But in the year he entered sixth grade, a turning point arrived in his life.

He awakened as an S-rank Esper.

An S-rank Esper held immense value. For the sake of his business, Chairman Joo recognized him as his son.

From that day forward, their relationship only deteriorated further. Chairman Joo saw Joo Seunghyuk as a tool, and Seunghyuk resolved to take revenge on the man who had used him—and to seize control of Seonghan Group.

After reaching adulthood, the company’s management rights gradually began shifting toward Seunghyuk. Around that time, Lee Yeonsu—who had been wavering between Seunghyuk and Joo Taehan—began to go all-in on Seunghyuk.

But toward the end of the novel, a twist was revealed.

The older Seunghyuk grew, the more he resembled Chairman Joo. The eldest son, Joo Junghan, found it strange and urged the chairman to run a DNA test again.

And the results confirmed: they were father and son.

Secretary Ahn, who had long schemed for the position of Seonghan Group’s mistress, had forged the original paternity results. She’d thought that if Chairman Joo believed Seunghyuk wasn’t his biological son, he would finally forget his late wife and start a new relationship—with her.

It was an utterly absurd reason.

When Chairman Joo learned the truth far too late, he wept with regret.

But their relationship had already veered so far off course, there was no salvaging it. In the end, it all collapsed into tragedy.

***

“Just look at him. Who does he take after to end up like that?”

Chairman Joo clicked his tongue in disgust.

Was he really thinking of forming a contract with me? No—if this was him holding back because I was present, then his real scorn must be far worse.

So Joo Seunghyuk would go on living like this, under scorn and abuse, until he reached adulthood?

“I wasn’t crying because of Esper Joo Seunghyuk.”

The words burst out of me impulsively.

“You don’t need to defend him.”

“That’s not it. I’ve only just met Esper Joo Seunghyuk—why would I defend him? I cried because I realized how powerless I am.”

“Hah. Powerless, you say. Isn’t this the age when you’re supposed to be dying to try out your powers after just awakening?”

Chairman Joo showed a flicker of interest at my words.

He must’ve found the vocabulary a bit unusual coming from a child.

But unlike the chairman, I wasn’t joking.

I looked straight into his eyes.

“You’re aware that I can see mana, right?”

“I am.”

“Esper Joo Seunghyuk and Chairman, your mana has the exact same shape. If not for the difference in rank, I’d think you were the same person.”

“You mean that brat and me...?”

Chairman Joo’s face froze on the spot.

“Yes. Why does that surprise you? Isn’t it only natural for family members to have similar mana?”

“Is that really true?”

“You didn’t know? In families, the shape of their mana is often similar. Like a kind of genetic signature. I can see it all.”

Of course, it was a lie. I wasn’t born into an ability-user household, and I’d had almost no exposure to other Espers or Guides. I had no way of knowing whether families really shared similar mana patterns.

But supposedly, I was the only one in the world with this ability.

High-level ability users could sense the flow of mana, but none could actually see its shape.

So even if I was making this up, Chairman Joo wouldn’t be able to tell.

“That kid and I...”

His pupils trembled violently.

“But Chairman, you and your youngest son resemble each other especially closely. I’ve met your second son too, and he was a bit different.”

“You sure seem to care for your Esper already.”

There was suspicion in his eyes.

He must have thought I was lying to curry favor with Seunghyuk.

Why hadn’t he applied that level of caution to his secretary?

Maybe he’d lost his objectivity because she was the one who comforted him after his wife left.

Whatever the reason, it was pathetic.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I took his hand.

He looked surprised, but didn’t pull away. He was suspicious, but somewhere in his heart, he wanted to believe me.

I clasped his hand with both of mine and sent out a small stream of mana.

“After guiding you, I’m even more certain now. It’s exactly the same. But there is one difference.”

“And what’s that?”

“The amount of mana. The two of you have identical forms, but in terms of power, it’s like heaven and earth.”

“Yeonsu-gun!”

Do Hyeokjin exclaimed in alarm at my audacious remark.

But Chairman Joo silenced him and kept listening.

“That’s only natural, isn’t it? The difference in rank.”

“I’ve met other S-rank Espers at the Center. But none had as vast a mana reserve as your son.”

“A proper exclusive Guide should know how to hype up his Esper, I suppose.”

Chairman Joo sneered, but I stared straight back.

“Chairman. There’s this fairy tale I read when I was a kid.

In a kingdom, a beautiful queen gave birth to a son. But a jealous maid lied, saying the child wasn’t of royal blood.

The emperor, believing the maid, abandoned his son. A foolish man, don’t you think?

He should’ve confirmed the truth himself instead of relying on someone else’s word.”

“......”

“The prince, cast aside by his father, suffered greatly—until he met a great sorcerer who became his mentor.

In the end, he awakened his true abilities and saved the kingdom.”

