By Zephyria 
I am originally an S-Class Guide. Before my regression, everyone was desperate to recruit me, and I have a career of guiding a difficult S-Class Esper named Vasily for six years.
The guiding of an S-Class Guide is of a completely different quality compared to an ordinary guide. Among them, I was on the side of those who could handle wavelengths exceptionally well. However, Vasily—both then and now—has no idea that I am competent.
Well, this kind of reaction is actually normal. Does he think it’s easy to guide an S-Class Esper with a matching rate of only 4 percent? If I were truly a C-Class Guide who had just awakened, I would have collapsed from exhaustion and been carried away in less than a minute while guiding Vasily.
Ah, that’s not what’s important right now.
I barely snapped out of it after feeling quite smug from hearing a compliment for the first time in a while. Regaining my composure, I asked the Esper in front of me.
“By the way, what happened that made you come out already?”
“I kicked him out because Esper Vasily said he was going to freeze the Gate. He told me that if I didn’t get out of the Gate within an hour, I’d be caught up in it, so I ran at full speed…”
Cold sweat trickled down my face. This vast Gate… he’s going to freeze it all?
‘This crazy bastard!’
If he did something like that without a Guide, his wavelength would undoubtedly become a complete mess by the time he came out. Then he’d make another absurd demand for me to guide him. That would mean I’d have to guide him while taking several pills, unable to even refuse.
I let out a silent scream toward the Gate. It was a cry of despair that wouldn’t reach Vasily, who was likely happily releasing his powers inside the Gate.
I was grinding my teeth, thinking I’d give him a piece of my mind once he finished the conquest and came out, when Vasily happened to come into view as he exited the Gate.
“Um, Guide-nim…”
“Vasily!”
I shouted loudly at Vasily, who was still emitting a chill from his entire body, as if he hadn’t yet shaken off the aftereffects of his power. Oh, come to think of it, I was still in the middle of guiding. I looked at the Esper, who had been trying to say something to me, and asked.
“I’m sorry. What were you saying just now…?”
“It’s nothing. Thank you for guiding me.”
“Then I’ll end the guiding here.”
After asking for understanding, I approached Vasily. This jerk was leisurely waving his hand, completely unaware of how my insides were burning with frustration.
“I finished the conquest. I came out before noon, just like I said, right?”
“Did you really freeze the entire Gate?”
“Who did you hear that from…?”
As Vasily’s gaze tried to shift toward the Esper I had been guiding, I quickly blocked his view. Then, I poured out a barrage of nagging.
“Are you insane? Do you do this even though you know your condition will worsen if you do something like that?”
“That’s why I didn’t freeze the whole thing; I only froze about half. I’ve done this often in the past, so it’s fine—”
“What do you mean it’s fine? Cold air is still leaking out of your body right now!”
Perhaps because he had just released his power, his ability was still swirling around as if trying to freeze the surrounding air. I frowned and looked at him.
“Guide Kwon Gi-dam, don’t be so angry. I just…”
“Ugh…”
As Vasily took a step closer, a cold wind brushed against my skin. I reflexively flinched and stepped back, and only then did Vasily notice the cold air swirling around him and withdraw his hand.
I gauged Vasily’s condition. Seeing his relaxed attitude, it seemed I didn’t need to proceed with guiding urgently. In any case, it would be impossible to guide Vasily until his power subsided.
I looked around. There were no other Espers in need of guiding, and the atmosphere suggested that they would wrap up the site and disband soon. It should be fine if I left a little early.
“Esper Vasily, would it be alright to proceed with the guiding at the association?”
“Yes. My condition isn’t bad yet.”
“Then let’s leave immediately.”
I hurried into the tent, changed my clothes, packed my things, and came out. After returning my combat suit to the site manager, I walked down to where Vasily’s car was parked.
Getting into the car, I glanced at Vasily, who was leisurely starting the engine in the driver’s seat. Since it was a bit of a distance to the association, I was anxious that the steering wheel might freeze on the way back. Having already died once because of Vasily, I didn’t want to entrust my life to his hands.
“Esper Vasily.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s switch seats. I’ll drive.”
Vasily switched seats without a word. As I sat down in the driver’s seat, I felt the spot where Vasily had been sitting until a moment ago wrap around my body with a chill.
Thinking my backside felt cold, I fastened the seatbelt and gripped the steering wheel, but the leather handle felt strangely unfamiliar.
