SOFTIE 57

“The date Shin Witaek planned isn’t today—it’s tomorrow.”

“Why would he do such a thing?”

“He can’t suppress me with power, so he’s resorting to all sorts of tricks. Today’s gate schedule is one thing, but he’s plotting something else. He probably intends to trigger gates.”

The moment Kang Hana heard Yeonwoo’s words, her shouting at Ma Seongtae’s desk to accept her leave came to a sudden halt. Yeonwoo glanced at her and continued.

“What kind of bullshit is this now?”

“Shin Witaek plans to trigger multiple gates right around the time we finish our clears. Isn’t he trying to push me to the point where I can’t even pay attention to Softy because of those gates?”

“But if your contamination level rises, you’ll need a Guide.”

“Mmm, true. But before that, he’ll take Softy away first. Softy will be angry because he’s worried about me, and I’ll be anxious because I can’t get Softy’s Guiding. He’s hoping someone will eventually explode. Isn’t that it?”

This was all Yeonwoo’s deduction. Did they think my mind would be elsewhere just because it’s a national emergency?

I would only fixate my nerves on Softy even more, but a crisis usually strikes at those very moments. Yeonwoo finished speaking while stroking Softy.

[But Yeonwoo is going to be with me.]

“Exactly. That’s what he didn’t expect. What’s the point of a plausible plan when the premise is flawed from the start?”

Now that he knew everything, Yeonwoo decided to just let them have their way and confirm today as the day of the Esper observation.

Despite the serious content, the two of them looked so unbothered that everyone else watched them in disbelief.

“So how big are these gates supposed to be? You’re saying you’ll stay with that Guide. Doesn’t that mean we’re the ones who have to clean up the mess?”

“No, before that, just believing this absurd story about triggering gates is…”

“Because I believe it.”

Shin Yoosung, who had been listening quietly to Kang Hana and Yeonwoo, raised a doubt, but she cut him off sharply. Shin Yoosung’s eyebrows twitched at her strange attitude.

Clearly, when he first heard the news, he called Seo Yeonwoo a traitor and spat out all sorts of insults, but he couldn’t understand her sudden serious shift after hearing the far-fetched story about appearing gates.

Of course, if it was that man, it was entirely possible.

Shin Yoosung became serious in turn.

“So I need help. Hana, this is something you’ll like. It looks like he’s trying to pull that same stunt from the past.”

Kang Hana tilted her head slightly and stared intently at Yeonwoo.

“I thought you weren’t even interested.”

“I have a promise I made.”

“And a guy like that was going to leave me behind and die?”

Yeonwoo shrugged.

Well, things were like that back then. Who knew a Guide would appear like this, or that medication wouldn’t work and I’d suffer from side effects?

The two men followed with gazes that couldn’t understand the conversation between Yeonwoo and Kang Hana at all. No, there was an even more intense gaze right below them. Yeonwoo spoke with an awkward smile.

“That’s why I’m saying I’ll do it for you now. This is a chance for you. I’m planning to make a clean end of it this time, too.”

Kang Hana thought for a moment, then personally burned the scribble she had handed in as her annual leave application.

“Is that for sure?”

“I don’t know. But that man has nowhere left to retreat.”

The corners of Kang Hana’s mouth curled into a grin. It held a chilly frost, but her eyes were burning. She must be feeling quite a rush.

Because she could finally achieve the reason she had decided to stay in Team 1.

Just then, someone tugged at Yeonwoo’s collar. It was Softy, who had been listening to the conversation from inside his clothes.

“Softy?”

[Promise? What promise? You can’t get away from that human woman?]

“…Huh?”

Yeonwoo was a bit flustered by the unexpected question. When Yeonwoo couldn’t find his words, Softy glared at Kang Hana.

[Go away. I told you not to bother Yeonwoo.]

He glared at Kang Hana, making his skin prickly like a cat with its fur standing up.

“What’s wrong with him? What did I do? He’s the one who brought me here in the first place.”

“…Well, that’s not wrong.”

