“I fully understand your feelings, Park Shinui-ssi. Since Esper Kang Taejun is a national hero, it’s natural to have such concerns. However, as I’ve said repeatedly, you’re really worrying needlessly. Not only was there no defect in the testing process, but once a matching rate is determined, it never changes.”
“It never changes?”
“It seems Park Shinui-ssi manifested as a Guide and hasn’t received proper education, but matching rates aren’t something that can change acquired characteristics. If the numbers changed frequently, who would bother forming pairs through Imprinting?”
“Ah…”
Was that so? Was that information in the novel?
“It’s common knowledge that any Guide should know, but since you didn’t, please make sure to attend the relevant education sessions from now on.”
“Then, the matching rate test…”
“There’s no need. No matter how many times we do it, the result will be 99.99%.”
“…I see.”
Judging by the atmosphere, getting a matching rate retest seemed out of the question. The uncomfortable feeling didn’t dissipate, but insisting further would only raise suspicion.
“Of course, even though I’ve worked at the Ability Center for close to 10 years, I’ve never seen such a matching rate in my life. Even 80% is a number that appears maybe once every few decades, but 99.99%? It wouldn’t be easy for even the person themselves to believe.”
“Ah… yes.”
“The whole country was in an uproar for a while because of that number. That Esper Kang Taejun finally had a Guide, and that a 99.99% destiny had appeared. Of course… we never dreamed it would be celebrity Park Shinui-ssi of all people… hahaha.”
The examiner let his words trail off with an awkward laugh. The contempt and dismay contained in the phrase “of all people, Park Shinui” was quite understandable.
“I… am quite an inadequate person for Kang Taejun-ssi.”
“Oh, well, many people say that, but seeing you today, you seem quite different from the rumors, so…”
“I quit the drugs.”
“What?”
“I was worried I might be a stain on Kang Taejun-ssi, so I quit the drugs first.”
“Ah, drugs… Yes. You quit. Good for you.”
The examiner froze for a moment with an expression unsure whether to raise or lower the corners of his mouth, then eventually plastered on an awkward smile. He blinked his eyes a couple of times as if he had absolutely no idea how to react, then hastily turned his gaze to the computer screen.
“Let’s see… Your physical strength is F. F means it’s weaker than an average person. Recovery is also F… Your magic level is 0 and you have no innate skills either… This is worse than an ordinary civilian, but your Guide grade is…”
The examiner, who had been reading through the results in an uncertain tone while clearing his throat, suddenly sprang up from his seat as if ejected.
“S… S+?”
***
“Not only in history books, but in any records or oracles, such a Guide has never existed!”
“Are you absolutely certain there’s no error in the test results?”
“The Ability Center’s verification system is the nation’s top level. The probability of results being distorted isn’t even 0.1%!”
“Even so, does this make sense as a reasonable number?”
“It’s even S+ grade! S+!”
The intuition that something might have gone wrong with the test he’d taken as instructed came from the moment the examiner beside him trembled while making a phone call to someone. Even when hearing his unremarkable physical ability scores, he had nodded thinking ‘Figures,’ but from the part about his Guide grade being S-rank, he simply couldn’t manage his expression. Why on earth was S-rank popping up here?
The flustered Park Shinui was immediately moved to a conference room by security personnel who swarmed in from somewhere. Following that, the so-called “higher-ups” came bursting in frantically—including the Guide Division Chief who had abandoned him at the testing room, the Esper Division Chief, and the Ability Center Director who had given a congratulatory speech at the bonding ceremony.
He understood what S+ grade meant. Even in the novel, S-rank Guides were only mentioned like legends and never actually appeared. But he couldn’t understand why such a number had come out for him. For him, who wasn’t the real Park Shinui—a number that even the owner of this body wouldn’t have known.
And lastly, Kang Taejun, who had been staying somewhere in the Center, appeared.
Park Shinui reflexively lowered his gaze, then forced himself to raise his head. He didn’t want to show that he was conscious of last night’s events. However, the moment he made eye contact with Kang Taejun entering through the door, his attempt to act nonchalant was spectacularly shaken. He glanced at Park Shinui once, then immediately withdrew his gaze. With eyes devoid of any emotion, as if looking at a stranger for the first time.
