Please Don’t Sponsor the Guide - Chapter 102

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As a result, Robin Taylor’s house was revoked, and his permission to cohabit with a guide was also rescinded. He would now be required to serve five years of unpaid duty, with his next promotion all but out of reach, and transfers to other units forbidden.

For a major who had chosen the Security Guard in order to protect guides, this was perhaps the harshest punishment possible. The capital could no longer be considered a safe zone for him, either.

This time, even Linton couldn’t escape disciplinary action. It was clear he hadn’t refused to reassign the guides out of some personal grudge. Even Adrien no longer felt compelled to defend him.

“What about the Ensign?”

“…It’s the same.”

Through the small window in the door, Adrien could see into the hospital room. Samuel still lay motionless in his bed, looking as though he were dead.

A nullification field was in place, suppressing both esper and guide abilities, so Adrien could at least observe Samuel safely.

“What’s Ensign Samuel’s blood status?”

“No trace of green at all. That’s the most baffling part.”

“It reacts differently than other guides’ blood?”

“Yes. When other guides’ blood is mixed with the esper enhancer, it always turns green—except for his.”

Whether that was a good sign or not, no one could say.

Adrien rubbed her face. She had never felt so helpless in her life. Sometimes she wondered what things would be like if she were an immeasurable healer esper instead. At least then, she could have poured her power into Samuel until her body gave out.

Instead of just wallowing in frustration, she found herself gripping the doorknob unconsciously.

Gasp—!

A surge of powerful guiding energy flashed through her—so intense it nearly took her breath away, then vanished. Startled, Adrien let go, and her eyes met those of the other esper in the room.

“Did you just feel that?”

“…That was guiding energy, wasn’t it?”

“What was that? Has the nullification field been lifted?”

“I’ll check with the medical officer right away!”

Alex hurried out to fetch the guide doctor, while Adrien remained frozen in place, still clutching the doorknob.

Her heart was pounding out of control, palms slick with cold sweat from the tension. Wild, irrational hope bubbled up inside her.

‘No way. It can’t be…’

But Adrien couldn’t help herself.

At that moment, the doorknob turned.

Startled, Adrien looked up.

“…Commander?”

It was Samuel Norah, a little thinner and still dressed in a patient’s gown, but standing in the doorway. A white glow radiated from his body, almost like a halo.

Adrien was instantly overwhelmed by a tidal wave of intense, euphoric guiding energy.

* * *

Guiding level tests were conducted in specially designed chambers. The underground testing facility looked more like a cavern than a proper room, with ten thousand special stones—some as rare as adamantine—embedded in the floor, like a field of crystal flowers.

The guide would sit in the center of this stone garden and release their guiding energy to the fullest. The more stones that responded and glowed, the higher the measured value and the guide’s level.

“Are you really sure about this, Ensign?”

Alex, who had just finished the preparations, asked with a note of concern as Samuel looked into the chamber through a wide window.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“You only just woke up today, Ensign. Even if your energy is overflowing, this must be a strain.”

“I need to know. The sooner, the better.”

Samuel’s gaze was unwavering. No amount of persuasion would change his mind now.

Besides, Alex could feel it himself—the waves of guiding energy radiating from Samuel, far more powerful than before. It was as if he was intentionally flooding the room with energy, but Samuel’s face showed no signs of strain. It didn’t seem like he was even doing it on purpose.

A guide who’d only just woken from a coma shouldn’t have been able to release so much energy and remain so composed. Frankly, Alex was dying of curiosity about Samuel’s condition.

“All right, then. Go ahead.”

“Thank you.”

Samuel entered the test chamber. Alex, meanwhile, double-checked the last details for the guiding level test.

Retesting for a level increase was almost unheard of; most guides’ levels were determined at birth, even if the exact timing of their abilities’ awakening varied.

But Samuel Norah’s current guiding power was off the charts—nothing like before. It was Adrien who first reported the change.

“I… I think something’s wrong with the Ensign.”

When Adrien relayed the news that Samuel had regained consciousness, Alex had found it odd how pale she looked. When he asked for more details, all she could say was that Samuel was radiating far too much guiding energy.

Alex still didn’t fully grasp what was happening—at least, not until he saw Adrien suddenly stop in her spot as she approached Samuel’s hospital room.