“I tried imagining what you'd look like during a gate raid.”

I was going to ask him about that incident, but I changed the subject. I still didn’t have the courage.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Well, I’m your assigned Guide for now. If you go into a gate, I might have to go with you for guiding.”

When someone becomes an exclusive Guide or forms an imprint, they’re more likely to be deployed inside gates than Free Guides.

But the original Yeonsu absolutely hated that. No matter the circumstances, he never wanted to step foot in a monster-infested gate.

And yet he’d throw a fit anytime Joo Seunghyuk received guiding from another Guide—and wanted to imprint with him, too.

“You’re planning to follow me into the gate?”

“Yeah.”

I wasn’t going to make the same mistakes the original did.

Even if the protagonist’s obsession had shifted to me and the whole plot had changed, you never knew when the novel’s narrative force would kick back in. I planned to avoid every misstep the villainous sub-bottom made.

Besides, I also had a sense of responsibility as a Guide. Even if it wasn’t my choice, as long as I was Seunghyuk’s only assigned Guide, I intended to do my best.

“There’s no need. You just stay in the safest place, hyung.”

A relaxed smile spread across Joo Seunghyuk’s lips. It was the kind of confident expression only the strongest Esper in Korea could wear.

“But if a major gate appears—”

“You worry too much. Just don’t think about running away, hyung.”

“......”

I could’ve just answered something vague, but it felt like he was reading my mind, and my mouth refused to open.

Silence fell inside the car. I wanted to ask where we were headed, but I couldn’t bring myself to.

Joo Seunghyuk just kept driving without a word.

After a long drive, the car pulled into the VIP parking lot of a department store. An attendant came out for valet parking, but Seunghyuk, seemingly unwilling to let others touch his car, parked it himself.

The attendant looked like he already expected this—he’d probably just come out in case.

“Get out.”

“Okay.”

Why were we at a department store? I thought he was taking me to his house—or maybe tossing me into a pool somewhere as punishment for getting dirty.

The unexpected location caught me off guard, but I quickly got out like he told me to.

An employee led us to the VIP lounge. A private room, no less.

I didn’t even know places like this existed in department stores. I’d maybe heard of it in passing, but this was my first time actually seeing one.

Seunghyuk spoke briefly with the staff outside before coming in.

“But... why did we come here?”

I asked cautiously. I’d been wondering since the parking lot, but couldn’t say anything earlier with staff around.

“Hyung, I want to buy you some clothes.”

“Clothes?”

“You need to dress warmly.”

Was the texture of that polyester jacket really that shocking?

Maybe it was so cheap it offended his senses, and that’s why he burned it.

“It’s okay. I’ve got plenty of clothes.”

“Hyung, that doesn’t count as ‘plenty.’”

“...Right.”

The comment was too precise and accurate—I could only nod in response.

A moment later, the staff brought over our drinks. I had jasmine tea, Seunghyuk had an Americano. Of course. I guess all yanderes drink black coffee.

The teacup was warm in my hands, so I held it tightly with both palms. Just then, Seunghyuk pinched my cheek.

“Ah! What, what was that for?”

“What do you think?”

He threw the question casually. Had the yandere prince’s mood shifted again? I quickly pulled my knees together and placed my hands in front of me.

“What are you doing?”

“A penitent pose. Today was my fault. I won’t do it again.”

“Yeonsu, you’re kind of dirty-minded. You wanna do it here that badly?”

“What?”

How did it get to that?!

“Isn’t that why you’re acting all cute like this?”

“No, it’s not!”

I wasn’t the “cute” type to begin with. More like your classic eldest son. Introverted, not fun. I’d never once been called cute in my life.

But it seemed that wasn’t how I appeared to a yandere.

Seunghyuk’s hand reached out and rubbed my lips slowly. I swallowed dryly, unsure of what he’d do next—when a knock sounded.

“C-come in!”

I answered in a panic.

Was that too loud? Was I even supposed to say that? Maybe they were just knocking before entering automatically?

No, wait—shouldn’t Seunghyuk be the one saying that, not me?

Regret came crashing in a beat too late.

But neither Seunghyuk nor the staff seemed to care. And my attention quickly shifted to the clothes the staff brought in.

The mobile rack was filled with garments.

“Pick one.”

“Uh...”

I knew all too well that refusing the obsessive yandere’s offer would only provoke his wrath. I gave a small nod.

The staff brought each piece over to me and explained the brand, fabric, design features, and theme.

The first jacket had flashy buttons and embellishments. The second had a pretty color, but was a bit too eye-catching.

“Oh, I’ll take this one.”

I spoke immediately after seeing the third jacket. It wasn’t especially nice, but the design was plain and safe. That was good enough.

“Understood. An excellent choice.”

The staff praised my taste and began explaining the next piece.

Why were they still showing me more after I’d picked one? I glanced at Seunghyuk.

“You’re done choosing?”

