Becoming the Guide of the Mysophobic Villain? Absolutely Not! - Chapter 116
Thud.
The Chief of Security, who had been suspended in the air, fell to the ground.
Before I could turn around, Claude, who had approached, wrapped his arms around my waist.
He buried his face in my neck, breathing deeply against my pulse, as if using me as an oxygen mask, desperate to reaffirm that I was his.
“…I’m sorry for scaring you.”
I was just scared…
It was a while before he whispered softly.
It was an obvious statement, but I wasn’t the one who needed his apology.
The Chief of Security’s suspicions were reasonable. To dispel them completely, it would have been better to show that guiding didn’t happen with multiple other Espers on several occasions.
So, Claude’s reaction to the Chief grabbing my wrist, sensitive as he was to issues concerning me, was inappropriate.
But I decided to just embrace him.
At least he was trying to keep his promise not to be frightening.
He’s still clumsy at accepting his own vulnerabilities.
After a while, embracing him and patting his back, I finally noticed the surrounding situation.
The Chief of Security lay on the ground, surrounded by Espers standing on guard against Claude.
To them, Claude was like a ticking time bomb.
…Yet, he has improved somewhat from before.
I discreetly looked away.
“The results?”
Claude, composing his expression, turned coldly back to the examiner. The examiner trembled.
“Ah, the results…! Since there was no guiding with any Esper other than Lord Claude in both the last and this test… While Miss Valentine’s guiding is atypical, there’s no specific regulation for such anomalies… So, all necessary procedures are passed. We can confirm the imprint.”
The examiner, having signed the documents, handed one of them to us. It was proof that Claude and I had completed our imprinting.
Claude casually snatched the document, leisurely scanning it.
“Lord Claude, this incident will definitely affect you negatively in court.”
The fallen Chief of Security gasped out the words.
“You were our idol, but don’t think we will just overlook this matter. Be aware that it’s not just me who has a grudge against you because of this incident…”
Why was he making such a fuss when he’s willing to overlook it…?
I was anxious, fearing Claude might explode again, and kept an eye on him.
“Shall we go home, Rose?”
Luckily, Claude ignored the Chief’s words.
As I quickly nodded, he effortlessly picked me up.
With him shattering the restraints and breaking the Chief’s wrist, no one could stop Claude.
We left the interrogation room effortlessly.
On the way back, I kept gauging his mood, worried that he might be angry but holding it in because of me.
But as I observed him closely in his arms, I asked hesitantly…
“…Are you happy?”
Surprisingly, he admitted it.
“Seems so.”
“…Why?”
How could he be happy after being labeled a public enemy of all Espers?
The answer came easily.
“Doesn’t it feel like we just got married?”
“?”
“This document, should we frame it?”
…Claude was unexpectedly childish.
* * *
“In accordance with Article 1, Section 2 of the Guiding Act: An Esper cannot force a Guide to provide them any guiding energy against their will. Article 2, Section 5: Both Esper and Guide must report and obtain approval from the Center’s relevant department before imprinting. Article 5, Section 7: A Guide cannot imprint if there are two or more Espers with a matching rate above 60%.”
In the solemn courtroom, an Esper prosecutor’s voice echoed.
“Your Honor, we argue that the defendant is guilty of violating these laws by imprinting with the Guide.”
In the Center, Espers, Guides, and non-ability civilians coexisted and resolve issues internally as much as possible.
Especially when an Esper commits a crime, and the crime is severe enough to require urgent action, an ‘Emergency Trial at the Center’ is convened.
Espers, being akin to ticking time bombs due to their abilities, necessitate immediate judgment and punishment by other Espers in the Center.
And in this emergency trial, I was summoned as a witness, and Claude as the defendant.
