Chapter 65: A Charm For Safe Return

Not understanding what was going on, So-won rolled his eyes helplessly, and while he was left standing behind, a conversation began.

When the escort guide repeatedly apologized and said something in English, the woman passed by So-won with a faintly regretful expression.

As she left, she gave So-won a long, deliberate look before entering the conference room.

That meant she was an Esper as well.

“So she was an Esper too….”

So-won muttered softly.

Her hands were smooth and unblemished, making her look far removed from combat, so he had assumed she was a Guide.

Once again, he was reminded that judging people by appearances alone was a mistake.

After carefully checking two or three times to make sure the woman was completely gone, the escort guide leaned in and whispered quietly to So-won.

“Guide Lee So-won, you must never get close to that Esper.”

The guide warned him with an unusually serious expression, but she looked smaller and more delicate than So-won, hardly someone who seemed dangerous.

Tilting his head in confusion, So-won asked,

“Why?”

“She’s an S-rank Esper from the U.S., and she has over ten Guides.”

“What?

Guides?”

“Do you know what’s scarier than that?

She took every single one of them from other Espers.”

“T-took them…?”

So-won flinched in shock.

Her angelic appearance was completely at odds with such behavior.

He had thought she merely resembled Si-hyeok, but to think she was truly the same type of person.

Another name was quietly added to So-won’s mental list of dangerous individuals.

“Once she learns the matching rate is high, it doesn’t matter who the other Esper is—she’s famous for doing whatever it takes to bring the Guide over.

Last year, she even laid a hand on a Guide dispatched from another country, and because of that, the whole nation nearly went into an uproar.”

Remembering how he himself had nearly turned Canada upside down twice, So-won let out a breath of relief while clutching his chest.

If Tae-woo hadn’t stopped her during their first encounter, something truly troublesome could have happened in a foreign country.

It seemed that even his sense of danger had malfunctioned after returning to the past.

“Have you heard of ‘Guide poaching’?”

“No… this is my first time hearing about it.”

“Has another Esper ever approached you, Guide Lee So-won?

In Canada, Guides are free to change their assigned Espers, so things like that happen all the time.

That’s why they call it ‘Guide poaching’—people trying to lure Guides away with gifts or better conditions, just like that Esper earlier.”

Guide kidnappings were just as common, he added, and sometimes murders even broke out between Espers, which made it a serious issue.

In Korea, Espers frequently fought over Guides as well, but thanks to regulations that made changing dedicated partners difficult, things weren’t nearly this chaotic.

Listening to the string of sensational anecdotes, So-won widened his eyes in fascination.

Seeing his interest, the escort guide seemed to grow excited as well and began chattering on about even more stories.

Even after arriving at the guest room corridor, So-won and the guide continued talking for a long while before parting ways.

Because of social anxiety developed after years of depression, So-won disliked being left alone with strangers, but for once, he found that he wasn’t uncomfortable.

***

BEEP—BEEP—BEEP.

The alarm rang loudly.

Trying to fall back asleep while covering his ears, So-won felt the space beside him grow empty and forced his eyes open.

As his vision cleared, he saw Tae-woo rising from the bed.

What he had thought was an alarm turned out to be a voice coming from the speaker.

Outside the window, dawn was tinted a bluish hue.

There was combat training scheduled for today, but it wasn’t supposed to start this early.

With a sense of unease, So-won listened to the continued announcement.

He couldn’t understand it since it was in English, but something clearly seemed wrong.

“Tae-woo, what’s going on?”

When he spoke, his voice came out hoarse.

Judging by the dryness in his throat, it wasn’t just leftover sleepiness.

So-won rubbed his neck.

Maybe it was because he’d been walking around in light clothing ever since arriving in Canada.

It seemed like a mild cold was coming on.

“I guess I should dress warmer for a while,” he thought, looking at Tae-woo as he answered.

“The Gate is becoming unstable, so they’ve moved the schedule up.

We’re departing today.”

“Then… do you have to leave right away?”

“Yes.

You should sleep a bit more, Lee So-won.”

So-won hesitated.

He’d gone to bed late waiting for Tae-woo the night before, and his jet lag left him exhausted to the point of misery.

But after weighing staying in bed against dragging his heavy body up to see Tae-woo off, he chose the latter and sluggishly climbed out of bed.

