# Chapter 82
All the new guides who joined the Association wanted to be paired with high-ranking Espers. The center considered this an urgent matter and quickly arranged matching tests with high-ranking Espers. Within days, researchers received various test results and videos.
“Hello!”
“Yes, hello.”
“I’m your fan, Guardian! I really wanted to become your guide, so I came for the test. I was the first to raise my hand for high-ranking Esper matching. This is such an honor.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m fine with second guiding, not just first guiding. Oh, but this is first guiding now, so I should raise my hand.”
The screen showed an expressionless Joo Dojoon and a new guide with a bright red face, trembling while holding hands. The video played quickly for 10 minutes. When time was up, Joo Dojoon calmly let go, but the new guide’s legs gave out and they slid off the chair.
Their interviews were exactly as expected. The new guide’s interview was full of personal feelings, with excited breathing and flushed skin. In contrast, Joo Dojoon remained indifferent, and the monitor showed almost no change due to the weak guiding.
“Oh! It’s Kwon Haeil oppa…”
“Hello, I am Esper Kwon Haeil. I’m A-rank with flame abilities.”
“I know, you can melt steel at maximum output. I joined your fan club and hurried to claim the ‘Haeilsunflower’ username. Could I… could I take a picture with you?”
“Can we take it after the guiding test?”
“Yes, yes! Oh no, I’m so nervous. My hands are sweating… what should I do?”
“If you’re uncomfortable, you can refuse the guiding.”
“No! I want to do it! Let me just wipe my hands, one moment!”
The guide, overwhelmed by fan emotions and nervousness, couldn’t last even five minutes before giving up with tears streaming down their face. This raised the question of whether emotional excess should be considered a side effect.
Later tests with other guides showed similar reactions of excitement and blushing. Haeil’s guiding values were so minimal they were practically non-existent, showing only about 10 minutes of efficiency after more than 30 minutes of testing.
“Kyun Jiho…”
“Huh? You know me?”
“Yes, I watch you on TV every day…”
“Ah, I see. When you suddenly called my name, I thought we knew each other.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s okay, I’m speaking casually too. You can speak comfortably as well. Shall we hold hands?”
“You really are… kind.”
“I’m kind to cute people. But don’t misunderstand, I’m not hitting on you.”
Unlike other Espers, Kyun Jiho didn’t just quietly hold hands but acknowledged the test and kept explaining the situation.
“It’s a bit slow, but I can feel the guiding. The feeling isn’t particularly good or bad, but… no, it’s actually good. Kind of relaxing?”
When Kyun Jiho shared his thoughts, the new guide, thinking they should speak too, awkwardly opened their mouth with a flushed face.
“I feel… like my whole body has become a heart. My face feels hot… all my senses are focused on my hand… I’m getting tired… but it feels good.”
“Ah, I know what they’re talking about. It’s similar to what I feel when guiding with my senior.”
When Kyun Jiho mentioned another guiding experience, the new guide looked dejected, but Kyun Jiho just nodded and only looked at the researcher.
Kyun Jiho showed better efficiency compared to other high-ranking Espers. Researchers cautiously speculated this might be related to his actual B-rank status.
While high-ranking Espers continued guiding with various guides, Jaeyoon, knowing this test was meaningless, delayed his participation with the excuse of being busy.
The ranking system for guides hadn’t been defined yet. As he had previously suggested, ranks would be determined by mana response level and guiding efficiency. This would then be cross-compared with Esper information to determine matching rates. Higher-ranking Espers would want to be paired with compatible guides.
‘In the past, Joo Dojoon kept his data confidential except for his rank, but now he’s participating willingly. If a compatible guide comes in, they could be paired together.’
When Dojoon stuck close to his hyung, they appeared intimate but without any strange atmosphere. Even if different Espers receive guiding from the same guide, their sensations might differ, but they shouldn’t be completely different. In a way, infinitely affectionate and tender guiding was like salvation.
‘And yet, before the regression, I actually…’
Jaeyoon desperately cut off the memory that was about to continue. Anyway, thanks to improved perceptions of guides, people were flooding in wanting to take the guide test.
Checking the guiding videos shared by the researcher, there wasn’t much reaction from the Espers, probably due to the large rank difference. Even so, they should have been somewhat affected, but Joo Dojoon and Kwon Haeil were like blocks of wood.
“Well, Kyun Jiho’s reaction is actually the most typical.”
