Chapter 8
It seemed better to focus on something else and change his thoughts. He turned off the running water, came out, and hastily threw on some clothes.
Should he eat something? His refrigerator was full of ingredients he’d bought in a fit of anger after being scolded by Haegang yesterday. He took out kimchi from the refrigerator—now well-stocked after a long time with eggs, ham, and tuna—and chopped it finely with a knife.
Fried rice would be better than stew. Dohyun, who had been cutting mindlessly, looked down at his right hand that wasn’t holding the knife.
“Ah…”
He’d cut himself. This is what happens when you space out. He was surprised twice—first at how little it hurt, then when he put his hand in running water and pulled it out to find the wound was already almost healed.
He really had become far from ordinary. Experiencing his body’s changes in everyday life made him feel distinctly alienated.
‘Then you… must find people like us boring.’
At the sudden memory, Dohyun dropped his hand. Becoming an Esper hadn’t completely changed his mindset after all. Just as a tough shell doesn’t necessarily mean a solid core, Dohyun was still the same as before.
After finishing his meal, forcing down food that didn’t want to go down, Dohyun dragged his reluctant feet toward the guild. It wasn’t just because of Chan’s threat to barge into his home if he didn’t come.
When he arrived at the Association, Chan, who had come to greet him, guided him to the office.
“Guide Choi Haegang hasn’t arrived yet.”
“…He might not come. No, he probably won’t come.”
“Why? Did something happen?”
He left in such anger yesterday, and they hadn’t cleared up the misunderstanding. He seemed proud, so after being treated that way, he might reject Dohyun first.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have done that at the end…”
“Done what? What did you do at the end?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all. Just that things were a bit off yesterday.”
Dohyun actually preferred it that way. It was already hard enough to deal with strangers, and having to continually meet someone with whom he had an unpleasant relationship seemed too exhausting.
After a brief explanation, Chan protested as if Dohyun was talking nonsense.
“Ah, why worry about something like that? I asked Team Leader Moon yesterday, and that Guide has to provide Guiding anyway? And your matching rate is high too.”
“It was high, yeah. But what do you mean he ‘has to’?”
Was the “personal circumstances” referring to a situation where he had to provide Guiding? Chan added:
“I don’t know why, but apparently he’s been trying to avoid providing Guiding. Team Leader Moon said this Guide gives him a headache. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard about Guide Choi Haegang contracting with anyone. If he doesn’t dislike Espers, there shouldn’t be any particular problem for a Guide.”
“Do you know him already?”
“…You don’t know Guide Choi Haegang either?”
How would I know…? Every time I say something, I get scolded for not knowing. I just met him a few days ago, how could I know? Chan’s mouth dropped open.
“What, is he some kind of celebrity?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Hello.”
Just then, Haegang arrived. Chan, who was about to explain to Dohyun, stopped and bowed his head to the incoming Guide. Given what happened at the Association yesterday and their awkward meeting, Dohyun had expected him to refuse Guiding. But that was just Dohyun’s wishful thinking.
Haegang looked around at everyone, then bowed to Dohyun first. Was this his way of separating professional and personal matters? Honestly, it was uncomfortable, but since he seemed intent on making the distinction, Dohyun returned the greeting.
“I didn’t expect you to join Somyeong Guild.”
“It’s temporary.”
“I’m aware of that. Although I can’t understand why an S-class Esper would be ‘temporarily’ at the number one guild.”
‘You’re quite remarkable.’ Dohyun felt deflated by the barb in Haegang’s words. Why did he dislike him so much? Because he had to waste time coming for the matching rate test? Or because he’d misspoken? But even when they first met at the Association’s door, he’d already looked annoyed.
From their first meeting, Haegang clearly wore a displeased expression. Dohyun barely suppressed the words that rose to his chin: what’s your problem? For his part, he hadn’t expected Haegang to come today. Given how much he seemed to dislike him, Dohyun thought he wouldn’t show up. Was it because of his “personal circumstances that required him to provide Guiding”?
“…Yes. That’s how it turned out.”
“I thought you wouldn’t want to contract with me, but was it because of Somyeong? Did you agree easily because you’re joining a good guild anyway? Why did you change your mind?”
“That’s not it.”
“Just a moment.”
As Dohyun was about to retort, Chan stepped between the two of them. But hey, he started it. Still, hadn’t Dohyun shown considerable restraint already?
Dohyun raised his head, ready to strike back if Haegang made one more sarcastic comment. I may be younger than you, smaller, shorter, and with less muscle mass, but I’m an Esper, so I’ll be stronger.
However, Dohyun’s determined resolve became useless as Chan continued the conversation.
