# Chapter 30
I was anxious. Even though I thought he was a good person, seeing him blurt things out without considering my situation made me feel he was inconsiderate after all. But Dohyun clearly remembered what was written in the contract.
Beyond matters of financial settlement and energy, there was an Esper’s duty to protect their contracted Guide.
Although I was angry that he asked about personal things, I had to separate public and private matters. Protecting Haegang as his Guide was Dohyun’s duty as an Esper. Especially if the danger was happening because of him…!
❖ ❖ ❖
“Didn’t the guild say they would protect you?”
Dohyun avoided Haegang’s gaze, which seemed somewhat pitying. Thinking about it, the guild members who provided security would have responded faster than him, who couldn’t even properly make potions yet. It was because he had only thought of Haegang as a regular person.
Ah, is this also an Esper’s instinct? The thought suddenly struck him, and embarrassment welled up. Espers become sensitive to their Guide’s safety, they said. It meant that an instinct develops to safely protect the person who provides Guiding. That’s why Dohyun had rushed over without thinking.
And the moment he saw Haegang standing perfectly fine in front of him, he felt deflated. The pitying look pressed down on him even more. Come to think of it, the guild’s Espers regularly checked the surroundings of the house, and this area was known for excellent security. There was no way a fire terror could occur. He hadn’t thought about it while rushing over, but now that he had arrived, he was fully conscious of it.
“Well, I suddenly heard something strange…”
“What could Baek Dohyun Esper do if you came here?”
I couldn’t do anything. That was true, but did he have to say it so unkindly when Dohyun was just worried? Dohyun bit his lips tightly, feeling somehow wronged. He had been so worried…
Haegang looked at Dohyun and tilted his head crookedly, as if something had occurred to him.
“Besides, I’m probably stronger than Baek Dohyun Esper. And I would respond faster if something like that happened.”
“…What?”
His thoughts, which had been wandering off track, stopped. He was an S-class Esper and Haegang was a Guide, so what was he saying?
“That can’t be true.”
When Dohyun sulkily objected, Haegang twisted his lips into a smile.
“Want to bet?”
Why would I bet on something that I would obviously win? Despite Dohyun’s incredulous look, Haegang spoke in a flat tone.
“We could arm wrestle if you want.”
“…”
“Since it’s a bet, if you win, I’ll grant you something.”
“Am I a child? As if I’d fall for…”
“If Baek Dohyun Esper wins, I’ll do the dishes for a week.”
…I’ll fall for it. Recently, Haegang had been doing the cooking. In Haegang’s view, Dohyun’s eating was inadequate, but feeling bad about always accepting free meals, Dohyun volunteered to do the dishes after meals. But wasn’t washing dishes more annoying than cooking?
When Dohyun immediately nodded, Haegang looked down at him with a pitying gaze.
“Are you a child?”
“…I just became an adult recently.”
“You seem to act younger than your age.”
Haegang walked toward the living room, then said “ah” and went into a room. The puzzled Dohyun soon saw Haegang coming out with a table and placing it in front of the sofa, which raised a new question. On the day Dohyun first arrived, that table was definitely in front of the sofa.
“Why was that inside?”
“I temporarily put it away for some business.”
Haegang, who answered simply, took his place at the table. Seeing him extend his right hand, Dohyun quickly offered his left hand.
“What’s this?”
“I’m left-handed.”
“I’m right-handed.”
Dohyun thought he would win regardless of which hand he used, since he was an Esper, but Haegang’s overly confident attitude made him nervous, so he didn’t retract his left hand. Haegang raised his left hand as if he had no choice.
“Ready.”
Their hands met. It was the first time they had held hands for a reason other than Guiding. It seemed like a little Vigor was coming through, but not enough to weaken him.
No matter how non-combat oriented he was, as an Esper, there was no way he could lose to Haegang, who was a Guide. Thinking this, Dohyun tightly gripped his hand. Then suddenly, one thing occurred to him.
“Ah, wait a moment.”
“Getting cold feet?”
Dohyun gritted his teeth at the irritating tone. No, that’s not it.
“What if Guide Choi Haegang wins?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“…”
When Dohyun met his gaze as if asking him to explain, Haegang slowly opened his mouth.
