TGIC Ch 45

Chapter 45

I’m originally an S-rank Guide. Before my regression, I was in high demand, with people fighting to recruit me, and I had even guided the notoriously difficult S-rank Esper Vasily for six years.

The guiding from an S-rank Guide is fundamentally different in quality compared to that of ordinary Guides. Even among S-rank Guides, I was particularly skilled at handling wave frequencies. Yet Vasily, both then and now, has absolutely no idea how capable I truly am.

Yes, this kind of response is what’s actually normal. Does he think it’s easy to guide an S-rank Esper with only a 4% compatibility rate? If I were really just a newly awakened C-rank Guide, I would’ve collapsed from exhaustion in under a minute of guiding Vasily and had to be carried off.

Ah, but that’s not the point right now.

I barely managed to snap out of my self-satisfaction after hearing such praise for the first time in ages. Regaining my composure, I asked the Esper in front of me,

“But why did you all come out so early? Did something happen?”

“Esper Vasily said he was going to freeze the entire gate and told us to get out. He warned that if we didn’t exit within the hour, we’d be caught in it, so we rushed out at full speed…”

Cold sweat trickled down my back. He’s going to freeze this entire gate…?

This lunatic!

Without a Guide, such a stunt would cause complete chaos in his wave patterns. Then he’d no doubt come asking me to stabilize him again with guiding. And in that case, I wouldn’t even be able to refuse—I’d have to pop pills just to get through guiding him again.

I silently screamed toward the gate. But of course, my cries would never reach Vasily, who was surely inside having the time of his life unleashing his powers.

Grinding my teeth and mentally preparing to give him a piece of my mind once he returned, I just so happened to spot Vasily walking out of the gate.

“Um, Guide…”

“Vasily!”

I yelled at Vasily, who was still radiating cold air from the aftereffects of using his powers. Oh—right. I was still in the middle of guiding. I turned to the Esper who had been about to speak to me and asked,

“Sorry, what were you trying to say just now…?”

“No, it’s nothing. Thank you for guiding me.”

“Then this concludes your guiding session.”

I excused myself and strode over to Vasily. That bastard, completely unaware of my growing frustration, simply waved at me with a carefree look.

“The raid’s done. Like I said, I made it out by morning, right?”

“Did you really freeze the entire gate?”

“Who told you that…?”

Vasily’s gaze drifted toward the Esper I had just finished guiding, and I quickly stepped in to block his view. Then I launched into my complaints.

“Are you out of your mind? You know you could end up in terrible shape from doing something like that, and you still did it?”

“That’s why I didn’t freeze all of it—just about half. I do that kind of thing often, so it’s not a big dea—”

“Not a big deal? Your body’s still leaking cold air!”

Maybe it was from just having used his powers, but his energy was still raging, making the air around him feel like it might freeze. I frowned and looked him up and down.

“Guide Kwon Gidam, don’t be so angry. I just—”

“Ugh…”

When Vasily stepped forward, a sharp chill grazed my skin. I reflexively flinched and stepped back. Only then did Vasily seem to realize the cold air swirling around him and pull back his power.

I assessed his condition. Since he still looked composed, it didn’t seem like I needed to rush into guiding him. Besides, it would be difficult to guide him properly before his energy settled down anyway.

I glanced around. None of the other Espers seemed to need guiding, and it looked like we’d soon be wrapping up the site. I figured I could leave a little early.

“Esper Vasily, would it be alright if the Association took over your guiding?”

“Yes. I’m not in bad condition right now.”

“Then let’s head out.”

I quickly entered the tent, changed clothes, and packed up my belongings. After returning my combat uniform to the site manager, I walked to where Vasily’s car was parked.

Once I got in the car, I glanced sideways at Vasily, who was casually starting the engine. The Association wasn’t exactly nearby, and I was nervous that the steering wheel might freeze mid-drive. Given that Vasily had nearly killed me once before, I really didn’t want to entrust my life to him again.

“Esper Vasily.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s switch seats. I’ll drive.”

Vasily gave up the driver’s seat without protest. As I slid into the seat, the lingering chill from where he had been sitting wrapped around me.

