AAGULT Ch 68

Chapter 68

Time spent in the light, not in the shadows, passed much quicker than expected.

Jaeha received his treatments regularly, provided blood samples for the development of an antidote, and participated in the hospital’s rehabilitation program. Isn’t hospital food usually known for being bland and tasteless? Yet Jaeha enjoyed all three meals a day. Whether that was because the food matched the luxury of his hospital room or because Jaeha’s standards were simply too low, he couldn’t quite tell.

And finally, Jaeha received guiding twice a day. It was a life of such luxury he wouldn’t have even imagined it before.

Even a representative from the Association came by to inform him that a compatibility test would soon take place, leaving Jaeha’s mouth hanging open. A compatibility test, really? Was there truly someone who could become his pair? The name “Aiden” floated through his mind like a balloon, but he forced himself to push it down.

Three weeks passed like that, and just as he was preparing to be discharged, Jaeha met with three Espers. It was to fulfill the promise he had made with Aiden to “try and recover his memories.”

But they all failed.

A D-rank mental Esper said, “There are traces of mental abilities, but the one who applied them is of a higher rank than me, so I don’t think I’ll be able to lift it.”

So then, he met with an A-rank electric Esper. It was to test Aiden’s hypothesis that perhaps with fine electrical impulses, one could stimulate the brain enough to undo the brainwashing. The Esper, who usually worked in combat, lacked confidence, but mustered the courage to use his ability on Jaeha.

The result was that Jaeha was electrocuted and lost consciousness for a full day. The Esper, shocked by the outcome, fled in tears, and Jaeha never saw him again.

Lastly, he met with an A-rank Esper. The one previously mentioned by the Association president, the only mental Esper in the Association ranked B or higher. He had willingly come to the hospital for Jaeha.

The man was slightly gaunt, with a pale complexion. His build was smallish too. The unhealthy hue of his face gave Jaeha a strange sense of kinship. As soon as the man entered and greeted him, he pulled out what looked like a painkiller and swallowed it.

Seeing that, Jaeha immediately realized—ah, he wasn’t receiving proper guiding. It didn’t seem that the Association had denied him support, but rather that his wavelength was so erratic no suitable guide could be found.

Whether or not the man sensed that connection, he offered his diagnosis seriously.

“Hmm… I don’t think this is going to be easy.”

“I see…”

The man gently touched Jaeha’s head, trying to assess something, then sighed and gave a negative answer. He lifted his glasses with an apologetic look.

“My ability isn’t actually directly connected to memory or the mind. More specifically, what I can do is help regulate emotions and consciousness, or assist in finding a little calm.”

“Ah…”

Not quite grasping it, Jaeha tilted his head to the side. The man kindly elaborated.

“For example, I’ve heard you can read thoughts, is that correct?”

“Yes. Though it’s a little difficult right now.”

“I can divide my consciousness so that I only show you the thoughts I want you to read. In a way, I’d become your mental defense.”

“That’s amazing. Really fascinating.”

It was the very ability used during Jaeha’s honey trap mission. The man offered a small hint, but the innocent patient in a hospital gown was simply fascinated. Sighing lightly, the man continued.

“In any case… recovering lost memories or undoing brainwashing is quite out of my field. I came just in case, but… I’m sorry. I don’t think I’ll be of much help.”

Feeling uncomfortable watching the man bow in apology, Jaeha quickly waved his hand.

“I never expected it to be easy. It’s okay.”

Sitting beside the hospital bed, the man pondered for a moment before turning to Jaeha.

“Still… let’s see. What about this kind of approach instead?”

“What kind?”

“You may have already heard this advice from your doctor, but… typically in modern medicine, when someone loses their memory, they’re encouraged to revisit familiar places or objects connected to the lost memories, right?”

“…”

Surprisingly enough, Jaeha hadn’t heard that advice.

His eyes widened. He had been so focused on the idea that his condition was the result of the president’s brainwashing ability that he hadn’t thought to approach it from a medical perspective. Apparently, neither had the Association nor the hospital.

