# Chapter 78
The atmosphere instantly turned cold. Suhyun sharply asked Jo Wooyeon, who looked somewhat perplexed.
“It’s fortunate that a Guide with high compatibility has appeared. However, I don’t think that’s reason enough for Guide Jiwon to terminate the exclusive contract.”
His pitch-black eyes looked back and forth between Wooyeon and Jiwon.
“And this isn’t something that should be discussed without me in the first place.”
Knowing that Suhyun had been reluctant about the exclusive contract, Wooyeon had not considered his opinion.
The same went for Jiwon. Though their relationship had improved significantly, he hadn’t expected Suhyun to react so coldly.
He certainly hadn’t expected to feel secretly pleased when Suhyun, instead of welcoming the news about another Guide, set his face in a hard expression.
“Since the contract is between me and Esper Suhyun, it can’t be discussed without us.”
Jiwon sided with Suhyun.
Objectively, Wooyeon had been rash. Was he acting hastily because of his desire to bring Jiwon into the Association? Or were the Association’s circumstances that dire?
“Hmm, that’s true.”
Regardless, Wooyeon simply nodded.
“It’s not my place to say. I should have just delivered the message that a Guide had appeared. I made a mistake trying to fulfill my own desires. I apologize.”
Suhyun didn’t respond. It was a clear expression of his intention not to terminate the contract.
Jiwon was careful not to smile without realizing it. It would seem strange if he smiled with delight here.
“Still, the situation has improved now that we have more Guides. Both of you can stop worrying about Guiding.”
“…That’s true.”
Jiwon agreed in the most neutral tone possible.
“I thought I’d be the only one Guiding Esper Suhyun forever. A Guide appearing… that’s something else.”
Despite searching everywhere, Guides hadn’t shown up, but now one suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
It was good news, but he felt suspicious.
“Hmm.”
Wooyeon hummed with a troubled face. Then, after letting out a sigh, he spoke.
“I don’t think they searched that hard.”
Both Jiwon and Suhyun’s expressions twisted simultaneously at his surprisingly honest answer.
“Pardon?”
“It turns out the majority of Guides didn’t even have their compatibility tested after awakening.”
“…Is that even possible?”
“I thought the same, but I found out by chance while trying to clear out everyone connected to the previous Association Chairman. They had been neglecting several awakened Guides.”
Jiwon stood with his mouth open, at a loss for words. The previous administration had claimed they wanted to avoid exclusive contracts because the Guides had high compatibility with multiple Espers, but in reality, they had delayed testing awakened Guides.
They had only paid lip service about looking for a Guide for Suhyun.
“Perhaps they did it to avoid paying salaries once compatibility was confirmed and full-scale activities began?”
Wooyeon didn’t deny Jiwon’s sarcastic question. It seemed he thought that might indeed have been the case.
“I thought they had become more strict about identifying awakened individuals after Esper Suhyun’s awakening. But it seems that was only for Espers.”
It was a deflating feeling. Why had Suhyun struggled so much? If they had done things properly from the beginning, there might have been at least one more Guide for him…
‘…Then I might not have been able to form an exclusive contract with him.’
The anger that had been rising subsided abruptly.
The mere thought of Suhyun forming an exclusive contract with someone other than himself was distasteful.
It was too selfish that his anger over Suhyun’s hardship dissipated because of that alone.
“I thought I knew enough, but when I examined the entire Association, that wasn’t the case. It’s rotting and stinking, so I’m becoming impatient to completely overhaul it.”
Jiwon just nodded without answering. This sounded like an invitation to join the Association.
To achieve his goals, Wooyeon would be trying to fill the Association with people he could trust.
Jiwon was one of them. Perhaps he was even rejoicing at the timely appearance of a Guide compatible with Suhyun.
“I hope you both will consider various aspects. Both Guide Jiwon and Esper Suhyun.”
Again, there was no particular response. Suhyun’s tightly closed lips revealed his stubbornness about not wanting to do so.
While he understood that reorganizing the Association was necessary, he disliked the idea of breaking his contract with Jiwon.
“We’ll think about it later.”
Though he understood Wooyeon’s feelings, Jiwon liked Suhyun’s stubbornness.
‘I should help him though.’
