Chapter 70: The Lunatic Who Finally Dragged His Hamster to the Registry Office

“Yong-yong stays in human form longer these days, so he basically counts as human. Of course he’s qualified to join Legion.”

Jae-hyung’s eyes instantly welled up with grateful tears. He looked at Haejin like he’d just seen a living saint.

“Hyung… thank you, really. You know I’ve respected you forever, right? Most S-ranks are total assholes, but you’re so warm-hearted…”

“Blech. He’s mine, so stop drooling.”

Yong-yong, listening to the whole exchange, rolled his huge eyes in shock.

“Official member? I’m really part of the pack now?”

“That’s right! You’re Legion too! Captain said it, so it’s 100 % official!”

“WOW!”

Yong-yong threw his arms around Jae-hyung’s neck in pure joy. His tail (which pops out whenever he’s excited) shot out long and wagged like crazy. Lee Chae was half a second from reaching for the fluffy tip when Haejin muttered beside him,

“Can’t tell if that’s a dragon or a puppy anymore.”

“Haha, it’s cute. He’s that happy.”

“So you like puppies?”

“I told you I do! Why do you keep asking?”

“Then let me be your puppy! Woof woof!”

Lee Chae erased his smile and deadpanned. Haejin immediately stuck out his cheek.

“Kiss me if you like puppies.”

Lee Chae poked the offered cheek with one finger.

“Do that in front of people one more time and I’ll bite you like a real dog.”

He said it threateningly, but the grin never left his face. His chest felt so full it might burst. He used to think belonging to an awakener group or feeling “part of something” was irrelevant. Turns out it wasn’t irrelevant; he’d just avoided it because thinking about it made him lonely.

I like people more than I thought. Meeting Haejin was teaching him things about himself he never knew.

The next morning, Haejin was waiting outside the house and basically kidnapped Lee Chae the second he stepped out, shoving him into the car.

Same old worn-out hoodie, same old jeans, same backpack; nothing different from any other day. Yet Haejin couldn’t take his eyes off him.

Walking around looking like that should be illegal.

He kept stealing glances at Lee Chae’s blank, pretty face staring straight ahead and got scolded twice for not watching the road before he finally snapped out of it.

“You know what today is, right?”

“Hm? What?”

Lee Chae answered half-asleep. Is he serious or pretending? Haejin parked the car, convinced it was just morning grogginess. There’s no way my Chae forgot today.

He unbuckled his seatbelt and stared straight at Lee Chae. Lee Chae gave him a why are you looking at me like that face.

So cold, my baby.

Haejin reached over, unbuckled Lee Chae’s belt too, and grumbled,

“Honey, today’s the day we officially register as exclusive pair.”

“Mm…” Lee Chae turned to the window.

Mm? Avoiding my eyes? He was always aloof, but acting indifferent on registration day hurt. Haejin’s glare could’ve melted steel. Lee Chae finally turned back—and Haejin’s eyes landed on the vivid imprint mark peeking above the hoodie collar. All the sulking evaporated.

“Hyung… do we really have to do it today?”

“Of course. The sooner the better.”

“But we already imprinted… do we have to report it? Legion’s supposed to be anarchist.”

Haejin narrowed his eyes.

“So? What are you trying to say?”

“I mean, we were literally created to oppose headquarters policy… do we have to follow their rules…?”

And then came a long string of pseudo-logical nonsense.

Is he seriously trying to weasel out after imprinting? Panic hit. He wanted to throw Lee Chae over his shoulder and drag him to the registry right now, but that would definitely make him run. He forced the impulse down.

Think rationally.

Deep breath. First: they’d already imprinted, so Lee Chae wasn’t rejecting being his exclusive guide. If he wanted to escape, he wouldn’t have let the imprint happen in the first place.

So why was he suddenly dragging his feet about the paperwork?

Haejin tested the waters.

“You embarrassed?”

“No! Who’s embarrassed!”

