Chapter 101
“So naïve.”
Though he grumbled, Calix didn’t lose track of the fox’s small presence. There were many other small animals around, but the reason he could pinpoint Lea’s aura so precisely was because of the time they had spent together.
As he recalled that, an indescribable emotion surged within him. The person he thought he had the worst relationship with had, without even realizing it, stayed by his side.
Thanks to Luna, much of his loneliness had been eased. He had gained the strength to stand on his own. Of course, he was angry that she had deceived him, but that wasn’t the reason he currently felt such rage.
“Why are you running away. How dare you.”
The moment he sensed her aura, he didn’t just use his wind ability this time, he unleashed his water ability simultaneously. Wind passed through the air while a stream of water rippled across the ground.
With a snake-like motion, he finally managed to catch the fox.
“Kaaang!”
A loud cry rang out from the fox. Thinking he finally had her, he practically flew toward the sound.
“Kang, kang!”
The fox was half-buried in a small tunnel, caught in rope made of water.
Though he first felt pity for the fox he had so dearly cherished, a stronger feeling surged above it. Triumph. He landed softly in front of the fox.
“Ha, you were cleverer than I thought. Gave me a real headache. You must’ve studied my abilities in detail.”
Otherwise, how could she have dodged so well? As he reached out to lift the fox, a branch suddenly flew at him from somewhere.
It had been thrown with such force, it didn’t feel like a branch but a weapon.
Kwaang—! The sound of the branch stabbing into the ground was sharp and vicious. Calix created a barrier with wind to shield both himself and the fox.
The branch had landed some distance away from the fox, but Calix was a bit angry. What if it had ricocheted and struck the fox? Why take such a reckless risk?
He glared toward Zion, who had appeared at a certain distance. From his disheveled, sweat-soaked appearance, it was clear he had been struggling just as hard to find the fox.
Behind him, Derek arrived, panting heavily. Seeing his poor stamina only solidified Calix’s conclusion that he was a psychic-type Esper.
“What do you think you’re doing? You dare attack me, the Crown Prince?”
“Well now. I don’t think a simple branch would take down someone like you. Aren’t you exaggerating a bit?”
Zion, looking a complete mess, saw Lea half-buried in the ground and whimpering softly, and a vein bulged in his forehead.
If he disliked her that much, he should have just let her go. What was he planning to do by chasing her so obsessively?
Zion looked at Calix with contempt, this man who didn’t even understand who he owed his comfortable life to. He knew exactly why Lea had approached him first.
He hadn’t at first, but watching her closely from her side, he came to understand.
Every Esper she had chosen had been someone advantageous to Calix. Though they had been assigned due to Bianca’s guiding, they were also people who, if turned against her, could threaten Bianca more than anyone else due to their noble backgrounds.
As long as Lea herself wasn’t trying to directly oppose Bianca, there was only one possible reason for gathering such people, and it wasn’t for herself.
“Ha, so you quit being knight commander and now you think you can get away with anything? Shall I help you open your eyes while I’m at it?”
“And what happens when you recklessly use your abilities like this to catch a single fox, and then end up needing guiding?”
“Why should I worry when I have a Guide to help me?”
“…Coming from someone who once tried to kill that very Guide, I’m not sure you’re in any place to say that.”
Calix narrowed his eyes at Zion, who was steadily closing the distance, then used his wind ability to lift the half-buried fox into the air.
Her tiny paws fluttered helplessly. Watching the pitiful sight, Derek trembled with helplessness and then forcefully jammed a powerful message into Calix’s mind.
He hadn’t expected it to actually work, but for a moment, Calix’s body stiffened, and his powers were cut off.
Thanks to that, Lea landed on the ground again and didn’t miss her chance. She darted off toward Zion at full speed.
Watching her flee, Calix’s lips twisted savagely, and a flame of rage ignited from deep within him.
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