Chapter 46: Scheduled For Disclosure

So-won spent his time leisurely in Tae-woo’s private room.

He liked this place.

During the day, sunlight poured in through the wall-length windows, making the room warm and cozy, and at night, the buildings studded with lights beyond the glass looked like stars scattered across the dark sky.

Even stepping out into the corridor, it was quiet, with no one wandering around.

Whenever he holed himself up in Tae-woo’s private room, he could forget every trivial worry and rest to his heart’s content.

Still, the best moments were when Tae-woo had time to spare.

When he wasn’t busy with work or was taking a short break, Tae-woo would come over to receive guiding, and So-won loved those times the most—just quietly sensing Tae-woo’s wavelength.

Before he knew it, there were many occasions when he found himself lying on the bed tucked into one corner of the room.

“Lee So-won.”

Today as well, So-won had been dozing off, leaning his whole body against him.

At the sound of his name, he cracked his eyes open sleepily.

He straightened his posture and looked at Tae-woo with eyes still heavy with drowsiness.

“The Association staff will be visiting soon.”

“Right now?”

So-won’s eyes went wide, the sleep vanishing instantly.

For a moment, he was seized by fear that armed Espers might suddenly barge in like before and drag Tae-woo away.

He asked cautiously,

“…It’s not the attending physician, right?”

“No.

They said the general department has something to discuss with you, Lee So-won.”

“With me?”

So-won tilted his head in confusion.

Up until now, the only times Association staff had come looking for him were either to capture him after he ran away, or when Tae-woo urgently needed guiding.

But this was neither of those.

What could it be about?

He racked his brain.

Had he failed to fulfill some obligation?

Or could it be because of the matching rate?

No matter how much he thought about it, no convincing reason came to mind.

Just as his unease was starting to build—

Knock, knock.

A sound of knocking echoed through the room.

“Ah—hello.

Esper Kang Tae-woo, Guide Lee So-won.”

The people who entered weren’t armed Espers like before.

Their light dress shirts and slacks made them look like ordinary office workers, and relief immediately showed on So-won’s face.

Still, perhaps because they were civilians, they couldn’t help being intimidated by Tae-woo.

They forced smiles, but their voices trembled faintly.

“Hello.”

The staff, who had been avoiding Tae-woo’s gaze, brightened when they saw So-won stand up to greet them.

They’d been worried he might be a monster on par with Kang Tae-woo, considering he’d guided him enough to significantly improve his condition—but the So-won before their eyes, smiling gently and bowing politely, looked like nothing more than an ordinary student who had just come of age.

The two Association employees, looking noticeably more at ease, sat down on the sofa across the table.

So-won took a seat as well.

Then Tae-woo moved to sit beside him.

“As we mentioned earlier, we came because there’s something we’d like to discuss with Guide Lee So-won.

We apologize for visiting on such short notice.

Ah, we’re from the Esper Association’s general department.”

The employee across from them spoke as he handed over a business card.

So-won accepted it and placed it on his lap, having none of his own to offer.

Next, a stack of documents was carefully slid toward him.

So-won’s gaze dropped to the words printed on the paper resting on the table.

Esper Association Regular Briefing — External Attendees.

“The reason we came is to request that the two of you attend next week’s event together.”

“What?

Me too?”

“Yes.

We originally planned to explain over the phone, but you didn’t answer…”

Come to think of it, there had been several calls from unknown numbers over the past few days.

He usually ignored such calls, so they must have been from the Association.

But Tae-woo aside, me too?

So-won was more than a little surprised at being asked to attend.

“This briefing will be an important event, as external companies and reporters will also be present.

Originally, we planned to proceed without Esper Kang Tae-woo, but after reviewing the latest examination results, upper management urgently changed the schedule.

At the briefing, we intend to officially announce that Esper Kang Tae-woo now has a guide with a 100% matching rate, and to inform the public that his condition is improving rapidly.”

The mention of reporters left So-won flustered.

If he attended something like this, there was no doubt photos would be taken and published in articles.

He didn’t care if his own identity became known.

But—

“Then… photos will be taken, right…?”

Tae-woo disliked media exposure.

It was hard to find his photos online.

Even if the marks had faded somewhat, the veins still stood out clearly—no different from before, in the eyes of anyone other than So-won.

Tae-woo himself probably wouldn’t welcome standing in front of others like this.

“Yes.

However, only reporters approved by the Association will be allowed in.

If you’re worried about problematic articles, you don’t need to be.”

Seeing So-won’s hesitation, the employee hurried to reassure him.

But those words weren’t enough to convince him.

So-won had seen countless articles about Tae-woo, and not a single one of them had been favorable.