“...And why are you telling me this story?”

“I’m not fit to be Esper Joo Seunghyuk’s exclusive Guide.”

“......”

Chairman Joo’s eyes # Nоvеlight # widened.

He must’ve thought I was buttering him up for the contract—only to be shocked when I turned him down.

“An exclusive Guide isn’t just someone who supplies mana.

They’re a partner through hardships—and for young Espers, even a mentor.

Esper Joo Seunghyuk has a genius-level talent, even among S-ranks.

He doesn’t need a novice like me. He needs an experienced Guide who can help unlock his potential.”

The moment I realized this was the world of the original novel, I decided I would reject the exclusive contract with Seunghyuk.

If I became his exclusive Guide, I would eventually die by his hand.

He’d hated me from the very first meeting.

If we lived together, it would only get worse. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But what I said now wasn’t just an excuse.

Right now, what Seunghyuk needed wasn’t a low-matching-rate rookie like me—but a seasoned Guide who could act as his mentor.

Of course, a Guide’s rank also matters.

If there’s a choice between a rookie S-rank and a veteran A-rank, most people would choose the S-rank.

But this was the chairman of Seonghan Group.

He could easily find someone who was both high-ranking and experienced.

“Becoming Esper Joo Seunghyuk’s exclusive Guide would be the highest honor for me.

I’d be guiding the best Esper in Korea.

But for the sake of him—and for the future of the country—I’ll put aside my personal desires.”

“Guide Lee Yeonsu, are you saying this sincerely?

Even as an S-rank Guide, opportunities like this don’t come often.”

Do Hyeokjin tried to stop me.

And he was right. Ever since my awakening, countless offers had come in—but Seonghan’s was overwhelmingly the best.

Unless I changed my nationality, I wouldn’t find a better deal.

But no amount of money was worth more than my life.

If I accepted this contract, I’d spend every day fearing for my safety.

“Yes. I’m refusing the exclusive contract with Esper Joo Seunghyuk.

Thank you again for the opportunity.”

I bowed politely and stood from my seat.

Chairman Joo looked lost in thought.

The contract wasn’t his priority anymore.

Most likely, the moment I left, he would order another DNA test.

“Chairman.”

He finally looked up at me.

“I know you’re a busy man. But from now on, check the important things yourself.

You have a beautiful and amazing son.

If you regret it later, it’ll be too late.”

“...Understood.”

It was an audacious, even arrogant thing for a middle schooler to say.

But Chairman Joo didn’t scold me. He simply lowered his head with a sorrowful expression.

Maybe he thought that, as an S-rank Guide, I had other powers beyond seeing mana.

Or maybe... he was reflecting on himself.

Either way, he probably wouldn’t make the same foolish mistake of trusting only his secretary again.

If he did a proper test, he’d see the truth—that Joo Seunghyuk really was his son.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

I bowed again and left the reception room.

And standing just outside the door... was Joo Seunghyuk.

He was still soaked in sticky orange juice.

Hopefully, this kind of thing wouldn’t happen again.

“You...”

He hesitated, then reached out and gently touched the corner of my eye.

He must’ve followed me all the way here, bothered by the fact that I’d cried.

“I’m all right.”

“......”

I smiled and took his hand.

He flinched, but didn’t pull away. Thankfully, his mana was stable.

“Esper Joo Seunghyuk, I’ll be going now.”

“...Why?”

“Because I’m not good enough to be your exclusive Guide.

Someone much more amazing than me will come to you.”

“......”

“It was a short time, but I enjoyed it.

Thank you.”

“......”

As I walked away, Joo Seunghyuk didn’t say a single word.

Just like that, I exited the original storyline.

A month later, news came that Kang Okeun had become Joo Seunghyuk’s exclusive Guide.

She was an S-rank Guide, known as the legend of Korea.

Despite being in her 50s, she was still highly active.

Even for Seonghan Group, forming a contract with someone like Kang Okeun couldn’t have been easy.

Chairman Joo must have pulled out all the stops.

After that, the chairman began bringing Joo Seunghyuk to official events more frequently.

The secretary had apparently been replaced—she was nowhere to be seen.

And Joo Taehan had been sent abroad to study.

In the original story, Joo Taehan was a garbage villain who constantly harassed Seunghyuk and tried to hit on Yeonsu.

But Chairman Joo had always overlooked his behavior because he favored him.

And now that man had been sent away overseas.

Chairman Joo must have confirmed the truth—that Seunghyuk was his real son.

That’s why his behavior changed.

I started to think maybe... maybe I had changed the future.

Joo Seunghyuk had escaped a life of scorn.

The people who had tormented him had disappeared.

In the original story, Seunghyuk had doubted his own existence.

He had become a twisted person who scoffed at love and knew only obsession and desire.

But maybe—just maybe—thanks to this, his environment would change, and his personality too, little by little.

But I was wrong.