# Chapter 41
As the distance between him and Cha Yeongheon narrowed, Lee Seungwoo used his ability without a moment’s hesitation. In that instant, the powers of wind and blade collided with each other.
“What are you doing… Esper Cha Yeongheon, step back… Esper Lee Seungwoo. Lee Seungwoo!”
Ko Eungyo, startled, tried to stop them, but it was useless. As the swirling wind stung his eyes, he took a step back, and the force grew even stronger. In the end, Ko Eungyo had no choice but to retreat another two or three steps.
Higher-level Espers were rare and few in number, but extremely powerful. If they ever clashed with each other, the consequences would be unimaginable. It wasn’t for nothing that people said Espers were territorial animals and to stay away from them.
Building collapse would be the least of their worries. He absolutely did not want to see a headline about people being injured because two Espers were fighting over him.
If the fight escalated, it would become impossible for humans to stop it. An Esper fight had to be contained at the very beginning.
He squeezed his eyes shut once, then stepped between the two Espers.
“Both of you, stop this now.”
Because it was clear that a Guide caught between them would get hurt if they escalated further, the intensity from both sides instantly subsided.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? That was dangerous.”
Cha Yeongheon backed away abruptly, fuming.
“Esper Cha Yeongheon, what are you doing?”
“What did I do? I was just…”
“Whatever it was, I said I didn’t like it, didn’t I?”
“Just listen to me!”
Cha Yeongheon pounded his own chest with his fist in frustration. This was ridiculous. Who was the frustrated one here…
As Ko Eungyo stared at him with incredulous eyes, he noticed Cha Yeongheon trying to approach him again but stopping short.
It seemed that Lee Seungwoo had blocked him. Something dawned on Cha Yeongheon, and he bared his teeth. The emotion on his face was unmistakable jealousy.
…This was giving him a headache.
“This bastard? He’s your Esper?”
“Ha… how long are we going to continue this meaningless conversation—”
“I asked if this bastard is yours.”
That’s when Ko Eungyo realized the fundamental principle: meaningful conversation requires people of similar intelligence levels. If someone won’t understand no matter how clearly you explain, what’s the point of talking? In this case, Cha Yeongheon was actually right. Lee Seungwoo was Ko Eungyo’s Esper.
With a sense of resignation, Ko Eungyo glared at Cha Yeongheon and said:
“Yes, he’s mine. I can do whatever I want with him.”
“…”
“Didn’t you see my ‘my’ list?”
“So it’s him.”
Cha Yeongheon’s eyes flashed. Now he understood for sure.
‘Cha Yeongheon… you rushed in without even knowing what Woo Sihyun looks like?’
There was a bitter taste in his mouth. After canceling the contract as he pleased, then acting like he was reluctantly adding someone to his “my” list, now he was declaring ownership. It was embarrassing toward Lee Seungwoo. He looked up at Lee Seungwoo with a hint of desperation, and sure enough, their eyes met as the other was already looking at him.
‘Please just play along.’
Whether the telepathy worked or not, Lee Seungwoo said nothing. No, it wasn’t that he said nothing, but rather his eyes were slightly curved at the corners as if…
‘…Are you finding this situation funny?’
Lee Seungwoo wasn’t the only one amused in this tense atmosphere.
“Then, if I fight your Esper and win, I can have you.”
Cha Yeongheon proposed with a smirk. If that could be called a proposal.
Himself… something to be won and possessed as a trophy?
This was beyond shocking—it was downright offensive. Had Cha Yeongheon’s mindset always been this terrible?
This wasn’t a Pokémon battle. He wasn’t some prize to be awarded to the victor.
When he frowned deeply and glared at Cha Yeongheon, the other met his gaze immediately, as if he had never taken his eyes off him. That face, devoid of any tenderness, showed the same enthusiasm as the Cha Yeongheon from when Ko Eungyo was Jang Iju.
“Want to have a Pokémon battle? Then bring a trainer.”
“…”
At his words, not only Cha Yeongheon’s but also Lee Seungwoo’s lips parted slightly. Bearing both their gazes, he shot Cha Yeongheon a cold look.
‘Fight and win? If you win, you get the Guide?’
His insides boiled with anger. He was the person who hated treating Guides like commodities the most. Any Guide would feel the same. If someone dared to treat a Guide that way, he would return the contempt in kind.
