6 – TDG 6

He ​really ​is ​quite ​handsome. Clinging to ​every ​protagonist ​buff ​imaginable, ​he possesses a delicate ​beauty ​like an S-rank ​gem, combined with ​a ​sense ​of ​pathos ​and ​an aesthetic, fatal ​allure. ​Where ​on earth did ​he learn to smile ​so bashfully, ​like a ​baby?

In the ​original work, ​Han ​Ji-hyuk ​is described as ​a mesmerizingly ​beautiful man who captures ​the gaze of everyone ​regardless of age or ​gender, thanks ​to ​his tall, slender frame, well-toned physique, ​and especially those melancholy ​eyes ​that ​make ​it ​impossible to look ​away. I ​didn’t ​feel much when ​reading ​it in text, but seeing ​it with ​my ​own eyes, it ​hits ​me ​instantly. ​His ​forehead is ​flawless ​and straight, ​as if carefully polished, and his pupils—deep ​as the abyss ​and shimmering beneath ​thick eyebrows—exude a unique ​atmosphere that ​occasionally leaves one ​speechless.

The ​high, sharp bridge ​of his nose ​that makes ​me ​want to ​touch ​it every ​time ​I see ​it, ​and ​the cynical lips ​that ​play a ​huge ​part ​in ​changing the temperature of his expression in an instant. Every curve of his face is so harmonious and beautiful that if I had to describe Han Ji-hyuk’s beauty in one sentence, he was like ‘a work of art born from the painstaking brushstrokes of a master.’

The strange thing is, despite being much taller and having a far better body than I do, for some reason, he seems so pitiful and anxious that I’m constantly swept up in a whirlwind of worry, feeling like I have to protect him and look after him.

Thanks to this demonic charm buff, he heard he was handsome so often that his ears practically grew calluses, and the female supporting characters who were obsessed with him praised his face as one that invited kisses in every possible way.

The thought that Kwon Min-wook would scar this magnificent face made me angry all over again. They say a man’s scars can sometimes be medals of honor, but that’s only when the face isn’t this level of perfection. Seriously, that bastard is the kind of guy who would call Satan ‘Hyung.’ When looking back, it’s absolutely infuriating that Kwon Min-wook is involved in every single negative aspect of Han Ji-hyuk’s life. In terms of sheer presence, that guy’s share exceeds even that of the female lead, Jung Ah-yoon.

“Hyung. This.”

At the sound of Ji-hyuk’s soft voice reaching my ear, I quickly snapped out of my thoughts and looked up.

He had gently placed a piece of white, boneless fish fillet on top of my rice.

“Ji-hyuk-ah, you eat first. You don’t have to take care of Hyung.”

As I gave a bashful smile, Ji-hyuk shook his head firmly.

“No, Hyung has to eat. You’re so thin, you’re nothing but skin and bones. You’re too small.”

…Hey. It’s not that bad.

And shouldn’t you take into account the special circumstance that anyone would look small and fragile standing in front of you?

“It’s just because you can’t see the hidden muscles in my body…”

At my words, Han Ji-hyuk burst out laughing. No, this brat… is he laughing right now…? When I glared at him with intensity in my eyes, he quickly straightened his face, but he couldn’t hide the way the corners of his mouth trembled.

Seriously, this kid… you… that attitude of ignoring your Hyung isn’t good, you know? I should give him a proper scolding, but he should know that the muscles I need right now are just holding back because we’re on a business trip. Once they return, he’s dead meat.

Meanwhile, Ji-hyuk filleted another thick piece of fish and placed it on my rice.

“Hyung, is the fish tasty?”

“…Mm-hmm.”

As expected—fish handled by the protagonist had a special taste.

After breakfast, Han Ji-hyuk was immediately called to the lab. In the morning, he underwent brainwave and aptitude tests, and in the afternoon, he moved to another building for practical testing.

This building, about three times the size of a [visit our site]soccer stolen contentfield, is [stolen content]filled with auxiliary facilities for the training and convenience of Espers.

• The test will now begin. Please focus on the target.

Han Ji-hyuk broke the score record from the very first test. The researchers seemed quite surprised that he could display this level of skill even while draped in control devices on his hands and feet.

Look at that, my baby is so talented. Who cares about those control devices? Even if there were hundreds of them, they could never hide the brilliance of a protagonist who receives all the love of every exceptional rule.

Once again, I habitually felt overwhelmed and entered ‘fan mode,’ almost punching my own palm in excitement, before spotting the CCTV on the ceiling corner and quickly putting my hands behind my back, pretending to be rational.

When I waved my hand vigorously at the returning Han Ji-hyuk, the flames enveloping his body grew even larger, as if he had gained energy. He raced across the soccer-field-sized training ground. His stamina was truly like a high-speed train that never tired.

Ji-hyuk’s publicly revealed ability was fire, but as befits a protagonist, he had a hidden trump card. Psychokinesis. It’s a power he awakens while trying to save the female lead, Jung Ah-yoon, when she falls into danger. The situation is incredibly dramatic at that time, and I felt excited thinking that the day I’d see it in person wasn’t far off.

Anyway, just watching him run around, he looked like a puppy excited by snow, but his actions were not on a puppy’s scale.

About a dozen targets exploded every second. From this point on, his movements were too fast to follow with the naked eye. Only the precise beeps of the machine signaling hits proved his performance.

I gulped as the score update sounds rang out sharply like explosions.

