* * *

Before I knew it, Eunsoo had leaned toward me, trapping me between his arms.

His blue eyes gazed down at my face.

While his still-flushed cheeks were endearing, the situation left me with an inexplicable feeling.

Why is Eunsoo over me?

Why is he looking at me like that?

It feels like he’s about to press his weight down and pin me in place.

My chest rose and fell rapidly.

Compared to Eunsoo, my body felt inadequate, and I was embarrassed for it to be within his view.

Yet, it seemed he wasn’t satisfied with just glancing at my chest and stomach—he started to turn me over.

“…What’s this?”

As Eunsoo tugged at my pajama top, trying to expose my back, I realized how odd this situation was.

“Do we really need to take it off? You already bathed me earlier. Didn’t you see then?”

“I made sure to dress you to avoid making you uncomfortable… And I didn’t look closely when I redressed you.”

“Oh.”

That made sense.

Without resistance, I showed him my back.

Lying flat on the bed, I felt a peculiar chill the moment his hand touched my bare back.

It felt as if he might press down on me firmly, pinning me completely.

It was as though, even if I cried and begged, Eunsoo wouldn’t hesitate to tie up my limbs and keep me restrained.

…Even though I knew he wouldn’t.

Before my anxiety could grow too much, Eunsoo thankfully helped me up by holding my waist.

The abrupt motion of being flipped over and pulled upright left my head spinning.

I closed my eyes and steadied myself until the white haze in my mind dissipated and light returned.

When I finally opened my eyes, still catching my breath, I found myself sitting on Eunsoo’s lap.

“Are you okay? Does anything hurt?”

“Yeah… I’m fine.”

“I can see that you’re healthier now. We should thank Polwel properly.”

“Right… I’ve been meaning to thank him…”

“Let’s do that tomorrow. He’s probably busy now. I’ll check in and connect you when it’s a good time.”

The Espers who returned so quickly… Is something going on?

While I was curious, I also wanted to push those thoughts aside for now and focus entirely on Eunsoo.

This feels strange.

Is it because I’m drunk?

Just this morning, being this close to Eunsoo—or even having our bodies touch—made my heart race so much that I couldn’t handle it.

But now… it feels bearable. It feels like I can do anything.

If I let this opportunity slip, I’ll regret it. So…

“Eunsoo.”

“Yes?”

“They say skin-to-skin contact is best for guiding. Have you tried it?”

“No. I don’t really need to touch anyone for it.”

“Oh, right. You’re a munchkin genius, after all.”

“…”

What kind of guide also serves as an Esper?

In the original story, Eunsoo became an incredibly powerful guide after his second awakening, but he didn’t have Esper abilities back then.

The protagonist buff is terrifying.

Eunsoo, however, looked a bit uncomfortable.

“That’s… more like you, Hyung. Enchanting every S-Class Esper and… even me…”

“Speak louder—I didn’t catch that.”

“It’s nothing…” Eunsoo groaned softly.

“Anyway! If you’re still open to it, I’ll guide you.”

The idea of a B-Class guide guiding an S-Class was audacious, but I wanted to try.

When else would I get this chance?

I had the liquid courage for it now.

I spread my arms slightly, and Eunsoo pulled me closer, pressing my back against him.

Our bodies were completely flush.

Compared to his, my frame felt so much smaller—it was both unsettling and comforting at the same time.

But something felt off.

Despite the extensive contact…

“…I don’t feel anything.”

“I haven’t released it yet. Hold on… I…”

“Okay.”

“This is my first time receiving guiding.”

“What? Is that even possible?”

“Yeah, I’ve been fine without it.”

“Wow…”

His first awakening happened five years ago when I died.

Even if he started using his abilities properly afterward, illegal Espers usually can’t last more than three years without guiding.

The fact that he endured this long was absurd.

Does self-guiding have an effect? Maybe that’s how he’s been suppressing himself.

I wasn’t sure, but I needed a moment to prepare myself.

The impurities in Eunsoo’s emotions, left unchecked for years, were bound to be overwhelming.

