TGIC Ch 115

Chapter 115

Even as the helicopter ascended into the sky, it was difficult to believe that Vasily had gone berserk. It felt as if somehow all of this was a plan to summon me back, and that Vasily might emerge from somewhere at any moment.

Yet soon, there was no choice but to face reality.

As we climbed higher, the scene of the rampage came sharply into view. A fierce blizzard swirled relentlessly only around the tall high-rise building far in the distance.

The entire apartment complex centered on the home Vasily and I once lived in was encased in ice. Even now, the frost was slowly expanding its reach. Judging from the state of the exterior walls alone, there was no need to look inside to imagine the condition within.

The closer we approached, the more violent the wind became. The helicopter shook so fiercely that it felt as if we might crash at any moment. But the heavy military chopper carried us steadily to our destination.

“We will enter first. Please descend when you receive our signal.”

“Understood.”

Originally, the plan was for the espers to break the windows and enter the house, but by now the windows had already been shattered into fragments.

The espers entered through the broken windows, and to ensure my safe descent, they held the ladder firmly from below. I climbed down the wildly shaking rope ladder like a madman and grasped the outstretched hand of the squad leader, safely entering the house.

“Haa…”

The moment I stepped inside, a chill as if to freeze me to my very bones penetrated deep into my skin. Even wearing a heavy winter combat suit over my battle gear was insufficient against the cold.

Breathing out puffs of mist, I scanned my surroundings. The interior was already frozen solid and pure white; there was not a single spot that looked untouched.

‘Looks like we’ll have to move again.’

Of course, this was only if we managed to stop the rampage safely.

If by chance I got caught up in Vasily’s rampage and died this time, would I go back in time? That question was quickly replaced by negation. Strange things could happen inside the Gate, but this place was outside it. Hoping for such a miracle was unrealistic.

“The bedroom is empty! We are proceeding inside!”

Yet inside the bedroom we entered, Vasily was nowhere to be seen. As I followed the espers out of the room, my eyes caught the unkempt bed. The post-it note I had stuck to the pillow was missing.

Breaking through the frozen door, I went out into the living room, but Vasily was not there either. So the remaining place was just one.

Of course, he was here.

Upon reaching my room, I saw his figure standing still in the center. He was quietly staring at the empty room.

In Vasily’s hand was something. Looking closer, it was the note I had left for him.

Exchanging glances with the espers, I nodded. After a silent signal, I entered the room alone and called out to Vasily.

“Esper Vasily.”

But Vasily did not respond to my call. Was he unable to hear me? I cautiously approached and placed my hand on his shoulder.

“Vasily, uh…”

A sharp sting. The moment I touched him, pain shot through my fingertips and I immediately withdrew my hand.

A burn? No, a frostbite.

Fear gripped me as the icy cold was strong enough to penetrate even special equipment in an instant. If I attempted guiding him in this state, I could not guarantee my own safety by the time it was over.

As I nervously stared at my reddened hand, Vasily finally turned around at the sound of movement. His blue glowing eyes gazed quietly at me. His cold, emotionless stare made my body stiffen.

“Esper Vasily, do you have some clarity of mind?”

“…”

“Look around you. You are currently in a state of rampage.”

Vasily’s eyes slid slowly around the room. He seemed unable to comprehend why everything was such a mess.

This was a typical symptom of rampage. Since he didn’t remember the situation before rampaging, it seemed the early stage when rampage could be calmed had already passed.

“Ah… yes, that’s right.”

After some time, Vasily muttered quietly as if the memories had finally returned. I thought conversation would now be possible, but Vasily spoke a little faster than I could.

“But why is Guide Kwon Gidam here? You should have left… Ah, am I hallucinating unconsciously?”

“It is not a hallucination! I got off the plane just before departure…! Ugh!”

Vasily gripped my wrist tightly as if to confirm whether I was real. Coldness penetrated through the contact, and I winced.

“For a hallucination, you are quite vivid. I’d believe it even if you said you were real.”

His tone was emotionless and monotone, as if handling an object. I furrowed my brows slightly.

When the espers rushed to restrain Vasily, I raised my hand to stop them. I held on to hope that if we talked properly, he might regain his senses, and I persuaded him calmly.

“Please calm down. At this rate, Esper Vasily, you are in danger.”

“No, I do not intend to stop.”

“Eh…? What do you mean…”

“Better to die rampaging here with Guide Kwon Gidam, even if it is a hallucination, than to return to a time without a guide.”

Muttering that, Vasily slowly put his lips to the back of my hand.

His words stunned me more than the sudden act. Could it be… No, I wanted to believe otherwise.

“Did you rampage on purpose?”

