The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 147
Honestly, at first, I wanted to ignore this esper and go my own way.
Shaelock and Pheon’s constant refusal to disclose Hedonia’s whereabouts was driving my irritation to new heights.
‘Where the hell is he?’
Why do I keep running into this esper instead of him?
I couldn’t hide my discomfort and glared at him.
He should notice my wariness, but he just smiled absentmindedly, which gave me chills.
Is this what a lunatic looks like?
“I came to give you this.”
It seems he finally felt my glare as he paused and handed something over.
Shaelock and Pheon remained calm… Maybe it’s safe to lower my guard…
As I reached out, our hands touched.
He flinched.
I tilted my head in curiosity and opened my hand to see what he had given me.
‘Oh?’
It was something I had been searching for while looking for Hedonia.
‘…My cursed doll.’
Robert had stolen it, and I wondered how I’d ever find it, but this unexpected person brought it to me.
‘My impression of him is improving.’
Maybe he’s a decent person after all.
‘I don’t even know his name yet.’
I should at least know his name by now. I looked at the man while holding the doll tightly.
…But the man’s condition didn’t look good.
“…Karina.”
It was one thing that he knew my name.
His voice, drenched in sweat. The large man in front of me was panting heavily, as if he was about to die.
What was with those eyes?
Although the guiding earlier was brief, his voice felt strangely familiar.
I swallowed hard.
A peculiar tension filled the air.
The man grabbed my hand.
There was no time to react to his swift movement.
He immediately started to absorb my power.
“Hng… Uh…”
The speed was completely different from before.
No, it was fast before, but this was incomparable.
“W-What is this…?”
I asked, trembling, but the man couldn’t respond.
His unfocused eyes couldn’t grasp what was happening.
The esper stared at my face and gripped my wrist tighter. However, it wasn’t enough to break my bones.
Whether it was unconscious consideration or just my luck, I couldn’t tell.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Shaelock frowned deeply and grabbed the man’s arm. But even with Shaelock’s strength, the man didn’t budge.
“I’ll handle this.”
Pheon joined in, but it was the same. Two of the strongest espers I knew were trying to pry the man’s hand off me, yet they couldn’t. I was utterly astonished by this fact.
‘Is this even possible?’
Of course, at that moment, I realized this wasn’t the time for such thoughts.
I felt like I was losing my mind and falling sick.
It had been a long time since my body felt this exhausted.
“I-It would be really nice if you could let go now.”
I mustered all my strength to speak, but it seemed he couldn’t hear me at all. Instead, he pulled my hand towards him and held me in his arms.
It had been a long time since I had been held by anyone other than Hedonia or another familiar esper.
‘…’
But why did this feel familiar? The solid chest, the broad shoulders, the perfect physique… it all felt so known.
‘…But I can’t stay conscious any longer.’
Even though I had reached my limit, the man showed no intention of letting me go.
“I’ll try again,”
Shaelock, seeing my pale face, fidgeted anxiously and finally summoned Christopher.
“Leave it to me!”
Christopher stepped in but hesitated as he approached the man.
“…I-I can’t just touch him carelessly.”
Seeing the previously confident figure suddenly cower and retreat was strange.
“Christopher?”
“There’s nothing I can do with my power.”
His completely changed demeanor made it seem as if he had been brainwashed. It was a stark contrast to the attitude he had always shown me as a historical figure. I tilted my head in confusion.
Shaelock, also noticing something amiss, frowned and sent Christopher away, summoning Rodite instead.
“Uh… I-I can’t do it either.”
But Rodite, showing a completely different side than usual, also backed off.
Watching their unusual behavior, I realized:
‘It’s a mental ability.’
What an extraordinary power. The ability to influence not just people but even non-human entities was astonishing.
…That was my last thought before I collapsed.
