“Wow, that Park Hanil person is really scary.”
Ji Sanghyeon shook his head at Park Hanil’s stern attitude.
Onyul, who had become serious, couldn’t respond to those words. His mind was filled with the word ‘wanted.’
[“You said the S-rank Esper Gu Baekyoung was your lover, and sure, he may have helped the Alpha Team now, but who knows when he might change his mind and cross over to the Anti-Management Bureau? Do romantic relationships last forever? You never know when they’ll break up.”]
Right! We are in a one-month relationship, but so what?
If only he could, he wanted to confront Park Hanil to his face.
[“Dear citizens, I have made this decision for your safety.”]
Park Hanil seemed intent on making him take off his helmet while discussing the Anti-Management Bureau and public safety.
“Looking at that, it seems the Management Bureau aren’t good people either. They should be grateful to a Guide who helped them, yet they resort to threats. If I were that Guide, I would’ve been fuming.”
Ji Sanghyeon deeply despised Park Hanil.
No, he didn’t seem to like the entire Management Bureau very much, not just Park Hanil.
“Coincidentally, Manager-nim is also fuming right now.”
Of course I’m fuming since I’m that Guide!
Unable to reveal the truth, Onyul could only let out a sigh.
What should I do?
Should I get help from Gu Baekyoung and Na Geonwoo, who agreed to help hide my identity?
But even if I could hide my identity with their help, the situation wouldn’t improve.
Because there were people who thought like Park Hanil.
Not everyone would defend the unidentified Guide wearing a cat helmet. Even the somewhat favorable atmosphere had likely turned to hostility due to Park Hanil’s conspiracy theory.
Even if I became Gu Baekyoung’s official boyfriend, it would be the same.
To help Gu Baekyoung without any reservations, there needed to be certainty about my identity.
Even without revealing my face, I had to show that I wasn’t associated with the Anti-Management Bureau.
“If Manager-nim were the cat helmet, what would you have done?”
Onyul asked back.
“What do you think you would’ve done, Sanghyeon-ssi?”
“I don’t avoid fights that come my way. This is clearly picking a fight. Since he threw down the gauntlet at me, I should respond accordingly.”
“How?”
“There are two ways. Either stand proudly before the public.”
Ji Sanghyeon said with a meaningful smile, as if tempting him.
“…Or actually become part of the Anti-Management Bureau.”
“Still, the Anti-Management Bureau is a bit…”
“Why? What’s wrong with the Anti-Management Bureau? Actually, if you look into it, they’re also victims who were hurt by the Management Bureau. Since it’s come to this anyway, I hope the cat helmet reveals the injustices of the Anti-Management Bureau to the whole world.”
Ji Sanghyeon spoke passionately as if he were a member of the Anti-Management Bureau.
Of course, as he said, there would be ability users who suffered because of people like Park Hanil.
Park Hanil was a narrow-minded person skilled at pursuing his own interests. He was the typical type who bullied the weak and cowered before the strong.
There could be ability users who became part of the Anti-Management Bureau after suffering from Park Hanil’s wicked deeds.
But that didn’t justify the evil acts committed by the Anti-Management Bureau. Hatred only breeds more hatred.
Onyul also disliked Park Hanil, but he didn’t want to defend the Anti-Management Bureau either.
“Now, I’ve shared my thoughts, so it’s Manager-nim’s turn.”
Having calmed down somewhat from the conversation with Ji Sanghyeon, Onyul played innocent.
“Well, the cat helmet will handle it themselves. It’s not for me to decide.”
“Wow, how cold. I answered you properly!”
Just as Onyul was shamelessly avoiding Ji Sanghyeon’s gaze, a phone call came in.
The saved name of the caller was…
“…’Honey’?”
There was no way the owner could be anyone other than Gu Baekyoung.
“Hon—”
Before he could even say “hello,” Gu Baekyoung responded.
—Come out to the back of the convenience store right now.
The call ended before he could answer. His stiff tone, so unlike usual, left him dumbfounded.
He was sleeping soundly, so when did he wake up and see Park Hanil’s bombshell announcement?
The problem was the convenience store. Onyul looked at Ji Sanghyeon with a face that said he didn’t know what to do.
I left him in charge of the convenience store on his first day of part-time work, but can I leave it to him again…
“I’m fine. If something urgent came up, go take care of it. I’m unemployed, and since this is my first time at a convenience store, I’m extremely excited and having fun right now.”
“I’m really sorry. It’s an urgent call looking for me…”
“And in a little while, it’ll be time for the night shift to start anyway. Haha.”
Haha, has it already gotten that late? Onyul laughed awkwardly.
“Sanghyeon-ssi, I’ll definitely repay this favor.”
“Then Manager-nim owes me two favors now.”
“That… I said I’d only grant ones I can grant.”
“Of course.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Ah, and if you need my help, tell me anytime. I can help with anything.”
