Guide Me If You Dare
Chapter 93: THE FIRST VICTIM

Chapter 93: THE FIRST VICTIM

KI GAYOON couldn’t believe he fell asleep peacefully while cuddling with Noh Yuno.

He didn’t know how long exactly he had fallen asleep next to the punk, but it was still the wee hours— judging by how it was still a bit dark outside the window. He could see the sky from the gap between the curtains.

I fell asleep uninterruptedly for at least five hours.

For an Esper like him, that was already considered plenty of sleep. High-ranking Espers were sensitive, so they would often wake up with the slightest noise or sudden shift in the air. It was a skill they developed in order to survive in dungeons.

So, Gayoon was pleasantly surprised that he had a good night’s sleep.

Well, it wasn’t the first time that it happened.

But it was the first time he fell asleep with Noh Yuno that didn’t count as Guiding.

They just cuddled all night.

I can get used to this.

Gayoon hugged Noh Yuno tighter, pulling the punk closer to his body.

Noh Yuno mumbled something incoherent in his sleep, and then he tried to wriggle out of Gayoon’s embrace.

Ah, damn.

Gayoon used his Esper reflexes to catch Noh Yuno’s knee with his legs when the punk almost hit and broke his family jewels.

He saved his balls, but a new dilemma occurred.

Now their crotches were touching.

And I’m getting hard.

Gayoon had no intention of assaulting Noh Yuno in his sleep, so he just shut his eyes tight and tried hard to think of pure thoughts to distract himself.

But the first "pure thought" that came to his mind was Noh Yuno’s smiling face.

To be precise, it was when the two of them had a "romantic date" by the beach.

This punk looks pretty when he’s smiling.

To be fair, most Guides were beautiful regardless of their gender.

But Gayoon had never been attracted to Guides until he met Noh Yuno...

Wait, what the fuck did I just say?

Who’s attracted to whom?

Let’s just shut off my brain.

Gayoon was determined to go back to sleep, but then his phone suddenly rang.

If it was just a normal night, then he would have been pissed.

But he needed that distraction.

Hence, Gayoon slowly and carefully pulled Noh Yuno away from him.

He then got up and answered Ryu Sungbin’s call.

"What?"

<"Yang Youngjae is on a Rampage. I’ll send you the location, so come here.">

"You can’t stop Yang Youngjae? If the situation is so bad you have to ask for my help of all people, then call his Guide to bring him back to his senses..." Gayoon trailed off when the realization hit him. "Oh. His Guide died?"

<"Killed, probably.">

It must be the work of the fucking serial killer on the loose.

They moved quicker than expected.

"Alright, I’ll be there—"

<"Bring Noh Yuno with you.">

"Why the fuck would I bring my Guide to a dangerous place? Guides don’t belong to the battlefield."

<"That’s not for you to decide, so go ask your Guide first.">

After that, Ryu Sungbin ended the call.

Bastard.

"Hyung, I’ll come with you."

Ah.

Gayoon sighed when he belatedly realized that Noh Yuno had already woken up.

Judging by what the punk said, he clearly heard everything.

Well, Guides are Awakened People with sharp senses, too.

"Hyung, I also believe that Guides don’t belong to the battlefield— we’re a great support, but we just get in the way of Espers in a fight," Noh Yuno said while rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "Having said that, it doesn’t mean Guides can’t step up if we need to."

"Are you being reckless again, Noh Yuno?"

"No, Hyung. I’m just confident because I have you with me."

"Is this the same person who said his business was not my business last night?"

"I didn’t say it like that, Hyung. Stop being petty."

Gayoon let out a sigh. "I’ll take you with me— but you can’t get out of my sight. You know Espers who just lost their Guide have the worst Rampage of all, right?"

"Yes, Hyung," Yuno said, nodding while smiling. "I’ll stick to Hyung like glue."

Dammit.

Noh Yuno’s sleepy smile looked so fucking adorable.

Why does this punk get cuter in my eyes the more I look at him?

"Hyung, you’re hard," Yuno said while looking at the bulge in Gayoon’s pants. "Do you need me to use my hand to take care of that? You need Guiding anyway since you’re going to stop a Rampage. We need to make it quick, though."

"I’ll take care of this on my own."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I’m not confident I’d be satisfied with just a handjob. We might end up tangled in the bed once we start, and then Ryu Sungbin would kill us for missing the job."

"Are you a teenager, Hyung? Why are you so horny these days?"

"Who’s fault is that?"

"It’s your dick, Hyung— I don’t control it, so don’t try to blame me."

But you make me horny, you punk!

Gayoon wanted to say that, but he didn’t want Noh Yuno to misunderstand.

I’d rather this punk think I’m being horny like a teenager than have him think I’m attracted to him.

"Hyung?"

Haaah.

Noh Yuno looked so cute and innocent while looking up at Gayoon with sleepy eyes and calling him ’hyung’ in a soft, quiet voice.

