Yoojin was relieved to be back. He immediately saw all the kids and gave them their souvenirs. He didn't expect everyone to be so impressed with the faux wood key chains and other gifts, but they all seemed to really love them. Yerim was mad she didn't get to go to the hot springs with them. And Yoohyun seemed to be under the impression that the trip was for Yoojin's recovery and health. Yoojin said nothing to make him think otherwise.
Sung Hyunjae had tried bribing him to stay another week, but Yoojin didn't think he would survive another day with the S-Rank maniac. His back was so sore he had trouble sitting. He had needed two days to recover from Sung Hyunjae after they returned.
The food was good, the hot springs were amazing, and Yoojin got to lie in Sung Hyunjae's arms and press his face against his large breast—
"What are you thinking, Yoojin-ssi? Your face is red."
Yoojin jumped. He didn't hear Sung Hyunjae come in. "Hey! If you want me to live here, learn to knock." Yoojin was getting dressed for his first day at the Association. Well, was it the fifth day? Sung Hyunjae had overlapped the beginning of his classes with the end of their trip. Apparently knowing the strongest S-rank mob boss in the nation meant that start days were suggestions.
Sung Hyunjae stepped further into the large walk-in closet and towered over Yoojin. His eyes seemed darker and more wicked in the closed space. "Were you thinking of me?"
Yoojin's blushed worsened. He tried pushing him back. "Your ego is larger than Jupiter. I don't know how you managed to keep your head on your shoulders."
Sung Hyunjae pinched Yoojin's cheek. "Have a good day at school, Yoojin."
Yoojin's ears reddened and Sung Hyunjae gave him a light kiss on the head, but he still complained. "I'm not going to school. Don't treat me like a child."
"The chef packed you a lunch. You have all your books and know not to talk to strangers, right?"
Yoojin tried to hit him, but he was too fast. He ended up chasing him out of the walk-in closet and into the bedroom. Yoojin was out of breath before he could grab him.
"Got you—"
Sung Hyunjae reversed his hold, and for a moment, air rushed by him and his feet lifted off the ground. Next thing he knew, Sung Hyunjae had him pinned on the floor and arms held over his head.
"Be careful who you try to catch, Yoojin-ssi. If you grab a tiger by the tail, you need to have a plan on what to do next." Sung Hyunjae slid his hand up Yoojin's exposed stomach. "Otherwise, you could be devoured."
To prove his point, Sung Hyunjae grazed his teeth over Yoojin's neck. Yoojin's breath rushed out. An S-rank was lethal in every way. A finger could crush bones, a look could petrify a person, and their teeth could rip through a small guide's neck.
Yoojin's eyes dazed over as Sung Hyunjae's fingers spread over his chest, and his mouth trailed down his neck to his collarbone.
He licked his lips and tried to clear his head by shaking it. "Mmh, I think I'm going to be late."
"No one at the Association will penalize my guide for something so ridiculous." Sung Hyunjae licked the column of his throat.
Yoojin's eyes closed. There was seriously something wrong with the esper. They had done it like rabbits, but Yoojin felt a growing erection press against his leg.
"I don't want to be late," Yoojin wailed. "And I don't want to be exhausted either."
Sung Hyunjae lifted his head and gazed down at Yoojin. "Anything my perfect guide wants."
Yoojin's eyes locked with his. "…anything?"
"Within reason."
Yoojin turned his head away. Sung Hyunjae caught on quick. Not that Yoojin would suggest that he use more guides again. He physically couldn't anymore. Not after he found out Sung Hyunjae liked him. It was selfish and pure greed, but Yoojin wanted him all to himself.
Sung Hyunjae kissed his forehead. "Now that you have classes, I rescheduled your appointments for the evening."
Just like that, Yoojin's mood plummeted. "Do you have to ruin the moment?"
"Were you wanting to go further?" Sung Hyunjae called his bluff and rutted his cock against his leg.
His breath fluttered. "No. No. I have to go!"
Sung Hyunjae hadn't dropped his determination to make Yoojin see a therapist. Once the trip was over, it was like the veil lifted and Sung Hyunjae started acting strange again. The esper found three more self-help groups for Yoojin to look at and another guiding book appeared on his nightstand.
This esper could be really annoying.
Yoojin pushed and yelled at him as the esper refused to get up on his own. He paused when he heard a furious growl. Sung Hyunjae's smile vanished, and they both turned to see Peace, arched and hissing at Sung Hyunjae. It must have looked like the esper was hurting him.
"Peace," Yoojin called, extending his hand to him. "I'm all right."
Slowly, while still glaring at Sung Hyunjae, Peace approached Yoojin's hand. The little monster gave it one sniff before nuzzling it with his head. The growls stopped and a soft purr replaced it.
Yoojin smiled, but Sung Hyunjae didn't. "Are you sure you want to keep that with you? I can find you another pet." His eyes narrowed slightly as he added. "Something more trainable."
It was almost like Peace had picked up his meaning and glared back at him.
"What?" Yoojin cried. "I could never. Peace has always been so good to me."
Sung Hyunjae sighed and stood, offering Yoojin his hand. "If you insist."
They walked through the newly rebuilt Jupiter organization together. Yoojin couldn't believe it was reconstructed in two weeks. Some things were different. Like Yerim's room looked like she had designed it herself, but the most notable difference was the interconnected doors from her room to Sung Hyunjae's penthouse no longer existed. The room Yerim used originally was designed for the boss to be able to reach the guides at any time. Now Yerim couldn't come in whenever she wanted.
And Peace got his own room and an exercise lounge on one of the upper floors. Yoojin loved it. Peace could run around to his heart's content.
"Good morning, Boss Hyunjae." Esper Evelyn stood next to the Head Guide. "And Guide Yoojin."
Yoojin didn't recognize the esper next to her, but he asked Sung Hyunjae to look over something.
The moment Sung Hyunjae stepped away, the Head Guide took Yoojin's hand. He pursed his lips as her powers plunged into him. He didn't think he would ever get used to how touchy guides were, but she had taught him a lot of useful skills, so he excused her.
"It's great to see you in better health, Guide Yoojin," the Head Guide said. "And Boss Hyunjae looks energized. We were worried when we heard Boss Hyunjae was taking you somewhere alone."
Evelyn studied Yoojin too closely, and it caused his cheeks to warm. "Umm, ha ha, yes, nothing to worry about."
