By Zephyria 
“Well then, see you next time.”
Vasily left after dropping me off in front of my house. Stumbling inside, I threw myself onto the bed with a groan.
“Ugh…”
Surrendering my body to the fluffy duvet, I finally felt like I could breathe. Having been tormented by Vasily all day, a wave of fatigue hit me, as if I had just returned from a Gate.
After catching my breath for a moment, I picked up my smartphone. As soon as I opened the internet, I saw an article on the main screen stating that Vasily was leaving for an overseas business trip.
So that was why he said he wouldn’t be able to come for a while.
I drifted into memories of the past for a moment. I had accompanied him on that trip. My body shuddered at the thought of that first overseas assignment. I believe we stayed for about a month… it was the prelude to a horrific, hellish tragedy.
I really made the right choice in using the suppression chip. If I hadn’t had it, I would probably be heading overseas with Vasily right now.
The fact that I wouldn’t have to see Vasily for the time being was welcome news. The pressure lifted slightly at the thought that I could go to work with peace of mind starting tomorrow.
* * *
A little over a week had passed since Vasily left for his overseas trip.
I had been doing exceptionally well during that time. The thought that I wouldn’t have to see Vasily’s face for a while brightened my expression so much that people I ran into kept asking if something good had happened.
Just as they said, the smile never left my face.
After a month-long trip, a C-Class Guide like me would naturally be forgotten. My heart felt light at the thought that I had finally escaped him.
Furthermore, a Gate happened to open in the suburbs, and this time it was my turn to be dispatched. Since Vasily was on an overseas trip, there would be no unlucky encounters like last time. This time, it was practically a vacation!
Thinking that, I headed toward the Gate, but…
“It’s been a while. Did you miss me?”
Why is Vasily here?
Seeing Vasily greeting me so nonchalantly, I momentarily failed to keep my expression in check. I quietly checked the date.
It had only been a little over a week since Vasily left. I clearly remembered the first overseas trip lasting about a month; was my memory wrong?
“Have you already returned from your overseas trip?”
“You looked into that too? Our Guide is far too interested in me.”
“How long have we even known each other for you to call me so familiarly?”
“I thought we had become quite close, but I guess not?”
Fatigue washed over me at Vasily’s sly response. I pressed my brow firmly, trying my best to compose myself.
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand why Vasily was here. To prevent another mishap like last time, I had even confirmed that Vasily was not on the list of participating Espers before coming.
While I was organizing my cluttered thoughts, Vasily approached and asked.
“You came for temporary guiding, right?”
“…Yes.”
The corners of Vasily’s mouth curled up into a smirk. I had an ominous feeling.
“Since I’m also participating in this Gate conquest, I’ll be a target for guiding. I can ask for guiding, right?”
As expected, my ominous feeling was correct. I let out a deep sigh and resigned myself. I thought I could finally rest. It seemed my destiny didn’t include a life of leisure.
“Aren’t you departing soon?”
“I am, but I’m not in very good condition.”
“You look perfectly fine to me.”
“There are things you can’t tell just by looking. If I enter the Gate like this, I might lose control of my abilities and make a mistake, just like last time…”
Vasily cast his eyes down slightly, pretending to be pitiful. I had no choice but to nod. Judging by Vasily’s attitude, whether intentional or accidental, if an accident actually occurred, it would instantly become my fault.
A mere C-Class Guide couldn’t defy the words of an S-Class Esper; all I could do was pray that Vasily would enter the Gate quickly.
As I entered the temporary waiting room with Vasily, the gazes of the resting Guides converged on us. Feeling awkward, I shifted my eyes and led Vasily toward a corner of the tent.
“Then, for the guiding…”
As I sat across from Vasily to begin guiding, his clear face, which looked to be in excellent condition, caught my eye. He looked far healthier than I did, exhausted by fatigue and work, and for a moment, I felt bitter.
It was definitely a lie that he was in bad condition. Frowning, I asked.
“Are you really in bad condition?”
“It’s true that it’s bad. It’s been a long time since I’ve received guiding.”
“If you need guiding that badly, just find a Guide quickly.”
“I want to, but finding a Guide isn’t easy.”
On this point, Vasily and I were in agreement. I sincerely hoped Vasily would find a Guide as soon as possible. Only then could I remove the suppression chip implanted in the back of my neck.
The presence of the suppression chip embedded in my neck remained uncomfortable. Not to mention the mysterious medicine I had to take every day. Everything felt unpleasant and bothersome. I let out a deep sigh inwardly and began the guiding.
The moment I touched his body, a cool energy seeped in. Moreover, a cold wind leaked through the tent, making my body shiver. While continuing the guiding through the cold, Vasily suddenly asked.
“What are you doing after the Gate conquest is over?”
“I’m going home.”
“Want to have dinner together?”
“I don’t want to.”
“How cold.”
I turned my head away without a word, avoiding Vasily’s gaze.
Although I acted as if nothing were wrong on the surface, I was still uncomfortable talking to Vasily. Before the regression, we hardly spoke. It was because our relationship had been terrible from the start.
Now, unlike then, we spoke more often… but unlike Vasily, who had no memories of the past, I still had the memories of the last six years. Those worst of times, where every minute and second felt like hell.
Perhaps the heavens answered my prayers, because about fifteen minutes after starting the guiding, a call signal sounded from outside the tent. Relieved that I no longer had to force a conversation with Vasily, I stopped the guiding and tried to push him away. However, Vasily didn’t budge.
“Esper Vasily, aren’t you going?”
“Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’m particularly necessary for this Gate.”
“…That can’t be right.”
“If the conquest of a mere D-Class Gate is hindered because I’m not there, wouldn’t that be a bigger problem?”
He had a point, but…
If you don’t enter the Gate, it becomes a problem for me!
The Gate conquest would take at least half a day, and if I stayed with Vasily until then, my illegal suppression chip would surely be pushed to the brink of bursting. Moreover, I hadn’t brought my medicine today. If I continued guiding for more than an hour, I might faint like last time.
“If you aren’t participating in the Gate conquest, I have no obligation to guide you.”
“Hmm…”
“I’ll continue your guiding once the conquest is over, so please go quickly.”
I quickly pushed away the lingering man. Vasily stared at me for a long time with a face full of dissatisfaction before reluctantly standing up.
“This is a hassle…”
“Just go already.”
When I pushed his back once more, he left the tent, though he seemed reluctant. Only after Vasily disappeared was I finally able to breathe.
Haa… I feel drained already. I feel like this after just a bit of guiding; to think I have to deal with Vasily again once the conquest is over.
I thought Vasily would forget me after his overseas conquest, but he returned before he could even forget. It seemed the tenacious ill fate with Vasily couldn’t be easily severed even after regression.
I gulped down water to release the accumulated tension. Now that Vasily had entered the Gate, I thought I could finally catch a break. As I wiped the water from my lips with the back of my hand and turned around, I saw the sparkling gazes of the temporary Guides watching me.
…So much for resting in peace.
* * *
I became famous because of the monster escape incident, and I was even mistaken for Vasily’s Guide.
Because of the barrage of questions from the Guides who swarmed around me after Vasily left, I couldn’t rest at all. Just as the explanations finally ended and things were settling down, I was told that the Gate conquest was over.
That meant Vasily would be coming out soon.
“Haa…”
With a haggard face, I let out a deep sigh.