“...When did you even see ?”
“I also watched the footage of you speaking with Aaron. The way you calmly dismissed his nonsense and responded with poise and composure... I couldn’t help falling for you.”
He looked straight into my eyes—almost too directly—and explained the reasons he'd fallen in love.
But that made him fall for ?
“...Are you blaming for the conflict with your brother?”
I asked, wondering if this was so kind of indirect dig, but David shook his head.
“No. I’ve lost all affection for him. There’s a limit to how much disgrace one can bring to a family. I don’t even want to see his face. Grandfather’s been insisting I get him out, but I’ve been ignoring him.”
Even if Aaron had lost all value as a Guide due to his Dust addiction, the Han family still had David. There were long-standing criticisms that the Han family was weaker in practical ability compared to their rank, but David was the exception—an S-rank Esper with unmatched skill, even by Arican standards.
If David offered to help with gate raids or pledged loyalty to the U.S. or Italian governnts, those governnts would probably go out of their way to have Aaron extradited. But he must’ve refused.
In the original novel Swamp of the Guide, Aaron’s selfish and villainous nature wasn’t publicly known, but this ti was different. The scandal involving Professor Oh and Aaron made international headlines. The Royal Family’s reputation plumted. Their reality show and related businesses reportedly took catastrophic losses.
Aaron had crossed the line, and it looked like David had finally given up on him.
Co to think of it, in the original, when David had tried to avenge Aaron, it wasn’t really about affection. He was more furious that a “provincial Beta” like had insulted his family na.
Either way, it seed he wasn’t here for revenge this ti.
But falling in love at first sight? That was even worse.
“Still, I suppose I should be grateful. If not for this incident, I might never have found a jewel like you.”
David reached for my hand and tried to kiss the back of it.
Startled, I pulled away.
“In case you forgot, I’m a Beta.”
David was even more obsessed with traits than Aaron. He was a notorious Casanova who only slept with Ogas—even for one-night stands.
He never saw Betas as romantic options. That was a huge relief.
“Before your brilliance, such things lose all aning.”
“....”
“I now realize that everything before this wasn’t love. I didn’t know until I saw you.”
How could he say sothing so cringeworthy with such a straight face?
“I wanted to fly to Korea the mont I saw you. But reality got in the way.”
You an you were afraid of being questioned by investigators if you ca to Korea. Not that I was complaining—but stop acting like you’re a tragic romantic lead.
“And now we’ve t here in Aquilus. It must be fate, right?”
“I’m here with Esper Joo Seunghyuk.”
Publicly, Seunghyuk and I were in a relationship. Maybe that hadn’t reached the U.S. yet, but David—Aaron’s brother—had to know.
“Just because there’s a goalkeeper doesn’t an I can’t score. You moved on from Park Gunwoo to Joo Seunghyuk—now it’s my turn.”
Like brother, like brother. Sa brand of arrogance.
“There’s a misunderstanding. I never dated Park Gunwoo.”
“Doesn’t matter. Just give a chance. Soone like Seunghyuk is too small a vessel for you.”
He was just as impossible to talk to.
David was an S-rank Esper, a superior Alpha, and a globally famous celebrity. His stunning looks had earned him a string of flings.
But none of that mattered. No matter how bad Aaron had been, this guy was sohow worse. I couldn’t feel even a shred of attraction.
If anything, talking to him made miss Seunghyuk.
“You’re being rude. Esper Joo Seunghyuk isn’t soone you can insult. If we’re done here, I’ll be leaving.”
If he wouldn’t go, then I would.
I bowed briefly and stood. But then David suddenly grabbed for .
“Yeonsu—ugh!”
Before he could even touch , he was thrown backward. My eyes widened when I saw who had attacked him.
“Seunghyuk...!”
“Are you okay, hyung?”
Seunghyuk wrapped his arms around my shoulder.
“Yeah.”
“Sorry I’m late.”
“No, I’m really fine.”
