TDG Ch 8

The moment Han Jihyuk realized he had been separated from his Guide, he went on a rampage.

They had only been apart for less than ten minutes, but the fear of loss and frantic anxiety he had felt in that instant lingered deep inside him, refusing to fade.

Why else would someone who usually sat quietly in his room, waiting for me to come, suddenly bolt out like an untamed colt at the crack of dawn and come running straight to me?

I thought that by now, three weeks in, his Guide dependency might have eased a little, but that was a huge miscalculation.

This damned condition had taken root due to psychological and emotional instability caused by a damaged sense of self. It couldn’t be treated like a scraped knee.

As long as Jung Ahyoon comes…

The only savior who could cure this chronic condition that had tormented Han Jihyuk for so long was none other than Jung Ahyoon.

I slipped my hand into his thick, soft hair and gently stroked it. Jihyuk, in response, leaned in even more, as if asking to be petted further.

I’d heard he used to hate people touching his hair. Even now, he still doesn’t seem to welcome the researchers’ touch, but he seems to make an exception for me.

He’s like a stubborn little puppy. So damn cute.

In the quiet room, only our breathing rose and fell, intertwining.

Haah… This is oddly healing. So calming.

Surely this isn’t… some kind of animal therapy, right?

I found myself needing daily training to keep my emotions in check, because I kept feeling like I might just wrap my arms around that round little head of his and shower him with kisses.

Until now, guiding had always been something I endured—awkward, uncomfortable contact with Espers.

But after meeting Han Jihyuk, I realized for the first time that it didn’t have to be such an ordeal.

Rubbing my hands with ethanol disinfectant wipes after every guiding session used to be a habit.

Now, that felt like something from a lifetime ago.

How lucky I am that you’re my last Esper.

Planning to have breakfast in the room, I used the internal line to call the cafeteria.

After giving them our room number and asking for breakfast for the two of us to be delivered here, I hung up the phone.

Jihyuk hadn’t moved a muscle from where he was, still curled up against me.

Then, pressing his nose to my chest, he sniffed a little.

Ah. It’s a bit embarrassing when someone smells me.

“Do I… smell or something?”

After a brief hesitation, I asked. Jihyuk’s manly cheeks puffed out just a little, as if he were smiling.

“Mm. You smell nice.”

Well, at least it’s not a bad smell.

If it were, he’d have pulled away right away, not buried his face in my collarbone like that.

All the dorm rooms here use the same brand of shampoo and soap.

At most, it’s probably just the scent of fabric softener; could that really be that nice?

“Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re coming with me to the training facility today, right?”

So that’s what he was worried about.

As if to reassure him, I gave his back a firm, reassuring pat.

“Of course.”

Only then did Jihyuk let out a long sigh, as if satisfied, and relax his tense shoulders just a little.

* * *

“Hyung, here. Eat this.”

Jihyuk offered me two pieces of donggeurangttaeng^[1].

Ha, this is driving me crazy. He’s mine, but isn’t he just too adorable and good‑hearted?

There were only three pieces total, and he gave me two. What was he planning to eat himself?

Was he trying to drown his hyung in a tidal wave of emotion?

I was deeply moved by this saintly affection, but eventually pushed the donggeurangttaeng back onto Jihyuk’s plate.

“Hyung’s fuel efficiency is terrible. Even if I eat, it’s no use. You eat them.”

“No. Since your fuel efficiency is bad, you should eat more.”

“No, I’m telling you to eat them.”

Our chopsticks clashed midair in a fierce battle over the donggeurangttaeng.

Of course, the loser in this skirmish was me.

When I finally gave in and accepted the piece he held out, he grinned from ear to ear, his white teeth flashing.

Was it really that satisfying?

Feeling a little flustered, I quickly chewed and swallowed, only for him to bring another side dish straight to my lips, telling me to eat more.

Han Jihyuk had long figured out that all he had to do was smile and lean in close, and I’d melt instantly and offer no resistance.

He made full use of that knowledge.

