AAGULT Ch 82

Chapter 82

Thinking of him brought with it a strange sense of debt and pressure. It became slightly hard to breathe. It felt like wearing clothes that didn’t fit—suffocating from the inside.

It should’ve been this very line of thought that made him feel stifled, but changing his mindset wasn’t an easy thing to do.

He blankly stared at the slowly filling syringe.

Since it was what Aiden-ssi wanted, there was no way to stop becoming his Pair. He didn’t even dare to think of stopping it. If he just lived as things flowed… so, if he failed to become an A-rank, then perhaps he could think about it again at that time? And if, because of that, Aiden-ssi ended up disappointed…

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

The doctor, speaking with a strangely formal tone, carefully applied a bandage. Jaeha gave an awkward smile and bowed his head lightly in return.

“When should I come in next?”

“Hmm… Would 11 a.m., four days from now, work for you?”

“Yes. Then I’ll be back at that time.”

Jaeha stood up from his seat, put on his coat, and bowed once more before leaving the room.

Beep beep.

As if on cue, his phone rang. When he checked who it was, just like they say, “speak of the devil”—it was Aiden-ssi.

“……”

It was funny. Just moments ago, he had been tormented by feelings of resentment and guilt over being a burden to him, and yet the simple fact that he was calling made Jaeha’s heart flutter and his mood lift.

“Hello?”

He answered the call without hesitation. As expected, the voice he loved immediately flowed through the receiver.

—Jaeha.

“Yes.”

—I heard the news. Congratulations on your rank recovery.

He had just heard about it himself—how had Aiden already found out? Well, of course, he would’ve figured it out somehow. Jaeha gave a sheepish laugh, and the bright voice continued from the other end of the line.

—I’ll stop by your place after work. Let’s at least have a small celebration.

“Please don’t go out of your way just for me.”

—It’s no trouble. Just make me a Sex on the Beach.

“……”

He had asked for a kiss in the most roundabout way. But since Jaeha was the one who first used that pink drink as a form of flirting, he couldn’t offer any rebuttal. Instead, blood rushed to his head, and he had to clear his throat to keep it in check.

“I’ll be home soon.”

—Okay. See you soon.

Rather than reply, he closed the conversation with a polite phrase, and Aiden responded with a soft chuckle. The call ended soon after.

“……”

Just hearing his voice for a moment was enough to ease the complicated feelings that had plagued him, replacing them with a sense of excitement. Yes—no matter how much he overthought or worried, there was nothing he could do right now.

He just needed to do what he could.

With lighter steps, Jaeha slipped his phone into his coat pocket and zipped his jacket all the way up against the lingering chill in the air. As he stepped outside the building, the cold immediately stung his nose. He sniffled lightly and glanced up at the sky.

It was blue, just like always.

The house, barely furnished with the basics, was quite spacious. He opened the closet to hang up his coat. Beside it were a couple sets of casual clothes and the special esper uniform he had received a few days ago. Unlike the pure white guide uniform, the esper uniform was designed in black.

“……”

He had never expected to wear something like this, so it felt strange. He thought he’d die living as a criminal forever.

He shut the closet door and, not knowing what else to do, carefully sat down on the bed placed in the corner of the room. Being alone in an empty house, he had nothing to occupy himself with. The regular guiding sessions had ended after he was discharged from the hospital, and now Aiden-ssi handled them whenever he had time. Moreover, the few official obligations he had ended with his hospital visit earlier, so there was nothing left to do. Going outside wasn’t an option either—he was still an important witness and awaiting trial, so he couldn’t move about freely.

“……”

He looked around the unfamiliar room, lost in thought. There really was nothing to do. Maybe he should buy some books next time he went out. Just as that thought crossed his mind, the doorbell rang.

“……!”

He must be here. Jaeha wasn’t doing anything in particular, so he reacted to the bell quickly. He immediately got up and walked to the front door, opening it.

“Aiden-ssi…!”

“……”

“……”

It was still a bit early for him to be off work, but there was no one else who would visit, and Aiden had said he was coming—so naturally, Jaeha assumed it was him.

But…

But…

“……”

What appeared before his eyes was a harness fastened tightly over a white shirt.

The harness was drawn taut, and beneath it, a neatly tied black necktie flowed smoothly. A familiar pistol was holstered at his waist.

Jaeha’s gaze naturally rose upward. He had to tilt his neck even more than when he looked up at Aiden.

