EST Ch 22

Gijun felt oddly nervous as he searched for Baek Sunwoo. The VIP single room was spacious, so he had to walk further in to see the bed. As he walked through the oddly silent hospital room with no guardians present, he suddenly stopped.

The bed was empty.

“Hey, Baek Sun…!”

Just as Gijun’s face hardened and he was about to shout, he heard a sound from the side. The sudden smell of soap made Gijun pause for a moment.

In his slowly blinking eyes, he saw Baek Sunwoo. His light brown hair was damp as if he had just washed, and his eyes glowed transparently in the sunlight streaming through the window. He wore a loose patient gown. Unconsciously, Gijun’s gaze drifted to his neck.

It was white and smooth without a single scar, and he noticed that Baek Sunwoo hadn’t fully buttoned his shirt yet. The number 12 that had been on his chest was gone…

“…”

While Gijun stood there frozen, Baek Sunwoo noticed him and looked up. A slow smile spread across his face as he saw the figure standing by the bed. It was a smile as fresh as morning dew.

“Ah, Gijun.”

“…You.”

“Hmm?”

“You woke up just a few hours ago and you’re already moving! What if your wounds reopen? And you’re alone without a caregiver!”

Gijun poured out his words in a rush. Even though the number 12 had disappeared from his chest, he could see other wounds on Baek Sunwoo through the collar of his gown. He was the one who had been attacked the most at the training center. It was impressive that he hadn’t suffered a fatal wound despite the attacks, but Gijun’s eyes were drawn to his injuries.

Baek Sunwoo looked momentarily startled, but soon let out a resigned laugh.

“I’m fine. Walking felt a bit awkward at first, but… since you were coming…”

The latter part of his sentence was very quiet. He subtly covered his neck with a towel as he walked towards the bed, realizing he hadn’t fully buttoned his shirt, and turned around to fix it.

Gijun’s gaze was curiously fixed on his back. Somehow, it seemed like his ears were red.

But for now, Gijun needed to discuss a different topic. He didn’t know when Baek Sunwoo would be questioned, so they needed to coordinate their stories. He sat Baek Sunwoo on the bed and took the chair next to it, explaining the recent events.

“I don’t know how much you told the H.N. head, but I didn’t mention the regression. If that gets out, it’ll cause a commotion for you too, and I had my reasons to keep it a secret…”

Although Baek Sunwoo wasn’t the trigger for the regression, the moment he died, the probability of escaping the training center dropped below 1%, causing time to reset. So from a broad perspective, it wasn’t entirely incorrect to say Baek Sunwoo was the trigger. Explaining the regression meant revealing that Baek Sunwoo died ten times, so Gijun couldn’t disclose it lightly.

If this information spread, it would undoubtedly cause chaos for Baek Sunwoo. Beyond undergoing precise examinations by H.N., many people might once again gossip about him. Gijun’s decision wasn’t just for his family’s worries but also for Baek Sunwoo’s sake.

But this was purely Gijun’s independent thought, so he wanted to hear Baek Sunwoo’s opinion. They might need to disclose the regression to accurately assess his condition, or there could be an obligation to pass all information for a thorough investigation of the otherworld by H.N.

“If you want to reveal it-”

“No, do what’s comfortable for you. I’m fine with whatever.”

Baek Sunwoo shook his head.

“If you think we need to reveal it, then do so. If keeping it a secret is better, then let’s keep it that way. I’ll go along with whatever you decide.”

For a moment, Gijun was stunned, just blinking. He had been agonizing over this for days, and Baek Sunwoo answered so readily that it took him by surprise.

“I reported to the head that the teachers were traitors and that I stopped the portal from opening. Even if H.N. investigates, they won’t immediately guess that time repeated.”

Baek Sunwoo shrugged, adding playfully that luckily, H.N. didn’t have a lie detector.

Gijun’s lips moved as if to say something, then he eventually nodded. In truth, it was ideal if Baek Sunwoo agreed to keep it secret.

“Alright. Let’s keep it a secret then. I was worried because if my grandmother finds out, she might lose it.”

This concern wasn’t about her fainting from shock but about her possibly erupting with anger. Gijun suspected that his grandmother’s influence was behind the H.N. head getting involved in the current incident. She was stern but cherished her grandchildren immensely.

Especially since Gijun was the youngest grandchild in a family with a significant age gap with his sister. His grandmother still occasionally called him ‘baby,’ so if she found out he died, she might even take down the link herself. Gijun definitely didn’t want to see his grandmother with an axe in her hands.

Baek Sunwoo, reading the worry and fear on Gijun’s face, let out a small laugh.

“You have a good relationship with your family. Your sister seems to be waiting outside, taking good care of you.”

“No, she’s… she’s just watching me to make sure I don’t run away…”

Seeing Baek Sunwoo’s puzzled expression, Gijun briefly recounted what happened on the first day he woke up. By the time he sighed, mentioning the embarrassing scene in Lee Donghun’s hospital room, Baek Sunwoo laughed a bit louder.

