Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 160: TROUBLE IN PARADISE

"GAYOON OPPA, don’t fight Sungbin Oppa!"

Haaah.

Ki Gayoon really wanted to beat Ryu Sungbin to a pulp, but since Lee Sarang stopped him, he decided to hold back.

No, it wasn’t because he had a soft spot for Lee Sarang.

Because I don’t have one.

It was simply because the Lee Sarang in front of them right now seemed to be the Ice Queen.

It’s this kid’s violent alter-ego.

"Sungbin Oppa didn’t make me like this," Lee Sarang said in defense of Ryu Sungbin. "I don’t remember what happened, but Sungbin Oppa said I turned like this after raiding a Special Grade dungeon."

Yeah, that sounds like bullshit.

Hence, Gayoon looked at Ryu Sungbin with a tired look on his face.

Do you think I’m gullible to believe that ridiculous story?

Ryu Sungbin, who practically raised Gayoon during their time in the Facility, understood what Gayoon wanted to say by just looking at his face. "Don’t look at me like I’m lying to you, Gayoon-ah. You have a talented kid in your team who can verify if I’m telling the truth or not."

Right.

I better ask Yu Minju to investigate what happened to Lee Sarang.

"What are you doing here?" Gayoon asked, his protective arm still wrapped around Lee Sarang’s shoulders. "You didn’t come here just to inform me what happened to this kid, right?"

Ryu Sungbin was about to say something, but Lee Sarang beat him to it.

"Gayoon Oppa, why are you talking rudely to Sungbin Oppa?" Lee Sarang asked in a scolding tone. "And why aren’t you calling him ’hyung’ anymore?"

Ah, shit.

Even Lee Sarang’s memories regressed, huh?

"Lee Sarang, how old are you?"

"Sungbin Oppa said I’m in my late twenties now, but I remember turning fifteen just recently."

Fifteen years old?

Damn.

That was Lee Sarang’s age when she created her ’Ice Queen’ persona.

And this kid was really sensitive when she was that age...

... wait.

Don’t tell me...

"Yah," Gayoon complained when he realized what Ryu Sungbin’s plan could be. "Don’t tell me you’re here to drop Lee Sarang on me?"

"Gayoon Oppa, why are you talking like I’m some sort of baggage?" Lee Sarang complained. "You’re hurting my feelings."

"No, it’s not like that," Gayoon said while gently patting Lee Sarang’s head in an attempt to pacify her. This kid was sensitive, and a sensitive Ice Queen was more dangerous than Gayoon on the verge of a Rampage. "That bastard is just acting suspicious again."

"Gayoon-ah, you’re hurting my feelings," Ryu Sungbin said, obviously trolling. "I just brought Lee Sarang here because she said she wanted to stay with you."

"That’s right, Gayoon Oppa!" Lee Sarang said, her eyes sparkling. "I’m gonna live here with you starting today!"

"Let me ask my partner first," Gayoon said sternly. Of course, he didn’t want to leave Lee Sarang in Ryu Sungbin’s care when she had regressed. However, he wanted to get Noh Yuno’s permission first. "Babe Princess, what do you think?"

Lee Sarang and Ryu Sungbin’s cold and sharp gaze fell on Noh Yuno instantly.

Woah.

If it was a Civilian or an average Awakened Person, they would have fainted already.

But Noh Yuno remained calm and unbothered.

Gayoon was relieved.

That’s my babe.

"It’s fine with me," Noh Yuno said indifferently, looking at Gayoon with an unreadable look on his face. "Esper Lee Sarang-ssi can stay here with us, Hyung."

"Alright, got it," Gayoon said, and then he looked down at Lee Sarang. "You can stay, brat."

"Oppa, why do you need that person’s permission?" Lee Sarang asked, pouting. "This is your house, and we’re talking about me here. You should welcome me with open arms without asking for anyone’s permission."

"That was true when I was still single, but not anymore," Gayoon said bluntly. "I can’t make decisions on my own without asking for my partner’s opinion first, especially if it involves letting a guest stay in our house— even if the said guest is you, Lee Sarang."

Lee Sarang pouted, suddenly acting like a brat. "I don’t like that person, Oppa."

"So what? I am dating him, not you."

"I’m starting to get annoyed with you, Oppa."

"Then go home with Ryu Sungbin."

"No!" Lee Sarang said, hugging Gayoon tight— so tight that he almost broke his back despite his sturdy body as a natural S-Class Esper. "I’m going to stay here with you, Gayoon Oppa!"

"Then you better respect Noh Yuno as a person and as my partner, Lee Sarang," Gayoon said sternly. "If you do or say something that’s offending to him, I’ll kick you out."

***

"SO, HOW long has it been since Lee Sarang regressed?" Ki Gayoon asked while sending off Ryu Sungbin. Well, he only did that because he wanted to talk to this bastard in private. "And do you know when she’ll return to normal?"

Ryu Sungbin leaned against his luxury car, with hands in his pockets, before opening his mouth. "Lee Sarang regressed a few days ago. We don’t know when she’ll return to normal."

