DPGR 31

“Was there traffic on the way?”

“No, it was fine. It’s a weekday afternoon.”

“That’s good. Judging by your face, you’ve been doing well.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Master.”

“Ha! Don’t flatter me. I’ve done nothing to deserve that.”

Kwak Jiheon chuckled gruffly and put away the Go board. His gaze, which had been watching Dojin’s expression, slid over to Jiho like a shadow.

Jiho shrank back and immediately ducked behind Dojin. Seeing the shy reaction, Jiheon raised one eyebrow.

“And who’s that kid?”

“…My, uh… my guide.”

“What? I thought you said your guide was twenty?”

“Yes, he is twenty.”

“No way. That baby face… Hold on. Come out here for a sec, kiddo. Hm? Come on.”

Jiho, who had clung tightly to Dojin’s back, peeked his head out at the coaxing tone. Again, he locked eyes with Jiheon.

This time, Jiheon’s eyes were slightly softer, but they were still sharp enough to be intimidating.

“…Hnng.”

A small whimper escaped Jiho’s lips as he made a face that looked like he might cry. Dojin flinched, and Jiheon’s eyes widened—then he burst into loud laughter.

“Ha! Aha-ha!”

The air in the room rang with the sound. After laughing for a good while, Jiheon muttered through chuckles,

“Damn, so this is the high-matching-rate guide who finally showed up—and he’s just a baby! No wonder you haven’t laid a hand on him!”

At the comment about “laying a hand,” Dojin inexplicably stiffened. Jiho peeked up at him.

The nape of Dojin’s neck and the rim of his ears were blazing red.

“Well, sit down first.”

Jiheon waved a hand, not bothering to comment on Dojin’s flushed face. Groaning a little, Dojin sat beside Jiho.

“Mrs. Kim. Bring out some snacks for the kid.”

“Yes, sir.”

It seemed Jiheon had officially decided to call Jiho “the kid.” Jiho quietly pouted.

‘I’m not a kid.’

By original timeline, he was twenty-three. Even now, after returning, he was twenty. He may have spent over half his life confined in a facility, but age-wise, he was still a full-fledged adult.

Whether Jiheon knew that or not, he studied Jiho’s slightly sulky face with interest.

“He’s really twenty?”

“Yes. I confirmed his birthdate.”

“Pfft! No matter how generously I look at it, he doesn’t look older than a high schooler.”

Jiho’s pout deepened. Jiheon pointed it out with a teasing laugh, saying that sulky face made it obvious he was still a baby.

Thankfully, before the teasing could go any further, the butler returned with a tray of snacks.

The small table was topped with three teacups, yakgwa, yugwa, dried persimmons, and other traditional sweets.

‘Yugwa…?’

Familiar treats made Jiho blink in confusion.

Before the regression, every year after the holidays, Dojin had come back with piles of these exact snacks.

‘Ah. So that’s where he got them.’

Lost in memory, Jiho’s eyes lingered on the sweets. Jiheon noticed and urged him to dig in.

“You’ll start drooling, kid. Just eat.”

“……”

Jiho had wanted to try one of each, but now that he was being encouraged, he felt too shy to reach out.

As he hesitated, Dojin quietly rolled up Jiho’s sleeves and handed him a piece of yugwa—the one Jiho had been staring at.

Realizing Jiho was watching him for cues, Jiheon turned his eyes away and started talking to Dojin again.

“So, what brings you here? I was surprised by your sudden call.”

“I should’ve kept in touch more. I apologize.”

“Ahem! I wasn’t trying to guilt-trip you. It would be nice if you called more often, but don’t overdo it. I know you’re busy.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“So? What’s this about?”

“Well…”

Neither Jiheon nor Dojin seemed to be paying Jiho any attention.

In truth, both were highly attuned to him, but Jiho—being a bit slow at sensing such things—felt relieved and finally began nibbling at the yugwa.

Crunch, crunch.

The soft crunching sound of Jiho’s front teeth biting into the treat echoed faintly. Dojin and Jiheon discreetly bit their lips to suppress their smiles and carried on with the conversation.

It was only after Jiho had eaten about half the plate that the long conversation came to an end.

Jiheon snorted at the audacity of his disciple, who had chosen him as the bargaining chip to move the Esper Director.

He couldn’t help but laugh.