The head guide raised an eyebrow. "And it was only you guiding Boss Hyunjae? No stabilizers?"
Evelyn scowled as Yoojin's blush darkened. "I mean…we did…yes. I mean, yes, I guided him."
She frowned. "And…you feel fine? Even after the deficit?"
"Yes. I'm back to normal."
The Head Guide and Evelyn shared a look that Yoojin couldn't explain.
"Guide Yoojin," Evelyn said, "I'm told today is your first day of classes at the Association."
"…Yes?"
"And the Association has their own methods for teaching," The Head Guide cut in.
Yoojin looked between the two women. "I understand." He had so many questions about guiding and was excited to finally get answers.
Evelyn spoke first. "It seems Boss Hyunjae is healthy after his rampage. And several other espers reported you guiding them as well during the incident."
"That's a phenomenal feat for any guide to accomplish," The Head Guide finished.
"Umm…" Yoojin shifted uncomfortably under their compliments, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Thank you?"
"It would seem that you doen't need to worry about what status the Association deems you. Since you're such an accomplished guide already."
The Head Guide agreed. "As long as Guide Yoojin received his license at the end, Boss Hyunjae won't care what ranking the Association gives you."
Yoojin froze. "Do you think they will deem me low ranked?"
Evelyn glanced at Sung Hyunjae and the other esper. The Head Guide shook her head. "It's been a while since I taught at the Association, Yoojin. And their methods might be different from what you're expecting. You shouldn't take anything to heart."
Before he could say anything, Evelyn cut in. "I still have your dedicated guiding contract in my office, ready for you to sign for Boss Hyunjae. And numerous espers have asked about your contract status."
"They have?"
The Head Guide nodded. "If you are labeled a low ranked guide by the Association, would that matter?"
His gaze drifted to Sung Hyunjae. "I don't know." Shouldn't Sung Hyunjae be taken care of by high ranked guides? What would it do to his reputation to have a low ranked one?
"If you didn't go to the Association at all, would that matter to Boss Hyunjae?" Evelyn asked.
Yoojin looked at her. It would probably make Sung Hyunjae happier actually. He was already complaining about the classes taking away too much of Yoojin's time. And the esper disliked the idea of Yoojin being able to openly guide others afterwards.
"I suppose not." He looked back at the two of them. "Are you asking me not to get my license?"
They exchanged another look. "No. Having such a competent guide in an organization is always a blessing."
Then why did it feel like they were trying to warn him away from it? Did they think he couldn't do it?
"Yoojin…" The Head Guide squeezed his hand as her powers continued to run through him. "The Association may be dated."
"Say it already," Evelyn chastised.
She sighed. "Don't let them change the way you guide."
Yoojin frowned. "Doesn't everyone guide the same?" When he first awakened, he looked up everything he could. And the only information he could find was a single line on the Association's website. It hadn't changed since the last time he checked.
She smiled. "I used to think so. But you guide differently than me, and I could never fully stabilize Boss Hyunjae."
She hadn't?
She smiled softly. "Remember, you're an excellent guide and Boss Hyunjae won't care what the Association says about you. He seems already hooked."
"S-Sung Hyunjae?" Flushed, Yoojin asked. "What do you mean by that? I'm just his guide."
Her face hardened. "Guide Yoojin, I am too old to play the office flirt game."
Yoojin stepped back. "Flirt?" Had he been too obvious since their date? "No-no-no, you're mistaken. I'm just trying to be a better guide for Boss Hyunjae."
She opened her mouth, but Sung Hyunjae appeared by his side, staring at his and the Head Guide's joined hands. "Yoojin-ssi, are you ready?"
He released her hand. "Yes."
The Worst Guide at the Association
Sung Hyunjae had been right. No one cared that he missed a few days. And it seemed that the Jupiter PR and internal affairs team had done a great job of keeping Yoojin's position confidential. No one knew about him. It was their attempt to keep Yoojin safe and not draw unwanted attention to him while he was separated from his bodyguards.
"An esper may have one of six ranks, S-rank being the highest and F-rank being the lowest," the instructor said.
Yoojin had imagined sitting in the Association's classroom for years now.
"Espers have a range of skills from physical attacks, mental, support, or healing. The known list is assigned in your lecture notes. I suggest looking up the variety of skills we have on record."
He spent years wondering what it would be like to be a fully fledge guide.
"Korea now has ten S-ranks."
But he was still waiting for them to get to the part where they talked about guides.
"The newest esper being Bak Yerim," the instructor continued. "You all may know the others. Sung Hyunjae, Song Teawon, Moon Hyuna, Yoon Keongsoo, Choi Sukwon, Noah Luire, Reitte Luire, Han Yoohyun, and Park Mingyu."
Huh, Yoojin thought, I've met all but two of them.
"But the most powerful espers come from the top five syndicates."
Feeling himself fall asleep, Yoojin blinked rapidly to stay awake. Anyone could've figured this out by watching the news. Yerim was still being featured on television daily as the youngest S-rank in Korea. Maybe he missed the day they talked about guides.
Or maybe this was just the intro to something more sustainable. Like how some guides had more ease with different espers despite their ranking. Or tips on how to guide espers outside your skill rank.
But as the hour ticked by, Yoojin learned that this was not a segue into a better lesson, but this was the lesson—esper focused.
Yoojin learned some interesting speculations about his brother that he would ask Yoohyun about as soon as class was over. They thought Yoon Keongsoo died during a spontaneous monster break. And no one knew Choi Sukwon was missing.
He imagined what Noah must be doing while he waited for Yoojin to finish class. He wondered if he was more bored than him.
"Now we will use the skills we learned to practice guiding mid-ranked espers."
Yoojin frowned. Maybe he had missed something really important those first few days. "Instructor, are we only allowed to use that method?" Yoojin asked.
The instructor stilled, and the other students looked at him. "Guide Han Yoojin. We're so happy for you to be here today. Normally, guides show up to lectures every day."
It was hard to maintain eye contact after being called out.
"Should we repeat the lessons you missed just to catch you up?"
And repeat a whole day listening about espers he already met? No, thank you. "I'm familiar with the concept of guiding." He said carefully to not admit to over ten years of illegal guiding experience. "But isn't that ineffective compared to—"
"This is what espers like," the instructor said. "Here at the Association, we actually care about the health of our espers. Now if you don't mind." She turned back to the lecture board. Yoojin's fingers dug into the table as the instructor continued to talk. Was he wrong? Had he been guiding wrong this whole time?
