IDESGI Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Yushin’s gaze wavered. He didn’t immediately understand what Geon had just said.

“Guide Han Yeoul is going to die?”

“To be exact, he might die.”

“Terminal…? Is that what you mean?”

That couldn’t be it. Ihan had made Yeoul undergo every test possible, but no illness had been found. Geon continued, speaking toward the bewildered Yushin.

“There’s not much time. Do you really not know where Yoo Ihan is?”

“What is it exactly…? Is it some kind of illness modern medicine can’t cure?”

At Yushin’s words, Geon exhaled as if sighing.

“It would be difficult to solve with modern technology.”

“Please explain in detail what’s going on!”

“Before that.”

Geon’s tone turned even colder.

“Where is Yoo Ihan?”

Yushin’s hand twitched. It was as if Geon already knew something. Had he been following him? No, that was impossible. Yushin was a spatial-type Esper. How could anyone track an Esper who could teleport?

Yushin decided to feign ignorance to the end. For all he knew, this could be a trap. It was too risky to reveal Ihan’s whereabouts based solely on Geon’s words.

“I really don’t know. I’m frustrated too.”

“Is that so.”

With a short reply, Geon moved past Yushin and opened the door. Yushin hurriedly grabbed him. Geon frowned in displeasure and pushed Yushin’s hand away.

“If you don’t know where Yoo Ihan is, then there’s nothing more to discuss.”

“Tell me. What do you mean, Guide Han Yeoul is going to die?”

“Do I have any reason to tell you?”

At Geon’s icy attitude, Yushin sighed and roughly ruffled his own hair. Then, as if deciding to just say it, he spoke.

“I don’t know exactly where Ihan is, but I have a pretty good guess.”

In truth, he did know the exact location, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell Geon everything, not when he couldn’t fully trust him. No sooner had Yushin finished speaking than Geon grabbed his arm tightly.

“Where is it?”

The arm was held firmly in place, but Yushin could feel a faint tremor in Geon’s grip. It was surprising to see the usually composed and cool-headed Geon so unsettled.

“Tell me first. My answer comes after that.”

Realizing that Yushin wouldn’t back down, Geon released him. Then, in a low voice, he began.

“What I’m about to tell you will be hard to believe.”

* * *

Hard to believe, he had said, but the story Geon told was pure absurdity.

‘What kind of nonsense is this?’

Regression? Match rate dropping? Yushin’s eyes wavered with confusion at the incomprehensible tale.

“No, what are you talking about? How does that make sense? You’re saying the match rate dropped even after imprinting? Fine, let’s say that’s possible. But time turning back? Regression? What is this, a movie…?”

Yushin raised his voice toward Geon, who stood there silently without answering, clearly frustrated.

“Esper Yoon Geon! Say something. Does that sound like it makes any sense to you?”

“Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But it’s true that Han Yeoul said it himself.”

Just then, Geon’s body tilted slightly to the side. Yushin reached out to steady him, but Geon quickly regained his composure and stood upright again.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Only then did Yushin really take in his appearance. No matter how much his good looks couldn’t be hidden, the bluish darkness under his eyes made him look utterly exhausted.

“Did you get any sleep?”

“That’s none of your concern. Now, answer me.”

Is worrying too much also a trait of S-Class Espers? Yushin ruffled his hair in irritation and looked up at him with a conflicted expression.

“You expect me to believe that kind of story right now? It’s like something out of a fantasy novel.”

“What does it matter whether it’s true or not?”

In his shadowed, sunken gaze, there was a trace of concern.

“The problem is that Han Yeoul believes it, and that’s why he’s trying to die.”

He wasn’t wrong. If that was why Han Yeoul was pushing Ihan away, then all the pieces fit together.

Still… regression?

It was the sort of thing that only appeared in novels. It felt far more realistic to think that Han Yeoul was suffering from some sort of delusion rather than believing his words were true.

But something about it didn’t sit right. There was a nagging feeling deep inside.

What if it really was true?

If it was, then Ihan would not hesitate to die for Han Yeoul.

Yushin believed Ihan would never abandon Zone 1, but he also knew too well that nothing was more important to Ihan than Han Yeoul. Even if it was Ihan’s own life.

“Now tell me. Where is Yoo Ihan?”

Despite the exhaustion in him, Geon’s eyes glinted sharply. Yushin hesitated for a moment before finally confessing.

