TGIC Ch 30

Chapter 30

“Then, will you guide me now?”

“…All right.”

Vasily requested guiding. His shameless attitude left me speechless, but I had some things I wanted to ask anyway. As I began guiding him, I casually brought it up.

“Was the gate successfully cleared?”

“Yes. We wrapped it up without any issues.”

That answer wasn’t enough for me. I glanced sideways at Vasily, who quietly curled his lips into a smile before continuing.

“And something really strange happened. That gate turned out to be a mutant gate, just like you mentioned. That kind of thing is pretty rare.”

“What a coincidence.”

I gritted my teeth and feigned ignorance. To anyone else, this would seem like pure coincidence. After all, no one would suspect that I could know about a gate’s anomaly thanks to a regression.

“By the way, would you stop coming here so often? People are starting to think I’m your official guide.”

I grumbled, voicing my complaints. Between getting kidnapped and all the strange rumors, the damage was far from minor.

Thanks to Vasily dropping by unannounced and demanding guiding sessions, there was now a rumor that I was his secret personal guide. Recently, the speculation had worsened, with some even saying we were in a passionate, inseparable romantic relationship. Me, in a relationship with that guy? I’d rather die twice.

Today, Vasily had barged in without notice, but usually, he even filed proper designated guiding requests, so I had no excuse to turn him away.

I let out a deep sigh and muttered internally. He really needed to find another guide soon…

While guiding Vasily, I suddenly remembered tomorrow’s schedule. It had been a while, but I was finally going on a gate dispatch again.

Vasily would probably come looking for me tomorrow too, so I figured I should inform him in advance.

“Esper Vasily, please don’t come tomorrow. I’ll be out on assignment.”

“Oh, didn’t you hear? That got canceled.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I had you removed from the list. I was worried you might do something reckless again. You were kidnapped just yesterday, and you’re not fully recovered from your cold, either.”

I blinked slowly in disbelief. What… did he just say?

Vasily said it so casually, even looking at me as though expecting praise.

In that moment, I saw in him the Vasily from six years ago—the one who had tried to control every aspect of my life. Where I went, who I met, even the smallest words exchanged with others—all had required his permission.

That memory stirred a surge of suppressed anger.

“What gives you the right…! On what authority did you cancel my dispatch?”

“Didn’t I save your life when you nearly died alone in the mountains? I’d say that gives me some authority.”

“…”

I had nothing to say as he invoked the day I almost died. I glared at Vasily, lips tightly sealed. I wanted to argue, but no words would come, which only made me angrier.

I abruptly stood from my seat.

“Where are you going? We’re not done with the guiding session yet.”

“I’m going to request that my name be added back to the list.”

Vasily’s gaze turned instantly cold.

“…I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

He warned in a low voice. But I had no intention of backing down this time.

Bang!

I slammed the door of the guiding room behind me as I stormed out.

Damn it, where do I even go to have a canceled dispatch reinstated? Recalling the organizational chart, I made my way to my desk, where my team leader spotted me returning and said,

“Gidam, you were assigned for a gate dispatch tomorrow, right? That got canceled, so just come to the Association like usual.”

“…Yes, sir.”

The team leader was a bit late delivering the news. Remembering what Vasily had said earlier only twisted my gut further.

Then, a mocking voice chimed in from the side.

“Must be nice for you, Kwon Gidam—getting out of gate assignments so easily. Meanwhile, the rest of us get sent to dangerous ones.”

It was an assistant manager from another team. We weren’t even close, but he’d been picking fights with me more frequently lately.

A side effect of the rumor that I was Vasily’s guide. People like him thought I was receiving some kind of favoritism. They had no idea that every conversation with Vasily was a life-and-death matter for me.

Still, his remark gave me a good idea.

“When’s your next dispatch?”

“Me? Next Thursday.”

“Mind if I take it instead?”

The grumbling assistant manager looked at me in surprise.

“Seriously?”

