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“Jae-chan. That woman and I are officially dating.”
“Just because you’re in a relationship doesn’t mean you can do everything.”
In an instant, the eyes that only they could understand passed between the brothers. The next moment, Seon Eun-soo’s smile faded.
“… It was consensual.”
“It’s just what you think. If you want to date someone, you have to fix that perverted habit first.”
Seon Eun-soo’s grim smile deepened. At the same time, his hand reached out and gripped Seon Jae-chan’s soft neck at once without warning.
The grip that wrapped around the skin was frighteningly cold. With his pulsing veins constricted, Jae-chan drew a sneer like his older brother.
“Why.”
“…”
“Right now, it feels like you’ll also give your consent, doesn’t it?”
In the next moment, the disgustingly cold hand tightened around Seon Jae-chan’s throat.
Simultaneously, a viscous, sticky energy poured from his forehead. His eye sockets filled with blood momentarily, and Jae-chan gritted his teeth. He grabbed his older brother’s wrist and twisted it.
Demanding guidance while strangling him was Seon Eun-soo’s long-standing perversion. It was also a way to experience sexual stimulation through breath control.
Seon Eun-soo’s bloodshot eyes that were filled with satisfaction were directly in front of Jae-chan’s nose. His face contorted with a smeared filth expression, emitting repulsive laughter.
From a young age, Seon Jae-chan was no different from his older brother’s toys and garbage cans. Occasionally, when he felt like it, he would mess with him, using him as an outlet for his dirty impulses.
The bullying began when Jae-chan began to manifest his abilities as a Guide. After he was fully judged as a Guide, his older brother’s strange behavior became more severe due to his parents’ negligence and indifference.
After Jae-chan could no longer endure it and left home to live on his own, the outbursts of such impulses occasionally took the form of frenzied phone calls. He’d come out of nowhere like a disaster, demanding guidance while choking him, and every time, he’d be the only one shaking in fear that someone would find out about it.
Why did he live like that?
Thinking about his past immaturity and remembering his younger self who dealt with the torment of Seon Eun-soo, Jae-chan’s eyes turned cold.
Suddenly, Seon Eun-soo tried to take control of his mind again.
“-!”
Jae-chan quickly imagined building a strong mental barrier in his mind, just as he had been trained to do in the intelligence agency. He firmly overlaid his own frequency over the unpleasant energy that penetrated like a thorn and at the same time, an unexpected voice rang in his ears. It was Seon Eun-soo’s voice, the voice he thought had taken control of his younger brother’s consciousness.
“Our parents are getting a divorce.”
An unstable and childlike voice.
“…”
The unexpected words almost broke down the mental barrier in Jae-chan’s mind. He desperately visualized the image of a solid barrier to defend his mind and, at the same time, felt the strength in Seon Eun-soo’s hand.
“What should I do… if our parents are getting a divorce…?”
“…”
“…”
The cold and silent wind of the city alley wrapped around them and passed by.
“I promised… I promised to be your mother…”
Seon Eun-soo’s grip tightened on his younger brother’s soft skin and trembling pulse.
“I’m… your mother….”
He put his childhood promise in Jae-chan’s mind. The promise that was forced and coerced upon him until his seven-year-old brother’s breath became stifled. His hazy eyes were now filled with one-sided despair as he demanded firmly.
“Remember. You have to obey me. You have to fear me… just like with mother.”
Hearing the unstable voice infiltrating every inch of his body, Jaechan realized why he had not been able to break away from his brother until he was in his twenties.
Brainwashing. Insinuation.
As Jae-chan had learned about psychic Esper abilities, he had speculated, but he now realized that he had truly been under his brother’s control. Afterward, as Jae-chan awakened his own Esper ability, he gradually learned to skillfully push away his brother’s energy.
‘That’s why… Seon Eun-soo was shocked when I first broke free from his mind control.’
Due to his brother’s escape from the brainwashing, Seon Eun-soo would have felt a surge of anger even stronger than when he used his abilities.
At that moment, just as abruptly as when he had used his abilities, Seon Eun-soo pushed Jae-chan against the wall.
“…!”
Jae-chan wondered if his brother had momentarily sensed his mental defense, but it seemed that was not the case. Seon Eun-soo’s gaze met Jae-chan’s scowling eyes, and he was filled with joy.
Facing his brother’s clear gaze, Seon Eun-soo simply smiled. It had been intentional for his brother to regain consciousness through the pain. He found it more amusing to strangle someone who struggled than a helpless doll.
