Chapter 19:
“Take him for treatment. We can’t continue the Guiding practice today in this state.”
“Ah, yes, sir.”
Seo Jae-yi stepped off Jo Won-jung’s back and effortlessly lifted him with one hand, handing him over to the instructor.
Just as the instructor was hurriedly supporting Jo Won-jung and about to leave the training room…
Kwon Yi-soo grabbed Jo Won-jung’s arm. He groaned in pain, but Kwon Yi-soo ignored him.
“…It was an unexpected accident, but it certainly demonstrated the high efficiency of Guide Baek Joo-won’s Guiding.”
His words drew everyone’s attention to the Esper receiver on Jo Won-jung’s wrist. A number was clearly displayed on the watch face.
【Overload Progress — 23%】
It had decreased by 4% despite the short Guiding session. Considering their Matching Rate was 52%, it was quite effective.
“Esper Jo Won-jung will be suspended from training until his condition improves.”
Jo Won-jung, who had been staring blankly at his watch, flinched at Kwon Yi-soo’s words and looked up. However, knowing his own mistake, he could only lower his head again.
After the instructor and Jo Won-jung left, Seo Jae-yi retrieved the toppled chair and helped Baek Joo-won sit down. His hand, which had been smooth and elegant, was now swollen, and she felt a pang of sympathy.
“I should have stayed by your side. I came here to help in case of emergency, but I’m sorry I was too late.”
Seeing him clench and unclench his fingers, it seemed like his bones and muscles were fine, but she still felt bad.
“It’s not your fault, Ms. Seo Jae-yi. But you’ll keep apologizing anyway, so I’ll accept your sentiment.”
Seo Jae-yi, who had been gloomily observing his hand, looked up at his words. Baek Joo-won’s gentle smile was reflected in her eyes.
“And thank you for helping before my hand got broken. I’ve accepted your feelings, so you should accept mine too, right?”
His playful words, accompanied by his smile, finally brought a smile to her face. It would be rude to keep apologizing after he said that.
“Oh no! My bouquet!”
As she was about to stand up to perhaps apply some medicine to his hand, Seo Jae-yi saw the bouquet lying in a corner, crushed under the table Jo Won-jung had flung aside. Her face fell.
Could she go back and punch him one more time?
“Sigh, there’s nothing I can do about it now.”
Seo Jae-yi gathered the remnants of the ruined bouquet, swallowing her tears, and made a decision.
“Let’s go to my shop after this. I’ll make you a new bouquet.”
“You never miss an opportunity, do you?”
“Perhaps I was born to be a salesperson.”
Seo Jae-yi grinned.
“But what about the Guiding practice? This can’t keep happening.”
Seo Jae-yi stood up, holding the remnants of the bouquet, lost in thought. Just then, Baek Joo-won approached her and plucked a single red rose, the only flower that remained relatively intact.
“Seo Jae-yi, why don’t you receive Guiding yourself?”
Kwon Yi-soo, who had been silently observing them, spoke. Seo Jae-yi was startled by the unexpected suggestion.
“Me? You want me to receive it? Are you serious? Have you forgotten that I could overload? Did you get hit in the head by the table Jo Won-jung threw?”
She was so surprised that her old habit of speaking rudely resurfaced.
Kwon Yi-soo ignored her tone and continued.
“You were scheduled to receive Guiding from Baek Joo-won soon anyway, so there’s no harm in doing it a little earlier. And you said it yourself.”
“Wh-what did I say?”
“That you could control yourself because I taught you.”
Ah…
Seo Jae-yi closed her mouth, remembering their conversation in the observation room.
Kwon Yi-soo’s words had a hidden meaning.
If she could truly control herself, then do it now. Before his eyes.
“Let’s see if you can.”
It was also a warning. If she lost control and acted like Jo Won-jung, the Center would claim Baek Joo-won.
If she truly wanted him, she had to prove her words, that she wouldn’t harm him.
“Guide Baek Joo-won, I noticed you calmly cut off Guiding during the Esper’s overload, without panicking.”
“Yes, it wasn’t that difficult.”
“Then can you do it again? With Seo Jae-yi as your partner. Let me warn you, Seo Jae-yi is different from Esper Jo Won-jung. You could be seriously injured. Can you do it?”
Seo Jae-yi anxiously glanced at Baek Joo-won. Their eyes met as he happened to be looking at her.
“…”
Despite the chaos, Baek Joo-won’s expression remained calm. He didn’t seem surprised or afraid.