Cha Yeongheon’s expression became worth seeing at the unexpected Pokémon reference. If Guides are sensitive about being treated as prizes, Espers are sensitive about being treated as weapons or tools. The more powerful the Esper, the more sensitive they are. As if to prove this, all traces of amusement and competitiveness vanished from Cha Yeongheon’s face, leaving only a blank expression.
“You should not regret those words.”
Only then did Ko Eungyo realize his mistake. Cha Yeongheon was infamous among high-level Espers for fighting like a dog. When he’d heard the rumors, he’d dismissed them as exaggerations, but seeing him now, they didn’t seem so baseless after all. Ko Eungyo flinched and moved a little closer behind Lee Seungwoo.
“Esper Cha Yeongheon! Step back or we will open fire!”
At that moment, officers with their faces and bodies covered in bulletproof gear rushed in through the cafeteria door and the broken window. They must have been prepared for Cha Yeongheon’s “rampage” and arrived with precautions. That seemed to be why they couldn’t come right away.
Upon seeing them, Cha Yeongheon clicked his tongue and… glanced at Ko Eungyo.
As if trying to memorize his face.
“Esper Cha Yeongheon, surrender peacef—!”
Then Cha Yeongheon leaped far beyond the cafeteria into the distance. The officers who had lost him immediately gave chase. They didn’t know that Cha Yeongheon had received Guiding, so they seemed to think the rampaging Esper could do anything anywhere.
Ko Eungyo, who had been staring in the direction Cha Yeongheon disappeared, quietly asked:
“…Is he gone?”
Since an Esper’s eyesight was better than a normal person’s, it would be more accurate to judge whether Cha Yeongheon had completely left through Lee Seungwoo’s eyes.
“Yes.”
After hearing the answer, he slowly moved away from Lee Seungwoo’s back. Then, without even looking at Lee Seungwoo, he spoke:
“…I said you were mine because I’ve decided to register you in ‘my’ list again. What I said after was just to deceive Esper Cha Yeongheon. If you found the Pokémon treatment offensive, I apologize. I’ve already submitted the correction documents, so you can go up to the Center and register under my name. Well then…”
“Just a moment.”
Lee Seungwoo caught him as he was about to leave.
It was a much gentler touch than Cha Yeongheon’s. He turned around without resistance, and there stood Lee Seungwoo with an expression that was hard to read.
A face that was impossible to tell whether he was pleased or displeased.
“Aren’t you… coming with me?”
He wasn’t sure how long he’d have to face this awkward situation. Originally, Ko Eungyo had planned to go to the Center together with Lee Seungwoo to dispel his doubts. But now he felt too embarrassed to want to do so.
As he glanced at Lee Seungwoo, he found the other seemingly checking his reaction as well. What he had just said didn’t seem to come from distrust of Ko Eungyo.
So that meant…
“…”
It was more like trying to start a conversation with an indifferent Guide.
“As I told you, I’ve already registered my documents. Since I had some time.”
Surely this was a misunderstanding. Ko Eungyo smiled slightly at the absurd thought that crossed his mind.
“Ah…”
And so Lee Seungwoo saw the hint of a smile in Ko Eungyo’s eyes. It pulled deeply at the core of Lee Seungwoo’s heart.
Ko Eungyo had no idea what Lee Seungwoo was thinking. In fact, he was close to not caring what Lee Seungwoo thought. Lee Seungwoo stood in front of Ko Eungyo, not moving aside, looking at him as if he had something to say, while all Ko Eungyo wanted to say was “get out of my way,” so he just chose to remain silent.
For a moment, they stared blankly at each other.
What was he doing? Why wasn’t he hurrying to register the documents? Did he really not trust him and want to go together?
Ko Eungyo was puzzled.
After a while, but not too late, Lee Seungwoo spoke:
“…Where are you going for your vacation?”
Ko Eungyo frowned.
This was… a question whose intent he couldn’t understand. As he examined Lee Seungwoo’s face to discern his intention, a perplexed expression flashed across that well-composed face. Yet Lee Seungwoo still didn’t retract his question. Rather, he seemed to be waiting for an answer. With a somewhat anxious look…?
…Anyone watching would think he was flirting with someone he liked.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
I’m sat