Gijun then shared that the other students were fine, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the silence in this hospital room. A few days ago, when he walked through the hospital corridors, every room was bustling. The hospital was filled with not only guardians but also visitors.

But now…

The hospital itself had become quieter as the students left. And while Baek Sunwoo didn’t have any immediate family visiting, his guardian was registered as the head of H.N., and in time, people from that organization would visit him too.

Still, Gijun was bothered by this silence. Maybe it was because he had learned too much about Baek Sunwoo at the training center. He was keeping his own death a secret to avoid worrying his family, but Baek Sunwoo had died ten times and seemed indifferent. Was it because he had no one to hide it from, or…

“Wait, do you remember all the times you died at the training center?”

When Gijun learned the truth in the basement, he assumed Baek Sunwoo regained his memories due to the bond. But he didn’t know if those memories were limited to the first cycle or included all ten deaths.

Suddenly serious, Gijun asked, and Baek Sunwoo blinked. He seemed to roll his eyes around for a moment before slowly nodding.

“Since the bond ties even the soul, I instinctively remembered each time I moved to protect you when you were in danger.”

“You remembered at the moment of death? One by one, accumulating?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Then why…!”

Why did you smile as if relieved every time you died?

Gijun stood up abruptly, questioning. But as he stood, he found himself at a loss for words. The fact that Baek Sunwoo remembered dying was shocking enough, but asking why he smiled while dying felt like probing his death.

In truth, Hae Gijun couldn’t understand why Baek Sunwoo bonded with him. The only plausible guess was that he felt guilty for leading him onto the bus at the rest stop and wanted to save him. But even then, was it enough to bond his soul?

Baek Sunwoo had essentially volunteered to be a safety mechanism. Until Hae Gijun could escape the training center, he bound himself to instinctively protect him from any danger.

Gijun was confused. Sure, the initial shock might have clouded his judgment, leading to the bond. But in subsequent cycles, as he remembered each death… shouldn’t he have regretted such an impulsive act?

“This won’t do. To get a proper mental evaluation, we need to reveal the regression.”

“What? No, I’m really fine.”

“How can someone who remembers dying multiple times be fine!”

Gijun shouted. He was angry, even though he expected Baek Sunwoo to react this way. From Gijun’s perspective, it was inevitable. He felt like parts of his mind had broken down after eleven regressions.

Though he was gradually stabilizing after leaving the training center, he still unconsciously checked the view outside the window every morning. Being hospitalized, the best part was not seeing mountains outside the window.

Gijun remembered each regression, while Baek Sunwoo only remembered at the last moment, so there could be differences. But that last moment was his own death!

He couldn’t bury the trauma Baek Sunwoo experienced for his own convenience. It might hinder precise evaluations. As Gijun resolved this, breathing heavily, Baek Sunwoo got up from the bed.

“Gijun.”

The hand that gently grabbed his arm was cautious. Standing right in front of him, Baek Sunwoo met his eyes firmly, as if to make him listen.

“You survived. That’s all that matters.”

And with his ability, as if to make him read his sincerity.

“And I was lucky to survive and escape the training center with you. I wouldn’t have been able to save all our friends, but you did…”

Gijun blinked blankly. In Baek Sunwoo’s eyes, which seemed to reflect a faint blue light, there was nothing but purity. Not a trace of deceitful darkness.

Baek Sunwoo was speaking his ‘truth’ right now.

“Don’t worry about the examination. I’m scheduled for a thorough check-up at H.N. tomorrow, and the capsule examines both physical and mental aspects. Even without revealing the full truth, they can analyze my condition accurately through mana resonance.”

“…”

“I don’t think there will be any major issues, but… well, there might be one problem.”

“What? What problem?”

Gijun reacted immediately, his eyes widening with concern as he grabbed Baek Sunwoo. Usually, Baek Sunwoo would respond with a reassuring smile, but now he just rolled his eyes with a troubled expression.

Finally, after Gijun urged him again, Baek Sunwoo spoke in a small voice.

“They found out I used my true ability…”

Since he hadn’t woken up for a week, H.N. conducted a preliminary examination, suspecting something was wrong. And during that examination, they discovered it. Gijun tilted his head in confusion.

“How did they find out you used subjugation? And why is that a problem? Didn’t you use it multiple times in the basement?”

“Well, the thing is… I can only subjugate myself to someone once. It’s also hard to break.”

Gijun blinked slowly. Even though he heard the answer, he seemed to be in a daze, as if he couldn’t fully comprehend it.

He understood that Baek Sunwoo could subjugate multiple people but could only be subjugated to one person. That made sense. But it was… only possible once and difficult to break?

Baek Sunwoo continued to explain. H.N. knew about his true ability and was cautious about it being revealed. There would undoubtedly be people who would target him. An S-class ability user is powerful, but other forces could overpower him, whether through power or blackmail.

In a worst-case scenario, someone might try to use Baek Sunwoo as a bodyguard, an S-class ability user willing to sacrifice his life.

