Chapter 3 …

Even after Seorin finished introducing himself and returned, the office remained restless throughout the entire morning.

A new department had been established: the Special Activities Division.

Since it was said to focus mainly on field operations and supervision, word had spread among the assistant managers that anyone transferred there would end up with twice the workload.

“Did you see the way he looked at me? Ha, seriously… I thought I was going to die from how hot my face got.”

“I saw it too. I guess an S-Class Esper really can recognize an A-Class Guide right away. It feels like fate~”

“Fate, my foot~ I already have Minwook.”

“Oh, come on. Who even cares about pairs these days? If you want guiding, you guide each other and help each other out. It’s not like you’ve Imprinted or anything….”

Everyone had been distracted since Seorin arrived that morning.

Taking advantage of the chaos, two or three Guide assistant managers had gathered around a desk, surrounding one person and showering him with praise.

The Guide in the center let out a sigh, looking embarrassed.

While organizing yesterday’s meeting minutes, Jaeyoung glanced over.

It was Guide Bae Hyungin—the same person who had been throwing jabs at Jaeyoung during the meeting yesterday.

Bae Hyungin was an A-Class Guide and one of the most popular Guides in the Special Talent Department.

He had a reasonably handsome face, but what stood out most was his gift for conversation. Espers enjoyed being around him because he was entertaining.

He was highly favored and also had excellent compatibility rates.

Jaeyoung perked up his ears.

He had vaguely heard people saying earlier that Seorin hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Guide Bae Hyungin.

With an oddly excited voice, Bae Hyungin spoke.

“Well, it’s not like I’ve Imprinted. Is there really a problem with guiding another Esper?”

“Of course not! Besides, Seorin probably doesn’t care at all. They say when you live as a mercenary, worrying about whose Guide belongs to whom isn’t important.”

“They say if there’s a barracks, people do that. Apparently over there, if two people lock eyes, they go straight to Stage Three. Honestly, maybe we’re the weird ones for caring about this stuff.”

“We’re different. Too many people are watching us.”

A round of giggles followed.

Everyone seemed secretly jealous of Bae Hyungin.

Jaeyoung pouted.

Our Seorin isn’t that kind of low-class Esper!

He wanted to shout it out loud.

But he didn’t have the courage.

Unfortunately, they were talking right in front of Jaeyoung’s desk, making the crude conversation impossible to ignore.

Jaeyoung lowered his head even further.

“I’m actually a little worried. What if Minwook and Seorin end up… fighting over me?”

“Who’s going to beat an S-Class?”

“It’d be hard to watch them fight over me…. What am I supposed to say to Minwook?”

Bae Hyungin pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed dramatically, as if he were facing a truly difficult problem.

At that moment, Assistant Manager Jung Suin happened to be passing by.

He looked at Bae Hyungin with obvious disgust before his eyes met Jaeyoung’s.

Instantly fixing his expression, Jung Suin flashed a grin and walked over.

“Jaeyoung, have you finished organizing the report from yesterday’s deployment?”

“Ah, just a little more. I’ll finish it up right away!”

“I wasn’t asking because I’m in a hurry….”

Jaeyoung smiled faintly.

Jung Suin had clearly come over because he thought Jaeyoung might feel awkward sitting alone.

Stepping closer, he casually draped an arm around Jaeyoung’s shoulder.

“Come to think of it, I heard the Special Activities Division roster has been finalized. Have you seen it?”

“Ah, no. Not yet….”

“The department-wide email should have gone out by now. Let’s check together.”

Jung Suin pointed at the monitor with his chin.

Jaeyoung nodded and opened his inbox.

Special Activities Division.

The newly created department.

They said Seorin had personally selected the assistant managers who would be transferred there.

There was no way Jaeyoung would be included…

But he couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit hopeful.

“The email’s here. If Assistant Manager Jung gets transferred, what am I supposed to do? I’ll be so sad….”

“Shouldn’t I be the sad one?”

“That’s impossible—”

He was about to say there’s no way.

Jaeyoung turned his head toward Jung Suin with a smile—

And froze.

Behind Jung Suin, who was looking at the monitor with him, stood Seorin.

And Seorin was staring directly at him with terrifying eyes.

“Uh……”

“Hm?”

“Uhhh……”

“Jaeyoung?”

Jaeyoung could only move his lips soundlessly.

Finding his reaction strange, Jung Suin turned his head in the direction Jaeyoung was staring.

The moment he spotted Seorin, he jumped in surprise and straightened up from where he had been half-leaning against Jaeyoung.

“Ah, M-M-Manger Seorin?”

“Continue your work.”

“What brings you here…?”

“It’s nothing important. Continue your work.”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

With that handsome face, arms crossed, speaking expressionlessly—

He somehow felt overwhelmingly intimidating.

Jung Suin awkwardly looked away.

It seemed like this was probably where his conversation with Jaeyoung should end.

“Uh, Jaeyoung, haha… we can continue what we were talking about later—”

“Ah, y-yes.”

“What exactly will you be discussing later?”

Jaeyoung had barely managed to answer while shrinking into himself when Seorin suddenly interrupted.

Startled, he looked at Seorin.

But the instant their eyes met, he quickly turned away again.

His heart was pounding so violently that he couldn’t bring himself to look at him.

Seorin’s gaze settled on the back of Jaeyoung’s neck as he shrank inward.

Jung Suin hurriedly explained.

“Ah, yes. We were talking about that. I was just checking department transfers with Jaeyoung…”

“Jaeyoung?”

“Pardon?”

“Jaeyoung…?”

Seorin tilted his head.

As though something displeased him, a lock-like crease formed across his sculpted forehead.

Realizing his mistake, Jung Suin quickly corrected himself.

“Ah, yes. Assistant Manager Shin Jaeyoung. Hahaha…”

Jung Suin laughed awkwardly and darted his eyes around.

Seorin had suddenly appeared and started criticizing his manner of address.

It was incredibly bewildering.

But Seorin was both his future superior and a powerful S-Class Esper.

There was absolutely no benefit in getting on his bad side.

Seorin let out a quiet hum while looking at Jung Suin before glancing at Jaeyoung.

Jaeyoung still couldn’t even lift his head.

He felt miserable.

My… my heart is beating way too fast. What do I do?

For a completely different reason.

His face was probably bright red.

That was why Jaeyoung couldn’t raise his head.

Watching the deeply bowed Jaeyoung, Seorin rested an arm on top of the partition surrounding Jaeyoung’s desk.

Jung Suin carefully tested the waters and spoke up.

“Um… was there something you needed?”

“Not particularly.”

“Ah… I see. Then I’ll be—”

“You two were working, weren’t you?”

“…Yes? Ah, yes… I suppose so.”

“Do people normally work standing that close together?”

“…Pardon?”

Jung Suin had already started turning away mechanically when he suddenly froze.

Jaeyoung also flinched and looked up.

What does that mean?

At that moment, his eyes met Seorin’s.

A relentless stare.

Those slightly raised eyes gleamed sharply as they bore into Jaeyoung.

Jaeyoung sucked in a sharp breath.

The instant their gazes met, it felt as though all the blood drained from his body.

It felt like being a squirrel standing before a predator.

A chilling sensation ran down his spine.

Jaeyoung’s face gradually turned pale.