Chapter 6

Grandma Bok-soon’s Grandson Who Always Hides His Face

He always kept his face half-covered. His features were small and delicate, his skin pale as if it had never seen sunlight. The only visible part of his face—the lower half—was slim and finely structured, almost too perfect.

Yet, he didn’t look overly feminine; instead, there was something intriguingly mysterious about him. Maybe that’s just how people who’ve lived in Seoul carry themselves.

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From what Grandma Bok-soon said, he came down to the countryside to recuperate due to his poor health.

It had been Yeong-sik who carried him home when they found him collapsed on the roadside at Grandma Bok-soon’s request. The countryside seemed to suit him—he had looked like a lifeless corpse back then, but now he seemed much healthier.

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Still, Yeong-sik wasn’t thrilled. He had been the only young person in the village, and now someone he could be compared to had suddenly appeared. It didn’t sit well with him—especially since the guy seemed suspicious.

“You said you’re from Seoul, right?”

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“Yes,” Eu-jin replied.

Yeong-sik casually placed the makgeolli bottles into a black plastic bag, his tone indifferent.

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“And your name’s Choi Minkook?”

“Yes,” Eu-jin answered again.

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“Not Baek Eu-jin?”

The hand holding the cash in Eu-jin’s grip trembled. His reaction was so pronounced that even he found it alarming.

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Yeong-sik, now finished packing the bottles, reached under the counter. From a box filled with odds and ends, he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

When he unfolded it, the wanted poster stared Eu-jin directly in the face, leaving him frozen and breathless.

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“I went to the town center yesterday and stopped by the police station for a bit. Saw this hanging up there.”

“……”

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“No matter how I look at it, the face seems familiar. Especially that mole on your jaw. That’s not the kind of thing you see on just anyone.”

It was clear that Yeong-sik had already pieced together Eu-jin’s identity, but he deliberately feigned ignorance to test his reaction.

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“They’re offering five million won for turning you in. What do you think about that?”

“…What do you want?”

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Eu-jin clenched his sweat-soaked fists. The size difference between them was clear, but if it came to it, he was prepared to knock this man down and run for it.

“If you were some kind of dangerous criminal, I wouldn’t even be asking questions—I’d just report you. But from what I hear, you’re a Guide or something. Those people who lend their lips and bodies to Espers, right?”

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“…It’s not exactly like that.”

“It’s not? I figured you ran away because you didn’t want to do that anymore.”

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Park Yeong-sik was sharper than he looked. He had already deduced the truth behind Eu-jin’s escape.

What do I do? Eu-jin’s heart was racing too fast for him to think clearly, the panic clouding his judgment.

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Noticing Eu-jin’s obvious distress, Yeong-sik suddenly tore the wanted poster into pieces.

“Don’t worry, I won’t report you. I’m on Grandma Bok-soon’s side too. You must have your reasons for hiding out here.”

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“……”

“Now, take off your hat.”

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The request felt intrusive, but Eu-jin sighed and complied, lifting the brim of his cap. He ran a hand through his flattened bangs, revealing his full face.

Yeong-sik stared, momentarily stunned. He had guessed as much from the photo on the poster, but seeing Eu-jin’s vivid, glowing blue eyes in person was striking.

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“Are your eyes always like that? You’re not wearing colored lenses or anything?”

“No.”

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“Wow, that’s something else.”

“……”

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“Anyway, just keep taking good care of Grandma Bok-soon. As long as you do, your secret’s safe with me.”

The air between them grew awkward. Yeong-sik stole a few more glances at Eu-jin’s face before waving him off dismissively.

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“Alright, you can go now.”

Eu-jin pulled his cap back down, grabbed his bag, and hurried out of the store.

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Even though Yeong-sik had promised not to report him, Eu-jin’s unease remained. He quickened his steps, a single thought pounding in his mind: I need to leave this place soon.

The savory scent of kimchi pancakes wafted through the air, even from a distance. Without bothering to turn on his flashlight, Eu-jin broke into a run, heading straight for the source of the smell.

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* * *

“You know, that Guiding thing—does it really make you feel all powered up or something?”

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“What?”

