Chapter 41
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“I thought you’d congratulate me, but that’s not the reaction I expected.”
“So who is it? Who’s been guiding you all this time, Commander?”
Alex swooped in with the question, his face far too close for comfort. Adrien instinctively leaned away, a frown on her lips.
“Well? Who is it!”
“Are you really shouting at your superior officer?”
“Oh, come on! You found someone, didn’t you? A Guide who doesn’t make you sick!”
That last line came out almost in a whisper. Adrien bit her lip, only half facing him.
Alex was the only one who knew Adrien’s secret. With a doctorate in both medicine and Esper studies, Alexander Macgis was recognized as the Empire’s leading authority on Espers and Guides.
That’s why Adrien had confided in him about her condition—hoping, perhaps, there’d be a solution or at least another similar case. But so far, Alex had never found a single one.
“Never mind, you don’t have to tell me. If someone is guiding Adrien Brillante, rumors would’ve spread through the corps by now anyway.”
“Even if you figure it out, it won’t matter.”
“What do you mean it won’t matter? You’re not saying you won’t take guiding from this person, are you?”
“…”
“No way! Why are you like this?”
“The levels don’t match.”
“What level is your Guide? Not Gold?”
“Silver. And lately, he even collapsed from guiding depletion because of me.”
“Wait, don’t tell me… Did you imprint him?”
“…”
“Seriously? Really? Adrien Brillante, who turns down Guides throwing themselves at her?”
“Don’t push it, Alex.”
Alex looked like his eyes would pop out. Adrien finally lost patience, shoving him away and glaring.
“Stop making a scene, Dr. Alex.”
But Alex was unfazed.
“Is this a dream? This is really Adrien Brillante, right? You’re not possessed by someone else?”
Adrien just stared.
“I mean… I just can’t believe it!”
After a few moments scratching his cheek under Adrien’s glare, Alex sobered.
“Still, even for a Silver Guide, one imprint shouldn’t cause full depletion.”
Adrien didn’t respond. Alex’s eyes and mouth both flew wide, and then he broke into a helpless laugh.
“Wow, turns out our Commander really does have a strong s*x drive for an Esper, huh?”
“This is exactly why I don’t like having you around.”
Adrien muttered. Alex’s constant chatter could make anyone’s head spin; even her usually frosty look had no effect on him. He just kept grinning, doing as he pleased.
“Commander, do you want to hear what I found this time?”
“You made progress in your research?”
“Of course! The Brillante family is funding me—can’t just sit around forever, can I?”
“Be specific. It’s my personal support, not the family’s.”
“Yeah, yeah, fine. But look at this first.”
Adrien took the thick report Alex held out.
“…A study on Guiding compatibility?”
“Until now, we’ve just been looking for cases where Espers feel discomfort from guiding, like you. But this time, I shifted focus a bit.”
“How so?”
“Turns out, even with the same Guide, Espers can feel things very differently.”
As Adrien flipped through the report, Alex smiled with clear satisfaction.
“To some Espers, a particular Guide’s guiding feels intensely pleasurable. To others, it barely registers. Sound familiar?”
“You’re saying it’s this ‘compatibility’ that makes the difference?”
“Exactly. I gathered a solid sample size and the results are reliable. I’m presenting at the Esper-Guide Conference next month.”
Adrien quickly scanned the conclusion. It matched Alex’s summary.
“…Eight out of ten Espers say they have a Guide whose guiding just fits them.”
“Right. And the opposite’s true, too. You’re just an extreme case—someone ultra-sensitive to guiding.”
“Like someone with picky tastes?”
“Well… that’s not exactly wrong. But your case goes beyond simple dislike—if it makes you actually nauseous, that’s a whole other level.”
Eager, Alex fetched a small tray holding a pristine white stone.
“First, please charge this with your power.”
“What are you testing now?”
“I’m going to find out who’s compatible with you as a Guide, of course!”
“You already have a way to test compatibility?”
“Who do you think I am? I’m Alexander Macgis!”
He looked proud. Adrien transferred her energy into the stone, mulling over his research.
Guiding compatibility. She’d never even imagined such a concept before.
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