99 Percent Love

“What kind of rude brat says that? What? Even the strongest Esper isn’t a big deal?”

“Calm down, calm down.”

Rion fumed, huffing and puffing in frustration.

After that, the team successfully escaped the dungeon and closed the gate without further incident, but not a single word was exchanged between Rion and Yuwon during the entire process.

“Do I look like I can calm down now?”

“Well, you’re still the senior…”

“I’ve tried to tell myself that so many times!”

Rion, now standing in front of the director, practically jumped with rage.

He couldn’t understand it.

There was no clear reason why Yuwon should dislike him, nor could he remember saying anything wrong. In fact, he had gone out of his way several times to overlook and smooth over the tension Yuwon had caused. And yet, this was the reaction he got.

Unable to hold back his emotions any longer, Rion had gone straight to the director to vent, before he ended up grabbing someone by the collar.

“Ask the others when they arrive. I really held back this time.”

“Is there really nothing you can think of? I mean, there’s got to be a reason why the boy is behaving like this.”

“That’s what I want to know?” 

Rion grumbled, leaning back in his chair. He had applied for the pairing with Yuwon because he wanted to have a good relationship. Even now, he wanted to get along with Yuwon, but with the way he was behaving, he couldn’t bring himself to treat him nicely.

“No matter how much I want to, I can’t treat him badly. Not after I’ve felt what it’s like to be led by him for the first time.” 

“Of course. He’s your suitable guide.” 

Now that he thought about it, he realised that he had stormed out of the gate and ignored Yuwon’s offer to guide him again, his irritation boiling over.

“…I want to get along too.” 

But the one who offered sweet, life-giving guidance left Rion with nothing but bitter wounds. They say the gods are fair, but surely they didn’t have to be this fair.

“Until now, we’ve had problems because we didn’t have a guide, and now, even with the highest match rate ever with an S-rank guide, this is what we’re left with… It’s really ridiculous.”

“I don’t even know what he didn’t like. I put together a team with one S-rank, two A-ranks, and two B-ranks, just to make it nice for him, even with a gate that wasn’t anything special. He was supposed to live the good life.”

“Exactly!”

Rion jumped up from his seat, obviously frustrated.

Of course, it hadn’t been easy for someone as well-bred as him to deal with the dungeon, but this group had been put together with clear thought and care by the director.

One S-rank Esper, two A-rank Esper, and the most popular and likeable B-rank guide in the centre, Jisoo.

What’s more, the two B-rank guides supporting the rear were no rookies either. They were experienced guides who knew the centre well. It was the kind of thoughtful and generous team composition that would have shocked anyone at the centre.

“It wasn’t even that hard. It’s just… he must have hated me…”

“Hey, hey, don’t think like that.”

The director gently patted Rion’s shoulder and silently remembered Yuwon. The boy had seemed so calm, but to hear him say that the strongest Esper and everything else wasn’t a big deal was hard to believe.

But Rion couldn’t have lied. Well, the details could be clarified by asking Seoha or Joochan, who had gone into the gate with him.

“I’ll call him and talk to him. Don’t worry too much. Besides, you didn’t get any instructions, did you?”

“…No.”

“No matter how much you don’t like it, now that you’ve applied as a partner, you’re practically one body. You’re not going to cancel the application, are you?”

“That’s right.”

Whether he liked it or not, Yuwon was his matching guide. Rion lowered his head, remembering the pairing application he had signed and submitted just a few days ago.

“Go cool off and rest. Get that face treated as well.”

“What is there to treat for something like that?”

“If you neglect things like that, it’ll become a big problem later on. Don’t you know that after four years?”

“Okay, okay. I’ll get treated.”

Rion pretended to ignore the director’s nagging as he shook his head.

Only when Rion promised to get treatment did the director send him away. Then he picked up his tablet and checked the current locations of the Espers in the centre.

“Oh, Joochan. He’s back already?”

[S-rank guidance really works wonders. He was completely revitalised and came right back. There’s still some work to be done, and Seoha’s been on my case to earn her paycheck… Oh, come on! It’s the truth!]

Seoha could be heard grumbling from the side, but the director pretended not to hear it.

“I need to ask you something, come to my office.”

