Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 158: THE ICE QUEEN

"STEP BACK."

That was Ryu Sungbin’s order when Lee Sarang suddenly started to cover her entire body with ice.

He suddenly didn’t know what their maknae was planning.

"Is Lee Sarang self-destructing?" Bambi, who was standing next to Ryu Sungbin, asked impatiently. "Sungbin Hyung, do something and stop her from killing herself. We still need Lee Sarang’s abilities. It will be a shame if she dies here."

"Lee Sarang isn’t trying to kill herself," Ryu Sungbin said while shaking his head. "If she was self-destructing, she would have destroyed her own Core."

Bambi just frowned and didn’t say anything.

"But I wonder why Sarang-ie is covering her entire body with ice," Jin Sooin wondered out loud. "She can’t possibly be putting herself in a self-induced comatose state, right? Sarang-ie knows that Sungbin can melt her ice."

"It’s probably a new skill," Matthew said, sighing. "Lee Sarang mentioned that she gained a new skill when she raided a dungeon with Gayoon Hyung recently."

Ah, right.

Lee Sarang helped Ki Gayoon raid a dungeon before.

"I suppose we’ll witness Lee Sarang’s new skill," Ryu Sungbin said. "Get ready."

"Why can’t you just attack Lee Sarang while she’s still in the middle of covering her entire body with ice?" Bambi asked, confused. "It’s like waiting for the villain to finish his monologue before attacking them." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"You can’t see it, but the fog around Lee Sarang isn’t fog from her ice," Ryu Sungbin explained to the Guide. "You’ll explode once you touch that fog."

Bambi just frowned, obviously not satisfied.

But Ryu Sungbin couldn’t be careless.

Lee Sarang was a soft-hearted Esper who didn’t like killing people. Even so, she was still the #2 Esper in South Korea.

We have to be careful.

"Ah, it’s already cracking?" Jin Sooin asked out loud. "Lee Sarang covered her entire body with ice, but the ice is already cracking?"

It was like an egg hatching, to be honest.

CRAAACK.

That was the sound of the huge block of ice cracking.

And then a blinding light exploded at the same time the entire block of ice collapsed.

Since all of them were Awakened People there, they didn’t even blink despite the blinding light that hit their eyes.

And, so, they clearly saw it.

Lee Sarang emerged from the block of ice that had just collapsed.

However...

"Is that really Lee Sarang?" Matthew asked, confused. "Did she... shrink?"

That was right.

The Lee Sarang in front of them at the moment was smaller than normal.

Even her hair is shorter.

"Why is she suddenly wearing a sailor uniform?" Jin Sooin asked, as confused as everyone else. "Sarang-ie was in middle school the last time I saw her wearing that... oh."

That was when everyone was hit by the realization.

This Lee Sarang was the Lee Sarang when she was younger!

Is that her new skill? Reverting to her younger self?

Ryu Sungbin’s eyes widened a little. "How old was Lee Sarang back then?"

"Fourteen?" Jin Sooin answered, unsure. "Or fifteen?"

Dammit!

Ryu Sungbin cursed under his breath when he met Lee Sarang’s cold gaze.

And then Lee Sarang let out a long sigh.

After that...

"Argh!"

"No!"

"Help!"

"It hurts!"

"Save me!"

The A-Class and B-Class Espers that they brought from all over the world suddenly dropped dead one by one.

Half of them died after water was drained from their bodies.

The other died after getting frozen to death.

And the fools who tried to attack Lee Sarang were slowed down when Lee Sarang made their blood thicker.

Then Lee Sarang pulled out the weapon that they hadn’t seen in a long while.

It was a beautiful crystal scythe.

Lee Sarang beheaded the Espers who tried to attack her using such a delicate-looking weapon— her bored face didn’t change even if heads kept rolling on the floor.

The blood of her victims didn’t even hit her because of the barrier around her.

"Is that really Lee Sarang?" Bambi whispered in disbelief. "The Lee Sarang I know hates killing people."

"That was the Lee Sarang that Ki Gayoon had tamed," Ryu Sungbin whispered back. "The Lee Sarang who was just newly awakened was violent— violent and powerful."

"Was she really that powerful back then?"

