SOFTIE 48

“What’s so dangerous when Seo Yeonwoo is perfectly fine? If citizens die because he fails to conquer that Gate, the blame will naturally shift to him. Or, it would be even better if he just died inside it. Oh, why didn’t I think of that before? I could have killed him long ago if I had.”

With this, the plan to trigger a Gate using S-rank magic minerals was finalized.

“Who knows. Maybe another S-rank Gate will appear. If it’s S-rank, Seo Yeonwoo has to step up. He might even die there. The more obstacles, the better, so tell Yoosung as well.”

“Hasn’t he cut ties and left? He won’t listen.”

“Not the other family members. He has a mother and a younger sibling. Yoosung used to be such an obedient child; I don’t know why he changed like that. Putting him in Team 1 was a mistake. Once Hansol awakens, I’ll have to form a team just for him.”

Even though he hadn’t awakened yet, he firmly believed his child would awaken as an Esper. Han Sunghoon knew Shin Witaek was only thinking of the bright side, but he didn’t let it show.

“Minister, when will you execute the plan?”

“There’s a day when Espers observe the Guide classes. I’ll aim for then. Here, contact the number written on this.”

Han Sunghoon received the contact information Shin Witaek handed him. A reporter? It was perfect for sparking a controversy.

“Yes, I understand.”

Yeonwoo sat in front of Lee Taeho and had to explain all those embarrassing things that happened back then with his own mouth. He didn’t know how many times he stopped mid-sentence or trailed off. It was even more uncomfortable because the person in front of him was listening with sparkling eyes.

He’s already guessed roughly what happened, so why does he want to hear it?

On that day, when they emerged from the room, those outside must have guessed what kind of Guiding had occurred inside upon seeing Yeonwoo’s drastically lowered levels. He couldn’t forget the words he heard whispered as he hurriedly left: “I guess they did it…”

They were all experts in this field. They were people who studied Yeonwoo’s pollution levels every day and agonized over how to bring them down.

Naturally, it couldn’t be hidden. Because there was only one type of Guiding that could bring the pollution level down that sharply.

No, is it actually better to just say it? Surely they don’t think we went all the way. We did something similar, but we didn’t go all the way.

“…The end?”

“What were you expecting?”

“I naturally thought you went all the way…”

“We didn’t!”

Yeonwoo said with a blazing gaze, telling him to shut that mouth. Lee Taeho leaned back in his chair, looking disappointed.

“So what happened after that?”

“I told you, nothing. I just told Softy to Guide me as much as he wanted.”

“I guess you didn’t hate it either. Doing such a thing with a magic beast…, ah, okay, okay.”

Lee Taeho shut his mouth when Yeonwoo glared at him chillingly. It was Lee Taeho who had begged to hear the details. The reason was that even though the machine called the magic beast a Guide, he doubted whether it could actually perform Guiding that was exceptionally effective for Yeonwoo.

Moreover, that magic beast walked around perfectly fine even after that. Any other Guide would have been groaning in pain for a day or two.

“That magic beast is quite a fellow too. You two certainly suit each other.”

“Softy is amazing.”

Yeonwoo was equally surprised. He thought it would take a great effort to drop below 60%, but Softy had achieved it. While Yeonwoo had recognized his own situation, it was Softy who calmed Yeonwoo through conversation, eye contact, and actions. Then the Guiding followed.

Yeonwoo smiled faintly. Lee Taeho saw Yeonwoo’s smile, which had become much lighter.

The examination room that day wouldn’t even open because of the door Softy broke, and the CCTV installed inside happened to be destroyed so they couldn’t see anything, but the gear Yeonwoo wore reported his status.

If the pollution level hadn’t dropped, they would have called an Esper to force the door open, but since it did, they left them alone. Lee Taeho looked at the chart recording his levels, which dropped by the minute and second, with fascination. Mental state is a problem that even the best research teams cannot solve.

To think it was resolved that day in an instant.

