NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 6
At first, I thought the sound meant there was a shower nearby.
But instinct told me otherwise.
It wasn’t just water dripping—it was something else.
Something unnerving.
A strange energy lingered in the air, pulling at me.
It almost felt like a whisper—a faint voice calling my name.
And maybe even… laughter?
Before I knew it, my feet were moving.
Drawn in, step by step.
The deeper I went, the heavier the air became—like I was sinking underwater.
My ears buzzed, the world around me muffled.
Yet, it wasn’t unpleasant.
The warmth that wrapped around me felt familiar—like guiding.
But it wasn’t.
I hadn’t touched a guide, and guiding without contact was impossible.
So then—
Who was calling me?
What was this?
I was so lost in thought that I didn’t even realize how far I had gone.
By the time I snapped out of it, I was already deep underground.
“…What the hell.”
I stopped in my tracks.
Right in front of me, in the center of the dark underground space—
A massive tree stood tall, glowing softly with golden light.
Water cascaded around it in a continuous, flowing curtain, the sound of rushing currents filling the space.
The moment I stepped closer, something shifted—
Tiny, firefly-like golden lights scattered around me, floating in the air.
It was breathtaking.
Yet at the same time—
It felt fragile.
Like a small world struggling to survive.
How could something so pure exist in such a filthy, decaying place?
The longer I stared, the more I realized—
There was something off about it.
Something unsettling.
I crouched, reaching out.
The moment my fingers dipped into the water—
Cold.
The chill spread through my skin as ripples formed across the surface.
And just then—
A faint laugh brushed against my ears.
“Who are y—”
“Yuseong?”
I flinched.
That voice—
I spun around.
Standing there, eyes wide in shock, was Ji Seon Woo.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then, his gaze drifted past me—toward the tree.
“I kept hearing something… like someone calling me.”
I stiffened.
So he felt it too.
I gave a slight nod in response.
Seon Woo took a step closer, eyes filled with awe.
“Wow… What is this? It’s beautiful.”
“It’s not an ordinary tree.”
“We’ll have to report this to the Association.”
I said nothing, watching as Seon Woo focused entirely on the tree.
Then, without thinking, I blurted out:
“I still don’t get why you’re so fixated on them.”
He turned to me, confused.
“If it bothers you that they’ve never been guided, just call the Association. Isn’t it smarter to leave with me and bring proper help? What exactly are you trying to accomplish?”
He hesitated, then sighed.
“Sometimes… instincts are more reliable than logic. And right now, my instincts are telling me not to leave them behind.”
“What?”
“No one here is stable. Their energy is all over the place.”
“And?”
“If we leave now, there’s no guarantee they won’t go into a full rampage before we return.”
His voice was calm, firm.
“It’s safer to settle things first—to calm them down. Then, we can bring them with us.”
I clenched my jaw.
Seon Woo turned to me, his voice softer this time.
“We agreed to stay until your arm heals, didn’t we? Yuseong.”
The way he said my name—that was a warning.
I pressed my lips together, staring at him.
He must’ve noticed my displeasure because he smiled, slightly awkward but reassuring.
That damn face.
The one that made it impossible to argue.
“Don’t worry. You’re my only esper, Yuseong.”
“That’s obvious.”
“Haha! You’re such a baby.”
I scowled, but instead of snapping back, I pulled him into a hug.
His scent, warm and familiar, wrapped around me, easing my tension.
His small arms struggled to hold me, but he still tried, hands patting my back in an attempt to comfort me.
It was cute.
So cute that I let out a soft chuckle.
But Seon Woo—
You don’t understand.
An esper sharing their guide’s energy with anyone else takes an incredible amount of restraint.
I murmured against his shoulder.
“I just… hate it. Hate seeing you guide someone else.”
He sighed, voice gentle as he ran his fingers over my back.
“I know.”
For the first time since coming here, I felt at peace.
And then—
Chills.
A warning.
“Yuseong? What’s wrong?”
Ji Seon Woo’s voice was filled with concern.
I had suddenly pulled away.
His eyes followed mine—
And then he saw it too.
Jayan.
Standing at the entrance.
Something was wrong.
His silver hair shifted slightly, his water-colored eyes just as unreadable as ever.
But the lack of his usual smirk made him look like a completely different person.
And then—
A disturbance.
A shift in energy, sharp and unstable.
Ji Seon Woo sucked in a breath.
‘This… this is…’
A guide knew.
Felt.
The air turned frigid.
An almost piercing sensation pressed against his skin, cold and suffocating.
Ji Seon Woo shuddered.
He recognized this feeling.
It was the same as when Yuseong reacted earlier.
A rampage.
