Chapter 60:
Their plan to go to the tailor shop was canceled due to the unexpected situation.
Seo Jae-yi stayed at the Center, sending Grayson and Baek Joo-won away, as she needed to hear an explanation.
Baek Joo-won’s expression as he left seemed complicated, but dealing with this situation was her priority.
Seo Jae-yi, Kwon Yi-soo, Chu Sung-won, and the Guide in question, Gong Ju-hyun, were gathered in the Center Head’s office.
“Your Matching Rate with her was only 35% when you awakened, but it has increased by a whopping 13%. It might increase even further if you exchange Guiding directly.”
Chu Sung-won’s explanation made her understand why the government had appointed a Guide with a 48% Matching Rate as her exclusive Guide.
Matching Rates tended to increase as Espers and Guides interacted and formed a bond.
It meant that even though it was only 48% now, it could potentially reach 60% with consistent Guiding. That would be enough to maintain her lifespan.
‘But I don’t understand why it increased by 13% in just a few months without any interaction.’
Seo Jae-yi scrutinized Gong Ju-hyun, who was sitting across from her. He was tall and handsome, but he still had a youthful air about him. He was definitely younger than her.
“U-um…”
Gong Ju-hyun stammered, perhaps misinterpreting her gaze.
“I-it’s a bit embarrassing to be stared at like that…”
Oh… An unexpectedly shy reaction.
“Oh, then I’ll stop staring.”
“No! It’s okay! You can stare! I’ll endure the embarrassment!”
He blurted out, his face flushed.
“Actually, I’m a big fan of Esper Seo Jae-yi. I’ve always wanted to meet you. But we lived in different regions, I didn’t know what you looked like, and our initial Matching Rate was low, so I thought I’d never get to meet you…”
A shy smile blossomed on his handsome face.
“I’m so happy to finally meet you. And to be appointed as your exclusive Guide…”
“…”
“I-I know I’m still lacking compared to you. But I’ll work hard. I’ll do my best to live up to your reputation, so please, will you accept me?”
Gong Ju-hyun pleaded, his expression desperate. It was almost a heartfelt confession.
‘But the fact that he’s my fan is more shocking.’
If any of the Haeil Guild members, or even Grayson, were here, she would have burst out laughing.
She knew she was beautiful, but no one knew what she looked like, so he couldn’t have fallen for her face.
‘Then is he attracted to my ability and fame? Hah, my popularity is truly boundless.’
She was popular even without a face. She was impressed with herself.
Seo Jae-yi nodded, lost in her self-admiration.
Chu Sung-won, oblivious to her thoughts, chuckled and patted Gong Ju-hyun’s shoulder.
“See? He’s so motivated! You can’t be paired yet because it’s not over 70%, but who knows what might happen if you spend time together. So, Center Head, let’s have him stay by Seo Jae-yi’s side for now.”
Chu Sung-won was more enthusiastic than the person involved.
It was obvious. The government must have promised him a promotion if he succeeded in this task.
It was typical of the government, preaching about protecting minors while supporting experiments and exploiting them behind the scenes.
“Do you remember that Seo Jae-yi is an Esper on the verge of overloading?”
But Kwon Yi-soo, surprisingly, seemed displeased with the situation, his attitude negative.
“It’s not something a 48% Matching Rate A-rank Guide can handle.”
Gong Ju-hyun’s face paled at his blunt words.
“You’re a Guide yourself, Branch Head. Do you think you can handle her current condition?”
“I can’t, but, but if the risk of overloading is resolved, it’s fine, isn’t it? Gong Ju-hyun can take over after Guide Baek Joo-won stabilizes Seo Jae-yi’s condition.”
He was making all the decisions by himself, even though she was the one involved.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Seo Jae-yi finally spoke up, unable to watch any longer.
“Isn’t it strange to use the word ‘stable’ to describe an Esper?”
“What? Why? If your lifespan returns to normal, that’s a stable situation. If your overload level drops to a normal range…”
“Then I’ll be sent back to those dangerous dungeons. As a Branch Head in charge of a region, you should know who has subjugated the most high-rank dungeons in our country in the past ten years.”
Rank 1 and 2 dungeons, where even S-rank Espers couldn’t guarantee their survival.
