Chapter 124: They Are Pants

Seung Ho looked down at the Guide Director, exuding an aura like that of the grim reaper.

He had summoned a teleport Esper as soon as he had confirmed the unscheduled visitor via the intercom notification.

“What the. Who is it!”

Ji Oh and Tae Hwan, who had followed him, also passed through the entrance and entered the living room.

Unlike Ji Oh, who yelled first, Tae Hwan’s expression hardened as he busied himself checking on Bodam.

Fortunately, he was just pretty.

“Hello, Esper Lee Tae Hwan. It’s been a while.”

Tae Hwan, relieved at Bodam’s unharmed appearance, shot a glare that was a curse at the guide who had fearlessly spoken to him.

At this, Yeon Min Sung’s cheeks flushed, thrilled.

Just like a true madman.

Bodam, who had been watching, pulled Tae Hwan’s collar and deliberately widened the distance the guide had closed.

His hand had gone to Tae Hwan unconsciously.

The director, who maintained a broad smile even while receiving the stinging gazes of the Espers, led the guide towards the door.

“We were just about to leave anyway. We just stopped by to check on our Guide Yoon.”

“With whose permission.”

Seung Ho, who was blocking the entrance, stared at the director and the guide, who had left their scent on his waiting room sofa, as if they were insects.

The director accepted Seung Ho’s attitude, which had thrown all courtesy aside, and apologized politely.

It was the first time he had seen him so openly display his displeasure.

“I’m sorry. From now on, I will be sure to contact you in advance, Team Leader Han.”

Ji Oh, who was provoked by the nuance of another visit, was about to raise his voice but just scowled after making eye contact with Bodam.

“There will be no next time.”

Seung Ho, who opened the door himself, warned the director and the guide as he sent them out.

Seeing him emit not just words but also a savage wavelength, the Guide Director clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking that it would not be easy to shake off their obsession.

“He didn’t say anything useless to you, did he?”

“…No. He just said he came to see me.”

Bodam ended up telling an unintentional lie to Tae Hwan, who was pestering him with questions.

The words “a guide who’s crazy about you wants to be your dedicated guide” didn’t come out easily.

Moreover, that he was a guide with a matching rate of a whopping 80%.

“Why would he see you?”

“Right! And who’s that other guide? Is he a friend of yours?”

He had hidden it without even realizing.

…‘Because he seems like a strange guide. With a peculiar taste.’

“He said he came to see me before I leave. Since I’m leaving in two months. I guess he came to see my face before then.”

“Yoon Bodam.”

Seung Ho called out to Bodam, who was about to go up to his room with a shrug.

Bodam’s shoulders flinched at the low call, feeling a pang of guilt for no reason.

‘Could Han Seung Ho know the reason why the director came?’

“Don’t wear that.”

Seung Ho, who stood in front of Bodam, had a displeased expression, though it was a very subtle difference from usual.

He even looked angry.

“Huh? My clothes?”

He was wearing a t-shirt and shorts set with a sports brand logo, not a stretched-out t-shirt.

It was a casual outfit that was as good as new, as he had only worn it a few times.

Although, it was pajamas.

“Ah, these are pants! Not underwear!”

At a glance, the very short length and cool material could make them look like boxer briefs.

Even Bodam had wondered if he had been sent the wrong thing when he first opened the package.

“Yoon Bodam, you!”

“Hey, Yoon Bodam!”

Tae Hwan and Ji Oh, who had belatedly noticed Bodam’s short pants, shouted at the same time.

Their blood pressure rose in shock at the sight of his pale white thighs, which were almost completely exposed.

‘Shit. He was sitting on the sofa with him dressed like that?!’

Bodam, who was about to lift his shirt to show them the elastic waistband of his pants, jumped at their shouts.

“I-I said they’re pants!!”

Bodam, who was intimidated by the three Espers who were suddenly angry, locked his door to recover his bruised pride.

And so, he didn’t come out of his room for a full two days.

No matter how much Lee Tae Hwan begged him to eat, or Min Ji Oh sang apologies, or Han Seung Ho paced in front of the door and knocked, he didn’t budge.

‘Bastards. They are pants.’

***

Time flowed on after the shorts incident, and Friday arrived.

Attack Team 3 gathered around the dining table again today and began their regular meeting at 9 AM sharp.

The dining table in the waiting room, missing its dedicated guide and the youngest member, looked particularly empty, but the tense atmosphere of before was gone.

Just the fact that Bodam was upstairs gave the Espers a sense of stability that could not be put into words.

Seung Ho, as always, relayed the orders from above without any expression, and Tae Hwan, with a more subdued energy than usual, just tapped the leg of the table.

He was not in a good mood.

Because he felt that time was slipping away.

“Hyung.”

Tae Hwan, who had been sighing ever since he was reminded of Bodam’s short contract period, finally spoke up at the end of the meeting.

“The contract is for three months?”

There were less than two months left.

By the time the hot summer ended, he would have to let Yoon Bodam go.

To a safe civilian area where the unregistered Espers had been eradicated.

When Seung Ho nodded, Tae Hwan repeated his heavy sigh, and Ji Oh got annoyed, telling him not to bring it up.

Just thinking about the day Yoon Bodam would leave made his chest tighten.

“I’ll have a list of new dedicated guide candidates prepared, so read it in advance.”

Only Seung Ho maintained his usual attitude.

He was so composed, as if he was not at all shaken by the fact that Bodam was leaving the Center.

On the outside, at least.

“Don’t need it.”

“Just do it like last time. Don’t assign a dedicated guide.”

