Chapter 87: The Cost of Protecting a Guide

In his wretched state of mind, Su-ha bit down hard on his lip. He opened his mouth to say something to Ye-seon when Chaewon, who he had thought had fainted, spoke to him in a voice as faint as breathing.

“…Ah-yo?”

“Chaewon? Can you hear me?”

At first, he couldn’t make out what he was saying. More than the words, Su-ha was simply relieved that Chaewon hadn’t completely lost consciousness, and he pulled him into a tighter embrace.

Then, a slightly clearer voice reached his ear.

“Su-ha… you’re not hurt anywhere… right?”

Su-ha froze.

Anyone with eyes and ears would have known what Chaewon had been trying to do today, what kind of resolve had driven him to change so suddenly.

In a situation where that was painfully obvious, Su-ha had been forced to stand there and watch, unable to do anything. No one but him could possibly imagine how that felt.

And yet, in his dazed state, the first thing Chaewon asked about was Su-ha’s safety. This wasn’t even a real battlefield.

An unbearable emotion welled up inside him, almost like pain. Forcing down the surge in his chest, Su-ha whispered,

“Just… just hold on a little longer.”

He lifted Chaewon into his arms and said to Ye-seon, who had approached to check on him,

“We’re moving to the guiding room.”

Before Ye-seon could even nod, Su-ha rose and hurried toward the guiding room connected to the training hall. Watching his retreating figure, Ye-seon turned to Gi-yoon.

“You’re not about to blame me, are you?”

Gi-yoon shrugged defensively.

“…”

“You should be thanking me, if anything.”

Ye-seon had almost snapped that maybe it hadn’t needed to go that far, but Gi-yoon wasn’t wrong. Today’s training would certainly help Chaewon. Gi-yoon had given up his own valuable time and done his best. He deserved thanks, not criticism.

“Why are you going this far?” Ye-seon asked instead.

Gi-yoon didn’t need to do this. If Chaewon had been his teammate, maybe, but being fellow S-class Espers didn’t obligate him to look after anyone.

After a brief pause, Gi-yoon replied,

“Honestly, I don’t know.”

“Hm.”

“At first I was just curious because Min I-hyeon was interested. Then I found his personality entertaining and wanted to see more. But now…”

He trailed off, gazing toward where Chaewon had disappeared. Even considering he had pushed him to react, Chaewon’s willingness to charge forward without regard for his own pain had left an impression.

All Espers risked danger. Injuries were common; sometimes people died. They all knew it could be them one day.

But accepting a mere possibility wasn’t the same as accepting something guaranteed. If using your power meant enduring severe pain every single time, many Espers would hesitate to continue.

Gi-yoon remembered the way Chaewon’s eyes had changed the instant Su-ha was attacked. A faint, unreadable smile curved his lips.

“What’s with that expression? It’s unsettling.”

Gi-yoon shook his head lightly.

“No, it’s just… Lee Chaewon is more interesting than I thought.”

An Esper who grew stronger when someone else was threatened. Maybe someone just as irritating as Min I-hyeon had appeared. Strangely, though, Gi-yoon didn’t find him unpleasant.

After imagining Chaewon rescuing civilians caught in terror attacks with that strength and that unwavering heart, Gi-yoon turned away.

“Anyway, I’ll head out first. Tell Chae-won I’ll accept his thanks later.”

****

“Chaewon, can you hear me?”

Inside the guiding room, Su-ha laid him gently on the bed and cupped his cheek. Chaewon only let out faint groans, unable to open his eyes. Through their contact, Su-ha could feel his pain vividly.

His breath caught. He couldn’t believe he was a veteran Guide. All his experience was useless in this moment.

It felt like the first time again, like facing an Esper drowning in pain for the very first time. His vision darkened, his heart pounded, his mind blanked.

Objectively, this wasn’t that dire. Chaewon was in pain, but his life wasn’t in danger. It wasn’t a desperate crisis.

Su-ha knew his side effects. He simply needed to guide him calmly, as he always had.

The problem was that his heart wasn’t the same anymore.

Chaewon was no longer someone Su-ha could keep emotional distance from. Not just because he was his paired Esper. Not merely because he had accepted that fact sincerely.

Chaewon had become someone Su-ha wanted to protect from all pain, no matter what.

Breathing unsteadily, Su-ha forced himself to calm down. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Chaewon’s forehead. His hand slid behind his neck and gently tilted his head back, parting his lips.

Su-ha’s mouth moved from forehead to nose, brushing down, beginning the guiding through every point of contact.

As he soothed Chaewon’s battered energy, a fierce, unfamiliar sorrow gripped him. This would not be the last time. The better Chaewon endured these moments, the more he grew, the greater dangers he would face.

Would he endure it? Not Chaewon, but himself, as his Guide. Was he ready?

Holding that storm inside, Su-ha slowly kissed him. The faint metallic taste of blood spread across his tongue. Ignoring it, he drew up his energy and deepened the connection.

At that moment, strength returned to Chaewon’s fingertips. A soft moan escaped his throat.

Su-ha tilted his head, pushing deeper. His free hand found Chaewon’s and pinned it gently above his head, their fingers interlacing as energy flowed between them.

Chaewon’s other hand rose, cupping Su-ha’s cheek and pulling him closer.

Their lips pressed deeper. Inside his mouth, Chaewon’s tongue moved urgently, like someone desperate for water.

Su-ha’s body shifted fully onto the bed, overlapping his. Chaewon parted his legs, drawing him closer.

It was instinct, the reflex of an Esper seeking relief. Like someone drowning, grasping for anything.

The power that could quench his burning thirst and halt his endless pain was right there, within reach.

Su-ha knew better than anyone that there was nothing personal in Chaewon’s movements. No private longing.

And yet heat surged through him.

Tilting Chaewon’s head back further, Su-ha moved with an urgency that was almost desperate, almost tender.

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