Approximal Guide Vol. 6 Chapter 4 - Extra (4)

Amidst the overwhelming ceremony, there was one thing I felt grateful for. This meant that Kim Moohyuk and I were now fully bonded. The tightly wound imprinting loop at my neck felt reassuring. Now that we had done this, Kim Moohyuk’s remaining imprinting symptoms would likely recover soon. Perhaps even the lingering effects of his cold would improve.

With this, I had become Kim Moohyuk’s guide.

Yesterday, many voiced their opinions that an outdoor ceremony might be difficult due to the rain, but today the sky was clear and beautiful.

After a lengthy preparation by Kim Moohyuk, all I had to do was put on the ceremonial attire. In the end, all I did was put on the traditional hanbok. Kim Moohyuk took care of all the typical preparations for the ceremony. All I had to do was put on the ceremonial headpiece.

As I lay there, feeling embarrassed, Kim Moohyuk suddenly grabbed both of my hips and pressed down.

“What, what are you doing?”

“Stay still. I’ll give you what you’ve been begging for.”

Kim Moohyuk’s eyes gleamed dangerously as his ESP field enveloped the bed. The drug made him excited, or maybe it was the fact that he didn’t have to hold back anymore. I had been worried that he wouldn’t be able to finish, so I had prepared myself mentally in various ways, but it was still overwhelming.

“……I, I don’t think it’ll fit.”

The thick, hard rod pressing against my entrance was intimidating.

“I think differently. You’ll feel good.”

But Kim Moohyuk said something outrageous in a low voice. I felt my face heat up, but I couldn’t even protest.

“Ugh―.”

The thick head that had been pressing against my entrance suddenly pushed in as I gasped. A moan escaped my lips. Kim Moohyuk also had veins bulging on his neck. It seemed difficult for him too.

“Ha, does it hurt?”

“No, it’s not… that…”

It didn’t hurt, but the sensation was strange. I involuntarily threw my head back, and Kim Moohyuk grabbed my hips.

“It’ll be harder if you stay like this. Just bear with it for a moment.”

With that, he thrust his cock deep inside me.

“Ah―! Ugh, huh, ah…….”

“Ha, umm, ugh…….”

Kim Moohyuk’s breath also became ragged. I could feel my inner walls throbbing, as if my heart was beating inside me. But the problem was that Kim Moohyuk’s cock was inside me.

“Is it hard?”

“Ugh, no… uh, a little.”

I wanted to tell him it wasn’t, but I couldn’t help but tell the truth. However, Kim Moohyuk seemed to be in a more dire situation. Although I had been stretched out by Kim Moohyuk’s fingers, it was still tight and painful for him. His neck was red, and his veins were bulging.

I tried to relax, but it was no use. My entrance was already stretched out, so even when I tried to relax, it only stimulated Kim Moohyuk’s cock more.

“Just, ugh, just move, uh?”

“Ha, I think I’m going to lose my mind, Instructor…….”

Kim Moohyuk’s voice was hoarse. He started to move his hips slowly, as if he was experiencing his first guiding again. He was careful not to put too much weight on my chest, afraid I wouldn’t be able to breathe. He placed his forearms gently on the bed and moved only his hips.

“Ah, wait…….”

But now it was my turn to feel the strange sensation. Just the feeling of his cock moving inside me made me feel an indescribable itch. I tried to shake my head, but Kim Moohyuk chased after me and bit down on my exposed neck, making it impossible for me to move any other way.

“Huh, wait, ah! Huh, ugh, it’s weird, it’s weird…….”

“Instructor, ah, Kang Hajung…….”

Kim Moohyuk didn’t seem to notice my change. The movement of his cock inside me became more intense. I had my eyes wide open, unable to even breathe. The feeling of his glans pressing against my prostate made my vision flash with light.

“Ah, no, huh, ah……!”

“Huh, good, Kang Hajung, ah……. Hajung, ugh―!”

Kim Moohyuk’s hips moved even faster. The feeling of my hard nipples rubbing against his thick chest intensified. I wanted to scold him for calling me by my name so informally, but every time I opened my mouth, a moan escaped.

“―Ah, ah!”

I couldn’t think of anything and just moaned, but I couldn’t stop. The sound of his thick thighs slapping against my buttocks echoed through the room. Kim Moohyuk buried his face in my neck and panted.

I felt a sensation in my belly, like something was stirring inside me. Kim Moohyuk’s cock was hard again.

“Hey, I’m tired…….”

“The imprinting process isn’t complete yet.”

Kim Moohyuk lifted his upper body and said in a low voice. I knew he was lying. There was no way he couldn’t feel the tightly connected loop at the base of his cock.

“Are you lying to me?”

“…….”

But Kim Moohyuk didn’t answer and pulled his cock out of me. He lifted my hips and made me kneel on the bed.

“Hey! What is this?”

I cried out in embarrassment, but Kim Moohyuk pressed his hand against my neck, making it impossible for me to move.

“I haven’t come yet.”

