Please Don’t Sponsor the Guide - Chapter 50

Curious what happens next? Read more here

“Hello, Commander.”

That was all—just a light greeting as he walked by. Adrien was flipping through some paperwork when something caught her eye, causing her to pause.

At that exact moment, a wave of guiding hit her—so intense it felt like someone had dumped a bucket of it right over her head.

Instinctively, Adrien turned toward the source. She locked eyes with Samuel, whose hand was still awkwardly half-raised toward her.

He froze, looking thoroughly embarrassed, like a kid caught doing something wrong. Adrien’s face twisted in disbelief. There was only one possible explanation for what was happening.

Every time they crossed paths, Samuel Norah was secretly radiating guiding energy in her direction.

She couldn’t help but laugh—utterly incredulous.

Samuel’s neck turned bright red as he spun around, ducking his head like a scolded child. The other new recruits noticed and asked what was wrong, but Samuel didn’t answer.

Adrien also chose not to say anything. Before she knew it, the incredulous laughter had shifted into a real smile—a smooth, genuine one. She only realized when she caught her own reflection in the window.

‘Ah…’

Adrien was startled.

She’d never seen herself make an expression like that before. She’d never thought she was someone who could really smile like that, just from seeing someone else.

Even as the smile faded, her face contorted in a strange way—but somehow it didn’t look awkward. If anything, it looked… happy. As if some lingering aftertaste of joy was still wrapped around her.

“Dear Addie, the moment you think you’ve found happiness, you have to seize it. Happiness is so light that if you hesitate, it’ll drift away before you know it.”

She wasn’t sure why her father’s voice, now only a fading memory, popped into her mind just then.

Without a second thought, Adrien spun around and headed straight to the records room—not the post office where she’d meant to go. She was after the exclusive guide application forms.

It was a purely impulsive move. But she didn’t hesitate, and she didn’t regret it.

The process of filling out the form—reading through everything, writing her name, signing—seemed to pass in a blur. Somewhere along the way, Adrien realized she was actually looking forward to this.

While carrying the form, reading it over, signing it—she kept imagining Samuel’s reaction when she handed him the paperwork.

“Somehow, it just felt right.”

That long, complicated revelation could be summed up in that one simple, offhand remark.

But Adrien’s face gave her away. Alex, noticing the faint look of anticipation, smirked.

“So, how are you going to tell him?”

“What?”

“…Commander, you’re not just planning to toss him the application and order him to become your exclusive guide, are you?”

Adrien froze—because yes, that had been exactly her plan. Alex stared at her as if she’d just confessed to a heinous crime, barely holding back from pointing a finger.

“You’re practically a couple already!”

“We never actually agreed to date.”

“But you know you like each other!”

“I suppose you could call it that?”

“Of course you could! Good grief, you’re going to be the death of me.”

Groaning, Alex massaged his neck and then leaned on the desk, red eyes blazing with intensity.

“Listen up. If you don’t want your exclusive guide to resent you forever, you need to make this proposal properly.”

“It’s not like I’m proposing marriage. Isn’t that a bit much?”

“In some ways, an exclusive guide is even closer than a spouse! Don’t be a shameless esper—just listen to me, will you?”

It didn’t sound like any conversation you’d expect between a commander and her subordinate, but Adrien was too preoccupied to object.

Now that she thought about it, Alex was right. An exclusive guide was as much a life partner as a spouse—maybe more. As an esper who depended on her guide for her very survival, it wasn’t her place to be picky or calculating.

So Adrien nodded, humbled.

“All right, what do you suggest? What’s the best way?”

“Samuel Norah’s a commoner, so the best approach is something everyone can see.”

“You mean… jewelry or something?”

“No, I mean something even more public.”

Alex grinned, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

* * *

The compatibility test results were out.

The Security Guard was buzzing with excitement and chaos as everyone checked their results, eager to see which guides and espers ranked in their personal top ten.

Some espers finally understood why they’d been so drawn to certain people; some guides were overjoyed to find the object of their secret crushes high on their lists.

Ensign Peter Ludd looked shell-shocked.

“My top match… is Ensign Ricola Alvard?”

Not only was Ricola his top match, but the compatibility score was a whopping 79%. Considering most first-place matches hovered in the 60s, that was a huge difference.

Even more telling—Peter’s second-best esper scored only 41%, making the contrast even starker.

“What the hell… Of all people, why did it have to be the one who picks a fight with me at every turn?”