CHAPTER 275: INCOMPATIBLE

SIZZZLE.

BOOM!

CRAAACK.

Yuno ignored the ’sound effects’ caused by Ki Gayoon and 17’s fight.

He knew he wouldn’t get hit anyway, so he just focused on extracting the Cores of his patients.

Of course, he prioritized the children first.

He was glad to see that the kids’ color and physical appearance were returning to normal after the Cores were extracted from their chests.

It was probably because the Artificial Cores hadn’t been implanted for long.

After all, I can extract them with ease. Had the Artificial Cores been embedded for a long time, then the ’roots’ would have been planted deep into the heart. I wouldn’t have been able to pull them out with just my hands.

As if on cue, Yuno felt a negative energy behind him— causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up.

When he turned around, he was shocked when two of his patients, both patients, got up...

... and those two were obviously not purified enough.

The two ’zombies’ let out an inhumane growl before charging at Yuno.

Ah, dammit.

Yuno didn’t move an inch.

Not because he was frozen in fear, but because he knew he didn’t have to protect himself.

I mean, I’m with the country’s #1 Esper and the #1 World Ranker.

A lightning bolt fell upon one of the zombies while a boulder on the other.

Of course, the attack was from 17 and Ki Gayoon, respectively.

As a result, the ’zombie’ got burnt to crisp while the other got crushed to death.

Oh, no...

"Is it my fault?" Yuno whispered to himself, clutching his chest tight when he felt a pang in his heart because of guilt. "Because I couldn’t extract their Artificial Cores faster?"

He only whispered, but Ki Gayoon and 17 both turned to him with knitted eyebrows.

"Of course, it wasn’t your fault," Ki Gayoon said while walking towards Yuno. "We killed them because the System told us that those two contaminated humans were beyond saving."

Oh.

A few seconds later, a Status Window popped up in front of Yuno.

[As Esper Ki Gayoon said, the System determined that those two contaminated humans were already beyond saving. The Artificial Cores in their hearts had been embedded for too long to be extracted. Don’t feel guilty, Guide Noh Yuno.]

Whew.

Yuno felt relieved, but he also couldn’t help but still feel guilty.

I should move my hands faster...

"Punk, you’re doing well," Ki Gayoon said, patting Yuno’s back as if they were just dudebros. "You’re not lacking, okay?"

Yuno pouted because it was annoying that Ki Gayoon could read his mind at times like that. "Who said I was having a self-pity party in my head?"

"I can see it in your eyes."

Tsk.

"Noh Yuno, don’t be shaken. Not everything will go according to plan, but don’t worry about it," Ki Gayoon said while gathering Yuno in his arms. "Whatever goes wrong, I’ll fix it for you. I’m here, so just do you what you need to do without worrying about other things."

Aww.

Since when did this hyung become this dependable?

"Thank you, Hyung," Yuno said, wrapping his arms around Noh Yuno’s waist and burying his face against his chest. "But, for now, will you please stop fighting with 17? It’s distracting my work."

"Tsk."

***

"YEAH, that’s our exact location. I need you to be here as soon as possible," Ki Gayoon said while talking to Lee Woonhak on the phone. "Move as quietly as you can. Bring Kang Dabin and Baekho as your escorts."

Lee Woonhak was the B-Class Esper in his team.

He’s an Esper, but he’s not a fighter. So, it’s better for him to come here under the protection of Kang Dabin and Baekho.

Ki Gayoon needed those two anyway.

"I got it, Boss— we’ll be there soon."

After that, he ended the call.

"Lee Woonhak is an excellent Healer despite being only a B-Class Esper," 17, who was squatting down next to Ki Gayoon while eating a popsicle, commented. "You really know how to support the kid, huh?"

Obviously, they would need a doctor or a Healer after Noh Yuno was done with extracting the Artificial Cores from his patients.

So, he moved in advance and called Lee Woonhak.

"I’m impressed, Gayoon."

This bastard is addressing me again as if we were friends.

"What’s impressive about doing the bare minimum?" Ki Gayoon asked, scoffing. "Isn’t it only natural to support not only your lover, but also the potential savior of the world?"

"That’s true," 17 said, nodding. "But you’re lucky Noh Yuno can tolerate your rotten personality. You better grab his leg and beg him not to leave you, Gayoon. Once the world realizes how valuable Noh Yuno is, many will try to steal him away from you."

"Yeah, I should start by replacing you as the #1 World Ranker."

"I don’t really care about my rank, but why are you suddenly targeting me?"

Ki Gayoon looked down at 17 and glared at the bastard. "It’s because the System wants you to work with my lover. Apparently, that damned bastard wants the #1 Guide and the #1 Esper in the world to work together. So, if I become the #1 World Ranker, then the System will stop making you work with Noh Yuno."

"Gayoon, are you dumb?"

"Yeah, provoke me. Let’s fight."

"It’s not just because I’m the #1 World Ranker that the System wants me to work with Noh Yuno, stupid," 17 said, laughing while shaking his head. "It’s because my ability works well with Noh Yuno’s ability to purify corrupted Mana on a large scale."

Gayoon wanted to argue with that, but he noticed from the corner of his eye when Noh Yuno stumbled.

He quickly moved and caught his lover before he fell to the ground.

"Hey."

Noh Yuno looked up.

Ki Gayoon felt a pang in his chest when he noticed that not only his lover was pale, but his nose was also bleeding.

Tsk.

"You worked hard, Noh Yuno," Ki Gayoon said, sighing. "Too hard."

Noh Yuno chuckled...

... and then he fainted.

***

"LEE SARANG-nim."

"Sarang Noona."

Whew.

Lee Sarang looked surprised when she saw Kim Jaeha, Kwon Hojun, and the Gu Twins return safely.

However, he noticed that the four were running towards here in a panic.

"What’s wrong...?"

"Zombies!" Kwon Hojun yelled, obviously scared. "We’re being chased by zombies!"

Lee Sarang knitted her eyebrows, confused. "What zombies..."

She didn’t get to finish her sentence because her personal Status Window suddenly popped up in front of her.

Oh, a mission.

[Esper Lee Sarang, please work with Guide Jericho to eradicate the contaminated humans.]

***

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