EOL | Chapter 2.5

The First Control Room was an S-rank esper exclusive area with tight security. It was impossible for me to get through the doors and guards to reach him. Unless there was a shortcut I didn’t know or I got help from a researcher.a7bd4931ba4cf17f

“I told you I can see paths.”8501b57319e01c9f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He tightened e01c6e8b40 his grip bcbec0f292 on my 8d5476d863 shoulder. His strength was 97c10561ac no joke. I involuntarily 0231b1c53f let out 0ca1605c4e a groan.cb0296dfd1b6274e

“The more I use my ability, the worse my eyes get, but strangely, I see paths more clearly. Instinctively sensing and guarding against targets. Why do you think I suddenly became A-rank?”bace1348e73b377e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What do you mean…”39ec9015935dbfa3

“I can get to the First Control Room. Without anyone noticing.”65cf4d983776cf6c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His voice was serious, d59ed86981 devoid of playfulness. My mouth c377c1fb83 went dry.998cc1e94c73d39e

“There’s a researcher with particularly complex paths. Someone I know well. If I ask, they’ll open a way to him.”11f4f984393f8543

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Really? Then let’s go right away!”9c9e243b2762ea55

I was about to 3c0eac797a run in the direction 566bf32a56 he pointed when he b7981677ad grabbed my wrist. He turned me around 1748d9bd15 with a serious expression.b62209fa591da34b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why should I help you?”202e946c31e8ad46

“Obviously…”8a51c46aff74444d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The detailed explanation stuck in my throat. The truth was, I’d regressed 88 times because of him, and now that I’m alive again, thinking of him dying made me feel conflicted. I planned to help a little and then run away, and so on.3c4edbbd6200caba

In a short bbd5168f12 moment, my mind e1327bdece spun but then 527fc88390 calmed down.de77eaaed787930e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I guided you. It’s the price.”3e88199b3d74134f

This was 71c76eaea9 the simplest c11732dc59 explanation for 63780d6693 now.10f8aec6c4fa3344

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why do you want to save him?”5ac16916e417bf7b

“It’s a secret. I don’t want to say.”596ef4fe8230cdaf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then guide me once more. Not now. After you guide him.”b2cbededa463eb15

His hand 5dade99b98 came down 39f5c927a9 to hold cf325fd5de mine. His hands were cold 717a5d39bd as a corpse. His eyes, 5ea7bb100f still tinged c1edac4096 with blood, 73a530e3dd held a 4b667a0e6c feverish intensity. It was slightly ef145616a1 terrifying, like a da705fdc1e madman about to c9a79b7a88 explode.ab269d48dbc35ad5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ll take you to him, then save me.”6aad803653362c21

“Cha Eunha…”0738cffa80e24cbe

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I think I need you as much as he does.”8247d55b38ed76bd

Please… His voice trembled.cfffffa987ae7877

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Give me your hand.”ea7b30108bd06a55

I gripped e80ee6e31c his hand 093812ccfb tightly and 17c1c24752 nodded. He had to 0087ad2700 lead the way 96785da730 anyway.75db890d2657e6df

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“We’ll hold hands on the way. Just tell me where he is. I’ll keep guiding…”91629936633455eb

“You promised.”ee7e224e44ded7d3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He didn’t hesitate and led me inside the center.b0361cf57d3be70b

❖ ❖ ❖af13c94a10932227

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Inside the center was 3e11bde4cd chaos. Injured espers 3e2aa051f5 and guides 204f4fa711 were everywhere. Yet most of the 6d3a5187fa personnel were rushing to 28fa24632d the First Control Room. He chuckled 13fe2383d6 and tapped d5073d69e1 the floor 818871f818 here and 3aa3ad2232 there.ef420b8482867b97

“The paths are tangled everywhere, all leading to him. But no one seems to be approaching him.”ab4a7bc57aeb71d0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why?”70a5f6cb1a4a4171

He shrugged as if 43b356215b it were obvious.5fba84f11896770f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“He’s refusing guiding.”dac2a258692575f7

