BCGWR Chapter 5 Part 2

The most common symptoms were short-term memory loss, usually losing a few hours, or a day or two of memory, and many also suffered from aphasia.

If this worsened or Guiding was performed constantly in poor conditions, individuals could lose several years of memory or all memory, or exhibit severe lethargy and depression. Beyond that stage, it was frequent for them to ultimately end their own lives.

Thanks to frequent news reports about Guides suffering from mental issues in the five years since The Cataclysm, everyone was aware of this. However, research into this phenomenon was strangely passive.

Unlike Espers, who always received extensive research and support, research into Guides always seemed to take a back seat.

‘Kim Hyun-ah had said that. She said she didn’t know why, but research on hair loss and erectile dysfunction was active, while the cause of menstrual pain wasn’t properly researched and remained unknown to this day, and it felt like the same situation.’

Even just looking at this classroom, all the Guides acknowledged the Berserk state of Guides and nodded seriously, agreeing with the instructor’s words, but the Espers didn’t take it seriously at all.

They grumbled, saying they couldn’t even accept the Guide Protection Law itself, asking how they were supposed to distinguish between genuine fatigue and mere pretense when there was no observable evidence of the Berserk state. Some even brazenly declared that it was all just Guides taking advantage.

Finally, when someone exclaimed, “Aren’t Espers the ones fighting on the front lines, risking their lives?”, a Guide quietly muttered, “Then just live without Guides and die.” The air instantly turned frigid.

Before the instructor could quickly try to lighten the mood, an agitated male Esper turned towards the source of the voice. The moment he opened his mouth with an annoyed expression,

“Ugh!”

Instead of uttering the bad words anticipated, he let out a choked sound, then suddenly straightened his back and sat primly.

Seeing the Esper sitting rigidly and trembling, some unconsciously turned their gaze to Han Ji-su—no, to Kang Jae-yoon beside Han Ji-su.

Realizing that Kang Jae-yoon had used “psychokinesis” to press down on the Esper’s body as if binding him, without even lifting a finger, thus preventing a commotion, they quietly turned their heads back to face forward.

The non-Awakened instructor, secretly surprised by the Esper’s sudden docility, skillfully maintained a calm expression and advanced the PPT slide.

“Alright, shall we look at number 2 now?”

With a bright voice, as if unaware of anything, the second question popped up on the screen. From various parts of the classroom, small sighs were heard from some Guides who read the text.

Ji-su also snorted, and for good reason: the second example question was almost identical to the abusive language the Guides had heard just yesterday.

“Those who think number 2 is ‘O’ (True)! Raise your hands!”

This time, significantly fewer people raised their hands than for number 1. Seeing this, the Guides chuckled amongst themselves.

It was a scoff, implying, why are those very people who were shouting at Guides in just that manner yesterday—or rather, just a moment ago were claiming “pretense”—sitting here now and not raising their hands? Ji-su also let out a small, incredulous laugh.

At that, an unteachable Esper, sitting three rows diagonally ahead, turned back with narrowed eyes, then flinched! His body stiffened, and he hastily sat straight, facing forward.

Seeing the Esper’s blatant fear, Ji-su instinctively glanced to his side. Kang Jae-yoon was glaring at the back of the Esper’s head with chilling, ice-cold eyes.

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