4 – TDG 4

Listen ​carefully, ​Seo ​Joo-won.

You ​only get one ​chance.

You ​absolutely ​cannot ​make ​a mistake.

The waveform seemed ​to ​have no order ​or pattern, but ​there ​comes ​a ​moment ​where ​it stops, if ​only ​for ​a split second.

The ​gale blowing frantically was ​so fierce ​that my ​eyes didn’t ​just sting—it ​was ​painful ​enough to bring ​tears to ​them—but blinking was a ​luxury I couldn’t afford. ​Straining every nerve to ​find an ​opening, ​I threw my body forward, relying ​entirely on instinct. The ​moment ​I ​succeeded ​in ​grabbing Han Ji-hyuk ​with all ​my ​limbs intact, a ​massive ​surge of catharsis spread through ​me.

I did ​it!

Without ​a moment to ​celebrate, ​I ​opened ​my ​arms and ​hugged ​him with ​all my might.

“Ji-hyuk! Han Ji-hyuk! Calm down!”

That ​alone made him ​hesitate for a ​moment. Seizing the opening, ​I grabbed ​his face and ​pressed ​my lips to ​his.

Usually, skin contact ​is enough ​to ​soothe an ​Esper, ​but once ​they ​enter a ​’rampage,’ ​it’s ​useless. At the ​very ​least, mucosal ​contact ​was ​required. ​In the middle of this chaos, there was no time to carefully align waveforms. Mucosal contact possesses the critical function of forcibly and automatically delivering a Guide’s guiding to an Esper.

Pulling on the back of his head as he faltered, I sucked on his [Read on Read BL Novels]lips desperately. Since this wasn’t a task [Read on Read BL Novels]that required a specific skill, the method didn’t matter.

Calm down, please just calm down…!

“……!”

I don’t know how much time had passed, but Han Ji-hyuk, who had been limp, suddenly lunged upward with both arms. The moment a stifled groan escaped him, those long arms snatched my waist like claws and threw me down onto the floor.

Oof.

Enduring the pain that felt as if my ribs were being crushed, I looked up to see eyes burning like wildfire. Two piercing blue eyes harboring extreme hunger and desperation. Just being stared at made my breath hitch and my mind go hazy; my entire body trembled.

His face drew closer, slowly scanning me as his eyes rolled, and he teased his lips against mine. As I remained frozen in extreme tension, he seemed pleased, letting out a low rumble in his throat before opening his mouth and pressing down on my lips.

As I curled my body and tightened my muscles, his tongue, carrying a fierce scent, pushed in, urging me to open my mouth. When I opened it instinctively, his thick tongue slid in like a snake, filling my entire mouth.

“Hng, ugh… mmp.”

As my breath trembled, a sound like a sob leaked from my throat. Han Ji-hyuk pinned both hands beside my head and moved his tongue delicately and densely, as if trying to feel every fold of my lips. The eyes that were slowly swallowing and tasting my insides were no longer crazed. The turbid energy that had clouded his vision had vanished, replaced by the eyes of a beast harboring a newfound desire, scanning me thoroughly.

The sensation of his tongue slowly swimming in my mouth made me feel as if I were being eaten whole. Contrary to the fact that he was regaining his composure, the trembling of my body only grew. I couldn’t even tell if the tingling sensation invading my brain was fear or excitement.

The power that had been raging and roaring like a wild beast gradually weakened. Han Ji-hyuk’s waveform was also drawing a much calmer parabola than before.

The guiding is working.

Even as my lips were being bitten, a thin shiver ran up my spine out of joy that the guiding was being sucked out of me like water.

The strength in the hands that had been gripping me painfully, as if to break me, gradually faded. As soon as our deeply entwined tongues parted, I turned my head and let out a small cough.

I was exhausted and aching, but I didn’t loosen my arms around his neck. I was afraid that if I let go for even a moment, he might disappear somewhere. Panting, I looked up to see pitch-black eyes, sunken like a swamp, peering through his disheveled hair. They were eyes so calm it was hard to believe he was the owner of that ferocious power just moments ago.

A deep sigh spread through my chest. It was because I was angry at my own stupidity for not having a single cool introductory line prepared after finally meeting you. Perhaps because my feelings for you, which had been nearly blind, had piled up so much they had hardened like a fossil, this stupid mouth only trembled helplessly, unable to utter even a simple greeting.

I could feel Han Ji-hyuk’s confusion as tears spilled over before words could. Unable to control the tears that poured out despite my efforts to hold them back, I wiped my cheeks over and over, struggling to pull out the words I had buried under my tongue.

“I-it’s okay, Ji-hyuk… You’ll be okay now.”

The sound of sirens was drifting in from the distance.

Han Ji-hyuk was detained by the dispatched special forces and rushed to the Center. Moved to a laboratory located deep within the living quarters building, control devices to suppress his power were attached to his body, and various tests were carried out in succession.

Normally, outsiders cannot enter this area, but I was granted access because I was the first-contact Guide. This was so I could be mobilized whenever Han Ji-hyuk needed guiding.

Ah. Come to think of it, in the confusion, I accidentally called him by his name… How foolish. I wonder if it’s okay…

Wrapped in a blanket given to me by a paramedic, I stood outside the lab, watching only Han Ji-hyuk. They said he was an aesthetically pleasing beauty, and while it’s true he is incredibly handsome, his sleeping face is also harmless and cute, like a child’s. Regardless, the fact that I am here looking at that face right now is so joyful and wondrous that I couldn’t take my eyes off him for a second.

