Unlike last time when he hadn’t known whether only he had regressed or if he’d done so together with Jaehwi, everything went much more smoothly now that Jaehwi had come to find him first and didn’t hide the fact about the regression.
The same time was repeating for the third time. While the big picture was the same, since the situations couldn’t be identical each time, he came to accept the small differences. Following Jaehwi’s intention to contract with MK Center, the center began creating a special contract for him, and Hyukjin, wanting to know Jaehwi’s exact capabilities, requested a detailed examination from him.
Along with that, emergency repair work began at the center’s main building because of the stairs Jaehwi had broken.
“Just how much did you break?”
“I was trying to control it as much as I could…”
“Right. It’s not like you did it on purpose. My Hwi, were you very worried about me?”
“If I hadn’t hurried over, it seemed like hyung would come, so I did.”
“Well, I would have run down the stairs crying this time too.”
Though he’d spoken to Raon about the main building repair issue, Hyukjin looked at them with an incredulous expression as they excluded him and comfortably conversed between just the two of them. While he couldn’t know exactly what was going on, it was certain that there was something between the two of them.
Since this was Nox who had been shrouded in mystery, nothing from his appearance to his personality had been known. Just that he was an NCSC-affiliated S-grade Esper worth a hundred men. But watching him for a few days, he had tremendous adaptability.
He walked around MK Center comfortably as if he’d always lived there, and now he was sitting on the sofa in Raon’s office with his legs crossed, drinking an Americano. Unlike the busy Raon working away, Nox spent time idling in his office with nothing to do. Before Raon woke up, he’d used the training room and sparred a few times with team members who wanted to train together, but now he didn’t even go near the training room. Looking at the times he used his temporary access pass, it seemed he was diligently coming to the center morning and evening, but judging by how he was rarely seen, he appeared to spend most of his time in Raon’s office.
He wasn’t affiliated anywhere yet, and since Jaehwi also hoped to contract with MK Center, his comfortable use of the center wasn’t a big problem. It was just strange, should he say, how he stuck right next to Kang Raon? Thanks to that, Jay’s position as Raon’s bodyguard was being shaken. What kind of bodyguard would be needed by someone who had Nox, said to be the most capable person in the world, attached to him 24 hours a day? Jay’s position, always protecting him half a step ahead or half a step behind Raon, seemed to have changed to something like a secretary.
Actually, whether Nox was whatever or Jay’s position was whatever, those weren’t things Hyukjin needed to be involved with. The person making Hyukjin most troubled and struggling right now was Raon.
Everything was a problem, but for Raon to say he’d have an iced Americano then immediately change it to lemon tea with just one look from Jaehwi. The Raon he knew was absolutely not that kind of person.
Moreover, what was this ticklish, somehow pink-tinted atmosphere that even seemed to have hearts flying around? He didn’t know anything about Nox so he couldn’t rashly judge him, but he thought he knew Raon well.
How long had they known each other? He knew about Raon much more and much deeper than Nox, who’d only spent two or three months together 10 years ago. Yet here and now, he was thoroughly becoming background.
“Esper Min. We haven’t been able to check your condition for several days now. Could you tell us how your current state is? We informed you that you could receive guiding from guides within the center at any time, but there’s no record of you receiving guiding, and no record of you receiving additional stabilizers either.”
“Him? He’s fine. He’s gotten much better. Even if he’s not completely cared for yet, he’ll gradually get better. And Hwi, when did you schedule the test? I’ll be there when you test, so let me know the time in advance. Reinforce the underground training room while doing the main building repairs too. It’s too weak for him. Also, ah… Hwi. How was the soundproofing here? Do we need to raise it a bit more?”
Though he’d spoken to Jaehwi, the one answering was Raon. And not just talking—he walked over holding a file, then casually leaned against Jaehwi as he sat down, and seeing the two of them with Jaehwi supporting Raon to make it comfortable for him to lean, there was only one thought circling in Hyukjin’s mind.