“No.

I’ll sleep after watching you leave.”

If Tae-woo left now, there was no telling when he would return.

Even A-rank Gates took at least four days, and an S-rank Gate could easily take a week.

The Gate that opened in Incheon eight years later had been cleared in under a day, but that had been an extremely rare case.

And a shorter clear time didn’t mean it was easier—monsters that were normally dealt with one by one would pour out all at once, making things even more dangerous.

Feeling the chill, So-won slipped a thick cardigan over his white pajamas.

While Tae-woo changed into his combat uniform, So-won looked out the window.

On the first floor, people and vehicles were already gathering busily, preparing to move toward the Gate.

Announcements that he still couldn’t understand echoed nonstop throughout the lodging.

Just then, someone came to the door.

Hearing a knock instead of the doorbell, So-won perked up his ears and said he’d answer it, heading for the entrance.

“Hello.”

Standing outside were the escort guide and his Esper.

They seemed to have come for Tae-woo as soon as they confirmed the schedule change.

While exchanging greetings with So-won, the guide glanced at his outfit and asked,

“Guide Lee So-won, are you seeing him off?”

“Yes.

Is that… not allowed?”

“It’s not that, but it’s very crowded outside right now, so it would be best if you didn’t go out.”

At that, So-won recalled the hectic activity outside.

Even the hallway on their floor, which had been quiet since they arrived, was now filled with Espers, creating a chaotic atmosphere.

If he wanted to avoid getting in the way, it would be better to part here, just as the guide suggested.

“Good morning, Esper Kang Tae-woo.”

The gazes of the two standing by the door shifted past So-won’s shoulder, and they bowed in unison.

Turning around, So-won saw Tae-woo stepping out, fully prepared.

The last traces of sleepiness vanished at the sight, replaced by the realization that they truly had to part now.

“Tae-woo.”

While the escort staff’s attention was briefly elsewhere, So-won reached out, stopped Tae-woo, and pressed a brief kiss to his lips.

Smack.

Their lips parted lightly.

He knew Tae-woo didn’t need Guiding right now, so this was simply a charm for a safe return.

“Come back safely.”

Smiling brightly, So-won saw Tae-woo off.

It was the beginning of a wait with no promised end.

***

The mild cold symptoms So-won had felt faded quickly after he stayed in his room and rested.

Thinking there was no point wandering outside where he couldn’t even communicate, he spent most of his time in the bedroom, but when that grew dull, he began exploring little by little.

Of course, remembering the repeated warnings never to go alone, he always called an escort guide to accompany him.

With all the Espers gone, the lodging felt quiet, populated only by Guides wandering about at ease.

Some gathered in groups of acquaintances, but most were alone.

Occasionally, someone would rush out of the building, and the guide explained that they were heading to provide Guiding for Espers who had been seriously injured and evacuated from the Gate.

Watching their hurried backs, So-won found himself overlapping them with memories of his own past.

A full week had passed since Tae-woo left for the Gate.

That day, the wind was strong and the gloomy weather did little to lift his spirits.

After checking the overcast sky upon waking, So-won decided not to go out.

Instead, he invited the escort guide—who said he was bored as well—and they talked together in the room.

“What?

The attending physician gave you something like that?”

When So-won talked about the pamphlet he’d received, the guide burst out laughing so hard he nearly ran out of breath.

So-won chuckled at the memory, and soon the two of them were laughing together.

Perhaps because they’d spent several days together, So-won had grown noticeably closer to him.

As men matched with same-s*x Espers, they shared a sense of camaraderie.

There were questions he couldn’t ask others that he could ask him—for example, which Guiding methods had been the most effective.

Taking the opportunity, So-won exchanged information and shared what knowledge he had.

Though he had once known nothing, he now felt like a proper Guide who had something to offer.

Just then, an announcement suddenly came through the speakers.

Suppressing a smile, the guide translated right away.

“Ah, it looks like the Gate has been cleared.

The Espers are returning to the lodging, so they’re asking Guides to prepare for Guiding.”

It would be their first reunion in nearly a week.

Along with the excitement came a sudden wave of anxiety.

After all, So-won couldn’t even imagine what condition Tae-woo would be in after fighting inside an S-rank Gate for seven days straight.

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