Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 191: A MIND OF ITS OWN

"I GIVE up," Yuno declared when he started to feel like he was getting a migraine from using his brain too much. "Esper stuff is outside the scope of my knowledge and capabilities. I don’t know why this Core seems to have a mind of its own. My head is already hurting from all the thinking."

He didn’t ask for a head massage, but for some reason, Ki Gayoon suddenly stood behind him and began massaging his temples.

Okay, now I’m less upset.

"I haven’t given up," Yuno said, more calmly this time. "But I can’t really come up with a conclusion this time."

"It’s alright, Yuno-ya," Ki Gayoon assured him. "You’re right anyway. This is Esper stuff, so we’re the ones who ought to solve this."

"Uhm, can I ask why you’re holding my hand tightly, Hyung?" Kwon Hojun asked nervously. "I’m not complaining. But I’m wondering my you’re holding my hand this tight. If Hyung isn’t an Esper instead of a Guide, I think you would have broken my hand already..."

Oh.

"I’m sorry, Hojun-ah," Yuno said, feeling guilty. "I’m doing my best to stop the Core from forcing its way to your heart. I would have let you go if I could, but the Core is literally forcing us to stick together physically. If we break our skinship, I’m afraid the Core will resort to violence."

"Violence?"

"This is just my gut feeling, but I sense that the Core can literally rip my chest apart to come out and force its way to your heart, Hojun-ah."

Kwon Hojun turned pale, and it was a natural reaction because what Yuno said created a scary image.

No wonder Ki Gayoon suddenly released his bloodlust.

Aigoo.

"Hyung, I’m fine," Yuno said calmly, holding Ki Gayoon’s hand with his free hand. Of course, it wasn’t just a mere skinship. He was actually giving his lover a light Guiding. It would be bad if Ki Gayoon suddenly snapped, after all. "As long as the Core is in my heart and I’m keeping this close physical contact with Kwon Hojun, the Core won’t get agitated."

Ki Gayoon let out a frustrated sigh. "Woonhak Hyung, can you surgically remove the Esper Core in Noh Yuno’s heart?"

"I can try," Lee Woonhak said, and he was looking at Yuno as if he was already dissecting him in his head. "I was planning to surgically remove the Core when it was in Kim Jaeha’s heart anyway." The Healer then looked at Ki Gayoon. "But you’ll kill me if the surgery goes wrong since it’s the Madam, right?"

"Of course," Ki Gayoon answered without missing a beat. "So you better make sure that the surgery will be a success, Hyung. If Noh Yuno dies, I’ll kill you. Then I’ll kill myself."

Aigoo.

Gayoon Hyung is agitated.

"Hyungs, please calm down," Yuno said, sighing while shaking his head. "I can remove the Esper Core in my heart. It’s no different from harvesting a Core from a dead Guide. I have the ’Harvesting Skill’ that allows me to touch my heart without the need to open my chest with a scalpel or something."

And he had already used that ability before.

"I’m just worried about what would happen after I remove the Esper Core from my heart," Yuno said worriedly. "The Lab invented a device that will keep the Core "alive" after it was removed from the Guide’s body. But we don’t have it here."

"We can just freeze my Core."

Yuno raised his head, meeting the gaze of Matthew (the ghost). "Freeze it?"

"Lee Sarang may not remember it, but Sungbin Hyung asked her to create a special ’Ice Cube.’ Back then, I didn’t know what it was for. But, now that I’m thinking about it, it’s probably to keep my Core alive. When Sooin Noona forced the Core in Kim Jaeha’s heart, she pulled out my Core from an Ice Cube that looked like a treasure chest."

"I see. Thank you for telling me, Matthew-ssi," Yuno said politely, and then he threw his head back in order to look up at Ki Gayoon who was standing behind him. "Hyung, Matthew-ssi said Sarang Noona created a treasure box called ’Ice Cube.’ Apparently, that was where his Core was stored before Esper Jin Sooin-ssi put it in Kim Jaeha’s heart."

"Alright," Ki Gayoon said, and then he looked at Lee Woonhak. "Lee Sarang is with Kim Jaeha in the other room— call her."

"Yes, sir."

***

"GIVE ME an hour— I’ll recreate something I don’t remember."

Yuno trusted Lee Sarang with all his heart, but that statement bothered him a bit. "Sarang Noona, they really messed up with your memories."

