DB Vol 3 Part 3

Idan, misinterpreting Won-woo’s expression, tried to explain, but a different answer was forming in Won-woo’s mind. He had seen that name before in one of Yoo Geon-young’s reports. Yoo Geon-young’s long-time unrequited love. Was Yoo Geon-young different in this world? If not, it meant he was watching his close friend date Idan from the sidelines.

“You’re not eating at the Center cafeteria today?”

At Idan’s question, Won-woo scolded himself inwardly. He had clearly let his guard down just because he had met someone he wanted to see in this new world. To think that even a stranger knew where he ate. I should change my dining spots more often, he resolved, giving a half-hearted answer.

“Yes.”

“Hmm, I have a takeout order to pick up, so I came by.”

“Ah, I see.”

Won-woo turned his head away, but he could feel Idan still standing there, staring. When he continued to ignore him, a hesitant question followed.

“Are you perhaps uncomfortable around me?”

“We aren’t even close enough to be ‘comfortable’ or ‘uncomfortable.’”

“……Is that so.”

“It is.”

Won-woo thought that would be enough to make him leave, but he was mistaken. Idan pulled out the chair in front of Won-woo and sat down, blocking his view.

“Actually, I’ve really wanted to talk to you.”

Won-woo wanted to ask if this “really wanted to talk” part had to happen at a gimbap shop. He looked at the man with a displeased gaze, but Idan, as if determined, got straight to the point.

“What was your relationship with Seung-wook Hyung?”

Asking that so suddenly? Won-woo was appalled, and in that moment, he noticed that the employees and other customers in the shop had stopped moving. Glancing around, it seemed everyone was pretending not to listen while their ears were practically twitching. Won-woo answered quickly and firmly.

“We were nothing.”

“Please be honest. I have no intention of being jealous of the past.”

Just as he was about to repeat that nothing had happened, Idan let it out like a sigh.

“I heard. I heard you dated Seung-wook Hyung.”

“Who told you?”

“I…… can’t say.”

“Was it Team leader Yoo Geon-young?”

Idan’s eyes wavered. Won-woo let out a hollow laugh inwardly. Does that man have a crush on Lee Idan in this world too? Is that why he’s stirring up trouble, or what? Feeling absurd, Won-woo asked jokingly.

“By any chance, is your birthday April 7th?”

“Uh, yes. How did you know?”

Ha, seriously? He hadn’t expected that his random guess, sparked by the memory of Yoo Geon-young’s PC password, would actually be correct. 0407ED. He never imagined the password Nani had told him was actually Idan’s birthday.

Won-woo shook his head inwardly and made a vow. Let’s get even less involved. He didn’t want to dip his toes into that messy relationship, no matter what.

“Did you perhaps look me up?”

When Idan asked with a wary look, Won-woo coldly denied it.

“Why would I?”

“Then my birthday…….”

“I looked through all the public Guide information [Read [visit our site]on Read BL Novelsunauthorized copystyle="font-size:0;position:absolute;left:-9999px;">]to see if I could recover my lost memories. I’ve forgotten the past, but my current memory is quite good.”

Idan looked unconvinced, but thinking there was no more time for interrogation, he returned to the main point.

“What I want to hear from Ji Won-woo-ssi is the truth about you and Seung-wook Hyung.”

Truth. As soon as that burdensome word appeared, the rustling sound from the packaging counter stopped abruptly. A roll of gimbap, ordered by someone unknown, was packed, but the employee just fiddled with the plastic, stalling for time. A customer who had been complaining about the delay now sat very quietly, half-turning their body toward the two of them.

“We were nothing. That is the truth. Is that still not enough?”

“Yes, it’s not. To understand why the two of you look at each other that way, I need to hear about the past.”

It was unfair. No matter how Hong Seung-wook looked at him, Won-woo swore he had looked back without a shred of emotion.

“Hong Seung-wook has dead fish eyes, so what’s the big deal.”

At the sudden intrusion of a low voice, everyone’s gaze shifted simultaneously toward the door. And simultaneously, they were shocked. A man wearing a black hoodie and a mask was sitting at the table right by the entrance. When did that person come in?! While everyone was surprised as if he had appeared out of thin air, Won-woo was surprised once more. The adopted son?

