TGIC Ch 17

Chapter 17

I hastily covered his mouth and cried out in a panic.

“W-W-What are you saying…! People will misunderstand! He just fell asleep while receiving guiding, that’s all!”

“Misunderstanding? I only stated the truth.”

Vasily raised the corners of his lips in a playful smirk.

Sigh… It’s obvious he did it on purpose. Gritting my teeth at the thought of the absurd rumors that were bound to spread, I asked through clenched teeth.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I’m here to ask for guiding.”

“You need guiding again?”

“I’ve been patrolling gates all weekend.”

“Is your assistant guide still busy?”

Vasily merely responded with a quiet laugh. As always, he avoided the topic whenever the assistant guide was mentioned.

“I already applied for a designated guiding session, so check and confirm.”

Suspicious, I eyed Vasily and turned on my computer to check the work system. One unread notification: You have a designated guiding request.

“It’s real…”

I confirmed Vasily’s name as the applicant and let out a shallow sigh while staring at the monitor.

On Mondays, there were more waiting for guiding than usual, and temporary sessions were held without rest. If I were to step out, someone else would have to take over. I felt guilty thinking my absence would only make the team busier.

“I’ll be stepping out for a bit. I apologize for leaving during this busy time.”

“It’s alright, Gidam-ssi. Designated guiding is also part of our duties.”

After exchanging farewells with Jo Wuyeon and turning around, I froze at the sight of a cold, hardened gaze. To others, it might appear like his usual expression, but having spent six years by his side, I knew better. That look meant something was bothering him.

As we stepped out into the hallway, I glanced at him, sensing his mood again. He still didn’t look pleased, but at least it seemed slightly better than before now that we were out of the office.

Sigh, even after returning to the past, I still had to cater to Vasily’s moods. Bemoaning my misfortune, I spoke to him.

“Please refrain from coming to the office. You’re a disturbance to others.”

“Then will you give me your number? Calling would be more convenient.”

“Please refrain from contacting me at all. Designated guiding requests should be sufficient.”

“Harsh…”

Vasily could easily obtain the number of a mere guide like me using his authority. But I purposely wouldn’t give it to him—because he’d surely use it as an excuse to call me every day.

“So, where are we doing the guiding today?”

“How about my private room? It’s better than the cramped guiding rooms.”

“Hm… The sofa there is more comfortable, so let’s go to your private room, Esper.”

The location was unanimously decided.

Without another word, Vasily and I began walking. His private room was just across from the Guide Association, in the Esper Association building. Taking the quieter back streets with fewer people, we quickly arrived at Vasily’s private room.

Thankfully, the heater was off today. I was relieved I wouldn’t have to endure sweating profusely like yesterday as I stepped inside.

As always, we began the guiding session, and after a while, I asked him,

“Vasily-ssi.”

“Yes?”

“Why aren’t you sleeping today?”

“Hm?”

“Lately, haven’t you been falling asleep during every guiding session?”

It was true. Recently, Vasily had fallen into such a deep sleep during guiding that not even being carried away would wake him. I had come today assuming he’d sleep again, so I wasn’t thrilled that he was wide awake.

“…Yes, I did.”

Vasily agreed without protest, seemingly aware that he had been falling asleep.

“You must be tired after coming from the gate. Please don’t mind me and get some rest.”

I said in a kind tone, pretending to be considerate. In truth, I wanted to tell him to stop pointlessly staying awake and just fall asleep already—but if I said that, he’d only fight harder to stay awake.

It was uncomfortable when Vasily was awake. Even without any conversation, it was unsettling to know he could sense every little movement and breath I made.

After a long silence, Vasily spoke first.

“I have insomnia.”

His tone was light, as if it were nothing serious, but having spent six years living with him, I knew his insomnia wasn’t something to take lightly.

