# Chapter 11
After removing the gloves he’d worn for decades, Hajin reached out to Han Seungho, who in a way was responsible for this change.
Han Seungho quickly grabbed that hand, as if afraid someone else might take it first, snatching it like prey.
“Are you perhaps lacking Guiding?”
“No, it’s not that… hah… it’s not that.”
As soon as he held the hand, Han Seungho let out a soft sigh at the feeling of Guiding. It felt so good that he wondered how he had managed to endure the past few days without Hajin.
“Seungho, are you a pervert? Why are you sighing like that while holding Hajin’s hand?”
“Shut up and get lost, Baek Jaan.”
Baek Jaan and Han Seungho, being the same age and having many occasions to work together, frequently clashed over trivial matters to the point where it was difficult to tell if they got along well or not.
Even now, when Han Seungho should be focused on fully receiving Hajin’s Guiding, Baek Jaan was cutting in with provocative words, irritating him.
“What if Hajin thinks all Espers are perverts because of you and doesn’t want to do Guiding anymore?”
“Would you seriously shut your mouth?”
The sight of the two growling and fighting was all too familiar to the other two men, but for Hajin, who had neither siblings nor friends, their fierce exchange was startling.
What’s going on? Are they not on good terms?
‘Or could it be that he’s also lacking Guiding?’
Judging from the wavelength, it didn’t seem like it, but not being the person involved, Hajin couldn’t be certain. After deliberating, Hajin somehow managed to twist his other hand and extended it to Baek Jaan.
“I’ll give you Guiding too.”
Baek Jaan had been holding back the urge to embrace Hajin and beg for Guiding ever since they reunited.
And now, watching Han Seungho hold Hajin’s hand and melt at his Guiding right in front of him—wouldn’t anyone be angry?
So he had lashed out as he normally would, perhaps even more angrily than usual.
His savior, unaware of his feelings, willingly extended his hand.
“…Thank you.”
Like a child who only behaves in front of a favorite teacher, Baek Jaan carefully wrapped his hand around Hajin’s. His gentle smile was as beautiful as an iris, but Han Seungho’s expression crumpled as if he’d eaten garbage at the sight.
Hajin found himself in an awkward position with both arms stretched behind him, while his team members clutched his hands as if they would never let go, consuming his Guiding. Cha Jinwoo sighed at the scene.
“You don’t need to indulge each of their childish demands. Hajin, please prioritize yourself.”
No matter how childishly they bickered or how stupidly they seemed intoxicated by the Guiding, they were S-class Espers. Cha Jinwoo worried that providing Guiding as requested might harm Hajin’s body. Of course, there was some jealousy mixed in as well.
But Hajin shook his head, insisting it was fine.
“It’s not particularly difficult… though my arms are starting to hurt a bit.”
As soon as he said that, Han Seungho and Baek Jaan released Hajin’s hands.
Their faces looked as mournful as ex-lovers reuniting after years only to part again, but they couldn’t continue holding his hands after hearing they were causing pain.
They released him so quickly that anyone watching would surely think they were imprinted on each other.
“Tch, I wanted to receive Guiding too.”
Lee Doyoon clicked his tongue in disappointment, having had to watch his two hyungs melt into the Guiding after they beat him to it.
However, when his eyes met Cha Jinwoo’s furrowed brow, he quickly looked away and pretended nothing had happened.
Hajin, who had initially offered his hands thinking it would only take a moment but ended up being held for more than five minutes, rubbed his tingling arms. He sensed restless movement behind him, as if someone wanted to massage his arms for him, but he ignored it.
It wasn’t because he thought they couldn’t control their strength, but rather that he couldn’t possibly ask for a massage from people he was meeting for only the second time.
Meanwhile, the car had stopped in front of a large building. They had arrived at the Association.
“There will likely be many people wanting to meet you, Hajin. Though you won’t have to deal with all of them, it’s good to be aware.”
Cha Jinwoo said as he turned off the engine.
“Me?”
“Yes. You’ve calmed one rampaging Esper and three Espers on the verge of going berserk. Moreover, these are S-class Espers who are treated like bombs that could explode at any moment, so not only the Association but also the government has great interest in you.”
At those words, Hajin’s brow furrowed as if he felt sick. The Association’s attention was burdensome enough, but the government too?
Regardless of what anyone said, to an ordinary citizen like Hajin, these were incredibly intimidating figures.
“Would it be too late to run away now?”
“It would work.”
It had been half a joke, but the immediate affirmative response surprised Hajin.
