By Zephyria 
Pressing my throbbing head, I asked.
“How was the training?”
“It was tolerable.”
For someone saying that, he looked quite satisfied.
I felt like I was dying of boredom, but Vasily seemed to have enjoyed it. Come to think of it, when I glanced over, Vasily had been listening with quite a bit of focus. Though, I doubt there was anything in there that would have been particularly helpful for him…
My head throbbed, so I stopped thinking deeply.
“Before we go home, I’d like to stop by your private room for a moment, Esper.”
“Why the private room?”
“I left some medicine there… I have some stored in the room, so I think I should take it before we leave.”
“Do you really need medicine just because you leaned your head on me?”
At the mention of medicine, Vasily’s expression hardened as if he were displeased. But what could I do? My head hurt after being in contact for two whole hours.
We left the training hall and headed to Vasily’s private room.
I took out the medicine I had stored in the drawer and swallowed it. After sitting on the sofa to rest for a bit, fortunately, my condition improved quickly. Just as I was about to suggest we go home, someone knocked cautiously on the door.
“Ah, hello, Esper Vasily.”
The people who entered the private room shortly after were two association employees.
“Esper Vasily, we heard that due to a mistake on our part today, a text was sent to the Guide by mistake, and as a result, you participated in the training. We heard you are currently recovering from injuries, and we are truly sorry for disturbing your rest…”
It seemed the association had rushed over after belatedly realizing that Vasily had attended the training. The employee trembled violently, apologizing repeatedly.
But it should be fine. Vasily had looked to be in a very good mood for a while now.
“Forget it. These things happen.”
“Yes… thank you!”
As expected, Vasily readily forgave them and sent the employees away. The person in charge stumbled out, barely managing to walk as if the strength had left their legs.
“Exactly what did you do in the past to make them that terrified?”
“I don’t know… I’m not sure.”
Like he didn’t know.
I clicked my tongue at his act of playing innocent. Recalling how he didn’t hesitate to freeze people whole if they touched a nerve, it wasn’t hard to guess what he had done. He was like that in the future, so why wouldn’t he have been like that in the past?
To think he’s acting like a complete sociopath with looks that could rival a famous Hollywood actor. If I were a movie director, I would have bitten all ten of my fingers in regret over such a waste.
I have a feeling things are going to get tiring in the future.
Sighing, I quietly stood up.
* * *
Friday arrived.
Technically, today was the end of Vasily’s vacation, but we visited the association. This was because every Friday, I had to receive an injection to separate the suppression chip embedded in the back of my neck from my skin.
As soon as we arrived at the association, we headed to the laboratory where Vasily’s Attending Physician was.
I received the injection immediately upon arriving at the lab. I felt the now-familiar stiffness, and soon a small bandage was applied to the injection site.
“On the day of the fourth injection, let’s take another MRI to check the progress.”
I nodded. If the results were good, I might be able to remove the suppression chip within a month of starting the injections.
Since that was the only reason for coming to the association, I was about to leave when the Attending Physician hesitated and spoke up cautiously.
“Esper, today is the day for your regular check-up. You didn’t get tested last month either, so this time, please…”
“Next time.”
Vasily answered shortly and turned around. I grabbed Vasily’s arm as he tried to leave the lab and spoke.
“Esper Vasily, please get the check-up.”
“The results will be similar to every other time, so there’s no need to bother.”
“There are many people who will be in trouble if you don’t get tested.”
For example, his Attending Physician, who was currently breaking into a cold sweat right next to him.
Generally, the management of S-class Espers is very thorough. Especially in Vasily’s case, since he doesn’t belong to this country and has been without a Guide for a long time, if anything were to happen, there’s a high possibility the International Esper Association would hold Korea responsible.
In other words, if he doesn’t get periodic check-ups, the hearts of several officials are on edge. As far as I know, the Attending Physician’s research funding is also at stake.
“It’ll take a long time. Are you okay with that?”
“I’ll wait.”
When I answered firmly, Vasily looked at me with a slight frown. He looked displeased, but in the end, Vasily was the one to give in.
Vasily approached a machine placed in one corner of the lab and took off his top. After draping his clothes nearby and sitting in the chair, the Attending Physician began attaching the sensors.
Soon, the machine started operating with a loud noise. Seeing Vasily close his eyes as if bored of waiting, I also sat in a chair and leaned back.
“It’s finished. Would you like to hear the results before you go?”
However, the test ended in less than ten minutes.
He said it would take a long time, but he was just making excuses because he didn’t want to do it. I glanced sideways at Vasily as he put his clothes back on.
“Since I already took the test, I might as well hear the results. Our Guide seems curious.”
…I’m not particularly curious.
Regardless, since I was the one who told him to get the test, I should at least pretend to listen. I kept my mouth shut and listened to the results with him.
