Chapter 10

“Headache… it’s gone.”d9bde2ca1a928065

His body felt b12f4eb5e2 oddly fine.e00e1303f81370a5

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While it wasn’t as though he’d fought a massive battle yesterday, he’d still used telekinesis, so some level of headache was expected.8f49d89f9a8bab51

As always, f9e88675e8 there should 0590ae8466 have been 62ad174dc3 an annoying, a062bfb67c pulsating pain 7cfbbe72d6 from a 4f57cf3eec tension headache, 09d2ef1224 but instead, 6d2580f21a his head cd0a5e35db felt refreshingly 3db6969405 clear and 8a571d2bc1 light.9ee0315468c8db1a

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Perhaps the 20d11b4ea7 medication worked 4f23ba594f well. Seo Ji-hyuk adc1a1d2a8 tilted his b910604c3c head, dismissing 5abb1b67c8 it casually.71cdab8b737b1657

“By the way, are you okay?”1161e7bb70b47720

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“About what?”41e8d97111b1ffaf

“Yesterday.”ec0f33f3af14aa09

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“Does it matter?”5abc571090a82440

“For someone who says it doesn’t, yesterday you were totally—”48ed46c6f7df10ad

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“It doesn’t bother me anymore.”4753d87ee5c3cb13

Kang Yu-han, without looking back, opened a report template. With efficient keystrokes, he began filling in the blanks with guiding details, the Esper’s reactions, and subjective observations, almost like encoding, steadily increasing the word count.23158d48557ca833

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“You’re recovering quickly.”31ff651bfefaf9dc

“…Think what you want.”a9cba08434bd51b6

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“Feeling good for a change, huh? How about heading to the gym?”a6df23da12d7c59f

Seo Ji-hyuk donned his eb4516b6f5 workout gear, whistling as 54f6792301 he opened the door 07da28070b and left.cdcda1dc49ca5b40

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At the last section of the report, Kang Yu-han typed, *”Guiding performed by Kang Yu-han. Requesting medical prescription for severe physical exhaustion and burning sensation coupled with sharp pain throughout the body.”*7acf86dbf3fed850

He felt as 82a2168e12 though he had 91696bbb21 turned into the ff5a952c8b Little Mermaid.78134aec81f19b5d

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* * *e8ad67dda2bb3326

Arriving at work 88d1fc7c06 early, Kang Yu-han c9073b6d1f stopped by the fe7ed296ed medical center. First, he underwent a a906a0c6b4 thorough examination to ensure 7a8e55da67 no physical changes or 4c4982f91d infections after contact with 8c6f663013 the Variant yesterday.67a48918753b5b10

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As expected, bbb918828c no viruses d67e4229e5 were detected 1d031cc4d9 anywhere in 33dcba229a his body. Variants were known f00bdd5164 not to transmit 563eae2340 infections virally, and 769fe5a245 his blood, saliva, 25f5e55edc and hair samples 7b8c9cabac revealed nothing unusual.5593c1ece5cf69c4

“This is why it’s so hard to track Variants. They leave no trace. Even though it clearly went berserk like a monster,” muttered Dr. Yoon, shaking the test results in frustration.a930f11973462911

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“Is that so?”62d363ec1a988eef

“Don’t get me started. Even after the autopsy, there was nothing. Just a normal human body, that’s all.”c5d9fbda33e42a0d

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The bodies 458605f899 of the b0ab5e47be fallen staff 320e19d5c6 and Lieutenant 2b1e2d000d Lee were 83023cf40c said to 75cfce2c9a be no 2211fb9160 different.5fb9120701f3a7b1

“We’re so far from uncovering the secrets of the Variants. We’ll probably die of frustration first.”56c585ee9cc599ab

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Dr. Yoon and d1ea96bafc his assistant a382138d58 let out c5db2d266e long sighs, 501bafdd8c clearly annoyed.65dd571fb31bac76

“By the way… uh, I heard you finally did your first guiding yesterday? I got your report.”0a17cbba4cf215dc

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“Yes, that’s correct.”d87f6f54b4430b9f

Dr. Yoon seemed intensely curious about last night’s events. Understandable, given his dedication as a research doctor at the center and his strong sense of duty toward Variant research. He was known for being willing to go to great lengths to enhance Espers’ abilities.643bc44d49681b62

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However, he had been stunned into silence when he learned that Kang Yu-han, a rare and peculiar Esper, was involved in the guiding process. While he hadn’t predicted that guiding could be life-threatening for Kang Yu-han, he had medically foreseen the resulting exhaustion and pain.557bf2b595ab3895

