Once the conversation started, things proceeded swiftly, from the return journey to what came next.
Regarding the guild, although it required a stricter and more demanding screening process than for an Esper, even an ordinary person could establish one.
Since establishing a guild would take some time, Wonwoo decided to fill out the guild establishment application form first. Yonghyun added that if he became a recommender, the screening wouldn't take that long.
“Do you have a name in mind?”
“I was thinking of ‘Guide Guild,’ so that anyone who hears it will know immediately.”
“Guide, that sounds good. Some people also name it after themselves, what about that…?”
“My name is a bit embarrassing. Haha.”
Actually, Wonwoo had a different name in mind.
Jagang, written out in full, it was the Jagang-gangjangje (Restorative Tonic) Guild.
It was meant to contain his aspiration to provide guiding that was as energizing as a restorative tonic for Espers, but the System reacted with disgust and vehement opposition when it heard the idea, so he folded it up and sent it flying.
[User ‘Wonwoo’, don’t you dare name anything, anywhere! (σ｀д′)σ]
Manager Kim Jaesung made a grateful offer, saying that although it wasn't originally his job, since they had met like this, he would become the person in charge of the guild establishment and help out. Wonwoo nodded, not refusing Jaesung's offer.
The next most important thing after establishing the guild was Wonwoo’s ‘safety’. All three Espers agreed that 'if it's revealed that Wonwoo is a Guide, not only Stardust but other pesky bugs will be drawn to him.'
“I’ll stay with Wonwoo-hyung.”
“When Jinho can’t be there, someone else can be. Since Jinho is a freelancer, that’s a good direction.”
‘Being unaffiliated is good at times like this,’ Hyeonil added disappointedly, but Wonwoo breathed a sigh of relief inwardly as a war of nerves over who would take the role didn't break out.
‘Don’t tell me I just assumed… that the three of them would naturally fight over the position of being my bodyguard? Me?’
Wonwoo shook his head from side to side, trying to shake off the narcissistic, wicked thought. To imagine them fighting over him. It seemed his shamelessness had been contracted from the System.
Of course, Wonwoo didn't know that Hyeonil had suggested, ‘Wouldn’t it be fine to attach some of my guys?’ or that Yonghyun had proposed, ‘How about the Bureau temporarily creates a security team?’ only for a war of nerves to almost break out before Jinho deflected it with a bright smile, saying, ‘Hmm. Are they S-Class? Are they stronger than me?’
“Um…. Is Stardust very strong?”
“Rather than being strong, they often rush in recklessly without regard for their own safety. That’s what makes them dangerous. You can think of them as bombs.”
“Bombs….”
Right, it’s dangerous if a bomb runs at a person. I should be careful.
Wonwoo nodded, imagining a black figure wrapped in bombs all over, smiling wickedly as they charged out of a Gate.
***
To fill out the application for establishing the guild, Wonwoo remained at the Gate raid camp with Jinho. Hyeonil disappeared somewhere with a video file recorded on a bodycam, saying he would write up a report as quickly as possible.
Seated at a table that looked like something you'd see at a street food tent, Wonwoo needlessly looked around.
“Wonwoo-hyung, aren’t you thirsty?”
“Uh…. I was fine until a moment ago. But now that you mention it, I am.”
“I’ll go get something to drink. Hyeonil-ssi said he called for a coffee truck as he left.”
A coffee truck… at a base camp? The kind that frequently appears at filming sets as support for celebrities? Is this the welfare and spending power of a major conglomerate….
“Should I go with you then?”
“No, it’s okay. I-I’ll be right back. Please work on the application.”
Wonwoo told Jinho to get him an iced Americano and looked at the guild establishment application that Kim Jaesung had handed him.
Somehow, it felt similar to writing the incident report yesterday… Thinking that, Wonwoo carefully began to fill out the application.
Guild name, Guide. Applicant… Kim Wonwoo. It was a strange feeling. The System was busy cheering Wonwoo on with messages like, ‘Great! That’s it!’
While he was doing that, Wonwoo’s eyes caught sight of Yonghyun, who was busy being called here and there.
“Chief, could you please take a look at this for a moment?”
“Yes, I’ll finish looking at this and then head over there.”
“Gate Dispatch Department, Assistant Manager Lee Mihee. I received a call. Ah, from the Planning and Management Department? …Just a moment, I will confirm with Chief Shin Yonghyun and call you back.”
“Gate energy is approaching zero. At this rate, the raid will be complete within 5 minutes.”
“Chief, there’s something you need to confirm here…!”
The Chief really looks like he needs to have three or four bodies. Is it even possible to handle all that work with just one body….