Dangerous.
The sheer ferocity of it sent a deep chill through him.
His body instinctively curled inward, a lump forming in his throat.
Even breathing felt risky.
And Yuseong noticed.
His arms wrapped around Ji Seon Woo, shielding him completely.
Unlike before, when he had clung to him for comfort—this time, it was to protect him.
Ji Seon Woo whispered, barely audible.
“…Yuseong.”
“I can feel it too.”
“He needs guiding. Right now.”
“No. It’s too late. He’s going to lose control.”
“Let me go.”
“What? Are you insane?”
Yuseong’s voice rose sharply.
Ji Seon Woo knew it was risky—of course, he knew.
But he was a guide, and like always, his pride in his role was unwavering.
There was an esper right in front of him, desperate for help—he couldn’t just ignore it.
He wasn’t built that way.
“Just once. Let me try, just once. I can save him.”
Despite Seon Woo’s plea, Yuseong stood firm.
Because of course he did.
What kind of idiot would willingly shove their guide into the jaws of a rabid tiger?
“He hasn’t lost control yet!”
Seon Woo’s voice was nearly a shout, filled with frustration.
But Yuseong was unwavering.
“He will. No. Killing him is faster.”
“What? Yuseong, you—”
“Ji Seon Woo. Seon Woo-hyung, please. You know what’s going to happen.”
Yuseong ripped off the wooden splint that had been supporting his injured arm and threw it to the ground.
A low, amused chuckle broke the tense silence.
[Well, well…]
Jayan finally spoke.
His voice was thick, damp—like the very air of the underground.
[How did my little guests find their way down here?]
“Stop. Don’t come any closer.”
Yuseong extended a hand, warning him.
Jayan stepped forward anyway.
[Ah… Our young master.]
Yuseong didn’t respond.
Jayan’s eyes were already gold.
The clear sign of an esper at the edge of complete breakdown.
Yuseong inhaled slowly, keeping his gaze locked on him.
Both of them knew the deal.
If one of them made a mistake, the other would kill them first.
[Shall we test our strength, then?]
Jayan’s energy was volatile, seconds away from detonating.
But his demeanor?
Calm.
Lazy, almost.
Too controlled for someone in that state.
“How the hell is he holding himself together like that?”
Seon Woo saw an opportunity.
“If I can just suppress his energy—”
“Yuseong won’t have to fight.”
“He won’t have to kill someone.”
“Yuseong!—”
“Goddamn it, Ji Seon Woo!”
“I’m sorry!”
Yuseong’s grip had loosened just slightly—just enough.
And Seon Woo broke free.
Before Yuseong could stop him, he was already running—
Straight to Jayan.
Jayan tilted his head, watching him approach.
Seon Woo’s breath came quick, but his steps didn’t falter.
He looked up, meeting Jayan’s golden gaze.
There was fear in his expression, but it never reached his eyes.
“You know you’re unstable, don’t you?”
“Get back here, Ji Seon Woo!”
[Hmm?]
A thin thread of tension stretched between them.
Seon Woo glanced back at Yuseong for just a second—
And whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
“Seon—!”
Yuseong’s eyes widened.
His breath caught in his throat.
Because his guide—
His Ji Seon Woo—
—was kissing Jayan.
Standing on his toes, trembling just slightly, lips pressed against an esper on the verge of collapse.
A shuddering breath broke the heavy silence.
Seon Woo pulled away, pressing a hand to his lips.
The shift was instant.
Jayan’s energy, though still erratic, had softened just slightly.
He was stabilizing.
Jayan lowered his head, staring down at Seon Woo.
[Ah… I see now.]
His voice was smooth, lazy.
Like a well-fed predator.
[Now I understand why Cheon reacted the way he did.]
His gaze flicked to Yuseong, who stood frozen in place.
His gold eyes had dimmed to their usual pale blue—
But the curve of his lips carried something dangerous.
[What an intriguing power, little guide.]
Seon Woo exhaled shakily.
“You… you’re back to normal now, right?”
Jayan smiled.
[I’m afraid there’s a problem, young master.]
He didn’t take his eyes off Yuseong as he spoke.
[I want you.]
A sharp smirk curled on his lips.
“Yuseong! It worked—!”
But before Seon Woo could run back to him—
Jayan caught him.
A rough hand grabbed him by the arm, yanking him back.
And before he could even react—
Jayan kissed him again.
Not guiding.
Not stabilizing.
Just greedy, mocking, deliberate.
A wet, slow entangling of tongues.
A kiss meant to provoke.
Jayan’s gaze never left Yuseong.
A direct, deliberate challenge.
Like a snake waiting to see how far it could push before the other side struck back.