SOFTIE 22

“I, I’m asking because I don’t quite understand… what is the reason?”

“Because Yeonwoo isn’t moving.”

“…Huh? Just because of that…?”

“‘Just because of that,’ you say. To those people, it’s a big deal. In the end, Yeonwoo went berserk. They gave him so much time and ate up so much tax money, yet they were criticized for failing to look after Yeonwoo Hana. They need to show that the hero is alive and well, but Yeonwoo isn’t showing any intention of moving.”

“But didn’t the order come down from the higher-ups for him to rest for the sake of his physical condition?”

“It’s just for show. ‘We tried to stop him, but Yeonwoo stepped forward.’ If they package it like that, they won’t be the ones getting censured. That’s why they’re giving us hell.”

“W-we have to tell the Boss…!”

“He knows better than you do. So think carefully. It seems like there might be another path for you.”

After leaving advice that would serve as bone and flesh to Park Gunwoo, Kang Hana muttered to herself. She was caught up in the turning gears of the situation just the same. Even if it was Yeonwoo’s business, Hana didn’t like the current situation where they were the ones suffering damages.

“Well, an Esper’s life has always been like this.”

Always swayed and caught up in surrounding circumstances. What is it with those damn Gates anyway? A choice made for my own sake was a betrayal to someone else.

“The atmosphere is unusual. Even if we consider the S-rank Gate an accident, the way they shoved all those A-rank Gates on us before that was strange. Because of that, Yeonwoo’s contamination level rose, and he essentially went berserk. Did they do that because his limit was coming and they wanted to cut him off…?”

Kang Hana muttered to herself. She knew this game well. She had noticed long ago that the higher-ups’ moves were strange. However, there probably wasn’t anyone who wanted to let go of Yeonwoo just for the sake of letting go. That was how much merit the existence of ‘Seo Yeonwoo’ provided them.

And now, the Yeonwoo who used to walk a tightrope because he couldn’t receive guiding is gone. Since there is a way to get their hands on him in a perfect state, they wouldn’t just sit back and watch.

“Yeonwoo isn’t someone who gets taken down easily.”

Choi Minjae spoke, having overheard Kang Hana’s muttering.

“He has a Guide now, so he’ll be even better.”

Choi Minjae stared at Softy, who was sitting still on the sofa. When he first saw him, he worried about why a magical beast had appeared claiming to be the kid’s Guide, but looking at it now, that might actually be better.

Because human greed is endless.

What does that kid, a magical beast, think of Yeonwoo? Does he know his own position as his Guide? And what that means to Yeonwoo?

“Haeyoon, is the story you wanted to tell Yeonwoo about that kid?”

“I happened to overhear something. It seems that fellow is scheduled to take classes together with the newly joined Guides this time.”

At that, Kang Hana straightened her posture. It was because Min Haeyoon’s statement didn’t make sense.

“A magical beast and humans in the same space?”

“Yes. Rumors have already spread far and wide. That a magical beast Guide has appeared. And the fact that the magical beast is Yeonwoo-hyung’s Guide as well.”

“Ha, I smell something. They have no intention of hiding it. Is that it?”

Kang Hana gave a smirk, thinking ‘Of course.’ The emergence of a magical beast Guide, and that beast being the Guide of S-rank Esper Seo Yeonwoo. People will be puzzled, find it strange, or be afraid. And those arrows will fly toward Yeonwoo.

“Tsk. Don’t they need Yeonwoo? So why are they doing things to eat away at his image… Do you know, Mister?”

“It means they have no intention of changing their attitude. You know Yeonwoo has clashed with the higher-ups a lot.”

“Are they really going to kill him?”

“What? K-kill him?! J-just how would they kill the Boss…!”

Park Gunwoo asked back in shock.

“They’ll use that Guide. Even if they don’t kill him directly… social burial? Wouldn’t they be thinking of something like that?”

“After how much the Boss has fought all this time…!”

“The public feels pity for the powerless, but they aren’t generous toward weapons with power like us. The reason things were able to change this much… was because the existence of Yeonwoo was there. But what if Yeonwoo isn’t the person they thought he was? That sense of betrayal will return even more strongly. Especially, how will they take the news that he recognizes a slime, a magical beast, as his Guide?”

