AAGULT Ch 12

Chapter 12

 

“This is just too much to let slide…”

Thud.

The man who had grabbed someone by the collar threw a punch. The other person didn’t even think to resist and just took the blow. The back of his black head twisted halfway into view.

The one committing the violence was a face already known. The one Jaeha had heard about from Chief Kang — you know, the one who used to come to the bar often with the ‘missing’ Taehyuk. He was another unregistered esper. Just by looking at him, anyone could tell he was a combat-type esper — a burly man. Because of that, even though the man grabbed by the collar was tall, he looked particularly slim and delicate.

“Looks like a damn Association guy. Coming here all fearless, even though you’re just a guide?”

Jaeha had just intended to briefly observe the situation and avoid it, but he was startled by something he hadn’t expected to hear.

“…!”

He thought he knew who that person getting beaten up alone over there was. Reinforcing that suspicion was the noticeable black trench coat and the black turtleneck underneath. Realizing this, Jaeha’s face turned pale.

Now that he thought about it, something felt off. Guides were weaker and more delicate than espers. They were people who needed to be protected. Just like how there are occasional crazies among normal people, not every esper cherished their guides, even if they needed them. There was a reason the Guide Human Rights Association existed.

So why would someone who knows that come alone to a place like this more than once?

Before he could finish thinking, Jaeha’s feet moved unconsciously. What began as a brisk walk quickly turned into a near run.

“Excuse me!”

“And who the hell are you?”

“You know me. I’m the bar owner here.”

He was so scared he felt like he might cry any moment, but he forced a cheeky smile and inserted himself between them. The man committing the assault frowned at the interruption, but thankfully, recognizing Jaeha’s face, he didn’t take his anger out on him.

“Get lost.”

“Aw, don’t be like that…”

He tried to speak playfully, but he was trembling inside. His legs even gave out slightly. Still, he did his best not to let it show and cautiously tugged at the esper’s arm that held the man’s collar. Of course, with Jaeha’s strength, it was pointless. Damn it. Knowing he shouldn’t do this, he swallowed his fear and leaned in close to whisper in the esper’s ear.

“That guy’s not from the Association. I’m not supposed to say this, but…”

“Huh?”

Jaeha lowered his voice even more. It would be disastrous if the man behind him heard.

“He’s a customer from the ‘boss’s’ side… If you touch him, you’re in serious trouble.”

Really, since when did I grow such guts? Me, of all people, using the boss’s name like this. He hoped his voice wouldn’t tremble, but it ended up quivering slightly. Strangely, that only added to the believability, considering Jaeha’s naturally timid demeanor and the boss’s fearsome reputation.

“…Is that for real?”

“Why would I lie?”

“Tch.”

Jaeha had bluffed and made it seem like the man quietly standing behind was the boss’s guide. When the esper seemed to buy it, Jaeha let out a sigh of relief.

“……”

The man, who had looked like he’d never let go of that collar, grumbled and finally released it, jamming his hands into his pockets. He still looked like he had more to say, but after glancing between Jaeha and the other man a few more times, he simply walked away. Thank goodness.

“Phew…”

Thank god. Just in case, Jaeha didn’t take his eyes off the man until he was completely out of sight. Once he was sure they were safe, he finally turned around — to find the man he’d been thinking about all day. It was Ye Aiden.

“…Mr. Aiden?”

“Hello.”

The man smiled brightly, despite the red, swollen slap mark on his cheek. One side of his face was puffed up and looked really painful. Since he was a guide, practically an ordinary person, and had been hit by a brutishly strong esper, it was no surprise that even his lip was split. And yet, instead of looking bad, he somehow looked even more delicate and wistful.

Entranced by that ‘performance,’ Jaeha didn’t realize that he hadn’t even given a basic thank-you, something a normal person would’ve definitely done in this situation.

“…Are you okay? What do we do about this…”

Even though he had band-aids stuck all over his own face, Aiden looked like he was in way more pain, so Jaeha couldn’t even bring himself to touch the guy’s face. He just awkwardly raised a hand, hovering it in the air near his cheek. It was a funny sight — the one who got hit was smiling, and the one watching looked like he was about to cry.

“It hurts a bit. No, a lot.”

“……”

Their eyes met. The jet-black pupils sparkled with amusement. Holding no light, they reflected Jaeha completely — like the night sky.

[It was really scary, but you came to save me.]

[I almost cried. Espers really are scary… I shouldn’t have refused an escort today.]

…Somehow, the thoughts Jaeha could hear were being voiced in a clear, textbook-reading tone, but he didn’t find it strange. Guides were delicate and absolutely had to be protected. They had no physical power, but since espers needed them, they were constantly exposed to danger. No wonder he had been scared.

