Chapter 24

“Park Haon, sir.”

“Who are you…?”

“Hello, I’m Baek Chan-kyung.”

The man extended his right hand as if asking for a handshake.

He was the man from yesterday, the Esper who had escorted Haon to the gates of the afterlife.

He was also the man Director Han had mentioned wanting to meet Haon. Haon took a couple of steps back reflexively.

“I’m sorry about yesterday. Let me apologize first.”

Baek Chan-kyung, who had been trying to close the distance with Haon, paused and then smiled wryly.

Haon looked at him, surprised by the unexpected apology.

Yesterday, he was too distracted to properly look at his face, but now he looked quite handsome. Perhaps it was because of his somewhat pale complexion that reminded Haon of a white deer.

“Yes, well… all right.”

Haon responded a beat late as he stared at the man’s face. He was too close to death to say that he was okay. It was the best response he could muster under the circumstances.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”

“Wait a moment…!”

Baek Chan-kyung urgently blocked Haon’s path.

Haon was quite tall himself, but Baek Chan-kyung was even taller.

Feeling momentarily intimidated by his imposing figure, Haon realized it wasn’t just his height. Baek Chan-kyung being an S-rank Esper added to the unease.

“Why are you doing this?”

“That’s… It’s embarrassing to say, but I’d like Mr. Park Haon to be my guide.”

With a bewildered expression, Haon looked at Baek Chan-kyung.

Baek Chan-kyung maintained an upright posture while nervously biting his lower lip.

“That’s…”

“No.”

As Haon was about to answer, his words were cut off by someone else.

Turning around in surprise, he found Cha Yugeon standing there. Cha Yugeon quickly closed the distance and pulled Haon towards him, ignoring Haon’s attempt to resist.

Although he tried to resist by furrowing his brows and applying force, Cha Yugeon’s strength was still superior to him. Eventually, Haon found himself in Cha Yugeon’s embrace.

“Haon is my guide.”

Cha Yugeon declared triumphantly. There was a sense of victory in his voice.

Haon didn’t show any reaction, but he was bewildered. Cha Yugeon didn’t want to acknowledge Haon as his guide.

Moreover, he disliked Haon. Haon couldn’t understand why he was acting this way.

“Mr. Park Haon, is that true?”

“Yes… Well, um, yes.”

In response to Baek Chan-kyung’s shocked question, Haon awkwardly scratched his cheek and answered.

It wasn’t a lie, so he had no choice but to say it was true.

Psychologically, he couldn’t accept or admit that he was Cha Yugeon’s guide, though.

“That also means not just any guide, but he’s my dedicated guide. So Park Haon is my guide. Completely mine.”

Finally, it dawned on him. Cha Yugeon’s intense declaration suddenly made sense.

It seemed the battle with Baek Chan-kyung from yesterday had left its mark. There was no doubt that the battle had shaken Cha Yugeon to his core.

Cha Yugeon must have intended to provoke Baek Chan-kyung by risking Haon unnecessarily.

Haon finally understood Cha Yugeon’s actions.

However, whether it was necessary for him to say “completely mine” was questionable. It was a bit too embarrassing of a statement, wasn’t it?

Haon, still in Cha Yugeon’s embrace, couldn’t see his face. He wondered what expression he was wearing but felt it was pointless to dwell on it.

“…I understand. Mr. Park Haon, I’m sorry for taking up your time.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Haon shook his head at Baek Chan-kyung’s apology.

Baek Chan-kyung smiled slightly, then he left, leaving Haon and Cha Yugeon behind.

For some reason, Haon was concerned about Baek Chan-kyung’s last smile.

“…Can you let go now?”

“Oh, sure.”

At Haon’s request, Cha Yugeon released him obediently.

It was undoubtedly Cha Yugeon’s intention to use Haon in front of Baek Chan-kyung to make him upset.

Having been used by him, Haon glared at Cha Yugeon.

“Why do you look like that?”

“You used me to provoke Baek Chan-kyung.”

“Who said that?”

“What?”

“Who said I used you to spite that bastard?”

Of course, no one said that. But given the circumstances, it seemed that way.

Haon stared at Cha Yugeon with eyes filled with dissatisfaction.