“Yes. I think you’ve misunderstood—I actually like going on dispatch.”

“Well then, by all means! I must’ve totally misjudged you, huh? Hahaha!”

He gave a hearty laugh and clapped me on the back.

Good. It wasn’t the original gate I’d planned on, but I still managed to join a gate dispatch. But if Vasily found out, he’d definitely cancel it again. So…

“I have a favor to ask.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Please don’t process the guide switch until I return from the dispatch. There’s no problem if we file it at the end of the month, right?”

“Oh, that’s no problem at all!”

Recalling Vasily’s cold stare, I grinned. What’s the point of objecting when I can just sneak around you? Let’s see you try to stop me this time.

The long-awaited dispatch day finally arrived.

Inside the Association vehicle headed to the gate, we were filling out the participant list. I told the staff I was substituting for another guide and wrote my name on the list.

When we arrived at the gate site, Vasily was nowhere to be seen. The area around the gate was bustling with preparations. The familiar atmosphere made me feel oddly proud.

Vasily was as insane now as he was back then. He used to do everything he could to drag me into gates, and now he was doing everything he could to keep me away from them.

Well then, maybe I should take a nap before the Espers come out of the gate. I put on the sleep mask I had packed and was about to doze off when my phone vibrated.

“Who’s calling now…?”

Annoyed at the disruption, I checked the screen—Vasily.

A chill ran down my spine.

I hesitated to answer, but not picking up might cause more trouble. I decided to play it cool and pressed the call button.

“Yes, this is Kwon Gidam from Guiding Team 3.”

……

Silence from the other end. What the—did he dial the wrong number?

“Esper Vasily?”

– I believe I warned you not to go near the gate.

Vasily spoke with an icy tone. I flinched and looked around, but he was nowhere in sight.

Damn… Did he already find out? How did he know? I quickly feigned ignorance.

“I didn’t go anywhere… I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

– Then how do you explain your absence from your usual post?

“Day off today…”

– I already heard you volunteered to go as a substitute. Don’t bother lying.

I ran a hand down my face, suppressing the tangled emotions. After disappearing for days, he just had to come looking for me today…

– Don’t do anything stupid. Wait there.

The call abruptly ended. “Wait there”? That meant he was coming.

Staring down at the call-ended screen, I couldn’t hide my gloom. Just moments ago, I had been in a good mood, excited for a nap. Now everything had flipped. While the other guides rested comfortably, I’d be tearing my hair out waiting for Vasily, unsure when he might show up.

“Guide Kwon Gidam.”

Not long after, someone entered the tent. He must’ve rushed over the moment the call ended—he got here fast.

“Come with me.”

Vasily pulled back the tent flap and issued a command, but I didn’t budge from my seat and spoke instead.

“I can’t leave until the gate is cleared.”

“Are you serious?”

Vasily swept back his hair and glared at me. I returned his stare. What, you gonna glare me into submission?

“…Just don’t run off. Stay put.”

Vasily exhaled sharply, then left the tent and headed straight for the gate entrance.

I watched him walk into the gate, then slumped into my chair. I had no intention of running. Now that I’d been caught, fleeing would only piss him off more.

When is that guy going to get a guide? Only once he does will he stop being so fixated on me.

I ignored the glances and murmurs from other guides as usual, when the outside began to stir. Sounded like the gate raid had already ended.

I had wanted to stall a little longer, but it couldn’t be helped. Gates Vasily entered were usually cleared quickly anyway.

Espers began to emerge from the gate one by one. But… why did they all look like they’d been through hell?

Every single one of them moved awkwardly, like a part of their body had frozen stiff…

“……”

I quietly pressed my hand to my forehead.

Vasily had taken out his frustration. I felt a little sorry for the Espers who had to suffer because of that madman.

Seeing the condition of the Espers coming out, the temporary guides began rushing to assess their states. Unintentionally, I’d ended up causing trouble for everyone involved.