Chapter 85:
“I understand you’re being cautious since he’s your first Guide. So please don’t be too angry at Jae-yi, Baek Joo-won.”
Baek Joo-won nodded, saying he understood.
Seo Jae-yi became unusually quiet after being scolded by her aunt. Seo Won-yeong and Baek Joo-won, sensing she needed time to process everything, left her in the living room and went out to the garden. They were going to see Seo Won-yeong’s workshop.
“He seems like a good person. That’s a relief.”
Seo Hye-ryeong spoke once they were alone. Seo Jae-yi, watching Seo Won-yeong and Baek Joo-won through the window, agreed.
“He’s a truly good person. That’s why I didn’t trust him. I don’t think I could handle it if something happened to him.”
“It must be even harder for you because of your father.”
Seo Hye-ryeong’s face darkened slightly.
Seo Jae-yi’s father, Seo Joo-il.
He had been a B-rank Guide, Seo Hye-ryeong’s older brother. He had an average ability, decent social skills – he would have been able to work for a long time if nothing unexpected had happened.
But as with all accidents, something unexpected had happened, and he had died at a young age.
The cause of death was Reverse Guiding due to his paired Esper’s overloading.
That was why Seo Jae-yi was so sensitive about her Guide’s safety.
“Baek Joo-won is different from your father. He’s an exceptional S-rank Guide, incomparable to your father. Even if the same thing happened, the same tragedy wouldn’t occur.”
Seo Jae-yi knew that too.
She knew she was avoiding him out of fear. But nothing would be resolved by running away.
“You want to live, don’t you?”
Yes, she wanted to live.
She used to think death was just a part of life, but not anymore. She had a chance to live a different life now; it would be too unfair to die already.
And she wanted to protect her precious paired Guide.
Baek Joo-won, who had chosen her.
“Then become stronger. Strong enough to withstand Baek Joo-won’s Guiding, to not lose control. That’s the only way. And to do that, you need to receive Guiding and become healthy, right?”
Seo Jae-yi finally smiled again at her aunt’s words. She couldn’t believe it took her this long to realize it.
Her father’s death must have been truly traumatic.
“Yes, I’ll receive it. I’ll try my best to endure it.”
“That’s a good girl.”
“Don’t worry too much anymore. I’ll live well. I promised Maggie.”
“Maggie must be really happy.”
Mac Grayson. Her precious friend who had prevented the US from taking away her only savior.
He would have heard about her pairing with Baek Joo-won by now. She hadn’t contacted him, and he hadn’t visited, but she knew he would be overjoyed.
They knew each other that well.
“…Hmm.”
Seo Won-yeong, who had been showing Baek Joo-won around the workshop, twitched her ears a few times and then sighed in relief.
It was effortless for her to eavesdrop on their conversation in the living room.
‘So that’s why Unnie was refusing.’
She hadn’t realized it was because of her uncle. She had been only nine when the tragedy occurred, so she didn’t remember it clearly.
But she was relieved that Seo Jae-yi had changed her mind.
“You heard something good.”
Baek Joo-won, who had been looking around the workshop, spoke. Seo Won-yeong chuckled awkwardly.
“You noticed?”
“I expected you two to talk while I wasn’t there. She can talk to you about things she can’t tell me.”
He was perceptive, as expected.
And that made her a bit uncomfortable. It wasn’t just his perceptiveness; Baek Joo-won occasionally exuded a strange aura.
Even Seo Jae-yi hadn’t noticed. She seemed to be the only one who had sensed it.
Well, he didn’t seem dangerous, and he was helping Seo Jae-yi, so she was leaving him be for now.
“I can’t tell you the details, but it’s a good thing for you too, Baek Joo-won.”
“That’s a relief. I was troubled because I couldn’t tie her up and force her to receive Guiding.”
“Unnie wouldn’t be the type to be tied up.”
“Seo Jae-yi is… She’s a strange person, in many ways. She has a knack for driving people crazy.”
Even Seo Won-yeong, who loved her sister, couldn’t deny that.
“Well, that’s why I became her Guide.”
What did he mean? He became her paired Guide because he was captivated by her crazy-making charm?
“I don’t understand myself either. But what can I do? I don’t want her to die.”
Baek Joo-won added that he was still too curious about Seo Jae-yi to let her go.
The sense of unease she felt from him intensified.
‘What is this, this eerie feeling?’
It was her instinct as an S-rank Esper. But she couldn’t figure out what was causing it.