Raon had said he guided Nox even inside the dungeon. And now content related to guiding was seeping into Raon’s words too. How does Raon know he’s gotten much better, and how is he guaranteeing he’ll get better in the future? Nox’s stabilizers were currently in MK Center’s research lab. A real C-grade Raon guided S-grade, or higher, Nox? That works?
No. Then that guiding thing… So Nox… where is he staying right now?
Hyukjin tried to stop the thoughts growing thickly. Jumping in without regard for anything was like that. Going in boldly then fainting and being carried out in Nox’s arms was like that. Acting strangely in the treatment room as if they couldn’t live without each other was like that. The pink tint that definitely seemed to have entered this atmosphere now seemed to answer everything in place of words.
Come to think of it, there was no content related to guides in the contract currently being made. Officially, Nox had no guide. A guide was absolutely necessary for his health and future activities, yet that part was completely missing, which didn’t make sense.
So the conclusion is that Nox’s guide is Raon? NCSC went crazy trying to somehow find a guide matching Nox, and Raon snagged the guide position for an Esper that any high-grade guide would have coveted at least once? The kid who said he’d never be a guide even if he died? If his family finds out about this, they won’t stay still, will they?
“The soundproofing isn’t bad. It’s better than most places. And there’s no need to even reinforce the underground training room. It’s more beneficial to train them while going through dungeons with A-Alpha Team. Hyung, let’s just go through F-grade with me personally. Oh, Bbobbo…”
“Is attaching just A-Alpha Team enough? Instead, you wear a watch, and I’ll definitely check the watch thoroughly in the contract. And a sub guide…”
“Are you joking?”
“No. With human affairs…”
“Wow, this hyung is doing this again. You want to go at it again, is that it?”
Without him asking several things, Hyukjin closed his mouth at the conversation continuing rapidly before him. And he listened carefully to get as much as possible from their conversation.
Why does the word Bbobbo come up in the conversation? Sub guide? Right. So the main guide is Raon? A-Alpha Team? You’ve already decided which team to work with?
“Fine. I won’t talk about guides, so don’t get excited. Are the stabilizers prepared…”
“They’re made from hyung’s blood.”
“That can’t be helped. It’s natural for a guide’s blood to go into stabilizers, and I’m your guide, so whose blood would we use? Of course we have to use mine. I’m continuously guiding you, and stabilizers are literally a supporting role, so we don’t need to draw much.”
“I really hate it.”
At the sight of Nox grabbing Raon’s wrist, casually pulling up the knit he was wearing, and touching his arm without hesitation, Hyukjin unknowingly nodded his head slightly. His guess was right. Right. Both the natural conversation and the skinship.
Raon, who had mysophobia and a wider personal space than others, was now acting as if he had none of those things at all.
“Even if you hate it, it can’t be helped. You have to concede at least that much.”
“Then. Give me a kiss.”
“……”
Excuse me? You guys. There’s a person here.
“…Esper Min.”
Hyukjin called Nox, not Raon.
“Why are you here?”
And he heard Raon’s answer again.
“I came to coordinate matters related to work with Team Leader Kang, and while I was here, since Esper Min was here, we were talking about things together.”
Hyukjin smiled awkwardly and tried to answer as calmly as possible.
“Is that so? We checked matters related to center repairs, they said Hwi’s contract will come out today or tomorrow, I’m doing the guiding so I’ll check the condition myself. There’s no problem making stabilizers since I’ll provide the blood. Is there anything more to discuss with me?”
“That should be enough.”
“What do you have to do with Hwi?”
“We need to coordinate the ability measurement date. Even though contracting with MK Center is almost confirmed, our side also needs to know Esper Min’s abilities clearly to coordinate the contract conditions more precisely. Even if he’s officially S-grade, there are countless differences within that, and nothing is known about Esper Min’s specialized abilities either.”
“Is there a reason to drag out and delay the test? Just do it tomorrow.”
“Esper Min’s opinion…”
“Hyung says to do it tomorrow.”
Who am I having a conversation with right now? Though it wasn’t a proper conversation, Hyukjin left that place without complaint since he’d resolved all the reasons for coming to the office. He’d grasped the situation and roughly solved the countless questions floating in his mind too.
