would you clean?”

Seo Wooyeol’s voice was incredibly loud. Or perhaps it was because the living room had suddenly gone silent. Won Seungyu, who had been sprawled on the sofa, snapped his head up.

“Lee Taegyeong, you still have energy left in you, huh? You even have the energy to clean!”

“What the hell? We have a cleaner! Why are you doing this yourself?” Seo Wooyeol snapped.

Taegyeong shrank back like a snail pierced by a finger. Who would do this willingly? He’d only done it because the dedicated Guide ordered him to. He wanted to say all this, but he forced the words back down.

“…There wasn’t much to do. You saw the showers, right? Spotless, right?”

“So what? You’re fucking pissed off? So, you cleaned it all by yourself? Where’s the CCTV?”

At this, the Team Guides, who had been holding their breath, averted their eyes.

“We should go to the security office.”

At Won Seungyu’s words, Seo Wooyeol turned abruptly toward the entrance without looking back. Taegyeong hurried after him and grabbed his arm.

“Seo Wooyeol, wait a minute.”

“What? What is it?”

“Do we really need to check the CCTV? It’ll just show me cleaning endlessly.”

“Those bastards just stood there watching you clean up. How humiliating!”

“You’re being hypocritical, aren’t you? You treat me with such disrespect, yet you act like this now.”

“…What?”

“It’s no different from how you get treated by others. So, stop interfering in my affairs. You’ve never cared about me anyway. So, what if a worthless bastard like me cleans up here and there?”

Seo Wooyeol frowned at Taegyeong’s rapid-fire words. The handkerchief he was holding went limp and fell to the floor, mirroring the chillingly tense atmosphere.

Taegyeong took a step back, looking crestfallen. The memory of Seo Wooyeol calling him a “worthless bastard” five years ago suddenly resurfaced, stirring his emotions. Seo Wooyeol’s expression was unnerving. The distorted energy around him seemed ready to consume everything in its path.

‘Ah, you want to save someone? Stop making such lame excuses. You said you were sick of it, right? Then you should have quit long ago. You enjoyed it too, didn’t you?’

‘You’re just like a prostitute. Why aren’t you crying?’

Looking back, Seo Wooyeol had bullied Taegyeong even more severely than the Team Guide five years ago, making it impossible for Taegyeong to continue working at the company. The past Taegyeong, subjected to all sorts of humiliation, had gradually resigned himself to his fate.

‘Nothing’s different this time.’

‘In the end, he’ll just slap me again or give me a thorough spanking. He’ll probably fire me and ruin my career as a Guide for life. Is that what you want?’ Taegyeong thought bitterly.

Yet, he heard unexpected words:

“I was worried about you…”

“Huh?“

“…I was worried you’d get killed guiding at a site. So, I wanted you to fail to adapt to this company and get fired. I wanted you to be completely broken, never able to guide again. Are you satisfied now?”

“…..”

Taegyeong was utterly flustered, his mouth agape at the unexpected response.

“You think I didn’t care about you? Right. I have no intention of ever stopping tormenting you and acting like this until you quit this company.”

“…..”

‘Does that mean I’ll be tormented by Seo Wooyeol for a lifetime? Taegyeong thought, his heart pounding fiercely. Undergoing sex guiding that’s no different from before in every way.’

“If you understand, strip now and spread your legs. I’ll show you what guiding is all about.”

Just then, someone knocked on the wall. It was Team Leader Choi Yoonmin, his face bored and eyes weary as he glanced between Taegyeong and Seo Wooyeol.

“I know your compatibility rating is the highest, you two. Sorry to interrupt your serious conversation, but this is urgent. Guide?”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“Have you ever talked to Esper Kwon Jingyu? He’s not in great shape this morning. He’ll probably notify us soon.”

As if on cue, a notification chimed eerily. Taegyeong checked the location and count, then glanced at Seo Wooyeol. The latter wore an annoyed expression.

“You’re going to that bastard?”

“Yeah. He summoned me.”

“Sigh… Then finish the Guiding within an hour and come to my room. You know what happens if you don’t show up.”

Seo Wooyeol shot Taegyeong a weary look before walking past. He merely tapped Taegyeong on the shoulder, but Taegyeong felt a pang in his heart.

‘What should I do?’

If Ryu Ilho was Trash #1, then Kwon Jingyu was Trash #3. He was second only to Seo Wooyeol in terms of how difficult he was to guide. This ranking had been established when the 22-year-old Taegyeong first Guided Espers from the Field Team Z. The ranking was based on how brutally they engaged in Sex Guiding and how much they tormented their bodies.

So, having to guide Kwon Jingyu while exhausted and unwell was particularly frustrating. Was there no one who could help? If two people guided him, at least they wouldn’t get hit.

But when Taegyeong glanced around the living room, the Team Guides were staring at the TV as if it wasn’t their job. Go Takjun sighed in relief, as if glad it wasn’t him, and focused on his laptop.

Right. I understand. Kwon Jingyu was the number one person everyone avoided guiding. The fact that the Team Guides had given this task to a newbie like Taegyeong meant that Taegyeong wasn’t welcome on Field Team Z.

