# Chapter 76
Jaeha was the most surprised by Haeil’s sudden outburst. With the situation already complicated, it was hard to understand why Haeil was acting this way.
Wondering if his brother had put him up to it, Jaeha looked at Jaeyoon who was visible behind Haeil. His brother, who hadn’t even made eye contact until now, was looking in his direction with a shocked expression.
‘This wasn’t planned?!’
Even in the confusion of wondering if there was some reason for this unexpected statement, Haeil’s alarming declaration continued.
“This person is important to me. During future gate suppressions, protecting this person will be my top priority.”
Haeil wanted to protect Jaeha. He wanted to emphasize Jaeha’s importance, but unlike when he promoted Espers and the Association, there was no logic to his words.
Jaeha had always been someone Haeil needed to protect. In the game, he was a healer, and in reality, he was a guide, the only being who could make Espers’ powers unlimited. For Haeil, protecting Jaeha was such an obvious premise that he skipped the explanation.
“Please refrain from malicious questions.”
This was a reasonable statement.
“I will not tolerate words that hurt this person.”
But the statement that followed was excessive.
A brief silence seemed to convey the reporters’ confusion.
Unlike Jaeyoon, who occasionally showed childlike aspects, Haeil always appeared serious and exemplary in diligence. He had a trustworthy face, and his resonant voice was easy to listen to. The reporters were confused when such a Haeil openly showed favoritism and said he would protect one person.
“I’ll take questions now.”
Jaeha became anxious that he would take questions at this timing.
“…May I ask what kind of relationship you two have?”
Sure enough, this question was inevitable.
It was a question difficult to ask in a Confucian country. Even the reporter who asked couldn’t press for an answer as an awkward atmosphere lingered.
“We maintain a good relationship.”
Someone should mention this isn’t a celebrity dating rumor interview.
Fortunately, there seemed to be reporters friendly with Daesung among them, as standard questions followed. Haeil also returned to his usual gentlemanly self instead of acting like an overprotective guardian.
Jaeha just smiled brightly. As they say, no one spits on a smiling face. Hadn’t he escaped trouble with a foolish smile when he was caught climbing over the fence after the school store ran out of bread in high school?
Jaeha thought his own smile looked stupid, but to others, it was a pure and naive smile that almost felt unfair to deceive. His innocence, which made people want to give him candy if they had some in their pockets, combined with the effect of his pure white uniform, made questioners easily look like the bad guys.
Moreover, though Jaeha didn’t know it yet, people’s interest in guides was unexpectedly explosive. The guiding shown in videos, accompanied by an almost dreamlike cluster of light, evoked different impressions in everyone who saw it. Some called it mysterious and awe-inspiring, while many others had lighter reactions like envy or embarrassment.
After the Association’s announcement, inquiries poured in from people wanting to become guides, who, unlike Espers, weren’t dangerous but could be treated like awakened individuals. With curiosity and goodwill drawing attention, concerns also grew about the need to protect guides who were no different from ordinary people.
Rather than risk facing the hatred of Espers and citizens by saying the wrong thing, it was better to be cautious now.
In the end, all questions focused on Haeil and Jaeyoon, and Jaeha spent a satisfying time as a background figure.
“We’ll end here. Please submit any additional questions in writing.”
“Just a moment, Esper Kwon Haeil!”
“Guide Seo Jaeha, please strike a pose!”
Jaeha almost turned around at the sound of his name, but Haeil naturally wrapped an arm around his back and led him behind the platform.
After quickly passing through the door, the noise from behind immediately disappeared. After being harassed by reporters, he felt completely drained despite not having done anything.
“Wow, that was really chaotic. Did I act really stupid?”
“You were cute. You did very well, Jaeha.”
“I’m glad you think so. But…”
Ignoring the expression he’d been hearing often lately and picking up only the praise that he did well, Jaeha was confused not seeing Jaeyoon.
“Where’s Jaeyoon?”
“He’ll join us for the next schedule.”
“What’s the next schedule?”
“For now, it’s rest. The afternoon schedule will be inside the center, so it won’t take long.”
It didn’t seem like it had taken long now either, but Haeil mentioned rest, concerned whether Jaeha was tired. When Haeil gently pushed his back, Jaeha naturally moved forward. Come to think of it, Cheonoh, who had been blocking reporters beneath the platform, hadn’t arrived yet either.
“Cheonoh hasn’t come yet.”
“I’ll protect you.”
He had mentioned the absence of their companions, but Haeil gave a different answer. Embarrassed by Haeil’s excessive protectiveness today, Jaeha smiled awkwardly.
“Ah, when you say it, it sounds so meaningful that it’s embarrassing.”
