FETCH 34

“I did okay, right?”

It was merely the kind of guiding that every Guide does, but for me, it was different. I had managed a guiding that might have been uncomfortable because we are friends, and despite having a body that manifested through drugs, hadn’t I performed a guiding as perfect as anyone else’s?

Embarrassment aside, I wanted to hear some praise, so my eyes sparkled. Ji Sangtaek laughed mischievously and gave my head a rough pat.

“Beyond just ‘okay,’ you did great. No, I actually forgot it was your first time. From now on, make sure to tell me when it’s your first time for something, because if it’s not now, there won’t even be time to learn.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Well… Kang has had more than one or two experiences with rampage guiding, so I figured he would have helped you do well somehow.”

At the added remark, Jaechan paused slightly. He didn’t know why the man had to bring up other Guides here.

Jaechan barely held back a frown and gave a short answer, “Yes.” Ji Sangtaek laughed good-naturedly and gave Jaechan a light tap on the shoulder.

“So, is your condition okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Normally, after guiding an Esper in rampage, a Guide’s body is bound to take a toll. Right? I mean, think about how hard it must be when the energy that was circulating in your body drains out all at once. Isn’t that so?”

“Yes, that’s true. I feel like I’m dying of exhaustion even now.”

“I thought you said you were fine?”

“Just out of politeness…”

“Stop joking around, go get some rest. Get a massage, too.”

Ji Sangtaek laughed good-naturedly, left a word saying, “Good work,” and exited the office. From the surrounding people as well, praises like “Good work” and “You did well for a first-timer” were heard, making him feel a bit sheepish.

Jaechan left a short farewell, saying, “I’ll go get a massage,” and stepped out of the office. Perhaps because the aftercare had been handled neatly, his body felt refreshed.

Due to Ji Sangtaek’s unnecessary comment, he had learned about Han Kang’s record—which he had only vaguely guessed—but whatever. He had to do it because he was an Esper. So while he thought that must be why he was so skilled, he hoped, if possible, that it was simply a technique learned through thorough theoretical study.

Even though he knew it was greedy of him.

「Kang: Let’s have dinner together later」

Buzz, at the message shown along with the vibrating watch, a smile spread across his face helplessly. He had looked angry the whole time; had his mood softened? Or did he think there was no longer a need for a cold war? Regardless, the message Han Kang sent first was effective in lifting his slightly sunken mood.

It was very gratifying to see the old version of Han Kang again—the one who, right before the first joint training, had not only pushed him away but also driven him into a corner with harsh words.

Yet, in one corner of his mind, he felt a bit suffocated, wondering if they were eventually just circling back to the starting point—being nothing more and nothing less than the ‘Guide’ reflected in the eyes of the public.

He thought it might be better to have a calm conversation while eating together. It would be much better to have a deep conversation than to just guess by himself.

「Sure We’re eating out, right? I’ll submit the request for the outing permit」

「Kang: Yeah, let’s eat meat」

「Good」

Jaechan left the reply and was about to head to the massage room with a twitching smile when it happened.

“I heard you did Han Kang’s rampage guiding today?”

At the sudden voice, Jaechan stopped in his tracks and looked back. Standing there, looking quite idle, was Kim Daeyoung, who was looking at him with a smirk—who knows how long he had been standing there.

Facing him was not exactly pleasant. Still, Jaechan first bowed his head in greeting instead of an answer. Receiving the greeting with an “Uh-huh,” he twirled his finger in the air as he added more words.

“The Center was quite noisy, saying Han Kang went into a rampage.”

Seeing his finger point toward the ceiling, he seemed to be referring to the broadcast that had been blaring loudly. Was he being snide, or what? Regardless, Jaechan swallowed his annoyance at the behavior that didn’t look kind and replied.

“But the guiding was well-received, so he is fine now.”

“Is that so? Well, it should be well-received.”

He was smiling continuously as if this situation were purely entertaining. His curled lips looked somewhat sinister.

A long conversation was out of the question. He was about to turn away after leaving another bow, but Kim Daeyoung asked, “Do you have time?”

“Shall we go to the Center Director’s office together for a bit?”

“Right now?”

“Then would you like to stop by later before you leave work?”

“Is that okay?”

