There was no need to confirm whether what Lim Haeyul saw was an illusion or if the guiding was done correctly. This was because, after that day, Cha Jae-woo continued to request the same method of guiding.
Even if that hadn’t been the case, Lim Haeyul would have quickly realized that his guiding was correct. The fluctuating waves around Cha Jae-woo had stabilized, and the usual discomfort Lim Haeyul felt whenever he was near Cha Jae-woo had vanished at some point. It was impossible not to notice.
“……What a mess,” Lim Haeyul muttered.
“I have a trusted Guide,” Cha Jae-woo replied.
“…….”
Additionally, Cha Jae-woo’s completely changed attitude played a significant role. Previously, he would ignore Lim Haeyul except during guiding sessions, but recently, he had become exceedingly kind. He would initiate casual conversations and even ask if Lim Haeyul needed anything. It almost made Lim Haeyul wonder if there could be anyone kinder. However, Lim Haeyul found Cha Jae-woo’s kindness unwelcome. He was convinced that Cha Jae-woo’s intentions were far from pure.
Cha Jae-woo’s behavior was highly suspicious. He had abruptly told Lim Haeyul to stop the guiding education he had been receiving. As a result, Lim Haeyul could no longer meet or contact Kim Sol. Cha Jae-woo had given Lim Haeyul a new phone, ensuring that Kim Sol and Guide Association President’s contact information could not be saved.
Fortunately, Lim Haeyul could still keep his friends’ contacts. However, his phone number had also changed, leaving him with an unsettling feeling.
“Haah…….” Lim Haeyul sighed deeply.
Although he could contact or meet anyone except Kim Sol and Guide Association President, he felt inexplicably trapped.
“Stop daydreaming and focus on guiding. It seems you can easily guide without concentrating now,” Cha Jae-woo remarked sarcastically, still wearing a smile.
‘Is this why there are so many con artists with pleasant faces?’ Lim Haeyul thought.
Seeing Cha Jae-woo’s smiling face made Lim Haeyul’s previous thoughts fade away. It wasn’t entirely illogical to think that way.
Strangely, when Cha Jae-woo smiled, he looked almost angelic, but only for a brief moment. As soon as Lim Haeyul came to his senses, the thought of finding Cha Jae-woo angelic made him shudder.
“I’ll start now. Please don’t talk to me,” Lim Haeyul said.
“You seem much more comfortable around me now,” Cha Jae-woo noted.
“……No. I’m still very uncomfortable,” Lim Haeyul replied.
And he intended to remain uncomfortable. A smiling face meant nothing. Cha Jae-woo’s occasional remarks revealed that his smiles were not genuine.
Despite this, Cha Jae-woo’s ability to maintain his expression was almost a talent in itself. If he hadn’t become an Esper, he could have been a successful actor. It was a pointless thought, but it crossed Lim Haeyul’s mind.
“I’m starting now,” Lim Haeyul announced.
He closed his eyes tightly, signaling Cha Jae-woo not to speak, and took Cha Jae-woo’s hand. Holding Cha Jae-woo’s hand had become a natural part of the process, as it allowed for a clearer sensation when manipulating the mana he channeled into Cha Jae-woo.
Lim Haeyul tensed his entire body, already feeling the strain. Cha Jae-woo had just returned from a gate, and the waves that had been calmed were now raging again, similar to before.
‘……As expected.’
The massive Black Mass inside Cha Jae-woo was thrashing wildly. The cost of using his ability was immense. Lim Haeyul couldn’t help but feel annoyed that all his efforts to calm the waves had been in vain, but he also knew that he had subtly pressured Cha Jae-woo to go to the gate. Although, Cha Jae-woo probably wouldn’t have gone just because Lim Haeyul told him to.
“……Huh.”
The Black Mass clung to Lim Haeyul’s mana, desperately trying to consume it. He focused his mind to prevent the mana from disappearing instantly and dodged the mass’s advances, attempting to calm it.
