8 – TDG 8

The ​moment ​Han ​Ji-hyuk ​realized he had ​been ​separated ​from ​his ​Guide, he went absolutely ​ballistic.

Although ​I returned immediately ​after receiving the ​call, ​the ​fear ​of ​loss ​and anxiety he ​had ​tasted ​for that brief ​moment didn’t vanish; it ​remained uncomfortably ​lodged inside ​him. Otherwise, ​why would ​a ​guy ​who usually waited ​patiently in ​his room for me ​to arrive come charging ​out like a wild ​colt?

I thought ​that ​after about three weeks, his Guide ​dependency might have subsided ​to ​some ​extent, ​but ​I was gravely ​mistaken. I ​had ​been too hasty. ​This ​ridiculous affliction was caused by ​emotional instability ​resulting ​from damage to ​his ​ego; ​I ​shouldn’t ​have treated ​it ​like a ​scraped knee that would simply heal on ​its own.

‘Once Jung ​Ah-yoon arrives…’

Jung Ah-yoon ​is the only savior ​who can ​cure this chronic ​symptom ​that has caused ​Han Ji-hyuk so ​much pain ​for ​so long.

The ​hair ​tickling near ​my ​ear was ​thick ​and ​soft. When I ​reached ​in to ​gently ​stroke ​it, ​he rubbed his nose against the nape of my neck more actively, as if asking for more.

I remember him hating it when anyone touched his head, so this is quite surprising.

In the quiet room, only the sounds of Han Ji-hyuk’s and my breathing rose and fell in alternation. Sigh… Strangely, this is healing and comforting. Surely this isn’t… like animal therapy or something?

Until now, guiding had been about enduring uncomfortable contact with Espers. However, after meeting Han Ji-hyuk, I realized for the first time that it wasn’t just a grueling chore. The days when I would habitually rub my hands with disinfectant ethanol wipes after finishing a session felt like a distant past.

I can’t tell you how glad I am that you are my last Esper.

Intending to eat breakfast in the room, I called the cafeteria via the internal line. Even as I gave the room number and asked them to bring Han Ji-hyuk’s breakfast here, and until I hung up the phone, he remained motionless in that same position.

…Just in case, let me ask.

“Hey, Ji-hyuk-ssi… do I smell like something?”

His sturdy cheeks puffed out slightly. It looked exactly like he was smiling.

“Mm. A good smell.”

Well, at least it’s not a stench. Then again, if I smelled bad, he would have let go immediately rather than burying his nose in me like that.

It’s probably just the same shampoo, soap, or at most, fabric softener. What a strange guy.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah.”

“We’re going to the training center together today, right?”

As I thought, that’s what he was [Read on Read BL Novels]anxious about. I gave the back of the guy Read on Read BL Novelscovering me [Read on Read BL Novels]a large, soothing pat to tell him not to worry.

“Of course.”

Ji-hyuk let out a long sigh, seemingly quite satisfied, and only then did the tension in his shoulders relax slightly.

“Hyung, eat this.”

Ji-hyuk yielded two pan-fried meatballs to me.

Ha, this is driving me crazy. He’s my kid, but isn’t he just too kind?

Only three were served, and if he gives me two, what is he going to eat?

I placed the meatballs he offered back onto Ji-hyuk’s plate.

“Hyung has bad fuel efficiency, so it’s useless even if I eat. You eat them.”

“If my fuel efficiency is bad, I should eat more. Hurry up and eat.”

“No, you…”

The chopsticks holding the meatballs engaged in a fierce battle in mid-air.

Of course, the loser of the fierce struggle was naturally me.

When I obediently accepted and ate them, he beamed, showing his white teeth. Is he really that happy? I wouldn’t feel this gratified even while watching my own child eat. Feeling suddenly shy, I swallowed what was in my mouth, and he immediately brought another side dish to my lips, telling me to eat more.

That brat knows I melt at his smile.

