Chapter 66: A Thirst That Couldn’t Wait

As So-won’s expression darkened slightly, the escort guide tilted his head and asked,

“Guide Lee So-won, what’s wrong?”

“I’m just… a little worried.”

“Ah, Esper Kang Tae-woo?

He’ll be fine.

If his condition were bad enough to need immediate Guiding, he would’ve been called in already.

The fact that there’s been no contact so far means the Esper is fine.”

So-won nodded, recalling memories from eight years later.

Back then, the moment he heard that the Gate had been cleared, he had been summoned immediately because Tae-woo was in critical condition.

Just as the guide said, the lack of any contact meant that Tae-woo had returned safely.

Probably…

“Shouldn’t you be heading back to your room soon too, Guide?”

As the announcement had said, it seemed about time for him to go prepare for Guiding as well.

However, the guide shook his head.

“No, my Esper will be arriving here with Esper Kang Tae-woo anyway, so it’s better if we move together then.

That way we won’t miss each other.”

Thinking about it, that made sense.

As So-won nodded in agreement, the escort guide let out a deep sigh and continued,

“It’s going to be rough for a while.”

“Why?”

“It was an S-rank Gate.

Just imagining him rushing in to make up for all the Guiding he missed during that time… hmm?”

Seeing the question mark practically appear on So-won’s face as he blinked, the guide looked at him with confusion.

For a moment, they exchanged looks of mutual incomprehension.

Then suddenly, as if he had realized something, the guide shot to his feet.

“Guide Lee So-won, don’t tell me this is your first time Guiding an Esper who’s returned from an S-rank Gate?”

At the shocked question, So-won nodded blankly, and the guide’s expression stiffened.

Seeing his sudden change in demeanor, So-won wondered if he had said something wrong and rolled his eyes nervously.

The escort guide called out to him with a grave expression.

“Guide Lee So-won, listen carefully.”

“Yes?”

“There are stamina supplements in the bedside drawer.”

“Stamina supplements…?”

“Yes.

If it gets really hard while you’re Guiding, take one.

It’ll let you hold out for about a day.

It’s best to take just one, but… if you feel like you’re going to die, it’s okay to take another.”

The guide whispered this to So-won with a deadly serious face.

Because he looked so solemn, So-won couldn’t bring himself to ask anything and simply nodded.

As if that wasn’t enough, the guide suddenly launched into an enthusiastic lecture on how to deplete an Esper’s stamina efficiently without exhausting oneself.

No, it wasn’t a lecture—it was practically obscene.

Things So-won had never even imagined poured nonstop from the man’s mouth.

Having missed his chance to cover his ears, So-won listened helplessly with his eyes wide open, when the sound of the door opening came from the entrance.

Click.

Presence could be felt from the foyer, and both So-won and the guide turned their gazes at the same time.

Through the open door, Tae-woo appeared.

In one arm, he was carrying the escort guide’s Esper, who hung limp like a sack of baggage.

“Yong-hun!”

The guide beside So-won cried out in shock and hurried toward the entrance.

Ugh…

Judging by the strained groan escaping the Esper’s mouth, he hadn’t completely lost consciousness, but he didn’t look well enough to stand on his own either.

The escort guide wrapped his arms around his Esper protectively and examined him anxiously.

“I was going to take him to his room, but I heard that you were here with Guide Lee So-won, so I brought him here instead.

He doesn’t have any major injuries, but he’s in need of Guiding.”

“Ah… thank you.”

After listening to Tae-woo’s explanation, the escort guide seemed to grasp the situation, and some color returned to his pale face.

Supporting his staggering Esper, he barely managed to stand upright.

“Then I’ll be going now.

Guide Lee So-won, please be sure to contact me as soon as the Guiding is finished.”

With a deep bow and a brief request, the guide hurriedly left the room.

Once they were gone, the guest room fell into silence.

So-won looked at Tae-woo, who was still standing tall in the entryway.

The combat uniform that had been pristine before he left for the Gate was now scuffed, torn, and tattered.

“Tae-woo, are you hurt anywhere?”

“No.”

Even after hearing the answer, So-won habitually checked his abdomen.

