Chapter 270: SIDE QUEST
HMM?
They’re suddenly cut off?
Ki Gayoon and Haru both turned to the door when Noh Yuno and Moon Noa’s presence suddenly disappeared.
The two of them quickly moved, but abruptly stopped at the same time.
His Status Window suddenly popped up in front of him— and that must be the same case for the prince bastard.
[The System is currently speaking with Guide Noh Yuno and Guide Moon Noa.]
Tsk.
"That System bastard..."
"I agree," Haru said, even though Ki Gayoon didn’t finish cursing. "I can’t keep trusting the bastard that puts Noa-san and Yuno-kun in danger all the time."
Right?
"This is why I’m cheering for you."
Haru looked at Ki Gayoon and raised an eyebrow at him. "I remember you saying you’ll address me as ’hyung’ from now on."
Oh.
Ki Gayoon barely remembered saying that, but he wasn’t ready to commit fully, so he played dumb. "Did I? Why would you want to be called ’hyung’ when you’re not even Korean?"
"Well, I might become a Korean citizen soon."
"Through what? Special naturalization? Well, you’re a natural S-Class Esper. I’m sure our government will welcome you with open arms."
After all, special naturalization applied to those with exceptional professional skills or contributions to Korea.
It applies to the prince bastard.
But would Haru really throw away his citizenship?
"I’m thinking of simplified naturalization."
"You have to marry a Korean citizen for that."
"Noa-san is a Korean citizen, isn’t he?"
Ki Gayoon looked at Haru in disbelief. "You’re really determined to marry that old sly fox?"
"Yes."
"Aigoo. I’m not sure whether to congratulate you or feel sorry for you. I already see you being miserable in the future."
"If I were you, I’d be careful about how I talk from now on."
"Why do I have to mind my manners around you? As my Babe Princess said before, I left my manners in my mother’s womb."
"Gayoon-san, don’t forget that Noa-san is like a father figure to Yuno-kun. If you want to marry Yuno-kun in the future, then you better start earning brownie points from Noa-san. By extension, you also have to start treating me well," Haru said calmly, almost sounding convincing. "I already see Yuno-kun as my son. Whether you like it or not, Noa-san and I will be your in-laws. Well, that is if Yuno-kun wants to marry you."
Tsk.
It was easy for Ki Gayoon to argue if it were with Moon Noa.
But, for some reason, it wasn’t as easy with Haru.
This prince bastard’s calmness is irritating, and a little scary.
"Noa-san and I can influence Yuno-kun’s decision about marriage," Haru said, obviously ’teasing’ Ki Gayoon. "So, what do you say, Gayoon-san?"
Tsk.
Ki Gayoon rolled his eyes. "Yes, I’ll be careful from now on... Haru Hyung."
Haru seemed satisfied to be called ’hyung.’
Ki Gayoon was about to say something snarky because he was annoyed, but he got distracted when his Status Window popped up in front of him again.
This time, it looked like he was getting a call on his phone.
<Esper 17 Calling...>
Oh, right.
President Kwak Hakjae already activated this bastard’s personal Status Window.
"What’s wrong, Gayoon-san?" Haru asked when the prince bastard noticed that Ki Gayoon was staring blankly into the air. "Did the System send another message related to Noa-san and Yuno-kun?"
"No, it’s not about them this time," Ki Gayoon said, pressing the <Answer> button on the screen. "17 is calling."
***
"CHILD, what have you done?" ’Moon Noa’ asked, half-worried and half-annoyed. "Why is your life force shorter than I remember?"
Yuno smiled awkwardly. "Well, about that..."
"Ah, you’ve finally found your Esper."
"Right," Yuno said, snapping his fingers when he remembered that the System had already talked about his ’other half’ in the past. "Were you talking about Ki Gayoon Hyung at the time?"
"I was," the System, still possessing Moon Noa’s body, confirmed. "I’m glad that you finally found each other. You’re the only pair in this country that has a hundred percent matching rate."
