Churu for the Angry Guide

63

The secretary stood still in front of the stairs, listening to the faint sounds of Geonho and Siwoo’s conversation coming from upstairs. His eyes stung with emotion at the atmosphere that had finally become comfortable between the two of the same age. He was amazed at how quickly their relationship had been mended.

“Ah, this is…”

His laughter, with tears welling up, was short-lived. He quickly composed himself and took out his phone.

“I should contact them.”

First, he sent messages to Jihan and Seojun, informing them that the guide had returned. He also didn’t forget to share this happy news with Taebeom.

Although it was bedtime for most, Taebeom would be awake. The gate site was busiest before dawn.

The secretary cheerfully dialed Taebeom’s number. He knew the response would be bland, but he was sure Taebeom would be relieved inside. That’s why he wanted to tell him as soon as possible.

“…Is he busy?”

The dial tone continued for a while. As he was considering leaving a message, loud footsteps echoed from the stairs.

“Come down slowly!”

The secretary was startled to see Siwoo jumping down two or three steps at a time without even looking at the stairs. However, Siwoo leapt from the last five steps in one go.

He landed on the floor in a perfectly stable posture. Only a soft sound was heard as his feet touched the ground.

Right, he was a cat beastkin.

“Are you alright?”

Even after seeing Siwoo come down safely, the secretary worried about him. It was because Siwoo’s cheeks were flushed. His round cheeks were reddish as if he had a fever. They had been pale just earlier.

Siwoo cleared his throat while rubbing his cheeks. Then he lifted his head confidently and faced the secretary.

“I’ve decided to receive guiding from Kang Geonho. We’re going to do it right away today.”

“What?!”

To think there was still more to be moved by. The secretary’s jaw dropped as he covered his mouth with both hands clasped together. He wanted to lift Siwoo up and run around the center’s main building.

He wanted to boast to everyone about having such a beautiful and talented person as their guide. But he held back, knowing that with the guide’s personality, he would immediately leave the guild if he did that.

“But, you’re going to do it right away today?”

The secretary put on a serious face while trying to calm his excited heart.

“Can you do it? With just radiation guiding… it might be difficult.”

“I know.”

Siwoo, his flushed cheeks cooling down, answered calmly. It was a dependable attitude unlike a new guide.

“Don’t worry. I’ll manage it.”

With these final words, Siwoo returned to his room. Given the late hour, he needed to finish the guiding quickly. It was already close to sunrise.

“Guide.”

Before Siwoo closed the door, the secretary called out to him. His face, with reddened eyes again, looked just like a happy bear. He had a typical bear-like appearance.

“Thank you.”

The secretary bowed his head deeply as he conveyed his feelings. It was a heavier expression of gratitude than a hundred words could convey.

“…”

Siwoo awkwardly rolled his eyes again, nodded slightly, and fled into the room.

“Why is he like that…”

He hadn’t done anything particularly deserving of thanks. He had just done what he needed to do.

Why thank him when they’re paying him so much money? He had only done what he was paid for, but they were rejoicing and even shedding tears as if he had done something great. It was strange.

Along with the puzzlement came a surge of motivation. He felt he should do even better. He wanted to really do well, given how well they were treating him.

“36%…”

Mulling over the low matching rate with Geonho, he quickly stripped off his clothes. He threw away his damp underwear along with his pants and changed into fresh clothes.

Before pulling up his underwear completely, he remembered to rub his bottom and hide his tail. Lately, his ears and tail had been popping out frequently, which was annoying. He couldn’t just cut them off either.

As he touched his gradually retracting tail, he suddenly remembered being held by Geonho.

Geonho, who had run at an incredible speed from the walkway to the lodging, had held Siwoo tightly in his arms. Siwoo had curled up and entrusted his body to Geonho. Although Geonho’s warm body temperature enveloped him, the wind and rain were so intense that he still felt cold.

[Can I touch it?]

At that moment, Geonho had gently grasped Siwoo’s fluttering tail. The tail, blown by the wind, was also soaked.

