IDSEGI Chapter 107

Chapter 107

After half-threatening two Center Directors to get access clearance, Ihan returned to Zone 5—but instead of going to Yeoul, he headed for Eunha.

“I heard you’re a capable researcher. Mind if I ask you something?”

Eunha looked at Ihan standing in front of him with a reluctant expression.

What’s with him?

He barged into the lab all of a sudden, asking politely with a gentle face—it was strange. Especially after throwing him out of the house. Just remembering that made Eunha’s blood boil.

“I’m a bit busy.”

Ihan gave him a bright smile.

“That busy? If it’s too much, just say so. I’ll let you take a break.”

Eunha flinched. It felt like the words “forever” were missing from “take a break.”

“What’s your question?”

“It’s nothing much. Is it possible for an Imprint to happen naturally, by coincidence? Without any contact?”

“What? No, impossible.”

Eunha denied it right away. It was an idea that made no sense in his understanding. What is this? Some kind of ‘what if’ game? Remembering that Yeoul had said something similar before, he tilted his head. Maybe this was some new trend he didn’t know about.

But Ihan didn’t stop and pressed on.

“If it were possible, what do you think the cause would be?”

As a researcher, he didn’t dislike being asked questions, so Eunha answered sincerely.

“That’s a case that’s never happened before, so it would require investigation. Right now, it’s hard to say.”

Ihan frowned slightly, deep in thought. Eunha glanced at him, once again struck by his looks. His personality was trash, but his face really was the best. He shone so much, it almost made Eunha regret leaving his fan café.

While Eunha was staring blankly at his face, Ihan spoke.

“I Imprinted with Yeoul. I don’t know how, but it happened naturally.”

“You and our Yeoul Imprinted?”

As Eunha rolled his eyes in shock, Ihan frowned, displeased.

“Our Yeoul?”

So it was the way he called him. Eunha quickly corrected himself to save his skin.

“…Y-Yeoul.”

“… …”

“So you naturally Imprinted with Guide Han Yeoul?”

At that, Ihan smiled again and nodded.

“Yes. Can you figure out why?”

“On my own, it’d be difficult. I’d need a research team.”

“For now, investigate alone. I’ll get you a team in about two months.”

“Why two months?”

If what Ihan said was true, they should start investigating right away—so why wait two months? Instead of answering, Ihan murmured quietly.

“I promised to wait a little. I’m a dog who listens well to my master.”

Ihan smiled at Eunha again.

“Tell me whatever you need. I’ll support you. I’ll even pay you double your current allowance.”

At the mention of double pay, Eunha answered quickly.

“I’ll do it.”

It was a capitalist society. Money was precious.

“First, let’s check the match rate between Yeoul and Esper Yoo Ihan.”

When Ihan’s expression chilled, Eunha realized his slip and corrected himself quickly.

“Let’s first test the match rate between Guide Han Yeoul and Esper Yoo Ihan.”

Ihan’s expression relaxed again. What a hard man to please. Maybe leaving that fan café was the right decision after all.

“Let’s do that in two months as well. For now, list possible explanations.”

“Then first, tell me if there were any changes before and after the Imprint.”

“I developed a rejection response to being Guided by any Guide except Yeoul.”

“A rejection response? Why would… Well, alright. Anything else? Even small things.”

Frowning slightly, Ihan searched his memory. Nothing much came to mind.

“The only other thing is… if I had to say it, I feel like my efficiency when using my ability has gone up compared to before. I’ve only felt it once or twice though, since I haven’t had to use my power much lately.”

Eunha hummed and scratched his temple with his pen.

“That’s vague. Efficiency can change depending on stamina or condition. But I’ll keep it in mind.”

Ihan and Eunha discussed various points and conditions. After about an hour, Ihan stood up to go to Yeoul. Before leaving, he looked back at Eunha and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Oh, I heard you’re close to Yeoul? Keep your distance from now on. And speak well of me. You’ll do that without me asking, right?”

While keeping his hand on Eunha’s shoulder, Ihan leaned in close to his ear and whispered.

“Let’s both stay polite from now on. Keep within the lines. Okay?”

The curve of Ihan’s eyes was beautifully soft, but his gaze was cold. Eunha shivered and felt a chill down his back, worrying for Yeoul.

