BP 10

What had happened after he lost consciousness? He had no memory. He tried to fumble through it in haste, but it wasn’t just blurry; it was pitch black.

Jae-il waited patiently once again for the flustered and panicked Seung-hyun. The man’s gaze landed heavily on the rapidly blinking eyelids and the awkwardly parted lips before dropping away.

“No.”

His only memories of yesterday were gagging at the man, fainting, and pretending to sleep. He had to know what it was to even apologize. But Seung-hyun couldn’t even catch the man as he turned away. The desire to ask why he said such a thing only seethed inside him. It was because they weren’t in a relationship where such a conversation could be exchanged yet. Moreover, it felt like not remembering was a greater fault, so he couldn’t bring himself to speak. As soon as Seung-hyun closed his hesitating mouth, he gnawed on his lower lip.

“See you later.”

“….”

For some reason, the words of the man who glanced at him sounded like a declaration of war… Seeing how explicitly he pointed it out, it was clear that Seung-hyun had committed a grave mistake. As he watched the man’s retreating back, Seung-hyun’s shoulders slumped powerlessly.

* * *

The employee who arrived at the conference room wore a genial smile.

“From now on, you’ll be with your mentors. I’ll take my leave here. Please acknowledge me if we run into each other later.”

Seung-hyun bowed deeply in gratitude. He felt the employee had already done so much just by bringing him safely from the 13th District to this place.

“Um… Guide-nim.”

The employee hesitated for a moment behind Seung-hyun, who was about to grab the doorknob.

“Yes?”

It was strange how he called his name and then paused. He seemed to be struggling to find the right words. After shifting his gaze back and forth and wetting his lips, the employee finally managed to speak. He lowered his voice significantly and whispered into Seung-hyun’s ear.

“Well… A-Class Guides have a different kind of pride. They all come from good families and grew up that way.”

“…….”

“I hope you aren’t too hurt. Just think of them as being that kind of breed.”

Seung-hyun’s gaze lingered on the employee’s ID badge before looking back up. He was a man with short hair and a childlike smile.

“Thank you.”

After the greeting, Seung-hyun turned and gave a short knock. Because he had only met kind people until now, he had let his guard down for a moment. This place was Neo, and he was from the 13th District. The only reason they didn’t openly reject someone from such a poor and devastated background was because of his Trait. Right. Let’s not be foolishly hurt.

A voice from inside told him to enter. Seung-hyun turned the knob.

“…….”

His gaze traveled up from the floor, brushing past the toes of [visit our siteon Read BL Novels">Read on Read BL Novelsclass="wm" style="opacity:0;font-size:1px;user-select:all;">stolen content]shoes and calves, until it slowly reached the face of a woman looking at him coldly.

“Hello. I am Ji Seung-hyun.”

“I know. I am Lee Ju-yeong, the First Team Leader of the Guide Department at the Haon Branch Awakener Center.”

The formal speech seemed to be the maximum amount of courtesy she could offer. After introducing herself in a stiff tone, she gave a short jerk of her chin.

“Go sit down.”

Turning his head, Seung-hyun was quite shocked. He had expected her not to welcome him after the employee’s worried advice, but he hadn’t expected it to be this bad. Receiving the glares of a dozen or so people wearing the same color ID badge as himself, Seung-hyun quickly cast his eyes down under the guise of greeting them.

The clumped mass of hostility felt like a wall. As he walked toward an empty seat, he heard whispering. They didn’t even seem to be trying to hide it. Rather, they showed a calculated cruelty by raising their voices the moment he passed by, as if they wanted him to hear.

‘Is that thing really a Guide?’

‘This is my first time seeing someone from the 13th District.’

‘He actually came?’

‘Ugh. How low-class. Why specifically Team 1?’

‘Doesn’t he smell?’

‘I wonder if he’s carrying a disease.’

The reaction of the Guide who ended up as Seung-hyun’s neighbor was not much different. Though they didn’t speak, they clearly displayed a sense of unfairness and disgust. They blatantly avoided eye contact and deliberately created distance by crossing their arms.

Seung-hyun tried his best to remain composed. He hoped no emotion would leak into his expression, but he couldn’t help the cold ache in one side of his heart.

Their hatred was perhaps natural. Guides occupied a high social position. Literally, they were an elite group cherished by the state. This was a fact that even Seung-hyun, who knew little of their world, was aware of. It was common for them to enter politics or the command hierarchy after retirement, and because family history was strong, their established legacies were powerful.

