Chapter 68
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“Are there really none left? Not even one?”
“None. It’s been a whole week and not a single one has shown up.”
“What about the possibility of any offspring surviving?”
“Offspring? Since when do monsters have babies?”
Ullina snorted.
“We’ve captured and studied them more than a few times now, and there hasn’t been a single sign of reproduction instincts, let alone any young. Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?”
“You didn’t hear? There was a sighting on the outskirts of the capital—something with a similar shape to the monsters.”
“…Wait, are you serious?”
Ullina’s expression suddenly turned grave.
“Then why didn’t they issue a monster alert? Are people just trying to get themselves killed?”
“The Emperor hasn’t approved any such measures.”
“Hah.”
Unable to risk a charge of lese-majesty, Ullina simply let out a harsh sigh.
“Right, because the only people who ever have to deal with monsters are the Special Forces and the citizens living near the borders. No wonder the folks at the top don’t care.”
But she couldn’t quite hide the edge of sarcasm in her tone.
Monsters were a tremendous threat, but they’d never actually made it all the way to the capital, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Special Forces in containing them.
And most of those ‘border citizens’ were from conquered nations, absorbed into the Empire only thirty years ago. No one had had time to feel any sense of belonging, so they were still treated as second-class citizens.
Even with a Commander-in-chief, the ultimate authority over the military was still the Emperor. No matter how much praise the so-called ‘Light of Justice’ received, before the Emperor, everyone had to fall in line.
Ullina frowned in frustration, then her face lit up with a sudden thought.
“Hey, Adrien, you still don’t have a personal Guide, do you?”
“Not yet.”
“So what are you going to do? Don’t tell me you’re just going to accept whatever Guide your mother brings you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You really haven’t heard? They’re about to pass a new law. Gold-level Espers and Guides have to officially pair up with a personal partner within two years.”
“And if they don’t?”
“They’ll have to wear a power-restricting device and be locked away in that underground facility out in the wastelands.”
Ullina pulled out today’s newspaper from her stack of files.
“Seriously, you should pay more attention to what’s going on. You don’t even read the paper, do you?”
Adrien picked up the newspaper with a stiff face. There was no need to read far—the headline took up nearly the whole front page:
Who Will Be Adrien Brillante’s Personal Guide?
Special Law on Mandatory Esper-Guide Pairing Nears Approval
* * *
Adrien was not among those sent to greet the Commander-in-chief.
Samuel couldn’t help but suspect that Jacqueline had chosen this time specifically because Adrien wasn’t around.
Now, sitting across from her in the VIP lounge, Samuel found Jacqueline watching him intently. He met her gaze without flinching.
“Are you always this fearless?”
If this were an ordinary meeting with the Commander-in-chief, he’d never dare act like this.
But Jacqueline was also Adrien’s mother—the person with the keenest interest in Adrien’s Guiding situation.
It was clear she already knew the results of the compatibility tests, and that’s probably why she’d summoned him right away. Given all that, Samuel had no intention of acting ordinary.
“I’m not sure what you mean, ma’am.”
“Not many people are bold enough to stare me down, you know.”
“…If I came across that way, I apologize. I’ll be more careful.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Jacqueline waved her hand as if shooing away a bothersome insect, then raised an eyebrow at him with the same imperiousness.
“So, did Adrien tell you that you can’t be her personal Guide?”
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
“There’s a lot you don’t seem to know, Ensign.”
She had a way of catching him up on his words that reminded Samuel of Adrien.
He quietly swallowed a smile thick with longing.
“There’s almost nothing that goes on in the military that I’m not aware of. And I know Adrien values you quite a bit.”
“Are you curious as to why I wasn’t chosen as her personal Guide?”
“Ensign, I’m not the sort to ask questions.”
Jacqueline smiled faintly.
“I give orders.”
But her expression quickly shifted back to icy formality. She was someone who could change her face with every sentence.
Samuel found her ability to control the mood of a conversation exhausting, but he held his ground, bowing his head deeply instead of tensing up.
“I’ll obey.”
“Even before hearing what it is?”
“I trust you wouldn’t give any order that would harm the Commander.”
“And if I did?”
“Then I would refuse.”
There was a long pause. When Samuel finally looked up, unable to bear the silence, he found Jacqueline smiling again. This time, it wasn’t a cold smile—it was more a look of disbelief, as if she couldn’t believe what kind of man she was dealing with.
“Does Adrien know what kind of man you are?”
“What kind would that be, ma’am?”
“…Lift your head and look at me.”
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