Side Story 6:
Baek Joo-won was dissatisfied for one reason.
‘If only they had banned dungeon plant sales, Seo Jae-yi would have stayed here forever.’
Seo Jae-yi had declared that she would give up on the outside world and live in his dungeon with him if her business was shut down and she was banned from entering other dungeons.
He had been secretly thrilled, despite knowing she would be upset, but…
Reality had crushed his hopes.
Disappointed, Baek Joo-won turned away from Loren, sulking.
Seo Jae-yi, oblivious to his inner turmoil, continued chatting with Loren.
“Hmm, the reason for our rapidly increasing Matching Rate…”
There was only one reason why her and Baek Joo-won’s Matching Rate had reached 100% in such a short time.
The shattering of his Yeouiju within her during the Gapyeong dungeon incident.
Baek Joo-won’s power, accumulated over centuries, had merged with her, making them truly one.
Their Matching Rate wouldn’t have increased this quickly even with her possessing the Yeouiju if it hadn’t shattered.
‘But I can’t tell her that.’
He couldn’t reveal that he wasn’t human, so there was only one explanation he could offer.
“Well, we haven’t done anything… special. Perhaps it’s because we… exchange energy… frequently… and intensely…?”
Kwon Yi-soo, who had been listening with a detached air, stared at her, his expression a mixture of surprise and disgust. He clearly didn’t want to hear about their intimate details.
But Loren, desperate for a solution, was taking her words seriously.
“You mean… frequent Guiding through intimate contact? Matching Rates do tend to increase faster with frequent energy exchange.”
It was a known fact, based on research, so Loren didn’t doubt her words.
“But the rate of increase slows down as the Matching Rate gets higher. Even with frequent contact, it usually takes a few years to reach 100% from 90%…”
Loren’s gaze, fixed on Seo Jae-yi and Baek Joo-won, sharpened slightly.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how many… hours do you usually… spend together each time? You don’t have to answer if it’s too personal.”
Loren asked quickly, her face turning slightly red.
Kwon Yi-soo, who hadn’t expected to be subjected to such a conversation, sighed, clearly not wanting to hear the answer.
But Loren, responsible for the well-being of countless Awakened individuals, ignored his discomfort.
“Well, there’s no reason to hide it, so I don’t mind answering, but it probably won’t be helpful.”
Loren looked at her expectantly.
“It’s fine! I’ll be the judge of that. Please tell me.”
“It’s not a matter of hours, but… days.”
“…What?”
“…?”
Loren and Kwon Yi-soo stared at her blankly, stunned by her frank answer.
The shameless couple met their gazes unflinchingly.
“If we have something scheduled the next day, we keep it to a single night, but otherwise… there’s no need to rush.”
“Honestly, I want more, but Seo Jae-yi often kicks me out.”
“I only kick you out when I’m exhausted.”
“That’s why I’ve been… restraining myself lately. I don’t want to be banned from touching you for days.”
Baek Joo-won clicked his tongue in mock annoyance.
Loren and Kwon Yi-soo exchanged glances, wondering if they had misheard.
They were together for days, even though hours would be considered excessive?
And the Esper, who had far more stamina than a Guide, was the one getting exhausted? The Guide was the one pushing the Esper to their limits?
…Was that even possible?
“So you’re saying it won’t be helpful because…”
“Well, I don’t think other people can… do it for days like us.”
Loren chuckled dryly at Seo Jae-yi’s candid answer.
Of course not. Who in their right mind would do that for days?
And it was usually the Espers who lost control, leaving their Guides exhausted, but here, it was the other way around.
It seemed Baek Joo-won’s S-rank status was due to his… stamina.
“…Did you… do anything else… special…?”
“Not that I can recall.”
Loren asked again, grasping at straws, but Seo Jae-yi’s answer remained the same.
She wouldn’t give her a different answer, no matter how many times she asked.
And even if she did, it would be useless, as it was a method no one but Baek Joo-won could replicate.
“I see… then there’s nothing I can do…”
Loren, who had entered the dungeon with the confidence of a WAIMO President, seemed deflated.
Even Kwon Yi-soo, who had known her for years, had never seen her so… defeated.
“Thank you for answering my questions, even though they must have been… uncomfortable. I’ve satisfied my curiosity, so I won’t bother you with such… intrusive questions again.”
But she quickly regained her composure, as expected of someone in her position.
“I’m usually not this… inquisitive, but I was… influenced by the Center Head.”
“The Center Head?”
Seo Jae-yi looked at Kwon Yi-soo, puzzled, and he frowned, meeting her gaze.
