TSCEIAB Ch. 32

 

 

Over time, items related to guiding, such as machines and drugs, have undergone countless changes.

While the number of new espers is constantly appearing and increasing, the number of guides has not changed much.

 

<If this keeps going like this, guides will disappear entirely. Here, if you look at this graph…….>

 

Some scholars issued warnings, citing the ratio of espers and guides that have changed significantly from the past.

That wasn’t an absurd story, so the researchers sought ways to provide guiding without the need for guides.

In recent years, research related to this has become more active, and meaningful results can be expected.

 

‘It’s not strange that there’s a new drug at this point. But…….’

 

What was surprising was that Hugo responded well to the new guiding pill.

In the original, there was a setting where no type of guiding worked on Hugo in order to highlight the heroine’s uniqueness.

 

‘No, since I existed in the first place, the original story may have already been disrupted.’

 

I didn’t feel compelled to keep the original, but I was afraid that someone would suffer because of me.

Like Hugo in his childhood when he had a guiding shock.

I narrowed my brow for a moment and swallowed the gloomy thoughts that flooded in.

Perhaps due to the turmoil in my mind, I felt like the headache that had been dormant for days was breaking.

I rubbed my faintly hot forehead with my fingertips and empty my mind.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

What started as a mild headache and slight fever, got worse over time.

It seemed that the fever that bothered me periodically was about to set in.

When I got home that afternoon, I threw away all my plans and started looking for headache and cold medicines.

My mom was working overtime, and my dad was out of town for a meeting with people from the publishing company.

I was the only one to take care of myself.

 

“Ugh, it’s cold…….”

 

As I lay on the couch after taking the medicine, my whole body trembled. I checked the thermometer, and it was over 38 degrees.

 

‘Shall I take a warm shower first?’

 

A cold sweat drenched my entire body. I thought it would be better to wash and change my clothes before it got worse.

That’s when I got up from the couch to go to the bathroom.

 

“…….”

 

I got up feeling dizzy. But as soon as I straightened up, my vision spun.

Then it went black, and all the strength left my body.

 

Thud!

 

With a loud crash, my vision shook violently. In a split second, I woke up and found myself lying on the floor with one cheek resting on it.

 

“Hah, hah…….”

 

My heart was pounding and my breathing quickened. With each deep exhale, the dust on the floor was pushed away like a wave.

 

‘I have to get up……. ‘

 

I didn’t have any strength in my body.

I had been lying on the cold floor for a long time, just squirming.

 

Bzzz- Bzzz- Bzzz-

 

I heard my phone I left on the couch vibrating.

I don’t know who it is, but I feel like I should get it and ask for help, but instead of getting better, my body is getting worse and worse.

 

Bzzz- Bzzz-

 

Eventually, the vibrations stopped. After that, it continued to vibrate on and off for a few minutes.

I listened helplessly, trying to awaken my fading consciousness. Then, at some point, I heard a voice coming from the front door.

 

“Haley. Haley? Are you home?”

 

My lips pursed at the familiar voice.

 

“D-dad……. Dad…….”

 

“Haley? Are you here…… Yi-, Yi-seo!”

 

Ah. Thank goodness.

My dad found me slumped below the couch.

I was relieved to see my dad’s face running to me in panic.

 

“…… -seo! Yi-seo……!”

 

Thick darkness engulfed me.

 

 

 

 

I felt like I had fallen into a deep sleep afterward. My body was so at ease that I didn’t want to wake up.

But a gentle stroke on the head brought me to the surface.

My mind was hazy, I managed to lift my heavy eyelids into view of a familiar ceiling bathed in scarlet light.

 

“Ugh…….”

 

As I let out a groaning sound, the hand that had been stroking my head gradually moved down.

The cold hand moved as if to trace my earlobe, then cupped my cheek, taking away the heat.

 

“Sleep more.”

 

I could hear a low, deep voice in my ears. When I turned my head, I saw eyes as blue as a lake.

A pale face, dark hair.

 

“…… Hu- go?”

 

I managed to move my lips and call out the name of someone I knew. The corners of the man’s mouth crept up as he looked down at me.

 

“Yes. It’s me.”

 

“Why are you…….?”

 

This was definitely my bedroom.

Cute interior in beige tones. The only strange presence that stood out was him.

 

‘Why is Hugo here?’

 

Hugo’s way of stroking my cheek was very natural. It’s as if treating something precious.

We weren’t close enough for this, were we?

 

“I hate that you’re sick.”

 

He said something I couldn’t understand.

 

“Huh……? I don’t know what you mean.”

