Beyond The Control

Chapter 16

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just ordinary people talking without knowing anything.”

It seemed he had happened to see my computer screen while passing by. His expression was so grim that I felt like I should be the one comforting him.

“I’m not worried. I was just looking because it’s interesting to see comments about me.”

I was somewhat sincere. Except for when I was identified as a dual Awakened 7 years ago, my presence to the public was less than that of the 10,000th ant crossing a grass field.

“There’s a lot to be curious about. Anyway, look at it in moderation and do something else. If you’re bored, you could check the draft of my report later.”

“Don’t I have to do that even if I’m not bored?”

“You catch on quick.”

Gitae hyung chuckled, ruffled my hair with his pot lid-sized hand, and sat down next to me.

I skimmed through some of the comments. Most of the ones mentioning me were negative, but it didn’t really affect me much.

As hyung said, ordinary people just think that the higher the Awakened grade, the better. Even that guy Song Ji-hyeok still seems to have a great interest in Choi Young-sun.

‘Still, I think I scored some points in this race.’

Especially at the end when he got hurt by the centipede’s poison, it was practically me who healed him.

Zing-

My phone on the desk vibrated briefly. I unlocked it without much thought, but was surprised when I checked the message.

XX Bank Deposit 10,593,027 won

Sunrise Guild Co., Ltd. Balance 11,264,627 won

What’s this large sum? Is it a phishing message?

Feeling anxious, I immediately opened the banking app. But somehow, there was a clear record of the deposit from the guild name in the banking app too. This was the first time this had happened, so I was confused and asked Gitae hyung for help.

“Hyung, I think the guild has deposited money by mistake. Where should I report this?”

“Money came in by mistake?”

“Yes.”

I showed him my phone screen, saying “Look at this,” and Gitae hyung leaned forward to check the display. Soon, as if he had found the answer, he said nonchalantly:

“Looks like the incentive for yesterday’s raid. I just got mine too.”

I was surprised for the second time at his words.

“Do they give this much for accompanying as a new recruit guide?”

“Of course not.”

Gitae hyung smirked as if he had heard something cute.

“I think it’s because you went as Song Ji-hyeok’s pair. Didn’t Director Joo recommend you first?”

“Yes.”

“Then my guess is probably right. Have some beef for dinner or something.”

“…If it turns out to be deposited by mistake, it’ll be a big problem.”

My life is already tight as it is. It would be very troublesome if I spent this windfall excitedly only to have to give it back.

“If you’re really worried, ask the accounting team.”

“I should do that. Thanks, hyung.”

I immediately called the accounting team. The answer I received matched Gitae hyung’s guess.

– This is the amount calculated for you as Esper Song Ji-hyeok’s temporary pair guide.

Wow, it’s really because of that? Isn’t this crazy?

The corners of my mouth twitched involuntarily. Then, a sudden thought struck me, and I quickly asked the staff member:

“Can I receive the same amount if I accompany the next raid?”

– Yes. You might even receive more if the dungeon level increases.

“I see. Thank you.”

I couldn’t control my expression due to happiness. To think I’d get a 10 million won incentive for just going around a D-grade dungeon, and in a position where I basically just watched with my hands behind my back. I was dumbfounded, realizing I had suddenly earned four months’ worth of my sister’s hospital bills.

Ding-

Another notification sound rang. This time it wasn’t my phone, but my device.

[Welcome to the Team Leader’s office]

It was a summons from the Team Leader. After checking the message, I immediately stood up. The reason for the summons was something I hadn’t expected.

“An official document just came down. There will be a media interview with you and Song Ji-hyeok at 2 PM this afternoon. They should have told us earlier, really.”

The public’s interest and love for high-ranking Awakened is beyond imagination. Song Ji-hyeok alone is already a guaranteed hit, so the reason for including me was all too obvious.

‘They probably want me to be the punching bag. Or use me to make Song Ji-hyeok look like an unlucky hero.’

The Team Leader seemed to know this too and added a few more words. He even made a gesture of cutting his neck a few times.

“If the reporter behaves rudely, cut it off immediately.”