Siwoo had just lowered his head, pretending not to hear. It was much less cold with Geonho holding it. There was a strange tickling sensation in his stomach, but it was better than being cold.

* * *

Jihan and Seojun returned to the lodging around the same time. They had been searching for Siwoo all over the center. Both had been combing through the area, focusing on the cafeteria.

“You’re back?”

The secretary greeted them with a bright face. Just an hour ago, he had been fidgeting and worrying, but now he was all smiles.

“Where is he? Did he go to his room?”

Jihan, who arrived a few seconds before Seojun, asked immediately. His hair wasn’t very wet, but his pants were damp. The wind had been so strong that an umbrella was useless.

“Yes, he went in earlier. About 5 minutes ago.”

Jihan stared at the secretary while brushing back his damp hair. The secretary’s excessively cheerful demeanor seemed suspicious. He looked either like something good had happened or like he had lost his mind.

“Oh, Seojun Esper! Just a moment.”

The secretary, who had been grinning, suddenly called out to Seojun, who was heading straight for the guide’s room.

“Are you going in?”

“I’m curious if he’s okay.”

Seojun smiled at the secretary. He wanted to show directly how much trouble he had gone through looking for Siwoo in the middle of the night. And also to check if he was alright.

“I’ll just take a quick look.”

Thinking that seeing how many people had suffered because of him would prevent Siwoo from disappearing without a word again, Seojun strode towards the back of the stairs. But his feet were suddenly bound by Geonho’s telekinesis.

“Hey, youngest.”

Geonho, who had come down the long stairs with heavy steps, looked down at Seojun. He had a white towel around his neck, as if he had just finished showering.

“Your room is upstairs.”

He muttered as if warning and pushed Seojun hard towards the stairs. It was a childish show of strength.

“Go up.”

Seojun, forced to step on the stairs, opened his mouth for a moment and then closed it. He looked at Geonho with a face that seemed to have something to say, but then smiled gently and followed his older brother’s words. If told to get lost, he had to oblige.

“Did you two come together?”

Jihan approached Geonho, his eyes moving subtly but busily. He was trying to assess Geonho’s complexion and physical state to deduce the situation. Geonho wouldn’t explain directly anyway.

“Are you really going to receive guiding?”

At that moment, the secretary asked with a worried face. Jihan’s eyes, still unaware of the situation, quietly moved between the secretary and Geonho. His look said, “Surely not.”

“It’s quite late, why don’t you sleep and rest first before receiving it? The guide doesn’t seem to be feeling well either.”

Geonho waved his hand at the secretary, who was interfering annoyingly, as if shooing away a bug. He was going to do that anyway without the secretary saying it.

“I’m not receiving it. We’re just going to talk.”

The secretary’s face brightened even more.

“Then can I join—”

“Get lost when we’re talking.”

Even though they weren’t just talking. The secretary, caught by Geonho’s telekinesis again, was chased to the entrance. When he blinked once, he was in front of the entrance. He wanted to have a cozy chat with the guide too, but the opportunity was taken away.

“Secretary.”

Jihan approached the secretary, who was putting on his shoes with a face full of regret.

“What’s the situation?”

“Ah, I didn’t tell you everything.”

He had forgotten to share the most important news. The secretary put his hand to his mouth and whispered with an expression like unwrapping a gift.

“They’ve made up. And they’ve agreed to do the guiding too.”

A warm smile formed again on the secretary’s large face. It was the happiest thing since finding Guide Han Siwoo earlier this year. Not only had they reconciled, but they had also agreed to do the guiding. Regardless of whether it would be successful, he was happy just that Geonho had agreed.

“Oh, is that so?”

Jihan nodded slowly. It was as if he had expected this response. He knew that Geonho wouldn’t be able to reject Siwoo completely in the end.

Siwoo wasn’t the type of guide whose boundaries could be easily drawn. And Geonho wasn’t the type to do that either.

“That’s good.”

Although he had anticipated this, he didn’t expect them to reconcile so quickly.