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Lee Kang-wook casually refilled Lee Chae’s glass.
“Your file says you’re the only awakener in your family. Must’ve been tough—supporting them, studying…”
He tilted his head.
“May I ask why you never gave up school even as a D-rank?”
Lee Chae answered honestly.
“D-ranks can attend the Awakener University too. The goal is just different. No rule says D-ranks have to give up.”
Kang-wook nodded slowly.
“Planning to become a civil servant, I see.”
It felt like he’d been read perfectly. Most people assumed a D-rank staying in school was fishing for a high-rank partner to climb the ladder. But Kang-wook, having lived the same life, saw straight through.
“Usually, when only one person awakens in a family, survival comes first. You don’t have the luxury to think further. I was the same…”
He stared upward like remembering hard times, downed another shot, then looked back at Lee Chae. That piercing gaze made Lee Chae touch the back of his neck nervously.
His neck was burning. Already drunk? I barely drank…
“That’s why I keep thinking about you. Not in a weird way, so don’t misunderstand…”
“You… scolded me pretty hard today. My wrist only hurt because it was busy, it’s not usually like this…”
He hadn’t meant to whine—he never did, even in front of his parents. Must be the alcohol hitting fast.
“No, I overreacted. I wasn’t blaming the captain or anything… I mean, that’s not…”
A low chuckle seemed to escape Kang-wook. Lee Chae looked up—yes, the man was smiling.
“Were you upset?”
“Upset? No. I was wrong. Just… a little wronged?”
Kang-wook refilled both glasses and lightly clinked his against Lee Chae’s. He downed his in one go; Lee Chae sipped half.
After a few rounds, Lee Chae’s pocket started vibrating.
Bad timing to answer… but should I?
While he hesitated, the vibration stopped. Silence felt scarier. Haejin would normally keep calling until he picked up.
He fidgeted with the phone in his pocket, sneaking glances at Kang-wook. He was about to say if there’s nothing else I’ll go when their eyes met—and completely different words tumbled out.
Am I actually drunk?
“Is there something on my face?”
“No. Just… fascinating.”
“Fascinating how?”
“You seem like a natural-born guide. I was D-rank too, but…”
He shrugged, gesturing at his huge, esper-like frame. Is he… jealous?
Lee Chae had heard some espers preferred bulkier guides and even changed their appearance for it. But Kang-wook didn’t seem the type.
He tilted his head.
“Are you jealous?”
Kang-wook went “What?” then threw his head back and laughed loud. First time seeing him laugh like that—less scary, almost human. Maybe the shared D-rank past lowered his guard.
Still chuckling, Kang-wook said,
“You’ve got a sense of humor too.”
Lee Chae pouted.
“You kept staring and said that, so…”
“I was complimenting you—you’re pretty. And if you’re asking about my orientation…”
Lee Chae hadn’t meant that, but the flow could be taken that way. Some scout-type espers did prefer masculine guides.
“I prefer guides over espers.”
“…Huh?”
Lee Chae nearly dropped his water glass. He stared—rude, but he couldn’t help it. Kang-wook rubbed his jaw and smiled bitterly.
“Everyone reacts like that… Don’t be too on guard. Tonight’s mostly work-related.”
The word tonight only made Lee Chae more wary. He fiddled with his phone again.
“You look uncomfortable… let’s wrap this up.”
Finally. Lee Chae nodded eagerly. Kang-wook smirked like he’d expected it.
“Take a break from guiding until your wrist heals. Do paperwork instead. Not a favor—if complaints come in, it’s annoying for me too.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
He bowed, but it felt surreal. Low-rank guides were replaceable. One complaint and they’d just swap him out. This was obviously special treatment.
Can I really accept this? Feels wrong… but refusing when he says it’s not a favor is weird too…
He’d never been treated like this—he didn’t know how to react.
Kang-wook stood first.
“I already paid. Let’s go. Which way is your house?”
“You’re… driving me home?”
Kang-wook’s face hardened.
“It’s dark. And this was a work meeting. You think I’d let you go alone?”
“I-I’m sorry, but I’ll go by myself. The meeting was work, but after hours isn’t. Thank you for today.”
He bowed politely and hurried out. Afraid Kang-wook might follow, he walked fast. Luckily the parking lot was the other way.
Outside, the alcohol hit harder instead of wearing off. Head spun, legs wobbled. He leaned against a wall, remembered he hadn’t answered Haejin, reached for his phone— and realized it wasn’t in his pocket.
Where did it go?
He gave up searching and staggered toward the bus stop. He was walking straight, but people kept dodging like he was veering.
“Ugh… yeah, I’m D-rank. But my husband’s S-rank, so watch it! Hehe.”
Did I say that out loud? People cleared a wider path. Then his pocket vibrated again—phone was back? Confused, he fumbled— and saw a handsome man storming toward him.
“Wow… whoever you are, you look exactly like Cha Haejin… so hot…”
The man grabbed Lee Chae’s nape and glared like he’d kill him.
“Jung. Lee. Chae.”
Familiar voice. Lee Chae blinked. It really was Haejin. There can’t be two men this handsome in the world… Relief flooded him like finding an oasis. He cupped Haejin’s cheeks with unfocused eyes.
“Oh? Hubby! Why so late… I waited forever… vision’s all blurry right now…”
“What the hell are you saying. F*ck.”
“Why swear? Don’t swear at me… if hubby swears I get really sad… everyone else can swear but not you… because…”
Tension gone, Lee Chae babbled nonsense and collapsed into Haejin’s arms.
Haejin swallowed raging anger and wrapped an arm around Lee Chae’s waist. He’d wait until the alcohol wore off.
That bastard felt off from the start.
Worst day ever. Random headquarters summon turned out to be a pointless high-rank meeting. He’d stormed out, tried calling Lee Chae—no answer. Waited at Legion a bit, then followed the imprint signal straight here.
Lee Chae was drunkenly zigzagging down the sidewalk.
He said dinner meeting—why is he this wasted? Who the hell got him drunk?
He was about to hunt the culprit when Lee Chae spotted him and cooed,
“Oh? My husband!” —and threw himself into Haejin’s arms.
Flushed cheeks, glassy eyes, slurred words, blinking slowly, swaying body… If a humanoid tried to seduce an S-rank, this is exactly what it’d look like.
Deadly cute…
“Get a grip and stand straight. You said no doing this outside.”
“Hic… this isn’t outside… it’s where my husband is…”
“F*ck, what are you even saying.”
Lee Chae’s face crumpled like he’d cry.
“Everyone else can swear but you can’t swear at me… because you’re the only one who acknowledges my guiding…”
Haejin was floored. He’d expected something grand—“you’re the only one” turned out to be guiding ability. Of course, to Haejin who hated every guide on earth, Lee Chae’s skill was one-of-a-kind. But that wasn’t why he’d fallen—just Jung Lee Chae the person. Yet here he was getting moved over the wrong thing.
He hugged the stumbling mess tighter.
“What’s the only one?”
“My guiding…”
Haejin sighed, half-laughing, half-exasperated.
“You idiot hamster.”
He scooped Lee Chae up bridal-style— and the drunk hamster wrapped arms around his neck, nuzzling his face into Haejin’s chest, mumbling sweet nonsense the whole way home.
The lunatic carried his clingy, wasted guide back to Legion, grinning like an idiot despite the murderous rage still simmering underneath.
Because right now, the only thing that mattered was that his hamster was safe in his arms.
You think this chapter was thrilling? Wait until you read The Extraordinary Witch’s Guide to Ascension! Click here to discover the next big twist!
Read : The Extraordinary Witch’s Guide to Ascension
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