The S-Class Guide As Sweet As Honey ( ENG)

Chapter 20

Italics- Jin Hyo-seop

Bold- Andante

"On purpose... you say?"

"I had to put a leash on the guild members somehow. If I told them I wasn't taking a bondage partner, some of them might act out," Andante clicked his tongue, seemingly irritated by his own guild members.

"They're my subordinates, but I don't trust them with that part of themselves," he added with a hint of amusement.

"But, you're only realizing this now? I thought you'd figured it out during the time when you guided Flat."

"...I had no idea."

Jin Hyo-seop really didn't know. He was genuinely surprised to find out that Andante had been protecting him by pretending to be his bondage partner. Thinking back, Flat had been particularly wary of Andante when they tried to guide him in a rush. At the time, Hyo-seop thought it was because Andante was the guild master, but now, knowing the truth, those actions made much more sense.

Feeling somewhat unsettled, Jin Hyo-seop lowered his head.

"Are you upset? If you had a partner in mind, that would have been my mistake."

"N-no! That's not it!"

Jin Hyo-seop quickly shook his head.

"I just... feel grateful, that's all."

Even though he had said he disliked close physical contact, Andante didn't have to go out of his way like this. If something had happened, people could have easily blamed him for not forming a bondage partnership. Yet, knowing that Andante had been thinking of him behind the scenes left Hyo-seop unsure how to react.

"I feel like I keep owing you, and I don't know how to repay you," he muttered.

"You don't need to do anything. Just being here in the guild is enough of a help for me."

"But..."

Jin Hyo-seop hesitated before carefully parting his lips.

"You didn't even receive any guiding from me, Guildmaster."

He had always wanted to repay the help he'd received, but Andante never gave him that chance. Every offer of guidance was met with a cold and firm refusal. However, Hyo-seop noticed that the scar on Andante's chest seemed to have faded slightly.

Was it possible that he sought guidance from someone else? Though Andante continued to help him, Hyo-seop couldn't help but wonder if he had been going to another guide. If that was true, there could only be one reason.

"Do you not like me?"

Perhaps the look on his face was too serious, because Andante suddenly burst into laughter.

"Haha, as if! Who wouldn't like an S-class guide?"

"Then why don't you accept my guiding? Do you... already have someone imprinted with you?"

"Nothing like that," Andante said with a chuckle, resting his chin in his hand.

"I just don't really like it."

"Huh?"

Jin Hyo-seop was dumbfounded by the unexpected response, his expression blank as he tried to make sense of the words.

"I don't like getting guided," Andante repeated, more clearly this time. "It feels like I'm relying too much on the guide, and the sensation of someone else rummaging around inside me? It's awful."