Approximal Guide

Living in the dorm wasn’t much different from back when I lived with him. The only noticeable change was that the new place had three rooms and a living room. We each took a room for ourselves, and the remaining one became a multipurpose room for clothes and miscellaneous stuff. It seemed like he was assigned a spacious accommodation due to his promotions and significant contributions over the years.…Or perhaps, this was Kim Inhak’s cunning plan to keep me tied to the center.“Did you go grocery shopping?”“Yeah.”When we pulled into the dorm garage, I noticed the back seat was filled with grocery bags. As I opened the car door to retrieve them, Kim Moohyuk lightly nudged my head.“Just go open the door.”“I can carry this.”“Who said you couldn’t? Don’t get in the way and just move.”Kim Moohyuk’s tone was as indifferent as always. It was amusing how he insisted on taking care of everything himself, regardless of whether I could handle it. Perhaps it was a habit from the time we lived together. It was funny to think about how some frail old guide had spoiled him. When I chuckled, he asked why I was laughing. I just shook my head. Telling him, “Your slave mentality is hilarious, Captain,” would surely end with me quietly buried in the woods behind Garamdong.Not that my concerns were warranted—Kim Moohyuk handled the numerous heavy bags with ease. I trailed behind him as he carried them into the house.This was only the second day of living here. The first day had been spent moving the remaining luggage, followed by sending Kim Moohyuk off for a nighttime operation. Being alone with him made me wonder if I should offer physical guiding as I used to, but he said radiation guiding was enough. So, I adjusted my wavelength and carried it out.And now, here we were on the second day. Yesterday, he had dropped me off at the shared guiding center to handle the luggage alone, but today, he returned to the dorm with me. I didn’t dislike it—it brought back memories of my time as Colonel Kang Hajung. Even though his personality had changed, I couldn’t help but think back to those days.Lost in thought, I started unpacking the groceries he had placed on the dining table. But once again, he stopped me.“Judging by how your room looks, you’re terrible at organizing. Go take a shower instead.”“That’s harsh! I’ve just been too busy to tidy up!”His bluntness was exasperating, but his silent gesture toward the bathroom was unmistakably a dismissal. Clicking my tongue, I set down the pack of cherry tomatoes I had been holding and trudged toward the bathroom.“Take this.”He called out to me and handed over a toothbrush set when I turned around. It seemed like he’d noticed I hadn’t found mine yet and had bought a new one. Thoughtful guy. I thanked him and went inside.All I had brought from my old place was a bottle of shampoo. Kim Moohyuk had taken one look at my meager toiletries and told me to use his. I didn’t refuse—why turn down such practical generosity? Delighted, I quickly stripped down and was about to step into the shower when I noticed something in the mirror. My previously scrawny frame had started to bulk up. Proud of my progress, I stood admiring myself when I heard a knock.“Uh, what is it?”“I got you a shower sponge. I’ll hang it on the doorknob—”What a meticulous guy. Thrilled at the prospect of using a new shower sponge, I flung the door open, only to see Kim Moohyuk staring at me in shock.“Thanks! A sponge, too? You’re so thoughtful, Captain Kindness.”I grinned cheekily, but Kim Moohyuk stood frozen, eyes wide. His gaze momentarily dipped before snapping back up, and then he quickly turned his head away.“You lunatic…”“Why are you suddenly swearing? Just give me the sponge!”Instead of handing it over, he held the door firmly shut. What was this? I reached out, demanding he give it to me, and after fumbling, he finally extended his arm without looking at me.“You could’ve just handed it over earlier. Why the drama?”Kim Moohyuk didn’t reply, walking away toward the kitchen with his neck oddly red. Maybe the room was too warm? His flushed neck looked like he had overexerted himself. The sight reminded me of his occasionally awkward reactions in the past. It was strangely endearing to see glimpses of his old self.Still smiling, I finished my shower and stepped out to find Kim Moohyuk preparing a meal. Cooking was never my forte, so I hovered around, wondering how I could help.“I’m not great at seasoning, but I’m good at following instructions. Let me help.”Kim Moohyuk didn’t respond, focusing instead on the stove where he was skillfully using all three burners. Watching him move with practiced ease, I eventually pushed him aside.“Go shower. I’ll handle the rest.”“Fine.”Kim Moohyuk gave me a long look before clicking his tongue and leaving.“Wear some clothes around the house.”“Yes, sir.”I had been walking around in just my pants, with a towel draped around my neck, and it seemed to bother him. He used to nag me about the same thing before, though back then, I thought it was just about appearances. Now, I realized he just didn’t like seeing anyone half-naked.Still, I decided not to bother getting dressed since the food would burn if I left it unattended. As I stirred the pan, I muttered, “Ow, hot—!”While working in the kitchen, hot oil splattered some sauce onto his upper body, causing a sharp sting. He wiped it off roughly with a towel and looked around for something suitable to wear. Spotting a deep navy apron tucked into the corner, he quickly tied it on. Although it looked a bit odd worn directly over bare skin, he figured it didn’t matter since he’d change once the cooking was done.Just as he finished plating the food, Kim Moohyuk emerged from the bathroom, uncharacteristically frozen in place with a dumbfounded expression. It was surprising to see such an expression on his face, and the sight of it brought a small, involuntary smile to his own. However, Moohyuk’s brows suddenly furrowed as he strode over and snatched the pot from his hands.