Chapter 83: Push Me to the Limit

“Nervous?”

Gi-yoon asked with a bright smile as Chaewon finished a simple check before training began. Chaewon didn’t know it, but even Gi-yoon’s own team members rarely saw him look that cheerful. Chaewon nodded honestly.

“Yes. Very nervous.”

As if that answer were somehow amusing, Gi-yoon let out a laugh. Watching him quietly, Ye-seon shook his head and said,

“Team Leader Joo, you know, right? Don’t be a jerk.”

Gi-yoon put on a mock-serious expression.

“Where else are you going to find a gentler esper than me?”

“Don’t even start.”

Ye-seon let out a short sigh, as if he’d expected nothing less. Just then, Chaewon, who had been listening to their exchange with a faint smile, suddenly spoke up.

“But… please don’t go easy on me.”

Everyone’s eyes immediately turned to him. Gi-yoon’s eyes gleamed.

“Don’t go easy?”

“Yes. Of course, please adjust according to my level… but I’d like you to push me to my limit. As far as I can go.”

“Chaewon.”

“And while it’s safe like this… I want to experience the side effects more.”

Su-ha, who had started to call his name out of concern, fell silent at Chaewon’s next words. Smiling gently at Su-ha as if to reassure him, Chaewon continued,

“If I pass out here, no one will get hurt. So I want to be driven to the extreme and see how much I can endure.”

From that single statement, Su-ha understood that Chaewon had taken deeply to heart the fact that he had collapsed before fully finishing things in their last battle. It was an overwhelming sense of responsibility.

It wasn’t as though Chaewon had been harshly criticized for it. On the contrary, public opinion had turned in his favor. After the press conference, people praised him even more for enduring until he fainted despite such severe side effects.

For a rookie esper, no one would have found it strange if he’d been swept up in that praise.

And yet, ever since that incident, Chaewon had only focused on what he hadn’t done well. One could say it was low self-esteem, but Su-ha knew there was something more fundamental beneath it.

“And…”

This time, Chaewon looked at Ye-seon.

“Even if I seem like I’m struggling… could you let the training continue until I either pass out or say I want to stop?”

Ye-seon let out a low hum. He knew how desperately Chaewon wanted to improve, quickly and properly, but hearing him say it so plainly made it hard not to be shaken.

In truth, upper management wanted Chaewon to show tangible results as soon as possible. Naturally, that pressure fell on Ye-seon, the head of the Esper Management Team.

Since the press conference, he had repeatedly been instructed to push Chaewon back into the public eye before interest faded—even if it meant overexertion.

So technically, Ye-seon should have welcomed Chaewon pushing himself like this.

“I understand what you’re asking,” Ye-seon said slowly. “I’ll try to accommodate you as much as possible.”

“Thank you!”

“But as head of the Esper Management Team, if I judge it to be too dangerous, I will stop the training. When that happens, I’d like you to trust my decision and follow it.”

For some reason, Ye-seon couldn’t simply agree to let him endure anything beyond reason, even if Chaewon volunteered. He didn’t want to push someone who was already driving himself too hard to go even further.

For someone known for delivering cold words with a gentle face, this was unusual.

At that point, Chaewon could no longer insist. “Yes. I understand,” he answered obediently. Ye-seon had far more experience and knowledge about espers, it was only right to listen.

This time, Su-ha, who looked slightly reassured by Ye-seon’s response, spoke to Chaewon.

“Today, I’ll be staying out here to observe your training.”

“Out here? Wouldn’t that be dangerous…?”

Chaewon’s face immediately filled with concern. Su-ha almost laughed.

The same person who had just asked to train until he fainted now looked as though the world might collapse at the thought of Su-ha standing in the same space.

The contradiction made Su-ha feel both incredulous and strangely pleased, and he found himself thinking Chaewon was endearing.

Careful not to let his thoughts show, Su-ha continued calmly.

“I’ll stay at a distance, so don’t worry. I’m not here without reason. Today, I’m planning to do a kind of training as well.”

“You too, Su-ha?”

“Yes. Today, you’ll be receiving radial guiding from me for the first time.”

“Radial guiding.” The unfamiliar term made Chaewon part his lips slightly in surprise.

He did know the term. He had heard it during basic training. Also called non-contact guiding, radial guiding meant that the guide emitted energy toward an esper from a distance rather than through physical contact.

It was far less efficient compared to the power expended, so it wasn’t commonly used. However, it could be necessary in urgent combat situations or when guiding multiple espers at once.

“Considering your condition,” Su-ha explained, “there’s a high chance I’ll need to guide you mid-battle. If contact guiding is possible, I’ll do that. But if not, it’s better to prepare in advance.”

“I see…”

“I’ll notify you before I start during training. It may be difficult, but try to pay attention to how your body reacts and how your control over your power changes. It will help you in the field later.”

As Su-ha continued, Chaewon’s eyes grew brighter with interest. He realized this could be extremely helpful. Still, concern crept in.

“But… I heard radial guiding puts a heavy strain on the guide.”

Lower efficiency meant that to stabilize an esper to the same degree, the guide had to output more energy. In unpredictable combat conditions, that inefficiency wasn’t just exhausting, it could be dangerous.

He remembered being told it was only used when absolutely necessary.

Ordinary espers rarely required it. The only reason they would train for it now was because Su-ha’s pair esper, Chaewon himself, might collapse from side effects at any time.

But Su-ha smiled with complete confidence.

“Don’t worry, Chaewon. It’s not much of a strain for me.”

The force that radiated from him in that moment was so overwhelming that even Gi-yoon, who had been giving Su-ha displeased looks earlier, flinched slightly.

In truth, there were few guides capable of delivering radial guiding strong enough to meaningfully affect an esper. Among them, Su-ha’s ability was unrivaled.

It was one of the reasons he had insisted on being Chaewon’s guide. Given how often Chaewon might need immediate guiding in the field, a guide who could provide effective support without physical contact was a perfect match.

Honestly, radial guiding consumed far more energy than contact guiding for Su-ha as well. But there was no reason to burden Chaewon further by mentioning that.

“…You’re really sure?” Chaewon asked, still not fully convinced.

“Of course. So don’t worry and focus on your training.”

“Yes.”

Su-ha had deliberately told him to focus, and it worked. Chaewon’s expression hardened with renewed determination.

Gi-yoon clapped his hands lightly to shift the atmosphere.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

As soon as Chaewon answered, everyone moved into position. Ye-seon entered the control room with Eunho and spoke into the microphone.

“Begin.”

At that instant, blue light began to rise from Chaewon’s body.

****

Gi-yoon consciously exhaled. The moment Chaewon drew up his power, his own body had instinctively tensed. There had been so much talk about side effects that he’d wondered how impressive it could really be.

It seemed the S-class evaluation hadn’t been given for nothing.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

A Boy’s Bizarre Tale

BLBoys LoveDrama

Read Now →
Not interested