As soon as Yeo Eun-jo poured his Guiding energy into him, Jin Mu-seong reacted like a machine getting recharged—his eyebrows twitched, then the focus slowly returned to his eyes, and his fingertips gave the faintest twitch.
As his senses came back, he registered the body nestled against him—a smaller frame that reached his chest, warm body heat, and soft hands gently brushing over him. The moment he realized it was Eun-jo, his tense expression eased into something gentle.
He came.
The second he saw the payment notification, he didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the nearest gate dispatch from the hotel. Luckily, it was just a B-rank gate, and with no Guides already on-site, he had free rein to destabilize his waves as needed.
Sure, there was a risk of Overload, but nothing he couldn’t manage with a Time Freeze. What mattered most was getting Yeo Eun-jo to come to him.
He was the one who told Eun-jo to go have fun, but the moment he saw that hotel bill, he lost his damn mind.
“Who told you to take it that far?”
Jin Mu-seong leaned his head against Eun-jo’s shoulder like he hadn’t come to yet. Oblivious, Eun-jo kept nagging him even as his energy got drained away.
“You’re supposed to regulate yourself on the job. What, you think you’re some kind of lone hero?”
“……”
“If you drop dead out there, you think anyone’s gonna give you a standing ovation or something?”
“……”
“Go ahead and die once. I’ll show you just how deep in debt I can go with your credit cards.”
“……”
He was too cute—Jin Mu-seong decided to stay “unconscious” a little longer. Maybe Eun-jo really thought things were dire, because his voice started to waver, sinking into something fragile.
“Jin Mu-seong. You can freeze time just fine… so why the hell can’t you open your eyes…?”
“……”
“You’re not hiding some secret ability too… are you?”
“……”
“Come on, snap out of it. Please?”
That bratty tone, paired with stiff honorifics—it was ridiculously cute. Damn it. Jin Mu-seong’s lips twitched on their own, barely holding back a grin. And then, Eun-jo finally spoke.
“Baby.”
“……”
The unexpected pet name made Jin Mu-seong freeze. Eun-jo, sensing movement, immediately lifted his head.
His clear face was drenched in worry. The moment their black eyes met, the lingering smile slowly vanished from Jin Mu-seong’s face. In that instant, he realized—he’d been desperately, painfully waiting for this man.
Shit.
This wasn’t curiosity anymore.
He shifted his eyes slightly, surveying the surroundings. Even while unconscious, he’d managed to dig a pit around himself—keeping others away just so he could wait here, for Eun-jo.
As he stared blankly at the ground, Eun-jo gave his back a couple of firm pats.
“Hello? Jin Mu-seong?”
“……”
“Hey! Jin Mu-seong!”
His gaze returned to Eun-jo. At the same time, his eyes crinkled into that familiar, sly curve. Ah… a low groan rumbled in his chest.
I’ve already handed over the leash, haven’t I?
When had it started? Maybe he’d known all along—from the very first moment he felt that flicker of interest. That this tiny little Guide would end up owning his heart. And once he realized it, that single spark erupted into a wildfire. The desire to hide him away, keep him somewhere no one else could reach, make him wait only for him—that twisted craving kept rising to the surface.
It’s not time yet.
If he let any of that slip, smart little Yeo Eun-jo would get scared and run for his life. So instead, Jin Mu-seong softened his gaze and gently pulled him into a hug.
“Why’d you take so long, baby?”
His large frame leaned in, and Eun-jo let out a strained grunt, smacking him on the back.
“If you’re awake, let go!”
“Wasn’t really out in the first place.”
Still resting against his shoulder, Jin Mu-seong lifted his head slowly.
“Say it again. ‘Baby.’”
Then he pressed his lips to the side of Eun-jo’s neck, just above the collar.
“Hmm? Baby.”
As if punishing him for being late, his teeth sank into the soft skin. “Nngh!” Eun-jo gasped from the sharp sting.
Like a starving beast, Jin Mu-seong devoured him—urgent and rough. He bit, sucked, then licked over the abused flesh, each motion sending a strange jolt of pleasure through him. Unconsciously, Eun-jo curled his toes and leaned in closer.
“Hnngh… mm…”
His body burned up. Was he actually getting trained for this? Just a few kisses and his lower belly tightened, his limbs turning limp. He was about to press in even closer when the faces of the Guide Center staff flashed through his mind.
“Ugh…!”
Panicked, Eun-jo shoved him away and looked up toward the edge of the pit.
Just then, a large hand cupped his chin. The touch was gentle, but commanding. Jin Mu-seong turned Eun-jo’s face back toward him and gave a crooked smile.
“Baby, already getting distracted? That’s not like you.”
Still spouting “baby” nonsense at a time like this—Eun-jo gave him a look of sheer disbelief. And then he finally noticed the rest. The fight inside the gate must’ve been brutal. His uniform was torn in places, and dark stains of blood marked his side.
“You didn’t even get treated…”
Horrified, Eun-jo grabbed his hand from his chin.
“Are you seriously trying to die? You came all the way here without even stopping for medical care?”
“You didn’t know?”
Meeting Eun-jo’s glare without flinching, Jin Mu-seong grabbed his fist and pulled it toward himself—then gently pressed a kiss to the back of that small, delicate hand.
“I’m absolutely fucking crazy about you.”
“Y-You’re insane!”
Before Eun-jo could launch into even harsher curses, Jin Mu-seong’s strong arms suddenly wrapped around his waist and legs. In the next instant, their bodies shot into the air, debris flying beneath them.
“Aaahhh!” Eun-jo screamed as the world tilted. Instinctively, he clung to Jin Mu-seong, wrapping both arms tightly around him. A low chuckle rumbled against his ear.
“Team Leader!”
“Sir! You need to report back to the Center!”
Staff down below were waving frantically.
“You have to go to the Guiding Room! That’s the only place we can monitor your wave levels!”
From the panic in their voices, they clearly knew he wasn’t heading there. But Jin Mu-seong didn’t even hesitate. He kept flying toward wherever he wanted.
The air rushed by, cold and sharp. If a migrating bird hit them midair, Eun-jo was pretty sure he’d straight-up die. He squeezed his eyes shut, his whole body trembling.
“If you drop me, I swear I’ll murder you.”
Sure, he’d die if he fell—but he’d haunt Jin Mu-seong to the ends of the earth. He’d already come back from the dead once—who’s to say he couldn’t do it again?
While Eun-jo was gritting his teeth, plotting supernatural revenge, Jin Mu-seong gave his shoulder a few gentle taps.
“Come on, open your eyes. It’s pretty down there.”
Pretty? Cautiously, Eun-jo peeked—and saw the pit from earlier, now tiny far below. No, more accurately, they were just so high up now that it looked small.
Snowflake-shaped lights were forming in the air above the ant-sized staff members. It looked just like a Christmas tree. Eun-jo blinked in awe. What the hell…?
“What is that…?”
“Mm, the mutt’s doing.”
Jin Mu-seong replied in the same tone you’d use explaining something to a kindergartener.
“Looks like he’s trying to bless us or something. Making snowflake decorations. Not really my taste, though.”
“……”
“Guy’s got shit for aesthetics.”
Only then did Eun-jo notice Park Se-yul streaking toward them at lightning speed—fast enough to rival his movements inside the gate.
Tsk. Jin Mu-seong clicked his tongue and kicked up his speed. And just what the hell were they supposed to do now?
Imagining Park Se-yul’s furious face, Eun-jo shut his eyes again. The pitch-black darkness behind his eyelids felt way too much like his future.