He was so brazen, but strangely, I couldn’t bring myself to find it annoying.

Maybe it wasn’t just my heart that melted; the donggeurangttaeng he fed me melted in my mouth, too.

At the peak of happiness, a sudden wave of loneliness crept in.

Once Jung Ahyoon shows up, this whole routine will be over, won’t it?

What will that parting moment feel like? I should start preparing myself for it now.

* * *

Pop, pop—

The scoreboard numbers climbed rapidly without even a moment to breathe.

Han Jihyuk was already surpassing the skill level of a standard S-rank Esper in every possible way.

Even though fire wasn’t his main ability, he wielded it at such a level that it raised great expectations for the telekinesis he would eventually manifest.

In the original work, it was said that the only thing that could restrain Han Jihyuk was time itself. His telekinesis, once awakened, wielded an overwhelming destructive force.

He was what you’d call a completely unmatched outlier, but the aftermath was equally devastating.

Every time he used his power, the pain nearly killed him, and guilt kept him from letting anyone near. Jung Ahyoon’s understanding, the way she comforted and embraced him—those moments were among the most healing scenes in <Lost Paradise>.

Just wait. The day I get to see that scene in real life isn’t far off.

We had just finished training safely and were heading back to the dormitory when it happened.

“Hey, you that hotshot rookie everyone’s been talking about lately?”

A rough, unpleasantly raspy voice echoed down the hallway.

At the far end stood a short man leaning crookedly with one hand in his pocket. His distinctly unpleasant face was, unfortunately, familiar.

Im Seongjun…?!

Unlike the dormitory, the training facility wasn’t a building Jihyuk had to himself.

Still, the reason we hadn’t run into other Espers until now was because the facility operated on a strict reservation system.

Higher-ranked Espers typically had refined enough skills that they didn’t need to frequent the facility anyway.

For us to cross paths like this meant only one thing—he had deliberately matched his schedule to ours.

“That’s him, right? Yeah? Isn’t that the guy?”

He nudged the Guide beside him with his elbow, insisting on a response.

He didn’t care at all that she clearly looked uncomfortable.

Wow… Rotten manners straight out of Division 7.

Im Seongjun was an S-rank Esper in his forties, a minor character from the early parts of the story who constantly disliked and envied Han Jihyuk.

But in truth, his abilities were only A-rank. A lucky measurement error had falsely elevated his rank, and though his stats had been questioned multiple times since, he stubbornly refused re-evaluation.

He was a sham S-rank in name only, but still better off than being A-rank, so he took advantage of the government’s reluctance to challenge him. A thoroughly sly bastard.

The benefits S-ranks received were leagues beyond those given to A-ranks, so of course, he was desperate to hold onto the title.

This was the very same Esper that Seon Jaeyoung from Team 2 had spoken of with such disgust.

Useless ability, sticky hands, and universally loathed by Guides; a nightmare of a man.

Originally, he became relevant later when Jihyuk started active duty. So why had he crawled out now?

As Han Jihyuk stood silently, Im Seongjun, showing off his usual smug bravado, tried to pick a fight.

“When you see an elder, you should greet him, brat.”

There it is! A man barely in his forties, yet with sky‑high kkondae^[2] energy!

Before his nasty temper fully kicked in, I stepped forward quickly to defuse the situation.

“Esper Im Seongjun. Hello.”

“What the hell, who are you to butt in…?”

His face twisted in displeasure, but then faltered.

He gave me a slow, evaluating look from head to toe, which felt deeply unpleasant.

“Oh, you’re that… What’s your name…”

“I’m Guide Seo Juwon.”

The Guide standing next to him, unable to bear it any longer, finally stepped in.

“That’s right! Seo Juwon! So you’re that Seo Juwon, huh? Oh, I’ve been wanting to see your face.”

Huh? That’s… not what I expected. Acting familiar like we’re close; when did we even meet?

Judging by the fact that another team’s Guide knows my name, I guess my name’s gotten around a bit since becoming Han Jihyuk’s dedicated Guide.

