Chapter 43 – GOY 43

#43

The ​news ​of ​Joo ​Seung-hyuk ​fighting ​high-rank Espers became ​a ​major ​topic ​of ​conversation and was even ​reported ​by foreign media.

It ​was truly a ​bleak ​situation.

The ​Esper ​Academy ​stopped ​Joo Seung-hyuk’s matching ​rate ​tests. ​The search for ​a new Guide was ​also put ​on a ​complete standstill.

Joo ​Seung-hyuk said ​he ​was ​going to the ​Seong Han ​guild headquarters today. I ​felt a glimmer of ​hope that perhaps Seong ​Han had ​found ​a Guide for him, but honestly, ​the possibility was slim.

Even ​Chairman ​Joo ​found ​it ​difficult to break ​Joo Seung-hyuk’s ​stubbornness. ​If things had ​proceeded ​according to the original story, ​Chairman Joo ​would ​still be oppressively ​controlling ​Joo ​Seung-hyuk, ​but ​their relationship ​had ​changed significantly ​since that day seven years ago. Because ​of me…

Anyway, Joo ​Seung-hyuk wasn’t here ​today, which meant freedom! ​I decided ​to go to ​the ​library for the ​first time in ​a while ​and ​read to ​my ​heart’s content.

Ever ​since ​I got ​entangled ​with ​Joo Seung-hyuk, I ​hadn’t ​been able ​to ​read ​a ​single book in peace.

“Lee Yeon-soo!”

As I was heading to the library after finishing my lecture, a familiar voice called out. When I turned around, a welcome sight greeted me.

“Hyuk-jin hyung!”

It was Do Hyuk-jin, an S-Class Esper and the Master of the YL guild. He was originally affiliated with Seong Han, but he had branched out three years ago to start his own guild.

“What brings you here?”

“What do you mean ‘what brings me’? I came because I missed you.”

Hyuk-jin hyung smiled, his eyes crinkling. He always had a smiling impression, so just looking at him made me feel better.

“Our Yeon-soo, you’ve gotten even prettier in the short time I haven’t seen you. You could just marry this hyung now.”

“I’m going to tell Chae-ah noona.”

Hyuk-jin hyung often made jokes like that, and every time he did, he would get scolded by Chae-ah noona, who was also an S-Class Esper.

“Yeon-soo, I’m [Read on Read BL Novels]sorry. Please, unauthorized copyjust [visit our site]don’t tell Kim Chae-ah. Hyung will buy you something delicious.”

“I’ll think about it.”

I crossed my arms and pretended to ponder for a moment before letting out a chuckle.

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Is there anything you want to eat, hyung?”

“I eat everything well. Tell me what you want.”

“How about Golden Pig?”

‘Golden Pig’ was Hyuk-jin hyung’s favorite restaurant.

Even before I entered the academy, he used to frequently recommend that I visit ‘Golden Pig’ whenever I came to the academy.

“Golden Pig sounds great. Actually, coming here made me crave it for the first time in a while.”

“Then let’s go.”

We headed to Golden Pig. Perhaps because it was dinner time, the place was crowded, but the moderately noisy atmosphere wasn’t bad.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes. It was just Mana Depletion. I’m perfectly fine now.”

“I should have come sooner, I’m sorry. I was away on a business trip for work and just returned to the country today.”

Guilds are broadly divided into ‘corporate guilds’ operated by large companies like Seong Han or KN, and ‘pure guilds’ established by individuals.

Although YL was a newcomer, only three years old, it had grown rapidly by aggressively scouting high-ranking Ability Users, and it had now established itself as one of the top five mega-guilds among the ‘pure guilds.’

“Today? Then you came straight here without even resting?”

“Yeah. I rushed here from the airport just to see our Yeon-soo.”

Hyuk-jin hyung winked as he grabbed the tongs and scissors.

“You didn’t have to go that far. Ah, hyung. I’ll grill the meat.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, really. You must be tired, so I’ll do it.”

I took the tongs and scissors from his hand.

“Our Yeon-soo is all grown up. You even know how to grill meat. It feels like just yesterday when you were the size of a bean.”

“I’ve always been good at grilling meat. It’s just that you, hyung, and the noonas wouldn’t let me.”

“How could we let a middle schooler do that? That’s child abuse.”

“It wasn’t to that extent.”

“It was so much fun when I used to go on gate subjugations with you.”

“Me too.”

Ability Users who had reached adulthood were [visit our site]obligated Read on Read BL Novelsto participate Read on Read BL Novelsin national gate subjugations for a certain period based on their rank, regardless of their affiliation.

However, in the case of high-ranking Ability Users, they sometimes began gate subjugations as early as high school.

The reason given was to train talented individuals from an early age, but that was merely a convenient excuse. In reality, they were short-handed, so they borrowed the strength of minors.

And I participated in gate subjugations when I was in my first year of middle school. Of course, I didn’t enter the gate itself and only provided Guiding from the outside, but even considering that, I was far too young.

The Lee Yeon-soo of the original story did not participate in national gate subjugations before becoming an adult. This was because Seong Han had refused on the grounds that he was still a minor.

