Chapter 52: In the Line of Fire

I was watching the real-time gate situation in the guiding shelter.
I could see Hyun Taewoon and Sung Yohan using their abilities near the boss monster.

“The Espers really stand out here too.”

Minseong, who was watching the real-time monitor with me, said.

“Guide Minseong, you came here for support because of Esper Hyun Taewoon, right?”

“Yes. It’s a hassle because I have to go with him every time he’s dispatched overseas.”

I thought so, and as expected, I was right.
When an Esper from the same team went for support overseas, one of the team’s guides had to accompany them unconditionally.

“Esper Hyun Taewoon won’t accept my guiding anyway. My matching rate is low, so I could die from reverse guiding. So I’m just going to guide the other Espers here diligently.”

As Minseong said, it was better to be careful with him because there was a risk of reverse guiding.
We watched him and Sung Yohan’s figures and also checked the guiding shelter’s situation.

As Minseong said, there was a risk of reverse guiding with him, so it was better to be careful.
I listened to Minseong’s story and watched him and Sung Yohan’s figures on the monitor.
I also checked the guiding shelter’s situation.

Espers in need of guiding and treatment were constantly entering the shelter.
I could also see guides treating fallen Espers outside the shelter.
Fortunately, they were in a place surrounded by a protective barrier, so the monsters couldn’t get close.
The guides outside seemed to be mostly B-Classes, and the situation didn’t look good.

“Guide Minseong, I’m going to go outside and guide.”

“It’s dangerous outside. And since you’re in charge of the S-Class Esper, wouldn’t it be better to wait inside?”

His words were not wrong.
But every moment was critical, and since I had come this far, I didn’t want to guide while being picky about my grade.

“I think I should go if we want to guide them quickly.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

He must have been worried about me, as he got the shelter manager’s approval and moved to the external guiding barrier.

Hundreds of Espers were already collapsed at the external guiding barrier.
Even if the guides guided them, it seemed like it would take several hours for them to recover.

Since every moment was precious, I drew out my wavelength as much as possible and did remote guiding.
As soon as I started remote guiding, my wavelength spread around me and began to emit light.
It was probably because I was releasing a vast amount of wavelength.
The guides and Espers looked around in surprise.

I was also surprised since it was a situation I had never experienced before, but I soon came to my senses and focused on guiding.
Even though I had only done remote guiding, the guiding levels that were in the crisis zone all entered the calm zone at once.
I had been worried about what to do if the guiding didn’t go smoothly, but I think I was able to do well because I had taken an advanced remote guiding lecture in the past.

“As expected, S-Class is different. I’ll go and guide too.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

After he went to guide, I continued to do remote guiding.
But then I heard a loud explosion from above.
I reflexively looked up and saw an Esper flying precariously and using his abilities indiscriminately.

“Esper Rainer has gone on a rampage!”

The explanation was conveyed through the earpiece’s automatic translator.
A rampage in a situation like this.

It was the first time I had seen an Esper on a rampage since Hyun Taewoon.

The Esper named Rainer was using his abilities not only on the monsters but also on the surrounding Espers.
It seemed he was unconscious.

When a rampage began, the guiding level dropped rapidly, so at this rate, he could die.
I had to stop the rampage as quickly as possible.

Others must have thought the same, as they tried to anesthetize him, but it didn’t seem to work.
But in the end, Rainer was anesthetized and fell to the ground.
I saw an Esper nearby catch him and take him into the guiding shelter.

Before long, a shelter manager came out and began to shout.

“Is there an S-Class Guide!”

Since the Espers’ guiding levels were now above average to the point where I didn’t need to do remote guiding, I ran towards the shelter manager.

“I am an S-Class Guide.”

“An S-Class Esper has currently gone on a rampage and collapsed. Do you have experience with rampage guiding?”

Thanks to the earpiece’s automatic translation, I was able to communicate smoothly with the shelter manager.

“I have, once.”

At my words, the shelter manager hurriedly entered the shelter with me.
People were gathered in front of one of the guiding rooms.

Following the shelter manager who was shouting for them to move aside, I squeezed through the crowd and barely got inside.
Rainer, who had gone on a rampage earlier, was lying on a steel bed.
Five guides were guiding him by his side, but the rampaging wavelength was still raging.

The guides were guiding cautiously, worried about being reverse guided.
That’s why the rampaging wavelength wasn’t calming down even with so many of them.

“The S-Class Guide is here.”

At the shelter manager’s words, the guides moved aside with relieved faces.
I immediately approached Rainer.
And just like with him, I tried remote guiding first.
But the rampaging wavelength violently repelled my approaching wavelength.

I concentrated as much as possible and enveloped the rampaging wavelength with my own, scanning the man’s figure.
His entire body was covered in veins and bruises, and he was still unconscious.
The wavelength was in a more serious state than when Hyun Taewoon had gone on a rampage.

It was raging so fast that I couldn’t catch the wavelength.
I took the man’s hand with both of my own and tried to catch the wavelength.

Fortunately, as soon as I made contact with his body, I was able to catch the wavelength.
But since it was still raging, more skin contact was needed.
I immediately took off my special combat suit and said.

“Please take off the Esper’s clothes.”

