Guiding the Twins chapter 7

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“Even if you receive hundreds of lousy guiding sessions, it won’t do any good.”

“……”

“Go to the center and find a guide with a good compatibility rate.”

The commander’s words made me forget the chain of command, and I retorted sharply.

“Do guides with a high compatibility rate just fall from the sky?”

There were plenty of guides at the center, and many of them were high-ranking.

However, there was no telling how much better an A-rank guide would be than a group of B-ranks barely able to fill the gap together.

He also heard that there was an S-rank guide, but that was like a mythical creature—something as rare as a unicorn.

Word had it that the S-rank guide mostly participated in research rather than guiding directly.

“……Your brother, Seo Munhyun.”

“……?”

“Hasn’t the compatibility rate always been the same for him?”

“Yes, it has.”

Internally, Seo Munhyuk sarcastically thought, Yes, that’s because they’re identical twins.

His tone towards the commander, however, remained respectful and polite.

“There’s been an order from higher-ups to merge the combat unit and the Awakened Center.”

“Is that why you’re calling me back? I doubt I’d be of much use for such a refined task—unless it’s to tear the place down.”

At Seo Munhyuk’s response, the commander merely smiled.

“I looked through the Awakened Center’s documents. Your brother has a personal guide.”

“…….”

The commander’s following words seemed so unreal that Seo Munhyuk couldn’t remember whether he laughed or immediately agreed to return.

“A 98 percent compatibility rate. S-rank guide.”

And the fact that his brother’s rampage levels had never once exceeded the limit in the past 10 years.

The world Seo Munhyuk knew had completely changed.

Seeking out the S-rank guide at the center for proper guidance…

There was another reason to return to Korea.

Seo Munhyuk pulled out his old-fashioned cellphone, capable only of texts and calls.

A recent message from their mother had arrived.

Mother:
If you can’t even show up for your one and only brother’s wedding meeting, you might as well quit.

Another reason. A very personal one—he had to attend Seo Munhyun’s wedding meeting.

---

Seo Munhyuk entered the lounge after observing an Esper training session.

He had a hard time holding back yawns from the boredom.

At the center, they conducted training by simulating monster movements and attack patterns with robots.

It involved advanced technology, but to someone like Seo Munhyuk, who knew how quickly monsters evolved, it seemed like child’s play.

Inside the lounge, Espers Ji Seowon and Kim Junwoo, both about the same age as Seo Munhyuk, were sitting. Seo Munhyuk levitated a red apple with telekinesis as he casually approached and sat in a laid-back manner.

“What kind of person is this Yeon Haegum?”

Seo Munhyuk asked, biting into the apple he caught midair.

As expected, he skipped any formal greetings.

“Why ask us? You should be asking Esper Seo Munhyun, your twin.”

“He won’t tell me.”

Seo Munhyuk shrugged lazily.

In reality, whenever Seo Munhyun heard even a mention of Yeon Haegum’s name, he would glare as if warning him not to pull any stunts.

“He’s neat, pretty… but somehow feels more like a handsome person.”

“Why are you describing something everyone can see with their eyes? How about something more? Like his character.”

Seo Munhyuk straightened up slightly.

His eyes briefly glinted with interest as he asked about Haegum.

“How old was Yeon Haegum when he first came to the center? Twelve, thirteen?”

“Something like that, if I remember correctly.”

Ji Seowon and Kim Junwoo nodded, recalling the past.

Twelve or thirteen…

Entering the Awakened Center before even finishing elementary school.

Though Seo Munhyuk didn’t know all the details of his upbringing, his life was clearly different from that of ordinary children.

“Entering the center at that age? Isn’t that child abuse?”

“He had nowhere else to go. Since he manifested as an S-rank right away, the center probably took him in for constant management.”

“In terms of years, he’s around our age.”

“…So that’s why he’s so rude.”

Seo Munhyuk muttered quietly after listening to the conversation.

“Rude, Yeon Haegum?”

“Rude, Yeon Haegum?”

Ji Seowon and Kim Junwoo both exclaimed in surprise at the same time, looking at him like he’d just said something ridiculous.

“He’s strict, but he’s not rude.”

“What on earth did you say to get that reaction? Besides, even if an S-rank guide were rude, it wouldn’t really count.”