Tae Hwan and Ji Oh’s opinion of hiring a guide for a short term again was flatly rejected by Seung Ho.

“If you don’t want a team-dedicated guide, then get imprinted.”

Seung Ho said, looking particularly at Tae Hwan.

An S-class Esper needed an imprinted partner.

Although the Center wasn’t recommending it due to Tae Hwan’s stubborn refusal to get imprinted, the stronger an Esper’s abilities, the more they needed a guide by their side who could control them.

Click. Creeak—.

The noisy duo, whose expressions had soured at the sensitive word “imprinting,” perked up their ears.

Although he seemed indifferent, Seung Ho was also listening to the sounds coming from upstairs.

It was the sound of Bodam’s door opening.

“…Is there anything else to report?”

Tae Hwan asked.

Raising his voice so that Bodam, who was walking with hushed footsteps instead of coming down right away, could hear him well.

“No.”

“Then the meeting is over, right?!”

Ji Oh also raised his voice, following Tae Hwan.

He wasn’t sure why, but Bodam would sometimes tiptoe down and eavesdrop on their conversations when the Espers were gathered on the first floor.

Even though he could just listen openly.

“Lee Tae Hwan, you continue to focus on eliminating the Sector 1 gate, and Min Ji Oh, you answer your calls immediately. Don’t let it ring more than three times.”

Ji Oh, who had replied loudly that he understood, got up, dragging his chair noisily.

The sound of Yoon Bodam, who had overlooked the Espers’ excellent hearing, carefully walking on his tiptoes was getting on his nerves.

‘It’s about time he came down.’

“Oh- Yoon Bodam. You’re up.”

Ji Oh saw Bodam coming down, clinging to the railing, and put on a surprised expression as if he hadn’t known he had left his room.

For the record, Bodam, as a temporary dedicated guide, had no obligation to attend the regular meetings.

Even if he did, it was early in the morning, so he had no intention of getting up.

“You’re up early. Want some coffee? What do you want to eat?”

Tae Hwan also got up from his seat to prepare Bodam’s early lunch.

Bodam, who had just nodded his head at him like he had done with Ji Oh, went to the dining table.

Seung Ho, who was sitting at the head of the table, also naturally had his eyes on Bodam.

He just quietly checked the complexion of Bodam, who had woken up after a good night’s sleep.

Tae Hwan, who had made coffee with the agility of an S-class Esper, told Bodam, who was looking for ice, to drink it hot since it was the morning.

Bodam, who was grumbling but still holding the steaming coffee cup, drank it as Tae Hwan had made it.

The sweet aroma of the premium mix coffee that Bodam enjoyed in the morning filled the kitchen.

Slurp.

Bodam, who stood for a moment sipping his coffee, seemed to have something to say.

“You’re not busy right now, are you?”

When Bodam asked after taking another sip of his hot coffee, Tae Hwan and Ji Oh replied as if they had nothing but time.

Seung Ho, who was obsessive about time management, also remained in his seat.

‘What is he trying to say?’

The three Espers, in their own imaginations, thought about what Bodam might say and held their breath in concentration.

His hair, which should have been a mess, was slightly neatened, so it seemed he had prepared to come out.

‘What on earth does he have to say?’

Their Adam’s apples bobbed secretly up and down.

“Ahem.”

Bodam, who had even cleared his throat, opened his mouth with a serious air.

“Today, I—.”

“You’re leaving today?”

The extremely tense Ji Oh couldn’t hold it in and cut in.

That was the only thing Yoon Bodam would make a big deal about talking about.

“Don’t interrupt me.”

“Sorry…”

‘He’s not denying it.’

Tae Hwan, whose eyes met with Bodam who wasn’t denying Ji Oh’s words, momentarily forgot how to breathe.

Just the thought of Yoon Bodam going back home today made his mind go blank.

Bodam, who was flustered at the sight of his savage face suddenly turning pale, approached Tae Hwan.

“What’s wrong with you? Hey, breathe.”

Bodam slapped Tae Hwan’s back, helping him to catch his breath.

He was worried when his color didn’t return even after taking a deep breath.

‘Is something wrong with him?’

Beep.

Just then, Tae Hwan’s watch rang.

Tae Hwan, who quickly accepted the call notification from Sector 1, decided to listen to Bodam’s words later.

He was afraid of the declaration that would follow.

“I’ll listen after I get back.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. Check my readings.”

Bodam, who had checked Tae Hwan’s wavelength on his watch as he was told, frowned.

His readings were extremely stable.

It was a natural reading since he had guided Lee Tae Hwan while watching a movie in the living room late last night.

‘Then why does his face look like that?’

“Hey, Lee Tae Hwan, close your eyes.”

Ji Oh said.

He stopped Tae Hwan, who was about to call a teleport Esper, and said he would move him.

Ji Oh, who had volunteered for a job he hadn’t been asked to do, used his ability before Tae Hwan could even answer.

“….”

A silence fell as the two noisiest ones disappeared.

Bodam, who had blinked at the sudden teleportation, rechecked Tae Hwan’s wavelength readings.

It wasn’t a reading that could cause problems at all, but he was concerned.

“It’s impossible for you to leave today.”

“Huh?”

“The situation outside hasn’t been resolved yet.”

Bodam, who tilted his head at Seung Ho’s out-of-the-blue words, realized the miscommunication and waved his hand.

He meant that wasn’t it, but Seung Ho had misunderstood.

“I’d like you to stay until the end of the contract period.”

He continued the conversation without giving Bodam a chance to speak, tapping the table with his fingertips.

It was an unconscious action that he himself was not aware of.