To My Flower-Like S-Class Guide 141

Chapter 141:

The Association and the Center, with Haeil Guild’s cooperation, revealed everything about Taesan Guild’s actions.

Korea was in an uproar as Taesan’s ugly jealousy was exposed.

The cause of Seo Jae-yi’s overload wasn’t simply facing a Rank 2 boss monster alone, but the prior battle with Taesan Guild, who had been trying to kill her! The fact that not just the Gapyeong village, but Seoul, and even the entire country, had almost been burned down because of Taesan’s petty jealousy further fueled public outrage.

People demanded Taesan Guild be forcibly disbanded and its members imprisoned.

Despite their contribution in evacuating the villagers, the fact that they had abandoned Seo Jae-yi with the boss monster and fled overshadowed their good deed. The prevailing opinion was that they shouldn’t be forgiven.

An Esper’s crimes were judged and sentenced jointly by the judicial system and the Esper Association. Given the gravity of the situation, the Association Head personally visited the court, and the sentence was finally decided.

Taesan Guild was completely disbanded, and all its members were sentenced to ten years in prison. Park Hyung-woo, the S-rank Esper who orchestrated the attempted murder, received a heavier sentence of twelve years.

The Guild members would be allowed to work as Espers after serving their sentences, but only under the direct supervision of the Association and the Center. Taesan Guild’s assets were confiscated and used to rebuild the destroyed village.

Finally, they were ordered to pay Haeil Guild 100 million won in compensation.

Park Hyung-woo protested the excessive punishment and caused a scene in the courtroom, but he was immediately subdued by Association Head Kang Sung-yeon. The scene of him being dragged away, his face contorted in rage, was broadcasted live, further fueling public anger.

The image of Seo Jae-yi, watching him with a cold, indifferent expression, was also captured by the camera, further amplifying the impact. Her calm demeanor, full of dignity and an imposing aura befitting an S-rank Esper who had saved Korea, was contrasted with Park Hyung-woo’s disgraceful display, becoming a topic of conversation for a long time.

“Hah, finally got rid of one piece of trash.”

Seo Jae-yi muttered under her breath, her lips barely moving, so the cameras didn’t catch her words.

“Goodbye, Park Hyung-woo. I’ll be waiting for the day you’re released.”

Kim Yoo-sung shook his head, seeing her curse Park Hyung-woo with a chilling expression.

He was relieved that she was at least pretending to be dignified in front of the cameras.

“Seo Jae-yi.”

Kwon Yi-soo approached them.

“Can I talk to you alone for a moment?”

Kim Yoo-sung’s expression was complex.

He would have refused outright and insisted she stay with him, but Kwon Yi-soo had helped them capture Park Hyung-woo, who had been trying to flee to Russia, so he couldn’t refuse easily.

“Okay. Tell Baek Joo-won to wait for me.”

Seo Jae-yi, not wanting to reveal her face, left Baek Joo-won, who was waiting elsewhere, with Kim Yoo-sung and went with Kwon Yi-soo.

They sat in the back seat of his car, away from cameras and recording devices.

“How are you feeling?”

Kwon Yi-soo asked as soon as the door closed, isolating them from the outside world.

“I’m perfectly fine. This is the best I’ve felt since I first awakened.”

Seo Jae-yi readily showed him her receiver.

【Overload Progress — 2%】

It was an incredibly rare number. It was only possible for an Esper to maintain an overload level below 10%, the optimal state, if they had an Imprinted Guide with a Matching Rate over 90%.

And even then, it was rare to maintain a level below 5%.

It was only possible because both Seo Jae-yi and Baek Joo-won were S-ranks, and their Matching Rate was 93%.

“…”

Kwon Yi-soo took her wrist and stared at the miraculous number.

Seo Jae-yi, who had casually shown him her receiver, suddenly felt her arm become heavy under his gaze. It wasn’t the first time he had held her wrist, so why did it feel so heavy today?

Perhaps it was because of his unusual expression.

It wasn’t his usual indifferent, sharp look, but a heavy, almost… sorrowful one.

“Center Head?”

Seo Jae-yi called out, and his gaze shifted from her receiver to her face. His dark eyes, behind his glasses, scanned her intently.

An emotion she had never seen before was swirling within those eyes.

It was an unfamiliar look, yet strangely familiar, and she couldn’t look away.

‘It’s the same look Baek Joo-won often gives me…’

Kwon Yi-soo and Baek Joo-won were completely different, so why did their gazes feel similar?

