Chapter 33: A New Beginning

From the moment I returned to the past, I had a feeling that I might have already been an Awakened.
Come to think of it, I had felt Hyun Taewoon’s wavelength even before I met him.
Besides, if I were to change jobs, I would have to take an Awakening Test again, and even if not, I would have to take regular tests until I reached a certain age, so the fact that I was a guide would have been known to the Association eventually.

In the end, it was my destiny to return to the Association.
The silver lining was that since I was an S-Class, the Association couldn’t treat me carelessly.
If I had been a C-Class, I might have been swayed by him as he wished and gotten hurt again this time.

The current Hyun Taewoon was the same as the person I knew before.
He was self-centered, arrogant, and a snob who discriminated against people based on their grade.
No matter how much he acted kind, I had no intention of being deceived again by a false kindness that had already fooled me once.

I stopped thinking about him and tried to close my eyes to sleep, but strangely, I couldn’t sleep well since returning to the past.
At first, I thought it was because I was nervous, but I hadn’t slept comfortably once since returning to the past.
In the end, I could only fall asleep after trying to sleep until late at dawn again today.

I woke up again to the sound of the doorbell announcing Jinseok’s visit.
I dragged my tired body and opened the door, and Jinseok was holding the uniform case we had ordered a few days ago.

“Guide-nim, good morning. The uniform was completed earlier than scheduled, so I brought it.”

I took the uniform out of the case and checked it.
Perhaps because it was a handmade uniform, stitched one by one, the tailoring lines were delicate and the finishing was neat.
The fabric was also soft and luxurious.

“It might not fit, so it would be better to check it now.”

His words made sense, so I returned to the bedroom and changed my clothes immediately.
But contrary to my worries, it fit my body perfectly, as if it were my own.

When I came out wearing the uniform, Jinseok clapped his hands in admiration.

“You look good in anything because you’re handsome.”

“Thank you.”

I gave a sheepish smile at his compliment and listened to the future Association schedule he was relaying.

“Since you’ve become a pair with Esper Sung Yohan this time, I think you’ll be joining the 05R team.”

It seemed that since Sung Yohan was in the 05R team, I had been assigned to this team as well.
I had secretly hoped to be in the 01S team…

The members of the 01S team had warmly comforted the wounds I had received from him.
Naturally, the last image of Minseong-sunbae came to mind.
I felt a deep sense of gratitude to him for willingly coming out for me even in a dangerous situation.
I didn’t know if he was dead or alive, but I sincerely hoped he was alive.

If it were up to me, I would have wanted to join the 01S team, but since I wanted to avoid facing him, I eventually agreed.

“Then I’ll let you know again when it’s officially confirmed. And I would also like to ask for your opinion on the full-dress uniform you will wear at the celebration party.”

The conversation continued about the party that would be held this week, but other thoughts were swirling in my head.

The future was definitely changing.
But I didn’t know if just watching it flow like this was the right choice.

Since there was no explanation for the reason or cause of my return to the past, I was anxious, and I was worried because I couldn’t guess what would happen in the future.

But for now, it seemed best to live as cautiously as possible without making any rash moves.

Today, a celebration party was held for me, who had awakened as an S-Class Guide.
Before the party started, Jinseok and I had our hair styled and light makeup done, then we put on the pre-ordered suits and moved to the party venue.

Before going to the party venue, Sung Yohan became my partner, and we entered together.

As I had requested, his wavelength was not felt, so he must have been prevented from attending.

As soon as we entered the party venue, everyone’s attention turned to me, as if they had been waiting.
I didn’t like being the center of attention, so I wanted it to end quickly.
Sung Yohan must have sensed my tension, as he spoke to me to try and relieve it.

“Shinui-ssi, don’t be nervous. They can’t approach you anyway.”

“…Okay.”

I gave a short answer to his words and headed towards the Association President who was calling me.
The President welcomed me and introduced me to the key executives.

It seemed that not only the Association but also people from the government and other organizations had attended this time.
However, the President restricted contact from anyone other than the Association members.

After a while of just greeting people, the party began in earnest.
After the President’s congratulatory speech, it was my turn to give a greeting.
It was easy because I just had to read the speech that the Association had written for me, but my body trembled with nervousness.

