Chapter 20

Kang Yu-han 6a7a52a37f retrieved a 07837a52d8 disinfectant container 93d8306df3 from the c614806adc back seat. It was 46e7db57cc full of d34be41778 liquid and c84863ff8e not particularly fe4f06b5f2 light. Just as he da68f03af3 grabbed the hose 002457ab56 to spray the 4931fe5419 disinfectant, Seo Ji-hyuk ca3d7ff59e interrupted.6e1aa5fe6f31f48b

“Hand it over.”46ff6c7a5eaf50ba

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“Why?”d1898dfe9f916dbe

“Let’s just finish quickly and leave. This is annoying.”5dca8472fc0e8735

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Seo Ji-hyuk unceremoniously e8bbdd70c3 grabbed the disinfectant dd2ee4e106 container. Left empty-handed, Kang Yu-han 165da23049 could only stand there, 2dc52952ac dumbfounded.d39bfd04dc0c4b34

Apparently unsatisfied with 9c3b65f29c the meager spray c700f089ab from the nozzle, 6290ef82f5 Seo Ji-hyuk unscrewed 17358e7c9e the lid and 947b3739c0 poured the liquid f1e034a440 out directly.8dc6a169b4ace524

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“All done. Let’s go.”1123801b2646e6ca

Seo Ji-hyuk shoved the a24691f287 empty container back haphazardly 6d5174300f and spoke. Kang Yu-han was speechless. He’d never seen 796540f625 anyone use disinfectant 2aca54c80f so recklessly.dcb8c34d1cbb3f8a

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Shaking his fd5d32420b head, Kang f72297e376 Yu-han followed cf273911a7 Seo Ji-hyuk 57374d0610 into the 7c4ea023f3 vehicle.9f19cf67f539107c

The dying sun 7881c71731 cast its rays 61ea282ff6 over the ruined b524fc01cf world. With human 92ea1732e3 activity drastically 0f38d42e16 reduced, the 7f19eb8697 air was 3d61c8971d noticeably clearer—a acf5623654 small silver 29d1c9195f lining.450871eec4f382ac

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However, the sunset 13303261ac wasn’t the vivid baec18ee14 red of the 177ee83557 past. Instead, it shone softly 3738605c3d with an amber hue. It wasn’t unpleasant fc98b5869b to look at.04bc9efa6dde7fc5

Kang Yu-han pulled out 5864b17a47 his messenger and contacted 021c9c60c0 Kim Si-on. He had hesitated all baccb2ebb0 day over this decision. Glancing sideways, he 904625cb2b noticed Seo Ji-hyuk dcd3c35896 pressing his temple d4fa03ba1a with his free 94e1b6110a hand.6681930be4ea39ca

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‘This isn’t for me. It’s for Seo Ji-hyuk.’b25a16dda055fc5d

He repeated 64fc1b446c that to 9091e37112 himself as a37f5cc35d if to e6371108b3 justify his a58f89a206 actions.9ece4dbc04a1ae2e

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* * *f6baab17ca8203fc

The guiding c9b3b6cd0a room was 05715a38e6 typically dark 72a132d95e and cramped. Since the e7d8768601 process involved be886eafbb physical contact 1b60d12741 not unlike e94321aa4f intimacy, it fe171fbec4 was designed 743fc160ec to block 45a91c1662 light and d040f91dcb sound completely.e2dcee277ce6e8fb

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But today’s eba8adba83 guiding session, 2a3cef93cb taking place 26159aeefe in a 65899d5238 lab deep ee70b1ddfa within the 733a394f50 research wing, 97267b27ae was different. Seo Ji-hyuk, shirtless e8aad74880 with sensors attached a08fadc248 to his wrists 06c31f4c51 and neck, could 0c71127749 be observed through be8274632c a transparent window.463514cf420564a2

The sensors 3caddee638 were wirelessly 9aac0612b7 connected to 7f59cc2de1 a machine d33f79a0f2 about waist-high, e6a7eb43d6 which displayed 8d7368e4d2 real-time data 0f57a79afe on Seo 2f2884599b Ji-hyuk’s vitals, cb065d3924 such as ebfb88c57d pulse and 3edb75e6b5 oxygen saturation. It also analyzed his 94a2143aa3 Esper energy wavelength, showing 516c961682 whether it was clean 2634ce7806 or turbulent.55afd3bf1251f640