“Don’t worry. You know I have strong mental fortitude.”

“Hmm, that’s true. Well then, go and crush it.”

“Yes.”

I answered cheerfully and left the Team Leader’s office. After that, everything was as usual. I pushed the thoughts of money out of my mind and finally opened the guild information program.

Time passed quickly. As soon as the clock struck twelve, I wolfed down lunch at the cafeteria and had a cup of coffee I hadn’t finished in the morning. Then, as I was writing reports, suddenly it was almost 2 PM.

The interview location was the 8th floor conference room. When I opened the door, Song Ji-hyeok was already there, seated.

“Have you been well?”

I greeted him cheerfully, but Song Ji-hyeok made an expression as if he couldn’t believe it.

“It hasn’t even been 24 hours since we last saw each other.”

“But the date has changed. Do you think the greeting ‘Did you have a good night?’ exists for no reason?”

I wanted to have a pleasant conversation, but there was no time for that. With a knock, the door opened and unfamiliar faces appeared. ID cards around their necks, thick glasses, and a medium-sized camera. They looked exactly like a reporter and a photographer.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Young-hoon, a reporter from the social affairs department of YSM. This is photographer Kim Hyun who will be taking photos today.”

In place of Song Ji-hyeok, who kept his mouth shut, I tactfully responded to the introduction first.

“Hello. I’m Lee Su-hyeon.”

“…I’m Song Ji-hyeok.”

The interview started right after the introductions. As soon as we sat down, the reporter’s gaze fixed on Song Ji-hyeok. The interview, of course, focused on him.

I thought they would naturally ask questions related to his first real combat experience the day before, but the reporter’s preparation was more thorough than I expected. He asked in detail about everything from his feelings when he first awakened to why he chose Sunrise Guild and the process leading up to the contract, as if he was ghostwriting an autobiography.

That wasn’t all. The reporter even seemed to know a lot about Song Ji-hyeok’s family members.

“Moving on to the next question. Your older brother, Esper Song Tae-hyeok…”

“Wait a moment.”

It was right then. The guy who had been answering well despite exuding an air of annoyance, as if he had been trained in how to respond to interviews, suddenly cut off the reporter’s words.

“I’m not taking questions about family.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said, I’m not taking questions about family.”

His expression was quite fierce. The atmosphere became so tense that even I started to feel uncomfortable.

“But, well…”

“If you have nothing else to ask, we’ll end here.”

As he looked ready to storm out of his seat at any moment, the reporter hurriedly tried to stop him.

“Ah, no. Then we’ll skip the family-related questions.”

He moved on to other interview topics while sweating profusely, but the atmosphere had already turned into a Siberian plain long ago. The reporter seemed to sense this too, as his attitude became much more cautious. After asking three or four more questions, he finally changed his target to me.

In an attempt to thaw the frozen atmosphere even a little, I smiled my best.

“Esper Lee Su-hyeon… or should I call you Guide?”

“Please call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“Then I’ll call you Guide. It’s unprecedented for a C-grade guide to have over 80% matching rate with an S-grade Esper. Due to the large difference in grades, some people are expressing concern. What do you think about this?”

Well, that’s quite direct.

This could be the kind of rude question the Team Leader mentioned, but instead of cutting it off or metaphorically decapitating the reporter, I answered without losing my smile. I had expected this question, after all.

“I fully understand. Actually, I was quite worried too, but fortunately, the guiding efficiency is as good as the high matching rate. I plan to do my best within my abilities in the future as well.”

“I understand you haven’t formed a pair contract yet. When do you plan to do so?”

This time I couldn’t answer easily and sighed inwardly. That’s what I desperately want to know.

When are you going to do it? Are you going to do it at all?

I glanced at Song Ji-hyeok, but he remained silent. If the atmosphere had been like before, I might have jokingly thrown out the question, but if I did it now, I was sure to receive a hurtful response.

“It’s a matter for the higher-ups to decide. I’m not sure yet either.”

“But I would think there’s been some discussion about it.”

His intention to probe was all too transparent. When I feigned ignorance once more, the reporter, though disappointed, didn’t pursue it further.