Chapter 17: Professional Distance Attempted

“Is that so?

Then Guide Lee Eun-ru should just meet someone younger.”

“I, I prefer older partners.”

“So do I.”

Jin-yeop’s walking pace grew faster, and Eun-ru’s did as well.

The only way to end this tedious conversation was to quickly reach the support team located within the agency.

“You said Director Im is good at pretending to be nice while subtly swindling people…

I’m not like that.”

“How would I know that?”

Jin-yeop stopped abruptly in front of the elevator.

Then, without even glancing at Eun-ru, he stared straight ahead.

Cha Jin-yeop didn’t know what kind of person Lee Eun-ru was.

He could only guess based on his tone and demeanor.

Perhaps interpreting his actions as purely innocent was just the result of Jin-yeop’s own inner desire not to be suspicious, projecting itself arbitrarily.

Doubting others only made the doubter himself weary.

For the most part, it was better to accept others’ intentions and actions as they were.

But Jin-yeop also knew that trusting without doubt wasn’t the answer either.

Constantly trusting and relying on someone had led him to his current state.

So Jin-yeop wanted to keep his distance.

He didn’t want to dissect all of Eun-ru’s actions with a strict yardstick, nor did he want to demand that he prove every potentially innocent feeling in detail.

“Guide Lee Eun-ru seems like a good person.

But I can no longer trust my own judgment of people.”

“…..”

“And regardless of whether Guide Lee Eun-ru is a good person or not, I don’t want to meet you in private settings anymore.”

“…..”

“Whether you’re a good person, or not.”

Ding.

With a cheerful chime, the elevator doors opened.

With an unaffected expression, Jin-yeop stepped inside and, holding the door open button, urged Eun-ru, who was standing still.

“Aren’t you getting on?”

Only then did Eun-ru slowly move his feet.

Only after Eun-ru stood beside him did Jin-yeop press the button for the 3rd floor and tightly close his eyes.

He said nothing, and Eun-ru did the same.

But within that terribly long silence, Jin-yeop recalled a time when he himself hadn’t demanded any proof or standards from another person.

The Cha Jin-yeop of back then had already become a mirage that would vanish when he opened his eyes, though.

***

“Oh my, Jin-yeop-ssi, long time no see!”

As they entered the support team on the 3rd floor, a familiar face raised her hand and greeted Jin-yeop.

Jin-yeop greeted her back.

“Ye-sol-ssi, it’s been a while.”

“You haven’t shown your face around here since you got married, and now I finally see you after you’ve become the talk of the town.”

“Indeed, life’s been hectic.”

Hectic—he had lived like that for over ten years, including the regressed lives.

He was the ultimate fool, Cha Jin-yeop, who couldn’t distinguish shit from soybean paste until he’d swallowed it completely, leaving no trace, and only then realized the other party’s true nature.

“But still, I believe in you, Esper Cha Jin-yeop.

You know that?”

Ye-sol said this and extended a clenched fist.

At the sight, Jin-yeop let out a soft, breezy laugh and lightly bumped his own fist against hers.

She was someone who knew something about Jin-yeop’s life.

She might not know about his multiple regressions, but she knew how fiercely he had lived as a Vibes-affiliated Esper before that.

It was she who had subtly advised him to find a good partner and marry, telling him about Gaee.

It came from a hope that he might find stability if he settled down.

No one could have known the outcome would be like this, so Jin-yeop didn’t blame her.

Ye-sol had simply genuinely felt sorry for Jin-yeop, who lived as if he were alone in the world.

“See, that’s why I told you to just meet my younger brother.”

“Team Leader Park’s younger sibling is an Esper, after all.”

As Jin-yeop tried to brush it off with a laugh, Eun-ru, who had been standing quietly beside him, muttered to himself in a voice barely audible.

“Director Im is an Esper too, though…”

At that voice, Jin-yeop turned his head in disbelief and stared at Eun-ru, who pouted his lips and turned away as if he hadn’t said anything.

For a moment, Jin-yeop was dumbfounded, but he pretended nothing happened and spoke to Ye-sol.

“Have you greeted the support team?

This is Guide Lee Eun-ru.

An A-class Guide currently under re-assessment.”

“I got the word from the Director.

Finally, Vibes has a fresh, bright-eyed A-class Guide.”

“Have there been no new Awakeners lately?”

“The top three agencies pretty much sweep up all the A-class and above…

So we get more experienced Awakeners whose exclusive contracts have ended, rather than new ones.”

That meant almost all new Awakeners signing with Vibes were B-class or lower.

Well, it wasn’t like thousands or tens of thousands of Awakeners appeared every year.

And higher grades were even rarer.

E and F-class Awakeners, despite being called Awakeners, mostly lived lives no different from before awakening.