“…He’s probably outside the zone. So he can’t be easily tracked. I don’t know the exact location. All I know is… it might not be far from Zone 1.”

It was only a small hint, but Geon seemed to have guessed something from it. After a brief moment of thought, he bolted out the door.

Yushin sat weakly on the edge of the desk. A low voice slipped out of him like a groan.

“Regression…”

It was unbelievable, but if it was true, then right now Guide Han Yeoul wasn’t the main concern. Ihan’s life was in immediate danger. Because if Ihan found out Yeoul intended to die, there was no way he would just stand by.

“If there was at least something to be sure about…”

At that moment, Yushin’s wireless pager began to vibrate. Ihan had given it to him as a means of contact because using the watch would alert headquarters.

“It hasn’t been long since I was there. Why’s he calling already?”

Had something happened to Yeoul again?

“Maybe this is a good thing.”

He would have to see Han Yeoul and ask him directly.

If Yeoul could produce proof that he had regressed, then…

Clutching the small, square pager tightly, Yushin tore through the air and vanished.

* * *

After S-Class healing Esper Roden Tace had visited, Yeoul’s pale complexion returned to normal. Ihan simply watched him sleep soundly, afraid to wake him.

If only you had lost your memories.

Then I could pretend not to know and start over. Slowly consume you and make you entirely mine.

A dry laugh slipped out at his own thoughts. Here Yeoul was, lying sick in bed, and he was thinking things like this. It disgusted him.

“Yeoul, I just… I only wanted to be happy with you.”

That was the only thing he had ever wished for. But with Yeoul suffering this much, how long could he keep holding onto him?

Would calling Han Hyunho really fix everything? Just like last time, Yeoul could lie again, saying Hyunho’s ability didn’t work and that he liked Geon instead.

It was natural for Ihan to doubt Han Hyunho’s ability before doubting Yeoul’s feelings. He could tell Yeoul’s love was still there just from receiving his guiding.

Just from receiving his guiding…

Unease began to consume him whole. What if it wasn’t? What if Yeoul gave him guiding and the emotions he felt were different from before?

What if Yeoul really didn’t… love him anymore?

Ihan took Yeoul’s small, limp hand in his own. Had he unconsciously gripped it too tightly? Yeoul’s eyelids twitched. Ihan quickly checked his expression and spoke urgently.

“Yeoul, you’re awake?”

Yeoul ignored him and sat up. He looked down at his uninjured, clean hands and muttered bitterly.

“Perfectly fine.”

“It doesn’t hurt, right? I called a healing Esper. You should be all better now.”

Yeoul stared at Ihan. Ihan had always been happy to receive that gaze, but this time, he was afraid to meet it.

What if your feelings have changed—what am I supposed to do then?

If Yeoul was truly unhappy because of him… If being by his side had become a burden because he no longer loved him…

Even so, he couldn’t let him go.

“Yeoul, will you guide me?”

Ihan lowered his head as he pleaded. His voice trembled faintly.

Part of him hoped Yeoul would refuse. That way, he could keep believing—without knowing the truth—that Yeoul still loved him.

But Yeoul crushed that hope and agreed without hesitation.

“Come here.”

Despite asking first, Ihan only hesitated and couldn’t approach.

He had never refused Yeoul’s guiding before. No—he had never refused Han Yeoul anything. If Yeoul told him to pluck a star from the sky, Yoo Ihan would find a way to do it.

But this time, he couldn’t obey. Ihan forced himself to turn away and change the subject.

“Now that I think about it, you must be hungry. I’ll make you some porridge.”

“You said you wanted guiding.”

“No… I thought about it, and my stats are still fine. I think I can go without it.”

“You went out earlier. Your overdrive must have risen, so take it while you can.”

Avoiding Yeoul’s eyes, he babbled on.

“No, I’m fine, really. Guiding takes energy too, right? You’re sick—I shouldn’t have said that. Oh, should I go to Napoleon Bakery? You like their red bean cream bread. I’ll run and get some.”

Yeoul called to him softly.

“Ihan.”

“I’ll be back. Get some rest.”

Just as Ihan turned away, Yeoul grabbed his arm and pressed his lips to his. Ihan had wanted to push him away, but it was Yeoul. How could Yoo Ihan push away Han Yeoul?

A faint stream of guiding energy flowed into him—weak, inefficient, like receiving guiding from a low match rate Guide.