Jaehwi’s test proceeded smoothly without incident.
“50?”
“Mm… 70?”
“Why?”
“I’m curious too.”
Except for the conversation the two had before entering the test room, that is. Only Hyukjin, who was in the closest place to them, frowned. At first it was because he couldn’t understand those words, and after the test proceeded, it was because of the persistent uncomfortable feeling that kept clinging to him.
Data showing slightly higher figures than the abilities Nox had shown since appearing in the dungeon began filling the monitors.
Raon, sitting comfortably in the chair next to him, was looking at a tablet while tapping the tip of his crossed leg. While everyone here was focused on Nox, what Raon was looking at was related to ‘Gem Kitten.’
Did he really have to look at a dungeon monster that was hard to encounter and therefore had little information about, right here and now? Looking around at this and that, when bored, he’d casually raise his head to look at the test room once, check the clock once, then Raon concentrated again on searching for something.
“Team Leader. Should we check electrical attribute too?”
“Extract the finished data from fire attribute, water attribute, wind attribute, metal attribute first, then take a break for a bit…”
“Why do all that? If we’ve done this much, it’s confirmed that Nox’s ability is above S-grade. He’s controlling his condition excellently even without guiding. If guiding is added here, it’s obvious his ability values will rise more. He’s stronger in actual combat than in tests like this. This is sufficient for official records. Even if it goes outside, it’s the most reasonable level.”
Since the test time was exceeding one hour, Hyukjin, who had been thinking of taking about a 30-minute break like when other Espers measured their ability values and then starting again, stared at Raon who cut off his words.
“There’s nothing in the contract to revise just because more ability values come out. We’ve already matched it to the industry’s best, so will you even raise the amount? What he receives from settlement related to dungeon byproducts can’t be ignored either.”
Saying only correct words that left nothing to say and organizing the tablet he’d been looking at and getting up from his seat, a small groan flowed from Raon’s mouth. He wasn’t ignorant enough not to know what the marks visible on his nape revealed between his shirt and scarf, along with his slower movements than usual, meant.
“Kang Raon.”
“Oh my. I’m tired. Being harassed by reporters from morning over an absurd scandal, the day feels so long. Since I came here too, let’s even do a guiding test. How about it?”
“You need to talk with me.”
Raon, who had been lightly tapping his waist with a clenched fist, looked at Hyukjin who grabbed his wrist and muttered lowly. Behind him, he could see researchers with wide eyes watching this place.
“Why?”
Since he couldn’t give a clear answer no matter what Hyukjin said right now, Raon, who lightly brushed off his arm, smiled brightly at the researcher whose eyes met his.
“We’re going to do the guiding compatibility test right now, so set it up. Me first. Don’t bother making people come and go unnecessarily—everything’s possible right here. The compatibility test doesn’t even take 10 minutes, so let’s try it now, and if the compatibility with me isn’t good, then we’ll select guides to do compatibility tests with after that. Hwi just needs to move from that test room to this test room.”
Without listening to Hyukjin’s words and speaking comfortably to the researchers, Jaehwi was already coming out of the test room on his own.
“How long does setting up take? Do I have time for a cup of coffee?”
Coming out of the test room in a neat appearance without a single drop of sweat, Jaehwi’s gaze, gently touching the wrist that Hyukjin had just grabbed, was fixed not on anyone else but on Raon.
“Eavesdropping…?”
No one had informed Jaehwi, who had been waiting inside the test room, of this fact while they conversed outside. To contact an Esper inside the test room, they had to use a microphone. But since no one here had turned on the microphone, the only way to explain this situation was eavesdropping.
“It’s not even a proper ability, so if you want to record it, don’t go up to S, make it about A+.”
Jaehwi’s answer raised more questions in the minds of those present. Since it was a test room made based on S-grade Espers, it meant Jaehwi’s current eavesdropping ability was above S-grade. But to ask for A+, not even S+ but a level below that…
“Drink this.”
“This isn’t coffee.”
“You drank coffee in the morning too, and you didn’t let me drink coffee.”
Unlike the confused Hyukjin and researchers, Jaehwi and Raon were calm.
And to Raon, who said he’d do the compatibility test now if there was no particular problem, and to Jaehwi, who would do anything if it was Raon’s words, Hyukjin couldn’t say whether they had to do it right now. And the researchers, who had almost no say, didn’t ask why Team Leader Kang, who wasn’t even a Guide, was doing a compatibility test with Nox.
