SOFTIE 33

Whatever choice he makes, I have the confidence to face him. Looking at the current situation, it seems he intends to play the media, but will things really go as he expects? He needs to realize that the trembling little child from the past no longer exists. And now, I have someone I want to protect even at the cost of my life.

Yeonwoo gently stroked Softy.

“Kkyuu?”

“It’s nothing.”

˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧

‘Yeonwoo-ya, you have been chosen. You are an S-class Esper. You must not show weakness.’

It happened in an instant. Yeonwoo, who had simply been excited about an outing with his parents, was caught in a Gate and awakened as an Esper. After that, there was no time to mourn the death of his parents, nor time to feel lonely from the parting.

The Association rejoiced upon discovering the child who had awakened as South Korea’s first S-class Esper. They sought to mold Yeonwoo into an Esper who grew strong by overcoming hardship and adversity—a symbol of power and an Esper responsible for the citizens’ safety. They always told him that he possessed that much strength.

‘Don’t you want to take revenge on the magic beast that killed your parents? People will find comfort seeing you, the survivor. You know how many people lost their families due to that incident, don’t you?’

They used his sadness and loss to make him empathize with others.

‘You must never lose control and rampaged again like last time. You should have used that power to save people! That is the kind of being you are. Look. Aren’t there so many people disappointed in you? This is all being said because they want you to do well.’

In the end, they whispered words that were no different from coercion.

The words of one person were no different from the words of everyone. He lowered his eyes, complied, and nodded, performing what they called “duty” and “morality.” Since the Association was the only place for Yeonwoo—an S-class and powerful Esper—to go.

The times spent leisurely with his parents were slowly forgotten. He had to learn about Gates, understand the habits of magic beasts, and become stronger than anyone else, so he immersed himself in training. From morning until night. He was demanded to follow a schedule that was difficult for a young child to handle.

And he had to show results. Not a single failure was tolerated. Mighty power is necessary for raiding Gates, but uncontrolled power only wounds people.

“Kkyuu?”

Something cold touched his forehead. Yeonwoo massaged his brow. It seemed he had fallen into a short slumber while receiving guiding from Softy at home after his contamination level had risen.

But of all things, he had seen that past he didn’t want to recall in his dream. They were words he had heard countless times as a child. They had beautifully packaged the request to sacrifice himself for others.

“Ah, sorry. I fell asleep for a moment.”

Yeonwoo loosened his stiff neck. A cracking sound echoed briskly. Just the fact that a being like Softy was by his side made the faint lingering unpleasantness gradually fade away.

“What did you say you learned today?”

Softy chattered something to Yeonwoo incessantly, looking excited. As if the lesson was enjoyable, Softy cried out endlessly, and Yeonwoo continuously stroked his head, telling him he was doing great.

“Was it fun?”

“Kkyuu!”

Yeonwoo smiled faintly. Softy’s emotions are fluffy like cotton candy. His likes and dislikes are distinct, like a child’s.

“Nobody’s bullying you, right?”

Softy tilted his head as if he didn’t know. Softy has been attending the lessons diligently, but nothing special has happened yet. Softy just seemed to find the lessons fun; there were no signs of him being bullied.

Still, I’m uneasy. I’m worried because he’s a magic beast. He won’t know the meanness or shadiness of humans. I’m worried he might not notice the hostility of others very well.

According to Haeyoon, there are no kids who like Softy.

Since they can’t even communicate, it was natural that no one approached him, but imagining him attending lessons without a single friend didn’t feel very good. Also, Guide Yoon Hyunseop, who seems infinitely kind and gentle to Softy, bothers me.

Digging into his past was easy.

It’s a common past. He was a teacher before manifesting as a Guide, and during those days of living a peaceful life, he was caught in a Gate and manifested. His students were killed by magic beasts, and the Esper who had a high matching rate with him killed his lover to claim him.

He is someone who would dislike me, an Esper, but he could also sufficiently dislike Softy, a magic beast. That must be why the higher-ups left him as he was. Even looking at the items given to Softy, it made me click my tongue.

He might have told Softy not to show them to me, saying he should be wary of me because I’m an Esper.

“There’s no way Softy wouldn’t show them to me.”

A self-defense weapon and a pager. What do they think of me?

“Softy-ah, do you like the teacher?”

“Kkyu?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

Even when the teacher is mentioned, there’s no particular reaction from Softy. It’s not just the teacher. Softy just seemed generally uninterested in humans.

Still, it seems his professional spirit is thorough, so should I let it slide? No matter how much that side tries to win Softy over, Softy won’t even bat an eye.

How could they, when they can’t even communicate in the first place?

Then, he suddenly remembered what Min Haeyoon had said.

‘He said Guide Yoon Hyunseop asked if Softy speaks.’

The higher-ups probably gave him that information too. Actually, that was something Yeonwoo was curious about as well.

“Softy-ah, why don’t you talk?”

I clearly heard Softy using telepathy. But I haven’t heard it a single time since then. Does using telepathy take a lot of energy, perhaps?

Softy stared blankly at Yeonwoo. What is this look? Yeonwoo was a bit flustered. It was a look that seemed to be tentatively gauging his reaction.

“…No. It’s nothing. You might not want to. I like how it is now, too.”

It’s a bit of a shame, but I can just watch more closely and figure it out. Those large, twinkling eyes and cute cries are pure and honest. Just then, Yeonwoo’s phone rang.

—Everything is ready, so come down.

“Yeah. I’m coming.”

Today is the day to test the matching rate with Softy. And a precision exam as a bonus.

Yeonwoo went downstairs with Softy in his arms. The matching rate can be called an index that shows guiding efficiency.

The higher the matching rate, the more an Esper’s contamination level could be lowered with a smaller amount of energy, so the matching rate was important. In a way, the matching rate between an Esper and a Guide was considered even more important than their rank.

Yeonwoo opened the door to the examination room. It was a place he had frequented countless times. Having not visited for a while, it felt somewhat familiar. Kim Yoojung stepped forward from among the busy-looking researchers.

“Are you all prepared mentally?”

“Why do I need to be prepared mentally? It’s obvious it’ll be high anyway. Right?”

“Kkyuu!”

Softy cried out in affirmation. Seeing the two of them, Kim Yoojung gave a hollow laugh. However, she couldn’t say anything because the reason for that confidence was visible.

“Now, sit here while holding Softy.”

It’s been a while since a matching rate test. In the beginning, he had tested every time to find a Guide, but as low matching rates kept appearing, he had gradually given up.

“Starting now. Um… Softy-ah, please give Yeonwoo some guiding.”

Softy’s guiding began. The researchers stared blankly at the screen while recording various things. Yeonwoo looked forward to seeing just how high the figure would be.

He had proudly shouted to people that this child was his pair Guide. He did not doubt for a second that a figure worthy of that would appear.

Beep!

The sound announcing the completion of the matching rate test rang out. Yeonwoo’s eyes sparkled, and at the same time, a short gasp of “Gasp!” escaped someone’s lips.

Yeonwoo could be certain without even looking. It’s high. Basically, if it’s over 80%, it’s called high, so how high would it be?

Softy was watching the researchers, who were huddling and talking instead of thinking about announcing the results. Seeing him point at them with a tentacle and look up, it seemed as if he were asking what happened.

“The results came out well, so there’s no need to worry. Softy-ah, you are my pair Guide after all.”

Yeonwoo approached Kim Yoojung. Before he could even ask for the results, she showed him the chart. Yeonwoo burst into laughter as soon as he saw the figure.

“Must be nice for you.”

“It is, of course.”