By Zephyria 
“I’m afraid Guide Kwon Gi-dam might run away.”
“I’m not running away.”
“How can I believe that? You already tried to run away once and failed.”
“That was…”
I had nothing to say. I had been caught red-handed on a plane leaving the country, so there was no way to talk my way out of it.
As I walked forward in silence with a sour expression, Vasily naturally followed me.
I changed into clothes that looked like surgical scrubs and lay inside a large machine, waiting for a long time. By the time the loud noise made my ears feel muffled, the results came out.
And they came with shocking news.
“Do you see this part? Due to repeated fevers while it was resting against the nerve, it has become adhered. It’s attached to the tissues near the spine, so removing it now is dangerous. If it’s handled incorrectly, you could become a vegetable or even die.”
“What? I could die?”
“We need to inject medication periodically to slowly loosen the adhesion while monitoring your condition. Immediate surgery will be difficult.”
Unable to hide my flustered expression, I checked the blurry suppression chip on the screen. This was an unexpected turn of events.
It wasn’t as if I had received the injection procedure at a hospital; I had inserted the suppression chip while delirious with awakening pain, so it seemed it had been inserted very incorrectly. Come to think of it, I didn’t even have time to read the precautions… I vaguely remember inserting the suppression chip immediately after my regression.
“Until the suppression chip is removed, please limit guiding to only one hour per day.”
“One hour?”
My eyes widened instinctively. I couldn’t hide the brightening of my expression.
“I don’t think that will do.”
Hearing those words, there was no way Vasily would stay quiet. He immediately raised an objection.
“If the suppression chip overheats frequently, the adhesion will worsen. And as the Esper mentioned earlier, freezing the suppression chip to perform guiding is, of course, forbidden.”
“…”
Vasily’s face crumpled. He didn’t hide his obvious displeasure, letting it show plainly.
“From now on, you’ll need weekly injections…”
The attending physician suddenly stopped talking. I wondered why, and saw that he was checking my information on the medical screen. The physician’s eyes were trembling as he looked at my rank.
He turned his head to look at me. His gaze seemed to ask if I was truly a C-Class Guide.
When I nodded silently, the atmosphere instantly became solemn.
Yes, I understand. Vasily is a formidable lunatic, which is why he’s trying to form an exclusive assignment with a C-Class Guide despite being an S-Class Esper. I had been slightly relieved because I was a C-Class Guide… but I had overlooked the fact that Vasily is not a normal person.
The attending physician continued to check my rank, awakening date, occupation, and various other details before letting out a sigh. He looked at me with pity. I felt the same way…
As we exchanged silent sighs and pitiful glances, Vasily intervened, breaking the mood.
“And request a component analysis on this. It contains monster’s blood, yet my Guide has been fearlessly taking it, claiming it’s cold medicine.”
“Monster’s blood?”
The attending physician looked at me in shock. Why was he now giving me the same look he had given Vasily when he thought he was crazy? Weren’t we just comforting each other through mutual sympathy a moment ago?
“Guide-nim, how long have you been taking this?”
“I’ve been taking it continuously since immediately after my awakening as a Guide.”
“How did you end up with such a drug…”
Since it’s poison to ordinary people, I can understand that reaction. But how was I supposed to know it contained monster’s blood? So, I’d prefer if he didn’t look at me as if I were a lunatic.
No wonder it was blood-red and left a fishy taste in my throat after taking it. Now that I know it’s monster’s blood, I should get a thorough check-up at the hospital too. The reason I’ve been feeling more tired by the day might be because of that medicine.
“That’s all for today. Call me when the results are out.”
With those words, Vasily turned around without a trace of lingering, as if he had no further business here. However, I hesitated in front of the attending physician and didn’t follow Vasily out.
I asked the attending physician, who was packing the medicine, cautiously.
“Do you need all of this for the component analysis…?”
“Hmm… about ten should be enough.”
And just like that, a million won of mine vanishes into thin air. I closed my eyes tight.
“Then, may I take the rest…?”
“Why are you taking that medicine again?”
