Chapter 25:
Seo Jae-yi showed Seo Won-yeong the other plants she had brought.
One that strangled anything that came close with its vines, one that lured monsters with its anglerfish-like lure, one that emitted a mild neurotoxin when touched…
They were all useful, yet not particularly dangerous to Espers who could enhance their physical abilities.
“You’ve already memorized their characteristics and even considered their uses. You’re amazing, Unnie.”
“Logi helped a lot. He’s truly an angel. I’m so glad I brought him back… and incubated him.”
“You didn’t incubate him; you set him on fire.”
“But it worked out well, didn’t it?”
Airok couldn’t argue with Seo Jae-yi’s logic.
He had been freed from his seal thanks to the dungeon master’s power she possessed.
“Ah, Won-yeong. While you’re here, can I ask you for two favors?”
“Sure, what do you need?”
“First, can you make some custom equipment for Baek Joo-won?”
She had thought of it during Baek Joo-won’s first shooting practice.
And Seo Won-yeong was not only a Reinforcement S-rank Esper, who enhanced her physical abilities for combat, but also a dual-ability Esper with crafting skills.
As a Reinforcement Esper, her raw strength was unmatched among S-rank Espers in Korea, but she focused more on crafting and selling equipment for Awakened individuals than on dungeon raids.
With her superior physical abilities and keen senses as an S-rank Esper, she was the undisputed best crafter in Korea.
There was no one better suited for this important task.
“I don’t care how much it costs; just make it awesome!”
She had assumed Seo Won-yeong would readily agree, but she unexpectedly looked serious.
“Unnie, you know…”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think we might be twins? I was just thinking the same thing. How did you know?”
Seo Jae-yi was the one who was surprised.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it since his Matching Rate with you came out. It would be the perfect bribe.”
It was incredibly difficult to obtain items crafted by Seo Won-yeong, the nation’s top crafter.
However, there were exceptions: her mother and Seo Jae-yi. Creating equipment for Baek Joo-won, who could save Seo Jae-yi, naturally fell under this exception.
“Won-yeong, you’re the best.”
“I’m glad. But there’s one problem.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve decided on the design, but the size is an issue. Even with maximum flexibility, it needs to fit well since it’s combat gear. But I don’t know his measurements.”
“I know them.”
“…Huh?”
“What?”
“Height 185cm, chest 110cm, waist 84cm, hips…”
Seo Jae-yi rattled off Baek Joo-won’s detailed measurements. When she even mentioned his shoulder width, something Baek Joo-won himself probably didn’t know, both Seo Won-yeong and Airok were stunned.
“What the…? How do you know all this, Unnie? Did you ask him? Or did you measure him yourself?”
“I can tell just by looking.”
“Do Espers have that kind of ability? I don’t. I can’t do that.”
“Ah, well…”
She had accompanied Kwon Yi-soo to get his suits tailored a few times and had naturally learned his measurements by observing.
‘…I can’t tell them that.’
Won-yeong and Kim Yoo-sung didn’t know about it. If they found out, they would be furious that she had been taken along for such a “useless” errand.
‘Actually, it wasn’t useless. It was my only chance to leave the Center back then.’
But she doubted they would understand, considering their dislike for Kwon Yi-soo, so she decided to be vague.
“Anyway, I’ll make it based on the measurements you provided. I’ll also make him a custom gun since it’s better to use something he’s familiar with… I should be able to finish it before his dungeon practice.”
“Thank you, Won-yeong! You’re my angel!”
Seo Jae-yi smiled brightly and hugged her beloved sister. A kind, talented, and powerful sister. She was a lucky older sister.
“But you said you had two favors. What’s the other one?”
Seo Won-yeong, enjoying the hug, asked as she returned the embrace.
Seo Jae-yi grinned and pulled out a piece of paper.
“I wrote down the explanation here. Make it according to these specifications.”
“…Unnie, what is this? What are you going to use it for?”
Seo Won-yeong, who had been casually reading the paper, widened her eyes. She reread it several times, wondering if she had seen correctly, but the content remained the same.
“You’re actually going to use this?”
“Yeah. It’s absolutely necessary.”
Both Seo Jae-yi and Airok nodded firmly.
She would make it since they insisted, and it didn’t seem that difficult… but she couldn’t fathom what they would use it for.
***
While Seo Jae-yi was making daily visits to the Center, trying to recruit Baek Joo-won, she wasn’t the only one.
After his abilities became known, the number of people who approached him with recruitment offers increased, making Baek Joo-won’s life quite bothersome.