“Guide Choi Haegang, are you here to establish a Guiding contract?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then you can talk with me. I’m Sa Gongchan, employee of Somyeong Guild. I’ve been assigned as the handler for Esper Baek Dohyun, who joined temporarily.”
Though a noisy friend, Chan seemed to demonstrate the experience of someone who had been around Awakened ones for a long time. Haegang extended his hand in return to Chan, who was smiling and offering his.
“I heard you don’t have any contracted Espers.”
“Yes, that’s right. That’s just how things turned out.”
“If you have personal circumstances, that can happen. You’re incredibly tall~. And you look very fit too.”
“The same could be said for you, Sa Gongchan-ssi.”
“Well~ I’m just a regular person, so I need to at least be fit.”
Dohyun was the only one unable to follow the conversation between these two who seemed to hit it off.
“Our guild also has standard contracts prepared for those establishing Guiding contracts. Even among guild Espers, there are cases where the matching rate with Guides is significantly lower. Although Esper Baek Dohyun is only a temporary member, he is still part of Somyeong Guild, so if you establish a Guiding contract, Guide Choi Haegang will also be granted access to Somyeong Guild.”
“Taking care of Guides with temporary Guiding contracts too—that’s nice.”
“Haha, Guide Choi Haegang, being an A-class Guide, you’ll do well with any organization.”
Chan continued his explanation smoothly. Dohyun finally understood the advantages of being affiliated with a guild. It was different from when he was alone, having to check everything one by one and submit requests for legal advice through the Association and wait.
So he felt a bit regretful. When Chan repeatedly told him to join the guild, he had refused, saying he didn’t want to use school or regional connections. If he had joined then, everything would have been handled for him, and he might have received Guiding from a guild-affiliated Guide without having to meet Haegang.
Watching the two people conversing as if they were getting along splendidly, Dohyun felt a slight throbbing in his head and briefly rubbed his forehead. Even becoming an Esper doesn’t prevent stress-induced migraines, apparently.
“Then, if Guide Choi Haegang has any clauses you’d like to add, you can write them at the bottom. Esper Baek Dohyun will also check for any desired clauses, so would it be alright if the two of us step out for a moment?”
“Yes, of course.”
Haegang sat down and picked up a pen. Chan tapped Dohyun’s shoulder and nodded toward the door. Dohyun got up and followed Chan out of the meeting room.
As soon as they were a bit away from the door, Chan, who had been smiling the whole time, instantly changed his expression.
“Ugh, what kind of person is that?”
Weren’t they getting along well? Dohyun just blinked as Chan raised his hand to his chest in frustration.
“You have over 90% with that person?”
“Yeah.”
“Haa… To be honest, it would be difficult for you to match that well with someone else. And even if you did, the probability of them having as much vigor as that Guide is low. If you had matched just a little better with our guild’s Guides, I would have torn up that contract.”
The implication was that because Dohyun was S-class, the energy he possessed was inherently large. As Chan grew more irritated, Dohyun became puzzled. Weren’t they getting along?
“Weren’t you and him getting along well?”
You seemed to be talking so well? At Dohyun’s words, Chan made a disgusted expression.
“With that person? No way.”
“…? Why don’t you like him?”
For me, I just thought we didn’t match, but why you? Reading Dohyun’s expression, Chan smiled brightly.
“Obviously because of that person’s way of speaking. He’s incredibly grating. And subtly so. Makes you furious.”
So it seems Dohyun wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
“The way he puts thorns in every word is no joke. He’s definitely different from the somewhat decent rumors I’ve heard. He’s an expert at putting barbs in his speech. Now I understand why he clashes with Espers. Ugh.”
“Sa Gongchan. Explain a bit.”
“Forget it. All that matters is making the contract, right? Just check the contract, Esper-nim. The staff will handle covering up that manner of speaking.”
Chan waved his hand as if he didn’t even want to think about it anymore and handed Dohyun the contract. Below the text that read “Dedicated Guiding Contract” were various clauses.
“So, to put it simply, the Guide is given the obligation to rush over whenever you, Bbakdo, need Guiding. They need to focus on managing your energy so that the runaway rate doesn’t increase.”
“Then what do I have to do?”
“Communicate well with the Guide. You might need to inform them about your physical condition that day, or the amount of energy you used. Or you must absolutely tell them if Guiding was performed with another Guide.”
It wasn’t a difficult task. The problem was that the other party was Haegang. Just thinking about having to report every little detail to him while he looked down at Dohyun with cold eyes made the prospect dismal before it even began.
‘What does that have to do with me?’
…Surely he wouldn’t say that, right?