Chapter 76:
Upon arriving at Haeil headquarters, Kim Yoo-sung, Seo Jae-yi, and Baek Joo-won went straight to the Guild Leader’s office on the top floor.
“This place is nice.”
While Kim Yoo-sung dragged the still-dazed Seo Jae-yi to the sofa, Baek Joo-won looked around the office.
More eye-catching than the panoramic view of Seoul stretching out below the window were the countless plants.
There were flowers, large foliage plants, succulents, cacti – a wide variety. The small glass greenhouse, humidifier, and grow lights indicated the work of a professional gardener.
The room itself was like a miniature botanical garden.
“Do you tend to them all yourself?”
“Yes. I’ve always loved plants. Maybe that’s why I awakened with the Life Force ability.”
The correlation between an Esper’s ability and their personality hadn’t been clearly established yet.
However, it was often observed, though not always, that there was a connection, especially among top-tier Espers. Kim Yoo-sung was one of them.
“Your parents used to run a botanical garden, right?”
Kim Yoo-sung still remembered his parents tending to the plants with happy faces.
Of course, both his parents and the botanical garden had been lost in the dungeon breakout that triggered his Awakening. But the memories remained.
“Please have a seat.”
Baek Joo-won, who had been admiring a massive Monstera, sat on the sofa with Kim Yoo-sung, who returned from his desk with a sample contract. They started their conversation, ignoring the still-dazed Seo Jae-yi.
“This is the contract with all the terms I’ve offered. Please take a look and let me know if there are any revisions or additions.”
Kim Yoo-sung seemed a bit nervous.
It was understandable, considering that Baek Joo-won had rejected even the US offer, which must have been incredible. He wasn’t sure if Haeil could satisfy him.
“Hmm.”
But contrary to his worries, Baek Joo-won’s gaze as he scanned the contract was indifferent. He flipped through the pages carelessly.
Was he even reading it properly?
“Is there something you don’t like?”
“It’s not that I don’t like it. I just don’t need any of this.”
Baek Joo-won tossed the contract aside. Kim Yoo-sung was stunned.
“Don’t need any of it? What do you mean…?”
“I have no intention of joining Haeil Guild. My goal is solely to become Seo Jae-yi’s paired Guide.”
What was he talking about? Kim Yoo-sung felt dizzy.
“But Seo Jae-yi is a member of Haeil Guild.”
“There’s no rule that a Guide has to join the Guild if their paired Esper is a member, is there?”
He was right. And Baek Joo-won was stateless. Even if such a rule existed, he had no obligation to follow it.
Of course, Kim Yoo-sung wouldn’t force him to join the Guild if he promised to become Seo Jae-yi’s Pair and save her.
But there was one thing that bothered him.
‘Is Baek Joo-won truly safe?’
He had been desperate enough to plead with him, but he wasn’t entirely sure if he was safe.
It would be a disaster if he had malicious intentions and tried to control Seo Jae-yi. Kim Yoo-sung didn’t want to push her, who had finally found happiness, into another abyss.
“…Let me be frank. Seo Jae-yi’s safety is my top priority. That’s why I offered you Guild membership. It would be easier to…”
“Monitor me?”
“…Keep an eye on you.”
Kim Yoo-sung tensed slightly, ready to stop Baek Joo-won if he got offended and left.
Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
“I understand your concern for Seo Jae-yi, but let me ask you this. Let’s assume I have malicious intentions and try to control her. Do you really think she would obediently follow my orders?”
“Well…”
“If I wanted to conquer the world, would she willingly hand me Earth?”
Baek Joo-won snorted loudly.
“She’d rather die than do that. She’s the most stubborn person I’ve ever met.”
“…”
“She’d probably threaten to crack my skull open and fix my brain.”
Kim Yoo-sung was speechless. He couldn’t argue with any of that.
Seo Jae-yi would definitely do that.
“I’m not asking you to trust me. There’s no need for that. But you trust Seo Jae-yi, don’t you? So trust her unwavering spirit.”
