OMH Chapter 72

72. Guide (17)

Park Haemi and Chae Suji left the Director’s office as quickly as they had come.

It was because Director Kim chased them out, saying to leave if it wasn’t particularly dangerous.

Chae Suji was an arrogant director of the Research Center, but she couldn’t win against the Director, who was a bully with his rank.

Once the two people left the Director’s office, Director Kim told us to sit down again, saying he would continue the story.

However, it wasn’t anything grand.

Director Kim asked Woojin if there was anyone he wanted to recruit as a team member, but there was no way Woojin, who hadn’t been with the Association for long, would have such a person.

No. Now that I think about it, there was one person.

“A-grade Lee Hansea? That guy is a no-go.”

But Director Kim put his foot down, saying that the only Guide Woojin knew couldn’t be recruited.

“Why, why is that? I’m being nominated as team leader, so why can’t Hansea even join the team? Hansea is good at sports and smart.”

A flustered Woojin stuttered as he asked why he couldn’t. He must not have imagined that Director Kim would refuse.

Well, the reason Woojin was nominated as team leader was just because he was young and handsome, so it was hard to accept that Lee Hansea, who had similar qualifications, couldn’t join.

Director Kim seemed to recognize this, so he added an explanation.

“I know that you and that guy are similar. I was going to make Lee Hansea the team leader at first.”

This was news to me.

“So, when you were complaining about losing a valuable talent to the Research Center, you were talking about Lee Hansea? That was just a few months ago.”

I remembered Director Kim complaining without telling me the details, so I jumped into the conversation. Considering that I played the role of Director Kim’s ashtray and bamboo forest at the time, I needed to know.

Perhaps because it was in the past, Director Kim spoke candidly.

“That’s right. I’m talking about Lee Hansea. That guy has been here for over a year now. He caught my eye from the first time I saw him, so I was secretly modifying his curriculum. But the Association President must have noticed.”

Director Kim put a cigarette in his mouth, even though there was a child present.

He took a puff of the cigarette and then continued.

“The Association President made an excuse that the Research Center was short on Guides and directly transferred that guy’s affiliation to the Research Center. You know how Guides affiliated with the Research Center live, right?”

Guides affiliated with the Research Center reside there and cannot go outside without the permission of the Research Center. From the moment their affiliation is decided, they are treated like supplies of the Research Center.

I had taught him before, and Lee Hansea had told him, so Woojin would know how Guides live when they are affiliated with the Research Center.

Maybe that’s why he wanted to take him out of there and make him a team member, knowing Lee Hansea’s situation. Woojin is kind.

Director Kim took another puff of his cigarette and said to Woojin.

“It’s a shame that your friend became affiliated with the Research Center. His Esper level was so high that we didn’t have a justification to stop it. That’s why I like that you’re a lower level. Because your level is low, you’ll be less likely to be swayed around. Of course, if your level is low, the Association’s perception will be bad, so you’ll have a hard time at first, but I’ll give you the wings of power, so figure out how to overcome it. The position of team leader can do more than you think.”

‘Director Kim could be so friendly to someone like that.’

I was a little surprised to see this new side of Director Kim. I’ve known him for 12 years, or is it 13 now? Anyway, I’ve known him for that long, but he’s always been a cranky person.

Is it because Woojin is handsome? Well, Woojin is handsome enough to want to be nice to him even if you’re just passing by.

I admired Woojin’s face and inferred the reason why Director Kim was being kind.

In the meantime, the world suddenly shook.

Kugugung-

After about 2 seconds of shaking, the Director’s office security personnel and secretary approached.

“Director. A large monster has appeared at point a in A District. It’s a distance that can be visually confirmed by the Association.”

Thanks to them, I was sure.

‘Ah, it was a vibration caused by a monster after all.’

Monster appearances are much more frequent than earthquakes, so I thought it would be.

And as always in this situation, my Smartwatch was ringing diligently.

It was the Great Monster Extermination Team’s first dispatch in a while.

*

“Gang Hana! It’s been a while~”

“Hello, Cheon Yuha! How have you been?”

It had been over a month since our last dispatch, so there were many welcome faces. In particular, Cheon Yuha, it felt especially good to see him since the last time I saw him was when he was buried in a tunnel and rescued.

Because it was an emergency dispatch, we hadn’t received a briefing, so we exchanged friendly greetings while waiting for the briefing.

But someone pulled on my collar from behind.

It was Woojin, who had come with me because Director Kim sent him.

Woojin asked me in a low, deep, and soft voice like fragrant coffee.

