Chapter 2: Unexpected Gifts And Unexpected Trouble

Bodam placed his fingerprint on the square-shaped wristwatch screen and accepted the call.

Stuffing the remaining sandwich into his mouth, he glared at the screen flashing yellow.

“You’re going to get indigestion.”

“Thanks to you, at least I had a meal before going out. Thanks. Really.”

“Forget it and take care of yourself. Call me right away if something happens.”

Jo Yeon’s expression darkened when he saw the yellow light on Bodam’s watch screen.

Code Yellow.

That meant he had to head to a site where a Gate had opened.

The danger level of the Gate and Esper was medium, but if a guide was needed, it meant being dragged out to the field instead of the guiding room.

If monster outbreaks increased or the Esper’s wave became unstable, it would escalate to Code Red.

Which meant, in plain terms, a f*cked situation.

***

To get to the assigned area, Bodam had to head up to the 36th floor of the Center’s main building.

He heard that some lucky guides assigned to cushy teams got personally picked up by their teleportation Espers.

But for Bodam, that was a distant dream.

The teleportation Esper from Attack Team 3 was the same bastard who had interrupted Bodam’s morning poop and smashed the toilet.

Min Jiho, coming to pick up his guide?

Maybe it would happen if the world was ending.

“Guide for Attack Team 3 here.”

“Yes. Please wait a moment.”

Other guides getting off the elevator had to flash their team codes on their watches for verification.

Bodam could skip that hassle.

All he had to do was mention “Attack Team 3” and it was done.

High-level team guides didn’t need code verification.

While the front desk staff checked the Gate situation and prepared a teleportation Esper, Bodam sat on a folding chair and tried to calm his queasy stomach.

The sandwich he had scarfed down was sitting heavy.

Swallowing hard, he tried to guess which Esper had called him.

He could have just asked the staff, but chose not to.

It felt less disgusting not knowing.

It didn’t matter which of the four bastards it was anyway — they were all sh*t.

Still, he prayed it wasn’t Min Jiho.

After what he did to the bathroom, Bodam could imagine all too well how much worse he’d be out in the field.

“Um, are you the guide for Attack Team 3?”

Startled by the sudden voice next to him, Bodam flinched.

“Y-Yes, that’s me.”

“Sorry for startling you.”

“No, I wasn’t surprised. It’s fine.”

Clearly terrified but pretending to be cool, Bodam shook his head.

The woman speaking wore a perpetually gentle expression as she pulled something out of her uniform pocket.

“Please take this. You’re Guide Yoon Bodam, right?”

“How did you know my name…?”

“Who wouldn’t? Attack Team 3’s so famous, and so is Guide Bodam.”

Bodam gulped hard.

Attack Team 3 being famous, sure, but me too?

I’m part of that infamous lineup now?

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Stay strong.”

Bodam’s eyes widened at what she held out.

A pink, shiny kubotan — a small, pointed self-defense tool that fit snugly in the palm.

Bodam carried one himself.

“This was given to me by our Esper. Press the back and it sprays a monster-repelling liquid. It won’t kill them, but it can buy you time to run or strike.”

Bodam tilted his head at the dazzlingly pink weapon.

“Why are you giving this to me… You might need it yourself.”

“I have plenty. Our Esper buys me a new one almost every day. Says it’s too dangerous not to carry them at the site.”

Smiling helplessly, the woman’s gentle eyes crinkled.

When Bodam awkwardly smiled back, she glanced at his pale face.

Bodam, oblivious to her gaze, was lost in thought.

“Our Esper,” huh?

That phrase sounded ridiculously foreign to him.

“Here, look at this too.”

She extended her wrist, showing off a bracelet.

It was a child’s ID bracelet.

Every team member’s phone number was engraved on it.

“I’m not some toddler, but our Esper still treats me like one. I’ve gotten good at avoiding danger, you know.”

“There’s no way a guide would have better instincts than an Esper.”

A soft male voice cut into her rambling.

It was her teleportation Esper, coming to escort her.

“I told you, you don’t have to pick me up every time! I can go on my own.”

“How could I not come when I’m sending you near a dangerous Gate? Come on, let’s go.”

The Esper, whose looks were as polite as his voice, extended a hand to her.

Watching dumbly, Bodam’s jaw dropped.

The Esper was offering his hand to help her stand up.

Oh yeah.

Human hands could be used for that too, right?

“Well then, I’ll head out first. Bodam-nim, I’ll be cheering for you from afar! Stay strong!”

“Bodam? Oh, Guide Yoon Bodam, right? Hang in there!”

Overwhelmed by unexpected cheers, Bodam clenched his fists and shouted “Fighting!” back.

Even though the actual guiding hadn’t even started yet, he already felt exhausted.

“Guide Yoon Bodam, please head to Exit B-5.”

“Yes.”

He looked around.

There were plenty of Espers personally coming to pick up their guides.

The 36th floor was designed specifically for teleportation Espers and served as a pickup area.

Some freelance teleportation Espers were always stationed here, but most Espers preferred to come for their own guides.

