Guide Me If You Dare
Chapter 95: IN POOR TASTE

Chapter 95: IN POOR TASTE

A FIGHT was happening beyond the wall.

The ground shook.

It even "rained."

And debris started getting hurled around.

However, Yuno and the others remained safe inside Haru’s shield.

No one was talking, though.

Bambi, Mo Hanjin, Kim Jaeha, and Rebecca were all silent.

Even Moon Noa was quiet for once.

"Ah, your Espers have finished their task," Haru said while looking in one direction. "Your fallen colleague is here."

No one understood what the dethroned prince just said until Matthew materialized out of nowhere while holding a lifeless body in his arms.

Ah.

That’s Choi Kangmin.

The Guide who was the same age as Yuno.

Haaah.

"Esper Matthew-ssi, can you put Guide Choi Kangmin-ssi on the ground?" Yuno asked impatiently. "I need to check something."

Funnily enough, even though the Top 5 Espers technically didn’t have to answer to anyone’s call, Mattew turned to Bambi as if asking for permission.

Guide Bambi-ssi really has the Top 5, except for Gayoon Hyung, as his puppets.

"It’s alright, Esper Matthew-ssi," Bambi said while nodding. "You can do as what Guide Noh Yuno-ssi said."

Kim Jaeha immediately pulled out a white blanket from his Inventory and spread it on the ground.

Matthew then laid Choi Kangmin’s lifeless body on the blanket.

Yuno knelt on the ground, next to the dead Guide. "I’m sorry, but I’m going to put my hand over your chest, Kangmin-ah."

He then did as what he said.

Ah.

Choi Kangmin’s body is only a bit cold and stiff, so it must not have been long since he passed away.

Yuno closed his eyes, sensing the flow of Mana in Choi Kangmin’s body.

This wasn’t the first time he saw a fellow Guide die, so he knew that even after death, a Guide’s Mana would remain in their heart. To be precise, a dead Guide’s Mana would gather in their heart and create a gem that looked similar to a beautiful white pearl.

Hence, they simply called those "pearls" as ’Fragments.’

I know because I’ve met a bastard who used to "harvest" those "white pearls" from my dead colleague’s bodies.

Hence, back then, Yuno was forced to learn how to check on Fragments.

It’s still there— Choi Kangmin’s Fragment wasn’t harvested.

He was relieved to know that.

However...

"Guide Choi Kangmin-ssi’s Core was shattered," Yuno announced when he opened his eyes. The ’Core’ that he mentioned was the source of Mana for all Guides and Espers. Their Cores were the reason they were different from Civilians. "It was a quick but painful death."

Surprisingly, none of the people around him questioned how he knew that.

It was only natural for Moon Noa and Haru to believe his words because the two were aware of Yuno’s abilities as an E-Class Guide.

But Bambi didn’t even question him.

And since Bambi accepted his "diagnosis," Matthew and the other Guides didn’t doubt what he said.

"Bastard," Rebecca said through gritted teeth. "How dare a Guide kill their own?"

Right.

Kim Jaeha, the youngest there, covered his mouth when he started sobbing.

Mo Hanjin cursed under his breath before turning his back on them— probably to hide his tears.

It was a familiar sight.

A Guide dying, other Guides crying for their fallen colleague.

Yuno, unfortunately, knew it all too well.

It is what it is, so let’s get over it, just like I’ve always done.

He stood up, and much to his shock, his knees suddenly buckled.

"Hey."

"Be careful, Yuyu."

It was Bambi and Moon Noa, respectively, who spoke while grabbing each of Yuno’s arms— preventing his fall.

Oh.

Why do my knees suddenly feel like jelly?

"Yuno-kun, here," Haru said gently while handing a handkerchief to him. "For your tears."

What?

Yuno touched his face with his hands after Bambi and Moon Noa let go of his arms— and then he realized that his cheeks were wet from his tears.

I’m crying?

***

"I DIDN’T burn him down to ashes, so don’t look at me like that."

Ki Gayoon just scoffed at Ryu Sungbin’s explanation that he didn’t ask. "I didn’t say anything."

"Your eyes did," Ryu Sungbin said, shrugging. "I just burned Yang Youngjae a little."

"It’s alright, Oppas. I got him," Lee Sarang said while healing Yang Youngjae. She had her arms raised, her palms facing the Water Sphere where she put Yang Youngjae in to treat his wounds. "Sungbin Oppa’s flame didn’t damage Youngjae Oppa that much."

Right.

Lee Sarang’s ice and water abilities are really useful— she’s both a fighter and a healer.

"Gayoon-ah, would you like some?" Jin Sooin offered her pack of cigarettes to Gayoon. "You like smoking after a mission, don’t you?"

"I’ll pass," Gayoon said while shaking his head. "I already stopped smoking."

