Episode 21.
And so, under Doun’s direction, the two’s plan to live together began to proceed at lightning speed.
There wasn’t much to worry about. The number of officetels near the Center with good security, facilities, and views was limited.
Still, wanting to give Seoyul a choice, they visited a real estate agency.
“Wow.”
A top-floor penthouse.
To think a listing would happen to be available just now. Doun nodded, convinced that he and Seoyul were truly destined.
“Esper-nim. It’s so high.”
Before his eyes was Seoyul, plastered against the window, eyes sparkling. The Center building wasn’t particularly tall, so high-rise buildings seemed to be a novelty.
“Wow. I can see the Han River over there, too.”
It was cute to see him continuously marveling, seemingly pleased with the scenery outside the window. It was nice now, but he would probably like it even more in the evening.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
“Yes! It’s the coolest one I’ve seen so far!”
While looking around the house, he had complained about everything—from it being too big to it seeming too expensive. He had talked so much, but now he looked like he had forgotten all of it.
“Then shall we go with this one?”
“Huh? Uh… but….”
Tch.
He had thought he could gloss over it, but it seemed he was wrong. It was fortunate he had shown him much worse places beforehand, just in case.
Doun began persuading Seoyul as planned.
“But this is smaller than the ones we saw before. This much is suitable for two people, isn’t it?”
“Uh… this place is plenty big, too….”
Seoyul mumbled hesitantly.
The previous places had just been absurdly spacious. This place was plenty big, too. Wasn’t this a penthouse as well?
Still, since the building itself wasn’t designed with particularly large units, it was something he could push through if he insisted.
“You don’t know because you’re inexperienced, but everyone lives in places about this size.”
“…Really?”
“I’m telling you, right? Aren’t I right?”
Doun sent a signal to the realtor as if urging him to agree. The realtor, like a professional, nodded and delivered the truth.
“Yes. Everyone lives in places about this size.”
It wasn’t a lie. The words “high-rank ability users” were simply omitted from the end.
After all, once Seoyul properly received his rank, wouldn’t he be S-rank? Moreover, as a Hidden Guide, he was someone who needed to be much more careful about security.
‘I can’t let him live in a strange place.’
Doun listed various other advantages, winning Seoyul over. What worked best among them was saying that he himself liked this place the most.
“Esper-nim, you like this place the most?”
“Yeah. But if you don’t like it, we can look at more.”
“Ah, no. If Esper-nim likes it, then I like it too!”
Seeing his eyes wide and both fists clenched tight, it seemed he was having another strange thought.
Reading those obvious thoughts as clear as day, Doun smiled. At any rate, all’s well that ends well.
Doun proceeded with the contract swiftly.
“What furniture should we get? You choose.”
“Huh? M-me?”
“Yeah. This is practice, too.”
Handing over the right to choose the furniture, saying it was practice needed to find happiness, Seoyul put on a troubled expression.
But perhaps judging that this, too, was something he had to do, before long he began earnestly looking into it.
“Esper-nim. How about this?”
Being an honor student, he showed items considering everything from design to performance, and even cost-effectiveness.
Still, taking into account the person he would be living with, he selected three different items so that they could choose together.
“Oh! Really?”
“Yes. This one has slightly lower performance but a pretty design. This one is a model with good performance but a slightly disappointing design.”
“Which one do you like more?”
“I like this one a bit more. I think the overall cost-effectiveness is good.”
“Really? Then let’s go with that.”
Of course, Doun had skillfully made it so that Seoyul chose the one he wanted.
After purchasing items one by one like that, moving day arrived.
Neither Doun nor Seoyul were the type to have a lot of belongings, so rather than moving luggage, they spent their time installing the new items.
“Where should I put this?”
“Uh… that goes… o-over there!”
Since Seoyul had planned almost everything, telling them where things went was also his job. Now quite used to it, he was scurrying around the house.
‘Ah. He’s really cute.’
How could even the way he walked around be so cute? Doun, thoroughly smitten, watched the sight with satisfaction.
Still, not wanting to be caught looking so spaced out, when Seoyul approached, he instantly composed his expression.
“Esper-nim! The dining table matches the kitchen so well.”
In the distance, the white dining table Seoyul had chosen was visible. It was a table chosen to reflect Doun’s opinion that since the kitchen was spacious, the dining table should be spacious too.
“It’s really amazing.”
It was just one dining table being installed—what was so amazing about it? Doun couldn’t understand but asked calmly.
“What is?”
“That the empty space is gradually being filled.”
As he said that, Seoyul’s eyes sparkled once more. The sight of the empty space being filled with things he had chosen seemed unfamiliar.
