Chapter 12:
Not only had he been dragged to the Center because of her, but he had also been identified as an S-rank Guide. She couldn’t blame him for being angry.
‘Besides, who likes a five-year mandatory service?’
He looked to be in his mid-twenties, so he must have already completed his military service. Being forced into another five years of service would understandably infuriate anyone. She wouldn’t even be surprised if he strangled her right now.
After fidgeting with her fingers for a while, Seo Jae-yi cautiously glanced at Baek Joo-won.
He was still smiling. It was terrifying. Come to think of it, he had also been smiling when she drenched him at the flower shop.
At this rate, Baek Joo-won’s smile would become the scariest thing in the world for her.
“And to top it off, I heard that our Matching Rate is the highest.”
“Ah, 93%. They said it’s the highest initial Matching Rate ever recorded. Is that so significant?”
Yes, it’s significant. Incredibly significant.
With a Guide who had a 93% Matching Rate, Seo Jae-yi could freely use her S-rank abilities without worry. A simple touch from him would instantly restore her overloaded body.
She, who had been on the verge of death from simply burning down a single dungeon, could now incinerate the entire Korean peninsula.
Perhaps even more.
“Of course it’s significant! It means Guide Baek Joo-won possesses incredible talent!”
Seo Won-yeong interjected, speaking with unusual politeness and enthusiasm.
Kim Yoo-sung was dumbfounded by her effusive praise of Baek Joo-won.
The arrogant Seo Won-yeong, who treated everyone except her mother and Seo Jae-yi as if they were beneath her, was speaking formally to Baek Joo-won, whom she had just met? The same Seo Won-yeong who openly cursed at Kwon Yi-soo?
He knew she was fiercely protective of her sister, but he had never imagined she would be so adept at flattery. It was truly impressive.
“Ah, this is my cousin, Seo Won-yeong. And this is Kim Yoo-sung, the Guild Leader of Haeil.”
“Haeil Guild?”
“It’s where I’m currently affiliated.”
“We met briefly before, but I couldn’t introduce myself properly then. It’s a pleasure to officially meet you. I’m Kim Yoo-sung, Guild Leader of Haeil.”
Of course, Kim Yoo-sung was no different from Seo Won-yeong. Wearing an unusually friendly smile, he formally presented his business card.
At this point, Baek Joo-won was the only one who could save Seo Jae-yi. He would gladly kneel before him if it meant her survival.
“If you’re interested in Haeil, please feel free to contact us. We’ll be happy to provide you with any information you need.”
Oblivious to their desperate efforts, Baek Joo-won simply replied with a casual “Alright.”
After the brief introductions, Seo Jae-yi and Baek Joo-won sat side by side on the chairs in the center of the room. The assessment began as soon as numerous pads connected to the measurement device were attached to their skin.
【Commencing assessment.】
A steady beeping sound from the machine filled the otherwise silent room. Seo Won-yeong and Kim Yoo-sung nervously watched the display.
After what felt like an eternity, the assessment concluded, and the results appeared on the screen.
【S-rank Esper Seo Jae-yi — S-rank Guide Baek Joo-won
Matching Rate 93%】
A deep sigh escaped someone’s lips.
Kim Yoo-sung clenched his fists.
It was true. Their Matching Rate was truly miraculous.
Seo Jae-yi could live!
“The assessment is complete.”
Researcher Kim Hyun-hee, who had conducted the test, bid them farewell and left the room.
There was no reason to wait any longer. Kim Yoo-sung strode towards Baek Joo-won.
“Mr. Baek Joo-won, would you consider forming a Pair with Seo Jae-yi?”
In such situations, a direct approach was best.
Everyone in the room, especially Seo Jae-yi, was taken aback by Kim Yoo-sung’s blunt proposal.
“Why is the Guild Master talking about my Pair?”
“Because you’re not good at persuading people.”
