Becoming the Guide of the Mysophobic Villain? Absolutely Not! - Chapter 186

“And what about Logs 2 and 3? Why would they ostracize you? For such a ridiculous reason?”

“Livener and Wilhelm also acted out of their profound respect for Lord Claude. I, too, was prepared for the consequences when I stood against Lord Claude…”

“Okay, let’s say those two acted out of blind loyalty. But what about Lord Claude? Did he just let you be ostracized?”

“W-Well, rather than ignoring it… he probably didn’t know. He’s not someone who pays attention to such small matters…”

Despite being dismissed by his superior for a baseless reason and ostracized by his peers, Daniel didn’t criticize Claude or Logs 2 and 3. Instead, he tried to defend them to me.

I felt a surge of anger in my chest.

“Oh, come on! You should have left me alone like the others! Why did you challenge Claude, knowing you’d get fired and bullied for it?”

I occasionally wondered what happened to Log 1 after that, but my curiosity quickly faded. I never imagined Daniel was suffering because of me while I was preoccupied with my own problems.

Feeling guilty, I questioned Daniel with misplaced anger, and he responded, flustered.

“W-Well… Miss Rose, you’re small and fragile…”

Hearing his words, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Lord Claude is a remarkable person, but… as far as I know, he has never had the experience of keeping someone as small and weak as you by his side. If he were to treat you the way he handles us, you could get hurt, no matter his intentions.”

“……”

“Unlike you, I am an Esper and an S-Class at that. Whatever punishment Lord Claude decides to give… I thought it would be better for me to endure it than you.”

“What…”

…How can someone be so foolishly kind?

I was at a loss for words.

The first and last time Daniel and I had a conversation was at the dessert cafe. In other words, we had no relationship to speak of.

And yet, he was saying that sacrificing himself for an ordinary, non-powered person like me was natural. For one reason only. Because I was weak.

Daniel gently cradling a fallen baby bird back into its nest. Daniel, who could become infinitely strong for the sake of the weak.

…Is this why even Irene fell in love with him at first sight?

“…Daniel, are you free for lunch tomorrow?”

“What? Free… you mean?”

“Make time if you don’t have any!”

I grabbed his hands and said firmly.

“I’ll take responsibility for you. Let’s have a meal together.”

“…Responsibility?”

In the middle of a serious conversation, Daniel found himself holding hands in a playful manner and was confused.

Regardless, I pressed him further.

“Just trust me for now. There won’t be any harm in it for you, I promise!”

In the end, unable to resist my insistence, Daniel nodded bewilderedly.

Thump, thump.

My heart, which had been quiet since Claude left, started to beat passionately again.

* * *

I don’t know why Daniel suddenly ended up with the variable of a guiding allergy, unlike in the original game.

But regardless of the cause, I knew the best thing I could do for Daniel was to help him receive guiding.

Oh, of course, I don’t mean that I would guide him myself—that would be stupid as hell.

The original male lead needs the original female lead. So, I planned to connect Daniel with Irene.

Irene is still an ordinary person without any abilities. According to the setting, she manifests her powers through a fateful encounter with the original male lead.

But Daniel didn’t have much time to wait for that fateful meeting. He nearly rampaged just today.

Claude managed to endure without a guide for over ten years only because he’s Claude. Other high-ranking Espers start showing adverse physical reactions if they go without guiding for just two weeks. I didn’t know how much longer Daniel could hold out, but it couldn’t be long.

How they meet isn’t as important as the fact that they meet.

Once they meet, they’ll fall in love, and Irene will manifest as a Guide. Then Daniel can receive guiding from her.

The assumption that Irene could guide Daniel was just my guess, but I was pretty confident. Even someone like Claude, who had experienced guiding allergies for years and years, received guiding from me.