Hello everyone, SleepyTime here. Some of you might recognize this novel from Wook’s Teahouse before the whole site was taken down, and yes, I’m the original translator who uploaded this novel there. At first, I’m just going to let this novel gather dust in my drive since I don’t have the time to upload 90++ chapters, but due to some of my readers that still wanted to read this novel, I decided to post it in SoR. Hope you all enjoy it, thank you.
Chapter 13
by SleepyTime“Honestly, I rather die. It’s better to die than live like that, what’s the point of living.”
“Mr. Park Haon.”
Unable to contain his boiling frustration, Haon spoke his mind without hesitation. Immediately, Director Han called Haon with a bewildered tone.
Either way, the only thought in Haon’s mind was, ‘I’m screwed.’
As much as he disliked Cha Yugeon, the prospect of engaging in physical contact with an unlikable person bothered Haon even more.
“Even if I tried to guide by hitting him, I couldn’t do it. I can’t. Physical contact? Hugging in urgent situations to survive, maybe, but anything beyond that, absolutely not.”
“…”
Surprisingly, Cha Yugeon remained silent.
Haon glared at him, he felt uneasy that Cha Yugeon remained silent.
Though weren’t overtly visible, the guy seemed equally unhappy with the situation as him.
Well, Cha Yugeon wouldn’t easily accept physical contact from him.
He probably hated it more than Haon did.
“Do you have anything else to say? Please say you don’t.”
“But, Mr. Park Haon, even though you successfully guided Mr. Cha Yugeon with only 75 percent resonance this time, it might not be enough when Cha Yugeon goes into a rampage again.”
“…”
“It’s not simply a matter of liking or disliking it, Mr. Park Haon is an S-rank guide. If Mr. Park Haon can’t prevent Cha Yugeon’s rampage, it could lead to significant casualties. It could be colleagues who went on a mission together or even civilians nearby.”
“That’s…”
“Of course, I understand, Mr. Park Haon suddenly manifested as a guide, and I’m aware that the relationship between Mr. Park Haon and Cha Yugeon is not good. So, I cannot force Mr. Park Haon unconditionally. But please remember this one thing. Many lives depend on Mr. Park Haon’s capabilites as a guide.”
“…”
Director Han was indeed experienced. Haon found himself speechless, pierced by Director Han’s words.
Haon knew it too. A guide’s duty wasn’t just to protect the esper; it was to protect others from the esper. Ensuring that not even one person dies at the hands of the esper and preventing harm to others because of the esper.
That was a guide’s responsibility.
“…I understand what you’re saying, Director Han. However, that doesn’t mean I accept your proposal. I can’t accept. Please find another way to increase the resonance at the center. I’ll cooperate as much as I can within reasonable limits.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, I’ll go first.”
With a heavy heart, Haon bowed slightly and left the meeting room.
The drowsiness that lingered since before hearing the shocking revelation had long vanished.
His mind was still muddled.
Eventually, Haon found himself sitting on a bench in the corridor, closing his eyes, lost in thought.
“… It’s so annoying.”
Expressing his frustration unconsciously, Haon let out a deep sigh.
He couldn’t fathom why such a situation had befallen him.
From being an A-rank esper, losing power to the extent of being judged as FF-rank, and ending up becoming an S-rank guide.
Furthermore, he also have to guide Cha Yugeon, who became irritated just by looking at his face.
He had reached a point where he wanted to know what sins he committed in his past life to end up in such a crappy situation.
“Do you hate it that much?”
At the voice that pierced his eardrums, Haon narrowed his eyes and opened them.
Cha Yugeon was leaning against the wall in a slouched posture.
His face was full of discontent.
“Do you like it then?”
“Who would like it?”
Haon’s question was promptly countered by Cha Yugeon.
Haon closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, then opened them again, glaring at Cha Yugeon.
“I hate it too. I fucking hate it. So, do you also hate it?”
“Then do you think I’d be really happy when you hate it so much? What nonsense.”
“No, it’s not that…”
“If it’s not that, then what is it?”
“…”
Under Haon’s sharp question, Cha Yugeon couldn’t come up with any response. It didn’t make sense to Haon why he came here to pick a fight when he clearly couldn’t speak properly.
Cha Yugeon himself must have disliked the situation as much as Haon did.
No, considering Cha Yugeon’s personality, he probably disliked it more than Haon.
Yet, the current Cha Yugeon seemed almost disappointed about Haon’s attitude.
“Are you, by any chance, upset because I don’t want to have physical contact with you?”
“Are you insane?!”
“Then what is it? Why are you doing this? Why didn’t you say anything to Director Han earlier? And now, why are you looking at me like that?”
“What’s wrong with my expression?”
“It looks like you’re regretting something.”
“…Are you blind?”
There was a brief pause following Haon’s astonishing remark, then he shrugged his shoulders.
Well, that’s right; that guy wouldn’t regret something like that.
“I’m just curious. Anyway, you’re a guide, and isn’t physical contact natural? But why do you show so much aversion to it? Is it because of me? Or is it just you’re like that?”
“Do you really questioning that?”
“What?”
“Obviously, it’s worse because it’s you, damn it.”
Haon ended up swearing.
He couldn’t understand at all where this madman went off the rails to ask such questions persistently.
Although he answered because he kept asking about it, it didn’t make him feel any better.
“…”
Cha Yugeon didn’t say anything in response to Haon’s answer. Whether he had nothing to say or was holding back what he wanted to say,
Haon didn’t need to know the reason.
“And I don’t go around hugging and touching anyone because I’m not that kind of guy.”
When Haon said that, the image of Cha Yugeon intimately dancing with a girl in the club flashed to his mind.
Cha Yugeon’s face froze instantly.
“That…!”
“Oh, right. There’s nothing to touch now, right? It’s unfortunate.”
Haon shrugged his shoulders carelessly and offer an insincere apology with a completely unapologetic expression.
As a result, Cha Yugeon’s face turned various shades of red and purple.
Watching that, the uneasy feeling that lingered in him disappeared a little, making Haon feel somewhat refreshed.
Of course, it would be a lie if he said that he wasn’t worried about Cha Yugeon burning him to death if he got angry.
“…Is that what you hate?”
“What?”
However, the words that came out of Cha Yugeon’s mouth were unexpected.
Haon narrowed his eyes and wonders what he meant.
“Do you hate me hanging out with other people?”
“No, why would you think that way? It’s not like I…”
“Okay, got it. I will not do that anymore.”
“Uh…?”
Hmm, this isn’t right.
Haon blurted out in confusion.
His mind had gone blank.
While Haon knew that Cha Yugeon always interpreted things as he pleased, he didn’t expect him to misinterpret it in this situation.
Moreover, what did it matter to him who Cha Yugeon hung out with?
Whether Cha Yugeon went out and rolled around with someone else a hundred times or not, it had nothing to do with him.
Having s*x with a transparent d*ck would be embarrassing for Cha Yugeon’s children, but it was none of Haon’s business.
But Cha Yugeon acted as if him not having skinship with others was somehow helpful to Haon.
In the midst of this awkward situation, Haon looked at Cha Yugeon blankly.
Cha Yugeon nodded as if he understood everything, then opened his mouth.
“I won’t have skinship with anyone else from now on. That’s enough for you, right?”