Actually, it was for the better. It’s a good thing his condition improved. So, Lee Taeho decided to satisfy his other curiosity.

“So you’re saying you didn’t go all the way.”

“Yes. We didn’t.”

“Which means you did something similar—how did you do it? I heard he has a history of turning into a wolf, but did he also turn into a human? It’s uncomfortable to do it in that form, after all.”

Yeonwoo took a slight breath. He’s unnecessarily quick-witted.

Softy had turned into a human.

That appearance… he said it was the appearance I liked, but it was my first time seeing it.

It was the first human form he had transformed into, but it was an appearance one could call handsome. He was a bit surprised that the first human form was a man. He thought he would turn into a pretty person since he likes pretty things. Well, considering his voice, it suits him.

“Enough of that. So, what is the answer to my question?”

“It was just good. What else could it be?”

He had told the whole story of that day, but he didn’t like the answer he received.

“I told you it wasn’t to that extent.”

“No, you can just brush it off. Was that your first… ah, it must have been your first time. It’s not easy for an Esper to be like that at your age… ahem.”

Lee Taeho mumbled on and then shut his mouth after receiving a murderous look. Yeonwoo’s head began to ache. This is why he dislikes this man. He wanted to sew up that mouth that was beyond honest and said everything it thought.

Softy makes him feel good, but why does this man make others feel so bad?

“It’s probably because the matching rate is high. Once you found the solution, the defensive mechanisms you unconsciously put up vanished, and as high-concentration Guiding overwhelmed you, you felt pleasure. Originally, if Guiding feels too good, you can feel sexual arousal. It’s no big deal. It’s common among Espers. That’s why they have sex with Guides. Guiding stimulates sexual sensitivity too.”

Yeonwoo had that much knowledge as well. That there are cases where sexual sensitivity flares up if the harmony is too perfect or if one suddenly receives excessive Guiding. Both applied to Yeonwoo. So he tried to move on. But what followed was the problem.

Wouldn’t it be a problem if his sexual sensitivity was stimulated at any given time?

“…Even after that?”

“Do you go into heat whenever you get Guiding?”

Yeonwoo’s eyebrows twitched at the explicit remark, but this was the person he currently had to bow his head to and consult.

“Not always, but just… how should I put it… I receive it fine, but then if the Guiding gets deep, my body reacts sensitively. It differs depending on the occasion…”

He knows Softy wants to do the Guiding. Rather, it seems Softy mistook his excessive reaction back then as something good and enjoyable, so he’s anxious to do it. He appreciates the sentiment.

Is it because that joy was too great? At first, it was comfortable, but gradually his body heat rose. There are times when he suddenly thinks of that day and his breathing becomes rough.

I’m the problem for accepting it sexually. The Esper who accepts Guiding like that is the problem. Even as he repeated that internally, his body reacted.

There are times when it happens and times when it doesn’t. If it were a consistent reaction, he could at least respond to it, but the inconsistency is the problem.

Specifically, there are cases where it’s peaceful as usual at first and then suddenly becomes hot. That was puzzling.

“Isn’t it just your body overreacting because it hasn’t gotten used to receiving raw, unfiltered Guiding yet? In those cases, it gets better quickly. So what? It means the Guiding efficiency is high. Wasn’t it good last time too? Just keep doing that. Other guys are desperate because they can’t do it, so why are you like this?”

“…It wasn’t good,” Yeonwoo said with a growl.

“Can I tell the Guide that?”

“…”

Yeonwoo was silent. Lee Taeho teased Yeonwoo as if he had caught him in something.

“Ah, that magic beast would be sad if he heard.”

“Let me correct myself. I don’t really like it. That sort of thing. That’s not what a Guide is for.”

He has no intention of using Guiding in that way. Besides, Softy is…

“That magic beast isn’t going to do that to you, and you aren’t going to do that to him, so why worry for nothing? You. You’ve almost never relieved your sexual desire, right? Your schedule is just boring Gate conquests every day. Think of it as that finally bursting out now. It’s not like you hated the act itself.”