“What are you doing—”“I told you to get dressed first,” Moohyuk growled, his voice low and heavy, exuding a rare sense of irritation. His intense gaze was equally unsettling. Not sure why Moohyuk was so angry, he scratched the back of his head and decided not to argue. He headed to his room to grab a T-shirt, but a loud crash from behind stopped him in his tracks.“What the—”“What are you standing there for? Didn’t I tell you to go get dressed?” Moohyuk barked, his voice sharp as a knife. He had thrown the pot into the sink in apparent fury.What’s his deal? He’s acting like seeing bare skin will kill him or something. Though bewildered, he decided not to push Moohyuk’s buttons further and quickly went to change.After changing, he hung the apron back on the kitchen wall and noticed that Moohyuk had already set the table, even arranging the utensils neatly. Moohyuk was seated at the dining table, so he cautiously took the seat across from him and asked, “What’s with your temper? Are you low on guiding energy or something?”“Seems like you’re enjoying talking a lot at the dining table,” Moohyuk retorted, effectively telling him to shut up.“Got it…” he replied, deciding to focus on eating. Still, he couldn’t help but think, Why is he such a boomer? How old is Kim Moohyuk again? Living with someone twelve years his senior must have turned him into such a stickler. Despite himself, he felt a pang of guilt toward Moohyuk.Later that night, as he drifted into deep sleep, he started to feel a constricting pressure around his waist, as though a large vine were coiling around him. It was so uncomfortable that, even in his dazed state, he wondered what was going on.Am I having sleep paralysis? Considering how overworked he’d been recently, it wouldn’t be surprising. Too tired to care, he tried to fall back asleep but suddenly became aware of a familiar Esper energy. Muttering to himself, he realized, “Wait… it’s Kim Moohyuk?”Moohyuk had always liked sneaking into his bed since they were young. It seemed nothing had changed. Too sleepy to guide him properly, he grumbled, “It’s hot, you idiot. Move over.”Instead of complying, Moohyuk wrapped his arms around him tighter, pulling him close until his cheek was pressed against Moohyuk’s firm chest. It was warm—strangely comforting—and he drifted off completely.The next morning, he woke with a silent scream.Why is this guy in my bed?!They’d agreed to use separate rooms, yet here was Moohyuk, sprawled out on his bed. Memories of the previous night flashed through his mind. It hadn’t been a dream. While it had been five years since they last guided each other, to him, it felt like only weeks ago that he had been Moohyuk’s guide. Back then, it wasn’t unusual for Moohyuk to climb into his bed, and he had gotten into the habit of wearing a shirt to avoid awkwardness. However, living alone recently had made him lax—he’d fallen asleep shirtless, and so had Moohyuk.As he carefully tried to slip out of bed without waking Moohyuk, a low voice startled him.“What are you doing?”“Ahhh!” He yelped, falling off the bed in his shock.“What’s wrong with you—” Moohyuk’s voice was calm yet accusatory.“What’s wrong with me? Why are you naked in my bed?!” he shot back, indignant.“What…?” Moohyuk, still half-asleep, looked utterly baffled as he stared down at him.Feeling the need to explain, he softened his tone. “I wasn’t mad, okay? I just got scared. Maybe you didn’t get enough guiding energy last night. Should I—”“No need.”Moohyuk abruptly sat up, his shirtless upper body drawing attention as he moved to leave. But as he pulled the blanket aside, his expression suddenly shifted to one of panic, and he wrapped the blanket around himself again.“What are you doing?”“Get out.”“Huh?”“I said, get out.”Taken aback by his audacity, he looked around the room. “This is my room, though?”“I know. Just get out.”“What the hell?!”This was my room, so before I could even ask why I had to leave, my body floated into the air and drifted out through the suddenly wide-open door. I shouted in panic.“Can you even use your abilities like this on your guide?!”Kim Moohyuk sat on the bed, covering his face with his hands, ignoring my protests. Was he out of his mind? First, he barges into my room while I’m sleeping, and now he’s kicking me out of my own room? Absolutely absurd. But there I was, floating helplessly toward the door he opened telekinetically.I had no choice but to step outside as I floated through the doorway. “Captain!” I called out, spinning around to confront him, but the door slammed shut in my face. Speechless, I stood there staring at the closed door.I couldn’t get over the ridiculousness of it all. Having no one to complain to, I decided to let it go and headed to the bathroom to wash up. While splashing water on my face, I ended up wetting the front of my shirt, which I had randomly grabbed from the clothesline. The way I splashed water everywhere reminded me of how Kim Moohyuk used to nag me about acting like an old man at a mountain spring. I chuckled to myself, recalling his flustered expression from earlier on my bed.He hadn’t changed all that much, I thought. The Kim Moohyuk I knew used to have a sarcastic tone and a perpetually indifferent face, but his expressions did show emotion now and then. Especially when he was with me, he smiled often enough that my impression of him conflicted with what others, like Han Byeongeun, thought.“That guy smiles? Probably only in front of Colonel Kang,” Han Byeongeun once remarked in disbelief.Thinking back, I had assumed that Kim Moohyuk treated me with more respect because I was his instructor. Either way, seeing his flustered face again today had been a strange sort of comfort.Still grinning, I heard a mechanical whirring noise followed by a series of loud thuds from outside. Alarmed, I quickly dried my face and stepped out to investigate. The living room was empty. Confused, I went back to my room to check, but Kim Moohyuk, who had been there just moments ago, was nowhere to be found.