The sudden question made Eu-jin lift his head, his large eyes locking onto Park Yeong-sik. Standing in the sunlight, Eu-jin’s eyes seemed even brighter today, gleaming like polished glass.

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The next morning, Yeong-sik showed up at Grandma Bok-soon’s house. He claimed he was there to fix a leak in the roof.

As the village’s young headman, Yeong-sik often took on the responsibilities of managing local affairs and assisting the elderly whenever help was needed. While his visit wasn’t entirely welcome, Eu-jin ended up helping out as well.

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When the repair was nearly complete, Grandma prepared a hearty lunch as thanks. The three sat together, crowded around the table, sharing a meal. Afterward, she handed them a plate of sliced apples before leaving to visit a neighbor, leaving Eu-jin and Yeong-sik alone in the house.

The two sat awkwardly, neither willing to start a conversation. Finally, unable to suppress his curiosity, Yeong-sik broke the silence.

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“So, about that Guiding thing…”

Eu-jin’s sharp eyes narrowed as he tried to gauge Yeong-sik’s intentions. Despite his promise to keep the secret, it seemed the man’s curiosity had gotten the better of him.

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“Well, you see…”

Yeong-sik mumbled, scratching the back of his sunburned neck. His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, as though he feared someone might overhear.

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“I went home and looked it up. You know, what exactly a Guide is.”

“……”

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“So, like, it’s true, right? Guides recharge those Espers or whatever when their energy runs out. Like, if they’re all drained from using their abilities, Guides… uh… use their bodies to give them strength?”

Yeong-sik’s face flushed crimson as he stumbled over his explanation, his hand gestures and stammered words betraying his embarrassment. It wasn’t hard to guess why the naïve country boy was reacting this way.

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Most people, when they heard about Guiding, imagined something overly intimate or downright scandalous.

“Are you really that curious?”

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“Well, it’s just… I heard it doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman. It’s gotta feel pretty… uh… something, right?”

“It’s a matter of life and death,” Eu-jin explained flatly.

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“Espers will literally die if they don’t receive Guiding. The more they use their abilities, the more their insides feel like they’re boiling in a furnace. Guiding is the only way to cool it down. And as for the… physical contact—it helps transmit the energy more effectively.”

“Well, hearing you say it like that only makes me more curious. What does it feel like?”

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Yeong-sik’s eyes sparkled with innocent intrigue, his embarrassment melting into genuine fascination. Eu-jin sighed, already regretting indulging the conversation.

Baek Eu-jin let out a sigh so heavy it seemed to sink into the ground. It was clear that Park Yeong-sik wouldn’t let this go without experiencing it firsthand. Instead of leaving him to imagine something far-fetched, Eu-jin decided it would be better to demonstrate.

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“Give me your hand.”

He reached out and took Yeong-sik’s hand, pressing his neatly arranged fingers against the rough, calloused palm. Yeong-sik, wide-eyed, watched Eu-jin as if he were performing some kind of magic trick.

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“Feel anything?”

“Uh… nope, nothing.”

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“For Espers, it’s different. Even just holding hands like this makes them feel cooler, like a breeze blowing through their body.”

Eu-jin ran his thumbnail lightly across the rough palm, causing Yeong-sik to flinch and shrug his shoulders in surprise. Unfazed, Eu-jin released his hand.

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“It feels like a tingling shock, like electricity running through them.”

“You really know a lot about this, huh?”

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“Well…”

Because I was that Esper. But there was no need to say it out loud. Eu-jin simply shook his head.

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Yeong-sik stabbed a toothpick into a chunk of apple and popped it into his mouth. While chewing, he scratched his forehead sheepishly.

“Next Monday, the fire department is coming to inspect fire safety equipment. They’ll be going door-to-door, so you should make sure to lay low.”

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“…Thanks for the heads-up.”

“By the way, how old are you?”

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“I’m 28.”

“Wha—?!”

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Yeong-sik’s long, narrow eyes widened in shock. He had been casually speaking down to someone five years older than him. Stammering, he admitted the truth.

“I-I’m 23…”

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“Oh.”

“Let’s just… speak casually. You can drop the honorifics with me too.”

