# Chapter 22
“I’m talking about the Forced Guiding authority.”
The Director added with a slight smile. This time, Ko Eungyo couldn’t bring himself to answer immediately. That… wasn’t something one should say with a smile like that.
Such an absurd thing… Ko Eungyo did that?
“…”
For a moment, he felt numb.
Ko Eungyo, how many of the worst possible things have you chosen to do…
Guiding is essentially equivalent to sexual contact. If either party forced it without consent, that would be sexual assault, a crime comparable to rape. It’s a crime where the victim could feel beyond discomfort to personal humiliation.
The Director wasn’t the type to make frivolous jokes about such matters. Rather, every seemingly casual remark he made had weight behind it.
If that’s true, then Ko Eungyo had… done “that kind of thing” several times in the past with the Director’s tacit approval.
‘Insane.’
The Director… is he in his right mind? If he really exercised the forced authority, if that really happened…
What did they… how far… what did they do?
Now he understood why Woo Sihyun hated Ko Eungyo so murderously. He would feel the same way. Ko Eungyo had previously felt an extreme aversion when Lee Seungwoo said something like “when are you going to Guiding me?” He had taken those words as very violent and insulting. But if Ko Eungyo had already done that same thing to Woo Sihyun multiple times…
That attitude must have seemed quite laughable in their eyes.
His throat kept tightening. After taking several deep breaths and choosing his words carefully, he finally spoke.
“I don’t need anything like that.”
What crossed the Director’s face was a hint of relief. For a moment Ko Eungyo had wondered if the Director was proposing such an absurd “forced authority” as a bargaining chip, but now it was clear that Ko Eungyo had been the one who had unilaterally demanded it.
After all, the Director he knew didn’t enjoy such vile acts. He merely turned a blind eye to certain wrongdoings depending on the person, in pursuit of maximum efficiency. Learning about this hidden story made his self-loathing even worse.
It’s not like saying he wouldn’t demand it now would erase what had happened in the past…
I see why the Director doesn’t particularly like Ko Eungyo.
No one would come to like a person who commits such vile and terrible acts. Ko Eungyo pressed his fingers against his throbbing temple.
The stress headache came whenever he was under stress.
The Director continued in his still coaxing tone.
“Alright, Guide Ko Eungyo. Let’s say you really don’t need Sihyun anymore. Then for next year’s class…”
“What do you mean by next year’s class?”
“Naturally, I thought you were planning to take on the commissioned lectures at Korea University next year as well.”
It was a nonsensical statement. Ko Eungyo had already declined the official document that arrived from the school. He immediately shook his head in response to the Director’s question.
“No. I have no intention of teaching. I’ve already expressed my refusal to the school.”
“What?”
The Director blinked his eyes stupidly.
“But… then, why?”
“What do you mean why?”
He barely held back his irritation as he questioned the Director.
“If you had no intention of teaching next year, why did you specifically give failing grades to Esper Woo Sihyun and Esper Lee Seungwoo?”
He wanted to put a definite end to this circular question. While it was the past “Ko Eungyo” who had exercised forced authority on Woo Sihyun and worshipped him, it was himself who had given Woo Sihyun the failing grade.
He spoke clearly and deliberately.
“I gave that grade because they were negligent in class, Director. There’s no other reason. Many students besides Woo Sihyun and Lee Seungwoo received failing grades.”
“…”
“May I leave now?”
He hoped this would completely end his business with Woo Sihyun.
If someone had to break the chain of ill fate, Ko Eungyo thought he should be the one to take on that role. This body must resolve what this body has done. Because sometimes, appearances matter more than anything else.
He believed no further excuses would be necessary. Just as he was about to get up and leave.
“This is a request as the Director. For promising young people, delaying their time by half a year actually sets them back by three years in reality. Couldn’t you reconsider?”
The Director caught him once more from behind. After coaxing, persuading, threatening, now he was pleading. Ko Eungyo looked at the Director with bewilderment.
…Originally, the Director was someone who pursued the pinnacle of efficiency, immediately abandoning anything he deemed impossible.
Why was he being so persistent now?
Of course, he knew well about the million-dollar annual salaries and all kinds of VIP treatment that countries and corporations were offering to lure away excellent Espers. But looking at the Director now… rather than patriotically striving to retain top-tier Espers as national assets, he seemed more intent on somehow resolving this issue amicably.
“…”
“Please consider it once more, Guide Ko Eungyo.”
Come to think of it, he did recall hearing that Lee Seungwoo came from an extraordinary family. Perhaps there was pressure from Lee Seungwoo’s family.
Could that be it?
Ko Eungyo looked at the Director and sighed deeply. If it had been his true self, he would have just opened the door and left regardless of what the Director said.
“It seems your purpose is to fill the Center’s personnel shortage.”
“I can’t deny that either.”
The Director replied brazenly.
It felt like a tightly drawn bowstring suddenly loosening. All the arguing over this issue now seemed pointless. He felt the carefully maintained balance in his mind tilting to one side.
If he made one more effort, perhaps this cold relationship could soften a bit, as the Director suggested.
Ko Eungyo thought of Woo Sihyun and Lee Seungwoo in turn.
“…I’ll need to check with the school. I’ve already submitted the grade list. I believe the grade reports have already been issued as well. If my consent alone is enough to modify the grades, I’ll send an email to the school.”
“Will you really do that?”
“Yes.”
A look of puzzlement crossed the Director’s face.
“Why?”
After constantly asking him to do it, now he questions when he readily agrees to do so. He found this situation a bit amusing.
“Because the personnel shortage needs to be resolved. Two high-level Espers will be a significant asset to the Center.”
The Director was silent for a moment. Though he got what he wanted, the Director stared at him intently with an unconvinced expression.
“…You know, you talk exactly like someone I used to know.”
“…”
Oops. Did I sound too much like Jang Iju?
Could the Director recognize him? Even without that, he had been regularly meeting with the Director and building a track record. The Director was perceptive, so he might recognize him. He quietly looked at the Director, feeling a strange emotion that might have been anticipation.
The Director frowned slightly, then shook his head.
“No. What was I thinking…”
“…”
Of course. Normally, people don’t think that a dead person has awakened in someone else’s body. He bit the tip of his tongue lightly and nodded. It wasn’t for nothing that he had been trying not to appear strange as Ko Eungyo.
The Director continued.
“Is there really nothing you want? Ah, perhaps… have you developed an interest in a new Esper? Shall I assign you as that Esper’s handler? Just say the word.”
That was out of the question. He had no desire to become entangled with an Esper in such a terrible way ever again.
“No. I just want to live quietly now.”
“Haha.”
The Director laughed as if he had heard a very funny joke. Then he stiffened his face and said.
“Guide Ko Eungyo, I don’t understand what change of heart you’ve had… but if not now, I may not grant what you want. If there’s something you need, tell me now.”
“…”
This old man, getting more suspicious with age.
There was no way he needed anything in particular. Still, they had a business relationship where they helped each other, and with the Director complaining and Ko Eungyo’s actions making him dizzy, he just wanted to somehow resolve this situation.
No. Strictly speaking, there was one thing he desperately wanted recently. He unconsciously spoke the thought that came to mind.
“Then could you issue me a field Guide license?”
“Hmm? Why that?”
The Director looked at him with a curious expression, as if he’d heard something unexpected.
Curiosity is a positive response. He had said it expecting to be rejected outright, but unexpectedly thought that this matter might be resolved quite easily.
He tried to stay as calm as possible as he spoke.
“I’ve just become curious about the field. Since you want to do something nice for me, I’m making this request… Is it not possible?”
“There’s no reason why it can’t be done.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
