* * *
“Guide Lee Hamin may only be B-Rank, but he has the highest compatibility rate with Esper Seo Dojin, the Alpha Team leader. Moreover, he was also a Guide with Alpha Team 1, so I believe our teamwork will be smooth.”
“Yes, if I recall correctly, Lee Hamin and Team Leader Seo Dojin have a 95% compatibility rate, right?”
“That’s correct.”
The team leaders and military officials, who were already well aware of Hamin and Dojin’s relationship, nodded at Raon’s words.
Fortunately, they all seemed to accept Hamin’s placement without issue.
“What about Guide Park Dasom? Why did you select her?”
“Although Guide Park Dasom is also B-Rank, she has consistently maintained excellent grades since her trainee days at the Center and achieved outstanding physical test results. Most importantly, her determination is exceptionally strong.”
However, most people seemed dissatisfied with Dasom’s inclusion.
“Still, she’s just a B-Rank Guide without a notably high compatibility with any particular Esper…”
“There are other A-Rank Guides available. Was there really a need for it to be Park Dasom?”
All eyes turned toward Seokhyeon and his secretary, Haedam.
Raon shook his head in response.
“The Center Director cannot join the team. If anything were to happen inside the Gate, it would throw the entire Center into chaos. The same applies to Guide Jang Haedam, the Center Director’s secretary.”
Raon attached plausible reasoning to block their inclusion in the team.
Still, the military officials continued their fierce protests.
“Isn’t it selfish not to include A-Rank Guides for such reasons?”
“Exactly. Just because he’s the Center Director doesn’t mean he should receive special treatment…”
Seizing the opportunity, the military officials began attacking not only Raon but the Center itself.
Seokhyeon’s face hardened coldly.
“Please refrain from making accusations against the Center based on unverified claims.”
“Hmph, hmph.”
The military officials, who had been eagerly criticizing the Center, fell silent at Seokhyeon’s cold warning.
‘The relationship between the Center and the military is pretty complicated.’
Originally, Guides were under the military’s jurisdiction, but due to repeated exploitation, public protests intensified, and people began avoiding Guide registration altogether.
As a result, the Guide Center became independent from the military.
The Center Director always had to be an active Guide, and while cooperation with the military was inevitable, by law, the Center’s independence and authority were guaranteed.
So, no matter how high-ranking a soldier might be, they couldn’t act carelessly toward Seokhyeon.
‘Unless the Association President shows up.’
The Association President—the military’s Supreme Commander.
He could challenge Seokhyeon, but no one else could.
‘But there’s no way the Supreme Commander would come to a place like this.’
Raon glanced over the military officials, whose expressions weren’t exactly pleasant, and muttered to himself.
If the Supreme Commander wanted to know the meeting’s outcome, he’d simply have someone report it to him—he wouldn’t show up personally.
“Still, if the Guide Team fails to function properly in another Irregular Gate, won’t that become a serious issue?”
“Of course. We’ll have to reconsider the team lineup if that happens.”
The military officials found another opening to criticize Raon.
Raon sighed inwardly.
Just as he opened his mouth to argue again—
“Why don’t we try trusting him for once?”
“……!”
An unexpected, familiar voice rang out. Raon turned his head.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever had a Guide Team entering the Gate. If you pressure him too much, it’ll only discourage him, won’t it? Don’t you think?”
It was Inho, the leader of Alpha Team 2.
Raon looked at him with surprised eyes.
“Besides, isn’t Han Raon the only S-Rank Guide in the country? Even if there are shortcomings due to the B-Rank Guides, I’m sure he’ll manage just fine.”
Even Yoonchae, the leader of Alpha Team 3, voiced her support for Raon.
Raon couldn’t believe what was happening.
‘Ah, I see.’
Dojin, who had remained expressionless as the military attacked Raon, now frowned.
The current Alpha Team was a hastily assembled group, not yet a proper team.
Dojin and Inho had always been at odds, and even Yoonchae didn’t seem to like Dojin much.
It was an unexpected situation, but a favorable one for Raon.
“Thank you, Team Leaders. I’ll work hard moving forward.”
Raon smiled at them.
With two active team leaders defending Raon’s Guide Team, even the military officials couldn’t push the matter further.
The meeting soon ended, and the military personnel quickly left.
“Sorry, I tried to block it as much as I could on my end, but I couldn’t avoid the executive meeting.”
“It’s fine. I know you did everything you could.”
Raon smiled faintly at Seokhyeon, who looked apologetic.