It wasn’t just my heart; the meatballs melted in my mouth too.

Once Jung Ah-yoon appears, this will all be over.

Seeing as I feel a sense of loneliness, I’ve clearly grown quite fond of him. Honestly, it would be a struggle not to grow fond of a face that flaunts perfection in every direction.

Pat, pat—.

The score on the electronic board rose busily without a moment’s respite.

Han Ji-hyuk was far surpassing the capabilities of an S-rank Esper in every aspect. Even though fire abilities aren’t his main skill, seeing him at this level makes me have high expectations for the psychokinesis that will manifest in Ji-hyuk later.

Even in the original work, it was said that the only thing Han Ji-hyuk couldn’t move was time, such was the terrifying power of his psychokinesis. His stats were so-called “unreachable,” but the aftermath was equally powerful.

The scenes where Jung Ah-yoon understood, comforted, and [Read on Read BL Novels][Read on Read BL Novels]embraced Han Ji-hyuk—who suffered agonizingly after using his power yet couldn’t approach her due to guilt—were the best healing scenes in <Lost Paradise>.

Just wait; the day I see that scene in reality is not far off.

It was just as I was about to return to the dormitory with Han Ji-hyuk after successfully finishing training.

“Hey, are you that famous brat lately?”

A scratchy, unpleasant metallic voice echoed through the hallway.

A man standing crookedly with one hand in his pocket was staring at us from behind. Unfortunately, it was a familiar face.

‘Im Seong-joon…?!’

Unlike the dormitory, the training center wasn’t a building used by Ji-hyuk alone.

Still, the reason we hadn’t encountered other Espers was that the training center operated on a strict reservation system, and the higher the rank of the Esper, the more refined their skills usually were, meaning they didn’t need to frequent the training center.

Therefore, it was impossible for someone to suddenly pop up unless they had intentionally timed their visit.

“Right, huh? Isn’t it him? Hey, what do you think?”

He nudged the Guide standing next to [stolen content]him with his elbow, demanding visit our site[visit our site]an answer. He didn’t seem to care at all that she looked uncomfortable.

Wow… manners you’d only see in Department 7.

Im Seong-joon is an S-rank Esper in his forties, a supporting character from the early part of the story who consistently hated and envied Han Ji-hyuk.

However, he is a half-baked S-rank whose actual skill is only A-rank. He luckily received an upgraded result due to a measurement error, and although questions about his stats have been raised several times since then, he stubbornly refuses re-measurement.

Knowing that the government doesn’t take an active stance because even a nominal S-rank is better than none, he’s a very cunning bastard who plays hard to get.

Since the benefits an S-rank receives are incomparable to those of an A-rank, he probably wants to hold on by any means necessary.

The Esper that Seon Jae-young, the Seonbae from Team 2, had shuddered at earlier was this very guy.

Poor abilities, bad habits—he’s the kind of guy who is like a public enemy to all Guides. Originally, he’s a supporting character who becomes prominent once Han Ji-hyuk is deployed for duty, so why has he crawled out already?

As Han Ji-hyuk stood there in silence, Im Seong-joon picked a fight, showing off his characteristic attitude.

“You should greet your elders, you little brat.”

There it is. He’s barely forty himself, yet his “kkondae” energy pierces the sky.

Before that bastard’s foul temper [stolen content]fully kicked in, I stepped forward quickly Read on Read BL Novelsto divert his attention.

“Esper Im Seong-joon. Hello.”

Im Seong-joon’s crooked gaze snapped to me.

“Who the hell are you to butt in…”

His face, which was twisting menacingly, paused.

The way he scanned me up and down with searching eyes didn’t feel good at all.

“Oh, you’re that… what was it…”

“I am Guide Seo Joo-won.”

Unable to watch any longer, the Guide next to him spoke up.

“Right! Seo Joo-won! So you’re that Seo Joo-won? Oh, I’ve been wanting to see your face.”

