Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 305: HEAVIEST CHOICE

IT WAS a mistake to lower his guard when ’Ho Jungwon’ dropped to the floor.

Moon Noa belatedly realized that what seemed like pink slime suddenly appeared at the tip of his shoes.

And then the damned thing crawled up to his body until it covered his torso.

Bambi!

Moon Noa didn’t fear death because everyone would die at some point anyway.

However, he was scared of getting his autonomy taken away from him.

He didn’t want Bambi to steal his body like he did to Ho Jungwon.

Why can’t this monster leech get off me?!

In fact, the more he resisted, the tighter the pink slime wrapped itself around his body. It was as if it were a snake trying to crush its prey.

Argh...

Moon Noa shut his eyes tight and tried to wrap his heart and Core with his Mana.

But as soon as he did that, he felt something sharp stab him in the chest— causing him to let out a blood-curdling scream out of pain.

It hurts! It hurts! It fucking hurts!

Moon Noa thought he was going to die.

Fortunately, the pain stopped eventually.

Even the disgusting pink slime that almost crushed his body had ’melted.’

Huh?

What happened?

"Noa Hyung."

Moon Noa opened his eyes and...

"Sungbin-ah and Ki Gayoon-ssi?"

***

[A few minutes earlier...]

TIME STOPPED— LITERALLY.

Ryu Sungbin was both amazed and confused.

It was amazing that it happened to him twice already.

I first experienced this when the System showed up to fight the Virus, but I was out of it back then.

Hence, this was the first time that he got to experience it fully.

It was surreal.

Even the Virus that claimed to be a ’god’ was frozen in time.

"Sungbin Oppa..."

"Hyung..."

Ryu Sungbin looked over his shoulder and was relieved that the kids were all standing now.

Matthew, Lee Sarang, and Jin Sooin seemed like they had recovered already.

Only Kwak Hakjae was unconscious.

It’s understandable since President Kang is a non-combatant Esper— he’s not built for fights.

"Sungbin Oppa, what’s happening?" Jin Sooin asked worriedly. "Time has stopped..."

"When it happened, the thing crushing my heart disappeared," Lee Sarang added. "Oppa, did you gain the ability to stop time?"

"No, it wasn’t me," Ryu Sungbin said while shaking his head. "It’s the System."

Matthew let out a soft gasp. "The System is helping us?"

Ryu Sungbin scoffed. "Stop being amazed, Matthew. That damned System should have helped us from the start. But, like what Noh Yuno said before, the System is useless. Heck, none of this would have happened if the System didn’t lose to the Virus in the first place."

"You’re being too harsh on me, Esper Ryu Sungbin."

Huh?

Ryu Sungbin could tell that the ’person’ standing before them was the System.

However...

"Ki Gayoon?"

Yep, the System was using Ki Gayoon’s appearance.

"I know you can all tell that I’m not the real Esper Ki Gayoon. I’m not even using his body— I merely borrowed his appearance because you’ll die if you see the real me."

Ryu Sungbin frowned. "But why use Ki Gayoon’s appearance?"

"Well, isn’t Esper Ki Gayoon your true leader?"

No one could refute that, not even Ryu Sungbin.

"I can’t stop time for too long, so let’s make this quick. As you already know, I haven’t recovered my full strength yet. Hence, I can only save half of your group."

What?

There were only six people left there after Kim Munhee was taken away by Song Heejin: Ryu Sungbin, Moon Noa, Matthew, Lee Sarang, Jin Sooin, and Kwak Hakjae.

So...

"I can only protect three of you. Hence, I have to ask you to choose: whom among you should I save from the Virus’s influence?"

Tsk.

"Can’t you just save the five of them and leave me here?"

"Oppa..."

"Sungbin Oppa."

"Hyung..."

Ryu Sungbin ignored the kids who were trying to stop him from making such a bold decision.

But, no, he didn’t give in.

I’m responsible for everyone here.

"System-nim, I don’t care if you haven’t fully recovered yet," Ryu Sungbin said sternly. "Save everyone but me. That’s the least you can do for us after you abandoned us for so long."

"I would if I could. Unfortunately, this is my limit. I’d break down if I saved all of you. The Virus is currently stronger than me."

"Then what’s the point—"

"Esper Ryu Sungbin, look at me and answer my question: if the real Esper Ki Gayoon were here, who do you think he’d choose to save?"

Ah.

That must be the real reason why the System copied Ki Gayoon’s appearance.

And this is why I can’t be the real leader of our group— I’m not as decisive as Ki Gayoon.

Ryu Sungbin knew the answer because he knew Ki Gayoon that well, but he didn’t have the heart to make that kind of decision.

"Esper Ryu Sungbin, answer my question."

"I can’t—"

"Oppa, it’s alright," Lee Sarang said. "We won’t resent you for this."

"I’d rather half of us survive than all of us die here," Jin Sooin said firmly. "Sungbin Oppa, I trust your choice."

"I agree with Lee Sarang and Sooin Noona," Matthew said. "Hyung, don’t worry about our feelings. We all want the same thing here— to save the world, even if it means sacrificing ourselves. Most Espers are prepared to die for that cause."

Haaah.

These kids, really...

"Esper Ryu Sungbin, we don’t have all the time in the world—"

"If Ki Gayoon were here, he wouldn’t hesitate to choose," Ryu Sungbin said, cutting off the System. "He’d choose the three people with skills that the world needs the most: Moon Noa, the first S-Class Guide. President Kwak Hakjae, the only Esper who can create the System’s Heart and its Fragments. And, lastly, Lee Sarang."

Lee Sarang gasped out loud. "No, Oppa. Why me...?"

"You’re the strongest Esper here, second only to Ki Gayoon," Ryu Sungbin said, and then he looked over his shoulder to look at Lee Sarang. "Most of all, Ki Gayoon has a soft spot for you, Sarang-ah. If Ki Gayoon finds out that you’re in danger, he’ll come and save you. And once that happens, I want you to convince him to join our side again."

"I agree with Sungbin Oppa," Jin Sooin said, putting a hand on Lee Sarang’s shoulder. "So, even if the three of us fall into the enemies’ trap, we still have hope outside."

Matthew nodded, putting a hand on Lee Sarang’s other shoulder. "Sarang-ah, we leave everything to you."

Lee Sarang obviously wanted to protest, but only sobs came out of her mouth.

Our maknae knows we don’t have time for this, so she can’t even argue.

Ryu Sungbin’s heart broke not only for their youngest, but also for Jin Sooin and Matthew whome he couldn’t save.

Ki Gayoon, are we really making the right decision here? 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

To be honest, he wasn’t sure.

"Esper Ryu Sungbin, have you made a decision?"

"Yes," Ryu Sungbin said, shutting his eyes tight. "Please save Noa Hyung, Sarang-ah, and President Kwak."

***

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