CHAPTER 11
"I must be dreaming, right?"
Pyo Myeongho checked the test results again and again. He even pinched his cheek to make sure it wasn't a dream.
His reaction was understandable. Even Hanseo, who had anticipated a high compatibility rate, was surprised when he saw the actual numbers.
A compatibility rate of just 90% was already considered "fated," but a rate approaching 100%? Hanseo had expected it to be high, but honestly, he hadn't anticipated it would be this extreme.
Hanseo glanced sideways at Gu Jei. The mask-like, perpetually expressionless face now showed a faint crack.
'Is that all? Be a little more surprised.'
As if hearing Hanseo's thoughts, he immediately burst into a frenzy.
"Wow, I think I saw something like this in a drama!"
It was from Pyo Myeongho, of course.
"Well, it does sound like something out of a drama."
The world's strongest S-Class Esper, tormented by the lack of a compatible Guide, suddenly encounters their destined partner one fateful day... Summarized like that, it sounded even more plausible.
In reality, it was all part of Hanseo's plan.
Of course, as with any human endeavor, one thing had strayed beyond the scope of his calculations.
"B-because I like Esper Gu Jei!"
Thud!
"Ah! You startled me! Are you alright?"
"Oh, there was a bug."
"A bug... on your forehead?"
Ignoring Pyo Myeongho's confused muttering, Hanseo pulled his forehead away from the wall. He sensed a gaze from above.
Without looking, he knew it was Gu Jei. Since it would be awkward if Gu Jei thought he was strange, Han Seo quickly offered another explanation.
"I just instinctively tried to catch it. Heh heh heh."
Han Seo smiled awkwardly at Gu Jei, but Gu Jei didn't return the smile, instead shifting his gaze back to Pyo Myeongho.
A chill ran through Hanseo's heart at the reaction.
Does he already think I'm some kind of weirdo?
After all, he had blurted out a sudden confession of love... or something like that.
But in that moment, it was the only thing that came to mind.
This is all your fault, Gu Jei, for putting me under so much pressure!
How could he possibly withstand an S-Class Esper deliberately unleashing his power to intimidate him?
Especially since he had nearly died at Gu Jei's hands before. Logically, he knew Gu Jei was just threatening him, but his body refused to cooperate. The memory of being stabbed through the abdomen and nearly dying resurfaced, momentarily blanking his mind.
By the time he regained his senses, the words had already escaped his lips.
...Still, for something he just blurted out, it was a decent excuse.
This wasn't self-rationalization; he genuinely believed it. If he had remained silent or fabricated another excuse in that situation, he would have struggled to evade Gu Jei's suspicion.
Then everything would have unraveled, Gu Jei would have died, and he would faced another miserable future.
On the other hand, his accidental confession of love... proved far more effective than any other explanation. Gu Jei's initial suspicion stemmed from Hanseo risking his life to save him. By attributing this to "liking him," Hanseo left Gu Jei with nothing more to investigate.
Even if Gu Jei remained skeptical, proving his affection would be easy. All he needed to do was feign passionate devotion.
"......"
"Ahem, Mr. Hanseo?"
"Ah, yes."
Pyo Myeongho cleared his throat, snapping Hanseo out of his daze.
"Just a few questions. You haven't been matched with an Esper yet, right? And since you're still a trainee, you wouldn't be officially registered as a Guide at the Center."
"Yes, that's correct."
"You're 20 years old and unmarried, right?"
"Yes."
"Good, that's settled! Now, how much do you like Jei? Enough to marry him?"
"Yes, yes...?"
Isn't this line of questioning getting a little strange? Hanseo unconsciously took a step back, and Pyo Myeongho closed the distance. Only then did Hanseo truly look at Pyo Myeongho.
This guy's eyes are... strange!
He felt like a lavish feast laid out before a starving man.
Behind his glasses, Pyo Myeongho's eyes gleamed with a peculiar madness as he stared intently at Hanseo.
"Have you ever considered becoming Jei's exclusive Guide?"
"Director."
Gu Jei tried to interrupt, but Pyo Myeongho ignored him, his gaze fixed solely on Han Seo.
