TSCEIAB Ch. 20

 

Daniel remembered that one day.

The day he took the second test with Yi-seo. The day he reached out to the child and said goodbye.

 

–“Oh my. So you must have had some fun manipulating public opinion?”

 

“Right, well.”

 

— “So, did you make that opportunity well?”

 

On the other end of the phone, the director of the California center asked in a nasal voice.

Daniel replied, narrowing his brows.

 

“It’s a total bummer.”

 

–“What? Why?”

 

“Hah……. I was just trying to get rid of that little Esper with this……. It seems like Guide Sophia was traumatized.”

 

— “Trauma?”

 

“She didn’t even want to touch me a little.”

 

The California Center director  laughed at the irritated remark.

 

— “Hey! That kid’s only six years old. You should have worked while keeping eye on the baby’s mental state.”

 

“She wasn’t your average six-year-old. I expected her to be rational and strong, but……. I didn’t know she was so weak.”

 

Daniel rubbed the corners of his eyes tiredly. Perhaps his disappointment was too great.

Originally, he planned to take away the psychic power he had used last time, but he was angry at Yi-seo’s frustrating demeanor and just walked out.

 

‘Well, I’m still immature in that ability……. If I just leave it alone, it will disappear on its own.’

Unlike the world that knows him as an esper who manipulates plants, Daniel has another hidden ability.

It’s a B-class mind control.

Only the director of the California center knows he was multitalented.

 

“For the time being, Guide Sophia’s pair case is on hold.”

 

— “You’re not giving up?”

 

“Do you think I will easily give up on my prey I’ve set my sights on?”

 

— “Hmmm…….”

 

No, no. Not with what I taught you.

The director of the California State Center muttered. Daniel chuckled.

 

“No matter how long it takes, I won’t miss it. But before that, I need some urgent guiding, so please send my ‘honeys’ over here.”

 

–“What? Are there no guides over there?”

 

“There’s no guide that suits my taste.”

 

— “Ugh. Greedy people are so picky.”

 

“Haha! I’ve learned from the best.”

 

–“I’ve wasn’t as picky as you.”

 

The corners of Daniel’s mouth lifted at her disgruntled words.

 

“Anyway. Just send my ‘honeys’ over here. I’ll hang up now-”

 

–“What? Wait a minute! Dani…….”

 

Click.

Daniel pressed the end button and slipped his phone into his back pocket.

 

“Phew…….”

 

He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, crafting a gentle expression on his face.

 

‘I think it’ll take a long time for Sophia’s condition to get better.’

What should I do to pass the time until she gets over her trauma…….

A hum escaped Daniel’s lips. He, who had been encroached by the alley’s darkness, stepped into the sunlight without hesitation.

His bright blond hair shone brilliantly, accentuating his angelic appearance.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

When he was dragged into the bunker after successfully clearing the A-grade gate, Hugo thought.

 

‘I’m sick of it.’

 

Inside the windowless bunker was a mixture of the smell of blood, disinfectant, and acrid smell of coal.

As a side effect of the lack of guiding, Hugo’s senses, except for sight, had become more sensitive. He hated being dragged into such a bunker.

 

‘When will I be released this time? I’m sure Yi-seo will be worried……. ‘

He thought about it every time his volatile reason came back sparsely.

Hugo missed the warm and cheerful voice of Yi-seo and the round eyes that curved gently when she looked at him.

 

I thought I was acting like a gentle lamb to her because I needed guidance.

In the current situation, where he is on the verge of going berserk due to lack of guidance, what he thinks of is not Yi-seo’s guiding, but Yi-seo herself.

 

<Hugo. It’s me. Yi-seo. >

 

Maybe that’s why.

As he crouched and gasped in pain that seemed to tear through his entire body, a voice forcibly pulled Hugo out of his reason away.

 

<I came running because I heard you were in danger. >

 

She spoke. Fearlessly, affectionately, and calmly, in front of an S-class esper who might go berserk.

 

< Yi-Seo……. Yi-seo…….>

 

His whole body reacted violently to the guiding energy emanating from her.

Hurry up and come here, hold my hand. Hug me and soothe me.

What came out of his mouth without any will was enough to make a weak-hearted Yi-seo break down.

 

<It hurts so much…….>

 

Understandably, Yi-seo was shaken. She seemed to be pondering something and asked a question that made his heart pound.

 

<Are you sure you won’t attack me? >

 

Perhaps because of the pain that clouded his head, he didn’t quite understand what she was saying.

After repeating the words to himself several times, Hugo finally understood and made a puzzled face.

 

<I, cough! am going to ……. attack you? >

 

There’s no way I would hurt you.

The sound that was felt from a distance, was neither near nor far. It was about three or four paces away from Yi-seo’s pace.

