Chapter 43: A Familiar Party

Before I knew it, the end of the year was fast approaching.
The Association, which loved parties, held a year-end party again this time.

The year-end party was not much different from my welcome party.
It was held at the largest hotel in the country, and it was a social-oriented party where only S and A-Classes could attend.
Since I was Sung Yohan’s pair, I was supposed to go with him, but he did not attend the party.
I couldn’t even ask why he couldn’t attend because he had suddenly cut off contact.

At first, I was flustered, but then I thought it was for the better.
He always made me flustered, so I wanted to reduce contact with him as much as possible.
And since he wasn’t coming, I could enjoy the party comfortably with Wonjae.

When Wonjae and I entered the banquet hall, there were more people than I had expected.
We looked around and sat at our designated table.

Since there were guides I knew at our table, I was able to fit into the party without feeling awkward.

After the Association President’s speech and the greetings from each team leader, we moved to the party hall.
Since Wonjae and I had just awakened and rarely went to gatherings, there were many Espers and guides who approached us with interest.

If I had really been a newly awakened guide, I would have been flustered among the Awakened, but since I had often attended parties before returning to the past, I just greeted them moderately and moved on.

At this party, more people approached me than Wonjae.
Perhaps because I was an S-Class, they had faces that wanted to get to know me on this occasion.

“Hyung is so popular.”

“It’s because I’m an S-Class.”

“I don’t think so. Everyone is only looking at your face, hyung.”

As he said, I could feel people constantly glancing at my face.
But I thought this was also because of their curiosity about an S-Class.

“It must be hard for you at a place like this since you dislike Espers.”

He, who was observing my face, offered words of comfort with a worried expression.
Since I had often shown my aversion to Hyun Taewoon and Sung Yohan while living with him, he seemed to think that I disliked Espers.

“It’s not that I dislike Espers.”

“Oh, really? I thought so because you always spoke with a nuance of dislike during guiding training.”

He looked at me with a face as if he hadn’t expected it.
He seemed to be a little dejected because he thought he had figured me out, but he was wrong.

“Yeah. It’s possible. And there are Espers I dislike.”

I just disliked him; it wasn’t that I disliked all Espers.
Though it wasn’t that I liked them either.

“Me too.”

I was a little surprised at his words that he also had an Esper he disliked.

“Who? Did someone bully you while I was gone?”

“No. It’s just an Esper I personally dislike.”

I wanted to ask who it was, but since his expression wasn’t good, I couldn’t ask any further.

“If anyone bullies you, you have to tell me right away.”

“Okay. I always feel secure because I have you, hyung.”

He said with a bright smile.
I also answered his smile with a smile and looked around.
Fortunately, his figure was nowhere to be seen.

As he and I were having a simple meal, Jinseok hurriedly approached us.

“Guide Wonjae, I think you should be heading home soon.”

“Why?”

“You’re a minor, so you have to return to the dorm by 9 o’clock.”

At his words, he looked at me with a disappointed face.
At that, I said to Jinseok.

“He’ll be an adult in a few days. Please let it slide just for today.”

“I can’t. There are a lot of people watching, and he’s still a minor.”

In the end, he had no choice but to follow Jinseok back home.
I was about to follow, but Jinseok said it would be better for me to stay.
In the end, I was left alone at the party and sipped champagne.

Not too far away, I could see the members of the 01S team.
They still seemed to be on good terms.
I was about to approach them to say hello when Hyun Taewoon entered the party hall.

He must have seen me too, as our eyes met immediately.
Thinking he would approach me, I hurriedly turned my body and finished my drink.
Espers approached me again.

“Guide Shinui, what are you doing alone?”

It was fine last time because Sung Yohan was with me, but now that I was alone, a considerable number of Espers approached me.

When one Esper approached, another who had been watching his chance would approach, and before I knew it, I was surrounded by numerous Espers and was at a loss.
His wavelength, which had been getting closer, was now right behind me.

The Espers also seemed to find him uncomfortable, as they scattered with dissatisfied expressions.
At that, I thought that he could be helpful at times.
He passed by me and said.

