Chapter 53: The Black Ring

Seen in the dark, the blood vessels around his eyes had faded so much they were hard to distinguish.

Other areas still looked severe enough to be painful, but around his eyes, the blackened veins were now only faintly spread—a significant improvement compared to before.

Perhaps because that area had been less severe to begin with, it seemed to be recovering little by little ahead of the others.

Even now, Tae-woo stood there with a blank expression, looking down at the documents in his hands—but he felt markedly different from the Tae-woo preserved in So-won’s memories.

The expression that had always seemed frightening looked noticeably gentler now.

The important thing was…

So-won’s gaze slowly crept downward.

The long-sleeved black top clung tightly to Tae-woo’s body, revealing his physique without leaving any gaps.

Broad shoulders, thick arms, and a solid chest.

It wasn’t just his imagination—his lines looked even more defined than usual.

Since they’d started guiding, Tae-woo’s body had steadily improved.

Right now, it wasn’t obvious under his clothes, but it was impossible to miss during nighttime guiding.

His muscles had grown a little thicker, sturdier.

Lately, his control over his strength had improved too—he broke things far less often.

So-won’s gaze shifted to the black ring around Tae-woo’s neck.

What people knew as the traits of “Monster Kang Tae-woo” were his ferocious appearance, the grotesque blood vessels covering his entire body, and the thick black ring fastened around his neck.

The ferocious appearance… that couldn’t be helped.

The blood vessels around his eyes were gradually fading.

Which meant the only thing left was that object around his neck.

If only that weren’t there… Tae-woo might be able to walk around like a normal person.

So-won had been Tae-woo’s guide for eight years, yet he still didn’t know what the ring around his neck actually was.

Was it something that assisted his abilities?

Or maybe it was meant to hide the blood vessels on his neck…

Perhaps because he’d seen it for so long, the black ring and Tae-woo felt almost inseparable to So-won.

Even when sleeping—even during guiding—he had never once seen Tae-woo remove it.

Unable to hold back his curiosity any longer, So-won finally asked,

“Tae-woo, I’ve been wondering for a while… what is that around your neck?”

Tae-woo, who had been reviewing the documents, froze.

After a brief pause, he set the papers down and slowly brushed a hand over his neck.

His fingers touched smooth metal.

“…It’s a bomb.”

He spoke as though he wanted to hide it, yet was forced to say it.

“A bomb?”

So-won’s eyes widened as if they might pop out.

He’d assumed it was something that assisted abilities or suppressed wavelengths—but a bomb?

He hoped Tae-woo would deny it, but Tae-woo merely averted his gaze in silence.

It really was a bomb.

So-won was struck speechless with horror.

Then… had he been living alongside a bomb this whole time?

No—did that mean Tae-woo had spent his entire life with a bomb around his neck?

“A bomb… why…?”

“It’s designed to explode if I begin to go berserk.

As long as my wavelength doesn’t exceed a certain threshold, it won’t detonate, so please don’t worry.”

Hearing that only made it harder for So-won to speak.

If it was safe below a certain threshold, that also meant the moment his wavelength crossed that line, the bomb would explode.

Tae-woo’s condition was unstable.

It had been so even before he met So-won—and eight years later, it was even worse.

In the short time since returning to the past, So-won had already seen Tae-woo on the verge of rampage three times.

The first was in the private room.

The second was in front of the Esper Association, when So-won and Si-hyeok ran into each other.

The third was just a few days ago, after returning from the gate.

Tae-woo had already narrowly escaped death three times.

And yet… I didn’t know.

Not that he might die eight years later—but that he could die at any moment.

And despite sticking close to his side all this time, So-won had known nothing.

Now, Tae-woo entering gates no longer felt like merely an Esper’s duty.

Each time he stepped inside, he was quite literally risking his life.

Until his miserable death eight years later—over and over again.

Even when he barely survived, he hadn’t received guiding.

A condition that worsened every time he used his abilities was no different from a ticking time bomb of a life.

So-won didn’t have the courage to look at Tae-woo’s face.

He bowed his head deeply and clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his skin.

Anger at himself, disappointment—and an even heavier sense of guilt toward Tae-woo flooded in.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you until now.”

Seeing So-won’s shocked expression, Tae-woo apologized, though the one who should have been apologizing wasn’t him—it was So-won.