"An exclusive Guide...?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. A contract where you will only guide Jei, and no one else," Pyo Myeongho explained, sensing Hanseo's confusion.
"Normally, Guides are affiliated with the Center and assigned to multiple Espers deemed suitable through the compatibility test. Think of them as team physicians, in a way."
Team doctor/physician: a medical doctor affiliated with a sports team or organization.
"Ah, I see."
"But! The problem lies in the method of Guiding. Emission Guiding might be manageable with multiple Espers, but Contact Guiding, which is far more efficient, can feel intrusive when performed with several people."
"Y-yes, that's true."
"That's why Espers who can afford it usually sign exclusive contracts with Guides. It benefits both parties: the Guide has a stable arrangement, and the Esper can receive Guiding whenever they need it without waiting. Of course, not just anyone can become an exclusive Guide; there are specific requirements."
Pyo Myeongho paused, then smiled warmly at Hanseo.
"If you agree to become Jei's exclusive Guide, I'll provide you with anything you desire. No, just words aren't enough, wait here for a moment!"
When Pyo Myeongho returned, he was holding several sheets of paper—a preliminary contract he had drafted in an instant.
"These are the benefits we can offer if you become Jei's exclusive Guide. Take a look and let me know if there's anything else you need."
Han Seo stared intently at the contract, his eyes scanning the dense text.
"......"
"......"
"Ah, let me explain. If you look here..."
When Hanseo lingered on the first page for too long, Pyo Myeongho seemed to realize something and belatedly began explaining the terms. Hanseo's earlobes flushed red.
"...And the contract fee is set at double the standard rate for Guides."
The sum was so enormous it momentarily eclipsed his embarrassment.
Hanseo was torn. His dilemma wasn't whether to accept the Exclusive Guide contract—he had orchestrated this situation from the start to Guiding Gu Jei. As an exclusive Guide, he would be able to stay closer to Gu Jei, leaving him no reason to refuse the offer. Moreover, becoming a team Guide was the last thing Han Seo wanted.
His hesitation stemmed from a different reason.
'If I play hard to get here, I'll get even better deals, right?'
Gu Jei was the one in a hurry, not him. He could demand the most absurd conditions, and Gu Jei would have no choice but to accept. In the relationship between Guides and Espers, the Guide always held the upper hand.
The realization sent a thrill through him.
'Gu Jei, completely under my control... This is the best.'
"No, I won't do it."
The contract on the table crumpled on its own and flew into the trash can without anyone touching it.
"Jei!" Pyo Myeongho exclaimed in horror. Hanseo, equally shocked, turned to look at Gu Jei.
At first, they thought it was a bluff, but Gu Jei's eyes told them otherwise.
This guy's serious.
Pyo Myeongho seemed to have noticed the same thing and desperately began to make excuses.
"What's gotten into him? Ah, I see. Jei, you must be really tired, huh? I'm sorry, Mr. Hanseo. He hasn't been sleeping well lately, so he's not thinking straight."
"My mind is perfectly clear. In fact, it's the clearest it's been in years. Director, aren't you the one whose memory is failing from being cooped up in the lab for too long? You didn't even explain the conditions for becoming an Exclusive Guide."
"N-no, I was just about to explain that."
Pyo Myeongho glanced nervously at Hanseo, forcing an awkward smile.
Come to think of it, Pyo Myeongho mentioned earlier that there were conditions for the Exclusive Guide contract.
Whatever it was, Pyo Myeongho had clearly deliberately omitted it. It would be easier to negotiate by first presenting the potential benefits, then revealing the conditions once Hanseo's interest was piqued.
After all, if becoming an Exclusive Guide was easy, most Guides would have chosen that path. Focusing on managing one person would be far simpler than guiding multiple individuals.
Just what is this condition?
As if reading Hanseo's thoughts, Gu Jei immediately provided the answer.
"Mr. Hanseo, to become an Exclusive Guide, you must be married to the Esper."
...What?
Hanseo couldn't believe he heard correctly.
Seeing Hanseo's confusion, Gu Jei drove the point home.
"And I have no intention of marrying someone I don't love, especially not a man."
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