Then he thrust his wet cock back into me, making a loud, squelching sound. I felt embarrassed that my hole was making such a lewd sound.

“What’s that sound?! Then what was that earlier…….”

“That was something else.”

Something else……? What else could it be? I wanted to ask, but with my hips raised, I couldn’t speak properly. I was shocked that the imprinting process would take multiple rounds.

Kim Moohyuk carried me to the bathroom several times, and each time, he would thrust into me again without pulling out. My insides were filled with his cum, but he didn’t seem to care.

“That’s enough, I can’t, huh―!”

“You can’t? Really? Do you still want to have sex properly?”

He laughed at me, his face flushed with excitement. Every time my right leg cramped, Kim Moohyuk would pull out and massage my thigh.

“Hey, you, you’re doing this on purpose so you can fuck me again when the cramp goes away!”

I cried out in frustration, but Kim Moohyuk didn’t laugh. Instead, he lowered his head and kissed me, silencing me. In the end, I lost consciousness with the feeling of his lips pressed against my ring finger, which was wearing the wedding band.

With my hips firmly gripped, he pulled out his thick tip, only to thrust it back in forcefully, causing me to lose all will and reason to respond to his questions. Without giving me a chance to answer, he pushed in at his own pace, soon pressing his member against the deepest point inside me and gently scraping it. The heated skin of my buttocks stuck to and peeled off from Kim Moohyuk’s lower abdomen. The sound was similar to pounding rice cake dough and spreading water over it.

If it were before, I would have squirmed in embarrassment at that sound. But now, there was no room for such leisurely feelings. I was on the verge of death, yet Kim Moohyuk seemed to feel a tender affection, pressing his entire chest against my back and continuously kissing my temple.

“Still, it’s been a while… I ate a lot, so… I wanted to show off my skills… ah, um…”

I couldn’t understand how he could keep up a casual conversation while moving his hips. Even without using any explicit words, his breath and moans mixed to create a strangely erotic voice that sent shivers down my spine. But I couldn’t react at all. I was busy lying on the table, curling my toes, and trying to hold back my urge to come for the umpteenth time. The coarse feel of Kim Moohyuk’s pubic hair against my soft cheek wasn’t even registering as a sensation.

Moohyuk’s frequency of ejaculation was so different from mine that after one session, I would be the only one coming repeatedly until I passed out. I tried to conserve my energy by reducing the frequency, but he was no help at all. He knew I was struggling to hold back, yet he seemed to enjoy tormenting me or just being mischievous. I couldn’t bear it when he pushed his member against that spot and shook it like he was relieving himself.

“Stop, no, don’t, stop…….”

Eventually, I reached back to push his lower abdomen away, but it was firm and immovable like a wall. My weakened hand slipped down to the point where our bodies joined, but Kim Moohyuk didn’t remove it and kept thrusting. The sensation of his member sliding between my tightly spread fingers made it even more unbearable.

“Ugh, ugh… ugh…….”

The thick and hard member pressing down made my stomach uncomfortable. Even breathing was difficult. As I felt my lower abdomen, the thing that reached up to my navel kept moving, giving me a strange feeling. Kim Moohyuk overlapped his hand, wet with lube, on top of mine. I could feel the ring on his left hand scratching mine. The feeling of interlocking fingers with the hand that was gripping my lower abdomen was strange. At first, it was a soft touch, but gradually, I felt more pressure on the back of my hand. As his hand and the member pressing inside me pushed against some point in my inner wall from both directions, my knees buckled.

“Huh, ugh, huh…….”

I couldn’t help but tremble and come. His hard cock seemed to be cheering me on as it pressed and rubbed inside me. With my knees buckled, he supported my lower abdomen, bearing my weight, and kissed the back of my sweaty neck and the most protruding vertebra.

“Ha……. Kang Hajung…….”

“Ugh…….”

Just hearing him say my name made the last bit of semen at the tip of my cock surge out. Even though my semen was pooled on the table, he still hadn’t come. I was deeply exhausted but couldn’t just pass out. I had planned to go shopping for groceries and supplies since it was the weekend, but I didn’t expect this to happen after eating the breakfast-lunch he prepared. The table, which was cold when Moohyuk first pushed me down, was now sticky with heat. But I had no choice but to let go of my consciousness. I could only hope that he would take care of my unconscious body and put it back gently.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already late afternoon. I sighed and slowly opened my eyes to see him holding me and reading a book. He noticed my movement right away.

“Are you awake?”

“……Yeah. What time is it?”

My voice was hoarse. Frustrated, I hit Kim Moohyuk’s chest. I put some strength into my fist, but I knew it wouldn’t cause him much pain. Annoyingly, my prediction was correct, as Kim Moohyuk just chuckled and pulled me closer, rubbing his forearm with his palm.

“Are you sulking?”

“Are you kidding me? My throat is sore.”