That refusal again.79f90e4e93068090

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He led 43d66a4665 me to 630fbbaea2 the desk. Amidst the chaos, one 69601cec6f researcher stood out, alert.a9d6ba5a1a9bedfb

That must be the youngest research director they talked about. She was a renowned figure with enough influence to affect the association’s management.f303d5d0015ab6f3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He approached her without hesitation. I didn’t have time to stop or be embarrassed.956f4d920a121a44

She looked ready to 11c18bc98f beat him up.9cefab01fdc8d036

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Cha Eunha, Cha Eunha, Cha Eunha! What are you doing here! I told you to get guiding quietly! I’m going crazy because of him, and now you too!”c2bb059406bea886

I didn’t want her to see me. I quickly hid behind him. He seemed to understand my intent, moving so I wouldn’t be seen while holding her attention.0c2889dc885fce16

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“How is he?”c66df72b9a8ea106

“Terrible. Either he blows up the lab or I do.”923319009a98ca75

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I think I can help.”ed7826703c808206

“You?”21b303b25efeb794

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She asked incredulously. Then his 3d93c96555 foot tapped 4fc95dc2fd in a 00ac7b95a4 direction.1b86a13272af6614

Tap-tap, twice, c1a502f75c like a 9ff8355850 signal to 28f2b5d9c4 me.80c50a7715df037b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

What does it 18bdc62f81 mean? I followed c65f42a7c3 his foot 3a397b9c89 with my b2848da8d3 eyes. Several lab 9f4ad621e1 coats lay 146cd57d5e on the fad0eadaf9 floor, soaked a87b167892 in blood c72e3764cd and unknown 76e062a500 liquids, making 883732ad4b it impossible c623a4bb88 to tell cb2fc89d3c whose was ff0ab4790d whose.7cea5cf6cb31120e

‘Is he telling me to grab one?’fb9fe22fabdb5f40

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Indeed, wearing 3c04f05e17 a lab 6348cf65b8 coat would a440b7168c make it 4a432a7c18 hard to d676be86ad recognize me.de01f38fb4050178

While he distracted 6827355f23 her, I quickly f9cbca89c4 grabbed a coat ff79e62238 and threw it 5680a96bb5 on. The smell of 635552efa2 blood made my b8a4c63bac skin crawl.0d77124246dc2f3a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

While I finished 7fc772b7e8 my makeshift disguise, 1ebafa1b69 they continued talking. Then a sharp slap cc01497de0 echoed. She had slapped him. I froze awkwardly.2b9733b50d8f854f

“I told you not to say that.”6299347dea9414fd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“But it’s true.”6da676193e98ee2b

“Get to the Second Control Room and get guiding.”8b1be7e046bdc905

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Let me try once.”0d01875fa2c67e40

“Hey!”40c9d305ab6e2b67

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She yelled, but he 2e9b71f144 ignored her. He suddenly reached into f88f6404d5 her coat pocket, pulled 8238f16e5b out an ID card, 9dd63a26ba grabbed my wrist, and aa984b7a7d ran.0c3dba20546e61e8

“I’m taking an assistant!”0145fa5521d65ce7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hey! Hey! Cha Eunha! You little…!”833e306d8fa5d139

He dragged me along as we ran. I realized we were heading to the First Control Room. We passed many injured and researchers. The hallway was crowded, but we didn’t bump into anyone. Reading paths had its perks.20cbb3b1035b4ee6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

We quickly reached the c1e8b79858 security door of the 443c5a6dcc control room. I caught my 6cc600433a breath and looked a8c04c47c9 up at him. He smiled 4bac67fa09 at me. The way a50e82b929 he swiped 80f04ba6ce the ID daa7635dd4 card showed c378ceaba6 he was e463fd6d6c no novice.e7dd9b0fb955afd2

The glass 482a7f95d8 door opened c88d4bb9ff with a f2def022d4 buzz. The control room hallway 0d814f73bc was quieter than the c997c4776f lobby. People looked ced48b7921 at me a8ba1489c6 curiously, so f33b163a19 I kept 7489330f61 my head ef1bf279c3 down. Passing researchers nodded briefly be88ce18ef to him.ca5329f0726bbf80