What emotion was hidden within them?

“…Are you getting along well with Baek Joo-won?”

Seo Jae-yi flinched at his sudden question, having just been thinking about Baek Joo-won.

“Uh, yes, we’re getting along well. We’re close.”

They had been intimate; how could they not be close? They were even closer than before. Baek Joo-won couldn’t keep his hands off her now.

If they weren’t so busy, she might have been dragged back into bed with him.

“…I see. You certainly look like it.”

He muttered, his gaze lingering on her face.

He finally released her wrist after a long pause and turned away.

Seo Jae-yi rubbed her wrist, still warm from his touch, and glanced at him.

The look that had reminded her of Baek Joo-won was gone. She was relieved to see his usual cold, indifferent expression.

‘Huh? My wrist…’

She looked down, noticing something strange, and was surprised.

There was always a red mark on her wrist after he held it, but there was nothing this time. She rubbed her skin, the unmarked wrist unfamiliar.

“When are you planning on revealing the information about the Esper experiments?”

Kwon Yi-soo asked. This must have been the real reason he called her over.

“Soon. It seems like Park Hyung-woo and Park Jung-soo were working together, so I’m going to push for it while we’re dealing with this. And we might be able to catch Park Jung-soo, who’s being hidden by the government, while we’re at it.”

“Do it.”

His reaction was unexpectedly mild.

“The Center and the Association will be in trouble. Are you sure?”

“Would I stop if you told me not to?”

“No, of course not. I was just asking.”

Kwon Yi-soo scoffed at her shameless answer.

“You don’t have to pretend to be concerned. You have no reason to be lenient towards the Center and the Association.”

“Well, that’s true, but it wasn’t the current Center Head and Association Head who did wrong; it was their predecessors. Speaking of which, what happened to them?”

“They’re dead.”

Seo Jae-yi thought she had misheard him, his answer so casual.

“What?”

“They’re dead.”

Did that sound like “I killed them”?

“When?”

“A while ago. They didn’t die peacefully, so don’t feel sorry for them. They deserved it.”

Hmm. It seemed she hadn’t misheard him.

“Don’t waste your energy on them. You still have others to take revenge on.”

He was right.

Park Hyung-woo, who would be released in twelve years, Jang Woo-seok, whom she would soon crush, and Park Jung-soo, whom she hated the most. There was no need to regret missing out on the previous Center Head.

‘And Kwon Yi-soo also suffered a lot because of the previous Center Head.’

She wasn’t the only victim. Kwon Yi-soo was also a victim of the previous Center Head’s abuse.

The previous Center Head had relentlessly tormented Kwon Yi-soo, Korea’s first S-rank Guide, whose abilities far surpassed hers, to suppress him.

So Kwon Yi-soo’s revenge was justified.

“Are you planning on meeting Jang Woo-seok before you reveal the information about the experiments?”

“I would like to, but I haven’t been able to because I’m worried about being accused of threatening an S-rank. So I was planning on meeting him after revealing the information.”

“I can arrange a meeting for you.”

Seo Jae-yi’s face brightened.

“Really?”

“You can meet him if you pretend to be my bodyguard.”

That made sense. Center Head Kwon Yi-soo, who controlled both Espers and Guides, was someone the government wouldn’t want to offend.

Jang Woo-seok would agree to meet him immediately.

Especially now, when the situation wasn’t in his favor.

“Okay!”

“I’ll contact you when I set a date, so wait. That’s all I wanted to talk about.”

Kwon Yi-soo gestured for her to leave, having finished his business.

Seo Jae-yi, about to turn and leave the car, looked back at him.

“Center Head, you never hated me, did you?”

Kwon Yi-soo frowned at her unexpected question. It wasn’t a frown of displeasure, but of confusion, and Seo Jae-yi knew that.

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

“I was just wondering. Answer me. You didn’t hate me, did you?”

Kwon Yi-soo clicked his tongue. Ah, now he was annoyed.

But even with his irritated expression, he didn’t answer. He would have said so immediately if he truly hated her, as he was usually very clear about his likes and dislikes.

“I know. You acted coldly towards me in public, but you never hated me. That’s why I’ve never regretted calling you Pretty Oppa.”

“…”

Kwon Yi-soo, who had been looking out the window, turned back to her. He looked surprised.

“I was just pretending because of the government, who wanted to control me, and the previous Center Head, who wanted to use you. That’s why everyone thinks you hate me.”

“So?”

“Can I… tell them the truth now?”

“Why would you?”

He answered curtly.