PV Ch.7 Part 1

#7. It Wasn’t Always Like This (2)

“Guiding magic…” 

Bomin murmured, his cheek resting against the cool surface of the outdoor table as a spring breeze ruffled his hair. He had just shared his first emotionally intimate moment with Song Jaeho, a stark contrast to their purely physical encounters. 

He’d just shared a moment of genuine connection with Song Jaeho, a conversation that had ventured beyond the physical, delving into the uncharted territory of emotions. Afterwards, he’d gone straight to the Guide department, eager to confirm what he’d already suspected. 

His compatibility rate with Song Jaeho remained unchanged. 

Jin Gyugeon had been so sure, so confident, that fostering an emotional bond could reverse the damage, and could bring his compatibility rates back up. Had Song Jaeho just been putting on an act? Bomin’s mind conjured up the image of Song Jaeho’s face, the raw emotion in his eyes, and he dismissed the thought. 

Song Jaeho was drawn to him, there was no denying that. 

“But why…? How am I supposed to make money now…?” he lamented, his voice barely a whisper. 

He still had Song Jaeho, and Yoon Bisam hadn’t lost interest either, even without the Guiding aspect. He wasn’t sure about Han Biseong and Won Seongwoo yet, but two out of four wasn’t bad. 

Besides, Shi Yu-hyeon, the protagonist of this twisted story, was due to awaken as an S-rank Guide any day now. Bomin distinctly remembered reading about his awakening in the novel, a dramatic event that took place towards the end of spring. Two months, tops. 

The problem was, as a Guide officially registered with the Association, Bomin was obligated to, well, Guide. He’d browsed through the list of available Espers, focusing on those with A and B ranks, those whose magic levels were closer to his own. 

“There’s not a single decent one…” he grumbled, scrolling through the seemingly endless list. 

None of them met his exacting standards. And even if he could overlook their less-than-desirable appearances, there was no way to assess the most important factor – their size. He couldn’t exactly go around demanding to see their c*cks, could he? He’d even considered following them into the bathroom, but the idea was too pathetic, even for him. 

“S-ranks are perfect…” he sighed, a wistful note creeping into his voice. 

Their personalities might have been a nightmare, but their faces and bodies… well, those were definitely worth the trouble. And he’d already spent a good chunk of the original Bomin’s savings. Food, clothes, luxury items… his vacation budget had been completely depleted.

He hated being in debt, owing anyone anything. He’d splurged, sure, but he’d planned to replenish the funds. He just hadn’t anticipated this… complication. 

Guides received a basic stipend, but their main source of income was performance-based, tied to the rank of the Espers they Guided and the frequency of their sessions. They were also responsible for managing their Espers’ volatility levels, ensuring they didn’t exceed a certain threshold. 

While the S-rank Espers didn’t rely solely on him for Guiding, they were definitely dependent on him, to varying degrees. And Won Seongwoo, well, he refused to be Guided by anyone but Bomin. 

“At this rate, Shi Yu-hyeon is going to steal all the Espers…” Bomin said out loud, a note of panic creeping into his voice. 

He sat up straighter, his hands rubbing his cheeks, which were still sore from Yoon Bisam’s enthusiastic ministrations. He took a long sip of his iced coffee, the sweet, cold liquid a welcome distraction from his worries. 

“…There’s only one option. Face them head-on.” 

He drained his coffee, the ice clinking against his teeth, and stood up. The café was bustling, couples huddled together, their laughter mingling with the sound of birdsong. Spring was in the air, and love was definitely in bloom. 

Bomin observed them, his gaze cold and detached. 

“Like a chessboard,” he murmured, watching as a group of Espers and Guides walked past, their black and white uniforms a stark contrast against the vibrant greenery. 

“That’s what I hate the most.”

He fingered the ‘B’ badge pinned to his chest, the blue color a constant reminder of his rank, his place in this rigid hierarchy. He felt like a branded animal, his worth determined by a system that valued power above all else. 

He was about to launch into a tirade about the injustice of it all when a deafening roar shook the ground beneath his feet. He winced, his hand flying to his ear as he turned towards the source of the commotion. 

There, embedded in the side of the café building, was Won Seongwoo, his clothes half ripped off, his expression a mask of fury. Standing opposite him was Han Biseong, his fists clenched, his gaze as cold as ice. They were moving too fast for the average person to track, their movements a blur of motion. 

“…What the hell? Why here?” 

He watched, as the other patrons did, his arms crossed over his chest, his curiosity battling with a sense of foreboding. He was about to take a step back, to create some distance between himself and the unfolding chaos, when he locked eyes with Won Seongwoo. 