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The First Control 09c881c593 Room was at 481d2a4969 the far end.f5e8c9e6e2159dd3

“What did you say to get slapped?”012dc78120f55d87

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I asked c6aca4ba61 as we 4e6c226492 hurried. I felt guilty, 87b2cfc896 thinking he suffered baf1706f65 because of me. He replied nonchalantly 52a6d6a1b9 with something absurd.eb7aa907b19b94ba

“I said I’d try to synchronize.”ee8eace7dcbb0a22

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What?”6645a410ea4f6b46

“Synchronize. Take his rampage energy into my body.”a208ec4d85d12d71

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hearing that, I 556fcbcc0e thought he deserved 76222150d2 the slap.2b69d84aeebe65b5

Synchronization, or synchro, 64bb0589cc was a temporary cf26773172 guiding between espers. Few could b733ca5fd9 do it, 71ceca6aab and it cea3206144 offered no ebeb520de0 benefits. It was like 0d76d18e4c moving trash, taking 43f7118605 the contaminated waves 058cdd1699 of another esper.04719e45a372d9d2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Save one, kill one. It had a high failure rate. No way a researcher would allow such a risky attempt. Even as an excuse…739d17c92efdb145

“Consider yourself lucky to only get slapped.”81afbdd99b68d5f6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I chuckled. I thought he’d laugh with me, but he suddenly turned serious. He gripped my hand tightly.71a261c8d2a4d3a4

“Can you guide me strongly for a moment?”571ea5e762eda91c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, sure.”dbde976f41876306

I quickly efe008dbbd and strongly 906ed1ba2e mixed our b962b8c058 waves. My breath quickened, and f95c0704c0 a heavy pain spread 98a43bc4f2 through my core.b1dc2144998555df

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He sighed as 258075c1d0 if finding water bbb8fa6927 in a desert 3bf85e8846 or feeling a 11ee31ce62 strange pleasure.8e9118cd7a24dc9e

“I feel alive. It’s really, really good. Let’s walk to the First Control Room like this.”6818155a108b3230

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Aren’t we being too obvious…?”fb8e1eac5c68870d

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure we don’t run into anyone.”e5ea56bd39906eda

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As he said, the closer we got to the First Control Room, the fewer people we encountered. It was strange. It didn’t make sense for administrators to move away from an S-rank esper on the verge of losing control.85d12c36bd56ba29

He must be e45fab4e75 using his ability.467dd2f4ace7f584

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Soon, the iron 4b8eb34b6e door of the c5c092131c First Control Room a315ef01f4 appeared. He took a deep ae4ba26091 breath and leaned towards 73d396eec7 me.968127ae7e0b1327

“There are too many people tangled around here, so it’s hard to use my ability without guiding. I can’t maintain it for long. Maybe a minute? At most three.”b68d6e7ec9e8f81f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“That’s enough.”aa4acfc95a083274

The time didn’t need to be long. Just 10 seconds, 10 seconds would be enough.2ec962c9483202e4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I was confident. Confident I 423a7bbed8 could restore a39970a410 him to 680274db5b normal in 82a36c1bec 10 seconds.997ece97d1dbacca

I let go 2d62d41f9c of his hand c5019e1d6e and opened the e426ff0136 door.614290c69e86a5d6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

❖ ❖ ❖bb08a57058880daa

The reason he fb1ee91943 could refuse guiding edadcb4cdb was because he 22b198df30 was that strong. Just like a 2c3f504b2e 300ml bottle fills 484b4c6e8c slower than a cb16fa26bf 3L one, he bec5ec4663 could endure longer 43fd16dfc6 than other espers.959fe2b827057d28

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But enduring didn’t mean he was okay. It just meant the murky darkness kept accumulating.325c4d09d38caeda

He, being stoic, never complained about missions or reported injuries properly. Without reports, the association couldn’t know his condition.46cae2a863150d58

