DG Ch 11.1

11. Winter Joint Training Camp: Storage (2)

Half a day passed as if nothing had happened, and Seon Hanyeong visited Taegyeong’s room in the early evening.

“Hey, Taegyeong. Did you sleep well? Huh, still asleep?”

Taegyeong was curled up under the covers, making a round mound. A white squishy peeked out from the mound, tilting its head curiously. It bounced up as if to ask for something, then whimpered.

“You should eat dinner first. I brought your favorite beef porridge.”

Seon Hanyeong set down the tray and sat on the bed. Looks like he’s awake. There was a slight movement. Taegyeong pulled the covers down and playfully poked his head out.

“Lee Taegyeong. Your hyung is here.”

“…Hyung, can I just sleep a little more… cough, cough!”

“Huh? …Oh, sure. Sleep a little more.”

Taegyeong pulled the blanket up to his head and curled up. Hanyeong looked awkwardly at the tray. He still needs to take his medicine and sleep. Should I let him sleep for another 30 minutes?

Hanyeong checked his wristwatch and sat down in the desk chair. After tidying up the book Taegyeong had been reading, his gaze fell on the thermometer lying on one side of the desk.

“Taegyeong-ah, let’s check your temperature.”

Hanyeong pressed the infrared thermometer against Taegyeong’s ear and waited a moment.

Beep.

40.1°C

‘…What the hell.’

Six-year-old Taegyeong loved hide-and-seek. He would hide behind blankets or curtains, waiting for his neighbor’s older brother to come home from school. “Boo! I found you!” Those two words would make him burst into laughter and start jumping around.

“Ugh…“

The little Lee Taegyeong of the past was nowhere to be found.

As soon as Hanyeong confirmed the temperature on the thermometer, he grabbed Taegyeong’s shoulder and turned him around. Taegyeong’s face was deathly pale, his neck flushed and covered in cold sweat, and his lips had turned blue. He looked like a corpse.

“Taegyeong… Lee Taegyeong!”

Hanyeong’s blood ran cold. How had Taegyeong’s condition deteriorated so rapidly? The unbelievable situation left Seon Hanyeong in a daze. As he laid Taegyeong flat to assess his condition, his gaze was drawn to the thick, bruised marks on both wrists.

Taegyeong’s body was utterly depleted of energy. The Healing Esper Seon Hanyeong immediately recognized this. Someone had drained him completely, leaving only a handful of energy necessary for basic metabolic functions.

“…What kind of bastard are you?”

Clatter! Just as Seon Hanyeong kicked his chair back and was about to roar, someone tugged at his sleeve. Taegyeong gripped Seon Hanyeong’s fingers.

“Hyung…”

“Are you okay? Hang on. Drink some water first.”

Seon Hanyeong urgently brought over a glass and fed Taegyeong small sips. As the warm water slid down his throat, Taegyeong felt his breath return. He’d been on the verge of dying from dehydration, but now he felt like he might survive. Half-awake, he rubbed his eyes and nestled into Seon Hanyeong’s arms.

“See? You’re okay. Don’t make me worry like that. It hurts me.”

“…I guess I caught a really bad cold.”

“Yeah, you could get sick. Who gave you these wounds?”

“I don’t know. There are just too many…” Seon Hanyeong sighed heavily.

‘Too many? Did he mean too many wounds? Or too many people doing this kind of thing? It was unbelievable.’

Rolling up his long sleeve, Seon Hanyeong saw numerous marks on his thin wrist from the chains.

‘…Seo Wooyeol, you bastard.’

“If you can’t handle it, just say so. Why keep taking this crap? You’re a newbie—just do your best. If it’s too much, just quit.”

“…Hyung.”

Taegyeong looked up at Seon Hanyeong with teary, unfocused eyes. The hurt on his face, like an old scar, wouldn’t fade easily. Tears welled up and streamed down his cheeks.

“Hyung… I wanted to become a doctor, but… I can’t anymore.”

“Why are you crying so sadly? And why can’t you? You can do it.”

“No, it’s not that simple…”

Everyone has their flaws and stubbornness, and there are so few Guides with good Guiding Compatibility. That’s why half of them are dying.

Woo Chahyeon’s words kept lingering in my mind.

Shin Jehwan, Hyeon Shinwoo, and Kwon Jingyu were Espers with the worst Guiding Compatibility with other Guides. Beyond that, Seo Wooyeol and Choi Yoonmin were hiding their low Guiding absorption rates. Their futures were as clear as day, and that’s why I couldn’t bring myself to quit being a Guide.

“Anyway, Hyung, I’m not quitting my job. Never.”

He was exhausted, but where else could he satisfy his sexual desires and make some extra cash?

“I really don’t understand. Lee Taegyeong, you collapsed last time too, didn’t you? Keep this up, and you’ll die.”

“…I’m fine. I’ll be more careful from now on. Oh, is that my dinner? Let me eat.”

Seon Hanyeong frowned as he brought over the tray. Taegyeong polished off a bowl of congee and swallowed his medicine. Haaah. He let out a hot sigh and pulled the blanket closer. The medicine should have kicked in by now, but his fever still raged.

Just then, the door burst open without a knock. Ryu Ilho strode in, drenched in sweat from his training session.