“Captain?” I called out several times, but there was no response.“Huh? What’s going on?”Standing in the middle of the living room, I scratched my head in frustration. Had he already left? He hadn’t mentioned having anything urgent today. Then again, Kim Moohyuk wasn’t exactly the type to keep me updated on his schedule. Deciding he must’ve left in a hurry, I let it go and headed to the kitchen to grab some water. That’s when I discovered the source of the whirring noise from earlier.“Seriously, what is this?”Sitting prominently on the dining table was a glass filled with some kind of white liquid that seemed meant for me. Thinking it might be yogurt or milk, I eagerly took a sip, only to gag and rush to the sink to spit it out.“Is this yam juice?!”Back when I was Colonel Kang Hajung, I had an allergy to yam. I remembered an incident when we went to a sushi restaurant, and I had an allergic reaction to yam in tamago sushi, ending up in the guide infirmary. Though the allergy wasn’t severe enough to react to just the smell, Kim Moohyuk occasionally made yam juice for himself, much to my dismay. I had always teased him about having the taste of an old man despite his good looks.And now, there was a glass of yam juice on my table. I hesitated, waiting for an allergic reaction, but none came. That’s when it hit me—this wasn’t my old body; it was Sergeant Kang Hajung’s. This body didn’t have the same allergy.“Well, of course, but still, it’s kind of amazing.”I chuckled to myself. Even though I wasn’t allergic anymore, there was no way I was drinking it. I’d disliked yam long before I had an allergy to it. Pouring the juice down the sink, I muttered an apology.“Sorry, yam juice. And sorry to the fool of an Esper who thought this would brighten my morning, but I just don’t like yam.”After washing the glass, I headed to work, still finding it odd that Kim Moohyuk had left without a word.At the guiding facility, I tidied up as usual. Though Espers occasionally dropped by, the place was usually quiet, making the cleanup quick. Grumbling, I prepared a water hot pack.“Seriously, it’s the modern age. Why are we still using these? These relics are like something out of a pre-reunification Pyongyang hospital.”It annoyed me to think that the military would repurpose old stock for use in underfunded facilities while pocketing the rebate from the listed budget. Shaking my head, I placed the hot pack on my stomach, ready to enjoy a midday nap. The facility was empty again today, and after spending the morning cleaning and playing FreeCell until my eyes hurt, I was exhausted. Just as I was about to doze off, my phone buzzed with a message.“Hm, ignore it…?”The temptation was strong. The message was about a new pair training program. Just reading the details about where and when I needed to show up was enough to ruin my mood.“Ugh, I hate training. I hope it gets canceled.”Grumbling, I still packed my things for the training session, a reluctant yet dutiful soldier through and through. As I was leaving, an Esper suddenly appeared at the door.“C-could I get a guiding session…?”He was pale and visibly unwell. Despite my annoyance, I couldn’t turn him away. “Come in,” I said.The Esper was a young man, about the same height as Kim Moohyuk, maybe a little shorter. He had a gentle yet striking face, though I couldn’t make out his rank through his operational gear. Was he without a pair guide or team guide? I tilted my head in curiosity.“No physical contact sessions here. I’ll do a broadcast guiding for you.”“Yes, yes, that’s more than enough…”His overly polite gratitude struck me as odd. Most Espers who came here without an assigned guide were usually difficult to deal with, but this one seemed refreshingly different.The team guide must have been urgently dispatched on a mission. If the esper belonged to a team with multiple members, it made sense that he might not have been able to receive guiding from his team guide. Since the man seemed pressed for time, I carefully began radiating the guiding waves.It was the same principle as offering porridge to someone who hadn’t eaten in days. As the guiding waves spread gradually, he gritted his teeth as if holding back something. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his clenched jaw muscles stood out as if he were suppressing a reaction. He was likely making an effort not to urge me to provide more guiding immediately.In cases of pre-rampage symptoms, administering a large dose of guiding all at once is the most effective. However, for someone like him, who was still in a rational state, it was better to start with small doses.Still, most espers couldn’t endure this phase. It was like giving a dying man a single drop of water at a time. That was why I became certain this man was a relatively decent esper. Despite the situation, he refrained from lashing out at his guide and maintained a patient demeanor, which was a stark contrast to others I’d dealt with. This naturally made me speak more kindly.“I’ll ramp it up to a full dose now. Let me know if it’s too much to handle.”I gave a light smile as I intensified the guiding waves. Pulling over the equipment cart, I took the man’s wrist. He gasped in surprise—perhaps from the sudden contact or the overwhelming guiding waves disorienting him.It felt like I had turned into a bully picking on an innocent person. Smiling faintly, I explained while rolling up his sleeve.“I’m not up to anything suspicious—just checking the residual guiding levels. I need to see how well you’ve absorbed it.”