Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Feisty Regulars
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thud. She pulled a larger opponent into a hug and snapped him backward in one clean motion.
It was so flawless that even I, a complete novice when it came to wrestling techniques, couldn't help but clap in admiration.
In the silence stained with shock, Jo Ye-na walked straight to my counter without so much as glancing at the guy sprawled face-first on the floor.
"Sorry for breaking the plate... I'll cover the cost of the dishes."
Her face, as she said that, was so gentle it was hard to believe it belonged to the same person who'd just executed that flashy suplex.
That day, I realized Jo Ye-na was no pushover.
With her striking looks, she often got hit on, and every time, she'd verbally dismantle the guy like they were in some kind of duel.
'...Why does this always happen in my cafe?'
Of course, I just prayed it never escalated to a physical fight.
Anyway, whether it was Seo Yun-ho or Jo Ye-na, all my regulars were anything but ordinary.
Looking at their usual orders, both seemed obsessed with desserts made from kua fruit. Maybe kua fruit brought as much trouble as it did cash.
"Bean? You're blocking the counter like some wall. Can't tell what's a nuisance even at your size?"
"...What?"
"If you're not ordering, move. Don't bother sis."
Seo Yun-ho whipped his head around. His expression screamed, You're her sis? I just chuckled and shook my head.
"Hey, bean. You know who I am before flashing those teeth?"
"Sis— I didn't know, but did our country switch to a monarchy or something? Feels like the king's paying a visit."
"......"
No matter how I looked at it, the big guy had lost... Seo Yun-ho's speech was rough, but he wasn't half bad at verbal sparring—no, wait, he actually sucked at it.
He glared down at her, eyes bulging like he had no clue how to handle someone that tiny. Jo Ye-na stared right back, chin up, refusing to back down.
The size difference was huge, so from the outside, it looked like Seo Yun-ho was bullying her. In reality, it was the exact opposite.
"Ye-na."
"Yes, sis."
At my quiet call, she turned her head immediately. I beckoned her closer like I had a secret, and she leaned in with her ear toward me.
"I baked a ton of jam cookies today. Want some?"
"...Yes!"
Her eyes went wide, then she nodded vigorously. Those sparkling eyes were so cute, like the fight never happened.
"Hey, what about me?"
His ears were sharp.
Watching Seo Yun-ho grumble like he'd overheard the cookie offer, I briefly wondered if he was really the same age as me.
After that, he'd growl at Jo Ye-na every time they crossed paths, but the little one always came out on top.
Honestly, I'd thought espers didn't care about gender when it came to strength, and in the worst case, it might turn violent. But it never went beyond words.
One day, I asked Seo Yun-ho about it, and this was his answer.
"How do you hit something that tiny?"
"Whoa... you're human after all."
"What? You think I'm some trash who hits civilians?"
"...Huh? Ye-na's an esper."
"...What? She's an esper?"
I'd figured he'd know since they were both espers, but apparently not.
Well, working in the same building doesn't mean you know every employee's face. The realization hit late, and I felt an urge to swallow my words.
Come to think of it, I'd only exchanged names with Jo Ye-na. I'd never told her I was a guide or that I knew she was an esper.
In the meantime, Seo Yun-ho charged off, declaring he'd challenge her to a duel.
Seeing a famous A-rank esper rush to spar with what looked like a newbie made me sigh in disbelief.
Against my worries, Jo Ye-na didn't get mad.
"My ability is plant manipulation."
She even casually revealed her power.
Seo Yun-ho was the one who reacted with surprise.
"What? You're that new plant rookie who joined Ion Guild?"
"I've known for ages you're that punk Seo Yun-ho."
"What? Fuck, who told you that?"
Friction led to more talk, so they kinda bonded.
Lately, though, both seemed busier, visiting the cafe less, so clashes dropped off sharply.
'Ion Guild... I've heard of them. Another big-name guild, right?'
Anyway, I'd already spotted two high-rank espers at work that I'd never seen at the Center. Both regulars, no less.
