* * *
“…I don’t think that’s going to help you.”
The relationship between an Esper and a Guide wasn’t just about the physical aspect.
Trust and connection were essential elements—something Haimar Eilec clearly knew nothing about.
No matter how irregular their compatibility was, no matter how rare a match they made, emotional resonance was still crucial.
Even if they were initially deemed compatible, guiding without any kind of emotional exchange could be dangerous for both of them.
And given how little was known about irregular Espers and Guides, they had to consider the potential consequences.
There was no way someone as intelligent as Haimar wouldn’t know that.
“If it’s as you say, this puts me at a serious disadvantage.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I go insane from not receiving proper guidance in the meantime, do you think you can handle me?”
Haimar smirked internally. His self-restraint was already pushed to its limits—just barely hanging on.
Finding a Guide had provided some relief, but without proper guiding, it was only a temporary fix.
If things escalated, would this man be able to handle him?
“I-I’ll do my best. No matter what, I’ll find a way to—no, it won’t even come to that.”
Ben hesitated, standing before Haimar, who lounged lazily on the couch with his arms crossed.
He couldn’t afford to admit he lacked confidence.
Even if he wasn’t sure, he was determined to give it his all.
And for that, he needed time.
“Just trust me, okay?”
Haimar Eilec silently considered the brazen proposal before him.
Ridiculous.
For someone who looked so naïve, Ben had apparently put a lot of thought into this in a short amount of time.
The fact that Haimar couldn’t read his mind was proving to be incredibly irritating.
If he could read Ben’s thoughts, he might have just taken him by force.
But the complete absence of access to his mind made Ben an unknown variable, something Haimar wasn’t used to dealing with.
For someone who had always known the answer, navigating relationships without being able to read the other person’s thoughts was like stepping into unfamiliar, uncharted territory.
And Ben Plaskun had figured that out—he had pinpointed the issue and offered a solution.
A completely ordinary solution for most people, but for Haimar, it was something entirely new:
Time.
Time spent building a relationship.
Time that had always been meaningless to him.
Honestly, Haimar had no idea what emotional connection was supposed to do for him.
He had spent over a decade barely suppressing his powers.
When he held Ben, even for a moment, the refreshing clarity he felt was enough to make him believe it could finally push away the chaos within him.
If that worked, then the risk of rejection and breakdowns wouldn’t matter.
But then again, his curiosity was fleeting.
A rare, almost whimsical thought crossed his mind.
How far could this man go against him?
Even if he couldn’t read Ben’s thoughts, he could sense the faint trembling in his eyes, hear the rapid beating of his heart.
Ben was at a clear disadvantage, and yet, beneath that trembling, there was a firm resolve.
That wasn’t so bad.
Haimar had never needed anyone before.
But now that Ben Plaskun had appeared, maybe that was about to change.
“If you can’t handle it and run away?”
“I won’t run. I swear.”
Pale green-tinged eyes held Haimar’s gaze unwaveringly.
His lips were pressed tight, his fists clenched—begging Haimar to believe him.
It was a strange feeling.
Every relationship Haimar had ever had started with mind-reading.
No one had ever asked for his trust, and he had never needed anyone’s sincerity.
Maybe that’s what made this man so intriguing.
Playing along wouldn’t be so bad.
After all, it wasn’t any different from putting his prey in cold storage for later.
“I’ll trust you.”
When Haimar casually extended a hand, Ben’s expression immediately brightened, and he quickly reached out to shake it.
Whatever their thoughts were, this was the start of something strange.
“Yes, I look forward to working with you. Ben Plaskun.”
Ben finally relaxed and smiled—getting this guy to agree had been exhausting.
His handshake was firm but surprisingly neutral.
Only now did Ben realize how cold Haimar’s hands were.
“Setting aside sex for now… are you seriously saying you need time before you can even kiss?”
“…Ah… Uh… Well, you see…”
Crack.
The way Haimar suddenly gripped his hand made it feel like his bones were about to snap.
