“Do you think the incident will really be resolved this time?”
After Ilkyung spoke, he bit his lip hard as if thinking ‘oops.’
“Assistant Manager Woo Ilkyung speaks as if he wants things to get bigger?”
“…That’s not it.”
Daehoon looked at Ilkyung quietly, then opened his mouth.
“If this is a series of explosions by anti-government forces, we must do our best to stop it before more occur. I hope the Espers will cooperate with police, military, and firefighters to quickly resolve and prevent this. I hope the Field Support Team will help ensure the Espers can receive guiding as quickly as possible to maintain good condition. Then let’s conclude the meeting.”
Director Ha stood up first and left.
Ilkyung was also organizing his things to leave the conference room when Team Leader Park stopped the entire Field Support Team.
“Let’s have a meeting here ourselves before we go.”
Section Chief Kang, Ilkyung, and the other employees who had been getting up sat back down. The Espers who had been gathering their things left more hurriedly.
“This case will probably be the Center’s most focused incident for the time being.”
Team Leader Park began. If the anti-government forces weren’t just putting forward their position with simple protests but came out with force like this, there was no telling where or how accidents might occur from now on. Already today alone, ordinary people had suffered minor injuries. This time it was minor injuries, but next time there was no telling who would suffer what damage.
“We need to ensure the Espers can continuously maintain good condition and focus on this case.”
The team members nodded at Team Leader Park’s words.
“To do that, we need to assign suitable Guides.”
“So, Team Leader. I don’t think there’s a need to form pairs up to the telekinetic Espers. Instead, I think telekinetic types need pairs. Telekinetic types consume a lot of stamina since they clash physically.”
“I think Assistant Manager Woo has a point.”
Section Chief Kang backed up Ilkyung’s opinion.
“Right. Then as mentioned in the meeting earlier, let’s deploy three more telekinetic Espers, and including the one telekinetic Esper we have now, let’s arrange the four with internal Guides so they can receive guiding anytime.”
At Team Leader Park’s words, Ilkyung already pictured in his head who to deploy.
“And let’s also select four Guides who can form pairs with the remaining four telekinetic Espers.”
“Yes, understood.”
Finding new telekinetic Espers would probably be the key. The Field Support Team hurriedly finished their meeting and organized. It wasn’t a case of bombing an entire building, but explosions targeting highways or bridges could spread in scale unpredictably. These two incidents could move to larger bridges or times with more people later.
The best option was to uncover the masterminds and catch the culprits so no more accidents would occur, but to do that, the Espers had no choice but to continuously use their powers. No one knew how long these arduous times would continue, and the Field Support Team had to do their best to help the Center’s ability users move well.
“Um, Assistant Manager Woo.”
In the hallway returning to the office from the conference room, Team Leader Park stopped Ilkyung. When Ilkyung turned around, Team Leader Park said with a somewhat troubled face.
“Director Ha says to come to the Director’s office.”
“Right now?”
Ilkyung had a lot to do now too.
“Yeah, he says to come now. Go quickly and come back.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll be back.”
Ilkyung furrowed his brow, wondering why this person was calling him again. It was a situation where they had just clashed in opinions, so there was nothing good about going to the Director’s office. He thought he might just get cursed out and come out after a big fight. The reason he probably summoned him through Team Leader Park was probably because work and personal business were mixed half and half.
Standing in front of the Director’s office, Ilkyung steadied his breath before knocking. It was uncomfortable to see his face, but did he really have to see him now?
“Haah.”
Ilkyung sighed. His body condition felt a bit strange. It felt like his temperature was rising, and like his heart was beating fast. He wondered if it was because he woke up too early in the morning.
Knock knock, he knocked and opened the Director’s office door.
“Oh!”
He naturally thought only the secretaries would be in the secretary’s office and Daehoon would be inside his own office, but he was startled to see him standing and talking with the secretaries.
“Come in.”
Daehoon turned around and went inside. Ilkyung followed closely behind him. Just looking at that back made his heart feel strange. Feeling like his heart was beating too fast, Ilkyung pressed firmly on his chest.
“What was the content of the meeting you stayed for?”
“That’s something you should get reported on by Team Leader Park, not me. It would be strange for me to report it.”
Daehoon smirked.
“Then I’ll ask again. Does Assistant Manager Woo want to form a pair with me and another Esper?”
Ilkyung bit his lip hard. He couldn’t open his mouth carelessly because he didn’t know exactly how to answer.
“Or would you like me to guide this person and that person?”
“This person and that person. That’s a bit strange to say but…”
Suddenly Ha Daehoon came very close. Ilkyung, who had been standing, was startled by the suddenly narrowed distance and stepped back, only to trip on the sofa and sit down right there. Daehoon came closer and placed his hand on the back of the sofa, looking down at Ilkyung.
“Assistant Manager Woo Ilkyung, no, Woo Ilkyung-ssi. Why do you think I called you to the Director’s office?”
“How would I know that?”
It felt like his heart would jump out of his mouth. His body felt strange, wondering why it was beating so much. All of this was because of Ha Daehoon.
Ilkyung, like a teenager with eighth-grader syndrome who blames Mom even for bad morning weather or for a stuffy nose during the changing seasons, thought all of these complicated situations were because of Ha Daehoon.
“Woo Ilkyung-ssi, we’re dating after all.”
“To be precise, it’s a contract relationship.”
“Right. Contract relationship. There’s less than ten days left, so I’d like you to be a bit faithful to that contract relationship.”
“What does that mean?”
Ilkyung asked, frowning. Anyway, the distance was too close. The faint cigarette scent and fresh cologne mixed to create his unique scent. It was the scent he smelled when held in his embrace just yesterday. It was also the scent he smelled while commuting in the same car today. Remembering the reason he couldn’t sleep late into the night again, his lower abdomen grew heavy. Ilkyung furrowed his brow more to erase the thought.
“Do you know how guiding proceeds between Espers and Guides?”
“How could I not know that?”
There was just a bed sitting in the guiding room. Even though it was well soundproofed, there had been many times when he was startled passing in front of it. Not only that, Ilkyung had also seen many scenes of Espers kissing Guides in the hallways here and there. That kind of physical contact was the fastest and most accurate way to accomplish guiding.
“Then think about if you were in a normal relationship. Would it be acceptable for Ilkyung-ssi if your lover formed a pair with another Esper and guided them that way?”
“But it’s work.”
Ilkyung spat out sullenly. What does he want me to do? It’s not like we’re really dating. And no one at the Center knows we’re in a contract relationship, so is there a need to act like we’re dating here too? Then remembering Executive Secretary Min, Ilkyung thought ‘oops.’
“Then who would you like me to form a pair with?”
“That…”
Ah, he hadn’t thought of this. Among the four Espers, except for his noona, all of them had a history of forming and breaking pairs with Ha Daehoon. This isn’t even being a playboy—what kind of dog-like situation is this!
“J-just guide multiple people since the work might be resolved quickly. And then if telekinetic Espers are added, form a pair then. By that time, the contract relationship will be over too. I’m busy with work, so I’ll leave first.”
Ilkyung pushed Daehoon aside and stood up.
Ilkyung, who hurriedly left the Director’s office, leaned his back against the wall.
“Haah, what’s with this again?”
Was it because he kept being trapped in his arms? The front of his pants was slightly bulging.
Ilkyung entered the 15th-floor bathroom. He couldn’t go down to the 7th floor like this. After confirming no one was in the bathroom, Ilkyung entered a stall.
“Ah, fuck. Why is it doing this again?”
It was like this yesterday and today too. His body absolutely wouldn’t listen to its owner.
“Am I sexually frustrated?”