“Ah, I see…”He nodded, seeming to understand, but his body still twitched at the sensation. It was somewhat refreshing to see such a reaction, as I rarely performed direct guiding for espers other than Moohyuk or Ha Seonghan. Both of them, even if pleased with my guiding, never openly expressed it.Ha Seonghan, for instance, would jokingly criticize me, telling me to try harder even after receiving guiding. Meanwhile, Kim Moohyuk had always reacted as if he were a rookie receiving cafeteria soup from a general when I first started guiding him. Even later, when he grew accustomed to it, he never directly praised my guiding. I suspected he thought it might be rude to do so given the age and rank gap between us.As a result, getting such candid feedback about my guiding felt rare.In the meantime, the results appeared on the monitor through the node connected to his wrist. The residual guiding levels were over 80%, which was enough to tide him over.“You’re at over 80% now. Should we stop here?”“Ah…”But his face fell, as though I’d just delivered the worst possible news. Why was he reacting like that? His expression almost made me feel awkward about retracting the guiding waves.“Do you want more? I think the critical need should be resolved…”Eighty percent was sufficient for most espers, even after completing two missions. When I asked, looking a bit puzzled, he shook his head quickly.“No, not at all… The guiding just feels so good that I must’ve subconsciously looked dissatisfied.”“Well, then…”It was the first time I’d received such direct praise. Clearing my throat in embarrassment, I detached the node from his wrist and began tidying up. The man, realizing he’d let himself slip, scratched the back of his neck sheepishly as he stood from the cot.“Um… Are you the one who usually works here? I thought there was another chief…”“Ah, the chief is on a long-term assignment at the Gangwon Center. I’ve been stationed here temporarily, so I’m the only one here for now.”His eyes widened in surprise.“Does that mean you’ll be here for the time being?”“Yes, most likely.”Noticing the time on the clock, I realized the paired training session was fast approaching. I urged him to wrap up quickly.“By the way, can you head out now? I have training to attend.”“Training? Are you part of a team?”Again, he reacted as though my words shocked him. It was amusing how startled he seemed at everything I said. I shook my head.“Not exactly.”I gestured toward the door, indicating that I really needed to leave. He finally began moving hesitantly toward the exit.“Sorry to rush you, but I’m running late. Could you walk a bit faster?”“Oh, yes…”He hurriedly complied, his flustered movements so amusing that I chuckled quietly. After stepping outside, I waited for him to follow. Seeing him emerge, I gave him a polite nod before heading quickly toward the transport station. Hearing footsteps trailing behind me, I turned to find him hesitatingly speaking up.“Um, would you like me to give you a ride?”“Oh, you have a car?”I brightened immediately. Lately, my knees had been aching, especially after it rained. Though I hadn’t been officially checked, the pain mirrored the injuries I had suffered in my original body. It might’ve been psychosomatic, linked to past trauma, but it didn’t change the fact that walking was painful.Gratefully, I accepted his offer without hesitation, climbing into the military jeep he had parked nearby.“Ah, thank you so much.”The exclamation came out in a tone that sounded far older than my current appearance, but what could I do? I felt him chuckle softly at the incongruity. Laughing along, I buckled my seatbelt.“Thanks to you, I’m saved. I was running late.”“Sorry for holding you up earlier.”“Not at all. It’s a public guiding facility for a reason. Besides, I’m glad you came before I left.”I lightly responded and took a moment to gaze at the landscape outside the vehicle as it started moving. Maybe I should apply for a car as well. Military vehicles are only provided to officers of a certain rank, but if I bring up my pairing with Kim Moohyuk, I could probably blackmail Kim Inhak into getting me a car.Of course, it’s impossible for a sergeant to blackmail the center head, but Kim Inhak is my subordinate regardless of rank. I wondered how long it would take for a car to be issued, and as I was carefully examining the man’s vehicle, he suddenly spoke to me.“Are you heading for a cooperative training session?”“Uh, I’m not sure. I guess I’ll find out when I get there.”I only received a message, so I wasn’t sure if the training was with Kim Moohyuk. Since it’s a pair training, it should be with him, but today could just be an orientation, so Kim Moohyuk might not be attending. I was pondering his question when we arrived near the training center.“Please just pull over to the shoulder. I’ll walk from here.”“Ah, okay…”I smiled and spoke, and the man’s jeep soon stopped at the shoulder. I unbuckled my seatbelt and before getting out, I thanked him.“Thanks. You made it really comfortable for me.”“Not at all…”I opened the door to get out, but he called out to me from behind. I turned around, and hesitantly, he said:“Um… if it’s okay, could I visit the guiding room sometimes?”“What’s not okay with that? That’s my job.”I answered with a slightly puzzled tone, then smiled and waved my hand as I closed the door. The man seemed like he was about to lower the passenger window, but I had to hurry or I’d be late, so I turned and started walking. My knee hurt slightly, so I was limping a little, but there was nothing I could do. As I walked quickly toward the entrance of the training center, I suddenly felt something unusual and looked back to see that the man’s car had just started moving.“Mm…? Was he watching?”I scratched the back of my head and decided it was nothing, heading into the training center. This was a different building from where we had the joint training before, and it seemed like it was newly built within the past five years, so I couldn’t tell the layout at all. The message said to go to the training room on the second floor, but finding the elevator was a challenge. The building was so large, like a main stadium, and pretty complicated.After wandering around, I finally found an elevator and pressed the up button, waiting when someone suddenly tapped me on the shoulder. The impact almost made me crash into the wall. If the person hadn’t grabbed my waist and pulled me into them, that’s what would’ve happened.