Chapter 3 : A New Resolve

Gates open unpredictably, unknown monsters spill out, and people wield superpowers.
In such a world, regression didn’t seem so strange.
If Lee So Won had truly regressed….

The door opened, a nurse stepping in.
So Won snapped out of thoughts, focusing on her.

“Patient Lee So Won, congratulations on awakening as an A-grade guide.”

Dream or regression, So Won remained an A-grade guide.

“Your condition seemed poor, so we transferred you to the Guide Association for tests overnight. No major issues. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

“I think I’m fine.”

“You can be discharged, but since you’re here, it’s convenient to do a wave test. Would you like to take it before leaving?”

“Yes.”

So Won followed the nurse to the wave testing room silently.
Memories of the test eight years ago were hazy.
Seeing the large machine and researchers sparked faint recognition.

Lying down as instructed, the machine whirred, moving on its own.
Cold metal touched and left So Won’s body; researchers attached sensors.

During the test, So Won recalled the past.
Awakening as a guide at twenty-two was late—most awakened in their teens.
An A-grade guide, among the 3% rarest, was exceptional.

Post-awakening, wave tests compared compatibility with espers in a database to determine pairings.
So Won had matched with S-grade esper Kang Tae Woo, though most paired with espers of the same grade.

Will I match with Tae Woo again?

So Won pondered quietly.
Eight years ago, their compatibility was 65%.
Could it differ this time?
If So Won didn’t match with Tae Woo…
Maybe I could be happy.

‘[Be happy.]’

Tae Woo’s final words echoed like a hallucination, startling So Won.
Guilt crushed down, memories flooding back:
The surgical room, his cold hand, fading gaze, and So Won’s wails in a pool of blood.
Shame burned for even briefly imagining a future without Tae Woo.

When he was dying, when I drowned in guilt watching him fade, I swore to change…
So Won wanted to hide from this ugly selfishness.
So Won owed Tae Woo an apology, even if he didn’t remember.
This dream—or regression—was it for that purpose?

Beep.

A short sound signaled the test’s end.
Researchers removed the sensors, saying So Won could leave.
But So Won hesitated, as if wanting to speak.
A researcher tilted their head.

Kang Tae Woo.

So Won closed their eyes tightly.
His death was So Won’s fault—fully accepted now.
It was time to take responsibility.
Resolved, So Won spoke.

“I’d like to test compatibility with a specific esper.”

“Do you know someone? With mutual consent, we can prioritize their compatibility test.”

“Please test with S-grade esper Kang Tae Woo.”

“What? Kang Tae Woo?”

The researcher gasped, stunned.
S-grade esper Kang Tae Woo—a monster.
Newly awakened guides were required to test with Tae Woo, who lacked a guide.
Some begged to avoid his test, fearing a match.
But requesting it willingly?
Unheard of, unimaginable.

The researcher scanned So Won.
Young-looking despite adulthood, with round eyes and an innocent air—someone Tae Woo might devour.

So Won nodded, expecting this reaction.
Waiting a week for results was unbearable.
Tae Woo was suffering now; So Won had to help him escape that pain sooner.

So Won decided.

Monster or not, I’ll treat Kang Tae Woo as human.
I won’t avoid him. I’ll guide diligently.
If he dies, it won’t be with those cursed dark red veins consuming him.
He’ll die looking human.

“We’ll contact Esper Kang Tae Woo. If he consents, we’ll prioritize your test and notify you.”

The researcher reluctantly agreed, unsure if this was right.
They only bowed slightly, watching So Won leave.

After the test, So Won returned home with family.

The house matched memories from eight years ago perfectly.
Every detail, down to the smallest corner, confirmed this wasn’t a dream.
After living in Tae Woo’s vast, empty house, this small, cluttered home felt comforting.

The evening’s surprise party was eerily identical to memory.
Overly sweet chocolate cake, slippery seaweed soup, and loud firecrackers—an odd mix.
Yet, it made So Won smile for the first time in ages.
So Won laughed and chatted noisily with family, like eight years ago, unaware of the Tae Woo match.

As the chaotic day ended, So Won lay on a small bed in a dark room, fighting sleep.
What if I sleep and return to the day Tae Woo died?
Closing eyes brought the blood-soaked surgical room, Tae Woo’s drenched form, and the faint, breaking waves.

When will the matching results come?
So Won estimated.
Last time, it took a week to compare with all A-grade espers, ending with Tae Woo.
This time, testing Tae Woo first might take two days.

A sudden worry struck.
Even after eight years, So Won trembled facing Tae Woo.
At their first meeting, controlling fear seemed impossible.
What would Tae Woo think of me?
Having never spoken, So Won couldn’t guess his thoughts.

That night, Tae Woo appeared in a dream.

He was dying, but So Won’s body was frozen.
His dark, deep eyes stared.
As he closed them weakly, the machine’s high-pitched wail rang out.

The wail became a ringtone.
So Won’s eyes snapped open, as if pulled from deep water.
Flailing briefly, So Won answered the ringing phone, half-asleep.

“Hello?”

– Is this Guide Lee So Won?

“Yes.”

– The compatibility results with Esper Kang Tae Woo are in… Um…

At Tae Woo’s name, So Won bolted upright, kneeling.
Already?
The test and request were yesterday afternoon—results by morning were unexpected.

65 percent, 65 percent.

So Won recalled the number.
What if we don’t match?
Anxiety crept in.

– It’s a 100% compatibility rate. It’s our first 100%, so we retested, but it’s consistent. To be sure, please come to the Association with Esper Kang Tae Woo for a guiding test.

“100 percent?”

So Won’s eyes widened.
Not 65%, but 100%?
Beyond the changed result, 100% was impossible.
The highest recorded rate was 95%, between a U.S. B-grade pair.
Cross-grade matches never reached such heights.

It must be an error.
So Won calmed, accepting this.

“When and where should I go?”

– Esper Kang Tae Woo is always at headquarters, so come to the Esper Association anytime.

“Thank you.”

Relief washed over So Won.
The fear of not matching Tae Woo faded.
Checking the time—10 a.m.—the Association was a 20-minute trip by the fastest transit.
To arrive before lunch, So Won rushed to get ready.