Ugh, Jae-chan grabbed his brother’s wrist which was tightening him again.
His neck and windpipe were constricted, and blood naturally rushed to his face. Jae-chan held his breath while pretending to struggle. Trying to force himself to breathe when his throat was being constricted would only deplete his stamina faster.
“Guide me.”
“…”
“Guide me…!”
Seon Jae-chan scratched the back of his brother’s hand and looked for an opportunity to escape. While it was essential to secure the recording, he was also annoyed at the fact that the situation of him being choked wouldn’t be recorded.
When he pretended to play dead, the pressure from Seon Eun-soo’s grip on his throat began to loosen. At that moment, he wondered if he should stab Seon Eun-soo in the bloodshot eye or smash his nose. As Jae-chan was pondering this briefly, a sudden gust of wind came.
He couldn’t initially comprehend what was happening. The roaring wind, the sudden rise in the field of view, and the reflexive action of closing his eyes against the rushing wind were the only things he could perceive.
When he came to his senses, the wind had subsided. Jae-chan coughed uncontrollably, gradually coming to understand the inexplicable situation.
Seon Eun-soo’s noose-like grip had slipped away. Jae-chan regained his sight with a dazed look in his eyes.
He had been firmly held in someone’s arms just before being blown away by the gust of wind. Jae-chan instinctively relaxed in the embrace as he sensed the familiar scent at the tip of his nose.
Despite being perfectly capable of breathing and having the strength to move his arms and legs, he instinctively slumped down until the other person gently seated him against the wall.
The large fingertips approached his cheek and neck cautiously as if he was as fragile as a delicate sugar doll. He pressed his head down and let out a suppressed breath.
“…”
After silently examining Jae-chan’s condition, Go Woo-jin decided that he didn’t need immediate medical attention.
Thank god. It wasn’t too late.
A sigh of relief escaped Woo-jin’s lips as he stood up. Having confirmed the most important matter, he now needed to handle the waste. He approached Seon Eun-soo, who was crumpled and disheveled.
“Woo… Woojin….”
As he writhed in the shallow alley between the sidewalk and the road, Seon Eun-soo managed to call out Woo-jin’s name, which was mixed with fear and uncertainty.
However, Woo-jin didn’t stop. He walked toward Seon Eun-soo like an executioner. The shadow that extended from his body covered Seon Eun-soo. Seon Eun-soo’s shallow eyes were filled with anxiety, and Woo-jin spat out what seemed to be cursing or swearing from an angle Jae-chan couldn’t see. It was a blend of curses and threats, and at the same time, his firmly clenched fist struck Seon Eun-soo’s stomach.
Seon Eun-soo’s eyes widened. The pain was so excruciating that she couldn’t even scream. Even so, the punch was controlled enough for him not to faint, “Kkeuk-.” Seon Eun-soo barely took a breath. A groaning gasp was all he could make.
Woo-jin struck again without any mercy. The merciless kicking continued all over his body, and his arms and legs crumpled in defeat. For a moment, Seon Jae-chan’s eyes sparkled at the violence was more severe than what Jae-chan had initially intended to deliver.
As the blood began to splatter, Jae-chan chose to concentrate on the end of the desolate road, where there was not a single car passing by. He paused the recording quietly with his hand in his pocket.
A few minutes had passed for some, but an eternity had passed for others. Go Woo-jin barely stopped kicking before he left the A-Class Esper permanently disabled.
“Ugh… Hak….”
The bloodied Seon Eun-soo was writhing like a worm. Woo-jin adjusted his blood-stained gloves on his disheveled coat collar and turned his back. The bloody tip of the walker’s nose pointed toward Jae-chan.
Jae-chan raised his head as Woo-jin approached. His eyes were sharp with a piercing glare. He couldn’t help but stiffen in the face of that gaze.
Go Woo-jin, who was about to reach out to him, hesitated.
Having dealt with criminals and encountered countless rescue workers, Woo-jin knew what this gesture meant. It was more considerate of the victim to call for help from others. As he thought about it, Woo-jin raised his lowered upper body casually.
At that time, Seon Jae-chan unexpectedly reached out his hand without hesitation.
Even though his expression was still tense, Jae-chan’s slender fingertips gripped Woo-jin’s hand tightly. Feeling the warmth of his hand, Woo-jin’s fingertips trembled slightly. After a moment, Woo-jin tightly gripped his hand and helped Jae-chan to his feet.