CH 103

“I’m sorry. It’s a bit sudden, isn’t it?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Kwon Jeong-han, who smiled with his round eyes bent over the transparent glasses, continued.

“My relative hyung is indebted to Talented Han Yi-gyeol.”

“If it’s a relative hyung…”

“He runs a guild in Busan, do you remember? He’s Master Kwon Ji-hoon of the ‘Four Seasons’ Guild. Hyung said he greeted you at the last hotel party.”

“Ah.”

Those words reminded me of the person I met at the party I went to with Cheon Sa-yeon. A man with a soft impression, with brown eyes reminiscent of chocolate and a dot on his right cheek. After listening to the explanation, it was clear that his appearance and atmosphere resembled Kwon Jeong-han.

“Of course. I remember.”

“Even though he’s my relative hyung, he visited me often since we were young, so he’s like my own hyung (real sibling). My hyung told me that Talented Han Yi-gyeol risked his life to catch the boss. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to say thank you.”

Aha. Was that why he said he was a fan? I smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of my neck.

“I didn’t do anything great enough to hear that. Because I only helped Deputy Master of Roheon.”

“Even so, it wouldn’t have been easy to deal with S+-grade monsters alone, but I think it’s really amazing.”

“Yes? Ah, no…”

I was taken aback by the firm answer and leaned my upper body back slightly. What is it? Why was a 20-year-old so good at talking?

“I saw the news that the damage in the Gangnam incident was greatly reduced thanks to Talented Han Yi-gyeol. There is also information that the culprit is a person with mental ability.”

“Um, that’s true.”

“How am I? I have no experience compared to other applicants, but I’m confident if the culprit is a person with mental ability.”

Kwon Jeong-han showed his enthusiasm at the beginning, which disappeared out of nowhere now, then showed his polite appearance and passionately appealed to him while blushing. Maybe this was his real personality?

Inevitably, I sent a helping signal by eye to Park Geon-ho, who was watching with interest from behind Kwon Jeong-han. Stop watching and stop him.

“Let’s, calm down.”

Park Geon-ho, who smiled bitterly, accepted my request for help. Park Geon-ho, who lightly placed his arm on Kwon Jeong-han’s shoulder, gently raised the corner of his mouth and smiled.

“I think it would be better to explain your ability to Talented Han Yi-gyeol. I gave him a brief explanation before we came, but it would be easier to understand if the person in charge gave him a detailed explanation.”

“Ah, I see. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just too excited.”

Kwon Jeong-han, who had a calm expression on his face as if he had regained his reason quickly, raised his glasses lightly and started explaining.

“First of all, my ability is S-rank emotion control. As you may have noticed, I can control other people’s emotions. It can make you happy or it can make you sad.”

I put on a strange expression at the words. I couldn’t believe it was possible. Not only me but also Min Ah-rin and Kim Woo-jin’s faces became strange. Kwon Jeong-han, noticing our change, smiled like a picture.

“Yes. It’s a very dangerous ability. It can’t directly attack opponents like in the physic world, but it’s possible to induce self-harm or suicide through emotion control.”

“Is there any restrictions on ability activation?”

“It can’t be. Of course, there is.”

Even though it was a sensitive question, Kwon Jeong-han answered it without any sign of displeasure.

“As much as I touch other people’s emotions, my emotions change in the same way. In short, if you make the other person feel a strong sense of depression, it will make you depressed as well. If you’re already in that depressed state, there’s no other change… You can’t use it recklessly.”

Oh, I see. I listened with interest and nodded. If so, it would be difficult to use indiscriminately.

“Also, there are conditions for activation. You have to look directly at the person you want to use your ability on and say the right words.”

“The right words?”

“Um, for example.”

Kwon Jeonghan, who rolled his eyes as if contemplating for a moment, looked at me and opened his mouth.

“Talented Han Yi-gyeol. Look at me and say, ‘Nice to meet you’.”

As soon as those words were finished, I suddenly felt quite welcoming to Kwon Jeong-han in front of me. I opened my eyes wide in surprise at the obvious emotional change.

“Oh, it really works.”

“Right? Now, walking softly, the strange feeling will be greater than the pleasant feeling.”

“Can you make it stronger?”

“Yes. Shall we do it?”

“I’m curious, but… is it possible to unlock your ability?”

“It basically lasts five minutes. If you don’t use any more energy, the effect will disappear immediately after 5 minutes.”

Maybe five minutes would be okay. Anyway, it would be better to check his ability and move on. As I nodded, Kwon Jeong-han activated his ability once more with a bright voice.

“‘Nice to meet you’, Talented Han Yi-gyeol.”

“Ah…”

I blinked several times and looked at Kwon Jeong-han. My heart was beating fast and my body was shaking. At the end of the euphoria that was filled with emotion, I didn’t hesitate to embrace him.

“Oh my.”

“Ha, Han Yi-gyeol!”

“Yay.”

I couldn’t stand this joy. I cried out as I felt the warm body temperature that came into my arms.

“It’s really nice to see you. Nice to meet you!”

“Haha, yes.”

“Let’s be friends for a long time. Please take care of me as my bodyguard.”

