Chapter 32: Crossing The Line

“What?”

This time, it was So-won’s turn to be shocked.

As he looked up at Si-hyeok with wide eyes, Si-hyeok casually draped an arm over So-won’s shoulders and continued.

“My waves are complicated, so the basic test doesn’t really give accurate results for me.

Ah, of course, with Guide Lee So-won, the matching rate would come out decent even on the basic test, but…

You’d still want to know the exact numbers, right?”

“N-no…”

“If the results are good, you could even become my dedicated guide.”

So-won hesitated.

What he’d thought was nothing more than teasing suddenly carried a hint of sincerity.

As if he truly intended to check their matching rate, Si-hyeok started pulling So-won along toward the Association.

Last time, So-won had dismissed it as a joke, but now it seemed Si-hyeok genuinely meant to make So-won his dedicated guide.

No matter that Tae-woo and So-won had achieved the world’s first 100% matching rate—if the other party was the same S-rank Esper, Choi Si-hyeok, it wasn’t as though there were no alternatives at all.

Of course, changing a dedicated Esper required the consent of both So-won himself and Tae-woo.

And somehow, So-won felt certain Tae-woo would simply nod in silence.

That thought left a strange bitterness behind.

He had tried so hard to grow closer, yet if things still ended this way, it felt as though he meant nothing at all to Tae-woo.

So-won stopped in his tracks.

“…I’m sorry, but I’m going to remain Tae-woo’s dedicated guide.”

Perhaps he hadn’t expected to be rejected.

For a brief moment, a crack showed on Si-hyeok’s face.

“Is this because of Esper Kang Tae-woo?

If it’s because of him, don’t worry about it.

He’s not the type to fuss over things like this—he’d give his permission easily.”

So-won knew that much too.

If So-won asked, Tae-woo would agree without even asking why.

Realizing that only deepened the faint sting in his chest.

“Isn’t it hard, being Kang Tae-woo’s guide?”

“…..”

“You never know when he’ll go berserk, and honestly, his looks don’t exactly help.

Wouldn’t it be much better to be my guide?”

At some point, the humor had vanished from Si-hyeok’s face, replaced by a serious expression.

So-won didn’t answer.

He simply shook his head firmly.

Si-hyeok frowned, clearly unable to understand So-won’s decision.

A long silence followed.

In the end, Si-hyeok let out a shallow sigh and spoke first.

“If that’s really how you feel, then there’s nothing I can do.”

Did he finally give up?

So-won barely managed to relax.

He’d been worried Si-hyeok might still drag him into the Association to force a matching test despite everything.

Relieved at the thought of escaping this uncomfortable encounter, So-won unconsciously looked up at him with a brighter expression.

Si-hyeok had intended to let him go—but catching that flash of relief, he decided to indulge in a little mischief.

“Then at least let me get a bit of guiding today before you go.”

Si-hyeok suddenly pulled So-won into his arms.

“Ugh!”

“Ah… now I can breathe again…”

Si-hyeok muttered as he rubbed his face against So-won’s hair.

Abruptly buried in an unfamiliar embrace, So-won panicked and tried to push him away.

But the moment his hand touched Si-hyeok’s body, a sharp, prickling sensation shot through him—like being jabbed by a thorn—and he hastily pulled back.

The wave he’d felt vanished without leaving a trace.

But it hadn’t been his imagination.

It had unmistakably resembled Tae-woo’s.

To confirm it, So-won reached out again toward Si-hyeok’s body.

This time, he felt only a smooth, gentle flow—nothing like the wave from moments before.

“You really won’t be my guide?

I’d treat you well.

Hmm?”

While So-won quietly examined his condition, Si-hyeok did his best to distract him.

Perhaps because their matching rate wasn’t as high as with Tae-woo, checking Si-hyeok’s waves required intense concentration.

In the end, So-won had no choice but to give up without learning anything.

“Esper Choi Si-hyeok, you already have a dedicated guide.

So why do you keep doing this to me?”

“Um…”

Si-hyeok trailed off.

“There are… circumstances.”

Seeing how cleanly he dodged the question, it seemed unlikely So-won would get a proper answer.

There was no reason to stay any longer.

So-won tried to push Si-hyeok away.

But Si-hyeok didn’t budge an inch.

“Could you please let go now…?”

He must have heard him, yet Si-hyeok ignored the request.

So-won pushed harder, asking again, but Si-hyeok remained unmoving.

Last time, Tae-woo had helped him escape.

