Chapter 9
“But isn’t this a contract that only makes things difficult for the Guide? If it’s mandatory…”
“Of course there are benefits too. First, the Esper must share at least 10% of the income earned from their activities.”
“10%?”
“The minimum is 3%. The maximum is set at 50%, but it’s rarely that high, so it’s usually set at 10%. Sometimes the ratio is adjusted when additional contracts are made with multiple Guides, but that’s for later. And this clause. When Guiding is performed by another Guide, right? But what if that other Guide is a romantic partner?”
“Uh…”
“It’s understandable that some non-contact Guiding happens just by being next to each other, but what about holding hands, hugging, or kissing? You’d have to tell the Guide about all the progress in your relationship. Everything besides kissing too.”
Espers had to endure this embarrassment. Of course, from the Guide’s perspective, they might wonder if they really need to know all this, but it’s absolutely necessary to check the Esper’s Guiding status. Because of this, many would terminate their dedicated Guiding contracts when they got into relationships.
The last page of the contract was almost completely blank. Chan pointed to the space full of margins and handed Dohyun a pen.
“You write what you want here.”
Usually, people negotiated how much contact was allowed during Guiding. They also wrote down the contract period or the dates when Guiding would take place.
“Then once a week.”
“That won’t work. Later, when you can properly use your ability, even once a day might not be enough.”
“Ah… Then what should I write?”
“Usually… things like ‘unless it’s urgent, Guiding will be done with a handshake,’ or ‘hugging is allowed.’ Setting an upper limit.”
“Something like ‘only non-contact Guiding will be conducted’?”
“You’re S-grade, so you’ll have a lot of energy and need a lot of Vigor. That won’t work.”
At the definitive answer, Dohyun obediently wrote down what his friend dictated. Unless it’s emergency Guiding, Guiding will be conducted through handshakes. Since no other conditions were needed, Dohyun and Chan took the contract and headed back to the conference room where Haegang was.
Haegang had already finished writing, having put down his pen and was drinking coffee. Seeing his long legs crossed, Dohyun wondered if his legs got tangled easily, just like his personality.
“Well then, shall we check what additional terms have been written?”
Chan, wearing a business smile, looked at Haegang’s contract and froze mid-smile. Dohyun, sitting next to him, also lost his words after seeing Haegang’s contract.
“Ha… haha, um, Guide Choi Haegang?”
“Yes.”
“…A Guiding contract is about discussing the content of Guiding, not placing restrictions on the other person’s behavior.”
Dohyun read what Haegang had written.
One. The regular Guiding hours are set between noon and 9 PM.
Two. The location for Guiding will be determined by the Guide.
Three. When conducting Guiding, dress appropriately for the time, place, and occasion.
…What is this? Dohyun blinked.
It was quite specific content. Yet there was absolutely nothing about how far contact Guiding could go. Isn’t that the most important thing? TPO? Why is TPO here? As Dohyun wondered, Haegang made a face that said, isn’t this obvious?
“Esper Baek Dohyun. Aren’t you an adult?”
“…Yes.”
“If we set limits on contact Guiding and then an urgent situation arises for Esper Baek Dohyun, wouldn’t that be a problem? I’ve blocked it in advance.”
Did that mean Haegang was willing to do high-level contact Guiding with Dohyun? He had thought Haegang kept him at a distance, so it was surprising that he was considering going that far.
Of course, Haegang wasn’t wrong. From a Guide’s perspective, the more contact with an Esper, the easier it was to operate Vigor. It wasn’t uncommon for newly adult Espers not to set limits on permissible contact.
“Then why is this…”
“It’s unsightly. Isn’t it appropriate to maintain an appearance befitting a high-grade awakener’s dignity?”
Ah, yes. When asked about the clause to observe TPO, the answer came back about maintaining a dignified appearance. Is it about how higher-grade people should have more dignity or something? Dohyun stared at the Guide with the same expression as his friend sitting next to him.
Chan turned to look at Dohyun. Whether to accept this was a decision Dohyun had to make. After thinking for a while, he organized his thoughts.
“If there’s no urgent matter, I would like to end before 5:30 PM. And for contact Guiding, if it’s not an emergency, I’d like to set the limit at hugging at most.”
“Won’t you regret it?”
You’re the one who’ll regret it. Dohyun seemed to hear Haegang’s voice, but he shook his head. This person had been prone to anger from the start. He didn’t particularly want to be close to him. He could comply with other requests. It’s a bit strange, but things like clothes or Guiding hours—if he didn’t object, wouldn’t it end after meeting briefly and parting? Dohyun nodded, thinking it was actually for the best.
“I’ll save Guide Choi Haegang’s phone number as the one you provided.”
“It’s good that things move quickly with a reliable person like Sa Gongchan around. If it were just Esper Baek Dohyun… right?”
“Haha… Well, having Esper Baek Dohyun, who is like a pillar of our guild, makes my job enjoyable.”
Why is my name being mentioned? Dohyun briefly put his hand to his throbbing head.
Eventually, a contract with all the terms both parties wanted was placed in front of them.
“You can sign it and give it to me… Hey, hey! Baek Dohyun!”
“Huh?”
Dohyun was startled by the round mark that suddenly appeared next to his name. A red mark. He hadn’t used red ink, so he picked up his pen wondering if perhaps the pen he was holding was red.
