Becoming the Guide of the Mysophobic Villain? Absolutely Not! - Chapter 324

“…Since we’re on the topic, why not try it now?”

As soon as I said those words, the Guides fell silent as if cold water had been poured over them.

“Now? So suddenly?”

Naturally, the Guides were defensive. This was expected.

“Isn’t now the best time? They’re probably busy hosting visitors outside.”

I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. Although it wasn’t something to take lightly, I knew that showing my nerves would only make the Guides more anxious.

“Besides, if we plan to escape, the most important thing is making contact with outsiders.”

Even if we got out of the room, it was unlikely that the Guides would be able to run far. They had been confined to windowless rooms for so long. Without knowing what lay outside, they couldn’t recklessly attempt to escape.

Moreover, Espers had physical abilities far beyond those of ordinary people, let alone Guides. There was no way they would fail to catch Guides fleeing in panic.

Therefore, involving an outsider was crucial to the success of this plan. The reason the Espers outside kept isolating us in these large rooms was clear.

The reason was obvious. The outsiders weren’t in league with the Espers. In other words, the Guides were people who, according to the common sense of the outside world, should be protected at the Center.

Letting them know about the Guides who had been abused for years was the most viable way to escape.

“…Rose is right.”

Someone among the previously silent Guides spoke up. It was Deon, who had given me his necklace, a keepsake from his fiancée.

“Stealing the key doesn’t mean we have to escape today. Once we have the key, we can discuss the next steps.”

No Guide could argue against that.

And so, I crawled into the ventilation duct. Despite being nervous, I managed to reach the key storage room without much difficulty and retrieved the key.

The entire process was so easy it felt almost anticlimactic compared to the tension I had felt. It was so easy that it made me more anxious.

The Guides shared the same reaction.

“Really? You actually did it?”

They seemed unable to believe it. Despite their urging, they hadn’t expected me to retrieve the key after just a few attempts.

“…Just take it.”

When I tossed the key, Donna caught it in surprise. Even as she held it, she seemed unsure if she should be the one holding it or if this key would indeed open the door.

The Guides started murmuring among themselves.

“Should we try it today?”

“How about being cautious for now? If we leave without preparation, we might run into the Espers before we meet any visitors. Let’s refine our plan a bit more…”

“Haven’t we already discussed the plan? Are we going to delay again? How much more do we need to discuss? Will we ever be ready next time? The time after that? If we keep delaying, when will we escape this place? Do you even want to escape?”

Eventually, their discussion turned into a heated argument.

I understood. The locked door held significant meaning for the Guides. Even if there were only one or two Espers standing guard, the Guides wouldn’t easily muster the courage to open the locked door.

This was partly because they knew they couldn’t match the Espers in strength, but also because a deep-seated sense of helplessness made them feel that any attempt would likely end in failure.

So, even with the key in hand, it was unlikely they would summon the courage to open the door.