Churu for the Angry Guide

37

Squeak, squeeeak―

The toy in Seojun’s hand cried pitifully. The squeaking sound grew louder each time its face was severely crushed.

The more it squeaked, the more the bulging blanket wriggled. It seemed the face underneath had moved towards the sound. Still, it didn’t come out from under the blanket.

“You can take the toy.”

As Seojun muttered softly, a white paw slowly crept out from under the thick blanket. As if it had been waiting for this.

“After we finish talking.”

However, at these added words, the paw that was about to grab the toy hesitated and retreated back under the blanket. It was still as stubborn as ever.

Seojun leaned back in his chair, repeatedly throwing the toy high and catching it tightly. He rolled his eyes briefly before focusing on the bed again. His calm eyes held no trace of amusement.

“Honestly, I’m a bit hurt. This is our first proper meeting since you left like that.”

Despite his voice dripping with disappointment, his face remained indifferent.

“I was really worried, Guide-nim. I searched for a long time that rainy day, afraid you might have fallen and gotten hurt.”

Although he had just followed Jihan hyung who wouldn’t stop, he had indeed suffered for five hours in the downpour. And to get complete disregard in return.

“I was so shocked when you collapsed too.”

He let out a deep sigh and rubbed his chest dramatically. As usual, his expression remained soulless. He just verbally expressed concern for the guide, chattering away.

“Hey, stop with the fake act.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Siwoo finally returned to human form. Knowing Seojun’s true personality, he saw right through the insincerity.

What concern? He couldn’t help but scoff at these words from someone who would have been happiest when he left.

Siwoo pulled the blanket to cover his naked body. His clothes were strewn somewhere on the floor, having been hastily discarded when he urgently transformed into a cat.

Wrapping the thick blanket tightly around his body and poking out just his face, he immediately made eye contact with Seojun. Seojun had closed his mouth and was staring blankly at Siwoo with a strangely dazed look.

“Give it back.”

Siwoo showed interest only in the mouse toy, completely disregarding Seojun. The toy was on the verge of bursting from how tightly Seojun was gripping it.

“I said give it back.”

He just glared, afraid his naked body would be exposed if he stretched out his arm. He acted boldly, feeling no remorse towards Seojun. Only the idiot and the secretary could make Siwoo feel small.

“Don’t grip it so hard!”

Siwoo yelled, kicking his feet under the blanket. Even though it would only hurt his own feet, he angrily attempted to kick.

Regardless, Seojun continued to mercilessly crush the small toy. Squeak! Squeak! Irritated by the agonized crying sounds, Siwoo scrunched up his face and was about to shout.

“You bas- *cough* Hack!”

Just then, he burst into a coughing fit. Humiliatingly, his body swayed as he coughed violently. His body aches had developed into a throat cold, causing persistent coughing.

He coughed for a while, burying his face in the blanket. Even in this state, his mind was filled with thoughts of reclaiming the mouse toy. He had to save it before it burst.

Siwoo, about to glare at Seojun with reddened eyes, paused.

The slightly flattened mouse toy was placed at his feet, along with a small water bottle.

“Drink this.”

Seojun had silently placed the water on the bed and curved his eyes into a smile. He made eye contact with Siwoo, wearing that innocent smile of his.

“Should I open the cap for you?”

Siwoo grimaced heavily and quickly lifted the blanket to secure the toy and water bottle. Though he could have just stuck out his arm briefly, he struggled to move with the heavy blanket.

The more he looked, the more unique this person seemed. What was his name again?

“Guide Han Siwoo?”

“Don’t call me that.”

It seems he remembered correctly. Seojun smiled brightly and nodded, pretending to zip his lips.

Guide Han Siwoo. The name still felt unfamiliar. He’d have to use it often from now on. After all, they would be seeing a lot of each other.

“Can I talk to you?”

“No.”

Siwoo took a sip of the cool water and turned to the side. He adjusted his position to avoid seeing Seojun and slowly swallowed the water. His throat stung, making it difficult to swallow liquids.

It seems his condition was worse than expected. Touching his forehead, he still had a slight fever. The doctor who briefly visited had also recommended a few more days of hospitalization.

Maybe I’ll stay just one more day. I don’t have the energy to run away anyway.

“Stop staring.”

Siwoo swept his gaze across the excessively large hospital room and warned Seojun with a sidelong glance. Seojun, who had been sitting still and staring intently at Siwoo, obediently averted his gaze.

Seojun’s docile attitude irritated Siwoo even more. In his highly sensitive state, everything Seojun did was annoying.

“Hey, just get out. This is a guide ward, you know.”

“I’ll just deliver my message and go.”