Then Cha Yugeon shrugged nonchalantly.

“It’s true that I didn’t like that bastard. But I never said anything wrong, and I never took advantage of you.”

“But…”

“Park Haon, you’re my guide, right?”

 “…”

Although Haon knew Cha Yugeon’s statement was true, he felt his brain freezing, unable to utter a word.

Cha Yugeon didn’t want to acknowledge Haon as his guide. Perhaps even more so than Haon himself. However, he couldn’t understand why he was suddenly acting this way.

“My dedicated guide, meaning you are mine.”

“What are you talking about?” Why would you go that far?”

Haon suddenly came to his senses. No matter how mesmerized he was, he couldn’t let Cha Yugeon describe him as ‘mine’.

“Why am I yours? That’s a completely different problem.”

“Well, that’s just how it is. Anyway, don’t bother with that guy. Ignore him, don’t even acknowledge him.”

“…”

Haon glanced at Cha Yugeon with a suspicious look. He couldn’t grasp the reason behind his actions.

If it was simply to upset Baek Chan-kyung, there was no reason for him to behave like this now.

“Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“You didn’t want me as your guide before. So why are you acting like this now?”

It was a matter that needed to be addressed head-on. Haon didn’t want to be manipulated without understanding what was going on.

He stared sharply at Cha Yugeon, waiting for his response.

“Well, you see…”

As Cha Yugeon spoke, Haon’s face turned pale with shock.

* * *

10 minutes earlier, in Cha Yugeon’s room.

“Oh, come on, little bro. Okay, okay. I thought you’d say something like that. Then the next story comes after a 60-second commercial break…”

Yugeon paused at Jaehyuk’s words. Jaehyuk noticed the change and smirked as if he had expected it.

“Still not gone?”

“Oh, sorry, sorry. So, what I was going to say is…”

Jaehyuk playfully apologized before slowly opening his lips.

“There’s a new S-rank esper who recently joined the Center. The guy who fought you fiercely yesterday.”

“I still won.”

“Yeah, let’s say you did. Anyway, that guy…”

As Yugeon confidently spoke, Jaehyuk momentarily trembled as if sensing danger, then continued speaking. Yugeon, too, found himself focusing on Jaehyuk’s words, recalling yesterday’s encounter.

“He’s causing a scene, demanding to meet with Park Haon.”

“What?”

As soon as Haon’s name came out of Jaehyuk’s mouth, Yugeon’s expression hardened menacingly. Seeing this, Jaehyuk nodded as if he had expected it.

“See, I told you it was important information.”

“Why would that guy demand Haon?”

“Why else? He wants him to be his guide.”

“Hmm.”

Yugeon chuckled as if amused by the absurdity of it all.

The heated up air seemed to reflect Yugeon’s emotions.

Jaehyuk swallowed dryly, alternating between looking at Yugeon and the fire extinguisher.

He had anticipated that Yugeon might be displeased by this revelation, but he hadn’t expected him to react so intensely.

With much of the story still left to tell, Jaehyuk worried that he might need the fire extinguisher for real.

“Haon is my guide. Who does he think he is to demand that? No matter how much he insists or causes a scene, it doesn’t change the fact that Haon is my guide.”

“But the Center seems to have different thoughts?”

“What?”

As Yugeon asked coldly, the air around him seemed to ripple like a midsummer mirage.

Jaehyuk quickly calculated the shortest distance to the fire extinguisher as he continued speaking.

“They’re even considering assigning the two of you if Haon agrees. S-rank guides are rare, after all.”

“…Haon wouldn’t agree to that.”

“That’s your opinion… Agh! Fire, fire!”

Suddenly, flames erupted around Yugeon.

The flames flickered menacingly, preparing to engulf everything in their path.

Jaehyuk swiftly grabbed a fire extinguisher and began extinguishing the flames.

Jaehyuk was able to put out the fire easily because he had used the fire extinguisher countless times since becoming friends with Yoo Geon.

“Where are you going?”

“Nowhere.”

Yugeon evaded the question, but Jaehyuk already knew where he was headed.

Park Haon.

He didn’t show it, but he must be getting impatient.

The fact that he might have to share Haon was also weighing on his mind.