TG Ch 9 Part 3

‘Why is he doing that?’

Sijin frowned and observed the situation closely. Jeong Taeyul glanced urgently between the timer floating in the air and the figure in front of him. 20 seconds, 19 seconds, 18 seconds… As the countdown continued, the hostage seemed to struggle. But Sijin, without the special glasses, could only see a blurry shape.

Then it happened. Jeong Taeyul, in a voice uncharacteristically shaky, answered:

[I… will reveal the secrets.]

But the result was devastating.

The simulation showed the person, who had been running towards Jeong Taeyul to embrace him, collapsing as the bomb detonated all over their body. Even though it was just a blurry image, Sijin couldn’t bear to watch and squeezed his eyes shut.

Then, the announcement echoed.

[The success rate of negotiations in hostage situations is only 3%. The negotiator must stall for time to allow for the best possible countermeasures.]

“……!”

Sijin was shocked, but since it was a simulated situation, he calmed his trembling heart and continued watching.

[Hyung…?]

Then he heard Jeong Taeyul’s voice, a shaky, unstable murmur.

Sijin watched Jeong Taeyul with anxious eyes. Jeong Taeyul was frozen, his arms outstretched as if to embrace someone. Jeong Taeyul, who was always so composed, was now trembling severely.

“…Jiwon. What is this test?”

“Huh?”

“What kind of test… is this?”

Kwon Jiwon, who had been recording the scores on his pad, checked the details and answered, “Ah, this is… um. The fourth simulation. Experiencing the death of a loved one. They have to answer after 26 seconds to pass, regardless of the answer.”

“……”

Thud!

At that moment, Jeong Taeyul gripped the support bar tightly and pressed his hand to his forehead. The muscles in his body tensed. His breathing became ragged, and he could barely stand.

Jeong Taeyul was clearly in pain.

Sijin urgently checked the screen displaying Jeong Taeyul’s vital signs in real-time.

His heart rate was already over 180 bpm. Moreover, Jeong Taeyul stared unsteadily at his outstretched hand, the one he had extended towards the virtual figure.

Sijin anxiously checked the real-time readings and said, “…Is he okay? Stop the test. I think it’s dangerous.”

Now Kwon Jiwon, also carefully observing the test room, said, “That’s the point of the test. It’s a once-a-year opportunity. It’s better to observe a little longer.”

“But…”

Sijin muttered blankly.

It was strange. As if Jeong Taeyul’s anxiety had transferred to him, Sijin’s heart was racing. Jeong Taeyul couldn’t take it anymore. He had a strong feeling about it.

[Hyung… Cough, hyung.]

Then, Jeong Taeyul called out desperately to someone. Sijin froze.

It was a term he had heard once before. The person Jeong Taeyul had called out unconsciously while sedated. Sijin muttered blankly, “…What if it’s a trauma?”

“What?”

Thump, Jeong Taeyul collapsed to his knees.

His hands, gripping the floor, trembled violently, and the metal support bar he was holding with his other hand began to crumple. Seeing this, Sijin yelled urgently, “Kwon Jiwon, stop the test!”

“I’ll call an Esper.”

Kwon Jiwon’s expression hardened. He immediately called for an Esper.

[Haa… ha.]

Then, they heard Jeong Taeyul’s ragged breathing. -69%, -77%. His wave readings were skyrocketing. Sijin rushed out of the observation room.

“Kwon Jiwon, open the test room now!”

“No, it’s dangerous for you to go in!”

Even though Kwon Jiwon tried to stop him, Sijin was already running down the hallway. The pad in his hand displayed Jeong Taeyul’s wave readings in real-time.

[(A) Guide Jeong Taeyul -79%]

[(A) Guide Jeong Taeyul -90%]

[(A) Guide Jeong Taeyul -93%]

[(A) Guide Jeong Taeyul -108%]

Jeong Taeyul had already entered Stage 1 of a berserk episode. If this continued, he could suffer severe mental damage.