“Just a moment.”
Chan made an exasperated face and rushed out.
No sound was heard in the conference room where only the two remained. Haegang, watching Dohyun replacing the pen refill and returning it to its original state, snatched the pen away.
“Why…”
“Stay still.”
Haegang’s large hand approached abruptly. Then, grabbing Dohyun’s back as he tried to move away in surprise to keep him from moving, he pressed firmly on the bridge of his nose.
“What are you…”
“Huh?”
Haegang clicked his tongue. Seeing that he didn’t seem to be intending any harm, Dohyun just blinked, and Chan, who had run into the conference room, pressed a bunch of tissues under his nose. Haegang stopped Chan, who was trying to block Dohyun’s nose and press his forehead to tilt his head back.
“The blood will go down into the airway.”
Haegang pressed the bridge of Dohyun’s nose again and watched his condition. Despite pressing for a while, the bleeding didn’t stop.
“I’m fibe.”
“I told you to stay still.”
Dohyun, who had tried to break free saying he was fine, lowered his hand at Haegang’s restraint. More than the nosebleed, the headache that had worsened since morning unconsciously made him furrow his brow. Night-shift stress was scarier than he thought. He would probably have to reduce the number of part-time jobs for a while.
“This is strange. Esper Baek Dohyun, have you used your ability?”
Haegang’s low voice sounded cold. To press someone who doesn’t even know what his ability is about whether he used it. Dohyun tried to say something, but Chan shook his head as if to block it.
“You haven’t signed yet.”
“…Just looking at him now, it seems like energy has accumulated. That means he hasn’t received Guiding for quite a while. Am I wrong? He seems to be in pain too.”
“Information about an Esper’s physical condition can only be accurately disclosed after forming a dedicated contract. Right now, Guide Choi Haegang has no right to check.”
“Are you blocking it when not receiving Guiding now would be difficult for him? As a Guide preparing for a Guiding contract, I think I should know the Esper’s condition.”
“Guide Choi Haegang has not made a dedicated contract with Esper Baek Dohyun.”
It seemed like it would be okay to talk about that much, but Chan didn’t seem to think so. The confrontation dragged on. There was an ongoing conflict between Haegang, who wanted to know about Dohyun’s condition, and Chan, who insisted that Haegang didn’t have the authority yet.
Wouldn’t it end if he just refused to make a Guiding contract and left? However, contrary to what Dohyun thought as he just watched anxiously without saying anything, Haegang exhaled deeply as if annoyed, removed his hand from Dohyun’s nose, and picked up the pen.
“Are you satisfied?”
Three characters of Haegang’s name were signed with a flourish next to them. After checking the contract, Chan organized the documents on his tablet and only then opened his mouth again.
“Now tell me. Why is Esper Baek Dohyun in this state? Has he perhaps used his ability without knowing it?”
“It’s not that. It’s because he hasn’t received Guiding after using his ability.”
“…What?”
Dohyun, who had been pressing the bridge of his nose after Haegang, removed the tissue. The blood still hadn’t stopped. It meant it wasn’t a nosebleed from fatigue. Chan sighed, observing Dohyun pressing his forehead.
“Esper Baek Dohyun doesn’t know what his ability is. He knows he’s non-combat type, though.”
“He doesn’t know?”
Haegang frowned. He didn’t seem to comprehend at all.
“Yes. It’s a phenomenon that rarely appears among non-combat Espers. Since most Espers in our country are combat type, it’s not well known.”
Non-combat Espers weren’t the type to directly involve their energy in people or objects to attack or cause changes in real-time. Rather, they often needed specific situations to align before they could use their abilities. Production-type Espers who created objects or arts and physical education-type Espers who created music or art works were like this.
“Not knowing the type of ability, he can’t use it, but power keeps accumulating. But he doesn’t even know how much energy is accumulating and how much it’s eating away at his body.”
“Has he not been receiving Guiding continuously?”
“It was just yesterday that Esper Baek Dohyun became affiliated with a guild, even temporarily. Even for an S-grade Guide, because of the temporary affiliation, Guiding turns are pushed back. You know that.”
“…Yes, I know.”
“I remember meeting for the first time yesterday, and you would have checked the matching rate. So why is Esper Baek Dohyun in this state?”
Chan spoke as if pressing Haegang with a sharp expression. He saw Dohyun’s expression asking ‘why?’ but Chan didn’t take his eyes off Haegang. It was quite a long standoff.
“I wonder. Since he joined the Somyeong Guild anyway, couldn’t he have received Guiding even if his turn was pushed back?”
“Is that something to say now?”
“Yesterday wasn’t a situation where Guiding was absolutely necessary, was it?”
At Haegang’s words, Chan’s eyes sharpened even more. The conference room was filled with coldness.
Dohyun tapped Chan’s arm. The bleeding wasn’t stopping, so he thought he might need more tissues. Chan sighed after checking Dohyun’s condition, and seeing this, Haegang extended his hand.
“Let’s get some Guiding first.”
Would it hurt less if he received Guiding? Dohyun obediently extended his hand and grasped Haegang’s hand.
Soon, a gentle, water-like feeling poured toward Dohyun. Dohyun looked at Haegang with round eyes.
What… is this?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