It wasn’t a forced composure; he genuinely seemed unfazed.
Seo Jae-yi, who had been slightly anxious, also calmed down.
Right, she had nothing to fear. Her fear would only make Baek Joo-won uneasy. She had to show him she was composed to reassure him.
“I’m confident I can do it, but you don’t have to if you’re scared.”
Unfortunately, her words sounded like a challenge.
Both Kwon Yi-soo and Baek Joo-won looked at her with dumbfounded expressions. Was she telling him to do it or not to do it?
“…Alright. You’ve made me curious.”
“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant. You really don’t have to.”
“Sit down.”
Since the table was broken, they sat facing each other without anything between them. Their knees almost touched as Baek Joo-won extended his reddened hand.
“I’ll subdue you if there’s a problem.”
Seo Jae-yi nodded at Kwon Yi-soo’s words and took a deep breath.
…It would be okay. She had been practicing restraint.
She had even spent six months in an empty dungeon, desperately trying to control her overload.
She had learned patience; she could now control herself better than anyone else.
Seo Jae-yi gently placed her hands on top of Baek Joo-won’s. Her hands were much smaller than his, but they were rough and calloused from years of fighting.
“Begin.”
Baek Joo-won slowly initiated Guiding at Kwon Yi-soo’s command. Life force flowed into her through their clasped hands.
Seo Jae-yi unconsciously held her breath.
She had only received Guiding from Baek Joo-won twice before, both times unintentionally and abruptly.
So she hadn’t fully understood. But now, receiving it slowly and properly, she finally realized.
Why Jo Won-jung had lost control. Why her body and mind craved Baek Joo-won.
The headache that had been her constant companion since her awakening slowly dissipated under the soothing Guiding, like a breath of fresh air in a forest. Her body, which had been constantly aching since the incident a year ago, felt lighter.
The terrible thirst that had parched her was being quenched.
A sense of fullness, as if she had absorbed all the life force of a lush forest, filled her being.
Baek Joo-won’s Guiding pierced her core, claiming her entirely, from head to toe. She was conquered.
It was exhilarating.
But the clearer her mind became, the more a single thought dominated her: possess Baek Joo-won.
“…Ah.”
Her mouth watered. Her entire body tensed, like a starved beast presented with a feast.
Her black eyes, burning with desire, fixated on him, wanting to devour him whole.
If you possess him, you can become whole.
A tempting voice whispered from somewhere deep within her.
Yes, you’re right. If I have him, I can be at peace. I can fill my dying body with life force. I can live.
If only I have him, if only I have him…
Seo Jae-yi’s body started trembling, just like Jo Won-jung’s hand before he lost control.
Kwon Yi-soo, sensing something was wrong, reached out to grab her shoulder.
“…It’s okay. You don’t have to be afraid.”
Kwon Yi-soo’s hand froze in midair.
Seo Jae-yi’s voice, strained with effort, trembled along with her body, but she hadn’t lost control.
“I won’t hurt Mr. Baek Joo-won.”
Seo Jae-yi, who had been looking down at the cracked floor, slowly raised her head, as if enduring something.
The moment her eyes, usually clear and bright, were fully revealed, Baek Joo-won flinched.
They were burning with a fiery intensity.
Seo Jae-yi’s desire, pouring out as soon as their eyes met, was shockingly blatant. Baek Joo-won realized for the first time that human desire could be fully expressed through a single glance.
Seo Jae-yi wanted to possess him. Just like Jo Won-jung, she was clearly battling the urge to overpower him, to drain his energy, his very life force.
The flames in her eyes revealed her true intentions. Her S-rank Esper instincts were running wild.
Even a slight release of her overwhelming desire, far surpassing Jo Won-jung’s, could easily shatter Baek Joo-won’s ordinary body.
But he didn’t feel the urge to flee. He was captivated, unable to move.
“…It’s okay.”
Because Seo Jae-yi’s hands, while reassuring him with words, held no force.
Despite having strong hands, calloused from years of fighting, her touch was incredibly gentle. She didn’t hurt Baek Joo-won’s swollen hand.
“…”
Baek Joo-won couldn’t tear his gaze away from Seo Jae-yi, who was enduring such a powerful desire.
The day might come when she would finally succumb to that desire. But he wasn’t afraid. A crazy thought crossed his mind: even if that day came, he would be okay.
Baek Joo-won chuckled, amused by his own thoughts.
Their eyes, holding conflicting emotions, remained locked as Guiding continued.
They had even forgotten that Kwon Yi-soo was watching them intently from the side.