Kirai's manga / #guideverse(6)

Chung Leehyun (MC) is only a C-rank guide, but when a mission goes awry, he discovers that he has perfect compatibility with an S-rank esper named Francis Han (ML). Even though they belong to different factions, Francis can't let Leehyun slip through his fingers, so he schemes to establish Leehyun as his guide… Review: The artwork is decent and the worldbuilding is quite intriguing. Francis is a bit of a jerk but he has other qualities of a cool seme: powerful, rich and cunning. He becomes clingy with Leehyun surprisingly fast, but that's to be expected when Leehyun is the only person who has ever guided him comfortably.

Synopsis: Cha Kwonwoo (ML) is an S-rank esper who works his on-call guide, Kim Dowon (MC) to the bone. Experiencing his cold demeanour firsthand, Dowon believes that Kwonwoo hates him, but when an incident turns Kwonwoo into an amnesiac, his attitude changes completely! It's hard to reconcile this lovestruck, smiley fool with the infamous Cha Kwonwoo, but Dowon has to guide him intimately in hopes of restoring his memory, and Kwonwoo is happy to oblige. Review: The chibis are pretty good, but most of the art feels a bit stiff. At least Cha Kwonwoo's face is drawn with lots of care! It's interesting that Kwonwoo's personality has changed so drastically from stoic CEO to puppy dog; it makes you wonder why Kwonwoo has become the way he is. Meanwhile, Kim Dowon acts more like a regular guy, but he doesn't seem to comprehend that Kwonwoo is hard gunning for his hand in marriage. A decent read for when you want a pathetic love interest.

Synopsis: Although he has been anticipating his discharge from military service, Colonel Kang Ha-jung (MC) is forced to stay so that he can guide and mentor the S++ rank esper, Kim Mu-hyuk. The day he dies on the field, he wakes up five years later in someone else's body. This is an opportunity for him to finally get discharged, but he can't ignore Kim Muhyuk, who is suffering without a guide. Review: We don't see much of ML yet, but he's already formed a great attachment to MC, even refusing the help of other guides for five whole years since MC's death. Personality-wise, MC is far different from a typical protagonist in any BL—as a colonel in his 30s, he holds himself seriously, acts rather jaded and shows no fear, even for his own life. The world-building is interesting, but for me personally, the main pairing does not entice me enough.

Synopsis: Although Woo Sang-heyok (ML) is a famous A-rank esper, no one has ever been able to guide him back to normal. Enter the middle-aged guide Heo Yun-jae (MC). Not only are they a compatible esper-guide pair, but they also turn out to be fated partners. Review: It's quite short but the story that we have is enjoyable. I liked the extra supernatural elements, like how ML's hair turns red when he's nearing his limit (it looks cool) or how the main pair can connect their minds. I think that the art is provided by different people, since the characters look great but the monsters look silly. Also, the translation is rather wonky, but that shouldn't reflect badly on the original manhwa. Overall, a decent short read.

Synopsis: S-class esper ML rescues MC from a terrorist organisation, but the guide he's interested in turns out to be a man. Years later, ML returns from dispatch and begins chasing MC, while MC has plans to leave the army. Review: Decided to drop at chapter 26. It's obvious that it's an adaptation of a novel, but some scenes don't get enough time to be fleshed out, and lots of details are told instead of shown. Although I like a wife-chasing dynamic, I think it's not executed well.