Even though we had consensual sex, I felt a sense of unfairness. When he returned from a mission and was lacking in guidance, he wouldn’t touch me. But as soon as my condition improved, he would try to have sex anywhere. It was infuriating and cute how he asked if I was sulking. I pretended to be annoyed but couldn’t help but laugh. This happens every time, and it’s impossible to maintain any dignity.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

He seemed to have already noticed my feelings and asked while stroking my cheek. After feeding me and then having sex, he had the nerve to ask if I was hungry again. I enjoyed his gaze filled with those two words for a moment, then reached out and brushed Moohyuk’s forehead.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Seeing his refreshed state, it seemed like he had washed and laid me down after I passed out. So, he probably hadn’t eaten either. I asked out of curiosity, but Kim Moohyuk didn’t answer and just brought my hand to his lips, kissing my curled fingers naturally.

“I had a lot of guiding. I’m full.”

That’s his answer……. It’s astonishing how he can make even everyday conversations sound so explicit. I chuckled and pulled my hand away.

“You should’ve woken me up. You must’ve been bored.”

I couldn’t remember the last time we had a holiday together. Recently, small terrorist groups, acting as offshoots of Accent, seemed to be competing for the top spot of the “bad guys group.” As a result, even the highly experienced Kim Moohyuk had to run around dealing with their mischief. Meanwhile, I, still not fully recovered, was left at home waiting for him to return. Today was finally a holiday. Realizing I had slept in until the afternoon made me feel like I had wasted precious time.

“I should’ve gotten up earlier. Such a waste.”

“I liked it. I got to watch your sleeping face as much as I wanted.”

Kim Moohyuk smiled broadly as he helped me sit up. It was a simple gesture, like propping up a child. Though it was late, I decided we should make the most of the day. As I hurried to get out of bed, my knee gave out, and I nearly fell, but he caught me just in time.

“Be careful, will you?”

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry.”

He had been chuckling, but now his tone was sharp and warning. When Kim Moohyuk spoke like this, it was always about my safety or health, so it was best to apologize, even if just lightly. Sometimes, bowing down was the easiest way to keep the peace in a marriage. I walked carefully, showing I was heeding his advice, even as I headed to the bathroom. Still, I could feel his anxious gaze following me.

Knowing how deeply Kim Moohyuk worried about me, I figured it was up to me to be more cautious. After all, how could I stop my esper, who I had nurtured and shaped, from focusing all his attention on worrying about me? With a pleasant sigh, I stepped into the bathroom.

We had planned to go grocery shopping in the commercial district, but we decided to go out of the center instead. I was craving non-military food. Kim Moohyuk, seeing me exclaim “Budae jjigae!” like a battle cry, looked at me as if wondering why someone living on a military base would crave army stew, but he didn’t nag further. Happily, I climbed into the new large SUV he had bought after our imprinting ceremony. He had been tempted by the idea of a car suitable for families. Despite his usual disinterest in such things, he said he wanted to take me on trips during holidays. Before imprinting, I had even offered to buy him a car, but he wouldn’t hear of it.

In the end, all the catalogs Moohyuk brought home were related to large SUVs. Having grown up in an orphanage, Kim Moohyuk liked the idea of family trips his school friends took on weekends. Now that we had formed a family, he wanted to make that dream a reality. Though I had always thought the jeep provided by the center was the ideal off-road concept car for men, I couldn’t deny him his wish, given his story.

But suddenly, my medical ward appointment was rescheduled, so I sent Kim Moohyuk to test drive the car alone. He ended up contracting a large SUV instead of the sleek sedan we had originally planned. I was shocked to learn the SUV’s engine capacity exceeded 6100cc. Given Kim Moohyuk’s income, it wasn’t astonishing, but I couldn’t understand why he bought such a large car just for the two of us. I suspected he had been swayed by the dealer’s claim that it was great for families.

He had an unexpectedly naive side. I shouldn’t have let him go alone…

‘Hey, as a soldier, shouldn’t you be buying domestic cars? This one’s American.’

The dealer we had originally planned to meet sold domestic cars, but somehow he ended up meeting with a luxury American brand dealer. Han Byeongeun claimed Kim Moohyuk had always wanted a quote from that American brand, but I didn’t believe it. I knew better than anyone that Kim Moohyuk, who didn’t seem it, had a naive side. I was certain he had accidentally ended up in the wrong place and had been swayed into buying the car. He had been obedient and docile as a child. How could his nature change just because he had grown older and tougher? Losing me halfway had just made his demeanor harsher; deep down, he was still that naive boy.

Though the car wasn’t beyond Kim Moohyuk’s means, its size was burdensome, and it was strange to buy a car worth over 150 million won for occasional use. Even when I suggested canceling the contract to get the deposit back, he calmed me down, saying he didn’t want to inconvenience the salesman.

Well, I decided not to argue further, thinking it wasn’t right to prevent him from buying something with the money he had worked so hard to earn. The car turned out to be even bigger than expected, but its wide interior was comfortable and wasn’t a bad choice for my bad knee. Plus, driving around with him on days like today was enjoyable.

“Still, buying the car feels nice, right?”

“…After you work harder on your knee rehabilitation, you can try driving it.”

“Oh, really?”