"Yes, and I’ve only realized it now that I’m somber," Lee Sarang said, smiling bitterly. "But don’t worry, Yuno-ya. My ability has something to do with memories. If I control it right, I can find the exact memory that I need. So, please give me an hour."

"Of course, Noona," Yuno said, nodding. "Thank you in advance."

Lee Sarang just smiled and nodded at Yuno, and then she turned to Lee Woonhak. "Woonhak Oppa, do you have a spare room that I can use? A room that you might not need anytime soon since I’m planning to turn it into a huge freezer."

"I don’t have that many patients anymore, so you can just use one of the standard rooms," Lee Woonhak said. "Let me escort you there, Sarang-ssi."

"Thank you, Oppa."

Lee Sarang and Lee Woonhak then left the room.

Yuno was still stuck in the same room, on the same sofa, while still holding Kwon Hojun’s hand.

Of course, Ki Gayoon was stuck on Yuno’s other side.

This time, they had another friend with them.

"Hojun-ah, you look sleepy," Kim Jaeha, who was sitting on Kwon Hojun’s other side, said worriedly. Yes, the sofa was big enough for four grown men. "Did you stay up late again?"

"I’m fine, Jaeha-ya," Kwon Hojun said. His voice sounded sleepy, but he was trying to sound cheerful. Probably not to make Kim Jaeha worried. "I actually made a katsu burger for you. You said you wanted to eat that, right?"

Kim Jaeha’s face turned red as if he was shy. "Y-You remembered?"

"Yes," Kwon Hojun said, nodding. "You can just get it in my bag and eat it."

"Let’s share— I’ll feed you."

"Suit yourself." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Aigoo.

Yuno was glad that Kim Jaeha and Kwon Hojun were getting along well.

But he couldn’t say the same for Matthew.

Yes, the ghost was there.

There was a profound sadness in Matthew’s eyes while he watched Kim Jaeha and Kwon Hojun’s warm interaction.

Yuno wouldn’t claim that he could understand what Matthew was feeling at the moment.

But I know it sucks because everyone, except for the two kids, can already see Kim Jaeha being Kwon Hojun’s Guide if Kwon Hojun succeeds in becoming the new host for Matthew-ssi’s Core.

Since Matthew and Kim Jaeha had a high compatibility rate, Yuno wouldn’t be surprised if Kwon Hojun became an Esper with a high compatibility rate with Kim Jaeha.

And Matthew-ssi is probably thinking the same thing.

"Has he gone senile?!"

Aigoo.

Yuno was surprised when Ki Gayoon suddenly raised his voice while talking on the phone.

Aigoo.

Even Kim Jaeha and Kwon Hojun both froze, probably scared of the Esper who looked pissed at the moment.

"Yuno-ya, I’ll just be outside," Ki Gayoon said, calmly this time, before he stood up and gently tousled Yuno’s hair. "I need to take this call outside."

"Okay, Hyung," Yuno said while nodding. "Don’t be too mad."

"I’ll try."

After Ki Gayoon gave a non-committed promise, he stepped out of the room.

Only then did Kwon Hojun and Kim Jaeha could finally breathe properly again.

I thought Gayoon Hyung has mellowed down a lot already, but I guess people who aren’t close to him still find him scary.

Or was it because Ki Gayoon only showed his soft side to Yuno?

Ah, that makes me feel special.

"Yuno Hyung, can I ask something?" Kwon Hojun asked worriedly. "I’m curious about something, but I’m too afraid to ask since we’re surrounded by powerful Espers earlier."

"I understand," Yuno said, nodding. "What do you want to know?"

"Why can’t you just let the Core force its way to my heart instead of going all through these troubles?" Kwon Hojun asked worriedly. "I didn’t understand most of what had been said earlier. But I can tell that the problem will be solved if I become the Core’s new host, right?"

Aigoo.

This silly child...

"You don’t want to be an Esper, do you?"

Kwon Hojun flinched, and then he nodded hesitantly. "I don’t want to be an Esper, but I’ll do it if it means saving you the trouble, Yuno Hyung. My family and I owe you a lot. If I can repay you a little by being the Core’s new host, then I’ll do it in a heartbeat."

Aww.

Of course, Yuno was touched by Kwon Hojun’s dedication.

However...

"Kids like you shouldn’t be forced to shoulder the burden of saving the world," Yuno said, gently bumping his leg against Kwon Hojun’s leg. "Let the adults handle this problem, Hojun-ah."

***

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