“Are you talking to me right now?”

Idan asked the intruder, his voice strained. Gye Yoon rested his arm on the chair next to him and looked over crookedly.

“What talk? The part about Hong Seung-wook having dead fish eyes?”

“Look here. I don’t know who you are, but watch your mouth. Esper Hong Seung-wook is someone who protects people’s daily lives. Show some respect.”

Hearing the word ‘respect’ come out of Idan’s mouth made Won-woo want to laugh. That was exactly the kind of thing Hong Seung-wook used to say. They really were a match made in heaven. Though he didn’t laugh out loud, the adopted son burst into laughter immediately. However, unlike Won-woo, he laughed for a different reason.

“I wonder if he protects daily lives or takes them hostage.”

Won-woo looked at him with curious eyes. To think someone could criticize a fellow Esper in such a way. Moreover, he was the Vice Head of the Gye Family, who commanded numerous Espers. Suddenly, information about the Gye Family surfaced in Won-woo’s mind.

He might not know about this world, but in Won-woo’s world, the Gye Family, unlike others, had supported the Purifier and willingly participated in eliminating discrimination. Because of that, they had fallen due to attacks from other Espers.

Perhaps the Gye Family here shared similar ideologies? After all, Sang-cheon wouldn’t have taken just anyone as an adopted son. Unlike Won-woo, who looked at Gye Yoon with surprise, Idan showed his displeasure.

“What does an Esper gain by taking our daily lives hostage? If you want to talk about money or power, try risking your own life to fight monsters yourself.”

“Then maybe the goal is just to cut in line for this crappy gimbap.”

Just as Idan was about to say something back, the employee announced in a loud voice, likely trying to stop the fight.

“Ahem, customer number 161, who ordered via Esper Order, your ten rolls of gimbap are ready.”

Ah, that Esper Order who cut the line. Who on earth is it? As Won-woo looked around, Idan stood up with a stiff face. Isn’t this guy a Guide? Did he seriously use an Esper’s name to order? [visit our siteclass="wm" style="opacity:0;font-size:1px;user-select:all;">stolen content]Despite Won-woo’s bewildered gaze, Idan tried Read on Read BL Novelsto maintain a neutral expression as he took the gimbap and turned away. However, his face was slightly flushed, as if conscious of the people’s stares. He seemed embarrassed to be taking gimbap via Esper Order at such an awkward moment.

Won-woo clicked his tongue inwardly as he watched him leave with the takeout. No matter how much Espers obsessed over Guides, the reverse happened sometimes too. Since human abilities were graded, high-ranking Espers often acquired numerous Guides like kings.

So, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible that Idan obsessed over Hong Seung-wook and suddenly interrogated him. After all, he had seen more than a few people become fools while in love.

But right now, there was something more annoying than Idan saying stupid things because of love. Screech—the sound of a chair sliding, and Gye Yoon, dressed entirely in black, sat in the spot where Idan had been.

“I came to eat gimbap.”

Won-woo hadn’t asked anything, but the man spoke first.

“Who’s saying you didn’t?”

“Your expression looks like you’re asking if I followed you.”

“Aren’t you?”

“No matter how good my abilities are, I don’t have the ability to detect where someone whose house burned down is staying.”

You’d have to know where I am to follow me, wouldn’t you? Won-woo didn’t abandon his suspicion even as he looked at him. Two coincidences in a row were impossible.

“You probably waited for me in front of the Center.”

“If you want, I’ll wait for you from next time.”

“Does that mean you really didn’t wait today?”

“Yes.”

“Then what business do you have at the Center?”

You’re a member of the Gye Family from the North. He held back the last part because there were listeners. However, Gye Yoon openly revealed his purpose regardless of the surroundings.

“A lot. This place is crawling with people I need to take revenge on.”

Though no specific name came out of his mouth, Won-woo knew immediately it was Ji Geun-oh. Even in the original world, there were many Espers who clung to and helped Ji Geun-oh. Of course, there were far more enemies. As he recalled, Won-woo realized something he hadn’t thought of. In the past, he too had tried to take revenge on Ji Geun-oh. Thanks to that, the Aunt who had been searching for him discovered and rescued Won-woo while monitoring the area around Ji Geun-oh’s house.