He wanted to avoid conversation as much as possible, but the opponent didn’t look like he would back down easily. Eventually, Jaechan nodded, saying he understood. Kim Daeyoung emphasized the time and place once more, saying, “Let’s see each other at the Center Director’s office later before work ends.”

He wondered what on earth the man wanted to say, but then he remembered the written pledge he had signed with him before. Not long after joining, the Center Director had secretly called Jaechan to his office and made him sign a non-disclosure agreement.

It was a pledge not to leak any information to the outside, including the fact that he manifested clinically and all details of his cooperation with the Center. Since that was something Jaechan also wanted, he had readily agreed.

Will he ask for cooperation this time because of the training earlier?

Or perhaps, since he completed the first insertion guiding, he might want to check his status.

It was also true that the uncomfortable situation in many ways was not very welcome, so Jaechan’s steps toward the massage room became infinitely slow.

Entering the Center Director’s office with great reluctance, it never looked very friendly no matter when he saw it. Of course, it was only the second time, but Jaechan did not welcome the stiff office space.

At least the office where he worked had the sound of people whispering and a sense of affection passing through, but this place felt desolate, perhaps because it was a space where one person stayed alone.

Jaechan scanned the surroundings disinterestedly and plopped down on the sofa. Kim Daeyoung let out a hollow laugh, as if he found it absurd that Jaechan sat down before even being told to do so.

“Anyway, young friends these days are truly fascinating.”

Jaechan just smiled as if he knew nothing.

More than that, he felt like he was going crazy because he was bothered by the rustling sound outside the door. When he suggested pushing the appointment time back a bit, Han Kang had followed him all the way to the entrance of the Center Director’s office.

“If you don’t release Jeon Jaechan quickly, I’m going to skip tomorrow’s training.”

He even added a threat that he didn’t know who would benefit from.

Whether he really intended to keep that promise, the presence of Han Kang loitering outside the Director’s office was fully felt. Seeing as it was felt so clearly even through the fairly thick door, it seemed he was intentionally making loud noises for them to hear.

Really… once I get outside, I should ask him how old he is first. After having that absurd thought, Jaechan threw a bored look at Kim Daeyoung. Kim Daeyoung, for his part, maintained a relaxed attitude as if he didn’t care about someone like Han Kang.

The more he did that, the more anxious Jaechan became. Han Kang finally began to kick the bottom of the door with a thud, thud from outside.

Should I be glad he isn’t screaming at the top of his lungs? Jaechan kept his lips shut tight in a straight line and urged Kim Daeyoung with his eyes.

“Han Kang is being quite noisy.”

Kim Daeyoung chuckled and went over to the desk where the Center Director’s nameplate was placed. Was he going to have a conversation or not? Looking at him, it almost felt like he was provoking Han Kang on purpose. Jaechan replied with an awkward smile.

“I know, right? I think I need to leave quickly…”

“You two aren’t actually dating or anything, right? Kang is just calling you ‘honey’ for no reason, right?”

He couldn’t grasp what intention was behind the question. Jaechan tilted his head and tried to examine his motive, but perhaps there was no other meaning, as no sign of discomfort was seen on the face peeking out from beside the monitor. Jaechan nodded slowly and replied, “Yes.”

“We’ve just been friends since the day we were born.”

“It’s my first time seeing Kang be so obsessed with and clingy toward someone.”

Kim Daeyoung added with a giggle.

There was no other answer to give. Jaechan just gave a low laugh, “Haha.” More than that, his legs were trembling at Han Kang’s urging, which made him feel rushed. As a result, the table his knees were touching rattled, but in the midst of that, Kim Daeyoung was as relaxed as a Taoist immortal.

Only after wasting an eternity did the Center Director approach him. Jaechan looked up at him with an anxious gaze that could no longer be hidden even if he tried. He put silent pressure into his gaze, telling him to say whatever he had to say quickly and let him go, but it didn’t seem to reach the man at all.

Kim Daeyoung, sitting leisurely on the opposite sofa, handed Jaechan a small notebook. It was much thicker than the Q&A sheet he had received when he first joined. Jaechan, staring down at it, unconsciously distorted his face into a scowl.

[Clinical Guide Research Log]

He had been calling him an ‘experimental subject’ and treating him like some kind of lab equipment since a while ago. This was no different from openly stating that he would study the subsequent process.