TGIC Ch 83

Chapter 83

Vasily stepped into the living room, showing interest in the news report that was airing. I gestured toward the screen with my chin and asked,

“Are you really not going to stop this?”

With just one word from Vasily, the article could be taken down, and the news would stop mentioning his name altogether. Even for someone like Vasily, who hated public attention, that should have been better. Yet, watching him remain indifferent despite this situation, I simply couldn’t understand him.

Thanks to Vasily’s lukewarm response, the internet was in utter chaos. Because the Association hadn’t restricted the reporting, the media outlets—who had long been muzzled when it came to Vasily—were now writing articles as if their fingers were on fire.

Just the number of articles published today alone would likely rival the total number of reports ever made about Vasily up to this point. And soon, speculative pieces would run rampant, pushing the numbers even higher.

“As I said earlier, I have no reason to stop it.”

“Haa…”

I let out a long sigh at his reply.

At the very least, I now knew he had no intention of resolving this situation. It wouldn’t be long before reporters swarmed around the house too, so I’d better refrain from going out for a while.

Pushing aside the topic of the dating scandal, I recalled the request for gate raid cooperation I had seen earlier in his private room and opened my mouth to speak.

“I saw on the schedule that there’s a gate raid planned for tomorrow. When are you planning to head out?”

“I plan to leave first thing in the morning. I’ll be going alone, so Guide Kwon Gidam, you should rest at home.”

I tilted my head in puzzlement at his words.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright going alone?”

Every time there was a gate raid, he would even wake me from sleep just to bring me along. What on earth had gotten into him?

Trying to gauge his true intentions, I eyed him suspiciously. Vasily spoke matter-of-factly.

“It seems like Guide Kwon Gidam tends to act like an esper whenever we’re on-site. I can’t watch over you while I’m inside the gate… and I obviously can’t take you inside with me. So it’s better if I go alone.”

“…”

I averted my gaze in silence, recalling what had happened at the gate a few days ago.

Truthfully, I didn’t mind not having to go. With this ridiculous dating rumor spreading, I would obviously get stressed every time I appeared in public alongside Vasily.

Not having to worry about the attention on-site was a relief.

“From now on, don’t even think about coming anywhere near the scene. Understood?”

“I’ll make sure of it.”

For once, Vasily and I were in agreement. Even if Vasily called me to the gate, I now had an excuse to refuse.

“But…”

Vasily looked down at me, trailing off.

“Did you drink?”

His brows knitted slightly as he asked. Come to think of it, my face had been feeling unusually warm, and the buzz of alcohol was creeping in.

Even if I tried to deny it, the faint scent of whiskey escaping my breath would give me away immediately. So I nodded honestly.

“Yes. I had some whiskey from the cupboard.”

His gray eyes quietly studied me.

Then, striding forward, he suddenly slipped his hands under my arms.

“…What are you doing?”

My body was lifted clean off the floor. Startled, I squirmed in his hold and looked up at him.

“I’m not particularly fond of talking to drunkards.”

“I’m not drunk.”

“Shall I show you a mirror?”

I struggled to free myself from Vasily’s grip, but the resistance I could muster was so feeble it barely registered, and I soon gave up.

The lack of strength in my body was probably due to exhaustion. It was all because of that strange dream that had left me restless and sleepless. Being carried in his arms like this was pathetic, but after everything that had happened since morning, I simply didn’t have the energy to resist.

Still holding me effortlessly, Vasily walked into my room and set me down on the bed.

The moment his hands left me, a wave of heat surged through my body. When Vasily’s cool hands had been on me, I’d been fine, but now the delayed flush from the alcohol was crashing down on me. Maybe it was the high proof of the whiskey, but it felt like my insides were burning.

The cool air from the AC wasn’t nearly enough to soothe this heat. I felt like only Vasily’s cold energy could calm it down.

“Well then, sleep tight.”

He turned to leave, but I grabbed his arm. Startling him into stopping, I held on tightly until he turned back toward me.

“Don’t you… need guiding?”

“I already received it earlier today, so I’m fine.”

That’s not what I meant…

Suppressing my frustration, I stared at Vasily. He had slept soundly all afternoon after receiving guiding earlier. It was nearly impossible to coax him into asking for guiding again so soon.

There was nothing for me to do but take the initiative.

“You missed one session last week, so I’ll do it for you today. Besides, aren’t you heading to a gate tomorrow?”

“In that case, sure.”

Vasily accepted my proposal readily, shrugging off his jacket.

He then slipped under the blanket. Unlike when we usually did guiding in his room, he was fully dressed this time, which felt strangely unfamiliar.

Come to think of it, this was definitely the first time we were guiding in my room. Yet oddly enough, the scene felt eerily familiar. As I mulled over the sense of déjà vu, I realized why—this was exactly like the dream I’d had earlier.

The sight of Vasily climbing into my bed overlapped perfectly with what I’d seen in the dream. My body stiffened slightly before I could stop myself.

Vasily slowly embraced me in return and murmured,

“You’re warmer than usual today.”

“Ah… It’s probably because I drank.”

“Maybe that’s why your energy feels so loose, too.”

“…”

Vasily buried his face in the crook of my neck and let out a satisfied sigh.

“This isn’t bad. Would you consider drinking more often? I can get you as much whiskey as you want.”

What ridiculous nonsense.

Normally, I would have cut him off without hesitation, but for some reason, the low rumble of his voice today felt uncomfortably ticklish in my ears. I turned my back to him, fidgeting slightly.

“Stop saying weird things and just quietly receive the guiding. My head’s pounding.”

A soft chuckle sounded above me. Flustered, I buried my burning ears into the pillow, forcing my expression to remain neutral as I closed my eyes.

“Ugh…”

I woke with a splitting headache, as if my skull were being cleaved in two.

I couldn’t tell if it was from the hangover or the guiding, so I took a painkiller on an empty stomach just in case.

Even after a long while, the pain didn’t subside. Judging by that, it was probably the hangover.

I spent the entire morning groaning in bed until, after a bowl of hangover soup, the throbbing finally eased.

Time to finally start the day.

The house was quiet; Vasily must have left for the gate already. With him gone, I finally had the freedom to move around as I pleased.

There were plenty of things I’d put off for too long. I needed to buy supplies, retrieve belongings I’d left behind at my old place, and call my family to reassure them after the shocking dating rumors.

I was about to call my family when my phone suddenly rang.

“The Association?”

The number wasn’t saved, but the familiar prefix told me it was definitely from the Association. I couldn’t imagine why they’d be calling me, but I answered anyway.

“This is Kwon Gidam speaking.”

– Guide Kwon Gidam?

“Yes, that’s me.”

The urgent voice on the other end spoke without preamble.

– Are you at home right now?

“I’m at Esper Vasily’s house.”

– There should be an Association vehicle waiting on the first floor. Could you get ready and come down immediately?

What on earth was going on? I couldn’t fathom why the Association would be calling for me, and I asked in confusion.

“What happened?”

– Well… Esper Vasily…

The moment Vasily’s name came up, I pressed a hand to my forehead. I didn’t even need to hear the details to know he’d gotten himself into trouble again.

He’d warned me so firmly not to follow him to the gate—so what on earth had he done this time, for me to be summoned the very next day?

Had reporters swarmed the gate site? If Vasily had harmed a civilian, covering it up would be nearly impossible. I opened the wardrobe to get changed, but froze at the next words from the caller.

– Esper Vasily suddenly attacked an esper from China. We need you to come calm him down before the situation gets worse.

Why on earth would that esper be here?