Approximal Guide

“…What?”Lee Jungkyu rarely looked this dumbfounded. His blank expression was a sight to behold, and the jaws of the surrounding guides dropped as they exchanged glances with one another.“I can’t keep doing this anymore. Making your meals every day—brown rice in the morning, black rice for lunch, mixed grains cooked in a stone pot for dinner. You even forbid me from using scouring pads to clean the pot because it might scratch it, so I’ve been scrubbing it with my nails! Other people said it’s not a task for an assistant, so why is it just me? I thought cooking your meals every day, piping hot, and serving them on time was my way of being loyal to the military!“And the post you made about me on the intranet… You’re punishing me, aren’t you? Just because I told you it was absurd when you claimed you’d pair with Captain Kim Moohyuk soon and that imprinting was just a matter of time. I shouldn’t have talked back. I should’ve just agreed with you. I’ve reflected a lot, and I understand now. Please, delete that lie. And about my uncle—when he came to visit me, you turned him away, saying soldiers should cut ties with civilians and live like proper soldiers. Now he’s so heartbroken he collapsed and is in the hospital. What am I supposed to do?”It was a blatant lie. For all I knew, Kang Byungchan could be in a hospital or lying on the street. The best way to fight a lie? With another lie.My words poured out in a torrent, leaving Lee Jungkyu gaping like a fish. I covered my face with my hands, pretending I was on the verge of tears, as the surrounding guides started sneaking glances at Lee Jungkyu. Their looks screamed “Is it true?”Lee Jungkyu, now pale and flustered, took a step back, clearly caught off guard. He tried to gather his wits and retorted sharply,“W-what nonsense are you spewing now?!”“Nonsense? You’re the one always saying Captain Kim Moohyuk is just playing hard to get and that it’s inevitable he’ll choose you as his pair because all the other guides are idiots!”Even the most skilled social chameleons can’t completely conceal their inner nature. Whatever superiority complex or selfish vanity lay within Lee Jungkyu was impossible to erase entirely. People may act kind, but that doesn’t mean they’re wholly good. The crowd may be dumb, but individuals are startlingly perceptive. Now, thanks to the seeds of doubt I’d planted, everyone here was likely revisiting Lee Jungkyu’s past behavior, thinking, “Come to think of it…”Sensing this shift, Lee Jungkyu’s voice grew sharper.“Th-that’s something you said! You’re the one always bragging about pairing with Captain Kim Moohyuk!”“With what qualifications?”At that moment, a figure standing at the end of the hallway caught everyone’s attention. Gasps rippled through the onlookers as heads turned toward the source. Following their gaze, I turned my head a beat later.There, at the end of the hallway, stood Kim Moohyuk.…Huh? Why are you here?I blinked in confusion. Beside him stood Kim Inhak, looking slightly older than I remembered. It had been ages since I’d last seen him. My fleeting sentimentality vanished as Kim Moohyuk began striding purposefully toward us.This was the 9th floor, the exclusive domain of guides. Why would an Esper like Kim Moohyuk come here? Not only that, he seemed intent on joining this conversation.Lee Jungkyu’s pale face turned even whiter, his feet unconsciously retreating. I clicked my tongue in frustration. Things were about to get complicated.Kim Moohyuk, now towering over me, broke the silence. His expression was blank, his face emotionless, but there was something in his look—something that felt like mockery.“What exactly disqualifies you from pairing with me?”His question drew sharp intakes of breath from the surrounding guides. I, however, was lost in thought.Has this bastard lost his mind?It wasn’t just me. The entire crowd seemed stunned, their eyes glued to the unfolding drama. Even Lee Jungkyu seemed paralyzed, his breathing halting as he stared at us.…Guys, seriously, go back to work. Why are you so invested?Flustered, I shot to my feet.“Haha, Captain Kim Moohyuk! Long time no see. Wow, you’ve gotten even more dashing in the past few months!”I tried desperately to divert the conversation, but Kim Moohyuk wasn’t having it.“A few months? Are you still upset that I left while you were napping the last time we met?”Are you insane?I glared daggers at him, wishing I had Esper powers to incinerate him on the spot. Napping? He was referring to the time I’d taken a quick nap in the shared guiding room! Just as I opened my mouth to deny it, Kim Moohyuk spoke again.“So, Sergeant Kang, what exactly makes you unqualified? Should I ask you, or should I ask someone else? I’d love to hear why you turned down my pair proposal.”“Gasp—!”The collective shock from the surrounding guides was almost deafening. Something fell to the floor with a loud thud. Turning to see what it was, I found Kim Inhak staring at me with teary eyes, hands over his mouth, and his clipboard lying on the floor.…Oh, right. That guy’s still here.Yes, I was absolutely screwed.