Chapter 65 – ​The ​Price ​of ​Misjudgment

Kim ​Sa-on, ​the ​only ​S-class Guide in the ​country, ​was the Awakened ​Management Center’s primary ​focus. ​It ​was ​a ​very ​different kind of ​attention ​compared ​to that given ​to Yoon Ki-hyun, who ​had returned ​to the ​Center as ​Jeong Si-jun’s ​personal ​Guide ​after a sudden ​resignation.

Waiting for ​the elevator in the ​lobby as he did ​every morning, Yoon Ki-hyun ​stood askew, ​ignoring ​the glances stealing toward his face.

He ​was busy trying to ​open ​his ​eyes, ​which ​were still hazy ​with lingering ​sleep, ​when a familiar ​voice ​reached him from the side.

“……I ​was worried ​because ​I hadn’t seen ​you ​for ​a ​while.”

It ​was Hyun ​Ju-ho, ​Yoon Ki-hyun’s ​former teammate, whose face was brimming with ​gladness.

“Ah, something came ​up.”

He had been ​in the hospital, but ​he didn’t ​feel like explaining ​the ​details. While Hyun ​Ju-ho was expressing ​his joy ​with ​his whole ​body, ​another familiar ​face ​approached.

It was ​Assistant ​Manager ​Park Jeong-ae, who ​had ​also been ​on ​Yoon ​Ki-hyun’s ​team. Noticing her kind expression, Yoon Ki-hyun acknowledged her first.

“Assistant Manager Park. I heard you took sick leave; are you feeling better?”

Park Jeong-ae nodded at his concerned gaze.

“Ugh, well, after resting for a bit, I feel like I can finally breathe again. Though it’s still just as hard as before.”

Come to think of it, he had heard about Assistant Manager Park’s recent situation from Hyun Ju-ho. He recalled being told there had been quite a commotion because the new team leader had rejected her request for sick leave.

He felt concerned, but as a former employee, it wasn’t his place to interfere. As they chatted while waiting for the elevator, a neurotic voice suddenly cut in from behind.

“Everyone’s gathered here, I see?”

Turning his head, he saw a face that remained dimly in his memory. It was Yang Jae-min, a fifth-year B-class Guide who had taken over as the leader of Guide Team 2 as his successor.

Seeing a face that looked far more exhausted than the last time they met, Yoon Ki-hyun could tell just how brutal the guiding workload at the Center was.

As Yoon Ki-hyun looked at him with pity, he felt Yang Jae-min’s gaze scanning his body.

“Ah, Yoon Ki-hyun is here too. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

The tone was strange, almost as if he were sizing him up. Yoon Ki-hyun silently visit [visit our site]our siteendured Yang Jae-min’s gaze and thought to himself.

‘Hmm. Maybe it’s because I was treated like royalty at the hospital, but… I actually missed this.’

To think he would miss this familiar, blatant rivalry and whispering. He let out a short laugh at his own absurdity, and Yang Jae-min’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

It seemed the man had misunderstood something. Not that Yoon Ki-hyun felt the need to correct him.

“Yes. Team Leader Yang, it’s been a while.”

When Yoon Ki-hyun gave a light greeting, Yang Jae-min chuckled softly and struck up a conversation.

“I mean, what possessed you to come back as Team Leader Jeong Si-jun’s personal Guide? When you handed things over to me, it seemed like you’d never work as a Guide again.”

The nuance was odd.

It wasn’t simple curiosity like Hyun Ju-ho or Assistant Manager Park; the ulterior motive beneath the words was transparent. However, he had no intention of blindly snapping and biting the bait the man had cast.

“I suppose. It just happened that I’m working again.”

At the utterly indifferent response, Yang Jae-min’s cheek twitched in dissatisfaction.

“But what a shame. With Kim Sa-on here, you must be feeling quite nervous, Ki-hyun.”

He wondered why Kim Sa-on hadn’t come up yet.

Yoon Ki-hyun frowned slightly. He knew people were excitedly talking about him and Kim Sa-on.

Many were curious about how long he would remain as Jeong Si-jun’s personal Guide. It was impossible not to know; people whispered every time he walked through the Center’s hallways.

“Ah, maybe you don’t know who Kim Sa-on is? He’s a Guide who recently awakened as an S-class, and he’s on my team. His wavelength purification is fast, and he’s so diligent. His guiding evaluations are excellent, too.”

“…….”

“Team Leader Jeong Si-jun has received guiding from Kim Sa-on a few times. Oh, did you not know?”

Yang Jae-min sneered, scanning Yoon Ki-hyun from head to toe. He made no effort to hide the hostility in his blatant gaze and tone.

Perhaps he thought Yoon Ki-hyun might have intentions of returning to the Center permanently. Otherwise, there would be no reason to glare at and scrutinize a personal Guide who was just standing there.

‘I’ve never even had a bad run-in with this guy, so why the hell is he acting [Read on Read BL Novels]size:0;position:absolute;left:-9999px;">]wm: Read on Read BL Novels -->out? So tiring first thing in the morning…’

Rather than being bothered by Yang Jae-min’s words, he just found it annoying. Since the man didn’t even hide his desperation to provoke him, it would be more accurate to say Yoon Ki-hyun felt calm.

Moreover, he was slightly curious to see how ugly this man could get in the lobby during the morning commute with so many eyes watching.

“I am aware.”

“You knew? I thought you didn’t.”

“Ah, yes.”

“I was just worried that Team Leader Jeong Si-jun might prefer the guiding of an S-class Guide.”

He didn’t understand why Yang Jae-min, who had no relation to the matter, was worrying about something that should be his own concern. Especially since the parties involved had already reached an agreement.