“Don’t pretend to help with the dishes, just do them.”
“…”
“I’m already doing the cooking, aren’t I?”
At Haegang’s words, Dohyun nodded with a slightly resentful face. He concentrated on Haegang’s hand as they clasped again. At that moment, Dohyun became a bit tense. It seemed stronger than he thought.
“Then, ready.”
Dohyun applied force to his hand at the count.
“Start.”
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-What’s up with you? Why do you look like that? Did you get a job as a housewife?
“Don’t video call me. Hang up.”
-No way, I can’t hang up on this.
-Sa Gongchan, screenshot, screenshot.
-Good idea.
“What’s so good about that idea!”
-Hey! Don’t cover the camera!
In conclusion, Dohyun lost. In the first round, he thought he hadn’t applied enough strength because his opponent was a Guide. And following the Korean logic of best two out of three, he grabbed his hand once more, but soon Dohyun’s hand was pinned to the table. The dish-washing bet, which would have ended after a week if he had just accepted his loss, was extended to two weeks because Haegang offered another week when Dohyun called for best two out of three.
Dohyun knew it was a childish bet. But he had quickly accepted not only because Haegang’s provocation had worked on him, but also to get past the awkward situation. He had interpreted Haegang’s bet proposal as a gesture to bury the conversation they had in the car.
“Why did you call?”
-I called to check on the situation. You ran off like that and then there was no contact.
-From what I know, isn’t that Guide really tall and good at working out?
-Looking at his body, he seems like he’d be stronger than Baek Dohyun.
“…”
Dohyun was at a loss for words at Chan’s statement. The prediction was too accurate.
-So, why are you quiet? I’m asking if everything’s okay. I called to see how you were doing, why aren’t you saying anything?
Perhaps because Dohyun had been quiet for a while, Chan thought the call had been disconnected and was muttering while shaking his phone, but he stopped when Dohyun’s face appeared again.
“…Sa Gongchan.”
-Yeah?
“Even if I’m non-combat oriented, wouldn’t I still be stronger than a regular person?”
-Stronger than a typical regular person, sure.
“Typical…? What about someone like Guide Choi Haegang?”
-Nah, that’s a different story. To maintain that height and build, think about how much exercise and eating he must do. Even though Esper Choi Haegang wasn’t a martial artist, he was an athlete. Maybe if you were an F-class combat-type, but it would be difficult for you. Even an S-class non-combat type can’t beat an F-class combat type.
Dohyun had thought that since becoming an Esper, with his increased stamina, strength, and lung capacity, he could beat any regular person, but after losing to Haegang, he had come to his senses. Because of that, he was now stuck with a pile of dishes to wash.
Chan, who had been answering Dohyun’s question, thought for a moment and stared at Dohyun who had lost the light in his eyes.
-Did you challenge Guide Choi Haegang? Did you make some sort of strength bet?
“…”
-And you lost, which is why you’re wearing an apron?
“Hanging up.”
I should have ended the call before those words came out. After terminating the call, Dohyun’s mood plummeted at the sight of his two friends whose expressions had changed to full mockery just before he hung up.
I should have won no matter what. Should I start working out too? Dohyun stared at the gym on the first floor. Would it be okay to use it? Of course, Haegang was currently in there working out.
What’s wrong with being a bit childish? Since Haegang had said first that he seemed to act younger than his age, maybe he should really throw a tantrum for once. Dohyun thought this but still diligently moved his hands. The dishes were being washed with squeaking sounds.
Dohyun placed the clean, well-wiped dishes upside down on the drying rack and put his hands back under the running water.
He knew the sensation. Bring out the energy that seems to fill his body. As he concentrated, the flowing water seemed to gradually slow down. He imagined this water filling his entire body. Like the sensation when receiving Guiding from Haegang.
It was easy up to the point of recalling the Vigor that pressed against his body so comfortingly. And then, what did he do after that?
‘Are you thinking the exact same thoughts as you did then?’
The thoughts he had then.
The thoughts in the bathtub were about another Esper’s ability. The guild’s healing Esper. But as if enchanted, Dohyun recalled someone else. Someone with pink hair…
Bang!
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