Ji Sanghyeon boasted as if he were some great Esper. To Onyul, who had a truly amazing lover, that boast seemed merely amusing.
“Just take good care of the convenience store.”
Onyul apologized once more and left the convenience store.
It seems like I’ll be quite busy for a while, so I should hire one more part-timer… I’m worried this might end up costing more than it’s worth.
***
Behind the convenience store, in a secluded space, a man dressed all in black was crouching.
It was Gu Baekyoung, dressed all in black as usual. Moreover, he was disguised so people wouldn’t recognize him.
Seeing that people hadn’t gathered near the convenience store, fortunately the disguise seemed to have worked.
Onyul pulled him along and entered the small storage room behind the convenience store. As soon as they entered the storage room where the cat helmet was hidden, Gu Baekyoung lightly pulled Onyul into his arms.
“You must’ve been really startled. Are you okay?”
Does he think I’m a child?
You seem to be the one who’s actually startled.
Beyond their touching chests, he could feel Gu Baekyoung’s heartbeat. It was beating fast, as if it would burst out.
Onyul gently pushed away Gu Baekyoung, who was comforting him like a small child.
“I was a little startled, but I’m okay.”
Honestly, he was very startled. After avoiding having his identity discovered through a smoke screen operation, now he was facing the crisis of becoming a wanted criminal.
No matter how strange Park Hanil was, he didn’t expect him to openly cause such a scene. He thought it showed just how strong his possessiveness toward an S-rank Guide was.
“Honey, I didn’t know the Center Director would go that far either.”
“How could you have predicted it? Even I didn’t expect it.”
“Don’t worry, honey. I’ll take care of everything. As promised, I’ll absolutely make sure you don’t have to take a Guide examination or anything like that.”
Gu Baekyoung had a history of publicly declaring his lover.
From what Onyul predicted, he would likely resolve this matter through shocking methods as well. If not that, then he’d grab the Management Bureau Director by the collar again.
That couldn’t happen this time. He still thought he needed to clearly address the matter of his identity.
“No. I’ll resolve this matter myself.”
At the firm answer, Gu Baekyoung looked down at Onyul with a surprised face.
“How?”
Even in Onyul’s thinking, the only solution now was a frontal breakthrough, as Ji Sanghyeon had said.
Of course, that didn’t mean he wanted to belong to the Guide Center and be under Park Hanil.
No, leaving Park Hanil aside, he still didn’t want to belong to the Management Bureau and worry about many people’s life and death.
Onyul found it overwhelming just to take care of Gu Baekyoung alone.
Fortunately, he had thought of a way to prove his identity without belonging to the Management Bureau the day before.
He just needed to not be an ability user. No, he just needed to make it appear as if he wasn’t an ability user.
In any case, what Park Hanil insisted on was a ‘Guide examination,’ so if he could just avoid that well, it should be fine.
Just as he thought that far, he heard a voice filled with moisture.
“Then our contract…”
When he looked up, Gu Baekyoung’s eyes were reddened. He was on the verge of tears, as if he would shed them at any moment.
“B-Baekyoung?”
“We contracted on the condition that the Management Bureau wouldn’t come looking for you even after a month… So now I can’t call you ‘honey’ anymore…”
Unable to finish his words, Gu Baekyoung pressed his lips tightly together.
An emotion never seen before was cast over Gu Baekyoung’s face. It was hard to believe this was the same person who dealt with monsters with his usual indifferent expression.
From his contorted eyes, tears finally flowed down.
He seemed afraid that their contract would end because he couldn’t stop the Management Bureau.
‘I didn’t have those intentions though…’
Onyul had only thought about giving Park Hanil a blow without getting involved with him anymore, not about severing his relationship with Gu Baekyoung.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
On the other hand, Gu Baekyoung, not knowing his feelings, was restless with worry that Onyul might leave.
Onyul let out a shallow sigh. It was because he realized Gu Baekyoung’s feelings toward him were deeper than he thought.
‘But these are feelings for Kang Onyul, not Kang Ian.’
Even though they were both the same person, Onyul felt uneasy somehow.
As if he wanted Gu Baekyoung to fully want his present self, not his past self.
His response was delayed as he pondered. Gu Baekyoung, interpreting Onyul’s silence negatively, opened his lips again.
“I’ll eliminate Park Hanil right now.”
His voice turned cold, as if he had never cried pitifully. He seemed to think that if he just eliminated Park Hanil, who was threatening him and Onyul, everything would return to normal.
“N-no, you can’t! What are you thinking, eliminating the Center Director!”
“I’ll become a wanted criminal too. It’s okay. You’re a wanted criminal too.”
“…What?”
“Being chased by various people while in love is quite romantic, isn’t it?”
Gu Baekyoung’s jet-black eyes, which had been wet with moisture, slowly sank.
Even though he was smiling, his pupils were somehow unfocused. A strange light in his eyes flickered dangerously.
If Onyul showed even the slightest sign of agreement, he would immediately go and take Park Hanil’s head.
