Churu for the Angry Guide

38

The faces of the guild representatives gathered in the conference room showed clear signs of fatigue. The meeting hadn’t started yet, so they were just exchanging deep sighs with colleagues seated next to them.

“How many minutes left?”

“He should arrive in 5 minutes.”

They glanced at the still-empty head seat and exhaled long breaths as if exhaling cigarette smoke. Due to the recent unsettled atmosphere at gate sites, the stress on leader-level individuals managing guild members was considerable.

Compared to the gate saturation period of the past, the current stress level was merely ticklish. However, as they had become accustomed to an increasingly peaceful atmosphere, even a slight reduction in sleep time led to a rapid accumulation of fatigue.

“At this rate, even the sane ones will go berserk.”

At that moment, someone spoke up loudly. It was Kwak Seokjin, the leader of the Seowol Guild.

“Who works overtime to the point of exhaustion these days? This doesn’t make sense for the Seoul headquarters, not some provincial center.”

Until four years ago, Seowol was a famous guild representing Korea. Now, they had been pushed back by Baekya and earned the title of “steady second place,” but they still recorded an impressive number of gate removals.

“Everyone knows excessive control only lowers morale. Am I wrong?”

Although he had snake-like eyes, he was an ordinary esper, not a beastkin. As a high-ranking guild master who had maintained the top position for over 10 years, he exuded a heavy sense of pressure.

“You have a point.”

“It does seem a bit excessive.”

Starting with Esper Kwak Seokjin, they began to express their pent-up complaints one by one.

After the recent incident of a beastkin esper going berserk in the B10 area, the number of beastkin espers deployed to sites had been greatly reduced, forcing them to manage gates with fewer personnel. This was all a decision made by Taebeom, the leader of the Baekya Guild and overall guild representative.

He had restricted even low-aggression beastkin from entering the sites.

With the number of espers to eliminate monsters cut in half, the remaining ones were working themselves to death. It wasn’t a welcome situation for beastkin espers either, who needed to exert a certain amount of power to relieve stress.

“Enough.”

Those who had been voicing their accumulated complaints suddenly fell silent. With just a slight extension of his hand, the elderly man sitting to the right of the empty head seat made everyone sit up straight.

“It’s not going to harm us, so let’s follow along.”

The old man’s cracked voice resonated slowly. No one contradicted his small, weak voice. Even Kwak Seokjin of Seowol, who seemed to have plenty more to say, quietly lowered his eyes.

“There’s no harm in being careful.”

The man with white whiskers growing down to his chin, showing his advanced age, was the former overall representative. His temperament was as infinitely laid-back as his gentle Buddha-like appearance. He had completely retired from the field after directly handing over the overall representative position to Taebeom. He greatly trusted Taebeom, who had brought about the peaceful era.

Soon after, the conference room door opened.

When the owner of the only empty seat at the head of the table appeared, everyone stood up at once. The former overall representative, over 100 years old, just maintained a benevolent smile.

Today too, Taebeom’s appearance was flawless without a single flaw.

* * *

91%.

Hearing this number that made his heart heavy, Siwoo was certain. That he must have heard wrong.

The first meeting with the Baekya Guild leader that he had tried hard not to recall. He had already anticipated that their matching rate would be high back then. His body had felt hot as if drunk, and he had rushed towards him as if enchanted.

But even so, 91% was too much. Such a number seemed to only appear in dramas. The kind of overly dramatic setup that regular people might like, but actual ability users would scoff at. The kind that gets good ratings.

“We were very surprised too. 91% is a number that could attract foreign journalists.”

Seojun repeated in clear pronunciation to Siwoo, who was doubting his ears.

“Since it’s an estimated matching rate, it could be even higher with an official test.”

“What are you saying…”

How could it be even higher than that? Before his surprised heart could calm down, a strong sense of resistance arose. At this point, he wondered if they were making fun of him. It was even harder to accept because that young brat kept grinning.

“What are you snickering about? Is it funny?”

“Pardon?”

Seojun tilted his head and touched the corners of his mouth, which were widely upturned. Even his cheeks were raised high, like someone genuinely enjoying themselves. He had no idea he was making such an expression.

“I’m sorry. I won’t laugh.”

But then he let out another chuckle, like air escaping. He kept bursting into laughter seeing the guide’s dumbfounded expression on his usually haughty face.

“This bastard…”

“No, I won’t laugh now. Really.”

Knowing it wasn’t the time to laugh, he covered his mouth with the back of his hand. He forcibly cleared his throat and continued the conversation. Seeing the guide’s angry face, he felt he needed to finish his business quickly.

