SS 8(1) Part 4

The researchers at the association had made progress. They had developed a drug that could forcibly neutralize even an S-class Esper if their rampage risk level reached stage 5.

However, since they couldn’t conduct clinical trials on precious S-class Espers, the researchers had reported to Yoon Bisam that they didn’t know exactly what side effects it might have.

If an S-class Esper went past stage 5 and went into a full rampage, it would be a disaster. Using his authority, Yoon Bisam had arranged for the drug to be injected into the bodies of all S-class Espers via the bracelets they always wore if they reached stage 5.

It was a decision made believing that an S-class Esper’s rampage risk level would never actually reach stage 5.

But Song Jaeho had been brought in unconscious. While it was a relief that he wasn’t rampaging, his motionless eyelids were unsettling.

“Haa… Fine. Can you stop looking at me like I’m trash?”

Han Biseong, roughly running his fingers through his sweat-soaked hair, got up. Jeong Hotae and Won Seongwoo also moved away from Bomin. It was Shi Yu-hyeon who pulled Bomin’s staggering body into his arms.

“Bomin-ssi, are you alright?”

Shi Yu-hyeon’s anxious gaze quickly assessed Bomin’s complexion and physical condition. Fortunately, Bomin seemed to be fine except for the obvious signs of exhaustion. Only the handprints, left on his white skin by the Espers who had bitten and sucked him, and momentarily lost control of their strength, were clearly visible.

“…Yes. I want to… see Jaeho now.”

Bomin had also been worried about Song Jaeho’s condition the entire time. While Song Jaeho was in the most critical condition, the others were also in danger, so he had prioritized guiding those in less serious states.

Fortunately, the three of them had reached a relatively stable state. Although reluctant, they were at a level where they could lower their rampage risk levels using the guiding machine, given the circumstances.

Now it was time to prioritize Song Jaeho.

“…Alright.”

As if he had no choice, Shi Yu-hyeon placed a kiss on Bomin’s clear forehead before pulling away. His touch was careful as he placed Bomin on the bed where Song Jaeho lay. Bomin lay down next to Song Jaeho and gently stroked his cheek.

“Ah…”

“Are you okay?”

However, he had to pull his hand away before he could even stroke his cheek due to the stinging sensation in his fingertips. Jeong Hotae, rushing over, grabbed Bomin’s hand. Bomin’s fingertips were red as if he had touched something hot.

“There’s resistance now. This is troublesome.”

Yoon Bisam, with his arms crossed, let out a heavy sigh. Considering Song Jaeho and Bomin’s matching rate, he hadn’t expected there to be resistance. There must have been some change in Song Jaeho’s Esper magic power system when his rampage risk level reached stage 5.

“Lee Bomin, this won’t do. Let’s lower Song Jaeho’s rampage risk level with the guiding machine first. It’s too dangerous now.”

Although he was worried about Song Jaeho, objectively speaking, Bomin was much more precious to Yoon Bisam. If Song Jaeho were to die, he would feel momentarily down each year on the anniversary of his death, but if Bomin were to disappear from this world…

He couldn’t imagine what would follow. A world without Bomin was a world without reason for Yoon Bisam to live.

“It’s okay. In his current state, the guiding machine won’t function properly either.”

Bomin pulled his hand away from Jeong Hotae and examined his fingertips. The sensation he felt when he touched Song Jaeho lingered.

He knew he could be seriously injured if things went wrong. But he felt that if he sent Song Jaeho to the guiding room in this state, Song Jaeho would fall into an even more dangerous condition.

“Bomin-ah.”

Although he stepped back obediently when pushed away, Jeong Hotae was conflicted about whether he should stop Bomin by force, worried that he might be in danger.

His thoughts were more impulsive than usual because his rampage risk level hadn’t yet stabilized. At Jeong Hotae’s anxious voice, Bomin looked up at him and smiled gently.

“It’ll really be okay. I’ve calmed Song Jaeho down before when his rampage risk level went up and he rampaged. Back then, my Guide rank was even lower than it is now.”

It wasn’t even that long ago. Bomin turned his gaze from Jeong Hotae to Song Jaeho, who was still lying motionless with his eyes closed. After taking a moment to catch his breath, Bomin reached out to Song Jaeho’s cheek again.

This time as well, a stinging pain shot through his fingertips the moment his skin made contact, but he ignored it and cupped Song Jaeho’s face fully in his hand.

“…Just hold on a little longer.”

How painful must it have been for him to reach this point?

Ignoring the pain in his hand, as if he had touched a red-hot pot with his bare hands, Bomin closed his eyes tightly. His guiding magic power was currently fluctuating more actively than usual due to guiding three Espers at once.

He poured out his guiding magic power through his hand as much as possible. The best course of action would be to receive Song Jaeho’s c*ck in his hole and guide him, but if he inserted it now, Bomin’s insides might melt.

“Eut…”

The painfully swollen blisters popped. A moan escaped his tightly pressed lips at the burning and stinging pain. The fists of the Espers, excluding Song Jaeho, clenched tightly.

