CHAPTER 8
Twenty hours earlier.
In a pitch-black bedroom, a man lay motionless.
'Save me!'
'Why did you come so late! If only you'd arrived sooner!'
'You could have saved me!'
The man, Gu Jei, slowly opened his eyes.
He gave up trying to sleep and rose from the bed.
Despite the impenetrable darkness, he moved through the room without hesitation, deftly avoiding the clutter strewn across the floor as he headed for the door.
Not all Espers possess exceptional night vision. The common misconception among ordinary people—that Espers have superior physical abilities—is a misunderstanding. In reality, this trait is specific to Enhancement-type Espers. For other types, particularly Mental-type Espers, physical capabilities are no different from those of ordinary humans.
Gu Jei was the world's only multi-ability Esper, possessing powers from various types—except for the mental type. For some reason, those with mental abilities tend to be either gloomy or sinister, making it difficult for Gu Jei to feel any affinity toward them.
Emerging from the living room, Gu Jei checked his Watch.
84%. Not much different from yesterday.
His body felt as heavy as a drenched cotton. A headache like an ice pick stabbing his brain. Sensations heightened to an unnecessary degree. He had grown accustomed to this level of discomfort.
The real problem was sleep.
'It hurts! Help me!'
'If you had gone, that person wouldn't have died.'
'Bring my son back to life!'
Gu Jei shook his head.
Normally, after pushing his body to its limits, he could at least get some rest. But for the past couple of months, even that had become impossible.
Sigh.
With a low sigh, Gu Jei searched for his sleeping pills. He remembered taking them yesterday, but couldn't recall where he left the bottle.
Now my memory's failing too.
After a long search, he finally found the bottle beneath a pile of clothes. The problem was, there were only three pills left—he couldn't remember when he ate the rest.
With no other choice, he swallowed the remaining pills dry. His mouth felt dry and gritty, but that was all. He hadn't tasted anything in ages anyway.
He returned to his bedroom.
Three hours later.
"I can't sleep," Gu Jei said, facing the Attending Physician stationed at the Center.
"Hmm, are you still taking the medication I prescribed last time?"
"It's not working."
"...It seems you've developed another tolerance. How long has it been since you last slept properly?"
"A week? No, maybe a month."
"A month?"
The Attending Physician's expression turned grave.
Even as an S-Class Esper, sleep is still absolutely needed as a human. Especially since Gu Jei was already in an unstable state due to inadequate Guiding. Sleep deprivation was like lighting the fuse of a bomb that could explode at any moment.
"There's no choice, then. Let's get you some sleep right away. I'll give you a strong dose."
The medication for Gu Jei was no longer just a sleeping pill; it was far beyond that. Though they knew it was harmful to his body, they had no other choice. Letting him continue without sleep was simply not an option.
"How about it? Would you prefer to go home or go to a hotel?"
"Neither. Is the Guiding Room available?"
Gu Jei didn't want to bring anyone into his home, and a hotel would inevitably expose him to unwanted attention. There were no other options.
The reality was that any photo showing Gu Jei Esper looking unwell or tired would immediately trigger a flood of articles expressing concern about his condition.
Esper Gu Jei, Face Gaunt and Overwhelmed with Worry... Is He in Poor Health?
Recent Updates on Gu Jei: Looking Unwell Lately
Didn't similar articles surfaced just recently?
The Center had likely handled the situation discreetly, but there was no need to needlessly alarm the public.
As Gu Jei lay down on the bed in the Guiding Room, the Attending Physician placed a device resembling an oxygen mask over his face.
"Now, take a deep breath."
Gu Jei followed his instructions, inhaling deeply. An unpleasant-smelling vapor entered his respiratory system.
His consciousness grew hazy, as if he was drunk, and the voices that had been ringing in his mind gradually faded away.
'Ah, finally...'
Gu Jei's consciousness slowly sank into the abyss.
He closed his eyes.
········
How long had he been like this?
Gu Jei's tightly shut eyelids fluttered. He felt an unpleasant sensation, as if someone was groping him without permission.
He weighed his desire to remain asleep or his urge to get rid of this discomfort.
