Chapter 26: Interference

“Mm….”

So-won quietly focused on Tae-woo’s wavelength, then tilted his head in confusion.

The same sharp current as always kept surging relentlessly into his hand—but there was too much of it trying to flow in all at once, as if the passage itself were clogged, preventing the guiding from settling properly.

For some reason, Tae-woo’s exposed hand felt oddly empty.

After a moment of hesitation, So-won extended his free hand and placed it gently over the back of Tae-woo’s hand.

When he enclosed Tae-woo’s hand from above and below, the wavelength flowed in through both palms.

The chaotic current split into two streams, and only then did the blocked guiding finally begin to work smoothly.

“Ah—this works much better.”

Both hands tingled sharply, yet a strange sense of fulfillment welled up inside him.

It was a feeling he had never experienced before while guiding.

He wished Tae-woo’s swollen veins would fade once he let go—but the dark crimson lines visible between his fingers remained unchanged.

Ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

So-won kept checking the time, and the moment exactly ten minutes elapsed, he released Tae-woo’s hand.

He wanted to guide him a little longer—but he couldn’t make him late.

As he tried to get out of the car, So-won realized he hadn’t even unbuckled his seatbelt yet.

He hastily released it, and the constricting pressure over his body disappeared.

“I’ll be back quickly.”

“Even if you’re late, don’t push yourself.”

Tae-woo offered to walk So-won to the waiting room, but So-won declined.

Dressed in black, with his large frame, Tae-woo stood out far too much.

So-won didn’t want people staring—or reacting in shock.

More than anything, Tae-woo already carried enough burden knowing he had to enter a gate and fight monsters.

So-won didn’t want to add to that weight.

After telling Tae-woo to be careful one last time, So-won stepped out of the car.

Through the closed window—unable to see him anymore—he bowed deeply.

It felt like all he could offer was holding Tae-woo’s hand until the very end, and even that felt insufficient.

So-won crossed the parking lot toward the Guide Center.

It was smaller than the one he’d stayed at in Incheon, but the exterior was neat—suggesting the waiting rooms inside wouldn’t be bad either.

What should I do while waiting for Tae-woo to return?

If it was a clear mission, he’d be stuck waiting at least half a day.

The boredom already felt overwhelming.

“Lee So-won.”

Startled by Tae-woo’s voice calling from behind, So-won spun around.

Tae-woo was standing right behind him.

So-won hurriedly scanned their surroundings to see if anyone else was nearby.

Thankfully, no one was in sight—but with the Center entrance close by and the open parking lot stretching out, someone could pass through at any moment.

“You left this behind.”

Tae-woo handed him something.

Only after spotting the familiar smartphone in Tae-woo’s hand did So-won realize his pocket was empty.

“Ah… thank you.”

He must have dropped it when getting out of the car.

So-won accepted the phone with an apologetic expression, intending to send Tae-woo off quickly before anyone else arrived—but then he sensed footsteps approaching.

As the sound grew closer, So-won instinctively tensed, bracing himself for the inevitable reaction.

“Wow—would you look at that.

Isn’t that Esper Kang Tae-woo?”

Instead of shock, a casual voice rang out.

So-won blinked, surprised—not only by the calm reaction, but by the familiarity in the speaker’s tone.

He turned toward the voice.

Flashy blond hair.

Strikingly handsome features.

For a split second, So-won thought he was a celebrity—then immediately corrected himself.

Choi Si-hyeok.

Choi Si-hyeok was one of South Korea’s S-rank Espers, just like Tae-woo—an Esper who wielded telekinesis.

He was famous not only as an Esper, but also for his work as a model and actor.

So-won had seen him more often in entertainment news than in gate reports, making him feel more like a celebrity than an Esper.

“Good to see you.”

“Long time no see.

What brings you here?

Isn’t this pretty far from your place?”

“I stopped by because of a gate.”

Like most celebrities, Choi Si-hyeok looked far better in person than in photos.

So-won found himself briefly admiring his looks—even though they were both men.

A radiant face, a constantly cheerful smile, and a reputation filled with good rumors.

In many ways, he was the complete opposite of Tae-woo.

Perhaps because he was also an S-rank Esper, Choi Si-hyeok showed no fear standing so close to Tae-woo.

He was pushing a wheelchair with a woman seated in it—she looked like an ordinary civilian, yet even she didn’t seem afraid of Tae-woo, which So-won found faintly surprising.

