Chapter 47: Crossroads

“…Give me some water.”

I don’t know what to say, or how I should say it.

I couldn’t even tell whether the words I heard were a hallucination, or if they really came from Jaeyul’s mouth.

The water I took felt like it went straight down wrong.

My stomach churned, and my heart pounded violently.

“Jaeyul, you should explain things properly.

Right now, going to the Academy is the better option.”

The Support Agency agent spoke in Jaeyul’s place.

“And what exactly do you mean by that?”

“The power Jaeyul used is far too strong.

On top of that, his control is still immature.

Not only monsters—he almost got you caught in that explosion as well, Mr. Jin Sehyun.

No matter how great the power, if it can’t be used properly, it becomes nothing but poison.”

According to his explanation,

at the instant Jaeyul’s Light Bomb exploded,

they managed to pull my unconscious body out by a hair’s breadth.

If they had been even a little later, I would have been—

caught in the blast and erased without a trace.

“And before Team Leader Yoon Sera died, he even managed to make a call to the Director.

The details weren’t fully conveyed, but there’s still suspicion that Mr. Jin Sehyun was involved in Team Leader Yoon Sera’s death in some way.”

He went on about how, if things went badly,

I might end up suspected of killing Yoon Sera,

and how showing a cooperative attitude toward the Agency would help avoid such suspicion.

But none of that reached my ears.

All my thoughts were focused on Jaeyul,

sitting there silently without opening his mouth.

I wished he’d say something—anything.

But Jaeyul seemed lost deep in thought and didn’t speak easily.

Even after the agent finished his explanation and fell silent,

the stillness lingered.

In the end, it was me who broke it.

“D-did he… threaten you?

Did he say he wouldn’t let us off if you didn’t go to the Academy?”

That was the first thought that came to mind.

That this choice might not be Jaeyul’s own will.

After all, people from the Special Ability Support Agency—

there was no telling what kind of threats they might use on a kid.

If that were the case, I’d stop it no matter what it took.

“…It’s not like that, hyung.”

But Jaeyul’s firm voice shattered even that thin hope.

“Right now, I’m… too weak.

I couldn’t even protect you from a monster like that.

I couldn’t control my power properly and almost killed you myself….

That can’t ever happen again.

That’s why I want to learn properly at the Academy.”

“Seon Jaeyul!”

“Of course, if you don’t want it, hyung, then I don’t want it either.

I’ll always put your choice first.”

I was about to shout in frustration, then stopped.

Because what Jaeyul said wasn’t wrong, either.

Still, respecting that choice wasn’t easy.

“Th-that… haa… let’s think about this for a moment….

My head isn’t working right.”

My temples were already throbbing,

and hearing something this troublesome twisted my thoughts completely.

I needed some time to calm down and think.

I had thought about it before.

Why was Jaeyul different from “X”?

To be honest, they had the same face and used the same technique,

yet he was excessively weak.

It wasn’t just a matter of poor control.

In combat, he was passive,

and at critical moments his focus slipped, leaving him unable to attack properly.

When I was kidnapped by Yukmangseong, he unleashed an overwhelming amount of power,

but this time, his attacks were so pitiful it was almost insulting.

Was that really just a lack of experience?

No.

There was always one problem.

That problem was… me.

Because I was there, he couldn’t attack properly,

or he poured in too much power.

In short, because of me, Jaeyul couldn’t keep his emotions steady.

I understood it.

The only person Jaeyul trusted and relied on was me.

Out of fear of losing me,

out of worry that he might hurt me,

he found it hard to use his power properly.

Even though, in terms of raw strength alone,

it was powerful enough to rival the “X” I remembered.

There was a more fundamental question.

How did Seon Jaeyul ever become the villain known as “X”?

For five years, I had casually believed it would happen naturally with time.

Only now did I start to think that might not be the case.

Time alone wouldn’t solve it.

What kind of time he spent mattered far more.

Not a childish time of growing stronger while being protected inside someone’s fence,

but real time—

time where he risked his life and forged his strength on his own.

Maybe that was what he needed.

“You look like you’re worrying a lot.

The Academy isn’t just a place that trains combat machines.”

A particularly slow, measured voice reached my ears as I sank into thought.

My anguish must have been written all over my face.

“…What’s your name?

Your name isn’t classified, is it?”

“Ah, I’m Oh Seong-gyu.”

Oh… Seong-gyu, Oh Seong-gyu…

I’d heard that name before.

I’d never seen his face, but I remembered the name.

Where had I heard it…?

“I’m planning to work at the Support Agency only until the end of this month,

then move over to the Center.

Honestly, fighting with my body suits me better—

I’m sick and tired of paperwork, haha.”

So he could joke, too.

He’d been serious up until now,

and seeing him smile like that finally made him seem human.

“Wait, Oh… Team Leader Oh Seong-gyu?”

“Not yet a team leader.

But once I move to the Center, I’ll probably have to form a team.”

Ah, that’s right.

Team Leader Oh Seong-gyu of Seoul Second Center.

I’d never seen him in person because we were in different Centers,

but I’d heard plenty of rumors.

A rare team leader who never lost a single team member.

Famous for protecting his people even if it meant fighting with the higher-ups.

So many agents had wanted to be assigned to his team.

“…I see.”

“If Jin Sehyun or Seon Jaeyul enters the Academy,

I’m thinking of watching your backs.

I don’t have much power,

but I can at least stop you from being tossed around arbitrarily.”

“…What? Why…?

