# Chapter 29
“Min Jaehwi.”
“Hwi-ya.”
Raon’s jaw was clenched tightly, with both fists firmly balled. With other people around, he couldn’t hit this guy. Where on earth had he sold his manners? Raon was the one who felt embarrassed looking at Aiden, who was sitting with proper posture, attentively listening to his and Hyukjin’s conversation.
It seemed like all this trouble had started because he had accepted all of Jaehwi’s precarious advances and mischievous pranks.
“Since Team Leader Raon and Nox are close, Aiden, you’ll likely encounter these situations frequently if you work together…”
As Hyukjin tried to salvage the situation somehow, Raon swallowed the sigh that was about to escape.
“Esper E1101S Min Jaehwi. Would you mind stepping away for a moment? I’d like to properly discuss contract-related matters with the Guide.”
“I’ll stay quiet.”
When Raon pointed to the door with his fingertips, Jaehwi finally uncrossed his legs and sat up straight, prompting Raon to place his hand on Jaehwi’s thigh. He should have listened in the first place. I must say something…
“Here are the company’s contract terms. Please review them thoroughly, and let us know if there are any parts you wish to modify. It’s best to align as much as possible, and since we need input from both parties, take sufficient time to consider. I won’t ask for an immediate answer, but since we’re in a situation where we’re looking for a Guide, we can’t give you too much time. Would two weeks be enough?”
“You’re not asking me—”
As Jaehwi began grumbling again, Raon applied pressure with the hand resting on his thigh.
“You and I will talk again later. We have a lot to discuss, don’t we? So let’s stay quiet from now on.”
Meeting Jaehwi’s eyes as he rested his chin on his palm with his elbow on his knee, staring directly at him, Raon lowered his voice and spoke rapidly.
“The primary considerations are the residence issue, field accompaniment, and dungeon…”
Unable to bear the two people bickering in front of him, Hyukjin spoke first, drawing Aiden’s attention to himself. As he opened the contract and pointed out items to be aware of, Aiden nodded and asked about his initial concerns.
“What about accommodation? My family is abroad, so I currently don’t have a residence in Korea.”
“That part is covered here. If you look at Article 8…”
“There will be no contact guiding. Radiative guiding can maintain over 50%, so is there a need for it? Therefore, there’s no need to live together, right? No need for field accompaniment except for NCSC-called sites, and even less need to enter dungeons together. I’m saying in advance that you don’t need combat Guide training. If daily is too much, radiative guiding for 15 minutes every other day. Those are my conditions.”
Jaehwi, who had been idly observing like a bystander until now, cut off Hyukjin and Aiden’s deepening conversation and rapidly and concisely laid out his conditions.
“Nox-nim. Do you like Team Leader Kang Raon?”
At Jaehwi’s proposal, everyone’s gaze, which had been directed at him, now turned to Aiden. With an impeccable posture and a clear face that seemed devoid of any ulterior motives, Aiden was looking at Jaehwi. Hyukjin had to recall what Aiden had just said, as his serene face made it seem like he was asking, “What fruit do you like?”
“Wow. You’re pretty good.”
It was Jaehwi’s voice, full of laughter, that broke the instantly frozen atmosphere.
At Aiden’s unexpected question and Jaehwi’s laughter, Raon relaxed his body and leaned back comfortably on the sofa. Wasn’t it teenage girls who giggled at the sight of rolling leaves? Watching Jaehwi laughing out loud and Aiden shrugging with a smile, Raon simply couldn’t follow their thoughts.
“And with those conditions, there’s really no need for a dedicated Guide. We could just meet at the center every other day for radiative guiding, so why engage in such a complicated contract?”
At Aiden’s continued words, who had mostly been listening to explanations while gauging the atmosphere, Raon raised his hand to press his temples and covered his eyes.
“That’s also an option.”
The young ones were hitting it off perfectly.
“Well, this isn’t a matter to decide hastily, so let’s both think about it more and arrange another meeting.”
Even as he heard Hyukjin wrapping up the situation, who seemed as troubled as himself, Raon neither opened his closed eyes nor removed the hand covering them. His head was throbbing, and his stomach felt sour, as if all his energy had been drained.
“Yes. The conditions Nox presented were unexpected for me as well, so I need to decide more carefully. But I didn’t get an answer to my question.”
“Save the personal chatter for outside…”
In the bustling atmosphere as everyone rose from their seats, Raon lowered his hand and slowly opened his eyes. Unlike the others who were moving briskly, he got up leisurely, politely greeted Aiden, and after seeing everyone out, he clutched his head again.