However, I had rejected the Exclusive Guide Contract with Joo Seung-hyuk and did not join any other company or guild. Consequently, it was difficult to refuse when the government made a request. (To refuse a request, one had to write a statement of reasons, which was incredibly complex for an individual to handle.)

I found the Center’s behavior—trying to exploit a powerless child instead of showing consideration for my situation—to be despicable. However, since I didn’t actually dislike participating in gate subjugations, I ended up accepting the request.

Since I had Awakened, I wanted to become a great Guide. I had no desire to be like the original Lee Yeon-soo, who relied solely on his rank, acted out, and ended up being ridiculed.

Contracting with a company provided money, but more importantly, it allowed one to receive education tailored to their tendencies and rank.

But that was only possible if one signed a contract. Since things had turned out this way, I wanted to learn through practical experience.

However, that was my greed; the Espers thought differently.

‘Hello. I am Lee Yeon-soo.’

‘How old are you?’

‘I’m 14. I’m in my first year of middle school.’

‘First year?’

‘He’s just a kid.’

They couldn’t hide their bewilderment at seeing how young I was.

Being the eldest son, I had always been told I was mature for my age. But in the eyes of the Espers, I seemed to be nothing more than a child.

‘We’re supposed to receive Guiding from this kid? This little brat?’

‘What are we going to do…’

I felt intimidated because it seemed like Read on Read BL Novelsno unauthorized copyone welcomed me. But I couldn’t run [Read on Read BL Novels]away after coming all this way.

I bowed my waist at a ninety-degree angle.

‘I am young, but I will work hard. I look forward to working with you.’

‘We’re the ones who should look forward to it.’

A female Esper helped me up and introduced herself.

‘I’m Kim Chae-ah. I’m a mental-type Esper, rank S. I’m 21. Call me noona.’

Starting with Kim Chae-ah, the other Espers introduced themselves. Finally, a man standing in the farthest corner gave a light wave.

‘Hi. You know who I am, right?’

‘Yes. Esper Do Hyuk-jin.’

He was the S-Class Esper Do Hyuk-jin. He was 22 years old, his attribute was space-type, and he belonged to the Seong Han guild.

I had met him when I was going through the exclusive contract process with Joo Seung-hyuk.

‘Just call me hyung.’

Do Hyuk-jin smiled brightly. He was the person who had watched from right beside me as I stormed out of that contract.

I thought he might have a bad impression of me, but fortunately, he didn’t seem hostile.

‘Yes. Hyuk-jin hyung.’

After the introductions, the Guiding began.

Guiding was an intimate act. When Guiding was done outdoors, several small tents that could fit two people were set up, or partitions were placed under a large tent to prevent others from seeing.

But my Guiding was different. The Espers all surrounded me, and they came out one by one to receive Guiding. This was to prevent any accidents that might occur.

‘Do we really have to do this? I don’t want other people seeing my aroused expression.’

‘Aroused by that child? Do Hyuk-jin, just die!’

As Hyuk-jin hyung grumbled, Chae-ah noona kicked him in the shin.

‘Ouch! No, it’s not that. Regardless of who it is, my expression just…’

‘Just die right now!’

‘Esper Do Hyuk-jin, I’m disappointed.’

‘Exactly! Stop making excuses and just die!’

‘Kick that bastard Do Hyuk-jin out! Put a restraining order on him!’

Not only the Espers, but the Guides who had come to teach me Guiding also showered him with criticism.

Even after the actual Guiding began, it remained noisy.

If an Esper held my hand even slightly too firmly, criticism would fly. Looking back now, I think I performed Guiding under an immense amount of overprotection.

It continued like this until I graduated middle school. Not only the Espers, but the Guides also found me cute and taught me about Guiding kindly.

Thinking about it now, it was a Read on Read BL Novelsblessed [visit our site]environment. I received help from many people, [Read on Read BL Novels]but Hyuk-jin hyung and Chae-ah noona took care of me especially well.

“When I first saw you sitting in the Guiding tent, honestly, I almost cursed. No matter how rare S-Class Guides are, making such a young kid do Free Guiding… I thought the bastards at the Center had finally gone mad.”

Hyuk-jin hyung shook his head, as if remembering those times.

“Many people suffered because of me.”

“Suffer? Please. The moment everyone received Guiding from you, they were convinced. They realized there was a reason the Center took such a risk. We were happy to receive Guiding from you. If anything, you were the one who suffered.”

“No, I learned a lot back then. Besides, everyone was so kind to me that I never once thought it was hard.”

I cut the perfectly cooked meat.

“Hyung, please eat now.”

“Wow, our Yeon-soo is really good at grilling meat now.”

“I told you I was always good at it. Everyone just wouldn’t let me. Please let me do it from now on.”

“How could I? Joo Seung-hyuk would throw a fit [Read on Read BL Novels]if [stolen content]he found out I was making unauthorized copyhis Guide work.”

“…”

The hand cutting the meat stopped. I hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

“It’s temporary. It’s not like I’m doing it forever.”