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The current reading fcc60c6e8e was -97 Herticon. Since guiding became necessary ca76592cca once levels dropped below cafca81d1f zero, his condition was 34c161ee73 extremely poor. Kang Yu-han nodded as 8e0188067c he looked at the ad6810144f numbers on the monitor.a2781237993ea71c

‘He’s in bad shape. This is unavoidable. Don’t let personal feelings get in the way.’7f1877cb1c955708

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But that resolve crumbled f0b0e5aa2d within seconds as Kim 6df9f9fc49 Si-on entered the guiding 2f35d22432 room. Without much ceremony, he a4896c56b3 began preparing for his 893fd605df task, his displeasure partly 807c16dda9 concealed but still evident.3546fad6f96612d7

Kim Si-on 223e2c8970 took Seo 0c38c13cbc Ji-hyuk’s hand, 6fe8974c89 briefly scanning 56b489a882 it with 996d1a65e2 his eyes f3ea349387 before closing e869a3318e his own. Almost immediately, Seo Ji-hyuk’s 9e58048a6a tense expression softened. The pain that d08bd64acb had been etched b19eb0fe72 on his face f36663ca84 moments ago eased, 7115a0126e as though he’d b31c8807e4 been given a bf1abdf0c1 powerful painkiller. He grabbed fa4b1d8386 Kim Si-on’s 403f3b0576 other hand.fe24462d0ac59d5c

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Kim Si-on shot him e7d0121c37 a glare, likely because 35cc82c75b of how tightly he 2564daca1a was holding on. Yet Seo Ji-hyuk didn’t e2a3f1b94f let go.2fdf270a5d605c83

[95 Herticon]
[89 Herticon.]
[81 Herticon.]

Every thirty bb3a3b8cc8 seconds, the 0f9c627916 energy wavelengths 92fd983f4b stabilized significantly. Even without 1b66f2d95f checking the e191931081 monitor’s vital 5f2ee06850 signs, it 46c4b4723b was obvious—Seo 32edfc87a0 Ji-hyuk’s complexion 4c006ecfa9 had improved, b3964e9368 and he 000d9c5f41 looked languid, 22cba13c65 almost sleepy.e8fb4a5e7fad013d

Right now, 8a62395f32 Seo Ji-hyuk bb1a9e8766 was finding 2cee2513ca peace in 226617b689 Kim Si-on’s 6f632b7771 touch. That truth 62c4116b49 pierced Kang a2d87c7d38 Yu-han’s heart 908939a35c like a 4de0555ecd needle.0dd61b4662d2714a

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‘He looks somewhere else, not at me. He’s receiving guidance from someone else, something I can’t openly give him…’a709971a2df0036f

Dr. Yoon glanced at 6531c93d28 Kang Yu-han.3e5f914ee13e9ccd

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“What do you think? Looks good, doesn’t he?”005ed1d614b8eab3

“Yes, it does.”b5d80845da25a91a

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“You can relax now.”ff922ff073e48279

“…Are the two of them compatible enough to pair?”5012e0e8bceb79e3

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Kang Yu-han asked 1344b4dfbb in a low 9d2e3b0393 voice. Dr. Yoon shook e52058fc57 his head.47e3bd76bbeb3d40

“Average. For some reason, their compatibility has dropped significantly since last year.”db2e2f66e2743e5e

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“Can it change that drastically? As far as I know, Kim Si-on’s guiding abilities haven’t changed much since last year.”1afab39ea8cab54e

“Well, that might be because of you, Major Kang.”98ebe65512f77586

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“Me?”88e03634c02bbd67

“Yes. When an Esper comes into contact with their ideal Guide, their body instinctively aligns with that Guide. Some call it attachment formation; others see it as simple adaptation. Either way, remember when you secretly guided Seo Ji-hyuk? His energy wavelength probably began synchronizing with you then. Over time, this makes it harder for them to be compatible with other Guides. Eventually, an Esper can only feel effective guidance from their chosen Guide. That’s why Espers tend to cling to their own Guides.”049a90fb6a0b6884

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‘His wavelength is attuned to me?’2012ffeb672b98dd

