Beyond The Control

Chapter 31

There are two ways for an Esper and a Guide to form a pair.

The first is to meet the minimum matching rate. A high threshold of 70% matching rate must be exceeded for official recognition by the Awakened Association or Guild, due to the relative shortage of Guides. When an official pair is formed, the Guide becomes exclusively dedicated to one Esper. If pairs were formed based on personal preference with only 40-50% matching rates, it would be a significant loss for the Association or Guild. Thus, soon after the Association was established, a minimum matching rate clause was created.

The second method is for the Esper and Guide to imprint on each other. Imprinting occurs naturally during guiding and creates a bond. It usually happens more frequently with higher matching rates, so it can be considered similar in nature to the first method.

In any case, for the first scenario, getting official recognition was important. Those working independently needed recognition from the Awakened Association, while those contracted with Guilds needed recognition from their affiliated Guild. So when I arrived at the office the next day, I immediately requested a meeting with the Human Resources Department.

Today too, Director Park looked haggard from the morning, but his eyes were still alive. Sitting across from him, I relayed the verbal agreement I had made with Song Ji-hyeok yesterday. After hearing everything, the Director’s expression suggested he found it difficult to readily accept. Scratching his wrinkled brow with his thumb, he seemed to be thinking about something before finally speaking.

“Is there really a need to set a time limit? It’s not like a higher matching rate will appear anyway.”

That’s exactly what I’m saying.

But I didn’t want to disparage Song Ji-hyeok’s face right before forming a pair, so I gave a diplomatic answer.

“I thought it would be good to adjust more and proceed slowly.”

But Director Park was by no means an easy person to fool. As if seeing through the situation at a glance, he raised an eyebrow and added:

“Well, it’s understandable to be proud for now. But as more time passes, there will surely come a day when Esper Song Ji-hyeok will be the one more eager.”

“I really hope so.”

“Anyway, I understand. Since we’re on the topic, let’s proceed right away.”

The Director, with a barely perceptible smile, made an internal call. Shortly after, the door opened and Song Ji-hyeok appeared.

He bowed slightly and plopped down next to me. The sofa was connected for three people, so when Song Ji-hyeok sat down, I felt like I was sinking along with him.

Director Park took charge of the situation from there. Twirling a pen in his hand, he asked us questions.

“I heard that you two agreed to have a one-year period to see how well you work together. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll report it to the higher-ups as such. However, since this is a temporary pairing, we’ll need to apply a few differences from the standard contract.”

After wetting his throat with some tea, the Director continued.

“Guide Lee Su-hyeon will prioritize guiding Esper Song Ji-hyeok, but if he’s absent or there are non-overlapping time slots, you must accept guiding requests from other Espers. Also, when new Espers are recruited, you must participate in mandatory matching rate tests.”

“Yes.”

I unconsciously clenched my fists slightly. The weight and responsibility I had to bear as a Guide felt even greater.

“And Esper Song Ji-hyeok will be assigned to Team 3, where Guide Lee Su-hyeon belongs. Do you both agree?”

“Yes.”

“…Yes.”

Why so glum? If you’re going to answer, do it with some energy like me.

“Then we’ll conclude the discussion here. And Guide Lee Su-hyeon, please stay for a moment.”

Song Ji-hyeok left first, and I, left alone, wore a puzzled expression. It seemed like there would be more to discuss with Song Ji-hyeok, so being asked to stay made me feel a bit uneasy. As if reading my thoughts, Director Park got straight to the point without hesitation.

“Looking at your records, I see that you’ve been much more active as an Esper than as a Guide. But as you know, it’s a principle that Guides don’t go out into the field unless it’s a special case… Can you do that?”

In simple terms, he was asking if I could stay quietly in the office from now on. Hearing this, I also had something I wanted to ask.

“Before I answer, may I ask one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“Even though it’s temporary, I’m becoming the pair Guide for an S-rank Esper. Would contract condition changes apply even in this case?”

