Chapter 81:
Seo Jae-yi arrived at the flower shop in a good mood.
It was partly because she had received Guiding so casually, but mainly because Baek Joo-won had come to the shop with her.
‘He even suggested coming together. I’m so happy.’
She had to spend the entire morning tending to the greenhouse, leaving him with Airok, but she was content just having him in the same space.
‘This business has to succeed!’
To show him her business failing after they finally became paired? Absolutely not. She couldn’t accept that.
She would become a successful businesswoman (?), helping to alleviate the struggles of Awakened individuals who subjugated dungeons, and shower Baek Joo-won with luxury.
Seo Jae-yi, fueled by her newfound motivation, worked diligently until Seo Won-yeong arrived, having received her call.
“Hello, Baek Joo-won!”
Seo Won-yeong was beaming, delighted by the news of their pairing.
“Congratulations on becoming paired! Here’s a present!”
“Is gift-giving a family tradition?”
Baek Joo-won looked back and forth between Seo Won-yeong and Seo Jae-yi, holding a beautifully wrapped gift box with a ribbon. At this rate, he would need an entire room just for the gifts from the two sisters.
“There’s no better bribe than a gift. And this is something you absolutely need, now that you’re paired with Unnie.”
Baek Joo-won opened the box without refusing. It seemed like another piece of equipment.
But the contents were a bit unexpected.
“A gas mask?”
It was a stylish gas mask that covered his entire face, including his eyes.
“It’s a gas mask that can withstand Unnie’s heat.”
Ah. Everyone sighed in understanding.
Standard gas masks could block toxins, but they couldn’t withstand Seo Jae-yi’s heat.
This was truly something he needed.
“The combat uniform I gave you before also has heat resistance. So with this gas mask, you’ll be able to withstand Unnie’s heat for a while, though not for long.”
“For how long?”
“It’ll buy you enough time to escape to a safe place.”
Baek Joo-won’s face hardened slightly as he examined the gas mask.
It wasn’t just a gift for him to stay close to Seo Jae-yi during dungeon subjugations.
It was a gift for him to escape quickly when it blocked her heat, implying it wouldn’t withstand her overloading.
Even Airok was startled by the unexpected intention.
“This is great! I’ll feel more at ease knowing Baek Joo-won has this. Thank you, Won-yeong.”
But Seo Jae-yi seemed to be the only one who wasn’t surprised. She was even grateful.
How could she smile when it was basically telling him to abandon her and run?
“Isn’t a paired Guide’s main duty to prevent their Esper from overloading? I don’t understand why you’re both telling me to run away.”
The two Espers chuckled at Baek Joo-won’s question.
It was understandable for him not to understand. Espers and Guides had different mindsets.
“Once an Esper has a paired Guide, their world revolves solely around that Guide. An Esper would rather see everyone else die than their Guide.”
Espers were selfish creatures who wished for their Guide’s survival, even if it meant the deaths of others, even if it meant the destruction of the world.
People envied the romantic bond between Espers and Guides, but was it really that enviable?
Seo Won-yeong thought it was the most terrifying relationship. It distorted their thinking.
And it was an irresistible instinct.
“Of course, it’s best if that doesn’t happen. And you don’t only need the gas mask for that.”
Seo Won-yeong quickly changed the mood, saying he could also use it during dungeon subjugations.
“Oh, and Unnie, Mom wants to meet you. With Baek Joo-won.”
“My aunt?”
“Yes, you know how much Mom has been waiting for you to find a Guide.”
She knew, she knew it well. Her aunt’s only wish since Seo Jae-yi awakened and was taken to the Center had been for her to find a Guide.
She wanted to introduce Baek Joo-won to her aunt, who would be overjoyed…
“Hmm.”
The decision was Baek Joo-won’s.
“Seo Jae-yi’s aunt?”
“Yes, she’s a good person. It would be good for you to meet her, Baek Joo-won.”
“I’m not proposing; are we having a meeting with the parents already?”
Seo Jae-yi burst out laughing at his joke.
“Don’t worry too much. My aunt is also an A-rank Guide.”
“And my paired Guide.”
Baek Joo-won’s eyes widened at Seo Jae-yi and Seo Won-yeong’s words.
“Family members can be paired?”
“Of course they can. It’s even more comfortable because they’re family. She’ll never betray me, and the efficiency is much higher than the Matching Rate because we’re family.”
