Chapter 256
Words failed me as I stood there dumbfounded. Claude, with a shameless expression, spoke up.
“What’s the problem? I did as you asked. Sincerely.”
“No…”
He had just crushed the hopes of that young, dream-filled Esper, and he says that with a straight face…? I couldn’t help but laugh incredulously.
“I, I understand! Lord Claude, and those by your side, are all highly capable, which means I am far from sufficient in my current state. This means I should acquire sufficient skills in all aspects first! This lesson, learned through my body, will never be forgotten!”
The Esper, struggling to stand, exclaimed as if he were deeply moved by being thrown to the ground by Claude.
Claude merely sneered but did not refute his words.
What is this… Is this some sort of communication method among Espers that a Guide like me don’t understand? I was baffled.
At least the person involved seemed satisfied, so we could move past that incident. However, there was one last stunt that I just couldn’t tolerate.
Claude haughtily asked,
“If you have questions, ask them anytime. So here’s mine. Why does my Guide need to participate in this training?”
The situation was this: we were practicing how a Guide could provide guiding to multiple Espers simultaneously in a combat scenario. This training was essential for chaotic battle situations where any form of guiding was beneficial, even though I could only actually guide one person.
But Claude, pulling me back into my seat just as I was about to get up, questioned the instructor’s directive. He couldn’t see the point in making me participate in an exercise that wouldn’t help me in any way.
The reason I needed to participate was simple: to keep pace with the flow of the class.
Officially, I am a Guide who completed the imprinting process without following the proper procedures. Despite this, I can’t shamelessly claim, ‘I’ve already imprinted, so I don’t need to do this,’ while taking classes with other Guides and getting paid for it.
That would be like saying, ‘I won’t chip in for the alcohol since I’m not drinking,’ at a group outing and then ordering a ton of appetizers.
I glanced sideways at Claude.
At the very least, I knew that Claude had no intention of threatening the instructor. He simply didn’t understand why I, already imprinted with him, needed to participate in training meant for cooperating with other Espers.
But who could look into Claude’s red eyes and dare say, ‘Yes, we insist on making your Guide go through this’?
Eventually, the instructor turned his pale face away from me.
“…No, it’s fine. Miss Rose, you can take a break. Just relax… maybe forever…”
Did you hear that, Rose? He said to rest.
Claude whispered, pulling my head to rest on his shoulder, as if expecting me to praise him.
I shut my eyes tightly. I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t keep them open.
In the end, I gave up before the class was even over.
“…I won’t ever say I want to leave the house again. So, let’s go home now.”
Please…
I practically whimpered. Claude’s lips curled up in a triumphant smile.
* * *
When we got home, it wasn’t even noon yet. But I was already exhausted, wanting nothing more than to lie down.
Unlike Claude, I don’t live my life as I please. Today was really tough. Throughout the training, I was so self-conscious that I wished I could crawl into a hole.
But as soon as we trudged into the entryway, he suddenly hugged me tightly from behind.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his nose in the nape of my neck, letting out a groan.
“Now I can finally breathe…”
“…”
“…It would be nice if the world consisted of just you and me.”
His voice was weary, as if he were the one who had gone through an ordeal, even though it was blatantly obvious who had really suffered.
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