After swallowing the painkillers Joo Seunghyuk had once bought for me, I collapsed back onto the bed.

My whole body throbbed and ached like I was about to die.

They called it the “Guide’s Mire,” and at this rate, I wasn’t guiding anyone—I was drowning in the mire myself, barely staying afloat.

In the original novel, it’s said that Kim Jun finds a strange sense of stability in Seunghyuk’s confinement and coercion, and that’s how he realizes it’s love.

But not me. Definitely not me.

I just want to live in peace. I don’t want to end up on the news under the headline: S-Rank Guide Dies From Overexertion in Bed... 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Still, the main character and the main uke didn’t connect on their first meeting—and the second one fizzled out as well.

It was depressing, but I couldn’t give up. There was still narrative momentum. With the power of the original work behind them, their bond wouldn’t end here. I had to believe that.

***

Since that day, Joo Seunghyuk kept showing up to see me. He didn’t seem to give a rat’s ass about Kim Jun.

At this rate, I was going to be the one trapped by the obsessive seme.

I lived each day in fear, until one day, Professor Choi—the head of the Guiding Department—called me in.

When I arrived at the department head’s office, Professor Choi got straight to the point.

“Yeonsu, is it true that you’ve been spending time with Joo Seunghyuk lately?”

So the rumors about Seunghyuk coming to see me every day had even reached the ears of the department head.

Honestly, I wanted to say no. But I’d already experienced firsthand just how vast and terrifying Seunghyuk’s information network was.

If I denied it here and Seunghyuk found out... I was dead.

“...Yes.”

“Good, very good. If two S-Ranks don’t get along, that’s a national loss. I was actually considering arranging a chance for you two to reconcile, so this is great news.”

He said it in the calmest voice, but it sent chills down my spine.

Arrange a what now? Professor, why are you doing this to me? What did I ever do to deserve this?

Well, to be fair, I was already hopelessly entangled with Seunghyuk before any “arrangement.”

“I see...”

With nothing else to say, I gave a vague reply. Then the professor got to the real point.

“So about that—I’m thinking of putting the two of you in the same team for this semester’s mock combat training. What do you think?”

“You mean... me and Seunghyuk?”

“Up until now, we tried to keep you apart to avoid any incidents. But ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ if you’ve made up, there’s no need for that anymore. You’ll be working together anyway, so might as well start syncing now.”

Every Esper in South Korea, regardless of affiliation, was required to serve the state for a certain period each year.

The specifics varied by rank, but S-Ranks had to participate in either 20 days or five national Gate raids per year. Emergency situations didn’t count toward that quota.

Unless they had a contracted or imprinted Guide, S-Rank Espers were typically assigned S-Rank Guides—so the professor’s reasoning made sense.

“Yes. I understand.”

The department head had personally called me in—there was no way I had the right to refuse. They’d already made the decision and were just asking me out of formality.

“But if it’s all right... may I make one request?”

Rather than push back against something already decided by higher-ups, I tried suggesting an alternative.

“Let’s hear it.”

“I’d like to be in the same group as Guide Kim Jun as well.”

“Kim Jun... The new F-Rank student?”

“Yes.”

I nodded immediately. This might be the perfect opportunity to get the original story back on track.

Professor Choi agreed without hesitation.

Even with his high match rate, Kim Jun was still F-Rank. Lately, Espers had started saying they’d rather chug a potion than receive guiding from an F-Rank—mocking him openly.

Even someone like me who didn’t pay attention to gossip had heard that, so of course Professor Choi was aware. In fact, he’d apparently been struggling to place Kim Jun into a team, so my offer probably came as a relief.

“As expected, Yeonsu, you’re truly an asset to this nation.”

Hearing praise made my conscience sting.

In Guide’s Mire, Kim Jun’s life was nothing but suffering. Guides looked down on him for being F-Rank, and Espers outright rejected his guiding.

Many were outright disgusted by the idea of being guided by an F-Rank, and had no problem humiliating him to his face.

Kim Jun worked tirelessly to break those prejudices, but the contempt only grew worse.

By the second semester, Espers had organized an open boycott against him.

They said things like “I’d rather die than be guided by an F-Rank,” or “If I get paired with him, I’m dropping out,”—extreme reactions all around.

In that chaos, Joo Seunghyuk suddenly declared that Kim Jun would be his Guide.

Not because he wanted Kim Jun, but to spite his exclusive Guide, Lee Yeonsu.