That oddly joyful glint in those eyes — that must’ve just been his imagination.

“For now… let’s go inside. I’ll put some ointment on you.”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

“I’m happy…”

The man tilted his head. As Jaeha’s palm hovered awkwardly in the air, Aiden leaned his cheek against it like a tame puppy and lowered his eyes.

The heat from the bruised skin seeped into Jaeha’s hand. Momentarily dazed by Aiden’s beauty, Jaeha panicked. But since Aiden was resting his weight against him, he couldn’t pull his hand away. And this, even after he’d just thought espers were scary. But I’m an esper too…

“…Mr. Aiden. If we’re touching like this, you’ll start getting guided… It’ll be hard on you.”

Since warmth was gradually seeping through their contact, Jaeha felt like crying. He had no idea that the reason was because Aiden was deliberately spreading his guiding like a thin mist.

“I don’t mind.”

Aiden answered without hesitation. With half-lowered eyes, he glanced up at Jaeha. And just like that, his thoughts came through.

[I want to kiss him.]

“……”

[He’s cute. What do I do.]

Why is he the one thinking these things, and I’m the one feeling embarrassed? Jaeha averted his gaze, trying not to read his thoughts — but only for a moment. Then something pressed softly against his palm. It tickled, making his fingers twitch reflexively. He didn’t need to look to know it was lips.

“Mr. Jaeha.”

“…Yes.”

“Look at me.”

“……”

Espers can’t refuse a guide’s command. Jaeha, feeling like he had no choice, rolled his eyes and met his gaze. But the distance was far closer than he expected. Their foreheads were practically touching.

“I’m going to kiss you now.”

“……”

“If you don’t want that, say so.”

There was no way he could say no.

In the end, Jaeha tightly shut his eyes.

Amid the breath that came so close, it almost touched him, he thought he heard a faint laugh.

In the end, Jaeha asked Harin to watch the bar for a while. The place was in a secluded location, and Harin was still quite young, so he was worried. But since there were no reservations today and he’d told her to leave at nine instead of the usual 2 a.m., it should be fine.

With a thankful glance at Harin, he took Aiden to his living quarters. It was just above the bar, so it didn’t take long. Jaeha brought out the first-aid kit Harin had used to treat him and began tending to Aiden. Though, calling it treatment was a stretch — all he ended up using were some band-aids and ointment…

“It hurts.”

“…Sorry. Just hang in there a bit.”

He sat the man down, who’d been standing around the small room watching. As soon as Jaeha pulled on his arm, Aiden let out a sound — whether a whine or a complaint, he couldn’t tell. It was cheerful and oddly playful, and objectively, he didn’t look like he was in pain at all.

But when Jaeha saw his face, even though he wasn’t the one who hit him, guilt surged up just because the attacker had been an esper, and he immediately apologized. Seriously, guides are essential to an esper’s survival, yet they act so high and mighty…

…Jaeha swallowed the curse he was too timid to say aloud and examined Aiden’s wounds. Thankfully, it seemed like he’d only been hit once, and the swelling on his face had started to go down. Still, his cheek was red, and his lip was split.

“You lied really well.”

His plump, smooth lips moved. As Jaeha was gently dabbing ointment on the slightly torn corner of his mouth, he hesitated and made an excuse.

“…You looked like you were in danger.”

He’d basically lied about Ye Aiden — a representative figure among Association guides — not being a guide. It was natural that Aiden would point that out. It was a lie that could be exposed at any time. Ye Aiden might not have a recognizable face, but he was a well-known guide worldwide.

“You didn’t seem like the lying type.”

“……”

Of course I didn’t… I’m terrible at lying, and I don’t have the guts. Yet somehow, at that moment, courage had welled up from somewhere.

“Did you lie… to save me?”

“…I guess so?”

For Jaeha, using the boss’s name had been a huge act of bravery and defiance, but objectively, it wasn’t that big a deal. The question felt strangely burdensome, so he averted his eyes and applied the band-aid.

“So… please be careful from now on. There are a lot of bad people around here… A-anyway, why did you come here without an escort in the first place… no, wait.”

He hadn’t meant to blame the victim. He was just upset and ended up sounding accusatory. That’s how bad this area was.

Swallowing a sigh, Jaeha carefully pressed down the band-aid. He even used just the tip of his nail to smooth it down, making sure not to touch skin.

“From now on… try not to come here, if you can. This place is really dangerous…”

For Jaeha, saying this was a pretty big decision.