Chapter 35 – GOY 35

#35

“I ​heard ​there ​was ​an ​F-Rank ​Guide present during ​the ​mock ​training. ​Did ​the Rampage occur because ​of ​that Guide?”

“Is the ​Guiding Rejection Reaction ​continuing?”

“Is ​it ​because ​of ​the ​F-Rank Guide?”

As soon ​as ​Joo ​Seung-hyuk dropped that ​bombshell, the reporters poured ​out questions, ​one after ​another.

Professor Choi ​tried to ​stop ​them, ​but the situation ​was already ​beyond his control. The ​script we had prepared ​vanished into thin air.

“It ​is not ​a ​problem with a specific Guide. I ​show a matching rate ​of ​3% ​or ​lower ​with all Guides.”

“Then ​are the ​rumors ​that you are ​retiring ​true?”

“Yes. I almost did.”

The camera ​flashes began ​to ​storm again. I ​lowered ​my ​head ​because ​it was ​too ​blinding, when ​suddenly, my hand was grabbed.

Startled, I looked ​up to unauthorized copysee ​Joo Seung-hyuk holding ​my hand [Read on Read BL Novels]with [visit our site]a ​picture-perfect smile.

“However, ​in the midst ​of ​despair that my ​life as an ​Esper might ​be ​over, Yeon-soo ​hyung ​appeared. Despite ​having ​only recently ​recovered, ​hyung ​underwent a matching ​rate ​test for ​my ​sake.”

“What ​was ​the matching rate?”

Instead of answering, Joo Seung-hyuk looked at me.

‘Please don’t say it.’

I sent him a desperate look. Whether he read my mind or not, Joo Seung-hyuk curled his lips into a beautiful smile.

“It’s 93%. To be precise, 93.872%.”

My wish was completely shattered. Right, there was no way Joo Seung-hyuk would actually care about my feelings…

“Then isn’t that practically 94%?”

“Isn’t a 93% matching rate between S-Classes a record?”

“Then why is he only a temporary Guide?”

“The two of you seem so affectionate; have you perhaps bonded?”

The moment the matching rate was announced, the reporters’ questions exploded.

This was the end. I squeezed my eyes shut.

---

I worried that this might lead all the way to a marriage announcement, but with Professor Choi’s help, we barely managed to settle the situation.

“Guide Lee Yeon-soo is exceptionally talented. He shows a high matching rate of over 80% with Esper Park Geon-woo, and his matching rates with other S-Class Espers are also high.”

Professor Choi repeatedly explained that I didn’t just have a specially high matching rate with Joo Seung-hyuk. He further clarified that the Academy would make every effort for Esper Joo Seung-hyuk’s recovery, and that I would only be in charge of Joo Seung-hyuk temporarily until then.

While Professor Choi spoke, Joo Seung-hyuk’s gaze sank coldly, but he didn’t say anything specific.

As I walked down after the press conference, my legs were shaking.

“Hyung. Be careful.”

Joo Seung-hyuk approached and supported me. Seeing him look so composed despite the chaos he had caused made anger surge within me.

I wanted to demand why he did that, why he had to mention the matching rate.

But before I could, Joo Seung-hyuk pressed close to me and slowly rubbed my ear.

“By the way, hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“What were you talking about with Professor Choi earlier? He was whispering secretly in your ear.”

“Th-that’s…”

I had intended to confront him about his sudden action, but before I knew it, I was the one being interrogated.

“We were just discussing the contents of the press conference…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Be careful from now on. You’ve been testing my patience since yesterday.”

I could feel a chilling mana from the hand touching my ear. His voice was soft, but he was very angry.

It hit me that the period of being lenient because he was a patient was truly over. And in front of an obsessive yandere with a cold edge, I couldn’t help but feel infinitely small.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Let’s go wash up quickly. You’ve been covered in filth since yesterday. You don’t have a cold today, right?”

“Yeah…”

Joo Seung-hyuk wrapped his arm around my waist. Since the Academy had allowed me to skip classes today to attend the press conference, I had no excuse to refuse.

Just as I was being dragged out, a rough shout echoed from behind.

“Joo Seung-hyuk!”

Professor Choi, who had stayed behind to deal with the reporters after the conference, let out a roar.

“What on earth do you think you’re doing!”

It was the first time I had seen the always-gentle Professor Choi so angry.

Not only I, but the other staff members were shocked, but Joo Seung-hyuk merely cast a brief glance back before looking at me again.

“Hyung, let’s go.”

It was a complete ignore. However, it was a hundred times better than him throwing a tantrum.

“Okay.”

And since the obsessive yandere was far scarier than the professor, I quietly followed him.

---

Five days later, Kim Joon returned to school.

He had originally intended to return the day after I visited him in the hospital, but he was told his discharge was delayed because he suffered an injury after slipping on the stairs.

The fact that Joo Seung-hyuk had come to the brink of a Rampage due to Kim Joon’s Guiding became known, and articles pointing this out were published. However, they were completely buried by the topic of the high matching rate between me and Joo Seung-hyuk.

I heard that in the past, if the matching rate of High-ranking Ability Users was high, they were sometimes forced into marriage. Such an atmosphere still existed to some extent today. Of course, they didn’t force marriage, but they created a strange atmosphere and pressure…

That’s why I worried about what would happen once the matching rate with Joo Seung-hyuk became public, but fortunately, it was peaceful.