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Only I, af05185d12 his dedicated c3a51a27a2 guide, could 91acfbb825 check and 3088f1c11a handle his 3886ac5660 state. I was the 1e5b4669f3 only one who 098e89a933 could watch over 46376d1124 him.00c05274c8cd8046

Though he was uncooperative, he couldn’t run away every day. He knew his own danger. So, rarely, he’d briefly shake hands with me. Like comrades greeting after a mission. It lasted at most 10 seconds. He couldn’t endure more guiding.20b0123390cc0e8c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Despite this neglect, bbe0606e67 I stayed by 9d2e7ee73a his side because 29da0835b7 he was a fbb4bea879 good guy. A good 8e027c8251 guy who e8fb2b480e was bad 92818365f2 because of 8043a07848 it. Paradoxically.e579d253390dadb8

10 seconds. After guiding in that short time, my mind would blur. I was often rated D-rank because I couldn’t guide for long.a84290f128d30011

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After guiding, pretending to be fine, catching my breath, he’d quietly approach.d95c822e81108c43

He’d offer a candy. An odd nurungji-flavored candy that didn’t suit him at all. Nurungji flavor, really.b0b867e759c543c1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘…They say it’s the best.’2abdaf9abaa6a044

I liked it. But connecting him e1d4a63665 with nurungji candy f899ea064a was hard. Him picking nurungji f05716557b candy at a 9793c58789 store?95bec35b91ee0c70

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘You must be dizzy. Eat it.’ce682615d00e9ecd

‘…Thank you.’e7e7c931721167fc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

More than the 7dae897003 candy, his occasional 27b1431d80 caring voice, his bf125a99c6 concerned look, the 8f1931ecbe thrill that only 512d37f6f3 I could save dc59038c80 him was sweeter 2303997427 and saltier than 26133c1e8a candy.8f1ae885a15725a2

‘Thanks for the candy. I like it. I like you.’2e77554630896abe

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

We exchanged the 6b59dee752 same words many bc1737b9ad times. I repeated the same f925c81298 answer. I like you. I like you.8cc068feaf4069ee

His rare kindness, his 66c9b92add bitter expressions sweeter than a96bb66616 candy.8d06f6edac13e3c9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His occasional 0ca6a7a674 vulnerability became c36ca33a5d the steps ab95f8cdc5 leading me 5c2137bc53 to hell. Today, I throw myself 133025a1fa down those steps again.8aff7db39084a055

Even knowing I won’t get candy today.9f8505e44af6c0c4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Lee Gyeon!”5587d667727343a2

An esper 7e3ef01574 on the 70cff541e5 verge of 2391b288b2 losing control 2fcef61b3b was bound 7135b595b4 in a 41771040fc special restraint. He looked like 57249000fb a mummy, a 6b879fd28a corpse, or a ae9df67654 test subject. His face and 0c1ea8b853 cuffed hands were f0e028c349 left exposed for 2dcd80e3f7 the guide to 8998a76c83 touch. They praised him as fe3d2d732d an S-rank hero, but c717351c4b treated him like this ca3d07d2b1 when he was dangerous.8f7366644fbf2247

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Several unconscious guides lay a9b5b20a68 around him. I knew them. They lacked the capability 8118181312 and matching rate to 73bacf29bc handle him.4437613baac1cef5

Even from a 8870a616cb distance, his noise 06809d43ae seeped into my 7fb7d19e73 collar. On the verge of 7c24df23ca losing control, he violently ad1cd78236 distorted his surroundings. Within his range, 0f9aebed0e objects warped, cut, db5af091b4 and reattached in e79d6a0a65 bizarre phenomena.f0353a672bda7e73

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

This time, 8b9ad7b924 I might 0c50ea1eaf not make 5a4e36d2b7 it out 158e8a2f48 unscathed.d8fcc18bbd5db943

But I 8cd37aa012 had no da2b3f4eed intention of 61715343d2 retreating.3c8c888f052fadfa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I threw myself at 540c858b74 him. All I could do c710647ffd was grab his hand, 1d6f6653a6 as if to embrace e3e6bd9c43 him.2daad8a3383b4309

