DMG Chapter 7 (Part 3)

That short question carried a lot: Can you still handle fieldwork? Will you be able to keep up without endangering the team? Are you physically capable of working without pushing yourself too far?

After a brief pause, Kang I-won nodded and replied in an equally quiet voice,

“…Yeah. As long as I don’t push too hard. It’s just taking more time now, that’s all.”

“Let me know if it gets to be too much.”

Kang I-won nodded again. Before coming out today, he had informed Han Kang-jin that although his regeneration ability was intact, the speed had slowed to two or three times its usual rate. The test results also suggested suspected ability loss. Han Kang-jin respected Kang I-won’s wish to wait for the retest results before informing the team.

Because of this, Han Kang-jin had been keeping a closer eye on him than usual, but since his regeneration still worked, the concern didn’t linger too long. After all, the reality of ability loss hadn’t fully sunk in yet — not for anyone.

Just as they were finishing up and getting ready to head back, all five team members’ devices started blaring at once with shrill alerts.

“Ah, damn, I hate th—”

Kim Young-ho, frowning hard, was the first to check his screen—and froze. Then Han Kang-jin, scanning the alert casually, spoke to his team.

“It’s a call from Sector 2, so we probably don’t need to go.”

“Team Leader.”

“What?”

“I think we should check this one out.”

That wasn’t like Kim Young-ho. Normally, he’d grumble and protest over anything extra. Kang I-won, curious, checked his own device.

The location wasn’t far, but as Han Kang-jin said, it was in Sector 2’s jurisdiction. If they hadn’t been nearby, the call wouldn’t have even reached them.

So why did Kim Young-ho say they should go? Kang I-won glanced at him, puzzled.

Looking flustered, Kim Young-ho explained,

“It’s from… Eun-young noona.”

“Eun-young called for backup?”

“Yeah.”

“Tch… Well, then I guess we do need to go.”

Though Lee Eun-young had left Team 5 after an unexpected bond marking, she’d been a diligent and kind Guide. She’d had a good relationship with the others — everyone except Kang I-won, really.

If it were a stranger asking for help, that would be one thing. But a former Guide they all knew and respected? They couldn’t just ignore that.

It might not be serious, but… you never knew.

Only Heo Do-gyeong and Hyun Ho-jun, who didn’t know Lee Eun-young, looked confused. Hyun Ho-jun asked,

“Senior, who’s Eun-young?”

“Team 5’s former Guide.”

“Former Guide? …Oh! The one who bonded with Seok-woo hyung!”

“…Seok-woo?”

Hyun Ho-jun nodded, seemingly excited. Kang I-won tilted his head in confusion. Seeing it, Hyun Ho-jun clarified,

“She’s bonded to an Esper named Lee Seok-woo. He was in our team — A-rank Esper.”

Kang I-won blinked in surprise. He’d known Lee Eun-young bonded with someone from another team but didn’t realize it had been Team 7 — or that her bonded partner’s name was Lee Seok-woo.

“They bonded and moved to a different branch, right? After that, my old Team 7 got disbanded… But thanks to that, I ended up on your Team 5. So in a way, I guess it worked out for me.”

“I’m going with Young-ho. The rest of you, come if you want. Anyone else?” Han Kang-jin asked.

Feeling uncomfortable under Hyun Ho-jun’s eager smile, Kang I-won quickly responded.

“I’ll go.”

“Ah… then I’ll go too.”

As Kang I-won answered, Hyun Ho-jun chimed in after. Han Kang-jin turned to Heo Do-gyeong, who’d been quietly watching.

“What about you, Guide Heo? Head back to the Center?”

After a brief pause, Heo Do-gyeong shook his head.

“…No, I’ll go too.”

And so, the entire Team 5 headed toward the location Eun-young had called from. It wasn’t far, so they arrived quickly.

A 2-meter-tall Gate floated mid-air. In front of it stood Lee Eun-young, anxiety written all over her face.

Kim Young-ho called out with a bright smile.

“Eun-young noona!”

“Huh, Young-ho?”

He rushed over, and Lee Eun-young, recognizing him, looked startled.

“What’s going on?”

“Team Leader?”

As Han Kang-jin approached behind him, Eun-young’s eyes welled up. The moment she saw him, all the tears she’d been holding back burst free.

