Chapter 63
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“What are you talking about? Someone in the unit committed a violation?”
“It’s exactly as it sounds.”
The first person to greet Adrien when she arrived at the Security Guard headquarters was Linton.
Instinctively, Adrien glanced at his expression. Surely, Linton must have heard about the compatibility test results by now. If he was really sharp, he might even have figured out Adrien’s plan to take Samuel as her personal guide.
Linton had always coveted the spot as Adrien’s personal guide. She’d even braced herself for a confrontation today.
But Linton looked completely unfazed. He seemed determined to keep work and personal matters separate—bringing up only the business at hand that had required Adrien’s urgent presence.
“You’ll understand once you see this.”
When they reached Adrien’s office, Linton handed her a black folder.
“Illegal Sponsor Registration List?”
“These are people who weren’t eligible to be registered as sponsors, but lied about their age or status to collect sponsorship funds. Apparently, it’s become something of an underground trend among commoners.”
Extortion?
That was ridiculous. Sponsorship culture was never pure to begin with; was it really necessary to demonize the desperate efforts of commoners trying to survive?
Adrien was about to open the file when Linton interrupted.
“What punishment will you be giving?”
“Didn’t headquarters give any guidance?”
“No. There aren’t any specific laws about it, and some feel sympathy for the commoners. Besides, it’s an old, deeply-rooted problem, so they’ve left it up to the discretion of each organization.”
“What does that mean, exactly?”
“Legally, unless the sponsor files a complaint, nothing happens. For those employed in national service, the decision is left to the discretion of the local commanding officer.”
“So they’ve just dumped all the responsibility on us.”
Wasn’t it enough for espers to worry about national security? Yet here they were, stuck handling disciplinary action no one wanted to claim.
Adrien opened the folder. There were only a few names, but she stared at that brief list for a long, long time.
“…Captain Linton.”
Her grip on the folder tightened.
“Are you sure this is the right list?”
“It’s accurate, Commander.”
Adrien’s gaze dropped back to the list. She clenched her jaw.
Illegal Sponsoree: Samuel Norah (alias: Sammy Norah)
Defrauded Sponsor: Adrien Brillante
She’d seen these two names side by side just this morning, on the signature lines of the personal guide application. But now, instead of Esper and Guide, the heading was something else entirely.
Sponsor and Sponsoree.
That cursed, shadowy label that clung to her like a bad omen.
“Sammy… is Samuel?”
Even saying it aloud, she could barely believe it.
It was as if someone had punched a hole straight through her head, leaving nothing but a swirl of denial.
She didn’t want to believe it. She wished it were a lie. Of all the guides in the world, could it really be that the child she had once sponsored under a false identity was none other than Samuel Norah?
The same person who alone had given her perfect guiding?
The same Samuel whose every gesture was so endearing, so irresistible?
“…Ha.”
All the dreams she’d cherished came crashing down in an instant. It was a ridiculous tragedy. Adrien let the folder drop heavily onto the desk, almost forgetting Linton was in the room. She laughed bitterly.
Suddenly, she remembered—they were supposed to submit their personal guide application today.
Should she consider it a blessing to have learned the truth before filing the paperwork?
Maybe for Samuel it was. At least now he’d have a chance to escape the suffocating entanglement of Adrien Brillante.
“Ensign Samuel knew all about it.”
“…What?”
“I just confirmed with the Sponsorship Association. Samuel asked them to reveal the name of his sponsor.”
“When was this?”
“Before you came to the Security Guard, Commander.”
Adrien inhaled sharply, as if she might suffocate otherwise.
How was she supposed to process any of this?
Had Samuel Norah known the truth all along, and still approached her? Had he come to the office just to thank his sponsor?
If so, then their ‘imprint’ wasn’t the fateful connection she’d imagined, but just the repayment of a debt.
Just like all those other espers, who spent fortunes sponsoring powerless guides in exchange for their devotion.
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