He hadn’t expected to hear such words from Baek Joo-won.
Kim Yoo-sung apologized for his doubts.
“Then may I ask why you’re refusing Guild membership?”
“I care about Seo Jae-yi, but I don’t want to be involved with anything else. It’s not my concern.”
It sounded cold, but it meant Seo Jae-yi was special to him, so Kim Yoo-sung understood.
“But the reason we encourage Guides to join Guilds is for their protection. As you know, Guides are always exposed to danger.”
“Who would dare harm me, Seo Jae-yi’s paired Guide? They’d be killed by her, so I’m safe.”
Kim Yoo-sung couldn’t argue with that either.
He decided not to persuade him any further, seeing his firm resolve. The important thing was for Baek Joo-won to become Seo Jae-yi’s Pair.
“Will you do your best to save Seo Jae-yi?”
“As long as I’m here, she’ll never die from anything other than old age. You can kill me if I break that promise.”
“That’s a terrifying promise. …Alright. Thank you.”
Kim Yoo-sung bowed to Baek Joo-won and placed his hand on Seo Jae-yi’s shoulder, infusing her with life force. He couldn’t save her, but he could bring her back from her daze.
“Ugh!”
Seo Jae-yi snapped out of it, feeling the surge of another Esper’s energy.
She sat up abruptly and looked around, dumbfounded.
“What? Why am I at the Guild Leader’s office? Is this a dream? Am I dreaming?”
“It’s not a dream, and Baek Joo-won’s promise to become your Pair is real too. We’ve already discussed everything, so snap out of it and greet your Pair.”
“…Really? It’s all real? Huh? My, my Pair? Baek Joo-won?”
Seo Jae-yi stared at Baek Joo-won, who was sitting next to her.
Everything that happened in front of the gate was real. It was true.
…He was really going to be her Pair.
“…Is this real?”
“I don’t understand why you don’t believe me after all the effort you put in.”
“D-did the bribes really work?”
“I haven’t received the suit yet, but let’s just say that.”
“Oh my god!”
Seo Jae-yi covered her mouth with both hands. She had been diligently trying for a month, but she hadn’t expected it to work. She had half-given up, thinking she couldn’t do anything if he rejected her.
This was the first time her efforts had paid off, and joy filled her heart, overwhelming her.
“Sob, sob, thank you, Baek Joo-won. I-I’ll treat you well. I won’t let you lift a finger. I’ll do my best. I’ll serve you well.”
“…I’m not proposing.”
“But it feels like I just got proposed to! Sob, sob!”
Overcome with emotion, Seo Jae-yi collapsed on the floor and started sobbing.
Her words – promising to make him happy, to never let him regret his decision – sounded like wedding vows.
“Baek Joo-won.”
“Yes.”
Kim Yoo-sung, who had been comforting Seo Jae-yi, called out to him. His eyes were also a bit red.
“If you become Seo Jae-yi’s Pair individually, not as a Haeil Guild member, the high salary we promised will be null and void. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
Was it a final temptation? Baek Joo-won chuckled. Money. It was nice to have, but he didn’t really need it.
“Yes.”
It was just a piece of fabric. It meant nothing to him.
“I understand. Then please take good care of Seo Jae-yi.”
“Sob, sob. Please take good care of me too.”
Kim Yoo-sung bowed deeply. Seo Jae-yi almost prostrated herself before him.
Baek Joo-won shook his head, amused, but a smile was playing on his lips.
“Sniff.”
Seo Jae-yi and Baek Joo-won went to the flower shop together to have a more in-depth conversation, now that they were paired. Seo Jae-yi had stopped crying by the time they arrived.
“Leader! You’re finally here! Those plants are really scary… Gasp, w-what’s going on? Leader, are you crying…?”
Lee Seung-woo, the Guild member who had been watching the shop, jumped up, seeing Seo Jae-yi’s red eyes.