Becoming the Guide of the Mysophobic Villain? Absolutely Not! - Chapter 57
He had all the Guides lined up, but none of them felt right. Even though he was certain his Guide should be among them, no one stood out.
His senses had been wildly distorted the night before, as if under the influence of a hallucinogen. He couldn’t be sure of the guide’s height, build, not even their gender.
He knew the most effective method was to make physical contact with each of them.
Just the day before, he would have chosen death over going on rampage, but today was different. Claude was genuinely conflicted.
If he could feel yesterday’s ecstasy again, if he could find his partner among the hundreds, even enduring physical contact would be worth it.
Then, someone claimed to be his Guide from the previous night.
A slender woman with freckles and thin lips.
Claude hadn’t seen his Guide’s face, so he couldn’t even imagine what they looked like. But he was certain it wasn’t her.
He felt no pull towards the woman’s lips.
Even with his senses distorted, the kiss had been ecstatic. It would have been enough just as a kiss.
Such lips would be more tempting, sweet, moist, soft…
Like those of the woman hidden behind this one, with a smaller stature. She was shivering.
He couldn’t explain why she caught his eye among hundreds of people.
Once he noticed her, everything else blurred out, leaving only her in focus.
Her small and slight stature, noticeable pink hair, eyes filled with fear, and…
…tempting lips.
She trembled, realizing Claude’s gaze, and hid completely behind the taller woman. Claude was certain by then.
His heart pounded furiously, blood boiling to the tips of his hair.
He had to catch her before she slipped away again, not letting go this time.
A strong sense of urgency set in. As he approached, the tall woman obstructively stood in his way. Claude barely registered her words.
He yearned to devour the pink-haired woman, her fearful eyes, and those tempting lips.
He never doubted his instincts.
But then he heard something unexpected.
“Lord Claude, Rose is not a Guide. She’s just a regular, non-ability person. Everyone working at the Center must undergo a mandatory trait verification before admission. Her being a non-ability has been officially confirmed.”
Despite being noticeable, he had never seen her because she wasn’t a guide, but a civilian clerk.
“…Lord Claude, I don’t sense any guidance at all when touching her. Every Guide should feel automatically emit guiding energy just by direct touch with an Esper. However, there is no guidance at all when touching this person.”
Guiding isn’t something that can be controlled.
As long as an Esper and a Guide are in contact, guiding happens. Claude knew this but couldn’t believe it.
…He still felt the urge to crush the hand of the Esper holding her wrist. Towards my Guide, really?
But there was no other explanation.
For days, Claude almost obsessively turned the Guide Division upside down.
But amidst the dozens, hundreds of guides passing by, only one person lingered in his mind.
Not even a Guide, but a non-ability civilian with pink hair, trembling eyes, and those tempting lips.
So uncharacteristically, Claude even sought advice from Oscar.
“She looked terrified. Like she was afraid of being caught.”
“…Claude. Look in a mirror. Who wouldn’t be scared with you glaring like that?”
“If she’s not my Guide, why did I want to crush the hand of the Esper holding her wrist?”
“That’s because you’re violent… But what about the innocent security guard?”
“…”
Oscar, rambling without understanding the situation, quickly shut up when Claude ground his teeth.
“…If she’s not my Guide.”
“?”
“…If she’s not my Guide, why can’t I get her face out of my head?”