“Ah.”

Suddenly, Choi Si-hyeok let out a short sound, as if something had just occurred to him.

“Don’t tell me—you’re here to clear a gate nearby?”

“Yes.”

“That was originally my assignment.”

Choi Si-hyeok continued with a bright grin.

“It’s Friday, and I suddenly couldn’t be bothered.

I figured I’d just send the juniors instead—sorry about that.”

Despite his words, he looked thoroughly amused, not apologetic in the slightest.

So-won wondered if he’d misheard—but Choi Si-hyeok didn’t stop there.

“Didn’t you say you just went on a clear mission recently too?

You got yourself a guide now, right?

Guess life’s gotten easier?”

Tae-woo didn’t respond.

They’d exchanged greetings, so So-won initially thought they were close—but listening to the one-sided conversation, the atmosphere felt off.

As So-won nervously glanced between them, his eyes met Choi Si-hyeok’s.

That handsome face made his expression go blank for a moment.

“You really shouldn’t be wandering around like this.

Look—an ordinary civilian’s getting scared.”

Choi Si-hyeok gestured toward So-won with his chin.

Caught off guard as the topic suddenly shifted to him, So-won looked to Tae-woo in confusion.

Tae-woo hesitated.

Choi Si-hyeok was difficult to deal with.

They’d worked together on gate raids before, but no matter how much time passed, Tae-woo never grew comfortable around him.

Pretending So-won was just a passing stranger—and saying nothing—would have been the safest choice.

But even if it was only this once, Tae-woo didn’t want to treat So-won that way.

“He’s my guide.”

“What?”

It was a very Tae-woo kind of introduction—short and blunt.

Choi Si-hyeok’s eyes widened as he looked back and forth between So-won and Tae-woo.

Seeing Choi Si-hyeok’s sudden interest, Tae-woo felt an inexplicable unease settle in his chest.

“So this is the guide with a 100% matching rate with Kang Tae-woo…”
“I was expecting some kind of monster.”

Choi Si-hyeok murmured softly as he scanned So-won from head to toe, clearly surprised.

He observed So-won with open curiosity—the guide Tae-woo himself had introduced.

Cute features for a man, a youthful face that barely looked adult.

His gentle, kind nature showed plainly in his expression, and the tension written all over his face made Choi Si-hyeok almost want to laugh.

After more than ten years of letting the monster Kang Tae-woo run wild, had God finally decided to send him salvation?

And with a ridiculous number like 100% matching rate, no less.

Choi Si-hyeok’s eyes narrowed briefly—but he smiled right away, hiding it so well that no one noticed.

“I’m S-rank Esper Choi Si-hyeok.

Nice to meet you.”

With a bright smile, he extended his hand toward So-won.

So-won felt oddly reluctant to take it—but he found himself captivated by that dazzling smile.

By the time he snapped out of it, he was already shaking Choi Si-hyeok’s hand and introducing himself.

“H-hello… I’m A-rank Guide Lee So-won.”

The moment their hands touched, an unfamiliar sensation flowed in.

It was faint—nothing like Tae-woo’s overwhelming presence.

At first, So-won thought it was just body heat—but as he felt a gentle current climbing up his arm, realization dawned.

A wavelength.

This is Choi Si-hyeok’s wavelength.

He had never felt anyone else’s wavelength before.

Unlike Tae-woo’s chaotic, violent current, Si-hyeok’s felt like warm water—soft and calm.

Yet instead of fascination, panic struck first.

There was only one thing this could mean.

“So you’re Kang Tae-woo’s guide… must be tough.”

“But hey…”

As if he’d noticed too, Choi Si-hyeok tightened his grip.

“Feels like our matching rate’s pretty good too, doesn’t it?”

“Ah—!”

His arm was yanked forward.

Before he could react, So-won was pulled closer.

Choi Si-hyeok bent at the waist, bringing his face uncomfortably close.

His blatant gaze slid over So-won’s face, sticky and intrusive.

One could only sense another’s wavelength if the matching rate between guide and Esper exceeded a certain threshold.

According to the Association’s minimum criteria, if both parties could feel each other’s wavelength during guiding, they were considered a compatible match.

When his eyes met those blue-tinged irises, goosebumps erupted across So-won’s body.

Choi Si-hyeok’s lips curled upward, clearly entertained.

So-won snapped back to his senses and tried to pull his hand free—but no matter how much strength he used, the grip wouldn’t budge.