“Now you understand why we want to work with you, right?”

What more explanation was needed? A 91% matching rate. And with the leader, who’s a psychic esper at that.

“We really hope you’ll do it. We absolutely don’t want to let you go, Guide.”

He expressed their intention to hold onto Siwoo firmly in a roundabout way. Siwoo wasn’t dull enough to miss this hint.

“The secretary will come to make a formal proposal, but I wanted to tell you directly.”

Seojun knew how to deal with proud guides. Accept all their words and temper, smile brightly and innocently like a simple person, and they would all be satisfied. It was a very simple task.

“I’ll help with everything to make sure you’re not inconvenienced, Guide.”

It was rare for an esper from a high-ranking guild to be this humble. Guides, who always had to cater to sensitive espers, would all fall for Seojun’s lowered stance. With the substantial compensation offered, they would stay for at least a month or two.

Seojun was certain that Han Siwoo guide would be the same.

“That guy…”

Siwoo, who had only been blinking, finally opened his mouth. His sky-blue eyes, tinged with confusion, shook unsteadily from side to side. Seojun waited for the next words without rushing.

“Does… Kang, does Geonho know too…?”

He muttered the fool’s name, still awkward on his tongue, while grasping the doll slightly. He wanted to ask in detail if that guy had agreed too, but the words wouldn’t come out.

“Of course he knows.”

Seojun understood the words Siwoo couldn’t say.

“Hyung also understands that you’re an essential presence for our guild, Guide.”

This meant he didn’t oppose the recruitment.

“He might need some time to accept it though.”

As he subtly conveyed that this didn’t mean Geonho welcomed it, Siwoo’s gaze dropped. A “squeak” sound came from inside the thick blanket.

Seojun lightly ran his tongue inside his mouth while observing Siwoo’s deflated expression. He wanted to open the guide’s heart even a little before leaving. This guide was probably the only one who could cool down Geonho hyung’s anger.

“You just need to focus on taking good care of our leader. It won’t be difficult with me and Jihan hyung. As for Geonho hyung… we can work on that gradually.”

When the guide showed no reaction, he immediately changed the subject.

“If you work with us, you won’t have to worry about making a living in the future, Guide.”

He continued to throw out bait that might entice the guide. Fortunately, this time there was a slight reaction.

“Our guild has much more money than you might think.”

Siwoo’s gaze, which had momentarily dropped, turned back to Seojun. Seojun continued to list the merits of his guild. Honestly, the guild name alone was enough, but since this guide had a history of running away, he needed to make a sufficient appeal.

“All those machines piled up in the guiding room were bought with our own money. Without support from the center.”

The Baekya Guild could buy all the machines that ordinary guilds couldn’t obtain even if they worked their whole lives. This alone proved their tremendous wealth.

“And they say the youngest here is very docile.”

Running out of things to boast about, Seojun pointed at himself with his fingertip. His playful smile looked purely innocent. Siwoo roughly knew what lay beneath that.

“I won’t make a peep even if you boss me around.”

“Hey.”

At that moment, Siwoo cut off Seojun’s rambling.

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, get out.”

He had stayed quiet when money was mentioned. But as soon as Seojun made a joke mixed with seriousness about himself, Siwoo frowned immediately.

I guess it wasn’t an interesting topic. Seojun quietly moved his lips and then stood up from his seat.

Suddenly, he remembered that day. The image of the cat screaming at the top of its lungs at the fox beastkin. The cat’s fierce snarling echoed in his ears. It was deeply etched in his mind because of how loudly it had cried. He would probably never forget it for the rest of his life.

“Well then, rest well.”

Seojun left the hospital room. Siwoo just glared at the large retreating figure leaving without any lingering attachment.

After listening to the fading footsteps, he quickly got up from the bed and put on the patient gown that had fallen to the floor. Then, after seeming to hesitate for a moment while looking at the door, he sighed and lay back on the bed with a tired face.

For now, he needed rest. His heavy body and head made it difficult to think clearly.

Squeak.

He placed the mouse doll next to his pillow and curled up his body. The unexpected turn of events made his hot head even heavier.

He wanted to just abandon everything and run away, but he had nowhere in particular he wanted to go. This fact made Siwoo feel even more miserable.

Unconsciously trying to put his hand in his pants pocket, Siwoo’s eyes widened. There was no pocket.

Siwoo belatedly realized he was wearing a patient gown, not his own clothes, and looked around.

“My gold…”

No, where had the pendant gone?