Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 176: A FOREIGN CORE

WHEN YUNO heard that Kim Jaeha was almost dying, he thought the kid was beaten up to a pulp.

He had always known that Kim Jaeha was being physically abused by Matthew.

That was why he taught the kid how to do Reverse Guiding.

I can’t help Kim Jaeha directly because he didn’t ask for my help. And he would have been in a more dangerous situation if I tried to take him away.

But now he regretted hesitating to help Kim Jaeha.

When Yuno arrived at Lee Woonhak’s private clinic, he was surprised to see that Kim Jaeha’s physical wounds were already gone.

That means his physical injury isn’t the reason the kid is fighting for his life.

"I checked Guide Kim Jaeha’s condition with my <Scanner Eyes> ability, but I didn’t see anything," Lee Woonhak explained. The Healer kicked everyone out except for Yuno. Hence, aside from Kim Jaeha, only the two of them were there at the moment. "But, then again, my eyes can only see internal injuries that were killing my patients literally."

That meant Lee Woonhak couldn’t see injuries caused by Mana.

"And, generally, my abilities are more suited for healing Espers," Lee Woonhak added. "I heard from Gayoon that you’re a special Guide, Yuno-ssi. And that’s exactly why I asked you to stay here. I kicked the others because, from my understanding, we’re supposed to keep your special abilities a secret from other people. And we can’t trust Esper Lee Sarang-nim completely yet."

Aww.

Hyung’s subordinates are really considerate and quick-witted.

"Thank you, Hyung."

"No worries, Madam," Lee Woonhak said, calling Yuno ’madam’ in a teasing manner. "This VIP Room is safe from prying eyes and ears. So, feel free to use your abilities. Of course, I’ll take your secrets to the grave."

"You don’t have to go that far, Hyung," Yuno said, smiling while shaking his head. And then he placed a hand on Kim Jaeha’s chest. "A Guide’s condition mostly depends on their Core, so I’ll check Kim Jaeha’s Core first. I’ll be defenseless once I start, though."

"I’ll keep you safe, Madam."

"Thank you, Hyung."

That was the only assurance that Yuno needed to hear before closing his eyes.

He had to close his eyes to "see" the flow of Kim Jaeha’s Mana.

Almost instantly, he "saw" himself swimming in what seemed like a river drenched in moonlight. The moonlight then started to spread in the "water," creating little sparkling diamonds on the surface.

He followed the sparkles, and that was when he reached what seemed like a gigantic clam.

It’s Kim Jaeha’s heart.

And the shining white "pearl" inside the clam was none other than the kid’s Core.

Yuno should only be seeing Kim Jaeha’s Core in that clam.

However, there was something else sitting there— a slightly dark cube.

No way...!

Yuno opened his eyes abruptly, clutching his chest.

He couldn’t breathe.

"What’s wrong, Yuno-ssi?" Lee Woonhak asked nervously. "What did you see in Guide Kim Jaeha’s body?"

"A foreign Core," Yuno said in disbelief, clutching his chest tight. "Kim Jaeha has two Cores— and the other one belongs to an Esper."

"An Esper’s Core? Are you sure about that, Yuno-ssi?"

"I’ve harvested hundreds of Guide Cores in the past. I know the difference between a Guide’s Core and an Esper’s Core, Hyung," Yuno said, gulping hard. "I’m sure that the one next to Kim Jaeha’s Core belongs to an Esper’s."

Lee Woonhak fell silent for a moment, and then he let out a soft ’ah’ as if the realization had just hit him. "Kim Jaeha is a Guide, so his Core is probably automatically guiding the Esper Core next to his. That’s probably why he’s growing weaker and weaker at the moment."

"Hyung, the Esper Core is full of corrupted Mana. Kim Jaeha’s Core will only stop purifying the Esper Core once it loses all its strength."

"Kim Jaeha will die if that happens."

"Yes, Hyung. And that’s why we have to remove the Esper Core ASAP."

"Can it be surgically removed?" Lee Woonhak asked carefully. "Madam, you said you’ve "harvested" Guide Cores before. Can you teach me how to do that?"

"Later, Hyung. I need to stop the Esper Core from absorbing all of Kim Jaeha’s Mana first," Yuno said, placing both of his hands on Kim Jaeha’s chest before closing his eyes. "Woonhak Hyung, please tell Gayoon Hyung that I’ll be in danger if he suddenly removes my hands from Kim Jaeha’s body."

***

WHEN KI Gayoon returned to the VIP Room, he found Noh Yuno doing something reckless again.

That punk...!