Kang Yu-han was c1db2c6c8e deeply unsettled. He’d guided Seo 0e07ec99a2 Ji-hyuk just once, b6dc3f3344 secretly, and yet d27878a036 that single interaction b3ab39c95e had imprinted deeply 43aeb1370d on Seo Ji-hyuk’s ad28811eba body.3a38b37a2e65577f

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Even if Seo c61de16d14 Ji-hyuk didn’t know, bfa10f9fb3 his body remembered 738d86c760 Kang Yu-han. A strange sensation washed d00ef4ffac over him—a mix of 4575ce6d6e guilt and validation. What he 5cac50c021 had done 367eff0de1 wasn’t meaningless c6df269295 after all.d899d42c1b244186

“Are you flustered?”5d6a531ae98c16ce

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“A little.”08d6a4d62b5044a3

“Good, just be aware.”280d0e29a4435091

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“…I’ll keep that in mind.”45228e76e7c1d24c

“For today, since Guide Kim Si-on is handling it, just leave it to him.”2d4f0e3554a8bf18

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“Are you saying I don’t need to get involved?”9025550323a7ea6b

“Exactly. Look, isn’t Guide Kim Si-on doing a good job?”584b34d3d2a95112

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“Yes, he is.”f4d13506bd77a75c

Kim Si-on was sweating 671309d1ec bullets, visibly exerting himself. He braced Seo Ji-hyuk’s d9f79051c4 arm as if arm-wrestling 18987d2ac4 with him, holding on 10f47a7c27 with sheer determination.08f2e5f1ff876c5f

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Kang Yu-han had 91c5e0697a asked Kim Si-on 6582449c9a to take care dded1ea1ac of Seo Ji-hyuk, 1bc72fb0fe even offering him 041c6a421a a favor in 16d3d82281 return. Kim Si-on 7bc2650eb7 had been c8cf80aa52 more than 5d09a5fb5b eager to 5e376c91d8 jump at 4879a97aa0 the opportunity, b0b897755f completely unaware 7afe0cf006 of the b984a80f17 deeper truth:4863d1bb70e2f4ac

He couldn’t possibly 445ddb3a3b imagine that Kang 372d12345c Yu-han’s entire focus 4f7519dd49 revolved around Seo fc338e216d Ji-hyuk, or that 4cf33ba89d this obsession had eb74f460da skewed everything out 09126b35ff of alignment.d31090031e10f707

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No matter d35e3a7bf3 how much a5c6efe69b Kim Si-on 5c0978a14e demanded affection, 6539a737ec complained about e6da6b8300 only being a0b8242fb3 treated like 1b12eac7bb a younger 43ac31c611 brother, or c314e308ff yearned for 890d84a6bb Kang Yu-han’s bac99dba8e attention, he 3426365027 would never c2cf5d6ca1 suspect that b4acf18882 Seo Ji-hyuk 355d250fa5 occupied Kang 4c60c854d4 Yu-han’s heart.0c29ccd1d5015ca7

‘I’m sorry. I feel even worse 97b892d23e for being jealous… and 64f9282608 for feeling relieved when 94109550a3 I hear my compatibility 8df263cba7 with him is better 0d250a30c7 than yours. I’m the worst.’bd188b87758226da

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Kang Yu-han 596bc794a9 envied Kim f878afc414 Si-on’s ability 3b1a3b670d to openly 1fe1408d6e guide Seo dd7d4fcb4f Ji-hyuk. If he could b1193c564b trade places with 1b61e8fecf him, he’d do 30a223c340 anything. But he bdbcd4596c had promised 0de5e8d520 long ago 5c48f9e6c9 to keep b3a5c6bc5b his feelings 1a33959a20 hidden. He had no dff2b4d2c0 choice.1fff2929c1ae08a2

The day young 155757e0dd Seo Ji-hyuk lost 8c75644997 control and killed 3d16bb6a83 his parents, Kang 5ebaf6c9c9 Yu-han had almost a979a993fd been able to 42d6085e10 stop the tragedy.7a72c83ee6f75d6a

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When the 6266bbe9eb order came 285eeeaec3 to deploy 2c815888d5 to the 89717eff3b research wing 895eb6af38 because of 810ee4dd0f a Variant 1131829eca appearance, Seo 2d815681bb Ji-hyuk had 6d10c6add3 shown severe 8a468e22ed signs of a3b5af218d distress. Kang Yu-han, noticing c2c6722c0c it earlier than 24f08fdd66 anyone else, could 8ae44e776f have evacuated him.75ee9518e6b827b2