Due to his maddeningly sensitive nature, Vasily couldn’t fall asleep easily. Sometimes, when I sensed movement late at night and stepped into the living room, I’d find him sitting on the couch in a room turned ice-cold, his eyes gleaming like blades. The longer he went without sleep, the rougher he became with me, so I couldn’t just ignore it.

Still, there were rare occasions when Vasily managed to fall asleep.

It was after returning from high-level gates, having expended all the icy energy in his body fighting monsters, then coming to receive guiding from me. From my perspective, it felt less like I was helping and more like I was being tortured… After a few days of such guiding, I’d pass out and wake to find Vasily sleeping beside me.

Lately, he’d been sleeping just fine during guiding, so I thought he was okay. But based on what he’d just said, I guess he really did have insomnia. Still, if he could fall asleep that easily, it must not be as severe as in the future.

“For someone with insomnia, you sure sleep well.”

“Maybe it’s thanks to the guiding—it’s been helping me sleep again.”

I raised an eyebrow. There’s no way guiding worked properly under the influence of the suppressant chip, and yet he claimed it helped him sleep? No matter how mild his insomnia, that didn’t make sense.

I continued the guiding for a while longer, but Vasily showed no signs of falling asleep. It couldn’t be, but maybe he was resisting drowsiness? I tried a gentle prod.

“If you’re sleepy, you can rest.”

“Well, like I said, it’s the insomnia. But maybe if the guiding were a bit stronger, I could sleep…”

Vasily trailed off. I narrowed my eyes at him. Was he saying the guiding was too weak?

Well, nothing else to do. The guiding probably wouldn’t work well anyway, but I decided to get as close to him as possible.

I lightly placed my palm over the back of Vasily’s hand. It had been a while since I last touched him. Even though it was just the back of his hand, his icy skin sent a shiver up my spine. Normally, I guided him over clothing, but this direct skin contact seemed to please him.

“You’re being unusually proactive with guiding today.”

“I am not. You must be mistaken.”

“Oh dear, I’ll have to go on more gate patrols, then. That way, Guide Gidam will give me more attentive guiding.”

“This is a one-time thing. There won’t be a next time, so don’t try anything foolish.”

“How cruel…”

Vasily let out a shallow sigh. Then, as if choosing to play along with my hidden intent, he quietly accepted the guiding.

His skin was like ice. A body temperature that would never warm—it made him seem inhuman. I endured the cold flowing into me through our joined hands and continued guiding him.

Yet despite all my efforts, Vasily never fell asleep until the very end.

As usual, I reported to the Guide Association for work. As I headed toward the guiding room to meet the inevitable wave of waiting clients, someone stepped in front of me.

“Guide Gidam.”

Who…? Judging by the suit, he didn’t look like an Esper. Probably a staff member of the association.

“Yes? What’s the matter?”

“You’ve been summoned to the executive office. Please come with me.”

“The executive office?”

That was an unsettling message to hear so early in the morning. Without even a proper explanation, I followed the staff member.

Soon, we arrived not at a regular meeting room, but a conference room reserved for the association’s executives. I sat alone in a chair, sweat beading down my forehead.

Three executives sat across from me, their gazes piercing as if to see right through me. My mind raced.

It must be because of Vasily. I wanted to march over to him and demand what he’d done. But the staff members blocked the exits and kept a close watch on my every move. Clearly, they were making sure I wouldn’t try anything rash.

Damn it, Vasily. This is all your fault. What the hell did you do to get a lowly C-rank guide dragged in for questioning like this?

“Guide Gidam, there’s no need to be nervous. Just answer our questions truthfully.”

“…Yes.”

“Is it true that Esper Vasily recently requested a designated guiding session with you?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

As I calmly affirmed, the executives began murmuring amongst themselves. I quietly shed invisible tears. I knew it—this was because of Vasily. His daily guiding requests must’ve finally drawn attention.

“A matching rate of 4 percent… That’s quite low.”

One of the executives muttered as he looked over the documents before him. Catching those words, I immediately looked up, eyes brightening.