“So, Sergeant Kang, would you reconsider pairing with me? It’d mean a lot.”“…”“…Well? What do you think?”Since when am I “your” Sergeant Kang?!I glared at Kim Moohyuk, who was now lounging on the opposite sofa, looking annoyingly relaxed. He casually crossed his legs and rested his hands on his knees, letting out a dramatic yawn.I sighed. Even Kim Inhak, who looked like he’d aged significantly since I last saw him, was staring at me with a pleading expression.“Look, I know he’s a bit of a jerk and has a nasty personality, but his grade is high. Pairing with him would get you a raise…”Kim Inhak brought up something tempting amidst all this—salary increase. That was music to the ears of someone currently suffering from a brutally low bank balance like mine.Right after Kim Moohyuk approached me with what felt like a pair proposal in the ninth-floor corridor, I found myself dragged into Kim Inhak’s office—the center director’s room—where I was listening to a string of appeals. Honestly, if I hadn’t once been Colonel Kang Hajung, a senior officer to Kim Inhak, it would’ve been awkward to watch the director bow his head and plead with a lowly Sergeant Kang.But I knew well enough that this was all part of Kim Inhak’s strategy. Judging by Sergeant Kang’s gentle appearance, he must have thought pleading would give him a foothold. Too bad for him, though—what he didn’t consider was that the one in Sergeant Kang’s shoes was someone like me, who was well-versed in handling Kim Inhak. Crossing my legs like Kim Moohyuk, I opened my mouth.— Hmm, so you’re saying my annual salary will increase?— Exactly!— But… even if it increases…— I’ll push through a special allowance for you! Plus, since Moohyuk here is an S++, if you form a pair, there’ll be additional incentives for the guide…!Kim Inhak kept groveling like a parent desperate to marry off an older bachelor son. It seemed Kim Moohyuk had given him a hard time. Figuring I could probably push for even better terms, I hummed thoughtfully before replying.— I was planning on retiring soon, though.— Then three years! Just pair up for three years!— Even regular soldiers only serve a year and eight months these days. Three years seems a bit…— Two years!— Hmm.— Fine! One year and ten months!The terms were starting to look good. A shorter pairing period would allow me to stabilize Kim Moohyuk quickly and retire afterward. Two birds with one stone.— …Can we agree on one year and six months, with an annual salary of —?— Of course!Kim Inhak shot up from his seat in excitement. Meanwhile, Kim Moohyuk, who had been the one to suggest pairing in the first place, acted indifferent to the negotiation. In any case, a year and a half should be enough to stabilize him, link him with another guide, and then make my exit. Hoping things would go as planned, I chuckled inwardly, thinking about my elevated salary. Fortunately, I wasn’t the only satisfied party.— Sure, he’s a bit rude and ill-tempered, but he’s not a bad pairing partner. You’ve made a great decision. The director is truly moved by your willingness to pair with someone like this… I’m so grateful. Thank you so much.It felt like the old Kim Inhak was back as he tried to defend Moohyuk at first but then revealed his true thoughts. I couldn’t help but laugh softly. Just as he was vigorously shaking my hand in gratitude, another hand shot out and separated us. Both of us turned to look at him in astonishment.— What are you…?— If the negotiations for this ‘marriage of convenience’ are over, can you let go so we can finalize the pairing application?— Ma-marriage of convenience?!Kim Inhak practically screeched, his voice breaking, while Kim Moohyuk maintained his usual indifferent expression and remarked:— Salary increase for pairing, reduced contract duration… It was all negotiated with material terms. That’s a marriage of convenience, isn’t it? Sergeant Kang, you’ve just bought me. Keep that in mind.— Moohyuk, you little—! Sergeant Kang, you know that’s not true, right? Don’t take what he says too seriously. He’s just a twisted guy…!— Yes, it’s fine.I nodded. No one knew better than me how rude Kim Moohyuk could be. As I replied casually, Kim Inhak looked oddly moved, as though deeply impressed by my response.— Do well, you punk. Look how kind Sergeant Kang is.Kind? What’s kind about me? Who was the one negotiating salary increases over pairing with Kim Moohyuk like selling people? Moohyuk must have caught on to that, which is why he brought up uncomfortable terms like “marriage of convenience.”Essentially, Moohyuk’s words boiled down to this: if I was going to go all out to justify the cost of pairing with him, I’d better put in my best effort for the deal. Was he upset? I glanced at Moohyuk’s face, but I couldn’t find any signs of such feelings. His expression remained detached, and his tone held nothing but warning.Maybe he had pulled my hand away from Inhak simply because he found it annoying. Either way, it was clear I couldn’t just leave Kim Moohyuk unattended and discharge myself. This arrangement, with the terms