So H.N. had been monitoring him to ensure he didn’t become a ‘tool.’ But after returning from the training center, evidence showed he had subjugated himself to someone.

“They said my life force appeared slightly fractured in the examination. Since I could jump into danger for the subjugated person, they factored in such variables. So they suggested a detailed check-up tomorrow… If you’re worried, do you want to come with me?”

“Of course, I’ll go. But let me ask you one thing. What happens if the person you’re subjugated to dies?”

“…Well, I’d probably lose my mind.”

When Gijun was swallowed by a monster at the training center, Baek Sunwoo lost his sanity because he couldn’t protect the subjugated person. But since Gijun was inside the monster’s stomach and not dead, Baek Sunwoo eventually regained his sanity…

“If the person dies, I might go mad, or the mana binding my soul could explode, causing me to collapse…”

“…”

“When subjugated, I become sensitive to the person’s safety. So, I can feel deep in my heart that you’re alive…”

Baek Sunwoo explained in a slightly awkward tone. It seemed a bit embarrassing to share this with Gijun, and his ears turned slightly red. But Gijun didn’t notice, as he was too focused on the spot Baek Sunwoo mentioned, specifically where his heart was…

“Hey, let’s find a way to break the subjugation.”

“…Huh?”

“You said it’s difficult to break, not impossible. If it were a lifelong bond, H.N. would have been more cautious. There must be a way to break it.”

An S-class true ability is a power that even other S-classes struggle against. So breaking an S-class subjugation is like plucking stars from the sky, but Gijun was determined.

“Tell H.N. you didn’t realize how serious it was and ask them to find a way to break it, or request help from the Paranormal Ability Management Agency. I’ll also tell my grandmother. She knows many people both domestically and internationally, so she can help…”

His words carried a serious tone. It was inevitable. Gijun had only considered the subjugation as a temporary ability. He thought it would naturally disappear after leaving the training center and with time… but it was a lifelong bond?

And if he died, it would affect Baek Sunwoo? That was absolutely unacceptable.

“We’ll find a way somehow. So don’t be too shocked.”

“You seem the most shocked right now…”

“I’ll behave properly until it’s resolved, so don’t worry.”

Gijun spoke firmly. He had planned to process his discharge this evening since Baek Sunwoo had woken up, but it seemed he needed to stay until the H.N. visit tomorrow. And even after discharge, he would have to act cautiously.

As he seriously planned, Baek Sunwoo spoke cautiously.

“I… if you’re okay with it, I can keep the subjugation.”

“What? Hey, you really need counseling.”

“I’m serious.”

“You can’t take a decision made in an emergency situation at face value. It’s like how testimonies obtained through confinement or coercion are invalid.”

While Gijun’s mind had gradually deteriorated due to the repeated events at the training center, he fundamentally had a very healthy mindset. Some might be thrilled at the idea of an S-class ability user protecting them with their life, but Gijun found it completely unappealing, especially since it was Baek Sunwoo.

At that moment, Baek Sunwoo grabbed Gijun’s hand, drawing his gaze. It was as if he wanted Gijun to look into his eyes and see his sincerity.

And once again, the Baek Sunwoo reflected in Hae Gijun’s eyes was pure white.

“I’m okay with being subjugated to you.”

“I’m not okay with it.”

“But you’ve awakened as a divine beast category, so you have to be more cautious now. People with suspicious motives might approach you… You might have to deal with another portal incident. Wouldn’t it be convenient if I could help you then?”

Gijun frowned slightly. There was a time at the training center when he wished Baek Sunwoo would obey him like his ability. He thought it would be better if Baek Sunwoo followed his orders unconditionally instead of recklessly running off and getting killed…

But that was due to the abnormal repetitions at the training center, not the current situation.

“I don’t want to rely on someone else’s life as a safety net.”

Gijun pulled his hand away from Baek Sunwoo’s grip. His voice and actions felt almost cold. Baek Sunwoo looked at his retreating hand and muttered, “Someone else’s…”

Suddenly, Gijun felt worried. Finding a solution would be challenging, but what if Baek Sunwoo refused even if they found one? If he said he willingly subjugated himself and didn’t want to break it… would the solution even work?

Feeling overwhelmed, Gijun spoke firmly.

“If we find a solution, you have to follow it. That’s my Sowon.”

Baek Sunwoo’s eyes widened. The bet they made at the training center, to grant each other’s Sowon if they survived until the end. Gijun was using it now.

Gijun felt like he was wasting his Sowon. He never intended to ask Baek Sunwoo for anything significant, but he didn’t expect to use it in this situation. He felt a bit regretful, but Baek Sunwoo’s expression didn’t look pleased either.

His face seemed filled with regret and reluctance, making Gijun ask in disbelief.

“Why do you want to maintain such a dangerous bond? If I get into an accident, it would affect you too.”

“…It’s better than being alone.”

“What?”

Now Gijun’s face showed confusion. Breaking the subjugation wouldn’t mean they’d part ways, so why say that? He remembered having a similar conversation at the training center.