"You look pretty calm."

"According to Matthew, Lee Sarang told him that she got a new skill recently after clearing a dungeon with you."

Ah, right.

Gayoon remembered that he asked Lee Sarang to help him clear a dungeon last time.

I didn’t get a new skill as a reward, but I got a new mine from that.

"If it’s just a skill, then it’s bound to wear off at some point," Ryu Sungbin said. "Until then, take care of Lee Sarang. She wants to stay with you."

"What caused her to regress?"

"I told you, she raided a Special Grade dungeon—"

"Bullshit," Gayoon said bluntly. "Did you try to kill her?"

"If I wanted Lee Sarang dead, she would have been dead a long time ago," Ryu Sungbin said, matching Gayoon’s bluntness. "Stop asking questions when it’s obvious you won’t believe anything I say anyway. If I caused Lee Sarang’s regression, do you think I would have sent her here?"

"Yeah, you would because you know I can’t turn away Lee Sarang. Maybe that’s your plan— to put Lee Sarang by my side for god knows why."

"See? You don’t trust me. So, what’s the point of this conversation, Gayoon-ah?"

Right.

Lee Sarang isn’t in her right mind, so it’s easy for Ryu Sungbin to take advantage of her. So, of course, I’ll be suspicious when he sends her here. I’m sure this bastard gave Lee Sarang a mission or something.

"Gayoon-ah, you’ve always had a soft spot for Lee Sarang."

"It’s only because she’s the maknae."

"Then why didn’t you take her with you when you abandoned us?" Ryu Sungbin asked, and it seemed like he was really curious. "Lee Sarang wanted to go with you back then."

"You need Lee Sarang more than I need you."

"Me and the others?"

"You," Gayoon said, pointing at Ryu Sungbin. "Do you think you would have lived this long if it wasn’t for Lee Sarang?"

Ryu Sungbin looked confused by what he said.

Of course, this bastard doesn’t know since he’s barely sober all these years.

"Ryu Sungbin, I could turn a blind eye to the majority of atrocities you’ve committed these past few years. I even let it slide when Bambi sexually assaulted me, despite Noh Yuno’s frustration," Gayoon said in a serious tone. To be honest, he didn’t like having this kind of conversation with Ryu Sungbin. But he felt like he could finally open up to this bastard again. "But there’s one thing I cannot forgive."

"What is it?"

"Letting one of our own die."

Ryu Sungbin flinched.

"Matthew. Lee Sarang. Jin Sooin," Gayoon said, clenching his hands tight. "I know that you’re letting yourself and those three kids as Bambi’s puppets. But I turned a blind eye because it’s hard to save people who don’t want to be saved. That doesn’t mean I won’t get in your way if you cross the line."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about—"

"Sungbin Hyung."

Ryu Sungbin looked surprised when Gayoon called him ’hyung’ again.

Why am I suddenly being sentimental?

"You can be the next devil for all I care," Gayoon said in a threatening voice. "But if you let one of those kids die, I’ll kill Bambi and Moon Noa in front of you."

***

"I’M GOING to sleep with Gayoon Oppa."

How cunning.

Yuno knew that the young Lee Sarang made it sound suggestive on purpose even though it was clear that she just wanted to sleep in the same room as Ki Gayoon.

Is she trying to make me jealous?

"It’s up to Gayoon Hyung since it’s his room," Yuno said indifferently. "I have my own bedroom, so it’s none of my business."

Lee Sarang looked shocked by his nonchalance. "How can you let your boyfriend share a bed with a woman?!"

"Woman? I don’t see any woman here."

"Am I a man then?!"

"You’re just a kid my boyfriend knows from his old neighborhood," Yuno said bluntly. "If Gayoon Hyung sees you as a woman, then I’ll castrate him and feed his penis to the dungeon monsters hidden at the Association."

Lee Sarang let out a hiccup as if she was shocked. "Gayoon Oppa’s family jewels are in danger...!"

"Why would it be in danger when I don’t see you as a woman, you brat?"

It was Ki Gayoon.

Hmm?

Yuno noticed that his boyfriend looked exhausted.

I get it, though— talking to Esper Ryu Sungbin-ssi is like talking to a brick wall.

"But Babe Princess, shouldn’t you treasure my penis a bit more?" Ki Gayoon complained, wrapping his arms around Yuno’s body while burying his face against Yuno’s neck. "I thought you love my dick—"

Yuno immediately covered Ki Gayoon’s mouth with his hand. "Watch your language, Hyung. There’s a child here."

Lee Sarang, as a fifteen-year-old, wasn’t a kid.

But anyone younger than twenty looks like a kid to me, and it’s probably the same for Gayoon Hyung since Gayoon Hyung is older than me.

"Gayoon Oppa, I want to see Jia Unnie."

Ki Gayoon suddenly flinched.

Okay, this is suspicious.

Yuno raised an eyebrow. "Who is Jia?"

Lee Sarang grinned. "Gayoon Oppa’s ex-Guide— the sister-in-law I want!"

***

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