Chapter 52
Though engrossed in her work, Seo Jae-yi was still paying attention to Baek Joo-won.
“I was never interested in this kind of thing before. As a Heat Manipulation Esper who only knew how to crush or burn things to death, it was only natural.”
The youngest S-rank Esper in Korea, awakened at thirteen.
It was a fancy title, but it didn’t bring her any happiness.
Instead of learning things that only teenagers could experience, she had been forced to learn how to fight.
That was why she didn’t know how to do anything else. The government had raised her like that, confined to the Center, isolated from her family.
“But one day, I saw plants growing again on the land I had turned to ashes with my ability.”
The scene was still vivid in her mind.
A plant, infused with the dungeon master’s power, sprouting amidst the thick smoke and suffocating black ashes.
It was the first time she had seen something like that since awakening as an Esper.
“It was awe-inspiring. And I was curious. Could I, who had always only destroyed, also nurture life?”
Only after reaching the brink of death could Seo Jae-yi dream a new dream.
She didn’t call the dungeon master her benefactor for nothing. He had given her a reason to keep living and shown her the wonder of life.
“It was difficult at first, and I would have failed without help, but I eventually made it this far.”
Thanks to Kim Yoo-sung filling her greenhouse with life force, she could maintain her flower shop even without customers. Thanks to her Guild members rushing to her aid whenever her greenhouse caught fire, she could protect her shop. Thanks to Seo Won-yeong crafting her tools, she could cultivate flowers.
With so many people supporting her, Seo Jae-yi wanted to live even more.
“And now?”
“Now it’s become an essential part of my life, not just a hobby. I draw strength from the vitality of flowers, and I realize that my ability isn’t just for destruction when I see dungeon plants feeding on fire.”
And one more thing.
“Seeing the dungeon plants I cultivated help other Awakened individuals brought me unexpected joy.”
Espers and Guides were constantly pushed into dungeons.
Great power came with great responsibility, so she didn’t have any complaints about fighting monsters and subjugating dungeons. Seo Jae-yi even enjoyed it sometimes.
But that didn’t mean she wasn’t afraid.
No Awakened individual, not even an S-rank like her, could guarantee their survival in a dungeon. They could sustain serious, lifelong injuries, or even die.
But the dungeon plants she cultivated could help them. Espers could subjugate dungeons more safely.
As a fellow Awakened individual, there was nothing more fulfilling. Especially considering her own experience of being forced into dungeons against her will as a child.
This newfound purpose had shattered her previous belief that even death was just a part of life. Perhaps that was why she craved Baek Joo-won even more.
‘I only cultivated flowers because I didn’t know how long I would live.’
Unlike flowers, which had short lifespans, foliage plants could live for decades. But she had focused on flowers because of her limited lifespan.
‘Should I try growing monsteras or ferns if my lifespan increases after being paired with Baek Joo-won?’
Seo Jae-yi chuckled, imagining the future.
Ah, it felt so good to anticipate the future.
“Wow, I’m so glad I’m an S-rank. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without my strength and stamina.”
She was finally done after tending to all the dungeon plants and flowers. Her back cracked.
“Please wait a moment while I change. I’ll focus on you now, Baek Joo-won.”
Her white T-shirt, already stained with blood, was completely ruined, thanks to the actively moving dungeon plants.
She had worn it specifically because she planned to throw it away anyway.
“Before that, wait.”
Baek Joo-won approached Seo Jae-yi, who was taking off her gloves.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your side hurts, right?”
Seo Jae-yi flinched at his question.
The bruise on her side, where Park Hyung-woo had punched her during their sparring match. It couldn’t possibly not hurt, even though she had infused some of her power into the blow.
“Was it that obvious?”
“You were wincing every now and then while working.”
She was surprised he had noticed.
“Why don’t you ask for Guiding?”
“Huh?”
“It’s a wound that would heal instantly with Guiding. Like during the Guiding experiment.”
He was talking about the time when her arm had been shredded by Yoon Ji-hyun’s wind. Baek Joo-won had healed her with just a brief Guiding session.
Yet Seo Jae-yi hadn’t asked for Guiding, hadn’t even hinted at wanting it, even though they were alone in the greenhouse.
“Why aren’t you asking? You could at least request it.”
“…I told you before. I won’t casually receive Guiding from a baby Guide who hasn’t even finished his training.”
She had heard he was a fast learner.
But that didn’t change the fact that he had been awakened for less than a month.