“…”
She couldn’t argue with that…
Her persuasion methods usually involved violence, which she couldn’t exactly use on Baek Joo-won, so she quietly retreated.
Kim Yoo-sung continued, addressing Baek Joo-won.
“You might not fully understand the importance of a Pair yet, so I’m not asking for an immediate answer. Please just consider it seriously. But let me tell you one thing first.”
Baek Joo-won, his expression unreadable, glanced at Kim Yoo-sung and then at Seo Jae-yi standing behind him. He nodded slowly.
“If you form a Pair with an Esper affiliated with a guild, you can be released immediately without serving the five-year mandatory service at the Center.”
Kim Yoo-sung believed that resolving the mandatory service issue was the most appealing offer he could make.
Who would welcome five years of mandatory service? Especially Korean men who had already completed their military service would vehemently reject it. He assumed Baek Joo-won felt the same.
“If you form a Pair with Seo Jae-yi and join the Haeil Guild, we guarantee your freedom, Mr. Baek Joo-won. We’ll also offer you the highest salary in the industry. You only have one responsibility: Guiding Seo Jae-yi.”
He wouldn’t have to enter dungeons if he didn’t want to. He wouldn’t even have to come to work. He could do whatever he pleased.
As long as he kept Seo Jae-yi in optimal condition.
“Mandatory service, huh?”
As expected. Kim Yoo-sung inwardly cheered as Baek Joo-won showed interest.
“We can arrange for you to join the Guild immediately after completing the one-month basic training. We’ll also negotiate any other terms to your satisfaction. Please feel free to contact me at the number on my business card.”
Kim Yoo-sung’s business card, which he had given during their introductions. Seo Jae-yi knew he rarely gave out his card.
Since the Guild Master was going to such lengths for her, she couldn’t just stand there idly, so she stepped forward again.
“Ahem. If you have any questions, you can visit my shop. Or you can call me at the number on the business card I gave you before.”
“Ah, the card you gave me the day I got drenched.”
“…”
Seo Jae-yi retreated again. It seemed her best persuasion tactic was to remain invisible.
“Excuse me.”
At that moment, the door to the assessment room opened with a knock, and an unexpected figure appeared.
Seo Won-yeong and Kim Yoo-sung, who had been staring at Baek Joo-won with wide eyes like children gazing at a hero, instantly grimaced.
The annoying dictator had arrived.
“I don’t recall scheduling an appointment with the Center Head.”
Kwon Yi-soo glanced at Seo Won-yeong, who glared at him upon seeing him, then at Baek Joo-won, who stood there impassively, and then back at Seo Jae-yi.
After observing them for a moment, he finally acknowledged Kim Yoo-sung’s question of why he was there.
“This is a matter involving the Matching Rate assessment of two S-ranks. It’s only natural that I, the Center Head, should personally verify it.”
【S-rank Esper Seo Jae-yi — S-rank Guide Baek Joo-won
Matching Rate 93%】
Kwon Yi-soo meticulously scanned the words on the measurement device’s display, as if his scrutiny could somehow alter the results.
But nothing changed, and he turned back to Kim Yoo-sung.
“You must be relieved to have witnessed it with your own eyes.”
Kim Yoo-sung smiled, acknowledging his implicit message to stop questioning the legitimacy of the results.
“Of course. Then there’s no reason for us to stay any longer. We’ll be taking our leave.”
Confirming the Matching Rate was enough for today. They couldn’t ask Baek Joo-won, a newly awakened Guide, to start Guiding Seo Jae-yi, who was at risk of overload.
They had to wait until he mastered his abilities through training.
“Guild Leader Kim Yoo-sung.”
But before they could leave, Baek Joo-won called out to him. Everyone’s attention turned to him.
“Since the Center Head is also present, I’d like to address something. It’s something that will be revealed soon anyway.”
Baek Joo-won slowly surveyed everyone in the room.