I asked eagerly as he smoothly turned the steering wheel. Kim Moohyuk smiled faintly and nodded. After all, with him in the passenger seat, there was no risk of an accident. He could subtly lift the vehicle to change its course without anyone noticing, so it wouldn’t be dangerous.

I patted my reliable esper’s arm. I felt happy. Maybe I should buy him an Italian convertible for his next birthday. It would be nice to drive it around sometimes too. The idea amused me, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Kim Moohyuk glanced at me, probably sensing my mischievous plan. I quickly erased my smile, knowing he might nag me into not going through with it.

Meanwhile, our SUV smoothly entered the large mart near the base. It shared a building with a shopping mall, so the parking lot was spacious. There was even a market-style restaurant with a seafood buffet, so we decided to eat there instead of having budae jjigae. Seeing the piles of lobster and crab, I thought it was the perfect place for Kim Moohyuk.

As expected, he started breaking down the shellfish like a pro, placing the meat on my plate and looking at me expectantly. Even though I told him I couldn’t eat that much, he didn’t seem to understand. Eventually, I gave up and nibbled on the dessert he brought while he devoured more than two servings, making the buffet worth it.

After the restaurant, we went to buy a coffee machine. I had hesitated to buy a new one after the old one broke because Kim Moohyuk didn’t like me consuming caffeine due to my heart condition. But I convinced him with the promise of decaf capsules.

“I’ll make you lattes. I make better coffee than you, remember? Back in the day, I was the coffee boy for my seniors at the academy.”

“Do you want to talk about making coffee for other espers while we’re on a date?”

Kim Moohyuk growled. His sudden informal tone made me widen my eyes before a grin spread across my face. I couldn’t help but laugh and cling to him.

“Oh, are you jealous, Moohyuk?”

“Get lost, seriously.”

His annoyed reply was so cute that I laughed even more. He pushed my face away with his palm. Moments like these made it feel like there had never been any problems between us, as if there had been no pain or crisis since he was a rookie. It felt like all the moments of pushing each other away and harboring even a little resentment had vanished.

Every time, I regretted not noticing his feelings sooner and accepting them. If I had, neither of us would have wandered aimlessly during those precious years. Like a stray dog unable to forget the warmth of a home, I wouldn’t have let Kim Moohyuk roam the streets. A deep sadness and regret grew within me.

But I couldn’t show him those feelings. He was already busy enough worrying about me; there was no need to add to his burdens. Kim Moohyuk seemed to be enjoying our rare outing together, unaware of my thoughts. Holding the coffee machine box like a small ring case, he extended his hand to me, signaling to hold hands and head home.

“Hey, there are civilians around. They might look at us weirdly.”

I couldn’t help but be conscious of our surroundings. It was hard to understand how Kim Moohyuk, who had lived outside the center for so long, didn’t notice the atmosphere. But he just shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

“Pretend your knee hurts. They’ll think I’m helping you.”

“Are you telling me to limp just to hold your hand?”

Kim Moohyuk shrugged. That was exactly what he meant. He was shameless and ridiculous.

“I don’t care what others think, but if it bothers you, we can do that. I’m not giving up on holding your hand.”

He spoke as if it were a simple matter. Despite my exasperation, I thought, maybe he’s right. …Yeah, why should I care what others think? I reached out and took his hand. A sense of satisfaction spread through me.

I liked the feel of his left hand, with the ring on, holding my right hand tightly. At that moment, he said something to me, but I couldn’t hear it clearly. Huh? What did you say, Moohyuk? I asked him, but I couldn’t hear his answer. How can a human stop the sun from being covered by dark clouds? I felt helpless as my consciousness faded.

“Kang Hajung—!”

I faintly heard Kim Moohyuk calling my name.

It’s okay, Kang Hajung. It’ll be okay.

What? I asked, not understanding the murmuring voice, but no one answered my confusion. What’s going on? I kept asking, but no one responded.

“It’s okay, just sleep. I’ll be waiting…”

I heard Kim Moohyuk’s voice. Only then did I realize it was him who had been whispering reassurances. I didn’t know what he meant by “it’s okay.” His voice trembled with anxiety, trying to calm me.

I wanted to reassure him instead. I didn’t know what was happening, but I wanted to tell him it would be okay, just as he said. But no words came out. Why? Why couldn’t I speak? Not only could I not open my mouth, but I also couldn’t move my limbs. I wanted to reach out and touch his cheek to comfort him, but I couldn’t move my arms or legs.

“Ah, ah…”

Someone was groaning in pain. Who’s making all that noise? It was hard enough trying to calm Kim Moohyuk, and now someone was screaming. I frowned, wanting to tell them to be quiet.

“Ahhh—!”

“Kang Hajung!”

My body jolted and trembled. It was then that I realized the one who had been howling like a beast was me. Pain coursed through my entire body. Kim Moohyuk held me as I shook like someone electrocuted. I wrapped my arms around his back. Unable to beg Moohyuk to save me, I bit the inside of my cheek. Blood seeped out, dripping from my lips without me noticing.