His efforts were rewarded. By the time his legs began to tremble from mental exhaustion, the wildly thrashing mass had noticeably calmed.
“Phew, that’s it. It’s over,” Lim Haeyul gasped, opening his eyes as the last of his mana was consumed by the mass. His body swayed, but he managed to stay on his feet this time, thanks to Cha Jae-woo, who considerately supported his waist.
“I can stand on my own…….” Lim Haeyul muttered.
“Do you want a hug?” Cha Jae-woo asked.
“No!” Lim Haeyul snapped.
“You look like you can barely walk. Maybe we should do this lying down next time,” Cha Jae-woo suggested.
“No!” Lim Haeyul repeated firmly.
“Ah, I shouldn’t have made you stand for so long. My mistake,” Cha Jae-woo said, feigning concern.
“I’m really fine—!” Lim Haeyul began to protest, but he abruptly stopped. He realized that Cha Jae-woo wasn’t listening to a word he said.
In an instant, Cha Jae-woo, now demoted to “this jerk” in Lim Haeyul’s mind, scooped him up with a grin.
‘Why not just pick me up like a sack of rice?’ Lim Haeyul thought, embarrassed by how small he felt in Cha Jae-woo’s arms. Although Lim Haeyul wasn’t particularly short, Cha Jae-woo’s towering height made him feel tiny.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, every time they touched, Lim Haeyul had to exert effort to maintain the Guiding Block, which was mentally taxing. He had grown accustomed to it, but it was still challenging, especially when his mental energy was already depleted.
‘He’s not doing this to torment me, right?’ Lim Haeyul wondered.
Surely not. What would Cha Jae-woo gain from tormenting him?
So, was this Cha Jae-woo’s way of being nice? Was he grateful to Lim Haeyul for using his meager D-rank mana to calm the raging waves? Was he appreciative that Lim Haeyul had pushed him to go to the gate?
“Haah…….” Lim Haeyul sighed.
“Why are you laughing like that?” Cha Jae-woo asked.
“I’m not laughing because I’m happy,” Lim Haeyul replied.
“I know. Anyone can see that,” Cha Jae-woo said, his tone sharp enough to make Lim Haeyul flinch. Yet, he was gently placed on the bed, and Cha Jae-woo even patted his shoulder with a smile.
“You’re aware that you’re a bit strange, right……?” Lim Haeyul blurted out, too astonished to filter his words. He immediately regretted it, but it was too late.
Cha Jae-woo’s smile faltered for a moment before returning to its usual brilliance.
“You really are comfortable around me now,” Cha Jae-woo said, his words belying his smile.
“You’re talking nonsense,” he added.
His smile seemed more like a threat than a sign of amusement. Lim Haeyul quickly averted his gaze.
Cha Jae-woo had never directly harmed him, but Lim Haeyul couldn’t dismiss the possibility. For now, Cha Jae-woo was tolerating him because he was doing a decent job with the guiding.
Even without contact from Kim Sol or anyone else, Lim Haeyul could still learn about Cha Jae-woo. The internet was full of articles about him, and since he had started appearing at gates, mentions of him had skyrocketed.
News poured in daily. Some articles celebrated Cha Jae-woo’s newfound stability and the swift gate clearances that resulted. Others reported on his violent outbursts, like the time he broke another Esper’s arm and leg. It was all readily available online.
Just today, Cha Jae-woo had returned after injuring a B-rank Esper. This was why Lim Haeyul was convinced that, despite Cha Jae-woo’s smiles, he was never truly at ease.
“I just didn’t like him,” Cha Jae-woo had casually explained to the reporters who pressed him for a reason. To Cha Jae-woo, breaking someone’s limbs was a trivial matter if they displeased him.
“I need to sleep to replenish my mana…….” Lim Haeyul murmured, still avoiding Cha Jae-woo’s gaze. Cha Jae-woo scoffed, but Lim Haeyul pretended not to notice.
“Yes, get plenty of rest,” Cha Jae-woo said.