favoring me, seemed like the best option.If I couldn’t escape anyway, it was better to make money while I could, especially with a set time limit. One year and six months wasn’t too long. In fact, it might fly by so quickly that I wouldn’t have time to find a suitable guide for Moohyuk. Still, earning as much as possible in that time and then retiring sounded like a solid plan.In a surprisingly good mood, I found myself absentmindedly following Moohyuk through the pairing application process, signing wherever he indicated. Finally, we reached the last step. Just hours ago, I had been butting heads with other guides in the ninth-floor corridor, and now I was forming another pair with Kim Moohyuk. The whole thing felt surreal.To think two out of the three pairs in my life were with Moohyuk… Was this fate?— Is the registration process done now?The novelty of the situation aside, the procedures were exhausting. I didn’t recall it being this tedious before and found myself puzzled. Glancing down at me, Moohyuk replied:— Once the Esper and guide complete their training, it’s pretty much done.I nodded. Without a word, he turned and walked toward the elevator, pressing the button for a lower floor. I was too drained to do anything but follow. When the elevator arrived, he got in and pressed a button without explanation. Assuming he knew where to go, I blankly followed him out on the third basement level.It seemed new. Moohyuk led me to a room marked Esper-Guide Pair Management Office. Curious, I followed him in, where a staff member directed me to a seat.“The director personally called to ask us to assist you two with pairing. We’ve never dealt with an S++ Esper pair before, so we’re really looking forward to this.”The administrative officer spoke with an overly cheerful expression, his words scattered and lively, as though he were teasing Kim Moohyuk. It was curious enough to make one wonder why he had that look on his face—until it clicked. It was likely because Kim Moohyuk had spent the past several years without a partner. The administrative officer, bold enough to joke around with someone like Moohyuk, handed us a booklet.“As you might already know, for paired individuals, we provide housing in Garam-dong. Of course, you can remain in your current accommodations if you prefer, but there’s some significance to the pairing, so…”The officer trailed off, glancing sideways at Moohyuk as if gauging his reaction. What significance? I stared blankly, and he cleared his throat before continuing with the instructions.And then, what he said next left me utterly dumbfounded.“Also, here are some contraceptive devices for you to take. You’ll also need to complete the mandatory legal sexual education session, which includes watching a video today.”“Con-what? Contraceptive devices?”Barely managing to speak, I asked hesitantly, unable to believe what I’d just heard. What kind of device? What kind of education? As I stammered, the officer and Kim Moohyuk looked at me as if I were the strange one.“Oh, we’ve recently started a campaign to distribute contraceptive devices during imprinting, mostly for STD prevention. It’s been quite well-received. You know how most well-known contraceptive brands are Japanese or American? So the government’s investing in local companies, planning to collect data by testing them first with military personnel. They’re very ambitious about this…”“Wait, wait. Why are you giving them to us?”Cutting him off mid-sentence, I demanded an explanation. My face was burning with disbelief. What possible reason could there be for Kim Moohyuk and me to need contraceptive devices? But the officer’s response was casual.“Oh, so you already use your own?”“No, we don’t!”The words burst out before I could stop them, my voice embarrassingly high-pitched. My face was now fully ablaze. Receiving contraceptive devices while pairing with someone I had practically raised as a younger brother? My old-school mindset couldn’t wrap around the absurdity of it. Meanwhile, Kim Moohyuk, appearing utterly indifferent, yawned loudly and finally spoke.“Yes, we have our own.”What? What nonsense was he spouting now? I turned to him in shock, only for the officer to nod as if that made perfect sense.“Ah, I see. In that case, you won’t need these. You can proceed to the audiovisual room for the sexual education session.”“Wait, what? No! We don’t—”“Let’s go. Is it that way?”Before I could protest further, Kim Moohyuk stood, pulled me to my feet, and led the way to the audiovisual room without looking back. My embarrassment went entirely ignored. In the end, I was left with no choice but to follow, my face still blazing red.