“Guide Baek Joo-won, you don’t plan on staying at the Center permanently, do you?”
And today, it seemed to be the Center’s turn.
Baek Joo-won grimaced as Kwon Yi-soo summoned him after his training, as if he had been waiting.
“I received a report on your training progress. You’re learning very quickly. The Center desperately needs capable Guides, so I would appreciate it if you could stay here.”
Baek Joo-won carefully observed Kwon Yi-soo’s expression.
He said they desperately needed him, but did he really mean it? His face was devoid of any urgency. It was utterly indifferent.
Well, he had rarely seen Kwon Yi-soo express any emotion. He was so lacking in humanity.
“I’m flattered to hear such praise from you, Center Head.”
Baek Joo-won joked, not looking flattered at all.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet, but… there’s someone with whom my Matching Rate is exceptionally high, making it difficult to choose.”
Seo Jae-yi, whose Matching Rate with him was 93%.
Normally, with such a high Matching Rate, everyone would tacitly assume they would form a Pair and wouldn’t aggressively pursue recruitment. They would wait until things fell apart and then swoop in.
Kwon Yi-soo answered Baek Joo-won’s implicit question of why he was being pressured despite this common knowledge.
“I asked you to stay at the Center, not to refrain from Guiding Seo Jae-yi.”
“Excuse me?”
“If you work at the Center, Seo Jae-yi will be your top priority for Guiding. At least until her overload level stabilizes.”
“Stabilizes?”
Baek Joo-won tilted his head, confused.
Kwon Yi-soo also frowned.
“Are you unaware of Seo Jae-yi’s current condition?”
“I haven’t heard anything about it.”
Kwon Yi-soo was a bit flustered, having assumed Baek Joo-won already knew.
He had thought Seo Jae-yi or Kim Yoo-sung would have informed him of her condition and asked for his help.
After a moment of contemplation, Kwon Yi-soo decided there was no reason to hide it and told him the truth.
“Seo Jae-yi is currently an S-rank Esper at risk of overload. It’s been eleven years, and she hasn’t found a compatible Guide. She could die at any moment.”
“Die at any moment?”
Baek Joo-won’s face fell.
He had been seeing Seo Jae-yi almost every day, but she had never shown any signs of illness. She was always smiling, always energetic.
And she could die at any moment?
And she had endured that Guiding practice session despite her condition?
Baek Joo-won recalled the image of Seo Jae-yi, her eyes burning with the desire to possess him, yet restraining herself.
She had shown him with her entire being that she wouldn’t harm him.
“…You want me to work at the Center instead of Haeil Guild, knowing that?”
“As I said, you’ll be affiliated with the Center but will become Seo Jae-yi’s dedicated Guide until her condition stabilizes. You won’t have to treat any other Espers during that time. We’ll include this clause in your contract with the Center.”
“Then wouldn’t it be the same if I joined Haeil Guild?”
“You can save dozens of Espers on your own.”
Baek Joo-won chuckled at his matter-of-fact statement.
It was a somewhat callous perspective, but it was understandable coming from the Guiding Center Head.
‘Or is there some personal bias involved? There are rumors that he doesn’t get along with Seo Jae-yi.’
Well, that wasn’t his concern.
“Of course, we can offer you excellent compensation. If you work at the Center, you’ll receive treatment similar to mine, as the Center Head.”
“That’s quite an offer.”
“Your very existence is extraordinary.”
He wasn’t just an S-rank Guide; he was an S-rank Guide with a 50% Matching Rate with all Espers. He would receive the best treatment anywhere, so it was only natural for the Center to offer such favorable terms.
“I’ll consider it.”
“I hope to hear a positive response. And after completing your practical training, you’ll be participating in dungeon raid practice runs. You’ve been informed, right?”
He had been briefed on the training curriculum at the beginning.
Baek Joo-won nodded and left the Center Head’s office.
As he walked towards the exit, most people he encountered looked at him with admiration. The Guides’ gazes held respect, while the Espers’ gazes held a hint of desperation.
Those he could save, and those he could also destroy.
It was the first time he had seen such a clear distinction.
Perhaps it was because he now knew Seo Jae-yi was terminally ill.
“Guide Baek Joo-won?”
Just as he stepped out of the building, feeling suffocated by the Center’s atmosphere, a large, intimidating man approached him with a smile. He abruptly presented his business card.
“I’m Park Hyung-woo, Guild Leader of Taesan. I’ve been eager to meet you.”