“Go home if you’re tired.”

As he said, I was about to go home.
I was also worried about Wonjae, who was left alone at home, and it was getting late.

“That’s what I was about to do.”

I answered him coldly and called Jinseok as I left the party hall.

“Manager-nim, where are you? I think I’ll be heading home soon.”

• [I’m on my way to the hotel now. Please wait in the lobby.]

“Okay, drive safely.”

Before going to the lobby, I washed my hands in the bathroom and came out to see a familiar face.
It was Cha Sehyun.
It was the second time I had seen him, but I was happy to see him.
He also seemed to have recognized me and quickly closed the distance.

“Shinui-ssi, it’s a pleasure to see you here. Come to think of it, today is the Association’s year-end party.”

“That’s right. What brings you here, Sehyun-ssi?”

“I also have a year-end alumni meeting today.”

I thought there were a lot of people today, and it seemed several parties were being held at the same time because it was a weekend at the end of the year.
Even though it was late, the lobby was packed with people.

“Have you been well? It’s been a month and a half, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. It’s nice to see you after a long time.”

I honestly revealed my inner thoughts.
Then he said in a disappointed voice.

“Me too. Actually, I was waiting for your call.”

Come to think of it, I was supposed to contact him, but I had completely forgotten.
It was because I had been busy for a while after finding Wonjae.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been out of it lately.”

“I thought so. I heard you found an A-Class guide this time.”

“I didn’t find him; I just happened to get to know him.”

“Still, you did a great thing.”

He praised my actions.
I wondered if it was something to be praised for, but given the atmosphere, I nodded.

“I’d like to have a meal with you, Shinui-ssi. When do you think you’ll have some free time?”

“I think I’ll be free from now on. I’ll contact you.”

I was relieved now that Wonjae, who had been a worry, had safely adapted to the Center.
I decided to contact him within a week so that he wouldn’t have to wait any longer.

“I’ll be waiting patiently. You seem to be heading home, shall I escort you?”

“It’s okay. My manager said he’s coming, so I’m waiting for him now.”

“I see. That’s a shame.”

“You seem to be leaving now, Sehyun-ssi. Get home safely.”

“No. I’ll go after I see you leave.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

At my words, he shook his head and said he wanted to talk more since we had met after a long time.
I also had the same thought, so I waited for Jinseok in the lobby and chatted.

As we talked, I glanced at his figure.
The suit suited him well, perhaps because he was tall.
He must have felt me scanning him, as he asked what was wrong.

I answered that it was nothing and averted my gaze.
But then I heard a noisy sound from the party hall I had come out of.

Feeling puzzled at the sight of hotel employees hurriedly entering the party hall, I looked at him.

“Something must have happened.”

“I think so.”

Soon, he caught a staff member and asked what was wrong.

“A customer suddenly collapsed, so we’re providing emergency care.”

The words that a customer had collapsed bothered me strangely.
It was probably more so because it was the party hall the Association was using.

“I think I need to go into the party hall for a moment. Someone I know might have gotten hurt.”

“Go and be careful.”

In the end, I left him behind and entered the party hall.
People were gathered in one corner of the party hall.
When I pushed through the crowd, I saw his figure being treated by a Healer-class Esper.

I wondered if it was really him, but it was.

To find out why he had collapsed, I asked an Esper next to me.

“Why did Esper Hyun Taewoon collapse?”

“I’m not sure, but they said he suddenly collapsed.”

At the Esper’s words, I thought it might be because he had drunk too much.
But for that, his face was too pale.
Even though the Healer-class Esper continued to treat him, he still showed no signs of getting up.
His wavelength was also not felt.

I thought it might be because his guiding level had dropped, so I did remote guiding, but he still didn’t open his eyes.

As he, who had lost consciousness, did not regain it, the situation gradually became serious.
In the end, an Association ambulance and paramedics even came.

I had always wished he would disappear from my sight, but seeing him sick, it wasn’t a very good feeling.

And so, he was taken by ambulance to the Association hospital.
And he didn’t wake up for a week.