At first, he thought Noh Yuno was on the verge of going on a Rampage because his Mana suddenly fluctuated.

But Gayoon found out that it wasn’t the case.

To be fair, he didn’t know exactly what Noh Yuno was up to.

However, he knew that the punk was sacrificing himself again to save Kim Jaeha.

Is he giving his Mana to the kid?

At an alarming pace, at that.

"Noh Yuno, stop whatever you’re doing!"

Gayoon was determined to pull Noh Yuno away from Kim Jaeha, but Lee Woonhak literally blocked his way. "Hyung, get out of my way," he said, clenching his hands tight. "I don’t want to hurt you."

"The madam will die if you suddenly remove him from Guide Kim Jaeha."

"What?"

"I don’t know exactly what the madam is doing, but he told me it’d be dangerous if we suddenly interrupted him," Lee Woonhak said in a serious tone. "If you still want to stop the madam from what he’s doing despite my warning, then go ahead."

Haaah.

How could Gayoon do that if it would put Noh Yuno’s life in danger?

This punk needs to be punished later.

***

THIS FUCKING Esper Core is too greedy.

Yuno prided himself in having overflowing Mana.

That allowed him to create Mana pills for Moon Noa, and that was also the reason why the National Guide Bureau allowed him to be a ’Freelance Guide’ for years.

However, for the first time in a while, he felt like his Mana was lacking.

Just how corrupted is this damned Esper Core?

The only consolation Yuno got was the fact that the color of the Esper Core was starting to lighten.

Now he could see the sparkle that the corrupted area had covered.

Kim Jaeha was a talented young Guide who awakened as an A-Class Guide.

However, Yuno’s Mana was purer as an E-Class Guide. Hence, even though he had only given the Esper Core half of what Kim Jaeha had already given to purify it, he was almost done purifying the corruption by now.

Just a little bit more.

And, when he finally got rid of all the corruption, suddenly...

"Hey."

What the fuck?

Yuno almost had a heart attack when the Esper Core suddenly changed its appearance.

Nope, that wasn’t normal.

Cores couldn’t change their shapes at will.

Moreover, Cores don’t suddenly turn into a silhouette of a man!

So, a ghost?!

"I’m not a ghost."

Yuno let out a gasp internally.

The ghost can read my mind?!

"I said I’m not a ghost." freёweɓnovel.com

Then what the fuck are you?

Yes, Yuno decided to talk to the "ghost" using mental telepathy.

In fairness, it worked.

"I don’t actually remember who I am."

Are you fucking kidding me?

"No, I’m not. I wish I could tell you who or what I am. But I’m only half of what I used to be, and it seems like my other missing half contains my memories."

So, you don’t know how you got there?

"Yes, I don’t know how I got here. But all I know is this kid’s heart can’t handle two Cores. He’s pretty weak."

Kim Jaeha isn’t weak— it’s not normal for a Guide to have two Cores.

"That’s not true. A Dual-Class can handle two or more Cores, you know?"

Hah! Are you being for real now? You don’t remember who you are, but you know about the existence of Dual-Class Awakened People. You’re fucking sus.

"It just entered my mind because you’re here."

And what do I have to do with—

"You’re a Dual-Class, you fucking chatterbox. You just can’t stop yapping, can you?"

Hah!

Yuno couldn’t believe he was being scolded by a freaking unknown Esper Core!

I’m not confirming or denying it, but what if I’m a Dual-Class?

"Your heart is more spacious than this kid’s heart, so let me in."

Excuse me?

"Thank you very much, my new landlord."

No, wait— can you fucking not?!

It was already too late for Yuno to complain, though.

He felt it.

The burning sensation in his heart.

"Noh Yuno!"

When Yuno opened his eyes, he realized that he was already in Ki Gayoon’s arms.

He probably fainted, and he wouldn’t be surprised if that really happened.

It hurts. It burns. It’s cold.

Yuno clutched his chest tight, biting his lower lip to stop himself from yelling in pain.

And, to be honest, he couldn’t scream anyway.

He saw it.

A "ghost" standing behind Lee Woonhak (who looked so worried about Yuno).

Am I hallucinating because of the pain, or am I really seeing a ghost?

But the spirit in question...

"Noh Yuno, what are you looking at?!" Ki Gayoon asked, raising his voice as if snapping Yuno back to reality. "You’re trembling, dammit!"

"A g-ghost," Yuno said in a trembling voice, gulping before he pointed a shaking finger at the "ghost" behind Lee Woonhak. "But why does it look like Esper Matthew?"

And the ghost of Matthew smiled sadly before it spoke. "Finally— someone can see me now."

***

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