“What, what’s going on…?”“You’re just going to fall over from a little tap?”It was Kim Moohyuk, speaking as if in disbelief, letting me go. I couldn’t believe he was blaming me for collapsing when he was the one who struck me first. I stared at him in shock, and then his emotionless face seemed to ask what I was looking at. I let out a breath and asked:“Were you busy this morning?”“Mm.”He didn’t answer affirmatively or negatively, just looking at the elevator panel before he spoke.“Taking an elevator to go up one floor? The stairs are right next to us.”“Oh, the stairs are over there.”I nonchalantly glanced at the spot Kim Moohyuk pointed to, nodding my head. His expression, usually emotionless, twisted slightly in disbelief, and he shook his head as if to say I was being ridiculous.“I was just saying, what’s the point of taking an elevator for one floor?”“Yes, yes. The electricity is domestic, but the materials are imported, so that’s why. The captain who loves his country should walk more. As for me, my knee hurts—”“…Your knee hurts?”Kim Moohyuk turned to look at me again. It was a small complaint, but his reaction was more intense than I expected, and I found it strange. It was like he had heard something he shouldn’t have, and he frowned as though I had said something wrong. His sudden, strong reaction after the recent death caught me off guard, and I stared at Kim Moohyuk’s face without meaning to.And in his gaze, I could sense a faint repulsion. Wait… is it such a big deal that my knee hurts…? Stunned, I continued facing Kim Moohyuk, when the elevator door dinged and opened. He quickly turned away and entered, and I followed. Even though I was walking behind him, I couldn’t help but wonder why he looked at me like that. Repulsion… Was he annoyed because my knee hurt in my old body?…Hmm. Thinking about it, that probably made sense. After all, who would like to deal with someone who’s sick? Plus, Kim Moohyuk, being younger, probably felt frustrated watching me struggle. I understood that feeling. It’s similar to the frustration a wife might feel when her older husband’s energy is fading, while she’s still full of life. In that context, Kim Moohyuk’s faint repulsion made sense. Maybe it’s a good thing he’s finally free from the old Colonel who was getting older.After we reached the second floor, Kim Moohyuk entered the training room with his usual indifferent expression, his tone completely neutral. I slowly followed and entered the room, where a tired-looking training officer immediately spoke to us.“You’re here for pair training, right?”“Yes, hello.”“Well, not exactly, but… good afternoon… or not… Anyway, both of you, come this way.”The officer mumbled with a tired face. From what he said, he clearly wanted to leave work. I was surprised and pointed it out to him.“Uh, you’re speaking your mind a bit too openly…”“Oh, right. Ahem, yes, I understand. Before the training starts, let me give you a few instructions.”The officer cleared his throat, but his sunken eyes showed no sign of energy. Maybe he lost money in the stock market? Could someone look so drained? Then again, I thought maybe he was just an average office worker. After all, workplaces suck the life out of people. As I pondered that, I reluctantly focused back on the officer’s explanation and widened my eyes in shock at what he said next.“As for the rules, generally speaking, please refrain from engaging in sexual activity in the training room—”“What?! Sexual activity?!”Sexual activity, of all things! In front of kids! I was horrified, and the officer said something even more shocking.“Ah, so that’s still the case.”Still? I couldn’t forgive the insinuation that I would soon do something inappropriate with Kim Moohyuk.“Hey, Officer! You have no problem saying anything in front of a kid!”The officer widened his dull eyes and looked around before giving me a bewildered glance as if to say, What are you talking about?“Where’s the kid? Are you calling Sergeant Kang Hajung a kid?”There’s no kid? I shot back immediately. “He’s right here!” I pointed straight at Kim Moohyuk. But as soon as I made eye contact with him, I realized. Oh, he’s not a kid anymore… My finger, which had been pointing at Kim Moohyuk, curled inward in that moment. The officer clicked his tongue and shrugged as if hearing some ridiculous thing. But not wanting to continue, he started explaining again, as though it was a nuisance.“It’s simple. When the lights in the training room turn on, you can enter. The training will use the virtual training system that our military is proud of. It will last about three hours, but if you clear it faster, the time can be shortened. Please take note of that.”Was that a hint to wrap things up? I glanced at the officer, and he seemed to get more drained the more he spoke, as though the explanation was taking a toll on him.“The method of training is simple. It’s about observing the interaction between the guide and the Esper, so we’ll have Captain Kim Moohyuk trigger a pseudo-eruption, that is, a pre-eruption state.”“What? What did you say?”I furrowed my brows. I wondered if I’d misheard. Looking at Kim Moohyuk, his face was still expressionless—neither pleased nor displeased, just completely neutral.I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and my face turned pale. I looked at the officer, and he fumbled to explain, as though my reaction had caught him off guard.“Well… you don’t need to worry. It’s just to disturb the neurotransmitters to make it look like pre-eruption symptoms. It doesn’t actually cause any physical strain on the Esper…”What kind of nonsense is this? I retorted sharply.