He didn’t seem dangerous, but was he really okay?
“Won-yeong, Baek Joo-won.”
Seo Jae-yi entered the workshop. Her expression was much brighter than before, perhaps because her conversation with Seo Hye-ryeong had eased her mind.
Seo Won-yeong, who had been suspicious of Baek Joo-won, relaxed slightly, seeing her cheerful face.
Right. Baek Joo-won hadn’t done anything yet, and even if he had malicious intentions, it didn’t matter.
She could just kill him after he saved Seo Jae-yi.
She could handle that much on her own.
From that day forward, Seo Jae-yi was able to receive Baek Joo-won’s Guiding more comfortably.
Of course, the heat that had accumulated within her hadn’t completely dissipated yet. Even with a 93% Matching Rate, Seo Jae-yi’s condition was too severe to be healed instantly.
They started by getting used to each other’s energy, as rushing things could be dangerous for both of them.
“I think I’ll be able to reach your deepest parts soon.”
Seo Jae-yi opened her eyes at his whisper, having just received another round of Guiding in his embrace.
She felt comfortable, her entire body filled with his refreshing energy, but her head was a bit dizzy, intoxicated by the sensation.
“Are you okay, Baek Joo-won?”
She asked, her voice slurred, as she pulled away from him and checked on him.
Guides could sense an Esper’s condition just by touching them, but Espers couldn’t, so she had to ask.
It was a bit unfair.
“Yes, I’m fine. I still have plenty of Guiding left for today.”
Seo Jae-yi was relieved by his words.
“Master! I’m done watering the plants.”
Airok, who had been watering the dungeon plants, fluttered over.
“Good work, Logi. I have something for you.”
“For me? What is it?”
“It’s been exactly a month since you started working here.”
“It’s already been that long?”
Airok was surprised. Perhaps because his days with Seo Jae-yi were so exciting and enjoyable, he hadn’t realized a month had already passed.
‘My days with my previous master were so difficult.’
He suddenly remembered his painful past. A wry smile appeared on his face.
“So I brought you your salary!”
“Salary!”
Farewell, painful memories! Unlike the dungeon master who only exploited him, he would envision a happy future with his new Master, who even paid him!
“Here you go! You worked hard for a month!”
A blue-ribboned box appeared before the delighted Airok.
“Gasp…”
He hurriedly opened the lid and dropped it, blinded by the dazzling golden light.
A 24K gold bar, weighing ten don (37.5 grams), was greeting him.
“T-t-this… This is…?”
And that wasn’t all. There was something even more valuable than the gold bar, something that would make even a gold bar look like a pebble – a magic stone worth tens of millions of won.
“Seo Jae-yi, who gives a magic stone as a salary?”
Baek Joo-won massaged his forehead, seeing the brilliant magic stone.
“Dragons love gold! And Logi eats magic stones, so it’s the perfect salary for him.”
Did a monster need Korean money? Seo Jae-yi had simply given Airok something more useful.
“M-Master, isn’t this the magic stone from that boss monster in the plant dungeon?”
“That’s right. You recognized it right away. I received it from the Guild Leader as a reward for the last dungeon subjugation. We were able to complete it safely thanks to you, so I got the biggest share!”
Airok was deeply touched, hearing that it was thanks to his contribution.
“You acknowledge my abilities. My previous master never gave me anything like this! He just kept exploiting me and only occasionally threw me magic stone crumbs!”
Airok pushed Baek Joo-won aside and placed his tiny hands on the back of Seo Jae-yi’s hand.
“I’ll continue to be loyal. I’ll serve you for the rest of my life! Master is the best! The greatest Master!”
He was still weak from the aftereffects of being sealed in the egg for so long, but this magic stone would help him recover!
He was happy about the gold, but the magic stone was even better.
“My awesome Master!”
Airok swore his loyalty repeatedly, ignoring the bewildered gazes from behind.
Perhaps it was because Seo Jae-yi’s wall of worry towards Baek Joo-won had crumbled.
Their relationship deepened as the Guiding sessions became more frequent.
Baek Joo-won Guided her as part of their daily routine, and she gradually became accustomed to it, no longer surprised by his touch. She even felt comfortable being embraced by him during Guiding.
One day, as Seo Jae-yi’s condition improved significantly…
Baek Joo-won received an unwelcome call.
He frowned, irritated by the sudden call, as he was meticulously tending to the flowers, even more skillfully than Seo Jae-yi.
He didn’t like the name displayed on the screen.