Don't Support the Guide - Chapter 21

“I thought I’d be praised, but this reaction is unexpected.”

“Who the hell is it? The guide who’s been guiding the battalion commander all this time?”

Alex rushed over, practically shoving his face in, and Adrian pulled back in discomfort.

“Who is it?!”

“Are you yelling at your superior?”

“Ha, seriously. No, but—you found one! A guide who doesn’t make you uncomfortable!”

The last words were almost muttered under his breath. Adrian bit her lip, turning her head slightly away.

Alex was the only one who knew Adrian’s secret.

He had earned a doctorate in both medicine and Esper studies at university. If anyone in the Empire were asked who led the latest research on Espers and Guides, the answer would undoubtedly be Alexander McGis.

That was why Adrian had confided in him about her guiding condition—hoping to find similar cases or a solution.

But even now, not a single case like Adrian’s had been discovered. It was disappointing.

“Never mind. You don’t have to tell me. If Adrian Brillante had a personal Guide, the entire battalion would be buzzing about it by now.”

“Even if you find out, it won’t change anything.”

“What won’t change? Wait—don’t tell me you’re refusing their guidance?”

“…….”

“Are you kidding me?! Why the hell—?”

“The levels don’t match.”

“What’s their Guide level? They’re Gold, right?”

“Silver. And recently, they even collapsed from guiding depletion because of me.”

“Wait… Don’t tell me… Did you imprint on them?”

“…….”

“Seriously? Really? Adrian Brillante—the same Adrian Brillante who wouldn’t bat an eye even if a Guide threw off their clothes and jumped on her?”

“You—watch your mouth…!”

Alex’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. By now, Adrian had really had enough. She shoved his face away and glared at him.

“Stop making such a fuss, Dr. Alex.”

But Alex was unfazed.

“I’m not dreaming right now, am I? You’re really Adrian Brillante, right? There’s not some other soul possessing your body or anything?”

“…….”

“I mean… I seriously can’t believe this!”

As Adrian shot him a sharp glare, Alex scratched his cheek awkwardly before his expression turned serious again.

“But wait. No matter how low their level is, a single imprinting shouldn’t be enough to cause guiding depletion.”

Adrian remained silent. Alex’s eyes widened to their limit, and his mouth fell open. He floundered wordlessly for a moment before letting out a stunned laugh.

“Wow. So our battalion commander is a high-libido Esper after all?”

“You really—”

This was precisely why Adrian never welcomed Alex’s presence.

He never gave her a moment’s peace. The constant chatter and boundless energy were enough to drive anyone to exhaustion.

Unlike others who instinctively picked up on her cold demeanor and tread carefully, Alex never hesitated. He simply grinned and said whatever came to mind.

“Battalion Commander, do you know what I discovered this time?”

“You had a breakthrough in your research?”

“Of course. The Brillante family is funding me generously—when am I ever going to just coast on that without results?”

“Let’s be precise. It’s not the family; it’s my personal funding.”

“Yeah, yeah, got it. Now, look at this first.”

Adrian took the thick report Alex handed her.

“…A study on guiding compatibility?”

“Up until now, we’ve only been looking for cases like yours—Espers who experience extreme discomfort with guiding. But this time, I took a different approach.”

“How?”

“I found that even when receiving guidance from the same Guide, Espers report different sensations.”

Adrian, flipping through the report, lifted her head. Alex grinned, clearly pleased with her reaction.

“The same guiding session can be euphoric for one Esper and just meh for another. Sounds kind of like your case, doesn’t it?”

“So this ‘guiding compatibility’ mentioned here is the cause?”

“Yep. I gathered solid data samples, and the results are statistically reliable. I’m presenting it at the Esper-Guide Conference next month.”

Adrian quickly flipped to the conclusion. Just as Alex had said—

“…Eight out of ten Espers report feeling a significantly stronger connection with a particular Guide.”

“Exactly. And the reverse is true, too. You’re just an extreme case of sensitivity to guiding.”

“Like someone with a picky palate?”

“Hmm… Not a bad comparison, but your case is more severe—like a food allergy that makes you nauseous instead.”

Alex, brimming with excitement, retrieved a tray with a small, white gemstone and held it out to her.

“First, channel some of your energy into this.”

“And what exactly are you testing now?”

“What else? Finding a Guide who matches your compatibility.”

“You already developed a method for that?”

“Come on, who do you think I am? I’m Alexander McGis.”

Alex puffed up with pride as Adrian channeled her energy into the gemstone. As she did, she found herself thinking about his research.