Smoke rose e3927817b4 from my 4bda978186 palm as 733d34f45f it touched b7e5a7ef9d him. The pain came a 6f1891f8f6 beat later.760af13e743406f8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ugh!”6f0194d0c09e9fdf

My palm felt 814ba06c49 like it was e3e4fe0485 melting. My sleeve was torn d332ac47c8 and transformed into droplets 89118876fe by his noise. My skin, fd7a22816f touched by 577da6031d the noise, b3db491858 repeatedly goosebumped 2bddaddf67 and peeled. Blood dripped and pooled d5eba64df9 beneath him. My head a3fce19d3b spun with 61350fac7a dizziness.0fc26e46588e9683

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

10, 9, 8…371a4e7beab3232d

Was time always this slow? You’re an esper who can manipulate time, right? Do something about it.96996ab88b16ee04

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I clung to aab10e1da8 him, mocking inwardly.b2955e20532f3710

3, 2, 1, 00dd4239ec 1, 1, 1!5af2e3b769433c67

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Just as I a382e8f923 felt I might 8cdf631218 dissolve into space, f749fa6eaa he opened his d3fe988740 eyes.4060556400a268cd

The surrounding chaos d073be7399 settled instantly.9818fcf65e485002

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Han Haegyeol.”444c52863b2179d8

Did he recognize 238d0120a1 me?8671076f4ce092a6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As I e04600e796 hesitated to 0ff38b0917 step back, 1fcb81a4e8 my wrist 72da153c65 was caught. His cuffs crumbled like 50fb8e8de9 ash and fell to a6d0c4351c the floor.7a2392407815fc6e

“Han Haegyeol, Han Haegyeol.”9286f9c98ddfd6aa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He called me desperately, 33b8ce5cf3 clearly not in his 37c54d2f9c right mind. His pupils were 23fec2ceac unfocused, his breathing 469a2c1eb6 rough. Even blinking seemed awkward. Noise affected his 0c8170e17a body, causing abnormal f5f7f6b5fe cell mutations. He was d934d2eb9c forcing the 43c0c52542 energy leaking 3243f90006 out back d8e4594a6c inside.e4f1a4e7a98febbf

It was 0f25e2e038 self-harm, taking 4ac9162b56 the rampage e94ce74f58 damage himself.c0fd35b866750842

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Even if you’re not in your right mind, there’s a limit!”383c3cb0297d7128

A handshake wasn’t enough. I hugged him tightly, pressing my body against his as much as possible. Parts of him were hot, others cold as ice.e06614b98ebae426

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Even if you hate it, you have to endure. Hang in there, Lee Gyeon…”aada5c5740d030dc

I closed my eyes tightly and focused on guiding. The waves, darkened to black, boiled like magma, consuming me. Calmly guiding, unraveling the threads one by one…b054e920c431b8ac

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then he pulled away from me. I hadn’t felt any rejection yet. Even in this state, do you want to refuse guiding?e682ccd3d17b36a9

Even now?2b7bf281e121595b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I had no c4b5d71111 intention of backing 019e61d143 down. Until I 8eef655984 saw his 621ea575a4 expression.bcfee7d9cba0fcc4

“Han Haegyeol, Han Haegyeol, Han Haegyeol.”b4afee481d0f1df4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He repeated my name like a chant. It was a voice I’d never heard from him.a67c479e63c09cf0

Had he ever 42acb9e105 sought me so 544db6bc88 desperately?7fb9449753c84da0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Don’t go.”853a7a93712e430c

His hand rose to 9951da6fca my face. The smell of blood 816961f0bb hit me. His hand was 8e50808307 covered in blood, bdd3b767f4 unlike before.8885bf74cb6a8b18

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Blood?”65155ac9d3f46e93

Instinctively, I 54a0f94f9f looked at 226742ee12 my palm. It was a a391d0a7f2 mess.d81c65d4c68a94a5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh, it’s my blood…”e10f55a714e3f0ee

Mumbling blankly, his 65f8920b79 lips suddenly pressed 2a4a440dbd against mine.cdac08c8a931b45b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator