CH 40

While Tae-Woo was working, So-won sat leaning on the sofa comfortably and checked his bank account with his smartphone.

He was going to shop online after checking the money he had. He thinks he should wear clothes that cover his body for the time being, but most of the clothes in So-Won’s closet are short sleeves.

“Huh?”

As soon as So-Won checked his bank account, his eyes widened. His salary was in, but it was a far different amount from eight years ago.

He rubbed his eyes and checked again, but the balance remained unchanged.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. I just got paid, but it’s higher than I thought.”

Tae-Woo reacted to the sound that came out casually. So-Won said he would stay quiet. As soon as he made a noise, he felt ashamed. So-Won interfered with Tae-Woo’s work.

So-Won smiled awkwardly and looked down at the bank account again.

Thanks to being S-class Esper Kang Tae-Woo’s exclusive guide, he made quite a lot before his regression, but now he has more.”I think it’s twice as much as it used to be….”

So-Won looked at Tae-Woo. Fortunately, Tae-Woo did not seem to notice anything strange in what So-Won said.

Looking down at the number in the bank account again with relief, So-Won thought about why his salary had risen. Is it because the matching rate with Tae-Woo has increased significantly? Or is it because it’s the first time in the world? There was nothing strange about the increase in salary as they would have to cooperate in research on the matching rate in the future.

After roughly understanding the reason, So-Won began to get excited when he saw the increased money. In the past, he had no time to spend money because he was stuck at home, but now he is not.

So-Won hummed inside and bought all the things he had seen. Most were clothes, and some were electronic devices. In the end, he sent some home appliances to his parent’s house without listening to his parents’ opinions.

So-Won’s salary was cut in half instantly, but it didn’t matter. It was better than collecting them without using them. He suddenly regressed and lost all his savings.

So-Won glanced at Tae-Woo, who was working quietly.

Tae-Woo will earn a lot more, right?

In addition to being an S-class Esper, Esper gets allowances depending on their class whenever they are dispatched to a gate. In addition, Tae-Woo goes to work early, and so does the weekend.

Tae-Woo changed expensive foreign cars that he couldn’t even think of for the last eight years.

How much does S-class Esper earn?

He wanted to estimate his salary roughly, but So-Won couldn’t imagine how high his salary was.

“Tae-Woo, can I ask you a question?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“How much is your annual salary, Tae-Woo?”

In the end, he couldn’t resist curiosity and asked. It was a rude question, but he was curious enough to ask. So-Won waited for Tae-Woo’s answer, embracing tension and excitement simultaneously.

“I don’t know because I’ve never checked. I’ll check right away.”

“Oh, you know! You don’t have to. I just asked out of curiosity. ”

So-Won shook his head quickly and admired inside his head. He can’t believe Tae-Woo never checked his salary. As expected, if someone becomes an S-class Esper, they earn so much they don’t pay attention to it anymore.

It may be that he was busy and didn’t check, but it was clear that Tae-Woo’s money would go beyond his imagination. This is because the price of Tae-Woo’s foreign car was high.

“I want to save money and buy the same car as Tae-Woo.”

Looking at So-Won’s shining eyes as he spoke as if he were determined, Tae-Woo imagined the appearance. His car and So-Won’s parked side by side in the yard. Maybe it’s not bad.

As So-Won got out of the car, he looked around curiously.

A huge sinkhole in the middle of the highway. A blue light was leaking out from underneath. Espers were seen standing narrowly at the end of the collapsed road and wary of the gate.

So-Won was impressed.

It was his first time coming to the gate in person.

“Lee So-Won, are you sure you’ll be okay? I’d rather you go back now…”

Tae-Woo looked at So-Won and asked anxiously. Last night, So-Won begged Tae-Woo to follow him in front of the gate. It was only allowed because the size of the gate was small.

“It’s okay. I heard that this gate is safe and not dangerous to be around.” So-Won replied, repeating what he said yesterday, and now it’s too late to go back to the nearby center.

Tae-Woo didn’t ask anymore since he knew it too.

“I’ll be back for a while for the preparation process. This is the guide’s waiting room.”

“Well… I’ll just look around for a while.”

“All right. It’s dangerous, so don’t go near the entrance.”

While Tae-Woo was away, So-Won slowly moved and looked around the base. Several tents were attached side by side far from the gate, and some strange machines were seen next to the gate.

Thick cables from the machine became complicated and stretched into the gate. The gate was in front of him, but thanks to people walking around relaxed, So-Won didn’t feel like this was a dangerous place.

As Tae-Woo said, it was not an unstable gate. So-Won remembered Tae-Woo’s words to avoid going near the entrance and looked at the gate from afar. Only the entrance to the gate was recessed as if a meteorite had hit it, and he could see the light wavering from the inside. It was amazing that the gate he only saw in the data was in front of him.

“So-Won.”

As he was snooping around, So-Won heard Tae-Woo’s voice from behind. Looking back, w saw Tae-Woo wearing a different outfit than before. He was wearing a dark outfit.

“Is it a combat uniform?”

“Yes.”

It was So-Won’s first time seeing Tae-Woo in combat uniform.

He had seen it once before, but it was an exception because it was the moment Tae-Woo died and the combat uniform he was wearing was not in a condition that could still be called clothes.

“It looks good on you.”

So-Won praised Tae-Woo. Tae-Woo looked good in black. So-Won could believe that the black combat suit, which could feel rough, was designed for Tae-Woo. It may be that because he is in good shape.

If So-Won wore it, it would look weird. So-Won couldn’t take his eyes off Tae-Woo for a long time. He finally looked away because he thought he was staring at him too much.

Then, he saw a group of Esper passing by in the same combat uniform as Tae-Woo.

“…….”

Espers frowned upon seeing Tae-Woo and passed by.

Huh…? So-Won, who read the mouth of one of them, was baffled by the unexpected profanity. So-Won looked at Tae-Woo.

According to the situation he watched, espers seemed to hate Tae-Woo rather than be afraid of him like ordinary people. But neither of them felt good. Tae-Woo seemed familiar with this situation and was okay with it, but So-Won became uncomfortable around the open area for no reason. He took his hand and led him to a corner.

The place where So-Won headed to avoid people’s eyes was a narrow space between the temporary tents.

When the view was blocked, Tae-Woo’s hand, which he had secretly grabbed, was released. However, even before So-Won could speak, a gathering signal rang right away.

“Oh…”

So-Won knew he had to let go quickly because it was time to leave soon, but he didn’t expect they had to separate immediately. When So-Won was looking at where the sound was heard, Tae-Woo opened his mouth first.

“I’m going to go. Please wait in a safe place. “

If the waiting room is uncomfortable, Tae-Woo gives the car key to So-Won, telling him to go to a nearby association and wait.

So-Won quietly grabbed Tae-Woo’s collar while looking at the thing that came into his hand.

“Well…”

So-Won hesitated. After the mid-term examination, Tae-Woo’s guide was a simple contact guide, like holding hands. Embarrassment and shyness came to him just by looking at Tae-Woo for a moment. So-Won is embarrassed just by brushing his body and runs away quickly.

Still, he wasn’t nervous because he only did a light guide after seeing Tae-Woo’s figure, which had significantly improved.

“So-Won?”

So-Won hesitated for a long time while holding Tae-Woo’s collar. Tae-Woo called So-Won’s name suspiciously. And once again, the gathering signal sounded.

He didn’t even have time to think about it.

“The doctor in charge told me not to guide, but… It was only after you come out of the gate, so I’ll guide you a little bit.”

So-Won, who finished talking, closed his eyes and lifted his heels. Due to the height difference, So-Won grabbed his collar, but he succeeded in bringing their lips together.

He felt Tae-Woo leaning down as if he was trying to guide So-Won. Thanks to him, So-Won’s posture became a little more comfortable.

“Yeah…”

Breathing and wavelength were mixed. As the guide continued, he could feel that his wavelength was much better than when they first met. It didn’t hurt even if the wave came in, but the tickling felt good.

Suddenly, it occurred to So-Won that Tae-woo might think the same thing.