# Chapter 50
“Ah, I’m nervous.”
When I said this, Ha-min smiled and walked beside me.
“Please look over here, Esper Kyun In.”
“Esper Byun Tae-young, would you please turn this way?”
“Esper Shim Woo-jin, are you playing the violin today? Is that a violin in the case? I understand you’ve never played the violin in public before, is there a special reason you’re playing today?”
I thought they were quite eager to speak even though they probably wouldn’t get answers, but to my surprise, the S-class Espers were giving fan service as if they had planned it all along.
Shim Woo-jin said that today’s event was arranged to repay the gratitude for the Guides who had dedicated themselves to us, and he wanted to do what he could.
“It’s Esper Lee Ha-min. Esper Lee Ha-min. Please look this way.”
“Would you pose with Esper Seo Eunwoo?”
Ha-min was popular too.
When people realized Ha-min had gotten out of the car, some who had been crowding around the S-class Espers came over to him.
The fact that they would give up on the S-class Espers to approach Ha-min was quite significant.
I couldn’t hide my amazement at how incredibly popular Ha-min was.
I wondered if the S-class Espers might be jealous, but that was purely my unfounded worry, and they gestured to me to go inside during the commotion.
I thought I shouldn’t betray Ha-min, but the people seemed to have no intention of letting go of this rising star, so I had no choice.
“You’re the world’s first to manifest amplification ability. Could you explain exactly what this amplification ability is?”
“There has been no case of someone manifesting as a Guide and then becoming an Esper until now, and Esper Ha-min’s awakening has drawn worldwide attention. I understand that countries from around the world are sending love calls to Esper Ha-min. Do you have any intention of responding to these love calls?”
“There’s been news that a guild composed of S-class Espers wants to scout Esper Ha-min with favorable conditions. Have you received any contact?”
There were quite a few things in the reporters’ questions that I hadn’t heard before.
‘Really? Ha-min has been receiving such offers?’
Yet, given that there hadn’t been any mention of this until now, it seemed Ha-min wasn’t interested.
I think I might have been swayed if it were me.
Though it would depend on what conditions they offered.
I was about to go in first with the S-class Espers, but I waited because I had something I wanted to ask Ha-min.
The S-class Espers didn’t seem to be in a hurry to go inside either, as they waited with me.
“I understand that it’s rare for all the S-class Espers to gather in one place like this. Could you all pose together for a commemorative photo? With Esper Ha-min too, please.”
Then Kyun In spoke to the reporters.
“It’s also unprecedented for someone who awakened as D-class to become S-class, so why aren’t you asking questions to Esper Seo Eunwoo? Our Esper Seo Eunwoo may have a bit of a bad temper, but he’s good-looking, not lacking in anything, and good at raids. Why the discrimination? Has his bad temper already become widely known?”
This guy.
I was thinking he might be unnecessarily looking out for me and was about to tell him there was no need, but it seemed he was trying to feed me to them.
Laughter erupted from all around, and as they began to bombard me with questions, I waved my hands at them.
It was quite awkward being the center of attention.
“Let’s leave it at that for today. There are many people waiting inside, so we’ll go in now. Some of the Guides will be returning to Central to live as regular people in the future. If you see them, I hope you will welcome them warmly. Please always remember that the peace you enjoy now is all due to their sacrifice.”
When Byun Tae-young spoke, flashes went off all at once.
The words of the number one ranked S-class Esper carried tremendous influence.
It was easy to imagine how great and deep an impact his words about none other than the Guides would have.
Ha-min had already come to my side, and together we headed to the restaurant.
“I didn’t know so many people would come.”
Ha-min spoke, unable to hide his excitement, and I agreed with him.
Even the S-class Espers seemed to feel the excitement of the heated atmosphere.
As we went inside, the Guides who had arrived early and were waiting all stood up and applauded.
Wondering if they had heard Byun Tae-young’s words outside, we greeted them and went in.
The tables were arranged differently than before, and despite all the center’s Guides being present, there was no shortage of seats.
Numerous staff members skillfully moved between tables carrying dishes, and Shim Woo-jin went to the side and played the violin.
