Chapter 18
“Let… Let go… of me…”
His struggling gradually subsided. With his eyes rolled back, and drool spilling from his mouth, Valan eventually lost consciousness.
“…”
Silence filled the cave.
At that moment, everyone must have had only one thought.
Never mess with Claude.
Ordinary Espers typically had one ability. However, Claude, being the world’s strongest, possessed multiple abilities.
Among them, one was the psychokinetic power that had just flung Valan away and also pinned him down to the ground with gravitational force.
Even with just one of his abilities, he was able to render an A-level Esper completely helpless. This was what an S-class Esper truly meant.
Just then.
Crash! Guooh, crash—!
A loud rumbling sound echoed.
Although Valan was no longer capable of causing trouble, his earlier reckless actions had created a much bigger problem.
The cave began to collapse due to the shockwaves. It was imperative to return and seek shelter.
I quickly retrieved the return scroll I had been holding onto, but I had overlooked one crucial detail.
“B, But, this… It’s a 10-person scroll…”
Originally, our team had been composed of 9 members. The scroll I had been issued was designed for 10 people.
However, with Claude suddenly joining our team and two additional guides added to accommodate an S-level Esper like him, the total number of people who needed to escape the collapsing cave was 12.
This meant that 2 people would have to be left behind.
There was no way the princesses of the Espers—the Guides—would be among those left behind.
So… what about the Espers?
“D, Do any of you have teleportation abilities or any form of instant movement abilities?”
“Ah, what about you, Lord Claude? Besides psychokinesis, you also have the ability to teleport, right?”
One Esper suggested, and Claude seemed quite displeased but eventually nodded and gave a reluctant acknowledgment.
As soon as he confirmed his abilities, an Esper snatched the return scroll from my hand.
“Very well, Lord Claude! Will you take this non-Esper civilian with you for the return trip?”
What the heck!
Are you crazy?!
“H, Huh? Wait a minute, hold— hold on…!”
“We need to ensure the safety of the Guides and return with them.”
Regardless of my protests or concerns, the Espers paid no attention to my pleas.
The Esper who had been carrying me gently placed me on the ground and promptly joined the group of other Espers.
Th-th-these supposed knights have absolutely no sense of chivalry at all!
And soon, it was decided that I’d be left alone with Claude in the cave. An eerie silence filled the air.
It was apparent that the other Espers were unwilling to be left alone with him, which was why they all decided to go together.
I voiced my objections urgently, my frustration mounting as my desperation soared.
“Why are you protecting the Guides? All you need to do is tear the scroll, and it’s over! Why are six Espers guarding them? And on top of that, I’m a patient! Just leave one Esper here, and it will be fine!”
“Come on, everyone. Stand close together… Ah, hold Valan as well.”
“Then what about you leave one of the Guides and take me instead?! Didn’t you see that monster wipe out all the mutants here? He’ll do a much better job protecting that one Guide compared to you all who didn’t do anything…!
“Alright. I’m tearing the scroll now.”
I’m a Guide! I’m a Guide, too!!
But my protests fell on deaf ears. They were already grouped together, and with a quick rip of the scroll, they vanished…
Now, it was just Claude and me left in the cave.
I felt an ominous gaze on my back.
“…Monster?”
I shivered with fear as the menacing voice echoed in my ears.
S, save me…
I could feel every bone in my body shaking.
I had only tried to avoid being left alone with Claude.
…But I went ahead and called him a monster.
Trembling from head to toe, I turned around.
And Claude, with a twisted expression, was looking down at me.
“…I’m… I’m sorry…”
Claude stared at my terrified face with a cold, unwavering gaze.
I avoided his eyes and looked away, trying to escape his intimidating presence.
How long did that go on?
Time passed, but it felt like an eternity.
Claude released an annoyed sigh and eventually started to move.
“…Huh?”
“…”
“Huuuh? You’re going? You’re leaving without me??”
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