To My Flower-Like S-Class Guide 47

Chapter 47:

“There’s another one?”

“No one told you? That’s strange. Jae-yi must know.”

The name slipped out so naturally that Baek Joo-won didn’t immediately realize he was talking about Seo Jae-yi.

Before he could ask, Grayson leaned towards him conspiratorially.

“You see, an Esper losing control from Guiding is different from overloading and losing consciousness. It’s about being overwhelmed by the instinct to possess the Guide, to make them theirs because the Guiding feels so good. Do you understand what that means?”

Grayson’s sky-blue eyes stared intently at Baek Joo-won.

The red glow of the setting sun, streaming in from behind Baek Joo-won, reached Grayson’s face, casting a reddish hue over his clear, blue eyes.

“It means you can have any Esper who has received your Guiding at your feet.”

“How extraordinary is that?”

“Espers will obey you to receive your Guiding. They’ll fight tooth and nail to keep you, to prevent others from taking you. And they’ll protect you from harm.”

“…”

“With their lives.”

Grayson leaned back on the sofa, his posture relaxed.

“Do you understand now? Why I, the frontrunner for the next US Association Head, came all this way?”

“The next Association Head. I appreciate the subtle bragging.”

“Ah, I’ve been wanting to mention that, but I haven’t had the opportunity. I’m a very influential person in the US. So don’t hesitate to tell me what you want. I’ll handle it personally, without the need for tedious negotiations.”

Grayson spread his arms wide, encouraging him to speak freely.

It was hard to believe him, considering his frivolous personality and casual demeanor, but Baek Joo-won didn’t doubt him.

Espers couldn’t sense anything from Guides before receiving Guiding, but Guides, who could heal them, could instinctively sense an Esper’s energy to some extent. And Baek Joo-won was an S-rank Guide.

The Esper before him was incredibly powerful. Far more powerful than Taesan’s Park Hyung-woo. Perhaps even more powerful than Kim Yoo-sung or Seo Won-yeong.

Seo Jae-yi… he wasn’t sure.

“…Any country would grant me citizenship or permanent residency if I agreed to go there.”

Baek Joo-won spoke after sizing up Grayson.

“Money is the same. So I don’t see why I should choose the US. Don’t you have a special offer, something worthy of boasting about your title as the next Association Head?”

“Of course. There’s something only the US can offer, something no other country can.”

“Only the US?”

“Yes. But you must never reveal this offer to anyone. It would endanger you. There are too many who covet it.”

What kind of offer could endanger him just by mentioning it?

Grayson grinned, seeing Baek Joo-won’s interest for the first time.

***

After his conversation with Baek Joo-won, Grayson returned to his room.

A vase with a single yellow rose stood on the table by the window, overlooking the Seoul nightscape. It was from Seo Jae-yi.

“I wonder if she knew.”

Grayson gently touched the rose petals. Seo Jae-yi’s voice echoed in his ears, accompanied by the strong floral scent.

‘You can’t even give a single flower to a friend you haven’t seen in ages?’

‘This is all I have to give you.’

She had handed him a single yellow rose, the smallest and most wilted among the flowers in her greenhouse, with those curt words.

She hadn’t even bothered to wrap it or remove the thorns; she had simply snapped the stem.

‘That’s so mean! I was excited to receive a flower from you!’

‘Take it or leave it.’

She had been so cold that he had quickly accepted it, fearing she might take it back after his complaint.

But Grayson’s eyes, as he looked at the flower, held no resentment.

Longing, guilt, affection, happiness – all those emotions swirled in his eyes.

The sharp ringing of his phone interrupted the peaceful atmosphere.

“Yes, sir. Maggie speaking.”

It was a call from the US Esper Association Head himself.

—…This is the first time your voice has sounded so unreliable. You always sounded so confident when you were going on dungeon raids or hunting down rogue Espers.

The US Association Head, an S-rank Esper, was known for his strictness and unwavering principles.

But his voice, as he spoke to Grayson, was filled with fatigue, not strictness.

“That’s harsh. So my only use is for dungeon raids?”

—Well, you’re good at destroying things. Better than talking.

“I’m a good talker.”

—You are. Especially when you’re annoying people.

“Hahaha. Thank you for the compliment.”

The Association Head sighed deeply at Grayson’s flippant response.

—I raised you diligently, but how did you turn out like this?

His sigh was valid. He had been raising Grayson since he awakened at fifteen.

It was one of the greatest mysteries of the US Esper Association – how someone like Grayson could have been raised by the strict Association Head.

“But I’m good at my job, just like you.”

—Yes, otherwise I would have sent someone else. You met with that Guide, Baek Joo-won, right? How did it go?

“He didn’t have any major demands. I can handle them all.”

—I’ll ask about your “handling” later. What about citizenship?

“Ah, about that. That was the most surprising part.”

‘I don’t need citizenship. Being stateless isn’t that bad. I want to keep my stateless status but receive permanent residency instead.’

—What a troublesome condition.

Unlike citizenship, permanent residency only granted the right to reside in the country. If he later decided to leave for another country, the US government wouldn’t be able to directly intervene, as he wasn’t a US citizen.

That was what Baek Joo-won wanted.

—Any other conditions?

“Nothing special. A top-floor penthouse in New York with a view of the city, that kind of thing is nothing.”

Of course, it came with the condition that all taxes were taken care of, but that was a small price to pay for securing a Guide who could control countless Espers.

—Anything else? What we can offer besides citizenship. Did you mention that?

“Yes. He seemed interested.”

It was an offer that would tempt anyone. There were many who coveted “it” worldwide.

Even the US had struggled to obtain it.

But they wouldn’t hesitate to offer it to secure Baek Joo-won. It was a golden opportunity to gain control of both.

“He said he’ll think about it since he has some time left, but it’s only a matter of time.”

—That’s a relief. So the only issue left is citizenship versus permanent residency? It would be best if we could resolve it with citizenship… but I have no expectations, considering it’s you handling it.

“That’s harsh, sir. You’re the one who sent me.”

—I didn’t send you! You packed your bags and left on your own! You just sent a message saying you arrived in Korea and would handle persuading Guide Baek Joo-won?!

“Sir, why are you being so grumpy? Are you nearing your end? Did your overload level increase?”

A furious roar erupted at his incredibly disrespectful remark.

Grayson added fuel to the fire, saying he was relieved the Association Head was still in good health.

“If you’re so worried, come and catch me.”

—Do you think you’ll be caught so easily? You’ll cause a scene! I’m not crazy enough to expose our dirty laundry in another country!

“Sir, you should use kind words. Maggie is scared.”

Another roar erupted.

He seemed more likely to die from high blood pressure than overload at this rate.

“If you’re not coming to catch me, just wait patiently. I’ll bring you a present.”

—I age every time I talk to you. Sigh… Are you really okay? I heard that Guide is the only one with a high Matching Rate with Firestarter.

The Association Head also knew about Grayson and Seo Jae-yi’s friendship. It would be strange if he didn’t.

He was the one who had brought Grayson to Korea seven years ago for the joint training session.

“Are you worried about Jae-yi, sir? I should tell her.”

—I’m not worried, so don’t you dare, you brat! Why would I worry about that ill-mannered Firestarter!

The Association Head had his beard singed by Seo Jae-yi for bringing Grayson, a troublemaker.

‘That was hilarious.’

Grayson chuckled, remembering that day. The Association Head, sensing his amusement, roared again.