As the car slowed down and gradually headed toward the parking lot, someone shouted “That’s Kang Raon’s car!” and the gazes of people scattered around focused on them. And seeing them approaching quickly, Raon thought of just one thing. A horde of monsters.
“What are we even.”
We’re not famous celebrities, nor popular Espers or Guides. Muttering to himself, Raon looked at Jaehwi, who had an indifferent expression. Just the revelation of Nox’s face, hidden behind a veil, was enough to draw people’s attention, but for it to start with a scandal.
Feeling sorry, Raon firmly grasped Jaehwi’s hand.
“Hyung. I’ll take responsibility until the end. You can’t abandon me.”
He had tried to take care of him out of worry, but instead he was looking at him and winking as he spoke, which was absurd. Since there was no trace of nervousness and he was even being cheeky, there was no need to worry about Jaehwi or concern himself.
“Jay. Stop the car.”
Thinking it would be more problematic if an accident occurred with people swarming, Raon spoke while straightening his clothes.
“Young Master.”
“You’re calling me a lot today. Nothing changes because you call me. And it’s not like what already happened becomes something that didn’t happen, so why? Whether you confirm the facts or handle the situation, I have to do it anyway. Drop us off here, then park and come up.”
While Raon, who had straightened his own clothes, was checking Jaehwi’s clothes, the car stopped in front of the center with the help of security staff who had come out due to the noisy situation.
It had been so noisy just moments ago, but when heavy silence arrived, he kept chuckling. Living the same time several times, I really do all sorts of things. At Raon’s light chin gesture, Jay got out of the car, and as soon as the back seat door opened, the sound of shutters filled the space.
“Hwi-ya. This is really tough…”
He couldn’t see well ahead due to the constantly bursting flashes, and his ears hurt from the camera shutter sounds. Jaehwi got out first and Raon, who followed, reflexively frowned at the voices of people chattering simultaneously.
“Are you okay?”
Even in this situation, do you want to take care of me? Raon shook his head slightly at Jaehwi’s action of turning around and checking on him first. There was nothing in particular to say or do in front of them. He wouldn’t bother explaining the situation nor would he confirm the facts. Time would answer on its own. The reason he told Jay to stop the car and get out was simply due to the nature of those who chase the more you hide.
At Jaehwi’s action of lightly grabbing his arm, the camera sounds that had seemed to decrease grew louder again.
“Yeah. I’m okay. Let’s go in.”
As Raon, who lightly tapped the back of Jaehwi’s hand holding his arm with his fingertips, stepped forward, space naturally formed enough for them to walk comfortably. Those who needed to approach closely to pour out questions and take photos seemed confused by the sudden certain distance that formed. They were still chattering about something, but it didn’t feel as noisy as at first—all thanks to Jaehwi’s ability.
While walking to the center’s main entrance, reporters walked along asking countless questions and taking photos, but both Jaehwi and Raon just walked toward the entrance.
“Kang Raon-ssi. What is your relationship with the person next to you?”
“There’s talk that the person next to you is Nox, is it true?”
“Are you Nox?”
“Nox. Has the contract with MK Center been confirmed?”
Raon, who had been hearing similar questions, stopped walking at the particularly loud “Please say something!” as he reached the entrance. Then he looked at the person who asked him that question.
With an attractive smile, Raon left behind a famous line that would be talked about for a long time and slipped right into the center.
“Why should I?”
* * *
Reporters couldn’t enter inside the center, so they escaped from them, but staff members’ gazes followed until they arrived at the office.
“Really, whether I’m dating or doing whatever, what’s it to them.”
As soon as he entered the office, Raon, who let out a complaint, clicked his tongue at Hyukjin standing with his arms crossed at an angle.
“I bonded with him. Tell the center’s media team to announce that it’s correct Nox is contracting with us. Keep silent about other questions.”
Before Hyukjin could even open his mouth, Raon, who stated the important matters first, picked up the contract on the desk.
“Hyung. Coffee?”
“Yeah. Don’t go out today, use the cafe inside the center.”
While Jaehwi, perhaps feeling hot, took off the jacket he was wearing, hung it in Raon’s closet, and left, Hyukjin didn’t speak. Even after Jaehwi left, Raon looked at Hyukjin, who stood in that spot for a while, and put down the file he was skimming through.