“What are you doing, Hajung? Don’t do that…”

Moohyuk, sounding distressed, inserted his fingers into my mouth as if my biting was hurting him. I tried not to bite his thick index and middle fingers, but another wave of pain hit, and I couldn’t help but clench my jaw.

“Do something! He’s not the type to show pain like this!”

“Who doesn’t know that?! This situation doesn’t make sense, so I’m hesitating too!”

I heard Han Byeongeun’s shout following Kim Moohyuk’s. They all seemed to be in a panic. I barely opened my eyes. My pupils, unaccustomed to the light, narrowed, making it hard to see. I blinked and parted my lips.

“…Colonel.”

Kim Moohyuk, looking down at me in his arms, seemed slightly relieved.

“It’s okay, you’ll be okay.”

“…”

I wanted to ask what was okay, what would be okay, but my lips wouldn’t move. I was extremely weak. My dazed eyes wandered around. My memory cut off at the shopping center. Thinking about it, the ceiling was unfamiliar. It seemed like the emergency room in the medical ward, but why was I here…

Han Byeongeun shone a penlight into my left eye. Clicking his tongue, he explained something to Kim Moohyuk.

“The response to light is too slow. It seems like one side of the brain is already compromised… We might need to try hypnosis therapy.”

“What you’re saying is all hypothetical. How can I trust you with the Colonel?”

But Kim Moohyuk’s reaction was firm. Han Byeongeun, uncharacteristically sharp, shouted back.

“So, should we just do nothing?!”

With my body trembling from unknown pain, I quietly reached out and placed my hand on Kim Moohyuk’s chest. I patted him a couple of times to calm him down. Feeling me move in his arms, Kim Moohyuk looked down at me urgently. He then looked at my hand patting his chest.

“You really…”

Kim Moohyuk’s tone suggested he was swallowing his words. It felt like he had a lot to say but couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“Why, why am I…”

But I wanted to know what was happening to me more than why he was confused. Kim Moohyuk couldn’t answer. His face looked like he was worried about what would happen if I touched the boiling pot of emotions inside him. Seeing that getting an answer from him wouldn’t be easy, I turned to Han Byeongeun. He also looked troubled.

“…Colonel…”

Even in the emergency room, they both called me Colonel. I didn’t have the energy to point out how odd that might seem to others. Blinking, I waited for Han Byeongeun to explain.

“Colonel, you collapsed at the shopping center.”

I vaguely remembered. It was around the time I held hands with Kim Moohyuk. I felt something flowing in, a jolt like electricity near my spine, and then my knees gave out. The last thing I saw was Kim Moohyuk’s shocked face as he caught me. Even without me responding, Han Byeongeun seemed to read from my expression that I remembered up to that point. He sighed again and continued.

“It seems Ha Seonghan implanted a wave in your brain.”

As soon as Han Byeongeun said that, Moohyuk’s arms tightened around me. I felt his waves ripple.

“It’s likely a booby trap wave, set to trigger if you imprinted with an esper other than himself.”

I found it hard to understand what he meant. Seeing my confusion, Han Byeongeun elaborated.

“If you imprint with an esper other than Ha Seonghan, the guiding waves from your guiding core are reversed back into the core. I don’t know how it’s affecting Sergeant Kang Hajung’s body instead of the original Colonel’s, but the booby trap is definitely active.”

Ha Seonghan had set a booby trap to trigger if I imprinted with another esper. I parted my lips. Even with a small sound, Kim Moohyuk understood and leaned closer, then asked Han Byeongeun on my behalf.

“He’s asking how that mechanism is possible.”

Han Byeongeun looked at me with a complicated expression, then turned to Kim Moohyuk. He seemed more concerned about Moohyuk’s reaction.

“Ha Seonghan was the esper who stayed by the Colonel’s side the longest. Besides, guides are significantly influenced by brainwaves.”

“…”

Kim Moohyuk said nothing, but no one would think he was silent because he had nothing to say about the situation. Unlike before, there was no strength in his upper arm, but I held onto it as if he were squeezing me too tightly to bear.

“…He must have repeatedly implanted those suggestions while staying by your side throughout your growth. In fact, he probably didn’t think the suggestion would succeed. The intentionality felt in the esper waves isn’t strong. The situation where ESP waves and brainwaves are intertwined is rare, to the point where saying it’s rare doesn’t do it justice. The probability is almost zero.”

“So that bastard spent years on something that might fail…”

Kim Moohyuk muttered, grinding his teeth. A dark blue vein bulged on his forehead. His eyes gleamed like a hunting dog eager to pounce on its prey. His misfortune was that his target wasn’t in front of him. I tried to soothe him by stroking his arm, but I had no strength. Moohyuk, sensing my feelings, held my hand even with the vein bulging on his forehead.

“…How do we break the suggestion and get out of this state?”

Kim Moohyuk asked Han Byeongeun in a much calmer tone than before. Han Byeongeun, licking his dry lower lip, answered as if regretting having to say it.

“It’s affecting the subconscious, so if left alone, the Colonel will be in pain every time he guides you. The best way to prevent it is to apply hypnosis therapy.”