Seo Won-yeong explained that if they received Guiding regularly, they could maintain their condition without needing intense physical contact.
“She has a lot of experience, so ask her anything you’re curious about.”
“That sounds good. Alright.”
Seo Jae-yi and Seo Won-yeong were pleased with his ready agreement.
“Then I’ll schedule a date soon. Let’s meet at our house.”
After making plans, the sisters started working.
Seo Won-yeong hadn’t come just to give Baek Joo-won a gift. Her main purpose was to help with the dungeon plant sales.
“This is the sleeping flower? It’s surprisingly pretty.”
“I was surprised too. It looks like a cloud, right?”
“It looks like cotton candy because of the color. Anyway, the powder it releases has a powerful sleeping effect.”
“Right. The best part is that it’s not addictive.”
Seo Won-yeong’s eyes sparkled at Airok’s addition.
“It would be great as a sleeping pill or a sedative. Do you know any potion makers?”
Seo Won-yeong, being an equipment crafter, couldn’t make potions. That was the domain of Healing Espers.
“I know one. I’ll contact him.”
“Send him here directly. It would be a disaster if the sleeping powder spread while transporting it to your house.”
“Ah, I was just about to mention that. How about you start selling dungeon plants directly, Unnie?”
More Awakened individuals visited Seo Won-yeong’s workshop, so Seo Jae-yi was still selling plants through her.
But it was becoming dangerous to transport the increasing number of dungeon plants to Seo Won-yeong’s workshop, which was located in a residential area.
“Okay, I understand.”
“Then I’ll start promoting your shop to people.”
“Finally, my shop will be bustling!”
“Let’s expand the shop when you have more dungeon plants. You’ll need a bigger greenhouse.”
Seo Jae-yi chuckled at her sister’s suggestion to move away from Haeil’s building.
After having lunch with Seo Won-yeong, Seo Jae-yi visited the Center with Baek Joo-won.
They were there to finalize Baek Joo-won’s training schedule and register their pairing.
“We have to register our pairing?”
“Of course. Korea is the land of registration. While other countries protest against mandatory Awakening registration, calling it a violation of human rights, everyone in Korea obediently registers. Well, there are some unregistered individuals, but…”
It was better to register, as the penalty for being unregistered was a fine and even imprisonment.
Seo Jae-yi was a bit nervous on their way to the Center.
Pair registration wasn’t just about submitting a form. The Center would thoroughly review their ranks and Matching Rate, their past records, and only then would it be finalized.
It was to prevent forced pairings.
And it might take even longer this time, as it involved the potential birth of an S-rank Pair.
Seo Jae-yi was prepared for some obstacles, considering the government’s opposition.
But things took an unexpected turn.
They were summoned to the Center Head’s office as soon as they submitted the registration form.
“You made your decision quickly, Baek Joo-won.”
Kwon Yi-soo, who was waiting for them in his office, waved the registration form.
He had already received it, even though they had just submitted it?
“You’re not going to tear it up, are you?”
“What do you want me to do? Grab you by the collar?”
“…I’d like to, but I promised I would never hurt you.”
“What?”
Their first promise. She still remembered.
Kwon Yi-soo’s face hardened slightly at her words.
He was speechless for a long moment, his lips moving soundlessly, and then sighed, handing the form back to her.
“…I won’t tear it up.”
Was he refusing to accept it instead of tearing it up?
Seo Jae-yi was surprised when she received the form.
Kwon Yi-soo’s official seal was stamped on the last page. It meant he was approving their pairing without any tedious procedures, using his authority as the Center Head.
“I-is this real?”
“Yes.”
“Wow! Baek Joo-won! We’re officially paired!”
Hooray! Seo Jae-yi grabbed Baek Joo-won’s hands and danced around.
“I thought they would drag it out for days and then reject us!”
“I simply decided it was beneficial for the Center Head to save an S-rank Esper.”
An S-rank Guide could save many Espers, but an S-rank Esper could save countless lives.
Of course, those saved Espers would also save many lives.
But people felt truly secure when an S-rank Esper was strong and healthy. And with a compatible Guide, the risk of her overloading was significantly reduced, so people would be even more relieved.
“You won’t die now.”
Seo Jae-yi stared at Kwon Yi-soo, who muttered those words.