Chapter 3: If This is A Second Chance

In a world where gates opened at random, unknown monsters poured out, and people wielded supernatural abilities, it didn’t seem all that strange to think that regression might exist, too.

If he really had regressed, then he—

At that moment, the door opened and a nurse walked in.

So-won quickly pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked at her.

“Patient Lee So-won, congratulations on awakening as an A-rank Guide.”

Whether he had regressed or was simply dreaming, So-won was still an A-rank Guide.

“You didn’t seem to be in great condition, so we transferred you to the Guide Association overnight for testing, but there were no major issues.”

“Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?”

“I think I’m okay.”

“You can be discharged right away, but since you’re already at the Guide Association, it might be more convenient to have your wave-pattern test done before you leave.”

“Would you like to take the test and then head home?”

“Yes.”

So-won silently followed the nurse to the wave-pattern examination room.

It was a test he had taken eight years ago, so his memory of it was hazy.

When he arrived and saw the large machine and the researchers, fragments of recollection began to surface.

At the staff’s direction, he lay down, and the machine began moving on its own as the examination started.

Cold metal touched his body and pulled away, and the researchers attached various devices to him.

As So-won underwent the wave-pattern test, he tried to recall pieces of the past.

He had awakened as a Guide at twenty-two, which was quite late compared to most Guides, who awakened in their teens.

On top of that, an A-rank Guide made up only about 3% of all Guides, making him exceptionally rare.

After awakening, a Guide would undergo a wave-pattern test like this, then have their data compared with Espers in the database to determine potential pairings.

So-won had been matched with Kang Tae-woo, an S-rank Esper, though most Guides were usually paired with Espers of the same rank.

Would I be matched with Mr.

Tae-woo again this time?

So-won thought quietly.

Eight years ago, Tae-woo and So-won’s compatibility rate had been 65%.

This time, could the result be different?

If he and Tae-woo weren’t matched…

Maybe I could be happy.

‘Be happy.’

The voice that echoed like an auditory hallucination made So-won flinch.

At the same time he recalled Tae-woo’s final words, guilt crushed down on him.

The image of the operating room, the cold hand, the dim gaze, and himself screaming beside a pool of blood flashed before his eyes.

For even briefly imagining a future without Tae-woo, So-won felt endlessly ashamed of his own ugliness.

When Tae-woo had been heading toward death, when So-won had writhed in guilt watching his body grow cold, he had regretted everything so deeply…
Yet here he was.

Unable to bear his own selfishness, he wanted to hide anywhere.

He had to apologize to Tae-woo.

Even if Tae-woo didn’t remember him.

Perhaps this dream—this regression—existed for that very reason.

Beep.

With the short mechanical sound, the wave-pattern test ended.

The researchers removed the devices attached to So-won’s body and told him he was free to go.

However, So-won didn’t move, hesitating as if he had something to say.

Seeing this, one of the researchers tilted their head.

Kang Tae-woo.

So-won squeezed his eyes shut.

Only now could he accept that Tae-woo’s death had been entirely his responsibility.

Now it was time to take responsibility for it.

Having finally made up his mind, So-won opened his mouth.

“I’d like to designate an Esper and request a compatibility test.”

“Oh, do you have someone in mind?”
“In that case, with mutual consent, we can run the compatibility test in advance.”

“I’d like to request a matching test with S-rank Esper Kang Tae-woo.”

“What?

Kang Tae-woo?”

The researcher exclaimed in shock.

An S-rank Esper, Kang Tae-woo—that monster?

Newly awakened Guides were required to undergo a compatibility test with Kang Tae-woo anyway, since he currently had no Guide.

Still, they had seen plenty of people beg not to be tested with him, terrified they might match.

But someone asking first to be tested with him?

They had never even imagined such a thing.

The researcher scanned So-won from head to toe.

Though legally an adult, he looked young, with round eyes and a gentle, innocent appearance—someone who seemed like he’d be swallowed whole the moment he stood in front of that monster.

Watching the researcher’s wavering pupils, So-won nodded.

He had expected this reaction.

But he couldn’t just sit around and wait a week for the results.

Tae-woo was still suffering even now, and So-won needed to help him escape that pain as soon as possible.

So-won made a decision.

He would treat monster Kang Tae-woo as human Kang Tae-woo.

He wouldn’t avoid him, and he would carry out his guiding sincerely.