“You’re both just a couple of snot-nosed kids. Have you even grown hair down there yet? Huh? Still, you’ve got some manners, at least.”

Ugh, what a lunatic. I hid my hand behind my back and flipped him off while flashing a sweet smile.

“Ahaha, thank you. So… to what do we owe the visit?”

“Oh, you know… just passing by and saw some unfamiliar faces. Figured I’d say hi. Right? Good to get to know each other. No reason to be strangers when we’re all eating the same government rice^[3], right?”

This guy’s obsessed with greetings. It’s always the worst people who nitpick about manners like they’re some moral authority.

“Ah… Sure…”

“Only Espers can understand what another Esper goes through. You Guides could live and die without ever knowing what kind of sacrifices we make.”

From the moment he opened his mouth, it was like an endless stream of bullshit.

If I could shove a bottle of bleach and a toilet brush into his foul-smelling mouth, I’d feel so much better.

But I doubt even bleach could fix that rotten brain. The best thing for the world would be to throw him out with the rest of the garbage.

“The brat’s eyes are fierce. What, gonna bite me or something, huh?”

Im Seongjun, undeterred, once again tried to provoke Han Jihyuk.

What’s your angle, you slimy bastard? Trying to squeeze out some excuse just to force a greeting from a kid?

Since when was Esper hierarchy based on age? If Jihyuk ever gets deployed in the field, this guy wouldn’t stand a chance. So what’s he so confident about?

I quickly stepped in, doing everything I could to block him.

“I’m sorry, but we’ve got another training session coming up. We’re a bit pressed for time, so we’ll have to be going.”

Im Seongjun finally turned his eyes on me, and suddenly gave a twisted little grin.

“Seo Juwon, I hear you’re really good at that, huh?

“…Excuse me?”

He continued, with a sleazy smirk.

“From Division 7, right? Don’t play dumb. Word is, the Guides from there are real good at ‘that’ stuff. After you’re done with that kid, how about a round with me, too, huh? As my dedicated Guide.”

“……”

I’ve got no lingering affection for Division 7, but every one of the Guides there pushes through terrible conditions to survive, each chasing their own goals.

And now this piece of trash is treating them, and me, like we’re no better than sex workers?

If I had been alone, I wouldn’t have let that insult slide.

Choking on rage, I first reached out to stop Han Jihyuk from springing forward.

His hand, clenched tight in mine, was so tense I couldn’t find a single opening to loosen it.

The bones in his fingers pushed hard against his skin, like they might tear through it at any second.

“Jihyuk.”

I called his name, but he didn’t look back.

His profile, locked in a deadly glare at Im Seongjun, was so rigid it was terrifying. His eyes alone could’ve killed someone.

Behind his shoulder, I could feel a pulse of energy distorting the boundary of space itself.

It was the same force he had unleashed during his first awakening, when he crushed an entire building like a biscuit and twisted rebar like rubber bands.

Even now, just sensing it sent chills down my spine.

“Hey, Seo Juwon. I asked you a question. You gonna do it or not?”

Even now, Im Seongjun hadn’t read the room. He kept needling, completely unaware or uncaring of how close we were to catastrophe.

This idiotic bastard didn’t even realize hearts were about to stop. I ground my teeth.

I should’ve figured out sooner what those sly, scanning eyes meant. He was provoking Jihyuk by messing with me, his Guide.

When Espers clash and it escalates into a conflict, disciplinary action always falls on the one who throws the first punch.

That’s why scumbags like him resort to this dirty trick—humiliating the Guide.

It’s a cheap, cowardly move, but damn effective. Attack the pair by attacking the weaker half.

And if this ends up in front of the Ethics Committee, he’ll probably act innocent and say, “I was just making conversation.”

People have gotten away with worse by playing dumb.

But that’s assuming he even makes it out of here alive, you lunatic.

You’re old enough to know better, and yet you’re pulling this crap on a kid young enough to be your son?

If Han Jihyuk rampages here, this isn’t going to end in a few punches and a black eye.