Perhaps because Kyun Jiho was naturally comfortable with human contact, he showed some efficiency in most guiding sessions, just as Jaeyoon had seen before the regression. His hyung’s guiding was exceptionally good, but Kyun Jiho’s was normal.
In contrast, Kwon Haeil showed almost no guiding effect with other guides.
Considering safety, Jaeyoon leaned slightly toward Kyun Jiho, but he seemed fine with other guides too. Kwon Haeil, who desperately needed guiding from his hyung and seemed reliable, might be better. But then again, Jaeyoon worried about insufficient defense.
Jaeyoon’s feelings wavered several times a day. He even wondered if it would be okay for his hyung to pair with both Espers simultaneously. His hyung’s ability was far superior to other guides.
But for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to suggest it.
The thought of not one but two Espers sticking to his hyung for life made him want to avoid it. He thought choosing just one might be okay, but it wasn’t.
Just the assumption that his hyung might get a paired Esper made him feel choked up and disgusted. This was an emotion he didn’t have until just a few days ago.
‘Why am I feeling this way now?’
He even found himself hoping that among the new guides, there would be highly compatible matches for the two Espers.
He no longer knew why he had been working so hard all this time. Although his goal had been his hyung’s safety, a single guiding experience had changed him.
Lost in thoughts about his hyung, he found himself in front of their lodging. He wasn’t mentally prepared to meet his hyung yet.
“Welcome back.”
Cheonoh noticed him and opened the door first, leaving Jaeyoon no way to turn back. Still, he hesitated to enter, which prompted Cheonoh to speak again.
“Guide Seo Jaeha makes kimchi stew every day.”
“Ah…”
There was no food smell coming from inside. It was too early for dinner. But he understood the meaning behind making the same food every day.
Unlike Jaeyoon, who had been avoiding his hyung out of embarrassment after seeing the second guiding video, his hyung had been waiting for him.
As soon as the hesitant Jaeyoon entered, Cheonoh asked a question.
“If Esper Seo Jaeyoon will be staying at the lodging, may I go receive ability training?”
This was unusual, as Cheonoh typically refused to take breaks from guard duty. If Cheonoh left now, Jaeyoon would need to stay by Jaeha’s side. Cheonoh was clearly trying to create time for Jaeha, who had been concerned about Jaeyoon’s absence.
“Yes, stay at home today and come to work tomorrow.”
“I see. It’s reassuring to have Esper Seo Jaeyoon here. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
After Cheonoh left and Jaeyoon secured the door, he stood in the quiet living room looking at Jaeha’s room. Since moving into the lodging, his hyung rarely closed his door. Today too, the open door felt like permission for Jaeyoon to visit anytime.
“Hyung, what are you doing?”
Knocking lightly on the already open door as he entered, Jaeyoon found his hyung napping on the bed.
In the past, his hyung used to play games until dawn without sleeping. But now, with guiding, he fell asleep easily and slept longer, making the sight of his sleeping face familiar.
Pulling a chair from the desk, Jaeyoon sat down and looked at his sleeping hyung’s face. In the past, he could never have imagined looking at his brother’s face this way.
His hyung’s face, deep in sleep, showed no worry or concern. Just peace.
Even after the world changed, his hyung was still with him. Unlike before the regression when guides were kept secret, young awakened ones now openly showed their fan feelings, quickly bringing guides into the open.
This would make it easier to protect his guide hyung. Everything had improved compared to before the regression.
He hadn’t expected Lee Youngwoo to become a villain, but it was actually reassuring to have him away.
“Hyung.”
He was grateful that calling for his hyung could feel this light.
“Jaeha hyung.”
His hyung was within reach, not at a distance where he would have to shout until his voice went hoarse.
“I wanted to protect you.”
As he watched his hyung sleeping peacefully and intact, the overwhelming emotion spilled from his mouth. Though it was just the beginning, he was starting to feel that he had successfully protected his hyung.
“I think we’re halfway there. I still need other people’s help. So even if it’s frustrating…”
“Noisy…”
Jaeyoon stopped his monologue when Jaeha frowned and waved his arm. After flailing at the air, Jaeha seemed pleased with the silence and dropped his hand. The hand fell outside the bed, extended toward Jaeyoon.
The guiding wave that was faintly spreading seemed unusually clear today. Jaeyoon’s hand, which had been resting on his knee, slowly began to move.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