“Yeah.”

“You didn’t like them?”

“No, they’re all nice. That one just looks the most comfortable.”

“Then try a variety. It’ll be a problem if you get too hot and start flirting around.”

Seunghyuk rubbed his thumb over my chest—the spot where Kim Jun’s tears had soaked into the fabric earlier.

“I’m not doing anything! Absolutely not! I—I'm all about you!”

“You talk a good game. Well, you’re cute anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

He chuckled softly, then looked at the staff. Seemed like he was planning to buy them all. I hurried to stop him.

“It’s fine! I don’t even have space in the dorm!”

“Then I’ll send them to my place.”

“Your house?”

“Yeah. We’re going to live together once we’re married, right? Might as well get your dressing room ready now.”

Your what? Why are you building me a closet in your house?

At this rate, I really might end up living in Yandere Manor.

“Actually, I just remembered—I cleared out my closet. I think I have space for them after all.”

“Yeah? That’s good, then.”

Seunghyuk’s lips curved into a thin smile. He clearly saw through my clumsy lie, but decided to let it slide.

***

I packed up all my old clothes and mailed them to my parents’ house. Then I filled my wardrobe with the ones Seunghyuk bought me.

Suddenly, my closet looked like something out of a showroom. Not just jackets—there were shirts and pants, a full set of spring and summer clothes.

Considering I defied Seunghyuk and got away with just this, maybe I should count myself lucky. But this would be the last time I was spared for being a “patient.”

Starting tomorrow, he’d return to full yandere mode.

I touched the white short-sleeved shirt.

Would I manage to escape his grip before I ever had to wear this?

A wave of unease swept over me.

***

That same night, while Lee Yeonsu was nervously packing his clothes into boxes, a lot ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) was happening all over South Korea. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Kim Jun, encouraged by Yeonsu’s words, decided to be discharged. He completed the paperwork and was on his way out when the VIP elevator suddenly broke down, forcing him to take the stairs.

It was the 9th floor—but going down wasn’t that hard.

He began descending with light steps. But suddenly, he felt a strange, twisting sensation in space.

Was his body weakened from being hospitalized so long? Kim Jun blinked and shook his head.

Then, as he tried to keep going, he missed a step and tumbled down the stairs.

He fractured his left arm and had to be hospitalized again.

At the same time, the internet was on fire.

The media demanded the truth behind the Joo Seunghyuk berserk incident, but the Academy and Seonghan Group refused to release an official statement, citing the reason that the condition of an S-Class Esper was a matter of national security.

But that was just a cover.

If this incident became public, it would raise endless issues—starting with how an F-rank Guide was even admitted to the Academy, and questions about the safety of the mock training exercises. A few people might even have to step down. The Academy directors wanted to prevent that.

That said, the explanation wasn’t exactly a lie.

An S-Class Esper having a guiding rejection response wasn’t something easily revealed to the public.

In truth, the journalists already had a rough idea of what had happened. No matter how closed-off the Esper Academy was, it had too many students for secrets to stay hidden. If they really wanted to dig, they could.

But as the directors said, it was a matter of national security. Discussing an S-Class Esper’s condition recklessly was a huge risk.

And since the government hadn’t made a formal statement, the media agreed to keep quiet. (Also because Seonghan Group had privately requested they bury the story.)

So instead of news articles, the internet filled up with speculation and rumors. But since nothing was confirmed, people treated them as baseless gossip.

Until, suddenly, posts titled “Joo Seunghyuk, S-Class Esper, to Retire” began appearing simultaneously across social media, popular forums, and internet cafes.

They claimed Joo Seunghyuk’s guiding rejection had become so severe, he’d decided to retire.

An S-Class Esper was equivalent to national power.

Espers raided gates, and sometimes responded to natural disasters or emergencies.

Each gate had a designated clearance time by grade. If that time was exceeded, the gate would open and monsters would pour out into the world.

If a high-grade gate—A-class or above—opened, the damage would be catastrophic.

Ten years ago, two S-Class gates opened simultaneously in Africa, turning the region into a wasteland almost instantly.

Even now, Espers from all over the world, including Park Geonwoo, were still deployed there, fighting the monsters covering the land.

The Africa S-Class Gate Break Incident had thrown the world into panic and made people recognize the importance of high-ranking Espers.

If a powerful S-Class gate appeared and no S-Class Esper was available to stop it, the entire country could turn into hell in an instant. And just two years ago, an S-Class gate had opened in Seoul.

Now, mere days after Lee Yeonsu awakened as an S-Class Guide, rumors began to spread that South Korea’s strongest Esper, Joo Seunghyuk, was in poor condition. The public grew uneasy.

Reporters began covering the story. It started with small online outlets, but soon even major newspapers joined in. Rumors of Joo Seunghyuk’s retirement dominated every portal site.

As the situation spiraled out of control overnight, the Esper Academy finally decided to hold an emergency press conference.