“Even without powers, retracing environments linked to your memories might help… it could give you a clue. I’m no expert in this area, so I can’t be sure, but environments and situations can sometimes form strong cognitive links to memory.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Heh… I’m not sure it’ll help, but…”

“No, it’s more than helpful. I’ll definitely try it. Thank you.”

In fact, it was such a plausible idea that Jaeha was surprised he hadn’t thought of it earlier. He felt he should revisit the place where he first met the president.

Since he wasn’t being discharged just yet, if he got permission from the doctor and the Association for a short leave…

While his thoughts were drifting along, the man’s voice cut into his reverie.

“Um, Jaeha…”

“Yes?”

As Jaeha responded and looked to the side, he realized the man had already packed his coat and belongings—signaling that their appointment had ended. An hour had already passed.

“Are you close with Guide Aiden?”

“…”

The question felt so out of the blue that Jaeha didn’t know how to respond and fell silent. But the man continued speaking despite Jaeha’s lack of response.

“If… if you happen to meet Guide Aiden again, could you please mention me? Ask him to accept my guiding request.”

“Guiding… request?”

“Please. Just once is enough. If he refuses, I’ll give up.”

Had Aiden turned down his guiding request? Jaeha couldn’t help but think the man looked far worse off than he did. Perhaps his wavelength had become twisted. Caught off guard, Jaeha nodded, and the man offered a faint smile.

“Thank you… I haven’t found a guide who suits me. I thought maybe Guide Aiden would be okay…”

“That must have been difficult.”

Jaeha muttered unconsciously as he watched the man take another painkiller from his coat pocket and swallow it.

He didn’t know why, but his thoughts suddenly turned to himself and the president.

The image of himself begging desperately under the president’s touch for just a scrap of guiding rose in his mind, leaving him feeling strange.

The man gave a weak smile as he put on his coat.

“I honestly can’t say I understand you, Jaeha. I’ve heard about your situation but… do you truly want to recover your memories?”

“…”

“Forget the memories—do you really… want to raise your Esper rank?”

He buttoned up his coat. His thin, bony fingers were clearly visible.

“If it were me, I’d just live as an F-rank… no, as an ordinary person. I envy that. …Never mind.”

“…”

“It’s nothing. I’m sorry. I said something unnecessary.”

With that, he bowed his head and left the hospital room.

Jaeha quietly watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.

“…”

Maybe it was a terribly arrogant and cruel thought to have, but Jaeha found that he both understood and could not understand him at all.

Maybe it was because he’d survived for years not on proper guiding, but on scraps left over from others.

According to the Association president, the man was the Association’s only B-rank or higher mental Esper. Even if the guide didn’t match perfectly, he must’ve been given proper guiding. And if he had cried out in pain, someone would’ve come to help him—be it the Esper Association, the hospital, anyone.

Jaeha envied that. It felt like the man was burdened by problems that were, in a way, luxurious.

And feeling that way made Jaeha feel guilty.

“Song Jaeha?”

“You saw it posted too?”

“It’s rare for profiles to go up at this time of year…”

During lunchtime at the Association’s guiding facility, a group of guides gathered, looking at the compatibility notice posted on a tablet.

Usually, compatibility test notices were posted in bulk in April and September. That was when the biannual Esper training programs concluded. Around that time, profiles would be uploaded with photos of Espers needing matches, brief personal info, their ability category, and rank.

Guides affiliated with the Association could check them via their issued tablets. Whether or not to participate in the compatibility test was entirely the guide’s choice. Though political or hierarchical pressure occurred occasionally, participation was generally voluntary.

That’s why a notice posted right after the New Year was so unusual.

Moreover…

“Huh? There’s no rank listed?”

“Right? Isn’t that weird?”

“Could it be a misprint?”

“I asked—they said no. Something about confidentiality or whatever.”

One guide sipped coffee and sat beside the one holding the tablet, tilting her head to peek at the Esper profile on the screen.