Episode 28.
They hadn’t driven far. The school was not too distant, so they arrived quickly.
“We’re here. I’d like to walk you to the door, but you said you hate standing out too much.”
Do-un spoke, brimming with regret. If he did that, rumors would spread like wildfire among the people over there that this Guide was his.
‘They probably already have, haven’t they?’
It hadn’t been officially announced to the press, but rumors always spread quietly on their own.
‘Still, announcing it openly would be best.’
That way, all the riffraff inside wouldn’t come clinging to him.
With a worried heart, Do-un began offering all sorts of advice.
“If any strange guy talks to you, tell me.”
“A strange person?”
Seoyul tilted his head in confusion. Seeing that, Do-un decided it would be better to spell it out and opened his mouth.
“Yeah. Guys who act like they’re close to you for no reason.”
“Uh….”
But Seoyul couldn’t understand what he meant and only rolled his eyes round and round.
He wondered why anyone would act close to him when they weren’t even close to begin with.
‘And…… it’s not…… a bad thing, is it?’
His timid personality, which made it difficult to approach others first, meant those words didn’t resonate with him at all. He even thought it might be a good thing. Because it meant someone was approaching him first.
And if someone wanted to get close, acting close…… might be something they could do. Since they could become friends faster that way.
But Do-un’s thoughts were clearly different, and he began to speak passionately in a serious voice.
“Espers are especially black-hearted, so you must be extra careful. Do you understand?”
“Mmm….”
Seoyul trailed off and rolled his eyes. That remark didn’t resonate with him either.
Do-un was an Esper too, wasn’t he? He wasn’t someone Seoyul needed to be absolutely wary of. And he wasn’t black-hearted. He was a pure white light.
So Seoyul quietly thought those words were wrong.
“You, you’re so docile I’m worried you’ll scatter your energy everywhere if someone just treats you a little nicely.”
Ah, so he meant there was no harm in being careful, lest he be discovered to be an S-class.
Seoyul finally understood completely and replied in a confident voice.
“I won’t.”
“You won’t my foot! You’re filling the car with it right now!”
“Ah.”
Seoyul finally sensed his own energy and quickly reeled it in. He had thought he was suppressing it well, but apparently he wasn’t at all.
“So defenseless like this…….”
Do-un let out a deep sigh, as if truly worried. But Seoyul really thought it was fine.
“It’s only because you’re here, Esper-nim. I really wouldn’t do this if someone else were here!”
At those words, Do-un’s heart fluttered. It was something that sounded good no matter when he heard it, and his face naturally flushed red.
“Ahem. Right. Well…… if you say so.”
Do-un coughed lightly and covered his face. Watching him, Seoyul smiled brightly and brought his remaining hand to his side, clasping both hands in front of his chest.
Wondering what he was doing, Do-un watched quietly as Seoyul closed his eyes and began Guiding.
“Ah….”
At first, C-class energy trickled in. But it soon amplified and completely enveloped Do-un.
Caught in fierce waves, he began to sink relentlessly into the abyss. The world was silent and tranquil, as if it had stopped.
Do-un closed his eyes and accepted the energy Seoyul sent him with his whole body. Now used to it, he absorbed it as soon as it was given, savoring the joy the silent abyss brought.
“Haa…….”
As he let out a deep breath, the Guiding stopped and their hands fell apart. Do-un looked at Seoyul with somewhat dazed eyes.
“How was it? I’m good at controlling it now!”
He was saying not to worry. It was still uneven, but this much was tremendous progress.
To the point where he could be deployed to most places even if not on important missions.
‘Haa. I don’t want to send him away.’
First school, and eventually the Center. Seoyul would gradually go out into the world. Do-un did not like that. He wished Seoyul would only look at him and Guide him like this.
If he went outside, even a paired Guide would have guys clinging to him everywhere.
‘This is no time to just grumble.’
He really had to grow stronger quickly. Strong enough that Seoyul, who would soar freely high into the sky, could look back at him at any time, enough to monopolize him alone.
“Esper-nim?”
Seoyul looked at the silent Do-un in confusion, tilting his head. Do-un’s clear eyes were full of him. Emotions seemed about to gush out.
To think he had to send away Seoyul, who was so pretty, cute, docile, and lovely!
“If anyone bullies you, tell me anytime! I’ll punish them all!”
“Huh?”
“I’ll beat them all, so tell me everything. Got it?”
“Ah…… yes.”
Seoyul tilted his head, wondering why he was going this far. Still, it wasn’t bad that Do-un was worried about him. No, he felt rather good and broke into a bright smile as he spoke.
“Thank you, Esper-nim.”
“……What exactly are you thankful for?”
Do-un asked with a sulky face. Then Seoyul poured out words of thanks with an innocent expression.