“Team Leader…! H-heuk… What do I do? Our Seok-woo… Seok-woo’s in trouble. He’s in real danger… I-I don’t know what to do…!”

Clutching her clothes tightly, she sobbed.

Bonded Espers and Guides can sense each other’s condition. The fact that Eun-young, standing outside the Gate, had called for help meant something had happened to Lee Seok-woo, who was inside.

“Guide Lee Eun-young — breathe. Calm down and tell me what’s going on.”

“Hic… So, we came to the site after hearing a dungeon-type Gate had appeared. It was estimated to be D-rank, so only our team came. I was originally going to go in too, but Seok-woo seemed uneasy, so he told me to return to the Center first… so I’m the only one who stayed behind.”

At Han Kang-jin’s firm tone, Lee Eun-young forced herself to control her breathing and calmly relayed the situation.

For dungeons under C-rank, it was common for a team made up of B-rank or higher Espers to handle it alone. This case was the same.

Eun-young continued,

“But as soon as they entered the Gate, I could feel Seok-woo’s uneasiness… I could sense he was panicking. And the Gate’s color turned redder than it was at first… I can’t explain it exactly, but it felt different than usual, and I knew it wasn’t good, so I called for support. And now… hic! Now I don’t think Seok-woo can breathe properly… I keep feeling his pain… It’s never been like this before. Team Leader, what should we do about Seok-woo…”

“He’ll be fine. Don’t worry too much. Isn’t Lee Seok-woo a veteran Esper?”

Han Kang-jin spoke gently, trying to soothe the sobbing Eun-young while eyeing the Gate.

Dungeon-type Gates could still be entered after closing. However, because the main entrance shuts, it’s like sneaking in through a side route — and the entrant is dropped randomly inside the dungeon. It’s risky and avoided unless absolutely necessary.

“I-won, are you sure it’s D-rank?”

“…No. C or C+ at least. Definitely not B-rank, though.”

The Gate gave off a faint red hue. On top of that, there was a sting in the air, prickling against their skin — a telltale sign of a C-rank dungeon.

Recently, Gate rank assessments hadn’t been wrong, and considering Eun-young’s report of a color change, it was easy to deduce that the Gate had evolved after they entered. Rare, but not unheard of.

Still, it wouldn’t have changed right away. When they entered, it was likely still a D-rank dungeon — meaning they could guess the type. If Seok-woo felt uneasy right after entering…

After a brief pause, Kang I-won spoke up.

“Lava zone, underwater, or maybe a maze. Could be traps too.”

“If he can’t breathe, then underwater? But that’s rare in D-rank dungeons…”

“Poison?”

Heo Do-gyeong chimed in. At his suggestion, Han Kang-jin slowly nodded.

“That’s possible — maybe even likely. Is there a poison-affinity Esper on their team?”

Eun-young responded, visibly anxious.

“There is. One, a B-rank.”

“That should be enough. And if the poison’s from a dungeon of this level, Ho-jun’s flames should be able to burn it out. Think you can handle that?”

“Yes. That much is doable.”

Hyun Ho-jun nodded with confidence. At that, Han Kang-jin asked Eun-young,

“How many entered the Gate?”

“Five in total… One of them is a Guide. Our team’s field Guide went in too. The Espers are one A-rank and three B-ranks.”

One A-rank, three B-ranks, and a Guide. With Team 5 added to that, even a tricky C-rank dungeon could be managed.

Having made a decision, Han Kang-jin declared,

“Alright. We’ll be entering the Gate. Since we might get separated, we’ll link ourselves together with a rope. And Guide Heo Do-gyeong, I’d like you to stay with Guide Lee Eun-young.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Heo Do-gyeong nodded. If it was a dangerous environment, he knew his lack of field experience could hinder more than help. Plus, they couldn’t just leave Eun-young alone.

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Heo Do-gyeong’s voice was low as he spoke to Kang I-won, who nodded. He had no intention of overdoing it — not anymore.

* * *

The four members of Team 5 tied themselves together with rope from the car and entered the Gate.

Heo Do-gyeong stood with arms crossed, watching. His eyes lingered on Kang I-won’s retreating back — the last to disappear — before flicking toward Lee Eun-young, who stood next to him, visibly restless with her hand over her chest.

Her anxious demeanor inexplicably annoyed him. Heo Do-gyeong spoke up.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at the Center?”

