“Psychological warfare?”
“Yes, the ones who should be anxious aren’t us, but them. So I think it’s best to make them as anxious as possible, so they’ll make mistakes they wouldn’t normally make.”
“……”
“Especially since Guide Center Director Park Hanil gets worked up easily and is the impulsive type.”
The fact that he’d put out a warrant for an ordinary civilian right off the bat showed Park Hanil’s personality. Even in Onyul’s opinion, he was capricious and hot-tempered.
“I understand. Then the day we visit the Management Bureau……”
Understanding Na Geonwoo’s intention, Onyul smiled meaningfully.
“Should be the last day of the deadline they gave us.”
***
After their scheming (?) was finished, Na Geonwoo left. Kiki, who had completely exhausted her mana, also vanished like smoke.
If only I could use my Therapy ability to keep Kiki by my side longer.
But using his Therapy ability openly with Gu Baekyoung around was impossible. Besides, Kiki and Gu Baekyoung found each other disagreeable and couldn’t be kept together.
If things went wrong, Kiki might peck at the crown of Gu Baekyoung’s head all night long.
Haam. The fatigue he’d forgotten about during the day finally hit him now. The time was 11 o’clock. It was somewhat late to return to the convenience store room.
Onyul looked up at Gu Baekyoung while still sitting on the sofa.
“This is a big problem.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“I think I’ve gotten too comfortable here.”
“Why is that a big problem? That’s a good thing.”
“……”
A sinister smile spread across Gu Baekyoung’s lips. He casually placed his hand on Onyul’s shoulder, making him lean back completely.
“You can live here forever.”
“Even after the contract relationship ends?”
“Of course.”
“……”
“Were you planning to ignore me once the contract relationship ends, honey?”
“Mm…… No?”
Even after the contract relationship ended, it seemed like he’d continue living with Gu Baekyoung like this. He couldn’t turn his back on someone who was lacking in guiding.
“Then what’s the problem? Where else is there a place with security this thorough?”
They were irrefutable points. The subtly logical Gu Baekyoung was once again deploying his unique logic.
Should I just agree appropriately and sleep on that plush bed……? The moment that weak thought crossed his mind, one serious problem occurred to him.
“There is one problem!”
Gu Baekyoung tilted his chin as if telling him to speak.
“You!”
“Me?”
“What if you just start sk-skinshipping and stuff?”
“We already agreed on that part.”
Gu Baekyoung’s head tilted strangely as he answered, as if asking what the problem was with that. Smack. Before he could stop him, lips touched his forehead.
“I won’t do anything except kisses.”
Gu Baekyoung was confident. As if kisses were already agreed upon so they didn’t matter.
When was that decided?
“Then we’re living together now.”
“Mm……”
Is it okay to decide this so easily?
“Come on, honey.”
While he was pondering, Gu Baekyoung lifted Onyul’s body. Despite him probably weighing quite a bit, he easily began moving Onyul.
Soon after, when the plush mattress touched his back, Onyul’s eyes immediately relaxed. Yeah, this plush and warm feeling is so good.
Gu Baekyoung, who had laid down beside him before he knew it, hugged Onyul tightly as if it were natural. The back was plush and Gu Baekyoung was hot…… his eyes began to slowly close.
“When Park Hanil came into the convenience store, I really held back a lot.”
“Yeah, I know. You were admirable.”
“I did well, right?”
“Of course.”
“Is there no reward?”
“A reward……”
Soon after, a gentle energy flowed from Onyul’s half-closed body. It was the broadcast guiding that had amazed everyone.
Today Gu Baekyoung didn’t even go to a Gate and only wandered around the convenience store, but still, the guiding would be effective.
Because he had barely received any guiding at all.
Not only did he have no guide with good compatibility, but he didn’t particularly enjoy receiving guiding itself.
“Haah……”
A sultry sound reached his nearby ear. It was definitely a sound made because the guiding felt good, but strangely, it felt like his ear tips were getting hot.
“Does it feel good?”
“Mmm…… I feel like I’m going crazy it feels so good.”
Even their conversation was full of room for misunderstanding.
Feeling strangely sultry for no reason, Onyul lightly pushed against Gu Baekyoung’s chest. But he didn’t budge. Instead, he hugged Onyul tightly.
“Where have you been all this time, only coming to me now?”
Where have I been? Until six months ago, I was always by your side.
Gu Baekyoung, completely soaked in guiding and turned into mush, had his eyes tightly closed. His previously pale complexion had clearly returned, and even a light blush had spread across his cheeks.
Seeing even the corners of his mouth gently rise, he seemed to be in quite a satisfied state.
His complexion had improved when receiving just Therapy too, but guiding with compatible wavelengths seemed to work incomparably deeper than that.
This appearance, the other guides probably haven’t seen it.
When a sense of superiority arose for no reason, even Onyul felt good.
‘Is this why guides form pairs?’
To guide exclusively for their own Esper. To see an appearance not shown to other guides. Maybe they form pairs not because of efficiency, but perhaps because of possessiveness toward their match.
Though he’d lived as an Esper for 10 years, it was something he’d never once thought about.