I want to gobble him up.

"Let’s brush our teeth first," Gayoon said, standing up to take care of his business in the bathroom. "A kiss would suffice for now."

***

YANG YOUNGJAE, the former #5 Esper.

Choi Kangmin, the former #5 Esper’s Exclusive Guide.

Yuno clenched his hands while remembering the time when Choi Kangmin, a fellow Guide of the same age, picked a fight with him.

Then I chose Gayoon Hyung as my champion.

As a result, Ki Gayoon and Yang Youngjae fought in an official match. Yang Youngjae didn’t only lose the match— he also lost his position as a member of the Top to Ki Gayoon.

That happened not too long ago.

And now...

Apparently, Guide Choi Kangmin-ssi died— causing Esper Yang Youngjae-ssi to go on a Rampage.

It felt surreal.

"What are you thinking, Noh Yuno?" Gayoon asked while driving. "You’re awfully quiet."

"It’s been a while since a Guide I know died, so I don’t know what I’m feeling," Yuno confessed while looking outside the window. It was still very early in the morning, so the road wasn’t packed yet. "I’m not fond of Choi Kangmin, and my opinion of him won’t change just because he’s dead. Having said that, his death still leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

"You probably feel empathetic towards him."

"Hyung is probably right— I do hate it when Guides die unfairly, after all," Yuno said, pausing for a moment. "Most Espers die in either raiding a dungeon or killing monsters after a Dungeon Break, so Civilians honor their deaths and call them heroes. But Guides— most of them die at the hands of their Espers, beaten and humiliated. Worse, most Civilians avoid talking about that issue because they’re afraid of offending Espers. Only a small number of Civilians fight for Guides’ rights in this country. The majority of the population is too comfortable in being a bystander."

Hence, during Yuno’s rebellious teenage years, his dream was for all Espers and Guides to disappear so that the Civilians would be left to fend for themselves.

But, of course, he was just a powerless, young and dumb kid back then.

I was angry at the world at the time, but I’m over it now.

Well, not completely.

Maaaybe I’m still a bit angry at the world.

"I’m sorry— I’m one of the bystanders you’re talking about," Ki Gayoon said in a remorseful voice. "I never cared about the Guides’ plight before. I even turned down Moon Noa and Ryu Sungbin when they asked me to help them destroy the Lab."

But Yuno knew why Ki Gayoon didn’t help back then.

I think it was around the time Gayoon Hyung dealt with their ’Mother,’ so I understand.

But it was a sensitive topic for Ki Gayoon and most Espers of the First Generation, so he didn’t bring it up.

"It was probably Hyung’s karma to have me as your Guide then," Yuno joked because he wasn’t used to seeing a gloomy Ki Gayoon. "Hyung, I was just venting out. I know how hard it is to stand up for other people. That’s why I’m aiming to break the ’Bystander Effect.’"

"Let me know how I can help."

"You just need to continue keeping me alive, Hyung."

"Easier said than done, but I’m up for the challenge," Gayoon said softly, and then he ruffled Yuno’s hair affectionately. "I guess you really are my karma, Noh Yuno."

Yuno just chuckled... quite nervously.

If I died, then Gayoon Hyung would really think I was his karma...

***

IT WAS a mess.

Ki Gayoon clicked his tongue internally when he and Noh Yuno arrived at the "scene."

Yang Youngjae went on a Rampage in a sports center located in the heart of the city. As a result, the surrounding buildings and establishments were destroyed. Fortunately, the stores around were closed when the Rampage happened, so not many Civilians were hurt.

But where is Esper Yang Youngjae-ssi?

"Noh Yuno, look where you’re walking," Gayoon said to his Exclusive Guide. "There are cracks and debris on the road."

There were also several thrashed vehicles around.

"I can see them, Hyung," Noh Yuno said, and then he grabbed Gayoon’s arm. "Will this make you stop worrying?"

"You’re gonna stretch my suit," Gayoon complained, and then he removed Noh Yuno’s hand from his arm. But, after that, he held his Exclusive Guide’s hand and entwined their fingers together. "This is better."

Noh Yuno looked at their hands, and then he raised his head. "I think it would be much better if Hyung just used your telekinesis power to move me around."

"Stop being lazy. I told you to build up your stamina by working out."

"Tsk."

"Stop clicking your tongue."

Yuno was about to complain, but a scary presence blocked their way.

"You sure took your sweet time."

It was Ryu Sungbin.

Yuno slightly hid behind Ki Gayoon.

"It seems like you’ve already apprehended Yang Youngjae," Ki Gayoon commented. "What’s the problem?"

"I need you to separate Yang Youngjae from Choi Kangmin’s dead body. We can’t move him since he’s using his ability to make everything around him heavy," Ryu Sungbin said, pausing for a moment before sighing. "And we think Yang Youngjae is trying to kill himself."

Ah.

Yuno felt a pang in his chest.

An Esper who can’t live without his Guide, huh?

***

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