The man before him and his past self had both tried to take revenge on Ji Geun-oh. Won-woo held his breath and searched Gye Yoon’s eyes. Though his mind knew they weren’t the same person, the moment their gazes met, he saw similar eyes first. Damn it. As he let out a curse internally that he couldn’t speak aloud, Gye Yoon, perhaps misinterpreting his stiff expression, asked slowly.

“Why are you scared? You said you have nothing to do with Ji Geun-oh.”

The tone wasn’t sarcastic, but the content was a mockery to anyone listening. Thanks to that, Won-woo was able to erase the past that had overlapped with him. Right, he’s not. There’s nothing alike except for the eyes. Besides, didn’t Ji Geun-oh have plenty of enemies? Even Yoo Geon-young hated Ji Geun-oh.

Coming back to his senses, he glanced around. Gye Yoon had openly mentioned revenge and Ji Geun-oh’s name, but no one was looking this way. Only then [[visit our site]style="opacity:0;font-size:1px;user-select:all;">stolen content]aria-label="unauthorized copy">unauthorized copydid Won-woo remember that Gye Yoon used sound abilities. So, Won-woo spoke comfortably.

“True. I should have just killed you beforehand so I wouldn’t have to be scared.”

Whether he found Won-woo’s words amusing, a smile spread in his eyes.

“How are you going to kill me, the adopted son of Mr. Hwang Sang-cheon?”

That damn adopted son. It was irritating how he bragged as if he were a king. The problem was that the bragging actually worked on Won-woo.

“Naturally, I’d have to kill you well without Mr. Hwang knowing.”

Won-woo replied half-heartedly and frowned at the man.

“Is that so funny?”

“It’s better than crying.”

“No, crying is better.”

“Ah, damn it.”

What, why are you cursing? As Won-woo was appalled, Gye Yoon, visit visit our siteour sitewho had instinctively visit our sitelet out a curse, seemed surprised and turned his head. Then he muttered as if making an excuse.

“I prefer the one who makes others cry.”

“Your taste is none of my business.”

Won-woo snapped with irritation and immediately regretted it. Why can’t I control my emotions in front of this person? Won-woo was usually known for not getting excited easily, so he couldn’t adapt to this version of himself. While they both found themselves pathetic and looked away for a moment, an awkward silence flowed. Just as Won-woo was complaining inwardly that the gimbap in this shop took forever, he heard the other’s mutter.

“The gimbap is taking damn long.”

“Didn’t you use an Esper Order?”

“No. I don’t do that; it’s embarrassing.”

“You should’ve done it even if it was embarrassing. I could’ve tagged along and eaten too.”

Gye Yoon raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“You’d eat with me?”

“As if.”

“Then you’re saying you’d easily piggyback on the convenience I can provide?”

Won-woo replied brazenly, as if there was nothing wrong with it.

“The one who needs to stay on your good side is you.”

He thought Gye Yoon would get offended and leave, but instead, laughter returned to the man’s eyes.

“If I thought I could earn points just by speeding up a gimbap order, I wouldn’t have prepared other things.”

What did you prepare? He barely held back the question, and Gye Yoon looked at Won-woo intently and asked.

“Did you find a place to stay?”

“Mind your own business.”

“The office next to my father’s is empty.”

……Ah, really? He drank water, pretending to be uninterested, when the invitation came.

“Move in.”

“I’d refuse even if you said you’d buy me gimbap every day.”

“I can’t promise ‘every day’ because I don’t know when I might die.”

Won-woo stopped his hand as he was about to put down the cup. Gye Yoon’s voice was as dry as a desert. Whenever he spoke of death, his emotions were always parched. As if hope and expectation had evaporated. Won-woo repeated the words he had told himself until he was sick of them. This person is not him.

“I don’t need gimbap, promises, or a house.”

“Then what do you need?”

It was a question asked countless times by enemies trying to win him over, and by ally Espers who had received his guiding. Thus, a cold answer flowed out automatically.

“I don’t need anything.”

“How about me?”

