Park Geonwoo’s pupils trembled. He looked flustered at first, but quickly returned to his poker face.

“...I’m with the Inspection Division. Things like this reach my ears.”

“The content of the press conference, too?”

The moment Park Geonwoo stepped into the Guiding Room, without the slightest hesitation, he played the press conference video. Then he told me that Joo Junghan and Joo Taehan had admitted to Joo Seunghyuk’s crimes.

It meant he hadn’t only known there would be an emergency press conference—he’d known what it would say.

“...There’s only one reason to hold a press conference this hastily. It was within the range I’d predicted.”

“It could just as well be a press conference claiming Seunghyuk’s innocence.” 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

“That’s a stretch.”

“No, what you’re saying is even more of a stretch.”

Publicly, Joo Junghan was known to value Joo Seunghyuk more than even his own younger brother. There was every possibility he might hold a press conference speaking on his behalf.

And it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since Seunghyuk had been taken into custody by the Inspection Division.

Even if Seunghyuk were actually guilty, with his personality, he would never confess to everything in just one day. The chances of him making a slip of the tongue and revealing decisive evidence were even lower.

Under these circumstances, the odds of Seonghan rushing to hold a press conference admitting to Seunghyuk’s crimes were slim. If anything, even if he were the culprit, they would be working to cover it up.

Besides, Seunghyuk wasn’t just the son of a chaebol chairman.

He was the symbol and most crucial combat power of the Seonghan Guild. Without him, the Guild itself would falter. Even their position as Korea’s number one guild could be at risk. And yet they would give up on him in less than a day?

Setting everything else aside, would Chairman Joo really cast aside his own son so easily?

Park Geonwoo’s argument didn’t hold water. It was far more reasonable to assume he had known the timing and content of the press conference in advance.

“Sunbae, you joined hands with Joo Junghan, didn’t you?”

Joo Junghan had put forward his own younger brother, Joo Taehan, as the new Guild Master of Seonghan. Park Geonwoo hadn’t even looked surprised to hear that Taehan had reawakened as an S-rank. That, too, suggested he had known beforehand.

On top of that, Park Geonwoo was aware of Seunghyuk’s family history. It was one thing to find out about his mother’s affair with a little digging, but the fact that Seunghyuk had struggled with Hangul until the sixth grade of elementary school was the kind of detail only a handful of people close to him could know.

Perhaps Joo Junghan’s side had told him.

“...You’ve really picked up the habit of making far-fetched claims, hanging around Seunghyuk like that. I’ve crossed paths with Joo Junghan while investigating, but that’s all.”

“That’s really all there is to it?”

“This is tiring. Let’s just start guiding for now.”

He was blatantly dodging the question. There was definitely something between Park Geonwoo and the Joo brothers. But if an Esper claimed they were having a hard time, a Guide was obligated to guide.

“Yes...”

For now, I’d just start the guiding—so that he couldn’t come up with another excuse.

That was the plan, but when it came time to actually guide, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

Honestly, my condition was at its worst. Even worse than a moment ago. A strange stench stung my nose, my head was spinning, and my stomach churned. I was in no state to conduct guiding.

Normally, I’d just hand the session off to someone else and rest. But if I said that now, people would say I was refusing because of Seunghyuk.

I didn’t want to hear that I couldn’t keep my personal feelings out of my work.

This wasn’t just about Guide pride. If even the slightest rumor spread that I’d let personal feelings interfere with guiding, everything I’d done today would lose credibility.

They could easily spin it as “Lee Yeonsu is so infatuated with Joo Seunghyuk that he’s lost his reason and is defending him irrationally.”

For Seunghyuk’s sake, I had to guide.

“...Give me your hand.”

Park Geonwoo took my ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) hand. At once, an unpleasant sensation washed over my entire body.

It had been the same in Aquilus when David’s hand had touched mine. Goosebumps the moment our skin met. Back then, I’d assumed it was because David was an electric-type Esper and I could feel the tingling mana.

But I’d been wrong. It wasn’t about the other person’s attribute or mana.

I’d guided Park Geonwoo often since childhood, but I had never once felt this way before. In other words, it wasn’t the Esper—it was me who had changed.

I simply didn’t want to be touched by anyone other than Joo Seunghyuk.

To think I liked Seunghyuk this much and only realized it now... what an idiot.

“Yeonsu? What are you thinking about?”

“Ah, sorry. I’ll start guiding now.”

I couldn’t suddenly refuse on the grounds that I didn’t want to guide anyone but my lover. I steadied my mind once more and let my mana flow into Park Geonwoo.

Then Park Geonwoo gripped my hand tightly. He was normally the type with good manners, never engaging in unnecessary physical contact during guiding.