‘…I can’t lose you too…’

When asked why he begged to save Gijun instead of himself during the deal with the otherworld, Baek Sunwoo gave a similar answer.

Gijun started piecing things together. Since Baek Sunwoo said ‘too,’ he must have lost others before. His parents, who died in front of him during an otherworld incident when he was young, came to mind.

But how could he compare himself to them? Gijun couldn’t understand why Baek Sunwoo would consider him someone he didn’t want to lose.

Baek Sunwoo had said something similar at the dormitory. He begged not to die in front of him, even if he deceived or used him…

‘If you get hurt, if you die… I won’t be able to forgive myself.’

‘If something happens to you, I don’t know what I might do.’

It wasn’t just about Baek Sunwoo being kind and feeling a strong sense of responsibility for others’ safety. It wasn’t just trauma from witnessing his parents’ deaths.

What was it? Gijun wasn’t particularly close to Baek Sunwoo. They were just classmates in the first year and in different classes in the second year. They occasionally, or maybe quite often, met in the library. But they never had any special conversations.

They seemed to have grown closer through this school trip…

“I… honestly still don’t understand why you sacrificed your soul to save me. At the time, I thought it was because you were kind, but now I don’t understand why you want to maintain the subjugation.”

“…Gijun.”

“Of course, I’m grateful. I’m here because of what you did, but why?”

Finally, Gijun reached the fundamental question. Why did Baek Sunwoo sacrifice his soul for him, and why did he bind himself to ensure Gijun wouldn’t be in danger? Why did he smile as if relieved while throwing himself into danger?

He carefully recalled the memories from the training center. Baek Sunwoo, who followed his words well, mentioned that what Gijun said in the library during their first year was special. He even cherished the yogurt Gijun gave him. Many other things…

Gijun ruffled his hair in frustration.

“I really don’t get it. Why did you save me and trust me so much? What am I to you?”

“…”

“Your actions make it seem like you like me… hmm?”

Gijun’s hand stopped abruptly. As he spoke, a word tripped him up like a stone, making him stumble. He had analyzed things objectively at the training center, but now he tried to approach it emotionally, and the answer that came out immediately surprised him.

At first, he froze because his own words felt strange and unfamiliar, and then he was shocked by Baek Sunwoo’s expression.

Baek Sunwoo’s face was bright red.

“…”

There was only one answer to such a reaction.

The atmosphere became awkward instantly. Hae Gijun’s hand lost its direction in the air, and Baek Sunwoo’s eyes trembled endlessly.

For the first time in his life, Gijun experienced his cognitive and behavioral systems breaking down simultaneously. He should have quickly corrected his slip of the tongue, but he missed the timing. Was it even a slip of the tongue? Baek Sunwoo’s reaction…

Gijun’s face was filled with confusion, which Baek Sunwoo could easily read. Finally, with his neck flushed red, Baek Sunwoo asked with difficulty.

“D-didn’t you know?”

“…How would I know?”

“But, but… at the training center, you kept saying I was the most important, holding my hand, patting my head…”

His voice sounded almost tearful. Gijun was so flustered that he almost said, “That’s because you kept dying…” but managed to swallow the words. Fortunately, his wisdom stopped him from saying that to someone whose face was red and hands were trembling.

Now, it felt like all the puzzle pieces had finally come together.

From the start of the school trip to the escape, and now wanting to maintain the subjugation. Every time he held Baek Sunwoo’s hand at the training center, it wasn’t because he was timid, and his cheeks turning red when their faces were close wasn’t because he was in pain.

Starting with these small realizations, everything was redefined.

“That’s… I mean…”

Hae Gijun finally lowered his hand from the air to cover his mouth. He realized that even his breathing trembled when he was extremely flustered. His heart was beating faster than usual. It felt more shocking than when he first learned he had died at the training center.

“Why do you like me…?”

It was hard to accept that Baek Sunwoo liked him even before the school trip. What had happened between them? Meeting late at the library during their first year? He was the kind of person who said, “You live a tiring life,” during their first conversation. Hae Gijun was someone who could objectively reflect on his own personality.

But Baek Sunwoo, taking Gijun’s muttering as a question, tried to answer in a fluster.

“Well, that, that’s…”

“No, you don’t have to answer.”

“…”

“I think it’s too tiring to worry about that right now…”

Gijun shook his head. Hearing the reason wouldn’t solve his fundamental question, and Baek Sunwoo was probably confused by the examination showing his life force was unstable. He didn’t want to ask unnecessary questions.

That decision was enough to freeze Baek Sunwoo in place.

But Gijun, unaware of this, continued to mutter to himself. Most of his thoughts were along the lines of, “So that’s why… but why?” It was like being trapped in a Möbius strip. He would look up briefly, then nod to himself and lower his gaze, covering his mouth as he pondered seriously.

When Baek Sunwoo followed his words well at the training center, it made him happy. His heart would drop and then feel relieved repeatedly at Baek Sunwoo’s actions. Gijun admitted it. During the school trip, his focus was on Baek Sunwoo. He was the only one who mattered, the one he desperately tried to protect.