“Are you saying right now that Park Shinui-ssi’s body is as weak as a paper doll, but only his Guiding grade is S+?”
The bigwigs who had been raising their voices fell silent at Kang Taejun’s single remark as if they had made a promise. The bustling conference room fell into silence in an instant. Soon, Kang Taejun looked down at Park Shinui from head to toe with a chilly gaze.
That look clearly contained reproach, asking if the test results he’d heard were true. But what did he know—Park Shinui was equally clueless about how the situation was unfolding.
Above all, it was extremely awkward to face this man in this manner—the man who had done unspeakable things to him on the bed last night. Was he the only one feeling awkward? Kang Taejun’s expression was utterly indifferent, as if he wasn’t the slightest bit conscious of last night’s events.
“Is there any precedent for such numbers coming out?”
“No.”
The examiner answered mechanically to Kang Taejun’s question. Kang Taejun, who had been scanning the record sheet, put down the paper on the floor as if tossing it and crossed his arms in front of his chest. At his overbearing attitude demanding a proper explanation that made sense, the frightened examiner continued his explanation without being able to even meet his eyes.
“This morning, we comprehensively measured physical development level, healing ability, magic level, possessed skills, and included a grade test. The results are… as you can see. Guiding ability is S+ grade, but all other categories were determined to be below F grade.”
“Only the Guiding ability is S+ grade.”
“Yes, it’s by far the highest grade among currently registered Guides.”
“What’s the possibility the test was wrong?”
“There… there isn’t any.”
The responding examiner’s voice trembled faintly. Kang Taejun rubbed his chin as if pondering, frowning silently. He had rushed over, even postponing what he was doing due to the sudden emergency call, but he hadn’t expected such an absurd result to be waiting for him. Park Shinui’s Guiding ability was actually S+ grade?
“I’m not doubting the Ability Center’s competence, but if it’s a number without precedent and theoretically impossible, that’s a different story. Let’s test again.”
Kang Taejun briefly barked in a commanding tone toward the higher-ups who had been flustering about on one side, then sat down in an empty chair. As if there was no need to unnecessarily argue back and forth over something that would end with a proper retest, his expression was coldly adamant.
Park Shinui stared blankly at Kang Taejun with a dazed feeling. He was dressed in black combat uniform again today. Outside the door, two men who appeared to be accompanying Espers were on standby, and it seemed they would be deployed to the field as soon as the meeting ended.
His gaze naturally moved to Kang Taejun’s ear. There was an earring he hadn’t seen last night. It was a rampage controller that suppressed an Esper’s wavelength.
He had definitely boasted last night that Guiding happened just by physical contact, but seeing him even wearing a controller, had the effect been unsatisfactory? The examiner had just made a fuss that his Guiding grade was S+.
“How long will the retest take?”
“One hour should be sufficient.”
“There was a report that a B-rank Gate opened in Gilseo-gu a moment ago. If it’s one hour, I’ll confirm the results here and then move.”
When Kang Taejun gestured toward outside the door, one of the waiting Espers entered without even knocking.
“Dispatch two A-rank Espers and Guides to the field first and report on the progress.”
“Understood.”
The Esper who bowed briefly swiftly exited the conference room.
“Division Chief-nim.”
Kang Taejun looked at the Guide Division Chief indifferently and pointed at Park Shinui with his chin. That action with a slight frown contained the pressure of ‘What are you doing not going to test right now?’
“Ah, yes! Park Shinui-ssi, it seems we need to redo the test from this morning, so please follow the examiners.”
The Division Chief’s hand, gauging Kang Taejun’s mood, urgently pushed Park Shinui’s back. Suddenly surrounded by examiners again, Park Shinui was dragged to the testing room once more. The tedious process of attaching cold machines to his body, drawing blood, and receiving drug injections repeated. He wanted to protest about what this commotion was all about, but the atmosphere surrounding them was too heavy and serious for him to dare open his mouth.