Won Seongwoo’s eyes, usually a deep, unsettling red, were now glowing with an almost feral intensity. 

“Grrrr… where have you been hiding?” 

“Are you… talking to me?” Bomin sputtered, taken aback. 

Of all the Espers, he’d assumed Won Seongwoo would be the least bothered by his absence. The man hated Guiding, hated Bomin’s very existence. 

Another crash resonated through the air, and Won Seongwoo’s body slammed against the café wall, the force of the impact enough to crack the concrete. 

“Lee Bomin, long time no see,” a smooth voice said from behind him. 

Han Biseong, his fist still engulfed in flames, stood over Won Seongwoo’s crumpled form. Bomin hesitantly raised his hand in greeting. 

He’d slept with Han Biseong first, of all the Espers. And despite the man’s… quirks, Bomin couldn’t deny a flicker of warmth at seeing him. 

“What are you two fighting about…?” 

Before he could finish his question, Han Biseong went flying, his body crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening crack. Won Seongwoo, his upper body now covered in thick, silver-gray fur, stood over him, his claws digging into Han Biseong’s neck. 

The Association grounds bore the scars of countless Esper battles, a testament to their volatile nature. There was even a dedicated team responsible for repairs, Bomin vaguely recalled. 

Watching two powerful Espers clash was a thrilling, albeit terrifying, spectacle. He ducked as a branch, splintered by the force of their fight, whizzed past his head. One wrong move, one stray shard of debris, and he could end up seriously injured.

He decided to make a strategic retreat, to regroup and assess the situation, when a hand grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. 

“Guide Lee Bomin!”

A young man, his face pale, his breath coming in ragged gasps, looked at him with a desperate plea in his eyes. 

“I know your compatibility with Esper Won is low now… but he refuses to be Guided by anyone else…”

“What’s your name again? I’ve been having some memory issues lately,” Bomin said, his tone polite but firm. 

“Ah! I’m Lee Chan, from the Esper Volatility^[1] Management Division. I’m in charge of Esper Won. Eeek! Let’s… let’s move somewhere safer.” 

A chunk of pavement whizzed past Lee Chan’s head, and he ducked, pulling Bomin along as he retreated behind the café building. The sounds of the fight continued, but the sturdy structure provided a barrier against the flying debris. 

“Do you really think I can Guide him with my current compatibility rate?” Bomin asked, his voice skeptical. 

“That’s what we’re worried about… but as you know, Esper Won is… stubborn. He refuses to use a Guiding machine, so we had to ask Esper Han for help.” 

“What kind of help?” 

“To knock him unconscious…” 

“So you can hook him up to a machine while he’s out?” 

“Yes. Though it doesn’t seem like it’s going to work…”

Lee Chan’s eyes were shadowed with dark circles, a testament to his stress levels. 

“His Rampagevolatility level must be pretty high,” Bomin noted, his gaze drifting towards the ongoing battle. 

“It’s critical. And… I know I shouldn’t ask this of you… but would you please… Guide him?”

Their compatibility rate had dropped. Asking Bomin, a B-rank Guide, to Guide an S-rank Esper like Won Seongwoo, was practically asking him to risk another Magic Shock. 

Lee Chan’s voice was barely a whisper, his hands trembling as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was clear that he wouldn’t ask this of Bomin unless it was absolutely necessary. 

“Of course, we’ll compensate you generously for the risk. I know money isn’t everything… but you’re the only Guide we can turn to…” 

“Did Esper Won agree to be Guided by me?” 

“Not exactly… but… we’re hoping he’ll be more receptive… He doesn’t want to go Volatile, does he?”

Lee Chan didn’t sound very convinced himself. A normal Esper would manage their Rampagevolatility levels, would take preventative measures to avoid a potentially fatal episode. But Won Seongwoo had allowed himself to reach a critical point. 

“I’ll need a high-grade recovery potion. In addition to the hazard pay. That’s the only way I’m taking this risk.”

“A high-grade recovery potion… okay. I’ll report to my supervisor and get it approved.” 

Lee Chan looked like he wanted to hug Bomin, his relief palpable. 

“But… shouldn’t we try to stop the fight first? At this rate, they’re going to demolish the entire café. It’s going to be hard to convince him to accept Guiding in this state.”

“The other Espers should be here soon… ah, there they are.”

Song Jaeho and Yoon Bisam strode towards them, their expressions grim. With their combined power, the fight was quickly brought under control. Won Seongwoo, outnumbered and overwhelmed, finally surrendered.