Chapter 30: Don’t Touch Him

Ye-seon reflexively turned his head to look at Su-ha. Su-ha’s face was twisted as if he might rush out at any second, but for whose sake was that expression?

Ye-seon, who knew Su-ha’s feelings toward I-hyeon better than anyone, naturally assumed it was because of Min I-hyeon, yet he felt a subtle sense that something didn’t quite line up. Still, it wasn’t what mattered right now.

Meanwhile, Chaewon’s eyes, which had grown unfocused, slowly cleared as they followed I-hyeon’s voice. Min I-hyeon was strong. Even while Chaewon had been pushed to this state, I-hyeon hadn’t had his breathing disrupted even once.

One could say that was only natural, since I-hyeon wasn’t actually fighting, but even if I-hyeon and Chaewon had truly fought here, the result wouldn’t have been much different. No, Chaewon would have ended up in far worse shape, far sooner.

The gap felt immeasurable. It was almost embarrassing to label them both S-rank. Differences in experience weren’t something Chaewon was even considering anymore.

To him, only espers like the ones standing before him deserved to go out into the world, save people, and receive a guide’s support.

Brushing I-hyeon’s hand aside, Chaewon slowly pushed himself up.

“I can do it one more time.”

His voice trembled helplessly, yet it didn’t sound weak. The energy rising from Chaewon’s body was incomparably weaker than at the start, but paradoxically, I-hyeon found this esper more threatening than before.

“It won’t be easy.”

“It’s okay. If nothing else, I’m good at enduring.”

Chaewon had nothing he could be confident about. Becoming stronger, gaining overwhelming combat power, earning the recognition of others here, or of Jin Su-ha, he couldn’t be sure he would manage any of it.

But he could endure. No matter what it was, enduring was something he could do better than anyone. Even if he couldn’t become strong, even if he never possessed the overwhelming presence and power of Min I-hyeon, even if he ultimately failed to earn others’, Jin Su-ha’s, recognition.

Even if these terrible side effects shattered his bones and tore through his flesh.

Still.

Chaewon would not give up. He would endure. That was all he had.

“I’m ready.”

Forcing his trembling legs to hold firm against the floor, Chaewon straightened, and once more his energy formed a blue barrier.

It shone more brilliantly than any esper’s power they had ever seen.

Su-ha bit down on his lip until blood welled up. His heart was pounding in a very strange way.

****

Everyone held their breath. Even knowing this wasn’t a real battle, the sight of Chaewon standing there, barely holding himself upright, stirred something deep in people’s hearts.

There was no need to root for anyone, yet those present found themselves hoping Chaewon would endure, that he wouldn’t fall. Even though his opponent was none other than Min I-hyeon, the man who enjoyed absolute trust from everyone. It was strange.

Red energy flared again from I-hyeon’s body. Now at the eighth stage, his attack was undeniably threatening. It seemed impossible that Chaewon could withstand those flames.

“Captain Min isn’t careless. He’ll adjust the level appropriately, so don’t worry too much, Su-ha,” Ye-seon said quietly to Su-ha, who had looked anxious for some time.

Su-ha nodded without replying. He knew I-hyeon would handle it properly, yet the unease twisting in his gut, the aversion to this situation, refused to fade.

“We’ll begin.”

“Yes.”

Gone was I-hyeon’s playful expression. Chaewon answered briefly, slowly steadying his breath and drawing up his energy.

Even before the attack began, his body started to tremble. He looked so pitiful that it seemed impossible to strike him, but I-hyeon didn’t so much as blink.

The air vibrated heavily. The energy radiating from I-hyeon pushed the surrounding air back like a gust of wind. His light brown bangs fluttered softly; Min I-hyeon looked like a painting come to life. Yet the blue light surrounding Chaewon made I-hyeon appear almost like a villain by contrast.

Then, in the moment when everyone clenched their fists and held their breath, the terrifying firestorm I-hyeon unleashed engulfed Chaewon whole.