“I tried to invite you two to WAIMO for an examination, but the Center Head refused. I came here secretly because I thought he would try to prevent me from meeting you if he knew.”
“I wasn’t aware you were so… bothered by being rejected.”
Loren smiled at Kwon Yi-soo’s slightly chiding tone.
“Of course, I am. I’m not used to being rejected.”
Seo Jae-yi, listening to their exchange, finally realized.
Kwon Yi-soo had been protecting her again, from behind the scenes.
“Anyway, this won’t happen again. And…”
Loren’s expression turned serious as she looked at Seo Jae-yi, at her strong, bright face, her past trauma hidden beneath a cheerful mask. She bowed her head slightly.
“I apologize for failing to protect you. As the WAIMO President, I sincerely apologize.”
Seo Jae-yi was surprised by her sudden apology.
“There’s no need for you to apologize, Association Head.”
“No, there is. If we had been more vigilant, if we had prevented those horrific experiments, perhaps… this wouldn’t have happened. It was my duty.”
Even she couldn’t monitor the entire world. It wasn’t her fault.
But as the representative of all Awakened individuals, she couldn’t use that as an excuse.
“I’ll learn from this and do my best to prevent this from happening again. There will be no more victims like Esper Seo Jae-yi.”
Seo Jae-yi, who had been trying to stop her, fell silent at her words.
Victims like her.
Those who shared her pain.
She was… touched by her promise to prevent others from suffering the same fate.
Yes, no one should have to endure what she had.
“…Thank you.”
Seo Jae-yi accepted her apology.
Loren nodded firmly, her face filled with resolve.
‘I feel… lighter, as if a burden has been lifted.’
Seo Jae-yi unconsciously placed her hand over her heart.
She hadn’t realized it had been weighing on her so heavily.
“Then it was a brief, but pleasant meeting. Feel free to visit WAIMO anytime. Esper Seo Jae-yi and Guide Baek Joo-won are always welcome.”
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yes, I have much to do. I have to prevent… certain… experiments from being conducted elsewhere in the world.”
Seo Jae-yi nodded at her cheerful words and shook her hand.
Just like when she arrived, Loren left the dungeon quickly.
Kwon Yi-soo was about to follow her when…
“Pretty Oppa,” Seo Jae-yi’s voice, as always, stopped him in his tracks.
“Thank you for helping me. I always seem to be receiving help from you.”
“…I only did it because the Center’s reputation, already tarnished, would be completely ruined if I let you handle it alone.”
Kwon Yi-soo frowned, turning to look at her.
It was a blunt, almost harsh response, but Seo Jae-yi just smiled, knowing his true intentions.
“Ah, I see. Thank you anyway.”
Kwon Yi-soo clicked his tongue, seeing her knowing smile.
She was infuriatingly… perceptive, and he could never win against her.
“…”
He suddenly felt a sharp gaze on him and turned his head.
Baek Joo-won was staring at him, his face cold and expressionless.
He was jealous, just because of this?
It was annoying, but he couldn’t exactly provoke him.
He and Seo Jae-yi weren’t… anything. He had no leverage, nothing to fuel his possessiveness.
“…See you later.”
That was all he could say.
He glanced at Seo Jae-yi, who was waving goodbye, her face bright and innocent, and then turned and left the dungeon.
After the distractions were gone, Baek Joo-won immediately pulled Seo Jae-yi close, his arms wrapping around her waist.
“Seo Jae-yi, why do you call him Pretty Oppa?”
Seo Jae-yi blinked at his jealous tone.
“I’ve been calling him that since we first met. He’s still handsome, but teenage Kwon Yi-soo was truly… pretty.”
She nodded, pleased with her choice of nickname.
Baek Joo-won’s frown deepened, as expected.
He clicked his tongue, lifted her into his arms, and carried her towards the cave, his form shifting slightly with every step.
“Why are your horns appearing already?”
Seo Jae-yi was startled.
His horns and scales usually appeared only when he was extremely aroused, so it was strange to see them now, when they hadn’t even… started.
“I wonder why…”
Baek Joo-won smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. Seo Jae-yi was flustered by his sullen expression.
“I won’t stop until you realize the reason, so be prepared.”
“What…!”
She was about to yell, but his lips silenced her.
She melted against him, lost in his insistent, possessive kiss.
A dark, quiet forest, the air still.
A man sat hunched in a corner, his face shadowed, his body still.
His clothes were torn, his body covered in wounds, a faint, unpleasant odor clinging to him.
But he seemed oblivious to it all, his eyes vacant, unseeing.
“Hello.”
A beautiful monster appeared before him.