Just as he was about to lean toward the former...
'Ugh.'
A sudden wave of nausea washed over him.
"Huh? No, something's wrong..."
A faint voice reached his ears. At first, he thought it was a hallucination, but he soon realized it wasn't.
Gu Jei forced his eyes open. He found a familiar Guide straddling him.
It was a A-Class Guide with a 10% compatibility rate, the one Gu Jei had seen several times before.
'Why is he here?'
But he couldn't dwell on that question.
Gu Jei instinctively shoved the Guide off him and sat up. His head still muddled from the lingering effects of the drug. He pressed a hand to his forehead and shook his head.
"What are you doing here...?"
"Gu, Gu Jei. I can help you. Just open your heart up a bit."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
Climbing onto a sleeping Esper without permission and then asking him to open his heart? It was total nonsense.
'Was he always like this?'
The Guide had always been arrogant, but Gu Jei didn't know he would act so recklessly.
Well, it was impossible to know. How could he possibly understand the inner thoughts of someone he only saw briefly during Guiding sessions?
Humans are capable of smiling to your face while tearing you down behind your back. He has seen countless people filled with lies and deceit.
The nausea intensified.
"Just... get out."
"Why are you refusing? You need Guiding too!" the Guide shrieked.
The sound reverberated in his skull, making him dizzy.
"Ugh."
As Gu Jei staggered, the Guide seized the opportunity and lunged forward.
The moment the Guide's lips touched his skin, his vision went black as if someone had pressed the power button.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
A deafening alarm jolted Gu Jei back to consciousness.
Gu Jei checked his condition. The fluid coursing through his veins felt less like blood and more like boiling mercury.
The esper energy, which had always felt like an extension of his own body, was now raging uncontrollably. It threatened to destroy him if he didn't release it immediately. The more he tried to suppress it, the more excruciating the pain became—a pain beyond description.
Even Gu Jei, who was accustomed to enduring pain, couldn't guarantee how much longer he could withstand it.
And then he realized...
The end has finally come.
"Esper Gu Jei!"
The voice rang out.
Simultaneously, the pitch-black darkness that blanketed his vision vanished instantly.
The first thing he saw was the crimson light illuminating the surroundings.
Beneath the flickering light, a man Gu Jei had never seen before shouted, "Please don't use your ability! I'm trying to help you!"
Help me? Gu Jei thought, incredulous. No one can help me.
If Gu Jei regretted anything, it was not realizing this truth sooner. He had waited far too long for someone to save him—the waiting, hoping and expecting, it all became unbearable.
Gu Jei rolled his tongue and retrieved the pill hidden behind his molars. He had practiced this maneuver countless times, making it effortless. He had prepared for this day, knowing it would come eventually. Though it arrived sooner than expected, it didn't matter.
Why didn't I realize this sooner? he wondered. That only I can free myself from this endless torment.
Gu Jei was no longer waiting for someone to save him. He longed for a moment like this—a moment when he could end everything cleanly, without regret or self-reproach.
"......!"
But just as he was about to swallow the pill, a rough hand clamped down on his jaw, forcing his mouth open.
Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, Gu Jei's mouth was pried open as fingers shoved deep inside.
This madman...
Gu Jei clenched his teeth, determined not to let go.
Despite the obvious pain, the man only pushed his fingers deeper, finally seizing the pills.
The moment Gu Jei realized the pill had been taken away, a surge of fury flooded his mind. He wanted to tear the man before him to shreds.
"Esper Gu Jei, there's no need for this. I can help you."
This liar who claims he can help me.
"I am..."
A liar...
"...a Guide!"
A vision flooded Gu Jei's sight, turning everything blindingly white, as if exposed to an overwhelming burst of light.
Yet unlike the searing pain one might expect from such intense light, it actually felt warm and gentle.
As the light seeped into his body, the esper energy that had been raging uncontrollably, like a wild dog, suddenly calmed, recognizing its master.
The incessant noise in his mind gradually faded, shrinking until...
...a profound silence settled.
"......."
In this newfound tranquility, Gu Jei gazed down at the Guide, who lay unconscious in his arms.
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