“Wa, really? Thank you.”

I guess I would have to ask Kwon Jeong-han for safety. Wasn’t it too sad to see such a good person just for today? I was about to share this joy with Kwon Jeong-han, but a strong force grabbed me.

“Han Yi-gyeol, wake up!”

It was Kim Woo-jin who hugged me from behind. I struggled to get out of his arms. I wanted to express this joy somehow, but why were you blocking me? It wasn’t like it was worn out just because you didn’t wear it.

“I’m sane. I’m just glad—“

Kim Woo-jin shouted sharply, blocking my body struggling to escape.

“Unleash your ability now!”

“Uum, it automatically turns off after five minutes. Until then, I’m still thinking about what to do.”

“It’s definitely effective.”

“Talented Han Yi-gyeol is the type of person who hugs when he’s happy. I got some good information.”

Looking at Kwon Jeong-han, who smiled with a troubled face, and Kim Woo-jin, who became extremely sensitive, Min Ah-rin and Park Geon-ho had a lively conversation. I knew everything, but I wanted you to stop, just let me go now. It was so frustrating.

“Fuck, so you’re going to have to watch this for five minutes?”

“Right.”

Even though Kim Woo-jin was staring at him with a terrifying force, Kwon Jeong-han didn’t blink an eye and smiled softly. I was worried because he was 20 years old, but seeing him like that, I thought it was nothing to worry about.

“We can’t talk in the current state, so we have no choice but to wait.”

“May I bring you something to drink?”

Min Ah-rin and Park Geon-ho were very excited about the current situation. If they could, they would even bring popcorn.

‘So, the joy I feel right now is fake.’

From what I had experienced, it was a much more terrifying ability than I expected. As Min Ah-rin said, I would have to wait for 5 minutes to wear out.

* * *

“As you have seen, my ability can be used in various ways. Of course, it’s good to protect Talented Han Yi-gyeol from the same mental ability talented person.”

Five minutes later, when my emotions returned to normal, I drank the drink that Park Geon-ho brought and listened to Kwon Jeong-han’s explanation of his ability.

“Even if the culprit in the Gangnam case uses mental control against Talented Han Yi-gyeol, I can control his emotions so that Talented Han Yi-gyeol doesn’t obey his orders.”

“Do you mean that emotions win over mental control?”

“Yes. There are many emotions that can make a person feel helpless. If you amplify the feeling of depression or boredom, even if you are in a state of mental control, you can’t move your body easily. Not to mention emotion control.”

Kwon Jeong-han clearly showed his confidence in his ability. I nodded and realized why Park Geon-ho recommended him.

Park Geon-ho, who was quietly listening next to Kwon Jeong-han, opened his mouth.

“Unless we can figure out how to unlock the perpetrator’s ability, we need at least a countermeasure. Kwon Jeong-han is a perfect fit for that preparation.”

“Isn’t that too good of a skill to just take on my bodyguard? You could have done a better job.”

“Most of the talented people with mental ability fall into the support department or strategy team, but Kwon Jeong-han hasn’t decided where he will go yet. So, don’t worry about anything else and accept it. He wants it so strongly.”

“…if not, I have something to ask you about it.”

I opened the drink bottle cap in front of me and pushed it to Kim Woo-jin, who was staring at Kwon Jeong-han as if he was going to kill him, bringing up the problem I had thought about before.

“Even though it’s an order from Master Cheon Sa-yeon, I’m not a member of Requiem. Isn’t there any disadvantage in taking charge of my bodyguard?”

In response to my question, Park Geon-ho lightly shrugged his shoulders with an expression of concern for everything.

“Of course. It’s like the guild is lending one bodyguard. In addition, it’s nothing else, Han Yi-gyeol, it’s your bodyguard, so Master will take good care of you.”

At the last sentence, I couldn’t help but laugh. I didn’t know why everyone had such a misunderstanding.

“Are you really okay with that too?”

“I’m sure.”

When I looked at Kwon Jeong-han and asked him one last time, Kwon Jeong-han smiled brightly and nodded his head. At that smile, Kim Woo-jin, who was sitting next to me, opened his axe’s eyes and gritted his teeth.

“I understand. Um, I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

“I will do my best.”

Kwon Jeong-han’s eyes twinkled as he answered. I really wondered if I could do this, but I had no other reason to refuse here, so I just have to accept it.

“Good. Although bodyguards with mental ability are rare, it shouldn’t be a big problem. Kwon Jeong-han will send you the relevant documents, so fill them out. You can start guarding from tomorrow.”

Park Geon-ho, who thought he had solved one case, ended the situation. I tapped Min Ah-rin and Kim Woo-jin next to each other with the meaning of “let’s go”. Kim Woo-jin was still glaring at Kwon Jeong-han.

“Kim Woo-jin.”

When I called Kim Woo-jin to tell him to stop, he pouted his mouth in dissatisfaction. It was at that time that Kwon Jeong-han, who was sitting in front of him watching everything, smiled at Kim Woo-jin.

‘I don’t think he’s an easy person either…’

We hadn’t done anything yet, so why were you already on a bad relationship? I only sighed.