You don’t really need to go that far.”

“Well… let’s say it’s because you’re talents I’d hate to lose.

That goes for Seon Jaeyul, of course—

but Jin Sehyun, your ability is quite tempting as well.”

It sounded like a lie.

I had no proof, but the reason Oh Seong-gyu gave felt hastily made up.

“I’ll… think about it positively.”

But if it was this man,

it wouldn’t be the worst outcome.

Maybe… it was a fairly decent stroke of luck.

“How’s your body…?”

“Where did you go?

Did you go outside?”

Jaeyul, who had been gone for a while, came back.

He was carrying a grocery bag like the kind you’d get at a mart.

“Let’s take your medicine first.

Things seem a bit more settled now.”

Jaeyul took out water and a packet of medicine from the bag and handed them to me.

I had no idea where he managed to get medicine in the middle of all this chaos.

Instead of saying anything else, I took the medicine first.

After several days, my condition had improved quite a bit—

I could move around to some extent now.

“…I’m sorry, hyung.

Because of me… if I were just a little stronger, this wouldn’t have happened….”

He seemed weighed down by guilt.

A heavy tone spilled from Jaeyul’s mouth.

“What are you talking about?

This is absolutely not your fault.

The monsters we ran into were just strong.”

Why would it be your fault?

If I had to blame someone, it would be me.

“But… Jaeyul.

Do you really want to go to the Academy?”

“It doesn’t have to be the Academy.

As long as I can get stronger,

as long as you can be safe, hyung,

anywhere is fine.”

That, too, sounded like something he’d thought through deeply.

The words came out without hesitation.

“Of course, I know you’re reluctant about the Academy.

So I don’t want to do something you hate, hyung, but…

isn’t this the only way we can be safe right now?

At least… until I gain the strength to protect you….”

To be honest, it really was the only way.

If I thought about Jaeyul’s future rather than my own, that was the answer.

If he stayed a fugitive with me, hunted by the Agency,

he’d never be able to develop properly.

Not only would it be hard to gain combat experience,

he’d end up relying on me even more.

And like that, no matter how many years passed,

he’d never surpass the original “X.”

If he entered the Academy and received proper combat training,

it would undoubtedly help.

He’d grow stronger by the day,

and before long, gain power no one could challenge.

If Oh Seong-gyu watched his back,

he wouldn’t be tossed around like I was in the past.

“…Alright.

Let’s go to the Academy.

We’ll go get tested, then prepare.”

I forced a smile and gently patted Jaeyul’s head.

Why did it feel like I was about to cry?

Why…

even though Jaeyul was right in front of me,

did I feel like I was already missing him…?

“…Hyung….”

“It’s fine! Straighten your shoulders!

C-rank is great!

Hey? When you get to the Center, there are tons of D-rank and F-rank Espers!”

“…Haa, what is this.

You told me not to put in too much strength….”

Jaeyul’s shoulders slumped as he received his Special Ability Registration Card.

His eyes even looked a bit watery….

Of course they did.

In the history of Seon Jaeyul,

he’d never received such a ridiculous evaluation.

At school, in sports—he was always at the very top.

C-rank…

Even I thought this was a bit much.

“Ahem. I-it’s not his real ability anyway,

so it doesn’t really matter, does it?”

“Could you… shut up, sir.

Read the room a little.”

Oh Seong-gyu chimed in needlessly from the side.

This man really was on my side.

“Honestly, I expected at least a B-rank,

but Jaeyul’s mana does seem rather unstable.”

We had told Jaeyul to never use all his power during the test.

If he got S-rank or something close to it,

even Oh Seong-gyu wouldn’t be able to cover for him.

The same thing had happened when I entered the Academy in the past.

Because I was an SS-rank Esper,

I spent more time taking photos with influential politicians than training.

I became a figurehead in every major battle.

I couldn’t let Jaeyul go through the same thing.

“That’s something that’ll be easily fixed with a little training at the Academy,

so it doesn’t really matter.”

“You talk like you’ve been to the Academy yourself, Jin Sehyun.

Well… you’re not wrong.”

“Ahem! Anyway…

that means preparations are finished, right?

We don’t have to undergo any more Agency investigations?”

“Yes, well.

There was a lot of talk regarding Team Leader Yoon Sera’s death,

but for now, the mood is to trust our statement.

The phone call content was too fragmentary,

and if you were a murderer, you wouldn’t be cooperating so calmly.

Besides, with the Gate Break cleanup,

everyone’s overwhelmed and wants to wrap things up quickly.”

We were dragged around for days.

I wrote nearly ten statements,

and if even a single word differed,

I’d be interrogated for hours over it.

Since when did they care so much about their agents?

It was something I never wanted to experience again.

Thankfully, since the call had only just connected before Yoon Sera died,

the only thing the other side heard was the name “Jin Sehyun,”

so it didn’t become a major issue.

That, and the fact that Oh Seong-gyu even lied to take our side.

“But, hyung.”

In the middle of discussing Academy enrollment,

Jaeyul interrupted.

“Huh…?”

“Why aren’t you registering?

You’re not… planning to skip the Academy, are you?”

…What am I supposed to say to that?

“Of course. Of course I’m….”

Of course… I’m not going.

No, I can’t.

I couldn’t tell Jaeyul,

but I’m preparing for separation.

Jaeyul toward his life,

and me toward mine.

We’re standing at a crossroads where our paths diverge.

I don’t know what awaits us at the end of those roads,

but it’s time for us to walk our own paths.