David stood up, brushing dust off his slacks and glaring at Seunghyuk. His mana surged violently, but Seunghyuk’s power completely overwheld him.
Tension filled the room as the two S-ranks clashed with invisible force. The hotel guards were too frozen to intervene. Everyone in the café was staring.
If the two of them really fought, the entire café would be obliterated. And if other Espers got involved, the damage would be catastrophic.
Only one person could stop this.
“Stop!”
I shouted firmly. Both n looked at .
“David Han-ssi. I’m currently in a relationship with Esper Joo Seunghyuk. I’ll pretend today’s incident never happened.”
“...What a pity.”
David was the first to pull his mana back.
“Then may I at least have your contact info? I’d like to beco your friend.”
“I’m not one for ambiguous friendships. Sorry.”
I took Seunghyuk’s hand and turned away.
“Seunghyuk, let’s go.”
“...Okay.”
He followed without protest. But even once we reached the room, he hadn’t fully let go of his mana.
Still, no matter how angry he got, I knew now—he’d never turn that anger toward .
As long as I didn’t run away again...
“Seunghyuk, thank you for coming. I really hated that guy.”
I entwined my fingers with his and looked him in the eyes.
“You hated him?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“He was rude.”
At that, Seunghyuk’s expression stiffened.
What...? Did I say sothing wrong?
“Seunghyuk? What’s wrong?”
“...I’m rude too.”
“...”
So he had noticed.
“Hyung... do you hate too?”
He looked at with eyes full of worry.
“Well, you’re...”
I should say he’s not rude.
That’s the “right” answer. But it felt like too much of a lie to say it out loud.
His eyes trembled.
“What about ...?”
“You’re fine. You’re younger than . It’s natural to be a little rough around the edges.”
I reached out and gently stroked his hair. Seunghyuk smiled and leaned into my chest.
“Yeah. I’m young. So teach . Stay with and show what I don’t know.”
Just a one-year age gap, yet the shalessness was unreal. But sohow... it was adorable.
I must be insane.
***
That night was the day of the Aquilus Auction.
“Seunghyuk, are you really going? Can’t you skip it?”
I had assud he wouldn’t ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) go.
In the original, Do Hyeokjin is murdered and Seunghyuk is frad. I thought he'd use this opportunity to quietly fly back to Korea.
But both he and Do Hyeokjin were still going.
“It’s fine, hyung. I’ve made preparations. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Seunghyuk’s face was calm and confident. I believed in him... but sothing still felt wrong.
“There’s no reason for you to be there. Seunghyuk, the Nershield Necklace—it’s fake. I know you don’t trust fully, but can’t you believe this once?”
Later in the original novel, it’s revealed that the Nershield Necklace at this auction was a counterfeit.
It didn’t raise compatibility; it manipulated the asurent machine. Despite its high classification, it had no real utility. It was worthless in practice.
But the con artists were clever. They rebranded the relic as the “Nershield Necklace” and put it up for auction. It sold for a ridiculous sum.
But if anyone used the necklace, they’d instantly realize it was fake.
So the scamrs murdered the winning bidder—Do Hyeokjin—and took the item back, making it look like a robbery.
So of the scamrs were high-level Espers, which is why Do Hyeokjin was caught off guard.
In the end, it was all just a massive scam. Neither Do Hyeokjin nor Seunghyuk had any reason to be there.
“I believe you, hyung.”
“Then why go?”
“There’s sothing else I have to buy. That’s what I really ca for.”
“Not the Nershield Necklace?”
I had assud that was what he was after.
A compatibility score above 30% was enough to enable guiding. If he still had rejection issues, he’d need that necklace.
“No. Why would I need sothing like that? I already have you.”
Seunghyuk smiled sweetly and pulled into a hug.
So he really didn’t care about the necklace.
Well, if he’d wanted to fix the rejection, he would’ve taken a compatibility test long ago.
“Then what are you buying?”
“That’s a secret.”
He grinned.
Sohow, that smile made feel uneasy. Maybe it was just .
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