Becoming the Guide of the Mysophobic Villain? Absolutely Not! - Chapter 92

In the midst of this, my hand was suddenly released from Claude’s grasp.

He pushed his chair back and stood up from his seat opposite me, his face stern and cold.

“Uh… Um!”

I called out without thinking, getting up as well.

But he coldly turned his back on me and returned to his original seat.

Despite the surrounding commotion, he sat there, composed and aloof.

However, the tension in his protruding jaw and neck muscles was undeniable.

He was forcibly suppressing his boiling anger.

I fidgeted with the hand he had touched, still feeling his cool touch.

So… did he help me?

Claude could have easily won the bet by simply leaving me alone.

But he went out of his way to ensure that I could guide, allowing me to undergo the test officially.

It’s hard to believe, but he was really accommodating me, even though this situation couldn’t have been pleasant for him.

……

…Why would he do that?

Does he have some ulterior motive?

“No, what exactly… Did you just guide? How did you do it, Miss Valentine?”

The examiner hurried over to ask.

“I don’t know either…”

I replied gloomily.

The waveform on the monitor had returned to calm as if nothing had happened. The examiner, looking perplexed, hesitated before asking.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Miss Valentine, this is just for confirmation, but…”

“Yes?”

“Have you… imprinted with Lord Claude?”

After all the suspense, that was his question.

My face flushed as I hastily shook my head.

“No, I haven’t imprinted with him.”

“Right, it wasn’t immediate with Lord Claude either. This is unprecedented in academic history. It’s certainly worth studying…”

“…”

“It’ll take about five minutes for the test results.”

Thump. Thump.

My heart felt as heavy as a bowling ball, pounding painfully. I pressed my chest with my fingertips, not sure if it helped, but out of anxiety.

In just five minutes, the outcome of the bet would be decided.

But at that moment, I couldn’t be sure if I actually wanted to win against him, if it’d be okay for us to become complete strangers, and if I could comfortably smile, thinking this was what I truly wanted.

…I was so frustrated with myself for not being certain of anything.

Contrary to the examiner’s words, the results were not announced even after 30 minutes had passed.

Yet, no one in the examination room left; everyone stayed put.

Suddenly, I felt like a monkey in a zoo.

The Center is a small society. Including all the Espers, Guides, and non-ability people, it’s hardly larger than an average university campus.

Naturally, the people you meet and the incidents that occur are all too predictable and monotonous.

I wondered how interesting this situation must be for the Espers and Guides of the Center, bored with the humdrum of daily life.

Compared to his reputation, Claude’s excessively clean private life ironically sparked much gossip.

Amidst rampant speculation about the S-Class Esper who never received guiding from any Center-affiliated Guide, there were even wild rumors suggesting he might be keeping a dozen dedicated Guides imprisoned in his basement.

But now, here was an unregistered Guide claiming to have been kidnapped, confined, and threatened by him.

And with Claude himself making a grand appearance at this very place, it seemed like he was affirming the testimony.

‘…I shouldn’t have run away.’

Rose, you complete, utter idiot.

Even if Azir pushed me hard, I should’ve been more thoughtful.

Why haven’t I learned anything from repeatedly acting thoughtlessly and causing trouble?

Regret always comes too late. As my head, which had been dizzy and chaotic, started to settle, what flooded in was a sense of self-reproach and regret.

I had committed an irreversible act.

This incident had dragged his reputation through the mud in an instant. From now on, every step he takes will be tagged with ‘despite having a history of abusing a powerless unregistered Guide.’

But that’s not all. The Center strictly defines any Esper actions that threaten Guide protection as illegal. Perhaps Claude might face severe punishment.

What will become of us now? Having successfully guided, perhaps I really might win this time. If so, will we just become strangers?

But what if I lose? Will he really imprint as he claimed?

The problem is…

…I can’t quite imagine Claude smiling at me again in either scenario.