[Ah, yes]

A short time later, the director began to question Joochan about what had happened inside the gate.

“Did that really happen?”

“Yes. Everyone was shocked. Actually, it had been a little strange before. Rion-senior got really stiff when I barely touched his arm and pulled away, and he kept talking in short sentences…”

Joochan, who had never really liked Yuwon, continued to grumble as he spoke.

“I think Rion-senior put up with a lot, you know? He clearly showed that he didn’t like him, but if he put up with it that much, well, that says something for Rion. But then that rookie completely ignored Rion’s efforts and made everything explode.

It was a story that was hard to believe. As the director stood there stunned, Joochan excitedly continued to explain the situation.

“Really, he… he looked at Rion with such a stiff expression and didn’t even look at him, saying, ‘The strongest esper or whatever, it’s nothing.'”

“Ha…”

The director sighed as he watched Juchan mimicking Yuwon’s expression and actions.

Well, they say that like attracts like. It really is unfair. But still, throwing two bombs at me like this is a bit too much.

“So where did Yuwon go?”

“He took a shower, changed clothes and said he was going back to the centre. There’s a shower and a change of clothes at the centre, but he’s just an unlucky guy.”

“Why are you talking like that? He’s a newcomer who’s been here less than a week.”

“If you had seen how he treated Rion, you wouldn’t say that, director.”

The director smiled softly as he watched Joochan defend Rion so passionately, almost as if he were one of Rion’s biggest fans.

Well, not only at the centre, but anyone in Korea would probably react the same way. But a rookie who doesn’t like Rion? I never thought I’d meet someone like that.

“All right, I understand. Go take care of your things. As for him, he’s still a rookie. Don’t bully him, don’t be prejudiced and treat him well”.

“I know. But still…”

“You wouldn’t understand. If you had any experience as a leader, you’d know how important this child is for the centre.”

At the director’s words, Joochan nodded reluctantly. Well, most of the espers who liked Rion at the centre were the type who were too gentle to ever bully anyone.

“Alright, I get it. Go on.”

It’s been a while since I’ve had to deal with a rookie like that so often. The director thought to himself as he made plans for his meeting with Yuwon.

***

Meanwhile, Rion, who had just left the director’s office, was venting to his close colleagues about his frustration and the way things had turned out.

“Did that really happen?”

“Of course, do you think I’m lying?”

“Not really, but you may have exaggerated your recollection. Our fiery Rion, huh?”

At Jehak’s words, those nearby laughed in agreement.

“He’s practically your saviour. You should treat him better.”

Even Kangwoo, who had been defending Yuwon, joined in, and an increasingly irritated Rion grabbed Jisoo, who happened to be passing by.

“Jisoo, you heard everything, right? Tell them.”

“Right, you were with him too, weren’t you? Did it really happen?”

Caught by the sudden question, Jisoo gave Rion a worried look. But Rion only encouraged her with a fierce look in his eyes, silently urging her to speak.

“Well… He said something that might have been a little offensive, but I don’t think it was said with any bad intentions. It was probably his first gate and he was really nervous…”

“See? Jisoo is on the rookie side too.”

“No, I’m not taking sides. It’s true that Yuwon said something that could have upset Rion-senpai. But I don’t think there was any malice behind it.” 

Jisoo tried to explain, doing her best not to speak badly of Yuwon. But Rion, whose anger had reached its peak, had no intention of considering Yuwon’s side.

“What did he say to make you react like that? Our Rion, as fiery as he is, doesn’t usually get that angry.”

At the senior Esper’s words, Rion remembered the situation once more. It was a memory he couldn’t forget, no matter how hard he tried. He stood up abruptly, replaying the scene in his mind.

“What did he say to me, or rather, what did he say without even looking at me? He said, ‘The strongest Esper or whatever, it’s nothing.'” 

“Se-senior..”

“Yeah, just like that. That damn face…”

As Rion continued, Jisoo’s urgent cry made him turn his head, and as soon as he saw a familiar face, he let out a frustrated sigh.

“Cough, cough…!”

“A-are you okay?”

Jisoo patted Rion’s back as he coughed, but his gaze was fixed somewhere else.

Yuwon, who was now looking down at him from the central stairs of the centre’s lobby, his face now perfectly composed.