From top to bottom, every single thing at the Gate raid camp was being touched by Yonghyun’s gaze and hands. Nevertheless, Yonghyun showed no signs of fatigue as he addressed everyone’s questions and resolved issues.
‘Or maybe not. The area under his eyes seems a bit dark….’
As if sensing that he was being watched, Yonghyun roughly finished what he was doing and approached Wonwoo.
‘That’s right. I’m pretty sure his expression looks worse than before!’
He wasn’t sure if guiding would be effective when he wasn’t using his ability, but with a ‘Let’s try it just in case!’ mindset, Wonwoo abruptly held out his hand to Yonghyun as soon as he approached.
“I’ll give you guiding.”
Despite Wonwoo’s sudden offer, Yonghyun didn't seem particularly surprised. He smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting just slightly, and nodded.
“…Then, I’ll be in your care.”
Yonghyun took off his glove and carefully placed one of his hands over Wonwoo’s outstretched one.
“……”
“……”
‘It’s quiet. But neither I nor the Chief seem uncomfortable.’
Yesterday, it was so awkward and he had been fidgety, not knowing how to make physical contact, but it seemed the awkwardness had lessened considerably after giving guiding a few times. He was able to hold Yonghyun’s hand with less pressure than he expected.
Perhaps because of his ice ability, Yonghyun’s hand was cold, despite having been in a glove just moments before.
Wonwoo squeezed his hand as if to melt the frozen hand, hoping the warmth of his own hand would transfer over.
Wonwoo's question of whether guiding would even work this way was answered by the blue, wave-like ripples that shimmered around his hand.
Jinho and Hyeonil had said that when they received guiding, they felt like they could accomplish anything. Does that feeling reach the Chief too? Wonwoo thought, needlessly looking back and forth between his hand and Yonghyun’s.
“You look very tired….”
Do I look that way? Yonghyun said, then wiped his face with his other hand.
“It’s alright. Receiving guiding like this… it even makes me think that all the hardships I’ve endured were for this moment.”
For this moment…. A faint, gentle smile graced Yonghyun's expression as he said those words.
Seeing that smile made his heart feel ticklish for some reason, and Wonwoo avoided his gaze. Come to think of it, there was something that had been bothering him since yesterday.
Feeling like he could ask comfortably now, Wonwoo carefully opened his mouth.
“Uhm, Chief. There’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“You knew I was a Guide, didn’t you? From the first time we met yesterday.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“How did you know? That I’m a Guide.”
“…Ah. I see. From your perspective, Guide-nim… no, Wonwoo-ssi, it must have felt a little strange. I didn’t think of that.”
Yonghyun’s hand, which was touching Wonwoo’s, tensed up to the point where it felt stiff.
You can let go now. Yonghyun’s hand withdrew with a voice that seemed to drip with regret.
“It may sound like a rather absurd story, but I received an email stating that a Guide would appear.”
“…An email?”
“Yes. An email from an unknown sender. It said that a Guide would appear to save the whole world. That’s what it said.”
As soon as he heard Yonghyun’s words, Wonwoo thought of the System that had suddenly appeared on his phone in the form of a messenger. The System that appeared suddenly after he died and came back to life. Could it be….
‘System, did you… by any chance, approach not only me, but other people too?’
But no message, vibration, or alarm came from the System.
Right, it always avoids answering like this when it’s a difficult question. It had only been a few days, but he felt like he knew the System’s patterns now. Wonwoo clicked his tongue softly, so that Yonghyun couldn't hear.
“Is it possible for me to see that email?”
“…That would be difficult. I would show it to you if I could, but the email suddenly disappeared.”
After meeting Wonwoo, Yonghyun had tried to look at the email he received again that night while organizing information about the AA-Class Fusion-type Gate, wondering if he had missed any information about the Guide.
But the email, which he had surely marked as important and saved, was gone without a trace. No, instead, a new email had arrived.
[We wish Esper Shin Yonghyun the best of luck in resolving the Gate problem. Good Luck!]
“I understand that it’s hard to believe even as I say it, but I found out through that email. What a Guide is, and the fact that I would be able to meet one someday. It might sound like a lie but….”
“No. It’s not. I believe you. Actually, I was also wondering how I should make people believe in my existence… the fact that I’m a Guide. Fortunately, that email helped me out.”
Wonwoo smiled awkwardly at Yonghyun’s words. If an email came to Yonghyun, then… it occurred to him that something similar might have gone to Jinho and Hyeonil as well.
Could the reason Jinho called me his destiny be related to this? If so, was this also the System’s doing?
Why… of all people, did the System choose him as a Guide and get him entangled with Espers?
He thought all he had to do was diligently subjugate Gates with the Espers, but things he had to worry about kept popping up one after another, making his head throb.
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