Because back then, Kang Hana was nothing short of a moth to a flame. Saying she’d kill Shin Witaek and die herself. Though her thoughts had changed as time passed.

[…!]

Softy looked at Yeonwoo with an expression like he’d been struck by a bolt from the blue. Not knowing the reason, Yeonwoo simply gave an awkward laugh.

[I—I wasn’t the only one?]

“Hmm?”

[I’m not the only one Yeonwoo brought home? What did you like about that woman that you brought her along!]

“…Uhhh?”

“Obviously he brought me because I’m useful.”

Kang Hana countered with a smirk.

Looking at her, Hana seems to know why Softy is acting like this… but why?

Then Softy glared at Kang Hana once more.

[I’m more useful!]

It was to the point of hearing a phantom “Kyaaa—” sound. Could he be jealous? I never imagined Softy would be jealous of Hana.

“No, Softy. Why are you so jealous of Hana?”

[He said Yeonwoo brought you… I thought I was the only special one… He told me I was his pair Guide, that it was fate, that we’re partners. But why did Yeonwoo bring that woman too?]

He was huffing, but the way his eyes welled up made him look quite wronged. Yeonwoo was just bewildered by Softy’s overreaction.

Hana has her own role to play. But, saying that would probably make him pout.

“That was before I met Softy. And I have a business relationship with Hana. Softy is different.”

[Different from me. How?]

“Softy is my pair Guide. While Softy is the only one, Hana is one of many team members.”

[…Then it’s fine.]

Fortunately, he seemed to be easily appeased. Of course, the eyes glaring at Hana were still fierce.

“That’s enough of that. What are you talking about? I’d like an explanation that’s easy to understand.”

“Yeah. Tell me too. I knew you originally planned to go abroad… was returning to the Korean Association related to Shin Witaek? Yeonwoo says he can’t bring himself to say it.”

Kang Hana looked at Ma Seongtae and Shin Yoosung and simply shrugged.

“I’ll tell you when everyone is gathered. It’s a pain to say it twice. It’s not exactly a pleasant story anyway.”

Seeing Kang Hana’s dark expression, the two sensed it wasn’t a good story and fell silent.

“Oh, right. I came to give you this before that, didn’t I?”

Kang Hana tossed something. Between the flipping pages of the magazine, photos of handsome men were visible. Softy snatched the book away.

“That thing I mentioned yesterday—you can have it. For the record, there’s nothing between me and that guy, so don’t worry about it.”

She left with a playful laugh. Softy glared at Kang Hana’s back with a spiteful look, but he looked at the pictorial magazine with eyes shining bright.

“…Why a magazine all of a sudden?”

Ma Seongtae didn’t understand her sudden behavior. On the other hand, Yeonwoo swallowed a groan. Was ‘next time’ today? Where did she even get a men’s magazine she didn’t even care about?

Softy immediately flipped the magazine open and shoved it close to Yeonwoo’s face. Avoiding those sparkling eyes was a struggle.

[Yeonwoo, who? Who?!]

“I’ll be going with them.”

“R—right, you do that.”

Shin Yoosung followed after Kang Hana, and Ma Seongtae awkwardly saw them off.

[You hate them all? That’s not good.]

“I’m leaving too.”

“Yeah, don’t cause any trouble.”

Yeonwoo gave a casual wave of his hand. Even in the midst of that, Softy kept asking Yeonwoo who he liked.

He was so wary of Hana just a moment ago; is it okay to say I like someone else?

“Hmm… I think someone cute like Softy would be nice. Oh, this person is okay. Their eyes are pretty when they smile.”

Pressed by the continuous urging, Yeonwoo had no choice but to give a vague answer. If he didn’t, it seemed Softy would never back down. Because he got an answer, Softy stopped asking, but instead, he fell deep into thought as if contemplating something seriously.

In the meantime, they arrived in front of the Guide Association. Inside the Association, the voices of flustered employees could be heard, perhaps because news of Yeonwoo’s annual leave had spread. He even heard someone shouting to find out exactly how long the leave lasted.

‘I set it for a generous week.’