Chapter 171
“…Claude has a scheduled deployment? When?”
I asked stupidly, holding a piece of bread.
“Right away, in three days. I don’t know the duration. It’ll take at least a month since he has to travel to the border.”
“….”
“It seems you didn’t know. The deployment orders were issued to all the personnel yesterday afternoon. I heard you came home early… Didn’t Lord Claude tell you?”
He hadn’t. Instead, he had been actively suggesting that I eat cake, ice cream, anything at all.
By that time, Claude must have already known he would be deployed in three days’ time. How could he not tell me something so significant and urgent?
Shana regained her composure upon seeing my shocked expression and reverted to her usual haughty and arrogant attitude.
“Ah… well, maybe he felt no need to tell you. You won’t be participating in the deployment, after all.”
“…What?”
“Imprinted Guide? Hah. If you can’t provide guiding energy on the battlefield, what use is an imprinted Guide anyway…”
“What are you talking about!”
I kicked back my chair and stood up, yelling. The snacks I had poured out on the desk scattered everywhere.
I advanced towards Shana like a hunting dog ready to pounce. She shuddered and began to step back cautiously. The more she retreated, the more I pressed forward.
Finally, Shana’s back hit the wall of the classroom.
With nowhere left to retreat, she tried to escape sideways, but I blocked her on either side with my arms.
Her face turned pale as she found herself trapped against the wall.
“M-Move! This isn’t some kind of dogfight….”
“Lord Claude is leaving for at least a month in just three days, and I’m left here alone! Does that make any sense?”
“W-What can I do about it! Only two Guides have been drafted, me and Lord Oscar!”
…And those words were enough to send me over the edge.
***
Firstly, Claude is being deployed with other Guides, leaving me—the one everyone thinks is his imprinted Guide—behind.
Secondly, I heard this news from Shana, not from Claude.
Thirdly, I’ve been fasting for 20 hours.
Just one of these would have been enough to upset me, but all three together were too much.
Therefore, furious, I headed straight for the Esper Division. I forgot all about the perfect attendance reward of 500 Berks I would receive today for attending all classes.
After asking around the Espers I encountered, I easily located Claude.
He was not alone. He was surrounded by Espers, including Log #2, Log #3, Oscar—who especially frequented the Esper Division—and several others. Apparently, except for Shana, these were the people who would be deployed with Claude this time.
Since when was Claude so diligent to come to the Esper Division every day? I felt a surge of emotion.
Claude generally disliked people. It started because of a guiding allergy, but now he could barely stand having anyone else around him.
It’s to the point where even the office workers at the Esper Division could only catch a glimpse of him once or twice a year from a distance.
And yet, yesterday he was amidst hundreds, smashing golems and receiving applause. Today, he’s surrounded by Espers.
Maybe his social skills have flourished since his guiding allergy improved.
With a heavy heart, I stomped over to him.
As expected, Claude looked down at me in surprise.
“Rose…? What are you doing here—”
“Why? Am I not supposed to come here?”
I narrowed my eyes and shot back.
“I’m here to see my Esper! Why! What!”
“It’s not that, you told me never to come to the Guide Division to see you….”
“You and I are different! It might not be okay for you, but I can!”
“….”
“Why do you look like that? Do you feel wronged now?”
“…No.”
Claude responded with a resigned look.
Humph, having overpowered Claude, I pressed on.
“What’s this business about a deployment plan, huh?”
“Ah….”
Claude sighed softly. It seemed he finally realized why I had come in such a state.
“They already announced it yesterday, why didn’t you tell me anything?”
“You were in a bad mood all day. You were angry, and you didn’t even eat. I couldn’t just scratch at that wound.”
“….”
…Unnecessarily logical and frustrating.
I understood, but it was no comfort given my mood.
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