“Who can guarantee there’s no risk? You know how much pressure Espers bear when it comes to the threat of eruption.”The officer sighed deeply, as though to say, What do you want me to do about it?“If you argue with me, it’s pointless… It’s already been approved at the top, so if you don’t train now, it’s disobedience.”His tone was one of What are you going to do about it? I shot back, still frowning.“Why are we even doing this ridiculous training? Who gave this order?”“It doesn’t matter whose order it was… Huh? Why is Sergeant Kang even looking into this!?”When I found the training plan and started rummaging through the desk, the officer shot up from his chair and reached for me. Just then, a hand appeared from behind and slapped the officer’s hand away.“Use your words. I’m sure you understand. And Sergeant Kang, put that down.”Kim Moohyuk spoke in his usual emotionless tone. I, irked, waved the training plan right in front of Kim Moohyuk’s face and demanded to know.“Can’t you see this? It came from central command. Why the hell is central command involved in some trivial pair training like this?!”Kim Moohyuk looked down at me in silence, clicking his tongue. His reaction made me more upset, considering the deep animosity I held toward central command, which I couldn’t shake off.I still remembered the day of the incident. For no good reason, I had been summoned to central command and wasted my time. Meanwhile, Kim Moohyuk, sent on an impromptu mission, lost his sanity due to pre-eruption symptoms and ended up demolishing a transmission tower. The result? My death.I couldn’t believe central command was innocent in that matter. Even now, they were trying to control Moohyuk as soon as he was paired with a guide. They were injecting drugs that would trigger pre-eruption symptoms.I’d heard from Han Byeongeun how Kim Moohyuk lived after losing me. Even though he still suffered from pre-eruption symptoms without a guide, I was sure he hadn’t forgotten the memories of that day. If he had, he wouldn’t be acting so emotionless now.I stared at the scar on the edge of Moohyuk’s eyebrow. Espers with excellent self-healing abilities only left scars from injuries sustained in life-threatening situations. I was certain the scar was from the time Moohyuk had suffered pre-eruption symptoms and got struck by a stone while tearing through my chest.What must he have thought, seeing that scar every day? Thinking of it made me feel deeply sorry for him. But to inject drugs that would deliberately trigger pre-eruption symptoms… Even if it didn’t physically harm the Esper’s body, the psychological aspect could still be at risk. I continued to interrogate the officer, and finally, with a fatigued expression, he spoke.“Look, this really isn’t something I can do anything about. And there’s a memo from above saying that if it’s not completed today, the pair registration will be canceled.”“What? Cancel the pair registration? Is that even reasonable?”I couldn’t help but shout. It seemed like they were really pressuring Kim Moohyuk. But judging by his reaction, if I hadn’t raised such a fuss, he would have gone along with that ridiculous training method. Why is he acting like this? I knew full well that Kim Moohyuk wasn’t that kind of person, which only confused me more.But despite my intense reaction, Moohyuk spoke in his usual, emotionless tone and expression.“We just need to train. It’s not a big deal, it’s pseudo-eruption, after all. I can control that much.”Kim Moohyuk’s calm response shocked me. Even though I glared at him, he merely yawned, covering his mouth with his fist. In the end, I sighed.I didn’t know what central command was thinking, but I figured there must be a reason for Kim Moohyuk to be obedient. So, I reluctantly accepted the training. The officer, now relieved that the matter was nearly over, continued explaining.“Basically, in a pre-eruption state, the Esper’s body will naturally emit the pre-eruption wave, and the guide must detect this and locate the Esper.”It sounded like a guiding net technique. Guiding is a substance regulated by the guide’s brainwaves. It’s made up of wave-like particles, but unlike photons, it’s something that ordinary people cannot feel.It was similar to how someone who has been exposed to light cannot feel each photon. Waves, like photons, are made of material, and I used that material to create a thin guiding net that I could spread around an area. This was a technique that other guides couldn’t use because they either lacked the necessary amount of guiding material in their bodies or lacked the ability to control it well enough. I was the only guide who could meet both conditions. Becoming the chief instructor of the guiding academy was thanks to my development of this unique technique.The training currently being implemented by the Central Division was merely an effort to create “Kang Hajung Colonel Version 2.” Guides, whose physical abilities were no different from the average person except for their guiding ability, could not locate an Esper’s position. On the contrary, it was often the Espers who located the guides instead. Yet, planning a training exercise where a guide was tasked with locating an Esper on the brink of a rampage seemed absurd. The Central Division’s intentions were growing increasingly suspicious.I needed to ask Han Byeongeun more questions. I had to find out when this kind of training program was first devised by the Central Division. Meanwhile, the administrator, looking utterly drained, mumbled the instructions as if he lacked the energy to even speak properly.