“If you take a seat, the video will start. It’s only 50 minutes long, so it’ll be over quickly. It’s a required procedure, so please don’t feel too upset about it.”The officer’s tone remained strictly professional, leaving little room to argue why contraceptive devices were necessary or why we had to undergo sexual education. Kim Moohyuk’s indifference mirrored his, making me question if I was overreacting. With no other options, I resigned myself to sit quietly.As soon as the officer left with a bizarrely chipper “Enjoy your time,” the video began playing on the wall-mounted screen. Most of it was about the physical interactions involved in guiding between a handler and an Esper, but some scenes were uncomfortably explicit. Watching this with Kim Moohyuk made me feel as though I was sitting through an R-rated movie with a much younger sibling I’d practically raised.Unconsciously, my gaze shifted toward Kim Moohyuk beside me. Had he known about this education when he agreed to the pairing? Unlike me, he hadn’t woken up five years later, so he must have. Pressing my lips together, I finally spoke, unable to contain myself.“This video is… a bit much, isn’t it?”Kim Moohyuk, arms crossed, turned to glance at me with a detached look. His eyes betrayed no emotion, his expression making it clear I was the only one unsettled.His face seemed like it might soon shift to a look of utter boredom—or maybe he’d laugh. I couldn’t tell which would come first. Then, he finally spoke.“You didn’t know that’s what ‘pairing’ meant?”“What does that even mean…”I replied absently, still dazed. Moohyuk continued nonchalantly.“For the time being, there’ll be rumors at the center that you and I are in a relationship.”“A re-what?”I was so stunned by his words that I didn’t even realize he had dropped the formal honorifics and was speaking to me casually. Moohyuk turned slightly toward me, a faint smirk playing on his lips. It was such an unfamiliar expression that I couldn’t look away, like someone captivated by a new side of a person they thought they knew.“It means we’re supposedly close enough to need those devices they were handing out earlier. Hard to understand?”The smirk on his face was strangely mischievous—like something enjoyable but entirely without nutritional value, a guilty pleasure. I could only blink, holding my breath. The Kim Moohyuk sitting in front of me felt like a stranger, even more so than he had since waking up five years later.As I stared in silence, he turned away, seemingly losing interest in me like a bored child.“Just act like it’s true. It’s easier than lying to specific people—you deceive everyone instead.”“Easier for me?”“Yes.”What was I supposed to deceive others about? While my mind wandered, trying to parse his cryptic words, Moohyuk, who had been staring off into the corner, turned back to me. His gaze was calm yet impenetrably dark, like a dimly lit room hiding unseen depths.“It’ll especially be easier for you.”It wasn’t until much later that I fully understood what he meant.After watching the video in the audiovisual room, Kim Moohyuk left, saying he had something to do, but not without a parting shot.“Don’t just go home. Go to the cafeteria, eat, and send me a picture.”“Why should I?”“Have I ever said I enjoy seeing you act cheeky? I don’t recall saying that, but you’re acting like I did, so I’m asking.”This brat. Grinding my teeth in frustration, I realized there wasn’t much I could say to a captain as a mere sergeant, so I clamped my mouth shut. Left with no other choice, I shuffled my way to the cafeteria, following his instructions.That’s when I noticed the change in atmosphere.“Uh, is it okay if we sit here?”I was lazily munching on a roll of kimbap I’d ordered, having no energy to grab a full meal tray. Suddenly, someone placed a tray on the table and asked. I didn’t recognize the face, but from their guide uniform, I guessed they were a Grade A or below guide. Most of the higher-ranked ones were likely among those I’d seen earlier on the ninth-floor corridor.I wasn’t sure why they were asking, but the cafeteria wasn’t mine to own, so I nodded.“Sure, go ahead.”“Thanks. It’s our first time talking, isn’t it?”I ignored their conversational tone and kept chewing on my pickled radish. Why were they suddenly striking up a conversation? My brain was already fried from the earlier events in the audiovisual room, leaving me with no energy for small talk.As they exchanged whispers among themselves, they finally turned to me again.“By the way, is it true that you’re partnered with Captain Kim Moohyuk now?”Ah, so that’s what this was about? I stared blankly at the guide who had asked, wondering if they were trying to start trouble. They flinched under my gaze and hurriedly waved their hands in a dismissive gesture.“Oh, no, we’re not trying to stir anything. It’s just… it’s amazing that Sergeant Kang is Captain Kim’s new partner.”Their hasty clarification made it clear they had no ill intent. Tilting my head slightly in acknowledgment, I responded curtly.“Yes, well… thank you?”“We’re all Grade B, but hearing that Sergeant Kang was promoted to Grade A, we couldn’t help feeling envious. Would you consider hosting a study group for us sometime?”“A study group?”That was unexpected. My brow lifted involuntarily as one of the other guides, seated next to the one who first spoke, explained further.“Well, you skipped several ranks in one go, right? We were hoping you might share any guiding techniques or methods you’ve developed.”