I came down from the stage so quickly that I didn’t even know what I had said.
A congratulatory performance began, and just when I thought I could breathe a little, a barrage of questions from reporters followed.
Since they were all pre-arranged questions, I answered them quickly and took refuge in the bathroom.

“I want to go home.”

I washed the sweat from my palms with cold water and came out.
I saw a tall man approaching from the hallway.
The man, with his hair neatly styled and wearing a clean suit, had a handsome face.
He seemed to know me and acknowledged me.

“Hello, Guide Lee Shinui. Congratulations on your recent awakening as an S-Class.”

“Thank you. But who are you?”

From his luxurious suit and relaxed expression, he didn’t seem like a reporter.

“I am Esper Cha Sehyun from the government.”

He said, handing me his business card.
As I took the card and checked it, it said ‘Seoul Branch Manager’.

Unlike the Association, the government managed and dealt with anti-Awakened and terrorist groups, not gates.
The anti-Awakened group was a group of Espers and guides who, despite being Awakened, did not belong to any organization and were asserting their human rights.

Next to Sehyun’s title, there was also the phrase ‘S-Class Esper’.
An S-Class Esper from the government…
I looked at him with different eyes than before.

“The Association seems to have a good eye for people. Seeing how they find talents like you, Guide Shinui.”

At his sudden approach, I became wary of him, but at his joking words, my expression relaxed without me realizing it.

“I would be happy if you could also visit the government when you have time.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than he added in a small voice.

“And if you wish, Guide Shinui, you can transfer to the government at any time without any additional procedures.”

To openly suggest a change of affiliation.
Even if we were alone and he was from the government, which had a bad relationship with the Association, it was a bold statement.
He smiled and took out his phone from his inner jacket pocket and said.

“If you don’t mind, could we exchange phone numbers?”

“Why?”

At his sudden request for my phone number, my wariness was triggered again.
But perhaps because my first impression of him was good, I didn’t feel any aversion.

“Because I want to be friends with you. And since you just became a guide, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime.”

His impression wasn’t so bad, and I felt like he could easily find out my number even if I didn’t tell him, so I gave him my number meekly.
He checked the screen once and then left after saying he would contact me, disappearing gracefully.
I thought I would like to meet him again sometime.

I was on my way back to the party venue when I saw Sung Yohan walking from the opposite direction.

“Shinui-ssi, you were here?”

He firmly placed his hand on my shoulder, saying I shouldn’t leave his side, and took me back to the party venue.

During the party, I was wedged between Sung Yohan and the Association President, being introduced to people, so I quickly got tired and took a breather in my private room.

I had unbuttoned the top button of my shirt and was drinking bottled water when I felt Hyun Taewoon’s wavelength, as if he had been waiting for me to be alone.
At his wavelength, my body tensed without me realizing it, and I put the water down on the floor.

‘Could it be him?’
As I was thinking that, the door opened cautiously, and he came inside.

“Shinui-ssi.”

The thought that I had been dreading became a reality, and surprise and annoyance arose at the same time.

“How did you get here?”

“It’s your celebration party, Shinui-ssi, so I couldn’t miss it. And I came because I wanted to see you.”

“Didn’t the Association tell you that you are forbidden from approaching?”

I couldn’t help but get irritated at him for constantly approaching me when I didn’t want to get involved with him anymore.

“They did tell me to stay away from you for a while.”

“If you know that, will you please leave?”

“Can’t we just talk for a moment? I think there’s a misunderstanding with you, and I want to clear it up.”

At that, I ended up contacting Jinseok.
He watched me make the call quietly, and fortunately, Jinseok answered right away.

• [Guide-nim, what’s wrong?]

“Esper Hyun Taewoon is in my private room right now.”

At my words, Jinseok said he would be right there and hung up.
He looked at my actions with a bitter face and said.

“I guess I was an uninvited guest.”

“If you know that, will you please leave?”

“I really came to congratulate you. Shinui-ssi, congratulations again on your S-Class awakening.”

As he said, it seemed he had just come to congratulate me.
But I didn’t want his congratulations, nor did I want him to be here.

“I get it, so please leave.”

At my firm attitude, he said he would come again next time and disappeared.
I thought I wished he would never appear again.