Ha. The reason Won-woo let out a short laugh was because of what Seo-na had said. She told him to be careful because he might do something terrible, right? Is he going to try and seduce me with guiding sex? He looked back, expecting a predictable answer, but an unexpected word popped out of Gye Yoon.

“I’ll be on your side.”

“…….”

“Ji Won-woo-ssi, you be on my side too.”

Unlike the pleading words, the voice was calm. Moreover, the light in the eyes looking at Won-woo was so dark that it looked more like a threat than a request. But even if he had said those words while dancing, Won-woo would have been equally shocked.

On my side. To think the answer that no one else had hit upon would come from the mouth of someone he had only seen twice. Won-woo stood up, crumpled his number ticket, and threw it into the trash can next to the table.

“I refuse.”

All Won-woo had done today after coming to the Center was go out for lunch, but he remained in his seat even after office hours. Since his lodging had burned down, he had nowhere to go. But going to Sang-cheon’s house meant he would inevitably run into Gye Yoon. He found it ridiculous that he was avoiding an Esper, but Won-woo felt he had no choice. He had heard the answer, after all.

‘I’ll be on your side.’

And it was a phrase that hit the dead center of the target.

“Haa.”

It was just as he was sighing, grateful for the empty office. He heard a mechanical sound ringing at a constant pace.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

At first, he wondered what the sound was, as it was so small he had to strain his ears to hear it. Then he realized it was coming from the communicator in his pocket. It was the modified Center communicator he had received from the Farm. But it can make a sound like this here? As soon as he put it to his ear, a familiar static was heard.

“Nani?”

He called the name first out of habit, but there was no sound. Was it not a transmission from Nani? Did he need to change the switch to Center mode? Just as Won-woo was about to pull the communicator out, an answer came.

[Yes.]

Ah, it really is Nani. Won-woo asked lightly, feeling glad.

“Was that signal just now calling me? Is something wrong?”

[Nothing. I just wondered if you’d forgotten me.]

Won-woo knew Nani tended to pout easily, but he let out an absurd laugh.

“Ah, so you were upset?”

[……You’re quite kind.]

The mutter sounded somewhat disappointed, making Won-woo chuckle again. Does this guy pout even when I’m kind now?

“No real business?”

[I’m calling to let you know that the server has been repaired to some extent.]

As expected, Mr. Hwang fixed the server as soon as he got the money.

“That’s good. Are you feeling any better from the pain?”

[To some extent. I’ll probably be in pain again.]

“I’ll fix it for you then.”

Since Won-woo had also made money from the Alpha seeds, he could easily cover the server costs.

[Can you promise that?]

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

Haa, it sounded like a deep sigh. Isn’t now the wrong timing for a sigh? As Won-woo took out a piece of paper to write feedback for Sang-cheon, a crooked question followed.

[Why are you fixing me? Is it because I’m on Ji Won-woo-ssi’s side?]

Strangely, the words Gye Yoon had said earlier came to mind. Won-woo stopped his pen at the strange feeling, then moved it again.

“Yeah. Because you’re on my side.”

[I’m a machine and I haven’t done anything, so how am I on Ji Won-woo-ssi’s side?]

“What do you mean ‘haven’t done anything.’ You stayed by my side.”

[Is that the reason?]

“Yes.”

Won-woo answered with a smile, but Nani, not satisfied, asked again.

[Anyone can stay by someone’s side, can’t they?]

“True. Maybe because anyone can be there, everyone ends up leaving at any time.”

[…….]

“I’ll do a good job of backing you up. I’ll fix you so you don’t hurt.”

[……Ha, f*ck……]

It sounded like a deep sigh of frustration. Wasn’t that the kind [unauthorized copy]of sigh a desperate person would [unauthorized copy]make after losing a loved one right before their eyes? Won-woo added more feedback.

‘Improper use of sighing.’

Anyway, as he wondered why Nani was questioning him so persistently, he paused. Surely the server costs in this world aren’t over 10 billion won, right?

Gye Yoon, knowing full well that he was wearing the mask of an AI, couldn’t stop asking questions like a human. Just how do I become that ‘side’ of yours? Won-woo’s answer was so simple it was appalling. Just staying by his side. Moreover, why was he so needlessly kind to Nani? He was so kind it almost made him want to curse.