“…….”
“You need your strength for me to go to the gate, whether you like it or not,” he added, his tone leaving no room for argument.
After Lim Haeyul had mastered the unusual guiding technique, it wasn’t long before Cha Jae-woo began participating in gate raids. Each time, he would insist that the reason he went was because of Lim Haeyul.
Of course, Lim Haeyul knew this was ridiculous. Why would an S-rank Esper like Cha Jae-woo go to a gate just because of something he said? Cha Jae-woo would have gone regardless.
‘……Or would he? Does Cha Jae-woo have no reason to go to the gate?’ Lim Haeyul wondered.
Cha Jae-woo certainly didn’t care about the Guide Association’s opinions. Lim Haeyul had seen Guide Association President cowering in Cha Jae-woo’s presence. While the association could request Cha Jae-woo’s help, they couldn’t force him to do anything.
So, why would Cha Jae-woo willingly enter a gate filled with monsters? His waves weren’t even fully stabilized yet. Although they were improving, they were far from perfectly calm.
Was Cha Jae-woo’s sense of duty so strong that he would risk his well-being? The idea seemed absurd to Lim Haeyul. Cha Jae-woo didn’t strike him as the type to be driven by duty.
‘Then why is he going? Is it really because of me?’ Lim Haeyul thought, his mind circling back to the initial question. It seemed impossible, but he couldn’t think of any other reason.
‘Is he really going because I told him to? Is Cha Jae-woo actually listening to me?’ Lim Haeyul was astonished by the thought. Cha Jae-woo’s smiling face, which had seemed so cunning just moments ago, now looked almost innocent.
‘No way, snap out of it. That can’t be right,’ Lim Haeyul told himself.
There was no way Cha Jae-woo was going to the gate because of him. …Or was there? Cha Jae-woo had been without a compatible Guide for most of his life. Now that he had finally found one in Lim Haeyul, perhaps he was afraid of losing him. Maybe Cha Jae-woo was worried that Lim Haeyul would run away or refuse to guide him properly.
“Cha, Cha Jae-woo,” Lim Haeyul stammered.
“What is it?” Cha Jae-woo asked.
“You don’t have to push yourself to go to the gate because of me. It’s fine if you go once in a while, but you don’t have to try so hard.” Lim Haeyul blurted out, his words tumbling over each other.
South Korea had other Espers, and not every gate required Cha Jae-woo’s intervention. Most gates that appeared in the country were relatively low-level and posed little threat to human life. There was no need for Cha Jae-woo to strain himself.
“And you don’t have to be so nice to me,” Lim Haeyul continued. “I’m being paid, and I signed a contract. I’ll keep guiding you, so you don’t have to worry about me.”
Cha Jae-woo stared at him in silence, and Lim Haeyul felt a pang of guilt. Perhaps Cha Jae-woo had been genuinely concerned.
“……You.” Cha Jae-woo finally spoke, his voice cold.
Lim Haeyul braced himself, expecting Cha Jae-woo to be touched by his consideration.
“You’re really something,” Cha Jae-woo said, shaking his head in disbelief. His smile had vanished, and his expression was stern.
“How did you even learn to guide?” he muttered, turning away from Lim Haeyul.
Lim Haeyul watched in shock as Cha Jae-woo walked away, too disgusted to even look at him. It took him a moment to realize what had just happened.
“A-ah! Damn it!” Lim Haeyul exclaimed, finally understanding that he had made a huge mistake.
He had been so focused on his own thoughts that he had completely misread the situation. Cha Jae-woo wasn’t going to the gate because of him—he was going because it was his job. And now, Lim Haeyul had made a fool of himself in front of him.
“This is so embarrassing!” Lim Haeyul groaned, kicking the bed in frustration. His face was burning with shame, and he couldn’t believe he had been so stupid.
“What was I thinking?” he muttered to himself, but there was no one there to answer. His face flushed with embarrassment, and he buried his head in his hands, wishing he could disappear.
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