“Headache medicine.”
“You need to have your blood drawn before you leave.”
Ah… blood drawing.
“Would you like chamomile tea prepared?”
“Yes, whatever.”
Returning to his desk and sitting down, Raon sighed softly and turned on his tablet. A headache was a headache, Jaehwi’s matter was Jaehwi’s matter, and work was work.
* * *
“Something to say.”
Aiden couldn’t help but smile at Jaehwi’s words as he sat across from him, his gaze directed outside the window. If he hadn’t witnessed the scene in Team Leader Kang’s office earlier, he too might have continued to believe that this was Jaehwi’s true self.
But having directly seen and heard how much he could change in front of one person, he didn’t particularly want to twist or break that. It was just that his image of the idol he had desperately wanted to meet had drastically changed, you could say.
Aiden’s dream was to be by his side as a Guide, assisting and protecting him, embracing an Esper who was strong but became vulnerable only in front of him, forming a bond, and living happily. And given his own good abilities, he wanted a partner with excellent abilities too. Consequently, forming a bond with a top-tier Esper who had a known name, outstanding appearance, and recognized abilities was a sort of hope for Guides.
Doesn’t everyone have fantasies about their future lover?
Preferably someone wealthy, capable, with an outstanding appearance, gentle to oneself, with a strong sense of responsibility… an ideal type adorned with all sorts of good qualities.
It was a well-known fact that the MK Center was looking for a Guide for Esper Nox, and when Aiden learned that he had received a proposal, he had cheered. When he first saw him in the field, he wanted to help the lonely and suffering Esper. However, after briefly feeling compassion for someone who refused anyone’s help, and then seeing the atmosphere change with the arrival of one person and them disappearing together, Aiden had a suspicion.
And that suspicion had become reality.
“That person is your Guide, isn’t he?”
When they left the team leader’s office, Jaehwi naturally rejected Aiden’s proposal to spare some time. But with a plea and a condition of 10 minutes, Aiden, unable to waste the time he had secured this way, asked directly.
As Jaehwi’s gaze, which had been directed outside the window until now, turned toward him, Aiden inwardly swallowed a sigh of relief, at least having caught his attention.
“Nox-nim has positive feelings, but that person just sees you as a close younger brother.”
This time, his handsome eyebrow moved slightly.
“I don’t know what your story is, but make a partner contract with me. I’ll help you.”
Huh-.
The short exclamation seemed to contain the inner thought of ‘You? With what ability?’, making Aiden shake his head. His tendency to meddle came out at times like this; being perceptive and enjoying mingling with people, Aiden was known as a “pigeon” among friends during middle and high school. It was good to connect people who had good feelings for each other, and the rewards were substantial too.
“You’re the same age as me, from what age were you affiliated with the government?”
Seeing his expression immediately stiffen at the question, Aiden thought that no one would be easier to read than this person. Is that why he always maintained a stiff expression to control his emotions? Aiden, who had grown up freely, recalled the mandatory education period that gave no leeway, being confined in a mold.
“8 minutes left.”
“I’m saying I’ll help you and Team Leader Kang get together.”
“How?”
Smiling at Jaehwi, who still showed strong vigilance with his long legs crossed and arms folded, Aiden now leaned back comfortably in his chair. Because the initiative of the conversation had passed to him.
“But first, tell me for certain. You do like Team Leader Kang, right?”
“Useless talk.”
“So it’s true. Now, let me introduce myself: I’m Aiden Jung. S-grade Guide, manifested at 18. Since I was a minor, I haven’t had an Esper partner yet, nor am I affiliated with any center. I’m under national management, so I’ve only done radiative guiding occasionally when called for urgent matters. I have no intention of guiding anyone unless they’re a top-tier who appeals to me. That’s why I really wanted to meet you once… tsk. I don’t have a habit of stealing someone who already has feelings for another, and if I become friends with you, it’ll be easier to meet other top-tiers, right?”
Having introduced himself first, Aiden extended his hand to Jaehwi, but when he didn’t take it, Aiden was only able to shake hands briefly after saying, “Hurry and shake hands. People are watching.”
“My goal is a top-tier Esper without a partner yet. Yours is Team Leader Kang who hasn’t given his heart to you. Okay?”
As the hot, large hand that had briefly touched him moved away, Aiden spoke as quietly as possible, almost whispering.