‘What… what is this feeling?’
Watching things he had chosen with his own hands from start to finish being neatly filled in, Seoyul felt a strange emotion.
He felt restless, proud, and happy at the same time. His heart was so full of complex emotions that he couldn’t tell what he should call it.
‘Hmm…’
He thought it over calmly. The emotion he hadn’t understood at first became clearer and clearer the more he organized his thoughts.
‘Ahh. I see.’
It was a sense of stability.
An emotion he couldn’t have felt if he were alone. An emotion he could feel because Doun was by his side. Seoyul’s heart swelled.
He wanted to do something for the one who had given him this opportunity and allowed him to have these thoughts once more. He didn’t want to just receive—he wanted to give.
So he quietly called Doun.
“Esper-nim.”
Doun’s characteristic indifferent gaze turned toward Seoyul. For now, this was all he could do, but he wanted to do his best.
“Thank you.”
Yes. He wanted to properly convey at least his words of gratitude. Could this feeling reach Doun?
Thinking so, Seoyul smiled brightly.
‘Ah…’
Doun took in that sight without a word. Along with the words of gratitude, he saw an illusion of pure white flowers blooming in full blossom behind him.
His abundantly blooming smile was just like white flowers, making it impossible to look away. Wondering if he was seeing things, Doun blinked, but Seoyul was still smiling like a flower.
“Esper-nim?”
Seoyul touched his hand in puzzlement. Then, guiding energy began to rush in through it.
“Huh?”
Perhaps feeling it too, Seoyul looked at his own hand and Doun with a surprised face. Then their eyes met.
He was reflected in those sparkling pupils, and soft energy was constantly pushing in through his fingertips.
‘Ah, damn.’
He had thought he was truly used to it by now, but his heart crumbled once again.
Doun hurriedly covered his face. But instead, his hand sought out his Guide and gripped it firmly. Then he felt the hand that had flinched in momentary surprise gently squeeze back.
‘Ah…’
Guiding energy surged in through the gap, and an endlessly soft voice dug into his ear.
“Thank you so much. Esper-nim.”
Whoosh.
His face colored at a rapid speed. Without knowing that he had completely enchanted this huge Esper, Seoyul simply smiled brightly.
‘Ahh…’
Doun let out a small sigh.
This small, young Guide before his eyes was so lovable that he felt like he would go crazy.
* * *
Seoyul was in a good mood. Because the moving plan that had been nothing but burdensome at first was gradually growing on him.
First of all, the fact that he would continue living with Doun from now on made Seoyul’s heart flutter.
‘The cost… I’ll pay it back slowly.’
There was still nothing he could do, but if he prepared step by step, joined the Center, and started earning money, he should be able to lessen the burden.
It wasn’t burdensome at all for Doun, but to Seoyul it was an endlessly expensive amount, so he clenched his fist with a firm resolve.
‘Come to think of it, why did he say he wasn’t coming today?’
Wasn’t Doun the one who used to clock in at the research lab every day? Saying he had something to do, he dropped Seoyul off at the Center and went back home.
‘I told him I could go alone if he was busy…’
Even though it was right nearby and he could get there quickly, Doun insisted on coming with him all the way to the front. Adding that they should definitely go together starting tomorrow, Seoyul had been too embarrassed to keep refusing and had no choice but to nod.
“Yul-ah. How’s the house? Do you like it? Did you sleep well?”
As soon as he arrived at the research lab, Seonjeong approached him closely and asked.
“Yes! I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep because I was excited, but I slept so well!”
“Really?”
Seonjeong smiled proudly and patted his head. Given Seoyul’s personality of worrying about every little thing, she had wondered if he would need an adjustment period, but it seemed it had been a needless worry.
‘Well. He probably managed everything well on his own.’
Thinking of the Esper who must have worked tirelessly to handle things to the extent that the Guide wouldn’t feel burdened, her head nodded on its own.
“But what about Doun? He didn’t come with you?”
“He seems to have something to do separately today.”
“Hoo? Is that so?”
Seonjeong’s eyes sparkled. What could be so important that he postponed even guiding to do it alone?
‘He’s trying so hard.’
Seonjeong burst out laughing at Doun’s somewhat predictable behavior and said,
“Then shall we work hard today too?”
“Yes! I’ll help you diligently!”
“Great!”
The two shouted fighting and began handling the piled-up tasks one by one.
As time passed and around when he received permission to leave early, Seoyul happened to run into a familiar face.
“Ah!”
“Seoyul-ssi!”
It was none other than Seonghun.