"Not anymore. Haru-nim and Sajangnim have a hundred percent matching rate now. And they’re both in the country at the moment."
"I’m glad that the two of them were finally in the same country."
"But why did their matching rate suddenly change? I remember their matching rate was only 70% when they did a matching test before."
"They took the test when Moon Noa’s memories were sealed. That affected this child’s Mana, so the machines that test matching rates failed to measure their correct synchronization."
Oh.
"I see," Yuno said, nodding. "So, why can I see matching rates between an Esper and a Guide now?"
"That skill has always been yours, child."
"Oh."
"I had to restrict all your skills in the past so the Virus wouldn’t be able to create an ’antidote’ against you," the System explained. "But now that both your side and the enemies’ side have retrieved your memories, I have no reason to restrict your abilities anymore. So, from now on, you’re going to live as the E-Class Guide that you are meant to be."
"That sounds troublesome..."
"That’s just your luck, kid."
"Wow."
"Stop talking back for a moment," ’Moon Noa’ said, sighing as if he were already tired of Yuno’s antics. "We still need to talk about your shortened life span."
Oh.
Yuno didn’t answer verbally since the System practically asked him to shut up earlier.
"Child, E-Class Guides can only guide natural S-Class Espers. Yes, you end up using your life force when you do that. But not as much as when you guide Ki Gayoon," the System explained. "It’s because your soul is synced with your Esper. That means you were practically born to sacrifice your life for Ki Gayoon."
"That doesn’t sound romantic."
"It’s not supposed to be."
"I’m sorry to say this, but I prioritized the Espers when I was distributing my powers to the Awakened People who have the right Core to be one," the System explained. "I created E-Class Guides to be an extension of natural S-Class Guides."
"Wait," Yuno said, knitting his eyebrows in confusion. "I already heard that before. Charles Kang said that Bambi was my Extension Guide."
The System scoffed as if he were offended. "They just learned what an ’Extension Guide’ is and gave it a new meaning. That monster is no ’Extension Guide.’ You’re the only one who deserves that title, child."
"I’m an E-Class Guide because I’m an extension of Ki Gayoon?"
"Yes," the System said bluntly. "I specifically created natural S-Class Espers to fight the Virus while the E-Class Guides to support them. But the Virus found out about the importance of E-Class Guides, and so that damned bastard targeted your class."
Aigoo.
My role as an E-Class Guide feels heavier than ever now.
"Are Song Heejin and I the only genuine E-Class Guides alive at the moment?" Yuno asked nervously, clenching his hands tightly. "It seems like the Lab targeted the E-Class Guides because they know the power we hold."
"Song Heejin is an enigma— she’s an E-Class Guide created by the Virus. She’s no child of mine."
"Oh."
"But I did awaken a small number of E-Class Gudies in the last few years."
"What?!"
"I did it while inhabiting this body," the System said, placing a hand on Moon Noa’s chest. "So, now I need you to find them, child."
"Excuse me?"
"Once you find them, I’ll help you not die by being Ki Gayoon’s Guide."
Okay, that stopped Yuno from complaining again.
The reward is great, so let’s just work hard finding my ’siblings.’
"And, oh, I need you to guide an important natural S-Class Esper for now. He’s the key to finding the new generation of E-Class Guides that I awakened in secret," the System said, snapping his fingers. "I’ll give you a reward after."
The fuck—
Yuno found himself in the arms of a ’new’ natural S-Class Esper before he could even scream.
The damned System!
"Uh, hello?"
Oh.
Yuno didn’t have to look around to know that he was already out of the dungeon.
Moon Noa was nowhere to be found, and it seemed like he was outdoors.
But he couldn’t really focus on his surroundings because of the man who ’caught’ him.
Of course, Yuno recognized that face right away.
This stunning visual was featured in countless magazines and commercials...
"17-nim?"
Yep, Yuno was suddenly in the arms of the world’s current #1 Esper.
***
Please ADD <GUIDE ME IF YOU DARE> to your LIBRARY to be notified when an update is posted. Thank you! :>