As I fastened the seatbelt and grabbed the wheel, I couldn’t help but notice how foreign the leather steering wheel felt under my hand.

It had been a long time since I’d driven Vasily’s car. Before my regression, I often drove in his place, but I hadn’t had to since then. I was suddenly grateful I had gotten my license right after turning twenty.

Once we arrived at the Association, we headed straight up to the private room. I switched on the lights and asked as I stepped inside,

“Has your power settled down a bit now?”

“Hmm… I think it’s still lingering a little.”

I was preparing to guide him, but it seemed like the aftereffects of his power hadn’t completely subsided yet. He looked fine on the surface, though… I recalled the gloves he used to wear before my regression and asked,

“Do you have any gloves or something that suppress your power?”

“They broke last time, so I’m having new ones made.”

Ah, no wonder I hadn’t seen them. They were broken.

I paused to think. The cold swirling around him wasn’t as intense anymore, and he seemed mostly stable. If that was the case, I figured some physical contact shouldn’t be too dangerous.

“I’ll just go ahead and start guiding.”

“…If you touch me now, you’ll get hurt again, Guide Kwon Gidam.”

“The cold’s weaker than before, and as long as I avoid direct contact with your hands, I should be fine. Are you still worried?”

“…”

He still looked reluctant, even though I felt confident things would be okay.

“If you’re really that concerned, let’s just cover your hands. Isn’t there a towel or something in here?”

I looked around the room as I spoke. In the center was a sofa and table, and along the wall, a desk and chair. Near the window sat a bed, and a bookshelf with a few Russian books.

…Of course there wouldn’t be.

Something large enough to wrap around his hands. Should I just strip the bed cover? I scanned the room again and then stopped. Something perfect had caught my eye.

“Esper Vasily, take off your suit jacket.”

“My jacket?”

“Yes. Since there’s nothing else to wrap your hands with, please take it off.”

“Hmm… Alright.”

Vasily obediently removed his jacket. It was large, fitting for his frame. It looked like it would easily wrap around both hands.

I took his hands behind his back and wrapped them with the jacket. It ended up looking a bit like he had his hands bound… but I had successfully implemented a basic safety measure.

Vasily looked down at himself and murmured,

“Didn’t expect you to have such a dominant streak…”

“If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll just leave.”

“Just joking.”

I sighed at his absurd remark and pulled him into a hug.

I’d become capable of handling his wave patterns with this body now. Maybe it was because I’d built more strength from working out every day, or maybe I had simply adjusted over time.

As guiding began, Vasily let out a relaxed breath.

“Guide Kwon Gidam, you really are warm.”

Unable to use his hands, Vasily lightly rubbed his face against my chest.

…Yeah, with his hands tied behind his back, it does look like something out of a very questionable scene. An S-rank Esper, no less. Anyone at the Association who saw this would be speechless, but since Vasily seemed completely fine with it, I guess it was okay. Still, it was a bit awkward.

“Move your face away. It’s cold.”

“You’re so mean…”

Vasily raised his head again and began quietly receiving the guiding.

The cold radiating from him gradually subsided, and I could tell he was stabilizing. I figured I’d guide him just a bit longer and then head home myself.

I had resigned myself to being stuck at the gate until Sunday, but it was still only Saturday afternoon. Since weekend work only earns extra pay instead of time off, I only had until Monday off. With Vasily likely to request assigned guiding again starting next week, I’d need to rest as much as I could before returning to the Association.

As he quietly received the guiding, Vasily suddenly spoke.

“Guide Kwon Gidam, are you really not thinking about becoming my official Guide?”

“I’m not.”

“Don’t reject it so flatly. Just give it a little more serious thought.”

Becoming Vasily’s exclusive Guide? I didn’t even need to think about it seriously. If I’d been planning to take that position, I wouldn’t have gone through all the trouble of installing an illegal inhibitor chip and taking unknown drugs.

“You only need to stay on until my contract ends. Three years left, I think…”

“Are you sure it’s three years?”

“Well, it’s not like there’s any other Guide in Korea who can handle my waves. Once the contract ends, I plan to leave.”

Feigning ignorance, I casually probed, and Vasily answered. Hearing his response, I barely suppressed the upward twitch of my lips and inwardly cheered.