Good job, my baby. As expected of the world’s only L-Rank prospect!

Ji-hyuk, who was in the middle of raising his score, looked back this way again. At the puppy-like gaze expecting praise, I cheered and clapped with the largest gestures possible. It was starting to become miraculous how he could hit the targets accurately while glancing away whenever he felt like it.

At first, he honestly targeted only the goals, but later, something akin to a performance emerged. It was clear he had a natural talent for moving his body. Han Ji-hyuk’s rhythmical and spectacular movements drew people’s eyes in, as if they were watching an immersive movie.

After the ‘Testing’ light went off, Han Ji-hyuk ripped off the sensors wrapped around his body in one go, threw them aside, and ran toward me.

“Whoa!”

Though the purpose was guiding, he lunges and hugs me like this every time; I don’t know if my ribs will survive. Still, isn’t it cute how he instinctively puts less strength into it before hugging me than usual?

I hugged Han Ji-hyuk back, suppressing his disordered waveform with guiding, and patted his back, telling him he did a great job.

Anyway, once you’re an S-rank Esper, your physical density and durability are several times higher than a normal human’s, so even if I beat him stolen contentwith [Read on Read BL Novels]all my might, my hand would hurt first; he wouldn’t even feel an itch.

“Well done. At this rate, our Ji-hyuk is going to wipe out all the all-time records.”

Han Ji-hyuk grinned at me.

“If that’s what Hyung wants.”

I just said it in passing, but such a faithful answer. He’s so beautiful and dazzling that my heart just melts. Yes, let’s let our Ji-hyuk take it all. Let’s sweep all the OEC international records!

I wanted to put my arm around Han Ji-hyuk’s shoulder, but since I lacked the height, I ended up awkwardly clinging to him.

Sensing my intention, Ji-hyuk lowered his body slightly. He’s quick-witted and kind, too.

I’ll raise him gently and beautifully like this and then send him to Jung Ah-yoon. My heart is swelling with anticipation for the day those two meet.

Suddenly, a streak of mischief hit me.

“Han Ji-hyuk, don’t forget Hyung even after you succeed.”

Han Ji-hyuk wore an expression that said he didn’t know what I meant.

Right. You don’t need to know yet, you cute thing.

While Han Ji-hyuk went to change clothes for the next training session, a researcher approached me.

“Would you mind waiting outside for the next session?”

Is it already that time?

It seems they’re planning to start training him to maintain distance from me.

“Will it be okay?”

“At this level of numerical value, it should be sufficient.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say, ‘Actually, our Ji-hyuk has a Guide dependency… and it’s severe…’

I couldn’t push the novel’s setting about his ego awakening in front of people who quantified Ji-hyuk’s state more thoroughly than anyone. I became a coward and obediently walked outside. However, this attempt at separation met with fierce opposition and was thwarted.

The party opposing it was none other than Han Ji-hyuk.

At the urgent instruction to return, I threw down the coffee I was drinking and ran back, only to find Han Ji-hyuk running wild like a madman.

Under the flame waves he emitted, the building’s interior materials—which were supposed to withstand S-rank power—were cracking wide open. The floor shook as if there were an earthquake, making it hard to keep my balance unless I held onto something. Did his control devices come off? He has this much power even while wearing them? It’s only been 15 minutes since training resumed. I had no idea what on earth had happened in that short time to make the kid lose it.

The lab had become a disaster zone due to the fires Han Ji-hyuk caused, and the heat from the raging fire-winds tore through and crushed the mechanical equipment, melting them like sugar water. The equipment wasn’t the problem; the researchers trapped inside might die.

I quickly pressed myself against the lab window and pounded on the glass.

“Ji-hyuk-ah!”

At my shout, Han Ji-hyuk, who had his back to me, whipped around. His pupils, burning blue like a tiger’s glare, made my knees tremble just by looking at them.

Silence settled over Han Ji-hyuk’s face, which had been twisted and soaring with rage. He blinked, and as if a piece of film had been cut out, he was suddenly right in front of me. I was immediately pulled into his embrace.

“Hyung…!”

He gripped me with a force far more violent than usual, rubbing me against his body as if trying to attach me to himself. He tightened his hold without a single gap, and the sensation of his lips rubbing against the nape of my neck was so hot and explicit that it sent shivers down my spine.

I tried to pull away slightly because I was suffocating, but he held me so stubbornly that my heels were lifted off the ground. When I moved just a little, even his breathing became ragged and heavy, so I figured I shouldn’t provoke him further. Oh, whatever. Do what you want. Just put me back where you found me when you’re done.

“Yes, yes, Hyung is here. Everything’s okay now. So calm…”

“Where did you go?!”

Maintaining the strength in the arms hugging me, Han Ji-hyuk asked in a sharp, interrogating voice. I felt like he would never let go if I didn’t answer.

“Um, I was nearby.”

“Where nearby?”

“Right here. Within a distance where I’d run to you the moment you called.”

“……”

When I answered cheerfully on purpose, the gaze of the boy—who had looked like he was filled with distrust and ready to stab anyone—softened.

In the original work, Ji-hyuk’s Guide dependency worsens severely after meeting Kwon Min-wook. However, seeing as the symptoms eased after he met Jung Ah-yoon, it probably wasn’t that severe to begin with. Still, he clearly has a disposition for anxiety and obsession, so I had to handle him carefully.

I gave a look to the researcher who was lying unsightly on the floor, covered in a scorched gown.

‘It’s too early for that.’