Guide to the Fallen World - Chapter 38

38. The Kidnapping

Faced with her conflicting reactions—skepticism mixed with a willingness to listen—Yi Gyeom paused to think, then recalled a phrase he had recently come to fully understand.

“The world where Espers live isn’t Earth.”

Yeowon was bewildered by the sudden, cryptic turn in the conversation, which felt more like a riddle. What kind of word game was this?

She wanted to tell him to stop talking nonsense and just answer her, but the Esper’s gaze was so overpowering that she couldn’t make a sound. It felt as if she shouldn’t question or refute him.

Observing the conflict so clearly written on her face, Yi Gyeom smiled benevolently. The words he’d thought too soon to say were put back into his heart.

You need to need me. Let me show you how useful I am. More useful than that Director, who is nothing but a machine, more than Noah’s Esper, who has nothing… I can offer you so much more.

But to speak such embarrassing words aloud with a straight face, he knew he first had to melt the Guide’s heart.

Like digging through the earth without sound or vibration to open a path underground, he would slowly close the distance, lulling her into dropping her guard.

Only then could he cross the line the Guide had drawn. Only then could he approach the deepest part of her heart.

People called this sort of thing ‘playing coy.’ He knew, but he didn’t care. If a little coyness could slowly bend the Guide’s heart toward him, the game would be over.

After that, not even the Director would be able to interfere.

***

Dohyuk had told me something once. It was when Jay was going on and on about the dangers of Espers, and I wasn’t quite grasping her point.

At the time, Dohyuk had taken my half-hearted listening rather seriously.

With a solemn expression, he had offered me a solution.

“Yeowon. This is unlikely to ever happen, but if you ever find yourself wanting to kill an Esper… you just have to whisper words of love.”

The way he could say something so unconvincing with such a calm face—if that was a talent, it was certainly a unique one. Just as I was thinking that, Jay unexpectedly agreed.

“Oh. That’s true, that method does exist. But Yeowon’s a terrible liar. Think it would work?”

“They would fall for it, even knowing it’s a lie. That’s what Guides are like. In any case, shake the Esper with empty words of love, and when you feel the time is right, turn on them. All you have to do is scream at them to go and die. If you truly mean it, the Esper will do it.”

“Dohyuk… what kind of nonsense is that…?”

I would sooner believe the fairy tale about the rats following the Pied Piper into the sea.

I was about to ask if the two of them were teaming up to tease me, but Dohyuk’s eyes, when they met mine, were so deep and sad that I couldn’t bring myself to question him further. He was just too serious.

“If you ever come to hate me, please do that for me.”

“That’s never going to happen.”

“I know, but still.”

Yeowon didn’t know it then, but Dohyuk had said it because he truly felt he would have to go and die if she ever found his carnal desires for her to be impure. That was the very reason he hadn’t been able to progress beyond a kiss.

Moreover, what Dohyuk had said was a truth that had been proven in reality.

And now, having arrived at Shelter Yeouido, Yeowon was recalling his words. Of course, she didn’t know if they were true or not. It was just too unbelievable a story.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Right then, Yi Gyeom’s question forcibly pulled the lost-in-reverie Yeowon back to the present. She figured that such a ridiculous anecdote could only come to mind because the situation was truly dire.

But if asked whether things were really that bad, she couldn’t exactly say they were.

Her treatment, surprisingly, had not been bad at all.

The modest marble building, surrounded by a wavelength blocker, was as immaculate as a temple, without a single speck of dust. In a nearby enclosure, roses bloomed brilliantly—how they had been procured, she had no idea. They were all real, not artificial.

And now, Yeowon found herself under a morning glory-covered awning with the leader of her kidnappers. The ridiculous reason she had been summoned was for breakfast.

At this point, she couldn’t feign ignorance even if she wanted to.

People’s intuition can be foolishly dull, but suddenly become eerily sharp. Even someone naturally dense will eventually figure out who likes and dislikes them over time.

Things like gazes, voices, attitudes, words, and actions become signposts, revealing the hidden truth. Just as the devil is in the details, truth is hidden in trivial things.

And so, Yeowon arrived at the obvious conclusion.

He likes me.

Even though she had narrowed its scope, she had maintained her Reverse Guiding field the entire time, yet he had downed guiding drugs without a single word of complaint. That was the extent of his reaction.

He probably hadn’t said anything, but she was sure he had taken the medication several times when she wasn’t looking.

It had been three days.

Unlike two days ago, when Espers from Yeouido were stationed everywhere, now he was the only Esper inside. Putting physical stamina aside, she no longer had the mental fortitude to continue their psychological battle.

