# Chapter 52
“What?”
“No, I thought Esper Dohyun would move out of Guide Choi Haegang’s house as soon as he got money. Aren’t you uncomfortable with Guide Choi Haegang now?”
Despite both the guild and the association clearly judging that the contract between the two wouldn’t last long, they were still living in the same house.
Of course, the reason was with Dohyun. He needed to receive Guiding consistently for potion making. Thinking about how this cohabitation continued solely because of him, Dohyun unconsciously glanced at Haegang, wondering if he found it uncomfortable.
“Rather than me, Guide Choi Haegang might…”
While answering the Guild Master’s question cautiously, Dohyun looked at Haegang, but far from answering, Haegang merely checked his watch with an unbothered expression.
“It’s dinner time. We should eat before heading home tonight.”
Why don’t you just say it’s uncomfortable? I’m not the type to get hurt by that. While Dohyun was staring with wide eyes, Haegang calmly spoke to the Guild Master.
“If there’s more to discuss, would you like to join us?”
“No~. You two enjoy your meal~.”
“I thought so. Let’s go, Esper Baek Dohyun.”
Haegang left the office first, and Dohyun bowed his head to the Guild Master before shuffling after him.
❖ ❖ ❖
In truth, Dohyun hadn’t planned to continue accompanying Haegang. Haegang’s appearance and tone of voice that scratched at his trauma bit by bit made it difficult for Dohyun whenever they were together. Let’s just endure until the contract ends. That’s what Dohyun had thought, but at some point, he naturally began receiving Haegang’s Guiding. Living together also became natural. No, it became familiar.
Dohyun, who hadn’t realized until now that being with Haegang had become normal for him, became a bit awkward after the Guild Master’s comment. He should just act naturally as he had been doing, but he couldn’t help being conscious of it.
“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”
“Ah… yes.”
The staff member who had confirmed the menu with Dohyun smiled, left the room, and closed the door. Only then did Dohyun exhale in relief. His red eyes were hidden behind colored contact lenses.
“Do you dislike showing that you’re an Esper that much?”
“…More or less.”
When Dohyun didn’t wear contacts, people naturally assumed he was an Esper. His eyes, which had turned dark red after manifestation, gradually changed as if becoming more luminous, and now they had transformed into a red reminiscent of pigeon blood. Though friends and everyone at the guild said it was a beautiful color, Dohyun only found it burdensome.
Conversely, in Haegang’s case, despite being a Guide, due to his tall stature and striking appearance that was sharp but noticeable, he was sometimes mistaken for an Esper. Of course, actual Espers immediately recognized Haegang as a Guide. Being a high-ranking Guide, a comfortable sensation flowed around Haegang that Espers could immediately sense. It was difficult for ordinary people or other Guides to recognize.
Guides were Awakened but physically closer to ordinary humans. Recently, when people thought of Espers, they imagined cool people using supernatural powers, but in the distant past, Espers were persecuted as monsters.
Guides were prioritized as those who could control such Espers, and although that perspective had faded, it hadn’t completely disappeared. This was evident from how people who mistook Haegang for an Esper due to his height and handsome appearance occasionally flinched. At such times, Dohyun hid behind Haegang, who was more noticeable than himself.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. After all, you’re paying for dinner today anyway.”
As the seasons changed, something else had changed too. The way they addressed each other—Esper Baek Dohyun, Guide Choi Haegang. Because they went around together, some people mistook Haegang for an Esper. As a result, Dohyun, who was next to him, was naturally called a Guide more frequently. Dohyun wondered if he should correct them, but was surprised to see Haegang seemingly not minding. Haegang didn’t bother to correct them.
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
Being called an Esper? Dohyun asked carefully, but Haegang calmly shook his head.
“It doesn’t matter. After all, mistaking me for an Esper means they’re saying I’m handsome.”
Ah, yes.
Dohyun was now used to Haegang’s confident, almost arrogant tone. He knew Haegang was handsome. But there was definitely a different feeling between others saying it and someone saying it themselves. Before Dohyun’s gaze could darken further, fortunately, the food arrived.
“Please enjoy your meal.”
“Enjoy your meal.”
Dohyun seemed captivated by the appearance of the food being served in order, moving his head this way and that. A porridge that stimulated the appetite came first, followed shortly by sashimi.