“And once we show results at the next Gate, all their complaints will disappear.”
“Indeed. Please do your best.”
“Yes.”
Seokhyeon, who was now tied to Raon’s side, nodded and saw him off.
The Esper team leaders had also left the conference room.
Raon had intended to use this chance to thank them and build rapport, but they’d already gone.
Feeling a bit disappointed, Raon headed back to the training grounds.
“Everyone working hard?”
“Yes, Team Leader!”
The Guides weren’t just running laps anymore—they were also doing strength training.
Thanks to Taehyuk, whose build was unusually bulky for a Guide, the strength training was progressing smoothly.
“I think it’s about time we started incorporating shooting drills.”
“Is it finally time for firearms training?”
Dasom’s eyes sparkled as she asked.
Surprisingly, among the Guides, she was the most enthusiastic about training.
Raon replied with a reluctant expression.
“Yeah, the whole point of building up your strength and stamina was so you could hold the gun steady.”
“I’ve been looking forward to this…!”
“Mm.”
While the others looked miserable at the idea of more training, only Dasom’s face lit up.
Raon watched her with amusement for a moment before turning his gaze away.
“And Hamin, Guide.”
“Yes, Team Leader.”
“Can we have a word after training?”
“Ah… Yes.”
Hamin looked flustered at Raon’s request but nodded in response.
He looked like a startled rabbit, nervous and uneasy.
“It’s just a casual chat, don’t worry.”
“Understood.”
Hamin returned to his spot and continued working out.
Raon kept training alongside the Guides, offering instructions here and there.
By the time they finished, the sun was already setting.
“Hyung.”
“Siwoo, go eat first.”
“Why?”
Siwoo approached just as training ended, and Raon mentioned the talk with Hamin.
“I’ve got to talk to Guide Hamin for a minute.”
“Something wrong?”
“Nah, nothing serious. He just looks like he’s having a tough time.”
“Why do you care so much?”
Siwoo frowned, clearly displeased. Raon chuckled and patted his shoulder.
“I’ll be quick.”
“Fine, don’t take too long.”
“Mm.”
Siwoo puffed his cheeks, clearly still sulking, which Raon found oddly cute.
He couldn’t help but grin on his way to the meeting room.
Creak—
“Ah, Team Leader, you’re here?”
“Yeah.”
Hamin, already waiting inside, quickly stood up.
Raon wiped the smile off his face.
“So… um, why did you call me?”
Hamin’s face was still tense as he asked, his voice uncertain.
Raon looked at him steadily before speaking.
“Is something bothering you these days?”
“Bothering me?”
Hamin tilted his head, wide-eyed like a startled rabbit.
But soon, he shook his head.
“No, nothing in particular.”
“Are you still Guiding Team Leader Seo Dojin?”
“Ah…”
The moment Dojin’s name came up, Hamin’s expression darkened.
‘So, there is something going on after all.’
Raon immediately sensed the bad feeling in the air and frowned.
“It’s okay, you can tell me.”
“Well, it’s just…”
Hamin hesitated, lips trembling slightly before he reluctantly spoke.
“To be honest… Team Leader Seo Dojin’s been refusing my Guiding.”
“Seo Dojin? He’s refusing it?”
“Yeah, ever since the last Gate suppression mission…”
“Tch.”
Raon realized the seriousness of the situation.
Dojin refusing Hamin’s Guiding?
After discovering their 95% compatibility, Dojin had never done that before.
‘Is this because of what happened in the Gate?’
During the recent Irregular Gate incident, Hamin fainted before he could Guide Dojin.
Could Dojin be avoiding him because of that?
If so, it was beyond foolish.
Who else could Guide him with a 95% match rate?
‘So that’s why Dojin was pushing me to pair up with him the other day.’
Raon sighed, recalling Dojin’s forceful behavior.
The sound made Hamin flinch.
“Hamin, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’ll speak to the Director about this.”
“I’m sorry… it’s because I wasn’t good enough…”
“I told you, this isn’t your fault.”
Seeing Hamin shrink in on himself made Raon’s chest tighten.
Why did Guides always blame themselves when Espers acted selfishly?
If a Guide refused to Guide, sure, there’d be consequences—but an Esper refusing Guiding?
That was pure arrogance, from head to toe.
“And you don’t need to force yourself to Guide Team Leader Seo Dojin. If he doesn’t ask for it, ignore him.”
“Huh? But…”
Hamin looked flustered by Raon’s firm tone, unable to finish his sentence.
Raon shook his head.
* * *
