# Chapter 27
Hajin thought it was quite a talent to be able to smile like that while usually maintaining such a serious expression.
“Then, um, can I call you hyung?”
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you!”
“Well, I have a class now, so I’ll be going.”
“Yes, hyung! Take care!”
Hajin turned his back on Han Jiwoo, who was repeatedly bowing his head in gratitude, and headed for the classroom.
Fortunately, their conversation hadn’t been too long, so he wouldn’t be late for class. If he had been late twice in a row, Hajin would have been too embarrassed to lift his head.
Today’s lesson also focused on training radiant guiding.
Before beginning practice, Lee Suyeon encouraged Hajin, saying that his previous difficulty was just due to unfamiliarity and that he would do much better this time. However, things went opposite to her prediction.
As time passed and his concentration broke, the guiding energy that had seemed to be getting lighter actually became denser than before.
Frustrated, Hajin furrowed his brow and closed his eyes, while Suyeon, who was surveying the room with her special glasses, muttered:
“Could it be?”
Though the classroom was spacious, with just two people present, Hajin heard her voice clearly.
“Is something wrong?”
“Guide Lee Hajin.”
“Yes.”
“You must be tired, but could you continue with the radiant guiding? Try to make it as light as possible.”
Seeing Suyeon’s suddenly serious demeanor, Hajin nodded. His mood had dropped due to his scattered concentration and repeated failures, but he wasn’t particularly tired, so there was no problem.
Hajin continued trying to spread the guiding energy as thinly as possible. However, with his concentration already broken, success was unlikely.
Once again, dense guiding energy filled the classroom.
Though invisible to Hajin’s eyes, the concentration was clearly visible to Suyeon through her special glasses.
Looking back and forth between the chart recording Hajin’s guiding and the concentration of guiding before her eyes, Suyeon exclaimed as if she had realized something.
“Ah!”
Hajin, who had been narrowing his eyes in dissatisfaction at yet another failure, turned his attention to Suyeon. However, she seemed to have forgotten about him, focused on confirming what she had just discovered.
“So that’s… that’s what it was!”
But Hajin didn’t press her. It was his business after all, and she would surely explain it in due time.
Instead, he took the opportunity to rotate his stiff neck and loosen his body, which had tensed from concentrating on guiding.
By the time Hajin finished stretching, Suyeon seemed to have reached a definite conclusion. She removed her glasses and looked at him.
“Guide Lee Hajin! I understand now!”
“Understand what?”
“The radiant guiding! I thought it was strange that someone of your skill would have such difficulty finding the right balance, but you weren’t having difficulty at all!”
“Pardon?”
“That was your minimum output! I’ve never seen someone with such a high total capacity in my life, so I didn’t realize it. Your total guiding capacity is so enormous that even when trying to make it as light as possible, that’s as light as it gets!”
Unlike the excited Suyeon, Hajin felt deflated. So what was all that effort for?
“But there’s a problem.”
Hajin refocused on Suyeon’s words.
“This means you won’t be able to use radiant guiding.”
“What?”
Can’t use it? Then why had they been practicing? Seeing Hajin’s almost forlorn expression, Suyeon quickly explained.
“Well, not that you can’t use it at all. You could use it when needing to guide multiple Espers in safe places like quarters where safety is guaranteed, but… with this concentration, even if Espers don’t fall asleep, they’ll become too relaxed, so you probably won’t have much use for it.”
Too excellent to be usable. Hajin wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or disappointed.
While he was contemplating this, Suyeon continued her explanation, which felt like a barrage of facts.
“And for the same reason, you probably won’t be able to use targeted radiant guiding either. It’s mainly used in combat situations or emergencies where quick application is needed, but if Guide Lee Hajin were to use it, the Espers would become too relaxed during battle.”
“I see.”
So in the end, Hajin was left with only contact guiding.
He had planned to master radiant guiding perfectly to minimize physical contact, but that plan had fallen apart from the start.
‘No, wait. She said it’s fine in safe places, so isn’t that okay?’
When he realized that using it within the quarters wouldn’t pose any danger, he felt hopeful.
He had been wondering what to do, as it was obvious that after just one kiss, they were all trying to find ways to get more.
But if the effect was excessively strong, couldn’t that actually work in Hajin’s favor?