Min Haeyoon, worried about Yeonwoo, glanced at the room he had entered with Shin Yoosung.

“Yeonwoo-hyung… will he be okay? The pressure coming from the higher-ups won’t be a joke… and he doesn’t talk much. Not everyone at the Association is on Yeonwoo-hyung’s side either. Among the Espers, there are people who dislike Yeonwoo-hyung. Even if it is a Guide, they don’t seem to welcome a magical beast. It’s natural, in a way…”

The surroundings went quiet. Unable to bear the silence, Kang Hana propped her feet up on the table.

“What’s the use of us talking amongst ourselves? The thoughts of the guy who matters most are what’s important. And nobody knows how this fellow will act once he goes there. You heard the story. Engrave it in your heart and don’t go on a rampage. Got it?”

“Will he understand?”

Min Haeyoon looked down at Softy with a worried expression. He had been scared because it was a magical beast, but seeing him stay in the same spot, not knowing what he was thinking, a sigh escaped him. Looking at him, he just seemed stupid. It was the same for Kang Hana.

“He’ll understand. Isn’t that why he’s living with Yeonwoo? Anyway, behave yourself. I’d rather not have my head hurt because of you…”

Kang Hana reached out her hand to pat Softy’s head, but Softy smacked her hand away. Then, he hopped aside with a thump. Everyone looked down at Softy. She didn’t particularly have a strong desire to touch him, but because he rejected her touch, Kang Hana’s mood soured.

“Heh, this guy?”

But she was blocked repeatedly.

“Let’s see who wins!”

A battle of nerves ensued between Kang Hana, who was trying to touch him, and Softy, who was trying to block her. The confrontation between the two grew increasingly rough. She quirked an eyebrow as she watched Softy continuously evade her. Choi Minjae stepped forward to stop them, but Yeonwoo was faster. The door opened, and seeing the situation in the living room, he smacked the back of Kang Hana’s head.

“Why are you bullying him?”

“The kid is avoiding me!”

“…You tried to kill Softy. Of course he hates you.”

Kang Hana let out an incredulous laugh when she saw how he had avoided her hand to the death, only to cling to Yeonwoo as soon as he arrived.

“So, is the talk all over?”

“Yeah.”

“What are you going to do?”

Yeonwoo stared at Kang Hana’s serious face. Everyone waited for him to open his mouth. There was no one who didn’t know that Shin Yoosung was Shin Witaek’s son, and what he had to say was obviously related to Shin Witaek.

“I’m thinking about it… but those people won’t like it.”

“Do as you wish. You’ve endured a lot all this time.”

“I’d welcome it. As long as I can land a punch on those people’s faces.”

Choi Minjae spoke nonchalantly, saying he would support whatever conclusion Yeonwoo reached, and Kang Hana was making a fuss about wanting to fight the slime. At that, Softy asserted his presence by crying out as if he wouldn’t back down.

“Kkyu! Kkyu!”

Laughter broke out at how cute that sight was.

“Yeah. I know.”

“Haeyoon, didn’t you say you had something to say too?”

“I’ll look into it a bit more, organize it, and let you know.”

A ding notification sound rang out. A message had arrived on each of their Gears. As soon as she heard the sound, Kang Hana grabbed her hair and went wild, saying she felt like she was developing a neurosis.

“A dispatch order dropped. Let’s go. We’ll come again.”

“Argh, how long has it been since we finished everything and they’re calling us again! It’s because of you, isn’t it! Isn’t it because you had a round with your father?”

“I know nothing about it.”

But it didn’t reach Kang Hana’s ears. She grabbed Shin Yoosung by the collar and shook him violently, but eventually had to head outside through Choi Minjae’s mediation. Once the noisy bunch left, the house became quiet.

Meanwhile, Kang Hana, who was heading toward the Gate, kept thinking about something with a sulky expression, then finally tossed a question to Shin Yoosung.

“Hey, Shin Yoosung. You said it, right? When those guys flocked together, that slime, its appearance changed.”

“What about it.”

“…A slime is just a slime, right?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

At Shin Yoosung’s question, Kang Hana remained silent for a long time. Soon, everyone focused on her. It wasn’t a lightly tossed-out remark; she had a serious expression.

“No, it’s just, that guy was pitter-pattering away to avoid me earlier. But I was being serious.”