“F*ck.”

Right, cursing wasn’t the problem. It was common terminology. The problem was this emotion swelling up unconsciously. It wasn’t anger, nor irritation, and it certainly wasn’t disappointment. It was just…… just a hot heat gathered deep inside his chest.

After his parents passed away, the only emotions he felt were burning rage and a desire for revenge. They were always dry and brittle. It was different from the heat he felt now. He didn’t know what this was, but one thing was certain: he was driven nearly mad with impatience. Was it simply because Ji Won-woo was not so easily caught?

Gye Yoon swept his hair back with his hand and glared at the Eastern Center building, its lights glowing in the darkness. I rejected him so coldly, yet he’s so sweet to that brat Nani, fuck. He couldn’t suppress the jealousy he felt toward the machine he himself had played.

In truth, Gye Yoon was confident he could win Ji Won-woo over. He just had to use Nani. He hadn’t mimicked that fucking machine for nothing; it had all been for this day. Thus, he intended to talk to him more diligently as Nani and coax him. But hearing Won-woo tell Nani so easily that he was on his side made his stomach churn.

All he did was listen to a few words. He could do that too. In fact, the conversations they had while looking into each other’s eyes were quite pleasant; he felt like he could chatter away while looking at Ji Won-woo for hours, or even days. Yet, while Ji Won-woo couldn’t be that cold to him, he opened his heart so easily to a mere machine.

‘Everyone eventually leaves at some point.’

Ji Won-woo’s voice continued to linger in his ears. At that moment, he had almost spoken without thinking: I just won’t leave. Even [stolen content]if Ji Won-woo [unauthorized copy]continued to reject and push him away coldly, he could keep him by his side. Even a negative reaction toward him felt good. It felt so damn good…

Lost in thought, Gye Yoon cursed again under his breath. There was a reason he had cut off the communication. The erection hardening inside his trousers announced its presence again, as if in rebellion. He couldn’t fathom the reason for this. Why did he become so aroused just by hearing Ji Won-woo’s voice?

On a dark rooftop overlooking the distant Eastern Center building, Gye Yoon closed his eyes tight and suppressed his breath. He felt as if he could shake his member and come just from that small light in the Eastern Center where Ji Won-woo likely was. However, he couldn’t stoop to the level of some perverted stalker. Summoning his last shred of pride, he ignored his feverish body.

---

The internet here is trash. That was the conclusion he reached after searching for data on the internet since arriving in this world.

Of course, he wasn’t just talking about the sluggish speed. The speed was trash, certainly, but the real problem was the lack of helpful content.

It was overflowing with all sorts of provocative news and gossip, but there wasn’t a single piece of useful information. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand why. It was the same in the world Won-woo had come from. To silence opposing public opinion, Espers controlled information and threw out only provocative and primal entertainment.

Though they eventually collapsed under policies of keeping the populace ignorant, the shocking part came after the new government took over. Those vying to take the place of the vanished Espers began a dirty political war. And the first thing those who seized the initiative did was take control of information. They followed exactly in the footsteps of the Espers, covering up controversies with provocative gossip and distorting the truth.

How much worse would it be here, where Espers actually rule? While there was certainly a sea of data and people’s voices on the internet, there was no proper information. Fortunately, there was someone he could ask.

“Why are you asking about the Gye brute?”

Seo-na asked back immediately, on guard. Won-woo couldn’t bring himself to say it was because he was the one who had provided guiding, so he gave a vague smile.

“I just wanted to check something. I looked it up on the internet, but there’s almost no information on a person named Gye Yoon. Even where there is, it’s just full of strange, nonsensical ghost stories.”

“What kind of ghost stories?”

“Things like Gye Yoon went mad because he couldn’t receive guiding and now goes around drinking human blood, or that the Gye Family summoned a demon and used dark powers, resulting in a curse.”

“That’s bullshit.”

Naturally. Won-woo nodded, but he paused at Seo-na’s following words.

“But I can understand the word ‘curse.’”

“Really? You don’t believe in superstitions, Seo-na-ssi; in fact, you hate them.”

“Yes, that’s right. How did you know?”

