TSCEIAB Ch. 41

 

While Hugo’s physical condition is failing.

Yi-seo’s health was also slowly deteriorating.

It wasn’t just because of self-isolating, self-deprecating behavior.

 

“The problem was that the guiding energy was trapped in her body and couldn’t be released.”

 

Gary’s face contorted as he explained. He recalled the information passed to him by  the secretary of the Ohio Center.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

It was one day, three months after Hugo went into guiding shock.

Her parents, worried about their young daughter not coming out of the room, eventually broke the door open and went in.

And they found their little girl lying haphazardly, not on the bed, but on the floor.

 

“Yi-seo ……!”

 

Yi-seo’s body was like a ball of fire. Even without checking the thermometer, they could tell it was a severe fever.

They took the unconscious Yi-seo to the hospital.

The hospital couldn’t find the cause of the high fever, and as soon as they heard that she was a guide, they immediately contacted the center.

 

“…… It’s a guiding problem.”

 

She was immediately taken to the center by helicopter.

Thanks to the help of skilled researchers, the cause of the high fever was quickly identified.

 

“Did Sophia the guide keep wearing this artifact?”

 

“You mean the ring? Perhaps she did. Is that a problem?”

 

“As you know, this artifact has the function of suppressing guiding energy. If she’ve been wearing it all the time, it could cause problems since the guiding energy that builds up in her body couldn’t be released.”

 

Luckily, the solution to Yi-seo’s condition was simple. All they had to do was remove the artifact ring.

Since she hadn’t yet learned how to control her guiding energy, the energy would naturally dissipate if left alone.

Upon hearing the news, Gary personally met with Yi-seo’s parents.

He asked, if it was possible for Hugo to absorb the guiding energy that would be wasted.

The request was more of a plea.

It wasn’t a secret that Gary was in tears, despite his large frame.

 

“Hugo has one-sidedly imprinted on Guide Sophia. I know how hard it must be for her…….”

 

Fortunately, Yi-seo’s parents didn’t feel any resentment toward Hugo.

They didn’t think in the slightest that Hugo was at fault for what had happened.

They simply thought that the poor little children had suffered an accident.

Now that they knew about Hugo’s condition, they couldn’t refuse Gary’s request.

 

“…… Okay. Then let’s do that.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

So Gary waited for Hugo to wake up.

And as soon as Hugo woke up from the medication, he had brought him the news about Yi-seo.

 

“Where is she now?”

 

After hearing all about her condition, Hugo’s body tensed as if he were about to rush to her immediately.

Gary called the medical staff to remove the IV cord. He replied cautiously while checking on Hugo’s wavelength.

 

“She’s in the center’s guiding room. She’s still unconscious.”

 

Hugo was also in the emergency guiding room at the Ohio State Center. It’s not too far from the guiding room.

The fact that Yi-seo was nearby increased his impatience.

Unable to wait for the medics to finish clearing the IV line, Hugo fumbled with his hand to rip the needle out of his arm.

 

“Hugo!”

 

“Let’s go now.”

 

Blood trickled down his pale arm, but Hugo didn’t bat an eye.

After all, it was an Esper’s body. The wound would heal quickly.

 

“Haa……. Kid. You can’t act recklessly around Guide Sophia.”

 

“I won’t.”

 

Hugo lightly dusted himself off and stood up. There were no problems with his mobility.

It was hard to believe he had been in bed for a long time.

Gary watched Hugo’s back walking ahead of him and reluctantly followed.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The place where Yi-seo was located was the public guiding room. While Hugo was inside, Yi-seo’s parents and Gary decided to watch from the outside through the glass window.

 

“Come on in.”

 

Gary personally opened the door to the guiding room and let Hugo in.

Although he had lost his sight, Hugo immediately found where Yi-seo was.

 

Thump- thump- thump-

 

The sound of her heart, likened to a rabbit or a kitten, was exactly what he remembered.

 

‘Yi-seo …….’

 

Hugo stood still, holding his breath as best as he could. It was to hear Yi-seo’s presence a little more clearly.

About an hour passed like that.

The guiding energy flowing naturally into his body gave a sweet sensation.

His vision gradually returned. Hugo slowly approached Yi-seo, who was vaguely visible.

 

“…….”

 

Seeing her after three months, she looked even smaller than he had remembered.

