SOFTIE 26

Ah, I hate that… Ah! I’ll just become the leader of the pack. Since humans are all weak, it’ll be fine if I take care of everyone, right? Then the child will stay with me forever, too. It would be fun to live in a pack. I had such thoughts, but in the end, they were never realized.

I wasn’t as strong as I thought.

The child was taken from me. And that is why I grew to hate humans.

“Kkyuu?”

“Softy, hold onto this tightly…”

When Yeonwoo held something out, Softy opened his mouth wide and swallowed it whole. Yeonwoo hadn’t expected him to swallow it, so he just stared blankly at Softy.

Seeing Softy look back with an expression that asked, ‘Is this not it?’ Yeonwoo burst into laughter.

“No, do whatever you want.”

Slimes have a habit of dissolving anything. It wouldn’t have dissolved, right?

“Softy, can you take it back out?”

“Tweh!”

“Keep it hidden well inside your body.”

Fortunately, it hadn’t dissolved. Softy’s body was clear and transparent enough to see through, so where was he hiding it? Was it Softy’s ability? It dawned on him once again. Yeonwoo didn’t know much about Softy. Softy looked up at Yeonwoo as if asking why he was staring so intently. However, Hana thing was certain.

“The fact that Softy is my Guide.”

Yeonwoo looked toward the direction of the Guide Association.

There is no way I would send Softy, my pair Guide, there without any defensive measures. He is the Guide I finally found, my very own Guide. I’ve already told Haeyoon, so it should be fine. The ones they want to kill are me, and since Softy is a subject to be used, they won’t kill him.

“You’ll be okay, right?”

“Kkyuu!”

Seeing Softy thump his chest as if to say ‘just trust me,’ Yeonwoo let out a laugh. He had worried that Softy might not want to leave his side, but that had been his own misunderstanding. Rather, Softy seemed to want to take the classes.

If Softy hadn’t wanted to take the classes, I wouldn’t have sent him.

He felt somewhat sad, yet proud at the same time.

“Softy, I’ll come to pick you up before the sun sets. Before the glow of the sunset hits the sky.”

“Kkyu!”

Yeonwoo headed to the Guide Association with Softy, who answered loudly in agreement, in his arms. First, he had to give them a firm warning. That he wouldn’t stand by if they threatened Softy. Power surged into Yeonwoo’s arms as he held Softy close.

“W-we were expecting you.”

The employee was visibly flustered upon seeing Yeonwoo. However, Yeonwoo paid no mind. He simply told them to lead the way with a composed voice.

“Um… the dispatch…”

“I left it to my team members. Still, it’s his first day of school; I have to watch over him.”

Yeonwoo spoke like a parent sending their child to kindergarten. The employee wore a bewildered expression.

“After all, there might be people who threaten my pair Guide. He’s so gentle and kind, but simply because he’s a magical beast… Don’t you agree? I heard an Esper would also be attending for security, out of wariness toward my Guide.”

“Th-that is…”

“Ah, it’s fine. That can happen. It’s okay to prepare for accidents, but people might threaten him without reason. I hope you won’t forget that it was the Guide Association that strongly insisted he must receive Guide education.”

“Ah… O-of course.”

At Yeonwoo’s warning, the employee broke into a cold sweat but steadfastly led the way. Then they droned on about the classes Softy would take. It wasn’t much different from what Yeonwoo already knew. It was the same content explained to humans who had awakened as Guides. However, the employee was terrified even if Softy just wriggled a little.

‘Did they appoint someone who couldn’t even touch one of Softy’s fingers as the person in charge? No. The guiding employee isn’t what’s important. Just as Haeyoon said, it’s certain there’s an Esper inside the classroom, and that guy who is the teacher is the most dangerous…’

Just then, Yeonwoo’s phone rang. The employee, who had been explaining diligently, stopped abruptly.

“Ah, excuse me.”

As soon as Yeonwoo answered the phone, an order to return to his post was issued. The voice shouted angrily, but sounded troubled in a way.