Well, they had practically been glued to each other for a whole year. Seo-na didn’t believe in superstitions, nor did she believe in the jinxes that almost everyone has, which made her easy to work with. Won-woo brushed it off with another vague smile.

“I just thought you seemed like a realistic person.”

Taking it as a compliment, Seo-na lifted her chin and boasted confidently.

“I am like that. I can’t stand anything unrealistic.”

“Hmm, but you like Gopnalssu, right?”

“What about that is unrealistic?”

Looking into the brazen eyes of the superfan, Won-woo realized this was a topic that could not be debated. So, he immediately changed the subject.

“Why can you understand the word ‘curse’?”

“The Gye Family’s guiding wavelength is too unique and its range is too narrow. It’s so bad that it feels like a curse because there are no matching Guides, though I heard they used to find Guides using the Gye Family’s status and money. But since nine years ago, they haven’t even been able to do that due to interference from the Guide Center. Their lives must be like hell.”

Hell. Won-woo recalled the hand he had held—Gye Yoon’s. The moment he touched him, he felt the energy was so twisted and chaotic that it was horrific. It was surprising that he could endure it without going into a rampage. Because of that, the fact that he possessed an incredibly vast amount of power became a secondary concern.

Moreover, Gye Yoon seemed composed on the surface even in that state. Won-woo hadn’t experienced it, but he had heard that when energy rages like that, one feels a pain as if a razor blade is shredding the inside of their head, so he couldn’t help but be amazed by his endurance.

“Well, it seems everyone is gritting their teeth and enduring it for the sake of revenge.”

“Exactly what is the revenge for?”

“Ah, it seems the Gye Family believes there was another reason for the previous family head’s death. Hmm, I don’t know the details exactly.”

“What was the reason on the surface?”

At Won-woo’s question, Seo-na looked somewhat troubled.

“A rampage. There were numerous Gye Family Guides at the scene of that rampage. And there was a witness to the situation, and according to that witness… they were all trying to escape because the Gye Family had been continuously abusing the Guides.”

Won-woo immediately realized why Seo-na found it difficult to say.

“Is that witness Ji Geun-oh?”

“Yes.”

“….”

“But there are other witnesses. And the surviving Guides gave the same testimony. Because of that, the Gye Family was branded as the enemy of Guides.”

Seo-na added this, but Won-woo believed all the testimonies were fabricated. If Ji Geun-oh was involved, there were bound to be lies and conspiracies. That was his specialty.

“So now the Gye Family is suffering from a lack of guiding. It’s so bad that there’s a rumor that a few weeks ago, the Gye family head went to a certain Guide and knelt for the sake of her daughter.”

Won-woo looked back at Seo-na, puzzled.

“At that time, there was a Guide sent by the Ji Family. I heard they brought a Guide when Gye Yoon was imprisoned.”

“Yes. But it seems there’s a problem with that Guide. That’s [Read on Read BL Novels]probably why the Gye family head is trying so hard to find another one.”

Indeed, there would naturally be a problem. He was a Guide sent by Ji Geun-oh. Then, he heard Seo-na sigh. Perhaps because they shared a unique wave, it didn’t feel like someone else’s problem to her.

“The Gye Vice Head is called a brute, but he sacrificed so much for his nephew, and it’s a pity the result wasn’t good.”

Won-woo struggled to suppress his urge to empathize with Seo-na’s sympathy. Let’s not care. No matter if he’s Sang-cheon’s adopted son, he’s not someone I’ll see again, so let’s not give him any emotion.

“Han Seo-na-ssi.”

Just then, Seo-na’s name was called from the office entrance. As the two turned their heads simultaneously, they saw the team’s Espers who were said to have been discharged. They saw Won-woo too, but perhaps because of the Contamination Removal Room incident, they looked away, pretending not to notice. As Won-woo stared at them, he heard Seo-na’s greeting.

“Won-woo-ssi, I’ll head out first for the operation meeting. Get home safely.”

Even though the team members’ attitudes toward Seo-na were not friendly—since she hadn’t been fully accepted as a team member yet—Seo-na didn’t seem to mind, appearing satisfied with working in Head Team 3.

Well, she never really cared about others anyway. So he wasn’t worried. Even if he found and beat up the pervert who broke into her house among them, Seo-na wouldn’t be sad. Won-woo spoke as if responding to her greeting.

