DP Episode 10

Deep Pivot Episode 10

In a small assembly hall that could accommodate dozens of people, only about ten guides were present, standing in rows. Some were wearing logo-printed T-shirts that seemed to have been issued at the training camp.

Most of them were those who had been selected during training but had not completed a proper education process, so the distinctive military aura of rookies still shone brightly.

“Nice to meet you all. I am Jin Chung-oh, who will be in charge of your education.”

There was no one among them who didn’t know Jin Chung-oh. He was an S-rank guide, known for healing any Esper he touched, and the team leader of the oldest SAU (Special Ability Unit) currently in existence.

The name ‘Jin Chung-oh’ served as the standard and aspiration for all guide training. From the moment they entered the training camp, the guides naturally envious of him. The individuals gathered here now were the proud rookies who would stand shoulder to shoulder with him in the SAU in the future.

… However.

“What’s with that guy?”

“I don’t know…”

Their eyes, once filled with pride and arrogance, occasionally shifted backward.

A height close to 2 meters. White skin matched with equally white hair. Was he a former idol? Was it dyed, or was it a manifestation symptom of a guide? The man’s untamed white hair complemented his appearance flawlessly.

However, despite his overwhelming physique, his face was rather unsightly. It was even more so due to his slightly embarrassed cheeks. His gentle features seemed lost, wandering around aimlessly.

But what caught the attention of the new recruits wasn’t just his pretty face or tall stature.

“Look at his shoulders. It’s no joke, bulked up.”

“Looking like that, what could his 3 possibly be? He’d just do 400 though..”

They maintained their positions, standing to attention while whispering among themselves, keeping as quiet as possible. They had assumed he was at least a senior member of the SAU when he entered arm in arm with Jin Chung-oh. However, their curiosity quickly turned into discomfort when he stood in line with them.

“Why did the newbie come with the team leader?”

“Has anyone seen him at the training camp?”

“Just look at him, he’s a parachute, isn’t he? Didn’t you see the honey dripping from the team leader’s eyes earlier?”
[TL/N: parachute aka someone who got in through connections (parachuted into the position, if you will lol)]

“Being late on the first day and messing around with the team leader, that’s quite a feat.”

Suddenly, a loud bell rang out. The newly recruited members, who had straightened their slightly bent waists, all turned towards the podium. The owner of the bell sound showed no signs of confusion whatsoever. Jin Chung-oh, who had just turned his silent phone upside down, spoke leisurely.

“Those who spent the shortest time at the training camp, hands up.”

Someone in the front row raised their hand. How long? Jin Chung-oh asked, and the man replied.

“I was discharged on the 63rd day.”

“Well, then, you must have received some basic education. One question.”

Jin Chung-oh, stepped down from the podium and casually strolled in front of the lined-up recruits and asked

“The best aspect of the physical changes that occur with guide awakening.”

Someone raised their hand suddenly. Jin Chung-oh nodded towards him.

“Athletic ability improves, and basic strength increases.”

“Well, that’s good too. But that’s not the answer I’m looking for.”

The members hesitated, not readily raising their hands, but instead exchanging glances with each other.

“Okay, let’s be honest, shall we?”

At the end of the row, Jin Chung-oh turned his body and spoke.

“The purpose of guides is to heal Espers. When we hit the jackpot, no, let me put it politely, when we enter the pairing phase.”
[TL/N: …have sex 😭]

Faint laughter echoed from all around. Jin Chung-oh also spoke with a smiling face.

“The greater the pleasure Espers feel, the higher the healing effect. Therefore, the guide’s body also evolves accordingly. How?”

Someone raised their hand with a mischievous look on their face.

“The aphrodisiac component is expelled along with bodily fluids.”

Jin Chung-oh snapped his fingers and stopped in the middle.

“That’s it. The aphrodisiac component detected in the guide’s bodily fluids affects not only Espers but also humans. In other words, it means that you can give your partners outside there a very ecstatic night.”

After a brief pause, the next question followed.

“Surely, someone here has already had a good time with their partner. Hands?”

A faint laughter circulated among them. When one of them, who had been only glancing around with their eyes, raised their hand, more than half of the group quickly followed suit.

“You guys really got lucky.”

Everyone burst into laughter except Yeon-woo. Someone intervened as the atmosphere relaxed.

“So, what happens if guides pair up with each other?”