At this distance, his ability couldn’t hurt her, even by mistake.

As long as Yi-seo is by his side, the guiding numbers will go up, and the rampage state will subside.

As long as Yi-seo doesn’t come any closer, she is safe.

But as he thought about this, he felt Yi-seo’s steps approaching.

 

<Then I’ll start with hand guiding. >

 

…… What?

Hugo tried to move back. But the chains that bound his hands and feet, that made an unpleasant noise, prevented his movements.

 

No, don’t come, it’s dangerous, Yi-seo.

He pursed his mouth, but no voice came out.

As she came closer, more intense guiding energy was radiating from her body.

Hugo’s body, withered from guiding exhaustion, overrode his reason. The desire for guidance for survival blocked out the words of refusal.

 

<It’ll be okay, Hugo. >

 

Yi-seo’s soft hand, free of calluses, touched Hugo’s arm.

At that moment, his body acted on instinct and urgently snatched her guiding energy and absorbed it.

 

<Ugh, cough……! >

 

After years of being trapped in the desert, he finally found an oasis. Just like how you get sick if you drink water in a hurry when you’re thirsty, you would get sick if you absorbed guiding in a hurry.

 

<Ah…ugh…..Ah….! >

 

As soon as the guiding energy meshed with Hugo’s sharp wavelength, his limbs stiffened and his heart began to beat violently.

 

No, no, no…

He couldn’t stop the blood from flowing back. With his darkened vision, he stared at the place where Yi-seo might have stood.

In his ringing ears, he can sparsely hear Yi-seo’s voice.

 

<-Go! No.. – ake up! Hugo! >

 

Her voice was tinged with tears. Even in the pain that felt like his body is being torn apart, Hugo worried that Yi-seo might be hurt.

 

“Run …….”

Run, Yi-seo. Please.

 

Thud.

The string of reason that he kept were broken. After that, he blacked out.

A complete darkness.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Hugo woke up in the late afternoon more than two weeks later.

 

“Esper Hugo! Are you awake? Does anything hurt?”

 

Hugo looked away in a daze at the clamorous voice.

Standing there were Richard, the director of the Ohio State Center, his secretaries, what appeared to be researchers and a doctor.

 

“…… I’m, cough! I’m fine.”

 

His throat felt parched.

Hugo coughed slightly and replied in a cracked voice, and Richard repeatedly expressed his relief.

 

“You had a guiding shock. We quickly administered a sedative and prepared for a rampage, but luckily the runaway didn’t last long and you calmed down quickly. But you didn’t regain consciousness for a while…….”

 

A lengthy explanation followed. Hugo listened to the words in one ear and looked for someone in the crowd.

 

“…… What about Yi-seo?”

 

Yi-seo.

She would have come running as soon as she heard that he had woken up.

Hugo’s heart skipped a beat in anxiety when he couldn’t see her.

 

“T-that…….”

 

“…… Did she get hurt because of me…….”

 

Was she hurt? Did she get caught up in my own rampage?

He was unconscious at the time, so he couldn’t remember what happened to him at the end.

The thought of her being hurt made his heart ache.

 

“Ugh……!”

 

He clutched his chest and crouched down as the researchers hurriedly removed Hugo’s shirt.

Then they put patches all over Hugo’s body and connected it to the machine to check on something.

 

“Ugh, huff…….”

 

“Esper Hugo. Esper Hugo? Can you hear me?”

 

“Ugh…….”

 

“There’s nothing wrong with Guide Sophia. Aside from a few days of hospitalization due to guiding exhaustion, she’s in good health and resting.”

 

Yi-seo wasn’t hurt?

The doctor’s words calmly and dispassionately slowly diminished Hugo’s pain.

 

Beep-beep- Beep-beep-

The beat of the shrill mechanical sound also began to slow down a little.

 

“Is this …….”

 

“Ah……. as expected ……. .”

 

“Uh, what do you think? Huh?”

 

As Hugo gasped for breath, the researchers, who were focusing on the machine’s screen, let out small sighs.

Next to them, Richard brushed the researchers with an impatient face.

 

“…… It seems our hypothesis is right.”

 

One of the researchers, who seemed to be in charge, spoke to Richard.

Richard groaned and looked back at Hugo in dismay.

 

“Esper Hugo.”

 

“…… Yes.”

 

“Well, I have something to tell you about Guide Yi-seo.”

 

What is it?

Richard’s face was serious. Hugo tensed, and the machine beeped again.

Richard flinched and motioned to the researchers to turn off the machine.

In the silence of the room, Richard’s voice melted in.

 

“Imprint.”

 

“……?”

 

“Esper Hugo, you made a one-sided imprint on Guide Sophia.”

 

That…… What the hell are you talking about?