It was obvious at a glance that Lee Eun-young wasn’t a field Guide. Why had someone like her followed them into the field? At his blunt question, Lee Eun-young flinched in surprise before answering in a soft voice.

“Oh… I’m planning to take field Guide training next year… I wanted to get used to it in advance, so I’ve been accompanying the team to safe sites. Other team members can receive Guiding right on site, but Seok-woo has to return to the Center for it, and it looked inconvenient for him.”

As she glanced around nervously, Eun-young cautiously asked,

“Um… you’re Guide Heo Do-gyeong, right? The one who replaced me temporarily with Team 5…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I didn’t expect to meet like this — what a coincidence. The Team 5 members are all good people, aren’t they? Kind and considerate. Ho-jun too… Seok-woo says he’s a good guy. Of course, Kang I-won is a little uncooperative, but…”

Good and considerate? Heo Do-gyeong gave a short, sarcastic snort.

“Kang I-won is perfectly cooperative.”

“Ah… is that so? Sorry. I didn’t mean to speak ill of him.”

“It’s fine.”

In fact, the idea that Kang I-won had been uncooperative with the Guide before him was rather pleasing. Sure, I-won had been uncooperative with him too — at first — but he’d changed. Now he was much more cooperative, especially lately.

Heo Do-gyeong thought of I-won’s face, relaxed during Guiding. A smile crept to his lips in satisfaction.

Although he still didn’t like how damaged I-won’s state was, that was something he could fix. As long as he continued Guiding him, it wouldn’t get worse — it would only improve from here.

In the middle of the conversation, Lee Eun-young suddenly winced.

“Ah! Seok-woo… ha.”

Nervously gnawing her nails, she murmured under her breath. Heo Do-gyeong turned to glance at the nearby reddish-tinted Gate. No matter how he looked, he felt nothing from it.

Lee Eun-young swayed between panic, restlessness, brief relief, and panic again — it made Heo Do-gyeong’s irritation steadily rise.

This wasn’t fair. He couldn’t sense anything, yet this Guide next to him could feel everything about her Esper in real time.

Suddenly, Lee Eun-young’s face brightened.

“Did they meet? I think they did… Oh! They must’ve met! He’s feeling relieved… ha, thank goodness. Thank God…”

As she sighed in relief, Heo Do-gyeong posed a question.

“When you bond…”

“Yes?”

“When you form a bond… is it inconvenient?”

Lee Eun-young blinked at Heo Do-gyeong’s sudden question, then spoke in a tone that made it sound like the most obvious thing in the world.

“Oh, there are a lot, right?”

Her expression eased a little, as if she felt reassured now that her Esper’s safety had been somewhat confirmed. The anxiety in her voice also lessened slightly. She continued, sounding a bit more relaxed than before.

“Well, first off, we can sense each other’s condition and emotions to a certain extent… and that’s a bit uncomfortable. It feels like I’ve lost some privacy. And not being able to guide other people, or Seok-woo not being able to receive guidance from anyone else, that’s inconvenient too. If something happens to me, Seok-woo can’t get guided…”

“Then do you regret it?”

“Not at all.”

Lee Eun-young smiled softly at Heo Do-gyeong’s question and replied in a confident tone.

“I was always anxious before we got imprinted. I couldn’t stand not knowing if Seok-woo was doing well in the field, if he was injured, or if something bad had happened. But after the imprint, I can at least faintly sense him even when we’re apart, and that helps. Sometimes I still get worried like now… but it’s better than being completely in the dark and just trembling in fear. And it puts my mind at ease knowing that I’m the one guiding my Esper, rather than entrusting him to someone else.”

Her words hit Heo Do-gyeong like a nail driven into his mind. Lee Eun-young continued.

“Espers feel possessive over their Guides, but honestly, Guides are the same. I want my Esper to only receive guidance from me. When I see someone else guiding my Esper, it bothers me, makes me uncomfortable, irritated, even angry.”

Is that so? He hadn’t really thought about it. Heo Do-gyeong, almost unconsciously, imagined Kang I-won being guided by someone else.

His brows furrowed slightly. It pissed him off. Then he imagined Kang I-won smiling contentedly while receiving guidance from another Guide. Now his insides were churning.