"I would've guessed a guide known for negative guiding would suggest something like that." Yoojin turned his head when he heard the whisper. A dark-haired man made eye contact with him while he said, "I'm surprised they're even letting him get his license."
He looked away, staring ahead and trying to tone it out.
"No way," the student next to him whispered. "How did he get in then? The Association wouldn't buy his contract."
"I heard some crappy syndicate paid for it—"
The instructor turned around. "And unless we have anymore questions," Her pointed eyes flickered to Yoojin, "The espers are here to evaluate your abilities."
The door opened and nearly a dozen espers walked in. One stopped in front of Yoojin. "Who are you?"
"Guide Han Yoojin."
The esper shuddered. "Oh, I thought you weren't going to show."
Yoojin sighed. "You don't have to be guided by me if you don't feel comfortable."
The esper sighed in return, taking the seat in front of Yoojin. "No, it's fine. As long as you don't drain me, I don't mind working with you."
The esper offered him his hand, but Yoojin just glared at him. Feeling more offended than normal. The comments bothered him. He used to be able to ignore them because that was what you did when it was all you heard. But now it annoyed him, angered even.
"What?" The esper waved his hand near his face. "Something wrong?"
"…no," Yoojin muttered while holding his tongue. Getting his license was important. More important than his feelings.
The esper in front of him was a tall man, maybe the same height as his brother. With shortcut black hair and a prominent scowl. His hand hung unsure between them.
The scowl only worsened as he waited, lines deepening in his face. "Should you really be here? Is the guiding shortage so bad the Association is hiring guides known for negative guiding?"
Yoojin took his hand, wanting this to be over. "I'm not joining the Association."
"Oh? What syndicate is taking you in?"
Yoojin didn't answer. Everyone else had started guiding. Yoojin studied the hand in front of him. He could do this. He wanted to be a good guide.
He took a deep breath, guiding like the professor said. It was methodical and more laborious than he was used to. Maybe he had become weaker since he relied so heavily on sex and the earrings.
He tried to work faster because the esper's small talk was insulting. "If you don't want to work for a small time syndicate, my brother has been looking for a dedicated guide—"
"You're C-ranked, right?" Yoojin cut him off.
The esper's arm stiffened. "Did the instructor tell you that? Yeah, I am. Am I too much for you? There are Association members as low as D-ranked. But if you can't manage that, you should consider a different field."
Yoojin shook his head. His hand tingled. He followed the instructions to the letter. Or tried too. He really didn't know this esper at all and it made guiding harder.
Guiding by the text book added another stressor on top of everything. The method was closer to just throwing out energy and covering the body completely to smother the condense energy.
Yoojin thought about how he normally guided and realized how different he had been all these years. The force made his eye tick and jaw tighten. He could get better if he practiced. Some students were already done. He tried to catch up.
"The connection is weak," the esper remarked.
Yoojin kept his focus on the checkpoints listed in the handbook. The back of his neck tingled as he shoved more power out.
"It's a single point of contact," Yoojin said. "It's not going to be perfect." He remembered the first time Sung Hyunjae said that to him.
The esper frowned. "You're going to have to be a lot closer to espers in the future to guide efficiently. Just a heads up."
"Thanks." Yoojin tried to hurry through it, if only to stop talking to him, but the method was confusing him. He kept wanting to go back to his method. Was this kind of guiding more efficient? What was the reason to guide like this? Did espers really like this more?
The esper huffed. "Well, at least you're able to do this much. Even if you are a low rank guide, you're not as bad as the new girl. She almost threw someone into a guiding burst."
The comment caught Yoojin off guard and he lost his concentration. "Really? In this class?"
The esper nodded. "No one wants to work with her. The Association is even looking to sell her contract if she doesn't improve. At least you don't seem that bad."
Yoojin was about to say something, but his ears popped and the familiar taste of copper hit the back of his throat. Power spiked across the room. His eyes widened. He had felt this before. The memory stopped his breath.
The table in the middle of the room split and the floor crumbled. The esper huddled in on himself, shaking.
Rampage.
Everyone jumped at once. The students moved away, the instructor and other espers rushed toward the rampaging man. Shouts and orders came from everyone, and an alarm went off. Yoojin stood, but there wasn't anything he could do.
The guide sitting in front of the esper had barely moved away in time before the desk and chairs were smashed. Her hair, the color of fresh wheat, covered her face in long waves. When she lifted her head, her hand flew to her mouth, and she coughed up blood.
She sprinted out of the room.
Yoojin watched her and stepped forward, wanting to chase after her while everyone else rushed to the rampaging esper. He looked back. With the amount of instructors, the esper would be fine. Yoojin couldn't help anyway. He was unlicensed.
Yoojin followed the guide.
When a Low Ranked Guide Met a Worthless Guide
Huurrrle.
Yoojin stopped outside the women's bathroom and glanced around before going in.
Hurrrrrrle. Cough, cough.
He knocked on the closed stall door where all the vomiting was coming from.
"I… I'm f-fine… I'll return to class soon…." She said faintly between sobs and another hurl.
"Umm…" Yoojin shifted and glanced around the bathroom. No one else was here, and he wasn't sure what to do in this situation. "I'm one of your classmates. Is there something I can get you?"
"…"
"Hello?"
"Please go away."
"Huh?"
"I'm not in the mood for mocking today. Okay? I know what I did! I'm a horrible guide. Please just leave me alone for once!"
Yoojin stepped back. Should he just leave? But was she really okay after coughing up blood?
She threw up again, and it brought back some memories of when he first awakened. Yoojin tried one last time. "I'm going to step out and get some water for us. If you want something to drink, come to the breakroom. If you don't, then I'll see you back in class."
"…"
Yoojin left. There were a few snack machines in the hall where he could buy waters and an orange juice. The credit card Sung Hyunjae gave him was already coming in handy.
By the time he reached the breakroom, there was someone there. She was small, her wheat color hair falling in waves down her back. Sweat drenched her bangs. Her shirt was old, and a little worn, but still in good condition. Nothing on her looked flashy, expensive, or new. And she was shivering.
Yoojin frowned. For all the ways he could help espers, he didn't know how to help a guide who was near a deficit.