His heart sank at the sight of her thin cheeks, parched lips, and pale eyelids with purple veins.

 

Drip-

 

Hot tears fell down Hugo’s cheeks.

He had heard about her condition but seeing it with his own eyes made him feel even more distressed.

 

‘It’s because of me.’

 

The guiding shock was his fault.

Yi-seo tried guiding the way she had been trained to do.

But Hugo couldn’t wait and trust her. His Esper instincts kicked in, greedily siphoned off her guiding energy.

This was the result.

 

Hugo rubbed his tear-stained face.

 

“Huh…….”

 

Yi-seo’s parents and Gary watched him, who was in agony, through the glass.

Yi-seo’s parents expressed concern about Hugo’s condition, which seemed more serious than they had heard.

 

“…… You said neither drugs nor machines work on Hugo?”

 

“…… Yes. One-sided imprints are still imprints, so he seems unable to accept any energy other than from the imprinted guide.”

 

“What happens if he can’t receive guiding like this?”

 

Yi-seo’s mother asked.

Although she was a researcher studying gate by-products, her knowledge of Espers and Guides was not much different from that of any other layman.

Gary pursed his lips, then spoke the dreadful words.

 

“…… Hugo has already been classified as a dangerous entity.”

 

“What?”

 

“His wavelength is running wild and uncontrollable. If he goes berserk due to emotional fluctuations…… he must be killed.”

 

“……!”

 

Kill.

 

It was common knowledge that a rampaging Esper would be killed for safety reasons.

But Hugo was still young.

 

Kill that small child?

 

“If it weren’t for this radial guidance, Hugo would have been disposed of before the end of the year. Truly… thank you.”

 

“What are you going to do from now on?”

 

“Well, I’m going to get him as much guidance as he can today, and then I’m going to use whatever machines or drugs I can get my hands on to get the guiding numbers up.”

 

In fact, it was only a temporary measure.

Gary knew that Hugo wouldn’t last long and would be killed.

He was delaying Hugo’s disposition for now, but even that wouldn’t last long.

Gary’s face was filled with resignation. His expression twisted in anguish.

He didn’t want to give up, but it was a situation where he had no choice.

 

“That’s …….”

 

Yi-seo’s parents shared the same unease.

While it wasn’t frequent, they would invite Hugo over to join them when he was alone.

They knew he was a reserved but an affectionate child, and very considerate for his age.

It was heartbreaking that such a child had lost his guide in a momentary accident and ended up like that.

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

Yi-seo’s parents looked at each other and silently communicated.

Soon, Yi-seo’s dad nodded and spoke to Gary.

 

“Yi-seo won’t try to take off that ring.”

 

“What?”

 

“She was afraid to even touch anyone. Perhaps it was a fear of guiding, so she would keep wearing that ring.”

 

“…… I’m sorry for what happened to Guide Sophia.”

 

“No. It wasn’t anyone’s fault; it was an accident. Anyway, as long as Yi-seo keeps that ring, things like today will happen periodically. The center said it would happen every two or three months.”

 

The more he spoke, the more hope bloomed on Gary’s face.

 

“If Hugo can make it through for two or three months……. How about receiving Yi-seo’s guiding energy periodically?”

 

“…….”

 

Gary was speechless.

He was so sorry and grateful that tears welled up in his eyes.

Yi-seo’s parents put their hands on his shoulder.

 

“Don’t give up on your child. You’re a parent. You have to be stronger.”

 

“That’s right. If you hold on, there will be a way.”

 

“I really…… thank you …….”

 

 

 

 

So once every two or three months.

Whenever Yi-seo collapsed from a high fever due to the guiding energy, Hugo was able to see her.

 

“Mmm…….”

 

“Yi-seo?”

 

“…… Hugo?”

 

Occasionally she would toss and turn and wake up in the middle of her sleep, but after regaining full consciousness, she couldn’t remember it.

Hugo felt both regretful and relieved about that.

Yi-seo was still mentally unstable. Meeting him in such a state was dangerous.

 

“Ha…….”

 

In truth, taking advantage of her unconscious state to receive radial guiding was also disrespectful to Yi-seo.

After all, It was he who had made her like this.

He was disgusted with himself for taking this opportunity to covet Yi-seo’s guidance again.

He wished Yi-seo didn’t know about this.