The uniform was slightly torn, but thankfully, the skin beneath showed no wounds.

There were no bulging veins or unsettling movements either.

The wind knocked against the window.

Now that he thought about it, Tae-woo’s body was completely soaked.

Was it raining?

So-won glanced outside, but though the sky was overcast, there were no raindrops falling.

“Why are you wet?”

“I thought you might be startled if you saw me covered in blood like last time, so I washed it off before coming.”

“Oh… right.

That did happen…”

So-won fell silent.

It was an unexpected reason.

Only then did he realize that, unlike usual after a Gate, there was no trace of monster blood on Tae-woo’s body.

It felt strange.

That he remembered something even So-won himself had forgotten.

A soft, swelling emotion rose in his chest, making it itch warmly.

Yes—Tae-woo was that kind of person.

Even while dying, he had told So-won to be happy.

Someone who always thought of So-won first.

“Then… should we start Guiding right away?”

So-won stepped closer and gently tugged at Tae-woo’s sleeve.

Even if there were no injuries, Tae-woo’s expression was stiffer than usual, and he looked worse than he had in a long time.

It seemed his first S-rank Gate had been especially grueling.

As So-won slowly leaned in, Tae-woo pulled him close as if he had been waiting and crashed their lips together.

The moment his dry lips were swallowed, Tae-woo’s tongue thrust into his mouth.

Slurp.

From the very start, a wet sound of saliva filled the air.

“Mmm… ngh…”

The thick tongue invaded his mouth, and feeling the roughened waves for the first time in a while, So-won’s mind went blank.

Tae-woo had no leeway today.

He acted as though his thirst was so severe that he wanted to devour So-won whole.

The urgency in the way he cradled the back of So-won’s head and twisted his waist was unmistakable.

Overwhelmed trying to keep up, So-won soon began gasping and pushed him away.

Despite how aggressively he had pressed in, Tae-woo yielded easily and stepped back.

Still, his darkened gaze fixed on So-won as if to say he was far from satisfied.

“Not here… let’s go inside.”

So-won led him toward the bedroom.

Because he had woken up late and hadn’t tidied up, the bedding wasn’t particularly neat.

But neither of them cared.

It would soon be far more disheveled anyway.

So-won was laid down atop the soft bed.

A massive shadow fell over him, completely enveloping his body.

Imagining the pleasure—and slight pain—to come, So-won stiffened unconsciously.

Smack.

Instead of what he expected, a light kiss landed on his forehead.

“H-huh…?

Tae-woo?”

Having squeezed his eyes shut reflexively when Tae-woo leaned close, So-won slowly opened them at the ticklish sensation on his forehead.

Without answering, Tae-woo pressed another gentle kiss to his flushed cheek.

“Ah— that tickles.”

As So-won laughed shyly, Tae-woo continued to place short kisses while slowly caressing him.

His long, thick fingers cradled So-won tenderly, then, with darker intent, traced over sensitive places.

Each time the rough fingertips brushed his soft skin, heat flared, and So-won squirmed, melting weakly.

Then without warning, a large hand slid firmly down So-won’s waist.

“Hah—”

A thin breath escaped his lips.

Feeling the fine hairs on his skin stand on end, So-won hurried to squeeze his legs together, but Tae-woo’s body blocked him.

Unable to move either way, So-won kept shuddering helplessly.

The way his legs trembled and tightened only seemed to stoke Tae-woo’s arousal further, adding hunger to his touch.

“Hh… ah!”

Tae-woo mouthed at So-won’s neck before sucking down hard.

Startled by the sharp sting, So-won’s moan rose higher.

As So-won shifted his body, his lower half accidentally pressed tightly against Tae-woo’s.

The overwhelming stimulation made his body tremble violently.

Everything was damp.

From the moisture seeping out of Tae-woo’s wet clothes to the parts that weren’t.

Lowering his head, So-won panted for breath.

Tae-woo wrapped his arms around his Guide carefully, as if he were something precious.

Cradled in Tae-woo’s embrace, So-won grew steadily slick.

There was no time to feel cold.

The soaked clothes were soon discarded onto the floor.

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