“Huh? How did that happen?”
Haram asked in shock.
Huiyeong froze for a second, sat up, and shot Shinyul a sharp glare.
But there was no way in hell he was going to admit that some brat stronger than him had stolen his lips by force, so he simply scratched his head roughly.
“Well... this guy came back from a dungeon looking half-dead, and they said he desperately needed Guiding, so... Ah, who cares about that! Anyway, just like you said, rubbing our lips together made my Guiding sense awaken immediately.”
Just yesterday you swore you'd rather die than rub lips with anyone...!
Haram's face filled with betrayal, making Huiyeong clear his throat awkwardly.
“Ahem. Well... I sucked it up and saved a man who was on the verge of dying. What's with that look? I ought to get a commendation from the Minister or something.”
Stammering, Haram asked,
“W-What... I mean... um... what exactly was his Guiding value? Was Esper Han Shinyul really in that bad of a condition?”
“Uh... what was it again? Around fifty... sixty...?”
He was perfectly fine!
Even when they were in excellent condition, it was practically a trademark Esper trick to exaggerate how miserable they felt just to coax more Guiding out of their Guide.
Brand-new Guides who didn't know any better were easily fooled.
But Guides were fundamentally supposed to judge an Esper's condition accurately, so that kind of fake whining wasn't the slightest bit helpful to someone like Huiyeong, who had only just awakened.
Just as Haram was about to explain how thoroughly Huiyeong had been fooled, the employees, who had been exchanging nervous glances, hurriedly stepped between them first.
“Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Thanks to you, Huiyeong, Shinyul survived!”
“That's right! It must have taken tremendous resolve for you too! You're incredible!”
“Well... what do you think? You think I got to my age for nothing? Huh? You think I'd just stand there whining that I didn't want to do it while somebody was dying? Kids, this old man isn't that kind of person.”
Watching Huiyeong beam proudly under the flood of praise, Shinyul looked at him with loving eyes.
“That's right.”
He readily agreed.
Not once did he mention that he had been the one who kissed Huiyeong without permission.
Since Shinyul kept his mouth shut, Huiyeong grew even more excited, carrying himself like the greatest hero of the century.
“So... around fifty? Sixty? How bad is that? The kid's that frail and he's supposed to protect the country?”
The employees' eyes shook.
“Uh... we're not really familiar with the Guiding side of things. Anyway... you really did do a wonderful job.”
“What do you mean? I was asking Teach.”
Seeing his chance, Haram tried to rush forward, but the employees physically blocked him.
“Guide Jeong Haram! Ah! Really? Huiyeong, Guide Jeong Haram has another appointment, so he has to leave now~! Ah, what a shame. Why don't you ask during your next lesson? Guide! I'll escort you out. Thank you so much for taking the time!”
“N-No, wait...!”
“We'll head downstairs first! Get some rest!”
Being dragged away by the employees, Haram desperately shouted,
“Huiyeong! Make sure you come to the next lesson! Alone! Come by yourself! Leave the employees behind and come alone...!”
Watching everyone noisily file out of the room, Huiyeong looked puzzled before flopping back onto the bed.
“Ah, whatever.”
Shinyul busily adjusted the bedding so Huiyeong could lie down comfortably.
Seeing such considerate behavior, Huiyeong's expression became complicated.
“So... uh... does it really hurt that much when your Guiding value drops?”
“Hm? Well... I'm fine now.”
Smiling softly, Shinyul clasped Huiyeong's hand as though it were precious.
Huiyeong frowned deeply but didn't pull away.
“So there's really nobody besides me who can fix you?”
“There isn't. Nobody except Princess.”
“What did you do before I showed up?”
“I took medicine.”
“Medicine?”
Ah... right.
He vaguely remembered hearing that.
If there wasn't a compatible Guide, or Guiding wasn't possible, they took medication.
“But... medicine kind of sucks. It's like you're starving, but instead of giving you food they only hook you up to an IV. The emptiness never goes away—they just make sure your body doesn't break down. And after taking it, you're completely out of it. They dull your mind to suppress that unfillable emptiness. It feels awful. Oh, and the Guiding medicine we take during missions is packed with stimulants too, so that's miserable.”
As he spoke, he rubbed his face against Huiyeong's narrow chest.
Like a newborn chick clinging to its mother, the large man awkwardly folded himself against the much smaller body, wearing the most comfortable expression imaginable.
“If it's really that hard... shouldn't you find another Guide too?”
“Why would I, when I have Princess? You're all I need.”
“Uh... what're you gonna do if I disappear?”
“Why would Princess disappear?”
Shinyul's eyes sharpened dangerously.
“No, you know... originally I—”
“Princess. Huiyeong.”
Contrary to the frightening look in his eyes, his voice remained gentle and sweet.
“That won't happen.”
“As long as I'm alive.”
***
The moment Huiyeong sank into the bathtub filled with steaming hot water, the tension drained from his muscles, and his expression gradually melted with relief.
“Ahhh... now this is the life.”
“Princess, I'll leave your clothes outside the door.”
Shinyul's voice came from beyond the bathroom door.
Ah.
Did I come in without bringing any clothes again?
Living alone for so long, he had never gotten into the habit of bringing clean clothes into the bathroom.
It was a mistake he always made.
He was about to answer when he suddenly froze.
Without moving, Huiyeong slowly submerged his face beneath the water.
Amid the rippling surface, today's events replayed in his mind.
It had been a long time since he'd felt such genuine terror.
It was instinctive fear.
Even though the hand gripping his own had squeezed hard enough to hurt, he hadn't been able to utter a single sound.
Unable to look away, he had stared directly into those golden eyes shining like those of an apex predator.