She looked up as he entered. Her large, blue eyes filled with apprehension as he approached. It squeezed his heart, and he forced himself to smile for her sake. She looked so scared that it cut through him.
He set the waters down and gave her the orange juice. She reached for it with a trembling arm. The shaking was bad enough that she couldn't take the cap off, and Yoojin had to reach over and open it.
"I didn't mean to cause a guiding burst," she said, with a hint of tears in her voice.
"I know," Yoojin said.
Her lips parted. "H-how? I've been accused of sabotaging the Association. They've even threatened me with legal recourse."
Yoojin tried not to look at her with pity. "You're near a deficit. You can only push your power so far before it causes a drain in return."
"I… I'm near a deficit?" She looked down at the juice in her hands. "I'm not just weak?"
"Huh? They never taught you about deficits?"
Her expression scrounged in confusion. Shouldn't the risks of guiding be the first thing they taught?
"How do you know about deficits?"
Yoojin laughed, trying to sound cheerful. "I doubt anyone knows more about deficits than me." He offered his hand. "I'm Han Yoojin."
She nodded and accepted his hand. "I've heard of you. I was the last student to enter the course, so everyone just calls me Newbie, or they used to until you showed up."
Her hand was cold to the touch. "Newbie? Like the volleyball company?"
"Or as in, I'm the newest person?"
"Oh," Yoojin leaned back in his seat. "You need to stop the forceful guiding. It's draining you too much. You can get really sick if you keep guiding espers like that."
She looked down at the juice in her hands. "But I'm not guiding them."
Yoojin sighed. The espers here were something else to expect new guides to stabilize them fully. "Don't be too hard on yourself. Espers don't realize how much energy it takes to deal with them."
Her brow furrowed, and she looked away. "No… it's not that."
Tilting his head, he tried to see her face. Frustration darkened her cheeks.
"Would you like to explain what it is?" Yoojin asked slowly.
She met his eyes and quickly shook her head. A forced smile took up her face. "It's nothing. I'll do better next time."
The smile threatened to crack her face, and her lips quivered.
Yoojin had to look away for a moment. Unfamiliar with this bleak kinship he felt, but it made him more curious than he had a right to be.
"I'm not sure if you know this," Yoojin said, "but I'm known for being the guide who almost killed his brother with negative guiding. There isn't much you can say that's worse than that."
Her eyes widened, but her fake smile faded. It soon looked like she would completely crumble in front of him. She took a shallow breath. "Every time I touch an esper I can feel their negative energy, but I don't know how to reach it. The more force I use, the closer it feels. But if I try too hard, I end up getting sick or causing a guiding burst."
Yoojin would have to explain to her the signs of a deficit since the Association hadn't. But she still puzzled him. Guiding had always come naturally to him. It wasn't something he could explain. He had never needed to think about it, even when he first awakened.
She shook her head, her words coming faster and louder. "I became a guide because my brother and sisters did. They had trouble guiding too at first, but now they work in respectable organizations. But the head instructor told me they might sell my contract to a syndicate! I don't want to work for a syndicate! I don't even want to be a guide anymore! But I can't buy my contract back and my family can't either. I'm already a disappointment to them. And the espers said that if I ever want to be a guide, I'll have to take my clothes off!"
Yoojin listened to her until she broke down in tears. She lowered her head into her hands. Yoojin snapped out of his stunned silence and awkwardly patted her shoulder. He never had to comfort a guide before, but he used to have similar fears. Before he met Sung Hyunjae, before his brother came back into his life, before everything had gotten better.
He had forgotten what it was like being a new guide. Not everyone was as patient and knowledgeable as Sung Hyunjae. Or as sweet as Noah and Kang Soyoung. Or looked out for him like Yerim and Yoo Myeongwoo. Or was as good as his little brother.
When Newbie lifted her head, her eyes were puffy and red. Yoojin wiped the rest of her tears away with his sleeve.
"It sounds like you had to deal with a lot on your own."
She squinted at him, like she was seeing him for the first time. Taking a long look at him, she asked, "Why aren't you making fun of me? All the other guides do."
"How can anyone make fun of a guide in as much pain as you? We're all learning the right way to guide here. They should be helping you."
"They say I'm not really a guide because I can't stabilize an esper."
Yoojin pressed his lips into a thin line. Those jerks. All of them. Who could look at her face and say something like that?
"Hey, why don't I try helping you? I'm not the greatest guide and I'm still learning, but we can get better together."
She looked unsure.
"Come on." He shook her shoulder. "I know how to guide through other guides. I've studied under the old Association's Head Guide."
Her eyes widened. "You learned to guide from someone like that?"
"Well…sort of. She's a friend and has taught me a lot."
She tilted her head. "But how can you practice guiding outside the Association without a license—"
Yoojin waved his hands, "Not like that, um, she's able to guide, or at least demonstrate guiding, without an esper. It's not like guides exist only if an esper walks into the room. Our powers are our own."
"I suppose…"
He slapped her back, harder than he meant. She was just so small. "That's a better attitude! I, Han Yoojin, will be your best tutor!"
She blinked at him.
"Hmm," Yoojin mused. "But we might need an esper for this." Yoojin wondered if he could call Noah. Maybe he could ask one of the espers from class…
Newbie's voice was shy when she said. "There has been an esper who meets with me alone outside of class to help me practice…"
"…Really?" Yoojin hope he sounded friendly and not shocked. What kind of esper would meet with a young girl outside of class, alone? He tried to keep his expression under control.
"Who is it?" His smile twitched. "Can I meet him too?"
She nodded. "He's really nice and meets me at the end of the day and sometimes during lunch. If I text him now, he might come since there was a rampage alert."
The veins in Yoojin's forehead ticked, but he kept his smile in place. So, it was someone in the Association. "Yes. Do that. And I'll come with you."
She pulled out an old phone, but her cold fingers were so stiff she had to breathe on them before she could text anything. After he met with this esper, he was going to sit her down and teach her about deficits and the risk of being alone with strange espers.
Blue Lights
"Good afternoon, Han Yoojin."
"Umm… hello, Song Taewon."
Yoojin wasn't sure how he felt. Newbie looked comfortable next to the much taller man, and Song Taewon didn't seem bothered that Yoojin had surprised their alone time.
Song Taewon looked Newbie over. "There was an actual rampage today. It wasn't that serious, and the esper is okay now. But it caused a lot of problems with the administration office."
