Chapter 108
“Are you going to America?”
“What?”
“I was listening to the radio while on my way to work, and they mentioned that the Federal Awakened Research Institute sent you a love call. They specifically named Guide Lee Su-hyeon of Sunrise Guild, so I was surprised and called you right away.”
While I accessed the guild information program every morning to get information, Kim Young-joo listened to a radio station that mainly covered industry trends on her way to work. I once thought “she’s quite unique” when I learned that Kim Young-joo contributed to the 0.1 percent average listening rate of a channel I wondered who would listen to.
Anyway, that wasn’t the important part. No matter how low the listening rate was, it was a nationally broadcast radio program, and I was very flustered that my name had been mentioned there. Moreover, it hadn’t even been a full day since the transfer discussion came up. What day? Not even twelve hours had passed.
“It’s incorrect information, right? It’s not true, is it?”
I held my words for a moment at the following question. I could easily wrap up the situation by denying it, but that would be a temporary measure that wouldn’t last even an hour.
There might be someone from our guild among the 0.1 percent of listeners, and most importantly, if what Gijun hyung said was true, an official letter would have already been sent to the guild. And I could guarantee that fact would soon spread through someone’s mouth.
“Hello? Are you listening?”
“Oh, I’m listening. I need to get to work too, so let’s talk when we meet later.”
“…Alright.”
Just by me not denying it, Kim Young-joo would have realized “there’s really something going on.” Yet, she showed consideration by ending the call instead of pressing the issue.
“Sigh.”
As soon as I hung up, I closed my eyes tightly and held my forehead.
Why would transfer talk about someone like me be on the radio? When and how did they get this information? Could it possibly be that impatient scout?
Unfortunately, I couldn’t immediately determine the truth. Time had already passed significantly, and it was past the time I should have left home. Since I didn’t want to be late without reason, I decided to go to work first.
I thought I’d be immediately escorted by Kim Young-joo and interrogated when I went up to the office. But my prediction was wrong. As soon as I entered the guild building, my device rang as if it had been waiting.
[Guide Lee Su-hyeon. Please come to the Guild Master’s office immediately.]
I was startled the moment I saw the message. It was because the call came from the Guild Master’s executive secretary office. Moreover, one word in particular jumped out at me.
‘The Guild Master’s office?’
Wondering if I might have misread it and there should be a “Deputy” prefix, I read it again, but the words I saw remained unchanged. As soon as I realized that the Guild Master had really summoned me, a faint tension rose.
I thought visiting the Deputy Guild Master’s office previously was a special experience that wouldn’t happen again, but today I would even get to see the Guild Master’s office.
The tension grew as I thought about the place and the person I would face there. Surely they wouldn’t call me to the Guild Master’s office if the Guild Master wasn’t there.
Who was the Guild Master again? Rumor had it that even after retirement, he came to the guild every day, but no one around me had actually seen him in person. The only time a low-ranking guild member like me could directly see the Guild Master’s face was once a year, during the New Year’s address at the beginning of the year. Even then, the distance to the podium was so far that I could only see properly through the screens on either side.
Even when I was signing the pair contract with Song Ji-hyeok, an S-rank Esper, the Deputy Guild Master was present, so I never imagined I would be summoned alone without him.
The path to the Guild Master’s office was extraordinary too. Following instructions, I first got off on the 8th floor, then went out through a small door on the side and took a gleaming golden elevator. Seeing that there was only one floor button, for the 9th floor, it seemed this elevator was used exclusively for going to the Guild Master’s office.
‘I had no idea this existed.’
The elevator rose one floor in the blink of an eye. The moment the doors opened, I was taken aback once more. Instead of the corridor that should have been there, I saw an indoor space that looked like a secretary’s office. Someone standing nearby spoke to me as if they had been waiting.
“Welcome. I’ll escort you inside.”
Though flustered by the respectful treatment, I followed him. With a subtle sound, a door opened to reveal the Guild Master and Deputy Guild Master sitting side by side.
The emotion I felt at that moment was tremendous intimidation. The Guild Master, whom I was meeting up close for the first time, was much larger in stature than when seen from afar, and he exuded an overwhelming aura like facing a wild tiger. It was so intense that the Deputy Guild Master, whom I had always thought was characterized by charisma, now seemed like a gentle angel in comparison.
Amidst all this, whether due to survival instinct or something else, words automatically came out.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Guide Lee Su-hyeon from Team 3.”
“We’ve been waiting. Come, sit down.”
The Guild Master sat at the head of the table, and I was humbly seated facing the Deputy Guild Master. Another employee, different from the one who guided me, brought refreshments.
“Try some of this bread. It’s very soft and delicious.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Ms. Myung-ji, please have some too.”
The kind offer, contrasting with his appearance, extended to the Deputy Guild Master as well. If I closed my eyes and just listened to his voice, I could feel unparalleled affection.
They say the Guild Master is a devoted husband. It must be true.
Thinking to myself while still sitting somewhat stiffly, the Guild Master eventually got to the point. As his smile faded slightly, he exuded a rough energy like when our eyes first met.
“Last night, we received an email from FARI. They said they really wanted to scout you. Have you received any individual contact?”
Looking at the Guild Master’s eyes, it was clear he was asking something he already knew. Thinking that lying would be futile, I answered carefully and respectfully.
“Yes. Not from the Center, but I met an acquaintance who works at the Research Institute yesterday and heard about it.”
“You know someone at the Research Institute?”
“Yes.”
I didn’t want to specifically mention Gijun hyung, but even that defied my expectations. The Deputy Guild Master, who had been quietly listening, spoke softly.
“Come to think of it, there was an Esper who left our guild three years ago to join FARI… His name was… right, Esper Seo Gi-jun.”
I was inwardly startled by hyung’s name being accurately mentioned. Normally, even with long-term contracts, the number of people who had newly joined or left the guild would easily exceed dozens. Of course, it would be rare for someone with awakened status to transfer to a research institute rather than another guild, but still, it was surprising that she remembered Gijun hyung’s name exactly.
“Is that acquaintance Esper Seo Gi-jun?”
“…Yes, it is.”
With the guild’s information capabilities, finding out whom I met yesterday would be no challenge at all. So while I had no choice but to answer, I worried that it might cause trouble for Gijun hyung. But the Guild Master’s subsequent words rendered my concern unnecessary.
“This might sound cruel, but… now that there’s an issue with caring for Song Ji-hyeok, transferring under good conditions wouldn’t be bad. They said they would pay all the penalty fees too.”
So you know about the guiding problem. Well, of course you would.
“But one thing.”
I unconsciously lowered my gaze, but raised my head again at the Guild Master’s quietly added words.
“Although dual awakened are rare, you’re a double C-rank. There wouldn’t be much merit strategically, so the fact that they contacted me, the Guild Master, directly…”
The Guild Master’s words were cut short. From outside the door came an unexpected knock followed by the secretary’s voice.
“Excuse me, Guild Master.”
The Guild Master’s brow furrowed deeply, suggesting this was unplanned.
“What is it?”
“We’ve received word that Esper Song Ji-hyeok is causing a disturbance at the administration office.”
“A disturbance?”
“Yes. It seems he’s insisting on meeting Guide Lee Su-hyeon right away, no matter what.”
‘Huh? Me?’
I almost pointed at myself with my index finger. More importantly, when did he return? He always contacted me as soon as he came out of the dungeon.
I checked my phone discreetly, but the screen was blank. Meanwhile, the Guild Master seemed to have finished his thought and spoke again.
“Bring him here.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
