Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Leave a Good Impression on Healers
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Life is full of surprises, so it's wise to leave a good impression on healers whenever possible.
I flashed a subtle capitalist smile, and Song Hwa-yeon responded with her own bright, clear one.
"Healing is my job, after all! And with you, Yu-jeong, it's fine anytime!"
Song Hwa-yeon's eyes sparkled with genuine fondness as she looked at me.
The esper beauty buff was no joke. With her petite frame, brown bob haircut, and round, squirrel-like eyes, even someone without prior affection would fall for that shining gaze.
I found myself staring at her, tempted to pat her head, when Ju Yeon-woo snatched the cognac from my hand and spoke up.
"Don't you both have urgent business?"
"Huh?"
"...Ah, right. We do. Very urgent business."
Ha Do-kyung patted Song Hwa-yeon's shoulder as she tilted her head in confusion. She suddenly remembered, slipping on her shoes in a flash.
As I saw them off and turned to head back to my room, Ju Yeon-woo grabbed me.
"Noona."
"Yes?"
I answered right away, but no reply came.
He hesitated, lips twitching, so I stopped in my tracks on the way to my room.
"...Is that your type?"
There was a brief silence before his response, and it lacked a subject.
"That kind of face?"
"Song Hwa-yeon."
He was asking if Song Hwa-yeon's face was my type. Did someone as cute and pretty really need to fit a specific taste? As I hesitated, Ju Yeon-woo continued.
"Song Hwa-yeon already has a dedicated Guide."
A dedicated Guide meant one registered officially with a matching rate above average for a specific Esper.
Typically, when missions or incidents arose, Guides prioritized guiding their dedicated Esper, and Espers protected their dedicated Guide above all else.
They were each other's guardians, sometimes called partners or mates. They received news first and held priority rights in emergencies, making it common among family or lovers.
"Dedicated Guide..."
I nodded lightly. I could guess what Ju Yeon-woo was thinking. He must have assumed I was interested in Song Hwa-yeon and was warning me upfront.
But that was a misunderstanding. My interest in her was purely because she was a Healer. Besides, as an unregistered Guide, I was far removed from such matters.
"Oh, I didn't mean it like that... Hwa-yeon is just beautiful, you know? Your eyes naturally go to pretty people."
Of course, I had no intention of admitting I was an unregistered Guide, so I shrugged casually.
Refusing to register as an Awakener was illegal.
Unlike Espers, who could cause casualties by hiding their powers, Guides rarely did, so penalties were lighter.
Still, Guides were Awakeners too. Failing to register after confirmation meant fines.
Registration brought conveniences, so most who knew they were Guides signed up.
I was the exception. I'd undergone all national Awakener tests and awakened later anyway.
Late awakenings were rare, and I'd heard there were no penalties even if caught later. Still, I wanted to avoid detection by the state as much as possible.
If Yang Hyun-woo's guess was right and my rank turned out high, my peaceful life would be over.
With no response forthcoming, I looked up.
Ju Yeon-woo stood there, brow furrowed in silence. I racked my brain for anything offensive I'd said, but nothing came to mind.
Ah, could it be...
"Yeon-woo."
I sat on the sofa and extended my hand toward him. With a thud, his large hand settled over mine.
It seemed instinctive. Before I knew it, he was sitting across from me on the sofa, gazing at me as if asking why I'd called. I couldn't help but smile.
A big guy placing his hand like a trained puppy was surprisingly adorable. As I let out a small laugh, he blinked in a daze.
"Your expression looked off, so I thought you might need guiding."
"Ah..."
"Was I wrong?"
"I need it."
The hand resting lightly twisted once and clasped mine firmly.
We'd done this enough times that it was becoming routine. Even a year ago, I'd done similar things.
As I channeled guiding through our joined hands, I started a light conversation.
"By the way, I didn't expect just looking at someone to cause such a misunderstanding."
Ju Yeon-woo stared at our clasped hands before speaking.
"Song Hwa-yeon... she's an Esper."
"Oh, right. Does Hwa-yeon know I'm a Guide too?"
