Chapter 52: Seizure

The Center Director, who had summoned the representative of Attack Team 3 and Yoon Bodam’s personal protection officer, lightly stroked his long beard.

To his left and right, seated at the head of the conference table, were the Esper Director and the Guide Director, facing each other.

There were no seats prepared for team leaders.

The Guide Director asked Seung Ho and Team Leader Kim as they entered together.

“Is Guide Yoon Bodam’s condition alright?”

Team Leader Kim, who had been guarding the hospital room but was summoned, replied.

“I heard that due to the heavy bleeding, it might take more time for him to regain consciousness. I haven’t heard the detailed test results yet.”

It was a place he hadn’t had reason to step into since he transitioned to freelance rather than being on a team.

Normally, only the Center Director and the directors were in the conference room where executive-level meetings were held.

The Esper Director, whose golden eyes were narrowed like threads, spoke to the Center Director.

“As Director Park reported, there’s a very high probability that he imprinted with Guide Yoon Bodam.”

“Given that Esper Kang Yi Jun had a seizure at the same time, what more precise evidence could there be?”

A Guide who had imprinted, like an Esper, had to be tied to the Center as if by a lifelong contract.

Therefore, unless they were an Esper’s partner, imprinting never happened easily.

Guide Yoon Bodam, whose imprinting with Kang Yi Jun was practically confirmed, now only needed to return to his original place.

A heavy smile spread across the Esper Director’s face as he thought of this.

“First, let’s discuss this again once Guide Yoon Bodam regains consciousness.”

At the Center Director’s slow voice, the Esper Director’s expression subtly contorted.

Gathering and swallowing thick phlegm, he cleared his throat and continued.

“In case of an Esper’s rampage risk, a Guide shall not lose their duty and shall cooperate with guiding in any situation. This is clearly stated in the contract clause.”

The Guide Director rolled his eyes, watching the old man citing the very last clause of a contract that was hardly ever read.

Unlike an old man, he continued speaking tirelessly.

“Even upon contract expiration, the additional work period can be extended until the assigned Esper’s wave value reaches a stable range.”

“Moreover, this is a high-risk Esper with a wave value in the 90% range.”

“We must keep Guide Yoon Bodam at the Center, no matter what it takes.”

“It has not been confirmed yet.”

Seung Ho’s low voice spread broadly throughout the conference room.

The Center Director, after checking his wristwatch once, picked up the documents on the table instead of looking at Seung Ho.

These were the profiles and test results of Guides who had attempted to guide Esper Kang Yi Jun so far.

No one had succeeded in guiding.

Esper Kang Yi Jun, surviving for over a month in a tricky state of neither dead nor alive, was like a ticking time bomb.

With many ties, he couldn’t simply be killed off, which made him a huge headache.

“Team Leader Han.”

At the Center Director’s quiet call, Seung Ho replied, “Yes.”

The Center Director, leisurely turning pages in a file and lost in thought, spoke.

“You have done very well so far.”

“Who else could lead such strong personalities as one team for six years?”

“Isn’t that right?”

He rolled his eyes left and right, seeking agreement from the two directors.

“Of course,” “Absolutely.”

As the predetermined answers returned, he continued fluidly.

“I don’t expect great things from Attack Team 3.”

“They just need to run smoothly and quietly.”

These were the words Seung Ho always heard from the Center Director.

He had always commanded him to gather the loudest bombs and simply make them quiet.

It was fine if they didn’t achieve great accomplishments, as long as he managed to appease the young masters and allow their abilities to be utilized.

He never expected that Attack Team 3, a group of unruly individuals, would become the core of Gate management in six years.

It was an even greater development because there had been no expectations.

“You remember what I told you when I first put you in charge of Attack Team 3, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“I trust you will continue to do well.”

The Center Director, conveying more with his eyes than with many words, concluded the conversation.

“Now, let’s find a balance.”

He checked his watch again and told them to leave now.

The time for the main meeting was approaching.

As Seung Ho and Team Leader Kim exited the conference room, executives swarmed inside like a horde of zombies.

Team Leader Kim, who had stood before the Center Director after a long time, stretched at length.

“I almost fell asleep standing. Why did they summon us for such trivial talk? Don’t you agree?”

He spoke to Seung Ho as they came out into the corridor.

As expected from someone who hadn’t learned how to agree or react, there was no response.

Seung Ho, after checking his phone which he had silenced in the conference room, walked out ahead without matching his pace with his colleague.

Behind him, walking quickly, Team Leader Kim also picked up his pace.

***

Bodam took his hand off Yi Jun’s cheek and stepped back.

He swallowed dryly, looking alternately at his palm, which held residual heat, and the dark blue cheek.

It was a sensation he had never felt before.