Unaware that what hung around his neck was a bomb, So-won had been laughing, saying they’d grown closer, that Tae-woo’s condition seemed to be improving.

All the while, Tae-woo had been living each day like a perilous tug-of-war.

When So-won couldn’t bring himself to speak, Tae-woo spoke again.

“If this makes you uncomfortable, Lee So-won, I will no longer receive guiding.”

“What?

N-no!

That’s not it!”

So-won hurriedly shook his head and looked at him.

But Tae-woo kept his gaze lowered, quietly rubbing his neck.

His large hand completely covered the bomb—as if he were trying to hide it so So-won wouldn’t be afraid.

The sight made So-won’s heart throb painfully.

The fact that there was a bomb around Tae-woo’s neck wasn’t terrifying.

Maybe a little—just a little—but being with him, guiding him, wasn’t frightening at all.

“Can’t you… take it off?”

“I’ve been told that if it’s forcibly removed from my body, it will explode.”

“Then how can it be taken off?”

“They said they would remove it once my condition stabilized.”

Then it was strange that he still had it.

Tae-woo’s condition was improving day by day.

Not long ago, the attending physician had even said his state was becoming much more stable—and as if to prove it, the blood vessels around his eyes were steadily fading.

“Then shouldn’t they remove it now?

Why is it still—”

“I thought it would be better to keep it on, for everyone’s safety.”

It was an answer that was quintessentially Tae-woo.

He probably hadn’t even considered asking for its removal.

If the Association didn’t come to him first, he likely would have continued living with a bomb around his neck even after fully stabilizing.

Suddenly, a question arose.

As an S-rank physical enhancement Esper, a small bomb like that shouldn’t even scratch Tae-woo.

So-won knew he was someone who could survive even at the center of a nuclear explosion.

“But… this wouldn’t affect you at all, would it…?”

“The outer shell is made of a material that weakens an Esper’s abilities.

If it explodes… I don’t know what would happen either.”

At his words, something from guide training came to mind.

There were metals sometimes found in gates—materials so lethal to Espers that even brief contact could drastically reduce their abilities.

“…Since when have you been wearing it?”

When So-won had first heard stories about Tae-woo, amid all the terrifying rumors, he’d already been wearing the black ring.

It was a memory from when So-won was still very young—before he’d even entered elementary school.

Which meant Tae-woo must have still been a minor then.

“I don’t remember.”

“……”

So that was why So-won hadn’t known it was a bomb.

Even the government likely couldn’t have made this public.

No matter how dangerous Tae-woo was, revealing that they’d strapped a bomb around a child’s neck would have drawn international condemnation.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable…?”

“I’m used to it now.”

Such a calm response.

If it were So-won, he would’ve trembled with anxiety every day—unable to sleep or eat properly.

Once again, So-won realized just how little Tae-woo had been treated like a human being.

The bomb around Tae-woo’s neck never exploded—not even eight years later, when Tae-woo died.

And for the entire eight years So-won had been his guide—despite being closer to him than anyone else—he hadn’t realized it was a bomb.
…Of course, had he known, he might have been even more afraid of him.

As if reaching a decision, So-won suddenly sprang to his feet.

“This really isn’t okay.”

A shadow crossed Tae-woo’s face.

He feared what would come next.

Surely So-won was about to say he’d quit being his guide.

Even if he didn’t guide him, even if he didn’t stay by his side—if only he would remain his guide.

That was enough.

He knew it.

A guide as kind and precious as So-won was far more than he deserved.

He knew he only brought misfortune to those around him.

Now it was time to pay for the selfishness he’d indulged in.

Tae-woo quietly waited for So-won’s verdict.

“Tae-woo, wait.

I’ll help you take it off.”

At those words, Tae-woo showed a rare expression of shock.

So-won jumped up, hurriedly grabbing his phone and straightening his rumpled clothes from where he’d been lying down.

He looked as though he might rush off somewhere at any moment, prompting Tae-woo to ask,

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to see the attending physician first.

I think I’ll need the data showing how much your condition has improved, and while I’m at it, I’ll ask who we need to talk to in order to get this handled.”

So-won spoke while reviewing the plan he’d put together in a short amount of time.

He knew nothing about the bomb around Tae-woo’s neck—or the internal structure of the Esper Association.

It felt too heavy to ask Tae-woo himself.

If he went to the attending physician instead, he was sure they’d explain in detail what needed to be done to remove the bomb from Tae-woo’s neck.

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