Guides below C-class, unless their match rate was exceptionally high, found it difficult to have exclusive partners, so it was far better to work full-time at the Guide Center and receive a salary.

‘So why on earth would an A-class Guide, a gem everyone covets, join Vibes?’

No matter how many times he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.

It was odd enough that he had met Eun-ru as a blind date through a matchmaking agency, but signing an exclusive contract with Vibes was even more unexpected.

What was he really thinking…

Even setting aside suspicion and looking only at innocence, his actions were burdensome.

‘As expected, it’s better not to get entangled with Lee Eun-ru.’

Jin-yeop vowed internally and spoke to Ye-sol.

“Please arrange for us to win the bid for an F-class dungeon.

For training purposes.”

“It’s already prepared.

Training instructor Esper Cha Jin-yeop, trainee Guide Lee Eun-ru—you’re both registered for entry.”

At Ye-sol’s words, Jin-yeop frowned.

That damn Director Im, knowing Jin-yeop was coming to the agency, had already secured a bid for a training dungeon.

‘What do you mean there’s no one?

He already set everything up.’

With no other choice, Jin-yeop spoke to Eun-ru, who still wore a dissatisfied expression.

“Is this your first time going to a dungeon?”

“Yes.”

Despite his sulky face, he answered obediently, which was somewhat amusing, but Jin-yeop continued speaking with a blank expression.

“There’s no need to worry since it’s an F-class dungeon.

Training dungeons are usually assigned the lowest difficulty within F-class.”

“Besides, Esper Cha Jin-yeop is our agency’s ace A-class Esper.”

Ye-sol interjected with a laugh.

“Do you know how many Awakeners have requested training from Esper Cha Jin-yeop?

Especially Espers.

The support team sweated bullets trying to fend them off.”

“…..”

“How many times do you think Director Im had to go for training instead?

Did you know that, Esper Cha Jin-yeop-nim?”

As Ye-sol asked with sparkling eyes, Jin-yeop smiled awkwardly.

“I’ll participate more actively from now on.”

“But we couldn’t very well push training requests on you when you didn’t have a dedicated Guide.

Speaking of which, our youngest here recently awakened as a B-class Guide, so…”

“Senior-nim, let’s, let’s go for training!”

At Ye-sol’s blatant suggestion, Eun-ru abruptly reached out and grabbed Jin-yeop’s shoulders, pulling him close.

Suddenly finding himself cradled in the large Eun-ru’s embrace, Jin-yeop just blinked his eyes in confusion.

“Oh my, so many rivals?

If I’d known, I would have awakened myself.

I’m drawn to love with obstacles, you see.”

Ye-sop winked slyly at Jin-yeop, who was leaning back against Eun-ru’s chest.

Then Eun-ru turned his body away, as if trying to hide Jin-yeop.

“Guide Lee Eun-ru.”

“…Ye-yes?”

“Go get the location of the dungeon we won the bid for.”

Jin-yeop clicked his tongue softly, pushed away Eun-ru’s hands gripping his shoulders, and exited the support team.

Eun-ru stared at the back of Jin-yeop’s head as he walked away with his arms crossed, then suddenly placed his palm lightly on his own chest, where warmth still lingered.

His heart was pounding so hard he worried it might be audible.

***

‘Has he been working out?’

While riding in the car provided by the agency to the dungeon gate, Jin-yeop leaned back into the plush seat and recalled the feeling of Eun-ru’s firm chest that still lingered.

Then, involuntarily, Jin-yeop turned his head and stared at Eun-ru’s chest area.

Eun-ru’s profile, slightly turned towards the window as if lost in thought, came into view together.

The scene somehow looked like he was stealing a glance, but Jin-yeop couldn’t easily tear his eyes away from Eun-ru’s picture-perfect profile, arms lightly crossed, gazing at the rapidly passing scenery.

But Jin-yeop quickly snapped out of it.

He guessed that some things really don’t change no matter how many times you die and wake up.

Having been deceived by Kang Jung-hoon, who was merely decent-looking, and suffered so much, he still wanted to momentarily set aside all his doubts, captivated by a handsome face.

They drove for a while in complete silence and arrived near the dungeon.

Eun-ru, who had been quiet the whole time, got out first and held the door, and Jin-yeop followed.

“Driver-nim, don’t wait.

Go ahead back.”

“You’re just doing training and coming out, aren’t you?

It won’t take long, I’ll wait.”

“No, we’ll find our own way back when we’re done.”

The dungeon they’d won the bid for was located in the city center, a place where hailing a taxi was easy.

At Jin-yeop’s words, the driver nodded, gave a slight bow, and reversed the car.

Jin-yeop watched the car drive away, then turned and stood before the dungeon.

The dungeon they’d secured was located in the basement of a somewhat aged-looking commercial building.

“Guide Lee Eun-ru.”

“Yes?”

“Take out your phone.”