SOFTIE 38

I cannot understand why he likes me, or why he gives me such affection. Is it simply because I am an Esper? Because Softy is the only Guide with such a high matching rate with me? Is that why he was drawn to me?

Because I didn’t know, I was afraid it would disappear. I was afraid that at some point, my Guide would reject me.

Is Softy really okay being with me? Softy was as pure as a child. And he likes me. That is the truth. But will that feeling continue? Might the reason he followed me simply be because the first person he saw was a novelty?

I need Softy, but Softy doesn’t necessarily need me. I am the one in the position of clinging. I feel overwhelming emotions every time, but what about Softy? Isn’t he just being dragged into dangerous situations because of me for no reason?

What if Softy gets pushed around here and there by people, grows exhausted, and leaves me for the Gate, saying he’s sick and tired of it? In the past, there were many cases where Espers who didn’t want to lose their Guide would forcibly oppress, exploit, and confine them. Those were all the ends of Espers who could not trust their Guides.

That is why Yeonwoo trusted Softy and tried his best not to overdo things—so that Softy could feel that being by his side was a comfortable place.

And Yeonwoo realized. That it wasn’t a natural trust, but that he was forcing his own heart to think that way.

Lee Taeho, seeing Yeonwoo’s hardened face, said firmly.

“Numbers don’t lie. If the magical beast isn’t the problem, the problem is you.”

[Yeonwoo, do you hate me? Do you reject me?]

“…What are you talking about. Why would I reject you? That’s not it.”

[I don’t either. That human is saying strange things.]

“Right.”

A tone and gaze that were not just firm, but crystal clear. And Softy glared at Lee Taeho. As if asking how he could say such a thing. A faint smile flickered on Yeonwoo’s lips and then vanished.

Softy is honest.

The concept of a lie doesn’t exist for him. But what about me? Was I truly honest with Softy in every aspect?

Lee Taeho, with his eyebrows raised, looked back and forth between Yeonwoo and Softy. Lee Taeho was curious as well. What was a guy who had it all so anxious about? Wasn’t everything supposed to be resolved for an Esper once they got a Guide? It didn’t look like they were on bad terms, either.

Just then, Kim Yoojung, who had been listening quietly, looked at Yeonwoo with a kind expression and spoke.

“Yeonwoo, are you worried about Softy?”

“…Pardon?”

“Now that I think about it, all the Guides who guided you before had problems, even if minor. It was because the wavelengths didn’t match, but there were Guides who fainted or were carried away while guiding you. Your energy is just so vast. Just untangling the twisted energy is a daunting task. So I wondered if you were worried about Softy. Is that not it?”

Yeonwoo fell deep into thought. He had indeed had such thoughts.

There were many who tried to guide Yeonwoo, but even when a Guide poured in energy, it didn’t work on Yeonwoo. Rather, there were cases where the Guide lost consciousness from using all their strength, or their condition worsened because they didn’t match Yeonwoo.

This happened before Lee Taeho developed the medication, and it had continued until the present, where he had to receive guiding forcibly after developing a tolerance.

“Ah, that could be it. Hey, this fellow is a magical beast. His body is sturdy and his energy volume is several times larger, so set aside those worries. Like an Esper starved for guiding, you should just gobble it up; you shouldn’t be refusing while worrying about the other person. It seems that fellow listens to you well, but if you say let’s stop, he stops, right? You shouldn’t listen to a patient saying they’re fine, but he doesn’t know that.”

Yeonwoo’s mouth clamped shut. His heart beat wildly. Like someone whose weak point had been struck, he couldn’t say anything.

Was it my problem? Really?

[But Yeonwoo told me to stop…]

“Uh-huh, I told you, you’re not supposed to listen to the patient.”

[…Is that how it is? I shouldn’t listen to Yeonwoo? Will Yeonwoo get healthy then?]

“No… that’s…”

Yeonwoo couldn’t tell the innocently questioning Softy that he must listen well. It was a problem that arose because Softy obeyed Yeonwoo so readily. Yeonwoo remained silent.

