IGWKE Episode 33

Episode 33

The joy of influencing someone’s body and mind, healing them through mere touch, was one of the greatest rewards of being a guide. If, in the process, he could also find solace himself, it was even better. Yoon-ui twirled a strand of Heon-ju’s hair around his finger, then let it go, repeating the motion as if it were a playful habit. Every time, he noticed not just the flicker of Heon-ju’s eyelashes but also the subtle tension in his shoulders.

‘Ah, still adorable.’

Part of him wanted to linger a bit longer, find comfort in the physical connection. But it wouldn’t do for an adult to indulge in such childish whims. With a faint sigh, Yoon-ui pulled his hand back, brushing Heon-ju’s tousled hair into place.

“You’ve got a lot of hair.”

“Would a perm look good on me?”

“At least you won’t have to worry about going bald.”

“Speaking of which, I overheard the operations manager asking Manager Im if guiding could cure hair loss.”

As usual, everyone spoke their own thoughts, yet the conversation flowed seamlessly. Taking the opportunity, Yoon-ui naturally stepped back, creating some distance between himself and Heon-ju, and leaned against Jung-woo’s desk.

The topic shifted from the medical benefits of guiding to the physical attributes of newly manifested Espers. This was Woo-joo’s favorite subject—anything involving Esper data. Usually calm and collected, Woo-joo’s voice grew lively as he delved into the subject.

“Middle schoolers these days are so well-developed. Heon-ju, you’ve seen tall kids at the training facility, right? Feels like all of them are taller than Jung-woo.”

Though suddenly dragged into the discussion, Jung-woo took the blow gracefully, nodding with a neutral expression.

“Yeah, I didn’t eat much growing up, so my height kind of stopped halfway.”

“Wow, Jung-woo’s savage,” Woo-joo stammered, flustered by the unexpected self-deprecating humor.

“Ah, sorry! I didn’t mean to offend—”

Seeing Woo-joo flail apologetically, Jung-woo smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction. His mischievous expression drew a genuine laugh from Yoon-ui.

“You’ve been hanging out with me for too long.”

“Yeah, I picked up all the bad habits.”

“You’re tainted.”

Shaking his head, Yoon-ui chuckled. Jung-woo really had absorbed his bad humor, his disdain for ambition, and his knack for being overlooked in their shared field.

Even the excessive scolding from Espers whenever Jung-woo delivered last-call instructions likely stemmed from his influence. If he wanted to help his junior one last time, the answer was clear: distance himself.

‘I have to quit. It’s the best solution for everyone.’

Resolving himself once more, Yoon-ui turned to Heon-ju.

“Let’s use the time before your next training to go over some guiding techniques.”

There was still work to be done before he left. As much as he disliked the Espers, and as much as he loathed Manager Park, he couldn’t abandon Heon-ju in his formative training stage out of petty emotions.

Grabbing Heon-ju by the hand, he led him to the break room.

“We’re training here?”

“Yeah, sit down. It’s nothing fancy.”

“Got it.”

Heon-ju pulled up a chair, sitting close enough that their knees almost touched. As he settled in, the area beneath his collar began to blush faintly. His fair complexion made every little shift in blood flow visible. A few gentle words or a light touch, and the red patches seemed to spread.

“Give me your hand.”

As their hands met, warmth radiated from the tips of Yoon-ui’s fingers down to the back of Heon-ju’s hand. Yoon-ui spoke calmly, guiding him step by step.

“Focus on the sensation. Try to quantify the feeling as if you were measuring it.”

Initially, Heon-ju struggled to concentrate, but as he adjusted, the redness in his ears began to fade. His breathing steadied, and his ability to absorb the guiding energy improved, as if layer upon layer was being carefully built up.

Seeing Heon-ju’s focus deepen, Yoon-ui shifted his own attention inward, ensuring the guiding flow was smooth and consistent. His voice remained low and steady, deliberately monotonous to avoid distracting Heon-ju further.

And for a moment, the world outside that room seemed to fade away.

“This is the feeling. Got it?”

“Uh-huh…”

“If thinking in numbers is tough, imagine your body as a giant tube. Picture water filling you up from your toes.”

