Chapter 114: Eat You

Waking from his sleep, Yi Jun couldn’t distinguish between dream and reality.

The pain covering his body had only intensified, and the place he opened his eyes to was an abyss without a single ray of light.

Just like in the dream.

“It’s very dark.”

The Crow’s voice echoed in the pitch-black darkness.

“Just bear with it a little. It will soon be bright enough to blind you.”

Yi Jun simply twisted his lips at the piercing stench.

It was a familiar smell to Yi Jun, who enjoyed fieldwork as much as Tae Hwan.

There was no way he’d forget the unique stench that permeated the inside of a gate.

“How strange.”

Yi Jun’s languid voice came out as he looked around the dark surroundings.

It felt surreal, as if he were inside a gate that hadn’t opened.

He felt like he was standing on the ground, yet he had the sensation of floating in mid-air.

With a smile, the Crow watched Yi Jun with interest, who had identified the location by scent alone.

He thought of him as an Esper as unique as his rare mind-type ability.

“I’m going to eat you.”

He was curious about his next reaction.

“I probably don’t taste very good.”

“So you expected it.”

His calm reaction, neither surprised nor trying to flee, was beyond expectations.

Without taking a single step, Yi Jun stood still, simply reading the flow of his surroundings.

The more he looked, the more interesting this Esper was.

Too interesting to just suck out his ability and discard.

“Normally, I eat people secretly. But I’m telling you in advance. I think we’ll get along well.”

Before becoming a multi-ability user with over 31 powers, the Crow had manifested only a single ability.

The ability to absorb everything.

He could make an opponent’s powers and even their life force his own.

“You must really covet my ability.”

“I debated it a lot. Whether to eat you or Aram first.”

“You could just eat us together.”

“I get an upset stomach if I don’t eat them one at a time.”

The two, who exchanged the bizarre conversation so normally, seemed to get along well, just as the Crow had predicted.

When Yi Jun asked if the Esper who creates gates was still being digested, the Crow even burst out laughing.

“That’s right. Still being digested. It hasn’t been long since I ate them.”

The Crow, excited to have met a friend he could talk to, replied while lightly patting his stomach.

Having obtained the rare ability he had coveted most, he was feeling a more satisfying fullness than ever before.

“The stronger the resistance, the slower the absorption. It digests better if I get close to them before I eat them.”

The Crow chattered like a child, befitting his appearance as a young boy who resembled Bodam.

He seemed to be greatly enjoying having such a conversation with his prey.

He even expressed deep regret, saying that Espers who resisted violently often weren’t absorbed even after he ate them.

“Do you want to live that badly?”

Watching the Crow, Yi Jun wore a puzzled expression.

He grew curious about the reason for wanting to gain abilities and sustain life, even by eating others.

‘I find even one ability a bother, and I have no desire whatsoever to live a long life.’

“The longer you live, the greedier you become. You start wanting more happiness, more power.”

“How much stronger are you trying to get?”

“Until I can bring down the Center.”

Excitement flickered across the Crow’s face as he moved right in front of Yi Jun.

His flashing, light brown eyes looked murky.

It was because the soul contained within the young body was far too old.

“I only ever wished for it, but now I can achieve it. Thanks to you rare ability users.”

“What are you going to do after you get rid of the Center?”

“I’ll make it so gates open in civilian areas too.”

Following the Crow’s fervent expression as he spoke rapidly, Yi Jun’s eyes also flashed.

He knew what the Crow wanted.

“Isn’t it unfair that only people with abilities live cooped up?”

Yi Jun slowly mulled over the Crow’s excited question, a sneer forming on his lips.

‘You’re lonely.’

“You’re too lonely to live, but too scared to die.”

It was easy to read the psychology of the Crow, who must have lived his life wandering only in the shadows.

He could read it easily enough without using his mind-type ability.

He must have needed allies, to the point of coaxing newly manifested young Espers and turning them against the Center.

It was a far more obvious reason than he had expected.

“Yi Jun. All humans are like that. Just like you’re lonely and afraid of death.”

“Not as much as you.”

“So you are afraid.”

His smile gone, the Crow grabbed Yi Jun’s arm and lifted it.

Blood was pooling and dripping from the end of the arm, where a watch should have been.

His regenerative ability was so broken that it wasn’t even staunching the blood flow.

On top of that, seeing the bruises staining his white skin, the Crow’s appetite completely vanished.

‘I should wait a bit longer before eating him.’

“Yeah. I’m scared.”

Yi Jun was afraid of death.

He had lived day by day, singing songs about whether to die or not, only to keep postponing the day of his death.

Then he met his guide.

His Dam-hyung, connected by a miraculous matching rate.

He had lived his life taking everything he wanted into his hands, so he tried to have his hyung as well.

If he couldn’t have him, he would have tried to break him, just as he always had.

So no one else could covet him.

So he could pick him up.

“If you want to eat me, then eat me.”

‘Even now, I only want to take from him. All of him. Everything he has. I wish I were everything to him. Forever.’