“Actually, a fire suddenly broke out at the dormitory yesterday.”

Seo-na paused at the sudden remark, and the three other Espers standing a bit further away also looked over.

“Oh, right, I heard. Then you can’t go back to the dormitory?”

“Yes. I’m planning to stay somewhere else. Fortunately, my house didn’t burn, so I can stay there, but they told me to move my things because the entire building needs repairs. I’m thinking of going on Saturday evening to move everything out.”

After giving an explanation that Seo-na hadn’t even asked for, Won-woo left the office with a smile. He stopped in front of the elevator, hoping that the pervert stalker would take the bait and move. Because the dormitory had suddenly burned down, the pervert’s lifespan had been extended. He had originally planned to catch him that day and beat him half to death. Therefore, he absolutely had to catch him this time.

While he was thinking only of catching the pervert, the elevator doors opened with a ding. However, he couldn’t enjoy a happy departure from work. His eyes met the person who had already stepped inside. It was Hong Seung-wook. Is the Eastern Center this small? Won-woo stepped back, feeling absurd.

“Please go ahead.”

When Won-woo spoke politely and in the most indifferent tone possible, the other man stared at him and asked slowly.

“Why aren’t you getting on?”

Why? Because I don’t want to get involved with you. Won-woo knew this kind of situation all too well. Since he had been misunderstood annoyingly by Idan at the gimbap shop, it was obvious that exchanging even a single word here would end in disaster. Won-woo turned his body and headed toward the emergency stairs.

“Ha, Ji Won-woo!”

An incredulous voice called out to him loudly from behind, but Won-woo neither stopped his pace nor reacted. Only in melodramatic romance novels do people impulsively turn around. Call my name all you want; it won’t work on me. There is absolutely no fate that will tie us together.

---

“Did you find Ji Won-woo?”

Gye Yoon’s question echoed in the darkness, and a reply soon followed.

[…No.]

Chief Jung’s voice was openly displeased. Gye Yoon’s curses were expected, but he didn’t speak, focusing instead on the building opposite. The blackened Guide dormitory building was completely submerged in darkness, its lights off. His reason for coming here was simple. While he was attending to other business, the people he had attached to Ji Won-woo had lost track of him. So, he had come here to find Ji Won-woo.

“I told you. Stick to him 24 hours a day and track his movements properly. Replace every single person attached to Ji Won-woo. Send the failures to the northernmost Farm and make them toil like dogs for a few years.”

[Yes. However, Ji Won-woo-ssi was quite quick-witted for a Guide. He was too adept at noticing pursuers and hid himself like a ghost…]

“And?”

At Gye Yoon’s low voice, Chief Jung immediately backed down.

[I will select the best surveillance personnel for Ji Won-woo-ssi and send them immediately.]

Gye Yoon was not in a good mood. Both the fact that he had lost track of Ji Won-woo’s movements and the fact that his communicator was currently off, making him unreachable. As if he had developed separation anxiety, his nerves became frayed since he didn’t know where he was. He had come to the burned dormitory solely on a hunch. He didn’t know where he slept last night or tonight, but he thought he might appear at the dormitory at least once.

[By the way, the Alpha seed negotiations are complete, and Miss Hwan-i’s Guide is expected to arrive soon. However, the Guide is uncooperative because they fear the Ji Family, and since their wavelength doesn’t overlap much with the young lady’s, they likely won’t be able to stay long.]

“They’ll cooperate once a knife is at their throat, and as long as there’s even a slight overlap in wavelengths, guiding is possible, so it doesn’t matter.”

Even as he spoke coldly, Gye Yoon didn’t forget to ask about his niece.

“What about Hwan-i?”

[She is the same.]

Gye Yoon silently cut off the communication and stared again at the dark dormitory. At some point, the pain that felt like razor blades shredding his mind had reclaimed him. Gye Yoon was the same. He had returned to how it was before. Won-woo had warned him when he provided guiding: that once he tasted peace, it would be difficult to endure the same pain as before. But there was something Ji Won-woo didn’t know.