I don’t check internet comments, so I’m not sure, but according to Ji-hee noona, the prevailing opinion seems to be that ‘No matter what, Lee Yeon-soo should be with Park Geon-woo.’ While there are people pairing me with Joo Seung-hyuk, they are drowned out by the voices supporting Park Geon-woo.

I had been uncomfortable because people had paired me with Park Geon-woo since middle school, but for once, I couldn’t tell you how relieved I was. Though I felt sorry for Geon-woo hyung, whose name was brought up for no reason because of me.

The Academy also announced that I was strictly a ‘temporary assigned Guide’ and that they would do their best to find a new Guide for Joo Seung-hyuk.

In any case, the rumors about my health issues and Joo Seung-hyuk’s retirement died down, and Kim Joon was able to return to the Academy without controversy.

However, the groups for the mock battle training were changed. After all, Kim Joon could not provide Guiding for Joo Seung-hyuk.

Ultimately, Kim Joon ended up on Ji-hee noona’s team.

I had specifically asked Ji-hee noona and Professor Choi for this.

Ji-hee noona’s group was relatively large, so the burden on individuals was less, and the ranks were diverse. Moreover, many stolen contentwere Read on Read BL Novelsaffiliated with the Changwi Guild, so stolen contentthey knew how to teach newcomers or beginners. Thus, it would be perfect for Kim Joon.

Ji-hee noona was also interested in Kim Joon due to his high matching rate, so she readily agreed.

“Yeon-soo sunbae!”

“Joon-ah.”

Kim Joon saw me and ran over with a bright smile.

“Sunbae, I did Guiding today.”

“Really? Did it go well?”

“Yes. The Esper student told me it felt good!”

I worried that the incident might leave a trauma, but Kim Joon was overcoming it well.

Then again, his mental strength was quite strong even in the original story. That’s how he endured that hardcore obsession and confinement…

“Good job. I knew you’d do well.”

“Hehe.”

His gentle smile was cute.

To think they tried to hand a child like this over to an obsessive yandere. No matter how strong of an M-tendency Kim Joon had or that I knew he would eventually come to love Joo Seung-hyuk, it was too cruel.

“But there’s one thing I’m curious about…”

Kim Joon trailed off timidly.

“What is it? Tell me.”

“Um, about when you’re Guiding. How do you know when you’ve finished Guiding?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, in my case, I stop when it gets tiring, but sunbae, you have abundant mana. There are times when you Guide several people in a day. Then you must stop the Guiding at an appropriate point; how do you know that timing?”

“Ah, that. I thought it was something else. Why do you ask it so seriously? You could have just said it.”

A laugh escaped me. He had hesitated so much that I thought it was something grave.

“It’s such a basic thing… And when I asked someone else before, they told me that since I’m F-Rank, I didn’t need to know… They told me not to worry about useless things and just focus on doing well for one person.”

“What a strange person. Who says things like that?”

There were too many people here who judged others solely by their rank. They Read on Read BL Novelsprobably ignored him visit our siteopenly because it was a question from an F-Rank.

“Well, it’s not exactly wrong. Even Guiding one person is overwhelming for me.”

Kim Joon scratched his temple with an awkward smile.

“It’s not right at all. You have to know things to improve your skills. Besides, you have a high matching rate. If you just learn the method, Guiding will be much easier.”

“Thank you, sunbae.”

“Here, give me your hand. I’ll show you the timing for when to stop Guiding.”

“Okay.”

Just as I was about to take Kim Joon’s hand, my wrist was grabbed.

“Seung-hyuk-ah…”

Joo Seung-hyuk, who had appeared out of nowhere, was holding my hand and glaring at Kim Joon.

His eyes burned like an active volcano. Sensing that the obsessive yandere’s switch was about to be flipped, I hurriedly explained the situation.

“I-I was just teaching a hubae how to Guide!”

“Why is Lee Yeon-soo doing that?”

What do you mean why?

“Because I’m his sunbae.”

It was only natural for a sunbae to teach a hubae how to Guide.

Up until now, I had just lacked the opportunity because I was an outcast and didn’t have any close hubae.

“Is Lee Yeon-soo the only sunbae that brat has?”

“That’s not necessarily true, but…”

“I’m the one who asked him to teach me!”

Kim Joon spoke up on my behalf.

“And regardless of who Yeon-soo sunbae teaches, what business is it of yours, Joo sunbae? Just because you’re the assigned Guide doesn’t mean you have the right to control his actions.”

[Just because I became the assigned Guide doesn’t mean you have the right to control my actions.]

Kim Joon’s words were identical to the original story. However, back then, he said it to Joo Seung-hyuk who was trying to restrain him, but this time, he was saying it for me.

“Kim Joon, how many lives do you have?”

“Did you threaten Yeon-soo sunbae in that way too?”

Kim Joon countered Joo Seung-hyuk’s words boldly.

This, too, was the same as the original. Kim Joon honestly expressed his thoughts and opinions to the Joo Seung-hyuk that everyone feared, and Joo Seung-hyuk felt a fresh curiosity upon seeing such a Kim Joon.

But right now, only murderous intent was shimmering in Joo Seung-hyuk’s eyes.

As before, there wasn’t a speck of the kind of affection that says, ‘You’re the first person to ever speak to me like that.’

At this rate, Kim Joon might not become the ‘main uke,’ but instead, proudly put his name on the list of people murdered by Joo Seung-hyuk.