“Of course. It will be adjusted to match Esper Song Ji-hyeok’s status starting today.”

I wanted to cheer out loud as soon as I heard this. If it’s adjusted to match Song Ji-hyeok, there’s no doubt my annual salary would increase significantly. It was a moment when I was newly grateful that he was an S-rank Esper.

Barely suppressing the corners of my mouth that wanted to twitch upwards, I belatedly answered the Director’s question.

“Thank you. And I don’t mind where I am, but Song Ji-hyeok might think differently. He demanded guiding every evening when we went on the raid.”

“Every evening… you say?”

“Yes. It wasn’t because he was in a dangerous state, but I think he just casually requested it because I was there.”

The Director let out a groan at this. He seemed to be imagining Song Ji-hyeok’s reaction in his head.

“If we tell him that Guides don’t accompany in the field as a rule…”

“He’d probably immediately ask why not, I think.”

Being a dual awakener, he at least has enough power to take care of himself. And Song Ji-hyeok knows this fact well too.

“Are you okay with it, Su-hyeon?”

“Pardon?”

“Continuing to go out into the field, I mean.”

“Of course.”

I think I’d get more antsy if I was just cooped up in the office. My practical skills would deteriorate rapidly too. But Director Park didn’t seem too pleased with this.

“In my opinion, it would be better if you refrained from field deployments like other Guides. However, considering the special circumstances, let’s discuss it separately with Esper Song Ji-hyeok and make a final decision.”

Having concluded this important coordination, I stood up. When I went down to the office, it was almost empty as usual today. Since there are so many energetic people, even when not on field deployment, they rarely stayed in the office.

Regardless, I decided to do my job. I booted up the computer and immediately logged into the Guild’s exclusive program. As soon as the screen changed, I saw the word ‘NEW’ flashing on the left index.

‘Oh, there it is.’

I clicked on the post titled “New 4th Dungeon Conquest Report” and immediately began to read the contents.

I don’t know who wrote the final version, but the text was not just rough, it was dry. With no table of contents and all the same font, it looked like it would instantly put you to sleep if you looked at it with bleary eyes. However, the content was not rough at all. Right from the start, the name of an A-rank monster appeared prominently, and it continued to be remarkable thereafter.

A-rank – A-rank – A-rank – B-rank – A-rank

I couldn’t help but say it was crazy. Even for an A-rank dungeon, it’s normal to have a higher proportion of lower-rank monsters, but this was nothing short of a festival of A-rank monsters.

If I had gone there…

Just thinking about it made my palms sweat. At this level, forget about attacking, I’d probably be too pale with fear and busy running away.

Gulp. As I swallowed and examined the report, I noticed one more striking point. That was that Song Ji-hyeok’s name appeared the most frequently from beginning to end.

‘Looks like he performed well.’

From the new recruit training team’s perspective, things went as intended. But from Song Ji-hyeok’s perspective? It must have been quite challenging.

Understanding the inside story, I could naturally understand why Song Ji-hyeok’s physical condition was in such a state when he returned to the Guild. He probably used his power liberally, trusting Choi Young-sun, but showing side effects moment by moment during guiding must have made him uncomfortable.

No, honestly, it must have been several times harder for Choi Young-sun. She probably had almost no field experience, but she happened to accompany him to a place teeming with A-rank monsters, and she must have had to watch helplessly as monsters’ bodies and heads exploded.

That alone would be enough to put someone in a groggy state… And on top of that, she couldn’t even perform the guiding, which was the reason for all this, as she intended. It must have been very distressing for her in many ways.

As I read, I couldn’t help but think: This might not be someone else’s problem.

To recoup the recruitment costs, they would consistently send him to at least A-rank dungeons, but could I survive there?

I wasn’t confident. When forming a pair, Espers usually protect their Guides like their own lives, but it seemed difficult to expect such a thing from Song Ji-hyeok.

‘…Should I tell Director Park that I want to be stationed in the office after all?’

Yeah. That sounds good.