“But make sure you leave nothing behind.”

‘I won’t be able to let go of him until I die.’

***

Bodam looked up at the starless, dark sky.

The cloudy days had persisted, making it seem like it would rain, but there was no sign of a single drop falling.

“Have a seat.”

Seung Ho said to Bodam, who was gazing at the night sky.

Having brought Bodam to the roof of a lone-standing building, Seung Ho had even prepared a chair for him to sit on.

The warm black tea and blanket Bodam was holding had been brought by Ji Oh via teleportation.

“I’ll just stand.”

Bodam’s voice was dark as he blew on the tea and took a sip.

It was an emergency, so he had come out fully tense and even wearing his work uniform.

But all he’d done since coming out was drink black tea while watching Han Seung Ho set up a barrier.

‘If I could just move my body, maybe this anxiety would fade.’

“Um, Team Leader. Does the Crow really have over thirty abilities?”

Before coming to the scene, Seung Ho had waited for Bodam’s hangover to subside and explained the current situation as it was.

He had even told him about the existence of the Crow, a fact known only to a select few.

“No need to be tense.”

Bodam’s lips jutted out at Seung Ho’s overly calm demeanor.

How could he not be tense when an unregistered Esper strong enough to take Kang Yi Jun had appeared?

“I told you everything because we can solve it. I didn’t bring you here to work, so just stay put.”

Forcibly seating Bodam, who had insisted on standing, Seung Ho took the blanket, unfolded it properly, and draped it over him.

His hand slowed as he went to pull the blanket up to Bodam’s chin and saw the red mark on his neck.

Noticing his gaze, Bodam hid his neck with the blanket.

He had already explained to Han Seung Ho that nothing had happened with Tae Hwan, but he felt embarrassed for no reason.

‘Why did that bastard have to leave such a lewd mark on my neck?’

“Lee Tae Hwan is nearby, right?”

“He’s in that building.”

“Where?”

Seung Ho gestured absently at a distance only an Esper’s eyesight could see before lowering his hand, simply replying that it was close.

His entire attention was focused on Bodam, who couldn’t sit still under the blanket and kept shifting his posture.

The night air wasn’t chilly, but he wondered if it was making Yoon Bodam more anxious and considered going inside.

“Kang Yi Jun.”

Bodam, who had been fidgeting with the blanket, opened his mouth and trailed off.

“He’s not the type to follow anyone. He’s not the type to be dragged away by force either, but he’s hurt right now.”

“So.”

“…I’m just saying.”

Bodam shrugged and closed his mouth again.

He was truly a difficult person to converse with.

He could now talk easily with Lee Tae Hwan, but with Han Seung Ho, it was a different story.

“Don’t worry about Kang Yi Jun. We’re kicking him out once this case is over.”

“Kicking him out?”

“There’s no need to keep an uncontrollable Esper around.”

Bodam met Seung Ho’s eyes for a moment before looking away.

His expression said he had something to say but would omit it.

Seung Ho, looking down at Bodam, had a face that said he should say whatever was on his mind.

“Well, I just thought, you seem so nonchalant about a team member leaving.”

Bodam finally voiced his inner thoughts and scratched his unblemished cheek.

‘Was he like this when I left too?’

His indifferent demeanor, as if clearing out useless baggage, made his heart sink for no reason.

‘If it were Jo Yeon, she would have agonized over the decision until the very last day. Then again, Kang Yi Jun is probably an exception.’

“Ignore me. I was just talking.”

“Do you want Kang Yi Jun to stay?”

“What?”

“That’s not happening.”

When Seung Ho said that man was dangerous, Bodam replied that he knew that well and furrowed his brow with all his might.

As if he’d want Kang Yi Jun to stay on the team.

If they were letting him go, then of course, thank you very much.

“…Where will he go if he leaves?”

“Somewhere you can’t see him.”

Seung Ho’s firm reply left Bodam speechless, and he glanced at his watch out of habit.

He tried to check the Espers’ wavelength readings again, which he had just checked a few minutes ago, but couldn’t because Han Seung Ho covered the watch with his hand.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have told you.”

Seung Ho regretted telling Bodam everything, including the existence of the Crow and the rare ability users.

He didn’t know he would be this scared.

Even though he said it was an opponent they could sufficiently defeat, he didn’t seem to believe it.

Would it have been better if Lee Tae Hwan were here?

Making sure he wouldn’t check his watch anymore, Seung Ho tucked Bodam’s hand inside the blanket and took out his phone.

He intended to call not Tae Hwan, but Team Leader Kim.

Hoping that would be enough to put Yoon Bodam at ease.

“Yes?”

Bodam suddenly tilted his head at the silent Seung Ho.

He thought Han Seung Ho had spoken to him.

He was sure he’d heard something.

“No. I must have misheard.”

The moment he met Seung Ho’s steady gaze, Yi Jun’s voice rang out.

“Hyung,” Bodam’s head rose, following the faint voice that called out to him.

It was a voice only Bodam could hear.