Ryu Soh-an had been right. He must’ve rushed over—patches of dried monster fluids still clung to his clothes, the foul, metallic stench of monster blood beginning to seep into the infirmary. Embarrassed, his normally pale cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red.
“There’s a Guide I’d like you to see, Esper Ryu Soh-an.”
“A Guide?”
“Yes.”
Only then did Ryu Soh-an notice the man who had been hidden behind Hayan’s broad frame. Even bundled in winter clothes, he looked frail. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he clutched something in his hands as if it were a treasure.
Just as Hayan had said, he gave off the unmistakable air of a Guide—that delicate, fragile aura unique to them. But at that moment, Ryu Soh-an had no idea of the storm about to hit him.
“Hello. I’m Ryu Soh-an, S-rank Special-type Healing Esper. May I ask your name?”
Sociable as ever, he approached Nabin with his usual warmth. Being called in such a hurry usually meant the Guide was struggling mentally—likely carrying the weight of severe trauma.
At the sound of Ryu Soh-an’s gentle, mellow voice, Nabin’s body flinched. Patiently, the Esper leaned forward, waiting for him to open up, steady in both posture and tone.
“…Ki, Kim Nabin.”
The voice was like that of a timid prey animal, barely audible unless one strained to hear. Yet it carried a fragile beauty that matched his delicate appearance perfectly.
“Ah…”
Ryu Soh-an had intended to offer a polite reply, but the moment his eyes met Nabin’s pale irises, all that left his lips was a soft, stunned breath. His ever-present smile faltered awkwardly, and his expression unraveled into something vacant, almost foolish.
“Esper Ryu Soh-an.”
Sensing something wrong, Hayan called his name, his voice laced with mana. Espers were often drawn to Guides, but the stronger the Match Rate, the more intense the reaction. Ryu Soh-an’s dazed look was so extreme it seemed as though he were already receiving Contact Guiding from someone highly compatible.
His legs gave out, and with a loud thud, he collapsed to his knees. A strange sensation, unlike anything he’d felt in battle, surged through his entire body—as if he were sinking into the depths of Nabin’s gaze.
Hayan had to grab him by the arm and pull him back. It wasn’t just him losing control. Kim Su-hyun had reacted strangely too, and now so had Ryu Soh-an.
Every Esper who met Nabin displayed an alarmingly deep affection toward him. Hayan tried to rationalize it—Healing-type Espers were naturally overflowing with compassion, which might explain their stronger reactions. But deep down, he was certain other Espers would behave the same.
Still kneeling, Ryu Soh-an stared at Nabin without even blinking, utterly enthralled. Hayan called his name again, sharper this time, ready to throw him out if he didn’t snap out of it.
“Esper Ryu Soh-an.”
Finally, he came to his senses. The menace in Hayan’s voice jolted him upright as if sharp thorns had sprouted beneath him. Face flushed, he all but fled toward the door, footsteps clumsy and hurried.
“Th-this person… he’s the Guide I’m supposed to treat, right…?”
“…Yes.”
Truthfully, Hayan wanted nothing more than to take Nabin straight back to the estate. But only Ryu Soh-an had the ability to help him. To keep from revealing his turmoil, he clenched his fists so tightly veins bulged across his knuckles.
“Huff, haah, hhh…”
Ryu Soh-an stood by the door, gasping for breath. He had met countless Guides, but never once had he experienced such an overwhelming tremor. Even with his eyes shut, Nabin’s clear gaze burned into his mind, impossible to shake.
But he couldn’t keep standing there like a fool. Someone had come to him for help, yet all he’d shown was disgrace. He slapped his cheeks hard, cleared his throat, and forced himself back to composure.
“Ahem. My apologies for that… display.”
Once his racing pulse finally settled, he managed to approach Nabin again. Yet even the simple act of walking closer filled him with such tension that sweat soaked his back.
Nabin kept his head bowed ever since their eyes had met. Part of Ryu Soh-an was relieved—he feared he might lose control again if he saw those wide eyes—but another part regretted it.
“To begin treatment… I’ll need to hold your hand.”
He glanced at his palms, slick with nervous sweat. Wiping them on his pants only smeared grime deeper into the fabric, making him grimace. He rummaged through the infirmary, found a box of tissues, and scrubbed at his hands so roughly it looked like he might peel the skin away.
Normally, he carried a cleaning Artifact, but it had already been used up for the day. First impressions mattered. Had he already branded himself as some unhygienic Esper in Nabin’s eyes? The thought made his chest tighten.
“Guide Kim Nabin, would it be alright if I held your hand…?”
His voice trembled like that of a boy confessing to his first crush. Ryu Soh-an wanted to smack himself. This was the time to show steadiness, not clumsy nerves.
He bit his lip, trying to hide his anxiety, and waited. Even earlier, when he’d simply asked Nabin’s name, the Guide had needed time. But this was more than a question—this was asking for physical contact. Surely he would need longer.
Yet no matter how long he waited, Nabin remained still, head bowed.
Contact was essential to assess his condition. With no other choice, Ryu Soh-an reached out slowly, inching forward at a snail’s pace so Nabin could see every movement.
“Hhh… n-no, I don’t want to…”
Before his hand even touched him, Nabin recoiled violently. He scrambled back into the corner of the bed, curling into himself as if to disappear.
Clutching the Artifact in his arms like a lifeline, his trembling body clearly wasn’t normal.
“Guide Kim Nabin, it’s alright. I only want to heal what hurts. I won’t harm you.”
While Ryu Soh-an froze, shocked by the rejection, Hayan stepped in. He stroked Nabin’s hair gently, speaking softly to soothe him.
Unlike with Ryu Soh-an, Nabin didn’t resist his touch. Letting the hand rest against his head, he trembled but accepted it, prompting Hayan to exhale in relief.
But even so, the trembling worsened. His jaw quivered so violently he bit his tongue, blood staining the corner of his lips. At that, Hayan abandoned caution altogether.
Clenching his teeth, he pulled Nabin into his arms. Even then, Nabin curled tighter, as if terrified of being seen.
Hayan grabbed the blanket from the bed and wrapped him from head to toe. Though thin, the cloth formed a shield from the light, and only then did his shaking begin to ease.
“…His condition is serious.”
Finally recovered from his daze, Ryu Soh-an muttered grimly as he examined him. Kim Su-hyun had called him urgently, saying there was a critical patient, but the reality was worse than expected.
Once he wrestled his emotions under control, he could finally view Nabin’s state objectively. To truly understand, he needed contact—but Nabin displayed extreme trauma symptoms at the thought of touching a stranger. The fact that he responded only to Hayan left Ryu Soh-an with a heavy heart.
“I don’t think it’s possible today. I’ll return another time.”
Nabin’s rejection was too severe. Treatment mattered, but forcing it didn’t feel right. Hayan decided to take him back to the estate, where he could rest and find some stability.
He even planned to bring Nabin’s mother there as well. Nabin had desperately called out for her—perhaps being together would help his recovery.
“Guide Kim Nabin will be staying with Esper Lee Hayan?”
“Yes.”
“At the estate where Esper Lee Hayan lives?”
“That’s right.”
“Then I’ll need to commute to Esper Lee Hayan’s estate for a while. As you can see, until Guide Kim Nabin lowers his guard around me, I won’t be able to treat him.”
Hayan, who had been answering calmly until now, fell silent.
