By Zephyria 
“Now, would you mind guiding me?”
“……Understood.”
Vasily demanded guiding. I was speechless at his brazen attitude, but I had things I was curious about as well. As I began the guiding, I asked casually.
“Was the Gate conquered successfully?”
“Yes. We cleared it without any issues and came out.”
I couldn’t get a real answer from that. As I shifted my eyes and glanced at Vasily, he let out a quiet, curling smile and continued.
“And something truly fascinating happened. That Gate was a mutation Gate, just as Guide Kwon Gi-dam-ssi said. Those aren’t common.”
“What a coincidence.”
I grit my teeth and played dumb. To anyone else, this would look like a coincidence anyway. No one would ever guess that I knew about the Gate’s singularity because of my regression.
“Anyway, please stop coming to see me. People are starting to mistake me for Esper Vasily’s Guide.”
I grumbled, complaining to him. Between being kidnapped and the strange rumors spreading, the damage was significant.
Because Vasily visited at all hours to demand guiding, rumors had even started circulating that I was Vasily’s hidden Guide. Lately, the distortions had worsened, and whispers had even surfaced that we were lovers who couldn’t live without each other. Me and that guy, lovers? I’d rather be killed twice.
Today, Vasily had barged in without any notice, but usually, he diligently applied for designated guiding, leaving me with no justification to send him away.
I let out a sigh and muttered to myself. I hope this guy gets a Guide soon…
While guiding Vasily, I suddenly remembered tomorrow’s schedule. Tomorrow was the day I was scheduled to be dispatched to a Gate for the first time in a while.
Since Vasily would surely come looking for me tomorrow as well, it would be best to tell him in advance.
“Esper Vasily, please do not come to see me tomorrow. I’m going on a business trip.”
“Ah, didn’t you hear? That was canceled.”
“What?”
“I removed you from the list because I was worried Guide Kwon Gi-dam-ssi might do something reckless again. You were kidnapped yesterday, and your cold hasn’t fully healed yet.”
Bewildered, I blinked slowly. What… did he just say?
Vasily spoke as if it were nothing, even looking at me as if expecting praise.
In that moment, I saw glimpses of how he had tried to control me for the past six years. A time when wherever I went, whoever I met, and even the smallest conversation I had with another person was not permitted without his permission.
As that memory surfaced, the anger I had been suppressing exploded.
“Why did you do that on your own… what right do you have to cancel my dispatch!”
“Didn’t I save you when you almost died in the mountains without anyone knowing? I believe that gives me enough right.”
“…….”
I was left speechless when he brought up the day I almost died. I glared at Vasily, biting my lip. I wanted to argue, but the fact that I couldn’t find the words to say made me even angrier.
I bolted upright from my seat.
“Where are you going? The guiding isn’t finished yet.”
“I’m going to request that my name be put back on the list.”
Vasily’s gaze turned sharply cold.
“……It would be better if you didn’t.”
Vasily warned me in a low voice. However, I had no intention of backing down this time.
Slam!
I shut the guiding room door hard, as if venting my frustration, and walked out.
Damn it, who do I contact to reinstate a dispatch that Vasily arbitrarily canceled? I headed toward my desk, recalling the organizational chart, when the Team leader spotted me returning to the department and spoke.
“Gi-dam-ssi, you were scheduled for a Gate dispatch tomorrow, right? That’s been canceled, so just report to the association as usual.”
“……Yes.”
The Team leader had delivered the news a step too late. Recalling what Vasily had told me, my stomach twisted further.
Just then, a sarcastic voice drifted from beside me.
“Must be nice for Kwon Gi-dam-ssi, getting out of Gate duty so easily. While everyone else has to be dispatched to dangerous Gates.”
It was an Assistant manager from the neighboring team. We weren’t particularly close, but he had been picking fights with me often lately.
It was a side effect of the rumors that I was Vasily’s Guide. There were occasionally people who thought Vasily was giving me special privileges. Unaware that my life hung in the balance with every single word I exchanged with him.
However, thanks to that, a good idea occurred to me.
“Assistant manager, when is your next business trip?”
“Me? Next Thursday.”
“Can I go in your place?”
The grumbling Assistant manager looked at me with surprised eyes.
“Really?”
“Yes. I think there’s been a misunderstanding; I actually prefer business trips.”