“Now, the two of you will enter separately. Put on the AI goggles provided. Captain Kim will go in first to position himself in the virtual training program, and then Sergeant Kang will enter later to locate Captain Kim. Before that, Captain, please roll up your sleeve for a moment.”At the administrator’s request, Kim Moohyuk obediently rolled up his sleeve without complaint, unlike what I might have done. All I could do was click my tongue in irritation. What could I do? If I refused to participate in the training, our pair registration would be canceled. Watching with a dissatisfied expression, I saw Kim Moohyuk receive a quick injection with a pen-shaped device. He wiped the injection site with an ethanol-soaked cotton swab before turning to me.“Don’t start a fight and stay quiet before you come in. You’re too loud.”It was a warning not to argue with the administrator. I had considered protesting further, but his words extinguished my frustration. Still frowning, I replied curtly.“Fine. Go on ahead.”Kim Moohyuk, with an expressionless face yet an oddly watchful gaze, entered the training room. Left alone with the administrator, I found myself in the observation room adjacent to the training room, which stored all records of what happened inside. As soon as he left, I turned to the administrator and smiled.“By the way, are training sessions recorded?”“Yes, of course.”The administrator, preoccupied with sorting documents, gave me a distracted reply. Nodding, I asked again.“Okay. When should I go in?”“Just wait a bit. When the light above the training room door turns blue… Oh, it looks like you can go in now.”He gestured toward the light above the door. I nodded and smiled brightly.“By the way, I apologize for earlier, sir. I’m just a bit on edge since we haven’t been paired for long.”“Well, just be more careful next time. I’m just doing my job, you know. It’s not like I have a personal grudge against you. I’m just a cog in the military machine. What could I possibly do?”“Of course, of course. I feel bad for snapping at you so suddenly. I really regret it now.”“Wow, Sergeant Kang, you’re unexpectedly easy to talk to.”When he seemed slightly amused by my banter, I smiled again and added, “Actually, since this training can be done just between us, why don’t you take a little break somewhere?”“How could I leave my post?”Despite his words, he seemed tempted. I rubbed my palms together with a coaxing smile.“If something goes wrong, we can just hit the emergency button. Plus, Captain Kim Moohyuk is a veteran. What could possibly happen? All I need to do is perform well.”“Hmm….”The administrator hesitated, clearly considering it. Sensing I needed to seal the deal, I continued quickly.“How about the shared guiding room? It’s my designated area right now, and no one’s using it this afternoon. It’s quiet, and there’s nothing valuable to steal there—just some old equipment. I left the door open, but you can lock it while you rest. Just come back in an hour. You’ll need to check on us toward the end anyway.”“Well….”Noticing he was almost convinced, I softened my expression with an understanding smile.“I’m not saying this lightly. You remind me of my brother. You’ve worked so hard; you really look exhausted. I’d feel guilty if I didn’t say anything. You could lie down in the guiding room for a while—it has a clean blanket, freshly washed today. Afterward, you can come back and check on us.”“Hmm… all right. Maybe I should.”The administrator finally relented, looking thoroughly worn out. I saw him off quickly before stepping into the training room to begin my task of locating Kim Moohyuk.The virtual training program required goggles to synchronize the senses, making even a confined space feel vast. Without putting on the goggles, I examined the spacious training room. It was large but not without walls—and on those walls, there were CCTVs.“Locations, here, here, and here….”I memorized their positions as best as I could. Meanwhile, the warning lights blared, urging me to put on the goggles.“So noisy.”Grumbling, I slipped the goggles over my head. A mechanical hum sounded briefly, and then the world transformed. Suddenly, I was standing in a dense forest.“Whoa, this is insane. I can even feel the phytoncides.”The sharp, refreshing air of the forest grazed my skin, a testament to the impressive technology. Judging by the level of sensory detail, it likely involved the abilities of a hypnosis Esper. Even if much of it was computer graphics, the way it felt so real to participants could only be attributed to such powers.“The problem is, I’m just Sergeant Kang right now….”In the forest filled with chirping birds, my task was to find Kim Moohyuk. If I were Colonel Kang Hajung, the task would be easier—I could spread my guiding waves like a fine net and locate the Esper responding to my guidance. Since only Kim Moohyuk and I were in the training room, finding him would be straightforward. However, as Sergeant Kang, I had to conceal the fact that I possessed such abilities.He decided to start by destroying the CCTV. Since he had noted the position earlier, even if it was difficult to pinpoint the exact location within augmented reality, it was just a matter of finding the gap between his real-world body and the current subspace.This might have been a challenge for the recruits, but for someone like him, who had undergone all sorts of training, it wasn’t impossible with enough mental focus. He reached for the goggles he was wearing, located the dashboard, and scratched off the panel with his fingernail. The goggles, not particularly durable, were susceptible to such physical impact. Then, he felt around for a cable, and as soon as he identified the thinnest one, he pulled it out.Zzzzt— A sparking sound accompanied the severing of the wire, and the control device that connected augmented reality to the physical space in real time shut down. Whistling nonchalantly, he began walking through the physical space that was overlaid by the augmented reality.Under normal circumstances, players undergoing training wouldn’t be able to reach the walls of the training room. The program continuously disrupted their perception, creating the illusion of walking in a straight line while actually guiding them in circles around the limited space of the training room.By disconnecting the goggles, he reduced the likelihood of such disorientation. He then acted as if walking on flat ground, moving toward the wall. Removing his belt, he tore off the buckle. It required some effort, but since the belt was made of synthetic leather rather than actual leather, it wasn’t impossible. He aimed the buckle at the CCTV lens and threw it. With a clang, the lens shattered.