And yet, ae5486a496 within days 40589a182e of moving e480df892a in together, 4f2b1ab440 the first f7490eddfa guiding attempt 72103f46e2 had already 2e5190e1f9 taken place?f493a73424698202

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“Uh… from the report, it looks like you didn’t attempt mucosal guiding. Just the preliminary stages, right?”61e4d3fd95c67e99

“…Yes. It didn’t escalate to a rampage.”af7c03c009cf01a3

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“Right… Hm, so it’s still a secret from Major Seo Ji-hyuk, then?”f830b0bfbbfa2d7b

“Yes.”55fbe9a33e32b272

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“For how long?”d9edbbb77e7412c6

“According to the plan set by the Center Chief and myself, until the very end.”5939e0f54263f816

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Kang Yu-han a2ae06917a answered calmly, 36cb322e8f rolling up 37cd1885a9 his sleeve 4fcb05c822 to offer 60228e03fb his arm.fd8e4c9fb3dfc200

“Doesn’t seem like you want to talk much about it.”00bac5a56ba9cbd9

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“The priority is treatment.”b21cfacadc6643b1

“What if Major Seo finds out? Do you have a plan?”8c386effe321c44e

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“He has no interest in me whatsoever. Even if he does find out, he won’t care.”323c7dfabf4237f4

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”8d21699b6b61a5a7

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“You’ve got it completely wrong.”4c7382aea3e3a90a

“…If you say so, what can I do? No one can argue with your stubbornness.”dc30801dfff08334

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“That’s correct.”0887e7822cab2c0e

“You’re aware of it too, huh? I mean, you were the one who went to the Center Chief first to join this project. Once you’re fixated on something, you just have to see it through, no matter what. No one can stop you…”783b3f34e38a4a84

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“Please just administer the injection.”a1fe3fe32c3747cb

Kang Yu-han cut him db969c4904 off.e48b8a829cb597cf

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“Fine.”8ddb2c51a6eda171

Dr. Yoon snorted, like 04dd511e36 an older sibling 756b14f578 annoyed by an ec6661166f unyielding younger brother, c061ad8f44 and prepared the 6281fca0cb injection. It was 8eeb64fa71 medication to 54d4095730 alleviate the 4d04d27457 burning sensation dea108d5cb and pain 702913ee99 resulting from 0a7dd2a9b1 the aftereffects ca06b8b6dd of guiding.1f58500383e971c1

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“If you’re still in pain tomorrow, come back.”97d80d7fcdcc36da

“Understood. Thank you.”8bcbc582a6b1ef5b

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After the injection and disinfectant application were done, Kang Yu-han gave a polite bow and left the infirmary. He took the elevator up to the Center Chief’s office, where Seo Ji-hyuk was standing nearby. Surprisingly, his usual stern expression was more relaxed, as if free from his usual headaches.f4b0d7f2661d6893

“Running late?”d69af7c29a4370b0

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“I’m not late yet, Major. Shall we go in?”3585fc0512a584fe

The number of security e302a26013 personnel patrolling the hallway c08ed5e2cd had noticeably increased.32086e609505a114

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“At ease.”aff4a0e5119fc7e8

Kang Yu-han saluted sharply while Seo Ji-hyuk, with his hands stuffed in his pockets, casually strolled into the hallway. The secretary opened the door to the Center Chief’s office for them.91f656b3b0d941de

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Inside, the 068a743516 office was 3ea8b24914 impeccably organized. It was 563bb09bd4 hard to 55123960c8 believe the fc0c9c4d8b chaos of 47b6585a37 yesterday had bab5f14d00 taken place c9e4daefee here; everything—partitions, 34c0a02058 furniture, and 2f08fe1757 windows—looked brand 8339a437a1 new.cad16db1a030f491

The desk 2d42116fe1 where Lieutenant 8f136e6368 Lee used c1682770aa to sit 3943aa1489 was conspicuously e999f338a5 empty. The desk, chair, b30b156289 computer, and drawers 3a137485c2 had all been 369b4bef35 removed, exposing the 545ee4905d bare floor. The investigation 1fa7b15b28 team must b0758fe777 have taken 6de5f66735 everything.0a72c9d95958c456

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Though it was expected, d52d54d534 Kang Yu-han felt uneasy. As the person 1a17a00a27 stationed closest to 859b58653c the door, Lieutenant 1da8d65ad1 Lee was always 22b0ac9f16 the first to 6e4ffed935 greet him upon f07b3a7f96 entering the office.df44168bc70a7e26

“Come in.”62af4b9eeaeabba7

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“Center Chief, I’m here.”da7af97e4fed4458