Although Dohyun was earning money, he wouldn’t have thought to dine at such a high-end traditional Korean restaurant, but since Haegang had made the reservation, he quietly accepted the meal courses being served in order.
‘Did I always eat this much?’
Watching the dishes being cleared after each course, presumably to make room for the next course, Dohyun became lost in thought. Had he ever imagined having a meal like this? He used to be satisfied with cup noodles topped with a single triangle kimbap, considering it a feast. It was strange that despite coming to a place where a single meal cost an amount that would make his hands tremble, he felt surprisingly calm about it.
Was it because he had money in his bank account, or was it because he had become accustomed to the food at home… enough to remain calm about such a meal?
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
“No, I am.”
“Good. If you said you weren’t, I was going to take it.”
“……”
Dohyun picked up his chopsticks as if to show Haegang and put the food in his mouth. Seeing this, Haegang finally continued his meal neatly.
Amusingly, Dohyun knew that Haegang’s living habits and attitude were benefiting him.
Following Haegang, who acted according to a set routine, even Dohyun’s daily life had become more regular. Unless something special happened, Haegang always ate at the same time. When Dohyun was working night-shift part-time jobs, Haegang didn’t concern himself with Dohyun’s meals. Since Dohyun couldn’t sleep at night, Haegang let him sleep during the day. But now that Dohyun was making potions and living a life where he slept at night and was awake during the day, Haegang naturally started nagging him.
‘I need to understand why you dislike carrots.’
‘No, that mushy thing… just a bit…’
‘You don’t have an allergy, do you?’
‘…No.’
‘Then eat it.’
The day Haegang caught him trying to subtly remove carrots, Dohyun felt fear from Haegang for the first time in a long while. The way Haegang stared down at him seemed to convey a silent challenge: try to make more excuses. Dohyun slowly raised his hand and put the carrot in his mouth. Only then did Haegang’s expression return to normal.
Perhaps because the habits and dietary patterns from his swimming athlete days remained, Haegang didn’t look favorably upon himself or others being picky eaters. Thanks to that, Dohyun was semi-forcibly becoming a well-behaved Esper.
In truth, he had tried not to be dragged along and had even seriously consulted with Chan about it. But after he started sleeping at night, when he heard Haegang preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner outside and the delicious smell wafted through the door, Dohyun was the one who couldn’t resist.
‘Yo, Bbakdo. Can I come live there? Don’t they have any extra rooms? Didn’t you see any available spaces?’
‘…Didn’t you used to not like Guide Choi Haegang?’
‘You crazy bastard, when someone cooks three meals a day for you faithfully, how can there be any question of liking or not liking!’
Chan’s eyes had sparkled at the mention that Haegang somehow uncomfortably prepared Dohyun’s meals too, which played a part in Dohyun’s decision.
‘No, if I borrow exercise equipment, he sometimes comes in and says that’s not the right posture…’
‘Hey, do you know how much money it costs to receive PT once? Since he was an athlete, he must know how to correct exercise postures. Why not just accept it?’
‘That’s true, but he’s such a straight-laced guy…’
‘That’s good. Your living habits are trash. I didn’t know Baek Dohyun was recyclable garbage.’
‘That’s crossing the line.’
It hurt to be hit with facts. Though his spirit was downcast, after a few days, Dohyun’s body was in the best condition since becoming an Esper. Dohyun’s mind struggled with the excessively proper lifestyle, but he admitted that at least his body had improved.
Moreover, Haegang’s casual remarks often contained things Dohyun had never properly heard since childhood. Surprisingly, Haegang, with his high self-love and self-esteem, was skilled at expressing gratitude or praising others. He was distinctly different from most people around Dohyun who showed their wounded pride when someone pointed out their good points.
“People are saying your handling inside gates has definitely gotten faster lately.”
“Really? That’s good.”
After the meal, Haegang, who had checked the Awakener community, commented casually on Dohyun’s seemingly indifferent response.
“It’s thanks to Baek Dohyun-ssi making potions.”
“I should definitely make and sell more potions then…”
“That’s not necessarily the case. Do you really need to go through the trouble?”
“…But people need potions to be better off. If I make them, people will…”
“There’s no need for that. Your existence alone is enough.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