Sijin ran down the hallway towards the test room, filled with self-reproach.

Why hadn’t he considered this before? That Jeong Taeyul might also have trauma.

It all seemed like his mistake. Fear began to creep into Sijin’s expression. He was afraid that Jeong Taeyul would go berserk.

‘Jeong Taeyul… Please.’

More precisely, he was afraid he would lose his emotions.

He couldn’t delay any longer. Jeong Taeyul’s readings were now at -118%. Sijin reached the test room, breathless.

“Jeong Taeyul…?”

And Jeong Taeyul, seen in person, seemed to be out of his mind.

He was writhing in agony. The metal support bar he was gripping was crumpling under the force of his fluctuating waves, and Jeong Taeyul knelt on the floor, gasping for breath.

“No… No. Hyung…”

Jeong Taeyul kept reaching for the spot on the floor where the figure in the simulation had collapsed. But the test room floor, made of thick concrete, crumbled into dust wherever he touched it. Unable to grasp anything, Jeong Taeyul sobbed in anguish.

Sijin felt as if the embers of his pain had transferred to his own chest. His heart felt heavy, but he knew he had to calm him down, somehow.

Sijin hurriedly opened the test room using his administrator privileges.

[Emergency Access to Test Room]

Crackle-!!

Just then, Jeong Taeyul, as if unable to bear it any longer, tried to rip off the sensors attached to his spine. Seeing this, Sijin yelled urgently, “No, Jeong Taeyul!”

Forcibly removing the sensors could cause excruciating phantom pain, which could further accelerate a berserk episode.

But the sensors attached to his spine were already ripped off like bloody veins.

Then, the simulation, which had been intricately connected to Jeong Taeyul, disappeared like a wave, engulfing the entire test room. Jeong Taeyul clutched his chest in pain, barely able to support himself on the floor. The floor beneath him crumbled like a broken heart.

His wave readings spiked.

[(A) Guide Jeong Taeyul -144%]

Jeong Taeyul, seemingly going into shock, lost his balance and collapsed. It was clearly dangerous to approach him.

[Emergency Circulator on]

Without hesitation, Sijin grabbed the emergency circulator mounted on the wall. He had to buy time until an esper arrived.

Then, Kwon Jiwon appeared behind him, aiming a lethal tranquilizer gun at Jeong Taeyul with a hardened expression.

“Guide Jeong Taeyul. I will subdue you by force according to protocol.”

“No! Don’t shoot, put the tranquilizer gun down!”

Sijin stepped in front of him. The tranquilizer gun used to subdue ability users contained a potent substance that could even dissolve blood vessels. In severe cases, it could be fatal.

“Move, Dr. Baek. You’ll die.”

“I’ll decide. He’s… my Guide.”

“……”

Sijin stood his ground. He spoke sternly, but his voice trembled pathetically, and he looked like he was about to cry.

Kwon Jiwon, seeing this, bit his lip and finally lowered the tranquilizer gun, grabbing an emergency circulator as well. Examiner Shin Dayoung also arrived and prepared a sedative.

Sijin immediately approached Jeong Taeyul with the circulator. He was lying on the floor, gasping for breath, like a subdued beast.

“I’m going to attach the emergency circulator. Take deep breaths. Jeong Taeyul…!”

Sijin spoke urgently as he turned him over. He knew how dangerous shock could be. It was one of the symptoms of a pre-berserk episode, and if the ability user wasn’t calmed down at this stage, they could lose their sense of self. It was the calmest stage of a berserk episode, but once it passed, they would lose control and rampage, leaving forced suppression as the only option.

Sijin quickly attached the complex electrode pads to Jeong Taeyul’s shoulders and chest. Jeong Taeyul was now sweating profusely, his brow furrowed in pain.

“Readings at -144%, thankfully plateaued. He seems to be conscious.”

Shin Dayoung, who had just arrived, reported his condition. Sijin had Shin Dayoung and Kwon Jiwon assisting him. But right now, he could only see Jeong Taeyul.