The feeling of being alone and unwanted was disheartening. It hadn’t even been a month yet—was this normal? If he could change anything… Taegyeong clenched his fist and headed toward Kwon Jingyu’s room.

After a couple of knocks, a voice called out, “Come in.”

“Hello. I’m Lee Taegyeong, the new Team Guide.”

“Come in. You got here quickly,” Kwon Jingyu replied in a smooth voice. Dressed in a bathrobe and lounging on the sofa, he exuded the arrogance and confidence expected of a skilled Esper.

Kwon Jingyu, 29 years old, was an Esper destined to become the overall leader of the Duodeca Field Team in five years. Having accompanied his parents to numerous sites since childhood, he had extensive field experience and served as the vice-captain of Field Team Z, second only to Team Leader Choi Yoonmin in leading and managing the team.

“Why do you look so tired?”

“…Ah, I’m a bit fatigued.”

“Aha, then get out.”

“It’s fine. I’ll handle the Guiding.”

“Didn’t you hear me tell you to get out?”

Kwon Jingyu raised an eyebrow and glared sharply. He then let out a hollow laugh.

“I heard you were good for a newbie, so I trusted the Team Leader and called you. Now you’re tired? Don’t you just not want to do the job properly?”

“I’m sorry. I thought I should answer honestly. I’m not that tired. I’ll start guiding right away. Can you just give me this one chance?”

“I won’t accept it. Now get out. And when you’re out there, call the dedicated guide.”

Kwon Jingyu squeezed his eyes shut, perhaps exhausted. If Taegyeong left now, there would be chaos outside. The other guides would be buzzing about whether he’d gone or stayed.

Taegyeong shook his head and took a step forward.

“The weather was clear yesterday, but today it’s overcast, Esper Kwon Jingyu.”

“…What sudden nonsense are you spouting?”

“The energy within your body is like unpredictable weather. You received Qi Guiding from Guide Go Takjun just yesterday, and today your ability hasn’t exceeded the established threshold. If you continue regular Qi Guiding, that is. But do you know why your count is two points higher today?”

“I know perfectly well… Tell me what you think, Guide.”

“It’s due to impurities. Impurities that weren’t completely removed have accumulated in your body, creating this overcast condition. And I can remove those impurities all at once.”

“Aha, so you’re confident, are you? Then shall we proceed with Sex Guiding?”

“If that’s what you wish.”

“Hmm. My condition is a bit poor right now. Let’s just have sex.”

Taegyeong swallowed hard. He had a feeling he might be stuck in this room all day.

‘Seo Wooyeol, you’ll have to wait for me.’

Taegyeong instinctively stepped back. Could he still refuse even now? Kwon Jingyu’s eyes were bloodshot. With each passing second, his rationality eroded, and he had a tendency to charge forward like a savage beast.

Perhaps displeased by Taegyeong’s brief hesitation, Kwon Jingyu grabbed his arm, yanked him toward the table, and slammed him down. Crash! Taegyeong curled up from the impact, his eyes widening in shock. Kwon Jingyu pinned his wrist down and began gnawing at the back of his neck as if he might tear it off.

“Hmph―!“

Taegyeong’s pupils narrowed. His mouth slowly opened as he barely managed to swallow his gasp. A surge of energy abruptly drained from his body.

“Huff, ha.”

Kwon Jingyu panted heavily, biting and sucking on Taegyeong’s neck, earlobes, and shoulders. His crisp white shirt tore, buttons flying across the room. Kwon Jingyu caressed Taegyeong’s smooth waist, gripped his hips, and brushed his lips across his skin.

“Huh, ah…“

Kwon Jingyu’s strong arms lifted Taegyeong effortlessly. Fighting back a retching sensation, Taegyeong bowed his head low, feeling as if every organ in his body was about to burst out of his mouth.

Just as Taegyeong barely managed to suppress the energy surging within him, Kwon Jingyu gripped his throat, preventing him from controlling it.

“Ugh!“

“I’ll handle this myself, so just stay still, Guide.”

“Hah, mmmph.“

Taegyeong tilted his head back. The moment he grabbed Kwon Jingyu’s wrist, his entire body went weak, and his vision blurred.

‘Taegyeong-ssi, what about that car over there? Didn’t you say you wanted to try it?’

At that moment, Kwon Jingyu’s voice, calling out affectionately as he handed over the keys to a shiny new car, echoed in his mind.

Gathering his fading consciousness, Taegyeong stared at the wavering ceiling above him. Kwon Jingyu had buried his head against Taegyeong’s chest, hungrily biting and pulling at his firm nipples as he ravaged his body with abandon.

Taegyeong trembled violently and whimpered. The gentle smile on Kwon Jingyu’s face blurred before his eyes.

‘Dinner? Should we go somewhere nice just the two of us? It’s been a while since we’ve had a good meal together.’

“You’ve worked hard. I have plenty of time. I’ll take you home again.”

“I won’t do it if you don’t want me to. Never.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”