Why is he suddenly pretending to be friendly? Seeing as a Guide from another team knows my name, it seems my name has become somewhat known since I became Han Ji-hyuk’s dedicated guide.

“Both of you are green as grass. Still, you’ve got some manners.”

While cursing inside, I gave him a gracious smile on the outside.

“Yes. Thank you. But what brings you to see us?”

“No, well… I was just passing by and saw some unfamiliar faces. Thought I’d say hello. Right? It’s good to get to know each other. What’s the point of being awkward among family members who eat the same food?”

“Ah… yes…”

“Only an Esper knows the heart of another Esper, who else would? You Guides wouldn’t understand our sacrifice even if you woke up from the dead.”

I’m feeling dizzy from the feast of bullshit pouring out the moment he opens his mouth. Suppressing the urge to shove a toilet brush into that smelly mouth, I steadfastly maintained my professional smile.

“The brat’s eyes are fierce. Who’s trying to eat whom, huh?”

Im Seong-joon blatantly ignored me, who was trying to block him, and provoked Han Ji-hyuk again.

This slippery bastard, what exactly is his intention? Is he determined to find some excuse to force a greeting out of a kid?

Since when did the Esper hierarchy operate by age?

“I’m sorry, but we have another training [stolen content]session scheduled. We’re pressed [Read on Read BL Novels]for time, so I think we should be going.”

Understand while I’m being nice and get lost, you damn bastard.

If Ji-hyuk steps forward, what does this incomparable piece of trash think he’s doing acting so cocky?

Im Seong-joon suddenly gave a disgusting smile.

“Seo Joo-won, I heard you’re very good at it?”

“…Pardon?”

The man continued slyly.

“Don’t play dumb just because you’re from Department 7. Rumors are rampant that the kids from there are good at ‘that.’ Once you’re done with this brat, do it with me once too, dedicated guide.”

“……”

It’s not like I have any affection left for Department 7, but still, the Guides there are all living diligently, enduring various hardships for their own goals.

And yet, he treats those people, including me, like prostitutes selling their bodies?

If I were alone, this was an insult I wouldn’t have tolerated.

Suppressing the surge of anger, I quickly grabbed Han Ji-hyuk, who was about to spring forward.

Ji-hyuk’s hand, which I gripped, was clenched so tightly that there was no room to penetrate. His finger bones were bulging under the skin as if they were about to burst through.

“Ji-hyuk-ah.”

Despite my call, he didn’t look back. His profile as he glared at Im Seong-joon was so terrifyingly stiff and rigid that it seemed he could kill a person with his gaze alone. In fact, waves that shook the boundaries of space flowed out from behind Han Ji-hyuk’s shoulders.

That was the power that, during his first awakening, crushed buildings like biscuit cookies and crumpled steel reinforcements like rubber bands.

“Hey, Seo Joo-won. Answer me. Are you going to do it or not?”

Even in this situation, Im Seong-joon, failing to read the room, continued to provoke us with his snide remarks. This idiot doesn’t even know my heart is sinking. My teeth clenched as my blood pressure soared.

I should have realized the meaning of those sleazy, searching eyes sooner. He was making a move on me, his Guide, in order to provoke Han Ji-hyuk.

If a dispute breaks out between Espers and escalates into a conflict, the side that attacked first is 100% the one who gets disciplined.

That’s why he used this petty tactic of insulting the accompanying Guide. It’s a cowardly yet highly effective provocation that allows him to tear down both of them as a pair.

Even if he were referred to the Ethics Committee for this, he’d likely plan to shift the responsibility by visit our siteinsisting, ‘I was just offering a greeting.’ Since there are many cases where people [Read on Read BL Novels]slide by like that, he seems to be calculating that he can pull it off this time too—but that’s only if you can actually survive to attend the hearing, you lunatic.

What kind of game is a man who’s lived long enough playing with a kid who’s like his own son? If Han Ji-hyuk rampages here, it won’t end with a simple fistfight.