The researchers had also seen the dating rumors between Nox and Raon on their way to work this morning, and were seeing the answer to that in real time with their eyes. At least one place on Team Leader Kang’s body, famous for having mysophobia, was touching Nox, and they were casually using the same straw.
In the affectionate actions of touching Nox’s disheveled hair and adjusting his clothes after testing, and in the appearance of Nox obediently receiving Raon’s touch, what more could they question?
The two, who shared one drink that Raon had been drinking while setting up, entered the compatibility test room, which was already their third.
“Should I make a screen like this at home too?”
“Why bother installing a screen? The garden is beautifully maintained.”
“The view from the bathtub doesn’t seem very good.”
While putting on the bracelet with sensors attached to his wrist, Raon felt the scenery reflected on the screen that looked realistic even looking again and the wind that seemed full of natural breeze.
“Looks like you have the leisure to feel such things.”
At Jaehwi’s sullen words that seemed somewhat thorny, different from just before, a smile spread on Raon’s face as he raised his head. Then he bit his lower lip firmly as if laughter would burst out. If twisted, it could sound like ‘I’m busy to death but you have such leisure and that’s nice,’ but it was because he read the other meaning contained in Jaehwi’s words now.
“Are you laughing?”
“No. I wasn’t laughing.”
Raon tried to speak calmly, suppressing the laughter that oozed out weakly as last night came to mind.
“Really?”
“…Mm. Why would I laugh?”
There was no way Jaehwi wouldn’t notice the slight tremor in Raon’s voice, who cleared his throat with a *ahem*.
“Well, I can check again later.”
Jaehwi, who shrugged his shoulders, chose to lean against the wall instead of sitting in a chair. Raon, who had been alternately looking at the comfortable chair and Jaehwi for a moment, approached his side.
“Team Leader.”
Hyukjin, who had been watching the test room, only slightly turned his head to look at the other person at the sound calling him. Toward him who didn’t readily continue his words and hesitated with a troubled expression, Hyukjin only lightly gestured with his chin.
“…Nox. Stabilization level is perfect.”
With his words, Hyukjin, who looked beyond the thick window again, twisted his hand to stroke his jawline. Jaehwi and Raon were exchanging conversation comfortably without even touching anywhere.
“Guiding status?”
“Radiative guiding levels aren’t being detected.”
At the oncoming headache, Hyukjin looked at the last quiet researcher. Had there ever been a time when an Esper’s stabilization level was perfect without guiding? Moreover, Nox was currently in a state of continuously using his abilities in the preceding test.
He came out for a moment, was with Raon, shared a drink, and though there was light contact, it’s presumed there was no guiding. And judging by how the Guide’s energy wasn’t being measured inside the test room now, guiding wasn’t occurring.
*When do we start? I’m hungry, let’s finish quickly and eat lunch.*
At Raon’s annoyed voice heard through the speaker, Hyukjin clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Are you guiding?”
*I didn’t say to start.*
“When have you ever listened to me?”
He’s his own guide. He was a fool for stepping back with the feeling that you’ll only know if you experience it yourself to Raon who was spouting nonsense about compatibility being better than grade. As soon as his words ended, guiding levels began to rise, albeit slightly, as if radiative guiding was occurring.
As soon as Hyukjin’s words ended, “Huh?”, “……”, “Team Leader.” Various sounds came from the researchers’ mouths simultaneously. Though they would be making sounds while looking at the monitors each was watching, it seemed he could know what they were saying without even having to infer.
“What. Did perfect even appear?”
Without even uncrossing his firmly folded arms or looking at the monitor, Hyukjin threw out words in a sarcastic tone.
“Yees…”
“That’s why… there’s no point in testing. Only you guys know that Nox’s official Guide is Team Leader Kang. We’ll reveal it later or something. Nox’s ability values exactly as the results came out, record the eavesdropping part as A+ too. Lock the compatibility test that just happened. You guys keep quiet about this part too. Today’s schedule was entirely Nox’s ability value test.”
Having finished speaking up to there, Hyukjin looked at the two who were removing their bracelets on their own without needing to convey anything through the microphone, and firmly closed his lips that had been slightly parted.
