Guiding the Rampaging Sub Male Protagonist chapter 39

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That’s why they were waiting here—to meet Na Hyunjoon.

For a moment, when Haebom saw Choi Yoonseo, he had thought she might have been waiting for Wonho.

He even wondered if he should step aside to give them space.

But it turned out there was no need for that.

Contrary to Haebom’s worries, she hadn’t been waiting for Wonho—she had been waiting for her own pair, Na Hyunjoon.

“Hyunjoon… oppa?”

Na Hyunjoon had just emerged from the gate, but instead of heading toward Choi Yoonseo, he passed right by her and walked straight ahead.

Choi Yoonseo blinked several times in confusion at his reaction.

‘Hmm? Why is he coming this way?’

Haebom, who had been quietly watching the two main characters of the novel, frowned when he noticed that Na Hyunjoon was looking directly at him.

Instinctively, he took a step back, but Na Hyunjoon reached him far quicker than expected.

The sudden approach caught Haebom completely off guard.

“Hello. You’re Wonho Esper’s pair guide, right?”

Haebom wasn’t sure if Na Hyunjoon was really talking to him, so he tilted his head slightly in confusion.

Even though Na Hyunjoon had greeted him, Haebom simply stared blankly instead of responding.

Na Hyunjoon, however, didn’t seem fazed.

He just smiled—exuding the perfect image of a male lead in a romance novel.

“Hmm? Did I catch you off guard? That’s cute.”

“Gasp!”

“Gasp? Even the sounds you make are cute. Let’s greet each other properly next time. I think I’m getting some death stares, so I should get going for now. See you later.”

Huh?

Another strange sound involuntarily escaped from between Haebom’s lips.

The male protagonist had just casually spoken to him and then even flashed a bright, charming smile—just like how the novel had described.

Na Hyunjoon’s smile was one of his signature charms, a trait often emphasized in the book.

But to Haebom, Wonho looked more handsome than Na Hyunjoon, so while he was surprised, he wasn’t exactly swooning.

After giving Haebom a dazzling smile, Na Hyunjoon turned away and walked toward Choi Yoonseo, who was staring at him in shock.

“Did my dear Yoonseo come to pick me up?”

“Oh? Uh… oppa….”

Na Hyunjoon approached Choi Yoonseo, his back now facing Haebom, so Haebom couldn’t see his expression.

But from his voice alone, it was easy to imagine him wearing a lovestruck, honeyed smile.

As Haebom dazedly watched the two, his vision was suddenly filled with darkness.

“…Hey. What are you doing here?”

The reason everything had gone dark was because someone wearing black clothes had stepped in front of him—blocking his view.

Haebom looked up to see none other than Wonho, his voice sharp and irritated.

His expression was full of annoyance.

‘Wait, shouldn’t I be the one annoyed here?’

Haebom furrowed his brows.

“Are you deaf? I asked why you’re here.”

“Why do you think I’m here? My pair Esper went inside the gate, so obviously, I was waiting.”

Just then—ugh.

A strange sound reached Haebom’s ears.

Curious, he leaned to the side to peer past Wonho, only to immediately let out another startled gasp.

He squeezed his eyes shut on reflex.

Na Hyunjoon was kissing Choi Yoonseo.

Because of Na Hyunjoon’s tall frame, Choi Yoonseo wasn’t even visible anymore, but anyone could tell what was happening.

Wait, were they seriously doing that out in the open?

This was right at the center’s entrance!

Even in this world, where guides and Espers had a more casual approach to physical contact, wasn’t this a bit too much?

Was it like this in the novel too?

Haebom felt dizzy.

“Sh*t….”

Wonho cursed under his breath.

Oh, no. Haebom panicked.

He shouldn’t have looked!

If Wonho saw the woman he liked kissing another man, he might get upset and recklessly charge into the gate alone.

Just as he was about to open his eyes again—

“Wait, what—? Ugh, that hurts…!”

“Fuck, just shut up and stay still. Close your eyes. Hey, don’t open them.”

“Huh? Ugh…!”

Wonho turned around with Haebom slung over his shoulder.

Haebom was quite literally thrown over like a sack of luggage, his stomach landing squarely on Wonho’s shoulder, pressing down hard.

“Urgh, ngh, ah…!”

Strange sounds kept slipping out.

With every step Wonho took, his stomach was pushed down even further, bringing tears to his eyes.

Thankfully, the ordeal didn’t last long.

In less than a minute, Wonho roughly dropped him to the ground.

“Ugh….”

Dizzy, Haebom slumped backward.

He landed harder than he expected, his butt hitting the ground with a dull thud.

It hurt a little, but the dizziness was worse.

He wanted to demand what the hell that was for, but then—beep beep—a familiar sound rang out.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Wonho’s house right in front of him.

“Huh…?”

It took five minutes to walk from the center to Wonho’s place.

The first time they walked together, it had taken five minutes as well.

But now, it felt like not even a full minute had passed.

Had he misjudged?

He tilted his head, confused, but there was no way to know.

Dumped carelessly in the yard, Haebom held his spinning head as he got up.

He staggered for a moment but quickly found his balance.

Then he glared at the door Wonho had just disappeared into.

He let out a deep sigh, relaxing his eyes.

He’d waited to see Wonho, but now that he was here, he didn’t know what to say.

‘It’s not strange to react to guiding. It’s natural.’

Saying something like that? If he did, Wonho might never look at him again.

None of the Espers he guided for two days had reacted that way…

Maybe because their match rate wasn’t as high.

But then again, hadn’t it been different in the novel?

When Choi Yoonseo guided him, it was supposed to feel refreshing and purifying.

Yet…

As Haebom stood by the door, sighing and spinning in place, the firmly shut door swung open with a bang.

“Hey, stop fucking around out there and get in. You’re annoying.”

It was, of course, Wonho.

Who else would it be?

He was the only one inside.

Haebom glanced at him once, then nodded.

He let out a quiet breath before stepping inside.

Wonho stood there holding the door open, waiting until Haebom had completely entered before slamming it shut.

For two days, no one had been in this house but Haebom.

Now, the real owner had returned.

Feeling both awkward and oddly embarrassed, Haebom dragged his feet toward the couch.

He could feel eyes following him from behind, but he ignored it.

Wonho didn’t move a step from the entrance until Haebom sat down.

‘Did he get shocked seeing the girl he likes kiss another guy…?’

Sitting on the couch, Haebom stole glances at Wonho by the door.

He hadn’t noticed before, but now he could see his hair was turning white from the roots.

Haebom’s eyes widened.

The Gate wasn’t supposed to be high-ranking.

Had he used that much of his power?

Alarmed, Haebom checked his gear.

While Wonho was inside the Gate, he couldn’t check the numbers.

He had meant to earlier, but between Choi Yoonseo and even Na Hyunjoon, he had been too distracted.

Now, seeing the steep rise in the levels… it was a miracle Wonho was even standing.

“Uh, Wonho…!”

The moment Haebom shot up from the couch, Wonho instinctively stepped back.

But with the door right behind him, there was nowhere to go.

His back hit it with a dull thud.

“Hey, just stay there and talk.”

Haebom already knew why Wonho was reacting like this, so he didn’t try to approach.

Jin Seyoung had explained it before—Wonho had undergone Esper training when he was still a minor.

That was one thing, but right now, what mattered was guiding.

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