Chapter 9 : Do you know what a leech is (1)

Jisung’s Guide registration was processed quickly. Thanks to that, he was able to start working as Hyunwoo’s Guide right away. It had been a week since he began his activities as a novice Guide. And he realized something. He realized just how much Hyunwoo and his companions had squeezed and squeezed their non-existent time to come and see him.

The schedule given to them was nothing short of murderous. It wasn’t a workload a human could possibly handle. Not only were missions scheduled for the entire week, but they often had to carry out multiple missions in a single day. All-nighters were common, and there were often times they couldn’t even wash properly.

But the most infuriating thing of all, on top of forcing such a grueling schedule, was them claiming to be busy and making them subsist on a single kimbap roll and vitamin gummies for meals.
TL Note: Kimbap is a Korean dish made from cooked rice and other ingredients that are rolled in gim—dried sheets of seaweed—and served in bite-sized slices.

‘Are you kidding me?’

Jisung glared at the vitamin gummies in his hand. ‘Are you trying to kill us? Are you itching to kill Espers and Guides right now? Do you think our bodies are androids made of machines? To survive on just this? We should be getting three full-course meals a day, and what do we get? Vitamin gummies? It’s fine because it has all the necessary nutrients?’

Jisung’s hand, clutching the gummies, trembled. Watching him, Hyunwoo cautiously called out.

“Hyung, are you okay? If you’re tired, I’m fine, so you can rest.”

Jisung looked at the vitamin gummies in Hyunwoo’s hand. ‘No way, they weren’t continuously feeding growing kids like this, were they?’ He tried to deny it, but the suspicion wouldn’t go away. Even Jisung, whom they had struggled to recruit, was treated like this. He couldn’t even imagine how they had treated Hyunwoo and Yuaan, whom they had had since they were children.

Jisung shot up from his seat. Hyunwoo looked at him with surprised eyes.

“Is this how you treat people who protect the country?!”

Bang!

Jisung kicked open the bus door and stormed out. The Center staff waiting outside looked at him with bewildered faces at his sudden outburst.

“Guide Lee Jisung, please wait inside.”

“Do you really think this is enough for a meal?”

“Guide Lee Jisung, didn’t you hear me tell you to wait inside?”

The man frowned and pointed a finger at Jisung.

“This is why rookies are… so annoying.”

The man muttered, not quite to himself, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Stop causing a scene and go wait inside. You need to leave for the mission immediately when the order comes.”

“…”

“All you do is stick next to an Esper, doing nothing. Wasting taxpayers’ money. Just because people around you treat you like a hero, do you think you actually are one?”

Jisung leaned his head against the bus door and crossed his arms. Then he stared silently at the man who was waving his hand dismissively at him. The man frowned at Jisung’s silent stare and spat out in an irritated voice.

“Can’t you hear me telling you to wait inside?!”

“Hey.”

“What? Did you just call me ‘hey’?”

“Yeah, you. You look at least five years younger than me… I’ll admit you look younger than your age because you have a baby face, but that doesn’t mean I appreciate a young punk like you running your mouth off!”

Jisung’s voice rose a tone. The man, who had been so arrogant just moments before, flinched and took a step back. Panic flickered in the man’s eyes. Jisung straightened up from leaning against the door and stepped off the bus. Then he walked towards the man, one step at a time.

“Hero treatment? If your idea of hero treatment is providing such inadequate meals, then I’d like to decline. You create this image for the media and sell it, anyone would think we asked for this!”

Seeing Jisung’s intimidating demeanor, other staff members quickly intervened. “Guide Lee Jisung, please get back on the bus,” they repeated, shielding the man. Jisung let out a hollow laugh.

“Hyung.”

As Hyunwoo made a move to get off the bus, the staff members, one after another, pulled out guns from their pockets. Fear filled their eyes. The sight of the cold pistols aimed at Hyunwoo chilled Jisung to the bone.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Esper Park Hyunwoo, don’t take a single step out of there and wait inside.”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Espers are prohibited from acting freely. Guide Lee Jisung, get inside quickly too.”

Jisung watched the scene unfold before him and slowly ran a hand through his hair. His brain couldn’t comprehend what was happening. He took a deep breath and then spoke.

“You do realize the person you’re aiming your guns at is on your side, right?”

“…Espers can act unpredictably at any time. If they recklessly use their abilities and harm their surroundings…”

“You’ve been on missions with them all this time, and you still don’t know them? If they had any intention of doing that, they would have killed you long ago. Mere guns are nothing but children’s toys in front of an Esper.”