Why the hell do I feel like this? He didn’t know. He hadn’t really given it much thought before. But the tension between his brows didn’t ease. As he sat there with a scowl, Lee Eun-young continued speaking.

“And more than anything… it feels fulfilling. Like something I was missing has finally been filled, you know?”

“Fulfilling?”

“Hmm… it’s hard to explain. You won’t really understand until you experience it yourself. I guess one downside is that the salary’s a bit lower now? But what can you do, I have to accept that. I do have way less work now. So, um… honestly, I don’t know what the future holds, but for now, I have no regrets. It was something I expected when I decided to have that kind of relationship with Seok-woo.”

Hearing Lee Eun-young’s words, Heo Do-gyeong fell deep into thought.

His thoughts about imprinting with Kang I-won had started relatively recently.

Of course, he had dismissed it as ridiculous at first, but thinking about it again… it might not be impossible. If they were imprinted, maybe he wouldn’t have to suffer this kind of constant anxiety.

At the very least, he’d be able to monitor Kang I-won’s condition clearly.

Kang I-won had said himself that he’d be careful, but Heo Do-gyeong couldn’t trust him. That guy was the type to say something like that and then get seriously hurt and go, “I had no choice.”

If they were imprinted and he could monitor Kang I-won’s condition at all times, maybe then—maybe then Kang I-won would finally be more cautious, if only to avoid getting scolded.

But there’s a specific act required for imprinting—guidance and sex.

Imprinting happens during guidance that includes sexual intercourse.

And it doesn’t happen in just one go. There’s no guarantee when it’ll work, so it has to be attempted repeatedly, steadily. Because of that, imprinting usually happened between people who were already very close.

Heo Do-gyeong absolutely hated physical contact with others. Just the idea of swapping saliva with someone made him feel disgusted.

He had been popular since he was young due to his good looks and background, and he had dated quite a few women.

But every time he kissed someone, an unbearable sense of discomfort crept in, and he would instantly pull away. Even when things escalated further and the woman took initiative to go to bed with him, the moment their bare skin touched, he’d feel nauseated or visibly displeased. The woman would leave, blushing with embarrassment and wounded pride.

As a result, he’d never gone all the way with anyone. Because of that, rumors spread among women who had dated him—saying he might be impotent or gay.

Before he could even clear up those rumors, he awakened as a Guide and took a leave of absence from school, making any explanation impossible.

In any case, due to that history, Heo Do-gyeong had never had a proper relationship—but strangely, he thought it might be okay with Kang I-won.

It had been fine last time, hadn’t it? Even though it was for guidance, they had kissed, and their bare skin had touched. But he hadn’t felt disgusted by the physical contact with Kang I-won.

So, imprinting with Kang I-won might also be okay.

He’d never slept with a man before, but he knew how it worked. His thoughts trailed off briefly, and his face flushed red. Heo Do-gyeong covered his face with his hands.

He remembered Kang I-won’s question: Do you like me?

Do I… like Kang I-won?

No. Or do I? I don’t know. When I see him satisfied from being guided by me, my chest feels full, content….

His chaotic thoughts didn’t last long. They were suddenly cut off.

Heo Do-gyeong saw people emerging from the warped Gate and swore in frustration.

“Fucking Espers…!”

He couldn’t help but curse. His voice came out low and rough, scratching his throat, and Lee Eun-young flinched beside him. Heo Do-gyeong didn’t bother to hide his irritation.

“Sorry. It just slipped out.”

“O-oh, no… it’s fine. I get it.”

Heo Do-gyeong looked at Kang I-won with clear disapproval. That’s the guy who said he’d be careful? Look at him—coughing up blood while carrying someone poisoned on his back. It was obvious Kang I-won had gone through hell alone again.

Walking up to him, Heo Do-gyeong bluntly spoke.

“So much for taking care of yourself, huh?”

“…It was a situation I couldn’t avoid.”

Just as he thought. Heo Do-gyeong clicked his tongue and looked down at Kang I-won, who responded awkwardly. His bloodless, pale face didn’t sit well with him.

“Do you need guiding?”

“No… I mean, yes. I do.”

Kang I-won suppressed the refusal that came out of habit and corrected himself. Then, eyeing the hand being offered to him, he added quietly,

“At the Center.”

Heo Do-gyeong nodded without complaint and withdrew his hand. Kang I-won’s gaze followed his retreating fingers, then he closed his eyes, blocking out his sight to focus on regeneration.