 

“It’s okay. You don’t have to know. This is just a dream anyway.”

 

The hand that had been caressing my cheek covered my hot eyes. In an instant, my vision was blocked.

I winced and whined at my helpless body.

 

“Wait, Hugo, take your hand away…….”

 

“Shhh, get a good night’s sleep. Everything will be okay when you wake up.”

 

Maybe it’s because of his quiet voice. Or maybe it’s the cool hands that cover my heated eyes.

There was an irresistible drowsiness poured down on me, as if I was under a spell.

 

‘I can’t…….’

 

I don’t know if this is really a dream. If it’s real, why he’s in my bedroom? and what does he mean that everything will be okay when I wake up?

 

There were many questions I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t ask a single one.

I fiddled with my left index finger as was my habit in my fading consciousness.

The ring I had been wearing obsessively was nowhere to be found.

My finger was empty.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The next morning.

I woke up in bed and sat there dazed for a long time.

I think I had a dream yesterday. But I couldn’t remember.

 

‘What is it? I thought I saw something blue…….’

 

As I squinted, someone knocked on the door.

 

“Haley, are you awake? How are you feeling?”

 

It was my mother’s voice. I cleared my throat and answered.

 

“Yes, I just woke up. You can come in.”

 

Before I could finish answering, the door opened. Mom entered the room, and Dad poked his head out of the open door.

 

“Dad, you come in, too.”

 

“Yes. How are you feeling? I was so surprised when you collapsed yesterday…….”

 

“I’m fine. Please don’t cry.”

 

“I’m not crying.”

 

His nose was sniffling, and he didn’t know why.

While I gave a small laugh, Mom patted Dad on the back and studied my complexion.

 

“Haley, why don’t you take a day off from school today?”

 

“What?”

 

Unexpected words came out of Mom’s mouth. Unless it were from my weak-minded dad, it wasn’t typical for my mom to suggest missing school first.

 

‘Come to think of it…….’

 

I checked the wall clock in my room and quickly asked.

 

“Mom, aren’t you going to work today?”

 

“It’s okay, I can go to work later in the afternoon. My daughter is sick, so it’s no big deal.”

 

“But…….”

 

“Don’t worry about me, worry about yourself first.”

 

Mom stroked my cheek and sighed. Seeing her eyes up close, it seemed she didn’t sleep at all.

Dad interjected from the side.

 

“Yes, Haley. Take a day off today, and go to school tomorrow. I don’t think you’ve recovered yet.”

 

“Well, thank you for your concern. But I’m okay. I feel light. I think my fever has gone down.”

 

“Still.”

 

“I have to go to school. I have a test today, so I have to go.”

 

It was true that I felt fine.

My condition felt pretty good after collapsing from a high fever. To the extent that I’m more energetic than usual.

Thanks to this, the last night’s suffering from high fever felt like a dream.

 

“I’m really fine. I’m going to school.”

 

Even though I said this, they couldn’t stop worrying about me.

Reassuring my parents, I managed to get out of bed just before I was about to be late.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

“I’m off!”

 

“Haley! If you feel unwell again, leave early!”

 

“Okay. See you later!”

 

I scrambled to avoid being late.

There was no place to park, so I had to park my car in the corner of the fourth parking lot, and thanks to this, I had to run to the building where the class was located.

 

“Haa, huff…….”

 

By the time I finally got to the classroom, I was already exhausted. I put my bag down in the empty seat I usually sat on and slumped down on my desk.

 

‘At least I wasn’t late…….’

 

I would have been upset if I ended up late after rushing this much.

 

“Haa, phew…….”

 

I’ll lie down a little longer, and then I’ll get ready for class.

 

I lay face down, my forehead resting on my folded arms, and slowly catch my breath.

I heard voices buzzing in my ears.

 

“What are you going to have lunch today?”

 

“Did you do your homework?”

 

“Did you hear about that? Jessica and Simon…….”

 

“Hey! Stop it!”

 

Just before morning class.

I felt like I was the only one left out in the lively atmosphere of the kids who gathered, chatting and playing with each other.

 

‘Oh, that’s nice…….’

 

When I was younger, there was a time when I felt lonely and alone. But not now.

I liked the peace I had in the midst of the noise.

I didn’t want to raise my head until my body had cooled down, and my pounding heart had found its rhythm.

However, this peace did not last long.

 

“…… Whoa!”

 

“What, what?”

 

“Why is he here…… ?”

 

My own peace was shattered.

The atmosphere in the classroom stirred, in a slightly different direction than before.