Because teleportation required physical contact.

Depending on personality, the degree varied, but Espers were basically obsessed with their own guides.

Some couldn’t stand even their guide brushing sleeves with another Esper.

Of course, this too was a distant dream for Bodam.

In six months with Attack Team 3, Min Jiho had not once come to pick him up.

Even when Gates were quiet, he stubbornly summoned Bodam to the site.

Just what kind of spite was that?

“Guide-nim. We’ll start the teleport.”

The teleportation Esper who grasped Bodam’s hand spoke.

From the feel of the wave, he seemed to be on the lower side of B-class.

Recently, monster outbreaks had increased, so teleporters were in short supply.

Thank God he wasn’t C-class, Bodam thought, flashing a polite smile.

But he couldn’t erase the deepening anxiety on his face.

The lower the rank, the less stable the teleport.

If he held Min Jiho’s A-class hand, the trip would’ve been over in one blink.

With a B-class, the trip would take longer — and cause motion sickness.

And today’s teleporter had a death grip.

His fingers squeezed so tightly, Bodam’s hand was turning numb.

Clenching his eyes shut, Bodam prayed for the teleportation to end.

He was about to throw up.

The sandwich sat heavy in his chest.

“Just a little more. We’re almost there.”

“I… I can’t hold it….”

“Huh? But we still have a lot left….”

Almost there, he said?

Bodam’s complexion turned green.

The Esper panicked at the sight of Bodam covering his mouth.

“Please don’t throw up, Guide-nim. It’ll be messy.”

Is that really the f*cking issue here?!

Bodam wanted to scream at the Esper being so deadly serious about puke prevention.

“You know moving or opening your eyes is forbidden, right? I’ll get a penalty. Just five minutes. Only five minutes.”

Not even one minute — five.

At that, Bodam started gagging.

The delicious sandwich Jo Yeon had bought him threatened to resurface.

Even for a B-class, this was ridiculous.

Only a two-zone Gate and it was taking five minutes?!

If it took this long, at least the ride could be smoother!

Right now, Bodam felt like he was on a vertical-drop roller coaster.

“Or… you could hug me? It might help.”

Physical contact between guide and Esper was a sensitive matter.

Especially for guides like Bodam who already had a dedicated Esper.

Normally it was strictly restricted — not because of rules, but because of Espers’ possessiveness.

F*ck that.

Bodam was ready to kiss if it meant surviving this ride.

Fumbling blindly, he grabbed for the Esper’s shoulder.

“Here, here. Just hold on comfortably.”

The Esper crouched low to match Bodam’s height and let him wrap an arm around his shoulder.

The pressure on Bodam’s numb hand finally eased and blood flowed back.

With more surface contact, the teleportation stabilized.

The Esper tightened his arms around Bodam.

“Guide-nim… may I brush my lips against your neck lightly?”

What the f*ck are you saying?

Instead of answering, Bodam pressed his face against the Esper’s neck.

The ride immediately became less nauseating, like switching from a roller coaster to a viking ship.

“How… much longer…”

Bodam whispered, fighting back another gag.

The Esper cleared his throat and replied loudly.

“We’re getting closer. Hang in there.”

“You’re the one… who needs to hang in there more….”

Teleportation was a notoriously difficult ability.

Unless you were a top-tier like Min Jiho, teleporting an unfamiliar person was tough.

Your energy and wave resisted unfamiliarity.

That’s why so many Espers insisted on picking up their own guides — even if it meant breaking protocol.

Naming no names, but certain Espers who didn’t care were rare.

“Esper-nim, are you uncomfortable with physical contact?”

Bodam asked to check his condition.

If necessary, he could enhance the connection with a light kiss on the cheek.

“No, not at all. I’m totally fine.”

“Then pardon me.”

“Kissing’s fine t-“

Smooch.

Ignoring the overly eager response, Bodam pecked his cheek.

Even a simple kiss worked wonders on these stoic, thirsty Espers.

Their heart rate spiked.

The faster blood circulated, the easier guiding became.

Just as expected.

The Esper’s heart thudded against Bodam’s chest.

And then — oh no.

The Esper’s hands started moving.

“Esper-nim?”

Nervous, Bodam called out.

Bad vibes.

Real bad vibes.

“I like you, Guide-nim.”

“What the hell are you saying? Snap out of it!”

“I fell for you at first sight. Please become my personal guide!”

“F*ck no! Hands off! Hey! Hands!”

The same firm voice that didn’t even work on Bomi wasn’t going to work here either.

All because he tried to boost the guy’s morale with a kiss.

Dammit.

It’s my stupid mouth’s fault again.

The Esper’s hand crept up, shamelessly touching.

“Is this flesh? Or a rice cake?”

The Esper grabbed Bodam’s round cheek and pinched it.

Just then — bam.

Before Bodam could even open his eyes, he heard a loud, satisfying sound.

The Esper, who had been hugging and pinching him, got punched and sent flying.

Right in front of his nose.

It was a beautiful sound.