Still seated on the ground, wholly absorbed in healing himself, Kang I-won stayed still. Heo Do-gyeong turned his gaze elsewhere. Han Kang-jin was speaking with a man who seemed to be the leader of another team.

“Thanks to you coming, we managed to get through without serious damage.”

“No need to thank me. Of course I had to come. It’s not like I don’t know Guide Lee Eun-young, and we Espers need to help one another, right?”

Watching the two exchange warm pleasantries about helping and supporting each other, Heo Do-gyeong clicked his tongue quietly and looked away.

Just then, the poison-type Esper, who had been lying down for a quick rest, staggered to his feet. He immediately walked over to Lee Seok-woo and placed a hand over his wounded area, beginning to detoxify him.

Thick, dark red blood flowed from Lee Seok-woo’s wound. As more of that tainted blood came out, his complexion gradually eased, looking less strained.

After some time, the detoxification complete, the weary Esper looked up at Kang I-won with a face full of exhaustion and said,

“I’m really totally spent, so I don’t think I can handle you too, okay? You can just heal yourself with your ability, right?”

Heo Do-gyeong’s brow furrowed, and Kang I-won—still pale like a corpse—nodded.

“I’ve almost fully regenerated anyway.”

“Yeah? That’s a relief.”

The Esper let out a deep, tired sigh, muttering his reply.

“Are you really okay?”

Heo Do-gyeong asked, his voice laced with both irritation and worry. Kang I-won nodded. To be honest, he still felt a bit dizzy from the incomplete detoxification, but it was manageable.

“Clicking his tongue, Heo Do-gyeong muttered, “Are you actually fine, or just pretending? As expected…”

He trailed off, muttering to himself before falling silent. Kang I-won glanced at him briefly, then refocused on his regeneration.

About ten minutes later, the exhausted team members had gotten enough rest, and Team 5, along with the team Lee Eun-young belonged to, prepared to head back to the Center.

After helping Lee Seok-woo into a vehicle, Lee Eun-young quickly approached Team 5, stopping them before they could leave.

“Team Leader, Young-ho, Ho-jun, and… I-won. Thank you all so much for today.”

She bowed deeply in gratitude. Han Kang-jin and Kim Young-ho waved their hands, brushing off the thanks.

“No, really, we had to help.”

“Exactly! It’s not like we’re strangers.”

At that, Lee Eun-young smiled, her eyes crinkling.

“Let’s grab a meal together sometime. My treat. Let’s gather with Seok-woo too.”

“Sounds good.”

“I’m in.”

“You too, Ho-jun?”

“Of course. I’m in. Please give my regards to Seok-woo.”

“Will do. And I-won, see you next time.”

Looking at Kang I-won, Lee Eun-young gave a small smile. Kang I-won nodded slightly, and with her farewell, Team 5 boarded their vehicle. Hyun Ho-jun took the wheel.

Kang I-won glanced at Heo Do-gyeong, who sat beside him quietly. He seemed deep in thought, though Kang I-won couldn’t tell what exactly was on his mind.

When they arrived at the Center, Heo Do-gyeong wordlessly headed to the Guiding Room, while the rest of Team 5 went straight to the showers. After two consecutive missions, they were covered in dust and monster residue.

Kang I-won only went to the Guiding Room after showering, thoroughly drying his hair, and filling his hungry stomach with snacks.

He cleaned up his space before heading to where Heo Do-gyeong was waiting.

Upon arriving, Kang I-won sat down, and without exchanging words, the two of them held hands. But no matter how long he waited, the guiding didn’t start.

Just as Kang I-won tilted his head in confusion, Heo Do-gyeong’s energy flowed into him. Having received it several times before, Kang I-won had grown familiar with the careful, gentle guiding of their 89% compatibility. Without hesitation, he welcomed the energy.

It felt like a tightly clenched throat had suddenly opened up. The unease lingering faintly at his feet vanished instantly, replaced by calm. A deep satisfaction settled in his chest.

Heo Do-gyeong’s guiding was good. So good, in fact, that he wished it would last longer. Once he accepted it, he didn’t want to let go—he felt greedy for more.

But Kang I-won crushed that rising greed underfoot once again. It was a desire he shouldn’t have. He was already being too greedy, wasn’t he?