Those dangerous dungeons had emerged in Korea a few times, and Seo Jae-yi had been dispatched to subjugate them every time.
Why was she, a mere twenty-four-year-old, terminally ill?
It was partly due to her lack of a compatible Guide, but mainly because she had subjugated the most high-rank dungeons.
The government had exploited her thoroughly, using her as their strongest Heat Manipulation Esper, one of the top S-ranks.
It was ridiculous that they were trying to abandon her now, but she hadn’t expected them to go this far to secure Baek Joo-won.
“Even if my condition stabilizes, the risk of overloading remains without a highly compatible Guide. Even the Center Head, an S-rank Esper, couldn’t restore my body to its original state. Do you really think an A-rank Guide with a Matching Rate below 50% can do it?”
Gong Ju-hyun’s face turned pale at her blunt words. His fists, resting on his knees, trembled.
Seo Jae-yi was surprised to see him so clearly hurt.
‘Why is he reacting like that? He’s supposed to be saving me.’
Touching an S-rank Esper in her condition could be fatal. She didn’t understand why he was so sad when she was pointing that out.
“W-well, he can receive Guiding from Guide Baek Joo-won when that happens. He can stay with Gong Ju-hyun for dungeon raids or daily life, and receive Guiding from Guide Baek Joo-won when his condition worsens. That would work, right?”
It was a viable option, as she could receive Guiding from any Guide as long as she wasn’t paired.
And it wouldn’t be bad to have Gong Ju-hyun accompany her on dungeon raids, considering Baek Joo-won was a precious asset. Seo Jae-yi knew that.
But so what?
“This old man doesn’t seem to understand what I’m saying.”
“…W-what?”
“Hey, old man. I’m saying I don’t want him as my exclusive Guide. Do I have to spell it out for you? This is frustrating.”
She hadn’t earned the nickname “Reckless Firestarter” for nothing.
Seo Jae-yi wasn’t the type to listen to others, especially the government and the Center, who had tormented her.
The only exception was Baek Joo-won.
“W-what…!”
“Did you think I would be grateful and bow down to you if you just shoved someone at me? What makes you so confident?”
Seo Jae-yi snorted and turned to Gong Ju-hyun, who looked helpless.
“It’s not that I dislike you. Thank you for being my fan. I know I’m pretty and have amazing abilities. But my current condition is beyond your capabilities, so give up. If you really want, I’ll hold your hand and take a picture with you!”
She tried to be as nice as possible, considering he was a fan, unlike Chu Sung-won.
But Gong Ju-hyun didn’t seem willing to accept her advice.
“I-I know I’m lacking. So I’ll work hard! As the Branch Head said, you can just use me for dungeon raids…”
Tears welled up in his clear brown eyes. He looked so heartbroken that anyone would feel sorry for him, but Seo Jae-yi, who wasn’t very sentimental, refused flatly.
“No. You might die.”
“I won’t die! I can handle it!”
“Your determination doesn’t matter. It’s not even up to me. Don’t all Guides learn this?”
He should know better than Baek Joo-won, having been awakened for several months.
“The risks disappear as the Matching Rate increases. So please, let’s just try spending time together and see if our Matching Rate increases. If it doesn’t, I’ll give up.”
Gong Ju-hyun stood up and knelt before her.
Chu Sung-won, watching the situation, quickly added, “That’s the spirit! Let’s confirm that first. Seo Jae-yi, wouldn’t it be good to have another Guide with a high Matching Rate?”
“Shut up old man.”
“But why do you keep calling me old man…?”
Seo Jae-yi ignored Chu Sung-won and looked at Kwon Yi-soo.
“You know Baek Joo-won hasn’t decided where he’s going yet, right? I have no intention of accepting another Guide as my exclusive Guide unless he rejects me.”
“Do as you please.”
Kwon Yi-soo readily agreed, knowing she would do whatever she wanted anyway.
“Then I’ll be going.”
She had planned to take a picture with him and shake his hand, as he was a fan, but he seemed like he would cling to her if she stayed any longer.
Seo Jae-yi jumped up and darted out of the office, ignoring the kneeling Gong Ju-hyun.
“H-hey! Wait!”
Who could catch an S-rank Esper on the run? Chu Sung-won and Gong Ju-hyun could only watch Seo Jae-yi disappear, dumbfounded.