When Baek Sunwoo got hurt in front of him, he would lose his mind, hyperventilate, and even think it would be better if he died instead.

But…

“…I don’t like you…”

Gijun mumbled as he looked at Baek Sunwoo. Even though he had willingly thrown himself at the monster to save him, and felt relieved thinking he had saved Baek Sunwoo by getting eaten instead, does that mean he liked him? Was he just driven mad by repeatedly seeing Baek Sunwoo die?

When Baek Sunwoo’s gaze turned to other kids, he told him not to even look at them with an obsessive stare, and whenever Baek Sunwoo got even a little hurt, his heart felt like it was being squeezed. He had felt reassured by his touch and breath a few times…

Then Gijun suddenly came to his senses and looked back at Baek Sunwoo, realizing he had been talking to himself in his confusion.

“…”

Seeing Baek Sunwoo’s face, Gijun was genuinely shocked.

His face was as white as a sheet, looking like someone about to collapse. Gijun instinctively worried about his condition but then remembered his last words. Although it was closer to a conclusion he reached by himself, Baek Sunwoo had undoubtedly heard it.

However, Baek Sunwoo seemed to have even stopped breathing, prompting Gijun to ask.

“Are, are you breathing?”

“…Don’t worry about it…”

“I-I just don’t like you in that way, it doesn’t mean I dislike you. And it’s not that I think it’s weird. I was just trying to make sense of it all…”

Gijun tried to explain his muttering. However, his actions, stuttering when he usually didn’t, filled with awkward explanations, made Baek Sunwoo even paler. In fact, his words were quite cruel.

Saying he didn’t like him was enough to explain all his actions at the training center. The fact that he swallowed those words at first was meaningless. And now, his flustered and apologetic demeanor indicated that he had never held such feelings. It also showed that he hadn’t given it any thought, meaning he had no interest at all.

There’s a clear message in his actions of apologizing for the misunderstanding.

• Knock, knock. At that moment, there was a knock on the door from outside. Ha Gaon’s urgent voice announced that the H.N. head was coming. Gijun looked back in confusion while Baek Sunwoo turned away silently. But as he staggered slightly on his way back to the bed, Gijun quickly caught him in reflex.

“Hey, are you okay?”

He stepped forward with concern, but seeing Baek Sunwoo’s face, Gijun fell silent. Even though Baek Sunwoo wasn’t looking at him, he could see the light in his eyes had faded.

Baek Sunwoo gently removed Gijun’s hand and spoke softly.

“Your sister must be waiting for you.”

It was a short sentence but conveyed its meaning clearly. Gijun hesitated and stepped back, but even when he reached the door, he didn’t open it immediately nor look back. At the end of the tense silence, he gripped the handle and spoke.

“…Come with me for the check-up at H.N. tomorrow.”

The sound of the door opening and closing was the only sound that remained.

The next day.

The time to leave the hospital for H.N. was noon. And Hae Gijun was in a daze from that morning, no, from the afternoon of the previous day. More precisely, from the moment he left Baek Sunwoo’s hospital room.

Gijun was confused. He returned to his room, sat on the bed, lay down, got up, walked to the window, and paced back and forth. Ha Gaon, lying on the guardian’s bed, got annoyed and told him to stop, but he didn’t listen. He didn’t even hear her.

The only thing Gijun mumbled as he wandered was, “Why…?”

Seeing this strange behavior repeated, Ha Gaon started to worry. He had been like this since returning from his friend’s room, so she could only assume something had happened. But judging by his expression, it didn’t seem like he would easily talk about it. For the first time in a while, she held his hand tightly and spoke seriously.

“Hae Gijun, is something wrong? It’s related to that friend, right? I understand you might have developed distrust toward adults after the teachers, or rather those people at the training center. But you don’t have to handle everything on your own now. If you tell me, I can help-”

“What can you help with…”

Of course, Ha Gaon’s attempt at adult-like reassurance wasn’t helpful to Gijun at all. Instead, he realized this was a problem he had to solve with Baek Sunwoo alone.

But was it a solvable problem? He couldn’t even tell if it was something that could be ‘solved.’ What exactly was he trying to solve?

Baek Sunwoo liked him, but he didn’t like Baek Sunwoo in that way.

…Even though Baek Sunwoo sacrificed his soul and bound himself to save him. Even though he died ten times for him…

…

The more Gijun reflected, the more he felt a twinge of guilt. However, Baek Sunwoo’s emotions and actions had been one-sided, and there had been no agreement or coercion from him, so he didn’t feel it was his responsibility. Though he had inadvertently given Baek Sunwoo the wrong impression at the training center, wasn’t it a matter of mutual misunderstanding? At this point, Gijun felt a bit like a terrible person.

If someone had treated Baek Sunwoo this way at the training center, he wouldn’t have let it slide. “How dare someone hurt someone as gentle as him? What if his mental state shatters and he dies?” This was now his own reality.

