Beyond The Control

Chapter 11

“After only seeing you in photos, I’m so glad to meet you in person. I know it’s rude, but I couldn’t help greeting you first. I’m practically stationed in Guiding Room 6-1, so please come by anytime for a cup of tea.”

“That sounds great.”

What’s so great about it!

I wanted to jump between them and shout, but I had no justification. If she had blatantly asked him to come for guiding, I could have confidently said it was against the rules. But Jung Hee-seon was just inviting him for a cup of tea.

But what does that mean? Only a fool wouldn’t know.

“Have a good day, then.”

As soon as Jung Hee-seon left, I hurriedly spoke to Song Ji-hyeok to redirect his attention.

“Today’s shoulder day, right? Let’s go. I’ll spot you.”

Even now, I’m supervising Song Ji-hyeok’s workout. Even without trying to get close to him, he was inherently rewarding to teach.

He had excellent body balance and coordination, and whether it was his natural physique or not, despite his height, he gained muscle quickly. The muscles in his arms and legs were visibly noticeable, and when I touched him to correct his posture, I could feel his lats.

Moreover, when someone awakens as an Esper, their body changes. They become much sturdier, and I’ve seen people grow anywhere from 5cm to 20cm taller. His physical condition was already impressive, but I couldn’t help but look forward to how much bigger and stronger he’d become after gaining field experience.

Just then, Song Ji-hyeok finished his first set of Arnold presses and lowered the dumbbells. Seizing the opportunity, I asked him:

“How tall are you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Didn’t they measure you on the first day?”

“They did.”

The fact that he still didn’t know suggested he had no interest in the results. This is why people without desperation are…

The height difference between us seems to be just under a hand span, so he’s definitely over 185cm. If he grows more, he might approach or even exceed 2m. He might even end up taller than Gitae.

‘That would be something to see.’

I couldn’t help but smile. Gitae takes more pride in his physique than being part of a large guild or being an A-class Esper. I could clearly imagine how distressed and discouraged he’d be if someone bigger and more muscular joined the same team…

“About the guiding room numbers,” Song Ji-hyeok suddenly spoke up. He had already started his second set, his hands holding dumbbells raised high above his head.

“Does the first number indicate the team?”

“That’s right. Originally it was Team A, Team B, but about five years ago it changed to Team 1, Team 2.”

“That’s so lame.”

I couldn’t argue with that. I heard there was a lot of talk about team names – especially D Team and F Team – in the guild’s early days.

“Then what about the second number? Is that just simple numbering too?”

That… does have a meaning.

“The lower the number, the higher the guide’s rank.”

Song Ji-hyeok, having learned the secret, hit a sore spot.

“So Room 6-1 means it has the best guide in Team 6, right?”

“…That’s right.”

“Then you’re…”

Don’t say it. Don’t narrow your eyes, you jerk.

Despite my bruised ego, I diligently continued supervising the workout. After finishing the shoulder tri-set and immediately doing 30 minutes of cardio, we were both drenched in sweat.

“Phew.”

Wiping the sweat from my chin, I headed to the shower room. Song Ji-hyeok was still beside me.

At first, it was very awkward to go to the shower room with someone, rather than entering separately, but after a few times, I got used to it. However, there was still something I couldn’t get used to, no matter how many times I saw it.

While Song Ji-hyeok was washing his hair in front of the shower, I snuck a glance at his junior. It wasn’t that I wanted to look, it was more like… a man’s instinct drawn to strength.

I swear, I wasn’t aiming for his thing from the start. It happened by chance when I was trying to check his back muscles and abs while he was naked.

‘Whoa.’

When I saw it, I thought my eyes would pop out, to exaggerate a bit. Generally, well-built people tend to be well-endowed, but Song Ji-hyeok was in a league of his own. To be frank, it was the biggest I’d ever seen, even when flaccid.