Seeing me scrounging up the medicine, Vasily asked with a dissatisfied look.
“If I don’t take this medicine, my head hurts.”
“…Does it contain some kind of narcotic substance?”
“We should check that as well.”
Vasily and the doctor looked at me simultaneously as if I were a lunatic, but I couldn’t argue. I couldn’t exactly tell them that because the thing I inserted into the back of my neck happened to be an illegal suppression chip, I have to keep taking it even though I know it’s made from monster’s blood…
After scheduling visits to Vasily’s attending physician every Friday for the injections, we stepped outside.
I walked with a bright expression. In contrast, Vasily looked as if there were many things he didn’t like. It was likely because the suppression chip couldn’t be removed immediately and guiding was limited to one hour a day.
“Guide Kwon Gi-dam, you look happy.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Why don’t you lower the corners of your mouth before you speak?”
I tried to compose my expression, pretending otherwise, but as time passed, the corners of my mouth crept up again. I simply asked with a full smile on my face.
“Are we proceeding with the matching rate test on Monday?”
“Forget it. Even if we test now, the result won’t change. Let’s do the test after the device is removed from Guide Kwon Gi-dam’s neck.”
“Sounds good.”
I climbed into the car with a light step. I thought my rank and matching rate would be revealed just like this, but thanks to the suppression chip tactfully clinging to my neck as if it didn’t want to part with me, I managed to delay the timing a bit.
I’m worried that it’s adhered, but I’ll be able to remove it somehow. Vasily won’t just stand by and watch. If surgery is impossible domestically, wouldn’t he try to go abroad to remove the suppression chip?
The time when my rank and matching rate are revealed has been pushed back a little. My mind felt at ease knowing I wouldn’t have to be tormented by Vasily for a while.
One hour a day was similar to, or even shorter than, the amount of guiding I had been doing. That’s why Vasily seemed extremely displeased.
“I can go straight to your house, right? Since it seems you’ve brought all your luggage anyway.”
“Weren’t we already heading to the Esper’s house?”
“You’re well-informed.”
An expected answer. Hugging my large bag, I turned my head toward the window.
* * *
I arrived at Vasily’s house for the first time in a long while.
This was my first time coming here since our small quarrel. Back when I returned home then, I was certain I would never have to face Vasily again, yet here I am, returning as Vasily’s Guide.
I’ll have to live here from now on. That’s what’s written in the contract. I still have some things left in the house Vasily let me borrow before, so I’ll have to bring them over little by little when I have time.
Since I had already organized most of the things in my studio apartment in anticipation of moving to the countryside, I only need to bring a few boxes of packed belongings. Vasily’s house is spacious, so there will be plenty of room for my things.
As I entered the foyer with Vasily, I asked.
“Which room should I use?”
“You need a room?”
…Is he crazy?
I paused, looking at Vasily, who asked back as if he had never considered it. Phew… I barely suppressed the rising anger and spoke.
“Yes, I do. I need a place to put my luggage immediately, and I need a place to sleep, don’t I?”
“If that’s the case, just use my room. I’ll clear out a closet for you. The bed is wide, too.”
“That’s not what I meant… Are you telling me to spend all day with Esper Vasily? And I’m going to sleep alone.”
The argument started right in the foyer before I even took off my shoes. As Vasily looked down at me with a dissatisfied look, I frowned and narrowed my eyes.
“I’ll just use any empty room.”
At this rate, it seemed I’d end up staying in Vasily’s room, so I made the first move. Since the basic interior would already be done, there wouldn’t be any discomfort regardless of which room I used.
Saying that, I walked into the house. I felt an unpleasant gaze from behind, but I ignored it and moved further inside.
Vasily’s room is the largest room at the very end. In that case, I’d prefer somewhere close to the entrance. It’s the farthest from Vasily’s room, and it’s a room I used before the regression.
Just as I entered and tried to open the door, Vasily, who had followed me before I knew it, grabbed the doorknob first and blocked me.
“…What are you doing?”
“Not this room.”