“Hypnosis? That’s ridiculous—”

Kim Moohyuk growled again. He argued that it was too uncertain a treatment. Han Byeongeun frowned.

“It will be performed by an esper who uses mental ESP. I know you’re angry and upset, but you can’t dismiss a professionally trained esper.”

“And if something goes wrong, will those professionally trained bastards take responsibility?”

“Moohyuk, you really—”

Han Byeongeun seemed exasperated by Kim Moohyuk’s attitude. These guys are fighting while I’m in pain… I wanted to say something, but no words came out. Instead, I waved my hand, making Kim Moohyuk turn to me sharply.

“You’ve been through too much… You should have just stayed home.”

His gentle action of brushing my forehead and kissing my lips was incredibly tender. But I couldn’t react to Kim Moohyuk’s affection and concern. Han Byeongeun was looking down at us with eyes that seemed to say, ‘Do you really want to act up in this situation, you cockroaches?’ Instead, I asked what I was curious about.

“So, um… How does the hypnosis therapy work?”

“No. Let’s get treatment somewhere else, not from a quack.”

“What did you say? Colonel, isn’t this guy too much?!”

Han Byeongeun shouted as Kim Moohyuk stroked my cheek with a worried hand. I could only respond weakly, like a father caught between fighting children.

“Be quiet… Why are you yelling at Byeongeun… It’s not his fault…”

Kim Moohyuk’s eyes sparked at my words. Good job. It’s not Byeongeun’s fault; it’s that bastard’s fault. His eyes seemed to say, but he didn’t speak. Even that showed how much Kim Moohyuk was holding back his explosive emotions. Han Byeongeun, sensing Moohyuk’s effort, suppressed his anger and spoke.

“Anyway, hypnosis therapy is the best option for now. I’ll find a mental esper, so keep that in mind!”

“…Thank you.”

I barely managed to express my gratitude. Han Byeongeun glanced at Kim Moohyuk with a face that said he was fed up, then left the room. Even in pain, I awkwardly saw him off. Once he was gone, I weakly hit Kim Moohyuk’s upper arm.

“Why do you keep acting like that… You know Byeongeun cares about us.”

“What does he know? Don’t annoy me. Who cares about consideration in this state?”

Kim Moohyuk frowned and buried his face in my neck. He said that before I woke up, I had been convulsing as if having a seizure. Still worried, he massaged my stiff muscles wherever he could reach.

“After you collapsed at the shopping center… we brought you straight to the center. But the explanation I got was that nonsense, so of course I’m angry. You know I’m not calm when it comes to you.”

I know, I do… I couldn’t bring myself to say it and just stayed quietly in his arms. Kim Moohyuk’s waves were flowing into me from where we touched. They seemed confused, unsure whether to overwhelm me or wait.

I wanted to approach and comfort him first, but my guiding core, which had already been injured once, seemed to have been damaged again from the previous incident. I was still cautious about reaching out. As we comforted each other on the surface, Han Byeongeun returned surprisingly quickly.

“The booby trap has already been triggered, so it’s a race against time now. We need to attempt it immediately.”

The mental esper looked at Kim Moohyuk and Han Byeongeun, who were addressing me formally, with a strange expression but soon focused on his task. He seemed to be expanding his ESP to examine my condition. Han Byeongeun continued explaining on his behalf.

“You will soon fall into a deep sleep. In the dream shown by your subconscious, you need to imprint once more with the person you imprinted with. Only then can you push out Ha Seonghan’s ESP overlaid by suggestion.”

“With Kim Moohyuk?”

The mental esper glanced at me for casually calling Captain Kim Moohyuk by name while layering another wave on top of his own. I looked at Han Byeongeun, seeking an explanation. Han Byeongeun nodded lightly, indicating I had understood correctly.

“No matter what form Moohyuk takes in your subconscious, you need to persuade him to perform the imprinting ceremony. Only then will your subconscious realize that Ha Seonghan’s ESP entangled in your brain is suspicious. From the subconscious’s perspective, Moohyuk’s ESP might seem like that of an unfamiliar esper. To correct that perception, it’s crucial to imprint once more in the dream.”

In summary, my guiding core was rejecting guiding Kim Moohyuk because my subconscious didn’t recognize him as my imprinting esper. So, I had to meet Kim Moohyuk in my subconscious, essentially in a dream, and imprint once more. I looked at Moohyuk.

“…When did you say you fell for me?”

Kim Moohyuk didn’t answer. It wasn’t out of embarrassment or shyness; his expression seemed to ask if I didn’t already know. I realized then that such a question was pointless, as his silence answered it. Yes, at least Kim Moohyuk had fallen for me from our first meeting, so imprinting again wouldn’t be difficult. Nervously biting my lip, I listened as Han Byeongeun gave further instructions.

“The problem is that your subconscious might reject Moohyuk. It might consider Ha Seonghan as the imprinting esper instead of Moohyuk.”

