Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The New Healer's Misunderstanding
-----------------------------------------------------------------
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "H-Hello! Nice to meet you!"
Summoned abruptly by the Guild Master, new recruit Song Hwa-yeon bowed at a perfect ninety degrees the moment the door opened.
The infamous rumors about their leader—nicknamed "Yeon-tto," short for "Yeon Woo-jin being crazy again"—were legendary. It was well-known that even the vice master kept stomach medicine on hand at all times because of it.
But the man himself, Yeon Woo-jin, didn't look nearly as intimidating as the stories made him out to be.
No, he had soft features that were downright stunning, the kind that drew an involuntary gasp of admiration.
"Song Hwa-yeon, the new recruit..."
Her smooth self-introduction halted when she spotted his wrists bound together with cable ties.
Song Hwa-yeon's eyes darted nervously between the woman asleep on the sofa under a men's coat and the guild master's bound hands.
She nodded heavily in understanding.
"...I get it!"
It was clearly a misunderstanding, but Yeon Woo-jin wasn't considerate enough to correct her.
Once inside, Song Hwa-yeon immediately checked the woman's condition. Midway through using her ability, she sensed a familiar wave of energy and looked up.
"Ah, this person is a Guide—"
The words caught in her throat as a chill ran down her neck. It felt like a sharp blade was pressed right against her skin.
The overwhelming pressure and killing intent bore down on her. An Esper's instincts were never to be ignored. Song Hwa-yeon zipped her lips shut with a hand gesture, sliding it leftward like closing a zipper.
"I've sealed it, Master."
"I like how quick on the uptake you are, newbie."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Kim Yu-jeong woke up shortly after Song Hwa-yeon finished her task and left.
True to habit, she checked Yeon Woo-jin's condition first thing—taking his temperature and inspecting his wounds with practiced ease.
The faint guiding energy she felt in the process made Yeon Woo-jin recall the first time those hands had touched him.
'Can contact waves normally be suppressed that much?'
As an Esper more sensitive to guiding than anyone—let alone an S-rank—it was hard to even confirm she was a Guide.
If this got out, the Awakeners' researchers would go from amazement to outright shock. Unfortunately, the one who discovered it was Yeon Woo-jin, who couldn't care less about advancing the world.
He was too busy pondering how to win her favor.
For some reason, it seemed his own Guide disliked him.
There were plenty of possible reasons. Truth be told, being hated by others was par for the course in his life.
If it was inevitable, he at least wanted to build some goodwill before revealing his identity. Problem was, he'd never tried winning anyone over before, so he had no clue where to start.
As he mulled it over, Kim Yu-jeong—still rubbing sleep from her eyes—asked why he hadn't changed out of his clothes.
In response, Yeon Woo-jin held out his bound hands.
"I'd love to, but I can't use my hands."
Of course, he could easily break free but had chosen not to. No one here knew that.
'Could this be her thing?'
Thinking it might be worth noting, Yeon Woo-jin asked,
"Is this your type, by any chance?"
"You're insane..."
And got cursed at in return.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Kim Yu-jeong's expression hardened instantly as she untied the cable from his wrists.
Yeon Woo-jin brushed at his now-free wrists absentmindedly. His eyes caught the coat still damp with moisture.
He'd been careless. Being with him meant she'd gotten caught in the rain too.
Seizing her distraction, Yeon Woo-jin guided her toward the bathroom.
Even among Awakeners, Guides weren't like Espers. While Espers gained enhanced physical abilities upon awakening, Guides remained as fragile as civilians.
"Treat Guides like delicate sugar sculptures. Handle them wrong, and they shatter."
Kwon Si-hyun's words flashed through his mind.
Kwon Si-hyun had a dedicated Guide and got along splendidly with her.
Probably only he would call a towering two-meter man a "sugar cookie."
Compared to that, Kim Yu-jeong—who barely reached his shoulder—worried Yeon Woo-jin sick.
'She got a check-up, but the virus could still be incubating. Or there might be issues a standard exam wouldn't catch...'
Guiding a rampaging Esper took a toll on the Guide. The restorative force clashed directly with the destructive one.
