Chapter 8:
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
As soon as they set off with the car loaded with cakes, Kim Yoo-sung asked, his voice laced with anticipation.
“Your overload level suddenly dropped. Was it because of that man we saw earlier?”
There was no way Kim Yoo-sung wouldn’t notice what Kwon Yi-soo had also observed.
“Yeah. I told you I accidentally splashed him with water. When I apologized, our hands briefly touched, and my level dropped by 5%.”
“It decreased that much from just a light touch?”
His surprise was understandable.
S-rank Espers, as powerful as they were, also suffered from rapid deterioration due to overload. Seo Jae-yi’s body, especially after being pushed to the brink of explosion, didn’t respond well to ordinary Guiding.
Such a significant decrease meant their Matching Rate was exceptionally high.
“But how did you end up splashing him with water? I can’t believe you’d make such a mistake. You could have evaporated it instantly before it touched him with your ability.”
S-rank Espers, with their monstrous physical abilities, possessed reflexes and dynamic vision that surpassed even wild beasts. Even if she had splashed him accidentally, it would have been child’s play for Seo Jae-yi to evaporate the water with her heat manipulation ability.
However, he was overlooking one crucial detail.
“It happened when my ability was leaking out. If I had tried to force my power at that moment, he would have been burned to death instead of getting wet.”
The vessel containing her power was damaged, causing occasional uncontrolled outbursts of her ability. During those times, she had to completely suppress her power instead of trying to control it.
“But who knew that misfortune would turn into a blessing in disguise? My ability has stabilized thanks to the lower overload level, and today it even dropped to 47%. It’s a good day.”
Despite being acutely aware of her damaged body, Seo Jae-yi remained cheerful, not a hint of sadness in her voice.
“…”
Kim Yoo-sung fell silent, observing her.
Seo Jae-yi always smiled like that. Even when she received her terminal diagnosis, she didn’t despair or grieve; instead, her eyes sparkled with excitement as she talked about doing everything she had always wanted to do.
Her sunny disposition made his heart ache.
‘I probably won’t live long without a Guide anyway. Will you regret taking me in?’
He suddenly remembered Seo Jae-yi at fifteen.
When he told her he would create a Guild when he became an adult and that she should join, she had asked him that question, casually mentioning death.
Nine years had passed since then. She was still indifferent to death, as if she had accepted it long ago.
Kim Yoo-sung couldn’t bear to see her like that anymore.
“…If your level dropped that much from just a brief touch, he might be your compatible Guide.”
“Hmm, you might be right.”
By now, Baek Joo-won would have arrived at the Center and undergone the Awakening assessment.
If he was confirmed to be a Guide, they would prioritize Matching Rate tests with S-rank Espers who lacked partners, starting with Seo Jae-yi, who needed a Guide the most.
“His Matching Rate will be higher than the Center Head’s, at least, right?”
So far, the Guide with the highest Matching Rate with Seo Jae-yi was Kwon Yi-soo.
However, their rate was a mere 37%.
While it was relatively effective considering they were both S-rank, it was still insufficient.
Even if the abrasive Kwon Yi-soo suddenly had a change of heart and spent every waking moment Guiding her, it wouldn’t extend her lifespan. That’s why Matching Rate was crucial.
“But Guild Master, there’s one prerequisite we need to consider first.”
“What?”
“His rank.”
Kim Yoo-sung sighed at her words.
The strongest Awakened individuals in the world were S-rank. Whether Esper or Guide, S-ranks possessed unimaginable power.
However, there was one problem: the number of Guides was significantly lower than that of Espers.
In Korea alone, there were eight S-rank Espers but only two S-rank Guides, including Kwon Yi-soo. And that was considered a relatively high number.
Therefore, the probability of Baek Joo-won being an S-rank Guide was less than 1%.
“If he’s not S-rank, even with a high Matching Rate, he won’t be able to fully heal me. A-rank would be better, but there would still be limitations. And anything below B-rank is out of the question. If the rank difference is too great, the Guide dies before the Esper.”
Kim Yoo-sung remained silent.
Seo Jae-yi offered him a reassuring smile.
Beep, beep. The silence in the car was broken by the beeping of their Esper-exclusive receivers.
They assumed another dungeon had emerged and checked the displays, only to freeze in their tracks.
Baek Joo-won’s rank had been announced.
***
Guide Management Center.
Commonly known as the Guiding Center, it was located near the Esper Management Association.
“If a dangerous situation arises at the Center, Espers from the Association are dispatched immediately.”
The staff member diligently explained, but Baek Joo-won barely paid attention. The information wasn’t particularly relevant, and even if it was, he wasn’t interested.
‘A Guide.’
He had never expected to encounter the Center Head and be subjected to an Awakening assessment out of the blue.
Moreover, he doubted he would actually test positive as a Guide.
Baek Joo-won surveyed the Center’s interior. The impeccably clean and modern building resembled a large corporation.
However, the ubiquitous CCTV cameras and the presence of Esper guards created a palpable tension, unlike any ordinary company. It was all to protect the Guides, who were more precious than Espers.