Shinyul had lazily stroked Huiyeong's frozen cheek before whispering,
“Breathe.”
Only then had Huiyeong realized he'd unconsciously been holding his breath.
That was the moment he understood.
No matter what happened...
He absolutely had to hide his plan to return from this bastard.
Was it because he'd been told Shinyul's life depended on his abilities?
Or because of the way Shinyul treasured him so obsessively?
Even though Shinyul always doted on him, Huiyeong had unconsciously felt that he held the upper hand.
No matter how incredible Shinyul's psychic powers were...
No matter how terrifying the monsters he defeated...
To Huiyeong, he had simply been another one of the countless subordinates he'd once commanded.
But he had been wrong.
It wasn't that he had this beast on a leash because of Guiding.
It was that this beast was clinging to him in order to survive.
That overwhelming obsession...
That desperate desire to keep living peacefully...
It was all binding Huiyeong.
You think I'm gonna settle into this body just because of one damn brat?
Clenching his fist underwater, Huiyeong surfaced—
Only to find Shinyul crouching right beside the bathtub, staring at him.
“WAAAH!”
“Was my Princess actually a little mermaid?”
“W-What... what... what the hell?!”
As Huiyeong thrashed in surprise, water splashed violently over the edge of the tub, soaking Shinyul.
Completely unconcerned about his drenched clothes, Shinyul cupped Huiyeong's cheeks tightly and used his sleeve to wipe the water from his face.
The soft flesh squished together, making him look ridiculous.
“Hey! Mmph! Hey! Stop screwing around and get out!”
“You weren't answering, Princess, so I got worried and came in.”
“The real lunatic is the one who barges in just because nobody answered!”
“Oh right. Want to try this?”
He dropped a round bath bomb swirled with purple and yellow into the water.
Instantly, bubbles frothed up as a pleasant fragrance filled the room.
Watching the large bathtub turn into a mystical swirl of colors, Shinyul cheerfully floated the rubber duck toys he'd brought onto the water.
“You messing with me?”
“They're cute.”
“Who the hell do you think I am?”
“My Princess.”
“Ha... You're just... no, forget it...”
Forget it.
Don't even engage with this guy.
Staring blankly at the ducks drifting across the water, Huiyeong watched as Shinyul happily squeezed one.
Squeak.
The ridiculous toys floated around making pathetic little squeaking sounds.
Just looking at them made him feel like he was losing his mind.
Thankfully, the now-cloudy bathwater hid his naked body, allowing him to calm down a little.
“...Yeah, thanks. But aren't you leaving?”
“Want to bathe together?”
“Like hell I do.”
“So cute. You're embarrassed.”
Ha...
Please...
Covering his face with both hands, Huiyeong despaired.
At this rate I'm gonna die from stress before I ever make it back...
“Get out!”
He grabbed the rubber ducks and hurled them at Shinyul one after another.
Grinning, Shinyul stood up and gave him a wink.
Huiyeong splashed the water furiously in frustration.
The adorable rubber ducks flew toward Shinyul, squeaking as they spun through the air.
The first time Huiyeong had witnessed psychic powers, they'd seemed unimaginably amazing.
Now...
They were simply infuriating.
Using such incredible powers for something this stupid had to be a talent in itself.
The ducks that had been spinning in midair gently floated back into the bathtub.
“Little Mermaid Princess, have a nice bath.”
Spouting more nonsense, Shinyul finally disappeared.
Only then did Huiyeong slump limply in exhaustion.
Once again, he lamented the fact that he hadn't managed to make any real plans today as he sank deeper into the pleasantly scented bathwater.
That bastard...
Is he doing it on purpose?
Every single time Huiyeong started thinking about what to do next, Shinyul somehow interrupted him with uncanny timing.
After one ridiculous stunt or outrageous remark from Shinyul, this damn weak body would be completely drained, leaving him unable to continue thinking.
If he was doing it knowingly...
Then he was a truly terrifying bastard.
I'm going easy on him, and that's why he's getting cocky.
Anger suddenly surged up inside him.
Seriously?
There's a limit to how lightly you can take an adult.
Huffing to himself, Huiyeong climbed out of the tub and quickly finished showering.
Honestly, he had been so overwhelmed trying to adapt to this strange new world and unfamiliar body that he'd failed to shut down that lunatic's relentless advances.
No...
The real mistake had happened even earlier.
It was because he'd never met such a complete psycho before.
He had let the brat develop bad habits from their very first meeting.
This time...
He was going to teach him a proper lesson.
He'd make it crystal clear who was actually in charge.
That half-wit who'd be gasping for his last breath without me...
Even after noticing that Shinyul had neatly folded his pajamas and carefully placed them in the clothing cabinet while teasing him, Huiyeong merely let out a harsh, incredulous laugh.
He pulled on the fluffy yellow chick pajamas before stomping out of the bathroom.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom connected to the bedroom.
Apparently Shinyul had decided to wash himself too after getting soaked.
Huiyeong climbed onto the bed, sat cross-legged with all the dignity he could muster, and waited.
Soon the water stopped.
Click.
The bathroom door opened, releasing a wave of hot steam.
“Hey, Han Shinyul. You little shit. Get over here.”
“Hm?”
Still toweling off his hair, Shinyul casually walked out completely naked.
His long legs, broad chest, smooth unscarred skin, and perfectly sculpted muscles glistened with beads of water, making for an undeniably sensual sight.
Huiyeong, however, had absolutely no interest in another man's body.
His gaze settled...
A little lower.
“You...”
“Why'd you come out already?”
“...”
Is this guy a fucking snake or what?