It wasn’t like Ben had never kissed before—he had dated before, he had had girlfriends.
But that was with women.
Wasn’t it normal to feel embarrassed about kissing another guy on the first day?!
“Answer me.”
“Well, uh, I mean—I’ll try! Not now, but…!”
“You’re awfully picky.”
“This is normal! I trust you, Haimar, so… yeah. I do.”
Ben trailed off uncertainly, sneaking a glance at Haimar’s expression.
It hadn’t even been five minutes since they shook hands, but he already felt like he was in trouble.
“Then there’s something you need to compromise on.”
Haimar released his hand effortlessly, flashing an easy smile.
Ben suddenly had a bad feeling—like round two was about to begin.
“Wow, looks like things worked out well!”
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
“To be honest, I was really worried. What if Ben suddenly ran away, refusing to be a guide? I even braced myself for some bloodshed, but thankfully, it didn’t come to that!”
Ben wasn’t sure whether the “bloodshed” she was referring to meant himself or someone else, but he didn’t bother to comment on Moria Iren’s cheerful remark.
Last time, she had worn a ponytail, but today, her hair was styled into twin braids.
Twisting a strand around her finger, Moria spoke in an almost playful tone.
“Since you’re moving from Hermannsen to Central City, we hurriedly arranged a position for you, but it might not be exactly what you were doing before. You understand, right?”
“Yes. I know there wasn’t much of a choice.”
After the second confrontation with Haimar that day, Ben had managed to secure some of what he wanted. But at the same time, there were things he had to concede.
One of those things was relocating his job from Hermannsen to Central City.
Though he hadn’t been officially assigned to a department yet, the decision hadn’t been difficult—he had no real ties to Hermannsen outside of his job.
In fact, considering Haimar’s position at the Main Central branch, there was even a chance that Ben would be transferred to the neutral country of Anita, where the main headquarters was located.
However, thanks to Haimar’s unexpected decision to stay in Eternita for a while, Ben’s move was limited to Central City instead.
“Oh, and there’s one more thing I need to tell you~.”
Moria’s office was decorated entirely to her taste—pink wallpaper, a pink desk, and an overwhelmingly “lovely” atmosphere.
Stuffed animals filled the corners of the room, and a heart-shaped teacup sat neatly on her desk, oddly out of place among the scattered academic papers.
Stroking a rabbit plushie on her chair, she rummaged through the messy papers until she finally fished out what she was looking for.
“This! It’s the keycard to your apartment in Central City!”
She held out a black plastic card.
At a glance, the glossy surface suggested it belonged to a rather luxurious residence, making Ben hesitate slightly.
“No need to worry about housing. I’ve already applied for a dormitory.”
When Ben politely declined the card she was offering, Moria tilted her head.
“What are you talking about~? You don’t need a dormitory, Ben.”
“Why wouldn’t I? I don’t know anyone in Central City.”
With no personal connections in the capital, he had no intention of imposing on anyone.
And since it was too late to find a new place, applying for a dormitory had been the most efficient way to start his life in the city.
However, at Ben’s response, Moria pursed her lips before suddenly grabbing his hand and practically shoving the keycard into it.
Then, after a dainty sip from her heart-shaped teacup, she set it down with a flourish.
“You’re a guide now! Obviously, cohabitation is part of the deal. That apartment is where you’ll be living with Haimar. And it’s a super high-end apartment in Central City! Even I wanted to live in a place like that with Liri!”
“…What?”
Cohabitation?
As Ben’s expression wavered, Moria continued talking as if she hadn’t noticed.
“Are you worried about the cost of the place? Don’t be! Haimar makes a ton of money. Electricity, water, shopping—you can spend as much as you like!”
“That’s not the issue—”
“Or is it about moving your stuff? The people from Hermannsen will handle that! The apartment has both a passcode and biometric access, so the keycard is just a spare—”
Wait, hold on.
‘Can I get a word in?’
* * *
