By Zephyria 
While Vasily and I were arguing, the car we were in became covered in ice.
The engine had already been off for a long time. Realizing we were stranded in the middle of the highway with nowhere to go, we had no choice but to get out of the car and request help from the association.
Leaving the completely frozen foreign car behind, I stood a good distance away from Vasily, waiting for the association to pick us up. Fortunately, a vehicle returning to Seoul after finishing site cleanup received the association’s call and came to get us.
However, the interior of the large van was almost full of Espers and staff returning to the association.
“…….”
After getting into the car, I fixed my gaze out the window amidst an uncomfortable silence. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, people quietly shifted their eyes, exchanging glances with one another.
A familiar sight. I feel like something similar happened in the past…
Of course, the situation was slightly different from back then, but the way the temperature inside the vehicle dropped because of Vasily, and the sight of people shivering in the cold, not daring to open the windows, was exactly the same.
In the past, I had been terrified just like them. Of course, not anymore. Though my fists were trembling, it wasn’t out of fear, but out of rage.
A chilly energy lingered between Vasily and me. I wanted to just ignore him, but the cool breeze leaking from the seat next to me constantly poked at my side.
Then, Vasily, who had remained silent since boarding the car, spoke up.
“Did you say Huai Yan is still in Korea?”
I was a bit surprised that Vasily would ask about Huai Yan first. I wondered why he was so quiet; could he have been pondering my words all this time?
Hoping that might be the case, I answered with a slight glimmer of expectation.
“So I’ve heard.”
“As soon as we return, I’ll have to deal with that bastard first.”
Damn it, I knew it. I felt pathetic for harboring futile hopes even for a moment.
At Vasily’s death threat, the air inside the vehicle grew even heavier. The sound of someone gulping, their eyes cast down with a dark expression, echoed unusually loudly.
Quickly shaking off my disappointment, I let out a hollow laugh and sneered.
“In your current state, unable to even receive proper guiding, do you think you can even win?”
“Guide Kwon Gi-dam can verify that for himself with his own eyes.”
“Verify what? Am I supposed to provide guiding even to a collapsed Esper Vasily?”
Vasily’s murderous gaze pierced through me. As ice slowly began to spread around us, it seemed my comment had seriously offended him.
“Um… excuse me, but could you both please calm down? If you keep fighting like this, I think the car is going to break down…”
As the atmosphere became uncontrollably frigid, an Esper who looked to be the highest rank stepped in to mediate. He was hinting for Vasily to withdraw his ability, but the cold did not subside.
In the end, we had to endure the cold, breathing out puffs of white air inside the frost-covered car until we arrived at the association.
As soon as I stepped out of the van, I headed straight for the taxis lined up on the road without looking back. As I strode away alone, Vasily followed and asked.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going home to rest. I’ll take a taxi, so you can find your own way back, Esper.”
“What about the injection?”
“Why should I get an injection? I’ll be removing the suppression chip with Esper Huai Yan’s help soon anyway—ugh!”
Before I could finish my sentence, Vasily grabbed my arm roughly. My face contorted in pain as if my bones were about to be crushed.
“Let go!”
“It would be faster to just freeze you and take you, but I’ll give you a choice. Do you want to be dragged away with a frozen arm, or will you follow me quietly?”
I gritted my teeth and glared at Vasily.
I had no intention of following him quietly, but the location happened to be poor. People passing by the association had heard the commotion and were starting to glance our way.
Tsk, I clicked my tongue shortly and shook off Vasily’s hand.
“I’ll walk on my own, so let go.”
I brushed off the spot where Vasily’s hand had touched and walked toward the association.
Behind me, I heard the sound of dress shoes echoing out of sync with my steps. Throughout the walk, I felt a monitoring gaze following me silently to ensure I didn’t slip away elsewhere.
In that state, without exchanging a single word, we arrived at the Attending Physician’s office.
“O-oh, you’ve arrived…”
As we opened the door and entered, the Attending Physician hurriedly stood up from his seat to greet us. Looking at his face, it was clear he hadn’t expected our visit at all.
“I heard you went to the Gate, so I didn’t think you’d come today… I’ll prepare the medicine right away, so please wait a moment.”
“…….”