Surrender brings peace. Recalling the truth she had learned from her experience in Shelter Sakhalin, Yeowon slowly reined in her Reverse Guiding field.

Yi Gyeom keenly sensed the change.

“Have you decided to let your guard down?”

“I’m tired.”

At Yeowon’s curt reply, Yi Gyeom gave a brisk nod of affirmation.

“People get sensitive when their environment changes.”

As he spoke, he was cutting a piece of egg-battered toast with a knife.

“Eat.”

French toast generously sprinkled with sugar, and milk. Butter and strawberry jam portioned for easy spreading.

This man’s claim that he would be more useful than Jay wasn’t just talk. His offer to let her experience and judge for herself didn’t seem to be a lie, either. That’s what unsettled her heart the most.

Seeing no point in overthinking it, Yeowon silently began to eat. The food was undoubtedly delicious, but it felt like she was chewing on paper. Yi Gyeom watched her quietly as she picked at her food without a word.

“All you do is sit by the window all day.”

That’s because I don’t know when Dohyuk might show up. And I want to be the first to spot the drone Jay sends.

“Aren’t you bored? You didn’t seem too fond of the toys I prepared, either.”

Was he talking about the jewels and music boxes he’d ostentatiously piled up inside the building? To lump all of that together and call it ‘toys’…

A simple dartboard and darts cease to be mere playthings when adorned with rubies and emeralds. The chessboard she had fiddled with on the first day was also a treasure made of black spinel and white sapphire.

“I’m not sure if the meal is to your liking.”

On top of everything, he had the persistence to keep talking to her, even when she consistently ignored him. Wanting to just eat and leave, Yeowon swallowed the bread without even chewing.

But she couldn’t ignore Yi Gyeom’s next words.

“If you’re up for it, how about a tour of Yeouido city?”

Yeowon’s head shot up, her eyes meeting Yi Gyeom’s.

“You seem to like that idea. Let’s go when you’re done. I’ll give you a tour of District 2.”

Don’t fall for it. Don’t fall for it. But she was wavering. As Yeowon’s fork stilled in indecision, Yi Gyeom took it from her, speared a piece of toast, and held it to her lips.

It was such a blatant gesture that it made her wonder just what he was doing.

“There’s a Hirugion-exclusive shop there. Your pet, its name was Tiri? I think they sell rowan berries there.”

After a fierce internal struggle, Yeowon opened her mouth and accepted the toast.

The moment she did, her pride stung. Unable to quell her discomfort, she chewed the bread combatively, but her opponent simply smiled at her, feigning harmlessness, regardless of the daggers she shot from her eyes.

“I’ll take you to all the famous places in Yeouido. I’m sure there will be at least one place you’ll like.”

Just as his calm voice seemed persuasive—

“…!”

Even though she flinched back, a hand reached out as if to make a point and gently brushed the sugar from the corner of her lips. Then, he blatantly licked the sugar from his index finger.

Her face flushed hot in the intense atmosphere.

If that was an unconscious gesture, he was an oblivious fox. If it was deliberate, it was a calculated seduction. This man seemed to be the latter. His faint smile and the interest gleaming in his eyes told her so.

“If you keep me by your side, you can have this kind of eye candy anytime.”

That almost provocative remark made Yeowon pointed her finger at him like scolding.

“You… you…”

“Fox?”

“Pervert!”

“Oh, it’s a misunderstanding. I don’t have any sexual perversions. I merely aim for normal affection…”

Yi Gyeom trailed off and shut his mouth. He sensed that if he said any more, the Guide might deploy her Reverse Guiding field again. He didn’t want a few words to ruin the progress he’d made in lowering her guard.

“Let’s stop here. I spoke more than necessary trying to avoid any needless misunderstanding.”

Neatly changing the subject, Yi Gyeom quietly waited for Yeowon to finish her plate, his gaze turned to the side. For the first time, Yeowon studied his profile.

He had teased her so brazenly, yet now he acted as if nothing had happened.

Just what kind of person was this Esper, who waited so patiently for her to finish her meal? Considering he wasn’t on the list of Esper videos Jay had shown her, he probably wasn’t a terrible or evil person.

But one thing was certain: he was dangerous. She needed to understand him. To do that, however, she would have to start by showing curiosity rather than remaining silent.

Walking around the Yeouido cityscape would surely provide a more natural opportunity to talk. If she could slip in a few sensitive questions during their conversation and gauge his reaction, she might be able to get some information.

What Yeowon didn’t know was that the moment one becomes curious about another person, a relationship has already begun.​