He started playing without anyone introducing him, which made me smile because it seemed like he deliberately did so to avoid attention.
Considering his personality, it was remarkable that he was now playing the violin in front of people.
The Guides must have fully understood how special this occasion was.
Globally popular S-class Espers, the dazzling newcomer Ha-min, and, though it’s awkward to say it myself, another dazzling newcomer, me.
Those people had come to this event for the center’s Guides.
During the meal, the S-class Espers visited tables and naturally engaged in conversation with the Guides, who looked at them with expressions of deep gratitude.
It was truly a rare scene.
I wondered how many of the Guides present would respond to the center’s contract requests.
Ha-min stayed by my side, but many Guides wanted to talk with him.
“Let’s have a drink together, Ha-min.”
Someone approached Ha-min before the meal was over.
Looking up at the familiar voice, I saw it was Yoon I-jae.
The A-class Guide who had an inferiority complex toward Ha-min.
“Setting up an event like this. That’s really impressive. I respect that. If I were you, I probably wouldn’t have suggested looking after the Guides.”
Surprised that Yoon I-jae would say such a thing, I looked at Ha-min, who smiled bitterly.
“Looking after the Guides.”
He might be thinking that the tone didn’t sound particularly pleasant.
But taking the high road, he didn’t point it out and just smiled.
“Can I ask for a quick consultation? Since I’m A-class, it seems the center wants to keep me, but I’m not sure if the contract terms they’ve proposed are good or bad. Besides you, I don’t have anyone I can openly ask about this.”
Looking at him, I naturally thought of the saying that people don’t change easily.
Ha-min looked reluctant, but as Yoon I-jae kept pestering and wouldn’t leave, he reluctantly got up.
“I’ll be right back, Eunwoo.”
“If you don’t want to go, I don’t think you need to.”
I said, not particularly happy about Ha-min leaving with Yoon I-jae, but Ha-min repeated that he would be back soon.
Since he wasn’t completely swayed by Yoon I-jae, I waited for Ha-min.
Shim Woo-jin, who had finished his violin performance, came back and sat in the seat where Ha-min had been sitting.
“You probably couldn’t eat. I didn’t expect you to play for so long.”
“I think I got caught up in the atmosphere. I probably won’t get to do something like this again, so I thought I might as well give it my all. The performance went well today too. Did you have a good time, Eunwoo-ssi?”
“Yes. It’s enjoyable. Honestly, I was moved. I didn’t think everyone would put in this much effort. I was touched to see that everyone seems to cherish Ha-min.”
“They cherish Ha-min, but why are you touched, Eunwoo-ssi?”
Shim Woo-jin asked as he put a Shine Muscat grape in his mouth.
“Ha-min is the first friend I made when I came here.”
“When you came here?”
He tilted his head as if finding my words strange, and I realized I had made a mistake.
To him, my arrival here would have been when I awakened as a D-class Esper and came to the center.
“I wish I had known Eunwoo-ssi earlier. I think I would have had better skills as an Esper, and that long time wouldn’t have been so bleak. The more satisfying the time I spend these days, the more I regret why I couldn’t do this sooner. It’s not like we were living in different places; we were both at the center. We were always so close.”
That’s not it.
But since I couldn’t clear up his misunderstanding, I just smiled.
“By the way, where did Ha-min go? He’s taking a long time.”
“He went out with Guide Yoon I-jae. He said he had something to ask about the Guide contract. He seemed to want to show off… He’s been quite competitive with Ha-min since their Guide days.”
“That A-class Guide?”
Shim Woo-jin seemed to know him too.
“Ha-min set the stage, but it’s people like Guide Yoon I-jae who will enjoy the benefits.”
“I thought he would come back quickly after a brief talk, but it’s taking a long time. Should I go check on him?”
Shim Woo-jin didn’t hear what I said.
It was because the Center Director, who hadn’t been invited, suddenly entered and called for him.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like they might call for me too, but I avoided their gaze and went out to look for Ha-min first.
The fact that he hadn’t returned yet made me think that Yoon I-jae might be picking another absurd fight.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
