TGIC Ch 103

 

Chapter 103

Thanks to the cold water, my head cleared enough to take in my surroundings.

Because the Gate was large, there were more people than usual. Even though there was still a fair amount of time before the raid would begin, the place was already bustling.

This wasn’t the time to stand around. Before the site got too busy, I needed to move too. I had to pick up a temporary field suit, and I should also scout out a place to wait while Vasily entered the Gate.

I addressed the on-site manager who had brought me water.

“Where can I get a temporary field suit?”

“…”

He didn’t answer right away; instead, he kept glancing warily at Vasily. What’s with that? Sensing something off, I turned—and met Vasily’s eyes.

“Did you do something?”

“Well… I may have said I’d freeze the tongue of anyone who tried talking to Guide Kwon Gidam.”

“…What?”

My face froze at the absurdity. Of course people would react like that if he said nonsense like this.

I ran a hand down my face and apologized to the manager in his place.

“…My apologies. You don’t have to answer.”

The manager glanced around and fled as if escaping. Watching him go, Vasily looked very pleased with himself.

“Is this because I moved with the Espers during the last Gate?”

“Smart. If I don’t do this much, you’ll wander around sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong—just like last time.”

“That doesn’t mean you should threaten Association staff…”

While I spoke with him, an Esper who met my eyes quickly looked away and moved off. It felt like I’d become a time bomb that would go off if anyone got too close. The sensation was deeply unpleasant.

“I’ll behave even without all this.”

“Sorry, but to me, that sounds like ‘I’m going to cause trouble.’”

He had to get in the last word.

Exasperated, I decided to leave him and look around on my own. As I turned without a word, Vasily asked,

“Where are you going?”

“To find a field suit.”

Even if it was crowded and chaotic, wandering around would eventually lead me to the right place. I thought I heard his footsteps falling in behind me, but I ignored them.

As I passed by, people sidled out of the way and opened a path. In a place this crowded, no one came within a five-meter radius.

It seemed the threat had spread to everyone deployed here. Association staff, Espers—everyone was busy avoiding me.

…Great. I was going to be a pariah for a whole week.

In this situation, no one would answer my questions even if I asked. Which meant I’d have to find both the field suit station and the Guide waiting area on my own.

All this because of Vasily. I would’ve waited quietly without him going this far. …Probably.

Thankfully, before I finished a full loop around the Gate’s perimeter, I spotted a distribution station tucked in a corner. I headed straight to the men’s changing room next door to change into the suit—Vasily followed me in shortly after.

“Out.”

The first thing he did upon entering was drive everyone out. The Espers who had been in the middle of changing rushed out without a sound. I felt a little guilty watching some of them flee half-dressed.

Silence fell over the suddenly empty changing room. Vasily sat on a bench with a satisfied look.

I decided to change quickly and clear out for others who might need the space.

As soon as I pulled off my hoodie, a chill kissed my skin. Summer had passed, and being halfway up a mountain made it quite cold.

I had just lifted the top of the temporary suit when—

“I want guiding before heading to the Gate.”

“…And you’re telling me this now?”

“It occurred to me now.”

I let out a thin sigh at his breezy response. He’d probably waited on purpose until I undressed.

I already knew he disliked being guided while wearing a field suit. Seeing how he waited until I had stripped before asking, I guessed the recent cool weather—and the long sleeves reducing skin contact—had annoyed him.

And thanks to the suppression chip, guiding was already minimal. His dissatisfaction was understandable. I sighed lightly and asked,

“Now?”

“No one’s going to interrupt us.”

I glanced at the changing room door. At some point, he’d iced it over. No one could enter even if they tried, and no one would dare try if they realized he was inside.

So this was why he’d followed me in.

I quietly checked the time on my phone. We still had a buffer before Gate entry.

“Then I’ll guide you for exactly one hour.”

“Good.”

Bare-chested, I stepped toward him. Noticing there was nowhere to sit, I looked around—only the bench he occupied was free.

There was a chair in the corner, but someone had left a bag on it in their rush. I considered setting it on the floor, but moving someone else’s belongings felt rude.

Then I noticed Vasily’s thigh. Cold and firm, sure—but muscular enough to be stable. And long, with plenty of space. No helping it.

“Pardon me for a moment.”

I ended the deliberation there and sat on his thigh, facing him.

He didn’t even look surprised. Instead, he held my waist to keep me steady.

To maximize contact, I pressed close and looped my arms around his neck. The cool fabric of his suit against bare skin made me flinch, but I adjusted quickly.

We guided like that in silence. I broke it first.

“In the future, if you want something, say it. You don’t have to act like this—I would have done it anyway.”

“Act like what?”

“Keeping people from talking to me… and waiting until I undress to request guiding.”

Even without such antics, I would have tried to accommodate him. I’d have frowned at the unreasonable demand not to speak with anyone—but while fully silencing myself was impossible, I could have minimized it. And if he’d said he wanted guiding with skin contact before a raid, I would have agreed readily.

“You’ve changed,” he murmured.

Of course, in the past, a conversation like this would have been unthinkable. Whatever he demanded, I’d have fought him; that much I knew.

I thought about why I had changed—and remembered his words from before. That we would build trust. Maybe we had.

“Well… I suppose I’ve come to trust you a little.”

I let my head drop onto his shoulder. I couldn’t see his face, but I heard a faint laugh at my ear.

An hour of quiet guiding passed, and then it was done.

As I pulled away and stood, the familiar ache tugged at my neck. I reached up—already, the suppression chip there burned with heat.

I needed to take my medicine before the headache started. I dug through my bag, searching, when Vasily approached.

“What are you doing?”

“I think I’m about to crash, so I’m looking for my meds. Ah—here.”

My fingers brushed an aluminum packet at the bottom corner of the bag. But the moment I drew it out, a pale hand appeared from behind and snatched it.

“We agreed—no more medicine. Already forgotten?”

Oh.

I’d learned yesterday that Vasily’s blood soothed the suppression chip—and he’d confiscated everything. Which meant… I had to drink his blood starting today. Watching him twirl the packet, I went pale.

“If you needed it, you should have said so.”

“C-can I take it just for today?”

“You’re going to take what’s left of those two pills when I’m standing right here?”

Because you threw out the rest!

The retort rose to my throat—but then I saw his hand, blood dripping from a fresh cut. My mouth shut with a click.

Vasily cupped my cheek and lifted my face. I clamped my mouth shut, resisting.

“Open.”

“N-no…”

As I formed the words, my lips parted—and drops of blood pattered onto them. The metallic taste seeped over my tongue; I snapped my mouth shut reflexively. Cold rivulets slid down my cheek and throat.