"Lee Sarang was the strongest among the Top 5 when she was fourteen and fifteen years old," Ryu Sungbin said, clenching his hands tight. "And, as you can see, she doesn’t even bat an eye when it comes to killing people."

Bambi was about to say something, but...

"Sungbin Oppa, are you talking bad behind my back?"

In just the blink of an eye, the young Lee Sarang was already right in front of Ryu Sungbin— levitating to meet his eye level.

"You recognize me, Sarang-ah?"

"Am I not supposed to recognize you, Oppa?" Lee Sarang asked, tilting her head to one side. "Did we fight, Oppa? Why did you bring people who want to kill me?"

Oh.

Lee Sarang’s memories...

"Sarang-ah, how old are you right now?"

"Oppa is asking something weird," Lee Sarang said while shaking her head. "I’m fifteen years old."

Hmm?

"Do you remember what happened yesterday?"

"Yesterday?" Lee Sarang asked, starting to look confused. "I played with Gayoon Oppa. He taught me how to kill people by making their heads explode."

Ah, that confirmed it.

This Lee Sarang didn’t just get younger physically— even her memories regressed.

"Do you not remember meeting your Exclusive Guide?" Ryu Sungbin asked carefully, pointing at Mo Hanjin. "That person is your Exclusive Guide, Sarang-ah."

Lee Sarang looked at Mo Hanjin from head to toe, and then she made a disgusted face. "How could someone so weak and ugly be my Exclusive Guide? Sungbin Oppa, is this a prank? It’s not funny."

Mo Hanjin looked surprised and embarrassed after Lee Sarang rejected him for the first time.

Ah, this was going to be a big problem.

This Lee Sarang doesn’t have feelings for Mo Hanjin, so we can’t use Mo Hanjin to threaten her anymore.

And fighting this Lee Sarang wouldn’t be easy.

I have to prepare to lose at least an arm if I fight her when she’s in her prime.

On the other hand, this Lee Sarang could kill or at least fatally injure Matthew and Jin Sooin.

We can’t afford that.

"Sungbin Oppa, why do you look strange? Matthew Oppa and Sooin Unnie, too," Lee Sarang said, obviously confused and annoyed. "And where’s Gayoon Oppa? I want to see Gayoon Oppa!"

Ah, right.

I can use this to my advantage.

"Sarang-ah, I have bad news for you."

"What bad news, Oppa?"

"Ki Gayoon was kidnapped," Ryu Sungbin said, smiling sadly at Lee Sarang. "He was kidnapped and is currently being brainwashed by a bad male Guide."

And it worked.

Lee Sarang’s Mana suddenly spiked, her eyes glowing menacingly. "Tell me where to find that Guide, Sungbin Oppa— I’ll kill him and save my Gayoon Oppa."

***

"WHY CAN’T we just use this opportunity to apprehend Lee Sarang and lock her up?"

That was Bambi’s question, and he was serious about it.

He didn’t understand why Ryu Sungbin had to appease Lee Sarang and bring her back to his penthouse to talk.

Hence, he went back to their secret hideout with Matthew and Jin Sooin.

Mo Hanjin also went back with them, but he already retired to his room to rest.

Bambi wanted answers, so he summoned Matthew and Jin Sooin to his office.

They’re walking on eggshells around Lee Sarang like they do around Gayoon Hyung.

"If I have a serious fight with the old Lee Sarang, the fight will end in a draw where both of us are heavily injured," Matthew said, confusing Bambi even more. "But if I fight the young Lee Sarang, I’ll probably end up half-dead while she’s unscathed."

"Right," Jin Sooin said, nodding. "The Ice Queen won’t kill us because Gayoon taught her not to kill her fellow Top 5 Espers. But the Ice Queen will definitely fatally injure us— and we won’t be able to inflict the same damage on her."

"That’s what I don’t understand," Bambi said, frowning. "The current Lee Sarang is the Lee Sarang from more than ten years ago. That means you’re all stronger than her now."

"Bambi-ssi, if Sungbin and Sarang-ie fight now, Sungbin will lose a limb or two," Jin Sooin said in a serious tone. "Lee Sarang was stronger when she was younger than she is today. And it’s because the more powerful she becomes, the more she suppresses her abilities."