“Oh, um… I’m not sure if I’d be good at that,” I hedged, unsure of their motives. The guides seemed to grow visibly anxious before turning despondent.“Right, of course… Now that you’re partnered with Captain Kim, you’ll probably be tied up with training. We were just curious and a little envious, so we thought we’d ask.”Hmm… they didn’t seem to be trying to provoke me. In fact, their words felt surprisingly sincere. Their open admiration took me off guard, given how quickly the tone had shifted since earlier.“I understand. But since I’m still getting used to the partnership, I don’t have much to offer yet,” I said cautiously.“Oh! Of course, no pressure. We were just hoping you might consider it later.”Acknowledging their persistence, I nodded.“It’s only been a short time since we partnered up, so I’m not sure how things will pan out yet. But I can let you know later if something comes up.”“Oh, really? Thanks! Here, let’s exchange numbers. Can we reach out to you?”“Sure, later.”The guides lit up with excitement at my tentative agreement. It was a bit amusing. Was this what Kim Moohyuk had been talking about? Now that I thought about it, the sharp stares I’d felt entering the cafeteria earlier seemed to have softened significantly.Their rapid shift in attitude left me incredulous, but I chalked it up to my apparent competence. After exchanging numbers with the guides and leaving my half-eaten kimbap behind, I headed out.“People are so quick to adapt,” I muttered to myself as I walked, still amused by their sudden friendliness. With my tasks for the day mostly wrapped up, I decided to head straight to my quarters.The moment I opened the door, exhaustion hit me like a wave. What a day. I just wanted to shower and collapse into bed. Tossing off my clothes as I entered, I headed straight to the bathroom.I didn’t have much in the way of pajamas—just some odd shorts—so it was easier to sleep in just my underwear. Buying new clothes wasn’t in my budget, and while I could’ve used the provided center uniforms, I hadn’t been able to locate any of those either.In the end, sleeping in my underwear was the most comfortable option. Over the past few years, living with Kim Moohyuk meant I’d always worn proper sleepwear since he’d often crawl into my bed when his guiding levels were low. But now, being alone, this was the most freeing.After roughly drying myself, I grabbed my body cream. My skin was too thin and sensitive to skip moisturizing after a shower. It had been years since I’d had to think about such things, as Kim Moohyuk had always taken care of the little details.When I’d gone to buy some at a nearby drugstore, the clerk informed me that the brand Kim Moohyuk used was a luxury product, sold only at department stores.“This is a high-end brand. You’d need to visit a department store to purchase it.”The clerk’s expression seemed to question why I was even looking for such a product there. Feeling awkward, I looked it up online and confirmed it was indeed expensive.“Why the hell was he always buying such pricey stuff? This one works just fine,” I muttered, settling for a cheaper alternative the clerk recommended. The fragrance was vastly different from what I was used to, but I had to convince myself it wasn’t bad. After all, there was no room in my budget for luxury tastes.Still, the weather was cold, and letting my skin dry out wasn’t an option. Carefully applying the cream, I headed straight for bed.“Ah, what a day,” I groaned, sinking into the mattress.Since it wasn’t my original voice, even when I groaned like an old man, it still sounded like a soft tenor. Accepting this unfamiliar voice as my own, recognizing the changed appearance as my face—these were all things I still wasn’t used to. But I was slowly adapting. What choice did I have? It seemed I’d have to live like this forever, so it was better to adjust quickly.My dim vision blurred further, and I closed my eyes. Pulling the blanket tightly around me like a cocoon, I tried to rest. Back when I lived with Kim Moohyuk, the bed had felt cramped. Two grown men, both over 180cm tall, squeezing into it—it was no wonder the bed struggled. In the end, we had to visit a furniture store in Yipsea-dong and custom-order a larger bed. It had cost quite a bit, but Kim Moohyuk had covered it with his mission incentives, claiming he’d recently received a payout.At the time, I was just happy for him. Seeing him succeed and grow into a capable soldier, one who even earned mission incentives, filled me with pride. Having practically raised him myself, I felt a deep satisfaction whenever he came back recognized for his work.Those were the days… Nostalgia crept in uninvited. My thoughts trailed off as sleep began to take over my body. I would have slept soundly until morning if it weren’t for the sudden noise.Crash!A deafening clatter shattered the silence. My eyes flew open instinctively, though I reflexively stayed silent. Years of military service had sharpened my reflexes, and my instincts kicked in. I opened my eyes just enough to appear still half-asleep, and that’s when I saw them—two men locked in combat in the middle of my room.