They must have found out where Yeonwoo went and contacted him in a hurry. He hadn’t planned on staying long anyway. Literally, he just wanted to watch over him. If possible, he wanted to see the Esper and Guide who were supposed to attend, but given the situation, it didn’t seem like they would show them.

Moreover, if Yeonwoo didn’t move, they would send Park Gunwoo. It was good in terms of him being a means of transportation, but this sort of thing wasn’t good. Gunwoo would have no choice but to follow the Association’s instructions.

“Softy, I think I have to go now. You have to stay well-behaved. I leave him in your care.”

As Yeonwoo bowed his head in greeting, the employee gave an awkward smile. Only the employee and Softy were left in the room. The employee immediately let out a sigh that came from deep within. When Yeonwoo had issued his warning, the employee had resigned himself, thinking Yeonwoo would push his way through with force.

But fortunately, he left the magical beast Guide alone and departed.

“I was worried about what I’d do if he was uncooperative, but…”

However, the problem was still the magical beast sitting in the chair, staring blankly at the employee. The employee’s shoulders twitched as he stared back at Softy. He couldn’t read anything from that expression that just stared vacantly.

“Ahem, did you understand everything I’ve said so far?”

Only silence lingered. The employee let out a deep sigh.

“…Of course he wouldn’t speak. Why am I the one in charge… if it’s so important, the Association President should have stepped up.”

The employee grumbled to himself. He could vent his frustrations only because there was no one else in the room. After self-deprecatingly saying it was all because he was the easiest target, the employee said everything he needed to convey, regardless of whether Softy was listening properly or not.

“Got it?”

Silence returned once more. Unless the employee spoke, only silence would continue in this room.

“Well, I suppose he understood. Should I report this to the Association President?”

The task he had to do was simple. Informing the magical beast who had awakened as a Guide about formal content and schedules. Additionally, observing Softy and, further, examining his relationship with Seo Yeonwoo. This was the mission given to everyone who would encounter Softy.

“…I can’t tell.”

Since there was no reaction, there was no way to know. The only thing he could tell was that Seo Yeonwoo truly recognizes this magical beast as his pair Guide. That specific gaze an Esper has when looking at their Guide. It seemed he had caught a glimpse of the obsession underlying that feigned kindness.

“Let’s just write it down for now.”

He diligently wrote the report. That he was more well-behaved than expected, was listening and following along well. And that he appeared intimate with Yeonwoo. Especially that Seo Yeonwoo liked and cherished Softy very much.

The Guide Association has no intention of harming Softy. Rather, they want to win him over and have him guide as many Espers as possible. A Guide’s power and authority are built upon the Espers they support. It isn’t for nothing that Guides try to guide high-ranking Espers.

If a strong, high-ranking Esper who is thirsty for a Guide is at the Guide’s beck and call, they will do anything for them. Therefore, the Guide Department has struggled for over ten years to find a Guide for Seo Yeonwoo.

“It really is funny. The Espers are at the beck and call of the Guides, but the Guide Association is being suppressed by the power of the Esper Association and is in a state of coveting the Espers.”

Ultimately, the Guide plays a supporting role. The ones who stand at the front and receive enthusiasm are the Espers.

That is all because the existence known as Seo Yeonwoo is firmly holding his position. Even if other Espers cause trouble, there are citizens who believe Seo Yeonwoo wouldn’t, and the weight he contributes to the Esper Department is significant. That is why the tilted scales are being maintained in a strange way.

However, there is nothing a low-level employee like him can do. A low-level employee does what they’re told by the higher-ups. A position where one’s back gets broken in a fight between giants.

“Now then, let’s move.”

At the employee’s words, Softy got down from the chair. The employee flinched in surprise, but Softy maintained a certain distance. Realizing there was no intent to attack, the employee breathed a sigh of relief. He just couldn’t get used to it.

A magical beast is more dangerous than an Esper.

“Before we move to the classroom, I’m going to hand out the textbook… but you don’t have hands.”

The employee was about to provide the textbook when he realized Softy had no hands and his whole body was round like a glutinous rice cake. While the employee was scratching his head, Softy extended a tentacle.