It was to suppress the urge to pull Bomin away from Song Jaeho. Even Yoon Bisam, who had maintained the most composed expression, trembled slightly.

The resistance was now spreading from Bomin’s hand to his wrist and up his arm. His white skin turned red, and large and small blisters began to form.

Tears streamed down Bomin’s closed eyelids. Cold sweat beaded on his temples, where veins stood out.

Beep, beep—

The Espers’ gazes fell on the rapidly decreasing numbers. The bracelet on Song Jaeho’s wrist was emitting a loud noise, displaying the changes in his rampage risk level in real time.

It was the moment Bomin’s entire body was drenched in cold sweat. Finally, Song Jaeho’s rampage risk level dropped to the beginning of stage 4.

“Heuu…”

“Bomin-ah!”

Jeong Hotae quickly caught Bomin as he fell backwards. Shi Yu-hyeon hastily poured a recovery potion onto Bomin’s wounded arm as if dousing it. Although he tried to apply the potion calmly, his trembling hands caused it to splash everywhere.

In the end, Yoon Bisam used his ability to gather the recovery potion that was about to fall to the floor and poured it between Bomin’s lips. Although drinking the potion wouldn’t replenish his depleted guiding magic power, it could heal his physical injuries.

“But why is this bastard still unconscious?”

Bomin, half-conscious in Jeong Hotae’s arms, slowly blinked his eyes open. As Han Biseong had wondered, Song Jaeho was still lying motionless with his eyes closed.

His pale complexion remained unchanged. The rise and fall of his chest was so faint that he wanted to touch his finger to Song Jaeho’s nose.

“Why…”

Bomin struggled to sit up from Jeong Hotae’s arms. Although Jeong Hotae tried to stop him with a worried look, Bomin’s gaze remained fixed on Song Jaeho.

His heart pounded ominously. He had guided Song Jaeho using his guiding magic power to its limit. It had been even more difficult than guiding three people simultaneously.

Even now, the aftereffects of his magic power depletion made even raising his hand difficult, his back drenched in cold sweat.

His cold hand touched Song Jaeho’s cheek. Expecting resistance, his fingertips flinched slightly, but this time, he only felt the rough texture of Song Jaeho’s skin without any pain.

“Why aren’t you waking up… Open your eyes…”

Bomin rubbed Song Jaeho’s cheek with pleading hands. Although he could still feel the warmth, Song Jaeho showed no signs of regaining consciousness.

His vision blurred from the edges. When he blinked, tears welled up and spilled over, momentarily clearing his vision, but it quickly clouded over again.

“It must be the aftereffects of his rampage risk level reaching stage 5. Now that it’s down to stage 4, he’ll probably recover soon as if nothing happened.”

As if to soothe Bomin’s anxiety, Han Biseong spoke in an unusually calm voice, explaining his own observations. However, he bit his lower lip until it turned white from a bad premonition.

If Han Biseong had to choose the person he bickered with the most among those living in the mansion, it would be Song Jaeho. Perhaps the saying “familiarity breeds contempt” applied to him, as he felt closer to Song Jaeho than the others, excluding Bomin.

One of the reasons Song Jaeho had ignored his dangerously rapidly rising rampage risk level and used his ability in this battle was because Han Biseong had been in danger multiple times.

‘Are you out of your mind?’

The vivid voice rang in his ears. Song Jaeho’s psychokinesis had saved him every time he was in danger. If it weren’t for Song Jaeho, the person lying on the bed now would undoubtedly have reddish-brown hair.

“Let’s move him to the intensive care unit for now.”

It was Yoon Bisam who broke the heavy silence. The current location was desolate, designed for the eventuality of the Espers going on a rampage.

Following Yoon Bisam’s orders, Song Jaeho was moved to the intensive care unit within the Esper Center at the association.

Naturally, Bomin went with him. Bomin decided to stay by Song Jaeho’s side, guiding the other Espers intermittently.

“…The weather’s so nice today. You said we should go see the autumn leaves, so why aren’t you waking up yet?”

Bomin gently stroked Song Jaeho’s hair. His trembling gaze wandered over Song Jaeho’s face, his jawline sharpened, and then glanced at the bracelet on Song Jaeho’s wrist.

Song Jaeho’s rampage risk level had now dropped to the beginning of stage 2. It was the result of Bomin tirelessly guiding him every day.

Despite this, Song Jaeho showed no signs of opening his eyes. Bomin, feeling dejected, got up and walked over to the window. He opened the curtains wide and the window halfway, allowing the refreshing autumn breeze to circulate within the treatment room.

“You said I wouldn’t get hurt, so I shouldn’t worry.”

Bomin’s fingertips lingered on the edge of the white curtains, unable to let go. Unseasonable rain began to patter against the curtains.

The sky beyond the window was clear blue without a single cloud, but rain was falling on the curtains. It was no use even when Bomin roughly rubbed his eyelids with the back of his hand.

All he felt was a stinging pain in his sore eyes from constant crying.