Even if Tae-woo were to die, he wanted it to be not with those cursed, dark-red veins covering his entire body, but at least as a clean, human figure.

“First… we’ll contact Esper Kang Tae-woo.”

“If he agrees, we’ll prioritize the matching test and contact you afterward.”

Faced with So-won’s resolute attitude, the researcher reluctantly agreed, yet even as they spoke, they weren’t sure this was the right thing to do.

All they could do was bow slightly and watch So-won’s back as he left the examination room.

***

After the tests, So-won returned to the house he used to live in with his family.

The home he came back to after so long was exactly the same as the one in his memories from eight years ago.

It was so identical, down to the smallest details, that it made him realize once again that this wasn’t a dream.

After spending so much time staring at the empty spaces in Kang Tae-woo’s enormous house, looking at this small home cluttered with odds and ends brought a sense of comfort to his heart.

The surprise party held that evening was astonishingly identical to his memories.

The overly sweet chocolate cake that made his mouth ache, the slippery seaweed soup, and the loud sound of fireworks.

It was a combination that didn’t go together at all.

Yet somehow, it made So-won smile for the first time in a long while.

He spent the evening laughing and chatting noisily with his family.

Just like on this day eight years ago, when he didn’t yet know he would be matched with Kang Tae-woo.

After the chaotic day ended, So-won lay on the small bed in his darkened room, blinking as he fought off sleep.

He was afraid that if he fell asleep like this, he’d return to the day Tae-woo died.

Even now, whenever he closed his eyes, it felt like he could see the blood-soaked operating room.

The image of Tae-woo drenched in blood and the faint sensation of a wave-pattern that seemed ready to snap tormented him.

When would the matching results come out?

So-won roughly estimated.

Last time, it had taken a week.

Comparing him with all A-rank Espers had taken quite a while, and in the end, he had been matched with Kang Tae-woo.

This time, since they’d test him with Tae-woo first, maybe it would only take two days at most.

Suddenly, worry crept in.

Even though he had grown somewhat accustomed to Tae-woo over the past eight years, So-won still trembled whenever he faced him.

He had no confidence that he wouldn’t shake at their first meeting.

What would Tae-woo think when he saw him?

Having never really spoken with him before, So-won couldn’t even begin to guess his thoughts.

That night, Tae-woo appeared in his dream.

He was dying, yet So-won’s body was frozen stiff, unable to move.

Those dark, deep eyes stared straight at him.

When Tae-woo finally closed his eyes weakly, a piercing machine whine rang out.

The whine soon turned into a ringtone.

So-won’s tightly furrowed eyes snapped open.

It felt like he had been dragged up from deep, dark water.

He flailed briefly atop the blanket, unable to gather his thoughts, before answering the phone in a daze as the ringing continued.

“Hello?”

–Is this Guide Lee So-won?

“Yes.”

–The results of your matching evaluation with Esper Kang Tae-woo are out, but… um…

The moment Tae-woo’s name was mentioned, So-won shot upright and dropped to his knees.

Already?

He had applied for the designated matching test just yesterday afternoon—he hadn’t expected the results to come out the very next morning.

Sixty-five percent.

Sixty-five percent.

So-won repeated the number from his memories.

What if they weren’t matched?

Unease slowly coiled around him.

–The compatibility rate came out at 100%.

–This is our first time seeing 100%, so… we ran the test again, but the result stayed the same.

–Just to be safe, we’d like you to come to the Association and conduct a guiding test together with Esper Kang Tae-woo.

“One hundred percent?”

So-won’s eyes widened.

Not 65%, but 100%?

Setting aside the fact that the result differed from the past, 100% was an impossible number.

The highest compatibility rate ever recorded had been between a B-rank Esper and Guide in the U.S., and even that hadn’t exceeded 95%.

Moreover, with a difference in rank, high compatibility was virtually unheard of.

There had to be an error in the test.

Having come to that conclusion, So-won calmed his racing heart.

“When and where should I go?”

–Esper Kang Tae-woo is always at headquarters, so you can come to the Esper Association main building at any time.

“Thank you.”

No matter what, it was a relief.

For a brief moment, he had worried about what would happen if he wasn’t matched with Tae-woo, and now he let out a deep sigh of relief.

After ending the call, So-won checked the time.

10 a.m.

Even using the fastest public transportation, it would take at least twenty minutes to reach the Esper Association headquarters.

To arrive before lunchtime, So-won hurriedly began getting ready to go out.