As Heo Do-gyeong’s energy began to fade, and the guiding neared its end, Kang I-won carefully suppressed the longing welling up in him and slowly calmed his emotions.

The energy completely withdrew, and normally, Heo Do-gyeong would have let go of his hand immediately. But this time, he tightened his grip, preventing Kang I-won from pulling away.

Of course, even if Heo Do-gyeong held on tight, Kang I-won could easily break free if he wanted. But instead, he looked at Heo Do-gyeong with a puzzled expression.

Receiving Kang I-won’s gaze, Heo Do-gyeong slowly opened his mouth in an unhurried tone.

“I have something I’m curious about.”

He met Kang I-won’s eyes and asked,

“What do you think of my guiding?”

Kang I-won couldn’t tell what he meant by that. As he stared back in silence, Heo Do-gyeong shrugged lightly, his tone casual.

“I’m just asking out of pure curiosity. Do you like it or not? I mean, obviously you like it.”

Heo Do-gyeong spoke with confidence, almost cocky, and while Kang I-won gave a faint laugh, he didn’t feel the need to deny it. After all, it was true—Heo Do-gyeong’s guiding was good.

Though he didn’t know why this was being asked out of the blue, Kang I-won answered honestly.

“Of course… I like it.”

Heo Do-gyeong, hearing Kang I-won’s slightly shy but honest reply, responded offhandedly as if in passing.

“Really? Then let’s get imprinted.”

“Yeah. Let’s—Wait, what?”

Kang I-won, who had been about to nod without much thought, froze. He must’ve misheard. No—he definitely misheard. As he stared down at their joined hands, Heo Do-gyeong spoke again, repeating exactly what he had said before.

“Let’s get imprinted. Well, it’s not like just wanting to do it makes it happen, but still…”

Lifting his gaze from their hands, Heo Do-gyeong looked at Kang I-won with a slightly excited heart—only to feel a little hurt. Kang I-won’s expression, as he looked at him, was pure shock, with not a single hint of joy.

Kang I-won’s face flushed red, then turned pale, then red again in rapid succession. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but no sound came out. After several failed attempts, he finally began to mumble in a broken voice.

“With me, I mean, with me, imprinting, like….”

Hearing Kang I-won’s incoherent, frantic words, Heo Do-gyeong simply nodded and repeated himself.

“Yeah. I want to imprint with you, Kang I-won.”

“No, I mean, that is, no… Why?”

“Because I want to.”

The whole way back to the Center, Heo Do-gyeong had been thinking about it. Why did he want to imprint with Kang I-won? Was it really just so he could monitor Kang I-won’s condition?

But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t come up with any better reason. If he had to put it simply—it was just because. Heo Do-gyeong just wanted to imprint with Kang I-won.

Kang I-won, unable to hide his flustered expression, spoke in a slightly higher tone than usual.

“Just because you want to doesn’t mean you can do it, right?”

“That’s true. But I still want to imprint with you, Kang I-won.”

“But why something like that… with me?”

“Because I worry about you. You’re always on my mind. Like today, for example. You said you’d be careful, but look at the state you came back in. How am I supposed to trust someone who ends up like that? I couldn’t believe for a second that you were actually okay.”

Heo Do-gyeong and Lee Eun-young had both been outside the Gate. But unlike him, Lee Eun-young had been able to sense her Esper’s presence and condition from beyond it.

Watching her, he had been so twisted up inside. Why couldn’t he feel his Esper’s condition? Ridiculously, he thought it was unfair—laughably so.

Then Lee Eun-young’s words echoed in his mind:

‘I was always anxious before we got imprinted. I couldn’t stand not knowing if Seok-woo was doing well in the field, if he was injured, or if something bad had happened.’

Just like Lee Eun-young had said, Heo Do-gyeong was also anxious. He was uneasy not knowing what Kang I-won might do—or was doing—while he wasn’t around.

Lately, Kang I-won did seem to be changing little by little, but the pace was so maddeningly slow it drove him insane. If he kept waiting for Kang I-won to change, he’d burn out from the inside—no, he’d rot away entirely.

“If we imprint, at the very least, I’ll be able to know exactly how you’re doing at any given time. And since you won’t be able to hide it, I figure you’ll finally start taking care of yourself. That’s why I want to do it.”

“All for just that reason?”

