FG | Chapter 2.2

If he was a sane Esper, the mere idea of a D-class Guide being able to do anything for an S-class Esper should have been unthinkable.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Esper Yeo Eundo.”

“You did it for me.”

“What exactly did I do?”

“Guiding.”

Yeo Eundo spoke firmly without beating around the bush. My heart pounded. It felt like a gorilla was stomping around inside my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm.

“And what makes you think that?”

“I remember. Seol Maehwa Guide-nim’s eyes.”

‘Eyes?’

Tracing along the corner of my eyes with his fingers, he spoke as if engraving his words into my memory, like an intense scent.

“I like violets.”

Did he retain some memories from after his rampage had settled?

I desperately controlled my expression so he wouldn’t notice my turmoil. With a scoff of disbelief, I flicked away his hand, which had been touching the corner of my eye.

“The one who guided Esper Yeo Eundo that day was Guide Seon Jiyeol, who arrived at the scene.”

Right at that moment, a news report covering that incident started playing on a nearby monitor. Seizing the opportunity, I pointed my thumb toward the screen.

“As you can see.”

The footage on the screen showed Seon Jiyeol holding Yeo Eundo’s face and about to kiss him. Though their lips didn’t actually touch, the angle made it look like a deep kiss.

Then, immediately after, Seon Jiyeol was seen holding a collapsed Yeo Eundo in his arms—making it seem like he had dramatically succeeded in guiding a rampaging Esper.

While Yeo Eundo stared at the screen, I added an explanation.

“I was at the scene, yes, but at the time, I was guiding a C-class Esper.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than Yeo Eundo snapped his head back toward me.

“You did it? For someone other than me?”

“I did. A lot, actually.”

“A, a lot? A lot?! You barely did it with me!”

“Don’t you find this conversation a little strange? Esper Yeo Eundo, you’ve received countless guiding sessions yourself.”

He fell silent, then, suddenly, his eyes welled up with tears.

It looked like he had a lot to say but was too overwhelmed to get the words out.

For a moment, I was so dumbfounded that I almost lost my words instead.

“Anyway, I’m a D-class Guide. Today is my first time properly meeting Esper Yeo Eundo. I have no idea why I even have to explain this, but a D-class Guide can only provide guiding for up to C-class Espers. The one who guided you that day was S-class Guide Seon Jiyeol.”

“It was… completely different.”

“If that’s how you felt, then it must mean that Guide Seon Jiyeol has truly reawakened. I heard he’s undergoing reevaluation. Why don’t you take this chance to get guided by him? You’ve received his guiding before, haven’t you? If there’s a difference, you’ll notice right away.”

Yeo Eundo suddenly backed down at my words.

“I’m sorry…”

It was strange how he suddenly withdrew, but it worked in my favor.

“It’s fine. Just don’t make the same mistake again.”

“Yes. That kind of mistake won’t happen again.”

His response felt a little off, but I couldn’t pinpoint why. Regardless, Yeo Eundo never brought up that day again. It seemed like the issue had been put to rest.

But, of course, he had a knack for creating problems where there were none.

It all started when he began following me around, claiming he was lonely.

During lunchtime, while I was enjoying my personal time, he suddenly appeared and sat next to me.

‘What the hell, that scared me!’

“Seol Maehwa Guide-nim, try this too.”

Even when I was taking a break—

“Seol Maehwa Guide-nim! Let’s go for a walk!”

Even when I went to the restroom!

“Seol Maehwa Guide-nim! Do you need any toilet paper?”

My patience was bubbling to the limit. Unable to take it any longer, I turned around.

When our eyes met, Yeo Eundo beamed and handed me a cup of coffee. An iced americano. I snatched it from him and, fueled by irritation, chugged it down in one go.

I crushed the empty cup in my hand and glared at him.

“Esper Yeo Eundo.”

“Yes, Seol Maehwa Guide-nim?”

“Why are you following me?”

“Uh… monitoring?”

“That’s my job. You have no reason to be following me.”

“Can’t I?”

“No. Please respect my personal time.”

“But…”

He looked up at me with drooping eyes and fidgeted with his fingers like a kicked puppy. Then, in a small voice, he continued.

“I’m lonely.”

“What kind of bull— Anyway, if you keep this up, I can’t do my job. No, I won’t.”

“I just really like Seol Maehwa Guide-nim…”

“I get that you’re a people person, but you need to keep it in check. You’re going to scare people away at this rate.”

“I’ll behave.”

Yeo Eundo casually took the empty cup from my hand and, without even looking, tossed it perfectly into the trash. Before I could even react to that, he suddenly took both my hands in his and held them gently.

“Please don’t be mad.”

He smiled sweetly, almost playfully. Even though he was a full-grown man, his pretty features made the gesture more endearing than unsettling. It was enough to chip away at my resolve to properly scold him today.

He genuinely looked remorseful, so I decided to let him off just this once.

“If you do this again, it’s going to be a real problem.”

“Okay.”

His response was obedient.

But… just how long was he planning to hold my hands?

I was about to frown, but the moment I moved, he let go so naturally that I couldn’t even make a fuss about it.

I glanced at him, standing there so quietly. As soon as our eyes met, he smiled again.

