Chapter 330
After much struggle, I finally grabbed hold of the long curtain near the ventilation duct and jumped down.
Riiiip— Thud!
I barely stifled a scream, biting it back as I quickly surveyed my surroundings. Fortunately, no one was around, and despite the noise of my fall, everything remained eerily quiet. It made sense—this was a VIP room, so no one would be lurking nearby.
The curtain I had clung to as I fell was already half-torn. If I were lucky, I might be able to climb back up, but the evidence of my entry and exit would be glaringly obvious.
There was no point in regretting what was already done. I resolved to focus on the original purpose of coming here: assessing the situation outside through the window.
Limping slightly, I approached the window… and what I saw was completely unexpected.
I saw people outside the building, just leaving. Even from a distance, I could recognize them instantly from their backs. They were none other than the Guides I had been separated from earlier.
Dressed in shabby, worn clothes, they looked nervous, glancing around anxiously, huddled together. And those guiding them outside didn’t seem to be from this place.
Their movements were orderly, their posture upright and confident, but their demeanor was more protective and considerate rather than oppressive. They were not the Espers from inside the facility.
Then, as I watched the next scene unfold, my confusion turned into certainty. The two Espers who had been destroying the ceiling earlier were now being led out in Esper-specific restraints.
“…What happened in just that short time?” I muttered, pressing my face against the window in disbelief.
The facility Espers had been so intent on finding me that they tore down the ceiling. Did they somehow expose the existence of the Guides? If I had known this would happen, should I have climbed down when the Espers from outside were searching for me?
Caught up in my thoughts…
“Huh…?”
A surprised sound escaped me.
From inside the building, at least twenty more Espers came rushing out, seemingly having been alerted to the situation. There were at least twice as many of them as the people guiding the Guides outside.
It was only natural. The Espers outside had managed to avoid the Center’s control and surveillance thanks to the Guides. Now that they were on the brink of losing all the Guides, there was no way they would stand by and watch.
However, they ultimately failed to retrieve the Guides. The reasons were complex.
First, those opposing the outside Espers were veterans of protecting Guides as their top priority in emergency situations. The moment they sensed the presence of those targeting the Guides, they formed a defensive formation.
And secondly…
Before any serious conflict could break out, the outside Espers suddenly collapsed on the spot. It was as if an overwhelming force had pressed down on them, making it impossible for them to move.
There was no need to question the source of that power. After frantically scanning the area, I finally spotted the person I had been desperately searching for.
The one person I had never once forgotten since coming here.
Claude.
Even though I couldn’t clearly make out the faces of the others from this distance, I recognized him instantly.
Claude looked even more gaunt than I remembered. He had easily subdued the Espers rushing out of the building and was now scanning the Guides in front of him with sharp, vigilant eyes.
The reason for his behavior was obvious. He was looking for me.
Before I could even process what I was feeling, tears welled up in my eyes.
He really came. He’s so amazing. If he had disappeared, and it was up to me to find him, I could never have done it. I would have just cried, clueless about where he might be because I’m not smart enough.
All I could do was send out a telepathic signal, which I didn’t even know would work. There were barely any clues, yet he still managed to find me and come all the way here.
A wave of overwhelming emotion and relief washed over me.
My reckless courage had always been possible because I was by his side. With him, I would be the safest person in the world.
And now that I knew he was close by, I felt braver than ever.
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Erica