Beyond The Control

Chapter 10

Then, my hands rubbed together like a local official flattering a magistrate.

“Um… In that spirit, if you could just write my name on the evaluation report…”

“Of course, I should. As an aside, based on my personal experience, I’m someone who considers matching rate the most important in guiding… With today’s incident and all, I’ll make sure you’re not left out.”

“Thank you!”

I instinctively gave a full bow. Even with just three people, factions emerge, and our guild was no different. While it might not be full-blown office politics, there were undercurrents of invisible power struggles and tightrope walking.

For a small fry like me, the only person I could trust and rely on was our Team Leader, so there was nothing bad about forming a connection with Director Joo, who had strong influence over all teams.

Moreover, he said he prioritizes matching rate in guiding. It felt as reassuring as gaining an army of thousands.

“I like your enthusiasm. Haha. Then, let’s meet again next time.”

“Yes. Have a good day.”

I bowed deeply once more and turned around. Behind me, I could hear the conversation between the remaining people.

“Director Joo must have a lot of work. A hairline crack in the moonstone, even if it’s minute – that S-class is living up to its name.”

“I’m not sure if I should be glad that there’s only one more week… Thinking about it again, it was quite a rare sight to behold.”

I almost stopped in my tracks. Fortunately, I managed to leave without showing any reaction, but my walking speed noticeably decreased.

‘A minute crack in the moonstone? Because of Song Ji-hyeok?’

A pleased smile formed on my face.

I take back calling him cute. From now on, I should never mess with Song Ji-hyeok.

***

About two weeks later, I received a personal call from our Team Leader.

Knock knock-

When I knocked and opened the door, the Team Leader greeted me with his usual kind-looking face. His terrifyingly muscular arms, clearly visible even through his clothes, were also the same as ever.

As soon as I sat down, the Team Leader got straight to the point.

“There will be an announcement about the dungeon raid for new recruits this afternoon.”

The practical training, which could be called the finale of new recruit education, consists of four sessions. It’s like a beta test done before being officially assigned to each team, with the dungeon difficulty increasing with each round.

The first round naturally has the lowest level, and since a team leader-level Esper accompanies as a guide, it’s essentially just a taste.

But why is he telling me this…?

“Gitae will lead this raid, but how about you go along too, Su-hyeon?”

“Me?”

I pointed at myself reflexively as I asked back. It’s not that I’m questioning our god-like Team Leader’s words, but it was literally a puzzling situation.

First of all, I’m not a new recruit, and as I said, the first raid is low difficulty so support isn’t necessary. Seeing my expression, the Team Leader smiled slightly and continued.

“Esper Song Ji-hyeok is going this time too. I thought you could go and show your competence as a senior, and provide guiding right away.”

In other words, he wants me to score some points. It’s really good from my perspective, but…

“Is that okay?”

“There’s no reason it shouldn’t be. Actually, the New Employee Training Team Leader tipped me off first.”

Oh my. It seems they’re really trying to support me firmly.

‘Thank you, Director Joo.’

I felt like I wanted to shower the Team Leader in front of me with kisses. Then, without hesitation, I quickly answered.

“Then I’ll go along.”

“Good. I’ll tell Director Joo. Oh, and by the way.”

“Yes?”

“Camera flashes will be going off as soon as you come out of the dungeon. The media team will move as soon as you enter.”

As they say, even a dog that’s been in a village school for three years can recite poetry, I immediately understood what it meant for the media team to move. I could also imagine the headlines that would adorn the front pages of various news outlets rushing to take the bait.

“S-class Esper Song Ji-hyeok Completes First Official Schedule Today”

“The Future of South Korea is Bright! (Subtitle: His Face is Even Brighter!)”

“Super Rookie Shows Remarkable Performance Worthy of His Name”

Something along these lines, I guess. With a huge photo of him in combat gear as a bonus.

“Give Song Ji-hyeok Esper a heads up at an appropriate time. It wouldn’t look good if he’s too surprised.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good. Then, I wish you success.”

I bowed my head deeply and turned to leave. As I was passing by, I saw Gitae hyung and quickly spoke to him.

“Hyung! Would you like some coffee?”

“Suddenly?”

“Well… I heard you’re leading the new recruits this time. I’m tagging along too.”

When I whispered in a lowered voice, Gitae hyung smiled as if he understood. It felt like he already knew about the conversation I just had with the Team Leader.

“But I don’t drink pantry coffee.”

