TTOA Chapter 135

#135

After all, nothing has been verified yet.

It’s not even certain if Kwon Jae-jin’s Guiding is that effective. Obtaining confirmation is the priority, and actual Guiding is something to decide after that.

‘Once everything is confirmed, then… well…’

Right…

Is another round of madness about to unfold…?

‘What’s so special about a mad dog? Just watch a sword dance once and be done with it.’

The point is, shouldn’t I just keep giving in until Seo Eui-woo’s mood improves? It’s something I’ve experienced often enough…

Even enduring that is considered restraint, so there’s nothing I can say to him about it…

‘I don’t want to whine and back out, so I’ll just have to handle as much as I can.’

Anyway, now is the time to only look ahead and move forward. There was no time to hesitate.

“Then let’s go to the Sterile Transfer Room.”

My first visit to the Center was as an intruder, and the second was as a formally invited guest after identity verification.

It’s a little funny that I’m only going through the Sterile Transfer Room on my third visit. I’m only now using the most common method of transportation in the Special Residential District.

‘Even though I’ve always seen Seo Eui-woo commuting this way.’

The Sterile Transfer Room in the new mansion was structurally identical to the beach mansion I used to live in. There were two sealed double doors, and sterilization was completed during the passage. Inside, there was a platform and a compatible device in front of it.

Seo Eui-woo took Kwon Jae-jin’s hand and stood on the platform. A brief silence flowed while waiting for the compatibility signal.

Involuntarily, I turned to look at Seo Eui-woo, and as expected, our eyes met. Seo Eui-woo was constantly staring only at Kwon Jae-jin, as if he never got tired of it.

Jae-jin muttered in vain.

“You don’t have to be so on guard. I’ll only stick by Seo Eui-woo.”

“…….”

“Other Espers, well… anyway, so…”

“Anyway, so what?”

“The light’s on. Isn’t that a signal to move now?”

“Anyway, so what are you trying to say?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

“Jae-jin.”

“Haa, I meant I’ll be careful, so don’t worry… Let’s go now.”

After going through the Sterile Transfer Room with Seo Eui-woo, we could immediately arrive on the 7th floor of the Center’s Central Building. Unlike the deserted 3rd floor, the 7th floor was crowded with Special Task Force members using the Sterile Transfer Room for missions.

Among the armed Espers equipped with combat uniforms, Seo Eui-woo and Kwon Jae-jin, who appeared in everyday clothes, stood out noticeably.

“……!”

The Espers who recognized them were startled and stepped back.

In an instant, like the miracle of Moses, the crowd in the 7th-floor hallway parted in half. Seo Eui-woo put a protective shield created with his ability over Kwon Jae-jin and strode to the elevator.

“Don’t look. Don’t make eye contact with those bastards.”

“How many times have you said that? I didn’t look.”

“Wait, don’t even talk. I don’t want to let them hear Jae-jin’s voice.”

“…….”

Kwon Jae-jin tried his best, but he couldn’t stop his expression from subtly twisting.

“No, why do the conditions keep increasing? It’s not like I’m Guiding just by looking, and it’s not like I’m Guiding just by hearing my voice…”

Seo Eui-woo pulled Kwon Jae-jin into the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors closed and they were alone in the enclosed space, Seo Eui-woo couldn’t bear the moment and pounced on Kwon Jae-jin. He pushed him into the corner of the elevator and wrapped his arm around his waist, holding him tightly.

Not even a minute after leaving the house, Seo Eui-woo already felt the urge to take Kwon Jae-jin back with a coordinate shift.

“Why again…? Nothing happened. Let go a little.”

Even while being hugged and restrained by Seo Eui-woo, Kwon Jae-jin barely stretched out his arm to find and press the 3rd-floor button for the physical examination room.

“Nothing happened? They were all staring blankly at Jae-jin…”

“Well, they probably looked because a mutant suddenly appeared, so they were curious.”

“No, that’s not it… They must have resonated. I felt they all felt it.”

“Whether they resonated or not, it’s unsightly to do this in front of others… You have to control your jealousy.”

“Jealousy…?”

“Yes.”

“I was jealous?”

Seo Eui-woo was born an S-rank. Therefore, he had never had a reason to envy or be jealous of other Espers in his life. Other Espers would envy and be jealous of Seo Eui-woo.

However, when Kwon Jae-jin became involved, things changed.

Even if he could never be equal to Seo Eui-woo in terms of ability, his instinct as an Esper was the same. The process of desiring Guiding itself was the same. Any Esper could receive Guiding from Kwon Jae-jin, and they would crave Kwon Jae-jin’s Guiding. So Seo Eui-woo was jealous with a murderous hostility.

