SOFTIE 9

Because of the side effects of my ability, I used to hear people’s voices even from far away, so I was sick of hearing the same stories every time.

But right now, I felt generous. My body was overflowing with strength, and there were no side effects. Normally, it would be standard to hear what someone crying far in the distance was saying, but currently, I could only hear the words of the reporter chattering and spitting right in front of my nose.

Being able to escape the side effects, being able to snap out of the rampage, and being able to clear the S-class Gate—it was all thanks to my Guide.

My mouth itched. I wanted to shout right now: “My Guide has appeared. They are right here.” But the fact that it was a monster held me back. Humans were infinitely cruel toward dangerous entities.

“Kkyuu…”

“I wasn’t blaming you.”

I caught a faint sound of the hidden slime mumbling near my ear.

Just then, a reporter asked.

“Esper Seo Yeonwoo, can you continue to clear Gates in the future? An Esper who has been caught in a rampage even once is a risk factor. Rampages become more frequent as time goes on. If an S-class Esper like Seo Yeonwoo were to rampage in Seoul… it would be as dangerous as an S-class Gate break. What do you intend to do?”

Fear was harbored in the reporter’s eyes. That fear spread in an instant.

“It’s fine! He’s been fine until now!”

“No, we don’t know that.”

The surrounding crowd grew restless. It’s not for nothing that quarantine measures are taken once contamination reaches a certain level. While the danger of monsters is well known, the danger regarding Esper rampages is also well known. In countries without a systematic infrastructure, Espers were just as dangerous as Gates.

Currently, he has no Guide. He has developed a tolerance to medicine, so it doesn’t work. His contamination level is high. He is only able to walk around because there are more people who want him than fear him.

“…Unless I receive guiding, I will rampage again. If you are anxious, I don’t mind if you put me in quarantine. My team members are excellent. I believe they are fully capable of succeeding me.”

The crowd buzzed.

Some people worried about Yeonwoo’s rampage and said he should be quarantined; some said that if he enters a state of rampage like this time, couldn’t they just put him in a Gate; some asked if they thought an Esper as excellent as Yeonwoo would ever appear in Korea again; others said he looked fine, so they should trust him.

Countless words were heard. Be even more anxious and afraid. Will you be afraid that a monster is a Guide? Or will you be afraid that the Esper who protected this country is rampaging? It’s obvious what you’ll fear. So, recognize this little one as a Guide.

“But that won’t happen. Because I have a Pair Guide now.”

Everyone stared at Yeonwoo.

This little one followed me. Not some other Esper, but me. And it is the only existence capable of guiding me. Naturally, it’s my Pair Guide.

That fact felt so good that a laugh escaped me involuntarily.

Are you talking about me?

The slime moved, sticking close to my neck. A laughing sound leaked out because it tickled. Everyone stared at him blankly at the sight of a smile and a pleasant laugh they rarely saw.

“…Excuse me? What does that…”

“A Pair Guide?”

“I didn’t hear that wrong, did I?”

“A Pair Guide hasn’t appeared in ten years…! Exactly who? Who is it!”

After the initial confusion over Yeonwoo’s laughter, the people were startled by the bombshell declaration he had made. If the reason he escaped the rampage was because he received guiding, it was a perfectly understandable situation. Everyone looked for his Guide.

“Where are they?”

“Wa—wait a minute! If you received guiding, does that mean there was a civilian caught in the mix? But why didn’t they come out with you? Are they behind you?”

Yeonwoo only smiled. For now, he had laid the bait.

He couldn’t introduce it immediately. He would introduce it after creating a safe fence.

“I will give a detailed interview at an official venue. What I can tell you right now is that I had fallen into a state of rampage, and there was a Guide who guided me.”

“B—but if there’s no Guide here, how can we believe that…”

At the reporter’s remark, Yeonwoo slowly lifted his wrist. He turned his measuring device toward the camera so that the contamination level shown on it could be seen clearly. The camera captured the device glowing with a distinct orange light.

The contamination level indicated exactly 75%.

There was no need to explain how surprising a number this was. Even after clearing an S-class Gate at the end of a rampage, his contamination level had actually decreased.

“…Gasp!”

It was a sort of signal fire. Everyone, without exception, zoomed in on the measuring device to take photos. Even though orange was a warning signal, for him, it served as proof that he was in an impeccably good state.

“Exactly where is that Guide? Why won’t you introduce them? Are they perhaps very young?”

“Wh—what is the rank? If they stopped an S-class Esper’s rampage, it’s presumed they are a high-ranking Guide!”

Reporters recited their respective deductions. Yeonwoo’s expression gradually soured. It was beyond unpleasant to see them sparkling with eyes that looked for prey, thinking they had found a scoop.

“My Guide is very shy, so I won’t be introducing them for a while. They just awakened as a Guide, so they are very confused. I will introduce them after they have time to get used to being a Guide.”

Since the Guide is a monster, it needs to be able to approach people in a friendly manner. I need to show that it’s a creature that causes no harm.

First, I should request help from the Association to secure proof that this little one is a Guide.

Even if they don’t want to recognize it, I just have to make them recognize it. A look of determination settled in Yeonwoo’s eyes. There’s no time to dally.

The reporters, hit by a massive bombshell, regained their senses and began scribbling the story they just heard into their notebooks.

Yeonwoo headed toward the Association headquarters, leaving the reporters and citizens behind. As soon as he entered, gazes flew at him from all sides. Everyone was looking at Yeonwoo with wide eyes. One person was even letting the coffee they were drinking spill onto the floor.

It seemed they were so shocked they stopped approaching or even speaking to him. It felt as if time had stopped, but the chattering voices from the TV let him know that time hadn’t actually stopped.

“Ah, it was a live broadcast.”

I knew there were cameras filming, but I didn’t realize it was live. If that’s the case, they don’t need to be that surprised. They must have seen that I’m perfectly fine? Or is it because of the talk about a Guide?

The gazes that were fixed on Yeonwoo soon began to wander around him. Their eyes roamed the empty air as if searching for something.

They’re looking for the Guide. I was certain. Look all you want. I wanted to avoid contact as much as possible, except for people I could trust.

Just then, a person burst out from the elevator in the distance.

“You… you…!”

Ma Seongtae froze in front of the elevator and pointed a finger at Yeonwoo. The team members were standing behind him.

“A—are you really alive… Is it, is it really you?!”

He came running over breathlessly and, as if unable to believe it, began touching Yeonwoo here and there. Yeonwoo personally took his hands and pulled them away.

“It’s me, so please stop.”

Ma Seongtae still looked up at Yeonwoo blankly. His pupils were dilated as if he couldn’t believe it even though he was seeing it with his own two eyes. Yeonwoo walked past Ma Seongtae and smiled at the team members who weren’t saying anything.

They were the ones who had shouted for him not to give up until the very end, the ones who had sent Yeonwoo off on his final journey in a sea of tears. Yeonwoo gave a small smirk and spoke to them.

“I assume everyone isn’t upset that I’ve returned alive?”

Kang Hana was the first to stomp over to Yeonwoo.

“Is that even something to ask?! They said you rampaged! What’s your condition? Are you okay?”

She scanned Yeonwoo from head to toe with wide eyes. Yeonwoo shrugged, saying he was fine. There are almost no cases where a rampaging Esper returns to their senses.

Furthermore, he had maintained a high contamination level for a long time, like a time bomb that could go off at any second. He wasn’t even in a state where he could receive guiding. It was only natural that everyone found it suspicious.

“Let’s go upstairs for now. There are too many eyes here. I’m sure there’s a lot to talk about.”

Ma Seongtae regained his composure and led Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo’s group got into the elevator.