Chapter 61 – ​The ​Price ​of ​Misjudgment

“Still, ​don’t ​forget ​that ​my ​offer is still on ​the ​table.”

As Yoon Ki-hyun’s ​expression stiffened, Seo ​Yi-kyung ​laughed ​with ​a ​playful ​air.

In the past, ​Ki-hyun ​would ​have worn a ​reluctant look, as if ​saying he’d ​heard this ​every time ​he’d almost ​forgotten ​about ​it, but now ​it was ​different.

His first thought was ​that it was a ​relief. It was a ​feeling closer ​to ​reassurance than peace of mind. It ​sounded as though his ​value ​still ​held ​weight ​with Seo Yi-kyung, ​even though ​an ​S-class Guide had ​appeared.

A ​thought suddenly occurred to him. ​Perhaps he ​had ​been subconsciously arrogant.

What ​was ​the ​original ​reason ​he had ​felt ​uneasy about ​Seo Yi-kyung? It was simply the fact ​that Seo Yi-kyung ​had offered him ​the position of personal ​Guide when ​he hadn’t even ​been ​working as Jeong ​Si-jun’s personal Guide ​for a ​full ​month.

Despite that, ​he ​had been ​angry, ​claiming he ​wasn’t ​being ​respected because the ​timing ​was inappropriate. ​He ​had ​been ​able to act that way because he knew there were no S-class Guides in the country.

It had been another expression of superiority, stemming from the vague knowledge [visit [Read on Read BL Novels]BL Novels" style="display:none;" aria-label="Read on Read BL Novels">Read on Read BL Novelsour site]that there weren’t many Guides nationwide who could replace him.

But now, things were different.

While a measured rank wasn’t everything, there was clearly a difference. Just as S-class Espers were privileged, the same applied to Guides.

“You seem to be lost in thought.”

Seo Yi-kyung asked, observing Yoon Ki-hyun’s face as he remained silent. He wasn’t being sarcastic. He had just been testing the waters, but seeing that Ki-hyun seemed more shaken than expected, he felt a bit sorry.

Since Ki-hyun always seemed so indifferent to everything, he thought he wouldn’t care, but it seemed he was wrong.

“Yes, well… Still, the Center will be able to breathe easier once the S-class Guide arrives.”

Not just any Guide, but an S-class.

Even if it was just one person, the impact would be felt immediately. Any lack of experience could be quickly resolved after a few months of grinding at the Center.

“The Head of the Guide Department was grinning from ear to ear, for that matter.”

Even without trying, the image of the Guide Department Head’s beaming face came to mind. Ki-hyun felt a bit nauseous.

“So, I don’t think the Head of the Guide Department will be bothering you for a while, Ki-hyun. That’s a good thing.”

“They probably won’t even care about someone like me anymore.”

“Now, now. I don’t think it’ll go that far.”

Seo Yi-kyung joked, but Yoon Ki-hyun’s face didn’t brighten. While the only S-class Guide in the country would have an extraordinary presence, they were not yet comparable to Yoon Ki-hyun’s presence.

There was the re-evaluated image resulting from the chain of events after his resignation, but above all, seasoned Guides who could handle various situations flexibly were rarer than one might think.

There were several team-leader level Guides at the Center, but frankly, many had secured those positions through seniority or corporate politics. There were many times when the guiding of an assistant or associate Guide was better than that of the team leaders. People just didn’t point it out because they knew it would only cause conflict.

“Anyway, I hope you get well soon.”

Seo Yi-kyung slowly prepared to leave.

Beside him, Yoon Ki-hyun sat with a pale complexion, wearing patient clothes that looked a bit loose on him. Even that had its own atmosphere, providing a different kind of appeal. Being sick wouldn’t make that delicate and pretty face disappear.

However, he had no intention of lingering too long with a sick person.

‘Besides, my interest is starting to wane.’

Between being hospitalized and not being seen at the Center often, and the continued awkward attitude of trying to keep a distance, he was becoming increasingly indifferent.

Previously, he had wanted to steal Yoon Ki-hyun away from Jeong Si-jun, even if it took a long time. That feeling hadn’t vanished, but its intensity had certainly faded.

‘Who knows? Maybe Jeong Si-jun will get fed up with the grumbling Yoon Ki-hyun and cling to the new Guide.’

He liked the pretty face and the cold personality, but those traits shone brightest when Yoon Ki-hyun existed as Jeong Si-jun’s personal Guide.

The sense of achievement and pleasure would be maximized when the Yoon Ki-hyun, who drew a cold line with everyone equally, finally became his.

However, if Jeong Si-jun cast his eyes toward the incoming S-class Guide, the story changed.

If the blow to Jeong Si-jun wasn’t that great when Yoon Ki-hyun became his personal Guide, there was no reason to waste time and emotion clinging to him.

‘In a way, he’s become a white elephant.’

A Guide too regrettable to throw away, but too ambiguous to keep. The great Yoon Ki-hyun.

Watching that face look anxious and fretful was quite appealing, but…

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes. I was just stopping by.”