Heon-ju wasn’t particularly fast with progress, but he wasn’t a fool either. With just a bit of guidance from Yoon-ui, he quickly grasped the method for absorbing the guiding energy. For once, Yoon-ui didn’t just pump energy into him mechanically. Instead, he carefully attuned himself to every corner of Heon-ju’s body, sensing even the most delicate threads of nerves.

‘This might really be the last time,’ Yoon-ui thought, concentrating all his effort on reading Heon-ju’s condition. ‘Might as well go all in. No regrets.’

“I’ll do well in training!”

With guiding energy packed into him all the way to his toes, Heon-ju bounded out of the office with energy. It was the best condition Yoon-ui could offer, and he felt assured that his dedication had been communicated. Returning to his desk, Yoon-ui’s expression turned dark, silencing the room.

Nobody interrupted as he completed the final signature on his discharge request form. After meticulously checking the printed document for typos, he hovered over the send button. Just before pressing it, a faint smile crossed his lips.

“I said I’d do it, but it’s kind of scary, huh?”

“If you’re scared, you don’t have to send it…” Woo-joo suggested softly.

“Yeah, well, I just did,” Yoon-ui replied, pressing the button with a light tap.

The system worked mercilessly. Once submitted, the request automatically took effect after 15 days. Woo-joo, who had been watching closely, sighed as he stood, offering Yoon-ui a handshake over the partition.

“You really did it.”

“I said I would, didn’t I?”

“Manager Im didn’t seem to think you would.”

Almost on cue, Yoon-ui’s phone began to ring. Manager Im’s extension lit up on the display, but Yoon-ui merely lowered the ringer volume and ignored it.

The call came repeatedly, adding to the tally of missed notifications. When the count passed five, Woo-joo leaned over with a suggestion.

“Just turn off your phone too.”

A moment later, the manager’s number appeared on his personal phone. Without hesitation, Yoon-ui powered it down. Joo-min, ever practical, added another piece of advice.

“How about taking the rest of the day off? Use up all your leave while you’re at it.”

“Wow, easy for you to say when it’s not your team getting left behind,” Jung-woo grumbled. He’d be bearing the brunt of the work once Yoon-ui was gone. Still, even he couldn’t muster more than mild resistance. Looking between Yoon-ui and the clock, he asked, “What time are you planning to head out?”

Yoon-ui hesitated, glancing at Jung-woo.

‘I’ve been selfish, haven’t I?’

He’d been so focused on his own frustrations that he hadn’t stopped to consider the mess he was leaving behind. Jung-woo, who he’d brought into this department himself, would have to shoulder the burden alone. The thought made Yoon-ui’s steps falter.

“Do you really think it’s okay for me to leave?”

“If you’re going, you’d better go now so I can request backup,” Jung-woo replied bluntly, though there was a resigned undertone to his words. For all his gruffness, he was a good kid.

Woo-joo chimed in, ever the pragmatist.

“Manager Im just left her office. If you don’t leave now, she’ll probably catch you in the hallway.”

“Great timing,” Yoon-ui muttered.

“Don’t worry about your stuff,” Woo-joo added. “Joo-min can send it to your house later.”

With that, Yoon-ui decided to make his escape. He apologized to Jung-woo and hurriedly left the office.

“At least I live close by,” Yoon-ui muttered as he power-walked toward his on-site housing. He kept glancing over his shoulder, half-expecting Manager Im to come charging after him.

By the time he reached his doorstep, his initial relief began to fade, replaced by the weight of reality. The future loomed large, and with it came countless unresolved questions. As he stepped inside, he murmured to himself, “So… where am I going to live once I leave here?”

His thoughts spiraled from one worry to another. First, Jung-woo. Then the logistics of moving out. And then the stark realization that finding a new place to live would be another headache entirely.

“Life really is tough,” Yoon-ui grumbled, kicking off his shoes haphazardly. Normally, he’d have straightened them out, but today he couldn’t care less.

For now, he’d focus on enjoying the remainder of his day. Changing into something comfortable, he downed a sleep aid and collapsed onto his bed. Though it was early, the world around him slowly began to fade.