Chapter 78: The Lunatic Who Was Acting Extra Suspicious Today

Professor Kim’s brow twitched, then smoothed. After a beat, her voice came out steel-hard.

“A D-rank?”

“So?”

“I saw his grades—impressive. With scores like that, he could easily succeed as an administrator. Why suddenly decide to be a guide?”

She knows exactly why, and she’s still playing dumb. Haejin peeled himself off the blackboard and smiled coldly.

“I got on my knees and begged him to be my exclusive. He kept refusing, so I forced him and imprinted him against his will.”

“…”

He’d expected an explosion. Instead she just stared—then slowly turned to the window, murmuring like she was talking to herself.

“You used to be so cute when you were little…”

If you’re going to spew that crap, I’m leaving— She continued before he could.

“I don’t know how things got this cold between mother and son. You’re a son any parent would be proud to show off… yet it feels like you’ve already left my arms.”

She sighed dramatically. She looked exactly like a snake eyeing prey from afar.

“No matter how high the compatibility, guiding can’t regenerate lost abilities. You know that, right?”

“Yeah. So?”

He knew. Only S-rank guides had the rare regeneration skill. If an S-rank esper lost their power from severe injury, they needed that skill. Haejin had never cared—he didn’t plan on getting hurt that badly, and even if he did, he’d rather die than beg an arrogant S-rank guide for help.

“That boy doesn’t have it either, does he? It’s not in the textbooks…”

Of course he doesn’t know. That’s why he said he’d become a civil servant and support me if I lost my powers.

“Even if I got hurt enough to lose my ability, I wouldn’t worry. I could just temporarily pair with an S-rank guide who has regeneration. But that’s… inconvenient now, isn’t it? Who’d waste a rare skill on an esper who already has an exclusive?”

So you want me to dissolve the imprint? Not happening until I’m dead.

For someone who didn’t bat an eye when her son was kidnapped by monsters, she sure had a lot of pointless worries.

He wanted to snap back, but she was holding Lee Chae as a hostage now—he couldn’t act rashly.

“I’ll do my best not to get hurt, and in the meantime keep my condition perfect with near-100 % compatibility guiding.”

Clear refusal. He waited for her reaction. Her gaze slid from the window to his face.

“So you’re determined to do whatever you want.”

“Have I ever been the obedient type? We just use each other because we need to.”

Her lips twitched like she was holding back a scream—family temper. She was at her limit. Haejin skipped even a basic goodbye and turned to leave. Any more talk would just piss them both off.

“Esper Cha Haejin.”

He stopped.

“I believe you understand that saving humanity is a higher value than personal feelings. Individual lives matter, of course. I could’ve disbanded that unregistered Legion of yours anytime, but I left it alone because sometimes awakeners with those values need to exist.”

Creative bullshit.

“It’s not the guide’s life I’m asking for. Just control one emotion. Do that, and I’ll personally guarantee Guide Jung Lee Chae’s future.”

Haejin’s eyes went ice-cold. The corner of his mouth twisted into a sneer.

“Thank you for the advice. I’ll behave so I never need to control anything.”

He walked out without looking back. Students scattered like startled pigeons as he stormed through the hall, face murderous.

She’d spoken calmly—that meant she was plotting something real. He swallowed the rage. But the more he thought, the angrier he got.

Control my emotions? Guarantee his future? Who the hell is she to lecture me, headquarters’ lapdog? Humanity’s future—give me a break.

He stepped outside, exhaled hard, and stared at the building where Lee Chae was.

Legion’s creed: the individual is humanity. So Lee Chae is my humanity, fckers.*

He muttered as he headed to Legion, brain already plotting how to steal Lee Chae away from headquarters for good.

Can’t kidnap him… how do I lure him out of that cleanup crew…

The Awakener University had no real vacations—war could break out any time. Curriculum ran like a normal university, but mandatory class days during “breaks” meant daily attendance. Still, it wasn’t as packed as semester time—one class and the rest of the day was free.

Walking the now-familiar path to Legion, Lee Chae replayed yesterday.

Haejin insisted Kang-wook was a headquarters plant, but Lee Chae felt that was jumping to conclusions.

Kang-wook had said he preferred guides. It had felt like a pass at the time, but they’d never spoken privately again—so Lee Chae had forgotten about it. Even if the man did have feelings, Lee Chae was confident in his fortress. No problem.

But what if Haejin was right and he really was a spy?

He shook his head.

He’s being too sensitive. Headquarters wouldn’t go that far for me… Please let nothing happen until I graduate and get a job…

His plan: become a civil servant, climb as high as possible. High enough and even a low-rank awakener gained influence. Then he could protect Haejin and Legion from headquarters.

That was Lee Chae’s way of loving the man who’d risked his life to save him.

But whenever he mentioned civil service, Haejin’s face darkened.

He didn’t seem happy about it…

Thinking of Haejin made him smile. The sulky face insisting “it’s not jealousy” while unable to reject skinship— like a kid who stops whining the moment candy appears. Adorable.

Before he knew it, he was at Legion.

“Honey, you’re here?”

Haejin was waiting by the elevator, just like the first time. Clean shirt, beige slacks—casual but stunning. No wonder guides couldn’t look away. Lee Chae walked over; Haejin naturally slung an arm around his shoulders.

“No training today?”

“Nope.”

“Really?”

“I said no. Doubt me? Ask Jin-woo.”

He pressed closer. The living room was packed with more espers than usual. Their stares bothered Lee Chae—he squirmed out of the arm.

“People are watching…”

“You know and still ask?”

Haejin grinned, slid his arm down, grabbed Lee Chae’s hand, and speed-walked to his room. Lee Chae thought he glimpsed Yong-yong escaping Jae-hyung, but Haejin suddenly covered his eyes and shoved him inside.

The door closed. Haejin pulled him close by the waist with a sleazy grin.

“Guide, I need guiding.”

“You look perfectly fine. Where are you hurt?”

“Inner thigh…”

He trailed off, eyes gleaming.

“Should I take my pants off?”

Obvious ploy—Lee Chae still blushed and couldn’t pull away. He looked up—Haejin was staring intensely. Breath-close. The playful grin vanished; his gaze flicked to Lee Chae’s lips then back up.

“Honey, I’m really hurt.”

“Let me see the wound first.”

“Should I lie down?”

Lee Chae sighed, nodded, and— Haejin immediately stripped his lower half and flopped onto the bed. Lee Chae sat beside him, checked the “wound”—a mosquito-bite-sized scratch—and smacked the thigh.

“That’s a bug bite!”

“It still hurts! Guide it and I’ll be good.”

Shameless face. Lee Chae was dumbfounded.

“Spread your legs.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Haejin obeyed instantly. Instead of hands, Lee Chae pressed lips to the tiny red spot. Haejin’s waist jerked.

“Hnng… honey, that’s too…”

“Too what? You said you’d stay still for guiding.”

Every time lips grazed thigh, Haejin moaned.

“You’re turning into a bigger pervert by the day.”

Lee Chae had only planned to tease—he pulled away and glared. Post-registration, Haejin kept initiating anywhere; Lee Chae wanted to break the habit. But he’d ended up more turned on than his target.

Ahem. Haejin fake-coughed and avoided eye contact.

“Put your clothes back on.”

Haejin dressed and sat on the bed, then started giving those melting eye-smiles again. Suddenly his face turned serious.

“Wanna do something fun?”

“Fun?”

That moment, Lee Chae knew. Haejin was acting weirder than usual—gestures exaggerated, words over-the-top. Lee Chae swallowed hard, waiting for the next line.

Something crazy was coming. He could feel it.