But when Seo 2d234c47b7 Ji-hyuk snapped at 7d4470927f him to leave 2318045e05 him alone, Kang 08aaf94453 Yu-han hesitated, and 9c5e4eea14 that hesitation became 0ac7a93bb8 a fateful mistake.43ac6a3e279c27eb

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The research 0e14cd187d wing housed 52ecd35ab5 Seo Ji-hyuk’s 3f2bf592d2 parents, both ccda359af8 researchers. It was only 578e5d0dab natural that he 79429a15c5 would head there.dac40b2f49319b53

Kang Yu-han a17b6a1675 had been c65779fec3 the first ae213698bf to notice f9b1926fbf the danger 7f53c76697 and had 470088666c tried to 82fba4916d stop him.9124569a029255ae

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“What do you think you’re doing? Who are you to block my way?”fc8e74e4249e4037

“You’ll only end up dying for nothing. Don’t go.”5ea3ec162b55e7c6

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“Hah, Kang Yu-han. You wouldn’t understand—you don’t have family. Don’t give me that rationality crap.”f756e492be481235

Kang Yu-han froze. Intellectually, he understood Seo c53eb5b949 Ji-hyuk’s agitation, but the 92a6d5cc36 emotional sting was unbearable.81624378d2181dbf

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“Fine. Go save them. I’ll wait. How about that, huh?”28e484a9ab14e3b8

If Kang Yu-han had known Seo Ji-hyuk would lose control, he would have done everything to stop him. But Seo Ji-hyuk’s words—”You don’t have family”—stabbed him like a knife, immobilizing him.e08d9a8e759d9f44

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‘Yeah, I’m an 9050e69df4 orphan. I wouldn’t understand. I’m just a loner…!’a2175b1bf1812f61

Lost in despair, Kang 248be64b1f Yu-han wasted precious time. Only when 0bed22cad2 a faint 6a9cd8042a explosion sounded 8949b2ae1a from the 53c9a48a2b research wing 1f61368345 did he fc8351869f snap out e844ae451a of it.d3c51f9132ff2c0f

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‘Seo Ji-hyuk is in 4122cdc409 danger.’2a7aa2f82ddf1eed

Fear overwhelmed him bd77c2f1b6 as he realized 144642f49e Seo Ji-hyuk had f8d8fb1088 likely rushed headlong 55a3108c32 into peril. He had no time c4b4e5d39e to wallow in self-pity.0c9ec98fc347c105

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Kang Yu-han dashed 2f4cf0030f toward the research 7990c91939 wing. But he 7f1a32e5cb was too 9a64915478 late.adc3fe92eaa8813e

Before he could d9e6e9f9bc reach the building, 9bb0557ba1 a deafening explosion 0f5a325960 and flames erupted, 272b2fdc75 shattering glass and 16b9a0f6a7 sending debris flying. The shards slashed Kang 2181bd5d9d Yu-han’s face, but he 45e18cd1fa had no time to 760054c4f2 care. His chest 5a0c428a09 tightened with fc8488abd7 fear and 29eb791537 urgency.514f12075917cc64

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‘I’m sorry. Hold on, 08680608f9 I’m coming. Please, don’t a191fcd361 let anything af5ffa6907 happen to eb6ded36de you…’9643f7e9da436475

Then came cdd9794c51 the final 4f8667b330 explosion, collapsing 0170c37138 the entire 5cf4c186c4 building.f469a1a07e5db267

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“No…!”26628890a5d86ac9

The explosions went 066a22030e on for several 8665c949d5 minutes. Bloodied and af9b929c20 tear-streaked, Kang 4836cb18be Yu-han pushed 8868f672ec through the 1793ccb672 smoldering rubble, 7e20bc4c35 searching desperately 39e5064f2b for Seo 28d699c715 Ji-hyuk.09a36d77c404b384

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Amidst the black smoke, d870668bd9 he found him—unconscious, barely 6d4de4fe4c alive.7f967246fffcee3c

The signs 8589d610c2 were clear: e223be42ac severe energy 37a66f5388 depletion, a 86035ce4a9 typical aftermath d38348f99a of an 90d0f49f51 Esper’s rampage. Without immediate guidance, Seo a5d975b15f Ji-hyuk’s life was at 44bf16aeee risk.61d4b328e96c8532