She nodded, staring at her feet.
"Did you get sick?" he asked.
She didn't respond. Wordlessly, Song Taewon pulled a pouch of medicine out of his pocket.
She took it with the last of the water Yoojin had bought.
When Yoojin looked at the medicine with curiosity, Song Taewon said, "It's a reduction of a potion that guides can take, fever reducers, and a mild stomach relaxer. It's not a strong brand. The Association doesn't offer much variety."
"But the guides have that large item vault," Yoojin said. "I thought they had more options."
"Those items are reserved for Association guides. I am not authorized to take them."
He bought it with his own money? Guiding medicine wasn't cheap. Yoojin never had money for it while growing up.
"Thank you," Newbie said.
Yoojin asked, "Song Taewon, have you really been helping Newbie practice?"
"Newbie?" Song Taewon said in confusion, and his eyes drifted to the small girl. "Oh. Yes. Occasionally."
"But…" still not sure how he felt about their relationship, Yoojin asked, "Isn't it dangerous if she could accidentally send you into a rampage?"
Song Taewon nodded. "The Association has limited guides, so I am unable to help most days. If there is a dungeon break nearby, it would be unfavorable to be low on energy."
"We don't practice guiding every day," Newbie confirmed. "Sometimes he helps me with the study material as well."
Yoojin continued to stare at him. Song Taewon was S-ranked. Mob bosses C-ranked and higher would hoard guides for themselves. The higher the rank, the more guides they had. Was Song Taewon really so unselfish that he kept to a guiding schedule, even if he was drained? And spent his own money and free time to help a guide. Was he a civil servant to the heavens?
Wow. He was a figurehead to admire.
"I'm still really sorry about last time," Newbie said.
Song Taewon nodded. "It's all right. That time you were the closest."
Yoojin looked between them and finally asked Song Taewon. "What does it feel like when she's guiding you?"
"She doesn't."
"You don't practice guiding?"
"No," Song Taewon said. "She's not able to guide."
Newbie lowered her head.
"But you said she was close last time," Yoojin said.
Song Taewon looked at Yoojin for a moment. "Have you ever guided someone against their will?"
Yoojin nearly stepped back in shock. "Huh? No. I mean, I don't think so. Why would a guide do that?"
"It happens sometimes. Almost like a surprise attack. But for a second before their hands touch you, the air thickens and the pressure on your skin changes."
'Surprise attack?' Like an assassination attempt?
"Her power hovers over my skin," Song Taewon continued, "but not where she touches."
"Have you tried more skin contact?" The moment Yoojin said that, he wished he could take it back. Both of them looked so awkward.
Yoojin cleared his throat. "Right. Forget I said that. But, umm, I recently learned a new guiding technique from the head guide of Jupiter. She used to be a professor here."
Song Taewon frowned. "I don't wish to meddle with the dedicated guide of Boss Hyunjae."
Newbie touched her lips with a soft gasp. "You're a dedicated guide? You're already working for a boss?"
"Well, no. I'm not his dedicated guide. But I do work for him."
Song Taewon's frowned deepened. Yoojin had to explain, "Mr. Sung won't mind who I guide."
"I don't believe you," Song Taewon said, his eyes narrowing.
What a stubborn man, Yoojin thought. Just like Sung Hyunjae. They would make great friends.
"I just want to help Newbie. I'm worried about her contract as well…"
Yoojin wished he hadn't said that either, because of the look of defeat on her face. But it softened Song Taewon's expression.
"Just this once," Song Taewon relented. "And you will not guide me directly."
Yoojin nodded eagerly. He shared a seat with Newbie and they faced Song Taewon. Her hands looked so small while cradling his. Yoojin held her other hand and took a breath.
He pushed his powers through her. She jerked in response, sitting straighter. Song Taewon looked between them. "Is there something wrong?"
"Oh," Yoojin said. "Guides aren't used to being guided, so this might feel strange for Newbie. I won't push my powers into you, Sung Taewon, but her abilities might be effective by mine."
Song Taewon's brows creased, but he nodded.
Yoojin continued, "Newbie you can guide him now. Don't drain yourself like last time. I just want to see what's happening."
She swallowed and nodded. Her powers flared to life like a storm. She was powerful, or at least capable of having a large capacity of energy. But then, why couldn't she guide?
Newbie released her breath. Yoojin's eyes widened, and his vision clouded over. It took a bit of force to regain his eyesight. "You don't have to push so hard, Newbie."
Her face was hazy in front of him. "I'm not. You said to go slow."
Yoojin fought to see the girl in front of him, but her figure blurred until he only saw a flickering of blue lines outlining her. The room darkened until the only thing he could see were the thickening lines. They were the strongest near her core.
He looked at Song Taewon and saw dark flames in his veins. The most concentrated flames were nearly black. Yoojin's own powers wanted to reach out and soothe those dark flames almost instinctually.
They flickered and hypnotized him. The longer he held on to Newbie the darker the rest of his vision became until he could only see the lights.
Yoojin wasn't sure how long he had been staring, but Newbie broke the silence.
"I'm going to start now. Is that okay?"
Yoojin nodded, and his jaw fell. The room lit up. The blue light illuminated the room. Little lights like fireflies flickered by. Song Taewon was no longer a dark flame, but there was a little outline of him.
Yoojin didn't have words for how beautiful it all looked.
"I'm sorry, but I still don't feel anything," Song Taewon said.
Newbie sighed and broke the connection. Yoojin blinked back as the light cut off and the darkness submerged him. His vision cleared a moment later as the unsavory fluorescent lights blinded him.
"I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Yoojin-nim, do you know?"
"Umm…" Yoojin stammered.
"We can try it again," Song Taewon offered. "My powers weren't drained this time."
"Umm."
Yoojin licked his lips. Already this was out of his depth. Maybe he should get the instructor or call the head guide at Jupiter for help?
Newbie sighed. "I knew it. You can't help me."
He turned to her. The brief bit of hope she had was gone. Her eyes looked empty as she realized no one could help her. Yoojin shook his head, not wanting to see that look on anyone. "No, no, it's not that. It's just… while I'm willing to help… I'm not the most experienced guide out there."
Newbie only looked more rejected. Yoojin tried to not let those sorrow filled eyes move his heart, but he ended up saying, "Let's try one more time."