"Why would Lee Sarang suppress her power?"

"She doesn’t want to get more powerful than she already is because she’s afraid of the ’Ice Queen’ coming out to take over her consciousness," Jin Sooin said bluntly. "Sarang-ie developed a split personality when she was in her prime. We call that personality ’Ice Queen.’ As you saw earlier, the Ice Queen doesn’t bat an eye when she kills people. And Sarang-ie hates killing people. That’s why she tries to suppress her power in order to seal the Ice Queen."

"If Lee Sarang isn’t such a coward, she could have easily been the #1 Esper in the country," Matthew added. "Sungbin Hyung and Gayoon Hyung were no match against the Ice Queen during Lee Sarang’s prime."

Bambi was less confused now, thanks to Matthew and Jin Sooin’s explanation.

So, that’s why Sungbin Hyung asked me to trust him this time. I guess it’s the right choice since he knows Lee Sarang more than I do.

"I didn’t know Lee Sarang was this powerful."

"The Facility didn’t know what to do about Lee Sarang before since she was too dangerous during her rookie years," Matthew said. "But Gayoon Hyung tamed her. She only listens to Gayoon Hyung— then and now."

"It’s probably because only Gayoon was able to withstand the Ice Queen’s "torture,"" Jin Sooin said, smiling as if she was reminiscing a warm memory. "Thanks to Gayoon, Sarang-ie became the sweet summer child we know."

"Then why didn’t Lee Sarang follow Gayoon Hyung when Gayoon Hyung left the Top 5?" Bambi asked curiously. "It seems like Lee Sarang likes Gayoon Hyung more than Sungbin Hyung. Is it because of Mo Hanjin?"

Matthew shook his head. "Lee Sarang didn’t like Mo Hanjin that much in the beginning, so Mo Hanjin couldn’t be the reason why she chose Sungbin Hyung over Gayoon Hyung."

"I think Sarang-ie and Gayoon made a promise to each other before," Jin Sooin said. "But we don’t know what promise is that."

***

"SO, THAT Guide named Noh Yuno has brainwashed Gayoon Oppa into thinking that you are his enemies? And that’s why Gayoon Oppa hates us now?"

"That’s right," Ryu Sungbin lied with a straight face. "And that Guide also used a potion to make Gayoon think he’s in love with him. That’s why no matter what we say, we can’t bring Gayoon back to our side."

"Why don’t you just kill the Guide then?"

Yes, Ryu Sungbin was really dealing with the Ice Queen and not Lee Sarang.

But we don’t know how long the Ice Queen will stay in control, so I have to make use of her while I can.

"We can’t kill Noh Yuno yet."

"Why?"

"He still has a lot of use," Ryu Sungbin said. It was half-truth anyway. "So, I need you to drive a wedge between Gayoon and Noh Yuno. Can you do that, Sarang-ah?"

Lee Sarang fell silent for a moment, but thankfully, she nodded in the end. "I’ll listen to Sungbin Oppa this once because I want to save Gayoon Oppa."

Good.

Ki Gayoon has always had a soft spot for Lee Sarang, so he won’t suspect Lee Sarang if I say she regressed after entering a weird dungeon. And Lee Sarang will play along with my lie since she thinks it’s a part of our plan to "save" Ki Gayoon.

"Sungbin Oppa, did you say I’m supposed to be in my late twenties now?"

"Yes. What about it?"

"So, it’s been fifteen years since you’ve awakened, Sungbin Oppa," Lee Sarang said, tilting her head to one side. "But why are you weaker than you were as a rookie Esper?"

"You don’t know because you were asleep for so long, but I’m actually the #1 Esper in the country now."

"Nah, Gayoon Oppa will wipe the floor with you."

"Sarang-ah, I know you like Gayoon more than me, but you’re being too mean."

"I can kill you if I want to, Sungbin Oppa," Lee Sarang said, her glowing eyes focused on Ryu Sungbin’s gaze. "Oppa, what did you do to your Core?"

Hmm?

Ryu Sungbin was shocked.

How did Lee Sarang know that my Core has changed?

***

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