“Then what’s with the sudden attitude?”

“You’re the one obsessed with registering. Plenty of couples just imprint and never report—”

Haejin cut the bullshit off mid-sentence.

“Jung Lee Chae, think coldly. Do you think I’m doing this just to chain you down? Or because I’m blinded by love?”

Lee Chae blinked—clearly hadn’t considered that angle. His innocent eyes screamed I have no idea. Haejin’s heart turned to mush, but he forced himself to stay sharp.

“I told you—we always have to prepare for death. There are couples who only imprint and never register? Those guys are the real assholes. We could die today or tomorrow. If the esper dies and there’s no official record, what happens to the guide? Live celibate forever?”

“T-that’s…”

Lee Chae’s shoulders shook at the word death. He’d nearly died not long ago; the topic still hit hard. But Haejin couldn’t let it slide just because it hurt.

“We have to think about after the esper dies. Imprint dissolution is impossible unless headquarters steps in—and they only for officially registered pairs. You memorised the Guide Rights Charter—how do you not know this?”

“I know… dissolution, plus the esper’s assets and status all go to the guide…”

Lee Chae touched the back of his hot neck and looked down.

Assets and status… Suddenly it clicked. Lee Chae had fought tooth and nail to protect his pride as a guide. He didn’t want anyone saying he’d seduced an S-rank for money or power. So he was planning to take nothing—just give.

Ha… what do I do with this dumb hamster? Acts all smart but is an absolute idiot about this.

“You don’t want to register because you hate the idea of taking my money?”

Lee Chae suddenly flashed a sly grin.

“You’re not gonna die anyway. You’ll come back whining it hurts, making pervy jokes and teasing me like always. Right?”

Goddamn no-turn-signal punch again. Every time—Haejin ended up exactly where Lee Chae wanted. He bit his lip to resist. Registration was the one thing he would never concede, no matter how foxy Lee Chae acted.

Then the fox grabbed his arm and hung on. Muscles stiffened against his will; words stuck.

“Hyung, you imprinted—take responsibility. Responsibility means never dying, right? So why are you already talking about death? You’re making me sad.”

Those seductive lips worked perfectly. Haejin tensed his arm, trying to ignore the skin contact.

“Stop the tricks. I’m not falling for it.”

“What tricks? I’m serious.”

Lee Chae rubbed his flushed cheek against Haejin’s arm. Haejin needed to get out, grab his hand, march to the registry—but he couldn’t look away from that face. He sat frozen until his palm was soaked with sweat on his thigh.

How do I make him stop stalling and want to register himself? Forcing was easy, but nothing good ever came from forcing Lee Chae. He had to be careful. Then Lee Chae’s earlier words flashed in his mind.

“So the desperate, clingy, ‘I’m dying for you’ stuff—let hyung do that part.”

If that’s permission to be clingy…

Haejin smirked, got out, and opened Lee Chae’s door.

“Get out. We’re registering. You know I’m doing it anyway, right?”

“…Yeah, but…”

Lee Chae looked deep in thought. Haejin delivered the final blow.

“You might not know, honey, but the sooner we register, the better.”

“Why?”

“Exclusive guides of S-ranks get national scholarships.”

Lee Chae smirked—he already had a full academic scholarship. But that wasn’t the point.

“Not for you—for Lee-jung.”

Lee Chae froze, face blank with shock. He stared at Haejin like he’d forgotten how to breathe, then finally spoke.

“How do you know my little brother’s name?”

“That’s not important right now. Getting him that scholarship money and into school ASAP is.”

Lee Chae nodded dumbly. His lips were bloodless; shoulders shook. Is he feeling pathetic again? Haejin’s chest twinged—he’d poked a sensitive spot. He quickly changed tack.

“Chae-ya. How do I say this so your pride doesn’t get hurt? When will you understand that registering isn’t me helping you—it’s you helping me?”

Lee Chae looked up, eyes full of thoughts. Haejin waited for an answer.