"During the mock training, we heard there was an F-rank Guide present. Was the rampage caused because of that Guide?"

"Is the rejection reaction from the Guiding still continuing?"

"Was it because of the F-rank Guide?"

As Joo Seunghyuk dropped a bombshell, the reporters all began firing off questions without restraint.

Professor Choi tried to stop them, but it was already beyond his control. The script we’d prepared was utterly ruined.

"It’s not an issue with a particular Guide. I’ve shown a matching rate of less than 3% with all Guides."

"Then is it true you’re retiring?"

"Yes. I almost did."

Camera flashes surged again. As I lowered my head against the blinding lights, someone suddenly grabbed my hand.

Startled, I looked up. Joo Seunghyuk was holding my hand, wearing a picture-perfect smile.

"But in that despair—when I thought my life as an Esper might end—Yeonsu-hyung appeared. Even though he’d only just recovered, he agreed to take a matching rate test for me."

"What was the matching rate?"

Instead of answering, Joo Seunghyuk looked at me.

Please don’t say it.

I sent him a desperate look. Whether he read my mind or not, the corners of his lips lifted in a pristine curve.

"93%. To be exact, 93.872%."

But my wish was shattered completely. Of course... there’s no way Joo Seunghyuk would understand my feelings.

"Isn’t that basically 94%?"

"A 93% matching rate between two S-ranks—doesn’t that break records?"

"Then why is he just a temporary Guide?"

"You two seem quite close. Have you Imprinted?"

The moment the matching rate was announced, the flood of reporter questions resumed.

It was over now. I shut my eyes tightly.

I was worried this might lead straight into a marriage announcement, but thanks to Professor Choi’s help, we barely managed to get things under control.

"Guide Lee Yeonsu is remarkably talented. He also shows over 80% matching rate with Esper Park Geonwoo, and similarly high rates with other S-class Espers."

Professor Choi kept reiterating that I wasn’t some rare match just for Joo Seunghyuk. He also made it clear that the board would actively work toward Joo Seunghyuk’s recovery, and that until then, I’d only be temporarily assigned to him.

While Professor Choi spoke, Joo Seunghyuk’s eyes chilled visibly, but he didn’t say anything.

As the press conference ended and we stepped down, my legs began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Hyung. Careful."

Joo Seunghyuk came over to support me. Seeing how composed he looked—even though all this was his fault—made fury rise in my chest.

I wanted to ask why. Why he said the matching rate.

But before I could, he leaned in close and slowly brushed my ear with his fingers.

"By the way, hyung."

"...Yeah?"

"What were you whispering to Professor Choi earlier? Looked pretty secretive."

"That, uh..."

I had been planning to scold him for his impulsive announcement, but before I knew it, I was the one being interrogated.

"We were just discussing what to say during the press conference..."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Be careful from now on. You’ve been testing my patience since yesterday."

I could feel a cold surge of mana from the fingers touching my ear. His voice was soft, but he was clearly furious.

That’s when it hit me—he really wasn’t treating me like a patient anymore.

And in front of this possessive yandere alpha with his fangs bared, I had no choice but to shrink.

"S-Sorry..."

"Come on, let’s go get you cleaned up. You’ve been all filthy since yesterday. You’re not catching a cold today, right?"

"...No."

He wrapped his arm around my waist. Since the board had permitted me to skip lectures today for the press conference, I didn’t even have a viable excuse to escape.

I was being dragged along when a harsh shout echoed from behind.

"Joo Seunghyuk!"

It was Professor Choi, who had stayed behind to deal with the reporters, now shouting at full volume.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?!"

I had never seen Professor Choi, usually so composed, lose his temper like that.

Everyone froze—me included—but Joo Seunghyuk only gave him a fleeting glance before turning back to me.

"Hyung, let’s go."

Complete disregard. But it was still a hundred times better than causing a scene.

"Mm."

And honestly, the obsessive alpha scared me far more than the professor ever could—so I followed him without a word.

***

Five days later, Kim Jun returned to school.

Originally, he was supposed to be discharged the day after I visited him at the hospital. But apparently, he’d missed a step on the stairs and hurt himself, so it was delayed.

The news had gotten out that Joo Seunghyuk nearly lost control because of Kim Jun’s Guiding. Some articles criticized it. But that controversy was completely buried beneath the buzz about Seunghyuk and my high matching rate.

Back in the day, when two high-rank individuals had a strong match, they’d be pushed into marriage—almost by force. That kind of atmosphere hadn’t vanished entirely. These days it wasn’t forced, per se, but there was still this weird vibe... a kind of social pressure.

That’s why I’d been afraid something might happen now that my match rate with Seunghyuk was public—but thankfully, it remained peaceful.