Ji Seowon and Kim Junwoo shook their heads disapprovingly, while Seo Munhyuk protested in frustration.

“Ugh, so unfair.”

“His personality’s still much better than yours. Let’s face it, you’ve got some… issues.”

“It’s been a while, but you haven’t changed at all. I swear, if I ever get the chance, I’d love to peek into Seo Munhyuk’s mind.”

Telepath Esper Ji Seowon shook his head in exasperation.

“That’s a harsh joke.”

“You act tough when it doesn’t even work.”

Ji Seowon gave Seo Munhyuk a light tap on the shoulder.

Both Seo Munhyuk and his twin, Seo Munhyun, were typical physical Espers, but they were unusually immune to mental Espers or monsters attempting to infiltrate their minds.

They suspected it had something to do with their father being a mental Esper.

-Trrr.

Just then, Seo Munhyuk’s phone rang.

It was from the Awakened Center, though the last few digits were unfamiliar.

“Hello?”

-Seo Munhyuk, Esper.

“Yes.”

-This is the director’s office. Would you be available right now? The director and the commander are in a meeting and requested your presence.

“Ah, I’m not sure if I can make it right now…”

-Oh…

The voice on the other end sounded a bit flustered, likely not expecting him to turn down an invitation from both the director and the commander.

Seo Munhyuk chuckled softly before adding.

“I’m kidding.”

-So you can come now, right? You really scared me for a moment.

“You have a lovely voice, so I thought I’d play a little prank. I’m on my way.”

A light laugh came through the receiver before the call ended.

Seo Munhyuk stood up, ready to head to the director’s office.

Ji Seowon and Kim Junwoo, who had overheard the conversation, pretended to gag.

“Wow, Seo Munhyuk. Listen to that voice.”

“I don’t know about the combat unit, but you’d better be careful around the guides at the center. Messing with the wrong one could get you stabbed.”

Kim Junwoo’s warning made Seo Munhyuk grimace.

It was a look only someone who had actually been stabbed by a guide for flirting could wear.

“I’m off.”

Waving a hand as he turned to leave, Seo Munhyuk opened his messenger app.

[♥Yeon Haegum♥]

There was a long string of one-sided messages from Seo Munhyuk.

Occasionally, Haegum had replied with short responses or just a period.

Though he often begged for guiding sessions, in truth, teasing Yeon Haegum was more fun for him.

Yeon Haegum was a long-standing figure at the center.

It seemed he’d had a rough time dealing with internal politics, as his reputation in official matters was that of being cold and indifferent.

But he couldn’t hide his age.

If you joked around or lightly provoked him, he’d turn red with anger, his clenched fists trembling.

My star sign is sitting right next to meƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ♥

♥Yeon Haegum♥
Not funny.

It seemed he had finally replied to a message he had sent a while ago.

“Ah, how cute.”

Even when he sent nonsense, he would always respond.

To Seo Munhyuk, it was like watching a kitten trying to act tough.

For someone who had only recently learned how to use body cams and wristbands to measure his rampage levels during combat, sending these cute emoticons was a real effort.

He’d been told that “kids these days” communicated like this, but Haegum’s replies were always blunt and uninterested.

In fact, he seemed completely repulsed by it.

Strangely, that only fueled Seo Munhyuk’s competitive streak.

It was like teasing a younger relative… except his feelings toward this particular “relative” were far too dark for that.

“…Hah.”

Seo Munhyuk let out a brief sigh, put away his phone, and clenched his fist.

His sense of touch felt dull, a chronic aftereffect of inadequate guiding.

Teasing Yeon Haegum while blatantly ignoring Seo Munhyun’s discomfort had been amusing, but that was only a momentary satisfaction.

It had been almost two months since he last went into battle.

Though his rampage gauge hadn’t risen from lack of ability usage, it was hard to say his body was in good condition without proper guiding.

Moreover, life at the center was becoming increasingly dull and monotonous. Initially, he appreciated the physical comfort, but now his blood was boiling.

Though promotion and success were reasons, Seo Munhyuk had a different motive for going into battle.

Fighting monsters had clear outcomes: survival or death, good or evil, ally or enemy.

He liked things that were so distinctly divided.

Guiding…

Battle…

Promotion…

Despite his relaxed outward demeanor, Seo Munhyuk’s mind was filled with clear desires.

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