TGIC Ch 26

Chapter 26

 

“How is it?”

 

“…It feels cool.”

 

When I didn’t deny it, Vasily smiled softly and continued speaking.

 

“I submitted a request for designated guiding, but it seems guiding isn’t possible right now… Since I owe you anyway, I’ll serve you today.”

 

Vasily tempted me with an offer I couldn’t refuse. Since it was nearly time to get off work, pretending to guide Vasily while actually resting didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

 

I returned to my desk, accepted Vasily’s designated guiding request, and entered the guiding room with him. Vasily truly didn’t ask for any guiding, simply placed his hand on my forehead and quietly helped reduce the fever.

 

So this is what they mean by giving the disease and then the remedy.

 

Still, the fever was going down, and I felt much better. Lying on the cot in that state, I slowly drifted off to sleep.

 

I thought I had only shut my eyes for a moment, but when I opened them again, it was dark outside.

 

When I sat up, it was already 9 p.m.

 

“…You could’ve woken me if work hours had already ended.”

 

“You were sleeping so soundly that I felt bad waking you up.”

 

“Don’t you have to clock out, Esper Vasily?”

 

“There’s no such thing as clocking out for an S-class Esper. I have to be ready to head out whenever I’m called.”

 

……

 

Hearing it again from Vasily made it sting. That didn’t apply only to him. That rule extended even to me, his former guide. Maybe that’s why, after returning to the past and finally landing a proper job, I’ve become obsessed with getting off work on time.

 

Anyway, I felt lighter after sleeping. I’d still need to cool down the suppressant chip, which had overheated from my contact with Vasily.

 

“I’ll be heading home now.”

 

“Shall I give you a ride?”

 

“I won’t refuse.”

 

Was it really okay to use the famous Esper Vasily as a chauffeur? I felt a small pang of guilt.

 

The moment I got into Vasily’s foreign car, I closed my eyes. Normally, I would’ve been on edge, tiptoeing around Vasily’s mood—but today, I was too sick to care.

 

As soon as I got in, my body started to shiver. I thought I was getting better, but it looked like the full-blown flu was setting in. I pressed my throbbing head firmly with my hand.

 

“You don’t look well. Are you alright?”

 

“Yes, I’ll be fine once I rest.”

 

“Then get home safely.”

 

Once we arrived, I gave Vasily a polite nod and stepped out of the car. I was just about to go inside, listening to the engine fade into the distance, when—

 

“Are you Guide Kwon Gidam?”

 

I turned around at the sound of a voice and saw two men approaching from the end of the alley. Had they come from the Association? But it seemed odd for them to show up this late at night without prior notice…

 

Still suspicious, I nodded.

 

“Yes, I’m Kwon Gidam, but…”

 

“We’ll need you to come with us for a moment.”

 

The men naturally closed in on either side of me. I caught sight of a black van parked at one side of the alley.

 

As they made clear their intent to take me with them, a sense of caution rose within me. Unlike the men who moved toward the car, I took a step back and asked:

 

“Are you from the Association? If so, I believe it’s proper to show me your business cards first.”

 

……

 

The men stayed silent.

 

The silence dragged on. Something definitely felt off. And it just had to be when I wasn’t in the best shape…

 

I backed away little by little, then abruptly turned and tried to flee—but my legs suddenly sank into the cement. Damn it, they were Espers! I tried to free myself, but my legs wouldn’t budge.

 

“Police—mmph!”

 

“It’d be better if you just came along quietly—argh!”

 

Just as I tried to call for help, a rough hand covered my mouth. I bit down hard, and the man screamed, throwing me to the ground.

 

Pain throbbed through my body as my head pulsed with sharp aches. My fever made my vision sway, but I managed to get up again.

 

The men, seeing me stagger, tried to drag me toward the car. Even in my dazed state, I struggled as fiercely as I could, but it was nearly impossible to resist two Espers in my current condition.

 

I think I managed to kick one of them somehow. But the other one seized the chance and struck the back of my neck hard. With a dull thud, my movements stopped.