****

Silence fell everywhere. No one could move easily. The instant I-hyeon’s flames struck Chaewon’s barrier, someone covered their mouth.

Chaewon couldn’t completely block the attack. The barrier held for barely two seconds before bursting apart and scattering into the air, and at the same time, I-hyeon fully withdrew his power so that not a single hair on Chaewon’s body was harmed.

It was control so perfect it sent chills down their spines.

All eyes searched for Chaewon. Having endured I-hyeon’s final attack at the very edge of his limits, Chaewon’s condition was all that mattered now.

In the quiet space, the sound of blood dripping from Chaewon’s lips onto the floor echoed. Before it could repeat, his body began to collapse, and just as I-hyeon took a step toward him,

“Lee Chaewon.”

Su-ha, who had already rushed over, caught Chaewon in his arms and called his name in a low voice. Through their touching bodies, Chaewon’s energy, shredded as if torn apart, was painfully clear.

Sharing in the agony Chaewon couldn’t even scream out, Su-ha pressed his lips close to Chaewon’s ear and whispered.

“Chaewon. Can you hear me? Don’t lose consciousness, accept my energy.”

Su-ha’s voice sounded both commanding and desperately urgent. Guiding an unconscious esper wasn’t impossible, but it was far less effective than when they were conscious.

Within Chaewon’s labored breaths, Su-ha sensed a faint sign of consent. Even in this state, Chaewon had struggled desperately to hold on, and that effort flowed straight into Su-ha.

Pulling Chaewon closer, Su-ha carefully pushed his energy into him. Chaewon sucked in a breath, his body tensing. Su-ha’s guiding began to heal him, but the beginning would be extremely painful.

“It’s okay. Trust me.”

Su-ha whispered again and again into Chaewon’s ear. Telling him to trust him felt almost like self-deception, but he had no room to dwell on that now.

Su-ha’s hands swept over Chaewon’s head, his nape, his back and waist. His hot lips lingered near Chaewon’s ear and cheek more than once. Chaewon’s limp hand clutched desperately at Su-ha’s clothes.

If I-hyeon’s attack felt like being torn apart from head to toe, Su-ha’s guiding was the pain of healing itself.

There was no room for shame. Just as thirst naturally seeks water, Chaewon reached toward the only warmth being poured into him, clinging to Su-ha even with hands that barely had any strength left.

“You’re doing very well.”

Like soothing a child, Su-ha kept speaking, guiding Chaewon so he wouldn’t lose consciousness and could follow his guiding.

Chaewon’s body in his arms was so small and thin that it seemed it might break if he applied even a little force. Even after witnessing Chaewon’s power moments ago, Su-ha found it hard to believe this fragile body belonged to an S-rank esper.

The massive flames that had engulfed Chaewon replayed vividly in Su-ha’s mind. This was reality. A process Chaewon would have to face again and again.

Today it had happened in a safe environment under everyone’s watch, but in the future, Chaewon would face such attacks in places where his life wouldn’t be guaranteed.

Realizing that fact, an unknown anxiety and fear washed over him. Saving people and the world as an esper was something anyone could admire, so why was Lee Chaewon different? Why was Su-ha now thinking about everything Chaewon would have to endure?

Was forming a pair always like this? Being shaken against one’s will, afraid, feeling emotions one never asked for? Su-ha, who had never maintained a close relationship with any esper, couldn’t understand it at all.

And before he could sort out those thoughts, Chaewon’s body went completely slack in his arms. At last, Chaewon could no longer endure and lost consciousness.

Still, because Chaewon had held on even briefly, Su-ha had been able to put out the most urgent fire. He slowly gathered his energy. More guiding would be needed, but it couldn’t continue here, like this.

“Is Chaewon okay?”

Only then did I-hyeon approach the two of them, having sensed the end of the initial guiding. In that instant, a sharp hostility flared from Su- ha.