King VS Sung Hyunjae
Sung Hyunjae read over the messages on his phone and arranged the next therapy appointment for Yoojin. He was doubtful Yoojin was ready to attend. But the nightmares had worsened since the attack on Jupiter and, while his panic attacks were less severe, they came more frequent. Yoojin would need to see someone soon, even if it would upset him.
He sighed. He had wanted to make Jupiter a safe home for Yoojin, but it seemed Sung Hyunjae only added to his traumas.
How had the young master been strong enough to let his brother go? Even if Sung Hyunjae was a source of his distress, he was not willing to lose his guide. He would just have to find another way to keep him safe.
Speaking of, Sung Hyunjae raised his gaze from his phone to the three espers in front of him. Evelyne's face didn't show a single tell if they had failed or succeeded. However the other two's contorted expressions gave him his answer.
"S-Sir…we have not been able to track down King or Guide Mary…"
"You've had over two weeks," Sung Hyunjae answered, hearing his voice darken.
"It-it seems…"
"You have a day to correct this," Sung Hyunjae said. "What kind of worth does a subordinate have if they cannot fulfill one request? I am willing to remove such waste if you fail me again."
The two men stiffened, sweating. "Y-yes, Boss Hyunjae!"
"Dismissed." They nearly sprinted from the office while Evelyn remained still. "What are you still doing?"
"Threatening employes won't give you better results."
"Your job is equally on the line."
She shook her head, adjusting her glasses. "No, it's not."
"Oh?" Sung Hyunjae asked, raising a brow.
She stepped up to his desk, pulling a charm out of her pocket. The faux wood keychain of the hot spring's name was a terrible souvenir. But the few people who received gifts like Evelyne or Noah had worn them like shields. Staking their importance to his guide like they were in disposable.
Evelyne showed off the charm as if it were a VIP pass. "How would you ever take care of your little guide without me? I booked everything for your date, just like you asked. Took care of Ms. Yerim for him. And even had the construction team add a home for his pet monster when you were too busy grieving."
His eyes narrowed as she put the keychain away. "Then how are you unable to find a member of the Transcendent?" The fair-skinned woman with hair like a jellyfish left no tracks and hadn't sought any additional guides while in Korea.
"King isn't part of the Transcendent family anymore, so everything she does is on her own and harder to track. And as far as my sources say, she came here to investigate her missing brother."
She handed him a dossier. Police reports and witness statements were carefully organized. "There was no evidence of what Yoojin did to Diarma, but she's likely figured it out. And with how obsessed her brother and the head of Jupiter are with him, it likely made her curious."
"You're saying she wants my guide?" he asked in an emotionless voice.
She gave a slight shake of her head. "Not necessarily. Most espers are attracted to interesting guides. It may be curiosity, but it's easy to make an esper lose interest. I recommend keeping your relationship hidden."
"What?" He asked, no longer able to hold back his annoyance.
She held a hand up. "As ordered, I removed his sync rate results from the association and listed him as a low ranked guide in our system in case we have any inside moles. Everyone who knows about your relationship has signed an NDA and an additional contract to stay silent."
She glanced at him and hesitated to say, "We can make it look like you bought his contract for someone else in the organization. Have a few people see him with a lower ranked esper and give him a smaller living dorm."
Silence stretched as they stared at each other, and tension rose like a flood. The mere mention of pretending to have Yoojin guide someone else caused something dark to grow inside him.
"Find another option."
She sighed. Her own annoyance showing.
Sung Hyunjae shrugged innocently. "Not for me. Of course. Think about his brother. Do you really think the young master would allow such rumors? Or, what if he miss understands and thinks we are forcing his brother to guide for us? You've seen the repair bills for his temper."
Evelyn sighed deeply. "I am prepared to have a discussion with the Boss of Haeyeon. Are you willing to allow Han Yoojin to be seen with another esper?"
Sung Hyunjae's expression didn't change, but his jaw twitched.
"No."
"Sir."
Her words were cut off as Sung Hyunjae stood, stepping around his desk and casting a long shadow over her.
"I said no."
Chicken and Beer
"Yoojin-nim! Don't run off!"
Yoojin glanced back at Noah a second before the elevator doors closed. Noah and the other bodyguards didn't make it in time and he gave them a sympathetic wave. He was in a hurry and tapped his foot as he waited on the slow elevators in Jupiter.
He couldn't stop thinking about Newbie.
First, she couldn't guide. Yoojin had missed the rest of the day's lessons, practicing with her and Song Taewon, and they never even got close. Well, he got close once. But her body started depleting energy so quickly he thought he sent her into a deficit.
Second, when he guided through her, his vision changed. He didn't remember that happening when he practiced with the Head Guide, so he was on his way to ask her about it.
Third, it had made him so mad when he learned the instructors had been ignoring her. Newbie said they told her to study and perform better or her contract with the Association would be at risk. She didn't want to work for the mob, but if Yoojin couldn't help her, that might be where she ended up.
He sighed and leaned against the elevator wall. It wasn't like he had money to help her. Those classes cost so much. And while Evelyne had been a great help with selling his restaurant and arranging his remaining finances, that wouldn't be enough. And it wasn't really like he got paid for his work here as a guide.
The doors opened, and he stepped into the guiding department.
Was it a mistake he hadn't been paid? Shouldn't all employees have paychecks and not just personalize credit cards from the boss?
"Guide Han Yoojin!" Guide Kwang Wooju bounced and shouted from across the department. It drew everyone's attention. That and his massive size were hard to miss. Yoojin stop to see what he wanted. He still couldn't believe his name meant deer. Like antler deer. Deer.
Guide Kwang Wooju had been the last person to see Yoojin before the kidnapping incident. According to Evelyne, Jupiter's security had questioned him heavily about his involvements with Guide Takko, the woman who worked with Chio Sukwon to assassinate Sung Hyunjae.
The security team said, Guide Kwang Wooju was fine, if not a little energetic.
"Guide Yoojin!" He ran to Yoojin, taking one of his hands in his enormous fist and waved it high above his head. "It's so good to see you again! Have you eaten yet? I know a great fried chicken place that serves the coldest beers."
He shook his head. "I'm actually busy. Have you seen the Head Guide?"
Guide Kwang Wooju had seemed guilty about what happened to Yoojin, and for not realizing Guide Takko's intentions. Since then, he had been trying to apologize with strange gifts and offers to buy beer. "The Head Guide? I heard she just walked into some emergency meeting. Is there anything I can help with?"