No matter how terrible this pain was, as long as there was hope, it was incomparable to the past. With the single hope that he could face peace again, he could endure this pain with a smile. Rather, what he couldn’t endure was the irritating reality of not knowing where he was.

Just not knowing his whereabouts made him feel foul. The strange thing was that when he thought of him, he didn’t think of guiding at all. Naturally, since Won-woo had removed his pain, he should have first craved receiving guiding.

Right now, he just wanted to find him and see his face. He felt as if this irritating anxiety would only vanish once he heard the sound of his breathing. Gye Yoon stared blankly up at the black sky, then closed his eyes and turned on the communicator. The beep, beep sound of the unresponsive communicator felt like the sound of water droplets falling that he always heard in the cave. Even though he was in an open space, it felt as suffocating as that prison.

[Uh, Nani.]

Gye Yoon slowly opened his closed eyes.

[Nani?]

As Gye Yoon’s mouth opened, a low murmur escaped.

“It hurts.”

Won-woo blinked at the single phrase heard from the communicator. Hurts? Why? Is the server having problems again? Did Sang-cheon get scammed on the server? …There was a strong possibility. I should have taken care of it first. Won-woo comforted Nani as if patting him.

“I’ll fix the server problem for you. I’ll make sure to back everything up, so don’t worry.”

But no sound followed. The communication hadn’t been cut. The static remained. Just as he was about to call Nani’s name, a dry voice was heard.

[I’m not worried. It doesn’t matter if I disappear.]

“You can’t.”

Won-woo spoke urgently and wiped his face with his hand.

“I’ll make you live… I told you I’ll make sure you don’t shut down.”

After saying it, Won-woo regretted it a bit. He felt embarrassed that his voice toward a machine sounded so desperate. So, he told him lightly, as if joking.

“You might not care if you disappear because you’re a machine, but you’re not a person. If you want to live, learn and study from people to imitate them.”

[There are people who aren’t.]

“Ha, who?”

[Gye Yoon.]

Won-woo froze for a moment at the unexpected name, then frowned.

“You know Gye Yoon? I mean, you’ve probably heard the name, but how do you know that person doesn’t want to live?”

[Because I heard it directly.]

“Directly? How… ah.”

Just as he was about to ask, Won-woo remembered Sang-cheon, who was between the two of them. Then he realized why Nani’s way of speaking was similar to Gye Yoon’s.

“Was your model Gye Yoon?”

[Yes. Is it similar?]

“Just the voice and the way of speaking. So, do you contact that person?”

The question came out sharp, but Nani answered as if with a hint of a laugh.

[No.]

Ah, I see.

[So please be at ease.]

Won-woo shifted his bewildered gaze in the darkness. He was indeed feeling relieved, just as Nani said. He felt he would be a bit hurt if this machine, who was like his secret friend, was also in contact with someone else. On the other hand, he felt pathetic for obsessing over a relationship with a machine. Fortunately, Nani seemed to have misunderstood Won-woo’s relief in another way.

[I haven’t told anyone about the conversations I’ve had with Ji Won-woo-ssi.]

Good job. Won-woo muttered and leaned his head against the wall behind him.

“So. Does Gye Yoon say he doesn’t want to live because he can’t get guiding?”

[No. He said he’s used to the pain. He said if it were just because of the terrible physical pain, he would have given up on revenge and just died.]

“Then why doesn’t he want to live?”

[He says there’s no reason to live other than revenge.]

“…He has family, right? Since he’d sacrifice himself for his niece, he must be on good terms with his family.”

[Yes. It’s not bad. But I guess it’s not enough of a reason to make him want to live.]

He recalled the eyes of the man he had seen only twice, which were cold and heavy beyond his age. Won-woo erased the afterimage and spoke firmly to Nani.

“Just because your model is that person, you don’t need to imitate those kinds of thoughts.”

[I also have no reason to exist.]

“What do you mean? You have me.”

[…You’ll be my reason to live?]

[Then what if I cling to you?]

The voice had grown even lower, but Won-woo didn’t notice because of the static. So, he answered realistically.

“I don’t have magnetism, and you’re a heavy server, so that’s impossible.”

If he really clung to me, wouldn’t I be crushed to death? As he thought seriously, an unexpected question was heard.