Among Espers, he was a rare breed—so mild-mannered, he was practically a pushover.

It made me doubt whether this was really the same guy who once cracked open a foreign Esper’s skull. Maybe it had all been some elaborate scheme.

‘How has he even survived with a personality like this?’

The government doesn’t hold anyone accountable for what happens inside a Gate. Even if it’s murder.

If Yeo Eundo weren’t an S-class Esper, he would have died long ago.

So even if he acted a little odd, I had no choice but to accept it.

I opened my tablet and asked, “How are you feeling?”

“Good.”

“You said the same thing this morning.”

“I feel even better than I did this morning.”

I decided not to ask any further.

Yeo Eundo’s AD Level remained at 30.4, the same as in the morning, with no fluctuations. All his other basic vitals were stable. His complexion looked good, and there were no visible signs of discomfort.

‘Shouldn’t he be discharged at this point?’

The thought suddenly crossed my mind. If his levels remained this stable, he might even be discharged earlier than originally planned.

And if Yeo Eundo was discharged early, that meant my field duty would finally be over.

Maybe—just maybe—my monitoring duties could also wrap up.

With that tiny bit of hope in my heart, I carefully asked,

“You’ve spoken with your attending physician, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Your levels are stable. Didn’t they mention anything about it?”

“About what?”

His expression made it clear he had no idea what I was getting at.

I expected him to be dense, but this was even worse than I thought.

“For example… additional tests? Or discharge?”

“Uh…”

Yeo Eundo trailed off, making my heart pound in anticipation.

For some reason, I found myself staring at his lips, waiting for him to speak.

Finally, he opened his mouth.

“They said I need to stay for three months.”

“What?!” I practically screamed.

The expected one-month stay had somehow turned into three months, and the sheer horror of it made me double-check.

“But—b-but there’s nothing wrong with you! Why three months?!”

“They said it’s unusual for AD Levels to drop to zero, so they need to run a lot of tests. Oh, right. I think they also mentioned reporting it to the Center today.”

“No!” I shouted instinctively.

“Huh?”

Startled by my sudden outburst, Yeo Eundo’s eyes widened as he blinked rapidly.

The thought of my field duty getting extended sent a chill down my spine.

The cold sweat running down my back confirmed it—I was truly terrified.

Barely holding onto my composure, I pushed up my glasses with a trembling hand.

“Esper Yeo Eundo, as an S-class Esper, you could be deployed immediately if a high-level Gate opens. Keeping you in the hospital for three months would be concerning.”

I took a deep breath and repeated the word calm in my head about ten times before I spoke.

Thankfully, my voice didn’t waver, and I managed not to say anything irrational.

Yeo Eundo listened carefully, then flashed a smile.

“Three months does seem excessive, huh?”

“It’s a waste of manpower.”

“I’ll talk to my doctor about it.”

For once, Yeo Eundo and I were perfectly in sync.

Feeling much better, I didn’t even complain when he kept pestering me afterward. Because in my head, all I could think about was getting off work early.

»જ⁀➴

“We need at least three months’ worth of data and monitoring.”

The attending physician on rounds was dropping a bombshell. Yeo Eundo, who was listening, just nodded like a wobbling roly-poly toy, completely oblivious to the fire burning inside me.

The doctor spoke in a firm, unwavering tone.

“An extended hospitalization is inevitable.”

I’ve never gotten chills this bad, even from horror movies. My fingertips trembled as I recorded the doctor’s notes, while the supposedly reliable Yeo Eundo muttered weakly.

“Ah-ha.”

Snap!

The pen I was holding broke at the tip, and all I could do was glare at Yeo Eundo with burning intensity.

The bastard didn’t even have the will to be discharged.

I swallowed my anger, barely stopping myself from grabbing him by the collar and shaking him until he came to his senses. If I left things up to him, this would never end.

I casually stepped closer to the doctor and spoke up.

“You can’t just keep an S-class Esper locked up in a hospital forever, right? If you waste too much time and a Gate Break happens, it’ll be a disaster. If long-term research is needed, outpatient monitoring should be enough—”

The doctor cut me off before I could even finish, as if he had been waiting for it.

“Outpatient care! Yes, that works.”

“Huh?”

Just a moment ago, he had been so adamant, but now he flipped his stance like he was turning over a pancake. His eyes practically sparkled, as if I had just given him the most brilliant idea in the world.

“We can’t keep Esper Yeo Eundo tied to the hospital, you’re absolutely right.”

Something about this felt ominous. I tried to step back, but something was blocking me from behind. I turned around—and there was Yeo Eundo.

While I was distracted, the doctor had already continued.

“We’ll arrange monitoring with the Center, so please take care of him after discharge.”

“What? Wait, what do you mean!”

Post-discharge monitoring? There was no way I was taking on that ridiculous responsibility. I wanted to reject it immediately, but before I could, Yeo Eundo stepped forward. His face was practically glowing with a smile.

“Seol Maehwa Guide-nim, I’ll be in your care.”

Before I could even grab him, the doctor had already disappeared from the hospital room.

I had been swept up in this mess in the blink of an eye, left standing there like a dazed fool.