chapter 26
"I’ll talk to him myself."
"All right."
Seokhyeon nodded, a little taken aback by the sudden change in Raon’s tone, but figuring it was nothing serious. Raon gave a polite bow, then left the director’s office.
I mean, it’s not like I was planning to do it anyway…
As he walked down the corridor, Raon muttered inwardly.
Before regression—maybe. But now? Siwoo was far too young.
What had he been doing at twenty, just newly an adult himself? It was so long ago he could barely remember.
Even so—why had Siwoo refused instead of him?
It wasn’t even like an Esper would be the one getting… well, penetrated.
Something inside him simmered hotter the more he thought about it. He forced it down and curved his lips into a faint smile.
"Identity confirmed. Major Yoon Siwoo’s paired Guide, Han Raon."
After extra screening—standard procedure for a military ward—Raon was finally allowed inside.
Siwoo sat upright on the bed, sunlight streaming in through the wide window. He was staring absently outside, his dark hair catching the light.
"Siwoo."
"Hyung."
At the sound of his voice, Siwoo’s expression changed completely.
Those dark, lifeless eyes from the battlefield now shone faintly, almost childlike.
Raon cleared his throat quietly and stepped closer.
"How’s your body? Sorry I didn’t come sooner…"
"I’m fine. The whole day of hospitalization—honestly, it’s just the army overreacting."
"Hm, yeah?"
"Yes."
Raon scanned him with a skeptical eye, but he really did look fine.
S-class recovery rates were no joke—after that much guiding and healing, a day’s rest was probably enough.
Still, something in his chest wouldn’t settle. Maybe it was because the last image he had of Siwoo in the Gate had been of him pale as death. Even now, Raon couldn’t stop checking his complexion.
"Let’s keep guiding anyway, just in case."
"…Okay."
When Raon held out his hand, Siwoo obediently reached for it.
Raon clasped it firmly.
Now, whenever he ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) mentioned guiding, Siwoo no longer hesitated or flinched away.
Raon’s gaze lingered on those pale, neat fingers before lifting again.
"You heard, right? The higher-ups want us to do insertion guiding."
"Cough!"
Siwoo choked violently, caught off guard by the blunt phrasing. Raon patted his back with his free hand.
"But you said no, didn’t you?"
"Hyung, that’s…"
Siwoo looked flustered, glancing up at him. Raon only smiled faintly.
He didn’t know why the heat was rising in his chest again, but he kept his tone gentle, pretending nothing was wrong—at least enough for Siwoo to speak freely.
"It’s fine. Tell me, yeah?"
"……"
"I just… heard insertion guiding is hard on the Guide. I didn’t want to make you overdo it."
"So it’s not that you don’t want to?"
"That’s… not it…"
Siwoo’s voice grew smaller, his face bright red, shoulders curling in. Raon felt almost like a bully watching him shrink back like that.
"So you refused because you were worried about my body?"
"Yes."
"I see. Thanks for saying so."
Raon smiled lightly, tension easing a little.
At least Siwoo hadn’t refused out of disgust.
Guiding had four stages: radiative, contact, mucosal, and insertion.
The deeper the physical connection between Guide and Esper, the higher the efficiency—plainly put, the last stage was sex.
Regulations now forbade forcing a Guide into it, but for S-class Espers, there were always exceptions.
Still, the Center couldn’t order Raon to do anything.
He was the only S-class Guide in the country—his consent was absolute.
It’s ridiculous, expecting that with a kid.
Raon was painfully aware of their age gap.
Before regression, maybe it wouldn’t have mattered—but now, Siwoo had only just turned eighteen.
He thought wryly of how he’d already done a mucosal guiding—kissed him—and yet somehow the idea of going further made him recoil.
He’d been Siwoo’s first kiss. Did he really have to be his first everything?
And yet, hearing Siwoo say it wasn’t out of dislike stirred something complicated.
Watching him turn his flushed face aside, Raon’s throat went dry.
He swallowed hard and said quietly,
"Then Siwoo, if I’m fine with it… you don’t hate the idea either, right?"
"Huh?"
Siwoo looked up, startled, eyes wide.
"You said you refused because you were worried about me.
But I’m fine. I’m not that fragile, not like some other Guides."
"But…"
"It’s really not that big of a deal."
Raon knew he wasn’t exactly conservative about sex.
Not promiscuous either, but he’d never placed any lofty meaning on it.
In a world where guiding could save lives, he didn’t see much point in prudishness.
He’d never been on the receiving end, but if it was necessary, he wasn’t opposed.
And if the other person was Siwoo…
The only thing that bothered him was the kid’s age.
Otherwise, it didn’t feel wrong.
"Hyung, do you… have experience?"
"Hm?"
That question—and the look on Siwoo’s face—made him blink.
The shy flush was gone, replaced by something darker.
"You’re so calm about it… because you’ve done it before, right?"
"Ah."
Raon realized what he’d misunderstood.
Siwoo’s black eyes were glinting now, threaded with a faint, jealous anger.
Raon couldn’t quite figure out why Siwoo looked so upset, but he blinked, slow and dumb, before answering,
"No. It’d be my first—with you."
"…Liar."
"It’s true. Even the mucosal guiding—you were my first."
"……"
Siwoo’s lips parted slightly, stunned.
It wasn’t a lie. In this life, it was true—his first kiss had been with Siwoo.
He hadn’t done anything with another Esper.
Maybe the old Han Raon had, before awakening as a Guide—but Raon had manifested early, younger than Siwoo had now.
So yes, it was true.
"Really?"
"Really. Why wouldn’t you believe me?"
"……"
Siwoo studied him for a while, suspicion flickering in his eyes, before finally nodding.
"Anyway, Siwoo—so you’re okay with it, right?"
"Uh? Y-yeah…"
He nodded almost automatically.
Raon smiled, pleased enough with that flimsy consent.
Before Siwoo could second-guess himself, Raon added quickly,
"There might be another irregular Gate soon. You should be ready before that happens."
"…Okay."
Everyone who’d been inside that Gate had been astonished, but no one more than Siwoo himself.
He hadn’t known he was capable of that much power.
Naturally, the upper ranks would want to push his abilities further, and insertion guiding was the most direct way.
"Then I’ll see you tonight."
Raon smiled faintly, releasing his hand and giving his knuckles a light tap.
Siwoo’s large frame twitched.
He’d be guiding all night anyway—this was enough for now.
Raon turned to leave after a short farewell.
Maybe it’s impulsive, he thought, walking down the corridor.
But he didn’t feel like taking it back.
He tilted his head slightly, stopping when a familiar name caught his eye.
"Is Guide Lee Hamin here?"
He’d warned Siwoo before visiting, but Hamin hadn’t been contacted.
Seokhyeon had said Hamin was refusing all visitors.
Raon knocked again, calling softly.
"Guide Lee Hamin?"
This time, he heard faint movement—soft steps, hesitant, and then the door slowly opened.
"Raon… ssi."
"……!"
Hamin’s face, framed in the gap of the door, was soaked with tears.