TGIC Ch 18

Chapter 18

Four percent?

Originally, Vasily and I had a compatibility rate of 91 percent, so this was a truly staggering drop. Ever since the illegal suppressant chip had been implanted, there was no way to verify our compatibility, but thanks to this, I now knew the exact figure.

Still, as expected, the documents in the executives’ hands seemed to contain information about me. I swallowed hard and braced myself for the next questions. Now that I knew my compatibility with Vasily was abysmal, I felt somewhat relieved.

“You seem to be fine being in prolonged contact with Esper Vasily. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“How was the guiding?”

“Perhaps due to the low compatibility, the guiding wasn’t very effective.”

“Hm…”

I became confident. A single-digit compatibility rate. Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t even attempt to pair Vasily with me.

That expectation crumbled in less than a minute.

“Guide Kwon Gidam, would you consider working as Esper Vasily’s exclusive guide?”

“Pardon?”

“Of course, your compensation would match that of an S-rank guide. You would only need to remain in the role until Vasily finds another guide or the contract term ends.”

As if mocking me, the executives proposed I become Vasily’s exclusive guide.

To offer an S-rank Esper’s exclusive guide position to a mere C-rank guide with only four percent compatibility? I was so dumbfounded I was at a loss for words.

One of the promises made by the current president during the election campaign was the recruitment of new S-rank Espers. Immediately after taking office, he brought Vasily—who had been active overseas—back to the country. The condition was simple: provide Vasily with as many guides as he desired.

If Vasily were to sign an exclusive contract with one of them, he would officially become an Esper affiliated with South Korea. However, if he didn’t find a suitable guide during the president’s term, the contract would naturally be terminated, and Vasily would return abroad.

Vasily’s contract had about three years remaining. That meant if I could endure just three more years with the suppressant chip, I’d be free of him. And now they wanted me to willingly walk into that hell?

Naturally, my answer was already decided.

“I’m sorry, but I must decline.”

There was no need to hear more. I firmly cut off the conversation and stood up from my seat. After bowing politely, I left the meeting room, and even the staff blocking the exit seemed to know better than to stop me.

Safely out of the meeting room, I quietly gathered my thoughts as I returned to the office. I figured it would be best not to tell Vasily about the conversation that just took place or that I’d been summoned by the executives.

Despite his regular requests for designated guiding, Vasily had never once brought up the subject of an exclusive guide. To him, I had likely been nothing more than a way to kill time—he never had any intention of forming an exclusive contract with a mere C-rank guide.

If he were to find out that these discussions had taken place without his knowledge, his mood would plummet instantly. Not only would those executives be in serious trouble, but the fallout could easily reach me as well.

I never expected the Association itself would step forward with an exclusive contract proposal.

The unexpected situation made my head throb. I decided I should keep a low profile for a while and returned to the temporary guiding department.

Because I had been dragged into the meeting unexpectedly, the guiding queue was probably backed up. I needed to hurry and get back to work…

“Gidam, could you come over here for a moment?”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

Just as I was heading toward the guiding room, my team leader called me over. His expression seemed serious. I felt a faint sense of unease as I approached his desk.

“A directive just came down from above stating you’re being transferred to a different department. Have you heard anything about this?”

“Pardon? A transfer?”

I widened my eyes in confusion. I had just declined the offer! Still flustered, I asked again.

“What exactly does it say?”

“They say you’ll be assigned as the exclusive guide to one of the Association’s Espers… though it seems the specific Esper hasn’t been decided yet.”

They say the Esper hasn’t been decided? Ha, I snorted internally. It was blatantly obvious that the unnamed Esper was Vasily.

‘…Has the Association finally lost its mind?’

No matter how desperate Vasily might be, there’s no way he would seek an exclusive contract with a C-rank guide. This had to be the Association acting on its own.

They were clearly moving forward without Vasily’s knowledge. If he found out, the Association members involved wouldn’t get off unscathed…

Our compatibility was a mere four percent. And the other party was S-rank Esper Vasily Kairov. I had always known the Association wasn’t entirely sane, but I didn’t expect them to be this unhinged.