It would work?
“Just don’t abandon us. Wherever you go now, that’s where we’ll stay.”
He showed a level of affection that might even be excessive beyond mere burden. It was becoming fascinating. What exactly was Guiding that made these people act this way?
In the serious atmosphere, Hajin couldn’t even jokingly suggest running away together. He awkwardly nodded.
The distance between him and them was still great.
“Ha ha, so we meet face to face like this. Pleased to meet you. I’m Lee Hoseung, the Chairman of KCEG.”
Hajin had come prepared for intimidation tactics or power plays, but to meet the Chairman right away?
Behind him stood many others, all looking at Hajin. Every one of them wore gold badges, and there were even faces Hajin recognized from the news.
In some sense, this was indeed a power play.
Hajin was grateful that his face didn’t look naive as long as he wasn’t smiling, and he shook the Chairman’s hand.
“I’m Lee Hajin. It’s an honor to be greeted personally by the Chairman.”
He nearly felt intimidated, but his experience as a deputy manager at his company—having to please superiors and pacify juniors—made flattering remarks come naturally.
And the Chairman, clearly not displeased by his flattery, laughed even more heartily.
“Honor, you say? For someone like Guide Lee Hajin, I’d gladly move myself to welcome you to our Association.”
The Chairman, who had been smiling amiably, suddenly transformed to a grave expression and took Hajin’s hand between both of his.
“I heard about what happened earlier today. That you had trouble because of those KEs bastards.”
The excessive contact made the Espers standing behind Hajin flinch, though the movement was too slight for ordinary eyes to notice.
‘Who does this old geezer think he’s touching?’
Despite the Chairman’s status, the four couldn’t take their eyes off those clasped hands.
“Thanks to these people who rescued me, neither I nor anyone else was injured. It was incredibly fortunate.”
Hajin, seemingly equally uncomfortable with the Chairman holding his hand, naturally withdrew it while gesturing toward those behind him.
Satisfied with the response, the Chairman laughed jovially and praised the Espers.
“Hahaha! I’m not saying this just because I’m the Chairman, but our Alpha team is truly capable and dependable. It’s no exaggeration to say they’re protecting the Republic of Korea.”
“Yes. I’ve seen that.”
“However, as excellent as their abilities are, we lack a suitable Guide for them. If Lee Hajin were to become the Alpha team’s Guide, it would be perfect.”
The Chairman, cunning as a serpent, was skilled in dealing with people.
His jovial demeanor while praising the Alpha team’s achievements suddenly turned serious, indicating this was his main point.
“Espers are strong. The safety of our citizens and the entire nation rests in the hands of Espers. Yet I’ve always been saddened to see them struggle due to insufficient Guiding. So, Lee Hajin, no—Guide Lee.”
The Chairman again took Hajin’s hand firmly between both of his. Then, as if the fate of the nation depended on Hajin, he continued:
“I sincerely hope you’ll stay with us for a long time.”
Hajin was impressed.
‘So this is how it works.’
If Hajin had come to the Association the moment he manifested as a Guide, he might truly have believed the fate of the country rested in his hands.
The Chairman smiled kindly, but his hidden intentions were no joke. He had already changed Hajin’s title to “Guide” without even conducting a proper grade assessment.
But Hajin wasn’t naive enough to take those words at face value. Not that he was particularly knowledgeable about society, but at least he wouldn’t fall for such talk.
From the beginning, even as a new employee, Hajin wasn’t the type to enthusiastically say “Yes! I’ll do it!” when given tasks, but rather the type to think, “Why am I, a newcomer, doing this?”
For someone with such natural indifference, talk about national fate and Espers wouldn’t suddenly instill a sense of duty and responsibility.
‘But like it or not, I need to stick with the Association to survive…’
While he had no intention of dedicating his life to this, he planned to do just enough, equal to what he was paid for. Though he had reluctantly decided to join the Association, Hajin had no intention of being overly diligent.
He might have lost his chance at a normal life, but that didn’t mean he had to lose his daily routine as well. If he had any goal at all, it was to maintain his own sense of normalcy even in this place.
Hajin gave no answer, but the Chairman acted as if he had already received one by looking at his face.
High-ranking people strangely liked Hajin’s cold expression. Perhaps they thought it made him look dignified.
“Haha, I’ve kept you too long when you must be tired. Would you like to rest first? Secretary Lee, please prepare accommodations for Guide Lee Hajin…”
“No, thank you. I appreciate the consideration, but I’d prefer to undergo the Guide grade assessment first.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