I didn’t check internet comments myself, so I wasn’t sure—but according to Jihee noona, the majority opinion was something like, "No matter what, Lee Yeonsu should end up with Park Geonwoo." Some people tried to link me with Joo Seunghyuk, but those voices were drowned out by the Park Geonwoo supporters.

Back in middle school, I hated how people always shipped me with Geonwoo-hyung. But for once, I was truly grateful. I did feel sorry that his name got dragged into this mess, though.

The board also made an official announcement that I was merely a temporary assigned Guide, and they’d do their utmost to find Joo Seunghyuk a new Guide.

In the end, both the rumors about my health and the speculation about Seunghyuk’s retirement died down quietly. Kim Jun was also able to return to the board without scandal.

However, the mock battle teams were rearranged. After all, Kim Jun couldn’t guide Joo Seunghyuk anymore.

He ended up being placed in Jihee noona’s team.

I’d made a special request to both her and Professor Choi.

Her team had more members, so the burden on each person was lighter. Their ranks varied too, and most of them were from Changwi Guild—they knew how to train newcomers and rookies. It was the ideal environment for someone like Kim Jun.

Jihee noona had also taken an interest in Kim Jun, thanks to his high matching rate, and readily agreed.

"Yeonsu-sunbae!"

"Jun-ah."

As soon as he spotted me, Kim Jun ran over with a big smile.

"Sunbae, I did Guiding today!"

"Yeah? How’d it go?"

"Great! The Esper hyung said it helped a lot!"

I’d been worried the incident might have left a trauma, but Kim Jun was recovering well.

Then again, he was mentally strong even in the original story. That’s how he endured all that twisted obsession and captivity...

"You did well. I knew you would."

"Hehe."

His gentle smile was adorable.

And to think, I was planning to throw this kid to a possessive maniac. Even if Kim Jun did fall in love with Joo Seunghyuk later on, and even if he was deeply masochistic... it was still unforgivable.

"But, um, there’s something I’ve been wondering..."

Kim Jun hesitated, trailing off.

"What is it? Go ahead."

"Well... when you’re Guiding... how do you know when it’s over?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, for me, I just stop when I get tired. But sunbae, you have so much mana. You even Guide multiple people a day. So there must be a point when you choose to stop. How do you know when that is?"

"Oh, that? That’s what you ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) were worried about? You could’ve just asked."

I couldn’t help but laugh. The way he hesitated so much made me think it was something serious.

"I thought it was too basic to ask... I did try asking someone before, but they said I was just an F-rank and didn’t need to know. Told me to focus on Guiding one person well instead of worrying about useless stuff..."

"What a jerk. Who says stuff like that?"

There were way too many people around here who judged everything by rank. He was probably brushed off because he was F-rank.

"Well, they weren’t entirely wrong. Even Guiding one person is a struggle for me."

Kim Jun smiled sheepishly and scratched his temple.

"Still, it’s not right. You need to understand things to improve. And besides, you’ve got a high matching rate. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to Guide much more easily."

"Thanks, sunbae."

"Alright, give me your hand. I’ll show you when to stop."

"Okay."

Just as I reached for Kim Jun’s hand, my wrist was seized.

"Seunghyuk-ah..."

Joo Seunghyuk had appeared at some point and was now gripping my wrist, glaring daggers at Kim Jun.

His eyes blazed like a live volcano. I could tell immediately that the possessive yandere switch was about to flip—and I rushed to explain.

"I-I was just teaching a junior how to Guide!"

"Why would you do that?"

What do you mean, why?

"Because I’m his sunbae."

It was normal for upperclassmen to teach their juniors Guiding techniques.

Until now, I’d never had the chance—since I was a loner and didn’t have any juniors I was close to.

"Is he your only sunbae or something?"

"Well, no, but..."

"I’m the one who asked him to teach me!"

Kim Jun spoke up in my defense.

"And even if Sunbae is your assigned Guide, that doesn’t give you the right to control what he does, does it?"

[Even if you’re my assigned Guide, that doesn’t give you the right to control me.]

It was the same line he said in the original story. Back then, he used it when Seunghyuk tried to bind him. Now, he was saying it to protect me.

"Kim Jun, how many lives do you think you have?"

"Did you threaten Yeonsu-sunbae like that too?"

Kim Jun didn’t back down an inch.

This, too, was just like the novel. Kim Jun always voiced his thoughts openly—even to someone everyone feared like Joo Seunghyuk. And it was exactly that honesty that piqued Seunghyuk’s interest.

But this time, all I could see in Seunghyuk’s eyes was murderous rage.

Unlike before, there wasn’t a hint of "You’re the first person who’s ever said that to me." admiration.

At this rate, Kim Jun might not become the main uke—but the next name on Seunghyuk’s kill list.