'Maybe I should do a luck ritual soon.'
Felt like I had a horseshoe up my ass or something.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That day started out no different from usual.
This time, unlike last, it was individual guiding sessions in the guiding rooms, so I was waiting obediently in the room.
Efficiency classifications went: Stage 1 for hand contact, Stage 2 for hugs, Stage 3 for light mucosal contact, and Stage 4 and up for more.
Normally done in soundproof guiding rooms inside the Center building.
Anything beyond Stage 2 might be needed depending on the esper's condition.
'Definitely 10 a.m., right?'
The text from yesterday said to come to Room 7, so I sat on the sofa waiting. But even after the appointed time, no one showed.
Twenty minutes passed like that.
I stood up thinking maybe I should check the hall, when the door finally opened.
"Ah, you came—"
Finally, I could go home.
That thought crossed my mind as I looked up—and my eyes shook violently.
The first thing I noticed was the beautiful silver hair cascading down to his chest.
Elegant lashes fluttered over jewel-like purple eyes, and his skin was as pale as if it had never seen sunlight.
The boy, who looked about Jo Ye-na's age at most, resembled a delicate bisque doll more than a human.
Han Se-young was mid-170s in height; he seemed about the same. No, maybe a bit shorter?
"...Ah, Kim Yu-jeong."
I snapped out of it and extended my hand for guiding.
But he didn't reach out—instead, he just stared at my hand with a completely blank expression.
Unlike theory class, practicals let you leave as soon as you hit your quota, so it was my favorite.
Planning to wrap up quick like always, I grabbed the boy's still-motionless hand and pushed in my guiding wave familiarly.
But it didn't take long to realize that was the wrong move.
The guiding felt totally off. What came through our clasped hands was a sharp wave laced with intense rejection—and pain.
"Ugh—"
The wave I'd sent his way twisted and attacked me instead. Something heavy churned my insides roughly.
For a moment, my breath stopped.
"Gasp!"
The second air rushed back in, I yanked my hand away.
"What the hell was that...!"
Cold sweat poured out, and my stomach roiled. I'd felt drained from overexertion before, but actual pain like this? Never.
'...Reverse guiding?'
I lifted my crumpled face, anger surging.
The thought that he might've done it on purpose made my temper flare.
"What was that? Was that reverse guiding...? Wait, are you okay?"
My sharp tone quickly crumbled into panic.
The boy's face had gone deathly pale.
"No... sor, sorry—"
The hand he'd flung at me trembled in midair, unable to retreat to his chest, while his shoulders hunched tense and shrunken.
"Feeling sick? Hey."
"Sorry, sorry... I—"
His breathing turned ragged like a seizure in seconds, so I started soothing him right away.
'That state—'
I exhaled slowly and deeply, raising both hands as I backed away.
"...It's okay."
A soft voice, like coaxing a child, slipped from my lips.
"I'll stay right here. No more moving. You're safe now, so calm down. Sorry for touching you without asking."
"......"
"You're safe. See? My hand's right here."
Now I started noticing what I'd missed, blinded by that sugar-sculpt pretty face.
Bloodshot eyes. Even from that brief touch, his energy felt drained, and his wave unstable enough to rampage any second.
He hadn't had proper guiding in a long time.
'Trauma.'
I'd seen plenty of war veterans tormented by trauma—they looked just like this.
Grab his hand, and his body stiffened fast. The real issue hit when I pushed in the guiding.
His wave destabilized rapidly, body locked like paralyzed. Breath quickened, and those sunken purple eyes gleamed with rejection, fear, and bottled-up rage.
"I'll stay right here without moving. So, it's okay."
To reassure him I wouldn't approach, I lightly scuffed the floor with my shoe tip. As the faint sound died, silence fell between us.
"......"
"......"
In the heavy quiet, an express train labeled urgent barreled through my mind.
Riding that train? Lesson progress.
'Teacher... you're going way too fast.'
Last class, the instructor had said we'd handle espers needing more guiding next time.
But jumping straight to one with contact trauma? No way I'd expected that...