Guiding compatibility. It was a concept she had never even considered before. But it was also the clearest explanation for her situation.

And hadn’t she already met one? A Guide who matched her compatibility with frightening precision.

“Sweeter, more addictive, and impossible to stop.”

Alex held up the gemstone, now pulsing with a deep red glow, his smile taking on a knowing edge.

“That,” he said, “is exactly what it feels like with a perfectly compatible Guide. Now, doesn’t anyone come to mind?”

“If you’re just going to tease me, I’m leaving. I have things to do.”

“Battalion Commander. Promise me one thing.”

His voice turned suddenly serious. Adrian, already halfway out of the infirmary, stopped and turned back.

“I’m going to use the energy you gave me to run a compatibility test with that Guide. If the match is high—take them as your exclusive Guide.”

“Alex.”

“You can have more than one exclusive Guide. You can make up for the level gap that way. How much longer are you going to live in this ridiculous condition?”

The stronger the Esper, the greater the side effects. The faster their guiding depletion. The sharper their senses.

Senses so heightened they became a blade that cut into their own body.

For as long as she could remember, Adrian had lived as if walking on the edge of that blade. She had grown so used to it that she no longer knew whether it was unbearable or simply normal.

But after meeting Samuel Nora, something had changed.

“…I’ll think about it.”

For some reason, the image of that boy’s face flashed through her mind—the way he had pleaded to be her exclusive Guide.

To think she was even considering clinging to someone who had collapsed from guiding depletion because of her.

Maybe blood really does run true.

With a self-deprecating smile, Adrian left the infirmary.

***

Samuel was on his way back from enduring yet another round of Peter’s badgering.

If he’d known it would be like this, he wouldn’t have checked out of the infirmary so soon. Peter refused to believe the story that Samuel had simply lost his footing and fallen off a cliff.

“No one in the mountain unit is going to buy that bullshit.”

He was so furious that he was even using language he normally avoided, grilling Samuel relentlessly. But Samuel’s answer never changed.

He had no intention of mentioning Linton Vione’s involvement in the incident. At least, not yet.

“Oh, Lieutenant Samuel.”

From the opposite end of the hallway, Linton approached, raising a hand in a cheerful wave. He closed the distance quickly, casually scanning Samuel up and down. His expression was perfectly composed.

Linton and Kate, who had been in charge of training that day, had been given a three-month unpaid suspension—a severe punishment. But for a noble like Linton, it was hardly a real consequence.

“How’s your body holding up? I heard you injured your ankle. Is it healed now?”

“It will be soon. Thank you for your concern, Captain.”

“See? I told you to be careful. Next time, listen to me, alright?”

“Captain.”

Linton, who had just begun walking past Samuel, turned back with ease.

“Is that a combat tactic as well?”

“Hm? What is?”

“Knocking down a stationary target by throwing up a shield.”

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I just can’t think of any other explanation.”

Samuel stepped closer, looking down at Linton. The smile had long since vanished from Linton’s face.

“I’ve been considering the best ways to eliminate an off-guard enemy. It occurred to me that this method would be quite effective. What do you think, Captain?”

Linton stared at Samuel for a moment before tilting his head slightly.

“Quite the creative thought, Lieutenant Samuel.”

“Is that so?”

“You must’ve developed a hobby of reading tactical manuals. That’s a good thing—keep at it.”

Linton let out a short chuckle, lifting one corner of his mouth before turning away.

“A rabbit that gets caught in a trap is weak—it’s not the hunter’s fault, is it? The hunter is just doing his job.”

With that, Linton disappeared down the hall.

Samuel, watching his retreating figure, turned to leave—only to jolt in surprise.

A man with pink hair stood behind him.

He hadn’t made a sound. Judging by his build, he was undoubtedly an Esper. The stranger beamed widely before clapping his hands together in a slow, exaggerated applause.

“Wow, you’re hilarious!”

“…Excuse me?”

“You’re Samuel Nora, right? I’m Captain Alexander McGis. Gold-level Healer, soon to be serving as a military doctor in the Defense Forces.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Captain Alexander.”

“Just call me Dr. Alex! Oh, and could you do me a quick favor?”

Without waiting for a response, Alex suddenly held out a white gemstone—a standard containment crystal used to store the abilities of Espers and Guides.

“Put some of your guiding energy in here.”

“For what purpose, sir?”

“Ah, well, usually when a captain gives an order, a lieutenant just follows—”

“…….”

“—or at least, that’s what I would say, but you don’t even blink, huh?”

Grinning, Alex motioned with his chin.

“It’s for her. Our battalion commander.”