Chapter 51

"I'm just not subject to mandatory training because I already know and can handle my ability better than anyone."

"..."

"What's the point of worrying about such things when we're out having fun?"

The man who even admitted with his own mouth that he was playing around was truly carefree beyond measure. Though he didn't show it outwardly, Nain somewhat envied Ash's personality. To put it badly, it was reckless, but to put it nicely, it was a leisurely personality.

From Nain's perspective, Ash had confidence in his abilities as a foundation. His bewildering boldness probably came from his skills.

Nain could never become such a personality even if he died and came back to life. Maybe he envied it because it was a personality he could never have.

* * *

[Global Awakener Channel Page][Horror] Who is this?

(pic.jpg)

[Comments]

-? That's Ash, idiot

⤷Not him, the person behind him, you bug lol

⤷⤷Why are you cursing, reporting you

⤷⤷You did it first

-Isn't that just a passerby who happened to get in the shot?

⤷Please blur other people's faces ㅠㅠ... It's troublesome if I get reported again. The image of the awakener page is already bad outside...

⤷(pic.jpg) No no, it's not just one. There are more lol They're definitely together ㅇㅇ

⤷⤷Are they holding hands?

-When was this?

⤷Today

⤷Did you secretly take it?

⤷⤷He's a public figure so... Not just me, everyone was taking pictures..?

⤷Hul I also went to Rusty Square briefly to see someone I know today and there's someone who looks like Ash in the photos I took

⤷⤷What is it without proof? lol

⤷⤷(pic.jpg) Why would I fake something like this?

-(pic.jpg) That's right lol I searched and it's on Twitter too. They say Ash got a pair Guide. Isn't that it?

⤷So does anyone know who's next to him?

⤷⤷Don't know ㄷㄷ

⤷⤷Hey I can seriously recite the names and faces of awakeners revealed in the media, but this is my first time seeing him.

-At this level, he's a civilian

-Why doesn't anyone know? You guys love showing off your knowledge, so search or do something to find out

⤷Seeing that nobody knows, he must be a new Guide lol

⤷⤷Are you crazy? Assigning a newbie to Ash?

⤷⤷Proper initiation ceremony

⤷⤷Resignation isn't far away..

-It's been a while since I've seen someone who doesn't look intimidated next to Ash in a two-shot, is it the angle?

⤷But girls don't like that kind of face

⤷⤷True lol

⤷⤷Eh I wasn't a girl

-Isn't that level handsome? (I'm not gay ㅇㅇ)

⤷Gay bastard

⤷Only teenage girls like that kind of thing, they don't look for it after twenty. For men, it's about the body. My childhood friend girl (next door, looks like Evelyn Sosecho and was super popular in high school lol she was smart so went to Ivy League, H cup chest and tall, prom queen) came home after a long time so after showering I casually took off my towel and showed my worked-out body and she screamed in surprise lol I look skinny when clothed lol I was happy to see her so got a bit excited lol If you want to look like men, you guys should work out too, not just exercise but weight training is the best

⤷⤷What the fuck is this guy saying..

⤷⤷Someone please tell me why this virgin suddenly went crazy

⤷⤷Isn't this sexual harassment?

⤷⤷Please die

-(pic.jpg) Other community reactions all say he's handsome, what are you guys to be judging?

⤷Young female-dominated communities might think that way lol

⤷It's a matter of taste

-But in all the photos taken, Ash is smiling?

⤷It's photoshopped

⤷⤷As if

⤷First time seeing that bastard smile something other than a sneer

⤷The news photos looked like he was about to die but today's photos he looks fine? Isn't it media play lol

⤷They say he has Guide phobia

⤷Someone bring the gif where he freaked out without even being touched

⤷⤷(pic.gif) Here

⤷⤷Still a masterpiece

⤷⤷What's this?

⤷⤷What is it, so fucking funny lollllll

-Hmm looking at the gif above, that blonde guy doesn't seem to be a Guide either

⤷Then what is he, a friend?

⤷⤷Friend ㄷㄷ

⤷⤷That's even scarier

-Someone said when the personality disaster Big Four get friends, prepare war rations, I should go to the mart today

⤷lollllll

⤷Cute

-Change the subject tag to Horror

⤷Really funny, it actually changed;

⤷⤷lollllll

⤷⤷lolllllllllll

-Why are you all gathered here? Leave some comments on my posts too, you bastards, hyung is bored

⤷You must have only written boring posts

-Why are you running with the grill lit without saying anything ㅠ There was a reason for the awakener page blackout

-What is this? Photos of gay guys dating but why so many comments?