“Don’t disappear anymore.”
A gentle voice as if all tension had been released could be heard. As if Gu Baekyoung had fallen asleep after saying that, he let out even breathing.
Haam. Onyul, who yawned in succession, also soon closed his eyes. There was no reason not to fall asleep in a situation perfect for sound sleep. Drowsiness soon struck.
What woke Onyul was some groaning sound. When he opened his eyes to the moaning sounds, he saw that the surroundings were still dark. Is it dawn?
The owner of the sounds was Gu Baekyoung.
He was moaning while still hugging Onyul just like before falling asleep. As if having a nightmare, his forehead was soaked with cold sweat.
Onyul was worried about Gu Baekyoung since he too suffered from nightmares whenever he returned from Gates.
What is it that’s so hard for him that he’s having nightmares?
He could understand the reason without asking. Because a familiar name was leaking through Gu Baekyoung’s slightly parted teeth.
“Hyung……”
It seemed like Gu Baekyoung was dreaming of losing Kang Onyul.
Though he firmly believed Na Geonwoo’s words that Kang Onyul would reincarnate and return, and barely held onto his sanity in reality, it seemed he couldn’t help what happened in dreams.
Poor, pitiful guy.
Onyul’s hand gently stroked Gu Baekyoung’s hair. Now he could naturally guide just for him without needing to wish for it strongly.
This time Onyul released his Therapy energy as well, making both energies wrap around only Gu Baekyoung. He hoped the guy wouldn’t have nightmares anymore.
When the two energies that improved one’s mood combined, Gu Baekyoung’s complexion improved in an instant.
His slightly furrowed eyes relaxed. No groaning sounds flowed from between his red lips. Thank goodness. That he could escape from the nightmare.
“I’ll stay by your side. I won’t leave.”
Onyul was a little surprised at the words he’d let slip without realizing.
Originally, he hadn’t planned to stay by Gu Baekyoung’s side for long. Until just a while ago, he’d only thought about leaving somehow.
But staying by his side, things had gotten too big. Who could have known that Kang Ian’s body would manifest as a guide, and that his past life’s abilities would return?
A guide with good compatibility with Gu Baekyoung at that. This was like heaven had ordained him to help Gu Baekyoung.
Onyul thought about one year later, which he’d promised Na Geonwoo. What will happen then?
Will I be able to escape from this plush bed?
Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite imagine a future without Gu Baekyoung by his side. It felt like Gu Baekyoung would stick by his side making all sorts of excuses.
No, it wasn’t just Gu Baekyoung—it seemed like his connections with the other Espers wouldn’t be cut off either.
Onyul’s daily life, which had detested ability users, felt like it would be full of ability users.
Onyul squeezed his eyes shut. This is a big problem because the future I’m imagining doesn’t feel bad.
***
Time passed and it became the last day of the week Park Hanil had presented.
There hadn’t been any particular changes in Onyul’s daily life during that time.
Thanks to the scroll Na Geonwoo gave him, he easily and secretly traveled between the convenience store and Gu Baekyoung’s mansion, and he ran the convenience store well too. With two part-timers, he definitely had more free time.
Both people, who said it was their first part-time job, worked well, so there was nothing for Onyul to worry about.
Rather, the person whose insides were burning up was Park Hanil.
‘Why is there no reaction at all?’
He’d warned them that after today, he’d issue a nationwide warrant.
Except for Na Geonwoo saying he’d ask the Esper Center Director for help, there were no movements from Alpha Team including Gu Baekyoung.
Gu Baekyoung was still going around like a crazy person, smiling menacingly at this person and that person while holding their hands.
Unable to bear the frustration, Park Hanil had met all the suspects with similar builds to the cat helmet over the past week.
But among them, there wasn’t a single guide considered S-rank.
He’d also visited the convenience store where he’d felt a strange energy, but far from any strange energy, the owner was unpleasant and only ruined his mood.
9 PM. Because of the reporters who had swarmed since morning, the front of the Management Bureau was no different from a marketplace.
The reporters visible below the Center Director’s office also seemed bewildered like Park Hanil. They seemed worried that the cat helmet wouldn’t appear until the very end.
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from outside the Center Director’s office.
“Are you in there?”
Park Hanil quickly opened the door before even answering.
Soon after, the person who entered was a middle-aged man with quite a good build. Perhaps because of his fierce-looking features, he seemed like a formidable person rather than a kind one.
“Oh my, Management Bureau Director. For you to visit personally like this. If you’d told me, I would have come to you……”
He was Gu Hyeonseok, the Management Bureau Director of the Ability User Management Bureau that oversaw the Guide Center and Esper Center.
“What a waste of time.”
Unlike his fierce features, Gu Hyeonseok answered heartily and continued.
“Issue the warrant.”
“Pardon?”
“The cat helmet, issue the warrant for him now.”
“……”
“Just waiting until now was already being lenient.”
“……Yes, yes! Then right now……”
But at that moment, outside the window suddenly became noisy. Looking down below the glass window, he could see the gathered reporters in a commotion.
The cause was clear.
A man wearing a cat helmet had appeared before them.
