Chapter 80: The Standoff

I didn’t know how Hyun Taewoon had found this place, even though my Guiding Watch had been taken.
It seemed he had checked my last location and followed the traces of my wavelength.

Before long, the door opened, and a member of the anti-Awakened group came in and shouted.

“It’s a sea of fire outside!”

“What?”

“It seems those government b*stards have found our location.”

As he finished speaking, everyone looked at me.
It was true that the location had been exposed after I came here, but it was also their fault.
They had held me captive even though I had asked to be let go several times.

“We shouldn’t have brought him.”

“First, let’s block the entrance.”

The anti-Awakened hadn’t been bad people to me so far, but I didn’t know when their attitude might change.
Since getting out of here was my priority, I had no choice but to let my wavelength flow towards where he was.

No sooner had my wavelength connected with his than an explosion was heard from outside.
At that sound, all the anti-Awakened moved to the hallway.
Perhaps because it was an emergency situation, they didn’t pay any attention to me.

I also went out into the hallway, and the smell of fire hit me along with the intense heat.
A masked man who looked like a member of the anti-Awakened group was collapsed in front of him, who was engulfed in flames.

He was still wrapped in fire and said in a low voice.

“Where is Lee Shinui?”

He must not have seen me yet, as he asked, coming inside.
At that, the leader approached him.

“Who are you.”

He used his ability on the leader, but a barrier formed around the leader, repelling his attack.
He must have thought that finding me was his first priority, as he quickly passed by the leader and came inside, not caring that his opponent had blocked his ability.
The anti-Awakened, sensing the difference in power, did not approach him easily.

The leader caught him again.
In a situation where I didn’t know exactly what the leader’s ability was, the confrontation between the two seemed dangerous, so I hurriedly called him.

“I’m over here.”

As soon as he heard my voice, he teleported right in front of me and hugged me.
It was so instantaneous that even the leader hadn’t noticed.

“I was worried because you disappeared. You’re not hurt, are you?”

“Yeah. Let’s get out of here first.”

Even at my words to leave, he looked at the anti-Awakened with murderous eyes.

“I can’t just leave.”

“I said let’s go. I’m tired.”

“They kidnapped you.”

“I wasn’t hurt. Look. My limbs are all intact.”

Even at my words, he still didn’t relax his frown.
Thinking that a bloodbath might occur if we stayed like this, I hurriedly said to the leader.

“I can go now, right?”

The leader looked at me with an expression of disbelief, but he soon nodded.
He also seemed to know that the situation would end if I just disappeared.

He had a displeased face, but in the end, he came out with me.
Before I knew it, the sky was shrouded in darkness.

“You’re really not hurt anywhere?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you know how worried I was?”

“What’s the point of worrying? It’s over if I’m dead.”

“Don’t say such sad things.”

I didn’t answer his melancholic words and kept my mouth shut.
I could see Jinseok and the Association’s Espers gathered in front of the entrance of Sector 89.
Seeing them, I realized that I had escaped.

We quickly teleported to the entrance with his ability.
As soon as Jinseok saw me, he looked me over with a face full of worry and relief.

“Guide-nim, are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m just tired from being locked up.”

“You weren’t harmed, were you?”

“No. I want to go home now.”

The other people also came closer to me and checked on my condition.
He watched me from a distance.
For some reason, I disliked seeing him, so I took an Association car and went straight back home.

When I returned home, I was alone.
Wonjae was also looking for me in Sector 89 and was now on his way back.

Perhaps because it was a situation where I had caused trouble for many people, my heart was not at ease.
I think I need to act more cautiously at gates from now on.
Otherwise, something like today could happen again.

Since the anti-Awakened members had been friendly, I was able to come out intact like this; if not, I would have never been able to come home again.

Due to the Association’s words that the anti-Awakened group might target me again, I ended up staying at home with Wonjae for a while.

Because of this incident, there was a risk of retaliation from the anti-Awakened, so the Association was on high alert, and the government was also watching.

On TV, the incident that had happened in Sector 89 was being reported non-stop.

<[An S-Class guide of the Esper·Guide Association, Mr. Lee, was kidnapped by an anti-Awakened group last night and was safely rescued.]>

In fact, from the morning, all the news was talking about me.
I don’t know how they filmed it, but a scene of him turning the building where the anti-Awakened group’s hideout was into a sea of fire was being reported.

“Nothing really happened, but it feels like it’s become a big deal.”

Wonjae, who was listening to my words next to me, said with a serious face, unlike usual.

“The Association was in a state of emergency after you disappeared. I was worried too. Don’t go out alone again.”

“Okay. I’ll be careful from next time.”