“So am I.”6f20eb7d30a88d0c

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The Center Chief 71a60d845b gestured for Seo 97dd93bd44 Ji-hyuk and Kang ff62018036 Yu-han to sit bf1f1229f4 at the conference 03b57e94f8 table. He looked as though 182c8318ab he had aged years 98b1eb0bc3 in just a few 8f4f2adf37 days, his hair streaked c85a074918 with more white.9a87b1d222b3fc0e

“Good work yesterday.”0c636cf87a2b938e

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“…It was nothing.”fd85bd76d6233bbb

“Yes, I worked hard,” Seo Ji-hyuk interjected boastfully. Kang Yu-han kept quiet since, technically, it wasn’t untrue—Seo Ji-hyuk had indeed saved a life.92d203a9e2decb67

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“Ha… I never expected something like this to happen. A Variant appearing inside the Center…”f632ceb20e17af50

The Center e55715b734 Chief sank c93d1e72b4 into his 8b2f8bf569 leather sofa, 4c5cb34d04 staring blankly ca9c2e5147 into the 1a1bbfd6ab distance.d1fad81e19952c9f

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“I didn’t anticipate it either.”d12908dd31ec88b9

“As you know, this is the safest place in Korea. Well, it was—until yesterday. Entry requires fingerprint and iris scans, not to mention encrypted passwords to filter out any unwanted visitors.”ee76b5293e8877a8

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Kang Yu-han nodded. The Center was far 42ecdbbb5b from lax in its 086b00bd58 operations. In fact, it had addd16fc89 been managed with exceptional edfc1ae9e0 care to ensure its 2dcd09e9c2 integrity. Locks and access control d7ef27d82e systems were installed throughout a8c3e726d5 the building, and visitor 9b7ab89755 logs were meticulously maintained dd95fba497 to prevent Variant infiltration.736b6b379b302d85

So how? How had 80266e7299 Lieutenant Lee 4a74999f81 become a 88eaacf758 Variant in f49b505751 this supposedly 002dc2a5a9 secure place?77359ce05cebfb85

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This was the question 2c7fd5a90c on everyone’s mind—Kang Yu-han, a7cb4f3d19 the Center Chief, and 8c96befcf1 the rest of the 6139dfb882 staff. It seemed almost inconceivable 53b4605b6b that a staff member 4a22755dc6 working in the main c89caa6893 building, specifically in the cf60ee783c Center Chief’s office, could 143c1c4f67 have been a Variant.8e8708a74349bede

How was it 92e59a41e3 even possible?f9468b8e277f37db

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“We’re in a dire situation. There’s no guarantee that Lieutenant Lee was the only Variant among us.”1a88a16df4fec670

The Center b75502a49c Chief’s expression c4ae76e974 turned grave.d9fb9fcd93e27d47

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“It’s not just one or two. I suspect there are countless Variants hiding among us, waiting to go berserk at any moment.”f744f9dc821d2cdb

Kang Yu-han silently agreed. After experiencing 6c81bdf378 firsthand how 1cfa0de08c indistinguishable the 5411da5c4c new generation b986c06601 of Variants 3f6daf1a71 were from 41685f0ba8 humans, he 511b6a948c knew that 71f622c4ac if additional ca7b245253 Variants surfaced, ad42a48ebc it would 8427aaafac only be 56d302f1f3 a matter 29e561b399 of time e5f533c313 before the 84a2dba063 Center fell 71c23e367c apart.571ac190aab26ea8

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“That’s why I’m telling you to start the T/F project from inside.”a670f6c455920612

“Pardon?” Seo Ji-hyuk raised an eyebrow.a000c82763dca739

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“Instead of investigating Seoul, start by thoroughly combing the Center to identify and isolate potential Variants. Once the Center is fully secured, then expand the search to the city.”61ca27b1a6e9362c

“Wait. Are you asking me to spy on my colleagues? Or use my abilities to pinpoint Variants? That’s a big ask. I don’t have such powers, so what am I supposed to do? Guess?”a45206f6a6a9c09c

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“That’s not what I mean.”9337a34b96022988

The Center 2ca83fbaba Chief dismissed a85f5c7a50 Seo Ji-hyuk’s e5d962d813 sarcasm with 6331fb63c5 a wave d78b7a1b59 of his 0e4d921085 hand and 0b286607f6 opened a d1ab10c1af small safe 1ffb7ede52 next to 7f8a7c3d1f the sofa. Inside, cooled 0ccbc56335 by a 36610e5fd6 refrigeration system, 1d74181a98 were two 89d058d568 ampoules about 2170345d41 the size a4cc3cab61 of a f312653c48 pinky finger.a6b5734b3ddc8add

