Chapter 13
Seoyul was flustered, but the hand that came up from across the table kept waving for him to continue eating. So he carefully put the steak in his mouth again.
‘It’s delicious…’
His mind filled completely with thoughts of the steak as the juices spread throughout his mouth. He didn’t know how to express this ecstatic texture and taste.
Moreover, knowing that he was providing Guiding as a Hidden Guide made him feel reassured, which made the food taste even better.
‘The more deliciously I eat, the more I help Esper-nim.’
Seoyul continued his meal with such adorable thoughts. Dowoon carefully observed him.
‘Is this what they mean when they say you can feel full just by watching someone eat?’
He felt full just by watching. Perhaps it was because he was receiving satisfactory Guiding for the first time in his life.
“Esper-nim, you should try it too. It’s really delicious!”
Seoyul offered the food with a bright smile. At that moment, Guiding energy poured out again with a popping sound.
Saliva suddenly filled Dowoon’s mouth.
“Is it that delicious?”
“Yes!”
The way he nodded vigorously with a wide smile was cute. With his small cheeks full of meat, chewing diligently, he looked like a hamster.
‘Should I try it too?’
Dowoon carefully picked up his knife and fork and cut a small piece of meat. Then he slowly put it in his mouth to taste it.
“It’s delicious, isn’t it? Right?”
The guide was gazing at him with sparkling eyes, hoping for affirmation. Seeing that expression, the flavor of the meat suddenly intensified.
“…?”
Though it wasn’t his first time eating this, the taste was completely different. How could he express this?
Looking at those eyes full of expectation, he realized there was only one thing he could say.
“It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad.”
Seeing that relieved, clear smile made saliva fill his mouth again.
* * *
After that day.
The two excitedly went around finding good restaurants. Whether this method was right or not, Seoyul happily poured out Guiding energy with a popping sound.
Thanks to that, Dowoon’s condition gradually improved. His tinnitus began to decrease and his headaches gradually disappeared.
“What do you want to eat today?”
“How about this place?”
Now Seoyul could actively offer his opinions. At first, he had been hesitant and passive, but he seemed to have changed after realizing that his enjoying the food was more helpful.
“Okay. Let’s go there today.”
It was the same for Dowoon. He had never been interested in food before, but while going around with Seoyul, he had discovered the taste of food.
Sunjeong had said that as his body recovered, his lost sense of taste might also return.
‘Those bastards. Have they been experiencing this taste every day?’
To think such a good world existed. Every time Dowoon ate with Seoyul, he cursed the other Espers.
Though he had lived for 26 years, it felt like only these few weeks had been a proper life. That’s how immense the greatness of “food” was among the basic necessities of life.
“Wow! This is so delicious too.”
Seoyul ate with great enjoyment, his face beaming with happiness. When his cheeks were full of food as he chewed, Dowoon felt the urge to poke those soft cheeks.
Seeing him eat so well made buying him food very rewarding.
“Eat a lot.”
“Yes!”
Even his response was so refreshingly crisp. Dowoon unconsciously looked at him fondly before continuing his meal.
As such days continued, rumors spread at a frightening speed. Since the much-rumored guide was coming out in public, people’s gazes followed them.
At first, people were careful not to catch Dowoon’s eye, but after realizing that the two didn’t pay attention, people became bolder.
“Did you see that?”
“Wow. I never thought I’d see Cha Dowoon smile like that in my lifetime.”
“Scary…”
“Indeed…”
The Espers couldn’t close their mouths at Cha Dowoon’s unusual behavior. They thought he was someone who only knew how to sneer, but seeing him smile normally was frightening beyond words.
“The guide is pretty.”
“Yeah, cute.”
“Guiding… I wonder how it feels?”
“Seeing how Cha Dowoon is so taken with it, it must be amazing, right?”
It was none other than Cha Dowoon’s guide. Since they weren’t officially paired yet, anyone could receive Guiding from him, but no one dared to act on it.
Even just secretly watching like this was taking enough risk.
“Oh? Looks like they’re done eating. Let’s get out of here quickly.”
The Espers quickly inhaled their food and got up from their seats. This was one of the reasons why the rumors had spread without being noticed until now.
“I heard you’ve become quite famous?”
After hearing these rumors, Munjin summoned his son after a long time. Dowoon frowned as if asking what nonsense he was talking about.
“I’ve always been famous.”
He was an S-class Esper after all. Receiving attention was as natural to him as breathing. So it seemed he still hadn’t noticed.
“Just tell me what you want. I’m busy.”
Dowoon sat askew and urged him. But not wanting to miss this good opportunity, Munjin opened his mouth with a sly smile.
“Busy with dating?”
“Haa?”
Dating? Cha Dowoon and dating?
Only then did Dowoon furiously scowl at the smirking older man. Though his expression was quite intimidating, Munjin handled it with familiarity and continued.
“I heard you’re completely smitten with your guide and busy dating?”
“Who says that?!”
“Everyone says so.”
These bastards.
