TGIC Ch 128

Chapter 128

Gidam stood in the midst of a pack of beasts, steel bared, confronting them head-on.

He thrust his blade into the throat of the one lunging at him with jaws gaping, then spun cleanly as another approached from behind and kicked it away with sharp precision.

Vasily had been faintly worried it might be too soon to bring him into a Gate.

Clearly, the concern had been unnecessary.

Just yesterday, Gidam had been unable to even move from muscle pain, yet now he moved nimbly as though nothing had happened—cutting down monsters with startling ease. The worry that he might overexert himself felt almost foolish now.

“You’re fighting well.”

“H-ha… you could—huff—stop watching and help a little.”

“It’s only an E-rank Gate. You think you need my support?”

“You’re an S-rank, and you’re going to leave clearing to your Guide?”

“…Fine. Next time I’ll help a bit.”

Though he complained, Vasily knew Gidam could manage this alone. There was no need to intervene.

After watching for a moment longer, Vasily strode toward him. He spotted one beast still faintly breathing; a sharp shard of ice formed at his fingertips and pierced through its throat with a crisp crack.

“It was going to die soon anyway. Why waste your ability?”

“The sound of its breathing annoyed me.”

“Your personality is truly something…”

While Gidam clicked his tongue, Vasily studied him up and down for injuries.

Gidam was drenched in foul monster blood. Vasily understood that fighting without abilities meant relying on weapons alone, but he disliked the thought of beast stench covering Gidam’s natural scent.

A smear of green blood clung to the corner of Gidam’s lips, catching Vasily’s eye. He reached out and wiped it away.

“Be careful. It’ll get in your mouth.”

“Ah… thank you.”

A little wouldn’t hurt—but ingesting it or having it enter a wound would be catastrophic, especially while his body was still recovering. He needed to be careful.

Gidam wiped sweat from his jaw, breath ragged, clearly exhausted. Vasily was about to suggest resting when movement stirred deeper inside the Gate.

More beasts, drawn by the scent of blood. As their numbers grew, Gidam’s expression twisted.

“I’ll take care of this group. Rest.”

“…Alright.”

Gidam accepted immediately and plopped down on the ground with a heavy sigh.

Even facing approaching monsters, he looked utterly relaxed, drawing a faint chuckle from Vasily. He wanted to tease him about how used he seemed to be to Gates… but first, the beasts needed to be dealt with.

Vasily turned slowly.

The four-legged black creatures encircling them looked familiar. They resembled the beast that had attacked Gidam the day they first met—only smaller.

“Guide Kwon Gidam, does this remind you of the old days?”

“…Sorry. I still don’t…”

He did not remember even that. Vasily sighed softly, unable to hide his disappointment.

The beasts hesitated, wary of the pile of corpses surrounding Vasily and Gidam. It could have dragged on, but Vasily saw no need to wait.

A chill threaded through the breath he released.

A breeze began at his feet, drifting outward. Tiny shards of ice gathered in the air, weaving between the beasts. The faint stir built into a fierce snowstorm, swallowing their shapes.

Screams rose beyond the white veil—meat tearing, bones cracking, desperate howls fading one by one until the blizzard was painted red.

Then silence.

When the wind finally calmed, frozen corpses lay revealed, bodies split open and glistening with frost.

Vasily lowered his hand, glancing briefly at the pale cold creeping back into his fingertips. Frost clung to his tailored sleeve; he brushed it away, then took a seat beside Gidam.

“Are you alright?”

“…What do you mean?”

“You never liked sitting on the ground.”

Gidam eyed the blood-soaked earth, grimacing. Yes, ordinarily Vasily would never sit somewhere so filthy. But if it was next to Gidam, he didn’t care.

Vasily leaned into Gidam’s shoulder and let out a quiet sigh. Gidam flinched at the touch, saw the silver hair brushing his shoulder, then realized Guiding was occurring and stiffly fell silent.

The cold inside Vasily vanished the moment they made contact. Warm energy seeped through him, steady and gentle—comforting enough to make breathing feel easier.

But it wasn’t enough. He wanted more. He wanted to pull Gidam close, swallow the softness of his lips, trap his breath inside him.

Vasily leaned more firmly. Gidam groaned, pushing weakly at him.

“H-hey—too heavy.”

“…Just a moment longer.”

He murmured, arms still locked around Gidam’s waist.

To receive Guiding immediately after using his ability—perfect. In conditions like this, Vasily could spend a year clearing Gates nonstop and be content.

How enviable the Vasily of six years ago must have been, free to cling to Gidam openly. If only Gidam had not regressed, this Vasily too would have shared those years—entering Gates together, receiving Guiding whenever he wished.

Instead, thanks to that regression and the suppression chip implanted in Gidam’s neck, Vasily had taken far too long to even recognize his own Guide.

Anger pricked at him, but Gidam’s warmth extinguished it at once. Who could hold a blade of resentment against such heat?

“Guide Kwon Gidam… when do you think your memories will return?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Hurry and remember. There’s so much I want to ask you.”

He murmured against his shoulder. Gidam’s gaze wavered, uncomfortable, before he pushed Vasily away—this time firmly.

“Stand up. Your condition doesn’t seem bad, and you’ve had enough Guiding.”

“…A little more.”

“If we waste any more time, we’ll be here until tomorrow. Up.”

Reluctantly, Vasily rose at his urging.

Two more short battles followed. Both were small-scale; Vasily let Gidam handle them while he merely watched.

Gidam fought flawlessly, as though proving the six years they had once shared in Gates. He knew exactly where to strike—how to pierce thick hide, how to end life in a breath.

Of course, E-rank beasts were little more than oversized animals. Perhaps it would be better to bring him into a higher-ranked Gate next time.

A genuine smile tugged at Vasily’s lips throughout—no longer a calculated mask, but true delight.

“Already finished…”

He murmured with clear disappointment. Only one beast remained. Such a small Gate—it felt wasteful. For the first time, Vasily found himself wishing a Gate would not end.

But even with the regret, satisfaction ran deep. If he could always enter Gates like this—with only Gidam at his side—perhaps those once-endless hours would become something he looked forward to.

Even in this short raid, his body burned. Watching Gidam cut down beast after beast left him parched with a nameless thirst.

Ah. He couldn’t hold back anymore.

When they returned, he would receive Guiding first thing.

He recalled Gidam trembling in fear the last time he attempted it—yet this time, that alone would not be enough to stop him.