Episode 13
The first line read the same no matter how many times they looked at it.
[1st — Esper Kim Yeohyeon (S), 90.01% (possible)]
Kim Yeohyeon × Shim Yeongwon matching rate: 90.01%. A number unheard of in all of human history.
‘What is this… this is scary…’
The chief researcher looked terrified. He glanced between the result sheet and Yoryeon, then put on an exaggerated, trembling act.
Just then, the lab door opened, and other researchers came in one after another.
“Oh, Guide Yoryeon! Came by again? Want an evening coffee?”
“We’ve got our overnight coffee here — want some to stay longer?”
“No, no. I drink a lot in the morning, so I’m fine. I’m trying to sleep early today.”
“Oh, good luck with that plan — never works.”
“Give me my coffee quick. Hey, look at this.”
The chief waved the shocking sheet. Everyone gathered around it.
“What… the heck.”
“Seriously, what is this…”
“Huh.”
“This… is creepy.”
And then, somehow, they all burst out laughing.
They treated it like a wild, new joke of the day.
“No way. Even #10 is in the 70% range. Director Baek Yul — S-rank.”
“We only ran matching on these ten, right? With numbers like this, wouldn’t every S-rank Esper in the world be over 70%?”
“Just seeing the numbers is crazy. Imagine if this guide actually exists…”
Papers fluttered from hand to hand.
“World War incoming?”
“No way. Kim Yeohyeon would single-handedly dominate.”
“I’m scared he and the world #1 might wipe each other out.”
“But 90%? That one… that’s really…”
The brainstorming, earnest researchers huddled and came up with theories while sipping coffee.
“But if it’s an error, why is it this spine-tingling?”
“Guide, shouldn’t we check the device software?”
“Yes… We were planning on that anyway.”
“Take it slow. Looks like your ‘sleep early today’ failed.”
Yoryeon sighed heavily.
“Here, I’ll give the sheet back.”
The result sheet was passed through hands and returned to Yoryeon.
“Every invention has trial and error. Keep at it.”
Pat, pat. The chief patted Yoryeon’s shoulder.
“But… Guide Yoryeon.”
“Yes?”
“What does the ‘possible’ next to the matching rate mean?”
“Oh, that. I thought maybe the algorithm we used caused an error…”
Yoryeon remembered a conversation from weeks ago with Professor Yoon Heeyu. Had she clumsily put that idea into the matching algorithm and caused this mess?
“Professor Yoon mentioned a unique hypothesis.”
“What was it?”
“That extremely skilled guides might be able to adjust their matching rate with a particular Esper within their possible range, by will.”
“In theory. Only when a guide’s ability is far above average and they’re highly trained…”
“So—if this result is real, it means that if an unselected guide develops that skill, they could change their matching rate with Kim Yeohyeon anywhere within the 90.01% range at will?”
Even thinking it over, it sounded absurd. Hearing herself voice the calculation, Yoryeon felt foolish for having fed the idea into the machine.
“Yes… If we take the results at face value, it means the guide could lower the matching rate by up to 10% to reduce pain, or set it to 50% for normal guiding — all within that range.”
“Hmm…”
Everyone in the Matching Lab had the same thought.
There’s no way a ridiculous overpowered character like this actually exists.
If such a cheat-like being existed, even if they were only a D-rank guide, they’d flip the world upside down.
“This is preposterous.”
“Yeah, right?”
Yoryeon dragged herself to the shredder.
Whirr.
Grind. Grind.
One sheet disappeared into the noisy shredder.
Late at night, Yoryeon rummaged through a cabinet.
‘Wasn’t Professor Yoon’s unpublished paper around here somewhere…’
Clack. Tap.
Rustle.
She fished out pages from a stack, one by one. After dozens of minutes, a smile spread over her face.
[Most Esper–guide matching rates cluster between 45%–55%.
So usually the matching rate isn’t a big issue, and except in a few special cases, the academic interest in matching rates is low.