Seunghyuk had signed a contract with Yeonsu as a child, and even at the Esper Academy, Yeonsu had always been the one guiding him.

Seunghyuk had tried to request a different Guide, but Yeonsu kept blocking it. So to get back at him, Seunghyuk publicly chose Kim Jun.

Everyone was shocked—how could an S-Rank lose out to an F-Rank? Yeonsu’s pride was shattered.

Kim Jun, unaware of the backstory, felt grateful that someone had chosen him.

Seunghyuk, too, began to develop interest in him. After saving Kim Jun from bullies in the first semester, their stalled relationship finally picked up momentum.

That arc was supposed to begin in second semester. But I had no intention of waiting.

At this rate, I’d either be imprisoned or snap my spine and die before then.

***

The day of the mock combat training arrived.

Today, Joo Seunghyuk would finally fall for Kim Jun. This was my chance to break free from the obsessive seme!

I put on my guide uniform and headed for the KR Center, where training would be held.

Since it was the first mock training of the year, every student had gathered in the main auditorium of the KR Center.

The white uniforms of the Guides and the black uniforms of the Espers clashed visually, giving off a strange sense of tension.

Say what you will about comfort, but in terms of design alone, our uniforms were world-class. Seeing everyone gathered like this... I had to admit, it looked cool.

Like the Army of Darkness facing off against the Knights of Light.

The image reminded me of the anime I loved as a kid, and I strode forward confidently.

In practical training, rank was everything, so as an S-Rank, I had to stand in the front row.

“Hyung.”

And standing at the very front of the Esper formation was Joo Seunghyuk. The moment he saw me, he walked over with a bright smile.

Why is he walking over?! Everyone else is standing properly in line! This is the Guide zone! Go back to your side!

“H-hi, Seunghyuk.”

But as always, I hid my true feelings and greeted him awkwardly.

“Hyung, you look beautiful today. The uniform suits you.”

Can’t you see the students behind us?! What the hell are you doing?! Are you trying to announce that we’re dating or something?!

My mind was screaming, but I forced a stiff smile out of fear.

“Haha... Thanks. You look good too.”

Then Seunghyuk’s eyes suddenly turned cold.

Why?! What did I do this time?

Sensing the shift in his expression, I froze on instinct. Seunghyuk took a step forward, wrapped an arm around my waist, and whispered in my ear.

“You’re so pretty I want to lock you away and be the only one who sees you.”

“......”

“I want to kill everyone who so much as looks at you.”

“......”

He really is fucking insane.

Knowing full well he could actually kill the entire school if he wanted to only made it more terrifying.

But I hadn’t reincarnated into some hardcore angst BL novel just to have it turn into a slaughter-fantasy. I quickly tried to stop him.

“Y-you can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

Are you really asking me that?!

“Because... you’re not supposed to hurt people.”

“But they’re looking at you. You’re mine. And they’re eyeing what’s mine.”

I’m not yours! And no one’s eyeing me, you lunatic! Stop assuming everyone shares your messed-up tastes!

But there was no point expecting ethical reasoning from someone whose hobbies included confinement and special skills included murder.

So I tried a different approach.

“M-maybe they’re not really looking. And if you did that... I wouldn’t be able to see you anymore.”

“...Fine. I’ll hold back, then.”

Seunghyuk nodded.

The fact that this actually worked was... deeply depressing.

“Ahem.”

A loud cough boomed through the microphone.

Startled, I looked toward the stage.

Professor Choi had entered and was now standing at the podium, staring down at us.

I quickly stepped back in a panic. Seunghyuk also pulled away naturally.

“See you later.”

“Yeah...”

He grabbed my hand once more before returning to his place.

We’d delayed the training session. I bowed toward the podium in apology, and Professor Choi gave me a satisfied thumbs-up with a beaming smile.

What’s he so happy about...

He was a patriot through and through—just the idea of an S-Rank Guide and S-Rank Esper being close must’ve thrilled him.

But if he knew what Seunghyuk had just whispered to me, that smile would curdle into pure horror.

Not just him—every student behind us must’ve seen the whole thing.

God, I want to drop out. Or at least take a leave of absence.

Starting today, Guide-Espers joint training would officially begin. If this kind of thing happened every time...

No, no. Don’t panic.

Today, Joo Seunghyuk will fall for Kim Jun. Once this mock combat is over, he’ll have no reason to bother with me anymore.