Please Don’t Sponsor the Guide - Chapter 88

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“I’m Ensign Samuel Norah, covering guiding duties today on behalf of Captain Linton Vionne. Lieutenant Joseph Walsky, would you please sign the confirmation box as the guiding recipient?”

“Tsk, I was just trying to lighten the mood, but you’re all business, huh?”

“After you sign, please check your guiding necklace for me.”

“See this? The color’s right in the middle, but one wrong move and it’ll turn red.”

Joseph’s necklace was solid orange, just the middle of the five-spectrum scale. It meant he was a little short on guiding, but not in any danger.

Instead of answering, Samuel grabbed the reference spectrum chart from the cabinet and compared it to Joseph’s necklace. It matched the center color exactly.

“You’re just a bit low—so we’ll do a standard radiation guiding, since we’re both silver-level.”

“If we do it by touch, it’d be quicker. Why not just give me your hand?”

“Radiation guiding will commence now.”

“Man, you’re really stingy.”

Unbothered, Samuel simply extended both hands toward Joseph, letting his guiding energy flow. Instantly, all of Joseph’s complaints vanished; his expression went slack, pupils unfocused, as the warmth of guiding spread through his whole body. He looked embarrassingly blissed out.

‘Well, maybe that’s for the best.’

Hopefully, if he’s this spaced out, he won’t try anything stupid. Judging by the shifting necklace color and Joseph’s dazed look, it seemed like the session would end without incident.

Some of the tension left Samuel’s body.

“Urk!”

Suddenly, a vice-like grip closed around his wrist. Joseph’s esper strength yanked Samuel close, those red eyes shining wildly.

“Wow, it’s even better when we’re touching. I get it now—this is what everyone means about compatibility, huh?”

“Let go of me!”

No matter what Samuel did, he couldn’t break free from an esper’s grip.

“You know you’re my top compatibility match, right? Fifty-one percent. But damn… you feel incredible.”

Wait, top match?

Samuel froze. He remembered seeing Joseph’s name on one of those compatibility reports Alex had put out recently. Fifty-one percent was pretty high. According to the latest research, anything above fifty percent could give espers a rush of pleasure.

No wonder Joseph had made a move now, with the Commander’s attention elsewhere.

“Just holding your hand is enough to get me standing…”

But this didn’t make sense. Could just fifty-one percent compatibility really have that effect?

Samuel was a guide. He’d never truly understand the sensation espers got from guiding—the stability, the pleasure, that strange, deep satisfaction. Even after learning about compatibility, it was still all theoretical to him.

But this was a concrete example. Even a fifty-one percent match could leave an esper nearly delirious.

‘So then… what about the Commander?’

Adrien Brillante was no ascetic. Samuel had often felt like he’d dissolve under her touch, even when she insisted she’d never do a full imprinting. Her gaze and her hands always told another story.

And their compatibility? Ninety-eight percent. That was the kind of number you’d expect to see in fairy tales.

And yet… Adrien Brillante had managed to let Samuel Norah go.

“Listen, I know guides like you. You’ve got big ambitions, right?”

“……”

“Bet you’re already thinking you’ll move up to gold-level espers one day. Just be patient—I’ll be your type soon enough.”

Samuel tuned him out, standing there in numb shock.

“Don’t tell me you’re still hoping the Commander’s going to come looking for you?”

“……”

“Wake up. Linton Vionne is probably in her bed right now, doing everything to keep her satisfied. She doesn’t have time for someone like you.”

Joseph’s hand snaked up Samuel’s sleeve.

That jolted Samuel awake—he wasn’t about to let himself get pinned under someone like this. A sudden spike of danger brought clarity to his eyes, and he channeled as much guiding energy as he could into Joseph.

“Hngh…!”