Why did Yeoul have to get targeted by someone like him?

If I’d known it would be like this, I would’ve confessed at least once. Eunha cursed his past self for always holding back, thinking there was no chance.

* * *

Most Espers expected that Yoon Geon and Ihan would clash if they stayed in the same zone. But surprisingly, both of them remained quiet.

The most unexpected was Ihan. He avoided being in the same place as Yoon Geon and didn’t interfere when Yeoul Guided him.

The current peace in Zone 5 existed thanks to Han Yeoul’s efforts in holding the leash and taming Yoo Ihan, the wild troublemaker.

When Yeoul saw Yushin dragging himself in at 2:30 a.m. after picking up a nearly dead-looking Ihan, he made Ihan a suggestion.

“I’ll spend the evenings with you, so during the day, stay in Zone 1.”

Ihan agreed to Yeoul’s request. He wanted to have Yeoul during the day too, but he had some sense. If he pushed too hard, Yeoul might get fed up and distance himself. So Ihan followed Yeoul’s words.

No fighting with Yoon Geon, only coming in the evening. He diligently kept the two rules Yeoul had set.

As the days edged closer to early spring, Ihan spent his evenings with Yeoul.

They didn’t spend the night together—just shared dinner.

Of course, Yoo Ihan made passes at Yeoul every single day.

“These days, the streets at night feel dangerous. I’ll walk you home.”

But instead of taking him straight home, he would wander in circles, dragging Yeoul around late into the night.

If Yeoul showed signs of fatigue, Ihan would lean in and whisper suggestively into his ear.

“Want to take a little break?”

Take a break, my foot.

He’d pull over in some secluded spot, coaxing him to “rest” there.

Yeoul put in serious effort to resist, pinching his thigh so hard he ended up with bruises.

His methods of seduction were varied.

One day, he claimed he was sick and asked Yeoul to visit, only to say he was lovesick.

Another time, he said his eyesight was worsening and asked Yeoul to go to the eye clinic with him—only for it to turn out to be a hotel next to the clinic.

Another time, he said there was a great restaurant, but it was on a remote island where the last ferry conveniently stopped running, and there was “coincidentally” only one room available.

But Yeoul handled each situation well.

They were tricks Ihan had already used in the past, so he knew how to deal with them.

It wasn’t hard to respond—except that seeing Ihan looking sulky tugged at his heart, and he would often feel tempted to give in.

Each time, he had to remind himself: Not yet. It’s not time yet.

Today, he wondered what trick Ihan would try.

It was also exactly one day before the second month since their Imprint.

Then Ihan brought up something Yeoul hadn’t expected at all.

“A match rate test?”

When Yeoul repeated the words in surprise, Ihan nodded calmly.

“Yeah. I think we should know how we Imprinted. I’ve already given Researcher Kim Eunha a heads-up. We could probably get the match rate test done tomorrow.”

Yeoul had been so focused on the drop in their match rate that he hadn’t thought about it, but now that he considered it, of course Ihan would be curious about why they had Imprinted.

The fact that Ihan had silently waited two whole months before bringing it up felt both admirable and grateful.

Ihan continued, as if to persuade him.

“Imprinting naturally without any procedure is romantic and all, but it could also mean there’s some kind of problem.”

It was perfect timing.

Rather than testing if hand-guiding still worked, it was better to check with clear numbers whether the match rate had dropped.

“Alright, fine.”

“Tomorrow’s the two-month mark. You know that, right?”

“…Yeah. I know.”

“Tomorrow, I’m going to get your answer.”

Placing his hand over Yeoul’s, Ihan squeezed gently.

The pressure felt like there was no way out now.

Lowering his gaze slightly, Yeoul murmured.

“Tomorrow, you’ll find out.”

Whether I have to die, or live and face it together.

If dying would resolve everything, maybe that would be better.

Yeoul found himself thinking such a foolish thing.

Then Ihan looked at him with moist, pleading eyes and asked earnestly.

“I’ve been holding back so well… shouldn’t I get a reward?”

“A reward?”

“Yeah.”

“What do you want?”

Ihan pulled Yeoul by the waist, leaning his face in close.

Stopping just short of his lips, Ihan spoke.

“Let’s go on a date.”