It felt stronger than usual... but for Park Geonwoo, this much was still within bounds, so I continued the guiding.

Then, without warning, he yanked my hand.

“Ah!”

The cry slipped out before I could stop it, and my body pitched forward into his arms. Startled, I tried to pull back, but his hands clamped down on my shoulders.

It hurt. But before I could even cry out, his face was right in front of mine, close enough to kiss.

His expression was unlike usual. The always clear, upright gaze had gone hazy, unfocused.

“Sunbae!”

I shoved him away with all my strength.

“S–sorry...”

Park Geonwoo stammered an apology.

“I didn’t mean to... I really didn’t plan to, I don’t know why I did that. I’m sorry. But Yeonsu, have you... manifested?”

“No.”

They said that when an alpha and an omega guided, it could provoke an incomparable sexual impulse, far stronger than with a beta Guide, leading to many accidents.

And now Park Geonwoo was claiming that was what had happened—that because I’d “manifested,” he’d lost control.

Instead of a sincere apology, he was making an absurd excuse. I was angry, but he did look genuinely shocked at his own behavior.

Seeing him flustered like that, I lost the will to press him. Or rather, I didn’t want to exchange another word.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

I fled the Guiding Room.

***

In the original, Park Geonwoo had been the secondary male lead. Because of that, I’d always kept a certain distance from him.

But even aside from the original, as people, he was someone I’d trusted since childhood. Lately he’d been letting me down again and again, but I hadn’t imagined he’d try to assault me.

I was rushing forward when I bumped into someone coming from the opposite direction.

“Sorry—”

“Sunbae.”

I bowed my head in apology, but a familiar voice reached my ears.

“Jun-ah...”

“Sunbae, are you all right? You don’t look well.”

Kim Jun, dressed in his white uniform, studied my condition with worry all over his face.

“I’m fine.”

I forced a smile.

“Really? Shouldn’t you go to the infirmary?”

“I’m fine.”

“Ah... in that case, could I trouble you for a moment? I have something to tell you.”

I said I was fine, but after what had just happened, my condition was sinking fast. Even just standing still felt like a strain. I was about to apologize and say we’d talk later when Kim Jun added—

“It’s about Joo Seunghyuk.”

“Seunghyuk?”

“Yes. Actually, there was another reason Joo-sunbae came to see me.”

“What?”

Since the start of the second semester, Seunghyuk had been seeking Kim Jun out often. I’d assumed it was to warn him not to get close to me—but now he said there was another reason?

“This is something Joo-sunbae swore me to secrecy about... but I think you should know, Sunbae.”

“Tell me.”

Something Seunghyuk had kept from me. It might be an important key to the truth behind this incident.

***

I brought Kim Jun back to my dorm room.

This was something Seunghyuk had explicitly told him not to tell anyone. I had to make sure no one else overheard.

As I opened the door, it occurred to me, If Seunghyuk finds out about this, he’s going to raise hell.

Well, he could come out and yell if he wanted—if he hadn’t wanted this, he shouldn’t have gotten himself detained.

“Come in, Jun-ah.”

“Are you sure it’s okay for me to come in?”

He hesitated in the doorway, looking tense at the idea of entering a senior’s room. It was kind of cute.

“Yeah. Do you have time? The mock battle hasn’t started yet, right?”

“I’m in the later group, so I have time.”

“Good.”

“Sunbae, are you sure you’re all right? You look pale.”

“Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

Once inside, the stench that had been tormenting me all day vanished. Without the smell, the nausea eased, though I still felt feverish. Heat was radiating from my face, but chills were running down my body—it felt like the onset of the flu.

Still, I was in better shape than before—at least enough that I didn’t need to leave right this second.

First, I needed to hear what Kim Jun had to say. Then I’d go find Park Geonwoo and get to the bottom of his connection with the Joo brothers.

I should have pressed him right after guiding, but the sudden turn of events had thrown me off, and I’d rushed out without thinking.

“The room’s dusty, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s clean.”

Since I’d been leaving it empty, it was so tidy it felt barren, but Kim Jun still complimented it. Such a good kid.

“Sit here.”

“Yes.”

There was only one chair, so I gave it to him and perched on the edge of the bed myself.

“About what Joo-sunbae told me to keep secret...”

He didn’t bother with preamble, going straight to the point.

“It might not be important. But seeing you today, I thought I should tell you. There’s a chance it could help.”

“Mm. Thanks.”

“Please don’t be disappointed if it turns out to be nothing.”

Maybe my expectations were showing on my face. I smiled to ease his mind.

“I won’t be. Just telling me is enough for me to be grateful.”

“Then I’ll tell you.”