They all labeled him a monster.

Even if the Association vetted the reporters, the difference would only be whether the outcome was more or less sensational.

So-won was about to shake his head with an uneasy expression when he paused.

Can an A-rank guide who’s being paid a salary really refuse the Association’s request?

The thought crossed his mind—but then he glanced at Tae-woo and felt oddly reassured.

With an S-rank Esper sitting right beside him, there was nothing to be afraid of.

“I’m sorry.

This kind of thing is a bit…

Tae-woo, you’ll refuse too, right?”

The moment he finished speaking, the atmosphere shifted subtly.

One of the employees wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, stole a glance at Tae-woo, and opened his mouth.

“Th-that is… Esper Kang Tae-woo has already agreed to attend.”

“What?”

So-won turned to Tae-woo, shock written all over his face.

“Is that true?”

“Yes.

That’s correct.”

This was the first he’d heard of it.

Maybe because it wasn’t a gate mission, Tae-woo hadn’t mentioned it?

After all, So-won had only asked to be informed about gate schedules.

It wasn’t as though Tae-woo was obligated to report every detail of his work.

Come to think of it, they had said they came because they had something to tell him.

So-won realized the implication belatedly and let out a quiet sigh.

So that was why the condition had been attached—Tae-woo’s attendance was already decided.

“…I didn’t expect them to ask you to attend as well, Lee So-won.

You’re free to refuse.”

Seeing how flustered and shaken So-won looked, Tae-woo spoke up.

So-won quickly pulled himself together and shook his head.

“No, if you’re attending, Tae-woo…

Then I’ll go too.”

“Thank you!

Then we’ll report that both of you will be attending!”

The Association staff’s faces brightened noticeably as soon as So-won accepted.

As if afraid he might change his mind, they hurriedly took their leave.

Watching them go, So-won couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d made the wrong decision, his expression turning uneasy.

Once they were gone, the private room fell quiet again.

So-won cautiously turned to Tae-woo, who was still seated beside him.

“Tae-woo…

If reporters are coming… are you really okay with this?”

“I’m fine.

It’s just part of the job.”

Hearing that only made So-won’s thoughts more tangled.

No matter how much it was work, it was surely something Tae-woo wouldn’t welcome.

Why agree to something he could have refused?

He’d thought he was starting to understand Tae-woo, but now it felt like the distance between them had widened again.

Tae-woo looked unaffected, but So-won’s worries had already begun.

The looks people would give Tae-woo.

Their reactions.

They’d already agreed—there was no backing out now.

But he didn’t want to refuse on his own either, leaving Tae-woo to go alone.

If Tae-woo didn’t refuse, then maybe I don’t need to worry so much.

Clinging to that thought, So-won forced himself to push the anxiety out of his mind.

***

Beep-beep-beep.

The alarm rang, and So-won’s eyes flew open.

For someone who usually needed to turn off his alarm two or three times before fully waking up, this was unusually quick.

Beside him, Tae-woo looked at So-won with mild curiosity.

It was earlier than the time So-won normally got up.

“Did you sleep well?”

So-won, who had just noticed Tae-woo looking at him, flinched slightly before greeting him casually.

He stretched lightly, then left Tae-woo’s room.

Tae-woo watched him silently for a moment before getting out of bed himself.

“Hmm…”

So-won washed up as soon as he got up, fixed his hair, and tried on the new suit he’d bought.

When he looked at himself in the mirror, a thoroughly awkward-looking person was staring back.

Since it was his first time attending an Association event, he had no idea how to prepare.

He’d put on a suit and slicked back his hair, but maybe because he was only twenty-two, it felt like the clothes didn’t suit him at all.

Should he have chosen something with a younger design?

It felt like it would have looked fine if he were eight years older…

Was the problem that he’d gone to a department store with his parents to choose it?

That they’d picked it with a thirty-year-old’s eye?

Or was it simply his endlessly youthful-looking face?

So-won’s expression grew complicated.

He’d learned how to tie a necktie from the shop assistant, but doing it alone was clumsy beyond belief.

Worse still, something felt terribly uncomfortable around his neck.

No matter how many times he looked it up online and tried again, the result was the same.

Letting out a deep sigh, So-won turned his head toward the direction of Tae-woo’s room and muttered to himself.

“Come to think of it… does Tae-woo even have a suit?”

He always wore black T-shirts pulled up to his neck and black pants, so it was hard to imagine.

But if Tae-woo showed up in his usual clothes, then standing beside him in a suit would probably make So-won look even stranger.

Deciding he should dress to match Tae-woo, So-won left the room with that thought in mind.