Seojun softly asked if that would be okay. His attitude was irritatingly cautious. Though he acted like this on the surface, he might be cursing inwardly.

“Make it quick.”

Siwoo intentionally acted more brazen. Being timid wouldn’t solve anything. Acting confident instead made people think he had something to back it up, and they’d disrespect him less.

“What have you been up to?”

Seojun, adjusting his posture towards Siwoo, asked his first question. It was what he wanted to ask most upon meeting. Where on earth had he been hiding all this time?

“The secretary searched really hard every single day for a week, but it’s amazing he couldn’t find you.”

They had checked every place in the center where a guide might appear, but couldn’t find a single hair. With only the information of a ‘white and thin cat beastkin’, not knowing the name or age, they had combed through the center.

Though the information was sparse, they thought they’d find him quickly since there weren’t many cat beastkin. However, Guide Han Siwoo didn’t appear for an entire week.

“Could it be you didn’t go out at all?”

Siwoo, who had been holding his head high, averted his gaze. Seeing this, Seojun couldn’t help but marvel.

“Wow, you really didn’t want to be caught.”

To the extent of being cooped up in his quarters for a week. Having found the answer, he understood even less.

“Did you dislike us that much?”

He seemed to be enjoying himself when he was with Geonho hyung. At least, he thought Siwoo had been sincere with Geonho hyung.

“Did you come to check on that?”

Siwoo, hiding the toy in his arms, opened his mouth gruffly. His cracked voice sounded terrible.

“Don’t worry, I’ll disappear again. This time I’ll hide even better.”

Seojun tilted his head. He was puzzled by the sudden change in tone.

“You hated having me around anyway. Yeah, I’m really sorry for taking up space in the guiding room.”

Siwoo declared loudly that from now on, he would completely stay out of sight. His frown deepened as his unhealthy throat ached.

If his body had been in better shape, he would have left immediately. Having an unpleasant person hanging around would only make him angrier.

“Guide-nim, really.”

Seojun murmured faintly as he watched Siwoo.

“You’ve got it all wrong.”

“What?!”

Seojun smiled brightly, ready to get to the real point. What should he say first? He watched the guide glaring fiercely at him while briefly pondering.

He hadn’t noticed when Siwoo was sleeping, but his round sky-blue eyes were exactly the same as when he was a cat. The white hair and skin too. Even if he saw him passing by on the street, he would have recognized him as Geonho hyung’s cat at a glance.

Among all the beastkin Seojun had met, he thought Siwoo looked the most similar to his animal form. They were really identical. Almost enviably so.

“Guide-nim, you need money, right?”

Seojun lightly rubbed his eyes and began the conversation in earnest. He didn’t beat around the bush, but went straight to the point.

“You need a place to work too.”

Siwoo frowned, confused by the sudden change in conversation. He couldn’t understand why Seojun was bringing this up out of nowhere.

“We have a lot of money, and we need a guide to work.”

Siwoo’s confusion deepened at the next words, which came without giving him a chance to respond.

“Doesn’t it seem like a good match?”

“What are you talking about…”

His true feelings slipped out involuntarily. That’s how taken aback he was. It sounded exactly like an invitation to work together.

“It seems like you’ve been moving between several guilds. Why don’t you try our guild too?”

Seojun brightened his smile even more, as if recommending a product displayed in a store. Unable to follow the flow of the conversation, Siwoo just blinked rapidly.

“Now… you mean, me…”

He tilted his head, unable to finish his sentence. Seojun kindly explained more precisely. Very clearly, so there would be no misunderstanding.

“We’d like you to become the dedicated guide for our Baekya Guild. You, Guide Han Siwoo.”

Siwoo’s rapidly blinking eyelids froze. A big question mark appeared on Siwoo’s pale face as his mouth fell open.

“Why?”

Why me, of all people? It seems you’ve seen my records, so why…

Seojun was more surprised by Siwoo’s reaction. He should have been able to guess why they wanted to recruit him, but he seemed completely clueless.

“You know who our leader is, right?”

Who wouldn’t know Esper Kang Taebeom? The world’s youngest guild master who founded the Baekya Guild.

Even Siwoo, who wasn’t interested in worldly affairs, had heard his name countless times. Even before his abilities manifested, he knew that the Baekya Guild and their leader were extraordinary.

“Since he’s a mental esper, his average matching rate with guides has been 29% so far. He’s never received proper guiding.”

Seojun’s eyes fixed on Siwoo as he gave a bitter smile. Now that he thought about it, Geonho hyung picking him up by chance seemed almost like fate.

“But it’s 91%. Your expected matching rate.”