"No, it's…wait." Yoojin looked at him. "Are you scheduled to guide anyone soon?"
"Oh, actually, I have a few appointments. But I can have another guide do it if you need me."
Yoojin shook his head. "Can I guide with you?"
Guide Kwang Wooju stared at Yoojin. "You want to guide with me?" He shuffled his feet while his lips thinned. Yoojin couldn't understand why his ears reddened.
"YES!" He held up Yoojin's hand once more. "To have the dedicated guide of Boss Hyunjae want to—wait, are you allowed to guide others?"
"I don't want to guide an esper, I want to practice a skill the Head Guide showed me."
Guide Kwang Wooju's eyes widened in awe. "And you trust me to help you?"
Yoojin struggled to keep his lips from tilting downward. Guide Kwang Wooju was a nice guide, and Yoojin had little time before Noah found him, so he needed to make this quick.
He said with a smile, "Yes, Guide Kwang Wooju I always hear great things about your reputation. So please take care of me while I'm in the guiding department."
Guide Kwang Wooju grinned ear to ear. "Yes, while you're here, I will take care of you!"
Guide Kwang Wooju turned so suddenly, Yoojin struggled to keep up and almost tripped. He led Yoojin to a guiding room and told the appointment keeper he was ready to see his scheduled espers. The appointment keeper looked at Yoojin with worry. The other guides looked at Yoojin strangely. And when the espers came in for guiding, they stared at him. Like they were unsure to enter or not.
"Guide…Han Yoojin? Boss Hyunjae's guide?"
Yoojin smiled and tried to fight down his rising anxiety. Everyone's looks had gotten to him the same way the whispers from the Association had. Did no one want him around anywhere?
"Hello. I'm here—" was all Yoojin got out before the esper flashed from one end of the room to the couch seat next to Yoojin.
He didn't remember him taking his hand, or him pressing his hip against his. Huh?
"—to observe."
The esper froze. For a moment, it looked like he wasn't even breathing. But slowly his jaw unlocked and his lips parted. "Oh, ha ha, right, of course Boss Hyunjae wouldn't let you guide other espers."
Yoojin's eyes narrowed. "Let me?"
The esper looked away shyly. "But, Guide Yoojin… I don't know if you heard, but since you don't have a contract with Jupiter, I sent a request to Esper Evelyn if you ever—"
"HEY!" Guide Kwang Wooju shouted, nearly boiling with rage. "The fuck are you doing? I'm your guide and you're trying to find a replacement right in front of me?"
The esper blinked like he was just now realizing they weren't alone. "Oh… Guide Kwang Wooju… I just meant you get so busy sometimes and I've been thinking about getting a dedicated guide..."
They bickered more. Yoojin glanced at the clock on the wall, wondering how much longer until Noah found him. He had free range of Jupiter, but everyone heavily advised him away from things like working in the guiding center or getting too close to hotheaded espers. Everyone treated him like he might get hurt the moment no one was watching him.
It took sometime, but the epser changed seats to sit closer to Guide Kwang Wooju and began guiding. Yoojin watched for a moment, then pushed his powers through Guide Kwang Wooju like he had with Newbie. Neither of them seemed to notice.
Yoojin's brows pinched together.
It was more of a sensory feeling than a visual like Newbie. He experimented with more power and even asked Guide Kwang Wooju to go slower or focus on different areas.
What had Newbie done to make her guiding so different?
Guide Kwang Wooju finished, and the esper tried giving Yoojin his card but was chased out of the room. Yoojin asked if he could observe one more. Maybe the espers were the problem? But two more espers and still nothing close to what happened with Newbie.
"Are you alright?" Guide Kwang Wooju disturbed Yoojin from his deep thought. "Guiding through others is a rare skill, and you have probably been stabilizing Boss Hyunjae a lot. How is your energy? Did the espers wear you out?"
"No. It's just…" Should he wait to talk to the Head Guide?
Guide Kwang Wooju touched Yoojin's forehead. "You don't look drained. But that doesn't mean you're not low on energy. You want to know a sure cure for low energy?"
Yoojin brushed the hand away. "Are you going to say fried chicken and beer?"
"Hey, it's not my fault it works for everything. The drinks are on me."
It was hard to not smile. "That sounds nice. But I can't today. I'm trying to figure something out."
"I can check if the Head Guide is available now."
They left the room together. Guide Kwang Wooju wiped the sweat from his palm on his pants. Was Guide Kwang Wooju nervous about guiding in front of Yoojin, or was he working harder than he thought?
Yoojin looked closer at him, noticing a little sweat on his forehead as well.
"You see, there he is. Guide Yoojin."
Yoojin tried not to look when he heard his name whispered, but his shoulders tensed instinctively.
"He guided me today," an esper bragged. Yoojin didn't remember guiding any of the espers, just poking at a few of them to see if he could cause the same reaction like Newbie.
"Liar."
"No, I'm not! My energy feels like fire right now. Wanna fight and see who wins."
"Can't be that good."
"He's the boss's only guide. Do you underestimate that?"
"Is he guiding in the department now? Is he no longer working for Boss Hyunjae? When does he work here? I've never been able to use him."
"I already sent a guiding request to Esper Evelyn about dedicated guiding."
"Shit, I need to send one too."
"Hey, don't try to outbid me!"
Yoojin looked over his shoulder as an esper slammed another across the room. Were they really going to use up their energy after being guided? He groaned, wiping a hand down his face. He was sure this would get back to Sung Hyunjae as a misunderstanding.
"Don't listen to them," Guide Kwang Wooju said. Yoojin looked up through his fingers. "Espers have no sense when it comes to guides. It's all about status for them. If it wasn't for Boss Hyunjae, they would leave you alone."
Yoojin lowered his hand. "Do they leave you alone?"
"Me?" Guide Kwang Wooju shrugged. "I'm a mid rank guide, just barely missed the cutoff for high rank. So yeah. They don't care."
"I'm sorry."
Guide Kwang Wooju turned to him. "No, it's not bad. I mean, yeah…I used to want to be a high ranked guide. I…" They stopped walking and Yoojin waited for him. "I always thought I needed to be a great guide, but even guiding a few A-ranks wears me out."
"A-ranks are nothing to scoff at. That alone should make you a high ranked guide."