“Seon Hanyeong. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

“Can’t you see right in front of you? Lee Taegyeong is being nursed.”

“Staring isn’t nursing. You’re just watching. Lee Taegyeong, does it hurt a lot?”

Taegyeong squeezed his eyes shut and groaned.

“Someone’s here and you won’t even look at them. Lee Taegyeong, hey!”

“Taegyeong is in a lot of pain. Stop bothering him and go wash up.”

“You go downstairs and report. I’ll stay here. Hurry up.”

“Why downstairs?”

Vrrr… Seon Hanyeong’s phone vibrated. He answered the call and immediately stood up with a serious expression.

“Ryu Ilho, I’ll be out for a moment. Don’t touch Taegyeong. His fever is high. Make sure he takes the fever medication.”

“Are you asking me?”

Seon Hanyeong left the room, promising to return quickly.

Taegyeong frowned and turned away. As soon as Ryu Ilho sat down, a pungent, sweaty odor wafted from him.

“Hyung, I’m fine. You should go rest…”

“What do you mean ‘fine’? You look like you’re about to die!”

‘It’s just because of the sweat smell. I’m really going to die… Taegyeong made a pitiful face before forcing a weak smile.’

“Hyung, I’m not in pain…”

“Stop pretending! Lee Taegyeong, you need to take care of yourself. I plan to live a lifetime guided by you, and I can’t have you falling apart already!”

“Hmm…“

Ryu Ilho pinched Taegyeong’s cheek hard, as if to snap him out of it. The shallow groan he elicited was quite entertaining. Ryu Ilho stared at the open door for a moment, then closed it and abruptly stripped off his shirt.

Huh?

Are they all crazy? I told them I felt sick, so why are they swarming me like this? Startled, Taegyeong sat up abruptly.

“Hyung… I can’t do the Guiding.”

“So what? I know you can hold the line. How can they expect a kid with a cold to handle the Guiding? I feel sticky and sweaty. Let’s wash up here. Oh, right. Is this a fever medication?”

Ryu Ilho tossed him the fever medication and disappeared into the bathroom. Taegyeong slumped back down, his body heavy and leaden. The White Squishy rubbed its cheeks against his face before covering its nose, suffocating.

“…..”

Krak! Bang!

‘What was that?’

Just then, a loud crash came from outside, like something shattering.

Dazed from the medication, Taegyeong rubbed his head and stumbled out of the room. The dormitory’s layout allowed him to see the living room from the second-floor balcony. The Team Guides were pressed against the balcony window, gazing out at the scene.

“Is the snowstorm getting worse?”

The snow had been falling for days, and I was no longer impressed by it.

Just as he turned to leave, the front door on the first floor slammed open, and Seo Wooyeol stormed in.

“Wow. That bastard Woo Chahyeon is insane, right? What a complete idiot.”

Seo Wooyeol flexed his slightly goosebump-covered arm as he strode down the hallway. Kwon Jingyu, who had been watching TV in the living room, yawned loudly.

“What’s going on now?”

“He suddenly stopped training, slapped Song Dongyeong across the face, and started beating him up! He’s going to kill someone at this rate!”

“You didn’t stop him and just watched? Dongyeong is in trouble now.”

“But he’s blocked by glass. How can he break through?”

“Well, Dongyeong must have done something to deserve it. Let them handle it. Will Woo Chahyeon really kill someone?”

Deputy Team Leader Kwon Jingyu shook his head in exasperation and went to the shower. Seo Wooyeol sat on the sofa, muttering to himself for a long time. The Team Guides whispered among themselves.

Taegyeong staggered to the doorframe and clung to it. Seon Hanyeong had rushed out earlier, leaving an ominous and suspicious atmosphere. Behind him, Ryu Ilho called out sharply:

“Hey, aren’t you coming in? Get on the bed.”

“But Esper Woo Chahyun is beating up Esper Song Dongyeong. What should I do…?”

“Woo Chahyun? Ah. He’ll only listen to the Team Leader.”

“But the Team Leader went on a business trip this afternoon. Who’s going to stop him?”

“Seon Hanyeong? He usually listens to him.”

Taegyeong leaned against the doorframe, fidgeting with his hands for a long moment. Woo Chahyun didn’t seem like someone who would throw punches without a reason. He’d always been infinitely kind to Taegyeong.

He felt uneasy. He didn’t understand why he was so worried. Taegyeong grabbed his coat and put it on. The sound of the door lock disengaging echoed in the hallway.

“Hey. Where are you going?”

“…Wait a moment.”

Taegyeong hurried down to the first floor. Just as he arrived, Chahyeon was removing his shoes in the entrance hall. The heavy snowfall outside had left his white padded jacket and curly hair covered in a thick layer of snow.

“Esper Woo.”

“…..”

His cheeks and nose were bright red. A smear of blood stained the bridge of his nose, and his left fist was swollen and bruised. He looked at Taegyeong with bleary eyes before lowering his gaze.

“…Are you already awake?”

His tightly constricted voice trembled faintly. Taegyeong grinned widely and nodded.

“I just ate and took my medicine. But why is your hand…?”

“I got hurt during training, but it’ll heal soon.”

“Did you fight with Esper Song Dongyeong?”

“Um… yeah. He really pissed me off.”