Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 309: #1 & #1

"ARE YOU going to face Ki Gayoon?"

"Who else can face Ki Gayoon if not me?" Ryu Sungbin asked back, making it sound like Song Heejin had just asked a stupid question. "Since Ki Gayoon was able to locate this area, it’s safe to assume that the System is guiding him to us."

"I don’t think that’s the case," Song Heejin— aka ’Mother’— said while putting her hands in the pockets of her white lab coat. "Based on Ki Gayoon’s tracks, he seems to be headed to our second base."

It was unnerving to talk to Song Heejin, who was using a different body.

Mother is still possessing Eun Rina’s body— someone who’s way younger than us.

Hence, he felt awkward speaking formally to her.

"The cloning device is there, so Ki Gayoon must be after it," Song Heejin said. "Go and retrieve the cloning device before Ki Gayoon gets his hands on it. Now that Moon Noa is here, we can finally replace the ’battery.’"

"That’s the plan," Ki Gayoon said. "If you have nothing else to say, then I’m leaving."

"I expect you to bring back not only the cloning device, but Ki Gayoon as well."

"So, you want me to use the cloning device to lure Ki Gayoon here." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Exactly," Song Heejin said, nodding. "We’ll have a new heart to restart the cloning device. So, we’ll also need a new ’main’ Esper."

Ah, that was Ryu Sungbin’s role.

Maybe it’s more appropriate to say that it used to be my role— I clearly got fired just now.

"Don’t take it to heart, Sungbin-ah. It’s just that your compatibility rate with Bambi has decreased recently," Song Heejin said, smiling sympathetically at Ryu Sungbin. "We should have Bambi and Ki Gayoon undergo another matching rate test. I have a feeling that they’ll have a decent compatibility rate this time around. It’s nothing personal, Sungbin-ah. We’re just doing this for the greater good."

"I know that," Ryu Sungbin said, walking past Song Heejin. "And I know my place, so you don’t need to overexplain."

***

HOW UGLY.

Ki Gayoon scoffed at the ’dogs’ that kept following him as he leisurely walked in the pathway of that hiking trail.

Who knew those bastards have been hiding deep into the mountains?

Well, he wouldn’t know either if the System didn’t give him a map as a reward for the side-quests that he had accomplished recently.

It seemed like he was in the right place because he was greeted by ugly ’dogs.’

With quotation marks because the ’dogs’ were obviously monsters with a slight semblance with dogs.

Like they’re the mutated version?

More like zombie dogs?

Anyway, the point was those ’dogs’ were ugly and unnecessarily huge.

They’re twice the size of an adult wolf.

To be fair, a group of those ugly zombie-like dogs could take down (inexperienced) B-Class Hunters and below.

But, of course, Ki Gayoon was above those ugly things.

In fact, all he had to do was use his ability to make the monsters’ heads explode.

He would also flick his wrist from time to time, causing boulders to fly around and hit monsters. Sometimes, he would make the boulders fall on purpose above the monsters— crushing them in the process.

This is getting boring.

And, as soon as he thought that, a strong presence disturbed his leisure strolling.

Finally, a worthy opponent.

"You’re late, Ki Gayoon."

Oh, he appeared already?

Ki Gayoon didn’t expect that the person to greet him would be Ryu Sungbin.

But he came there for that bastard anyway, so everything worked out fine.

"It seems like you’re expecting me," Ki Gayoon said, still relaxed. He could tell Ryu Sungbin wasn’t hostile, but he still didn’t let his guard down. Having said that, he didn’t raise his guard extra higher either. After all, he was trying not to look antagonistic. "Well, that’s good because I came all the way here for you, Sungbin Hyung."

Ryu Sungbin’s eyes widened a bit, even taking a step back as if he were really surprised. "Why are you suddenly calling me ’Hyung?’ Have you lost your mind? Or are you not the real Ki Gayoon?"

Aigoo.

Ki Gayoon thought Ryu Sungbin was overreacting, but he couldn’t blame him totally.

After all, it had been years since he called the other Esper by the correct honorifics.

I’ve been a rude bastard for such a long time that people get shocked when I speak politely, huh?

"No need to overreact," Ki Gayoon said. Yes, it was his fault that Ryu Sungbin had a big reaction after he called him ’hyung’ again. But it wasn’t something worth fussing over. "I also call Haru Hyung and Noa Hyung by the correct honorifics now."

Ryu Sungbin looked at Ki Gayoon in disbelief. "Ki Gayoon, you should kiss Noh Yihun’s feet in gratitude. He did the impossible— he brought back the manners that you’ve lost a long time ago."

"Shut up. And stop calling Noh Yuno by his dead name."

"Right. My memories tend to get jumbled from time to time, so please excuse me."

"You seem pretty sober today."

"I know. You got lucky with your timing, Ki Gayoon," Ryu Sungbin said. "If you ask me something, I might give you a proper answer."

"Really? You’ll answer my questions?"

"Yes. I might even tell you where the cloning device is."

"I’m not stupid," Ki Gayoon said, scoffing. "You’re obviously using the cloning device to lure me to wherever it is you want me to go to."

"Can’t you just pretend to fall for our trap?"

"That depends on your answer."

"Ask away, then."

"Do you need help?"

"What?"

"Sungbin Hyung, I’m going to ask again," Ki Gayoon said in a careful and gentle tone that he rarely used, even in the past. "Do you need my help?"

Ryu Sungbin wanted to laugh bitterly.

However, no sound came out of his mouth.

Moreover...

"Stop crying, Hyung," Ki Gayoon said awkwardy. "I mean, you can cry later— just answer my question first."

Yeah, Ryu Sungbin was crying silently.

Not from pain.

It was actually quite the opposite.

The heaviness in his chest suddenly disappeared.

Just like that, he could finally breathe properly again.

And, for the first time in a long while, his head had been clear.

I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, after all.

"Yes," Ryu Sungbin whispered, tears rolling down his cheeks quietly as his heart continued to thump hard and fast against his chest. "Help us, Gayoon-ah."

***

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