⤷True

* * *

When Nain worried about whether it was really okay for him not to do anything, Ash scheduled one joint training session in the nearest future.

Not everyone welcomed Nain, who had suddenly appeared as a Guide one day. If there were people who showed him considerable goodwill, there were naturally also people who showed inexplicable hostility.

"I heard he's F-grade? Honestly, isn't he not up to par?"

"Is it okay to skip personal training and put an F-grade who was a civilian until recently straight into actual deployment?"

"I heard he doesn't know how to control guiding?"

"No way. We'd be lucky if he doesn't cry and throw a tantrum about quitting."

Several people whispered among themselves, mocking Nain's situation. Their voices, deliberately loud enough to be heard, reached Nain's ears too. It seemed they found it irritating that someone they thought was weak, a dimension wanderer, had overnight secured the position of pair Guide to an A-grade Esper.

Some Espers who were watching the Guides' reactions also no longer approached Nain first and only gave awkward eye greetings when their eyes met. If half the people looked at him with pitying eyes and sympathized, the other half looked at Nain unfavorably. In the unsettled atmosphere, Nain's mood had also sunk to some degree.

He had forgotten, being soaked in goodwill. That the reason people here treated Nain well was mostly based on pity. It was natural for people to look unfavorably when the object of their pity rose to a position similar to their own overnight.

"Nain, why do you keep listening to such words?"

"What can I do when I can hear them?"

"Should I go tell them to shut their mouths?"

Ash spoke while pretending to roll up his sleeves. This time, Nain didn't stop him but went even further.

"Leave them alone. Seeing them jealous, they must covet my position. They must like you."

"Me?"

As if he thought it was nonsense even to his own ears, Ash couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"You can't let them take it away, Nain. Do your best to protect it. I'm yours now."

He tilted his head as if seeking confirmation. The sharp glare that seemed about to approach them and tear their mouths apart was quickly consumed by laughter and subsided.

'...Who likes whom?'

The people who had been talking behind them looked bewildered and shocked. Once the two started talking in rather loud voices, no more background chatter could be heard.

Nain decided it didn't matter anyway. He hadn't been interested in guiding from the beginning, and their words weren't entirely wrong.

'But if I actually learn properly, I might do well, so what kind of attitude is it to assume I can't do it from the start?'

Nain found them quite disagreeable. Where was there someone who was good from the beginning? He kicked the ground irritably with the tip of his shoe, then realized he was paying too much attention to them.

'Ah, I won't care from now on, really.'

He really, truly didn't care at all that those people were ignoring him because of his low grade.

'...I do care!'

Nain couldn't drive away the thoughts that filled his head by himself and held his head. It was his innate personality. He was someone who couldn't just pass by a single small word from others and would worry about it constantly. Even knowing it was unproductive, he couldn't help it.

He knew that not everyone could like him anyway. Though his stomach felt a bit sour, what could he do about it now? If he stayed locked away feeling sad about every such comment, he would really fall behind as they hoped.

He decided not to buy goodwill with pity anymore. He had no choice but to work harder himself. Nain tried to let the malicious talk about him go in one ear and out the other. He tried to do so.

"Hey, long time no see."

"Good morning, Nain!"

What followed were Ched and Leon, the siblings who greeted Nain. The two made a fuss saying they hadn't expected to see Nain at the outdoor training ground and welcomed him. Stuffy gangster Ched and Leon with her squirrel-like small and cute impression. Nain had thought the two had completely different atmospheres and didn't resemble each other at all, but now he saw that their speech patterns and small habits were similar.

"The training uniform suits you well, Nain."

"..."

At Leon's compliment, Nain momentarily stopped, speechless. Before the compliment, he remembered the process of putting on these clothes.

'Don't! I didn't even call you... Please, I can put it on by myself!'

'At this rate, you won't come out even after an hour.'

'I'll come out!'

'Stay still for a moment. It'll hurt if you get scratched like this. I said I won't do anything, don't you trust me?'

'Get out!'

Actually, Nain was unfamiliar with this type of one-piece training uniform and didn't know how to put it on, so he had struggled for a while. Then Ash broke the changing room door handle and came in, practically dressing him with skilled hands. He didn't grope his body as much as expected and was better than most attendants' touches.