The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 25
I clasped hands with Shaelock and spoke up, giving strength to our joined grip.
“I cannot defy the Duke.”
Shaelock blinked at my words, her expression subtle.
With a sigh, she exhaled a breath, then asked in a playful tone.
“Why did you think that?”
The Duke’s image is impeccable.
Renowned for possessing the strongest abilities among the Guides and for defending the empire by engulfing his own body in flames.
His fame didn’t originate from him. It began with his mother, Ellina, who led the previous Duchy and was the most powerful Guide among those existing.
Even after Ellina aged and her powers weakened, people still erected statues in her honor, respecting and revering her.
There isn’t a person who dislikes the son of Ellina, who is the current greatest Guide. It is known externally that he respects the opinions of commoners as well.
However, Shaelock detected something odd in my tone.
I must maintain an appropriate level of curiosity while preserving the air of mystery.
That would be the key to maintaining a good relationship between Shaelock and me.
“As a fellow Guide, I could pose a threat to the Duke.”
“You seem to know your strength well.”
Shaelock is independent and not very observant, but that doesn’t mean she lacks awareness.
Rather, when necessary, her intuition surpasses that of ordinary people. It’s all just her nature.
My head spun, and my mind grew hazy. Even as we continued our conversation, Shaelock was sapping my energy considerably.
Her unchanged expression sent chills down my spine.
‘I’m only interested; I don’t see you as a person.’
The moment I realized that fact, shivers ran down my spine.
She wasn’t normal either.
Grimacing, I spoke through gritted teeth,
“So… please don’t say my abilities are too great.”
I squeezed her hand tightly.
“Or that it’s a waste to play a stand-in role.”
Shaelock, who had been silently staring at me, softened her gaze.
“Fine.”
She nodded approvingly, and I was rather taken aback. I hadn’t expected her to acquiesce so easily.
“Instead…”
As expected, Shaelock added a follow-up.
“I’d like to continue receiving guidance from you.”
She flashed a bright smile.
“I wonder when was the last time I felt so clear-headed.”
With Shaelock’s words as the last thing I heard, I lost consciousness.
* * *
‘It’s serious.’
That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I woke up.
It wasn’t just once or twice that I lost consciousness. As I opened my eyes on the bed, I found myself sighing at the thought of Shaelock.
‘Making Shaelock like me seems important…’
Esban had barely managed to keep me asleep, but Shaelock had completely shattered my composure. Both were seeking to guide me, but it seemed like the quantity of guidance varied depending on their personalities.
‘Improving our relationship is urgent…’
If I continued to collapse like this every time I received guidance, it would feel like I was on death row.
My body was clearly sending out an SOS signal.
It’s not about guidance itself; it’s about Shaelock needing to like me more to reduce these episodes of losing consciousness.
‘Or maybe I should improve my guidance skills.’
I need to regulate the outgoing power properly to prevent situations like this from happening again.
“You have had contact guidance again.”
I woke up groggily at the sound. Turning my head, I found Hedonia sitting in the chair next to the bed.
“Hedonia, what brings you here?”
“I heard you collapsed.”
“You came because you were worried?”
“No, you told me to go get blood from you directly but you collapsed; And I don’t know when you will wake up again.”
“…You’re really mean.”
I muttered with a tired expression. Hedonia silently tapped the handkerchief he had placed on my head.
“Who do you think brought this?”
“…Was it you, Hedonia?”
“I was asked to bring it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his shameless response. But as I lifted the corners of my mouth, a headache swept over me.
Unable to help it, I composed my expression, feeling Hedonia’s gaze on me.
“When doing contact guidance, you need to learn how to control your power.”
“Unless I learn it on my own, we’ll never know.”
“In that case, you’d better stick to non-contact guidance as you have learned. Otherwise, you might really die.”
Hedonia’s face was serious. He was genuinely concerned about my health. If I were to die, he wouldn’t be able to guarantee his own life either.
But considering the conversations I had with Shaelock, I couldn’t just do that.
“Why can’t you give a proper answer?”
Looking at Hedonia, who asked irritably, I pondered whether to talk about Shaelock.
‘As much as Hedonia believes in me, I should believe in Hedonia too.’
Since he also wants to break free from his father, our desires align well.
I had to have something to offer him.
For the sake of the future, if nothing else.
Just as I did with Shaelock.
“Shaelock requested contact guidance. And I’m in a position where I have no choice but to comply.”
“Then learn contact guidance.”
“The only person I can learn guidance from is the Duke, but would the Duke actually teach me contact guidance?”
He knows that as well.
As I questioned him, Hedonia blinked in surprise.
“Alright, you’ve got a point.”
“Are you saying that because we’re friends?”
“That is just how I am. Do you not know?”
“I won’t deny it.”
Hedonia chuckled at my words.
“You have been all talk since you collapsed.”
“And yet, even though you’re not fully recovered, you’re quite the talker.”
My jaw still seemed to move on its own, perhaps still sore.