“Ahhh! What was that sound? Why does this feel like a horror game? I’m so scared something’s going to pop out!”Feigning fear, he acted as though he had thrown the object in panic while nervously scanning his surroundings. He continued breaking the CCTV cameras along the walls this way. Since there were blind spots, he could destroy the remaining cameras without bothering to act, simply throwing the buckle to shatter them. Once all the cameras were destroyed, he began searching for Kim Moohyuk.“How sensitive is Moohyuk’s guiding reaction again?”He tried to recall as he worked on weaving an even finer guiding net. It wasn’t easy, but when he managed to create a net thinner than a strand of a child’s hair, he felt a sense of satisfaction. Deploying it, he reasoned that even a high-ranking Esper with exceptional guiding sensitivity wouldn’t easily notice it. It was akin to the principle where a strand of hair brushing against your cheek might tickle but isn’t always consciously felt.“Now, let’s find Kim Moohyuk in Seoul~.”Humming a tune typically sung by middle-aged men searching for socks, he began his search. He created a wide circle with the net and started narrowing the range inward from its edges, slowly and methodically.“Hmm…”He seemed to have found something but wasn’t entirely sure. Kim Moohyuk’s ESP waves were faint.“This can’t be a sign of an impending rampage…”An Esper nearing a rampage would exhibit violent ESP waves. Their guiding sensitivity would spike, pulling in even the thinnest guiding net. But there was no such indication.“Don’t tell me…”His expression hardened. He sprinted toward the faint ESP waves. He had assumed he had provided enough guidance while living with him, but apparently, that wasn’t the case. It was clear now—Moohyuk’s severe guiding depletion had driven him into an accelerated state, consuming any residual guiding energy in his body. As a result, even the guiding net, which should have caught a trace, appeared faint, like a starving patient barely able to swallow thin gruel.Despite the searing pain in his knees, he kept running. A sense of urgency pounded in the back of his head, warning him he couldn’t afford to be late. After much searching, he finally found Moohyuk kneeling with his eyes closed.“Captain!”He called out, but of course, there was no response. Seriously, with his condition like this, why had Moohyuk insisted on fighting instead of retreating? While trying not to recklessly touch his body, he knew he needed to deploy radiated guiding immediately. Though he couldn’t perfectly control the output, thanks to Sergeant Kang’s recent diligent adherence to his training protocols, he could manage a decent level of control.Gradually adjusting the intensity of the guiding radiation, he increased it—10%, 20%, 50%. When he reached 50%, he noticed a subtle twitch in Moohyuk’s cheek.“Captain.”He called out again, carefully modulating the guiding intensity as he approached. With each step closer, Moohyuk’s ESP waves grew more distinct. How many times had he warned against taking substances from the higher-ups since their cadet days? No matter how influential Kim Inhak might be as the center director, Espers and guides under the center’s jurisdiction weren’t free from the military’s control.…Surely, Moohyuk hadn’t accepted the injection without a second thought. Perhaps he had his reasons. Whatever they were, they weren’t his concern right now. He placed both hands on Moohyuk’s face.“Ugh—.”The speed at which his guiding energy flowed out was extraordinary. He had to regulate it carefully to avoid being completely drained, much like a leaf caught in a whirlpool. No matter how much guiding energy he had, losing it all at once could lead to symptoms akin to ischemic anemia.Fortunately, Moohyuk’s responsiveness to direct contact guiding allowed his stabilizing body temperature to show signs of recovery. What was he thinking, taking such risks? His suspicions turned to certainty—Moohyuk had known this was a substance from the central authorities. Someone of his rank wouldn’t lack caution. Nor would Kim Inhak have allowed such injections to be administered lightly.“Agh… This feels so strange…”Even in this state, Moohyuk greedily absorbed his guiding energy. It was absurd. Trying to narrow the flow wasn’t easy. He felt like collapsing. Eventually, he slumped to his knees in front of Moohyuk.“Hm?”Finally, Moohyuk stirred, letting out a short sound of confusion. What was that supposed to mean? With his strength sapped, he leaned against Moohyuk’s chest—it was inevitable.“What the…”Moohyuk asked vaguely while instinctively reaching out to hold him firmly.“What do you think? You should really start getting your guiding on time. I’m seriously about to pass out.”Breathing heavily, he buried his face in Moohyuk’s chest, rubbing his forehead against the solid collarbone. His dizziness was overwhelming. Moohyuk, who had reflexively embraced him, looked down at him.“You look comfortable. When did I become a replacement sofa?”“Are you kidding me? Whose fault do you think this is?”Grumbling, he decided to take this opportunity to finish the guiding session. The dizziness worsened, making him groan as he pressed closer to Moohyuk. The last time he’d embraced him, Moohyuk had grimaced and pushed him away during guiding. Yet now, for some reason, Moohyuk tightened his hold on his shoulder, then abruptly pulled back, speaking in an even tone.