Gijun felt deeply remorseful.

Dozens, maybe hundreds, of questions surfaced and faded in his mind. Why did Baek Sunwoo like him? What had he done to deserve such feelings?

He had told Baek Sunwoo not to explain, and at the time, he genuinely didn’t want to know. He doubted that learning the reason would clear his confusion, and he didn’t like Baek Sunwoo, so learning the reason might just make him feel guilty.

So he didn’t ask for the reason, but his mind subconsciously revisited the past. Like a broken projector playing random scenes, old memories resurfaced.

Gijun often used the study room in the school library. After a new annex with a spacious study room was built, the library’s space, now referred to as the old study room, became quite empty. Gijun often napped or goofed off there.

Shin Hae High School might have been a school for ability users, but there wasn’t much to teach students with low SPIs. So classes were relaxed, and personal activities were not heavily restricted. Gijun took full advantage of these loopholes in a school that wasn’t fully a regular school or an ability user school.

In that library, he saw Baek Sunwoo more often than expected. Though they never sat next to each other or across from each other, the kid who used to sit at a far-off table gradually moved closer in his memory. At the time, Gijun thought Baek Sunwoo had nothing to learn at Shin Hae High School either, so he just stayed in the study room, and he lost interest.

He was naturally indifferent to others. While his personality played a part, his ability also made him subtly avoid those who lied. Since small lies were rampant at school, Gijun kept his distance from everyone due to the resulting unpleasantness.

However, he never felt that way about Baek Sunwoo, so he didn’t mind him sitting closer. He even remembered having some trivial conversations. Just the kind of talk you’d have with someone in the same class.

What’s today’s class? It’s boring, let’s skip it…

…Why would anyone like someone like that?

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became, so he decided to stop pondering. Why bother finding out why Baek Sunwoo liked him? He wasn’t going to reciprocate anyway.

It was now ten minutes to noon.

He was set to be discharged as he headed to H.N. He and Ha Gaon had already completed the discharge process, and as Gijun fiddled with his casual clothes, he asked.

“How is Baek Sunwoo doing today? Did his healer say he’s okay?”

“Huh? Since he’s awake, why don’t you contact him yourself?”

Ha Gaon looked at him with a bewildered expression. Gijun couldn’t answer right away and just mumbled while glancing sideways.

“…He doesn’t usually talk about being in pain…”

“You fought with that friend, didn’t you?”

“What?”

“I get it now. You fought with him in the hospital room yesterday. That’s why you’ve been acting like this since yesterday.”

Ha Gaon clicked her tongue. No matter how much Gijun pretended to be fine, his awkward demeanor was clear to her.

“No, we didn’t fight…”

“So it was your fault.”

“We didn’t fight!”

Gijun raised his voice, but it only served as more proof for Ha Gaon, who shook her head.

“Come on, what could he possibly have done wrong? He’s so kind that his subjugation ability is S-class, but his personality downgrades it to A-class. He’s known among the kids for being kind and polite. If something went wrong between you two, it’s definitely your fault.”

“…Don’t talk nonsense when you don’t know anything.”

“Well, I don’t know the exact situation unless you tell me, but I can tell it’s your fault. You poured all your goodness into saving the kids at the training center, and now your personality is terrible again.”

Ha Gaon marvelled at how someone like him could awaken as a divine beast guardian. She nodded, thinking maybe he was supposed to have a rough personality as a guardian, and eventually, Gijun turned away. He decided talking to her was a waste of time.

As they headed to the hospital room, Ha Gaon called out from behind.

“Hey! Think carefully and figure out what the right thing to do is. You’re good at that!”

Gijun didn’t even look back at her, just waved his hand dismissively.

PM 12:00.

Gijun checked the time on his phone in front of the hospital room and opened the door. He worried that Baek Sunwoo might have already been discharged, but fortunately, that wasn’t the case. Considering his kind nature, it was to be expected.

Baek Sunwoo was lightly tidying up the bed.

“…”

Though he entered the room confidently, he hesitated to speak. Gijun stood awkwardly, staring at Baek Sunwoo’s back. A light gray coat with a wide fit. During the repeated school trips, he had only seen him in a white cable-knit sweater, and in the hospital, he wore patient clothes… now it was a new outfit.

Even small changes caught his eye. Realizing anew that they had truly escaped the training center, Gijun unconsciously looked at Baek Sunwoo’s neck. Unfortunately, the black turtleneck covered his neck completely, so he couldn’t see it.

“…Baek Sunwoo.”

Feeling an inexplicable mix of dissatisfaction and anxiety, Gijun quietly called out to him. Baek Sunwoo slightly turned his head and met his eyes.

“You’re here?”

Baek Sunwoo briefly made eye contact before turning back to what he was doing.

“The vehicle sent by H.N. is waiting downstairs. I’m going to take that, but you can ride with your sister. Since she’s with the Paranormal Ability Management Agency, it shouldn’t be hard to get into H.N.”