In most countries, Guides weren’t treated well. Only Espers could conquer dungeons filled with monsters, so Guides were often viewed as mere batteries, tools to be exploited. While the situation had improved in recent years, many countries still exploited Guides’ abilities.
But Korea was different. Here, Guides held a higher status than Espers. It was all thanks to the achievements of Kwon Yi-soo, Korea’s first S-rank Guide and the current Head of the Center.
‘That woman, her name was Seo Jae-yi, right?’
The flower shop owner who had drenched him with water.
Messy, short black hair tied haphazardly, like her chaotic bouquet, clear black eyes, soft skin, and a mole on her right cheek.
She didn’t seem like a flower shop owner, but neither did she seem like someone who would fight monsters in a dungeon.
That’s why he had never imagined she would be an Esper when they first met.
“Please have a seat here.”
The staff member led Baek Joo-won to the <Guide Precision Assessment Room>.
In the center was a plush-looking single-seater sofa, flanked by complex-looking machines.
Baek Joo-won removed his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and sat on the sofa. The staff member attached pads connected to wires and machines to his exposed forearm and forehead.
“When was your last health checkup? You would have undergone an Awakening assessment then.”
It had been a while since Awakening assessments were incorporated into the national health checkups conducted every two years to identify Awakened individuals.
However, Baek Joo-won had never had a health checkup. He couldn’t admit to skipping the mandatory checkup, as it would raise suspicion, so he offered a vague excuse.
“They didn’t say anything specific during my last checkup.”
“Then it seems you awakened sometime after that. We’ll begin the assessment now. You might feel a slight tingling sensation.”
【Assessment commencing.】
A tingling sensation, akin to static electricity, emanated from the pads attached to his skin. It wasn’t painful, so Baek Joo-won simply glanced at the staff member with a calm expression.
The staff member, his eyes glued to the machine’s display, showed no significant reaction yet.
“…Huh?”
But that didn’t last long. The staff member’s face gradually paled. His eyes widened as he looked back and forth between the display and Baek Joo-won.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
The machine’s beeping intensified, and the assessment results appeared on the screen.
【Awakening Status — Positive】
【Ability Measurement — Unable to Determine】
【Rank Measurement — Unable to Determine】
The assessment machine was a special device crafted from magic stones obtained from dungeons.
The inability to determine his ability meant only one thing.
【Final Result — The individual is an S-rank Guide.】
The staff member collapsed onto the floor in shock at the blaring announcement.
“…S-rank?”
The long-awaited birth of Korea’s third S-rank Guide.
***
Thirty years since the Cataclysm.
During that time, twelve S-rank Awakened individuals had emerged in Korea.
Ten of them were Espers, and only two were Guides.
Even as two Espers perished, leaving only eight remaining, the number of Guides remained stubbornly at ‘2’.
And now, after five long years, a new S-rank Guide had appeared.
“Congratulations on awakening as Korea’s third S-rank Guide.”
Baek Joo-won was immediately summoned to Kwon Yi-soo’s office.
Standing in the top-floor office with a panoramic view of Seoul, Kwon Yi-soo exuded an even greater aura of authority than he had at the Gate. The nickname ‘dictator’ truly suited him.
“To be honest, it hasn’t sunk in yet. I never imagined I’d be an S-rank Guide after undergoing a sudden assessment.”
Despite his words, Baek Joo-won’s expression remained indifferent.
“Starting tomorrow, Mr. Baek Joo-won, you will begin your mandatory five-year service at the Center. This is to learn ability control, and there is no room for negotiation.”
All Espers and Guides were required to serve at the Center upon awakening.
Espers, especially, were confined to the Center until they mastered ability control, as their powers could cause significant damage if mishandled.
Guides, on the other hand, had more freedom. They only needed to learn how to effectively Guide Espers.
“Just as Espers have limitations to their abilities, so do Guides. If you exceed your limits, you will die. Therefore, you will also learn how to break free from Reverse Guiding, where an Esper forcefully drains your energy.”
“It sounds dangerous either way.”
“Unless the other party is an S-rank Esper, there’s no chance of you being overpowered, Mr. Baek Joo-won. If a Guide’s ability is superior, they can subdue even the strongest S-rank Espers.”
Baek Joo-won looked at Kwon Yi-soo, intrigued by his suggestive words.
“Remember this: in the relationship between Esper and Guide, it is the Guide who holds the upper hand.”
Dictator.
He had earned that nickname because he had successfully reversed the unfavorable position of Guides, who had been exploited by Espers since the emergence of Awakened individuals.
Initially, Espers had vehemently protested, but this change significantly reduced the number of Guides dying from Reverse Guiding and Espers succumbing to overload, eventually gaining widespread acceptance.
In this way, Kwon Yi-soo had gained control over all Guides and Espers in Korea.
“You will learn more about this starting tomorrow. Do you have any other questions?”
“I have no questions, but I do have something to say about the mandatory service.”
Baek Joo-won looked directly at Kwon Yi-soo with a strange smile.
“You said there’s no room for negotiation, but you have no right to force me into mandatory service.”
“…On what grounds?”
“I’m stateless.”
Kwon Yi-soo’s eyes widened at Baek Joo-won’s declaration.
Stateless? He was stateless?