“Who is that person?”

However, his tone and expression were tinged with anxiety.

He must have been flustered because a stranger suddenly greeted me. Then I should introduce him so he won’t be a stranger, right?

“Woojin, this is Cheon Yuha, the Guide on our team. He’s not a field specialist Guide, but he’s on the Great Monster Extermination Team, so he has a lot of field experience, so he’ll be helpful to Woojin. Yuha, this is…”

“I know! You’re the field specialist Guide team leader who was newly assigned, right? I saw your profile picture. The picture is great, but you’re even more handsome in person!”

Cheon Yuha already knew Woojin before I could even introduce him. The ripple effect of the New Year’s conference broadcast is enormous.

However, the polite Woojin thanked Cheon Yuha for his kind words, and even gave an autograph to Cheon Yuha, who asked for one.

‘Woojin even has an autograph.’

I was inwardly impressed, but Woojin stuck close to me as soon as Cheon Yuha moved away.

“If he’s a Guide on the same team as Gang Hana, does that mean you do that too?”

“Huh? Do what?”

I was happy that Woojin approached me first, but I was embarrassed by the sudden, unexpected question.

‘What is it? What is he asking if we do? We’re teammates that have been stranded together, but is that what he’s asking?’

“Oh, um. But I didn’t want to do it. Since the situation isn’t ideal, it’s just an unfortunate accident…”

“Then, did you, did you do it? With that person before, too?”

Woojin became as pale as a blank sheet of paper and was flustered.

I shouldn’t talk about experiences like being stranded to Woojin, who has a tender heart.

I hugged Woojin’s waist and gently stroked his back, trying to comfort him.

“But I’m here perfectly fine! I’ll continue to have fun with Woojin in the future~”

“But if an unavoidable situation arises, you’ll be with the other Guides on the team instead of me. It’s okay. If the situation isn’t ideal, it can’t be helped.”

Despite my efforts, Woojin pulled away from me and walked away.

‘You don’t know anyone, and you don’t know what to do on the team, so what are you going to do if you go like that, Woojin?’

I was worried that Woojin would get into trouble because of an unnecessary argument, so I immediately followed him.

Woojin’s legs were long, so his walking speed was definitely fast.

But it wasn’t to the point where I couldn’t catch up.

I diligently chased after Woojin, who was walking away, and grabbed his waist.

It didn’t matter if Woojin was joking with me, but I didn’t want him to be really sulky and not show his face.

I desperately swore to make Woojin feel better.

“Okay! I’ll try to make sure an emergency situation doesn’t happen! I’ll never create a situation where we get stranded again, so cheer up…”

“Huh? Stranded?”

But Woojin was rather startled by my vow.

‘Why is he so surprised? Isn’t he talking about getting stranded?’

I blankly stared at Woojin’s face.

Woojin’s face flushed again like a pink flower bud announcing spring.

I don’t know the exact reason, but I know that Woojin wasn’t worried about being stranded.

But I still didn’t understand what Woojin was talking about.

“Then, what were you asking about, Woojin? I thought you were talking about being stranded with Cheon Yuha before.”

Woojin’s face turned as red as an azalea.

Woojin struggled to part his lips and said to me.

“I, I… that’s…”

Woojin continued to speak quietly and quickly after that, but his voice was so quiet that it was difficult to hear properly even though I was close.

Still, I thought I heard a familiar word, so I asked Woojin.

“Guiding? Is that what you said?”

But even if I understand the word, I still don’t know what it means.

“But why Guiding? Woojin, do you want to learn Guiding from Yuha? Woojin, you’re good at Guiding. I’ve only received it once, but I don’t think you need to learn it from the Guides here.”

“Ah, no… it’s not that… Gang Hana… with the Guides here…”

Woojin immediately refuted my words, but this time, his voice faded away, making it difficult to understand.

And I was increasingly unable to understand what Woojin wanted to say.

So, I asked Woojin more actively.

“So, you’re asking what I did with the Guides on our team? And it’s not about getting stranded.”

“Why, why are you pretending not to know when you heard everything?! I’m asking if Gang Hana has received Guiding from the Guides here!”

Woojin finally shouted loudly what he wanted to say.

Only then did I understand what Woojin was trying to say.

I see. He was wondering if I had received Guiding from the team members.

However, because Woojin shouted loudly what he wanted to say to me, not only I but also the members of the Great Monster Extermination Team around us found out.

Woojin, his face flushed like a bright azalea flower, looked at me with a tearful expression.

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