Guide Kwang Wooju laughed. "This coming from Boss Hyunjae and Esper Yerim's personal guide."
"I…" Yoojin frowned. Wait, he had been steadily guiding two S-ranks. Why did he struggle to guide one C-rank today?
"Is something wrong, Guide Yoojin? I didn't mean to upset you."
He quickly shook his head. "No, it's not that. I was just remembering something from the Association today."
"Oh, that's right, you began your classes today. You'll be a high ranked guide soon."
Yoojin grimaced.
Guide Kwang Wooju noticed Yoojin's reaction and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Oh, I didn't mean it like that. You don't have to be a guide if you don't want to."
Yoojin sighed. "No. I just wish we didn't have to go through the Association to get our licence." Thinking about Newbie, he added. "Between syndicate families and the Association, there's nowhere for guides and espers to go."
"But it works, doesn't it? Syndicates keep the nation safe from monsters, and the Association makes sure the mob doesn't do anything bad."
"Yeah…" Yoojin suddenly stepped back as Guide Kwang Wooju leaned closer, inspecting his face.
"What? What are you thinking about?"
"Well I've always kind of wished there was another place for guides to work and maybe a cheaper place for weaker espers to get stabilized. I went into so much debt as a kid trying to keep my brother stabilized."
Guide Kwang Wooju stood back with a frown. "Like an independent guiding agency?"
Yoojin shrugged, embarrassed for saying something so dumb. "It's always been a little dream of mine."
"Your dream? Like you want to open one yourself?"
Yoojin bit his lip as he felt the blush start at the back of his neck. "No. no. no. Not me, but like—you know…it would be nice… if someone opened one when I needed it. I would've worked there…"
Yoojin paused when Guide Kwang Wooju patted his back. The prideful smile Guide Kwang Wooju showed bewildered him. "That sounds like an outstanding dream, Yoojin."
His lips parted, but nothing came out. He couldn't believe he accidentally said his dream to Guide Kwang Wooju of all people. And he was supportive?
Yoojin turned away, blushing even harder. "Thanks."
Just then, a guide ran past them. Not rushed, or power walked, but full force sprinted across the room.
"Where is he going?" Guide Kwang Wooju asked no one in particular.
The main doors to the guiding department burst open with a snap, causing one of the doors to break in half.
Everyone silenced and turned as a tall, tan, muscular woman with short black hair strolled in. Her tight tank top showed off her arms and tight abs, and she wore multiple knives on her belt.
"Hello boys and girls," she said with a dangerous grin. "Did you miss me?"
Someone gasped, "Reitte?" They stood to run, but a knife shot out and pinned the wall next to them.
Guide Kwang Wooju shook. "Oh no, she's back." He grabbed Yoojin and pushed him in front of him like a shield. "Don't let her see me."
"Now, now," Reitte said, coming further into the room. "What is with this gloomy atmosphere? I've been gone for nearly a month and not one of you is excited to see me?" She stopped in front of a guide. "You should act excited."
The female guide in front of her forced a smile and laughed. "R-Reitee…you're back early…y-your dedicated guides are still on holiday."
"Pfft. Since when has having dedicated guides stopped an esper from coming to check the new catches?" Reitte inspected the other guides as she came closer to Yoojin and the quivering Guide Kwang Wooju. "Did we get a new building? Everything looks… different."
Yoojin looked at her. From this distance, it was harder to tell, but he guessed she was S-ranked. And she headed straight for him now.
Her eyes hovered a fraction above his hair at Guide Kwang Wooju. "Hello, there. Finally, a familiar face."
Guide Kwang Wooju squeaked and huddled behind Yoojin.
"Oh, come now," she teased. "I'm not that bad. I've heard Boss Hyunjae finally got a new guide and sent him to the hospital within the first hour he joined. Compared to that, I'm a saint."
Yoojin wondered if she was talking about him. He never technically joined Jupiter, he wasn't even being paid. And it wasn't Sung Hyunjae who sent him to the hospital, it was Noah. But it wasn't Noah's fault. He had been in a rampage.
"Esper Reitte," Guide Kwang Wooju said. "I'm actually off the clock…me and—and my friend were leaving." He touched Yoojin. "Right? Yoojin?"
Reitte's eyes descended on Yoojin. "And who are you, Darling?"
Nothing she had done previously had sent chills down Yoojin's spine like the way she called him. No, that wasn't from the name. It took him a moment to shake off the powers pressing down on him. Was she really using intimidation after just meeting him?
He glared at her. When he didn't back down, her smile widened. "What's a gem like you doing in this stuffy guiding department?"
"Gem?" Yoojin croaked. He felt Guide Kwang Wooju tense. Suddenly Guide Kwang Wooju was shoving Yoojin behind him.
"He doesn't work in the guiding department, so he can't guide you."
"Oh?" Her interest peaked as her eyebrow shot up. "Then who is the lucky esper he works for? Don't tell me it's my brother. I hate sharing guides with him."
"No!" another guide shouted out. "He's Boss Hyunjae's guide. So you better leave him alone!"
"Really." Her smile was chilling. "How interesting." She stepped closer, pressing into Guide Kwang Wooju to see Yoojin better. "And what kind of guide can break Boss Hyunjae from his nearly year long drought?"
Her eyes glimmered with interest that made Yoojin step back and Guide Kwang Wooju try to shove her away. Suddenly two of the espers stepped in front of Yoojin, blocking her view.
"They're wrong Reitte. He just started classes for his license. He's not even a guide, let alone Boss Hyunjae's."
"Y-Yeah… he's just here visiting… he's not a guide."
He swallowed, seeing the satisfaction only building in her eyes. "So they're lovers."
Yoojin choked.
She laughed. A deep, dark melody that filled the quiet room. "I see." She met Yoojin's eyes again and licked her lips. "A guide with those skills."
His heart skipped a beat, and he wanted to take another step back.
"Esper Reitte—" Guide Kwang Wooju wasn't able to finish before Reitte put a hand on him and spun him, causing him to lose his footing. The two espers in front of Yoojin were just gone. Shoved away, so it was only her standing in front of him.
He didn't have time to lift his head before her hands snatched him up and throw him over her shoulder.
"Found my new guide!" She announced to the office. "Bye."
A chaos of shouts followed as Yoojin was taken from the guiding department, but no one could keep up.