“…Yes. Thank you for coming.”

As expected, that reluctant face was really not great.

Seo Yi-kyung shrugged slightly. As Yoon Ki-hyun had pointed out, he didn’t Read on Read BL Novelson Read BL Novels -->necessarily need to spend his own money on a personal Guide due to a lack of guiding.

That didn’t mean he was completely satisfied with the Center’s guiding, but as he had confessed to Yoon Ki-hyun, it was true that he had coveted him primarily to spite Jeong Si-jun.

Because Jeong Si-jun was such a thorn in his side, he considered it a worthwhile expense if he could break Jeong Si-jun’s arrogant momentum, even if it meant spending his own money.

‘I should start deciding my course of action.’

The time to decide whether to keep poking at Yoon Ki-hyun or to stop was drawing near.

Seo Yi-kyung left the hospital room as Yoon Ki-hyun saw him out. Despite being told not to come out, Yoon Ki-hyun hovered near the door, clutching his IV pole. He liked that part.

“You seem sad that I’m leaving, our Ki-hyun.”

“I’m not.”

“If you say so.”

Seo Yi-kyung gave a small laugh, told him he’d see him again, and turned away.

After seeing Seo Yi-kyung off and returning to the room, Yoon Ki-hyun perched on the edge of the sofa. In the past, he would have welcomed Seo Yi-kyung for simply delivering his business and leaving, but now, he didn’t know why he felt so uneasy…

‘Am I really playing the field? At this rate, I wouldn’t even have anything to say if rumors spread that I’m the Center’s player.’

A sudden wave of skepticism and self-loathing washed over him. While he was engaged in this untimely self-reflection, the hospital room door opened.

Thinking it was the professor who visited frequently, he turned his head to find Jeong Si-jun standing there. Fortunately, he seemed to have missed Seo Yi-kyung, as he had a beaming face.

“For once, you’re not lying down?”

“Ah, yes. It just happened.”

Jeong Si-jun never came to the room empty-handed. Today, he had bought various kinds of bread. Normally, Ki-hyun would have grumbled and checked what he had bought, but strangely, seeing Jeong Si-jun’s face made him anxious.

The employment period specified in the contract Jeong Si-jun brought was one year.

However, the employer and employee could extend or terminate stolen contentthe contract period by mutual agreement. Mutual agreement. unauthorized copyIf Jeong Si-jun met a better Guide than him and wanted to terminate the contract…

‘I’m the only one who’s screwed.’

Yoon Ki-hyun still needed the monthly salary he had promised.

“What are you thinking about so seriously?”

Jeong Si-jun naturally took the seat next to Yoon Ki-hyun and asked.

“I heard an S-class Guide is being assigned this time.”

“Ah, that. But where did you hear that?”

Jeong Si-jun didn’t deny it. With this, the assignment of an S-class Guide to the headquarters was almost certain. Yoon Ki-hyun cast his gaze slightly downward.

“I just happened to hear it.”

“Ah. Well, that’s what they’re saying.”

Jeong Si-jun replied, leaning back against the sofa. Usually, he would have been grinning and asking why Ki-hyun was curious, but he was strangely quiet.

‘….’

Perhaps that was why. Yoon Ki-hyun suddenly felt anxious.

Actually, he might have been anxious from the start. He was in a position where he could be discarded at any time if a Guide capable of replacing him appeared.

Jeong Si-jun looked at Yoon Ki-hyun, who was glancing at him with a pale face. When their eyes met, the way Ki-hyun was the first to look away made him seem somewhat frightened.

Looking at the bloodless, pale face and the back of the hand and wrist that looked like nothing but bone with an IV inserted, a strange sense of guilt flickered.

‘Is it right to keep pushing a sick person for guiding?’

Even someone like Jeong Si-jun felt guilt. At that time, he had been so desperate for guiding that he had pushed the proposal through almost by force. It was because there had been no other choice besides Yoon Ki-hyun.

But now, the option of an S-class Guide had been added. The Esper Headquarters [stolen contentunauthorized copystyle="font-size:0;position:absolute;left:-9999px;">]stolen content -->Chief had even called Jeong Si-jun aside and smiled, telling him that his hardships were now over.

‘I’m not even sure if his health is actually okay now.’

Jeong Si-jun recalled Yoon Ki-hyun slumped powerlessly on the floor.

At first, he thought he had died. Because of the pale complexion and the wrist that looked particularly skeletal that day.

Honestly, his current appearance wasn’t much different from that day. His complexion was passable, but his body was still such that it felt like his ribs would snap if he hugged him too hard.

When he was dressed in a shirt and tie, he hadn’t realized he was this thin. Perhaps it was for the best.

The sick Yoon Ki-hyun needed time to recover his health, and he himself needed time until his feelings toward Yoon Ki-hyun became clear.

“So, about that.”

“…Yes.”

“When that Guide arrives, I’m going to try receiving guiding from them.”

As soon as Jeong Si-jun finished speaking, Yoon Ki-hyun gripped the hem of his patient gown tightly. It felt as if the blood in his entire body had turned cold.