Dowoon finally understood the situation. The fact that as much as he drew attention, Seoyul, as his guide, would inevitably become an object of interest as well.
When he didn’t know, it didn’t bother him, but now that he was suddenly aware, it was driving him crazy with concern.
‘This is annoying.’
What exactly was annoying him? His mind was so tangled that he couldn’t continue his thoughts properly.
“Look at this boy’s expression. He’s going to kill his father at this rate. He’s going to kill me.”
Munjin continued to tease Dowoon with a grin. Though Dowoon scowled even more fiercely, it had no effect.
“Stop glaring and hurry up to form a pair with your guide.”
“A pair?”
For a moment he didn’t understand what Munjin meant, but soon he realized the significance.
Though unofficial, Seoyul was the only S-class guide in South Korea. Moreover, he was one of only three Hidden Guides in the world.
The impact would be enormous if that fact became known. The spotlight that would pour on him, and of course, the increased danger that came with fame.
For the same reason, the personal information of S-class guides was strictly protected worldwide.
“For now, we’ll try to keep the fact that he’s a Hidden Guide secret. If support requests come in from other guilds, it will become troublesome.”
Currently, the Center had no grounds to refuse if support requests came in from other guilds. This was because the Center’s only S-class Esper was not being dispatched on dangerous missions.
So if a support request came in, they would have no choice but to send Seoyul. The problem was the S-class Espers he would have to guide.
‘They would probably be desperate to take him.’
Among them were some with violent temperaments. And Seoyul was already intimidated because of his past memories.
“You know too, right? Given Seo Guide’s personality, there’s a big risk of him being taken advantage of.”
“…Hard to deny that.”
Given Seoyul’s personality, there was concern that he might be easily manipulated, even with unreasonable demands.
At least until he could properly control his Guiding, it was right to postpone it.
“So hurry up and form a pair, and focus on recovering your condition.”
His words made sense. To protect him properly, having the strongest Esper by his side was the most effective method.
“Besides, even if he’s just C-class, if you don’t form a pair, people will talk unnecessarily. Right now they’re staying quiet because they know your situation, but rumors spread in an instant. You know that, right?”
“…Shit. Everyone’s just so greedy.”
Dowoon cursed under his breath with a frown.
If it became known that Seoyul was S-class, that would be one thing, but right now he was officially just a C-class guide. Yet people would talk about monopolizing a mere C-class guide! He was the only one who had no other guide, while the rest had alternatives.
“A pair.”
Dowoon fell into thought for a moment. If they became a pair, they would inevitably become deeply entangled in many ways, which didn’t particularly appeal to him.
“Yeah. I know you’re not keen on it, but still…”
But…
“I’ll do it.”
“You should establish it to avoid future problems… Huh? You will?”
When the affirmation immediately came from his mouth, Munjin’s eyes widened.
“I thought you hated that?”
“That was when I couldn’t receive Guiding.”
Right. Why was he bringing up an old story?
His past self just didn’t know. The reason why Espers were so desperate to form pairs with guides.
‘Share that with other guys?’
He hated the idea more than death. He understood why Espers clung to guides. He wanted to monopolize that ecstatic Guiding and wanted Seoyul to guide only him.
Just thinking about Seoyul guiding another Esper twisted his insides. If even C-class Guiding made him feel this way, S-class Guiding would be even worse.
‘I should raise my contribution level first.’
If he raised his contribution level, no one could say anything even if he monopolized an S-class guide.
That’s probably why Munjin was telling him to quickly form a pair and focus on recovery. In his current state, he couldn’t take on high-grade missions.
“Now that I know how to activate it, there’s no problem. I’ll recover quickly and take care of anyone who becomes a nuisance.”
Dowoon voluntarily offered to be the guide’s shield. It was a very unfamiliar sight.
‘He must really like his guide, huh?’
It was a newly discovered aspect of his son. Munjin composed his surprised face and opened his mouth.
“You’re definitely an Esper, aren’t you? Is it that good?”
“…”
Maybe he shouldn’t have agreed so readily…
Dowoon frowned at the giggling man.
‘Damn it.’
But he had no intention of taking back his words. Just thinking that Seoyul would officially become his guide made his blood boil.
He even regretted the time he had wasted, wondering why he hadn’t thought of this sooner.
“Is that all you have to say? Can I go now?”
“Sure. Be good to Seo Guide. Well… I’m sure you will be anyway.”
“…”
His mood plummeted because of the old man who was even waving his hand playfully. Dowoon glared sharply at Munjin before leaving the Center Director’s office.
But the lingering image of that sly face wouldn’t let his mood improve.
‘Damn it.’
As he fiercely scowled, he spotted Seoyul in the distance. Apparently, he had heard that Dowoon had been summoned to the Center Director’s office.
‘Does he not know what my relationship with Cha Munjin is?’
Though Munjin was officially his father, it wasn’t a widely known fact among ordinary people. Perhaps that’s why Seoyul’s face was full of worry.
‘Cute.’
Dowoon’s mood suddenly skyrocketed.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