…And to think I even had a suppressant chip implanted just to avoid becoming Vasily’s guide.

“…Even if I don’t want this, does the transfer still go through?”

“Judging by the fact that there’s an official directive, probably yes… But maybe it’s a mistake. I’ll look into it.”

I couldn’t hide the darkening expression on my face.

I had clearly expressed my refusal during the meeting, yet it seemed the process had gone ahead without regard for my opinion. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have progressed this quickly.

The team leader, having realized this was an unwanted transfer, left to investigate further. But I already knew this wouldn’t be something even his authority could undo. I quietly returned to my desk.

The first thing I did once I sat down was begin drafting my resignation letter.

I had already been pulled from my duties and prohibited from temporary guiding. That meant I now had the time to write a resignation—perhaps that was a blessing in disguise.

Alone in the empty office, I was halfway through writing the letter when I heard someone approaching from behind. The sound of familiar leather shoes steadily drew closer.

“Guide Kwon Gidam, why are you alone today?”

It was Vasily.

Still writing my resignation, I turned to face him with a grim expression. Unlike my darkened face, Vasily looked unusually cheerful. His timing and his much brighter-than-usual expression made me look at him suspiciously and ask,

“And what brings you here, Esper Vasily?”

“I came to submit a designated guiding request, but your name wasn’t listed, so I came in person.”

So, Vasily didn’t know.

The suspicion that had briefly crept up vanished, leaving me deflated. Just as I initially expected, the attempt to make me Vasily’s exclusive guide was a unilateral decision made by the higher-ups.

Still, is there really no one in upper management who knows what Vasily’s personality is like? If they knew even a little, they’d never have made this decision. I clicked my tongue, thinking I had to resign and disappear before the Association turned into a bloodbath.

To avoid getting caught up in the chaos that was sure to come, I needed to submit my resignation today. With Vasily’s sudden appearance causing only a brief pause, I resumed writing my letter.

“But what have you been writing this whole time?”

“A resignation letter.”

Vasily froze.

“…A resignation letter?”

“They told me to become your exclusive guide. I took it as a forced resignation and am currently writing my letter.”

I had planned to keep the meeting with the executives a secret, but since I was quitting anyway, there was no longer a need to hide it. I wanted to throw the same bombshell back at the upper management who had screwed over someone like me, who had endured Vasily’s daily visits and still worked diligently.

“…Why?”

“How could a C-rank guide like me be an exclusive for an S-rank Esper? Even handling your occasional designated guiding is overwhelming.”

“And if you quit temporary guiding, what will you do?”

“Maybe transfer to a foreign Association or join a private company. That seems viable.”

Vasily was the kind of person who wouldn’t even blink at a C-rank guide quitting after serving as his toy. In hindsight, I should have resigned the moment I caught his attention. I had held on only because I was desperate for money and didn’t want to go through the hassle of finding a new job. And now the Association had handed me a giant middle finger.

But the situation had changed. Thanks to the 400 million won I’d received from Vasily, my bank account was full. Unlike the early days when I was scraping by, I no longer had anything to fear. With that money, I could take a break until Vasily’s contract expired—or even leave the country altogether.

“All right. I’ll go submit it now.”

Just as I finished signing and stood up, Vasily snatched the resignation letter from my hand. I stared at my now-empty hand and turned to see Vasily glaring at the letter with a sulky expression.

“…Esper Vasily? Please return that.”

“No.”

The resignation letter froze solid. In an instant, the thin sheet was encased in ice crystals, and as Vasily applied pressure with his fingers, it shattered with a crackling sound and scattered across the floor.

I looked at him, stunned.

“W-What do you think you’re doing?”

“Guide Kwon Gidam, if we could just resolve the transfer issue, would you stay?”

“…I suppose?”

“Then I’ll show you something interesting. Want to come watch?”

Vasily raised the corners of his lips in a faint smile.

I blinked in disbelief, then let out a soft laugh. I already had a clear idea of what he was about to do.

“Go ahead. Show me.”

That insane plan—once again, I was following him right into it.