“Don’t just stand there like that, speak. Hwi-ya deliberately left so we could talk comfortably.”
“You really bonded?”
“Yeah. You’re testing Hwi-ya today, right? When you test him, you’ll be able to confirm whether the bonding was done properly and what his condition is like. There’s nothing to revise in the contract. We can proceed as is. And I’ll also be entering dungeons from now on, so take note. Any other questions?”
“You’re C-grade.”
“C-grade is right. The reason I can guide Hwi-ya is compatibility. It’s covered by that, so don’t worry. If you want confirmation, I’ll do a compatibility test today too. Anyway, once it’s revealed within the center that I’m Hwi-ya’s Guide, there might be some talk, so it’s better to be certain about these things.”
“You two met after ten years… In just a few days, this…”
Unlike Hyukjin’s slow words, Raon spoke quickly and picked up the dungeon occurrence report under the contract.
“I fell in love at first sight and pursued him. Fortunately, Hwi-ya accepted me.”
“What more can I say to an Esper and Guide who’ve formed a bond. Your family…”
“Wait. That’s enough. Like you said, we’ve already bonded, so who’s going to say what? Even if you try to forcibly separate me and Nox, there’s only one ending. Nox going on a rampage and everyone dying together. Don’t mention this part anymore. It’s done. Now, I think we’ve discussed all the important matters this morning. Anything else… Fuck?”
Raon’s hand, which had been casually flipping through files, trembled.
An E-grade dungeon expected to have many ores.
A dungeon pushed back in the attack order because it wasn’t urgent.
After checking the location, Raon slowly inhaled and stopped breathing for a moment. His heart beat fast and his mouth went dry. Before the stuffiness that felt like it would burst exceeded its critical point, Raon slowly exhaled the breath he’d been holding.
He squeezed his eyes shut, opened them, and read through the content from the beginning again calmly. What needed to be handled first now was the A-grade water-attribute dungeon. And he had sent Jaehwi there. In between, it contained the same content as the dungeon he had entered alone after making full preparations, where he met Bbobbo.
Although the occurrence date was different, the report content wasn’t different from back then.
“It definitely seems that’s the standard for things getting twisted.”
Since Jaehwi wasn’t yet an official Esper of the center, he couldn’t go anywhere. Currently, the only dungeons Jaehwi could enter were those with official requests from NCSC. The E-grade dungeon pushed back in priority.
Raon, who had been grinding his lower lip, picked up a pen. Then he opened the first page of the dungeon occurrence report. And according to his memory and the dungeon report contents, he began quickly filling in the teams to deploy.
After finishing team assignments for C-grade and above dungeons, Raon raised his head and looked outside the window. It seemed like it rained that day. A noisy rain with thunder and lightning. It felt like the damp earthy smell full of moisture he smelled that day brushed past the tip of his nose.
“Hyukjin.”
“……”
“I’ve assigned teams here, so deliver it to the dungeon team on your way out. And whatever people say, keep reasonably silent about Hwi-ya’s and my relationship too. It’s not too late to reveal I’m his Guide after Hwi-ya contracts. If you have more to say, hurry up and say it, is it time for Jaehwi to come?”
Handing the organized file to Hyukjin, Raon examined his face. He grinned at the expression that seemed to say he’d watch the situation for now, though there was something lukewarm and off about it.
“Don’t worry. These aren’t things I’m doing lightly without thought. Let’s have drinks for dinner soon. Oh, what time did you schedule Nox’s test?”
“11 o’clock.”
At the same time Hyukjin stated the time, the office door opened and Jaehwi entered.
“I’ll go to the testing room at that time. See you then.”
Raon, who stood up from his seat, saw Hyukjin off and naturally approached Jaehwi. Then he took out an iced Americano from the carrier he brought.
“What got twisted?”
As expected, they said the building’s soundproofing was fine, but it seems he’s an exception. Raon, who immediately understood what Jaehwi was getting at, first gulped down his coffee.
“Let’s test at 11, leave work a little early, and go meet Bbobbo.”
If you can’t avoid it, you have to enjoy it. And when blocked, there was no method other than breaking through.