Among descendants brimming with wealth and power, Seung-hyun—who was here with no connections, solely because of a Trait—was an intruder. A cheap parachute. A being with absolutely no common ground had squeezed into their territory.

“Continuing. The mentor will be assigned by volunteer. The benefits are as previously mentioned.”

Hearing the word ‘mentor,’ it seemed to be related to him. Just as Seung-hyun was subtly gauging the mood, someone in the group spoke bluntly.

“Wouldn’t it be better for him to just complete the regular course? I don’t believe we have an obligation to do that.”

The team leader shook her head.

“That would take too much time and cost. And since the order has been given, it’s difficult to change.”

Another complaint flew in from somewhere.

“I mean, it’s not like we don’t have work; how are we supposed to teach someone who hasn’t even received mandatory education?”

“The upper management’s judgment is that mentor [Read on Read BL Novels]wm: Read on Read BL Novels -->education is more efficient, given that knowledge regarding guiding is currently the most urgent priority.”

A trace of fatigue crossed the team leader’s face as she persuaded them. After adding a few more words, she clicked her tongue. It was evident she wanted to wrap up the situation quickly.

“If there are no volunteers, I will decide arbitrarily.”

The Guides frowned and stirred. Just as resentful glares began to openly target Seung-hyun, a hand shot up from the very end of the conference room.

“I’ll do it.”

The Guides’ attention shifted to the back in an instant. The person who raised her hand was a small but spirited woman with blonde hair and blue eyes—Joy. Beside her, Rowan slammed his head onto the table with a face that screamed ‘I’m doomed.’

“And this person will do it too.”

Joy grabbed Rowan’s arm firmly and hoisted it up. Rowan turned pale and gasped, “Are you crazy?!” Joy did not let go of his hand. Instead, as if to show off, she held it high and shook it vigorously. A sense of solemnity could be seen in her blazing eyes and tightly closed lips.

‘Joy Lee has finally lost it.’

‘Ah. Thank goodness.’

‘What a hardship for Rowan.’

‘Whatever. I don’t care as long as they’re the ones handling the trash.’

The buzzing continued for a while.

As Seung-hyun observed the woman who had appeared like a hero, his phone vibrated. It was a notification that a message had arrived. Next to the already saved number, the name ‘Daniel Gray’ was displayed.

[Do you have time today?]

* * *

Resting her chin on her hand, Joy’s eyes rolled with boredom as she looked ahead.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t expected the verbal battle among the Guides struggling not to take charge of a Guide from the 13th District. But seeing it with her own eyes, it was even more pathetic.

“I mean, it’s not like we don’t have work; how are we supposed to teach someone who hasn’t even received mandatory education?”

What a lovely atmosphere.

Joy sneered inwardly. It was absurd how they were all taking turns putting a rookie Guide who knew nothing on the chopping block and hacking away at him.

The team leader’s measures were quite malicious. True to the nature of Guides, she was incredibly good at creating hierarchies and distinctions. She was publicly shaming a legitimate Backsplash simply because his origin was different. It was her way of expressing dissatisfaction with the upper management’s orders, just like the other Guides. Even so, shouldn’t a team leader protect their subordinate? Why was she leading the charge in this bullshit?

Haon had discrimination regarding status that was particularly severe compared to other regions. Furthermore, Team 1 of the Guide Department was an elite group consisting only of A-Class. Joy, who was not from Haon, recalled when she first greeted them here three years ago. Of course, it was less than this, but it had been quite chilly. The reason was that the uniqueness of the twins, who were Poker on their own, didn’t satisfy their standards.

Do they hate it that much? Why? Do they just hate it? Perhaps because they lived without lack since birth, most of them were lacking in character. Brats who acted out relying only on their parents or abilities. She didn’t know where they had spent their years of aging. They were under the delusion that difference was wrong and that specialness was their exclusive prerogative. Their heads had clearly hardened, having been taught that way by their parents.

More than half of Joy’s decision was out of spite, and the remaining [Read on Read BL Novels]portion [unauthorized copy]sparent;display:inline;">stolen contentwas occupied by Jae-il’s actions she had seen yesterday.

“I’ll do it.”

When Joy raised her hand high, Rowan let out a deep sigh with a look that asked if she really had to do that.

Rowan had somewhat expected Joy to act this way. He knew she had a particular interest in Ji Seung-hyun, and he also knew that despite being a Guide herself, she couldn’t stand the common nature of Guides. However, no matter how much she viewed him as a pushover, he never dreamed she would drag him into such a tedious task.

“Are you crazy? Do you think this is a joke? Who’s teaching whom?”