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Too embarrassed to suddenly start using formal speech, Yeong-sik straightened his slouched posture and even offered Eu-jin another piece of apple to smooth things over.

Eu-jin couldn’t help but laugh softly. Despite his rough appearance, Yeong-sik had the unpretentious charm of a country boy. Taking the offered fruit, Eu-jin bit into it. The autumn apple was sweet and crisp.

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* * *

“Grandma, I’m leaving today.”

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That afternoon, while digging up potatoes in the field, Eu-jin finally said it. He had made up his mind. Based on the information Yeong-sik had shared, it was best for him to leave the village as soon as possible.

The sudden announcement startled Bok-soon. She dropped her pitchfork, and a few potatoes rolled out of the basket and onto the dirt.

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“What’s this all of a sudden?!”

She exclaimed, her face wrinkling with worry.

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“You’re leaving? Where to?”

“Anywhere I can. I can’t keep burdening you like this.”

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Eu-jin bent to pick up the scattered potatoes and placed them back in the basket. He adjusted the sun cap shading his face, revealing a faint, bittersweet smile.

“I’ve rested enough. Thank you for taking such good care of me.”

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“Oh, Eu-jin…”

Tears welled up in Grandma Bok-soon’s wrinkled eyes. She shuffled closer, taking Eu-jin’s hands firmly in hers.

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“Couldn’t you stay just a little longer? Winter’s coming soon.”

“I’ve already stayed longer than I planned, all thanks to you being so kind to me. Truly, thank you for everything.”

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Eu-jin squeezed her weathered hands in return, the rough skin warm against his own. His chest tightened, and he bit his lip to hold back the tears threatening to spill.

It had been so long since he’d felt the warmth of genuine care. Eleven years ago, when his abilities first manifested, Eu-jin had lost his parents and older brother all at once. From that point on, he had been completely alone. The Esper Bureau took him in, but the loss of his family left a permanent void.

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Grandma Bok-soon had also lost her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson in a tragic accident. Had Choi Minkook, her grandson, survived, he would have been the same age as Eu-jin—28 years old.

Perhaps it was their shared grief that made their bond grow so quickly. Eu-jin had found in Bok-soon the warmth of a parent, and she, in turn, saw glimpses of her lost child in him.

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“Well, if you have to go, then so be it… but at least have one last meal before you leave.”

“Of course, I will.”

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“In that case, I’ll head to the town market and pick up some groceries. Just wait here a bit.”

“Grandma, you don’t have to! We can just eat what’s at home—”

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But before Eu-jin could stop her, she had tossed her gloves aside and left the field. Determined to prepare a proper meal with meat for his send-off, she was gone before he could object.

The sun dipped below the ridge, casting long shadows over the village. Though it was late autumn and the days were growing shorter, Grandma Bok-soon’s return was far overdue. The journey to and from town should not have taken this long.

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Unable to wait any longer, Eu-jin donned his cap and stepped outside. The twilight had already settled, painting the village in hues of gray. He headed toward the lone bus stop in the village, the most likely route she would take to return.

As he walked, a faint groan reached his ears, breaking the stillness of the evening.

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Turning his head toward the sound, he spotted a figure collapsed on the embankment by the fields. It was Grandma Bok-soon. Beside her, an overturned cart spilled its contents—plastic bags holding meat and other groceries scattered across the ground.

“Grandma!”

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Eu-jin sprinted down the slope without hesitation. His cap flew off, and dirt smeared his pants and shoes, but he didn’t care. Dropping to his knees beside her, he quickly assessed her condition.

Her breathing was labored, punctuated by weak, rasping groans. Her eyes had rolled back, and one side of her body appeared stiff and unresponsive.

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A stroke.

The symptoms were unmistakable.

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Eu-jin instinctively checked her pupils and pulse. His hands moved to her head, and he tried to channel his once-reliable healing power.

Nothing happened.

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“Goddamn it, you idiot! Of course, it won’t work!”

He cursed himself through gritted teeth, his hands trembling as he wiped the cold sweat from his brow. There was no time to waste.

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Lifting Grandma Bok-soon’s convulsing body onto his back, Eu-jin bolted up the embankment and down the dirt path, sprinting as though his life depended on it.