“Kim Moohyuk—?!”His name escaped my lips before I realized it. Kim Moohyuk was grappling with someone, locked in a heated struggle. The cramped space of the room seemed to limit their use of abilities, so they resorted to hand-to-hand combat. As I scrambled to get up, Kim Moohyuk spoke in an unaffected tone.“Finally awake. Put some clothes on, but don’t turn on the light.”Living in such an isolated area, I assumed it wouldn’t matter. But maybe he was worried someone might notice traces of the fight elsewhere. I kept silent and watched. Intervening now could only make things harder for him.Fortunately, the fight ended quickly. After a few exchanged blows, Kim Moohyuk deflected the intruder’s punch and swiftly grabbed the man’s throat. With a cold voice, he spoke, tightening his grip.“Only one of you came? That’s hard to believe. Where are your friends? Introduce me.”The man struggled, choking under Kim Moohyuk’s unyielding grip. His face twisted in pain, unable to speak coherently.“You—let go—urk!”“You’re not answering, huh? That’s disappointing.”Kim Moohyuk seemed to consider something briefly. He raised his arm, likely preparing to knock the man unconscious. But before he could, the intruder pulled something from his pocket. Startled, I jumped between them, but the man moved faster. He activated the device mid-air.“Kim Moohyuk!”I instinctively grabbed him, shielding him from the blast with my body. His broad shoulders felt larger than I remembered as they pressed against me. In an instant, without a sound, the intruder vanished.“Damn it… Was that—?”“A space bomb,” Kim Moohyuk finished my sentence. The term referred to a device refined from spatial manipulation abilities. Still in my arms, he sighed, his breath brushing against my collarbone.“Let go already. Why the hell are you hugging me?”His voice, unusually irritable, caught me off guard. I hadn’t heard him sound this annoyed in years. Embarrassed, I clicked my tongue and let go, offering an awkward explanation.“Well… I thought you might be in danger…”“Are you kidding? I’m the Esper here, not you. And why are you practically naked?”“Naked? What are you— Oh, right. This is just what I wear to bed.”It hit me then—I’d been lounging around in nothing but underwear. So that’s why he’d told me to put on clothes earlier. Flustered, I quickly grabbed a T-shirt and some training pants. Though they barely reached my thighs, I figured it didn’t matter since we were both men. I turned on the light, prompting Kim Moohyuk to look at me in disbelief.“Are you seriously calling that pants…?”“Well, this is all I’ve got right now. Don’t like it? Just ignore it.”Muttering that it wasn’t a matter of liking or not, Kim Moohyuk clicked his tongue and surveyed the room.“Check if anything’s missing.”“There’s nothing valuable to steal in the first place. By the way, how did you even know to come here?”Ignoring my comment about valuables, he continued scanning the room. “Look around. Would your room be this trashed if no one had rifled through it?”“…I just didn’t clean up. That’s all.”When I admitted that the mess was my usual state, his blank expression briefly gave way to exasperation. Embarrassed, I hastily changed the subject.“More importantly, how did you know something was happening?”“As your paired Esper, I can’t afford not to know. Pack your things.”“Pack? What for? Stop nagging me—I’ll clean tomorrow.”“I mean your belongings. We’ve been assigned a pair-exclusive residence.”“…What?!”I was so stunned I bit my tongue. A pair-exclusive residence? It sounded like we’d been given one of those joint houses we used to share. But when? Even today, he’d claimed to have work and left. How had he managed to secure a house already?“Don’t I need to agree to this sort of thing?!”“You did. You already gave your consent.”“I never did that!”“Didn’t you?”Kim Moohyuk responded as if confused, but I realized it was all an act. His expression, somehow faintly amused, gave it away. Unbelievable. Even with his usual stoic face, he could still manage to smirk.Over the years, he’d lost all expression, and now he neither smiled nor hesitated to mock others. As if to put an end to the conversation, Moohyuk shifted the topic decisively.“We’re going to be up all night at this rate. Pack your things.”“Seriously, how can you spring this on me so suddenly…”I grumbled in disbelief. Moohyuk, without asking, rummaged through my fridge and popped open a beer. The sharp click, hiss— filled the room. That beer was a splurge purchase, for crying out loud.Even as I stared in disbelief, he scanned the room, taking a swig from the can. His throat bobbed visibly as he gulped, and I turned away awkwardly. …Strange. My feelings were a bit odd. Whatever. I figured it was best to follow his advice and start packing.After all, the attack was unsettling. Until the intruder’s identity was clear, it was safer to be cautious. Guides often attracted obsessive attention from espers, occasionally leading to stalking. That’s why esper access to guide-exclusive housing was prohibited. But judging by the assailant’s boldness, this wasn’t just a simple stalker.In that case… what was it?