Chapter 66
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“To save someone with money, and then control their life as payment… That’s exactly the kind of thing I despise most. And of all the things I hate, this is the worst.”
“…….”
“An Esper who leeches off the guiding of someone they once sponsored, just to keep crawling along like a parasite.”
Adrien’s expression twisted, as if she were staring at something truly revolting.
“I made a vow. If it ever came to that—if I became a parasite—I’d rather die in agony.”
“Commander, but…!”
“Enough.”
Adrien raised a hand to cut him off.
“Your opinion doesn’t matter anymore. This isn’t something I’m willing to compromise on. I’m sorry for giving you false hope, but just forget about the request I made.”
“Commander, I can’t accept this.”
“I never asked for your approval.”
“It’s 98 percent!”
Samuel couldn’t hold back, his voice rising.
“The only reason you haven’t taken on a personal Guide all this time was because you never met anyone with a compatibility like mine, right? Even with Captain Linton’s guiding… it was hard on you, wasn’t it?”
“Ensign Samuel, that’s none of your business.”
“How can I not care, when I know how much better you’ve been since you met me?”
“And who are you, exactly?”
Now Adrien looked at Samuel with fierce intensity, almost as if she wished he’d storm out of the room, wounded and bleeding.
And for a moment, it seemed Samuel would do just that—his face froze and went pale as chalk. Adrien straightened her back, staring at Samuel’s wrecked appearance.
“There’s been an order to discipline those who falsified their identity as sponsoree.”
“…….”
“Given the circumstances, you’ll only receive a formal reprimand. That’s the last favor I’ll do for you. Now get out of this office.”
Adrien’s words were as cold and formal as any superior officer.
That should be enough to make him leave, she thought. No matter how naïve he was, there was nothing left to hold him here now.
But the awful sound of the door never came. Unable to help herself, Adrien looked back.
Samuel was still standing right where she’d left him, head bowed, fists clenched at his sides.
“…Forget about the personal Guide position. But please—just let me guide you.”
What the hell is he saying now?
Adrien’s face contorted with emotion.
“Samuel Norah, just because we slept together, do you think the commander’s orders don’t apply to you anymore?”
“No, ma’am. I’m sorry, Commander.”
“Leave. And don’t ever bring this up again.”
“…Understood. I’ll take my leave.”
Samuel gave a stiff bow and turned to go. Adrien kept her eyes fixed on his retreating back until he’d disappeared beyond the closed door.
It was as if she believed watching him for one second longer might somehow delay their parting—every blink felt like a luxury she couldn’t afford.
Click.
At the sound of the door closing, Adrien collapsed against her desk.
“…God.”
She never should have let it get this far.
She should’ve known better. Realizing it now, far too late, all she’d managed to do was wound Samuel as well.
As she bent over, something caught on her shirt and swung out—a guiding necklace.
Looking at the mottled green pendant, Adrien realized she hadn’t checked Samuel’s necklace that morning.
What color had his been? Had he filed for the imprint leave like he was supposed to?
Was he skipping meals or throwing himself into harsh training just because he was upset?
‘…Stop it. This isn’t your business anymore.’
Adrien shook her head, trying to rid herself of those thoughts.
But no matter how hard she tried to let go, her mind kept filling up with nothing but Samuel Norah.
It was driving her crazy.
* * *
“What’s really going on with you?”
“Nothing.”
Peter glared at Samuel with open frustration. Samuel was climbing the wall in the training gym, not a shred of safety equipment on him.
Every time he reached, his training shirt clung to him, showing off the play of triceps and lats.
For nearly a week, Samuel had been training like a madman—and barely eating. As a result, his muscles had only become more defined with each passing day.
Finally, Peter couldn’t stand it any longer and started up the wall after him—though Peter, of course, was fully harnessed.
“This is about the Commander, isn’t it?”
When he finally caught up to Samuel, Peter blurted it out.
“She rejected you, didn’t she? You begged to be her personal Guide and she turned you down?”
“…Something like that.”
“What? For real?”
Peter’s voice came out louder than he’d intended, and he quickly glanced around. Luckily, no one else seemed to be paying attention.
He scrambled to catch up with Samuel again.
“But why? With 98% compatibility, the guiding alone must be… incredible. Even if you weren’t her Guide, you’d be good enough as a… you know, a bed partner.”
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