“…”

“The examination will take about an hour or two. It takes time to check in the capsule and wait for the results… or you can just stay home and come later. I’ll contact you when the results are out.”

“…Hey.”

“Or I can text you the results. It might be inconvenient for you to come.”

“Baek Sunwoo.”

Gijun walked over and grabbed Baek Sunwoo, turning him around. He had only briefly made eye contact earlier, but he had noticed something concerning.

“Did you sleep well?”

Gijun immediately brought his face closer, worried. Baek Sunwoo was usually pale, but now he looked completely drained of color. His eyes were dark and hollow, and his face looked gaunt.

“Are you sure you’re okay to be discharged? If you’re only leaving at noon because it was scheduled, we can postpone it. I can stay in the hospital longer, so you can rest more…”

“I’m fine. The car is already here. And I did sleep.”

Baek Sunwoo shook his head, but Gijun’s worry didn’t subside. He reached out as if to cradle Baek Sunwoo’s face.

“Then why do you look so unwell…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

But just before his hand touched him, Baek Sunwoo pushed his wrist away. His voice was low and firm. Gijun was momentarily speechless, realizing what he had done. He watched silently as Baek Sunwoo moved further away, out of reach.

Once again, he had unconsciously worried about Baek Sunwoo’s condition. And it had made things harder for him.

“…”

A stark realization hit him.

His concern could send signals to Baek Sunwoo. But it wasn’t Baek Sunwoo’s misunderstanding; it was his own excessive behavior. Even after their conversation yesterday, he had acted this way again.

Hae Gijun bit his lower lip slightly. His reactions to Baek Sunwoo’s condition were due to the compulsion formed from repeatedly witnessing his death at the training center. This was clearly different from liking someone. Gijun had never liked anyone before, but he knew his feelings weren’t normal.

So he needed to act properly. Ha Gaon’s words from earlier now echoed clearly in his mind. He had to figure out what was right and act accordingly.

He either had to stop caring about Baek Sunwoo or keep his distance. It felt like a heavy guilt to draw a line after accepting his help, but acting properly was for Baek Sunwoo’s sake.

He had to repay his gratitude in other ways without causing confusion. He couldn’t act like he did at the training center. That had caused misunderstandings and was still causing trouble for Baek Sunwoo…

“…Let’s take separate cars. I’ll wait for you at H.N. during your examination.”

Gijun took a step back as he spoke. The distance between them had grown considerably.

Now, there was no longer any chance of Baek Sunwoo dying. Having escaped the training center, there was no longer any danger of encountering monsters. If he were to be deployed in an otherworld incident as part of H.N. in the future, it would be when he was an adult. By then, the subjugation would likely be broken…

Gijun shifted his gaze and soon moved outside first.

‘There won’t be any more danger or death, so I need to keep my distance.’

He repeated this to himself several times as if to reinforce it.

* * *

“…Sunwoo, you look like you’re about to die.”

In the H.N. measurement room, a man looking at the test results spoke seriously. His expression had hardened from the moment Baek Sunwoo entered the oval capsule and the numbers appeared on the computer.

He waited silently for two hours, and even after the test results were printed, he remained silent for a long time. He checked the monitor again, examined the capsule, and even held the paper up to the fluorescent light.

Baek Sunwoo was a precious S-class talent, one of fewer than ten in the country, and a valuable prospective member of H.N. Though still a prospective member, it was already confirmed that he would join H.N. as soon as he became an adult. This small organization had a strong sense of camaraderie, and Shin Seungmin, the current head of the measurement room, was quite fond of Baek Sunwoo. In a year, Baek Sunwoo would become the youngest member of H.N.

Shin Seungmin was also the one who assessed that Baek Sunwoo’s potential ability was S-class but downgraded to A-class due to his kind nature. As someone responsible for the overall care of ability users at H.N., he had excellent analytical skills and personally taught Baek Sunwoo how to use his abilities. He advised him to act decisively and not to worry about others, among other things…

Because he had taken care of this youngest member, Shin Seungmin was now bewildered by the results. He denied it several times, thinking he had seen it wrong, but the results were the same.

And Shin Seungmin’s words were enough to shock Hae Gijun.

“What do you mean? Why would he suddenly die?”

“Well, it’s… Sunwoo, is it okay for your friend to know?”

“…Yes. It’s fine.”

Baek Sunwoo nodded calmly, and Shin Seungmin sighed deeply. He had intended to think it over more before speaking, but the intense gaze of the student in front of him made him start talking.

“Your life force is below 10%. It’s around 8%…”

“What does it mean to have low life force? Is he weakened?”

“It doesn’t mean he’s frail… well, in a way, yes. It means he’s more likely to die.”

Gijun’s face hardened. Shin Seungmin pointed to a plate on the table as he explained.

“Right now, Sunwoo can split this apple with one hand and subjugate me with his ability. His basic abilities and stamina are intact. In fact, his proficiency has increased since the school trip…”

“…”

“But if danger arises, Sunwoo is much more likely to die than the friend next to him. For example, if they both fall, even if the injuries are the same, Sunwoo is more likely to die from shock. Whether it’s additional infection or complications.”