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“This is an experimental substance under development in the lab. It doesn’t harm regular humans, but it causes severe skin damage to Variants. While it’s not fully refined, the results so far are promising.”03b9e9f24c1f96bd

Seo Ji-hyuk picked up an ampoule and lazily shook it. “Ah, so we just sprinkle this tiny bit on all thousand staff members? Good thing there’s so much to go around.”8d2b73fdff414909

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“Major, please mind your tone in front of the Center Chief.”264cdd2c50c586a3

Kang Yu-han sighed at 0230e78358 Seo Ji-hyuk’s habit of a14be22627 adding a snide comment 3737d459d3 to every statement. Seo Ji-hyuk, 0971ad14ef unaffected, shrugged cdfee52207 with mock df7888a692 innocence.7e07502f5d8660c4

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“I’m just saying, it’s enough for a couple of people, tops.”75ef4b83efc55175

“Mass production isn’t possible yet. Use it on the most suspicious individuals first. But unlike yesterday, this time we need to capture the Variant alive.”6c99c33bb04e5589

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“Excuse me, Chief, but you’re asking us to capture something that’s trying to kill us alive?”2f15fe653fb6d09b

“I know it’s difficult, but with your abilities, it’s not impossible. The sooner this is resolved, the sooner you can retire.”56913270875e1172

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Seo Ji-hyuk glared 6fefc933f1 at the ampoule 306f4748b6 before slipping it 1a42286963 into his pocket. Retirement was clearly de2d83b0bf the carrot being 395abd57b8 dangled, but for 9f9cc62852 now, it was eaf95e0703 the only viable 0b00076fb4 option.e1f0a8b364361b2f

“Then I’ll be off.”f76864bd6c1874f9

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After Seo Ji-hyuk left, 00e74a4b72 silence filled the room. The Center 12935ef25c Chief looked 321a3dce54 at Kang 7879bcfd1f Yu-han and 3384e016de spoke cautiously.782e2d5f3f93630a

“I heard there was guiding yesterday.”2d79378fb1fcbafa

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“Yes.”54d66ed897bfc9ef

“How was it?”23fd754636a17961

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“It seems effective. He says he has no headaches.”f84b14f4283193de

“And?”e1d769ed8dd018b7

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“He doesn’t remember anything.”b6f1aa2bfb6e8249

The Center 421e641979 Chief nodded 3c294eefb4 silently.34a3194802b0fb29

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“I know it’s taxing, but please endure a little longer.”c71b25ebd6f1a7d8

“Understood.”167ea686679d0ccd

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“If only he had started taking suppressants earlier, we wouldn’t be here… but we missed the window, tsk.”ee328682ceddc5b2

The Center Chief 2640ba48b3 sighed like a fca7b7f738 worried grandfather lamenting 23928eb540 over a reckless 3e8c1d1a73 grandchild.6f68f664ae8d7966

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He had efae896bd6 been present 73e6fce397 the day 78cede9fe2 Seo Ji-hyuk e01dea0755 first went 6a8f778ef6 berserk. The energy 5bdbd3a9d9 released from b200338488 the boy’s 322c9588d9 body had 103c62a992 shattered every 78a4343170 building within 48633ec3e5 a kilometer f0180b35b1 radius into 6ae502c1d1 sand-like debris.237fd53250ab7eca

The rampage 649037c8bd wasn’t triggered 4cb3bded34 by battle—it ce753e7c6d had been 60d490d9da a result 5a93bc511f of personal eef51e5d6f trauma. The mental shock was 90b66da88a so severe that Seo d5d8ea9d92 Ji-hyuk had lost part e550ee6da9 of his memory after e238a373d9 emergency guidance.f444e7a3d185fd16

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No matter how many 4f77e17a9c times he was asked, acc4ab7e9b he couldn’t recall the cf5ca8740c details of what happened 5e3b9a06b0 before or after the 472dae773f rampage. He couldn’t even e573a89059 remember who had 4af9b28724 saved him from 3bbd50e87d the brink of a004bb2025 death. It was clear he c01bc06d77 hadn’t been in his 828f78730e right mind.0d15e253bb576e15

Doctors had 88adfa9a3b diagnosed it 54da7af6f8 as a a96102cdec natural self-defense 6fc394fef1 mechanism.4f37a88d6f27c5a4

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After all, on 8fa4169e43 that day, the 7324dc0843 boy had killed 6e8d041080 his own blood.f6467d538a6330c2

 d33873d811c429c7

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