“Damn it—”

I covered Kim Moohyuk’s mouth before he could fully curse. It was best not to further upset Han Byeongeun. I didn’t want to be the patient who ignored medical advice and ended up worse off. Han Byeongeun, seemingly more irritated with Kim Moohyuk, glared at him. Seriously, why glare at him when you’re old enough to let it go? It was absurd. Fortunately, Han Byeongeun seemed to have decided to act his age and began discussing various things with the mental esper, who was busy expanding his waves.

“Don’t worry too much. You’ve liked me for a long time, so it should be fine. If you like me in the dream too, it’ll connect quickly.”

“…”

Kim Moohyuk didn’t respond to my words. Instead, he looked at me with a mix of dissatisfaction with the situation, anger, and a large amount of concern that subdued those emotions. I liked everything I felt from his deep eyes. I reached out and rubbed the scar above his eyebrow.

“Will you have this scar in the dream too?”

“…Do you like the scar?”

I looked at Kim Moohyuk, who asked as if suppressing something, and smiled.

“No. I’d prefer if you’d never been hurt. I wish I could take you away, perfectly well-raised, without any guilt.”

“…”

He remained silent for a while. It seemed he had so much to say that he chose to stay quiet. Understanding his feelings, I stroked his chin and then gently pressed the back of his neck. With that small gesture, Kim Moohyuk lowered his head. He pressed his lips to mine. His ESP waves, wanting to receive guiding, were swirling around him but couldn’t easily approach me, only showing their fierce momentum.

“What about you?”

“…What do you mean?”

Moohyuk’s voice was subdued as he responded. It sounded like he was suppressing his desires. His rough, scratched voice made me laugh.

“What about you? Do you like me as I am now, or did you prefer my previous face?”

I whispered quietly, glancing at the mental esper still discussing something with Han Byeongeun. Asking if he preferred Colonel Kang Hajung’s face or my current one, Kim Moohyuk remained silent. He looked down at me, then lowered his head again to kiss me. He bit my lip gently, as if indulging me, and said,

“I like Kang Hajung.”

To me, that was the right answer. Even after establishing the identities between the two bodies, there were still moments of slight wandering. I didn’t show it to others, especially not to Kim Moohyuk, but he surprisingly understood my feelings very well.

Meanwhile, Han Byeongeun and the mental esper, having finished their lengthy discussion, approached the bed again.

“In this type of hypnosis therapy, it’s crucial not to go against the subconscious. You mustn’t let the subconscious realize you’re trying to imprint with Moohyuk.”

“How do I avoid that?”

“You need to act in line with the dream’s logic. If you’re a broke job seeker in the dream and suddenly become a millionaire, you’d usually feel something’s off even while asleep, right? It’s like that.”

Han Byeongeun’s explanation was intuitive and easy to understand. It meant I couldn’t just rush to Moohyuk and say we should imprint. I had to follow the steps of a relationship, express my desire to pair with him, and then proceed with the imprinting.

“Got it.”

Unlike my straightforward response, Kim Moohyuk frowned, clearly displeased with the situation.

“But isn’t it too easy for you to accept imprinting with some stranger right in front of me?”

He spoke in a low, reproachful voice. I blinked, not understanding, then blushed. Despite the pain, I hit his back.

“Get a grip! It’s you I’m imprinting with, subconscious or not!”

“Why does it have to be me? I’m right here.”

Kim Moohyuk spoke through gritted teeth, pressing my hand against his chest. I opened my mouth, unsure of what to say.

“Hey, even now… Moohyuk, you know that’s not it.”

I hesitated, unsure how to comfort him. An esper’s vigilance over their imprinted guide was beyond imagination. If his subconscious didn’t recognize himself as the imprinted partner, there was nothing I could do. My eyes wavered in confusion. Moohyuk, glaring at me with burning eyes, muttered a curse.

“…I’m sorry. When it comes to you, Colonel, it’s always like this…”

Moohyuk stopped mid-sentence, but I understood his feelings. It was my fault for not realizing Ha Seonghan was such a bastard until things went wrong. Unable to say anything, I stroked his back, and he sighed softly.

“…Go ahead. I’ll wait.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Though he didn’t respond to my apology, Moohyuk lowered his head and kissed my temple. Knowing it was his way of asking for reconciliation, I turned and kissed his lips briefly. Moohyuk’s eyes widened, as I had never shown such affection in public before.

“…You’re so sly.”

He muttered, his face reddening like a boy trying to hide his joy at receiving attention from someone he liked. It was both endearing and pitiful, so I stroked his cheek. Moohyuk, who had been turning away, glanced at me like a sulking dog, then kissed my palm.

Seeing we had calmed down, Han Byeongeun cleared his throat and whispered, glancing at the mental esper.

“And you know Ha Seonghan’s personality, right? He’s obsessive, so he might have manipulated your subconscious with his ESP. Your appearance might be different, possibly even reverted to your old self.”

Even if he whispered, the esper could hear him. I looked at Han Byeongeun with a slightly exasperated expression but nodded. Fortunately, the mental esper seemed focused on expanding his ESP and didn’t seem interested in others’ business. Regardless, I was prepared for what Han Byeongeun warned about. I knew Ha Seonghan’s obsessive nature better than Han Byeongeun.