A familiar scent drifted from the man. Cold and dry, yet piercingly sharp—just like the first chill of winter, it crept deep into his body.

His eyes, cautious, slowly traced the man’s jawline. The sturdy, thick neck belonged to someone he knew all too well.

“……”

He was scared. Or more accurately, he was overwhelmed. To Jaeha, this man wasn’t merely frightening. The moment their eyes met, the sheer force of his presence made it hard even to breathe.

The fear he had been so thoroughly trained to feel began creeping back in.

Even though he wasn’t in a cold place, his body began to tremble visibly.

“P-President…”

Then, the man before him moved, as if to confirm that this wasn’t a dream. His tightly closed lips parted. He responded nonchalantly, just like always—as if he hadn’t changed at all.

“Yeah.”

It was the President.

“How, how are you here…”

“Kwon Ido gave me the location. Han Eunyul brought me here.”

“……”

“You must’ve known.”

He had known. He’d been certain that Mr. Kwon was the President’s man, and if he was guiding Eunyul, there was no doubt that the message could be conveyed somehow.

When Jaeha didn’t respond and just pressed his lips together, the man faintly lifted the corners of his mouth. Raising a hand, he patted Jaeha’s head twice—like one would praise a dog—then stepped naturally into the apartment.

The moment his body was touched, Jaeha realized it. The man carried no trace of guiding energy. He had once received guiding so regularly, and yet now he was as barren as a desert.

“Been doing well?”

“……”

Jaeha closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, trying to suppress his trembling breaths. This apartment was part of the Association’s housing support program for espers. He wouldn’t have barged in recklessly, knowing it was enemy territory. Still, he had no idea what the man was thinking. At the very least, he shut the door so others wouldn’t see.

Clunk.

“I… I’ve been doing well.”

“Treatment?”

“I was discharged last week.”

“I see.”

Short, emotionless exchanges passed between them. As he responded automatically out of habit, Jaeha realized something.

“Go to the Association.”

Could it be… that the reason the man had told him to go was so he could be treated for the side effects of the inhibitor? Like sending a broken product in for repair?

His eyes rolled over to observe the President, who now stood in the center of the living room, casually scanning the interior. Jaeha, unable to flee, still stood in front of the closed door, hand resting on the knob.

The man turned his head. Jaeha could now see his face.

“There should’ve been a caretaker here…”

“I killed them.”

“……”

“Would’ve been funny if I had.”

He chuckled and sat down on the living room sofa. Jaeha’s faint exhale filled the silence of the space.

“……”

Habits were terrifying things. Even though Jaeha now knew full well that the man’s actions—his ‘education’—had been abnormal, his body moved on its own. He stepped forward and knelt before him.

“Mr. Ido and Eunyul… how are they… not getting caught?”

If the tail is long, it’ll be stepped on eventually. It felt a bit odd to say it himself, but for someone like Aiden to come here—Jaeha’s current lodging, under the Association’s scrutiny—wasn’t something easily done. Not anymore. Not when he was protected under the Association’s shadow.

“I heard it from Kwon Ido.”

“……”

“Are you trying to act like a spy?”

The man laughed, as if he had heard something ridiculous. Reaching out, he gently grasped Jaeha’s chin and tilted it, as if checking the condition of an object. Indeed, compared to before he came to the Association, Jaeha’s complexion had visibly improved, and the man seemed pleased by this.

“You must have figured out what my ability is by now.”

With that, he finally started to get to the main point. That’s right. According to the Association, the man had more than enough ‘ability’ to avoid being tracked. Even though Jaeha had decided to trust the Association, he’d secretly hoped they were wrong. Being acknowledged by the man, even slightly, left his mood unsettled.

Perhaps sensing his thoughts, the man’s hand moved. His thumb slowly pressed along Jaeha’s jaw and lips. The smooth, supple texture of leather gloves pressed against his skin.

“How much do you know?”

“……”

“Not curious?”

“……”

Was that an offer to tell him, if he was curious? Jaeha couldn’t fully erase his suspicion and wariness, so he only rolled his eyes to look up at the man. In the past, it would’ve been unthinkable to look at him like this. But Jaeha knew—if he gave him even a moment to start his narrative, the one at a disadvantage would be himself. Even if the man spouted nonsense, Jaeha knew he’d be swayed and persuaded. Forcing his dry, cracked lips to move, he opened his mouth.