* * *
Though the radiant guiding training ended somewhat anticlimactically, it wasn’t without its benefits.
However, today marked the end of his lessons with Suyeon, and she seemed quite regretful that she would no longer have the opportunity to witness Hajin’s guiding firsthand.
“It was only three lessons, but thank you for keeping up so well.”
“Not at all. I should be thanking you for teaching me so well.”
“Oh my, really. If all my future students were like Guide Lee Hajin, I would have no complaints.”
Suyeon sighed exaggeratedly before breaking into laughter.
“This might be the end of our lessons, but you’ll probably need to keep coming to the education center.”
Hajin tilted his head briefly before nodding. He had momentarily forgotten, but he recalled from the first lesson that Guides also needed to build physical strength for emergencies.
“Physical strength is most important for Guides. It’s not just for emergencies, but guiding itself is physical strength. Ah, honestly, Guide Lee Hajin probably doesn’t need this, but still, keep up with your physical training regularly. Understood?”
He obediently nodded at Suyeon’s final advice. Hadn’t Hajin himself felt dissatisfied with his physical condition?
Moderate management was of no help when being chased by monsters in a dungeon.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Well then, take care. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime. It’s just the end of the lessons, after all.”
“Yes, I will.”
Hajin bowed his head to Suyeon before leaving the classroom. Due to the inconclusive nature of the radiant guiding training, class had ended earlier than usual.
‘Hmm, I have time to spare.’
Since coming to this neighborhood, the only places Hajin had been were the quarters and the education center classrooms. Oh, and if he included the secluded spot where he followed Han Jiwoo, that made three places in total.
Although it was about the size of a small city as a neighborhood where Espers and Guides lived, it didn’t have a real city feel. However, there were cafes, restaurants, parks, and other amenities that he had never visited.
‘I’ll visit a cafe another time. For now, should I check out the physical training room?’
He had been keenly aware of his lack of physical fitness. It seemed best to start exercising again to avoid falling behind in crucial moments.
But there was one problem.
‘They won’t let me go alone, and it’s a bother to take them along.’
Thinking of the Espers who would be waiting for him at the quarters with no other plans, just sitting there until he returned, Hajin sighed. It was annoying to think about taking them along, as if they were children.
Hajin put that thought aside for now.
‘First, the physical training room.’
“…But where is it?”
Hajin headed to the first floor. There, he should be able to find a directory or an employee who could guide him. As Hajin reached the first floor and looked around for a directory:
“Are you looking for something?”
“Guide Han Jiwoo.”
Han Jiwoo approached from a distance, perhaps passing by coincidentally. Judging by his smooth forehead, he seemed to have genuinely let go of his resentment toward Hajin, though there was still awkwardness.
“Is there anything I can help you with…?”
There was no reason to coldly reject someone who was cautiously approaching.
“I’m looking for a directory. Do you know where it is?”
“There’s no directory here since outsiders rarely come.”
“What? Then how do new Guides manage?”
If it was something taught during class, Suyeon would surely have informed him. But Hajin had never received a building tour from her.
“Well…”
Han Jiwoo lowered his gaze as if embarrassed by Hajin’s question.
“Usually other Guides show them around… but I, I prevented that from happening…”
Han Jiwoo stumbled through the end of his sentence, as if even saying these words was extremely shameful. Hajin understood.
From the moment Hajin first appeared, Han Jiwoo had treated him like a mortal enemy, so it was natural that others, wary of him, wouldn’t approach Hajin.
“…I’m sorry. But! I can guide you now, at least!”
Han Jiwoo pleaded earnestly, as if desperate to make up for his past mistakes. It was somewhat strange that instead of Hajin asking for guidance, it was Han Jiwoo begging to be allowed to guide him.
Needing guidance, Hajin nodded.
“Please do.”
“No, I should have done this earlier. It was shortsighted of me.”
Han Jiwoo led Hajin around, introducing various parts of the building. He went beyond simply explaining where things were, adding detailed information about which areas to visit in specific situations, which places were off-limits, and other necessary details.
Hajin followed Han Jiwoo, making sure to commit important information to memory. It was much more helpful than he had expected.
When Han Jiwoo first offered to guide him, Hajin was concerned that his sudden change in attitude might be suspicious, but that worry was unfounded. Had he genuinely reflected on his behavior?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