“It seems like our friend here only trained at the training camp.”

There was even louder laughter at Cheong-oh’s response. Seeing some tension easing among the people, Cheong-oh looked around the new recruits with a friendly attitude.

“Induction ceremonies, rookie training. Nothing special. “Training for a hundred days feels worse than experiencing one real scenario. Since I’ve confirmed how lucky you guys who will roll with us in the SAU are, that’s enough..”

Laughter erupted again here and there.

“If you have any questions, ask now.”

Amidst the fading laughter, a strange tension emerged. The gaze of the members flickered back again. Someone raised their hand.

“I’ve heard that SAU selects only the best talents as a specialized gate processing unit.”

Cheong-oh, casting his gaze towards the one who raised the question, raised his eyebrows as if urging him to continue speaking.

“Do they allow parachutes in such places?”

“Parachutes? Who?”

“The newbie who came in with the team leader.”

The atmosphere, which had been somewhat relaxed, tightened again. The member who spoke didn’t hesitate and continued boldly.

“From the first day, you openly give special treatment, but for us who has been selected based on skill…”

Pfft, Cheong-oh’s laughter cut him off. He laughed leisurely and walked towards the back of the line.

“This isn’t a parachute; it’s Cha Yeon-woo.”

Cheong-oh, casually draping his arm over Yeon-woo’s shoulder, spoke with an intimate tone.

“He’s our baby.”

Baby… Baby, what? The hall was abuzz in an instant.. Baby? Whose baby? Didn’t he really say baby?… The man introduced, as baby, lowered his head deeply and covered his face. But he couldn’t hide his bright red neck and forehead that had flushed crimson.

“From now on, you should think of our Yeon-woo as your baby and take good care of him.”

Baby, indeed… Insane. Someone muttered under their breath. The person who had asked a question a moment ago furrowed their brow and asked.

“So… what’s the difference between that and a parachute?”

At his question, Jin Chung-oh laughed silently. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth with the same smiling face.

“Other teams have the same number of guides as Esper personnel. If there are ten Espers, then there are also ten guides.”

It wasn’t an answer to the question.

“But our team? We have many more guides. Even if all of you cling onto one of our special Espers and work like dogs going back and forth, it still wouldn’t be enough.”

Jin Chung-oh locked eyes with each of the guides.

“In other words, most of you will become surplus manpower in the field. What’s surplus manpower? To put it in sports terms, you’re benchwarmers. To put it bluntly.”

Having reached the end of the row, he turned back again.

“A spare shield that we wouldn’t mind using once and breaking.”

After his words, a thick silence descended as if pouring cold water. In the silence where not even a breath could be heard, Jin Chung-oh walked calmly among them alone.

“It might be unpleasant to hear, but this is what a spare shield is. Imagine one day when you, who have been happily goofing off while sucking up the honey provided by the country, suddenly face an emergency. You’ll step foot onto the gate scene, which your seniors often frequent, for the very first time.”

Jin Chung-oh stood in front of someone and asked. The man with lowered eyes didn’t respond. Not seeming to expect an answer, Jin Chung-oh continued speaking.

“There’s a high chance you’ll either kill someone or die yourself.”

“…”

“Even if you become human shields and provide nutrients to the creatures outside, our team won’t suffer much. After all, if the newbies mess up, we can just recruit new ones.”

The faces of the lined-up members gradually stiffened.

“But Cha Yeon-woo is different. He’s irreplaceable. To put it in metaphorical terms, he’s like a Ducati Superleggera. A guide of special limited edition caliber.”
TL/N: its a motor bike??

A Ducati, what…? What are you saying? Quiet down, kid… It was unclear whether Jin Chung-oh was joking or serious because he was laughing. One thing was for sure, his words left a significant mark on the pride of the new recruits.

“It means he’s a precious baby that we would trade for any of you for.”

Thunk. Stopping his steps and turning around, he pierced the newly recruited member right in front of him with a sharp gaze.

“Alright, a question then. What’s the easiest and safest way for you surplus manpower to pull your weight?”

It was the member who had asked the initial question. Gradually, all traces of amusement had vanished from Jin Chung-oh’s face.

“Don’t overestimate your abilities and interfere for no reason and create shitty situations. Just take good care of Cha Yeon-woo from the rear, and you’ll have done half the job. That’s what I’m saying.”

“…”

“Any more questions?”