Becoming the Guide of the Mysophobic Villain? Absolutely Not! - Chapter 161
As I was packing up my lunchbox and getting ready to leave, Epine approached me.
“Rose, are you going straight home? Want to grab dinner downtown with us?”
Behind Epine, Simeyez looked on with hopeful eyes, seemingly already on board with the plan.
“Ooh…”
Since becoming friends with the other Guides, I’d often received such invites after training. Each time, I had always declined.
The reason, of course, was the honey jar I left at home. By now, he’d be sulking considerably.
Claude has been quite discontent these days. If I returned home even slightly late, he’d complain, questioning why training took all day or why they didn’t feed me if I was hungry…
Once, I was so tired from training that I started nodding off during dinner. Awakening to an ominous aura, I found him grinding his teeth with a ferociously solemn face.
…Yet, considering his temper, it’s relatively fortunate he hasn’t flipped the Guide Division upside down or confined me to prevent my departure by now.
For those reasons, I had always hurried home right after training…
But constantly declining their invitations was starting to feel awkward. Plus, with the weekend coming up, surely there’d be enough time to appease Claude?
“…Um, sure, why not?”
“Great decision!”
Epine, who had always mooched snacks off me, loudly declared it was their turn to take care of me.
Honestly, I wasn’t too excited. I’d already tasted the flavors of most decent restaurants downtown, thanks to Claude fetching food there for me.
Still, Epine’s excitement was endearing, so I played along and left the Guide Division with them…
…But something felt off. It’s unusual.
It’s not surprising for the entrance of the Guide Division to be bustling, especially before the weekend after all training had concluded. Espers often waited there to pick up their Guides.
Yet, even considering that, it seemed unusually crowded today.
Unlike usual, where pairs quickly formed and dispersed, the crowd ahead appeared to be blocked by something, showing no signs of leaving.
“What’s going on up front?”
“Why is it like this?”
Simeyez and Epine sensed the oddity as well. But craning our necks, we couldn’t see past the people in front to discern the cause.
Epine eventually tapped a tall male Guide standing in front and asked,
“Dylan, can you see what’s happening?”
“Ah, that’s…”
The Guide turned around, and upon locking eyes with me, standing there all this while, he visibly shook.
“Ro, Rose. You’re here.”
“…Yes, I’ve been here for a while?”
“Good. You all should go ahead, especially Rose. You must.”
“Eh. Why?”
“Just go and see for yourself,” he suggested, almost pushing me forward.
The Guides in front turned around with curious looks but kindly made way for us.
…What on earth could it be?
My question was answered the moment we stepped out of the Guide Division building.
I sighed. Now I could understand why the crowd had been unable to leave, blocking the entrance.
There he was, a familiar figure in the distance.
Towering over the crowd, his tall frame stood out. Even in the all-encompassing Esper uniform, his excellent physique was unmistakable.
Claude was leaning against a pillar at the entrance, eyes closed, seemingly isolated from the surrounding crowd as if separated by an invisible wall.
Though right before me, he appeared to be in a world of his own.
I found myself staring blankly at him. His distinctly masculine features, the lashes casting shadows beneath his closed eyes, his firmly closed lips… It was hard to believe that the man I had come to know was the same person standing there. Even living under the same roof, there were moments when he didn’t quite feel real, but never to this extent.
How long I was lost in thought, I couldn’t say. Eventually, his eyes opened. Without a moment’s hesitation, his gaze found me among the many people.
It was like an animal instinct. How he could locate me amidst the crowd without even looking forward was beyond me.
…Then I realized I shouldn’t just stand there.
“Lord Claude!”
I ran to him in a panic.
“Why are you here…! I told you not to come to the Guide Division…!”