“If you’re done with your problem, back off. What I’m curious about is this magical beast. A slime normally uses the mucus that makes up its body to change its shape. But it cannot transform into a form larger than its original size! But he did transform. When he was this small!”

Lee Taeho, roughly sketching Softy’s size with his hands, looked up at Softy with sparkling eyes.

“Besides, I heard you can turn into a wolf? That it’s not just mimicking the shape with mucus, but perfect mimicry? Can a slime do that too? Try transforming! I’ll evaluate it!”

[Shut up. I’m talking to Yeonwoo right now. Go away.]

Softy grimaced as if it were a nuisance. Then, Kim Yoojung grabbed Lee Taeho’s arm firmly.

“If you’re all finished, please leave now.”

“No, I still have business left!”

While Kim Yoojung dragged out Lee Taeho, who was resisting and saying he had no intention of leaving, Softy continued to stare only at Yeonwoo.

[Did you tell me to stop because I looked weak? Because you thought I would collapse?]

“…That’s right.”

[I’m strong. I’m different from humans. I’m a magical beast.]

As if I didn’t know that.

“I know.”

[But why?]

“That’s… I don’t know either.”

Yeonwoo gave a bitter smile. Yeonwoo didn’t want to give Softy a burden. He was his first Guide, and Softy was so small and precious that he treated him with extra care.

It was also his first time receiving guiding. He didn’t know how much was appropriate. Softy is doing well. Since he had escaped the danger of a rampage for now, he thought he shouldn’t push him. He figured it would drop to Green as time passed anyway. He had thought so simply.

That wasn’t it. I was the problem. What’s the point of holding the title of S-class? I was still an Esper with one important screw missing, one that wouldn’t last long. I didn’t even realize my body had become accustomed to being abnormal and subconsciously rejected the guiding.

If so, is it now just a matter of accepting it? If I just ask Softy to guide me, will the numbers go down? I’m not even sure of that.

Softy tilted his head and looked down at Yeonwoo. From the moment he said he wasn’t scared earlier, Softy’s mood had been sky-high. But Yeonwoo’s wasn’t.

He has looked in a bad mood from the moment that strange-looking human said something. The way he keeps his mouth shut and thinks to himself is just like back then. It was like he was secretly holding back sadness. What is the problem? Is that human the problem?

I really don’t like him. Making me move away from Yeonwoo, and shouting at Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo has a soft heart, so if you shout, he gets surprised and hides. That’s why I’m protecting him. I maintained a small form so he wouldn’t be scared, but did he mistake me for being weak because of that?

However, one thing is certain. Guiding is the problem. The fact that the Esper is anxious and the numbers are high means guiding is needed. And I shouldn’t have listened to Yeonwoo when he said guiding wasn’t necessary!

That human said it too. That you shouldn’t listen to the patient. Yeonwoo was kind and nice, so he blocked the guiding because he was worried about me. That meant I could just ignore him and proceed with the guiding.

Until that gear color the teacher mentioned turns Green. I just need to keep, keep guiding him.

Since the guiding I’ve done so far wasn’t very effective, let’s do it in a different way. Conveniently, Yeonwoo said he isn’t scared anymore even if I grow large. Conveniently, I see many spots I can touch.

Yeonwoo was wearing casual clothes today, not his combat suit, as he had cleared his schedule for the exam. Since it was common to attach various things to the body during exams, about three of his top shirt buttons were undone, and his sleeves were rolled up. It was a perfect situation for contact guiding.

Yeonwoo’s pale skin caught Softy’s eye.

[It’s okay. I’m here. Leave everything to me!]

When the young Yeonwoo was crying, I was the one who soothed him and protected him. Before Yeonwoo could even wonder about Softy’s sudden behavior, the squishy mucus swallowed him entirely, as if constricting his windpipe.

“So—Softy?!”

A startled Kim Yoojung let out a shrill scream, and Lee Taeho marveled. Their reactions differed, but both questioned what Softy was doing. Yeonwoo closed his eyes the moment he was swallowed, but what he felt was coziness. He wasn’t suffocating either. Yeonwoo slowly opened his eyes.