The staff members’ expressions hardened at Jisung’s words. Seeing their gazes turn towards him, Jisung let out a mirthless laugh.

“They’re kids who have patiently endured this kind of treatment, and you’re talking about unpredictable behavior? Are you serious?”

“…Guide Lee Jisung, if you continue to act out of line, I will report this to the higher-ups.”

“So what if you report it to the higher-ups? Are you going to get me fired as a Guide?”

The staff member’s mouth clamped shut. Jisung was a Guide they had begged and pleaded with to join, someone who hadn’t even wanted the job. Firing Jisung wouldn’t be a problem for him. He had his own profession and wasn’t struggling financially. Jisung had become a Guide solely for Hyunwoo, for one person.

“…This could also result in disadvantages for Esper Park Hyunwoo.”

‘So, since I’m not budging, you’re bringing Hyunwoo into this?’ Jisung’s eyes narrowed. He tilted his head to the side and crossed his arms. Mission after mission, throwing them here and there, and when it’s over, not even a word of thanks before throwing them into another mission. They were treated no differently than tools.

How had they endured this? Protecting the country, protecting people, yet those very people called them monsters and pointed guns at them. How could they tolerate such a situation?

Perhaps it was because this kind of life had been ingrained in them since childhood. Hyunwoo and Yuaan had spoken nonchalantly about being fed poison due to the risk of assassination. They had probably been continuously exposed to even worse treatment. That’s why this situation was normal for them. They didn’t feel that there was anything strange about this.

Jisung looked behind him. Sunwoo was sitting with a dark expression.

‘This is it. This is what you wanted to tell me.’

He realized why Sunwoo’s expression always soured whenever the Center was mentioned. Sunwoo, like Jisung, had probably felt the injustice of the situation and protested. But the fact that nothing had improved meant his complaints had fallen on deaf ears.

It was pointless talking to these mere Center employees; it would only be a waste of his breath. To solve the problem, it was most effective to speak directly to the higher-ups.

Bang!

The door to the Center Director’s office burst open. Jisung, deftly dodging the staff members trying to block him, entered and looked at the Center Director. The man, with prominent square glasses, frowned with his sharp eyes and opened his mouth.

“You are… Lee Jisung.”

“Yes, hello.”

When Jisung smiled brightly and greeted him, he made an overtly annoyed expression.

“What business brings you here? Without an appointment, so rude.”

Jisung ignored the Center Director’s latter remarks.

“I’m here to protest the unreasonable scheduling and inadequate meals.”

The Center Director’s expression turned indifferent at Jisung’s words. As if wondering what grand pronouncement he had come to make. The Center Director leaned back in his chair and said.

“Next time, don’t come bothering me with trivial matters.”

“Trivial matters? You don’t seem to understand how severe the schedule is…”

“How can we use Espers if they can’t even handle that level of missions?”

“…You seem to think Espers are superhumans, but Espers are people just like us. They need sufficient rest and proper meals…”

“There haven’t been any problems so far.”

“That’s…!”

“What do you know, having just become a Guide, to tell me what to do? You impudent young brat!”

“But…”

“Get the hell out!”

Jisung was ultimately unable to finish his sentence and was kicked out of the Center Director’s office. He had expected it, but it was worse than he thought. The perception of Espers was fundamentally flawed. The Center Director didn’t seem to treat Hyunwoo or Yuaan as people like himself. It’s fine because there haven’t been any problems so far? Why couldn’t he understand that the “so far” was the problem? Besides, Jisung and Sunwoo, as Guides, had bodies exactly like ordinary people. This method couldn’t possibly work forever. Problems would surely arise, and then it would be too late.

“This is absurd.”

Jisung bit his lip hard. Anger rose to the top of his head. As he was gnawing on his lip, Sunwoo approached him. Sunwoo handed him a can of coffee and said.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, thanks.”

Sunwoo watched Jisung drink his coffee silently for a moment, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“I’ve tried many times too, but it was no use. You can only have a conversation if the other person is willing. Trying to reason with someone who covers their ears and has no intention of listening will only make you suffer, Hyung…”

From Sunwoo’s calm voice, Jisung could tell how many times he had tried and been frustrated. Jisung raised his hand and patted Sunwoo’s head. Sunwoo’s eyes widened. Jisung smiled gently at Sunwoo, who looked up at him, and said.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Hyung…”

“Leave the next step to your hyung!”
TL Note : In Korean, “hyung” means “older brother”. It’s a term used by males to address or refer to older males, whether they are actual brothers, family members, or close friends.

Jisung smiled brightly at Sunwoo’s worried expression.

“If words don’t work, you have to show them with actions.”

“Pardon?”