"YOU’RE PRETTY for a Civilian."
Yuno just continued ringing the two boxes of HoneyMoon Condom and one bottle of HoneyMoon Lube that the male Esper bought. "Cash or card, sir?"
"Hey, didn’t you hear what I said? You’re pretty for a Civilian. You should feel honored hearing that from an Esper like me. We usually only have eyes for Guides."
And yet you can’t tell that I’m a Guide.
"Yes, sir. I heard your backhanded compliment loud and clear," Yuno said bluntly. "I must say, for an Esper, you’re pretty average-looking. Since I can also tell that you’re a low-ranking Esper, I suppose your face matches your rank."
The Esper’s face turned red from embarrassment, and then it turned to anger.
"How dare you mock me, an Esper who protects this country?"
The Esper tried to grab Yuno by the collar, but failed.
"Sir, we don’t tolerate rowdy customers here."
Lee Haerin— the manager and Yuno’s boss— grabbed the Esper by the wrist.
It was always fun to watch a petite woman like Lee Haerin drag an Esper twice her size out of the store effortlessly.
The rude Esper had a shocked look on his face after Lee Haerin shut the door in his face.
He probably doesn’t even know what happened.
"Yuno-ya, are you okay?"
"I’m okay, Boss," Yuno said, pausing for a moment. Then he bowed his head. "I’m sorry. I should have endured it instead of running my mouth again."
"You don’t have to apologize, Yuno-ya," Lee Haerin said, smiling. "And, to be honest, I prefer this Yuno to the Noh Yihun who refused to speak in the past."
Lee Haerin was one of the Espers rescued by Moon Noa from the Death Camp.
We briefly lived together in Sajangnim’s mansion for a year, but I was practically out of my mind then, so we only got close when we started working together in HoneyMoon Convenience Store.
"Oh, I’m sorry," Lee Haerin said, obviously panicking when Yuno fell silent. "I shouldn’t have brought that up."
"No, it’s okay, Boss," Yuno said, giving Lee Haerin a small smile. "I’m just thinking of how grateful I am that Nam Sori sent you here."
It was Nam Sori who recommended Lee Haerin to Moon Noa to be the store manager.
"Sori-ya probably realized that I’m not suited to be a rebel, so she sent me here," Lee Haerin said, smiling. And then she gasped. "Oh, today is Sajangnim’s interview. He told us to watch it."
Yuno sighed while shaking his head. "Sajangnim will just brag about the HoneyMoon Guiding Pills to the world."
The HoneyMoon Guiding Pills— like its name suggested— were pills that Espers could consume if they needed Guiding and there was no Guide available for them.
It was a breakthrough invention that made Moon Noa richer and more popular.
"But Yuno-ya."
"Yes, Boss?"
"You asked Sajangnim to hide your identity from the public," Lee Haerin said carefully. "You are the reason why Sajangnim succeeded in making the HoneyMoon Guiding Pills. Don’t you want the credit for it? I know that Sajangnim compensated you well, and you’ve reached an agreement that’s satisfactory to you in the long run. But I’m just wondering why you didn’t want to reveal yourself to the world. Is it because you don’t want attention?"
"I want to draw BL."
"Huh?"
"I’d rather draw BL than get involved in the Esper-Guide world again," Yuno said, and then he looked at his watch. "Speaking of which, I need to go now, Boss."
"Oh, right," Lee Haerin said, nodding. "You have a meeting today, right?"
"Yes— I’m meeting the producer from SolaToon who reached out to me."
SolaToon was a webcomics platform famous for its boys’ love (BL) content.
And the proof that every person who falls in love with me would die a tragic death.
***
"Ki Gayoon-ssi, all the ingredients we used to make HoneyMoon Guiding Pills are written on the package," Moon Noa said, smiling ’innocently.’ He wasn’t afraid to provoke Ki Gayoon since Ryu Sungbin was there, silently watching that little confrontation. "You know how to read, don’t you?"
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