SOFTIE 50

Watching the back of the dejected Softy as he walked away, Yeonwoo recalled him saying that day, “Is it because you like the Guiding? I’ll give you more.” After that, the concentration of the Guiding had become significantly more intense. If asked when he was most aroused—the beginning, middle, or end—it was definitely after that. Even though it was after he had already ejaculated once.

“Softy, do you only want to do Guiding with me?”

[Can I do Guiding?]

…Was it just that my reaction was good?

Softy, who had been looking at Yeonwoo with sparkling eyes, pouted his lips when the words of permission didn’t come.

[Was Yeonwoo teasing me…?]

“It’s not like that.”

Seeing Softy’s cheeks puffing up more and more, Yeonwoo quickly pulled him into his arms to soothe him.

“I’ll ask for it whenever I need it. Actually, I thought we might have to go to a Gate together today. It’s better to receive Guiding after everything is finished rather than overdoing it beforehand, right? We’ll have plenty of time then. Isn’t that right?”

[Mmh… yeah! I get it. Leave it to me! If Yeonwoo’s pollution level goes up, I’ll bring it down immediately!]

Though his stature is small, he is incredibly reliable.

[But, do I not have to go to class anymore?]

In fact, Yeonwoo had already sent an official notice to the Guide Association stating that he would no longer be sending Softy. It was to prevent bullying. Moreover, since Softy had come to know enough—perhaps more than enough—about the types and methods of Guiding, he felt there was no need to send him.

He couldn’t send Softy back to a place like that. Aside from that Guide, the others wouldn’t be friendly toward Softy either.

And the most important reason was Shin Witaek. Lately, the number of Gates had decreased strangely. There must be a reason. That man wouldn’t change his attitude for no reason. The Guide Association was also no longer favorable toward Softy.

If by any chance the two of them joined hands and threatened Softy while he was alone at the Guide Association, it would be a disaster. He would never let that happen.

“Do you want to go, by any chance?”

[Mm. If Yeonwoo tells me not to go, I won’t go! Those humans who bothered me there were annoying, so I was irritated. I can just study by myself. Rather, the time I spend with Yeonwoo is important. The more I practice, the better I’ll be at Guiding.]

Yeonwoo couldn’t suppress the chuckle that leaked out. One could tell by his attitude that Softy did not like humans.

That was likely why the higher-ups gave up on trying to win Softy over. Upon looking into it, it seemed they had made many secret approaches, but Softy had ignored them all.

How much must the pride of those people—who hate being ignored so much—have been crushed to be ignored by a magic beast? Moreover, Softy didn’t even remember it. That’s why I didn’t know.

“Are you asking to do Guiding all the time just to practice?”

[Yeah. I have to be good at it so Yeonwoo can be healthy.]

It was only a shame that he couldn’t respond to Softy’s heart properly. Since he ended up reacting even to that “practice” Guiding. Yeonwoo let out a small sigh. This is my problem. My body, which is broken, is the problem. So, until I get a bit more used to it, I should only receive a little.

[I also want to learn about mucosal or sexual Guiding, though.]

“Cough…!”

[That teacher keeps refusing to teach me.]

Yeonwoo briefly choked on his own breath. At the same time, his brow furrowed. He thought the teacher was kind to Guides, but as expected, did they discriminate because he was a magic beast? To say they didn’t teach him what he was curious about meant they ignored Softy’s words.

He felt a bit irritated thinking about Softy, who must have just sat through the lessons while feeling dejected.

In reality, the teacher had simply refused Softy’s questions because they demanded things far beyond the current curriculum, but there was no way for Yeonwoo to know that.

[Yeonwoo, I have a favor.]

“Huh? What is it? I’ll listen.”

A favor from Softy. It didn’t seem to be about Guiding. Usually, he would boldly say he was going to give him Guiding.

[I want to learn mucosal and sexual Guiding! That, what was it? That small human. The human who often brought me here. I want to ask that human.]

I dug my own grave. Looking at the brightly smiling Softy, Yeonwoo gave an awkward laugh.

If it’s Haeyoon, he would know. But to learn that. Moreover, since Softy was the one asking, it was obvious who he intended to Guide.