The feeling of pouring energy into a lifeless stone was very unfamiliar.

And somewhat horrifying.

“Huh?”

Bodam, whose shoulders twitched slightly, asked.

He met the eyes of the tall Barrier Espers one by one, beyond the guiding machine.

They all just sent puzzled glances; no one spoke.

He had clearly heard a voice calling him.

“Hah, try it just one more time.”

The Research Director, who had been assessing the situation from afar using a wave measurement monitor, spoke.

Convinced of imprinting with Guide Yoon Bodam, he approached the bed without even putting on protective gear.

The faces of the researchers following him were full of unease.

“Where did you guide? Was touching his face all you did?!”

“Lower your voice.”

As the red-faced Research Director approached with a raised voice, Bodam clamped his hand over his mouth.

Espers with sensitive five senses became even more hypersensitive in a critical state.

A balloon on the verge of bursting needed to be handled carefully.

Bodam frowned at the Research Director’s actions, knowing he couldn’t be unaware of this.

“Guide Yoon Bodam.”

The Director, impatient with the Guide’s firm demeanor, strode closer to Bodam.

Bodam tried to back away, but he was grabbed by the shoulder again and led to the bed.

Despite being smaller than Bodam, who was never outmatched by his compact height, he possessed incredible strength.

“Ah…!”

“Do it. Come on, quickly.”

Bodam, who had only hours ago profusely bled from his nose, stumbled and fell from the Director’s pulling force.

Bodam, fallen with his nose pressed against Yi Jun’s chest, clenched his fists, about to yell.

“What is th—”

Bodam, about to rage about what they were doing, had his breath caught.

In that instant, the keen gazes of the researchers observing Esper Kang Yi Jun converged.

The muscles beneath his bruised jaw, dark with contusions, clearly moved slightly.

“Director!”

As expected, the quick-tongued researcher stepped forward, his eyes widening.

The Research Director, having also seen that subtle movement, rushed forward, his eyes blazing.

His jaw had moved upon hearing the approaching sound before Guide Yoon even touched his chest.

It wasn’t moved by the pressure on his chest.

He had clearly reacted to Yoon Bodam’s sound.

The Director, grabbing Bodam, who was gasping for air, more roughly, lifted his prone body.

“Once is enough. Just once!”

The Research Director grabbed his convulsing shoulder and pressed him down onto Esper Kang Yi Jun’s body.

Bodam, resisting the pressing force with his elbows, was on the verge of hitting the oxygen mask with his nose.

“You, pig bastard…”

Bodam, unable to breathe properly, cursed at the Research Director.

Tears, already welling in his eyes, fell onto Kang Yi Jun’s nose.

He felt like his insides were burning.

Cough.

Just as one of the Barrier Espers, unable to stand the Director’s attempt to lift the Guide onto the bed, moved to intervene, Bodam vomited blood.

“Team Leader Kwak. Hold your position.”

Simultaneously with the Guide vomiting blood, Esper Kang Yi Jun, who also vomited blood into the oxygen mask, had his wave dramatically fluctuate.

The Barrier Esper, who had been about to move towards the Research Director, returned to his spot and reinforced the barrier.

“Ah… pa… haa…”

Bodam, fallen with his nose pressed against Kang Yi Jun’s head, clutched his chest.

Red blood rapidly spread across the white bedding.

The Research Director and researchers, feeling the Esper’s raging wave on their skin, hid in fear behind the Barrier Espers.

Kang Yi Jun was absolutely not in a state to endure a third seizure.

“Hhh… Ugh…”

Bodam’s face, fidgeting and clutching the blanket, was covered in blood.

In his vision, which he opened with difficulty, he could only see a red cloth and the dark figure of Kang Yi Jun.

He kept feeling as if someone was grabbing and shaking his consciousness.

He wanted to close his eyes just like this, but the persistent voice calling him kept them open.

The Barrier Espers, who had requested backup from Team Leader Han, guarded the barrier, sweating profusely.

They had seen rampaging Espers for over 10 years, but this case was new.

Esper Kang Yi Jun’s aura, which had expanded as if about to burst, was repeatedly growing and shrinking.

As if he was straining to suppress the rampage himself.

“It hurts… Please… don’t…”

Bodam, who raised his convulsively trembling hand to ask for help from those around him, mumbled.

‘Please don’t go. Don’t go. Please.’

Feeling despair as if the sky was falling and a flesh-piercing loneliness at the lack of anyone approaching, he trembled.

Only then did Bodam realize these were not his own emotions.

They belonged to Kang Yi Jun.

“f*ck.”

From a distance, with the sound of a door shattering, a very familiar curse was heard.

As his bloodied face turned towards the approaching footsteps, an even louder curse assaulted his ears.