Kang I-won couldn’t understand Heo Do-gyeong. No, he couldn’t even understand this entire situation. From the moment Heo Do-gyeong said he wanted to imprint with him, it all stopped feeling real.

It was like a dream. Maybe he was still inside the dungeon? Hallucinating from poison, barely clinging to life, dreaming all of this.

Yeah, that had to be it.

Otherwise, there’s no way Heo Do-gyeong would be saying things like this to him. He must’ve let his greed get the better of him.

He’d tried to suppress it, to be satisfied with what little he had—but that greed had slipped through and manifested into a dream. That had to be it.

In reality, Heo Do-gyeong would never ask him to imprint.

As Kang I-won spiraled into denial, Heo Do-gyeong continued.

“Do I need another reason? Fine. I don’t have much, but let me think.”

After a brief pause, Heo Do-gyeong spoke again.

“I hate how you keep throwing yourself around recklessly. I don’t want you getting hurt, Kang I-won. And don’t tell me you’re fine.”

“I’m used—”

“Don’t say you’re used to it, either.”

Heo Do-gyeong cut him off sharply.

“Don’t give me that crap. Even a scratch hurts like hell, and you think it’s possible to be ‘used to’ getting wounded like that? Pain isn’t something you get used to. A wound in the same spot still hurts every damn time. But since you never show it, no one even knows if you feel pain at all.”

He let out a sigh he couldn’t hold back, then went on.

“So at least show it to me. I’ll speak up for you. And there’s more. It irritates me when you’re not around. Why do you think I went out to the field myself? It was because of you. Same as last time. How can someone be so thoughtless? I was worried sick, couldn’t sleep, just waiting—and what do you say? That you’re fine and I should sleep? Would it kill you to be a little kinder? Never mind that—just, please, take care of yourself. Every time you don’t, I feel like my heart’s going to give out. I’m seriously going to die at this rate, from sheer frustration.”

“…Don’t say stuff like that.”

“I’m not saying I’ll actually die—it’s just an expression.”

Heo Do-gyeong let out a deep sigh.

“When you’re out of sight, I get anxious, and when you’re badly hurt, it gives me such a headache from the worry. Honestly, I’d like to stop caring, just like you told me to. Why should I care about someone who drives people insane and constantly stresses them out? You never listen, either. But I can’t stop caring, so what do you expect me to do? The moment I come to my senses, I’m already looking at you. How am I supposed to not care?”

Clearly irritated just thinking about it, Heo Do-gyeong clicked his tongue and continued.

“I haven’t been a Guide for long, but I’ve never been this concerned about any Esper before. I didn’t care what those guys did. You’re the first, Kang I-won—the first to bother me this much. You get it now? So if you really hate the idea of imprinting with me, then please, at least start taking care of yourself.”

“You said… you don’t like me.”

Kang I-won’s face turned bright red as he avoided Heo Do-gyeong’s gaze. Realizing the things he’d just blurted out, Heo Do-gyeong fell into brief silence.

Feelings that had only existed inside him, shapeless and uncertain, took form the moment they left his lips. And the moment they took form, he understood. Heo Do-gyeong’s face flushed in an instant.

He raised a hand to his face, now burning hot, and a low groan escaped between his teeth.

After a brief silence, Heo Do-gyeong spoke slowly.

“…I think I do.”

He lowered his hand, revealing his face, and locked eyes with Kang I-won, staring straight at him.

“I need to redo my answer from before.”

“You don’t have to—”

Sensing what was coming, Kang I-won urgently reached out to stop him, but Heo Do-gyeong was faster. His words came out clearly, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

“I think I like you, Kang I-won. No—I do like you.”

That clear confession was aimed straight at Kang I-won.

“Forget all the reasons I gave earlier. I like you, Kang I-won. That’s why I want to imprint with you. That’s it.”

The feeling pierced Kang Ion’s chest, sharp and intense. He shut his eyes.

This wasn’t a dream.

This was real.

Kang I-won had been greedy. He’d wanted to keep Heo Do-gyeong at his side. But he hadn’t wished for this. All he’d wanted was to spend the little time he had left with the Guide who cared for him.

No… to be honest, he had wished for it. When Choi Soo-bin brought up imprinting, he’d felt that desire stir. He was still an Esper, after all. But even if he wished for it, he’d never truly believed this would happen.

