The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 79
Releasing the monsters might increase people’s resentment for a while.
But as the fear grows, it’s inevitable that they will rely more on espers.
Without espers, their primal fear cannot be eradicated.
The damage will continue to increase.
Ultimately, it shows that the key to this situation is held by the espers.
It’s an extreme action, akin to that of a psychopath, not considering the people’s harm and the victims to be sacrificed.
“Lord Pheon, you need to understand.”
Jerry continued to appeal to his heart.
However, Pheon no longer cared about what Jerry had to say.
“You speak quite logically.”
His interest had shifted to the one who had changed Jerry’s perspective.
“Have you ever been this expressive?”
Pheon, who had been lost in thought with his chin resting on his hand, fixed his gaze on me.
“Stay here. I’ll go talk with the guide.”
“……”
“You know it’ll be harder if you run away, right?”
Jerry sighed at the words that were more of a threat than a warning.
“……Yes.”
Though his face was sulky, it seemed he would obey Pheon’s words.
Pheon locked the door where Jerry was and went with me to the adjacent room.
“You’ll guide me one last time and then you should go.”
“What will you do about him?”
“He wasn’t always this crude in his thoughts… I’ll have to talk to him.”
“He seems young, so persuasion would have been easier.”
Jerry still had the look of a child, visibly showing his youth.
“My thoughts are the same. But Jerry’s words and actions are contradictory, so what does he really want…?”
I agreed with Pheon’s thoughts.
Is releasing the monsters truly beneficial for increasing the presence of espers?
Is it really for the sake of the espers…?
“Considering the long-term effects, I think it’s actually a threat to the existence of espers.”
Like Pheon said, it seemed more like a move to undermine their status.
If it becomes known that an esper did this, people’s anger will only escalate.
For a while, the fear for their lives might follow them, but it won’t last long.
“Now, let’s stop the gloomy talk.”
Pheon clapped his hands as if to change the mood, then crossed his arms while looking at me.
“I noticed Esban is backing you. Did you make a deal?”
The mention of Esban was unexpected but fortunate.
After we kissed, I only heard about it, so I couldn’t know if he was keeping his promise, but now I had a chance to know for sure.
“Yes.”
Since it was a truth that didn’t need to be hidden, I answered confidently.
“Hmm.”
Pheon, deep in thought, stared at me intently.
“I’ll get you a good price for the jewels and the seeds you plan to sell this time, so how about doing it with me once?”
The way he said “do it once” didn’t sound casual.
“What exactly are you talking about?”
“A relationship would be good, but a kiss is better. There’s no time.”
Pheon licked his lips and glanced at the clock.
He seemed to be thinking of Jerry, who would be waiting in the other room.
Remembering the kiss with Esban and Hedonia made me hesitate.
First of all, kisses with espers were quite intense for me.
It felt like my energy was draining.
…Apart from that, I felt an inexplicable guilt towards Hedonia.
Even if our relationship was just a “contractual relationship,” I was now concerned.
“I can guide you well without a kiss now.”
“Honestly, after this opportunity, it will be rare to have time to meet like this with you, Karina.”
Since there wasn’t much time left until Hedonia’s awakening pain passed, he wasn’t wrong.
“That’s why I want to try it. I’ve never experienced guiding beyond a hug.”
“……”
“I just want to try it.”
He candidly threw out a straightforward remark.
Pheon’s slouched figure standing in the shadows contrasted sharply with the polite gentleman he had always seemed to be.
It was as if his true self, hidden beneath the facade, was just starting to show.
I couldn’t quite decipher the exact emotions inside him.
…But if this was a farewell.
‘Anyway, I’m not really in a relationship with Hedonia.’
Hedonia was the one who initially suggested teaching me guiding.
So, I didn’t need to feel guilty about being with another man, right?
“……Alright.”
I responded calmly and stepped closer to him.
“Please, don’t make it too long. If marks are left…”
I finished speaking, remembering Hedonia’s actions when I last kissed Esban.
“It would be embarrassing.”
Of course, I didn’t express the reason directly to him.
Pheon brushed his lips…
“I’ll have to be gentle, then.”
He cupped my chin.
He brought his lips to mine.
As he said, the kiss was gentle.
Yet, it was as persistent as his character.
His tongue slipped between my lips, touching my tongue and exploring my palate. It was a truly gentle kiss, unlike Hedonia’s deeper ones.
However, I couldn’t focus on the kiss.
Hedonia’s face kept coming to mind.