Maybe due to the mental shock(?), I didn’t think about it when we met and worked out the next day, but standing next to him at the shower, I suddenly remembered what I saw yesterday. After glancing a few times over a couple of days, now I felt like something was missing if I didn’t look.

However, I was still a person with social decorum. Therefore, the peeking process was carried out secretly and quickly while Song Ji-hyeok was washing his face or hair – in other words, when his vision was blocked.

If he ever caught me sneaking a look at his thing, I’d want to drown myself in a saucer of water…

“Hey.”

Song Ji-hyeok, who was washing his hair, suddenly turned his head towards me.

“Are you gay?”

Surprised, I waved my hands in denial.

“No. I like women.”

“Then why do you keep glancing at my dick every day?”

He knew I was looking?

But I really wasn’t gay. If I hesitated or stammered here, it would definitely cause a misunderstanding, so I blurted out whatever came to mind.

“It’s like admiration, as a fellow man. When you see awesome muscles, you can’t help but look, and you want to touch them, right? It’s similar to that.”

“…You want to touch it?”

“No! I meant muscles, muscles!”

Why would I touch that? It probably wouldn’t even fit in one hand… no, that’s not what I meant.

Suddenly being treated like a pervert who covets another man’s thing, my ears turned red with embarrassment. Song Ji-hyeok was silent for a moment. Instead, his gaze that had been on my face moved subtly downward and then back up.

What did he just look at…? And what’s with that expression like he understood something?

“It’s not like it’ll wear out from looking, so do as you please.”

“……”

What is this feeling of being thoroughly played?

Feeling like a defeated soldier who lost without even fighting properly, I finished my shower. I went straight to the locker and was entering the passcode when my device conveniently rang. Song Ji-hyeok’s did too.

[Please gather at the 8th floor small conference room (A) by 1 PM after lunch.]

It was a summons from Team Leader Joo. After checking the message, I asked Song Ji-hyeok:

“Is it from the New Recruit Training Team Leader?”

“…Yes. How did you know?”

“I got called too.”

Lest I be misunderstood again, I quickly showed Song Ji-hyeok my device screen. The difference was that I already knew the reason for the summons.

“Do you have lunch plans?”

“No.”

“Then let’s eat together before we go. We don’t have much time, so we should go to the cafeteria.”

Whether he was very hungry or what, Song Ji-hyeok unusually followed without objection. But as soon as we went out, we ran into an unwelcome figure. It was Team 6 Leader Kim Kwang-in.

Team Leader Kim frowned noticeably upon seeing me, but then his eyes widened and his expression brightened. He began striding towards me.

‘What’s this all of a sudden?’

I wasn’t his target. As he approached, his gaze was fixed entirely on the person next to me.

“Are you by any chance Esper Song Ji-hyeok?”

“That’s right.”

That blunt response, thumbs up for today.

Even though Team Leader Kim’s appearance alone suggested he was at least in his 40s and a person of status, Song Ji-hyeok didn’t back down at all and gave a look that said ‘What’s this now?’ Team Leader Kim’s expression twisted slightly, but he quickly forced a smile and continued the conversation.

“I’m Kim Kwang-in, the head of Team 6. I’ve been wanting to meet you, and running into you like this is great. If you haven’t eaten yet, how about having lunch together?”

“I have prior plans.”

“…Is that so? Surely not with Lee Su-hyeon?”

“Yes.”

Oh boy.

I quickly averted my gaze to avoid eye contact. As expected, I could feel his piercing glare and had to break out in a cold sweat.

“Well, looks like I’m a step behind. By the way, I heard you’ll be heading out on your first dungeon raid soon. As Korea’s ninth S-class, we’re expecting great things from you.”

Team Leader Kim offered his hand to Song Ji-hyeok first and even patted his shoulder a couple of times in encouragement. Meanwhile, I was still standing there like a useless sack of potatoes.

By the way, to think I’d see that snake-like team leader encouraging someone. I wonder if the sun will rise in the west tomorrow.