The day I'd saved Ju Yeon-woo, Song Hwa-yeon had treated me.
Unlike before, she seemed able to heal without contact, but to check wounds, she'd have needed to touch me.
'No wonder her friendliness seemed over the top.'
Recalling her sparkling eyes of goodwill, I looked at Ju Yeon-woo, who nodded.
"Yes, she asked to check your overall condition."
"As expected."
"But it'll be fine. I told her to keep quiet..."
His face relaxed drowsily as he rested his cheek on his knee, staring at me.
"I see... Oh, does Ha Do-kyung know?"
"No. I didn't tell him."
"Really? Thanks. I don't really like telling people I'm an Awakener. Ah, but Hwa-yeon has a dedicated Guide. It's the first time I've seen someone with an official partner."
"First time?"
"Yeah, though I have a friend who's about to become one."
"Your friend is a Guide too?"
His words trailed off.
His eyes narrowed as if he might fall asleep any moment, so I naturally lowered my voice.
"Yes. There's one friend who's wanted to be a dedicated Guide for a while."
"Ah-."
"But unlike her, I have no intention of becoming an official Guide."
Han Se-young had said most Espers show affection toward Guides. It was an instinctive response.
Regardless of their power, Guides were lifelines to Espers—good or bad.
"That makes sense. Taking responsibility for someone isn't easy. Is that why? She seems amazing for choosing that path."
And Ju Yeon-woo was an Esper with poor matching rates.
I'd heard higher matching rates meant stronger affinity. To me, it seemed he wanted me as his Guide.
His kindness stemmed partly from me being a Guide, but also from not wanting to lose a compatible one.
Yet I had no plans to become his Guide. I no longer wanted to bear responsibility for anyone's life.
As if sensing the boundary I'd indirectly drawn, Ju Yeon-woo fell silent for a while. Then his lips curved softly.
"Everyone has their own thoughts."
His voice was so excessively gentle that it left a strange unease in my gut.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back in my room, I lay on the bed fiddling with my phone.
Work was starting soon, and I needed a new phone anyway, so I was browsing good deals when a familiar headline caught my eye. My finger naturally tapped it, bringing up the news screen.
📰 Breaking News [News] XX Motel: Awakener Rampage or Bomb Terror? The Dangers of Antisocial Groups. Last night, an incident involving illegal drug trafficking occurred at XX Motel. The Management Bureau states it's linked to one of the Awakener crime syndicates. It's presumed a fight broke out between Awakeners during the deal, with the sole casualty being K (31), affiliated with the crime group. K (31) was known locally as an upstanding young man, and locals say... My scrolling finger halted.
Beneath the sensational headline was the story of last night's and early morning's events.
There were some injuries, but the only fatality was one syndicate member involved in the illegal deal.
I stared at it quietly before hitting the back button to close the screen.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ One more day, and I'd shed my part-time status to rise as a cafe owner.
With the landlord gone too, I sprawled on the bed in comfy clothes, enjoying my last day off before quitting.
"...Oh, right. I need to tell Yeon-woo I'm leaving tomorrow."
I'd said from the start I'd only stay a few days, but hadn't specified the exact checkout date.
I'd tell him when he got back.
Having decided that, I was practicing deep breaths when my phone rang—Han Se-young.
"Hello."
[Yu-jeong!!]
"Yeah."
[Let's drink!!]
"Huh?"
I pulled the phone from my cheek and checked the time.
1 PM.
Looking out the window, bright sunlight shone under a clear blue sky without a single cloud.
"Hey, what kind of drinking in broad daylight..."
[I'm buying, by the way.]
"Where?"
Thinking it over, daytime drinking didn't sound half bad.
I headed to the address she sent and found Han Se-young silently downing drinks. On a weekday? She'd taken the day off, she said.
"Not gonna ask why you're like this?"
"Something happen?"
I could guess. It had happened half a year ago too.
And sure enough, Yang Hyun-woo's name came from her lips.
"A new Guide started, and she seems interested in Hyun-woo."