If the Association was in such a mess, Wooyeon’s burden must be enormous. Jiwon was more than willing to help lighten that load.
But he didn’t want to break the exclusive contract. Because that would create distance between him and Suhyun.
‘A new Guide…’
That Guide wouldn’t form an exclusive contract with Suhyun. He had no intention of giving up his position.
But the unpleasantness that had pricked him wouldn’t go away. Even if they maintained the exclusive contract, Suhyun could still receive Guiding from another Guide.
If Suhyun were to desperately seek Guiding from that Guide as he had done with him…
Ah, it would have been better if they had never appeared.
“Ah.”
Jiwon inadvertently let out a sigh. Two pairs of eyes turned to him at once. Jiwon shook his head, forcing a smile.
“Isn’t it about time for the meeting to start? Let’s go.”
The pathetic and selfish desire gave him the chills. Jiwon bit his lip hard, trying to clear his mind.
“…”
Wooyeon glanced at Jiwon. A long sigh escaped through his teeth.
***
There was no progress in the meeting content. It was because nothing had been clearly revealed about the Riska dungeon yet.
Still, with the departure of those who had merely occupied positions, the atmosphere was quite lively. Various opinions were exchanged, and some of them were worth trying.
For now, the meeting concluded with a decision to once again test the abilities of Jiwon as a Guide.
Since they had learned from the recent incident that Suhyun was much stronger than they thought, the risk of testing Jiwon’s abilities had decreased.
Even if an Esper participating in the experiment came under Riska’s control like Won Jungyeom had, the consensus was that Suhyun was strong enough to subdue them.
Everyone agreed with this opinion for the time being. It was also a result stemming from the hope that Jiwon, not just Suhyun, would have the power to counter the Riska dungeon.
“…Director, you’re quite persistent.”
Jiwon thought everything had wrapped up nicely and they could go home.
But he couldn’t escape Wooyeon’s grasp. It was because of Wooyeon’s suggestion that since they were already gathered, it would be good to have discussions by division.
Despite saying “by division,” there were only Jiwon and Wooyeon in the Guide Division. In the end, it was a ploy for a one-on-one interview.
“I’ll maintain the exclusive contract.”
Even before Wooyeon could speak, Jiwon emphasized. There was no need to discuss it with Suhyun.
It was clear that he was also reluctant to change things.
“How about thinking about it some more?”
“No, why are you doing this? I understand it’s convenient to have me around. But honestly, there’s no guarantee I’ll do Association work well, is there?”
“You know right from wrong, you’re an S-class Guide, you’re skilled at manipulating people. Your personality is appropriately bad too. There’s no better talent than this.”
Is that a compliment or an insult?
Jiwon looked at Wooyeon with a twitching brow. Wooyeon was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. He was prepared to wait until Jiwon agreed.
He wasn’t usually this stubborn.
By this point, Jiwon was curious as to why he was going this far. Was there something he was specifically needed for? If so, it would be better to clearly state that.
“Just tell me straight. Why do I have to join the Association? This isn’t just because it would be nice to have me around, right?”
Without bothering to hold back his curiosity, Jiwon asked directly. As if he had expected this, Wooyeon let out a brief sigh.
“Want me to tell you?”
Is he joking?
Jiwon gave Wooyeon a sidelong glance, as if asking something obvious.
Well, in a manner suggesting he’d hear just how significant the reason was, Jiwon crossed his arms the same way.
“Because Guide Jiwon needs to be separated from Esper Suhyun.”
However, contrary to the expectation that he would list the tasks Jiwon needed to do, Wooyeon unexpectedly brought up Suhyun.
“Why is Esper Suhyun suddenly coming into this…”
Jiwon, who had paused, responded with some dissatisfaction.
“You like Esper Suhyun.”
But at Wooyeon’s words, Jiwon could only clamp his mouth shut.
“You’re not happy, but displeased, that a Guide with high compatibility with Esper Suhyun has newly appeared.”
That was spot on. For something he should be happy about, Jiwon only felt displeasure.
“…Jiwon.”
Wooyeon called Jiwon’s name.
It had been a very long time since he heard his name without the “Guide” title.
“You know better than anyone, having seen it firsthand, that this shouldn’t happen.”
Jiwon kept his mouth shut.
He couldn’t say anything at all.