“Oh boy, then I’m all for it! I misunderstood you for nothing. Haha!”
The Assistant manager laughed boisterously and patted me on the back.
Good. It wasn’t the Gate I originally intended to go to, but I had succeeded in joining a Gate dispatch. But if Vasily found out, he would surely cancel it again. Therefore…
“I have one request in return.”
“What request?”
“Please process the change of the dispatch Guide after I return from the Gate. There shouldn’t be a problem if we apply at the end of the month, right?”
“I can definitely do a favor like that!”
I grinned, thinking of Vasily’s cold gaze. What does it matter how much you oppose me? I’ll just go in secret. Let’s see if you can stop this too.
* * *
Finally, the long-awaited dispatch date arrived.
Inside the association vehicle heading toward the Gate, I filled out the participant list. After telling the staff member in charge that I had come in place of another Guide, I put my name on the list.
Upon arriving at the Gate site, Vasily was nowhere to be seen. The area around the Gate was bustling with preparations for departure. Looking around at the familiar atmosphere, I felt a strange sense of pride.
Seriously, Vasily was a lunatic then and now. In the past, he was desperate to drag me into the Gate, and now he’s making a fuss to keep me away from it.
Well, maybe I’ll take a nap until the Espers enter the Gate and come back out. Just as I was about to put on the sleep mask I had brought and try to sleep, my smartphone vibrated.
“Where is this sudden call coming from…”
Suppressing my irritation at the vibration interrupting my rest, I checked the screen. It was a call from Vasily. Goosebumps broke out all over my body.
I hesitated over whether to answer, but I felt that ignoring it would only lead to weirder misunderstandings, so I decided to pick up. I pressed the call button and answered, pretending to be calm.
“Yes, this is Kwon Gi-dam from Guiding Team 3.”
…….
Silence flowed from the other end of the line. What is it? Did he dial the wrong number?
“Esper Vasily?”
I believe I warned you not to come near the Gate.
Vasily spoke in a chilling voice. I flinched and looked around, but Vasily was nowhere to be seen.
Damn it… did he find out already? How? For now, I played innocent.
“I didn’t go… I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
Then how do you explain Guide Kwon Gi-dam’s empty seat?
“I’m on vacation today—”
Since I’ve already heard that you volunteered to go on dispatch in place of another Guide, don’t even think about making excuses.
I wiped my face, swallowing a complex set of emotions. He hadn’t shown his face for days, and of all times, he had to find me today…
—Don’t do anything stupid and wait.
The call cut off abruptly. Wait… does that mean he’s coming here?
Looking down at the screen of the ended call, I couldn’t hide my depressed expression. Just a moment ago, I was happy thinking about a pleasant nap, but the situation had flipped 180 degrees in an instant. While other Guides rested comfortably, I had to stress out while waiting for Vasily, not knowing when he would arrive.
“Guide Kwon Gi-dam.”
Before long, someone entered the tent. He must have rushed over the moment the call ended; he arrived quickly.
“Come out.”
Vasily ordered, pulling back the tent entrance, but I didn’t budge from my spot and spoke.
“I cannot leave until the Gate is conquered.”
“Are you serious?”
Vasily brushed back his hair and glared at me. I glared back at him with the same intensity. What are you going to do if I stare?
“Haa… don’t think about running away and stay right here.”
Vasily let out a short breath, exited the tent, and headed straight for the Gate entrance.
I watched Vasily enter the Gate and then flopped down into a chair. I had no intention of running away. Since I’d already been caught, fleeing would only irritate him further.
I wonder when he’ll finally get a Guide. I feel like he’ll only stop paying attention to me once he has one.
As I habitually ignored the other Guides glancing at me and whispering, the outside soon began to buzz. It seemed the Gate conquest had already ended.
I wanted to stall for more time, but it was inevitable. Most of the Gates Vasily entered were conquered quickly.
The Espers began to emerge from the Gate one by one. But… why do they all look like they’re in bad shape?
Every single one of them moved unnaturally. As if a part of their body had been frozen solid…
“…….”
I quietly pressed my hand to my forehead.
Vasily vented his anger. I felt a bit sorry for the Espers who must have suffered in the Gate because of that lunatic.
The temporary Guides, checking the condition of the Espers coming out of the Gate, also began to grow frantic. Unintentionally, I had caused trouble in many ways.