Sijin knew all too well how terrifying a Guide’s berserk episode could be.

“Jeong Taeyul, come back to your senses. Please…”

Sijin didn’t even realize he was pleading. His hands trembled, but he quickly attached the circulator and straddled Jeong Taeyul’s torso, pinning his wrists to the floor with his knees to prevent him from accidentally using his abilities.

Sijin pressed the emergency circulator against Jeong Taeyul’s chest and forcefully placed a respirator with a mild sedative over his mouth. He didn’t use an anesthetic. Anesthetizing an ability user during Stage 1 of a pre-berserk episode, when they were still conscious, was even more dangerous, as it could cause them to lose control and thrash around.

He had to hold on somehow until an Esper arrived.

Otherwise, the Guide could suffer permanent brain and heart damage. The emergency circulator only delayed the berserk episode, but it would at least help stabilize Jeong Taeyul’s wave readings.

As if battling his own consciousness, Jeong Taeyul’s breathing deepened.

“Jeong Taeyul, look at me… Please open your eyes.”

Sijin, straddling his waist, pressed down on his chest and held on tight. Even though the readings were plateaued, they were still dropping, now at -146%. If he couldn’t calm him down further, he would enter Stage 2 of the pre-berserk episode.

“Ha… Cough, hyung…”

Then, Jeong Taeyul opened his eyes with difficulty. Sijin looked like he was about to cry, but he kept speaking, desperate to calm him down.

“Yes, hyung, hyung is here. Jeong Taeyul… Look at me.”

“Haa… Cough, cough.”

“I know it hurts. But, but please hold on a little longer. Open your eyes.”

As Jeong Taeyul coughed, blood splattered onto the respirator. Sijin bit his lip and didn’t remove the circulator.

Then, Shin Dayoung spoke hopefully, “Readings at -142%, he seems to be regaining consciousness. A little more.”

The readings were rising for the first time. Sijin couldn’t give up now.

Jeong Taeyul, finally opening his eyes, focused on Sijin. He glared at Sijin with bloodshot eyes, like a wild animal, and gritted out in pain.

“Let go…!”

“No, just a little longer, Jeong Taeyul…!”

“You’ll get hurt… Let go…!”

Thump!

Jeong Taeyul suddenly shoved Sijin away forcefully.

Sijin was thrown back and crashed into a broken machine. Before he could even register the sharp pain, someone appeared, cursing.

“This crazy bastard!”

It was Ham Geonwu. Despite his harsh words, his expression was filled with worry and surprise at seeing Jeong Taeyul. Ham Geonwu, who clearly knew how dangerous a berserk Guide was, tried to place his hand on Jeong Taeyul’s chest. Seeing this, Shin Dayoung hurriedly stopped him.

“Don’t guide directly to the heart!”

Despite the warning, Ham Geonwu immediately placed his hand on Jeong Taeyul’s chest. Then, as if his energy had been instantly drained, he stumbled.

Jeong Taeyul seemed to be in just as much pain from the surge of power. With bloodshot eyes, he grabbed Ham Geonwu by the collar.

“You… fuck…!”

“Just hold on, you bastard.”

Ham Geonwu gritted out. Sijin, approaching them again, checked the real-time readings and spoke urgently, “Slowly, guide slowly. You’ll both get hurt.”

[-137%]

[-124%]

[-130%]

[-119%]

The fluctuating readings were displayed in real-time. Still, the numbers were gradually decreasing. Sijin ripped open a sedative syringe with his teeth, ready to inject it if Jeong Taeyul lost consciousness.

Meanwhile, Jeong Taeyul, still in pain, gritted his teeth and gripped the support bar. Ham Geonwu, breathing heavily, winced. Even with a 70% matching rate, it was still the pre-berserk episode of an A-rank Guide. They must have been enduring excruciating pain.

[(A) Guide Jeong Taeyul -95%]

Finally, the readings dropped to a safe range.

As he entered a stable state, Jeong Taeyul’s grip on the support bar loosened.