SOFTIE 18

Among them, there was one person to guard against above all.

They surely knew my Guide was a slime. And a slime is a weak magic beast. One that could die if Espers attacked it. Yeonwoo stared at the Espers gloomily and whispered in a low voice.

“I’m telling you this just in case. I hope you don’t think of threatening this child. I will consider an attack on my Guide as an attack on me.”

Everyone swallowed hard at the chill radiating from Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo slowly opened the door. He stepped inside before anyone else. As soon as Yeonwoo entered, Softy welcomed him.

At the sound of a cry pestering for a kiss, Yeonwoo picked him up and gave him a chu on the forehead. A smile broke out at the squishy, soft sensation against his lips.

“Good job.”

“Kkyu-ut!”

Mmm, this could become addictive. Whether Yeonwoo spent time with Softy or not, everyone else rushed to the researchers holding the results.

“Tell me. Is that thing truly a Guide?”

Looking at the people shouting with a confident attitude—convinced it couldn’t be—Kim Yoojung pointed to the screen. And they were struck with shock.

“An S-rank Guide?!”

Once it was revealed that Softy was an S-rank Guide, wide eyes were fixed on him. However, there is always someone who tries to ruin the mood.

“Does it not cause harm to humans?”

“He is a gentle child. Even though it was our first time examining a magic beast and we made mistakes and bothered him, he followed along well. As you can see, no researchers were injured.”

“Can you even judge danger with something like that! We should see how he reacts when a life is actually in danger!”

Yeonwoo’s head turned toward the man who had spoken. It was a familiar face and voice. He was one of the executives who used to flatter Shin Witaek. Yeonwoo’s brow furrowed.

It was obvious whose influence was behind those words. It was possible to think he was dangerous because he was a magic beast. That was the part Yeonwoo had worried about.

Are they saying they’ll verify exactly how I’ll react? It seems they’ve completely erased the warning I gave in front of the door from their minds. Yeonwoo pulled the corner of his mouth up crookedly.

“No, no. Before that, there’s no guarantee those results are correct anyway.”

“…Pardon?”

Kim Yoojung was momentarily flustered by the absurd remark.

Since the appearance of Gates is a matter directly linked to survival worldwide, the technology for distinguishing Espers and Guides is researched globally and updated with the latest tech every time.

In that process, the classification of ranks could be divided in detail, to the point where they could even distinguish Espers and Guides who haven’t awakened yet.

It was no different from saying there was a defect in that technology.

“Gates also express wavelengths. Could you not have mistaken those for Guide wavelengths? It’s magic beasts that live inside Gates. Magic beasts also emit wavelengths.”

“Research on magic beasts is also constantly ongoing. Those wavelengths are different. Just as the wavelengths of Espers and Guides are compared to the N and S poles of a magnet, they are completely different wavelengths.”

“How can I believe that?”

“…”

Since a person who was supposedly an executive in the Department of Supernatural Abilities didn’t even know the most basic of basics, she had nothing more to say and fell silent. Yeonwoo decided to personally play along with that tune. It was a mountain that had to be crossed eventually. Yeonwoo stroked Softy to soothe him as he spoke.

“What is it you want to say?”

“Is it even plausible for a slime to be a Guide! This is an error. Let alone S-rank? There must have been a mistake. Kill that magic beast… mmph… mmph!”

The mouth of the man whose voice had been echoing through the room was silenced. Yeonwoo had blocked his mouth.

“I’ve shut that mouth that blabbers without thinking. I felt like if I heard any more, I’d go mad and kill you.”

At the same time, as if by magic, the machine indicating Yeonwoo’s contamination level showed a 3% increase. It was because he had used his ability in the process of shutting the man’s mouth.

The man’s face gradually turned red because he couldn’t breathe.

“Has everyone forgotten the warning I gave? I clearly said before coming in. An attack on my Guide is an attack on me. And I have no intention of tolerating that, if only for the sake of my own survival.”

“Seo Yeonwoo!”

Ma Seongtae shouted. Yeonwoo glanced at him and then let go of the man.

“…Haaah!”

“I will listen to criticism, but I hope you will refrain from insults.”

The surroundings became silent. They only exchanged glances asking what to do, but no one stepped forward.

Then, someone did step forward. Judging by his trembling legs, he had no desire to step out, but it seemed he had been forced to. Curious as to what he would say, Yeonwoo tilted his head to the right and looked at him.

“Y-yes. I’ll admit he’s a Guide. But we have an obligation to protect the safety of the citizens. Especially you, you are someone who is an idol to the people! Such a person is going to go around with a magic beast? What will you do if that magic beast ever threatens the citizens?”

“That won’t happen.”

“How can you be so sure! Do you not know your position? If that magic beast becomes a threat to the citizens, how will you take responsibility? It would be better to eliminate a predicted threat!”

“Wait a moment! It’s a waste to kill him. He’s Korea’s first S-rank Guide! Even if he’s a magic beast, he has utility value.”

“Do you not see that that is the problem! But could you even proudly say that Korea’s first S-rank Guide is a magic beast?! It’s much better to find another Guide than to put forward something like that!”

“Ha, this is why the Esper departments are a problem. They don’t even know how precious a Guide is!”

It was a total madhouse. The researchers couldn’t even intervene, pushed aside by the loud voices of the old men. Some tried to force a stop, but they couldn’t easily calm the heated argument. They continued the bickering without reaching a consensus.

‘So noisy.’

Yeonwoo sighed. At that, Softy looked up at Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo stroked Softy with tired eyes. His mood, which had improved, was hitting rock bottom. He wanted to sweep them all away. But he shouldn’t do that. It would only give them something to nitpick.

It was then. The energy of Softy being transmitted through his arm turned sharp.

“Softy?”

Softy’s gaze, which had been on Yeonwoo, turned toward the clustered people. Is it because they’re being noisy? Yeonwoo watched the executives. It seemed they couldn’t even feel the gazes of the people around them.

Well, humans who live for their own vanity wouldn’t care about the gazes of others. The only thing they care about is public opinion.

If that were the case, they shouldn’t have had this kind of debate in front of everyone else. How developed is the internet these days? They’re practically asking for their image to drop. People for whom public opinion is everything.

Do they think the people here have no mouths? The expressions of Kim Yoojung and the others are not good. Who would like it if someone was shouting and fighting at their workplace?

Shin Witaek, who had been watching the argument from a step behind, murmured lowly.

“Why argue like that over something that can be verified one by one. Sunghoon-ya, verify it.”

“…!”

Yeonwoo blocked Han Sunghoon as he approached. To think he’d come out so openly. No, maybe this is better.

It’s tedious to watch the standoff continue. Though, of course, that doesn’t mean I can forgive him for targeting Softy.

“Esper Seo Yeonwoo, move aside.”

“Why should I?”

“It won’t be good for Esper Seo Yeonwoo if you act like this.”

“Did you think I would obediently listen to you now that I’ve found my Guide? The reason I followed without much complaint until now was because you made an effort to find a Guide… Softy?”

Softy pulled away from Yeonwoo’s arms, and suddenly his body began to swell enormously. Softy, who had been gradually increasing in size, had suddenly transformed into the shape of a large dog with brown fur.

No, is it a dog?

He had a cute face when his eyes were closed, but when he opened them, murderous blue eyes were revealed. The sharp teeth exposed as he opened his mouth with a fierce growl were a bonus. He was closer to a wolf, if anything. Softy threatened the people.

[Yeonwoo…]

Huh? He spoke.

[You, bullying Yeonwoo? Why? Yeonwoo, feeling bad.]