At my words, the people nearby hurriedly took off Rainer’s clothes.
As soon as his clothes were off, I hugged his body, wearing only a short-sleeved t-shirt.

The method to stop a rampage was easy in theory.
I just had to stop the wavelength of the rampaging energy while guiding.

But since each Esper had a different wavelength and different side effects, the reality was more difficult than I had thought.

I soothed the wavelength and asked the shelter manager.

“Where is his exclusive guide?”

“Rainer-nim doesn’t have an exclusive. His exclusive guide died from reverse guiding a few days ago.”

“Then what about a guide with a high matching rate?”

“There’s no guide with a high matching rate either. The highest matching rate is 29%.”

“Then please bring me that guide at least.”

I could somehow subdue the rampaging wavelength.
But after the rampaging wavelength stopped, it was much more stable for a guide with a high matching rate to guide.

I controlled my wavelength as much as possible and slowly subdued Rainer’s wavelength.
And I pressed my body even closer.
Listening to his heart, which was pounding like his wavelength, I slowly stroked his back.

I was pressing my face against Rainer’s cheek when his anesthetized eyes opened slightly and he looked at me.
But he soon closed his eyes again.
It seemed he was starting to feel a little bit of stability.

And so, after a long effort, the wavelength began to stabilize just a little bit.
Rainer and I seemed to have a good compatibility, as the speed at which the guiding level rose was quite fast.

I heard that Rainer was an S-Class Esper and had been deployed to the field for nearly a week.
Since he continued to use his abilities without an exclusive guide, he had no choice but to go on a rampage.

Even after subduing the wavelength, the bruises and veins on Rainer’s face had not yet subsided.
How painful and agonizing it must have been.
I stroked his rough cheek.
And as soon as he entered the calm zone, I handed him over to another guide.

Everyone thanked me.
At that, I could somewhat tell that Rainer was an important Esper in the American Association.

I also said my goodbyes and came out.
But Rainer’s wavelength followed me.
It was as if he were expressing his gratitude.

And so, I helped the surroundings by doing remote guiding again.
And whenever I had a chance, I watched him fighting at the gate.

Since he had superior abilities even among the S-Classes, the situation had definitely gotten much better after he came as a reinforcement.

But there was still no sign of the gate closing.
Since reinforcements were also coming from other countries, I sincerely hoped that the gate would close soon.

A day at the US gate was passing.
Hyun Taewoon and Sung Yohan also entered the guiding shelter to receive guiding.

“Shinui-ssi, I missed you.”

Sung Yohan rushed at me as soon as he saw me.
I was dumbfounded at his shameless behavior even after our pair was broken.

“Esper Sung Yohan, don’t come any closer.”

Despite my words to not come closer, he stubbornly came to my side and took my hand.

“You’ll guide me, right?”

To be honest, I didn’t want to guide him, but since the situation was what it was, I had to put aside my personal feelings.
In the end, I had no choice but to guide him.

“Just this once.”

At my words ‘just this once’, he was disappointed, but since his guiding level was very low, he quietly received first-level contact guiding by my side.

He, who saw me and Sung Yohan, went to a nearby machine and received guiding.
If he received machine guiding, his level would only go up by 10% in an hour.

As if he had read my thoughts, he also received guiding medication from the shelter manager.

Minseong, who saw him, said he would guide him, but he coldly told him to stay away if he didn’t want to be reverse guided.
In the end, Minseong stayed by his side with a worried face.
I was looking at him out of the corner of my eye, pretending not to, when Sung Yohan whispered in my ear.

“Did you do a lot of guiding today?”

“Yes. That’s why I came here.”

“It feels disgusting to have another b*stard’s wavelength clinging to you.”

For a moment, I felt a chilling murderous intent and was speechless.
I raised my head and looked at his face.
His face was expressionless, unlike usual.

“You’re my guide, Shinui-ssi.”

Even though our pair was already broken, he said I was his guide as if he had forgotten.
Since it wasn’t the time to argue with him, I placated him.

“If you don’t want me to guide other Espers, then close the gate quickly.”

“You’re right. I’ll do that.”

At my words, he finally relaxed his expression and smiled.
And as soon as he reached the calm zone, he moved to the gate.
He was still in the danger zone, so he was stuck in the guiding room.

The guiding room, with just the two of us left, was quiet.
Knowing that at this rate, it would take a day for him to enter the stable zone, I approached him.

I had decided to put aside my personal feelings here.
After all, people’s lives were at stake.

“I’ll guide you, so close the gate quickly.”

“Are you really going to do it?”

“Yes. But it’s first-level guiding.”

At my words, he held out his hand.
I immediately took his hand and guided him.
The level rose quickly, as if it had been waiting.

Sung Yohan had a higher matching rate, but his guiding level rose much faster.

He was silently looking down at our clasped hands.
His wavelength warmly enveloped mine.
I had always felt that his wavelength was cold, which was strange.

Safely, his guiding level also entered the calm zone, and he also moved back to the gate.

He and Sung Yohan did not return to the guiding room for two days.
And as Rainer, who had gone on a rampage, and numerous reinforcements were deployed to the gate again, they focused their attacks on the boss monster.
Finally, with a single blow from him, the boss monster was annihilated.

It was a fortnight after the gate had opened.