As more examples followed, Gijun felt his heart plummet endlessly. His throat felt tight, and he could barely speak. He managed to ask.

“Why is this happening?”

“I wish I knew. What happened at the training center to cause this? Unless his soul is shattered…”

“…”

Hae Gijun froze completely. He had been clasping his hands to hide their trembling, but now he stood still like a broken person.

A shattered soul.

That phrase pointed to the truth. Baek Sunwoo had sacrificed his soul to save Hae Gijun, and Gijun had experienced 11 regressions.

Gijun slowly turned to look at Baek Sunwoo. He seemed a bit surprised but also calmly listened to Shin Seungmin’s explanation.

Finally, Gijun asked in a trembling voice.

“Does he have to live in danger like this?”

“No. Life force can recover over time. It will be slow for Sunwoo, but… maybe two years?”

“Two years?!”

Gijun stood up with a start. Shin Seungmin thought that despite his calm demeanor, this friend had strong reactions and nodded. He explained that they might need to monitor him for 3-4 years and delay his deployment in otherworld incidents as much as possible.

“Sunwoo, H.N. won’t kick you out because of this, so don’t worry. If there’s even a hint of that, I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen…”

“…Thank you.”

“There’s nothing to thank me for. Just focus on recovering. Got it? You shouldn’t be under any stress.”

Shin Seungmin muttered with a dark expression.

“In your current state, even a significant amount of mental stress could make you collapse…”

There was a clattering sound from the side again. It was the noise made by Gijun, who seemed extremely shocked as he turned to look at Baek Sunwoo. Shin Seungmin looked at them with a slightly bewildered expression. This was the first friend the youngest member had brought to H.N., and their relationship seemed quite close…

Soon, Shin Seungmin excused himself, saying he would review some additional materials.

As his figure receded, Gijun immediately grabbed Baek Sunwoo and asked. Now, it was Gijun’s face that had turned pale, while Baek Sunwoo remained calm, creating a very strange situation.

“Baek Sunwoo, were you shocked by what I said yesterday?”

“…I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“Stop telling me not to worry!”

Gijun shouted, gripping Baek Sunwoo’s hand tightly. But unlike the agitated Gijun, Baek Sunwoo looked down at their joined hands with an infinitely calm demeanor, then slowly removed his hand, just like in the hospital.

“You were the one who said worrying was tiring.”

“…What?”

Gijun was momentarily stunned. He slowly recalled when he had said that, finally remembering the previous day.

‘It’s too tiring to worry about that right now…’

Gijun’s mouth fell open. He had said that when Baek Sunwoo was about to answer why he liked him, stopping him from speaking. At the time, he didn’t want to stir things up since Baek Sunwoo had just woken up and was likely confused…

“That wasn’t my intention…”

His sigh was filled with a sense of futility. He couldn’t be sure if there wasn’t even a hint of not wanting to know, so explaining that it wasn’t his intention made him feel self-loathing. Gijun felt even more like a terrible person.

Around that time, Shin Seungmin returned.

“What’s with the sudden change in atmosphere…?”

Shin Seungmin adjusted his glasses and looked around, seemingly puzzled by the sudden dark mood. But neither of them looked at him, so he awkwardly placed the documents on the table.

“Anyway, Sunwoo, in your current state, you’re heavily influenced by being subjugated to someone. So-”

“That’s me.”

“…What?”

Baek Sunwoo stared intently at Gijun. Until now, Baek Sunwoo had been deliberately hiding the truth, but Gijun revealed it without hesitation.

“Sunwoo is subjugated to you…?”

“Yes. A lot happened at the training center, and he impulsively formed the subjugation. Is there a way to break it? Wouldn’t that help his soul, I mean, his life force?”

“…”

“Being subjugated must be mentally taxing, so we need to find a solution quickly-”

“Oh, thank you so much!”

Suddenly, Shin Seungmin grabbed Gijun’s hand. His desperate grip made both Gijun and Baek Sunwoo look puzzled. Gijun asked hesitantly.

“Thank you for trying to find a solution…?”

“No, it’s a relief that he’s subjugated to you! With his life force below 10%, it wouldn’t be surprising if he died at any moment. But he’s holding on because of the subjugation!”

“…?”

Gijun blinked slowly. It was a confusing statement, so he stood there bewildered as Shin Seungmin spread out a piece of paper on the table. His hand drawing a stick figure was urgent.

“Being subjugated means prioritizing the other person’s safety, creating a kind of compulsion. In other words, it gives a sense of mission. This strong will is what’s keeping Sunwoo’s life force going!”

“…He’s holding on to protect me?”

“Oh, you catch on quickly. Exactly!”

“But if I’m in danger, Baek Sunwoo could die trying to protect me, right?”

“Right. So in Sunwoo’s current situation, subjugation is a double-edged sword, but the target is you.”

“…?”

Shin Seungmin grabbed Gijun’s hand again.