“I know. I was thinking of going to the cafe on the first floor.”

“Oh~ Are you treating?”

Despite asking if I was treating, Gitae hyung handed me his credit card.

“While you’re at it, buy some for the team members too. The Team Leader and I will have Very Very Strawberry Frappuccinos, you get whatever you want, and for the other team members, just get something cheap.”

“Boo boo boo~”

Kim Young-joo booed from afar, giving a thumbs down. She’s a Guide, but her hearing is really sharp.

I diligently fulfilled my errand and sat back down. I logged into the guild homepage first as usual today, but I didn’t have time to calmly peruse the updated information. Seeing it was already almost 10 o’clock, I hurriedly got up. Thanks to Gitae hyung, I had replenished my sugar sufficiently, so I was planning to go exercise next as per my routine.

The population density of the fitness room is hit or miss. Some days it’s so crowded that you’re hit with the smell of sweat as soon as you open the door, and other days it’s as empty as if you’ve rented the whole place.

The changing room was quiet for now. I gave a quick nod to an Esper from another team who was just leaving, then stripped off my clothes in front of my personal locker.

Of course, I didn’t take everything off. I left on a sleeveless shirt on top, and for the bottom, I put on a pair of short shorts provided for common use. It might look a bit embarrassing, but dressing like this made it easier to check muscle movements.

Guild welfare isn’t just limited to shared workout clothes. I vigorously shook a disposable water bottle, filled with a packet of protein powder that was also free, from the many prepared in one corner of the spacious powder room.

‘Time to work hard again today.’

I filled my mouth and entered the fitness room with determination. And then.

“Cough.”

I choked on the last sip. It was because of the person I saw as soon as I entered.

“Cough, cough! Cough!”

I must have really swallowed wrong because the coughing wouldn’t stop. My face turned bright red and I even started tearing up a bit.

“Gulp, ugh… Haah…”

I thought I was going to die.

I barely managed to calm down and straightened up. My eyes met again with Choi Young-sun, who was standing about 3 meters away.

Am I imagining that she’s looking at me like I’m the most pathetic thing in the world?

‘There’s no way it’s my imagination.’

Choi Young-sun isn’t called the Cool Beauty for nothing. She already has a cold, beautiful woman impression, and her gaze is even colder. If looks could have power, I would have been sliced to pieces by ice blades already.

But I couldn’t act the same way. Although she’s a year younger than me, Choi Young-sun joined the company half a year earlier, so I turned slightly and wiped my tears with the bottom of my sleeveless shirt. I was planning to greet her first with a slightly more presentable appearance.

But as I lowered my shirt and raised my head, this time I met eyes with someone else. Song Ji-hyeok was standing right in front of me in workout clothes.

While I hesitated for a moment, surprisingly, he spoke first.

“Nice abs.”

“Than-ks.”

Oops. What a slip-up.

“Ahem! Ahem.”

As I hurriedly cleared my throat with my fist in front of my mouth, someone approached my side. It was Choi Young-sun.

Her gaze was directed straight ahead. For a moment, an ominous feeling brushed down my spine. Then her lips moved.

“You’re Esper Song Ji-hyeok, right?”

“Yes.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Guide Choi Young-sun from Team 6.”

I could feel everyone’s gazes turning towards us. As a bonus, burly figures were whispering to each other.

It was understandable. Choi Young-sun wasn’t called the Cool Beauty or Princess among guild members for nothing. To put it nicely, she had a refined appearance and didn’t talk much; to put it negatively, she was rude.

When greeted in passing, she would barely nod her head, and it was even rarer to hear her voice. For such a person to speak first to someone who wasn’t even a team leader, it was natural for people to murmur.

“Yes. And?”

Even if an incredibly beautiful woman spoke to him, Song Ji-hyeok was a formidable opponent. There was no trace of agitation in his expression or tone.

Then Choi Young-sun’s gaze turned to me. Her expression was frosty enough to make me flinch involuntarily.

‘What? Did I do something wrong?’

After briefly staring at my face, which had momentarily become cowardly, she looked back at Song Ji-hyeok and continued speaking. Unlike when she looked at me just now, her gaze was visibly gentle.

“I heard that I’m the guide with the second-highest matching rate with Esper Song Ji-hyeok. Close to 70 percent, they say.”

“Ah… So you’re…”

Song Ji-hyeok’s expression also noticeably softened. Stuck between them, I was the only one with an uneasy face, busy looking back and forth between the two.