"Since when?"

"Since Noh Yuno complained about inhaling secondhand smoke."

Jin Sooin looked dumbfounded by what he said. "It’s either you’re a fool for your Guide or your Guide is damn scary for you to fold like that."

"Neither," Gayoon insisted. "Stop meddling in my business, Jin Sooin."

"Only if you call me ’noona’ again, you rude brat."

Gayoon just scoffed before turning his back on Jin Sooin. "I’ll go ahead since my job here is done."

Fortunately, nobody stopped him from leaving.

Ryu Sungbin will take care of the rest.

Hence, Gayoon returned to where he left Yuno.

He found his Exclusive Guide where he left him earlier, but...

Is that punk crying?!

Gayoon’s heart tightened painfully when he saw Noh Yuno’s tears falling nonstop.

He felt like going crazy, like he was about to snap.

But he held it in.

"Noh Yuno," Gayoon said, using his inhuman speed to get to Noh Yuno in mere seconds. He then cupped the punk’s face between his hands. "Who made you cry?"

"I’m not crying," Noh Yuno denied in a cracked voice, even though his eyes were red and puffy. Then he hugged Gayoon and buried his face against his chest while whispering. "But I’m so embarrassed, so please take me away from here, Hyung."

***

WHEN YUNO asked Ki Gayoon to take him away, he didn’t expect the Esper to bring him to his car.

So, here we are now.

Yuno was sitting on Ki Gayoon’s lap sideways, while Ki Gayoon secured him in his lap by wrapping an arm around his waist.

The Esper reclined the driver’s seat a bit to create more space for that position.

I asked Hyung to take me away from there because I was embarrassed after crying, but this position was even more embarrassing.

"Hyung, I can sit on the shotgun—"

"So, why did you cry?" Ki Gayoon asked, obviously refusing to let Yuno switch to a different seat. "Is it Bambi? Or your fellow Guides? Just tell me. I’ll deal with them."

"Hyung, this is embarrassing, but I really don’t know why I cried," Yuno said, sighing. "I’m not a crybaby. So, I don’t understand why I suddenly felt weak after I confirmed Choi Kangmin’s death. I only realized I was crying when Haru-nim handed me this." He said while raising the handkerchief that the dethroned prince lent him. "I was shocked—"

The handkerchief in his hand suddenly disappeared.

Huh? What happened?

"Hyung, where did you take the handkerchief."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"You’re the only one who can pull that kind of trick," Yuno complained, clutching Ki Gayoon by the hair. "Bring it back, Ahjuhyung. I saw the brand of Haru-nim’s handkerchief. It’s freaking expensive!"

"Stop making a fuss," Ki Gayoon scolded him. "I just returned the handkerchief to that damned prince."

"Oh. You can do that?"

"Yes, I can send small objects to a different place with my telekinesis power."

Only then did Yuno let go of Ki Gayoon’s hair.

Oops, I mess it up.

"Hyung, I pity your future lover," Yuno said while brushing Gayoon’s hair with his fingers. "If you’re already this possessive with your Exclusive Guide, I can’t imagine how you’ll act once you get a lover."

"Stop talking nonsense," Ki Gayoon scolded him. "Anyway, did you really not get bullied? Bambi didn’t piss you off?"

"Guide Bambi-ssi didn’t do or say anything bad to me this time."

"Good."

Guide Bambi will be heartbroken if he finds out just how much Hyung distrusts him.

"Noh Yuno, you still don’t know why you cried?"

"I’m not sure, Hyung."

"I think you’re sad about Choi Kangmin’s death."

Oh.

Of course, the thought crossed Yuno’s mind.

But he wasn’t sure what being sad for other people felt like. He had been jaded for the past years, after all.

So, this is what sadness feels like.

"Noh Yuno, you claim you mind your business. But you always get in trouble for meddling in other people’s problems."

"Why are you suddenly bashing me, Hyung?"

"You may not realize it, or you may not admit it, but you actually have a generous heart," Ki Gayoon said, chuckling as if he found it funny. "You’re nosy because you have so much empathy for other people— especially for your fellow Guides. It’s funny how you show it through mild violence, though."

Aigoo.

Yuno covered his face with his hands. "Now I’m even more embarrassed."

Ki Gayoon just laughed, and then he kissed the back of Yuno’s hands.

Oh.

Hyung used his power earlier.

Yuno removed his hands from his face. "Hyung, do you need Guiding?"

"Will you let me kiss you without Guiding?"

"Why would we kiss if Hyung doesn’t need Guiding?"

"Guiding it is, then."

Hmm?

Yuno was confused by their weird conversation, but Ki Gayoon already captured his lips with his own before he could even think— the Esper slyly probing his tongue into his mouth.

This is still Guiding, right?

***

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