“Joo-won!”

It’s my father. He must have come after hearing the news. Since we were both busy and only went home to sleep, it had been a long time since I’d seen him.

He even left all his aides behind so I wouldn’t worry.

As my father looked at me with worried eyes, I instinctively shrank back, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Joo-won, are you alright?”

“Yes… I’m okay.”

I tightened the blanket, afraid he might see my body, which was bruised and scraped in every color from enduring Han Ji-hyuk.

I made a point to meet his eyes and give a brave smile, but it didn’t seem to be much comfort. My father’s eyes were full of anxiety and concern. Would a normal son have acted cute? I hesitated once again. It can’t be helped. It’s just because I’m not used to it. Not used to it.

Whether he knew about the war-like conflict happening inside me or not, my father caressed my cheek with his large, calloused hand.

“I was shocked when I heard the news. You stopped an Esper’s awakening rampage? How did that happen…?”

“Well… I just happened to find him while passing by….”

“I just checked the footage from the scene. My heart nearly stopped.”

A strong sense of fear lingered in my father’s voice. From a parent’s perspective, thinking that [Read on Read BL Novels]he could have lost [unauthorized copy]his child left him speechless with guilt.

My father couldn’t find the words and simply patted my shoulder. Just from the pressure in his fingertips, I could tell what he wanted to say.

My eyes were already swollen from crying, but the bridge of my nose stung again.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No. I’m really okay.”

I was grateful to my father, who had believed everything I said and supported me wholeheartedly since five years ago.

Coming to this world, I learned the love of parents for the first time. In the beginning, I couldn’t find my footing in anything, and it all remained as a sense of debt, making me feel that I had to give back as much as I received.

But my parents didn’t want that. My father simply wanted to see me grow. For the first time in my life, I felt a sincere desire to live up to someone’s expectations. Even if I’m not the real son and my understanding of filial piety is only superficial, still.

With a lump in my throat, I lowered my head without saying a word.

I didn’t want to see my father pass away.

I intended to do my best for that.

The test results showed that Han Ji-hyuk’s ability was S-Rank or higher. However, for some reason, it was completely uncontrollable.

His situation was different from other S-Ranks, who usually regain stolen contentstability quickly after a few days of [visit our site]instability. The higher-ups decided that he unauthorized copyrequired a forced dedicated assignment.

The reason Han Ji-hyuk was uncontrollable was simple. It was because his capacity would eventually rise to L-Rank.

An unknown peak that no one in the world had ever reached.

However, it was a cruel power for a young man who had only just become an adult this year to endure.

When the manager announced they were looking for a dedicated guide, several Guides applied—including Kwon Min-wook—but uniquely, no Guide other than me could control Ji-hyuk. The researcher said it seemed to be due to the specificity of the initial awakening. To put it simply, it refers to a tendency to be drawn to one’s first Guide.

Some Guides complained about a complete novice getting a dedicated assignment, but what were they going to do when Han Ji-hyuk insisted it had to be me?

I secretly gave the middle finger to the back of Kwon Min-wook as he walked away with a displeased face. Get lost from my favorite’s life, you cancer-inducing bastard.

“Oh my! Our youngest has hit the jackpot. All that hardship was just fertilizer for today!”

“As expected, the chosen one is the chosen one.”

Seonbae Soo-jeong had a look of blatant envy. She said she hated dedicated assignments, but it seemed she secretly wanted one.

“Congratulations, rookie! A dedicated guide for a freshly awakened S-Rank Esper. Do you know the odds of you breaking through a probability harder than the lottery? I told you that you were lucky. Should I start a fortune-telling business?”

Team leader Park Chi-soo was forcing himself to hold it in, but the corners of his mouth were twitching.

It seemed that having a dedicated guide visit our site[stolen content]emerge from [Read on Read BL Novels]his team was a pretty good thing for the Team leader as well.

“In my ten years as a Team leader, this is the first time I’ve had such a massive achievement.”

“You became Team leader five years ago.”

“Soo-jeong, you be quiet.”

Seon Jae-young, who had his head buried in a gaming device, asked nonchalantly.

“Are we having a company dinner today?”

Park Chi-soo snorted.

“Seo Joo-won became the dedicated guide, so why should you guys reap the benefits?”

“Aw, don’t be so stingy.”

I cautiously added my thoughts.

“…But it’s only temporary anyway. It ends once Han Ji-hyuk can stand on his own.”

I didn’t want to throw cold water on the mood, but it felt like everyone was getting too excited.

Team leader Park Chi-soo gripped my shoulder as if telling me not to think that way.

“Joo-won. All dedicated assignments are ‘temporary’ anyway. Unless you form a soul bond with the Esper.”

“No such thing exists.”

Seon Jae-young snorted.

“It does! It’s a legend passed down in the Center called ‘bonding.’”

“The team was only formed a few years ago, why are you talking about legends….”

“Leave him be. Our Team leader is an old bachelor who loves romance.”

Ignoring Seon Jae-young and Yoon Soo-jeong’s banter, Park Chi-soo took only me to an empty spot. He intentionally lowered his voice.

“Orders have come down from the top. Your access restrictions to the classified facilities will be lifted, and you’ll be provided with separate housing within the Center. Because the situation is special, it’s been decided that 24-hour dedicated marking is necessary for a few days. Are you prepared?”

I had expected this. I nodded immediately.

“Of course.”