It had been a long time since I drove Vasily’s car. Before the regression, I used to drive instead of Vasily, but after the regression, there had been no such occasion. I thought once again that it was a relief I had gotten my license as soon as I turned twenty.
As soon as we arrived at the association, we went up to the private room. I turned on the lights and asked as I stepped inside.
“Has your power calmed down a bit now?”
“Hmm… I think there’s still some left.”
I intended to proceed with the guiding, but it seemed the aftereffects of his power hadn’t completely subsided yet. He looked fine on the outside… Recalling the gloves I used to wear before the regression, I asked.
“Do you have something like gloves that block your power?”
“They broke last time, so new ones are being made.”
I wondered why I didn’t see them; so they were broken.
I fell into thought for a moment. The cold air wasn’t swirling violently around Vasily right now, and he seemed relatively stable. At this level, it seemed there wouldn’t be much of a problem even with contact.
“I’ll just proceed with the guiding.”
“…If you touch me now, Guide Kwon Gi-dam will get hurt again.”
“The cold is weaker than before, and I think it’ll be fine as long as our hands don’t touch. Are you still worried?”
“….”
From my perspective, it seemed fine, but Vasily looked reluctant to receive guiding.
“If you’re that anxious, I’ll wrap your hands. Is there a towel or something in the private room?”
I looked around as I spoke. A sofa and table in the center of the private room, an office desk and chair by the wall, a bed by the window, and a bookshelf with a few books that looked like Russian originals.
…There’s no way there would be one.
A piece of cloth large enough to sufficiently wrap Vasily’s hands. I was wondering if I should strip off the duvet cover, looking around the private room, when my gaze stopped. Something perfect was right in front of me.
“Esper Vasily, take off your suit jacket.”
“My jacket?”
“Yes. Since there’s nothing suitable to wrap your hands with, you take it off.”
“Hmm… alright.”
Vasily obediently took off his suit. It was a large jacket, fitting his physique. A size like this seemed sufficient to wrap his hands.
I pulled Vasily’s hands behind his back and wrapped them with the jacket. It ended up looking as if his hands were tied behind him… but the safety measure was now more or less complete.
Vasily looked down at himself and muttered.
“You have a more coercive taste than you look…”
“If you talk nonsense, I’m just leaving.”
“I’m joking.”
A sigh escaped me at his frivolous remark. I then pulled Vasily into a sudden embrace.
Now, even with this body, I could handle Vasily’s wavelength with familiarity. It might be because my body became stronger thanks to daily exercise, or perhaps I had simply adapted.
As the guiding began, Vasily let out a breath, appearing much more comfortable.
“Guide Kwon Gi-dam is indeed warm.”
Instead of his immobilized hands, Vasily lightly rubbed his face against my chest.
…Since his hands are tied, it certainly looks like a bit of a perverted scene. To think an S-Class Esper is in this state. The association would be appalled if they saw this, but since he himself seems fine, I guess it’s fine. Still, it’s a bit awkward.
“Get your face away from there. It’s cold.”
“That’s mean…”
Vasily lifted his head again and began to receive the guiding quietly.
Seeing the cold air flowing from him gradually weaken, it seemed he had calmed down to some extent. Then, I’ll guide him a bit more and head home.
I had been prepared to be tied to the Gate until Sunday, but it was still Saturday afternoon. Since working on the weekend can only be compensated with an allowance, my vacation only lasts until Monday. Since Vasily will likely apply for designated guiding again starting next week, it would be best to get plenty of rest before reporting to the association.
Vasily, who had been receiving the guiding quietly, spoke up.
“Guide Kwon Gi-dam, do you really have no intention of becoming my Guide?”
“I don’t.”
“Don’t reject me so bluntly; think about it a bit more seriously.”
Vasily’s dedicated Guide. There was no need to think seriously or otherwise. If I had intended to become his Guide, I wouldn’t have suffered by implanting an illegal suppression chip and taking mysterious drugs in the first place.
“You only have to stay as my Guide until my contract period ends. Was it 3 years left…?”
“Are you sure it’s 3 years?”
“Since it seems there are no Guides in Korea who can withstand my wavelength anyway, I plan to leave once the contract ends.”
When I asked tentatively, pretending to know nothing, Vasily answered. Hearing his response, I barely managed to stop the corners of my mouth from twitching and cheered inwardly.