“I’m serious, Jaeha.”
“Ahem, I know. You’re always serious, Haeil Hyung. You always protected me in the game, and in reality too, you’re our reliable guild leader Hyung.”
Jaeha playfully responded with a thumbs up, as if he knew everything. Though he didn’t bother to deny it to the now more comfortable Jaeha, Haeil believed that Jaeha couldn’t possibly know the feelings he himself had only realized today.
Haeil had always been aware of his position. Hiding his abilities rather than revealing them had been his priority.
While he felt elated whenever Jaeyoon recognized him, he also felt burdened by the trust given despite not having achieved anything yet. But the burden was nothing. Following Jaeyoon’s demands or bold moves, trusting without doubt that he would succeed, was more enjoyable than staying curled up in hiding.
Jaeyoon’s information, knowing the future, was specific and greatly helpful. After starting to move with Jaeyoon, even Kwon Haesung, who had never acknowledged him before, reached out first.
Even though he wasn’t the highest-ranked, Jaeyoon demonstrated abilities superior to anyone else’s. It seemed like he could gain a lot of benefits from the information he had if he wanted to, but Jaeyoon thought of only one thing.
Seo Jaeha’s safety.
Because of this, Jaeyoon didn’t hesitate to do inefficient things. While choosing to be a shadow, he boldly exposed his face when necessary.
Haeil could understand why Jaeyoon worried about Jaeha. They were once brothers, and even now they lived together. This person, like his only family, had experienced hardships in the future, he said. Even without direct mention, Jaeyoon’s occasional displays of Esper hatred contained events that had not yet occurred.
To avoid leaving Jaeha alone, he kept people he disliked nearby while always watching for Espers to be with him. Among them, he and Kyun Jiho were strong candidates.
For now, they all protected Jaeha together, but looking at the process of creating guidelines for guides at the Association, it was highly likely that they would form pairs. Jaeyoon had already informed him that priority Espers and guides would be determined.
Haeil knew his place well. Kyun Jiho and Haeil, the pair candidates Jaeyoon had in mind, had completely different personalities. So Haeil tried to be what Jaeyoon thought of him.
An honest, solid, and gentlemanly serious man. Someone reliable to be with, who could inspire trust with just a word. He tried to be someone who brought reassurance rather than anxiety when together.
Unlike Joo Dojoon, who specialized in defense, or Kyun Jiho, who acted affectionately and clingy, or Seo Jaeyoon, who was both a brother and knew the future, Kwon Haeil’s appropriate attitude was clear.
However, Haeil’s thoughts began to waver with the awakening of civilian guard Cheonoh.
Haeil was surprised when he belatedly learned that the sudden guard aptitude test had been implemented at Jaeyoon’s suggestion. Until then, Jaeyoon had shared with Haeil about matters to be conducted at the Association. But the sudden aptitude test without warning was followed smoothly by guard Cheonoh’s awakening test.
After the busy Jaeyoon personally controlled everything, a civilian guard awakened as an E-class and shortly after rose to D-class.
At another time, he might have considered it just talent discovery, but this was Jaeha’s guard. Moreover, the answers on the guard aptitude test seemed inappropriate to Haeil. When he expressed concern about placing someone with moral defects near Jaeha, Jaeyoon looked at Haeil for the first time as if he couldn’t understand him.
‘He said such things aren’t necessary for protecting his brother. Then why did he choose me in the first place…’
Haeil was confused. He believed his strengths were the reason he was designated as Jaeha’s pair.
Haeil was also confused when he went to find Jaeha to bring him to be introduced as a guide. His confusion only grew when he saw how Jaeha interacted with Cheonoh.
Jaeha, who had become accustomed to entrusting his back to his guard, initiated conversation with Cheonoh and even extended his hand. It was surprising to see Jaeha’s brightness as he smiled and asked for Cheonoh’s help, saying he’d protect him.
Jaeha had subtly shown discomfort at others’ goodwill. Haeil had thought he needed to be considerate. But Jaeha had already become accustomed enough to Espers’ approaches to accept others’ sincere goodwill.
After seeing Cheonoh, whom Jaeyoon had personally selected and led to awakening, grow closer to Jaeha, Haeil realized this couldn’t continue.
He realized he couldn’t get any closer to Jaeha with just politeness and trust.
“Jaeha, may I ask you one question?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Facing Jaeha, who looked up with a bright smile, Haeil conveyed his words directly without the usual filter.
“Are guides always this lovable?”
“…Please don’t hang out with Jiho, Guild Leader Hyung.”
The abruptly widened distance in their hearts was revealed through the change in how Jaeha addressed him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