“Um, Haeyoon is very busy, so…”

Just then, Yeonwoo’s gear rang. It was time for work. Yeonwoo quickly took the gear and prepared to head out. He slightly diverted the topic, saying they should talk about it later.

Since it was the third day Yeonwoo was bringing Softy to work, the teammates were not surprised even when he appeared with him.

“You brought him again today?”

“I can’t leave Softy home alone.”

“Do as you please.”

Everyone was acting like they didn’t care, but they were actually welcoming Softy. When Softy was around, Yeonwoo could fly around and clear Gates much faster.

“I’m counting on you again today. You know to give him Guiding immediately if that guy’s condition looks strange, right?”

However, Kang Hana’s hand did not reach Softy. She clutched her rejected hand and glared at Softy. This was something that had been happening since the first day he came to work with Softy.

Kang Hana had reached out to Softy, whom she hadn’t seen in a while and who had made the Association rowdy, but after her hand was brushed away, it became a daily routine of “let’s see who wins.”

“This brat… this guy really doesn’t like being touched. Is he like this to everyone? It’s not just to me, right?”

“You should remember how you treated him in the past.”

“What did I do?”

Kang Hana acted shamelessly, but Choi Minjae, who had watched everything that happened, shook his head and said:

“Your way of speaking is rough, and your actions are reckless. Did you forget how many times you clashed? It’s no wonder he dislikes you. If you greeted him often and changed your way of speaking to be kinder, he might allow it…”

However, Softy also rejected Choi Minjae’s hand. Choi Minjae’s eyes widened, as he hadn’t expected to be rejected.

“…He let me hold him quietly last time?”

“Heh. Mister is just like me.”

[That was because Yeonwoo told me to stay still back then.]

“Well, I’ll be.”

He had opened up to the teammates, but his tone was prickly. Kang Hana grumbled, asking if this prickliness had been hidden inside such a cute appearance. The bickering atmosphere continued, but they weren’t exactly on bad terms. It was much better than being ignored entirely.

“You’re still maintaining green, right?”

“It’s green today, too.”

“Good, good. Do a lot of Guiding and keep it green.”

[Yeonwoo, do you need Guiding?]

“Um, no. Not right now.”

Kang Hana looked back and forth between Softy and Yeonwoo and laughed sinisterly. Softy, who didn’t understand her laughter, stayed close to his side as if he were ready to do Guiding the moment he said he needed it.

Yeonwoo avoided both Kang Hana’s gaze and Softy’s eyes. Truly, there isn’t a single place where this hasn’t been leaked. Although it was originally a place with no secrets. It couldn’t be helped since the success rate of missions depended on the condition of the teammates.

“Ah, that’s right. An article about the matching rate came out. Seeing as it hasn’t been taken down, I guess they plan to leave it.”

“It’s awkward to take it down now. Everyone who knows probably knows by now.”

“Looking at the articles, some people are calling it fate. Among them, some are even calling you the strongest couple?”

Park Gunwoo chimed in, having apparently read those articles as well. At the embarrassing nickname, Yeonwoo bowed his head slightly.

“…Who gave us such a nickname.”

[Fate? That’s right. Yeonwoo and I are fate! We’re the strongest couple!]

Softy laughed “hee-hee” as if he were happy. Softy chatted away to Yeonwoo. To summarize, he was asking if he liked it.

“Do you like being called a couple? But you’re ignoring me again? Isn’t your sociability a bit too low?”

Certainly, Softy was not friendly toward others, and one couldn’t say he was sociable. However, I don’t feel the need to change that.

It’s enough if he’s only friendly toward me. There’s no need for him to be friendly toward others as well.

“Haeyoon isn’t here today either. You guys said you didn’t get Guiding yesterday either, right?”

“Because he didn’t step forward. Did you forget that you swept everything away?”

As Shin Yoosung spoke quietly, Kang Hana agreed. As if to not make the term “strongest couple” meaningless, Yeonwoo was traversing the Gates while boasting his strongest condition.

“Should I stay back? No. Won’t it be over even if only you go?”

“Still, we should go together.”

“Tch. Anyway, give us a good carry.”