I Want to Be Your Guide 78

# Chapter 78

Around quitting time, Jeongyun received a message from Hwayeon. Only after reading Hwayeon’s message that he couldn’t go home together because his training wasn’t finished did Jeongyun leave the guiding room.

While waiting for the elevator to come down, Jeongyun wondered if he should contact Hwayeon. But as he hesitated, the elevator arrived on his floor, doors opening wide, waiting for him.

‘He’s not avoiding me on purpose, is he?’

Though he was told it was because of training, Jeongyun couldn’t help but worry about Hwayeon, who had left with a pale face. He didn’t even get to hear why Hwayeon was in such a hurry.

But since Hwayeon was the one who looked forward to going home with Jeongyun more than anyone else, Jeongyun thought he wouldn’t lie. Erasing his needless worry, Jeongyun entered the elevator before the doors closed.

Before leaving the headquarters, Jeongyun took out his phone again and found Hwayeon’s number. Then he quickly typed and sent a message.

[Call me if you’re not sure of the way home. I have to report in, so I can’t go far, but I can at least come to your front door.]

Even though Hwayeon wasn’t a small child, Jeongyun couldn’t help but worry since his memories weren’t intact due to manifestation pain.

‘It’s quiet now, though.’

At other times, there would have been countless missed calls or messages from Domin, but today it was quiet. It wasn’t disappointing, but it would be a lie to say it didn’t concern him.

‘Has he given up now?’

Domin was a person with extremely strong pride. Having been rejected not just once but several times by a mere C-class Guide like himself, he might have persisted out of stubbornness at first, but by now he must be tired of it.

‘I should go get his signature on the papers soon.’

Since Domin wouldn’t come looking for him, Jeongyun would have to visit him directly to get his signature on the dedicated contract termination form. Though he hadn’t saved it for this situation, fortunately, he had Junyoung’s number stored.

Meeting directly would be awkward, so it would be cleaner to send the documents through Junyoung, even if it meant being a bit rude. That would be better for both of them.

‘That should do it.’

During the subway ride home, Jeongyun kept thinking about Domin. Even though he consciously tried to stop his thoughts, whenever he let his guard down, he inevitably found himself thinking about Domin again.

After filling his mind with thoughts of Domin the whole time, Jeongyun got off at the station near his home. While heading home, he suddenly remembered his empty refrigerator and stopped by a convenience store.

Due to the Guide Protection Law, he had to make a separate outing request after entering his home, so now was the only time to visit the convenience store.

“Welcome.”

Hearing the dry greeting from the part-time worker, Jeongyun entered the convenience store and headed straight to the refrigerator area. After choosing his usual beer, he looked for snacks to go with it.

When Jeongyun finished paying and came out, he had heavy bags hanging from both hands. He had mindlessly picked various things he wanted to eat, and it had become this much.

‘…Is it a bit excessive?’

The main culprit making the bags heavy was all the beer. Thinking he could just put them in the refrigerator and take them out one by one, Jeongyun justified his slightly excessive consumption and headed home.

The day had grown quite short, so the world was already shrouded in darkness. As Jeongyun entered an alley filled with streetlight, he felt a chilling sensation and stopped abruptly.

‘Is it my imagination?’

There was only him in the alley with no sign of anyone else. Trying to convince himself it was his sensitive nature making him feel things, Jeongyun quickened his steps toward home.

Putting down one of the bags he was holding, Jeongyun pressed the apartment building’s security code. Beep-beep, as he was pressing the numbers he had memorized, it felt like someone was approaching him.

But since there was no sound of footsteps, not even the sound of breathing, Jeongyun pushed away his fear, telling himself it was just an illusion created by his anxiety.

Beep-boop.

Due to a slip of his finger, he pressed the last number wrong.

With a short breath, Jeongyun calmly pressed the numbers again. The only sound echoing in the quiet alley was the keypad, which seemed louder than usual.

‘Why does this keep happening?’

Even though he entered the correct password, the main entrance door remained locked. Jeongyun put down the other bag he was holding and started pushing the door with force. But it didn’t budge.

‘I shouldn’t stay here.’

The creeping anxiety was beginning to solidify into certainty. Jeongyun left the place without even having time to pick up the bags he had put on the ground. He needed to get out of this alley as quickly as possible.

‘Where did I put my pager?’

As he ran toward the main road, he searched his pockets, but the pager wasn’t there. Finally, Jeongyun opened his bag and thoroughly searched inside until he found the pager.

When he sent a rescue signal, a red light flashed. Government-affiliated Espers would come here soon – in a few minutes at best, or within ten minutes at worst.