“Little by little should be fine… right?”

Despite my apprehension, my desire to guide him hadn’t wavered.

Who else but me could do this for Eunsoo?

“Let’s start.”

“…Okay.”

I tightened my arms around him, signaling I was ready.

And in the next moment, I truly understood—Eunsoo had never been guided before.

“Ah—!”

It was like a waterfall.

A torrent of emotional impurities flooded into me through every point of contact with Eunsoo’s skin, threatening to overwhelm my B-Class guide capacity.

“A-ah, wait, slow down…!”

“Does it hurt, Hyung?”

“No, it’s fine. Just… slower… please…”

My entire body convulsed. I didn’t want to stop, but the tremors made it hard to stay connected to Eunsoo.

His larger body, slick with sweat, made it even harder to hold on.

I wrapped my arms around his thick neck to keep myself steady.

Though I said I was okay, Eunsoo must have been worried.

The influx of impurities stopped abruptly.

I hadn’t meant for him to stop entirely—just slow down.

Growing desperate, I reflexively dug my nails into his shoulder.

“Don’t stop. Please… keep going. Eunsoo… please…”

“You said to go slow…”

“You can do more. It’s fine. More…!”

With every plea, Eunsoo gradually released more until the floodgates finally broke.

My body convulsed violently as an overwhelming sensation consumed me.

My consciousness flickered, my arms losing strength as I began to collapse backward.

But Eunsoo caught me, holding me tightly against him.

His solid embrace pressed us closer together, chest to chest, leaving no space between us.

If I had to sum it up, Eunsoo’s emotional presence was overwhelming to the point of being unreal.

The sheer volume of energy pouring into me should have been unbearable.

And yet, it felt euphoric—intensely so.

It was as if my body was being filled with light, golden and radiant, warming me from the inside out. The brilliance extended to every part of me, saturating me entirely.

It was intoxicating.

For a mere B-Class guide, the intensity and quantity were far too much.

I felt like I might break, like an overfilled balloon on the verge of bursting.

Yet, I couldn’t stop.

I didn’t want to.

Was this what Icarus felt, flying too close to the sun, knowing he would fall?

Even if it meant being consumed, I wanted to remain connected to Eunsoo.

To accept all of him.

If I had to die, I wanted it to be now, here, in Eunsoo’s arms, filled with him, shining brighter than ever.

Lost in this overwhelming ecstasy, I flailed briefly before managing to embrace him once more.

“Eunsoo…”

“Damn… This is too much…”

The tension in his back was palpable, his entire body taut with anticipation.

Even though their bodies were already pressed close, it didn’t feel like enough.

There had to be a way to bring him closer, to make the moment even better.

To accept Eunsoo more wholly into himself.

“Eunsoo, I…”

“I want to… too.”

Perhaps their hearts were in sync.

Though their words were incomplete, the meaning came across clearly.

Their faces were already close, drawn together by the desire to increase the surface area of their contact.

When he closed his eyes, Eunsoo leaned in, pressing his lips gently to his.

A soft chu, chu—the sound of their lips brushing echoed faintly in his ears, sending shivers down his spine. Yet, it wasn’t quite what he craved.

Without shame, he took the lead, his tongue flicking out to taste Eunsoo’s lips.

“Ah… ahhh…”

Finally, what he had been yearning for met his tongue.

Drunk on the sensation flowing from that contact, he exhaled a trembling breath, which Eunsoo swallowed as their lips sealed together in perfect harmony.

“Mm… mmm…”

Every brush of their tongues against the sensitive mucosa inside their mouths sent a brighter, more vivid light surging through his entire being.

It was a sacred hue.

He felt as if he were a golden statue, imbued with worth by Eunsoo’s presence.

His eyelids fluttered with satisfaction as he lightly kissed Eunsoo and stroked the fine strands of his black hair.

But the bliss, so fleeting, gave way to a rare clarity of mind.

Unlike the usual haze that deepened with such acts, his thoughts sharpened instead.

His eyes opened faintly.

* * *