He was an Esper losing his powers. And Heo Do-gyeong was a promising S-rank Guide with a bright future ahead.

He should be honest now. His powers were fading, and within a few months, he’d be unable to work in the field. He should tell Heo Do-gyeong.

But no words came together in his mind. Kang I-won struggled to calm the storm of confusion.

“For now, uh, yeah, Guide Heo Do-gyeong, you….”

“Like you.”

“…Right. Let’s say that’s true for now.”

“It’s not ‘for now’—I do like you.”

Now that he understood his own feelings, Heo Do-gyeong voiced them without hesitation. His face, already red, felt even hotter.

“Please. Please, can you just shut up for a second?”

Kang I-won sounded almost desperate. He couldn’t handle the flood of emotions. He tried to reason with Heo Do-gyeong.

“You know how imprinting works. You’d actually do that with me? I mean, could you?”

The unspoken question was clear—You think you could do that with me? Heo Do-gyeong smirked knowingly.

“You think I couldn’t?”

He stood and, in just three steps, was in front of Kang I-won. Kang I-won looked up at him in confusion.

Then Heo Do-gyeong’s hand grasped the armrest of Kang I-won’s chair. His body leaned down, face drawing close. Before Kang I-won could react, Heo Do-gyeong’s lips pressed against his without hesitation.

Kang I-won’s eyes flew wide at the unfamiliar pressure. The kiss didn’t last long. Pulling away, Heo Do-gyeong murmured,

“This, I can do.”

“Wh—!”

Before Kang I-won could protest, his voice was swallowed. Heo Do-gyeong’s tongue slipped between his lips, invading without mercy, ensnaring his retreating tongue and drawing it in.

Kang I-won tried to pull back, overwhelmed, but Heo Do-gyeong’s other hand gripped his waist, holding him in place. His tongue explored freely, brushing Kang I-won’s teeth, then his palate, teasing his tongue again and again.

The faint trickle of Heo Do-gyeong’s energy through their joined mouths made resistance impossible. Kang I-won’s trembling hand clutched Heo Do-gyeong’s clothes tightly.

Seeing Kang I-won struggling to breathe, Heo Do-gyeong let out a satisfied chuckle and whispered,

“Breathe through your nose.”

“Hnn… ngh…”

A sharp bite to his lower lip made Kang I-won flinch. A hot, wet tongue soothed the bitten spot, trailing over it. Their lips parted and met again with a lewd, sticky sound that filled his ears.

Kang I-won’s mind was chaos. He had no idea why this was happening. He couldn’t think straight. The overwhelming sensations filling his mouth left him helpless, grasping at Heo Do-gyeong’s clothes.

Though he’d been an Esper for years, Kang I-won had only ever experienced contact guiding—hugs, handshakes, nothing intimate.

He’d received mucous membrane guiding a few times in emergencies, but it had always felt awkward, uncomfortable, even unpleasant. But now—

His thoughts cut off. His mind turned white, like paint spilling across a blank canvas.

Each time Heo Do-gyeong’s tongue brushed his, Kang I-won’s hips jerked. He couldn’t stay still. His legs lifted, scratched the floor, shifted restlessly. His mind felt like it was exploding with fireworks. He had no control.

That sticky, wet sound continued, and after what felt like forever, Heo Do-gyeong finally pulled away. A long, thin strand of saliva stretched between them before snapping.

He kissed Kang I-won again, briefly, and the loud smack of it echoed in his ears.

“This, I can do too.”

Heo Do-gyeong’s hand, which had been on Kang I-won’s back, slid shamelessly down his side and over his hip. Kang I-won shuddered at the unfamiliar touch through his clothes.

“I think I can do even more. Wanna find out? Too bad there’s no bed here. Shouldn’t have cleared it out.”

Snapping out of his daze at Heo Do-gyeong’s cheeky voice, Kang I-won shoved him hard. Heo Do-gyeong stumbled, and Kang I-won seized the moment to bolt out of the guiding room. Even when Heo Do-gyeong called after him, he didn’t stop.

He ran through the hallway, out of the Center, without pause. He wanted to believe his heart was pounding so wildly just from running.

His face still burned. Kang I-won clutched at his chest, trying to still his racing heart.

This… this wasn’t right.

This couldn’t happen.

<To be continued in Volume 3.>