“Well… I don’t remember well just before rampaging, but probably yes.”

Whether he truly believed I was a hallucination or not, Vasily casually revealed thoughts he usually concealed.

I could feel the color drain from his face. I never imagined he would resort to what was effectively suicide because he thought I had left him.

Looking back now, it was only natural. Until this morning, Vasily had shown no signs of rampage. That was why I couldn’t believe the news when I first heard he had gone wild.

If I had truly left with Hwayien to China, he would have died here without fail. The first news I would’ve heard upon arriving in China would have been his obituary.

I knew he was crazy, but I never expected it to this extent…

I could not just stand by like this. The Vasily who had lost his reason had no intention of stopping his rampage and planned to end things here with me. But I neither wished to die nor to leave Vasily to perish here.

Desperately turning over options in my mind, I found a solution.

Guiding.

If I could make him realize I was not a hallucination through guiding, Vasily would regain his senses.

However, with the current matching rate, it was impossible. My thick clothing prevented the warmth from transferring, and a faint guiding attempt could not prove I was real.

Fortunately, it was possible to momentarily suspend the suppressor chip’s function. Like Vasily had sometimes done to me, I decided to freeze the suppressor chip to stop it from working.

Moving his hand to the back of my neck, I said,

“Esper Vasily. Please freeze the suppressor chip.”

“…”

“Anyway, I am a hallucination. Use this chance to freeze the suppressor chip and receive proper guiding one last time. Who knows, even if hallucination, guiding might still work.”

Though he thought I was a hallucination, Vasily seemed reluctant to harm me. When I provoked his hesitation, Vasily gripped my neck and used his ability.

“Ugh!”

My neck, wrapped in winter gear, rapidly froze and an unbearable pain surged.

“Guide Kwon Gidam!”

“I’m fine!”

Unaware of the suppressor chip on my neck, the squad leader and espers looked on in horror. They hurried to separate us, but Vasily did not just watch quietly.

Holding me close, Vasily attacked them. Ice rising sharply from the walls and floor engulfed the espers.

Bang!

The ice spread swiftly, crashing together with fierce force and shattering into pieces.

Watching the fine shards scattering before my eyes, I swallowed hard. Maybe because my reason was numbed, I felt no hint of him controlling his attacks differently than usual.

Some might have been hurt by this assault, but they were also A-rank espers. All we could do was hope they were not seriously injured.

However, Vasily did not stop there—he attacked them again. Beyond the ice blocking the door came a deafening roar and the scream of someone in pain.

“W-wait…! Esper Vasily! Please stop!”

“…”

If the first attack was meant to keep them at a distance, this second was truly lethal. Despite desperate efforts to restrain Vasily, he paid no heed.

If left unchecked, someone might really die. I wasn’t sure whether the suppressor chip froze properly due to the espers interrupting, but it seemed wise to attempt guiding now.

‘If I reach him like this, I too will surely be in danger…’

There was no other way. I only prayed Vasily would swiftly regain consciousness and cease his rampage.

Closing my eyes tightly, I pressed my lips to his.

The moment our lips met, an ice-cold chill surged as if to tear them apart, then the pain vanished instantly. My lips had already frozen from the numbness.

Fortunately, the suppressor chip seemed to have stopped working, and I felt the distinct sensation of guiding. A cold and sharp wave rushed through my body, raging wildly, but Vasily’s presence was clearly felt and welcomed. It meant the guiding was working.

To continue guiding further, I parted my frozen lips and tilted my head.

Sensing my intent, Vasily leaned closer and accepted the kiss. Our tongues intertwined, breaths mingled. I closed my eyes, focusing on calming his wavelength.

Though the sensations inside my mouth gradually faded, the soft touch of his tongue remained vivid.

“Uh… hngh…”

Cold breath drifted into my lungs, and my body trembled from the unforgiving chill.

The waves gradually subsided, and it seemed he might soon regain his senses if the guiding continued a bit longer. But due to the espers’ intrusion, the suppressor chip’s freezing had been unstable, and heat began to rise in my neck, as if the guiding was being cut off.

Considering whether to freeze the suppressor chip once more, I slightly parted my lips. At that moment, Vasily’s voice came.

“…Guide Kwon Gidam?”

His eyes met mine, startled. The once dark and unfocused gaze now gleamed with life.

Had he finally regained consciousness? It was far too late.

A relieved smile escaped me just as the suppressor chip, which had thawed precariously, abruptly reactivated. The chip heated rapidly, burning like fire against the back of my neck.

Bang.

A dull explosion barely audible to me accompanied a muffled pain from my neck. Immediately, my vision darkened to black.