Even at my words to be careful, he still had a worried face.
It seemed he was worried about the anti-Awakened’s retaliation.

“Don’t worry about retaliation, and you didn’t sleep properly yesterday either, so get some rest.”

“But I’m still worried.”

If I stayed next to him, I would surely be nagged.
I went into my room as if to run away and checked my phone.
A message had arrived from Sehyun.
He had also sent a message in the morning asking if I was okay, so it seemed he was very worried.

[Cha Sehyun: Shinui-ssi, how are you feeling? Please contact me when you have time.]

To relieve his worries, I immediately sent a text.

[I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.]

As soon as I sent the text, the phone rang.
As expected, it was him.

“Yes, Sehyun-ssi.”

• [Shinui-ssi, are you really okay?]

“I’m fine. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

• [Not at all. If you’re okay, can I see your face for a moment?]

“Now?”

• [Yes. Because I’m worried. I think I’ll be at ease only after I see you in person.]

“Um, but… it’s difficult for me to go out right now.”

• [Then can’t we meet for a moment in front of your house?]

“I think that would be okay…. But then it would be a hassle for you.”

• [Not at all. I’m in front of your house right now. Come down when you’re ready.]

I had a feeling he might be in front of my house, but I never thought he would actually be here.
I felt sorry at his words.

“Then I’ll be down now.”

• [Okay. Take your time.]

When I came out of my room slightly, he was on the phone with a guide he had become friendly with at the cruise party.
He was still worried about me.

Since he would surely dislike it if I told him I was going to meet him, I decided I had to sneak out.

While he was on the phone, I secretly slipped out the front door.
But as soon as I came out, I felt his wavelength.
But the wavelength disappeared so quickly that it felt like my imagination.

I looked around, but since meeting him was my priority, I took the elevator and went down to the lobby.
However, as I was about to go out, an Association staff member who was on standby in the lobby stopped me.

“Guide-nim, you can’t go out.”

“I’m just going to meet someone right in front.”

“That will be difficult. You were also kidnapped yesterday.”

“Then can we talk in the lobby lounge?”

“That is possible.”

I nodded and called him.

“Sehyun-ssi, could we possibly talk in the lobby?”

• [Is that okay?]

“They said it’s fine. Come on in.”

Not long after the call ended, he came inside.
He was wearing his government uniform.
An Association staff member who saw him tried to stop him, but he had a troubled face when I greeted him.

“Was the person you said you were meeting from the government?”

“Yes. Then we’ll just talk for a moment.”

“…I understand.”

The Association staff member also looked at us with a puzzled face, as if wondering if this was okay, and then moved far away.
He and I moved to a table provided in the lobby and talked.

“This is my first time in an Association apartment.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not in a position to go out at the moment.”

“It’s okay. I understand completely. You’re really not hurt anywhere, are you?”

He looked me over.
And he was relieved only after confirming that there were no injuries.

“I’m not hurt at all.”

“The anti-Awakened group is not a bad bunch. But there’s no good in getting involved with them. Still, I’m relieved that you seem to be okay.”

It was then.
I felt his wavelength again.
As expected, his wavelength I had felt in front of the house was not my imagination.

What was he thinking, seeing me with him?
Before returning to the past, I had felt a fire burning inside me just by seeing him with Wonjae.

If his words that he liked me were true, I wanted him to feel the same as I did back then.

“Sehyun-ssi, you said you could also use a little bit of healing ability, right?”

“Yes.”

“Actually, the inside of my palm is torn.”

The anti-Awakened leader had treated it, but the wound had not yet healed.

“Show me.”

I took off the regeneration patch and showed it to him.

“There’s still blood. I have to make contact to heal. Is it okay if I hold your hand?”

“Yes.”

He carefully took my hand.
Unlike his, his hand was warm.

A small light emanated from our clasped hands, and I could feel the stinging sensation gradually disappear.

For a moment, I felt his wavelength sharpen.
I had asked him to use his healing ability because I wanted this reaction from him.
I hated my childish behavior, but I wanted him to feel the same misery as I did.

His ears were very faintly red.
But there was no change on my face.
I felt a sense of guilt, accompanied by self-loathing, at myself for using his feelings.

Before I knew it, my hand was clean without a scar.
Even though the healing was over, he still held my hand and said.

“I want to wait, but I keep getting greedy for you.”

I still couldn’t say anything to his words.
The answer was already decided, but on the other hand, I also had a thought of what it would be like if I accepted him.

If my heart, which had been hurt by Hyun Taewoon, could be healed by a healing ability, I wanted him to heal it.
But knowing that it was not possible, I could only give an awkward smile.