Moreover, just as Seo Eui-woo had, other Espers also had the opportunity to realize things through Kwon Jae-jin. What dating is, what romantic feelings are. If everyone realized it through Kwon Jae-jin, they would become equal not only as Espers but also as romantic rivals.

That’s why he was the object of jealousy, and why he constantly felt threatened.

“……I see. So this is what it’s like to be jealous.”

The elevator had arrived on the 3rd floor, but Seo Eui-woo showed no sign of getting off. The door opened and closed once in vain, and inside the stopped elevator, Seo Eui-woo’s eyes flashed and radiated madness.

Seo Eui-woo’s fierce eyes were reflected in the mirrors on both sides of the elevator.

“I think I’m jealous.”

“Yes… If you know, let’s get off now.”

“I’m jealous.”

“I know, I know…”

Honestly, shouldn’t he get some mental counseling?

I understand feeling repulsed by Guiding other Espers, but Seo Eui-woo’s obsession seemed to go far beyond that level.

“It’s the 3rd floor. We have to get off.”

“Yeah, okay. Let’s go…”

The reason for visiting the physical examination room on the 3rd floor was to continue the examination that had not been completed last time. After Kwon Jae-jin’s rank test was over, Lieutenant Colonel Jang had informed them that Seo Eui-woo should also undergo an ability test next.

It had been canceled that day, but if he received the test today, they could find out if Kwon Jae-jin’s Guiding was related to the Esper’s ability amplification.

However, as soon as they opened the elevator door and got off, they met someone’s eyes in the 3rd-floor hallway.

“……Kwon Jae-jin?”

By some cruel twist of fate, it was someone very familiar.

Major Ma Tae-o distorted his bewildered eyes and looked at Kwon Jae-jin and Seo Eui-woo. Researchers were lined up behind him.

Before they could react, Seo Eui-woo unleashed his ability, and Ma Tae-o hastily put up a barrier. The researchers were pushed back and fell to the floor in the hallway.

Kwon Jae-jin urgently stopped Seo Eui-woo.

“Seo Eui-woo! Wait!”

Damn it, of all people!

Why does Ma Tae-o have to pop up here…

‘No, it’s better this way.’

There’s no need to go back now.

Kwon Jae-jin watched Ma Tae-o, who was desperately trying to withstand Seo Eui-woo’s ability, and shouted to Seo Eui-woo.

“Wait a minute, Eui-woo. Let’s talk. Please stop.”

Seo Eui-woo didn’t listen even though he was told to stop. Ma Tae-o groaned and suffered.

“Kuek…….”

“Major Ma Tae-o, I heard that my Guiding has enhanced your ability. Is it true?”

The researchers on the 3rd floor began to sound the alarm and send communications to the higher-ups. Things were getting bigger.

Even in this situation, Seo Eui-woo did not withdraw his ability. Instead, he was crushing Ma Tae-o with a pale and cold face. The spot where Ma Tae-o was standing was dug in with the round shield intact.

“Seo Eui-woo, I told you to stop! I need an answer…….”

“Jae-jin… There’s no need to hear an answer from a guy like that. I can tell just by being close to him.”

Seo Eui-woo smiled irritably. He was clearly smiling by raising the corners of his mouth, but his expression showed that he didn’t know how to suppress his annoyance and displeasure.

“Ah… Haha, I wish it had been nonsense.”

I wish it was all bullshit about ability enhancement and all that…

“Defense-type A-rank. Much stronger than the previous level.”

Seo Eui-woo chuckled and focused his ability like a sharp awl. As he aimed at one point and pierced Ma Tae-o’s shield, the shield, which had been a perfect sphere, was dented and pressed in.

Cracks began to appear on the colorful surface like a soap bubble, and soon the corners broke off unstably.

“I think it’s quite irritating to think that you would have collapsed already, but you’re still holding on thanks to Jae-jin’s Guiding.”

“Then… is it all true?”

“Yes, as you can see.”

“……I see.”

I got confirmation. And from Seo Eui-woo.

He was more trustworthy than any test.

“So… that’s how it is.”

Ah.

This can’t be.

I was hoping, maybe…

To be honest, everything still felt surreal.

Even during the rank test, Kwon Jae-jin wasn’t sure if he would receive an S-rank rating. He heard he was S-rank, but he never actually gained self-assurance.

But as you can see, Kwon Jae-jin’s hands held the power to shake the structure from the beginning.

It may not be the power to cause natural disasters by spewing out omnipotent abilities like Seo Eui-woo, but it was an absolute power no less than that.

Jae-jin slowly clenched his fist. Many thoughts quickly mixed and passed in an instant. Then he suddenly came to his senses.

Ma Tae-o’s shield was already nearly half broken. If left as it was, it seemed like it would soon lose its shape and disappear. With a much calmer heart, Kwon Jae-jin grabbed Seo Eui-woo’s elbow and pulled him.