Chapter 106
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With his long strides, Samuel quickly climbed the steps and stopped in front of Adrien. The moment their eyes met, a tidal wave of guiding energy crashed over her.
The pure white light that had been flowing harmlessly along the floor surged straight into Adrien instead. For a split second, she nearly collapsed where she stood.
She was losing her mind.
“…Ensign Samuel Norah. What do you think you’re doing right now?”
Adrien whispered under her breath.
There was no way this light was invisible to others. Right in front of everyone, Samuel was blatantly pouring his guiding into her as if declaring to the world that he was the only guide fit for Adrien.
“I apologize. I’m still not very good at containing my guiding,”
Samuel replied, bowing his head politely.
Yet his answer was far too calm. As if Adrien’s body, that is always starved for guiding, had simply pulled it out of him on its own.
“…Ha.”
Others might be fooled.But the two standing on the platform knew better.
It was always like this. Infuriatingly sly.
What was even more absurd was that Adrien wasn’t angry. Instead, familiar craving stirred, hunger kindling along with the pleasure.
She forced herself to steady her breathing.
“Ensign Samuel Norah.”
“……”
“You carried out your mission with utmost dedication, and even in a dire and dangerous situation, you demonstrated the spirit of a soldier by protecting your comrades without regard for your own life.”
She was going to lose it.
Despite flawlessly reciting the words she had memorized out of fear of slipping up, Adrien’s thoughts were a complete mess.
“Furthermore, having reawakened as an unprecedented unmeasurable-level guide, we have every confidence that you will continue to serve and protect the Empire as a member of the Special Forces.”
“……”
“In recognition of these merits, I hereby promote you from ensign to captain.”
An aide stepped forward, presenting a brooch-shaped insignia on a red cushion. It was a star-shaped badge with a red gemstone at its center, linked by a gold chain to a larger star.
Adrien carefully picked it up and moved to pin it onto Samuel’s jacket.
Her palm got sweaty.
The pin wouldn’t go in cleanly. Adrien had never been good at delicate work, but today, her hands betrayed her even more than usual.
Each time the pin slipped, her brow twitched. As she pressed down on the pendant, her finger brushed against Samuel’s chest.
Beneath the thin shirt, she felt the heat and firm resilience of his body.
Startled, Adrien yanked her hand back.
“Ah.”
Too late, she’d pricked her finger on the pin.
Just as her expression twisted, Samuel suddenly grabbed her hand. He lifted the beading drop of blood and brought it lightly to his lips.
No, it was closer to a kiss placed on her fingertip.
The instant he touched her, the moment his soft lips met her skin, an overwhelming surge of guiding flooded into her.
It felt like forcing something enormous through a passage far too small. It was dizzying, almost painful. The sensation plunged straight into her core. Adrien cried out without meaning to and jerked her hand away.
“…Ensign!”
Flustered, she glanced around at the soldiers still standing at attention. She was the only one making a scene. No one else reacted.
Samuel, too, spoke calmly.
“I’m no longer an Ensign.”
“……”
“You pinned the insignia on me yourself. I’m a captain now.”
He gently adjusted the badge Adrien had failed to fasten properly. Adrien let out a hollow laugh. Was that really the important part right now?
“…Right. My mistake. Captain Samuel, congratulations on your promotion.”
“Thank you.”
“By Special Forces custom, a specially promoted officer may make a request, granted at the commander’s discretion. Do you have one?”
It was a routine line, nothing more, but Adrien felt tense.
With the exception of choosing a dedicated partner, which was strictly personal, most requests had to be honored.
Even something like asking for a private dinner with the commander.
So if it were Samuel Norah, then surely—
“I would like the opportunity to train under someone who is the best at guiding containment.”
…What?
Adrien nearly faltered.
It was nothing like what she’d expected. She quickly regained her composure and nodded—
rationally speaking, it was a relief.
“Very well. Is there someone specific you have in mind?”
“Yes. Captain Linton Vionne.”
At the unexpected name, Adrien froze. So did everyone else in Phoenix Hall.
Only Samuel blinked innocently, unfazed. Adrien let out a short, incredulous laugh.
She had a feeling that from here on out, not a single thing would go the way she expected.
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