The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 214
The situation now was different from the past when people would eagerly become espers without hesitation if it guaranteed status and wealth.
With espers periodically disappearing, not only had the number of people willing to become espers decreased, but even those who remained were leaving, claiming they were exhausted.
‘Perhaps it’s fortunate that the numbers have dwindled.’
For Hedonia, who was used to dealing with only a handful of people or monsters, the sheer number was overwhelming.
The maximum number of people he had ever brainwashed was around 100. He had never attempted more than that.
Entering and influencing the consciousness of so many people posed the risk of forgetting who he himself was.
‘I can do it.’
What he needed was not deep, complex brainwashing.
But navigating through all those minds to find the hidden thoughts was still no easy task.
‘But it must be done.’
Despite the difficulty, he knew this was the only way to fully rectify what Cayden had done.
“……”
Hedonia gazed quietly at Karina, who stood beside him.
‘This moment is too precious.’
Every day spent with Karina was an irreplaceable treasure to him.
While Karina was on the island, he dedicated all his strength to making the empire a cleaner and safer place for her.
For the world she would live in, he was willing to do even more.
“Karina.”
As soon as he called her name, Karina turned her head. It wasn’t the face of someone who knew nothing.
She seemed to have already guessed what Hedonia was about to say.
She had already sensed that both Cayden’s ability and the solution to the current situation depended entirely on Hedonia.
Karina had always been smart.
“You have to break the brainwashing yourself, right?”
At her words, which seemed to confirm the situation, Hedonia finally nodded. Karina sighed.
“Do you think I can’t do it?”
When Hedonia asked with a smile, Karina shook her head.
“I know you’ll get it done, Lord Hedonia.”
“On what basis?”
No matter how powerful an S-class esper is, they shrink before a task they’ve never attempted.
Hedonia Apharantes was someone who had something to fear losing when Karina was by his side.
He wanted to hear what her answer would be.
Many praised his abilities, but the words from Karina’s mouth had a depth and weight that were entirely different.
“Because I’ll be right beside you.”
But Karina’s words weren’t what he expected.
“Because I’ll be right beside you, working together to resolve this.”
The option of handling the situation alone didn’t exist for Karina.
She naturally considered Hedonia and herself as a team.
An unexpected surge of emotion swept over him like a wave.
Choked with emotion, Hedonia found himself momentarily speechless. He silently gazed at his beloved standing before him.
“You weren’t planning to handle this alone, were you? I’ll keep talking to you and guiding you so you won’t lose yourself.”
Karina already knew his thoughts.
“That might have worked when I was on the island… but not anymore.”
“Because we’re lovers?”
“Lovers is not enough to describe it.”
Hedonia finally managed to speak, smiling as he asked, and Karina shook her head.
“We are life partners.”
It was a confession that made his heart ache with emotion.
* * *
Hedonia knew he had to do this. The people currently overwhelmed by the situation couldn’t regain their senses on their own.
In that sense, Hedonia’s ability was the only way to help them recover their sanity.
“You can do it.”
Though Karina confidently told Hedonia he could do it, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t anxious. The time she was living now was her reality, not a book, and its outcome was uncertain.
However, she told him he could do it because she knew what Hedonia needed most right now was courage and confidence.
‘I must believe in him.’
If she didn’t believe in him, who would?
‘Even when Hedonia can’t believe in himself, I must believe in him.’
Not because he is the protagonist,
But because he is her life partner.
Hedonia’s face brightened with a smile at her words.
“Then, shall we go solve this issue?”
He held her hand tightly and headed toward the espers Pheon had corralled.
“I’ll join you as well.”
Esban, who had been talking with Cayden from a distance, approached with Cayden in tow. Cayden, being supported by Esban, had his head hung low.
“Ugh… Karina, you’ve worked hard to get here.”
Shaelock approached, holding her head.
“Lady Shaelock as well.”
Given the gravity of the situation, it seemed Shaelock had also been called into action immediately.
Her familiar summons were always clustered around her. I looked at her with concern and held her hand tightly.
“Do you need any guidance?”
“No, it’s not that this requires guidance. But thank you anyway.”
Just moments ago, Shaelock had been frowning, but she now smiled gently at me. Shaelock, like Hedonia, had a soft spot for me.