But regardless of academic interest, matching rates are always important to the awakened.]
She’d found the page she’d been looking for.
‘Where’s the next part…’
[These numbers can mean salvation — rest — especially for the Esper.
Rest. Stability.
Absolute peace that cradles the Esper.]
Rustle.
Yoryeon flipped to another page.
[The apex isn’t a powerful Esper; it’s a guide who can manipulate a matching rate beyond the average range at will.
A person who can give an Esper absolute peace, ultimate joy, and bliss according to their will — wouldn’t that guide become a tyrant of the Esper’s will?
Of course, that dictator could be a benevolent ruler of the sort we fantasize about, using power for good… but historically, has the world ever been saved by counting on individual virtue, ethics, or morality?
Will it be so in the future? I’m skeptical. Many will share my doubts.
If such a one appears, we can only hope they have good intentions.
So in this paper, while I show the possibility that a guide might adjust matching rates by will, I also state plainly that I do not wish for such an ability to exist in reality. It is only a possibility — an extremely unlikely coincidence by which such a guide might come to exist.
A tiny possibility.
Yoon Heeyu, Excerpt from “Thoughts on Matching Rates,” preface to unpublished draft]
Chance. Possibility.
Yoryeon lingered on those heavy sentences as if they pressed on her chest.
Kim Yeohyeon Esper Fanpage
Lately, with the rumor of a new unselected guide, newbies are creeping in.
Fans from other rankers who care about him are dropping in to check things.
[Title: Until the matching rate article comes out
I withdraw my support for the unselected guide as of today.
As of today, I’m out of that support relationship.
I will merge myself with the unselected guide.
An attack on the unselected guide will be an attack on me.
I. WILL. RESPOND.]
Comments (0) Likes (5)
[Title: Just dropping by from Dragon Rare
A dragon with the surname Seo
Seoul Mayor Dragon
Sitting on top of Kim Yeohyeon’s head
Comments (0) Likes (-18)]
[Title: Unselected’s skin is so nice
Clear, white, soft
(photo)
I’m in love ♡-♡ (lightstick)
Please be happy forever with Yeohyeon ♡-♡ (lightstick)]
Comments (4) Likes (3)
1 Where do they even keep reusing this micro-photo?
Yeohyeon stans always do this.
Thought today would be special, but it’s the same as yesterday.
Familiar.
2 Center folks, please leak more photos so we can have real welfare without symptoms… I’m dying… thirsty… hungry…
3 Won’t the Center release more pics of Yeohyeon or the unselected? It’s cruel… Is this a perennial lean season? (collapses)
Why are there so many elder commenters today… What’s their age?
I’m also ranked 3.
Oh, you’ve been preserved long time.
Sobs.
For the record, I’m rank 4 (teehee >_< squeal!)
4 I rushed over thinking there’d be new photos, but it’s the same picture… out of 20 posts on this page, 16 are rehashing this pic… give us something else!! (sob)
Thud.
“Hah, hah…”
Back from a mission, Yeohyeon collapsed onto the office sofa.
Whirr. Whirr.
Beep. Beep.
He breathed heavily and froze. Eyes closed, he accepted the pain like an old friend.
As a child, he’d wanted to hide and run away. He’d thought maybe it’s better if life stopped than to keep feeling that periodic tear-your-guts-out kind of pain.
Now he was okay. He didn’t feel bitter or tormented over matching rates.
He’d decided in his late teens to rely on machines forever for guiding.
Since then, human guiding has only gotten more disgusting and horrible.
Still, some people around him were overly dramatic.
‘Yeohyeon, a new unselected came. Maybe this time…’
‘Name’s Shim Yeongwon. They haven’t run a match yet…’
Yeongwon.
An uncomfortable name.
Whether real or not, there was no reason to give it meaning.
He didn’t want to hope for anything.
Right now, he was fine.
At this moment, Yeohyeon only wished he could sleep more comfortably than tonight.