To be precise, it had been a unilateral declaration by Jeong Si-jun, whose face had turned beet red and body trembled.

“That really was a useless worry. It’s only natural that Team Leader Yang Jae-min wouldn’t know, but…”

Yoon Ki-hyun continued, glancing sideways at Yang Jae-min.

“Team Leader Jeong has decided to receive guiding only from me from now on.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the corners of Yang Jae-min’s lips twitched. His lips, which seemed to be searching for a retort, were so parched they looked as if the skin would peel off at any moment.

‘He doesn’t even seem to have a talent for arguing, so why is he picking on someone who’s just standing still? It’s not like he’s determined to ruin his reputation within the company… Did he finally go crazy from too much guiding?’

Since the Awakened Management Center was notorious for its heavy workload, there were occasionally people who behaved abnormally.

Even Yoon Ki-hyun himself had suffered from the impulse to wear a sign around his neck to shut up the annoying people after he submitted his resignation.

Still, that was the kind of madness that didn’t harm others, and more importantly, he hadn’t actually done it.

‘Does he think I’m a pushover just because I’m keeping my mouth shut?’

He was used to being ignored, but he wasn’t the type to just endure things like a fool. He had only held back because of the circumstances; Yoon Ki-hyun had a stubborn side to him—once he set his mind to something, he saw it through to the end.

Leaving the silenced Yang Jae-min behind, Yoon Ki-hyun stepped into the elevator. Hyun Ju-ho and Park Jeong-ae, who had watched the spat from the side, followed him in and whispered softly.

“Does he have an inferiority complex? I don’t know why he’s like that.”

“It’s not like it’s just for a day or two.”

The two, who held a low opinion of the new team leader, glanced at Yoon Ki-hyun, who was still staring indifferently at his phone.

“If you have time for lunch today, would you like to go together?”

They had many things to talk about with Yoon Ki-hyun. They wanted to have a meal with him if he was available, but Yoon Ki-hyun whispered as if it were awkward.

“Ah, I’ve decided to have lunch with Team Leader Jeong as much as possible.”

At Yoon Ki-hyun’s answer, Hyun Ju-ho and Park Jeong-ae briefly exchanged glances.

For a while, all sorts of rumors had circulated through the Center. They were directed at Yoon Ki-hyun, who hadn’t reported to work for several weeks.

Some said he had been fired as Jeong Si-jun’s personal Guide, and some absurd rumors claimed he was being held captive somewhere.

Meanwhile, when the S-class Guide Kim Sa-on was assigned to Guide Team 2 and began working, the rumors grew exponentially, dressed in the clothes of imagination.

The rumors gained momentum after word spread that Jeong [Read on Read BL Novels]our site">visit our siteSi-jun, who had exclusively received guiding from Yoon Ki-hyun since hiring him as a personal Guide, had received guiding from Kim Sa-on.

The rumor that Yoon Ki-hyun had been fired gained strength, while others suggested he was temporarily hospitalized due to illness. However, they all seemed to be wondering if Yoon Ki-hyun had become a discarded tool.

But look at the relationship between Yoon Ki-hyun and Jeong Si-jun now that he had returned to the Center. Didn’t they seem far closer than expected?

‘Team Leader Jeong has decided to receive guiding only from me from now on.’

If such a firm answer came from the person himself, it was as good as saying Jeong Si-jun would never receive guiding from Kim Sa-on again. Moreover, Yoon Ki-hyun wasn’t the type to enjoy making baseless claims.

“Then let’s grab a meal together some other time when the schedule works out.”

“Yes.”

Assistant Manager Park realized that Yoon Ki-hyun’s answer was a polite refusal and vaguely postponed the lunch appointment indefinitely.

It felt wrong to hold onto someone who was already exhausted from dealing with all sorts of rumors and pester them with questions. After Yoon Ki-hyun got off at the floor where the guiding rooms were clustered, Hyun Ju-ho and Park Jeong-ae whispered quietly in the elevator.

“Still, it’s a relief that they seem to be on good terms.”

“I agree.”

They knew that Yoon Ki-hyun had provided a lot of help, both big and small, during his time at the Center. Since a person like Yang Jae-min had come in as the new team leader, they were realizing anew what a decent superior Yoon Ki-hyun had been.

“The guiding workload will probably be insane today too…”

“We just have to endure it. There’s no other way if we want to make a living.”

Assistant Manager Park lightly patted the back of a miserable-looking Hyun Ju-ho.

Yoon Ki-hyun opened the window of the guiding room to ventilate. As the breeze seeped through the slanted window, the tightness in his chest seemed to ease slightly.

‘I decided not to show off, but I got a bit annoyed and snapped back. I shouldn’t have done that.’

No matter how he thought about it, it was clear that Yang Jae-min felt inferior to Kim Sa-on. Otherwise, there was no reason for him to suddenly flare up and bring up the fact that Jeong Si-jun decided to receive guiding only from him.

‘I really need to watch my mouth. Sigh…’

Regret was useless now that the milk was spilled; he could only be careful from next time. As he scratched his forehead feeling awkward, Jeong Si-jun opened the door to the guiding room and approached with a smirk.

Coming up behind Yoon Ki-hyun, Jeong Si-jun [unauthorized copy]style="position:relative;display:inline;">[stolen content]style="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[stolen content]slid his cheek against Yoon Ki-hyun’s and chuckled.

“Your dedicated Esper has arrived for work.”

It was clearly a teasing voice, having heard about the conversation he had with Yang Jae-min in the lobby.

Yoon Ki-hyun squeezed his eyes shut. Internally, he wondered who the hell this damn informant was and wished he could see their face just once.