“As pretty as I am, I doubt this is the work of a stalker…”“Do people usually say stuff like that about themselves?”I muttered to myself without thinking, and Moohyuk, still drinking his beer, responded incredulously. But it was true—this face was objectively stunning. It didn’t even feel like my own, so I could say things like that without hesitation. Even now, it didn’t feel real to call this face mine.“I’ll just pack what I can and come back tomorrow for the rest—”“Stay there permanently. Don’t even think about coming back here. Did you not see what happened earlier? If I hadn’t been here, you’d have been kidnapped or worse.”After finishing his beer, Moohyuk rinsed the can in the sink and crushed it with a casual squeeze.“Who was that guy, anyway?”“You don’t need to know. If you’re done packing, let’s go. Get up.”“This is ridiculous.”He offered no further explanation. Frustrated, I grabbed my hastily packed belongings and followed him. As we headed for the door, Moohyuk suddenly turned to me with a sharp look.“You’re seriously going out dressed like that?”His gaze carried a tinge of disapproval, prompting me to raise an eyebrow in response.“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”Even after three days without washing, this face could radiate a halo. How scruffy could I really look? I felt confident—not in myself, but in this body’s appearance. But Moohyuk’s expression remained unreadable, as if he couldn’t decide whether to be annoyed or resigned.“Let’s just go already.”When I urged him to hurry, Moohyuk let out an exasperated sigh before stepping out first. What’s his problem? I wondered but didn’t care enough to ask. I simply followed him.When we reached the building’s shared entrance, something crossed my mind.“Wait… didn’t you bring a car?”“No. Didn’t you see me drinking earlier?”“Then how are we supposed to carry all this? And how did you even get here?”“I ran.”I’d almost forgotten espers could run as fast as racehorses. I was dumbfounded.“You told me to pack up, and then you don’t even bring a car?”“Give it here. I’ll carry it.”Moohyuk answered simply and took my bags. What was heavy for me was nothing more than a handful of books to him, so I didn’t bother refusing. He didn’t seem to mind either.I couldn’t help but think back to when Moohyuk first developed his abilities. At twenty, he hadn’t yet mastered his newfound strength, often breaking doorknobs or ripping off pan handles. The memory made me chuckle quietly. Moohyuk turned to look at me, and I quickly cleared my throat, pretending I hadn’t laughed.We walked in silence through the Garam District, where the housing clusters were located. The place was quiet at this hour, the occasional streetlight casting faint glows. Most were off, amplifying the stillness.The new paired housing for espers and guides was about a 30-minute walk from the guide-exclusive dorms. During the trek, neither of us spoke. Finally, as we reached the paired housing, I broke the silence hesitantly.“So… is your old place nearby?”“Over there. I’ll move my stuff out gradually.”Following his gesture, I turned to look—and my breath hitched. It was the same red-brick house we’d been assigned when we first paired.My lips pressed together tightly. A whirl of emotions threatened to spill out. Eventually, one question slipped past my restraint.“…Then why are you suddenly being so nice to me?”The surroundings were eerily still. Despite the mountain’s proximity, there wasn’t even the sound of an owl or a pigeon. Only the cold wind brushed past us, breaking the silence among the unlit homes.Moohyuk stood there, holding my bags, his expression unreadable. Slowly, his lips parted.“I have something I need to figure out about you.”“…”His face returned to its usual, unreadable state. But I didn’t believe it was truly devoid of emotion. No, Moohyuk was hiding something behind that hardened exterior.And this Moohyuk—the one who had fortified himself defensively—was someone I didn’t know.His gaze pierced through me, relentless in its persistence. At that moment, I thought I finally understood why his expressionless face had felt so peculiar. Kim Moohyuk was looking at me with a plethora of emotions. Beneath the seemingly blank expression, the flat voice devoid of tone, and the eyes sunken as if weighed down—Kim Moohyuk was silently saying something to me. Constantly.“There are things I want to hear from you.”“…”Should I have asked then, what it was that he wanted to hear?But that night, I couldn’t bring myself to ask him.“So, you’re actually living with him now?”“Where did you pick up that weird way of talking, Byeongeun?”Even as I snapped at him, Han Byeongeun was too preoccupied with his barrage of questions to care.