“The wavelength is still unstable, but it has improved compared to the last test results.”
The graph on the screen was drawing complex figures, unlike the ones I had seen before the regression.
The slight improvement probably wasn’t thanks to the guiding from a 4 percent matching rate; it was likely because he received guiding after freezing the back of my neck a few times.
“Perhaps because the matching rate is 4 percent, there are no noticeable changes. Since you mentioned the suppression chip lowers the matching rate, it would be best to test again after removing the chip.”
Once the suppression chip is removed, Vasily’s condition will improve dramatically. Suddenly, I started to worry. How should I reveal that I am an S-class guide?
If a matching rate test is conducted after removing the suppression chip, it’s obvious that both the actual matching rate and the rank will be exposed. I worried that if he found out I was S-class, Vasily might return to his old self.
I couldn’t imagine Vasily’s reaction upon learning the truth. Would he be happy? Or would he be angry that I hid my rank?
I didn’t know. My head just got complicated for no reason, so I told them I was going to the restroom and stepped out into the hallway alone.
Just then, my smartphone vibrated.
‘Jo Woo-yeon?’
Checking the familiar face on the screen, I answered the call happily.
“Hello, Guide Jo Woo-yeon.”
Ah, Gi-dam! Have you been doing well?
A familiar voice. I wondered if he was just calling to check in after a long time, but the surroundings sounded noisy.
“Is something happening?”
Well… I’m sorry to ask this after not contacting you for a while, but could you possibly come as support for an A-class Gate that opened in the provinces?
“What? Support… I’m no longer affiliated with the temporary Guides, so I think it will be difficult…”
No, I’m not talking about you, Gi-dam…
Jo Woo-yeon trailed off, then continued cautiously.
I’m talking about Esper Vasily…
“Ah.”
Only after hearing the following words did I understand why Jo Woo-yeon couldn’t speak immediately and hesitated for so long.
I’m at a Gate that opened suddenly today, and the conquest is being delayed because there aren’t enough personnel to enter the A-class Gate. It’s a Red Gate where monsters pop out, so I contacted you despite my lack of shame because I’m worried the surrounding cities might become endangered…
I closed my eyes tightly at the headache-inducing situation.
Jo Woo-yeon probably doesn’t know. Most A-class Espers are currently dispatched for training at the West Sea Gate, so there’s likely a shortage of personnel. On top of that, Vasily is on vacation this week, so there were practically no high-rank Espers who could be dispatched to the Gate.
“…I’ll ask Esper Vasily.”
I answered and hung up the phone.
Before the regression, I was inside the West Sea Gate, so I didn’t know such an incident had occurred. Probably, an electric-type Esper who is currently at the West Sea went as support or something.
It seemed a problem had arisen because I changed the future, and I felt a sense of responsibility to solve it.
Returning to the lab, I began to explain in detail to Vasily.
“Um… Esper Vasily.”
“What?”
“Do you have any intention of going to a Gate? I just got a call from an acquaintance saying that the conquest of an A-class Gate is being delayed due to a lack of personnel.”
“A Gate?”
Of course, the response was that he wasn’t particularly keen.
“You even used violence against an Esper to stop them from being sent to a Gate, and now you’ve suddenly changed your mind?”
“Ugh…”
He hit the nail on the head.
The wound from where I had landed a punch and Vasily had torn it open had healed a bit, but it hadn’t completely disappeared. Since it was a request that contradicted the reason I had stopped him from going to the West Sea Gate—that his condition would worsen—I felt self-conscious.
“Well… if this continues, there will be many casualties… and I’ll give you guiding after you return…”
“You’re saying this knowing that I can receive guiding even if I don’t go, right?”
Not only had Vasily saved his guiding sessions this week, but yesterday, because I had fallen asleep leaning on him during the training, he hadn’t requested guiding in the evening. In other words… the weekly limit of 4 guiding sessions had not yet been deducted.
“….”
Ultimately, I was speechless.
“You know my answer, right?”
Right… there’s no reason for Vasily to go. My shoulders slumped instantly. What should I do? If support is delayed, the damage will increase and there might be victims.
“But… if support is delayed like this, there will be victims and the damage cannot be ignored.”
“They’re dying because they’re weak; what does that have to do with me?”
I had forgotten that Vasily viewed human lives like insects, but hearing the cold answer, a fresh wave of disappointment washed over me. Of course, I was also disappointed in myself for not being able to help the people in danger with my own power.
Just as I was wondering if I really had no choice but to give up, Vasily let out a deep sigh.
“Get ready.”
“…?”
“I’m definitely getting guiding after I return.”
“…Yes!”
Vasily suddenly changed his mind. I wonder why? But there was no time to speculate on the reason. Before Vasily could change his mind again, I said goodbye to the Attending Physician and hurried out of the lab following him.