Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 289: ANTIDOTE

SAVED by the bell.

That was Yuno’s (un)funny thought when they barely got out of the basement before the ground collapsed.

All the mountains of cars were swallowed by the sinkhole that appeared after the earthquake.

That was one nasty sinkhole.

In just a few seconds, the entire scrapyard had disappeared.

But Yuno was safe since Ki Gayoon was carrying him in his arms while suspended in the air.

17 was also floating, with Yu Minju still draped over his shoulder like a sack of rice.

Baekho was also suspended in the air while ’standing’ behind Ki Gayoon.

In short, they all made it out safely.

Thank goodness for Espers who can fly.

"Noh Yuno, we need to talk."

"We really need to talk, Hyung," Yuno said, glaring at Ki Gayoon. "Who told you to leave and meet my siblings without my permission?"

Ki Gayoon avoided his gaze. "Uh, don’t be mad— let’s talk it out, Babe Princess."

"Yeah, we should return somewhere safe first," 17 chimed in. "This kid has fainted."

Yuno gasped when he realized that Yu Minju was dangling over 17’s shoulder like a lifeless doll.

And then he saw it.

"Her Mana is almost depleted..."

"It’s because Minju worked nonstop to create the device that your siblings asked her to make, Madam," Baekho explained politely. "She hasn’t even gotten a wink of sleep ever since we got kidnapped."

Oh, no.

"Yu Minju-ssi needs guiding, but I can only guide natural S-Class Espers," Yuno said worriedly. "Let’s bring her to Lucca-ssi."

***

WHEN YUNO and the others returned to the orphanage that they were currently using as a base, he got a bit worried after seeing that all the Guides there were almost drained of energy.

Moon Noa.

Lucca.

And even Jericho.

"Oh, you’re back," Moon Noa, the Guide who was left with more energy than the others, greeted them. He glanced at Yu Minju (now being carried by Baekho, bridal style), and then back to Yuno. "I guess the explanation can wait. I’ll try, but I’m not sure if I can guide Yu Minju properly."

Right.

Moon Noa was an S-Class Guide, but he only had high compatibility rate with S-Class Espers (natural or not).

That was why Yuno actually wanted Lucca to do the job.

But Lucca-ssi looks drained.

"Noa-ssi, if it’s alright with you, can I guide Yu Minju-ssi instead?" Lucca asked politely. "I have a high compatibility rate with Yu Minju-ssi. I’ve already guided her a few times."

"That’s fine with me, but will you be alright?" Moon Noa asked worriedly. "You still look tired, Lucca-ssi."

"I’m fine, Noa-ssi. I can do it."

"Alright then."

I guess we can leave it to them, then.

"Yuyu, we need to talk," Moon Noa said in a serious tone. "Lee Woonhak-ssi has already figured out how the virus works."

Oh, finally.

"Can we skip the meeting and just get the summary later?" 17 asked while raising his hand, his other arm already wrapped around Jericho’s waist. "I need guiding."

"Okay, Hyung-nim," Yuno said, nodding. "I’ll keep you posted later."

***

YUNO felt a splitting headache while listening to Lee Woonhak’s explanation.

The Healer looked like a professor giving a lecture to his students.

And the students in question would be Yuno, Ki Gayoon, Moon Noa, and Haru.

Yeah, only us.

Lucca was guiding both Baekho and Yu Minju, while Jericho was guiding 17.

"According to the System’s analysis, once the virus enters a human body, it will travel straight to the heart," Lee Woonhak started with his explanation. "As you all know, every single person in the world has a dormant Core. But only the ones chosen by the System awaken as either a Guide or a Esper. And that’s because the System knows who to awaken. The System checks the compatibility of a person’s body with the Core they were born with. If the body is too weak to handle the Core awakening, then their heart will literally explode."

Yeah.

That was why artificial awakening was a big no.

"However, the virus doesn’t care about that," Lee Woonhak continued with his explanation. "Once it enters a human body, it will penetrate the dormant Core and force the owner of the body to awaken. The virus will then take a physical form and become the corrupted part of the Core. Since the Core was activated forcefully, the System recognizes them as Artificial Cores. Any Core that the System did not activate will be referred to as such."

"It’s different from the Artificial Cores that I’m familiar with," Yuno commented. "The Artificial Cores that I’ve seen before are man-made Cores being embedded in the hearts of Civilians. Usually, children."

"Producing Artificial Cores might be too taxing on whoever is making them, so the enemies found a new way to create Artificial Cores," Ki Gayoon commented. "If we’re right about these Artificial Awakened People being created to be mere livestock for monsters, then they won’t care about the quality."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

It’s like mass-producing instant food.

Horrible, just plain horrible.

"Do we have an antidote?" Moon Noa asked curiously. "If the System has already figured out the virus, then they must be creating the antidote now, correct?"

"The System hasn’t completed the antidote yet because they lack the ingredient needed," Lee Woonhak said, and then he glanced at Yuno nervously. "Apparently, we need to gather as many E-Class Guides as we can."

Aigoo.

Yuno wouldn’t say that he was surprised.

This is what happens when you accidentally become important at work!

But, to be fair, it wasn’t a big deal.

"The System has already asked me to gather the E-Class Guides in hiding, so I’ll take care of it," Yuno said, already used to running ’errands’ for the System. "Woonhak Hyung-nim, did the System mention other ingredients that we need to complete the antidote?"

"Yes, but I don’t know what it means," Lee Woonhak said, tilting his head to one side. "The System says we need to catch the ’pink blob.’"

Yuno and Moon Noa spoke at the same time. "Bambi."

Bambi was an ingredient to complete the antidote?

***

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