“I mean, it’s shocking enough that you suddenly got promoted to A-rank, but then you paired up with Kim Moohyuk out of nowhere, and now you’re even living together? Then why did you ask me to keep it a secret? You might as well just go ahead and brag to the Director about how you’re my senior.”Han Byeongeun spoke as though he were accusing me of betraying some sacred pact of confidentiality. Ignoring him, I rifled through his snack basket, found a piece of chocolate, and popped it open. He screeched in indignation.“That was from my wife! Why would you eat it without asking?!”“Thanks for the treat, sister-in-law.”I tossed the wrapper aside and shoved the chocolate into my mouth, mocking him with an exaggerated gesture of gratitude. Watching him stomp around in outrage made me wonder how his wife put up with him.“Why do you think I got promoted? I told you, I saw Sergeant Kang’s memories and felt sorry for him. Who knows? If I manage to catch some armed Accent tomorrow, I might even earn a medal in Kang’s name. Wouldn’t that lift the restrictions on his records?”The way I saw it, there were two parts to avenging Sergeant Kang. One was to directly bring ruin upon the people who had wronged him. The other was to rack up enough achievements to honor his memory. If I was going to live out my days masquerading as Sergeant Kang Hajung, I might as well ensure that he goes down in history as a hero. A proper soldier, after all, finds pride in their name etched on a memorial stone.That’s why I needed results before my discharge. But Han Byeongeun, as usual, had a way of throwing a wrench into my plans.“Then why’d you pair up with Kim Moohyuk? Don’t you feel bad for him?”“What do you think pairing up means, genius? It’s so he can get some stability through guiding, obviously!”I barked back at him, but Han Byeongeun merely clicked his tongue.“Pairing out of pity? Just imprint with him already. Honestly, I don’t think you’re retiring anytime soon.”“You little—what makes you think—”“The Director’s already scheming, by the way. Remember how he set a condition to dissolve the pair in a year and a half? He’s grilling the administrative officers, trying to figure out how high an A-rank Guide’s salary can go.”“That damn Kim Inhak always puts so much effort into the most pointless things!”“So do you, Colonel.”Han Byeongeun smirked at me, full of mockery. Hah, come to think of it, maybe I was in over my head. What if I ended up getting roped in and failed to retire? The thought made me briefly panic before I shoved it aside.“Forget it. Just investigate that guy’s energy waves from last night.”“There aren’t any traces to investigate. It’s clean.”“You’re saying he didn’t use any abilities at all?”“Exactly.”According to Kim Moohyuk, the intruder had entered my room and was approaching the bed where I was asleep when Moohyuk caught him. During the struggle, the intruder had detonated a spatial bomb and escaped using teleportation. If he had used his powers, there would’ve been ESP energy residue to analyze, revealing something about his abilities. But there was nothing.“Let me know if you find anything useful.”“Got it.”I gave Han Byeongeun a karate chop to the head and left his lab. Although my assignment had been changed to a shared guiding room after forming the pair, I hadn’t yet filed for the transfer. Staying in the shared guiding room brought me a peculiar sense of peace. It gave me the chance to slack off in a way I couldn’t at the new station.“Where else could you find such a perfect spot for loafing around?”The shared guiding room was a haven, devoid of visitors, where I could curl up with a heat pack and nap undisturbed. I wanted to savor this calm before the storm of joint training sessions with Kim Moohyuk. He seemed to agree, not pressuring me to join operations immediately. Thus, I indulged in temporary freedom, lying back in the guiding room after leaving Han Byeongeun’s lab, refusing to acknowledge the impending workload.Blissfully ignoring the warning signals from my brain—its “What are you doing, you idiot?” alarms—I either napped or immersed myself in endless games of FreeCell. I still hadn’t beaten the record set by the previous chief of the shared guiding room.As I lazed around, Kim Moohyuk would usually show up around quitting time to pick me up. He claimed it was dangerous for me to return alone. I didn’t argue, given that the intruder’s identity remained unknown.“Let’s go.”True to form, Kim Moohyuk didn’t step inside the guiding room but called out to me from the doorway. He was dressed in a black tactical jumpsuit—the kind worn during flight missions. Judging by the dirt on him, he’d likely been running through rough terrain. But where exactly, I couldn’t say.“Come in for a moment. I’ll get you a drink.”“Not if it’s sweet. You drink it.”He dismissed the offer with his usual indifference, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. Knowing he wouldn’t move until I was ready, I sighed and began packing up. He used to eat sweets without hesitation, especially if I offered. Had his tastes changed? Perhaps age had shifted his palate, so I didn’t dwell on it.I gathered my things quickly, not wanting to keep him waiting under his unyielding gaze. Soon, I followed him out of the guiding room and into his Jeep, heading back to the lodging quarters.