No one answered the Attending Physician’s apology. Only then did the Attending Physician sense the biting wind in the atmosphere and ask cautiously.
“Did something happen between you two?”
“Nothing happened, so just hurry up and prepare the medicine.”
“Yes…”
As Vasily coldly cut off the conversation, the Attending Physician nodded without asking further.
Watching this, I grabbed the Attending Physician and said with a deliberate, bright smile.
“Doctor, I have good news. I’ve found someone who can help turn off the power to the suppression chip.”
“Ah, is that true? Congratulations.”
While receiving congratulations from the Attending Physician, I shot a sidelong glance at Vasily.
See, this is a normal reaction. Rationally thinking, there was absolutely no reason to refuse Huai Yan’s help. It was frustrating that Vasily wanted to take the long way around despite having an easy solution right in front of him.
A moment later, the Attending Physician returned with the medicine.
I received the injection as usual and stood up, tidying my messy hair. My neck where the drug entered felt stiff, and fatigue washed over me. Perhaps because I had been tossing and turning on an uncomfortable cot, I desperately wanted to lie down and rest in a comfortable bed.
“Would you like to have your regular check-up before you go, Esper?”
“Next time.”
Vasily answered curtly. Normally, I would have persuaded him to get the exam, but today was different. Pretending not to have heard about the regular check-up, I said goodbye to the Attending Physician and left the office.
I caught a taxi and returned home with Vasily.
A murderous atmosphere still flowed throughout the entire elevator ride up. And our cold war was not over yet.
“Guide Kwon Gi-dam, change your clothes and come to my room immediately for guiding.”
Vasily grabbed me as I was about to enter my room and demanded guiding. Simultaneously, my expression soured. I guarantee there has never been a day I’ve wanted to provide guiding less than today.
I finally made it home, and I still have to look at Vasily’s face? I’d refuse even if a knife were held to my throat.
Showing my dislike openly, I replied bluntly.
“Can’t we do it next time? I’m tired.”
“If you’re curious about what will happen to the house tomorrow, go ahead and try.”
“…….”
What kind of childish threat is this…
If I went into my room now, it was certain I’d wake up tomorrow in a frozen bed. I sighed and stepped toward Vasily. I still didn’t want to do the guiding, but since the contract was involved, it felt uncomfortable to refuse.
That said, I had absolutely no intention of spending an hour hugging Vasily in an uncomfortable moment.
“I’ll proceed with the guiding right now.”
Without even asking for his consent, I grabbed him by the collar and pulled. As Vasily was pulled forward along with his tie, I tilted my head and pressed my lips against his.
Vasily was surprisingly easily pulled in, but his eyes wavered for a moment, as if he hadn’t expected this method. I frowned slightly and looked up at him.
Since you’re the one who demanded guiding, how long do you plan to keep your mouth shut? Only after I bit his firmly closed lips with emotion did they open.
The guiding that followed was a dry kiss devoid of any emotion. It was merely simple contact for the sake of guiding; even as our lips locked and our breaths mingled, it was strangely devoid of any feeling. Just like when I used to guide mechanically before the regression.
‘This should be enough.’
After exchanging cool breaths, the sensation at the tip of my tongue began to fade, as if I had been holding ice in my mouth for a long time.
I released the tie I was holding and pulled my lips away. However, the hand that immediately came up to support the back of my head did not allow me to retreat.
“Ugh…”
Our mouths overlapped again, and my body was pushed strongly against the wall. He swallowed my lips as if to devour me, and before I could close my mouth, a cold tongue pushed deep inside.
Look at this. Frowning, I bit his tongue with all my might.
Crunch.
As the soft flesh was chewed, Vasily’s body flinched. Feeling the metallic taste of blood spreading in my mouth, I pushed him away.
As I wiped my damp lips with the back of my hand, vivid blood smeared along with the saliva.
“It hasn’t… been an hour yet.”
“Did you leave your conscience behind while fighting monsters? This should be more than enough for the effect of one hour of contact guiding. Today’s guiding ends here, so don’t call me again.”
I cast a cold gaze and walked toward my room. Before entering, I looked back one last time and spoke.
“Oh, for your information, you don’t need blood. You just drank plenty.”