But now that Tae-woo wasn’t here, it seemed he’d have to get out on his own somehow.

Letting out a short sigh, So-won twisted his body this way and that, struggling to break free.

When he finally managed to pull his upper body back just a little, his eyes met those of a passerby.

“Ah…”

The gaze that met So-won’s slid upward toward his head, then the person’s mouth fell open in shock.

Flashy blond hair.

A familiar face.

The person who’d spotted Si-hyeok froze as though they’d forgotten how to move.

Only then did So-won realize that the area around them was growing increasingly noisy.

This was the front entrance of the Association, where people passed constantly.

And Choi Si-hyeok was both a celebrity and one of only three S-rank Espers in South Korea.

So-won was confident there wasn’t a single passerby who wouldn’t recognize his face.

Worse yet, Si-hyeok wasn’t even trying to hide himself.

Anyone who glanced at the two men embracing so openly in the middle of the road would immediately recognize one of them as Choi Si-hyeok.

“W-wait, Esper Choi Si-hyeok.

Is it really okay to be doing this out in the open?”

Once attention latched on, it didn’t fade easily.

Feeling the stares multiplying by the second, So-won asked urgently.

But unlike So-won, who was flustered, the actual celebrity seemed utterly unconcerned, eyes closed as he leisurely enjoyed the guiding.

So-won grew frantic.

Getting tangled up in strange rumors would be bad enough—but if Tae-woo were dragged into it too, that would be even worse.

“L-let go!”

With that realization, So-won struggled desperately to break free.

But as if determined not to release him, Si-hyeok tightened the arms trapping him.

So-won strained and groaned for quite some time.

Yet Si-hyeok didn’t budge, like an enormous boulder that refused to move.

Eventually, So-won realized that unless Si-hyeok chose to let go of his own accord, escape was impossible.

Bzzzt.

At that moment, a vibration buzzed from Si-hyeok’s pocket.

The short buzz should have stopped quickly—but unexpectedly, it continued, long and persistent.

“Oh, right.”

Only then did Si-hyeok finally react, as if something had just occurred to him.

At the same time, the strength in the arms restraining So-won loosened slightly.

This might be my chance.

Carefully watching Si-hyeok’s face, So-won asked in a cautious voice,

“Shouldn’t you… answer that?”

“Mmm…”

Si-hyeok seemed to ponder it briefly, but not for long.

Even without So-won pushing him away, Si-hyeok’s body naturally shifted back.

“I’d like to get a bit more guiding, but even I’m busy, you know.”

Is he finally leaving?

So-won brightened and looked at him—only for Si-hyeok, who was about to pull out his phone, to pause.

His eyes rolled lazily, and a mischievous smile spread across his face.

Before So-won could even register the strange feeling, Si-hyeok’s face closed the distance in an instant.

A soft sensation brushed against his lips.

“Mm—!”

Frozen for only a heartbeat, So-won snapped back to his senses and shoved Si-hyeok hard.

Smack.

With a light sound, Si-hyeok was pushed back easily.

So-won staggered backward, roughly wiping his lips with the back of his hand.

Si-hyeok chuckled quietly, clearly amused by his reaction.

Frowning deeply, So-won glared at him.

“That level of guiding is more than enough, so I’ll be going now—ugh.”

Si-hyeok cut himself off and jumped back abruptly.

The instant he moved, a massive object came flying toward where he’d just been standing.

CRASH!

A violent gust swept past as something streaked right in front of So-won’s eyes.

Screams erupted, and the surroundings plunged into chaos.

What just happened?

So-won stiffened.

Forcing his rigid neck to turn, he saw a long metal rod of unknown origin lying on the pavement, having smashed through the sidewalk where Si-hyeok had been moments ago.

Swallowing hard at the horrific sight, So-won felt his throat tighten.

“That’s a bit much for a greeting.”

Si-hyeok said calmly as he brushed his wind-tossed hair back and shifted his gaze.

So-won followed his line of sight.

“Don’t you think, Esper Kang Tae-woo?”

At the end of that gaze—stood Tae-woo.

“…..”

A chill ran down So-won’s spine.

It was an expression he had never seen before.

A cold, terrifying look, brows drawn down sharply, as though frost might drip from him at any moment.

His eyes brimmed with killing intent—so overwhelming it stole the breath from anyone who met them.

The trembling wouldn’t stop.

Fear he hadn’t felt in a long time surged up, leaving his hands and feet icy cold.

Feeling like prey caught in a predator’s sights, So-won shrank back instinctively.