We left the office together and stepped into the elevator side by side. Vasily casually pressed the button for the top floor.
‘…That’s where the Association President’s office is.’
I glanced at Vasily. He was watching the rising floor numbers with a perfectly calm expression.
…No way, right?
I thought he was just going to find some executive and start a fight, but the President’s office? Isn’t that a bit much? Well, I guess the executives could be gathered there. Surely he’s not actually going to see the President himself…
My mind spun in circles, but the answer was already obvious.
Of course—if it involved Vasily, there’s no way the President wouldn’t be involved too. I could already imagine the chaos, but since this was the same Association that had screwed me over, I decided to just pretend I knew nothing and follow quietly behind Vasily, hoping they’d finally get what they deserved.
Yeah, what’s the worst that could happen? He’s not actually going to kill the President, right? If he really tries to… I can always step in then.
Once we reached the top floor, we went straight for the President’s office without hesitation. The moment Vasily lightly stepped forward, the tightly closed door froze solid. Before I could even process that, he kicked through the ice-blocked entrance and walked in.
“Uwaaaah!!!”
A scream came from beyond the shattered door.
Through the scattering shards of ice, I caught sight of the President’s pale face. Maybe because the last time I saw him was six years in the future, he looked noticeably younger now. He even had a decent amount of hair back then.
Vasily stepped further inside and said,
“I told you not to do anything stupid.”
“V–Vasily, sir?”
“Did my words sound like a joke to you?”
“W–W–What do you mean by that…? L–Let’s talk this out first—”
The President’s nervousness was visible to the naked eye. Every time Vasily took a step closer, his shoulders shrank even further.
Vasily stopped right in front of him. Bending slightly down, he whispered in a low voice to the trembling man pressed against his chair.
“If you ever pull another stunt I didn’t ask for…”
The chair the President was sitting on instantly froze over.
“You’ll stay in that seat forever.”
“Y–Yes, understood…”
The President nodded quickly, terror written all over his face.
***
Once my transfer was approved, my steps felt lighter.
Leaving the Association building, I was smiling without realizing it when Vasily asked,
“Have you changed your mind about quitting now?”
“Yes. I feel much better.”
“That’s good to hear.”
It really did feel refreshing. I had meant it when I said I wanted to quit, but now that it was over, I couldn’t help feeling a bit reluctant. I’d only just hit my one-month mark, finally starting to adjust to work life — and it was my first real job, after all.
“But…”
Trailing off, I looked around.
“Where are we going right now?”
Without thinking, I’d followed Vasily all the way to the front of the Esper Association. Having come and gone from this place for six years, it didn’t feel strange until now.
Once I realized something was off and stopped walking, Vasily turned toward me.
“I helped you with your problem, so now, Guide Kwon Gidam, do me a favor in return.”
A favor? I didn’t know what he wanted, but… he had helped me, that was true.
“All right.”
When I nodded reluctantly, Vasily gave a faintly meaningful smile. That suspicious expression made me uneasy, but thinking it couldn’t be anything serious, I followed him.
And immediately regretted it.
“…This is a training ground.”
I muttered as we arrived at a gym-like facility right beside the Esper Association. I looked at Vasily as if to ask if we were in the wrong place, but he just smiled and walked inside.
Once we entered, I spotted several Espers already using the training hall. The moment they saw Vasily walking in beside me, they all froze in place.
They quickly abandoned their drills and scattered. I guess the best way to handle a rabid dog is to stay far away. Vasily was basically a walking time bomb among Espers, so this reaction wasn’t surprising.
I frowned slightly, scanning the room. This was the same place where I’d trained with Vasily every morning. Not exactly a place I had fond memories of…
I glanced at him again.
Surely not… right?
“Why are we here…?”
“Wanna fight me?”
“…What?”
He suddenly suggested a spar.
Had he finally lost it? I knew he was insane, but I guess he’d officially snapped now. In front of all these other Espers, too? If I agreed to this, my life as a humble C-class guide would be over.
“I refuse.”
“Why? Think about it a little. I’ll even give you a handicap.”
“Still no.”
“If you win, I’ll grant you one wish.”
“…”
That part was tempting. Vasily wasn’t the type to save money; if I asked for his entire bank account, he’d probably hand it over.
Sensing my hesitation, he leaned closer, coaxing softly.
“If you manage to knock me down, I’ll count that as your victory. How’s that? Feasible, isn’t it?”
“Then I’ll set the handicap.”
“Of course.”
“No ability use. Only your left arm and left leg. You can’t move from your spot.”
“Fine.”
Vasily agreed instantly. Hmm… so he was that confident, huh. But I wasn’t done yet.
“And you have to lose on purpose.”
“…”
He paused. The smug expression he’d worn all this time cracked a little.
“Guide Kwon Gidam, wouldn’t that stop it from being a match?”
“When a normal human fights an S-class Esper, don’t you think at least this much handicap is fair? If you don’t like it, then I’m out.”
“Ha… hahaha…”
Vasily laughed. He covered his mouth at first, quietly chuckling, but then couldn’t hold it back and laughed brightly. The sound was so pure and cheerful I froze for a second. I didn’t know he could laugh like that.
“All right. If you want a weapon, pick one.”
“No need. I’ll fight like this.”
The practice weapons lying around wouldn’t even scratch Vasily’s skin. They were all heavy enough to just slow me down anyway.
Maybe I should’ve started working out earlier. A weekend of light exercise wasn’t going to bring back my old reflexes.
Looking around the hall, I changed into a combat uniform lying nearby. It was made for Espers, but I’d worn it countless times entering Gates — far more familiar than the flimsy guide version. It absorbed impact better too; maybe I could survive one or two of his attacks.
“I’ll help.”
“That’s not nece—”
Before I could finish, Vasily stepped forward to assist, fastening the vest snugly around my waist.
He adjusted the long front straps, tightened the guards, and cinched the belt with precision. His hands moved more expertly than mine — even though I had been wearing these things for six years.
How the hell was he this good? He always wore a suit even inside Gates; when did he ever touch combat gear?
He crouched on one knee, checking every strap of the lower armor. I quietly watched him as his face came into focus before me.
Each time Vasily blinked, his long lashes trembled faintly. His pale skin, flawless features — all of it impossibly perfect. His neatly combed hair looked as soft as a purebred cat’s fur.
If someone told me a god sculpted him by hand, I’d believe it. I guess the only thing the divine craftsman forgot was a personality.
“Guide Kwon Gidam, check if anything feels uncomfortable.”
“Ah…”
I’d been staring blankly, and by the time I came to, he’d already finished adjusting the suit. Realizing that, I quickly backed away from him.
Embarrassment hit late. Did he notice me staring straight at his face?
Pretending nothing happened, I started stretching to loosen up. That’s when I noticed — the combat suit fit perfectly. Not a single strap felt off.
“Tell me when you’re ready.”
“Let’s start right away. You remember the handicap, don’t you?”
“It was such a striking list, I remember every word.”
I nodded, recalling the victory condition. He’d said if I just managed to knock him down, I’d win. In that case… maybe this wasn’t completely impossible.