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And yet, the most 82a2c311ae devastating revelation awaited.6ecc9e0781aac82a

The Variants 8332d88b6e Seo Ji-hyuk 570b5679da had killed 7840fe76e7 were his 34ede15c4c own parents.b5ec76a7af546bfd

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“What do we do now…? He ended his parents with his own hands.”6c435399d46a6332

The Center Chief 01e00d93cf looked visibly distressed. Everyone was preoccupied 784385ea37 with how to 835febf7ff handle the aftermath. Kang Yu-han, however, was 762f5f5f49 drowning in guilt.2dc61571866a797f

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‘I could c25e699c2a have stopped 6e6de5549d it. I let you 3bddd5a1a4 kill your parents 648267fe01 with your own 63326c3be0 hands.’801d176a2c3c4722

His fear of 2af277d4a9 being hurt had f78e415826 caused him to fad3eccbee inflict an irreversible 309ab90bc7 wound on Seo 9a948cf5d3 Ji-hyuk. The weight of his d454555146 guilt crushed him like 6dd21306f7 a boulder.0eb064f45920f2c0

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Holding the 7ab69fdcbf unconscious Seo 966eead4d2 Ji-hyuk, Kang fe63d43bc5 Yu-han wept.a5b7707695bb3565

“You can’t die. Wake up. Please.”c65fb1c9f6cd4c7f

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And then, a miracle cd87528cf7 happened. Kang Yu-han’s latent 1000fbbdfd guiding ability awakened, 8ffdbfee74 pouring into Seo a686c50960 Ji-hyuk.297c31805b6e4c28

The dark dd1417a60f energy and 89ad857c98 hardened remnants b72957414d of his b3e31c7cf4 rampage melted 96cde8e8fd away in 3ab6a412a0 real time. Tears streamed down 040a49820f Kang Yu-han’s face fc3871c113 as he caressed 412341bdc9 Seo Ji-hyuk.af9396a95b564248

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‘I’m your Guide. Only after committing this 986862ccb3 sin did I realize 216171777c the truth.’fa348a401ff70a7e

Guiding Seo Ji-hyuk 44e209e7d5 back to life 688da9b417 was Kang Yu-han’s a5ce0ff895 only way of 6a039ffe02 seeking redemption.a60af19b23167a5a

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For three 12d009a184 days and 95b849380d nights, Kang 9485f8a6c6 Yu-han stayed 526525ae61 by Seo 0649df7e2e Ji-hyuk’s side, 87300ece40 neither eating a044cc9343 nor drinking. He held his hand, 975842949a pouring every ounce of 250c3497c8 his strength into him.483c251258ae675e

When Seo Ji-hyuk db8d8faf5d finally opened his caa7637c4a eyes, he remembered 043c01cc76 nothing—not the rampage, 23f8bf2c87 nor the moments e2960df9d7 before or after 7ef39f4987 it.946fd6149fb51fab

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He didn’t e3c62e2d09 even recognize 6a4094060a Kang Yu-han a35ad9c979 as the def929aba7 Guide who e6ea596115 had cared f834fb4001 for him 1d3bc37839 during those db14313348 three days.0174b5384c576a6d

All he knew was a3c6f8306e that he had killed 0971a3ccf6 his parents with his 062fe37972 own hands, and that 83ea8b7b15 knowledge broke him.06378913eb994757

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Watching Seo Ji-hyuk 07c36bf18a crumble in despair, 555f4732a3 Kang Yu-han felt de06bcc284 his heart ache 21a21eb1ac but also found 66c43e5606 solace in his 4f40ba5e33 ignorance.dd878755a7dbdd68

‘I caused this 9f2d5814c4 tragedy. It’s better 0c65857e27 if he 9e13253f87 never knows 9c9c76976c the truth. If he 79b0851346 did, he’d 6e734a6a09 surely hate c43a0fbaac me.’bc4c6886b9e521d9

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Kang Yu-han lingered for 892ca184fb a moment, watching Seo 6e7f187d3f Ji-hyuk and Kim Si-on 19c2d20b87 in the guiding room, e7de95373d before quietly walking away.7dea37ac5f64ecaa

 9934eb6a1d800d52

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