To her repeated assurances that she was fine, Kim Yu-jeong awkwardly scratched her cheek.
Her slender wrist peeked out, and Yeon Woo-jin bit his lip silently.
Guides were weaker than Espers. That obvious fact gnawed at him with irrational anxiety.
What if the excessive guiding had strained her body? The newbie healer said she was okay, but there could be other problems.
"Eat it while it's warm."
His fretting culminated in a healthy meal.
"Urp!"
But less than thirty seconds after picking up her spoon, she bolted for the sink. Yeon Woo-jin blinked in stunned silence.
'...Isn't dumping good stuff in supposed to make it taste better?'
It was a natural misunderstanding on his part.
He could go days without eating and didn't enjoy food anyway—medicine was more frequent in his diet.
"...If you can't eat it, give it here. I'll toss it."
"No, it's not bad... well, not great, but why throw out food? Got any candy or chocolate? That'll do."
She shoveled it in with a wrinkled nose.
She wasn't great at hiding her disgust, so it must taste awful, yet she kept chewing.
When he said she could stop, she shot back that he went to the trouble of making it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Lucky circumstances aligned in his favor, perhaps.
Yeon Woo-jin managed to keep Kim Yu-jeong around for a while.
"I'm twenty-three... Mind if I call you noona?"
"I don't care... but why?"
"It sounds friendlier."
He'd known her name from cafe visits but still asked directly and sought permission for the honorific.
Honorifics meant little. It just reminded him of the friendly male cafe staff chatting her up.
Their shared routine became a joy.
A sense of peace he'd never known.
He'd never understood Espers obsessed with guiding—and had no intention to—but now he might.
An old memory surfaced: a man's fervent cry.
"That kid is like a god to me. No one can replace her. If she doesn't want it, I'll quit this life anytime."
His eyes weren't devoted—they were blindly obsessive, gleaming with manic joy.
Yeon Woo-jin shoved the faded, blackened recollection aside and turned away.
Absently tracking her like a predator, he watched Kim Yu-jeong emerge for water. Catching his gaze, she extended her hand.
"...?"
"Need guiding? You can hold on."
Kim Yu-jeong was peculiar. Wary as a stray cat one moment, carelessly open the next.
Unfazed where others would panic, her crisis sense oddly skewed.
"How's your body? Headache any better?"
Her kindness in offering a hand without hesitation warmed him.
Her soft, concerned tone. Her face lighting up at sweets.
"Look for higher ranks. Might find a Guide who matches you, Yeon-woo."
But she was kind and coldly rational.
Her worry was casual pity for those within reach—severed the moment they were out of sight.
This newfound serenity bred complacency.
Knowing it wouldn't last, yet ignoring and delaying—he regretted that day bitterly.
It was when she first texted after heading out to meet a friend.
His elation at her initiative crashed at the message.
[This is Kim Yu-jeong. □□ Mart. Suspected Esper robber. Please report it.]
His mind iced over.
He alerted the guild, summoning a clairvoyant to scour the scene. He'd confirmed her safety via guild member, but unease lingered.
Deciding he needed to see her face himself, Yeon Woo-jin hurried over.
Kim Yu-jeong was found nearby, calmly on a call—remarkably composed for someone held hostage minutes ago.
Their eyes met mid-conversation.
"Oh my god, aren't you cold? What's with that outfit."
She ended the call and rushed over, churning his gut.
Yeon Woo-jin reached out with trembling fingers. A fresh cut marred her once-pristine cheek.
"...You're hurt?"
"Yeah, but it's not serious. Oh, you called the cops? Thanks—must've been shocking getting that text. You didn't actually come here after reading it, right?"
"I was nearby on business anyway."
He recalled the chaotic reports.
28 injured, 1 critically, many minor.
The robbers' motive was straightforward.
Revenge against an ex working at the mart—half for fun, half for cash.
No need for Gates. Humans hurt each other for simpler reasons.
Long ago, he'd abandoned faith in humanity. He wasn't the type to rage over civilian casualties.
But this time was different.
Recalling the robbers on site, Yeon Woo-jin barely suppressed his surging fury.