So, if he could just hold on until then—

<Stop.>

At that moment, a strange voice stopped Jeongyun. Unconsciously halting in place, Jeongyun turned around to see the streetlights illuminating the alley turn off one by one.

In an instant, his vision turned pitch black. By the time the pale-faced Jeongyun turned his body back toward the main road, something invisible had already completely blocked his way.

‘…What on earth is this?’

He tried to calmly look for another exit, but there was no other way except to go back the way he came. But to make matters worse, something pitch black was shimmering at the other end of the alley.

It looked somewhat like a person at first glance, but it wasn’t human. Making a squelching sound with each step, it was approaching Jeongyun.

‘When are they coming?’

Lowering his gaze, Jeongyun looked at the pager in his hand. The red light was flashing, so the call had definitely gone through, but there was no sign of government Espers.

‘Did I bring that with me?’

Putting his hand deep into his unzipped bag, Jeongyun searched for the self-defense tool that should be somewhere. But since he had been carrying an empty bag for a long time due to recently relaxed vigilance, he wasn’t sure.

Meanwhile, the distance between him and the unknown entity was steadily narrowing. He barely found the pepper spray stuck in a corner, but there was no way such a thing could stop that massive entity.

“I’m warning you. If you come any closer, I’ll shoot!”

Having hurriedly taken out the spray from his bag, Jeongyun held it like a gun and shouted at the opponent. Given how dark it was everywhere, he judged that the opponent wouldn’t be able to see what he was holding properly.

From the beginning, the goal wasn’t to take down the opponent but to buy time, so he could only hope this method would work.

Jeongyun warned the opponent again.

“If you move even one more step, I’ll fire!”

The entity that had been moving slowly then stopped. Had the warning really worked? Jeongyun’s eyes wavered at this unexpected result.

‘Is it okay?’

Just as he was about to loosen the tension a little, the entity, which he thought had stopped, moved much faster than before. Giving no time to escape, the thing that instantly blocked Jeongyun’s path was none other than a shadow.

The shadow muttered the same words repeatedly as it paced around Jeongyun. He didn’t know what it was looking for, but it clearly wasn’t him. Though still threatening, the shadow showed no intention of attacking.

‘I think I can leave quietly.’

Jeongyun, watching cautiously, slowly stepped backward. The shadow, now somewhat distant, was still busy looking for something. Jeongyun, watching for the right timing, didn’t miss the moment when the shadow turned sideways.

‘Got it.’

Having escaped from the shadow more easily than expected, Jeongyun inwardly rejoiced. Now there was nothing blocking his way forward. He would be safe if he could just get out of this alley. Just a little more—

The exit was clearly right in front of him, but unlike before, his vision had turned completely black, and he couldn’t see anything. Moreover, the strange voice of the shadow, which he thought had moved away, was coming from right beside him.

The voice was so clear, as if lips were pressed against his ear, whispering. An unfamiliar warmth crept up and gripped Jeongyun’s neck tightly.

“Ugh…”

Without even asking a proper question, the shadow kept demanding answers from Jeongyun. But not knowing what it wanted, the shadow tightened its grip on Jeongyun’s neck more and more as he continued his silence.

‘…I think I’m going to die.’

The more he lacked breath, the closer death felt. The shadow, not getting the answer it wanted, became angrier and tightened its grip.

Jeongyun’s body went limp as he stopped his meaningless resistance. Just before losing his faint consciousness, a ray of light appeared in his black vision.

<Aaaargh!>

With an ear-piercing scream, the force blocking his airway disappeared. Having narrowly escaped death, Jeongyun rolled on the ground.

He knew in his mind that he should not miss this opportunity and escape from here, but he was too busy filling his lungs with much-needed air to stand up.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Beyond his fading consciousness, a familiar voice was heard. Then someone appeared before the suffering shadow.

Though he could only see the back, Jeongyun immediately realized who it was.

‘…It can’t be.’

At Domin’s meteor-like appearance, Jeongyun found himself feeling relieved without even realizing it. Domin, who was blocking the rampaging shadow from reaching Jeongyun, raised both hands.

When he squeezed something invisible in the air, the shadow’s screams grew louder. As Domin twisted his grip further, the shadow’s form completely distorted.

Bang!

With a loud sound, the massive shadow vanished without a trace. At the same time, the stolen light began to illuminate the alley again.

After confirming the streetlights turning on one by one, Domin ran to Jeongyun, who had collapsed.

“Yeo Jeongyun!”

The urgent voice calling him grew distantly faint. And so, cradled in Domin’s arms, Jeongyun lost consciousness while feeling his warm temperature.