“Ha! I do adore you, sure, but this is a little arrogant, don’t you think?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Dojin apologized awkwardly, though he didn’t take the request back. It was a matter where he needed Jiheon’s help, even if it meant overstepping.

Knowing Dojin well, Jiheon shrugged.

“Then let’s make it a deal.”

“…A deal?”

“Right.”

Jiheon nodded and continued.

“I’ll grant your request—but in return, you have to promise to grant me one as well.”

“What kind of request?”

“That’s a secret.”

“…?”

“It won’t be anything outrageous, so don’t worry too much.”

With that, Jiheon casually sipped his tea, leaving Dojin stewing in thought. Jiho, having grown tired of the crunchy yugwa, had moved on to the sticky-sweet yakgwa. He chewed with such intensity that his puffed-up cheeks looked like a stuffed bun. Jiheon stifled a chuckle.

While Jiheon was quietly amused, Dojin finished weighing his thoughts and nodded.

“Yes. I’ll agree to that.”

“Good. Then I’ll step out for a quick call. Let’s have dinner together later.”

With that, Jiheon left the room. As soon as he did, Dojin finally relaxed, exhaling deeply.

At that moment, someone tugged lightly on his sleeve. Glancing down, he saw Jiho offering him a piece of yugwa.

Jiheon had assumed Jiho was simply tired of eating it.

But in truth, Jiho had liked it so much, he’d saved a piece to share with Dojin later.

He’d eaten so enthusiastically that crumbs still clung to the corners of his mouth.

Dojin glanced at Jiho’s lips—shiny from the yakgwa’s syrup and speckled with crumbs—and flushed red all over again.

‘What is going on with him today?’

Jiho tilted his head at Dojin, who kept going red and pale like a broken thermometer.

—Are you feeling sick?

Jiho mouthed the words, and Dojin quickly covered his eyes with one hand and muttered a reply.

“I’m fine… Just eat. Don’t mind me.”

A kind-sounding way of saying, You eat it.

Jiho looked dejected as he glanced at Dojin, who wouldn’t even make eye contact and kept groaning under his breath.

It felt like Dojin was avoiding him. Was it just his imagination?

Meanwhile, Jiheon stood outside, gazing at one of his favorite trees as he lit a cigarette.

The way he sucked on the filter, flame flickering at the tip, looked practiced and effortless.

“Phew…”

After a few slow exhales, he pulled out his phone.

A few taps later, he made a call. It didn’t take long for a familiar voice to answer.

—Hello?

“Hey, it’s me, you punk.”

—Ugh… What now? I’m busy.

“Ha! As if I’m not.”

With his relaxed tone and faint grin, Jiheon was speaking to none other than Yoon Changwook—the current Chief Director.

—Busy, my ass. I’m the one still on active duty here!

“Quit whining. If you hate it so much, then resign.”

—Ha! And who do you think I’m stuck in this mess for?! You’re the one who quit out of nowhere and left the whole place in shambles! I had to patch the hole you left!

“Did I ask you to?”

—@#^%$##^$!!!

A burst of shouting rang out from the other end. Jiheon, clearly expecting this, calmly held the phone away from his ear.

Once Changwook had tired himself out, Jiheon got down to business.

“Hey, I heard things are a mess in the Guide Wing lately.”

—And who told you that…?

Changwook trailed off. He’d only learned about the Guide wing uproar himself earlier that morning. How the hell did Jiheon, who wasn’t even at the Center, know already?

“Who else? My precious disciple came to see me.”

—Baek Dojin, that little punk…

“How the hell are you managing your people?”

—Oh, come on, hyung! I’m the Esper Director ! The Guide wing is the Guide Director’s responsibility!

“If they aren’t n’t doing their job, you should step in. Isn’t that your duty too? Or do you only show up to collect your paycheck, huh?”

Under the barrage of nagging, Changwook couldn’t get a word in.

He could have refuted every single point if he wanted to—but it wouldn’t have mattered. Talking back would just make the scolding last longer.

“Ahem. Anyway, I do have a favor to ask.”

Having sufficiently chewed him out, Jiheon suddenly switched to a more refined tone. Changwook could only shake his head in disbelief.

—What now?

“Let’s oust the Chief Guide.”

—…What? Who?

“Who do you think? You.”

—Ha! AHAHAHAHA!

“Hahaha!”

—Ha… ha… Wait—are you serious? You’re actually laughing right now?

“…”