Her condition was already poor, and she didn’t know what might happen during Guiding, especially that incredibly intense Guiding. And they were alone here, with no one to stop them.
It was too risky. What if she lost control and overpowered him, suffocating him?
It was better to endure this pain.
“Honestly, my side is uncomfortable, but it’s not like my overload level increased from using my ability, and it’s an injury from a personal sparring match, so it’s fine.”
“I was the one who wanted to see that personal sparring match. Isn’t it my responsibility to heal the injury I caused?”
She couldn’t argue with that…
While Seo Jae-yi was speechless, Baek Joo-won stepped closer. They were standing very close now.
This was the first time she had been this close to him. Seo Jae-yi realized he was much taller than she thought.
That inexplicable pressure she had felt from him before returned, pinning her in place. She could only look up at him, unable to move.
His hand gently touched her injured side.
“And I can’t stand seeing you walk around with an injury inflicted by someone who openly wished for your death. I don’t like it.”
“Why would you care about that…?”
“That’s what I’m wondering. Why does his behavior bother me so much?”
“…”
“To die? I, the only one who can save you, want you to live. What does he know?”
Seo Jae-yi was startled by his sincere words, something she had never heard before.
“Are you serious?”
“Think of it as the effect of all the bribes you’ve diligently given me.”
While she was speechless, flustered, Baek Joo-won lifted her onto the table.
She winced as the pressure on her injury caused a sharp pain.
“Why would you endure this pain?”
“Wait, hold on.”
“I’ve been diligently practicing Guiding, so I’ve graduated from a baby Guide to a teenage Guide. And you know teenagers don’t listen, right?”
He could say such nonsense too?
While Seo Jae-yi stared at him blankly, he gently lifted her T-shirt. A dark bruise, alarmingly prominent, was visible next to her well-defined abs.
“…You have impressive abs.”
But her abs were more noticeable than the bruise.
Seo Jae-yi felt a surge of pride, seeing him staring at them, but it was short-lived. She winced as his rough fingers touched the bruised area.
“Just holding hands would be enough.”
She felt a bit self-conscious, having a stranger’s hand on her sensitive, injured area.
But Baek Joo-won ignored her and continued to gently massage her stomach.
“It’s more effective to directly Guide the injured area, so stay still.”
He was right. He was no longer a baby Guide, but a teenage Guide.
“I’ll only Guide enough to heal the injury. I’ll stop if it feels like too much.”
He started Guiding without hesitation. Seo Jae-yi gasped as a refreshing energy, a stark contrast to the dull, throbbing pain, surged into the injured area.
Her hand instinctively gripped his shoulder.
Wait, this felt…
“Ugh…”
“Does it hurt?”
“No, it’s not that… It’s, ugh, it feels like it hurts, but…”
Seo Jae-yi had received brief Guiding sessions from Baek Joo-won before.
This was the third time, including this one, that she had truly felt his energy… but it felt different this time.
It was more vivid, more refreshing, more invigorating. The sensation, spreading through her body with a tingling intensity, was almost painful.
Seo Jae-yi trembled, gasped, and tilted her head back. Her eyes met Baek Joo-won’s.
He was staring at her intently, his gaze almost unnerving. Or rather, he was staring into her eyes, as if searching for something.
She couldn’t move, her gaze captured by his unwavering stare.
Her mind was slowly being consumed by the Guiding. She couldn’t think of anything else but Baek Joo-won, the Guide before her.
All her senses were focused solely on him.
Ah, look at his eyes. My Guide wants something from me. He wants it intensely.
So I have to give it to him. Whatever it is, even if it’s everything I have.
To my Guide…
“…No, wait. Stop…”
Just before her mind was completely submerged, Seo Jae-yi gasped and managed to regain control. She bit her lip and tried to push him away.
But she couldn’t use much force, fearing she might hurt him. He didn’t budge. He even leaned closer, their faces so close that their breaths mingled.
The dark bruise had completely disappeared. With no injury left to heal, his refreshing energy swept through her body.
Seo Jae-yi shuddered as an overwhelming life force, surging from head to toe, filled her. Her lips parted involuntarily.
“Stop, now!”
She felt like something terrible would happen if this continued.
Seo Jae-yi, gritting her teeth and enduring, finally pushed Baek Joo-won away with both hands.
“…Ah.”
Baek Joo-won blinked slowly, as if finally snapping out of it.
The Guiding that had been pouring into her stopped.
He stared blankly at Seo Jae-yi, who was now half-lying on the table.