“Everything. Thank you for bringing me here, and thank you for worrying about me like this. I’ll really work hard! I’ll pass the exam right away and get better at Guiding so I can be a Guide who doesn’t burden you, Esper-nim!”
His appearance of clenching both hands tightly and declaring this was so cute one would want to bite him. Do-un’s heart melted completely once more, and he laughed as he opened his mouth.
“Alright. Be careful and come back.”
As he gently stroked Seoyul’s soft hair, Seoyul smiled with that same pretty smile as always and answered.
“Yes. I’ll be back.”
* * *
Yeon Jiu, who was in the university course—the final stage of the School for Ability Users—was one of the most notable Guides.
His high rank of A-class was a reason, but it was not the only one.
The highest rank among Guides in the Republic of Korea was A-class. Such individuals were usually scouted by famous guilds with favorable conditions immediately after graduating high school.
But Yeon Jiu chose a different path. He advanced to school to keep his options open. The reason for that choice was one.
‘Cha Do-un.’
An S-class Esper of which there were only a few in the Republic of Korea, and the only Esper without a pair.
Everyone in this field knew. They said his compatibility with Guides was the worst, and his energy was so violent that he was difficult to handle.
But he was strong. No, perhaps he was stronger because of that very situation. His combat style showed maximum attack power while using the minimum energy.
Yeon Jiu had fallen in love at first sight with that figure he saw by chance. To be exact, he wanted to have a strong Esper. So he chose to advance to school and prepare for the Association’s entrance exam.
He was confident. He was certain he could form a pair with Do-un if he just joined. Because he was a precious A-class and the type who generally had good matching rates.
But…….
He had recently caught wind of a rumor. News that Cha Do-un had formed a pair with a C-class Guide.
‘A C-class?!’
It was so absurd he was on the verge of a hollow laugh. A C-class, but a Guide who had high matching rates with many Espers.
Thanks to that, he had heard, the Guide had become the pair of an S-class Esper no one could approach.
‘Nonsense. A mere C-class.’
Yeon Jiu gritted his teeth. That position should have been his. Yet some nobody had filled that spot before he knew it.
“Did you hear? I heard Esper Cha Do-un’s Guide is transferring in for the second semester?”
“What? Really? Why?”
“I guess he’s not affiliated with the Association yet. Maybe he’s coming to take the exam while he’s at it?”
“Oh! Then can we see Esper Cha Do-un too?”
“Probably?”
“Ooh!”
The school was abuzz with talk of those two.
Yeon Jiu didn’t like it. Because until now, all topics and attention had been his due.
Espers tried hard to strike up a conversation with an A-class Guide, and Guides clamored to form even a slight connection with him.
He had lived taking that attention and gaze for granted. But for the first time, it had been stolen from him.
‘Seoyul…….’
He didn’t think he could stand by and watch like this. Not only had he stolen his place, but now he was even aiming for a position at school.
‘No. This is actually better.’
He had thought teaching him his place would come after joining the Association. But if he was walking in on his own two feet like this, Yeon Jiu had every intention of acting.
‘What kind of kid is he.’
Yeon Jiu curled the corner of his lips in a smirk full of confidence and walked on.
* * *
The school grounds were quite beautifully maintained. Perhaps because it was the only university offering courses for ability users? Towering buildings, neatly tended green grass and trees, and even the benches placed here and there were harmoniously arranged.
‘Wow…… it’s pretty.’
The fresh, green feeling was exactly as he had always imagined.
Seoyul moved his steps with an excited heart. He had already previewed where the classes would be, so he found the classroom without difficulty.
“Hoo…….”
Standing in front of the door, his heart began to pound again. There were surely many people inside.
Can I do well? I’ll do well. I can do well.
Only after making those resolutions several times did Seoyul pull the door handle.
Screech.
The stiffly fixed iron door made a loud friction noise. Seoyul flinched in surprise, not expecting such a loud sound. But he had to open the door and go in, so he carefully stepped forward.
Then he felt gazes pouring down on him.
Surprised, Seoyul immediately hung his head low. Suppressing the thumping of his heart, he quickly found an empty seat and sat down.
‘It’s okay. It’s okay.’
The embarrassed heart that had resolved so many times in front of the door refused to calm down easily.
Seoyul closed his eyes tightly and began recalling one by one the people who had cheered him on until now.
The Selection staff, the researchers, and Do-un.
In particular, he kept going over what Do-un had said in the car to be careful and come back. Thanks to that, the noisy beating gradually began to stabilize.
‘As expected…… Esper-nim is amazing.’
To think he gave him strength like this even when not by his side. Seoyul admired him and carefully raised his head.
Then, as if they had been waiting, people came swarming toward him.