 

“Ugh…”

 

My vision spun.

 

I’m not the type to collapse from just this much… It must be the fever. Or maybe they struck right where the suppressant chip was embedded.

 

Darkness swallowed my sight. Thud. I heard the sound of my own body hitting the ground—and then I lost consciousness.

 

—

 

A dull ache throbbed at the back of my neck as I slowly opened my eyes.

 

Blinking to bring things into focus, I examined my surroundings. I was lying on a damp, humid floor. The faint stench of mold brushed past my nose.

 

After blinking several times, the interior came into view. The place seemed abandoned, long untouched by people. Dust and broken furniture filled the space.

 

Right… I’d been struck on the back of the neck. I tried to check whether the suppressant chip was intact, but my hands and feet were bound—I couldn’t move. And standing before me were the two men who seemed to be the kidnappers.

 

Damn it, seriously… Not a single peaceful day in my life.

 

I saw the kidnappers talking to each other. In their hands were my Association ID and Guide registration card. They were whispering as they looked at the grade written on the guide card.

 

“This guide’s only grade C. Are you sure he’s Vasily’s guide?”

 

“I told you! Based on recent rumors, it’s certain!”

 

Sigh… I think I get the picture. They’d mistaken me for Vasily’s guide. Knowing Vasily, who made enemies everywhere, it wasn’t surprising something like this would happen eventually.

 

Strength drained from my body. I lay back helplessly, staring blankly at the ceiling.

 

‘…This is my first time being kidnapped.’

 

In the past, I never left Vasily’s side, so there wasn’t even a chance for me to be kidnapped. Ever since I came back in time, the most absurd things have happened to me. It’s almost unbelievable that all this is because of Vasily. Whether before or after my death, he was nothing but trouble.

 

First, let me try clearing up the misunderstanding.

 

“Sorry, but I’m not Vasily’s guide.”

 

Still lying on the floor, I spoke up. The two men, who had been arguing over whether I really was Vasily’s guide, turned their heads toward me upon hearing my voice.

 

“Once in a while, he requests designated guiding from me, so I’ve helped out a few times. But I’m just a regular temporary guide…”

 

“See?! He admitted he guided that lunatic!”

 

“So he really is Vasily’s guide…?”

 

……

 

How do they jump to that conclusion?

 

It seemed they had already decided I was Vasily’s guide. No matter how much I tried to explain, it would be useless in this situation. How did Vasily end up getting involved with idiots like these… Sigh…

 

“Hey, you know Vasily’s number, right?”

 

One of the men crouched in front of me and asked. I recalled Vasily’s number saved in my contacts and nodded reluctantly.

 

“…It’s saved on my smartphone.”

 

The man smirked. The look in his eyes said, “You still want to claim you’re not his guide?” I briefly considered defending myself again, but gave up quickly.

 

The men used my fingerprint to unlock the phone. After scrolling through my contacts for a bit, they seemed to find Vasily’s number and proceeded to call him using my phone.

 

…Will Vasily even answer?

 

It was the middle of the night. There was a good chance he wouldn’t pick up since he tended to be irritable at this hour. However, contrary to my fears, the phone rang only briefly before Vasily answered right away.

 

– Guide Kwon Gidam? You’re calling me first for a change. What’s going on?

 

From the other end of the line, Vasily’s cheerful voice came through. One of the kidnappers shoved the phone in front of me, clearly expecting me to plead for help.

 

Hmm… I was supposed to destroy Vasily’s mood now, but I wasn’t sure how to start, so I hesitated for a moment.

 

“Esper Vasily. Um…”

 

“Vasily! We’ve got your guide!”

 

Just as I cautiously began to explain, the kidnapper, seemingly impatient with me, cut in and shouted.

 

Straight out of a kidnapping movie. Honestly, I’m a bit thankful he said what I was struggling to. Now let’s see how Vasily reacts…

 

– ……

 

A long silence followed on the other end.

 

What now? Did he think it was a prank call and hang up? I glanced at the screen in confusion—but it still showed the call was connected.