Kwon Yi-soo, Seo Won-yeong, Kim Yoo-sung, and finally, Seo Jae-yi.
She felt like he was looking at her for an unusually long time before he spoke again.
“I’m stateless. I’m not bound by Korean law, including the five-year mandatory service.”
“…Excuse me?”
“The condition you presented as the most appealing is completely useless to me.”
Kim Yoo-sung’s eyes widened at the unexpected declaration. Seo Won-yeong and Seo Jae-yi also gaped in shock.
“So, if you want to recruit me, both the Center Head and the Guild Leader will need to come up with a different offer.”
Kwon Yi-soo let out an irritated sigh. That brief action was all it took for Kim Yoo-sung to understand.
‘Did he just confidently assert himself in front of Kwon Yi-soo?’
Kwon Yi-soo had seized power at a young age, ousting the previous Center Head and establishing an unshakeable authority.
Even S-rank Espers found it difficult to ignore the pressure he exerted.
And now, a newly awakened S-rank Guide was using his stateless status to establish his position.
He didn’t seem like a clueless novice but a seasoned expert.
While everyone was speechless, stunned by the unexpected turn of events, Baek Joo-won left the room after telling them to consider other offers.
“We almost got played for fools.”
Seo Won-yeong was the first to speak. He hadn’t lied to them, yet they felt strangely deceived.
“Is what he said true?”
Kwon Yi-soo reluctantly nodded in response to Kim Yoo-sung’s question.
“We’re investigating, but it’s highly likely.”
Kim Yoo-sung massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Things would have been easier if he had been Korean. Or even if he had been an A-rank!
But a stateless S-rank Guide?
‘Even our Guild, as powerful as it is, can’t compete with the entire world.’
He looked at Seo Jae-yi. He had thought a miracle had finally arrived, but grasping it seemed incredibly difficult.
“Resolving the mandatory service is useless. What can we offer him now?”
Seo Jae-yi also looked troubled. However, she wasn’t consumed by despair, only momentarily bewildered.
Her expression was resolute. She hadn’t given up on the miracle; she was determined to seize it.
Kim Yoo-sung unconsciously held his breath, inspired by her determination.
Right. The person involved was still fighting; he couldn’t give up now.
‘I’ll do everything I can, without giving up.’
He had brought Seo Jae-yi into the Guild to save her life. He wouldn’t have risked antagonizing Kwon Yi-soo if he had planned to give up now.
“Let’s go. I don’t want to stay at the Center any longer.”
Kim Yoo-sung nodded curtly at Kwon Yi-soo and left the assessment room. Seo Won-yeong didn’t even bother with a farewell, simply pulling Seo Jae-yi’s hand.
“Let’s go, Unnie.”
“Okay.”
Before leaving, Seo Jae-yi glanced at Kwon Yi-soo.
But his gaze was fixed on the drink she was holding, the Strawberry Chocolate Frappe with its cute cup sleeve.
‘That’s strange. He hates sweets.’
Seo Jae-yi tilted her head in confusion before bidding a quick farewell and leaving.
Silence descended upon the empty assessment room. Kwon Yi-soo, left alone, stared at the closed door, lost in thought.
He only snapped out of his reverie when his phone rang. It was his secretary, Han Sung-woo.
“Yes.”
—It’s Han Sung-woo. Our investigation shows that Baek Joo-won has no birth registration in Korea. We can’t track his past movements, so we’ll need more time to confirm his stateless status.
“Continue the investigation. Report any findings immediately.”
—Understood.
“And…”
Kwon Yi-soo trailed off, closing his mouth.
Perhaps it was the silence, but the sweet scent that permeated the air suddenly became overwhelming.
The cloying sweetness of sugary treats, the kind he despised, as if they were coating his tongue with sticky syrup.
The scent alone conjured up a certain face, causing Kwon Yi-soo to frown.
“…You can remove the sign in front of the cafe on the first floor.”
It had served its purpose; it was no longer needed.