“If you’re ready, we’ll proceed.”

As Han Byeongeun nodded at the mental esper, Kim Moohyuk asked impatiently.

“Is there no way I can go in with him?”

“What? No. It’s too dangerous.”

Han Byeongeun frowned at the sudden question, shaking his head firmly. I patted Moohyuk’s arm.

“Just wait a bit. Time passes quickly in dreams. When I wake up, not even a day will have passed.”

“That’s not guaranteed—yes, well, that’s true.”

Han Byeongeun started to disagree but quickly nodded, seeing my expression. Moohyuk seemed to know I was bluffing but didn’t argue. He just looked frustrated at having nothing more to do. Meeting his worried and jealous eyes, I kept trying to reassure him.

“I’ll be back, so make me some ramen when I wake up.”

“…Alright.”

He rarely agreed to ramen, which lifted my spirits. Smiling, I nodded slightly at Han Byeongeun.

“It might sting a bit.”

The mental esper’s warning, delivered in a thoroughly professional tone, came just before I ventured into the realm of my subconscious via hypnosis. As he continued layering his ESP waves like overlapping sheets of paper, he focused them into a thin string aimed at the center of my forehead. As he warned, I felt a slight sting. However, considering what I had anticipated, the sensation was remarkably mild, making me question if it was working. I started to look at the mental esper for an explanation, but my vision suddenly darkened as if collapsing. It felt worse than I had expected.

“Hurry back. Don’t forget that I’m waiting.”

As my consciousness faded, I heard Kim Moohyuk urging me. I wanted to respond but couldn’t. I felt like I was sinking into a deep, dark abyss…

“―So there’s an afterparty. Why don’t you join us?”

I felt dizzy, my vision spinning. My knee buckled as if I were seasick while standing. Was this my subconscious? The world seemed to rearrange itself upside down. Even the weather, which had been summery outside, felt chilly, increasing my dizziness. Losing my balance, I was caught by someone.

“Colonel, are you alright?”

I heard a familiar voice and felt an even more familiar ESP. It was Han Byeongeun, looking much younger than I remembered.

“You…”

I almost asked Han Byeongeun if he had entered my subconscious too, but I bit my tongue. He looked at me curiously.

“Do you have something to say?”

“No, nothing at all?”

I shook my head vigorously. I felt a chill down my spine. I had no idea how my subconscious might be observing me. I didn’t know exactly how to maintain this “sense of realism” but asking the Han Byeongeun here if he had followed me into my subconscious seemed like a bad idea.

“Sometimes you act strangely. Anyway, are you coming or staying?”

Han Byeongeun shrugged and asked again. I didn’t know what he was inviting me to, but I had been too dizzy to catch his explanation when I first regained consciousness. Would agreeing to go align with the dream’s logic? I decided to ask again.

“Where exactly are we going?”

“See, you didn’t hear a word I said. I figured.”

Han Byeongeun looked at me with a mix of exasperation and disbelief. He was the same in both my subconscious and reality. This must be the realism I had to maintain.

“Stop messing around and just tell me already.”

“If you need help, call the Military Human Rights Center at 02-7337-119.”

I glared at Han Byeongeun, who finally continued.

“Today is Lieutenant Kim’s promotion ceremony. Aren’t you going to the dinner?”

…Who is Lieutenant Kim? I felt confused, but I knew I couldn’t ask. I must know him well enough to be invited to his promotion dinner.

“Uh, do I have to go…?”

I asked hesitantly, deciding to gauge Han Byeongeun’s reaction first.

“What’s with you? Didn’t you say you’d be nice to Lieutenant Kim?”

“…What?”

Who is this Lieutenant Kim that I’m supposed to be nice to? I wanted to ask but held back. Asking Han Byeongeun for more information seemed futile. He probably wouldn’t say more, and I had no idea where the boundaries of my subconscious lay, so I couldn’t take the initiative. When I stayed silent, Han Byeongeun sighed.

“He’s a pitiful kid. You know that.”

“…”

“I understand why you’re upset, but think it over. It’s his first promotion. It’s rare for someone who didn’t graduate from the academy to be directly appointed as a lieutenant, you know.”

…His background sounds familiar. Even as Han Byeongeun spoke on behalf of this Lieutenant Kim, I felt a sense of déjà vu. Could this Lieutenant Kim be Kim Moohyuk? Then I realized something important. Despite my knee still hurting, the consistent height of my vision suggested I was in Sergeant Kang Hajung’s body. If Kim Moohyuk was a lieutenant, I would still be in my original body, but being in Sergeant Kang Hajung’s body meant Lieutenant Kim might not be Kim Moohyuk.

“Of course, Lieutenant Kim made some mistakes, but… you’re the adult here, so be patient.”

What did he do to me? I was dying to know but couldn’t ask. Han Byeongeun seemed to take my silence as agreement and informed me of the time for the dinner.