By Zephyria 
Vasily raised his hand and grabbed Gi-dam’s arm.
He was thinner than expected. As Vasily squeezed the forearm that fit comfortably in one hand, gauging the amount of muscle, he noticed the expression on Gi-dam’s face, which showed discomfort with the contact.
“You need to build some muscle first. Put on some weight, too.”
“I was already planning to start exercising.”
“We’re on the same page, then.”
Vasily gave a light laugh and stood up.
“Shall we go?”
“Huh? Where…?”
“The fitness center. You should build up as much stamina as possible before we enter the Gate.”
Gi-dam hesitated. He didn’t seem pleased, but remembering how easily he had grown exhausted in the Gate, he nodded obediently.
Since they were in agreement, there was no reason to linger. The two immediately left the private room.
Today, they headed to the fitness center instead of the training ground. While sparring together like before would be fine, building physical strength was the priority. He was even weaker now than he had been back then.
Upon arriving at the fitness center, Vasily first looked around the interior. A dense array of exercise equipment welcomed him and Gi-dam.
It was a spacious area, but there wasn’t a soul in sight. This was thanks to Vasily contacting the association upon leaving his private room and kicking out all the Espers who had been using the facility. Now, he could spend time with Gi-dam without any interruptions.
Gi-dam had already taken off his suit jacket and set it aside, and was currently stretching. Vasily stared at the shirt, which wrinkled with every movement, and asked.
“Wouldn’t it be better to change your clothes?”
“I don’t have any clothes to change into.”
“I can get you a combat suit right away.”
“A combat suit is more uncomfortable than a suit.”
Gi-dam refused firmly, but Vasily’s mind didn’t change. It was because he wanted to see Gi-dam in a combat suit. Although he had seen him in one a few times before, he had never had the chance to properly admire him.
“Unless you plan on wearing a suit when you enter the Gate, it would be best to get used to the combat suit.”
“…I’ll wear it.”
“Good choice.”
Realizing that his own opinion didn’t matter, Gi-dam sighed and nodded.
Vasily immediately called the association and ordered them to bring a combat suit that fit Gi-dam’s body. Not long after the call ended, an association employee arrived and handed over the suit. It was a perfect fit for Gi-dam.
“They brought the right size. Put it on.”
After confirming the size and handing the combat suit to Gi-dam, the latter turned around as if to head straight to the locker room.
“Do you not need help?”
“I can put it on by myself.”
Hearing the stiff response, Vasily let him go. It was certainly a good thing that he required less effort… but why did he feel a strange sense of regret? Vasily shut his mouth dissatisfiedly, watching Gi-dam’s receding back.
When Gi-dam returned, he had changed into the combat suit. He wasn’t wearing any heavy vests or equipment, only the top and bottom, but Vasily liked it even better this way.
However, a problem soon arose.
“This is…”
“….”
“Pathetic.”
Despite Vasily’s blatant belittlement, Gi-dam couldn’t offer any response. That was because Gi-dam was unable to use a single piece of equipment in this vast room.
The equipment in the fitness center was all designed for Espers. Vasily had expected to some extent that it would be difficult for Gi-dam to use, but he hadn’t imagined he wouldn’t be able to budge a single thing.
Gi-dam’s arms trembled violently as he tried to lift a dumbbell. Despite Gi-dam’s blood-sweating effort, the dumbbell remained stuck to the floor, motionless.
“You can stop now. It’s not going to work anyway.”
If he was at this level from the start, it would be difficult to build stamina in a short period. Vasily was quite disappointed, but since Gi-dam also seemed considerably shocked, he didn’t explicitly voice it.
Most of the exercise equipment was still too much for Gi-dam to handle. Just as Vasily was thinking they should give up for today and find another way to build strength, the treadmills lined up by the window caught his eye.
“You can use those, right?”
“…Yes.”
When Vasily pointed to the treadmill and asked, Gi-dam frowned. He looked wounded in his pride, but soon nodded quietly.
Tap, tap, tap.
The light sound of Gi-dam’s footsteps running on the rail echoed through the quiet fitness center.
As if even running was a struggle, sweat poured down Gi-dam’s face like rain. Vasily sat to one side, watching Gi-dam and slowly scanning his body.
After repeating cycles of running and walking for a while, Gi-dam stepped off the rail as if to take a break.
“Haa…”
“Stopping already?”
“…I’ll run more.”
At Vasily’s remark, Gi-dam snapped and climbed back onto the rail. He set the speed faster than before and began to run.
He’s easy to handle.
The corners of Vasily’s mouth curled up as he watched, but the smile soon vanished from his face.
To be in that state after running for barely an hour. He really is too weak.
Humans were weak. Absurdly so.
They died of disease, died by being hit by cars, and were slaughtered without a single resistance when monsters popped out of Gates. And that applied even to the Guide he had barely managed to acquire.
Would he get a bit stronger if he trained him?
But he might be dead the moment he took his eyes off him. Or he might be lured away by another Esper’s temptation, just like last time.
If so, there was only one answer. He just had to take him along every day, enter Gates together, and make him train. As long as he was by his side, he would be safe.
He could block a car if it suddenly rushed toward him, and he could protect him if a monster attacked. He could isolate him within his own boundary so that he couldn’t have contact with any other Esper—no, anyone at all.
It would be nice if Gi-dam were special only to him, but there was no way a being that sparkled in Vasily’s eyes would look like an ordinary stone to others.
Vasily’s gaze sank darkly.
Therefore, he must not let his guard down. He had to be even more vigilant from now on. Because he was certain that Gi-dam was the only person in the entire world who could be his Guide.
“Huff… haah…”
About an hour later, Gi-dam stepped off the rail, breathing heavily with great effort.
Staggering and barely gasping for air, Gi-dam seemed to have truly reached his limit. Fearing that he might collapse if pushed further, Vasily stood up without a word.
Vasily approached him and handed him some water. Gi-dam tried to ignore the bottled water held out before him, but his throat must have been parched, as he snatched the bottle roughly and gulped it down.
“Haa…”
Gi-dam let out a long breath, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
As his head tilted back, sweat clinging to his hair trickled down. Vasily’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the droplets flowing along his cheek toward his neckline.
Unconsciously, Vasily reached out and wiped it away.
Touch.
The skin that touched his fingertips was hot enough to burn. As he gently lifted the sweat-soaked hair, a vivid scar on the back of the neck was revealed. When he placed his hand over it, he felt a life pulsing intensely.
Rough breaths leaked from slightly parted lips. He felt as if he were being sucked into those lips, which had become moist with moisture.
“…Esper Vasily?”
A pause.
Vasily snapped back to his senses at the sound of his name being called. His hazy mind cleared, and his reason returned in an instant.
When did their faces get this close? Staring at Gi-dam, who was blinking at a distance where their breaths could touch, Vasily realized belatedly. The one who had moved was not Gi-dam, but himself.
Tension was visible on Gi-dam’s face right in front of him. Although he didn’t show it, Vasily was just as flustered as Gi-dam.
Vasily pulled his head back and spoke as if nothing had happened.
“You smell strongly of sweat. You should wash up.”
“I was planning to do that even if you didn’t tell me!”
Gi-dam scowled deeply, brushed Vasily’s hand away, and stood up.
Watching Gi-dam head toward the showers while huffing, Vasily looked down. His pants had been tight for a while now, and sure enough, his lower body was bulging tautly.
“Ha, was this my taste?”
He brushed his hair back, looking at his bulge in disbelief. Did he get aroused by the look of hatred in those eyes?
It was an incomprehensible phenomenon, but the center of the cause was definitely Gi-dam.